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Tinubu Didn’t Finance My Lekki Home, I Sold Houses, Land, Took Loan, Pa Adebanjo Replies Bisi Akande

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Leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has given an account of how he built his house located at Ayo Adebanjo Close, Off Adebayo Doherty Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos State.

A former Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, in his book, ‘My Participations’, claimed that Adebanjo pestered Bola Tinubu to build the Lekki house for him.

Adebanjo, however, denied the allegation in a press statement on Thursday, calling Akande a “fool”. The Afenifere leader claimed that he sold houses and land to build his Lekki house.

He also noted that he took a loan from a bank to complete the house.

While giving an account of how the properties were sold, Adebanjo said one of the lands sold was given to him by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

He clarified that Tinubu didn’t finance his Lekki house, instead, Adebanjo alleged that Tinubu built a house for Akande.

The statement read, “About a week ago, last Thursday, December 7 to be exact, at the presentation of the book, ‘MY PARTICIPATION’, by Chief Bisi Akande, it was said that Chief Bisi Akande stated in the book that I brought pressure on Bola Tinubu to build a house for me.

“But since Bola Tinubu himself was present at the presentation, I expect him within a few days to refute such a malicious falsehood about me emanating from his Man Friday.

“I hold this view because Bola Tinubu just some three years ago on the occasion of the presentation of my autobiography, ‘SAYING IT AS IT IS’, that for my incorruptibility and strength of character, he, Bola Tinubu, would not have been Governor of Lagos State in 1999. What then could he be demanding from me after his two-term governorship to make me pressurise him to build a house for me when I did not get a naira from him before he became the governor?

“There has been a lot of pressure on me not to react to Chief Bisi Akande’s tantrums; he is a neophyte, a beneficiary of a struggle he never took part in. I have been urged to keep to the adage not to ‘Answer a fool lest you reduce yourself to his level’, but there is also an adage that says, ‘Answer a fool lest he thinks he is wise’. A lot has been said in the press and the social media to demolish tantrums.

“But I owe a duty to myself and to put the record straight for posterity about the big lie that Bola Tinubu built my house in Lekki for me. I, therefore, deny categorically that my house at Lekki was built with my resources through the sale of three developed properties, loan from GTBank and the sale of undeveloped landed property given (to) me by my late leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, of the blessed memory.

“The details are as follows: A 4-bedroom duplex with 2-bedroom flat enclosed with two undeveloped plots at Plot 4, Block 14 Nuru Oniwo Street, Aguda Surulere, Lagos State; this is where I was living before moving to Lekki. The house was inaugurated in 1972 by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. A wing of the duplex was once occupied by a staff of the security outfit then known as ‘Special Branch’ headed then by the late Alhaji M.D. Yussuf who later became Inspector General of Police when General Olusegun Obasanjo was the Head of State.

“It was later occupied by one of the wives of Chief Pius Akinyelure, who often visited his wife there in the company with Senator Bola Tinubu. The gate of this property was forced open by (Sani) Abacha security forces when NADECO was holding a send-off party for American ambassador, Walter Carrington, in my house. I took the Federal Government to court for damages and I was awarded N1million which has not been paid till today by the Federal Government. Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, was my counsel.

“The house was sold to St Baths Anglican Church, Aguda, Surulere. Two storey building at Odedola Street, Surulere, Lagos State. I bought it through an estate agent by the name Mr. Shiwoniku who has relocated to the UK; he has a brother who is a legal practitioner in Abuja. The house was sold to a Ghanaian by the name Mr Akappo.

“He is still alive and he lives in one of the flats in the building. Four storey buildings with a warehouse on the ground floor and six flats on top. It was inaugurated by Chief Awolowo in 1977. I inherited the plot of 45’X100’ from my mother, Salamotu Anomo-Adebanjo, who built a bungalow on it.

“She bought the land when I was in primary school in 1940 from one Pa. Idowu Onitiri for £20, which she paid by installment of £10, £7, £3. His son Akanbi Onitiri, executed the conveyance for me without extra payment after showing him the purchase receipts from his father, when I was developing it in 1976. Akanbi Onitiri is the father of Sumbo Onitiri, a well-known estate surveyor in Lagos. The building was sold to a woman through an estate agent. I then took a loan from GTBank to complete the house in Lekki where I am living now.

“When the interest on the loan became unbearable, I was compelled to sell the undeveloped land given to me by Chief Awolowo in Dide-Olu Estate in Maroko, Victoria Island. One Mr. Ade Otusanya, a friend of my son, Femi Ayo-Adebanjo, bought the land. The contractor who built my Lekki house is Engr. Hakeem Sulaiman, Senior Partner of Messrs HA associates. The electrical and mechanical contractor is Engr. Tokunbo Oshokoya, Senior Partner of Messrs Oshea Projects. The architect is Mr. Deji Johnson. The Quantity Surveyor is the late Otunba T.B. Adebayo.

“The Lekki property, the house in my village, Isanya Ogbo, and three-bedroom flat in a townhouse at Omorinre Street in Lekki are the properties I have in the whole world.”

