Metro
Hoodlums Invade Church, Beat Up Pastor, Hack Member
Published
4 years agoon
By
Editor
A pastor, Adewunmi Awotidoye, has been hospitalised after being attacked by armed thugs who invaded a Celestial Church of Christ in the Jakande area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the thugs, who were armed with guns and machetes, stormed the church on motorcycles during a service.
They were said to have beaten up the cleric, including cutting him with a machete.
The incident, which happened on Tuesday, January 25, created confusion among congregants, as some fled the church premises.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said one of the hoodlums attempted to shoot Awotidoye.
She said, “He was in church coordinating a weekly programme when the hoodlums came. They were six in number; two stayed outside of the gate and two came inside. Immediately they entered the church, they asked if he was Prophet Awotidoye and he said yes. The next thing, they grabbed him and started beating him. One wanted to use his gun on him, but one of them stopped him.
“He later requested a machete immediately he saw that the prophet took to his heels. The hoodlums chased him; he fell and they caught up with him. They used the machete to cut him. A 70-year-old elder in the church pleaded with them to leave him. They cautioned the man to steer clear. Nobody could get close because they were with guns. A lady who tried it was hacked along with Prophet Awotidoye. She is still in a hospital.”
READ ALSO: Court Sentences Man To Death By Hanging For Culpable Homicide
The PUNCH correspondent learnt that there was a leadership tussle in the church.
After a former leader of the church ended his tenure, another pastor, Elijah Ogunbemi, was appointed.
However, after spending one year, Ogunbemi was reportedly suspended over alleged gross misconduct.
Awotidoye was subsequently appointed in acting capacity.
A source in the church alleged that Ogunbemi was behind the attack on the pastor.
She said, “Ogunbemi was transferred to our church in 2021. After church elders suspended him, he insisted on completing his two-year term.”
Another member of the church, who gave her name as Sarah, alleged that the suspended leader had been creating problems for the new pastor.
Ogunbemi, however, denied the allegations, adding that he had explained his side of the story to the police.
He said, “That is a wrong allegation; I didn’t do that and I have never done that and I will never do it. I don’t know who brought the thugs; we were at the police station today and they promised to carry out an investigation into the matter. I don’t have an issue with them. The person that has an issue is the other pastor that refused to leave the church after I arrived.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, said the incident was under investigation.
He said, “The Commissioner of Police has directed that the case should be properly investigated and those responsible for the attack arrested.”
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Metro
Accountant Jailed 15 Years For Defrauding Oyo Job Applicants
Published
14 hours agoon
August 7, 2025By
Editor
A serving accountant in the Oyo State Health Management Board, Wahab Olabanji, has been sentenced to a total jail term of 15 years following his conviction for fraudulently collecting various sums of money from unsuspecting victims with the promise of giving them employment.
Wahab, who until his trial was the Chief Executive Officer (Accounts) on Grade Level 14 at the state Hospital Management Board, was accused of collecting the money from applicants who applied for the last recruitments into the board and the state Teaching Service Commission.
The Chairman of Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency, Justice Eni Esan (retd.), disclosed this in a statement in Ibadan, the state capital, on Tuesday.
She said Olabanji was convicted on a 30-count charge of official corruption, obtaining money under false pretence and conversion, to which he was sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option of N50,000 on each count of the charge.
READ ALSO:Gospel Singer, Eight Others Jailed For Internet Fraud In Kwara
Esan said, “The man was convicted on a 30-count charge of official corruption, obtaining money under false pretence and conversion. However, after a rigorous 17-month trial, the court delivered its judgement on Friday, August 1, 2025, in which the defendant was found guilty on all the 30 counts and he was sentenced to imprisonment for six months with an option of N50,000 fine on each count of the charge.
“The court also ordered the defendant to pay all sums fraudulently obtained from his victims within three months to remedy the wrong suffered by the victims due to the corrupt and fraudulent actions of the defendant.”
She reiterated OYACA’s commitment to zero tolerance for corruption in the public service of the state.
Metro
Tragedy Adverted As Tanker With 50,000 Litres Of Diesel Skids Off Road In Oyo
Published
16 hours agoon
August 7, 2025By
Editor
A tanker carrying 50,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil skidded off the road on Wednesday evening at Jin-Jofes Filling Station, Iwo Road in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Eyewitnesses told PUNCH Online on Thursday that the incident occurred around 8 pm as a result of brake failure while the driver was attempting to navigate a bend.
One of the eyewitnesses, Ajadi Oyekunle, said, “I was heading home when the incident happened. It could have been disastrous, but the immediate arrival of the state Fire Service averted an explosion.”
Another witness, Bisola Ogungbade, said, “It happened during rush hour when everyone was trying to get home. Thankfully, both the driver and the motor boy were rescued alive. The motor boy sustained a minor injury to his shoulder and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.”
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Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, said the report was received at exactly 20:07 hrs on Wednesday via a phone call from one Adisa Kazeem.
“Our officers, led by ACFS Adeniyi Adesina, were promptly deployed to the scene. On arrival, they found a DAF trailer tanker with registration number LAGOS: T17 657 LA, carrying 50,000 litres of AGO, had skidded off the road into a nearby gutter, and its contents were spilling.
“The firefighters quickly applied a chemical foam compound to blanket the spillage and neutralise the flammability of the content to prevent a possible fire outbreak.
READ ALSO:Petrol Tanker Explodes In Ibadan
“The driver and motor boy were rescued alive, though the latter sustained a minor shoulder injury and was taken to the nearest hospital. The situation has been brought under control, and normal activities have resumed on the road”, Akinwande added.
He also confirmed that operatives of the Nigerian Police Force from the Akobo Division and the Amotekun Corps were present to provide security during the operation.
