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Rape of 13 Year- Old- Girl : Residents, Landlords , Gives Cool Tavern Relaxation Center A Clean Bill Over Alleged Complicity

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6 years ago

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By Ifeoma Ikem

Residents and Landlords Association in Egan area of Lagos, have given management of ‘The Cool Tavern Relaxation Center’, a clean bill over alleged complicity in the rape of a 13 -year – girl , Adepeju Adebayo. Absolving the hotel management of any wrongdoing, some residents who extolled the stalling qualities of the Chairman of the hotel, Engineer Gbenga Ajibulu ,said he has contributed immensely to the empowerment of youths and development in the area.

A Youth leader and mechanical Engineer, who identified himself as Kehinde Biodu,argued that from the stand point of what the hotel owner had done in the training,development and engaging the youths in positive programmes that have helped in curtailing their youthful exuberance, Ajibulu cannot be accused of creating any room for such dastardly acts perpetrated by Toheeb Mustapha and sukomi.

This is even as the landlords Association in the area have protested in solidarity of Engineer Ajibulu, while vouching on his integrity.

Speaking with Saharaweekly who visited the area on investigation, the Chairman of the Landlords Association, Mr. Vincent Ejeh, blamed the suspects who he confirmed are not residents in their area for dragging the name of their peaceful environment into the mud. ” We have seven streets making up our Association and since 2019 when this Center was established, we have not seen or heard of any untoward activity inimical or detrimental to our residents or youths”. “The hotel owner has been magnanimous enough to allow us to be using his hotel premises every first Saturdays of each month for our meeting and as parents, we have not seen or associated his hospitality center with any criminal or Anti social behaviours”. ” Besides, The Management of The Cool Tavern Relaxation Center ,was instrumental to why bad boys, criminal elements have relocated from our area.”
This he has done by collaborating with us and has contributed immensely towards security and street lighting of the major street.

Infact,Engineer Ajibulu, maintains a private security Personnel from Nelly Securities and some fierce looking bouncers that tend to ward off criminal elements in our area .

He has also financially assisted our Association greatly in the installation of the security gate and halogen energy lighting around his facility. ” Collaborating what Mr. Ejeh said, Vice chairman of the Group, Mr. Magnus Nnamdi Ogbue, regreted what he called the unfortunate and Ugly incident that took place on October 6th ,2020. Mr. Ogbue , who is a retired Civil servant, praised Ajibulu, for being a humble, gentle and easygoing de- tribalized Nigerian, who has allowed his cooperate social responsibility to benefit the entire community.”

In an interview with Engineer Ajibulu, he denied any alleged complicity by his management,describing the incident as a one off occurrence. According to him, ” The Rape gang deceived his staff by using a matured Lodger to book for the said room, subsequently, the legal lodger , sought for permission to be allowed to receive his family members in his room but unknown to the management, they had planned to commit the dastardly act.” “We never heard the girls’ screaming or any suspicious activity and never knew such happened until police invited us .

To make matters difficult for us, the victim did not complain or report the incident to our security officers”. he said. lamenting, Engineer Ajibulu suspected that the incident was a plot by some of the criminal elements that fled the area, after he engaged the police and other security Agencies to route them out, “they planned the incident to tarnish the good image of his hotel”. ” You know this Egan is backward and inhabited by many questionable characters, I am of the opinion that because of the security arrangements i had put in place in the wake of 2019 when we started operations, which made them flee the area, they are trying to fight back by plotting this crime”. He assured the Public that the Center have now tightened its security measures and operations, noting that sure incident would never re occur again” , he concluded .

It would be recalled that on October 6th, 2020, less than one week after the Inspector General Of Police , IGP Adamu Mohammad , vowed to apprehend fleeing suspects that gang raped and murdered 12 – year – Old Favour Ikechukwu at Ejigbo area of Lagos, Another minor , a 13- year – old JSS 3 student , Adepeju Adebayo, was allegedly subjected to a brutal and bloody rape,that left her partially paralyzed in the hospital.

The said gang rape which has elicited wide criticism and condemnation from residents, was said to have been perpetuated at The Cool Tavern Relaxation Center, Oremeji street, off Isuti road, Egan, Igando, by two suspects, Toheeb Mustapha and Sukomi, now on the run. Mustapha was said to have been arrested following resilience exhibited by the Igando Divisional Police Officer, CSP Taiwo Kasumu, and his operatives, whose prompt response, some residents said, led to the early apprehending of the kingpin, also known as ” Sir Small ” in the crime world Our undercover reporter who visited the hotel, reported that one of the fleeing gang member named Sukomi, alias “Ikamula or G33 ,a motor Mechanic by profession and ex student of Edu Grammar school, now residing at Ita Alhaji street, ikotun , had earlier booked a room in the hotel on Monday, October 5th, 2020, to prepare the ground for their dastardly actions.

