News

Edo Community, Estate Developer, D Prince Builders At Loggerhead Over Expanse Of Land

Published

1 year ago

May 29, 2024

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

The natives of Obagie Nokenporo community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State have denied selling any portion of the community’s land to an estate developer, D Prince Builders.

This followed a misunderstanding between the estate developer and the community which has resulted in the estate developer allegedly using police to arrest many of the community people.

Speaking, the Odionwere (eldest man) of the community, Napoleon Igue, said there was no time the community sold any portion of land to D Prince Builders which they have made clear to him, but he is bent on intimidating them with police while he claims he purchased land from them.

The Odionwere who claimed the estate developer has no documents to back his claim up, appealed to the Oba of Benin and the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, to intervene in spite of Oba’s earlier intervention.

“He claims that we sold land to him. I am the Odionwere of Obagie Nokenporo Community, and I am aware that at no time were there any land transactions by our community, and the said Cyril Omoregie. There is no document whatsoever to that purported land transactions .

“He summoned us at the Oba palace, and the royal majesty advised him to meet us for dialogue, but he refused to do so. He has taken us to virtually every police station in Benin City and Abuja, and all they told him was the same thing, that he should come to dialogue with us but he refused to do that,” the Odionwere claimed.

Also speaking, the second in command to the Odionwere, Joseph Aiseulin decried the “incessant disturbances and life threatening harassment by Cyril Omoregie aka D Prince Builders”, whom he alleged has made the community to have no peace.”

He added: “The government and the relevant authorities should ask him to present documents of the lands he said he purchased from us”.

On his part, Secretary of the community, Mr Fredrick Iserenren, also accused the estate developer of using both the police and vigilant group to intimidate them in the community.

He said: “When we got to the police station, they handed me to the police men who came from Abuja who promptly transferred me and other two community people they had earlier arrested to Police Force headquarters in Abuja the following morning.

“On hearing that the matter was already in court, the commissioner of police at the Force headquarters said he wouldn’t get involved with a matter that was already in Court.

“I have not met D Prince Builders before and as the secretary of the community, I do not know anything concerning the land matters for which I was arrested and transferred to Abuja.”

The Okaighele (youth leader) of the community, Destiny Osakuwoma, said, “Soon after my installation as the Okaighele of the community, Cyril Omoregie aka D Prince Builders started troubling the entire community, claiming he has one thousand two hundred and sixty ( 1,260) plots of land in Obagie Nokenporo Community, but there isn’t any documents indicating that the elders of the community sold any land to D Prince Builders.

“When we asked him to present the documents for the purchase of the said land, he resorted to harassing and arresting us with the police.

“First, he took us to the Esama palace, then to the Garrison Commander, he summoned us at the Secretary to the state government’s office (SSG) and at the end, they all advised him to go to the community to settle the matter with the elders of the community.”

Reacting via a phone call, the Chief Executive Officer, D Prince Builders, Cyril Omoregie, told INFO DAILY that he actually purchased the land with over N370m five years ago with documents, stressing that if the people have issues within themselves they should settle it.

He said: “Five years ago, I went to that community through some agents, and when we got to the community, we met the elders and youths and we paid a total of N370m acquiring the lands in the community.

” We paid both in cash and transfer. There are documents signed by the community. Then they were having Okao in the community so they signed for the community.

“I just told you there are documents signed by them, so if they are having issues among themselves they should sort it out, and should not affect the developer. They are having power tussle. The new Okaghele came and said he will not recognise anything done by the previous.”

News

Peter Obi’s Son, Oseloka, Speaks On Gay Allegations

Published

11 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

Oseloka Obi, son of the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, has responded to viral allegations linking him to homosexuality after photographs of him with London-based British-Nigerian Kent Okwesa, circulated online this week.

The pictures, which emerged on Wednesday, showed Oseloka and Okwesa sitting closely at a restaurant in the United Kingdom, sparking a wave of online speculation and gossip.

In a detailed statement, Oseloka dismissed the rumours as malicious falsehoods driven by his father’s involvement in Nigerian politics.

He noted that while he rarely responds to such narratives, the persistence of gossip and unfounded claims made it necessary to address the matter.

“Because of my father’s involvement in Nigerian politics, there has been a persistent curiosity and, at times, malicious obsession with me.

“I have no social media presence and no interest in maintaining one, so I rarely correct these falsehoods. But perhaps it is time I address them,” he wrote.

Oseloka stressed that the photos of him in circulation were being misrepresented, insisting they were ordinary snapshots with friends and colleagues.

