Sun, Feb 1, 2026

Ghana extradites Nigerian Abiola Kayode on FBI wanted list to the US over $6m cyberfraud

 

A 37 year old Nigerian man identified as Abiola Kayode who was on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) most wanted cyber criminals list for defrauding Americans to a tune of $6 million, has been extradited from Ghana to Nebraska, United States (US).

This was revealed during a court ruling by US Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson in Nebraska on Wednesday, December 11.

According to a statement from the US Attorney’s Office, District of Nebraska, Kayode was apprehended by Ghanaian authorities in April 2023.

This follows an indictment filed against him in August 2019 for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

After a formal extradition request from the US, he was transferred to FBI agents, who brought him to Nebraska.

Judge Michael D. Nelson, ordered him to remain in custody until his trial.

Kayode is accused of being involved in a business email compromise (BEC) scheme that took place between January 2015 and September 2016, defrauding businesses in Nebraska and other states of more than $6 million.

The BEC scheme involved pretending to be business executives in order to deceive employees into making fraudulent wire transfers.

The emails, crafted to look authentic, persuaded businesses to transfer substantial amounts of money into accounts managed by Kayode and his associates.

Authorities assert that Kayode supplied bank account information used to channel illegal funds.

Many of these accounts were owned by victims of internet romance scams, who were coerced into transferring the stolen money to others.

Several of Kayode’s accomplices have already been prosecuted and they are:

Adewale Aniyeloye who was sentenced to 96 months in prison and ordered to pay $1.57 million in restitution in February 2019.

Pelumi Fawehinimi received a 72-month sentence in March 2019 and was required to pay $1.01 million .

Another accomplice, Onome Ijomone, was extradited from Poland and sentenced in January 2020 to 60 months in prison, along with a restitution of $508,934.

Alex Ogunshakin, an accomplice who supplied bank accounts for the scheme, was sentenced to 45 months in prison in October 2024 following his successful extradition from Nigeria.

In a statement, FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge,  Eugene Kowel,  said, “Four years ago, we identified six Nigerian nationals suspected of defrauding individual victims and businesses in Nebraska and other states of millions of dollars.

“Today, Abiola Kayode is the second of those co-conspirators to be extradited to stand trial in Nebraska.

“Our message to the remaining four co-conspirators is that we are coming for you.

“Dismantling cyber-criminal groups that victimize US citizens is a priority for the FBI, DOJ and our international law enforcement partners.

“The FBI, working together with our partners in Ghana, particularly the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, the Ghana Police Service – INTERPOL and the Ghana Immigration Service, will continue to pursue and bring to justice criminals who engage in Business Email Compromise and other fraud schemes.”

Ghana extradites Nigerian Abiola Kayode on FBI wanted list to the US over $6m cyberfraud

Bisoye Fagade paints Ibadan Red as He Becomes Aare Asoju Oba of Ibadanland

It is indeed a season of celebrations for erudite marketing communications expert,Dr Abisoye Fagade.Weeks after taking office as the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), he was on Saturday honored with a prestigious chieftaincy title by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin

Dr. Fagade was conferred with the title of Aare Asojuoba of Ibadanland, while his wife was named Yeye Aare Asojuoba of Ibadanland.

The ceremony also witnessed the recognition of other notable individuals, including the President of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Mr.Sulaiman  Niyi Ajewole.

 

 

The presence Ibadan High Chiefs like, His Royal Majesties, the former Governor of the state and the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja; the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola; the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Eddy Oyewole; the Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Olubunmi Dada; the Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi; the Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Adebayo Akande added credence to the grand event.

The monarch, speaking through High Chief Akeem Mobolaji Adewoyin the Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland said the recipients of the Honorary Titles have the interest of Ibadanland at heart, consequently, Olubadan and his advisory council considered it necessary to recognize them and appreciate them accordingly.

” The conferment of Honorary Chieftaincy Titles on you is in recognition of your assistance to the progress of Ibadanland which I believe will spur you to do more.

Use your present position as traditional title holders to foster unity, peace and progress in Ibadanland as the accredited representatives of Olubadan of Ibadanland.”

At the grand reception held in Fagade’s honor at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, dignitaries from all walks of life turned out in large numbers to celebrate the NIHOTOUR boss.

Prominent traditional rulers, including Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi,the Oniru Oba Gbolahan Lawal, the Olugbon of Orile Igbo, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, and the Alara of Ara, were present to grace the occasion.

Also at the occasion were the minister Arts Culture and Tourism,Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq. Director General Nigerian Sports Commission Wale Olopade, Minister for Power, Oloye Bayo Adelabu and other top government functionaries, Captain of industries among others.

The event also featured performances by leading entertainers such as gospel artist Tope Alabi, Tolu Obe, Seun Bankole SB, while the presence of Dele Omo Woli, comedian Basketmouth, actor Kunle Afolayan, Sola Sobowale and other celebrities added glamour to the event.

