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Obaseki Calls For Partnership Between The Bar, Bench As Benin NBA Holds Annual Dinner, Award

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By Joe Ebi, Benin

It was who is who in the legal profession as judges, lawyers with their wives and other invited guests gathered at the Edo Hotel event centre, Benin to witness the annual Nigerian Bar Association, Benin branch’s 2021 dinner and award night.

Speaking at the event which took place on Friday, Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice in Edo State, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, called for a mutual relationship between the official Bar and the private Bar, stressing that the is no need for a combative or confrontational rule.

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The Governor who was represented by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice in Edo State, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN urged both the Bench and Bar to see themselves partners and a collaborators and not as opponent.

Representive of Edo State Governor and the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Iyamu delivering his speech at the dinner.

“I will plead that as we go forward, the relationship between the official Bar and the private Bar should not be necessarily combative or a confrontational rule; it should br collaborative.

“Ordinarily, we all have a common intention; and it is that of a society we all can be proud of. If we don’t have that kind of society, all of us will suffer it.

“We all have a duty to see ourselves as a partner and a collaborators, and not as opponent. Even if we don’t agree, we should not cast aspersions. If we disagree in a civil and respectful manner, then we can make progress,” he asserted.

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Justice Joe Acher, Edo State Chief Judge, standing for his citation as he bagged the Benin branch NBA’s Life Achievers award.

Corroborating the Attorney-General’s point, the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice, Joe Acha, further called for a friendly relationship between the Bar and Bench, saying lawyers and judges are all one.

He urged lawyers who are involved in an unwholesome act to desist from such, stressing that it is unethical to the profession and that machinery had been put in place to arrest such unethical practices.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Chairman, NBA, Benin branch, Pius Oiwoh, Esq., who thanked the judiciary for the support to the Bar, admitted that the relationship between the Bar and the Bench has been cordial.

Pius Oiwoh, Esq., Chairman, NBA, Benin branch giving his welcome address.

READ ALSO: EPL: Nobody Is Bigger Than Chelsea, Tuchel Warns Rudiger

The event climax with giving of awards to deserving individual in the law profession and those drawn from other professions.

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Among those given award were Chief Judge of Edo State, Joe Acher who bagged Life Achievers award; Justice Efe Ikponmwonba, Life Achievers award; elder J.O. Aghimien, Life Achievers award and Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, Life Achievers award.

Olayiwola Afolabi, Esq., (Left) in a handshake with another colleague.

Other individuals both from the legal profession and outside were given merit award for their contributions to the law profession and NBA, Benin branch.

In his usual manner, Olayiwola, Afolabi Esq., also gave out a 25kg bag of rice and a fan as a Christmas gift to Isabel Bello, lucky winner of a raffle draw put in place by Olayiwola Afolabi chambers.

Mr. Douglas Ogbakwa, Esq., (Left) and Mac-Ebi, Esq. compere of the event.

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Facebook, Instagram Suspend Idris Abdulkareem’s Accounts After New Song, Open Letter To Donald Trump

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Nigerian rapper and activist Eedris Abdulkareem has announced that his Facebook and Instagram accounts were suspended shortly after the release of his new song, Open Letter to Donald Trump.

Abdulkareem, in a report by online news platform, SaharaReporters, on Sunday said that he has been unable to access either account since the release of the track.

“Facebook just suspended my Facebook and Instagram account because of my new song, Open Letter to Donald Trump,” he said. “I can’t access it.”

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Checks confirmed that both accounts are no longer accessible.

Abdulkareem, known for politically charged music and criticism of government policies, did not provide further details on the duration of the suspension imposed by Meta, Facebook’s parent company.

READ ALSO:Police Neutralize Two Wanted Bandit Leaders In Abuja, Foil Kidnap Attempt

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Released in November 2025 under his label, Lakreem Entertainment, Open Letter to Donald Trump is framed as a direct address to the former U.S. President but primarily targets Nigeria’s political class.