On Tuesday afternoon, while the victim’s Mother had gone out in search of her family’s daily bread, “Sir Small ” said to be the gang leader and master mind of the rape, had creeped into the victim’s house and lured her into the hotel, where they were said to have taken turns in raping her, until she started bleeding profusely,coupled with the excruciating and agonizing pain she revealed, she felt on the lower region of her abdomen .
Sensing danger, the gang was said to have waited until night, as they quickly packaged and dumped their bleeding victim in front of her house.

According to a resident, who spoke to our reporter on the grounds of anonymity, for fear of reprisal attack, he said, “When we assisted the Police to arrest the fleeing ” Sir Small” , the gang leader,he confirmed that he is a Generator mechanic and a resident of Alfa Igonna street, Odo, Egan.

He claimed to have graduated from Russell Grammar school in 2018, where he said he met the girl they raped. though he said that they were not friends back then.” Our Source also stated that the 20 years old suspect, “Sir small ” who confessed to the crime,denied any ritual connotation or deployment of charms or “juju” in perpetrating the crime.Also claimed he re established contact with the victim, two years after he left school , through her phone contact that he collected from the victims school mate.

According to one of our source, the master mind of the rape said he regretted his actions while the victim was protesting, however he denied that the girl was a virgin before the rape . At the Isuti Road Health Center, where the victim was initially rushed to,due to what a nurse described as excessive bleeding, Adepo was seen soaked in her own blood, while reeling in pains. She was said to have told her now distraught mother, that she met ” Sir Small ” on Facebook before the incident.

A hospital source confirmed that despite the bleeding and pain the victim was undergoing, she was stitched three places on her virgina , before she was transferred to Mirabel medical facility last Friday for further investigations and treatment. Mustapha, was on Monday, October 12th, 2020, arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court for defilement by the Igando police Division .

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Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact [email protected]

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Discipleship: “Walk with the Wise and You Will Become Wise” — Dr Chris Okafor

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37 minutes ago

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April 28, 2026

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Discipleship: “Walk with the Wise and You Will Become Wise”
— Dr Chris Okafor

…Evil communication corrupts good character
…The Holy Spirit is the seal of redemption

 

 

True Christian living, beyond winning souls, requires nurturing and sustaining new converts in the faith. This was the central message delivered by the Generational Prophet and Senior Pastor of Grace Nation Global, Dr Chris Okafor, during a teaching on “Understanding the Act of Discipleship.”
According to him, soul winning without proper establishment and follow-up defeats its purpose. “The goal is not just conversion but fruitfulness and continuity in Christ,” he emphasized, noting that believers must also understand the conditions that make prayers effective.

The Necessity of Discipleship

Dr Okafor outlined why discipleship is essential in the Christian journey:
New converts require guidance to withstand temptations that could pull them back into their former ways.
They must gradually disconnect from relationships and habits that previously weakened their faith.
Support systems should be in place to help them navigate personal and spiritual challenges.
Consistent follow-up, rooted in love and care, helps prevent discouragement and negative perceptions.
Proper integration into the body of Christ strengthens their sense of belonging and commitment.

Understanding Discipleship

He described discipleship as a deliberate process of helping believers grow in Christ and align with godly principles rather than worldly influences. It involves:
Guiding converts until Christ is fully formed in them.
Transmitting biblical values that strengthen their faith and daily conduct.

Practical Approach to Discipleship

The cleric highlighted key methods for effective discipleship:
Fervent prayer for the spiritual stability of new believers.
Demonstrating genuine love and consistent care.
Regular follow-up visits and visible engagement.
Encouraging early infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Teaching habits that sustain spiritual growth.

Habits That Strengthen Faith

To remain grounded, believers were encouraged to cultivate:
Daily study of the Word of God
Consistent prayer and fellowship with God
Active participation in church gatherings
Bold expression of their faith
A conscious rejection of unrighteousness
Deep-rooted commitment to the house of God

A Foundation for Growth

In conclusion, Dr Chris Okafor stressed that discipleship thrives when believers are rooted in sound spiritual guidance. “When you walk with the wise, you become wise,” he said, adding that strong spiritual formation protects individuals from negative influences and preserves godly character.

The Grace Nation Global Sunday Communion Service, observed by members worldwide, featured testimonies, healing sessions, deliverance, and a special child dedication, rounding off the service on a note of faith and celebration.