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At last, Port Harcourt refinery begins production

 

After several postponements, the Port Harcourt refinery has finally commenced fuel production.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited confirmed this to our correspondent on Tuesday.

NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, said the loading of trucks would start today.

“Port Harcourt Refinery begins production. Truck loading starts today, Tuesday,” Soneye told our correspondent.

 
 

In another update on X, the NNPC said: “NNPC Ltd Delivers Port Harcourt Refinery as plant begins truckout of products today, Tuesday 26th November 2024 at 1.45 pm.

“Watch the commissioning and trucking out event LIVE.”

It was learnt that the refinery would start with 60,000 barrels capacity per day, releasing Premium Motor Spirit, diesel, and others into the Nigerian market.

The Port Harcourt Refinery would be the second petrol-producing refinery after the Dangote Refinery commenced PMS production in September.

It is one of the three owned by the Federal Government and managed by the NNPC.

Nigerians have been hopeful that the cost of fuel could crash if the country refines its crude and ends the import of refined products.

The refinery, situated in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region, has been in operation since 1965, but later became moribund for several years.

In March 2021, the Nigerian government acquired a $1.5bn loan for the renovation and modernisation of the refinery.

However,several promises made to Nigerians by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the NNPC about the refinery failed seven times before now.

Barely two months after the September completion deadline failed, the NNPC explained last week why it could not deliver the much-awaited Port Harcourt refinery at the scheduled time.

In an interview with our correspondent, Soneye said the company encountered risks and challenges while carrying out the rehabilitation, being a brownfield project.

He noted that the NNPC began the commissioning of critical equipment and processing units after the mechanical completion in Nigeria.

“You may recall that mechanical completion of the PHRC revamp was successfully achieved several months ago, marking a significant milestone in the project. Following this, we began the commissioning of critical equipment and process units.

“However, as is common with brownfield projects of this scale and complexity, we encountered unforeseen risks and challenges,” he stated.

Nonetheless, he said hat the issues were resolved and commissioning activities resumed.

 
 At last, Port Harcourt refinery begins production

Afe Babalola! Abuja, Oyo courts bar further sale of Dele Farotimi’s book

 

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, barred human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, from further publishing, selling, circulating, advertising, or distributing the hard or soft copies of his book, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’.

A similar order was issued by an Oyo State High Court, which also granted an interim order restraining Farotimi or any person acting through him from further printing the controversial book.

The activist lawyer is currently embroiled in a legal battle over the controversial book.

The police have arraigned Farotimi before the Federal High Court in Ekiti State as well as an Ekiti State Magistrates’ Court,  Ado-Ekiti.

The charges border on defamation and cyberbullying, stemming from a petition by legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Aare Afe Babalola, who alleged that Farotimi defamed him in his book.

According to the police, Farotimi, in the book, accused Babalola and other SANs of corrupting Justices of the Supreme Court.

Following his arraignment in court, Farotimi has been remanded in prison.

On Wednesday, Justice Peter Kekemeke in Abuja heard an ex parte application filed by the Managing Partner at Afe Babalola’s law firm, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), praying for the seizure of the controversial book.

In granting Ogunwumiju’s prayers, the judge barred “the agents, publishers, distributors, sellers, re-publishers, re-sellers, or any other person from further publishing, selling, circulating, advertising, or distributing the physical/hard/digital/soft copies of the book online, electronically, physically or by any other means, including the social media.”

The judge also granted an order of interim injunction “directing the seizure of all physical copies of the book, wherever they may be found by the Nigeria Police Force, the State Security Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and all other security agencies.”

 

The order was granted pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction dated and filed on December 6, 2024.

The court also ordered that relevant security agencies should file an affidavit demonstrating compliance with the orders within 72 hours of their receipt of the ruling.

In a similar development, an Oyo State High Court granted an interim order restraining Farotimi or any person acting through him from further printing the controversial book.

The order was granted by Justice Mufutau Adegbola following an ex parte application made by Adebayo Adenipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, on behalf of Afe Babalola law firm.

 

The motion for an interlocutory injunction in this case is scheduled for hearing on January 7, 2025.

Operatives of the Nigerian Police reportedly arrested Farotimi on December 2 as criticisms continued to trail the style of his arrest.

He was picked up by the police in Lagos and transported to Ekiti State, where he appeared before a magistrate’s court on Wednesday, December 4.

The Chief Magistrates’ Court in the Ado Ekiti Division, on Wednesday, ordered his remand in the state’s correctional centre.

Farotimi was arraigned over alleged defamation of character following the allegation in his book that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola, had compromised the Supreme Court.

Afe Babalola! Abuja, Oyo courts bar further sale of Dele Farotimi’s book

Renowned Islamic scholar and Preacher Muyideen Bello dies at 84

The Muslim community has been thrown into mourning following the passing of one of its most revered figures, Alhaji Muyideen Bello.

