Lawyer Claims No Clear Reason Given for Detention of Daniel and Eneche in Defamation Case Involving Pastor Enenche”

The Force Intelligence Department (FID) of the Nigerian police has reportedly detained Abraham Daniel, a former pastor with Dunamis International Gospel Centre, and Alexander Eneche following their appearance at the department in response to a police invitation. The duo faces allegations of cyberbullying and criminal defamation against Pastor Paul Enenche, the founder and Senior Pastor of the Abuja-based church.

The development follows Pastor Daniel’s public accusations that Pastor Enenche failed to honor a gentleman’s agreement between the two. This incident has led to a legal confrontation with accusations involving various offenses, including cyberbullying and injurious falsehoods.

According to Barrister Ernest Okpaga, the legal representative for the detained individuals, Abraham Daniel and Alexander Eneche voluntarily attended the police invitation, arriving at the FID office in Abuja at 1:00 pm. However, after waiting for several hours, they were only interrogated at around 8:00 pm and subsequently detained. Okpaga expressed frustration over the lack of clarity regarding the reason for their detention, emphasizing that the two individuals had fully cooperated with the authorities.

“There has been no clear reason given for their detention, even though they attended the invitation and provided their statements,” Okpaga told SaharaReporters.

Earlier reports indicated that family members of Daniel and Eneche had raised concerns over their sudden disappearance after responding to the police summons. It was feared that the two had gone missing, but sources close to the case later confirmed they were in police custody. Their families have since expressed growing anxiety over their situation, with no information forthcoming from the authorities.

The investigation stems from a letter dated January 3, 2025, which invited the duo to the FID office for questioning. The invitation letters, signed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department, called for their appearance on January 7, 2025, at 1:00 pm. The letters cite the need for further clarification in an ongoing investigation into cyberbullying, criminal defamation, false publications, and incitement of public nuisance, allegedly committed against Pastor Paul Enenche.

The letters, referenced CR:3000/FID/FHQ/ABJ/T.G/VOL.57/542 and CR:3000/FID/FHQ/ABJ/T.G/VOL.57/543, provided a specific time and location for the appearance—SPO’s Room 212, 2nd Floor, Force Intelligence Department (FID) Complex, Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja. The letter also emphasized that the two individuals could bring their legal representatives to the interview.

It is important to note that the legal provisions quoted in the invitation are rooted in the powers granted to the police under Sections 214 of the Nigerian Constitution (1999, as amended), and Section 4 of the Police Act and Regulations (2020).

As the investigation unfolds, the fate of Abraham Daniel and Alexander Eneche remains uncertain, and their families await clarity on their situation.

Portable Sparks Reactions as He Sides with Burna Boy Amid Feud with Cubana Chief Priest

Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has stirred reactions online after publicly siding with Grammy-winning musician Burna Boy in his recent dispute with socialite Cubana Chief Priest.

Burna Boy and Cubana Chief Priest made headlines earlier this week after engaging in a heated exchange, which has since gone viral. In the wake of their altercation, Portable took to his Instagram page to declare his support for Burna Boy, hailing him as the “realest and biggest” in the industry.

Portable Praises Burna Boy

In his Instagram post, Portable lauded Burna Boy for his authenticity, stating that the artist doesn’t live a fake or deceptive life.

“1 man na 7 man, you big pass them. Zazzu no fake life, no scam life akoi Grace. If you want know the real about the top, ask me I follow dey at the top, only God I never see, who’s big is big,” he wrote.

Mixed Reactions from Fans

Portable’s post quickly drew attention, sparking a flurry of reactions from fans and followers, many of whom expressed mixed opinions about his stance.

• @mr_uku01: “This Temu artist dun come again.”
• @awele231: “Burna Boy big person them. They’ve been hating on him since he won the Grammy… Owerri Rick Ross, pig face, belle na water, jonsin man don cast himself.”
• @djlarrywest9ja_: “This one dey find familiarity.”
• @fite_hub_and_company: “Shishi you no go see.”
• @vanchizzy: “It is January again. Na so Portable go trend from January to December.”
• @iamoseroland: “Eye service, is that you?”
• @leeeymanth: “Really, so you don’t forget the help Wizkid gave you? And were you not crying for a verse from Davido… akoi forgetful memories.”
• @nkecurtis: “Portable don start to trend from January.”
• @seuntreacts: “This one don dey find free verse.”

A Reputation for Controversy

Portable, known for his dramatic antics and outspoken personality, is no stranger to public scrutiny. His comments often spark conversations in the entertainment industry, with some viewing him as an opportunist while others applaud his unfiltered nature.

The singer has previously clashed with industry heavyweights like Davido and Wizkid, and his latest involvement in Burna Boy’s feud with Cubana Chief Priest adds another chapter to his controversial career.

The Bigger Picture

The feud between Burna Boy and Cubana Chief Priest remains unresolved, with neither party providing a clear explanation of their fallout. However, Portable’s decision to side with Burna Boy has added fuel to the fire, drawing attention back to the dispute and further polarizing opinions among fans.

As the saga continues, one thing remains certain: Portable’s knack for staying in the spotlight shows no signs of fading.

Zacch Adedeji @ 47: Celebrating a Man of Exceptional Grace, Excellence

By Dare Adekanmbi

Ecclesiastical evidence abounds to affirm that God does not look at people or issues through the same prism from which human beings perceive matters. As mortals, we give primacy to mundane parameters as appearance or outward adornments, height or whether the person is oozing opulence or simply look at nobility of a person’s birth before ascribing value or judgment to such a person.

