Oronna Festival Holds Huge Potential for Economic Growth and Community Unity — Senator Yayi

Senator Adeola Olamilekan Yayi, representing Ogun West Senatorial District, has reaffirmed that the Oronna Ilaro Festival possesses immense potential to drive community-based economic growth and strengthen social unity—if its rich cultural elements are properly developed and strategically harnessed.

Senator Yayi, who spoke at the grand finale of the 32nd Oronna festival in Ilaro on Saturday, said he remained an enthusiast of the culture in its various forms particularly when it encourages tourism development and ultimately socio economic development as typified by the tourism festival of Oronna.

He praised Governor Dapo Abiodun’s support for tourism development in Ogun State, particularly the Oronna Ilaro Festival.

Senator Adeola commended the Governor’s efforts in promoting festivals in the state, saying it has contributed to the holistic development of Ogun State.

He also acknowledged the Olu Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, for sustaining and growing the festival since his ascension to the throne in 2012.

He said, “let me place it on record that in all ways possible I am an enthusiast of our culture in its various forms particularly when it encourages tourism development and ultimately socio economic development as this tourism festival of Oronna, the legendary and mythological warrior hero of Ilaro, has turned out to be, particularly in its recent editions.

“I have no doubt that when properly harnessed and packaged, aspects of our culture are catalysts to community economic development as well as promotion of a desired unity.”

Senator Adeola highlighted his contributions to the development of his senatorial district, including the completion of over 300 infrastructure projects, such as road construction, healthcare, education, and security.

He also highlighted his role in facilitating the upgrade of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, to a Federal University of Technology, and his pledge to turn his senatorial district into a “small London”.

The Senator expressed his commitment to continuing to work with Governor Abiodun to develop Ogun State and support the Renew Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Let me salute our dear Governor, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun CON, for his support for tourism development through promotion of different festivals in the state including Oronna Ilaro Festival. I am sure that your support is targeted at a holistic development of all aspects of our state.

“In the primary areas of security, your programmes in support of the security agencies has led to a violence- free- state and drastic reduction in criminal activities. You stand commended, Your Excellency, for your construction projects in the area of roads, hospitals and educational institutions across the state with a flagship project in the area of aviation through the construction and commissioning of the Gateway Cargo Airport at Iperu.

“In this senatorial district many laudable works stand to your credit like the work on Ilaro General Hospital nearby, the Owode- Idiroko Road, the llaro-Owode Road and many others which portrays you as a non-sectional governor with the interest of all Ogun State at heart. My heartfelt prayer for you always is for God Almighty to be your strength, your guide and counselor in all that you do. There is no doubt that your policies and programmes are complimentary of that of the Renew Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the federal level.

“On my part, I have attracted development projects to complement the good work of the governor in the state in my senatorial district and beyond in the area of road construction, health care, educational institutions, security and empowerment. In over two years, I have facilitated the completion of about 300 infrastructure projects.

“These includes over 115 road construction projects, construction of 30 School buildings, 32 Primary Health Care Centres, 25 modern markets, 13 Town Halls, 10 ICT Centres, 2 Intensive Care Units, 2 Libraries and 8 Police Stations. Other facilitate projects includes donation and installation of over 200 Electric Transformers, 250 Solar Street Light Projects of some 26,000 poles and personal commitment to repair and upgrade 10 major electric infrastructures affecting about 100 communities in perennial and months long black out in Ogun West and Beyond.”

•Foreign lenders, major banks join fight to overturn sweeping court orders

• Court halts proceedings amid NJC, Chief Judge petitions

Fresh controversy has erupted over the far-reaching orders granted by Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which froze the bank accounts, shares, and assets of Nestoil Limited and its affiliates in a high-stakes debt recovery suit involving unverified claims exceeding $1.01 billion and N430 billion.

In a ruling on an ex parte motion dated October 15, 2025, and filed on October 20, Justice Dipeolu issued sweeping orders restraining Nestoil Limited, Neconde Energy Limited, and other Nestoil affiliates from operating their bank accounts or dealing with funds, shares, or assets held in any Nigerian financial institution.

At the centre of the storm is Neconde Energy Limited, which has faulted its inclusion in the Mareva and receivership orders obtained by FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited and First Trustees Limited, describing the orders as wrongful, oppressive, and a clear case of judicial overreach.

Meanwhile, Glencore Energy UK Limited, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited, and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) — collectively described as Senior Lenders – have filed motions seeking to be joined as defendants to overturn the sweeping ex parte court orders.

Through their counsel, Olufemi Oyewole (SAN), the Senior Lenders asked the Court to set aside or vary the ex parte orders of October 22, 2025, which they said threaten their security interests in Neconde’s assets and operations.

