A 75-year-old woman from Edo State, Adizatu Dazumi, died during the 2025 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Dazumi was from Jattu Uzairue in Etsako West Local Government Area.
PUNCH Online gathered that the pilgrim died on Monday at King Fahad General Hospital in Makkah after a short illness.
The Chairman of the Edo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Musah Uduimoh, confirmed her death on Tuesday.
Uduimoh said Dazumi became ill shortly after performing Tawaaf (walking around the Kaaba) and was taken to the hospital on Sunday. She passed away the next day.
“She was buried in Makkah on the same day, according to Islamic tradition, and her family in Jattu Uzairue has been informed,” Uduimoh said.
He sent his condolences to her family and assured other pilgrims that the board is committed to their health and safety.
The Presidency on Sunday described as fake and malicious a widely circulated statement claiming that President Bola Tinubu rejected a working visit invitation from the White House due to domestic priorities and aircraft constraints.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, debunked the viral statement via his official X (formerly Twitter) page, dismissing the claims as the handiwork of “disinformation agents, hoax peddlers, fake news propagators, and clickbaiters.”
“Whoever you are, one day, the law will catch you,” Onanuga warned in a strongly worded post, as he shared the image being circulated with a “FAKE NEWS ALERT” overlay.
The forged document, disguised as a “State House Official Statement,” claimed that the Tinubu administration had declined a White House invitation for a working visit to Washington, D.C., citing “critical domestic priorities” and “logistical constraints, including the unsustainability of presidential aircraft for long-distance travel.”
The statement was falsely attributed to Onanuga himself, bearing his name and official designation as the signatory.
However, Onanuga distanced himself from the statement entirely, emphasizing that neither the White House nor the Nigerian Presidency had issued or acknowledged such communication.
The fake release stated that “the Nigerian government remains committed to fostering strong bilateral relations with the United States and looks forward to future opportunities for collaboration.”
The Yoruba Council Worldwide has commended President Bola Tinubu for repaying the International Monetary Fund loan, describing it as a boost for Nigeria’s economy.
President of the group, Mr Oladotun Hassan, praised the move in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
Hassan said the President had taken a commendable step towards economic recovery by relieving Nigeria of such a major financial obligation.
“I speak as president of the Yoruba Council Worldwide, representing indigenous Yoruba people at home and abroad, and we appreciate President Tinubu’s bold economic decisions.
“He deserves full support and prayers. He has proven his leadership capacity by ensuring the IMF loan has been successfully repaid,” Hassan said.
He further praised Tinubu’s decision to repurpose looted properties for public benefit, describing it as a clear sign of the fight against corruption.
Hassan also noted the President’s efforts to involve the youth through student loan schemes and the creation of a youth academy.
He stated that Nigeria’s global image is improving, and foreign policy is becoming stronger under Tinubu’s leadership.
“These achievements have brought support from various quarters, even opposition parties, with some endorsing him for a second term,” he said.
He cautioned the Afenifere group against turning the issue of power rotation into an ethnic conflict.
Hassan said Afenifere has the right to support any candidate but should not frame it as an ethnic necessity.
“Democracy isn’t about ethnic entitlement. Let’s assess the President’s performance during his eight years before making such demands.
“If Tinubu can pay the IMF loan, he can also reduce food prices significantly, which we’re already seeing.“Rice prices have dropped from N120,000 to around N50,000 per bag. That’s proof of his economic impact,” he added.
He said the President inherited a struggling system and has focused on rebuilding without blaming others or making excuses.
According to him, Tinubu is giving all Nigerians a chance to thrive through regional development commissions.
“This isn’t politics as usual. Tinubu appoints competent people to handle sensitive positions, not loyalists.
“He is ensuring that every region gets equal attention, regardless of the role of state governors.
“Considering our progress, Tinubu deserves to complete his eight-year term. This isn’t about re-election but continuing a working vision,” Hassan added.
He clarified that his remarks were not intended to criticise former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
He said opposition figures like Atiku should focus on supporting good governance rather than forcing themselves into power.
“Leadership can mean promoting good governance through cooperation, not just competition.