 

Discipleship: “Walk with the Wise and You Will Become Wise” — Dr Chris Okafor

By Sunday Adeyemi
[email protected]

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APC’s Misrepresentation of Makinde’s Remarks: A Disturbing Display of Intellectual Dishonesty* -Olufemi Aduwo 

Published

18 hours ago

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April 27, 2026

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*APC’s Misrepresentation of Makinde’s Remarks: A Disturbing Display of Intellectual Dishonesty* -Olufemi Aduwo 

 

The attention of right-thinking Nigerians has been drawn to the misguided and politically contrived statement issued by the All Progressives Congress (APC), in which it accused Governor Seyi Makinde of incitement over his reference to “Operation Wetie”. Let it be stated without equivocation, the APC’s reaction is not only a gross distortion of context but also a troubling exhibition of either wilful ignorance or a fundamental inability to comprehend even the most elementary use of historical analogy. One is left to wonder whether those who crafted that statement possess even a kindergarten grasp of the English language, let alone the intellectual depth required for serious political discourse.

 

 

Governor Makinde’s remarks were clearly cautionary and not incendiary. His reference to “Operation Wetie” was an invocation of history, nothing more and nothing less. It was a sober reminder of the catastrophic consequences that follow when democratic processes are subverted, dissent is stifled and political arrogance is allowed to fester unchecked.To interpret such a warning as a call to violence is either intellectually dishonest or deliberately mischievous.

 

 

By attempting to criminalise a legitimate historical reference, the APC exposes a deeper anxiety, an unease with truth and a discomfort with reminders of what unchecked political excess can produce. The tragedy of the Western Region crisis is not a subject to be buried under partisan convenience, it is a lesson to be studied, understood and heeded.

 

It is both ironic and alarming that a party which claims to defend democracy would seek to undermine historical consciousness. Such conduct betrays a troubling tendency towards authoritarian thinking, where even words of caution are twisted into offences and dissenting voices are vilified rather than engaged.

 

 

The statement by Felix Morka, in particular, collapses under the weight of its own exaggeration. To leap from a historical reference to claims of “anarchy” and “murderous rage” is not only illogical but borders on the absurd. It is political theatre of the lowest quality. Furthermore, the attempt to cloak this mischaracterisation in the language of “national security” is both reckless and disingenuous. National security is far too important to be reduced to a tool for partisan intimidation.

 

 

The APC would do well to engage in introspection rather than projection. This pattern of deliberate misrepresentation and inflammatory overreach poses a greater risk to Nigeria’s democratic stability.

 

Nigeria deserves a political culture rooted in honesty, maturity and intellectual rigour not one diminished by propaganda, distortion and opportunism. In the final analysis, the issue is simple, those who cannot understand history are often the first to misinterpret it and unfortunately, the most likely to repeat its errors.

 

 

-Olufemi Aduwo is a

Permanent Representative of CCDI to the ECOSOC/United Nations.

NB: Centre for Convention on Democratic Integrity, is a non-profit organisation with Consultative Status of United Nations

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Prophet Oladele Ogundipe Genesis Hosts Jehoshaphat Night 2026 : A Powerful Night of Praise, Power, And Prophetic Encounter in Lagos

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21 hours ago

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April 27, 2026

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Prophet Oladele Ogundipe Genesis Hosts Jehoshaphat Night 2026 : A Powerful Night of Praise, Power, And Prophetic Encounter in Lagos

 

 

 

Genesis Global Isheri is set to host an extraordinary spiritual gathering tagged PPP, Praise, Power & Prophetic Night, themed Jehoshaphat Night, on May 1st, 2026, from 8PM till dawn. This highly anticipated event will take place at Genesis Bus Stop, LASU–Igando Road, Isheri Idimu, Lagos, bringing together worshippers, believers, and seekers from across the city for a night of intense spiritual upliftment. With a vibrant atmosphere already expected, the event promises a unique blend of deep worship, prophetic ministrations, and life-transforming encounters.

 

The night will be led by Prophet Israel Oladele Ogundipe, the host and founder of Genesis Global, known for his dynamic prophetic ministry and impactful teachings. Attendees can also look forward to powerful ministrations from guest ministers Minister Dare Oxygen and Mista Olamilekan, who are set to usher in an atmosphere of heartfelt praise and spiritual revival. The theme “Jehoshaphat Night” draws inspiration from the biblical account of King Jehoshaphat, where praise became a weapon for victory setting the tone for a night centered on breakthrough, faith, and divine intervention.

 

Beyond just a gathering, Jehoshaphat Night is positioned as a transformative experience where attendees can expect spiritual renewal, prophetic direction, and a deeper connection with God through music and the Word. With a carefully curated lineup and a strong spiritual focus, this all night event aims to ignite faith and inspire testimonies. Whether you’re seeking clarity, breakthrough, or simply a powerful worship experience, this is a night not to be missed in Lagos. Make it an event.

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