The story of David’s ascension to the throne of Israel summarises how God make His choices. Prophet Samuel beheld the firstborn of Jesse named Eliab and, looking at his outward qualities, concluded “here comes the Lord’s anointed king who will govern over Israel.” But just before that thought could settle in the prophet’s mind, God told him that is not the man for the job.

The story of Zacch Adedeji, executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is the story of a young, wise and brilliant man who has enjoyed exceptional grace of God. His father (of blessed memory) was a cocoa farmer from the mainly agrarian Iwo Ate town, in Ogo Oluwa Local Government Area of Oyo State. His mother is a trader-cum-farmer. It was thanks to Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s matchless leadership and quality governance that the town at that time boasted some basic municipal amenities like school and a dispensary.
I can imagine the joy on his father’s face when the news was broken to him that his wife was delivered of a bouncing bonny baby boy later christened Zacchaeus Adelabu Adedeji. While his father desired functional education for Zacch, the first child of the family, the greater joy for the cocoa farmer would be that the birth of Baby Zacch means an extra hand on the farm, heir apparent to the cocoa farming business. This perception perhaps prevented Zacch’s father from noticing the unique stars in the sky that heralded the arrival of a special child to the family, the humble background notwithstanding. The family did not realise they have been gifted a global talent whose brilliance and expertise will be acknowledged beyond the shores of Nigeria. While his father was looking at a child who will grow to become a helping hand on the farms, God was looking at a precious gift that will bring honour to the family name.
Growing up for Zacch was not easy as there was no silver spoon in his mouth at birth. But with the grace of God upon his life, he was determined never to allow the circumstance of his birth dictate how far he could go in life. While going to school, he was also assisting his father in his cocoa farming. Zacch could not have chosen any other course in his post-secondary educational pursuit other than accountancy. He was his father’s book-keeper for the sale of cocoa produce.

At the Federal Polytechnic in Ede, Osun State, where he studied Accountancy for his Ordinary National Diploma, Zacch came out flying with a distinction. Rather than return for his HND, he opted to further his studies at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, where he read management and accounting and finished with First Class honours. He did not allow the death of his father at about the time he was starting at Ife to extinguish his hope of having functional university education.
Zacch’s special talent as a brilliant accountant quickly singled out from the new recruits at P&G. He saved the company hundreds of millions of dollars in needless expenditure and deploys his financial wizardry to catapult the company’s profit to new heights. For this exceptional display, the company dispatched him to one of the best business schools in Switzerland to share his experience with them. This feat earned him a seat at the management cadre of the American goods company earlier than any young recruit by the firm. He rose to become the Corporate Finance Manager for West Africa.
It was while making his mark at the firm that he met a great leader, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (of blessed memory), sometime in 2009. He was just attending to what he would ordinarily consider a routine payment query when they met. Ajimobi was happy to meet a young chap from Oyo State making waves at such a company. From that time, a journey of mentoring, love and support that would remain with Zacch for a lifetime started.

It was a meeting that also changed his trajectory from the private sector to the public sector. Ajimobi appointed him Finance Commissioner for Oyo State at age 33. Notable among his achievements include: raising Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from about N600m monthly to about N2bn in a short period, blocking leakages by streamlining government bank accounts through which a lot of money was haemorrhaged from about 100 to about 10.

As executive secretary of the National Sugar Development Council, Zacch left an indelible mark, raising standards and re-engineering processes to deliver better quality service and increased productivity. When tapped as Special Adviser on Revenue by President Bola Tinubu, a lot of people speculated he would ultimately head the country’s tax agency, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

As an evangelist in the Anglican Communion, Zacch believes in the scripture that the power of life and death is the tongue. As the one whose duty it was to interface with FIRS tax officers while at P&G, he had said during one of his frequent visits to the Agidingbi office of the agency that “someday, I would like to work in this organisation and contribute to its transformation.” Today, not only is Zacch the executive chairman of FIRS, he has brought unprecedented transformation to the agency within a short period. FIRS, under Zacch, surpassed tax revenue target in 2023, leading to a higher revenue benchmark of N19.4 trillion set by government for 2024. Later this month, Adedeji will announce to Nigerians what the agency was able to collect in the year just ended. The agency has done well again and has exceeded the target from available information.

To all who know Zacch and have had interactions with him, one special attribute stands him out: his humility. He relates with the young and the old quite well and the big success that God has given him does not get into his head. Many people have spoken so glowingly about this character trait in Zacch. In 2017, he and I returned to Nigeria from a trip to the US. He had gone on holiday and I had gone to cover the annual meetings of the World Bank/IMF. We were to lodge at a popular hotel in Ikeja on arrival. After dinner, the receptionist said only one room was left. “Give it to us. Dare and I will share it,” said Zacch. That was how we slept on the same bed that night.

If there are so many positive things to say about Zacch who is 47 years today, then the future holds even a brighter future for the number one tax man in the country today. Our boss believes in Simon Sinek’s submission that leadership is not just about being in charge, but also about taking care of those in your charge. I join admirers and well-wishers to wish ZA many more happy years of his trademark brilliance and wisdom. May God continue to strengthen him in good health.

.Adekanmbi is the Special Adviser on Media to the chairman, FIRS, Zacch Adedeji.