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Justice Gbolagunte Planned His Own Funeral — Rev. Oyedemi [PHOTOS]

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The Pastor of New Reservation Area Baptist Church, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo State, Rev. Kayode Oyedemi, on Friday disclosed that late Justice Adegboye Ayinla Gbolagunte of the Oyo State Judiciary knew he would die and so had planned his funeral by choosing the cemetery his remains would be buried, and had paid for his vault.

He revealed this during his sermon at the funeral service for the Eruwa, Oyo State born jurist, who died June 24, 2024.

The 64-year-old son of a former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mokolade Gbolagunte, was survived by his wife: Wuraola Ayoola, and three children: Oladiran, a Digital Technologist with specialisation in Network Communications; Oladoyin, a lawyer; and Oladotun, also a lawyer.

Quoting from the Book of II Kings 13 and 20; Hebrew 11; as well as II Samuel 12, Dr. Oyedemi, who said that he had never seen anybody prepare his own funeral as deeply as Justice Gbolagunte did, noted: “It is not unusual for saints to die of sickness from attack.

“If prayers can stop death, Justice Gbolagunte would not have died because upon revelation that he would die of the sickness, we were praying, but when the sickness of the beloved is unto death, no amount of prayers can heal the sickness, no matter how perfect one could be in faith.

“The sickness of Lazarus was not unto death, but that of Elisha was unto death.

“God knows why he has called Justice Gbolagunte home at this time.

“While we were praying and believing that God would spare his life, he had accepted his faith himself.

“I remember his last admission to the hospital about two or three days to his death.

“Then I asked if he was still holding unto God in faith and he said yes.

“Since last year, he had told me that his funeral is to be held in Ibadan here.

“He had told me the cemetery.

“I have been hearing about it, but I have not seen anybody who planned his funeral so deep as Justice Gbolagunte did.

“All the arrangements you see, he had chosen and contacted people you see carrying them out.

“He had contacted everybody.

“When he paid for the vault, he told me, and he connected me with the person that was in charge of that.

“That is to tell you that he was convinced that God said that his time had come.

“And that is one of the greatest ways to die.

“For you to know when you are going to die helps you to get settled, not just with God, but with every other thing.

“He had that privilege.

“God told Hezekiah that he would not recover, but he would die.

“God said: ‘Set your house in order for you shall die.’

“It is one of the greatest ways to die.

“People like that will never miss heaven.

“That is the assurance that Hon. Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte has gone to be with Christ.”

Addressing the children left behind by the late jurist, Rev. Oyedemi said: “You have a mother with strong faith and a prayerful one.

“You have a father with a high level of integrity, who was not corrupt.

“You must hold aloft the two qualities of your parents.

“If we have many of Justice Gbolagunte in Nigeria, the country would be better.

“He stood for integrity.

“Public service holders should ruminate on this.

“His colleagues should search themselves how they are dispensing justice.

“Bad leadership persists when there is bad followership.

“In Nigeria, we combine the two.

“Are our leaders of today not followers of the past?

“How much has their past criticisms helped our Nation now?

“Let us ruminate on this.”

In attendance at the funeral service were dignitaries from all walks of life, including the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin; many Judges, serving and retired; Senior Advocates of Nigeria; Nigerian Bar Association executives and members; old secondary school mates of the deceased from Birch Freeman High School, Surulere, Lagos; Baale of Aborerin in Eruwa, High Chief Olaide Ojedapo; friends and relatives of the Gbolagunte family.

It will be recalled that a Special Valedictory Court Session was held in honour of Justice Gbolagunte on July 22, 2024 at the Oyo state High Court in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during the weeklong celebration of his exit.

On July 23, 2024 at New Estate Baptist Church, Surulere, Lagos, a Commendation Service took place for the deceased, while on July 25, there was a Service of Songs at Jogor Centre in Ibadan.

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NAFDAC Seal Shops, Destroy Items Worth N5bn In Aba Market Over Fake, Expired Products

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down 150 shops at Eziukwu Market, Aba, Abia State.

