Metro

OAU Graduate Dies Despite N9.4m Cancer Treatment

Published

7 months ago

February 16, 2025

Editor

A 31-year-old graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Oluwafemi Ayo-Owolawi, has died months after Nigerians raised N9.4m to help him through a protracted battle with renal cancer.

Oluwafemi’s death was disclosed by a Lagos-based public analyst, Yinka Ogunnubi, on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the unfortunate passing of Oluwafemi Ayomide Ayo-Owolawi. Femi has gone to be with the Lord and will be buried today.

“His family wishes to express their profound thanks and gratitude to all those who contributed towards his cancer treatment. You all gave Femi a fighting chance,” Ogunnubi wrote.

He added, “Femi fought, he did. Even in death, he was smiling. We thank God for his life and the impact he made while he was still with us. May God console his family, may God strengthen his mum, and may Femi’s soul find eternal rest. RIP Champion!”

Ogunnubi revealed that in 2024, he launched a social media campaign with a GoFundMe organised by one Ayomide Adebanjo to raise funds for Femi’s cancer treatment.

“Six months ago, I launched an appeal for Femi who is battling colon cancer. It has been a very long ride but we thank God for where we are now. Femi is doing so much better and we are confident he will beat this cancer,” he wrote.

In the post, Adebanjo revealed that N12m was needed to fund Femi’s cancer treatment, but only N9.5m could be raised from the GoFundMe campaign, out of which N9.4m was spent on Femi’s surgery and Chemo’s treatments.

He explained, “After the initial surgery in May, we waited for the oncologist’s report to determine the next steps. We consulted with two different oncologists and the conclusions were more or less the same; that he must undergo 12 cycles of chemo at the first instance.

“We had an initial target of N12m but all in all, we raised in total N9,511,824 and have spent a total of N9,405,829.72,” he explained.

According to The PUNCH, Oluwafemi was a Lagos-based business analyst who hailed from Ile-Ife in Osun State.

In 2015, he graduated from OAU, where he studied Economics Education.

He was the last child of his parents but lost his father 24 years ago, with his mother being the sole sponsor of his education.

In an interview he granted to The PUNCH in June last year while on the sickbed, the late Oluwafemi said his painful health nightmare began in March 2022, when he first noticed symptoms of blood, bleeding, and passing out.

He said he spent a few months at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where it was confirmed that he had renal cancer.

As of the time of the interview, Femi said the cancer had reached stage two, with serious health complications that had caused him heavy financial strain.

Metro

EFCC Re-arraigns Ex-minister Over Alleged $6bn Mambilla Fraud

Published

9 minutes ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has re-arraigned former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja.

Agunloye was accused in an amended seven-count charge over the alleged fraudulent award of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project contract worth $6 billion.

EFCC disclosed this in a statement on its X handle on Thursday.

Count one reads: “That you, Olu Agunloye, whilst being the Minister of Power and Steel on or about the 2nd of May, 2003 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, knowingly disobeyed the directive of the President, made in the Federal Executive Council meeting of 21st May 2003, directed at you pursuant to the Presidents’ powers under Section 5(1) (a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) when you signed a letter addressed to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited, conveying the approval of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the construction of the 3,960 megawatts Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 123 of the Penal Code Law.”

Count Four reads: “That you, Olu Agunloye whilst being the Minister of Power and Steel and Leno Adesanya (at large) of Sunrise [Power and Transmission Company Limited, on or about the 22nd of May, 2003 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to cause the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) to enter into a contract with Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) used as genuine, a false document titled, “Construction of 3,960mw Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station on a Build, Operate and Transfer Basis,” dated the 22nd of May, 2003, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code.”

Agunloye pleaded not guilty to all counts.

EFCC counsel M.K. Hussein told the court he was ready to continue the testimony of the third prosecuting witness.

He asked for a date for the continuation of the trial.

Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter to 9 October 2025 for the continuation of trial.

The PUNCH reports that a key witness in the case, Adewale Agunbiade, in September 2024, told the court that N5.2 million was wired into an account belonging to Agunloye, in connection with the Mambilla Power Project contract.

Agunbiade alleged that the transaction formed part of the purported corrupt dealings underlying the contract’s award.

Metro

NAF Airstrikes Kill Scores Of Terrorists, Destroy Hideout In Borno

Published

5 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Air Force said air interdictions by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai have killed scores of terrorists and destroyed their enclave in Borno.

This was contained in a statement released by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on Thursday in Abuja.

Ejodame said the strikes were conducted on Wednesday at about 10:50 a.m. in Bula Madibale, Gezuwa general area of the state.

He said intelligence and surveillance had confirmed unusual movements at the location, where about 45 terrorists were observed converging, some arriving on motorcycles and bicycles from different directions.

According to him, reconnaissance also revealed two terrorist flags hoisted at the site, underscoring its use as a stronghold and rallying point for insurgents.

“Acting on this credible intelligence, the Air Component launched precision strikes, eliminating several terrorists, while the flagged structure and other hostile assets were destroyed,” he said.

Ejodame also said that the strikes denied the terrorists freedom to regroup, reinforce or mount further attacks on communities in the North East.

He assured that the Armed Forces remained committed to restoring peace and stability across the region.

NAN

Metro

Police Arrest Islamic Cleric With Human Flesh In Oyo

Published

6 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

The Police Command in Oyo State has arrested an Islamic cleric, simply identified as Alfa Bashiru, in possession of suspected human flesh.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed this on Thursday in a post on the verified X handle of the Command.

He said that the Federal Highway Patrol team intercepted a white bus with registration number XA 551 IRG, which the suspect allegedly boarded, at the Toll Gate axis of the Ibadan Expressway at 11:30 a.m., on Wednesday.

Oyefeso said that the suspect, when quizzed, claimed to have bought the suspected human flesh in Lagos.

The suspect, he said, had been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, for further investigation.

“The suspected item is undergoing forensic analysis to determine its authenticity and source,” Osifeso said.

In a separate development, operatives of the command during a Search and Stop Operation recovered an abandoned Toyota Camry car with Registration number LSD 957 JX.

Osifeso said that police operatives flagged down the Toyota Camry car during a routine search, and the driver of the car jumped down and took to his heels, abandoning the vehicle.

“The car has been taken into custody by the Command while members of the public with legitimate claims to the vehicle are urged to come forward with verifiable documents or contact the Police Command,” he said.

The police spokesman said that Stop and Search operations were not exaggerated security theatrics, but real and deliberate measures to maintain law and order and as well as ensuring the safety of residents and travellers within Oyo State.

Osifeso said that the command under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, appreciated the public for their continued cooperation and understanding.

He assured them of sustained police efforts to combat crime and foster a more secure environment.

NAN