Born in 1940 in Ibadan, Alhaji Bello was widely respected for his profound teachings and unwavering dedication to Islamic scholarship.

The announcement of his demise was made by another prominent Islamic scholar, Alfa Aribidesi of At-Tawdeeh Islamic Da’awah on Friday morning.

Sheikh Akewugbagold Taofeek, an Ibadan-based cleric, also disclosed the demise of the fearless Oyo state-born preacher in a Facebook post on Friday.

 

 

According to Akewugbagold, the renowned preacher returned to his creator on Friday, praying that God be pleased with his soul.

Corroborating the news of the demise, popular cleric and follower of the late Bello, who is also an Islamic singer, Alhaji Basit Olarenwaju popularly known as Aponle Anabi also shared the image of the 84 year old scholar with tearful emojis on his official Facebook page on Friday.

While details surrounding his death remain unclear, his passing marks the end of an era for a man who spent decades shaping the lives of countless individuals with his wisdom, guidance, and spiritual leadership.

Multiple reports from local media in Oyo State have also reported the demise of the revered cleric.

Renowned Islamic scholar and Preacher Muyideen Bello dies at 84

Nigeria, Brazil pact to boost agric in 774 councils

 

Nigeria and Brazil have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that would attract $4.3 billion private sector investment in agriculture in 774 local governments.

The scope of the investment, which is expected to revolutionalise agriculture in the country, covers fertiliser production and hybrid seed technology.

Also, the MoU would create new opportunities in agricultural financing.

The groundbreaking partnership between Nigeria and Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) of Brazil, both countries believe, would boost food productivity.

The MoU, signed during the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, focuses on driving innovation and investment in fertiliser production, hybrid seed technology, and agricultural finance across the councils.

The agreement was formalised by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), Mr. Temitope Fashedemi, on behalf of Nigeria, and the President of FGV, Prof Carlos Ivan Simonsen Leal, at FGV’s headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.

According to a statement by the State House Director of Information and Public Relations, Abiodun Oladunjoye, the agreement marked a renewed commitment to the Green Imperative Project (GIP), a $1.2 billion initiative launched in 2018 to modernise the sector, using Brazilian expertise in tropical agriculture.

“This partnership paves the way for Brazil to engage with Nigeria’s dynamic and rapidly growing agricultural sector,” said Fashedemi during the signing ceremony.

“Together with FGV, we are poised to unlock the potential of private sector investment in key areas critical to our food security,” he added.

The Green Imperative Project, supported by Deutsche Bank, aims to deliver transformative agricultural technologies and facilitate knowledge transfer to Nigeria over its 10-year timeline.

The statement  said the project will focus on identifying and supporting one agribusiness in each local government area with both technical and financial resources, to promote sustainable development and economic growth in the next five years.

Prof. Leal described the agreement as a significant step in fostering global collaboration for sustainable agricultural development.

Senior members of Nigeria’s Presidency, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and FGV leadership were at the ceremony, reflecting the high-level commitment to the initiative.

By blending Nigeria’s agricultural potential with Brazil’s expertise, the partnership aims to revolutionise Nigeria’s agribusiness landscape, strengthen food security, and position the country as a leader in sustainable agriculture on the global stage.

 
Nigeria, Brazil pact to boost agric in 774 councils

New Customs Controller resumes at Idiroko Border, vows to crush smugglers

 

The newly redeployed Customs Area Controller (CAC), for Ogun 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Deputy Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, has vowed to tackle smuggling of vehicle, rice and other contraband into the country from neighboring countries.

Shuaibu, who promised to uphold the core mandate of trade facilitation, vowed never to compromise, but balance enforcement with trade facilitation at the NCS Ogun 1 Command, Idiroko, Ogun state.

The new CAC made these promises while taking over from his predecessor, Comptroller James Ojo, who proceeded on retirement after 35 years of active service at the NCS.

Speaking at the event, Shuaibu pledged to deploy the experiences he had garnered while leading the recently disbanded Sector 2 of the federal government’s Joint Border Patrol Team during the period he will be holding sway as the CAC of the Command.

“As an experienced anti-smuggling officer, I understand the unique challenges of border operations, particularly in Ogun 1 Command; a critical frontier for trade and security. I am keenly aware of the complexity of balancing enforcement with trade facilitation and community engagement and I am prepared to tackle these challenges head-on,” Shuaibu said.

Stressing that his vision for Ogun 1 Command, Idiroko “is simple, yet resolute”, Shuaibu said he would prioritise teamwork, innovation and discipline in all the Customs’ activities, even while upholding the values and mission of the service in striving to achieve new heights of operational excellence.

 

He however, appealed for the cooperation of all the personnel as well as other stakeholders which include traditional rulers from all across the border host communities to join in his vision, saying “the tasks ahead are daunting, but with unity and dedication, they are surmountable.”

The new CAC also promised that he would maintain and strengthen the existing collaboration with other sister security agencies towards ensuring border security and facilitation of legitimate trade across the border.