The Agency disclosed this in a statement it posted on its X handle on Wednesday.

It said its team uncovered large-scale production and distribution of fake and expired goods, including beverages, carbonated drinks, wines, spirits, vegetable oils, and revalidated food items such as “noodles,” “powdered milk,” and “yoghurt.”

NAFDAC noted that the team destroyed items that were valued at ₦5 billion.

Describing the market as a hub for counterfeit and substandard products, the Agency’s Director in the Southeast Zone, Martins Iluyomade, expressed dismay at the continued illegal activities, despite a previous undertaking signed by market leaders in December 2023 to expose counterfeiters.

The statement added that NAFDAC DG, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, reaffirmed the Agency’s zero tolerance for such practices and emphasised its unwavering commitment to safeguarding public health while working toward a permanent solution to the problem of counterfeit products in the market.

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Lil Smart Files Petition Against Naira Marley, Zinoleesky Over ‘Threat To Life’

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Lil Smart, the Nigerian dancer, has filed a petition against Naira Marley and Zinoleesky over an alleged threat to his life.

On December 9, Smart shared disturbing photos and videos on social media, claiming that his life was at risk.

He warned that Naira Marley and Zinoleesky should be held responsible if anything were to happen to him.

Zinoleesky, however, denied the allegations, accusing Smart of “chasing clout.” He also threatened legal action against the dancer.

In a recent (now deleted) Instagram post, Smart claimed that he had previously endured bullying from the singers but lacked the evidence necessary to take legal action.

He mentioned that he has now officially submitted his petition, with the required evidence, to the authorities and is hopeful that the legal system will provide him justice.

“This has not been the first or third time I have been experiencing this bullying. But I did not have enough evidence to face the law. Now, I thank God that I have very good evidence, and I will put everything I have in line to make sure this bullying and threat to life is stopped,” he said.

“With my evidence, I really hope that they are not too big to be apprehended and face the law. I have submitted my petition, and I have provided my evidence to the authorities. By God’s grace, the law that binds us as citizens of Nigeria will make sure I get the justice I deserve.”

Naira Marley has yet to comment on the allegations.

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BREAKING: Court Grants Yahaya Bello N500m Bail Amid “N110.4bn Fraud” Case

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The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday granted the immediate past Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, bail in the sum of N500 million and three sureties.

The trial judge, Justice MaryAnne Anenih, made the pronouncement after hearing the fresh bail application brought before the court following the court’s refusal to grant Bello bail at the previous sitting.

Bello, alongside two others, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are facing trial on 16 counts brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, concerning criminal breach of trust and money laundering amounting to N110.4 billion.

However, the court granted bail to the second and third defendants in the sum of N300 million with two sureties, along with other conditions.

Outlining the conditions for Bello’s bail, the judge stated that the sureties must be responsible citizens who are landowners in any of the listed areas in Abuja – Maitama, Guzape, Apo, Wuse 2, or Asokoro.

She ordered that the sureties must deposit the documents of the property with the court’s registrar, along with two recent passport photographs.

Justice Anenih also ordered that Bello must deposit two copies of his recent passport photograph, alongside a photocopy of a means of identification, which could either be an International Passport or National Identity card, after presenting the original to the court’s registrar.

She ruled, “The first defendant must not travel without the permission of this court, and he shall remain in the Kuje Correctional Facility until the bail conditions are met.”

Recall that on December 10, the court had rejected Bello’s bail request, citing procedural irregularities in the filing of the application.

Justice Anenih, while delivering the ruling, explained that the application was premature and filed before Bello was present in court or custody.

The court noted that the bail application, dated November 22, 2024, was submitted before Bello’s arraignment, which took place on November 27, 2024, days after he was taken into custody on November 26, 2024.

She said, “Having not been filed when the first defendant was either in custody or before the court, this instant application is incompetent.”

“Consequently, the application, having been filed prematurely, is hereby refused.”

 

More to come…

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