“There’s no reason Peter Obi and Tinubu can’t collaborate. They met in Rome and shared smiles, showing potential unity.
“They are not enemies. Nigerians should focus on how to support this government for the common good,” Hassan said.
The Federal Government recently confirmed repayment of the $3.4bn IMF emergency loan taken during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, said the repayment, approved by President Tinubu, restores Nigeria’s fiscal credibility.
He said it also addresses financial burdens inherited from past administrations.
Error or Fraud? How GTBank Ruined a Corporate Customer’s Business and Life Over a Missing Deposit
While Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) continues business as usual—most recently celebrating its annual Food and Drinks Festival—one of its corporate customers has been left destitute, his business ruined and life upended after trusting the bank with his money. His ordeal began last year when he attempted to move his funds to another bank after discovering unauthorized transactions on his account during GTBank’s infamous system upgrade.
According to a source close to the victim, the problem began more than seven months ago during the bank’s system upgrade. Unauthorized transactions were being made from his account, yet he was locked out and had no access to monitor or prevent the activity. Alarmed by alerts showing withdrawals he didn’t authorize—and unable to access the account—the businessman, whose supply business operations depended entirely on that account, did what any rational person would do: he decided to move his funds to another institution.
When partial access was eventually restored, he initiated a transfer to move his funds. The account was debited, but the money never arrived at its destination. It has remained “pending” or “hanging” ever since.
The source revealed that the victim immediately rushed to the bank to fill out the necessary dispute forms, desperate to save his business. His corporate account held his entire capital, operational funds, and staff salaries. Despite assurances that the issue had been resolved, and despite repeated visits to the bank, the funds—several millions of naira—are still unaccounted for.
The only glimmer of hope came when his account officer reportedly informed him that the failed transaction had finally been marked as such and that the funds would be reversed into his account. That was nearly six months ago, yet nothing has been done.
Frustrated, he enlisted the help of a lawyer—also a personal friend—to write multiple letters to GTBank. When these yielded no result, he had no choice but to initiate legal proceedings against the bank.
A disturbing trend has emerged in how GTBank handles legal disputes. The bank, one of Nigeria’s most influential financial institutions, often engages Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to stretch litigation indefinitely. A notable example is the long-standing case between GTBank and Innoson Motors, which has dragged on for nearly two decades despite what appeared to be a final Supreme Court judgment in 2019—later reversed due to technicalities.
GTBank’s reluctance to admit fault, even when evidence appears damning, suggests a strategy designed to frustrate and exhaust complainants. In this case, the aggrieved businessman now risks not only losing his business but also his entire livelihood.
One might expect the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as the nation’s top financial regulator, to intervene in such situations. However, the CBN’s silence on past controversies involving GTBank casts doubt on whether the aggrieved party can obtain justice through that channel.
The broader implications are dire. If issues like this continue to go unchecked, they could undermine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign to attract foreign investment. No serious investor will commit funds in a system where depositors’ money can vanish without resolution or accountability.
In countries like the United States, banks face heavy sanctions and are required to compensate customers promptly for unauthorized or erroneous transactions. Nigeria must adopt similar standards if it hopes to restore public confidence in the banking sector.
Meanwhile, the customer’s life has deteriorated rapidly. He is reportedly preparing to withdraw his children from private school and move them to public institutions, having lost most of his clients due to his inability to fulfill transactions for over seven months. What initially seemed like a system error is increasingly looking like a case of corporate negligence—or possibly outright banking fraud.
Elite 18 Golf Club Honours Aare Adetola Emmanuelking with Nigeria’s First-Ever Noble Golfer Award
In a groundbreaking moment for Nigerian sports and business leadership, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, Chairman and CEO of Adron Group, has been bestowed with the first-ever Noble Golfer Award in Nigeria by the prestigious Elite 18 Global Golfers.
The historic recognition celebrates Aare Emmanuelking’s exceptional commitment to the promotion and development of golf and sports in general. The award was presented during a high-profile ceremony graced by influential figures from the worlds of sports, real estate, and business.
According to the Elite 18 Global Golfers, Aare Emmanuelking emerged as the unanimous choice for this maiden award due to his dedication to growing the game of golf in Nigeria and fostering broader sports advancement. His contributions have not only elevated golf as a sport but have also redefined how it is perceived and accessed in the country.