BIG STORY

Federal Government Lifts Ban On Mineral Exploration In Zamfara

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After more than five years of security restriction, the Federal Government has lifted the ban on mining exploration activities in Zamfara State, citing significant improvements in the security situation across the state.

Making the announcement during a press briefing at the weekend, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake stated that the nation has a lot to gain from reawakened economic activities in a highly mineralised state like Zamfara that is imbued with vast gold, Lithium, and copper belts. He noted that the previous ban, which was good intentioned, inadvertently created a vacuum exploited by illegal miners to fleece the nation of its resources. He emphasized that the state’s potential for contributing to national revenue is enormous.

It will be recalled that in 2019, the federal government imposed a total ban on mining activities in Zamfara State due to the escalating security concerns, particularly the links between banditry and illegal mining.

Since the beginning of the Tinubu administration, however, intelligence-driven, coordinated security operations have resulted in the neutralization of key bandit commanders, significantly reducing incidents of insecurity. A recent success was the capture of one of the most wanted bandit commanders, Halilu Sububu, in a covert operation in Zamfara.

“The existential threat to lives and properties that led to the 2019 ban has abated. The security operatives’ giant strides have led to a notable reduction in the level of insecurity, and with the ban on exploration lifted, Zamfara’s mining sector can gradually begin contributing to the nation’s revenue pool,” Alake asserted.

The minister added that the lifting of the ban would also facilitate better regulation of mining activities in the state. This will enable more effective intelligence gathering to combat illegal mining and ensure the country benefits from the state’s rich mineral resources.

Commending members of the fourth estate of the realm for championing the propagation of reforms and initiatives of the ministry in 2024, Alake noted that the press have been key allies in efforts to sanitise the mining sector, and promote market reforms which have made the industry attractive to indigenous and foreign investors.

On the recent controversy surrounding the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with France, Alake reaffirmed the Federal Government’s position that the agreement does not imply Nigeria is relinquishing control over its mineral resources or entering into any military pact with France. He emphasized that Nigeria’s military remains fully capable of safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity.

“The high point of the MOU is on training and capacity building for our mining professionals. We need all the assistance we can get in terms of capacity, technical, and financial support from abroad, and that wasn’t even the first we are signing. We’ve signed similar ones with Germany and Australia. Deliberate peddling of misinformation, despite facts to the contrary, is uncalled for, “the minister emphasised.

Dr. Alake also urged the media to continue to play its crucial role in educating the public about government policies in order to prevent ignorance, mischief, and the spread of misinformation.

Looking ahead to 2025, the minister hinted at upcoming policy initiatives aimed at revitalizing the mining sector. He revealed that the ministry plans to further consolidate reforms, enhance the enabling environment for investments, and continue efforts to reposition the sector for long-term, sustainable growth.

 

Segun Tomori, FSCA

Special Assistant on Media

to the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development

 

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BIG STORY

Emefiele Loses Warehouse Built On 1.925 Hectares To Federal Government

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the final forfeiture of a warehouse linked to Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to The Guardian, top sources revealed that Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos issued the forfeiture order on Thursday, December 19, 2024, with the property forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The warehouse, built on a 1.925-hectare piece of land located at Km 8 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Magboro, contained 54 general-purpose steel containers.

The containers were filled with various types of sewing machines.

Earlier, on November 28, the judge had ordered the interim forfeiture of the assets after the Commission filed an application for their forfeiture.

Following the court’s directive for the EFCC to publish the order in two national newspapers, allowing any interested party to show cause why the assets should not be finally forfeited, the Commission later returned to court to request the final forfeiture of the assets.

According to the source, the court also ordered the forfeiture of the land on which the warehouse is situated to the government.

“At the resumed hearing of the matter on Thursday, EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, told the court that the EFCC had complied with the court’s directives to publish the assets in two national newspapers,” the source said.

“Citing Section 44(2)(B) of the constitution and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, he prayed the court to grant the final forfeiture of the assets.

“Justice Dipeolu granted the order, making the forfeiture another milestone in the asset recovery drive of the EFCC.”

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BIG STORY

10 Feared Dead, Several Others Injured At Catholic Church’s Palliative In Abuja

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A stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama District of Abuja on Saturday morning has resulted in several deaths and numerous injuries.

The tragic incident occurred during a palliative distribution event organized by the church to assist struggling residents.

It was reported that chaos erupted as thousands of residents rushed to receive relief items, leading to the deadly crush.

Over 3,000 people, including children, mostly from nearby areas such as Mpape and Gishiri Village, had gathered for the event before the unfortunate incident took place.

Mike Umoh, the National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, confirmed the incident.

“Yes, it’s true, but the details are sketchy,” he said in a brief statement.

On the same Saturday, a stampede in Okija, a community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State in Nigeria’s South-east, also left many people dead.

According to Premium Times, witnesses reported that the victims had gathered to participate in the distribution of bags of rice donated by a well-known entrepreneur, Ernest Obiejesi, commonly referred to as Obijackson.

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