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AFDB TO ESTABLISH LARGEST AGRO-PROCESSING ZONE IN OGUN

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The African Finance Development Bank (AFDB), is putting machineries in place to site the largest Agro-Processing Zone in Ogun State.

The State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun gave the hint while flagging off the State Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, said the development was as a result of several engagement by the State Government with officials of the Bank who had been in his office twice in the last two months and a half.

” The African Finance Development Bank is headed by Prof. Adewunmi Adesina, an indigenes of the State. The Bank decided that they were having two Agro-Processing Zones in Nigeria and Prof. Adesina decided that the biggest must be sited on Ogun State.” This is the result of our contructive engagement with the Bank over the last 70 days or so”, he said.

He said the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme was another avenue to boosting the nation’s self sufficiency in food production, which is line with the Federal government’s agenda on food security to save foreign exchange spent on food importation which could be produced locally.

The Governor who expressed surprise that despite the success of the scheme in other states, Ogun has never access the funds from the scheme, hence the setting up of the State Anchor Borrowers’ Committee to ensure that farmers in the State are partakers.

Prince Abiodun said 2000 beneficiaries have been selected and would be given Certificates of Acceptance and a Leasehood, adding that adopting the scheme in the State, it would help in addressing food security and creating employment for women and youths.

The Governor noted that the scheme was a tripartite agreement between the State as facilitator, Central Bank of Nigeria as financier and the beneficiaries calling on the beneficiaries to be committed and responsible in repayment plan.

Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Abosede Ogunleye, described Agriculture as a viable sector that could absorb the teeming unemployed youths, expressing delight that the State has signed it’s counterpart fund and keyed into the scheme.

Head of Developing Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Oluyemisi Olukoya, said th State has not done well in accessing the Scheme as only 5249 are in the scheme as against 20,000 from Kebbi State.

Chairman, Ogun State Anchors’ Borrower Programme, Prof. Bola Okuneye, said the programme was designed to link off-takers of agriculture products with producers so that farmers would know that there was demand for their products at an agreed and beneficial price to improve production so as to guarantee abundant agricultural products in the nation.

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Richlance launches Free Medical outreach in partnership with Mareo support foundation in Nasarawa state

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Richlance launches Free Medical outreach in partnership with Mareo support foundation in Nasarawa state

 

In a bid to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable communities, particularly widows and orphans, the Mareo Support Foundation (MSF), a non-governmental organization, has partnered with Richlance International to organize a four-day free medical outreach in Masaka, Nasarawa State.

Slated to commence from April 23rd to 26th, 2025 as the Medical Outreach will take place at Zebra Hotel, Masaka, Nasarawa State from 23rd – 25th, while the Mega Seminar take place on Saturday 26th April at Royal dream hotel mararaba, karu LGA Nasarawa state, 10:a.m. The event will combine free health screenings with wellness seminars which is aimed in educating on how to stay free from sicknesses and living wealthy. The platform will also teach participants how to make money.

Richlance launches Free Medical outreach in partnership with Mareo support foundation in Nasarawa state

Speaking on the initiative, Eng Faithful Samuel the Chairman and CEO of Richlance International further emphasized the importance of the program in uplifting marginalized groups, especially those facing financial difficulties.

> “We are passionate about reaching people in need, especially the indigent ones. Many in these communities suffer from preventable health issues due to a lack of awareness and poor access to healthcare services. Our goal is not just to treat them, but to educate them on maintaining good health and creating wealth,” he stated.

As Richlance launches Free Medical Outreach, Maria Ene Onoja reiterated that the outreach will feature a wide range of health services including blood pressure and diabetes tests, HIV screening, free eye examinations, and counseling services. All services will be rendered at no cost to all participants.

“This initiative is also about awareness and empowerment. We want to enlighten these individuals, many of whom have low literacy levels, on how to take control of their health and economic well-being,” Eng Faithful Samuel added.

The outreach will also benefit from the expertise of healthcare professionals, the likes of Ambassador Wisdom Benson a business Coach and Consultant, a man with an incredible credentials, and Jenifer Godwin, who are set to play active roles in ensuring the success of the program. Their professional input is expected to significantly enhance the impact of the services provided.

As the date draws near, the organizers are calling on community members and stakeholders to take advantage of this rare opportunity for free healthcare and wellness education.

> “This will be a life-changing event for many families in Nasarawa State. We encourage everyone to participate and help spread the word. Health is indeed wealth, and a healthy community is a thriving community,” Maria concluded.

The Mareo Support Foundation and its partners remain committed to fostering sustainable community health through outreach, education, and compassionate service as the Medical Outreach will benefit all participants.

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Court Orders Oba Alatishe to Pay N500 million Damages for libel to Asiwaju Adegunwa

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Court Orders Oba Alatishe to Pay N500 million Damages for libel to Asiwaju Adegunwa



An Abeokuta High Court presided over by Justice E.O. Osinuga has slammed N500 million damages against Oba Adetoye Alatishe, the Gbengande of Ososa, in Ijebuland, Ogun State, for libel against a foremost industrialist, Dr. Sulaiman Adegunwa.