The firefighters reportedly returned to the station around 4:12 am on Thursday.
Metro
Court Orders TSTV CEO To Pay ₦938m, $1.42m In Debt Case
Published
1 day agoon
August 7, 2025By
Editor
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja has ordered Telcom Satellites Limited, and its Chief Executive Officer, Bright Echefu, to pay a former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), a total of ₦938 million and US$1.42 million, along with post-judgment interest at the rate of 10 per cent per annum until the debt is fully cleared.
Justice Bello Kawu made the order on July 7, 2025, while delivering judgment in the suit filed by Turaki against the TSTV and its CEO.
A certified true copy of the judgment was sighted on Wednesday by The PUNCH.
Turaki, the claimant in the suit marked FCT/HC/CV/332/23, sued TSTV and Echefu, as the 1st and 2nd defendants respectively, over unpaid debts.
In a writ of summons supported by a 27-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Turaki, he stated that TSTV, a company duly incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, presented itself as an indigenous cable satellite television provider rendering media and telecommunication services to him.
He said the 1st defendant (TSTV) operated from its head office located at Plot 859, Idu Industrial Area, Idu in Abuja.
READ ALSO:Enugu Court Remands Ritualist, Two Others, For Kidnapping, Murder
According to Turaki, the 2nd defendant, Echefu, who is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of TSTV and its alter ego, personally obtained loans from him under false pretences.
Turaki said he became aware of the defendants in 2018 through a close friend and associate who had been approached by Echefu to convince him to invest in TSTV.
He noted that after about two months of due diligence and negotiations with Echefu, he declined the invitation to invest in TSTV as the terms presented were not acceptable to the 1st defendant.
He said that following the failed investment proposal, Echefu continued to mount pressure on him to invest in TSTV.
“Unrelenting in his efforts, the 2nd defendant wrote a letter conveying several propositions to me to come on board, including acquiring 35% of the shares of the 1st defendant and assuming its chairmanship,” he said.
According to Turaki, this proposal was made in a letter dated November 13, 2019.
He added that after persistent persuasion from Echefu and his collaborators, he agreed to serve as Chairman of TSTV and acquire 50% of its shares for the sum of ₦800 million.
He added that this decision was based on representations by Echefu that TSTV was a viable and profitable cable satellite company.
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“The 1st defendant, as a result, deceived me into acquiring 50% of its shares for ₦800 million, even though the company was moribund,” Turaki stated.
He further said that after assuming the position of Chairman and investing in the company, Echefu again exerted pressure on him to assist in raising additional funds for TSTV’s operations.
Turaki said that under pressure from Echefu, he introduced him to Tudu Ventures Nigeria Limited, which lent the defendants the following sums: ₦1.2 billion, ₦800 million, US$1.6 million and US$500,000.
The defendants allegedly failed to repay the loans, prompting Tudu Ventures to file a separate suit (FCT/HC/CV/1588/21) to recover the funds. Partial judgment was entered against the defendants on November 22, 2022.
Turaki said he also personally granted loans to Echefu at his request, amounting to ₦138 million, US$1.35 million, and an additional US$70,000.
“The defendants, via a letter dated January 5, 2021, acknowledged receipt of $1.28 million and ₦138 million as part of the loans advanced to them,” the claimant said.
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He added that the defendants later approached him again, stating that the $1.28 million was insufficient for its intended purpose and requested an additional $70,000, which he also provided, bringing the total loan to $1.35 million.
Turaki said Echefu once more approached him for a further loan of $70,000 to meet financial obligations, which was also granted.
“That the 2nd Defendant again approached me to advance a further loan of the sum of USS70,000, to enable them settle some financial exigencies, which was also advanced to the defendants”.
According to him, the defendants, through a payment proposal signed by Echefu for settling Tudu Ventures’ loans, his own loans, and the equity investment, agreed to repay $1.35 million, $70,000, and ₦138 million.
He added that Echefu’s Counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, (SAN), via a letter dated November 22, 2022 agreed to pay the sum of N200,000,000 on or before July 15, 2022, through the said counsel as a demonstration of the 2nd Defendant’s good faith and commitment to liquidating his Indebtedness to him which the 2nd Defendant failed to keep.
Turaki said he later instructed his lawyers, N.A. Saidu Legal Consult issued a demand letter to Echefu seeking repayment, but no response was received.
READ ALSO:Court Orders NYSC To Allow Skirts For Female Corps Members
He emphasised that, given the efforts made and the lack of response from the defendants, it became clear to him that the defendants had no intention of repaying the loans which Echefu personally obtained and which are now overdue.
He, therefore, urged the court to compel the defendants to repay the outstanding loans with post-judgment interest of 10 per cent annually until the debt is fully liquidated.
In his judgment, Justice Kawu granted all the reliefs sought by Turaki.
He held, “An order of this Honourable Court directing the 1st and 2nd defendants, jointly and severally, to pay the claimant the sum of ₦138,000,000 (One Hundred and Thirty-Eight Million Naira) being the total loan advanced, now due and unpaid.
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“An order directing the 1st and 2nd defendants, jointly and severally, to pay the claimant the sum of US$1,350,000 (One Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars) being the total loan advanced, now due and unpaid.
“An order directing the 1st and 2nd defendants, jointly and severally, to pay the claimant the sum of US$70,000 (Seventy Thousand US Dollars) being the total loan advanced, now due and unpaid.
“An order directing the 2nd defendant to pay the claimant the sum of ₦800,000,000 (Eight Hundred Million Naira) being the total sum paid for 50% equity in the 1st defendant, despite knowing the company was moribund.
“An order awarding post-judgment interest at 10 per cent per annum on the total judgment sum from the date of the judgment until full satisfaction of the debt, and such further orders as the court may deem fit.”
(PUNCH)
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