“The truth is simple: Peter Obi’s son appears in photos with his friends and colleagues, nothing more. If people wish to invent otherwise, I hope they sleep soundly knowing they are spreading lies,” he added.

He further emphasised that neither he nor his father is perfect, but attested to his father’s integrity and commitment to Nigeria’s future.

“My father has my vote, not because he is my father, but because he is the right man for the job. If others wish to go low, invent scandals, or attack me to wound him, they are free to do so. But we will go high, and we will continue to focus on the future of Nigeria.”

Concluding, Oseloka urged Nigerians to redirect their attention from idle gossip to the pressing socio-economic challenges facing the country.

Read the full statement below:

News

FULL LIST: PenCom Bars Seven Mortgage Banks From Processing Housing Loans

Published

11 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has barred seven Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) from processing applications under the pension-backed equity contribution scheme for residential mortgages, citing their non-compliance with housing loan guidelines.

In a letter published on PenCom’s website, addressed to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs), the organisation instructed them to immediately stop accepting or processing equity contribution applications submitted through the affected institutions.

The blacklisted mortgage banks are:

• Jigawa Savings & Loans Limited

• FHA Mortgage Bank Limited

• Delta Trust Mortgage Bank Limited

• AG Mortgage Bank Limited

• Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank Pic

• First Trust Mortgage Bank Limited

• Mutual Alliance Mortgage Bank Limited

“Following the cited letter, the commission instructs that PFAs, including Closed Pension Fund Administrators and Pension Fund Custodians, immediately stop accepting or processing equity contribution applications submitted by the following Primary Mortgage Banks… Please be guided,” the circular read in part.

Explaining the decision, PenCom’s spokesman, Ibrahim Buwai, told The PUNCH that the sanction was imposed because the affected institutions failed to generate the mortgages for which funds had been approved.

“The whole purpose of giving access to RSA holders is to enable them to own houses through mortgages,” he said. “It was discovered that some of the primary mortgage institutions were not generating mortgages. If that is the case, it means they are not complying with the regulations. That is the reason for their blacklisting.”

PenCom introduced the equity contribution for residential mortgages in September 2022, allowing Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders to withdraw up to 25 per cent of their balances to fund equity contributions for home ownership.

According to the commission, 24,582 RSA holders had accessed the scheme as of the first quarter of 2025, with disbursements totalling ₦149.84bn.

RSA holders who submitted applications through the barred mortgage banks are now advised to reapply with other eligible PMBs. Those who have made upfront payments were urged to contact the affected institutions for the next line of action.

News

VIDEO: How ‘Close Friend’ Leaked Cat Secret To Security During My House Invasion — Sunday Igboho

Published

12 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has opened up again on the July 1, 2021 midnight invasion of his Ibadan residence by security operatives, including the Department of State Services (DSS).

Speaking during a visit to the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, at his palace in Ondo State, Igboho alleged that the attack was carried out with the intent to take his life.

“When my house was invaded, they wanted to kill me but failed. Some said my intestines were shattered, others said my leg was broken, but there was nothing of such. They fired guns at me very well, but the prayers of you my fathers on me were answered.”

According to him, the DSS operatives forcefully gained entrance into his residence and pointed a gun at his Personal Assistant so he could lead them to his room.

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Death of cat after friend’s betrayal

While recalling the invasion, Igboho said one of his trusted friends betrayed him by leaking sensitive information about his cat to the operatives.

He disclosed that the so-called ‘trusted’ friend had told the agents not to let the cat escape, which led to the security operatives killing the animal.

“When I opened the door of my room for them, they saw my cat on the bed. One of my friends that I entrusted with secret had told them not to let the cat go. So they killed the cat and wrapped it with clothes like a corpse. They destroyed everywhere in the house and killed one of my brothers alongside one other person and they left,” he narrated.

Appeal to the Olowo

Speaking at the palace of the Olowo, Igboho said his absence from the country had lasted about five years and that he was eager to return to contribute to tackling insecurity in the South-West.

“But why I came to meet you Kabiesi is that till when will I be doing that. Nigeria is my motherland. This is about five years since I’ve been chased from here. Tinubu is your son, you can convince him to free me. If not for the wanted tag on me, I would have come to Nigeria to face the insecurity facing the South-West region. I would have entered the bush and faced them,” Igboho pleaded with the monarch.

Monarch’s response
In his response, Oba Ogunoye described Igboho as a beacon of hope for his generation and future ones, urging him not to be discouraged by the challenges he has faced.

The monarch enjoined Igboho and his supporters to remain law-abiding amid ongoing challenges.

He assured him of continued support and called for peace and cooperation across South-West communities, noting that no region can achieve sustainable development without security.
(TRIBUNE)