They argued that the plaintiffs failed to disclose in their affidavit the existence of the Senior Secured Medium-Term Facility Agreement dated April 27, 2016, under which Neconde obtained a $640 million syndicated loan.

They added that the Deed of Charge dated December 8, 2022, relied upon by the plaintiffs in obtaining the ex parte orders, was registered against Nestoil Limited only and not against Neconde Energy Limited, rendering it defective and unenforceable against Neconde.

Citing Clause 3.4 of the Deed of Charge, they noted that FBNQuest’s charge “shall rank in all aspects subordinate and subject to the charges and assignments constituted by the Neconde Senior Security Documents.”

They therefore urged the Court to vacate or vary the interim orders or restrain further interference with Neconde’s assets pending determination of the substantive suit.

They asserted that the interim orders have made it impossible for Neconde to service its obligations to the Senior Lenders, potentially triggering events of default that could lead to insolvency actions with highly disruptive consequences.

When the case came up on Friday November 7, 2025, Justice Dipeolu revealed that he had received the petition sent to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court concerning his handling of the case and related cases.

He subsequently suspended further proceedings pending the Chief Judge’s directive on whether he should continue or recuse himself.

The petitions accused the judge of judicial misconduct and reckless issuance of sweeping ex parte Mareva orders in two related cases — FBNQuest Merchant Bank & Anor v. Nestoil Ltd & Ors (FHC/L/CS/2127/2025); Aries Energy v. Neconde Energy & Ors (FHC/L/CP/1439/2025).

The petitioners alleged that Justice Dipeolu granted freezing and receivership orders without verifying ownership of several properties, including Nestoil Tower, which allegedly belong to third parties not indebted to the plaintiffs.

They also accused him of granting freezing and receivership orders against Neconde without any basis and authorising the Nigerian Navy and Department of State Services (DSS) to assist a receiver in enforcing civil orders and selling crude oil from OML 42 — actions they said contravened the preservative nature of interim injunctions.

They urged the National Judicial Council to investigate the matter and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to reassign all related cases to another judge to preserve public confidence in judicial impartiality.

Neconde has also filed processes in court praying the Court to discharge the ex parte orders.

It argued that the instant suit is jurisdictionally incompetent, having been commenced against it despite being under winding-up proceedings before the Federal High Court, Lagos, in Suit No. FHC/CP/1439/2025: Aries Energy & Petroleum Company Limited v. Neconde Energy Limited, Gobowen Exploration and Production Limited, Dr. Ernest Azudialu, and Bridge H&T Limited.

The firm submitted that by the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, once a company is being wound up by the Court, any disposition of its property, including things in action, transfer of shares, or alteration of members’ status after the commencement of the winding-up, shall be void unless otherwise ordered by the Court.

They further contended that any attachment, sequestration, distress, or execution enforced against the estate of a company in liquidation shall equally be null and void except by the Court’s order.

Neconde, a major independent oil producer in OML 42, maintained that it is neither indebted to the plaintiffs nor privy to the syndicated loan transaction forming the basis of the suit.

The company’s lawyers argued that its inclusion amounted to wrongful interference with third-party rights and had effectively halted its daily crude oil production of over 40,000 barrels.

They contended that the ex parte orders were excessively broad and issued without jurisdiction, particularly since Neconde is already the subject of ongoing winding-up proceedings before the same Federal High Court.

The other defendants, Nestoil and its affiliates, have also filed a motion seeking to vacate the orders, describing them as unconstitutional and obtained through suppression of material facts.

They accused the plaintiffs of failing to make full and frank disclosure before securing the ex parte orders, thereby misleading the court into granting extraordinary far-reaching orders without hearing from the affected parties.

According to their counsel, the plaintiffs’ actions were “profoundly hasty and desperate,” contrary to established legal principles governing ex parte reliefs, which are intended to be temporary and preservative.

They argued that no urgency existed to justify freezing accounts or seizing assets, especially since the alleged loans had been restructured under a Common Terms Agreement (CTA) executed in December 2022.

The CTA, they said, rescheduled repayments over ten years from December 2021, making the present suit premature and in breach of its reconciliation clause.

The defendants further accused FBNQuest of failing to provide statements of account for over three years despite repeated written requests, insisting that only a forensic reconciliation could determine the true financial position.

They alleged that the plaintiffs’ claims were inflated with illegal and excessive charges and argued that Nestoil Towers, a major landmark on Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, is an immovable and secure property, making the drastic order unnecessary.

