The founder of one of Nigeria’s most renowned live bands, Akin Shuga, Akinloye Tofowomo, has passed away.

Information obtained by The Eagle Online indicates that Tofowomo died in New Brunswick, Canada after undergoing surgery.

The family confirmed his death in a statement issued on Monday. The statement, signed by Femi Dare on behalf of the family, noted that Tofowomo was born on January 6, 1975.

According to the statement, “It is with profound solemnity and total submission to the will of God, that the family of Akinloye Tofowomo (Akiin Shuga) — revered music icon, Grandmaster, and Managing Director of Shuga Limb Foundation and Shuga Entertainment, Nigeria’s most prestigious live band — announces his passing in New Brunswick, Canada.”

The tribute described him as a cultural pillar in the music industry, adding, “Akinloye Tofowomo was more than a musician; he was a custodian of rhythm, culture, and the spirit of performance. Across more than three decades of excellence — on stage and in mentorship — he redefined what it meant to lead a band with grace, mastery, and purpose. To countless admirers at home and abroad, he was both an inspiration and an institution: a true king in his art.”

The family appealed for privacy as they mourn, stating, “As the family comes to terms with this immeasurable loss, they humbly request privacy and quiet reflection at this deeply difficult time. They wish for the space to find closure and to honour his life in the intimacy of loved ones and cherished memories.”

They added that memorial arrangements will be announced later, saying, “Further details, including dates and arrangements for memorial observances, will be communicated in due course.”

Expressing gratitude to the public, the family stated, “The family extends heartfelt appreciation to all who have reached out with prayers, tributes, and kind words. Akinloye Tofowomo’s legacy — through the Shuga Band and Shuga Entertainment — will continue to live on.”

Tofowomo is survived by his wife, children, siblings, and mother. “May his noble soul find eternal rest,” the statement concluded.

Tofowomo, popularly known as Akiin Shuga, was a Nigerian singer, songwriter and music entrepreneur. He founded the celebrated Shuga Band in 1998 and also established the Shuga Limb Foundation, which supports individuals living with polio.

A protest broke out on Monday at the Peoples Democratic Party national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, as supporters aligned with the faction loyal to PDP National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, stormed the facility.

The protesters, singing solidarity songs, demanded the immediate exit of the National Working Committee led by Umar Damagum from the party headquarters.

Abdulrahman was recently announced as Acting National Chairman amid escalating leadership tensions in the party. His emergence followed the suspension of the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, for one month as internal disputes deepened.

In response, a rival group loyal to Anyanwu convened a separate meeting in Abuja where it declared the suspension of the Damagum-led NWC.

The protesting faction accused the Damagum leadership of mishandling party affairs and vowed to take control of the secretariat on behalf of the Abdulrahman camp.

Security operatives have since been deployed to the scene to avert possible clashes, as both sides continued to jostle for dominance at the party headquarters.

More to come…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a music artist, Godspower George Osahenrumwen, popularly known as Steady Boy, for allegedly attempting to receive a consignment of illicit drugs smuggled from the United States for his manager in the Lekki area of Lagos State.

The agency also disclosed that it uncovered an illicit drug laboratory in the Ajao Estate area of Lagos.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, announced the developments in a statement on Sunday.

According to the statement, Steady Boy was arrested after operatives intercepted large quantities of Loud concealed inside three cartons of bathtubs at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday. The shipment reportedly arrived via a DHL flight from the United States.

“The 20-year-old music artiste was nabbed at Bougain Villa, Primewater Gardens 2, Freedom Way, Lekki, Lagos, when he showed up as the consignee to take delivery of the 140 bags of Loud with a gross weight of 77.20kg on behalf of a syndicate, which includes his manager, Zion Osazee Omigie (a.k.a. Zee Money), who is currently at large,” the statement added.

Babafemi explained that intelligence gathered over several months led to the discovery of a clandestine laboratory producing Colorado in large quantities, and the suspected owner of the facility was arrested.

During the operation, “freshly cooked Colos weighing 16.2 kilograms, 1.7kg of ADB-CHMNACA Cannabinol, 4.5kg of Potassium Carbonate, and 91 litres of Dibromobutane” were recovered from the apartment.

The statement noted that NDLEA operatives conducted another operation on Saturday, November 1, in Mushin, Lagos, where they raided the hideout of a 28-year-old drug dealer identified as Afeez Salisu (alias Malu). The operatives recovered 16 compressed blocks of Ghana Loud and designer sachets and bottles of Colorado weighing 16.4kg.

“In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja–Jos highway on Sunday intercepted a consignment of 84,710 capsules of tramadol coming from Onitsha, Anambra State, and heading to Bauchi. A follow-up operation in Bauchi led to the arrest of the recipient, Musa Abdulkarim, 27.

“Two days later, on Tuesday, operatives at the tollgate along the Abuja-Kaduna highway arrested Hamza Musa, 47, conveying 32,946 bottles of Akuskura, a new psychoactive substance, from Lagos, while Saidu Nafiu, 30, was nabbed with 131.5kg of skunk at Kamfanin Zangon Aya, Igabi LGA, Kaduna.

“Three suspects, Seun Olaniyi, 24; Rauf Asogba, 28; and Ayinla Adeniyi, 50, were on Saturday, November 1, arrested at Abeokuta, Ogun State, after a team of NDLEA officers tracked their movement from Benin Republic and eventually intercepted their bus along Abiola Way, Abeokuta, with a total of 1,779kg of skunk recovered from them.”

Babafemi further stated that operatives arrested one Jamilu Mustapha in Nasaru town, Ningi LGA of Bauchi State, while 532,600 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 were recovered from three suspects in a truck at Oko-Olowo, Ilorin, Kwara State, on Wednesday.

He continued, “In Edo State, the NDLEA officers on patrol along Okhokho–Isi community in Uhunmwode LGA on Wednesday intercepted two Toyota Sienna buses marked EPE 545 EV and ABC 142 CD, conveying a total of 1,455kg of skunk following credible intelligence.

“In like manner, operatives in Ondo State on Tuesday, October 28, recovered a total of 2,829kg of skunk linked to a 32-year-old female suspect, Mrs Ige Olarewaju, from two locations at Ayede, Ogbese, while another suspect, Samuel Adebayo, was nabbed with 737kg of the same psychoactive substance at Adegbola Junction, Akure.”

According to the NDLEA, officers also recovered 76.5 litres of skuchies from a suspect identified as Ige Oluwale in Ibereko, Badagry, Lagos, on Friday, October 31.

Babafemi said a further operation in Taraba State on Thursday led to the recovery of 30,370 pills of tramadol and 177 grammes of methamphetamine from two suspects arrested while transporting the drugs from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Yola, Adamawa State.

“While commending the officers across the country for their resilience, professionalism, and balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the country, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, vowed that the agency will continue to target and dismantle every identified drug syndicate in any part of Nigeria,” the statement concluded.

The NDLEA has recorded a series of arrests and convictions in recent months as part of its intensified crackdown on drug trafficking networks.