A true visionary, Aare Emmanuelking is leading the development of one of Nigeria’s most ambitious and world-class golf courses, an iconic project aimed at transforming leisure, tourism, and athletic excellence in the nation. This is complemented by his latest initiative: constructing modern golf driving ranges in all Adron Homes estates across Nigeria. These projects aim to democratize access to golf, promote wellness, and foster community bonding within Adron’s residential environments.
Speaking at the award presentation, Aare Emmanuelking expressed heartfelt gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing his belief in the power of sports.
The Elite 18 Global Golfers commended his innovative integration of real estate development with world-class sports infrastructure, calling his work “a blueprint for future-forward community living” and a bold step toward positioning Nigeria as a hub for global golfing events.
As Aare Adetola Emmanuelking continues to break new ground in real estate and sports development, the Noble Golfer Award stands as a powerful affirmation of his enduring legacy, one that blends vision, excellence, and a passion for empowering the next generation.
NCDMB visits MT Group’s facilities, pledges support for firm’s valves manufacturing plans
A delegation from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Wednesday visited MT Valves West Africa Free Zone at Lekki Free Zone, Lagos, to assess the firm’s operations and plans to invest in a 15,000 tons per year valves manufacturing facility.
The company is a subsidiary of MT Group, a global manufacturer of industrial valves, with presence across Africa, Middle East and Asia, manufacturing 60,000 tons of valves per year from its plant at Abu Dhabi, United Emirates and cutting-edge research and development center and manufacturing base at Shanghai, China, the global headquarters.
The Board’s delegation was led the Special Technical Assistant to the Executive Secretary, Engr. Harmony Kunu, Manager Media and Publicity, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi and Manager Commercial Ventures, Ms. Chika Enwerem.
MT Valves West Africa was represented by the Managing Director, Mr. Thomas Zhang and Sales Director, Mr. Elliot Aigbokhade and they hinted that their company specializes in the design and supply of various kinds of industrial valves to the oil and gas industry, petrochemical and allied sectors and is currently a vendor to Shell in Nigeria, despite just setting up in a Nigeria a few years ago.
Taking the Board’s officials through company’s plans and shop floor, the representatives said their operations in Nigeria are in adherence to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act. The firm has started the processes of establishing an advanced manufacturing workshop at Lekki Free Zone, which would serve as a hub for value addition locally, capacity building and compliance with national development objectives, they said.
They asserted that no company was manufacturing industrial valves in Nigeria yet, adding that their firm aimed to close this critical gap by developing a facility similar to their factory at Abu Dhabi, United Arab, which supplies to several countries across the world.
The Lekki facility is projected to start with an initial production capacity of 15,000 valves per year, with a strategic focus that includes phased growth, local value addition, and development of a resilient supply chain. The investment plan targets the Nigerian market, taking into cognizance the projects in the funnel, with potential to supply to the regional market, the officials indicated.
The facility will also carry out maintenance and repair services, as well as assembly and manufacturing operations. The officials outlined plans to secure necessary certifications from the NCDMB and other relevant agencies and demonstrate return on investment potential.
The investment plans include sourcing some raw materials from the local supply chain, creation of employment opportunities, actively engaging Nigerian partners and training Nigerians overseas and locally to work in the facility. The company wants NCDMB to be an integral part of its investment journey, noting that some equipment had been installed in their facility, while other critical equipment was currently sailing to Nigeria. The officials sought the Board’s support and regulatory backing for their investment as well as introduction to players in the industry, to facilitate patronage.
Responding, NCDMB officials conveyed the agency’s backing for credible investments in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, capacity building and gap closures, in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act. They emphasized that the mantra of the Nigerian Content Act is domiciliation and domestication of critical industry capacities, to create job opportunities for Nigerians, in line with the mandate of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and industrialize the nation’s economy.
They challenged MT Valves West Africa Free Zone to develop a robust investment plan, specifying milestones and targets and projected Nigerian content values, planned sources of raw materials and projected contributions to the economy. The Board’s officials also invited the company to participate at the forthcoming Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) planned for May 20-22, 2025, where they would get updated on new projects and opportunities planned by industry players and market potentials for their investment.