They also challenged the appointment of a receiver/manager by the plaintiffs, claiming the appointee was not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as required under CAMA 2020.

The companies warned that maintaining the orders would paralyse operations, freeze directors’ personal accounts, and inflict devastating losses on Neconde’s oil production — losses that would also affect the Federal Government’s revenue from crude oil exports.

Meanwhile, industry sources warned that the continuing legal tussle, if not promptly resolved, could disrupt oil production in OML 42 — once producing over 250,000 barrels per day in the 1970s — and further erode investor confidence in Nigeria’s indigenous oil sector.

MFM Exposes Falsehoods, Confirms Police-Led Arrest of Femi Jimoh

The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) has officially responded to recent online claims made by Mr. Femi Jimoh, a former worker of the Church, who alleged that the Ministry and its General Overseer, Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, orchestrated his arrest and imprisonment nearly two decades ago. The Church has categorically dismissed these claims as false, deliberate, and malicious attempts to misrepresent history.

In a statement signed by MFM’s Chief Legal Adviser, Mr. Davidson Adejuwon, the Church clarified that the narrative promoted by Mr. Jimoh is “completely untrue, without basis in law or fact, and contradicts police records, court findings, eyewitness testimonies, and Jimoh’s own confessional statements from 2007–2008.” Mr. Jimoh, the Church explained, was not a pastor but a temporary worker in the Press Department, who was dismissed for repeated misconduct, including theft of Church property, financial irregularities, and acts incompatible with the ethical standards of the Ministry.

After his dismissal, Mr. Jimoh conspired with accomplices to rob the Church of its First-Fruit offerings—a sacred collection made at the beginning of the year. Eyewitnesses, including Mr. Fatai Adebayo and Mr. Akeem Asalu, confirmed that Jimoh personally recruited them to participate, boasting that his insider knowledge would make the robbery seamless. When participants hesitated, he threatened to find “help elsewhere.” Acting on credible intelligence, the Nigeria Police Force, under the supervision of then DPO Yaba/Iwaya, Mr. Kayode Samuel (Retired Commissioner of Police), placed Jimoh under surveillance. Covert monitoring led to the arrest of Jimoh and his collaborators before the crime could be executed.

Retired DPO Samuel affirmed that he had no contact with Dr. Olukoya or any MFM official during the investigation, stating that the operation was strictly police-led. Reports published in The Nation, The Guardian, and other national newspapers in 2007–2008 also documented Jimoh’s voluntary confessions. He admitted to coordinating a four-man gang, intending to divert Church funds and acquire weapons, citing financial desperation and abuse of his former position.

The Church emphasized that it never influenced the arrest, detention, or prosecution of Jimoh. Criminal proceedings were carried out entirely by the Nigeria Police Force and Lagos State Judiciary. Court records show that the defendants were granted bail but failed to perfect the conditions, a fact repeatedly ignored in Jimoh’s recent claims. The Ministry never demanded payment, ransom, or bribes, leaving the responsibility squarely on Jimoh and his sureties.

An archived 2007 Crime Watch report further corroborates Jimoh’s criminal past, confirming his confession to theft and robbery. Recent attempts by Jimoh and his associates to rewrite history, falsely claiming the incidents occurred in 2017, were described by the Church as deliberate misinformation designed to mislead the public.

MFM also addressed allegations of spiritual intimidation or manipulation, reaffirming that its doctrines are rooted in holiness, prayer, deliverance, and adherence to the Word of God. The Ministry does not engage in practices intended to harm individuals, and such claims were described as baseless attempts to exploit public sentiment.

Under the leadership of Dr. D.K. Olukoya, MFM has expanded to over 100 nations worldwide, maintaining its mission to propagate the gospel, deliver souls from spiritual bondage, and promote righteous living. The Ministry reiterated that Jimoh’s recent efforts to tarnish its image are a failed attempt to generate sympathy through falsehoods.

The Church highlighted Jimoh’s pattern of misconduct while in its employ, including repeated warnings, reassignments, and transfers from Warri back to Lagos due to theft and immoral behavior. His own confessions to police investigators confirmed that he masterminded a robbery plot to exploit the Church’s offerings. Today, he presents himself as a victim, attempting to blackmail a Ministry that once invested in his spiritual and personal growth.

MFM reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and cooperation with law enforcement. It warned that legal action would be taken against any individual or media outlet that deliberately spreads falsehoods about the Ministry or its leadership.

In conclusion, MFM stated that while the Church of God will continue to face attacks from both within and outside, truth and integrity will always prevail. The Ministry remains a citadel of prayer, purity, and power—committed to raising end-time soldiers for Christ and defending righteousness in a corrupt world.