Earlier in his address, the outgoing CAC, Ojo urged personnel in the command to extend the same high level of cooperation he enjoyed while in service at the command to the new Controller.

The ceremony had in attendance, representatives of the Customs Service from the neighbouring Republic of Benin as well as those from other sister security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service and the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), among others.

New Customs Controller resumes at Idiroko Border, vows to crush smugglers

How Dele Farotimi defamed me – Afe Babalola

 

Renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, has confirmed to be behind the recent arrest of lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi ,who he claimed defamed him in a book published recently.

The accusation stems from a Supreme Court judgment involving a land dispute that spanned over two decades.

In a petition dated November 19  and addressed to the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale, Babalola detailed how his law firm discovered Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System and the defamatory contents therein.

“I write to report the criminal defamation of myself, my law firm Afe Babalola & Co and my lawyers in person of Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro by one Dele Farotimi in his book titled ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ published by Dele Farotimi publishers in respect of Suit no: SC/146/2005: Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu & Ors V. H.R.H Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors,” the petition read.

He claimed the book contained several defamatory statements that questioned his integrity and accused his law firm of unethical practices, including corrupting the judiciary.

He added, “Sometime on 2/11/2024, one of our lawyers while travelling through Murtala Muhammed Airport bought a book by Dele Farotimi titled ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ published by Dele Farotimi publishers. He read the said book and immediately brought it to my attention. Many of my lawyers also bought the said book and read same.”

Babalola stated that the book accused him of “corrupting the Supreme Court from ages past and had led it to commit the most egregious acts of evil and wanting injustice.”

he petition noted, “The said defamatory statements are detailed below:

“That Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgement in the service of his client” See page IX.

“That Aare Afe Babalola, Olu Daramola, Olu Faro and the law offices of Afe Babalola & Co, (Emmanuel Chambers) compromised the Supreme Court and the remaining semblance of integrity it might have had when they went back to the Supreme Court and got the Court to swim in the sewer of corruption and shameful self-Abnegation”. See page X

“That Afe Babalola libeled me and the fact of the libel became known to me in a suit against Lawal Pedro SAN”. See page X.

“That I sued Afe Babalola SAN for libel and he leveraged his influence in the Judiciary to deny me justice”. See page X.”

Giving a background of the case, the petition stated that the case concerned 254 hectares of land in Lagos, which the Supreme Court awarded to his client in 2013.

He further alleged that Farotimi’s comments in the book suggested that he and his law firm compromised the judiciary, tarnishing the integrity of the apex court.

 

According to the petition, Farotimi’s statements, which were also highlighted in media interviews and widely circulated online, were designed to damage his reputation, discredit his law firm, and cause clients to lose trust in his professional ethics.

“All these statements are false and incorrect written deliberately to destroy my reputation. Dele Farotimi referred to me severally in his book as the Doyen of the legal profession,” Babalola said.

According to the petition, the controversy originated from the Supreme Court judgment on July 13, 2013, which ruled in favour of Babalola’s client, the Gbadamosi Eletu family.

The case involved land acquired by the Lagos State Government but later contested by the Ojomu family, who sold the land to Babalola’s client decades earlier.

Babalola’s legal team successfully argued that the Ojomu family acted in bad faith by attempting to reclaim the land after its sale.

However, the judgment sparked litigation from estates affected by the ruling, including Pinnock Estate, NICON Estate, and others.

Babalola said that Farotimi, as counsel to one of these estates, criticised the judgment in his book and accused Babalola of unethical conduct.

On Wednesday, Farotimi was remanded in prison custody by a magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti following his arrest on a 16-count charge of criminal defamation.

He was apprehended by officers of the Ekiti police command in Lagos and transported to Ekiti for arraignment.

Babalola has called for an urgent investigation into Farotimi’s claims, the recovery of all copies of the book, and a halt to its further distribution.

He also urged authorities to address what he described as Farotimi’s admitted “disregard for the rule of law.”

Babalola, who described himself as a pillar of the Nigerian legal profession, emphasised his six-decade-long career marked by integrity, discipline, and professionalism.

 

Read full text below:

The Commissioner of Police,

Ado-Ekiti,

Ekiti State.

Dear Sir,

CRIMINAL DEFAMATION OF AARE AFE BABALOLA, AFE BABALOLA & CO AND HER LAWYERS BY DELE FAROTIMI

I write to report the criminal defamation of myself, my law firm Afe Babalola & Co and my lawyers in person of Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro by one Dele Farotimi in his book titled ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ published by Dele Farotimi publishers in respect of Suit no: SC/146/2005: Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu & Ors V. H.R.H Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors.

SUIT NO: SC/146/2005: MAJOR MURITALA GBADAMOSI ELETU & ORS V. H.R.H OBA TIJANI AKINLOYE & ORS (2013) 15 NWLR PART 1378

 We were solicitors to the Gbadamosi Eletu family in the case of Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu & Ors V. H.R.H Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors.

