society
ALABA RAGO MARKET – A SELF-CREATED PROBLEMS FROM GREEDY LEADERS FOR YEARS
ALABA RAGO MARKET – A SELF-CREATED PROBLEMS FROM GREEDY LEADERS FOR YEARS
By Olumide Akindiya, former Committee Lawyer & Lawyer to Baba Oja 1 of Alaba Rago Market, Okokomaiko.
Alaba Rago Market comprises almost all ethnic groups and not only Hausa traders or Fulani traders. On hearing the news of decision of Lagos State government to modernise the market, it was not a news to me. It only pained me that the problem we intended to solve; laboured for and risked our lives for for the interest of majority of the traders inside the market would now be in vain if there was no proper provisions and planning for traders including poor ones.
I remembered the day, a group of traders from Alaba Rago market came to my law office led by someone I would not disclose his name for security reason. They complained about criminality being perpetuated by one, Alh. Umaru Nagogo aka Seriki who had been running the market for years and maltreating traders; building security outfit; exploiting traders using his boys to collect illegal fees, etc and efforts of government both at State and local government level in the past. They showed me petitions written by a lawyer before with no positive result and gave me documentary evidence to work with. I assured them of legal battle to remove Alh. Umaru Nagogo and worked towards sanity of the market with no agreement of legal fees.
It was a risky task as I was just 5 years at the bar then. I wrote my first petition dated 10th of October, 2013 to former Gov. Babatunde Fashola, DSS, CP of Lagos State & several petitions to relevant people, it did not yield any positive result despite several meetings until during former Gov. Ambode’s administration and the former Sole Administrator of Iba LCDA now present executive Chairman of Iba LCDA, Hon. Jubril Yisa Adisa looked into the matter with firm position in 2017. He formed a committee called Alaba Rago Market Committee to collect revenue for the council, etc headed by Alh. Ibrahim Malami Ali as Chairman and be in charge for 3 years. Alh. Umaru Nagogo was among but refused to be part of the committee since that would limit his power and deprived him of collecting illegal fees and decided how to be paying Council revenues collected on their behalf. I did not lobby to be part of the committee so no lawyer was among the committee.
The new committee decided to appoint me as their lawyer as reward of my legal struggle in removing Alh. Umaru Nagogo and lawyer who understood the legal history of the market. Unfortunately, on the day of inauguration of the said committee, Alh. Umaru Nagogo and his boys caused problem in the market. He refused to desist from collecting illegal fees inside the market; brothels are still there; crime is not reducing; some traders are still victimized. He now set up committee called Alaba Rago Market Sectional Head Association. Being in haste, he sued Lagos State government, Iba LCDA, Alaba Rago Market Committee, etc in two different High Courts at Badagry using different lawyers claiming different reliefs: on legality of Lagos State government to impose a committee, etc and whether Iba LCDA has power to collect fees under the 1999 Constitution, etc. Meanwhile, in the course of sanitising the market; reduce crime and maltreating of traders by his boys, other groups who formed Sectional Head with him were sabotaging the efforts of the committee and after exit of Hon. Jubril Yisa Adisa, the new executive Chairwoman of Iba LCDA Mrs. Ramota preferred Alh. Umaru Nagogo for many reasons known to her even the latter embezzled Iba LCDA’s revenues but she kept on defending him even at Lagos State House of Assembly. Alaba Rago Market Committee restored the environmental sanitation, contrusted road linking to the market, etc but later Mrs. Ramota brought Developer to reconstruct to the market without relocation or any provisions for the traders so we rejected it with profitable steps. After a year, Alh. Umaru Nagogo suffered defeat in both Courts as our law firm won. They wrote Petition again to Lagos State House of Assembly and during argument in the House, they added Agoro, Esq, a former House of Assembly member during Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s administration to their legal team. After some months, calling Mrs. Ramota and other relevant parties for questioning, they lost as the Resolution of the house did not favour them.
In late 2018, the greed made the Alaba Rago Market Sectional Head Association to be registered to further control the market with Alh. Umaru Nagogo as Chairman so their legal team headed by Agoro, Esq further filed a binding over proceeding against Alh. Ibrahim Malami Ali with false representation. It seemed I and the committee would not rest over Alaba Rago market so I filed relevant Court processes to defend the committee. After the expiration of three years tenure of the committee headed by Alh. Ibrahim Malami Ali ceased and with lock down owing to Covid-19 and JUSUN strike, they were frustrated so they later abandoned the suit. In the process, Iyaloja General, Chief (Mrs.) Folashade Tinubu-Ojo considered Alh. Ibrahim Malami Ali fit to be Baba Oja 1 of Alaba Rago Market, Okokomaiko based on their efforts over the market.