Oba Alatishe was also ordered to apologise and do a retraction in three national newspapers, namely Punch, ThisDay, and the Nation, for the malicious petition against the Claimant that was also published in the City People Magazine on January 15th and Obanta Newsday on August 7th, both in 2019.

This was in a case at the High Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, on Friday, 11th April 2025, where Justice Osinuga stated that the defamatory petition against the Claimant and the publications were demeaning to the Claimant’s highly earned reputation.

The judge equally awarded N500,000 as cost of litigation against the royal father as well as an order of perpetual injunction restraining the monarch from maligning the reputation of the Claimant, a renowned philanthropist and statesman, who had worked earnestly to earn the national award of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), the Asiwaju of Ijebuland, a high profile leader in Ososa, and have contributed immensely to the development of the community, and the nation in general.

The libelous suit with number 4CJ/205/19 and dated November 25, 2019, was filed by the Claimant over what he considered as a defamatory petition letter that Oba Alatishe reportedly wrote against him to former Governor Ibikunle Amosun on January 7, 2019.

The monarch was equally alleged to have sent copies of this petition to the then Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, the Commissioner for Police as well as the Special Adviser to Gov. Amosun on Urban and Physical Planning, among others.
Oba Alatishe had in this letter alleged that “Alhaji Adegunwa at a gathering had promised to demolish the entire resuscitated and reconstructed Gbengande Market and turn same to a palace, while the present palace will be forcefully turned to a townhall through the office of the Special Adviser on Urban and Physical Planning”.

The monarch warned that “If this threat is not urgently checked and nipped in the bud, it is capable of leading to a monumental breach of peace, serious confrontation and total breakdown of law and order in the community”.

Considering the alleged falsehood of the petition, the Claimant resorted, first, to peaceful resolution, through his legal counsel to request an apology and a retraction of same in three national newspapers but the traditional ruler reneged.

He however sought legal redress given the damage the libelous publication had caused, because City People has national readership, and the dent on his image as a notable industrialist and philanthropist of global repute.

He had prayed the court for a declaration that the words employed by the defendant, the monarch, in his letter of 7th January 2019 and publication in the City People Magazine,  and the Obanta Newsday constitute libel.

Other reliefs sought included N5 billion damages, an order of perpetual injunction restraining the monarch from perpetrating or carrying out any disparaging/libelous publication against him, and a retraction of the libelous publication in three national newspapers, the Punch, ThisDay, and the Nation newspapers.

Also in her judgement, Justice Osinuga affirmed that Oba Alatishe relied on hearsay to arrive at the content of the libelous publication. “When the Kabiyesi was asked how he came about the information as contained in the letter, he said some people told him yet Kabiyesi was not ready to disclose these people,” she stated.

The judge also held that it was wrong and so unwise for the royal father to have refused to tender an apology knowing fully well that he has no evidence to substantiate his allegations against the industrialist. Osinuga held that a defamatory case had been strongly established against the monarch and therefore ruled in favour of the Claimant.

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Mohbad: Lawyer Distances Himself from GoFundMe

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Mohbad: Lawyer Distances Himself from GoFundMe

Mohbad: Lawyer Distances Himself from GoFundMe, Says Toxicology Test Was Done Free of Charge

Lagos, Nigeria — April 16, 2025Mr. Taiwo Odumosu, a lawyer who previously represented the family of the late Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has publicly dissociated himself from a GoFundMe account created in support of the investigation into the singer’s death.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and made available to PUNCH Metro, Odumosu clarified that he had no involvement in any financial transactions related to the autopsy or toxicology analysis, stressing that the family handled all payments directly with the pathologist.

“At no point was any payment routed through me or my law office. Mr. Famuyiwa made the payment directly to the pathologist,” he stated. “I wish to state clearly that I know nothing about the GoFundMe account. I am neither in charge of nor a signatory to the account created for Mohbad’s cause.”

Odumosu also revealed a significant development—that the toxicology test on the late singer’s remains was conducted free of charge by a foreign laboratory in Europe. He urged the family to be transparent about the remaining funds in the GoFundMe account.

“At a meeting attended by both Mr. Famuyiwa and me, the pathologist disclosed that the European laboratory that conducted the toxicology test did so free of charge. Accordingly, the family should publicly disclose how the remaining funds in the GoFundMe account have been managed,” he explained.

Pathologist Praised, Defamation Decried

The lawyer expressed dismay at the spread of misinformation and what he described as targeted defamation against himself and the forensic expert who took on the case, calling it “unwarranted and damaging.”

“The pathologist showed remarkable courage by engaging with a case that many colleagues hesitated to touch, due to its sensitive and high-profile nature,” Odumosu said, defending the credibility of the forensic process.

He affirmed that the post-mortem and toxicology procedures were handled with integrity, insisting that justice would ultimately prevail—not only for Mohbad but also for those unjustly accused.

“To the best of my knowledge, the post-mortem examination was conducted with utmost professionalism. Justice will prevail, not just for Mohbad, but against all who attempt to twist the truth and defame those who stand for it,” Odumosu concluded.

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