The Appellants lost the case at the High Court and the Court of Appeal before briefing my law firm to represent them at the Supreme Court.

The Appellant in this suit were Defendants at the High Court. The subject matter of the suit was 254 hectares of land at Osapa Eti-Osa Local Government Lagos sold to the late Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu in 1977 by the Ojomu family. The said parcel of land was later acquired by Lagos State Government after it was sold to the Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu by the Ojomu family.

The Ojomu family contested the acquisition against Lagos State Government in Suit No: ID/1883/89 wherein the court set aside the acquisition by the Lagos State Government. The Ojomu family then instituted the suit at the High Court of Lagos State claiming that title to the land had reverted to the Ojomu family despite the earlier sale of the land to late Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu.

We represented the Eletu family and Judgement was delivered by the Supreme Court on 13/7/2013 in favour of the Eletu family wherein the Supreme Court held that: “Where a party has fully divested himself of all interest in land, no right vests in him to deal with the same property by way of further alienation anymore. He is caught by the maxim, nemo dat quod non habet; that is, he cannot give that which he no longer has. In the instant case, it was unfortunate that the respondents claimed title to the whole of their family land compulsorily acquired by the Lagos State Government including the portion earlier sold to the father of the appellants and in which they were in effective possession. The claim so made without disclosing the truth and excluding the said portion so sold was clearly made in bad faith and smacked of insincerity. It was very unconscionable and consequently against the principles of equity and good conscience”.

The Supreme Court also held that: “A court of law should not allow itself to be used as an engine for the perpetration of fraud, in whatever guise”.

A copy of the judgment is hereby attached as annexure 1.

 

VARIATION OF JUDGEMENT

Honourable Justice Kumai Bayang AKA’ AHS JSC wrote the lead judgement. His Lordship erroneously limited the land of the Appellants to 10 hectares (24.17 acres) in respect to Suit no: M/779/93 whose subject matter was part of the 254 hectares owned by the Eletu family.

We immediately filed a motion for variation of the judgement of the Supreme Court pursuant to Order 8 Rule 16 of the Rules of Court. The said motion was heard and ruling delivered on 18/3/2014 granting statutory right of occupancy to the Appellants in respect to the entire 254 hectares sold to late Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu by the Respondents.

A copy of the ruling is hereby attached as annexure 2.

ENFORCEMENT

Upon the delivery of the Judgement, our client surreptitiously employed the services of S.B Joseph & Co to enforce the judgement before we applied for variation of the judgement with the intention of not paying our professional fees.

The judgement was however varied on 18/3/2014 as earlier stated.

 

NEW SUIT BY ESTATES/PERSONS AFFECTED BY THE JUDGEMENT

Several residential estates were affected by the judgement of the Supreme Court among which were Pinnock Estate, Beach Resort, NICON Estate, Friends’ Colony Estate and Victory Park Estate etc. Dele Farotimi was lawyer to one of the Estates.

The affected estates and individuals immediately filed fresh suits against the Eletu family with the purpose of frustrating the judgement of the Supreme Court.

The Eletu family were lured by the affected estates to settle some of the suits behind our law firm despite being counsel on record by filing terms of settlement with the aim of denying us our professional fees. This was admitted by Dele Farotimi in page 73 of his book ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’.

INTERVENTION BY LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT

The Lagos State Government issued a publication indicating their awareness of the Supreme Court judgement and the need for the State to intervene in order to maintain public peace and order. The Lagos State Government invited us for several meetings with respect to compromising the judgement of the Supreme Court.

The said judgement was eventually compromised and the Eletu family were compensated by the Lagos State Government so as to avoid a massive dislocation of persons and communities directly affected by the Judgement.

 

DEFAMATION BY DELE FAROTIMI

Sometime on 2/11/2024, one of our lawyers while travelling through Murtala Muhammed Airport bought a book by Dele Farotimi titled ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ published by Dele Farotimi publishers. He read the said book and immediately brought it to my attention. Many of my lawyers also bought the said book and read same.

We received several calls from professional colleagues, friends and family members who watched a program on Channel’s TV wherein Dele Farotimi was interviewed with respect to the said book where he made several defamatory statements against myself, my law firm Afe Babalola & Co (Emmanuel Chambers), Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro Esq.

We also received several calls from persons who saw excerpts of the book and interview on several social media platforms.

The said defamatory statements are detailed below:

“That Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgement in the service of his client” See page IX.

“That Aare Afe Babalola, Olu Daramola, Olu Faro and the law offices of Afe Babalola & Co, (Emmanuel Chambers) compromised the Supreme Court and the remaining semblance of integrity it might have had when they went back to the Supreme Court and got the Court to swim in the sewer of corruption and shameful self-Abnegation”. See page X

 

“That Afe Babalola libeled me and the fact of the libel became known to me in a suit against Lawal Pedro SAN”. See page X.

