Business
5 things You Should Know About the death of APC LG chairman’s candidate, Muiz Bello. + his last interview with us
Facts file about MB’s death:
- He clocked 39 on the very day he died, Saturday, March 28, 2015.
- He was in the boat with his wife when the incident occurred. He died but his wife survived and has been admitted in the hospital.
- He has just been promoted in his place of work, chevron.
- He was billed to travel to England on Sunday, March 29, 2015 to relax and celebrate his birthday.
- He has three kids, a boy and two girls.
MB and Wife
Sadly, Muiz Bello, the APC candidate of Epe LG chairman candidate, died on the very day he clocked 39, Saturday, march 28, 2015 in a boat tragedy in Epe area of Lagos. The boat is said to have capsized while coming from the riverine area where they have gone to cast their votes.
The amiable lawyer turned politician was in the boat with eight others which included, the owner of the boat and his two sons, his wife and personal assistant, the first son of olu of Epe, Prince Azeez Adewale and two others.
MB as Muiz is fondly called and Prince Adewale were said to be returning from a riverine area in Epe where they had gone to cast their votes before the unfortunate incident occurred Saturday afternoon. Sadly, they both died in the unfortunate incident.
Bello’s Personal Assistant was also among the people that lost their lives in the incident.
The lawyer’s wife, who was with them, survived the incident; she is recuperating at the General Hospital in Epe.
Here was his last interview with Sahara weekly in his palatial home at VGC, Lagos weeks before his sudden death.
MUHEEZ BELLO EXCLUSIVE! ‘Why I am the most suitable candidate for Epe LG Chairmanship” + Reasons Ambode should be voted in
Sahara Weekly
38 year old Muheez Olayinka Bello widely known as MB is a trained lawyer and was called to bar in 2003. He has had experience in the public sector working as advisor to the Governor of Lagos on Students affairs. He was also a foremost entertainment lawyer providing legal and financial advisory services for entertainers such as 2face, Eldee and the rest. He moved into oil and gas industry in 2008 as a government Relations Advisors to a foremost multi-national oil company. In an exclusive chat with Sahara Weekly, MB, who is married to Monsura, a lawyer, opened up on why he is the most qualified to become Epe L:G chairman in 2015
You are contesting the seat of Epe Local Government Chairmanship, what informed your political aspiration?
It all began with my passion for development. I have always endeavored to support the less privilege in the society. And to a large extent, I have tried within my own capacity to support different initiatives that will improve the well being of different people. I discovered that much as I love doing that in my own way, the opportunities are huge and the challenges enormous especially in a society where poverty is endemic. I realized that the best way to go about it with a genuine commitment to be involved with public service. Aside that, the world economy is being driven by young person using the social media and technology to move the world forward. I was convinced that young people like us have a responsibility to move the country forward.
What are your plans for Epe community?
I have a lot of plans determined by the challenges and problems of the society. There is a team of young people who needs motivation and someone to help them interpret their dreams to reality. There is the issue of electricity. The problems are enormous. I am not deterred by that. Those challenges spur me into actions and enables me contribute my own quota by showing good examples. That would enable me present a template for growth at the grassroots’ level.
What’s your take on professionals and technocrats taking over politics?
If you compare our world with United Kingdom, you will find out that for you to join the political train, you must be well schooled and exposed professionally. For instance, in United States of America, you must be successful in your chosen field. However, in Nigeria people see it as a means of amassing wealth to themselves. It’s high time we allowed professionals and technocrats do the magic. They are better equipped and skilful to move the society forward. For instance, Governor Babatunde Fashola was not a core politician but he came and turned things around. If you are talking about transformation in Nigeria, it resides in Lagos.
Why should Epe people elect you?
If we consider competence, compassion, commitment, professionalism amongst other things, I qualify. I am simply the best hand for this lofty position. I am a qualified lawyer. I was among the first telecoms lawyers in Nigeria. I have adequately handled the power sector in terms of academic or professional competence. Politically, I have been working as an adviser to the commissioner for Sports. I was part of the team that spearheaded a public private partnership model for sports development in Lagos State. Since 2008 till date, I have been working at the highest level and these are the things we should consider. Of a truth, none of my rivals have such enviable credentials. Beyond that, in Epe I have the reputation for being a philanthropist. I have spent my money to support the people and various projects for the growth of the community. If you consider my pedigree, why would someone want to leave an enviable position in a prestigious organization like Mobil to become a Local Government chairman? It was borne out of the need to lead by example. Public service is all about sacrifice.