As part of the next steps, MT Valves invited officials of government and other key agencies like Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to visit the firm’s facilities at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and global headquarters at Shanghai, China, to appreciate their company’s capacities and the scale of investment they plan to make in Nigeria.
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun Salutes Adron Homes Boss Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing at 50
The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, has congratulated real‑estate titan Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing, Chairman and CEO of ADRON Homes & Properties, on his 50th birthday.
“Reaching fifty in good health and remarkable professional standing is a testament to God’s grace,” the governor said.
Governor Abiodun lauded Aare Adetola’s “exceptional journey and unwavering commitment to excellence,” noting that ADRON Homes has expanded under his leadership from modest beginnings to a leading national developer that has broadened access to home-ownership for countless Nigerians.
“As governor of your home state, I am proud of your accomplishments,” Governor Abiodun added.
The Governor highlighted Aare Adetola’s deep‑rooted investment in people and the local economy, describing it as a reflection of faith in Nigeria’s limitless potential. He credited the celebrant’s “strategic foresight and community‑driven initiatives” with lifting the country’s real‑estate sector to new heights.
On behalf of his family and the people of Ogun State, Governor Abiodun wished EmmanuelKing continued health, wisdom, and impact, extending heartfelt congratulations to his family, friends, and associates on this golden jubilee milestone.
Pope Francis, history’s first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change, died Monday. He was 88.
Bells tolled in church towers across Rome after the announcement, which was read out by Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis lived.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,″ Ferrell said.
Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.
But he emerged on Easter Sunday — a day before his death — to bless thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square and treat them to a surprise popemobile romp through the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause.
Newslens NG reports that the Ondo State Police Command has informed the general public of credible intelligence it received regarding a planned protest scheduled for Monday, 7th April 2025, being organized by the Take It Back Movement and its affiliates.
This was contained in a press statement made available to this news platform by the Spokesperson of the command, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka.
“The Command acknowledges the constitutional rights of all citizens to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, it is imperative to note that the timing of this planned protest is highly inopportune, given the prevailing security challenges and the effort of the police command to stabilizes the security situation across the state.
“The Command is concerned that such a gathering could be hijacked by unscrupulous elements, leading to a breakdown of law and order, thus rolling back the security gains we have collectively achieved in Ondo State.
“We therefore urge the leadership of the Take It Back Movement, their supporters, and other interest groups to embrace constructive dialogue as a means of addressing grievances, rather than taking to the streets in a manner that may heighten tensions and heat up the polity.
“The Ondo State Police Command, under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfried Olutokunbo Afolabi, PSC+, MNIPS, has directed all Area Commanders, Tactical Team Commanders, and Divisional Police Officers to intensify the deployment of personnel and operational assets to all identified public spaces and critical infrastructure to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
“We reassure the good people of Ondo State of our unwavering commitment to safeguarding their fundamental rights and freedoms. While we call on parents and guardians to dissuade their wards from engaging in acts that could disrupt the peace and stability currently enjoyed in the state.
“The general public is hereby encouraged to go about their lawful businesses without fear, as adequate security measures have been put in place to guarantee the safety and protection of all citizens. Also the command urges residents to report any suspicious activities to the nearest Police Station or any other security agency nearest to them” The statement reads.
The Ondo State Police Command has appointed Ayanlade Olayinka Olushola, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP as its new Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO).
He has officially resumed duty and will serve as the Command’s spokesperson, managing public communications and enhancing the force’s image.
This was made known in a statement signed by CSP Funmilayo Odunlami, the outgoing PPRO, on behalf of the Ondo State Commissioner of Police.
Ayanlade holds a degree in Sociology from the Nigeria Police Academy (Regular Course 2) and a Master’s in Criminology and Security Studies. Over the years, he has served in various roles, including as a Divisional Traffic Officer and Divisional Crime Officer.
He is also affiliated with international security organizations, being a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the International Association of Crime Analysts.
The Command also called on the public and media organizations to support Ayanlade in his new role.