“That I sued Afe Babalola SAN for libel and he leveraged his influence in the Judiciary to deny me justice”. See page X.

“That I have always been familiar with the fact of our perversion as a People and I have few illusions about equity and justice reigning in Nigeria but I had always assumed that there were lines that should never be crossed. I have however been slapped awake by the brazenness of the judicial brigandage unleashed on hapless citizens, corporate, and individuals by the Nigerian Supreme Court, acting under the direction of Aare Afe Babalola. At least five Justices of the Apex Court have been identified as guilty of odious corruption and or gross incompetence. Either is sufficient to have them removed from their office and this is my petition to the Nigerian people and most definitely to the NJC”. See pages 10 to 11.

“The first we knew of the magic been put together by Afe and his elves must have been around the middle of July”. See page 49.

“While all this was going on, we had a meeting in the law office of Afe Babalola in Magodo, where Olu Daramola SAN made himself unavailable, and had us meet with Olu Faro, a younger counsel……..but Olu Faro Esq was remarkably insolent and assured that we were made aware of just how powerful the law office he worked for believed itself to be and how much above the law and the practice of law they believed themselves to be”. See page 52.

“The judgement of the court was unanimous in giving judgement to the Eletus………But Justice Rhodes-Vivour laid a foundation for the fraud that was to come. He spoke of an unextinguished equitable interest in 254 hectares”. See page 52 to 53.

“We quickly realized that the law office of Afe Babalola & Co, Emmanuel Chambers had outsourced the judgement execution to another law office, the firm of S.B Joseph & Co the firm had fraudulently and deliberately concealed the judgement of AKA’AHS and had underlined the words of Justice Rhodes Vivour to deceive and perhaps mislead Atilade or as is more likely, Atilade was always a part of the original fraud”. See page 56.

 

“But even as Atilade J. played the contrition game, she was already part of the game plan being staged together by the grandmaster of judicial corruption in Nigeria, Afe Babalola. I have come to the conclusion that the required form of the application and her ruling were all part of the insidious plans of Afe Babalola, his band of crooked lawyers and coterie of crooked/incompetent justices of the Supreme Court”. See page 59.

“The battle to quash the warrant opened my eyes to the extent of the rot in the court system and I came to the knowledge of the sickening realities of the systemic putrefaction. The Supreme Court’s Judgement was doctored by the confederation of lawyers in Afe Babalola’s chambers and the law offices of S.B Joseph & Co and the end desired by the confederacy was sought with the active connivance of the head judge of the Lagos Division, Atilade J.”. See page 60.

“As the mountain of evidence in proof of the Eletus’ fraud began to pile up and in view of the order that Atilade had granted quashing the fraudulent warrant that she had issued and as Afe came to realize how useless the original judgement had become, Afe went back to the accomplices at the Supreme Court and this is the only logical explanation for the shameless and brazen review of the fraudulent judgement by the second seating of the court where the justices destroyed whatever doubt one might have harbored of either corruption and/ or incompetence”. See page 64.

“It was around this time we began to hear rumors of a return to the Supreme Court by Afe Babalola and his magical elves and the rumors became real when I got a call from Tokunbo Williams SAN, who informed me of the receipt of a motion on notice before the Supreme Court, seeking to correct an error in the judgement reproduced below”. See page 64.

“But apparently, we had underestimated the extent of the putrefaction of the Supreme Court and the extent of Chief Afe Babalola’s corrupt reaches into the innards of the Supreme Court”. See page 64.

“The quashed warrant of execution became the basis of Afe Babalola latest excursion to the Supreme Court and the error of my acceptance of the Corrupt offer of an exparte application to quash the warrant for “Documentary Irregularity” became obvious to me. I knew before the motion was heard, that the court was working to the conclusion desired by Aare Afe Babalola”. See page 67.

“The Lagos crowd had been snookered into a corner by the exertions of my chambers and we had demolished the original fraud that was hatched before Afe secured the first of the two judgements………..The Supreme Court cannot hide behind the incompetence of counsel as it has a duty to examine its own appalling intellectual indolence, corruption or incompetence”. See page 70.

 

“But the court as though enthralled by whatever Afe the Circus Master had Promised the Justices, acted with utmost carelessness about the integrity of the court, the interest of the citizens and the State that they had been sworn to protect. The conspiracy was always a step ahead of us because some of the clients mistook key members of the confederacy of friends and helpers”. See pages 70 to 71.

“The Attorney General had been dragged into the matter. The brutal attempt at enforcement of the original judgement against organized estates and corporate establishments had served to galvanize extremely critical and sensitive mass of the affected peoples and this was when Afe Babalola lost his influence on the Eletus and the Lagos Mafia whose original brief to procure enforcement of the judgement became the dominant force in the conspiracy muscling out the Afe gang. With Afe Babalola rendered impotent, Lawal Pedro muscled in on the queue”. See page 71.