It was as if Alaba Rago Market would not know peace early last year, certain group of people with input of Alaba Rago Market Sectional Head Association used the crises between NURTO’s staff and Okada riders to cause commotion inside the market; set on fire some shops of supporters of Baba Oja; innocent traders and including Baba Oja’s offices and property inside the market. I advised them to maintain peace eventhough it had been in the media. On instruction, I wrote several petitions to Gov. Babajide Sanwoolu, CP of Lagos State, etc; meetings and no positive result. Hence, Baba Oja to avoid crises and breach of public peace allowed them to run the market the way they like with different groups.
Greed of some leaders inside the market allowed criminality, illegal structures, brothels, etc to flourish to the detriment of most and innocent traders. What will happen next I do not know as I refuse to call any government appointee, house member or even executive Chairman of Iba LCDA on their positions, even if they will pick my call.
What is the way forward? Time will tell…
society
NOVO Announces Spring 2026 Launch: The World’s First Diamond-Backed Digital Currency and Wealth Platform Devoted to Feeding Africa
NOVO Announces Spring 2026 Launch: The World’s First Diamond-Backed Digital Currency and Wealth Platform Devoted to Feeding Africa
February 2026 — NOVO, an emerging global leader in diamond manufacturing, crypto‑banking, and ethical wealth management, today announced the upcoming Spring 2026 launch of NOVO Coin, the world’s first digital currency fully backed by certified, lab‑grown, cut, and polished diamonds stored in secure vaults in Singapore and Switzerland.
Designed for stability, transparency, and humanitarian impact, NOVO represents a new class of asset‑backed digital currency engineered to serve both global markets and vulnerable economies facing inflation, currency instability, and limited access to banking.
A Currency With a Mission: Feeding a Continent.
In a groundbreaking commitment, NOVO has pledged 50% of all corporate profits to support nonprofit micro‑finance organizations across Africa that specialize in food production, farming, fishing, and sustainable agriculture.
This initiative aims to:
Expand access to affordable capital for small and mid‑scale food producers
Strengthen local food systems and reduce dependency on imports
Dramatically lower grocery prices across African markets
Build long‑term economic resilience for millions of families
NOVO’s leadership believes that empowering Africa’s farmers and food‑producing cooperatives is the fastest path to stabilizing regional economies — and ultimately driving down global food prices.
Diamond‑Backed Stability for a Volatile World
Unlike speculative tokens or inflation‑prone fiat currencies, every NOVO Coin is backed by real, verifiable diamond reserves, manufactured through advanced laboratory processes and held in audited international vaults.
This structure provides:
Intrinsic value tied to a globally recognized commodity
Transparency through third‑party reserve verification
Security via geographically diversified vaults
Long‑term price stability for users and institutional partners
NOVO’s diamond‑reserve system is designed to offer a safe, durable alternative for nations and communities seeking protection from currency devaluation.
A Full‑Spectrum Financial Ecosystem
Beyond the currency itself, NOVO is launching a vertically integrated platform that includes:
Diamond manufacturing and certification
Crypto‑banking and digital asset management
Wealth management and life‑insurance services
Humanitarian micro‑finance distribution channels
This unified ecosystem positions NOVO as one of the first fintech institutions to combine commodity‑backed digital currency with large‑scale social impact.
A New Era of Ethical Finance
“NOVO was built on a simple belief: a currency should serve the people who use it,” said the organization’s founder. “By backing NOVO with diamonds and dedicating half of our profits to African food producers, we are proving that financial innovation and humanitarian responsibility can — and must — coexist.”
Spring 2026: A Global Debut
NOVO Coin will be available to the public in Spring 2026, with early institutional partnerships already underway across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.
For more information. Here is the organizations website TOPOFTHEPYRAMID.org
Tinubu Mourns Rear Admiral Musa Katagum: A National Loss for Nigeria’s Military Leadership
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG
“President Tinubu Pays Tribute as Nigeria’s Naval Command Mourns the Sudden Loss of a Strategic Maritime Leader at a Critical Security Juncture.”
Abuja, Nigeria – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially mourned the death of Rear Admiral Musa Bello Katagum, the Chief of Naval Operations of the Nigerian Navy, who died on February 19, 2026, after a protracted illness while receiving treatment abroad. His passing has sent ripples through Nigeria’s defence establishment and national security architecture, marking the loss of one of the most experienced and respected maritime commanders in recent memory.
In a statement released on February 20, 2026 by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described Rear Admiral Katagum’s death as a “significant blow to the military and the nation,” noting the late officer’s vast experience and “invaluable contributions” to both the Nigerian Navy and the broader “Armed Forces of Nigeria”. The President extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, naval personnel and the nation at large, while praying for solace and strength for colleagues and loved ones.