But so many people are as committed as you are but without resources, what’s your take on the notion that politics is all about money?
The truth is that politics require a lot of money. And that’s because in the third world continent, poverty is endemic. Politics should be about the people and not about money. Politics is quite expensive. And this is why I call on Nigerians especially the upwardly mobile young people to embrace politics. We should all work together. I can’t continue to use my own money. It should be a joint project. If you allow someone else to do the funding and the candidate gets into power, he has no choice but to compensate his godfather because he who pays the piper dictates the tune.
Why the choice of APC?
The party represents true change. It has come to be known with development and growth. If I have not been in APC, there is no way I could have been in PDP. The leadership of that party is grossly incompetent. It’s the worst president we have ever produced. Their actions and utterance best suit the ghettos. Is it Koro or Bode George that I will bow down to as my leaders?
What’s the response like in Epe?
It has been awesome and you can see for yourself. They are so happy because I represent a new wave of fresh breath and change.
Don’t you think what happened in Ekiti might play itself out in Lagos?
Don’t forget that in 2007, Obanikoro want about terrorizing people but our people stood their ground and beat them to it. I felt sorry for Jimmy Agbaje. With all the goodwill he has impacted, he has chosen the wrong set of people and political party to associate with. What’s Obanikoro”s political achievement?
What was your wife’s reaction?
She has always been very supportive. She is a lawyer, too. We discussed it and she gave me her blessing. She is also part of our campaign team.
If you are to advise the president on one pressing issue, what would that be?
I would ask him to be more presidential in the way he handles ethnic issues. Chief Edwin Clark has done the country a lot of damage with his utterances. He always takes ethnic dimensions to national issues and the president has kept quiet. Asari Dokubo has threatened to split Nigeria if Jonathan was not reelected and the president kept mute on such statement. I believed the president has nothing new to offer us. He has always depended on Goodluck all his life. There is a limit to which goodluck can take you to.
Supreme Court sets aside N22trn judgement against Union Bank
The Supreme Court has set aside a Federal High Court judgement in which over N22 trillion was awarded against Union Bank and other parties since 2014.
The judgement arose from a suit instituted by a company known as Visana Nigeria Limited which claimed that Union Bank was indebted to it in the sum of approximately $8 million at an interest rate of 2.5 per cent per month compounded from January 2000 until judgement and thereafter at 10 per cent per annum from the date of judgement until the sum was fully paid.
Delivering the lead judgement of the Supreme Court, with which four other Justices agreed, Justice Stephen Jonah Adah regretted how non-adherence to a settled judicial precedent by the two lower courts had caused a simple matter to be in court for over 25 years.
The final determination of the case is expected to lay to rest the discomfort of the CBN and other regulators of Union Bank, its auditors and rating agencies on the possible impact of the judgement on the going concern status of the bank.
Visana instituted the suit against the defendants, alleging that Metalloplastica Nigeria Limited, a Borrower from Union Bank was indebted to it in the sum of $7,616,188.94 as at December 1993 and that the purported Deed of Debenture made on 24th February 1989, pursuant to which Continental Merchant Bank appointed Chief R. U. Uche as Receiver/Manager of Metalloplastica was invalid, same having been procured “without the prior written consent of Universal Trust Bank and its successors-in title or assigns (being Union Bank) as provided in paragraph 13(f) of the original Debenture issued by Metalloplastica in favour of Universal Trust Bank.
Judgment was delivered against Union Bank on 16 December 2014 for the sum of USD7,616,188.94 or its equivalent in Naira with pre judgement compound interest at the rate of 4.25 per cent per month from 26th January 2000 till the date of judgement and thereafter at the rate of 10 per cent on the judgement sum per annum from the date of the judgement till final liquidation of the debt.
The Court of Appeal later heard the application filed by the 1st respondent (Visana Nigeria Limited) to rely on fresh evidence. The Appeal was heard, and judgement was delivered on the 16th of April 2021. Judgement was reduced to the sum of USD 365, 605.32 or its equivalent in Naira with pre-judgement with interest at 4.25 per cent per month simple interest from 31st December 1993 to 16th December 2014 and thereafter at the rate of 10 per cent per annum from the date of the judgement at the court below until final liquidation of the Judgment debt.
Still dissatisfied by the judgement of the Court of Appeal, Union Bank further appealed to the Supreme Court in 2021. Union Bank’s persistence paid off in the judgement delivered on Friday, 25 April 2025.
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