“…… she knows more about the case that culminated in the Supreme Court Judgement and she also knew everything that I had known about the Eletus fraud and Afe Babalola’s shenanigans”. See page 76.

“But Afe knew that he could get the Supreme Court to do whatever he wanted and to rule however he asked. Pedro knew this too and he being the original Lagos boy, showed Afe a bit of Lagos magic. Afe Babalola and the Eletus might have killed the buffalo but had no way from feeding from the carcass. We have turned the corrupt triumph at the Supreme Court into a pyrrhic victory and it was at this point that Pedro craftily inserted himself into the plot”. See page 80.

“If Afe Babalola might be likened to the lion, Lawal Pedro and the Lagos gang are the originally Africa wild hyenas. They literally chased Afe Babalola off his skill. They repackaged the conspiracy, cut the losses and went for the lower hanging fruits”. See page 80.

“This was enough until “eedi” (karma) caught up with Afe Babalola; he dragged Lawal Pedro before the Lagos High Court and the Eletus before ICPC”. See page 81.

“Sometimes in 2016, I started hearing rumblings of some serious fight between Chief Afe Babalola and Lawal Pedro. I was told that Chief Afe Babalola had written a petition to the LPDC, alleging that Lawal Pedro had railroaded his client Gbadamosi Eletu, into an agreement that circumvents his own legal agreement with the Eletus. About same time, I also heard that the ICPC had been pressed into action against the Eletus, Lawal Pedro and S.B Joseph, which seemed quite incongruous, given the fact that the Eletus were not public officers this event stirred an interest in me. I got my popcorn at the ready and waited to be entertained by the squabbling thieves”. See page 81.

 

“When Amina Augie JSC railed against Chief Afe Babalola’s professional conduct, or misconduct in the Bayelsa case, she did so either as an ostrich or out of ignorance. Afe has been corrupting the Supreme Court from ages past and had led it to commit the most egregious acts of evil and wanting injustice. Afe knows what her ladyship does not know or pretend not to know: that justice does not live in the Nigerian court or you can get the court to do whatever you want, as long as you know who to speak with and who to pay”. See page 83.

“Afe’s letter to Tunde Phillips, then C.J of Lagos State showed how frustrated he had become about the inability to execute the fraudulent judgement. In spite of the fact that he asked the Supreme Court to do what it had never done before……. the Eletus had formed a new confederacy and had neither room or use for Afe Babalola, who had overestimated his own importance to the plot and failed to discern that he had defectively become unnecessary to the new plotters”. See page 84

“Afe is so enmeshed in his corruption that he has lost all sense of propriety and or fairness”. See page 84.

“I have absolutely no interest in taking Afe Babalola’s corrupt money but I was not going to allow a corrupt, amoral man, devoid of any integrity, to define me for posterity when none of us will be around to dispute the hagiographic account of the event”. See page 84

“Afe Babalola was imperial by the suit I filed in court it was designed to blow open the tawdry details of his dirty deals with the Supreme Court…….it was a thing to be having a quarrel among thieves, each knew how far they might push their claim but it is quite another thing to get into “roforofo” fight with a man seemingly incapable of walking way from a fight”. See page 85

“The perils that were been faced by all key members of the twin camps of conspirators………I must close with a caveat; I am not privy to what happened in the conclaves of crooks….” See page 85
“But there was a second incentive. This was the promise to get rid of the nuisance that my libel suit against Afe represented. I knew when I knew when I was filing the suit, that Afe was not in a position to ever defend the suit. He has no defense and he never anticipated that I will ever become aware of his libel and if he did, he wasn’t concerned about what a mere mortal like me could do to a god like him. Afe was offered assurances that he need not worry about the case. The conspirators had it in hand and would extinguish the fire.” See page 88.

“I sued Afe Babalola because I was always going to blow his dirty, tawdry secrets. I did not know how long any of us had to live and I did not want to be dealing with the idiotic arguments that I could envision, of Afe’s proteges, arguing that I was slandering the dead if the book was to be published after his demise. He is already well in his 80s. I have offered him the opportunity to defend himself. He went to extra ordinary lengths to deny me my day in court”. See page 93.

 

The book ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ is hereby attached as annexure 3.

All these statements are false and incorrect written deliberately to destroy my reputation. Dele Farotimi referred to me severally in his book as the Doyen of the legal profession.

The book has been circulated all over the country particularly in Ekiti State where so many persons who respect me as an elder state man has expressed their disdain as a result of the defamatory statement made by Dele Farotimi. The book has also been massively distributed online and has reached many persons globally who have expressed concern by Dele Farotimi’s intention to damage my hard-earned reputation. This is contrary to Section 374 of the Criminal Code.

These Statements are contrary to Section 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code which forbids any one from making defamatory statement which is likely to injure the reputation of any person by exposing him to hatred, contempt or ridicule or likely to damage any person in his profession or trade by an injury to his reputation.