Rear Admiral Katagum’s career was marked by distinguished service in several strategic capacities. Before his appointment as Chief of Naval Operations in November 2025, he served as Director of the Presidential Communication, Command and Control Centre (PC4) and Chief of Intelligence of the Nigerian Navy-roles that placed him at the nexus of naval operational planning and intelligence gathering. His leadership was widely credited with enhancing the Navy’s capacity to respond to growing maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea, including piracy, illegal bunkering, and transnational crime.
Security policy experts emphasise that Katagum’s loss comes at a critical juncture for Nigeria. Dr. Adebola Akinpelu, a defence analyst at the Institute for Security Studies, observes that “Nigeria’s maritime domain remains a frontline in the broader security challenges facing the nation; the loss of an adept operational leader like Rear Admiral Katagum is not just a personnel change but a strategic setback.” His insight reflects broader concerns about continuity in military leadership amid intensifying threats.
The Nigerian Navy’s own statement, confirmed by the Directorate of Naval Information, affirmed that Katagum’s “exemplary leadership, strategic insight, and unwavering loyalty” were central to boosting operational readiness and national defence. According to Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the Director of Naval Information, “His legacy remains a source of inspiration across the services.”
As Nigeria grapples with complex security landscapes at its land and maritime frontiers, the death of Rear Admiral Katagum underscores a broader national imperative: strengthening institutional capacities while honouring the service and sacrifice of those who defend the nation’s sovereignty. In the words of military scholar Professor James Okoye, “Leadership in security institutions is not easily replaceable; it is built through experience, trust and strategic clarity; qualities that Katagum embodied.”
Rear Admiral Musa Katagum has since been laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites, leaving behind a legacy that will inform Nigerian naval operations for years to come.
Viral “Chat With God” Claim Targeting Kenyan Prophet David Owuor Proven False
By George Omagbemi Sylvester, SaharaWeeklyNG
“Viral screenshot sparks national controversy as the Ministry of Repentance and Holiness dismisses fabricated “divine” WhatsApp exchange, raising urgent questions about faith, digital misinformation, and religious accountability in Kenya.”
A sensational social media claim that Kenyan evangelist Prophet Dr. David Owuor displayed a WhatsApp conversation between himself and God has been definitively debunked as misinformation, sparking national debate over digital misinformation, religious authority and faith-based claims in Kenya.
On February 18–19, 2026, an image purporting to show a WhatsApp exchange between a deity and Prophet Owuor circulated widely on Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp groups and TikTok. The screenshot, allegedly shared during one of his sermons, was interpreted by many as illustrating unprecedented direct communication with the divine delivered through a mainstream messaging platform; a claim that, if true, would have broken new ground in how religious revelation is understood in contemporary society.
However, this narrative quickly unraveled. Owuor’s Ministry of Repentance and Holiness issued an unequivocal public statement calling the image “fabricated, baseless and malicious,” emphasizing that he has never communicated with God through WhatsApp and has not displayed any such digital conversation to congregants. The ministry urged the public and believers to disregard and stop sharing the image.
Independent analysis of the screenshot further undermined its credibility: timestamps in the image were internally inconsistent and the so-called exchange contained chronological impossibilities; clear indicators of digital fabrication rather than an authentic conversation.
This hoax coincides with rising scrutiny of Owuor’s ministry. Earlier in February 2026, national broadcaster TV47 aired an investigative report titled “Divine or Deceptive”, which examined alleged “miracle healing” claims associated with Owuor’s crusades, including assertions of curing HIV and other chronic illnesses. Portions of that investigation suggested some medical documentation linked to followers’ health outcomes were fraudulent or misleading, intensifying debate over the intersection of faith and public health.
Credible faith leaders have weighed in on the broader context. Elias Otieno, chairperson of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), recently urged that “no religious leader should replace God or undermine medicine,” affirming a widely accepted Christian understanding that divine healing does not supplant established medical practice. He warned against unverified miracle claims that may endanger lives if believers forego medical treatment.
Renowned communications scholar Professor Pippa Norris has noted that in digital societies, “religious authority is increasingly contested in the public sphere,” and misinformation (intentional or accidental) can quickly erode trust in both religious and secular institutions. Such dynamics underscore the importance of rigorous fact-checking and responsible communication, especially when claims intersect profoundly with personal belief and public well-being.
In sum, the viral WhatsApp chat narrative was not a revelation from the divine but a striking example of how misinformation can exploit reverence for religious figures. Owuor’s swift repudiation of the false claim and broader commentary from established church bodies, underline the ongoing challenge of balancing deeply personal faith experiences with the evidence-based scrutiny necessary in a digitally connected world.
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