In the song, Abdulkareem accuses Nigerian leaders of enriching themselves while ordinary citizens endure hardship, describing them as “criminals of all shades and hues” who dominate society. The track references worsening insecurity, including kidnappings, killings, and terrorism, and seeks to draw international attention to Nigeria’s crises.

The song continues Abdulkareem’s tradition of protest music, following his 2004 hit Jaga Jaga and the more recent 2025 release Tell Your Papa, which was banned by the National Broadcasting Commission for allegedly containing “objectionable lyrics” in violation of responsible broadcasting rules. The ban prohibited Nigerian radio and television stations from airing the track.

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Abdulkareem has consistently used his music to challenge political leaders and highlight social injustice, cementing his reputation as one of Nigeria’s most outspoken protest musicians.

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Recall that in 2020, Abdulkareem accused Grammy-winning singer, Burna Boy, of appropriating the works of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti to advance his career.

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Abdulkareem made the remarks in a video interview, responding to a now-deleted tweet by Burna Boy in which he claimed that no one had paved the way for him as an artist.

Abdulkareem argued that Burna Boy’s success relied heavily on Fela’s musical legacy and called on the “Anybody” singer to apologise.

He said that while Fela’s songs carried meaningful messages that enriched the lives of listeners, Burna Boy had borrowed extensively from both Fela and Afrobeat without giving due recognition.

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“I think with due respect, Burna Boy needs to apologise. At least Fela made it happen for you, and you stole a lot from Fela’s songs to become who you are. You stole from Afrobeats to become who you are. Even though Fela’s songs are strictly about messages that add value to the lives of people, what is your song about?” Abdulkareem said.

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Organizers Cancel Burna Boy’s US Shows After Fans Refused To Buy Tickets

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The singer ‘No Sign of Weakness’ US tours including tonight’s performance scheduled for November 28, 2025, at The Armory in Minneapolis was abruptly cancelled after fans failed to buy tickets.

Ticketmaster announced the last minute cancellation on its website on Thursday.

Today’s show was cancelled with another concert scheduled for December 1, 2025, in Chicago.

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READ ALSO:Burna Boy Reveals Fighting Secret Battles

While the tour failed to provide a specific reason for the cancellation, the development came amid the public criticism directed at
Burna Boy after he walked out a couple for sleeping during his performance at Colorado.

The viral video of the incident sparked controversy, which intensified after the singer, while reacting to his critics during an Instagram live session, said “he only wants supporters who buy his tickets and not fans”.

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It was later reported that the woman who slept during his performance was grieving a recent personal loss.

Confirming the cancellation, Burna Boy in a post on his Instagram story on Friday morning shared a direct link from the ticketing website, showing that the two concerts were cancelled.

 

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My Father Regretted Funding My Education After I Became Skit Maker – Sabinus

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Nigerian comedian, Emmanuel Ejekwu, popularly known as Sabinus, has revealed that his father didn’t initially support his decision to become a comedian.

In a candid interview with VJ Adams, Sabinus explained that his dad wanted him to be a lawyer but he eventually settled for Linguistics and Communication Studies after failing to secure a law admission.

He recalled that it was while studying at the University of Port Harcourt that he discovered his comedy talent and start making skits.

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The comedian said when his dad found out that he was a skit maker, he regretted funding his education and described the profession as “stupid business.”

READ ALSO:Why I Don’t Promote Nudity With My Skits – Sabinus

Sabinus said, “At first, my dad never wanted me to be what I am today, he wanted me to be a lawyer. I tried my best but I couldn’t secure a law admission. So, I had to settle for Linguistics and Communication Studies at Uniport.

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“It was on the campus that I saw skit making and I decided to try it out. Money wasn’t coming.

“After I graduated, my dad never knew I was a comedian because I was hiding it. It was one more year after school that he started seeing me on comedy show posters. My sisters confirmed to him that I was into comedy. He was very furious. He fumed, ‘Which comedy? Stupid business. Look at the boy I sent to become a lawyer.’”

The comedian added that his dad eventually gave him his blessings after he started gifting him money from his proceeds from comedy.

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