The said statements are meant to lower myself, my law firm and my lawyer’s self-esteem in the eyes of members of the society and also to expose us to hatred, contempt or ridicule in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society. These statements were intended to cause right thinking persons in the society to shun and avoid me, my law firm and my lawyers.

The statements were made with the purpose of discrediting my law firm and ridicule us within the legal profession in order to injure our hard-earned reputation and financial credit.

The statements have caused many of our clients to stay away from us and seek the services of other law firms.

 

These defamatory statements have aroused the anger of right-thinking members of the society particularly members of the legal profession against me, my law firm and my lawyers.

These statements are likely to set the legal profession and the society at large ablaze in a way that can disturb public peace.

MY REPUTATION AND MY LAW FIRM

With every sense of modesty, I am one of the most distinguished legal luminaries of my generation, renowned both in Africa and globally for my profound contributions to the legal profession and the advancement of education. With over six decades of uninterrupted legal practice, my career is a testament to exceptional dedication, integrity, strategic advocacy, and visionary leadership.

I am a highly accomplished advocate, with some of the most celebrated cases in Nigerian legal history, representing high-profile clients, including government institutions, multinational corporations, and individuals. My advocacy spans domestic and international courts including contributions as a consultant to the Federal Government of Nigeria, World Bank, and various conglomerates. My extensive experience includes my role in arbitration, both locally and internationally, where I remain a respected authority. I appeared in numerous landmark cases, shaping Nigerian jurisprudence and establishing myself as one of the nation’s most formidable legal minds.

My influence goes beyond the courtroom. As the Founder of Afe Babalola & Co. (Emmanuel Chambers), one of Nigeria’s leading law firms, I have trained over 300 lawyers, including 14 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), judges, and attorneys-general, making my chambers one of the most significant contributors to the legal profession in Nigeria. My exceptional litigation skills and legal acumen earned me the prestigious title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1987, cementing his place at the pinnacle of legal practice in the country. I currently have 7 senior advocates in chambers.

I am a renowned scholar and author. I have authored several authoritative legal texts, including Injunctions and Enforcement of Orders and Law and Practice of Evidence in Nigeria. My contributions to legal education extend to teaching at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and delivering lectures at prestigious universities such as the University of Lagos and the University of Ibadan. My popular column, YOU AND THE LAW, published in the Nigerian Tribune, reflects my commitment to educating the public on legal matters.

 

Beyond my legal practice, I have made extraordinary strides in education. My experience as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos (2001-2007) spurred me to establish Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD). ABUAD has quickly become a beacon of academic excellence, integrity, setting new standards in Nigeria’s educational system. My efforts in education has been recognized globally, with numerous honorary degrees from universities including the University of London, University of Lagos and Ekiti State University.

My leadership in academia and law has earned me numerous accolades, including the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR), Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), and international recognition such as the Queen Victoria Commemorative Award at the Socrates Awards in Oxford, UK. I was named Africa Man of the Year on Food Security and awarded an Honorary Doctor of Management by the Federal University of Technology, Akure. My groundbreaking achievements continue to inspire generations of lawyers and leaders across Africa and beyond.

In addition to my legal and educational contributions, I remain a committed philanthropist and advocate for reform in various sectors. My vast experience, unmatched expertise and unwavering commitment to excellence make me a trailblazer in the fight for truth, fairness and justice.

Key Achievements:

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), 1987.
Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).
Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, University of Lagos (2001-2007).
Founder and Chancellor, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).
Queen Victoria Commemorative Award winner, Oxford UK.
Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of London, Ekiti State University, University of Lagos, and more.
My law firm was established in 1965 and has been nurtured and sustained by the finest legal values including integrity, advocacy, fairness, discipline and justice.

DELE FAROTIMI’S ADMISSION OF CRIME

It is necessary to bring it to your notice that Dele Farotimi admitted to have unlawful access to and corrupted the judiciary when he wrote in page 58 of his book as follows:

 

“The original Motion prepared by my office was a Motion on Notice. We prepared this and readied our processes to be filed, and then word came to us vide the Ojomu’s palace. Atilade had asked that we filed the motion expatre; this was to avoid a lengthy delay she assured her messangers to me, as having the motion papers served on Afe Babalola & Co will only serve to prolong the resolution of the problems created either by her corruption and or incompetence. My reasoned arguments against the exparte motion were not countenanced by the clients. They all just wanted the mess over and done with. Multi billion naira investments were being undermined by the situation. And several lives were being disrupted they argued”.

DISREGARD FOR RULE OF LAW

It understandable why Dele Farotimi threw caution into the winds in writing his defamatory book. He stated in page 41 of the book, his uttermost disregard for the rule of law as follows:

“It was during one of our heated sessions that I declared my philosophy of law and I believe it was also the day that we began to understand the strength of our synergy and the value and efficiency of our then emergent partnership. I explained to him that I did not read law to follow the rules.”

CONCLUSION

We hereby humbly request that you use your good office to investigate the matter and stop Dele Farotimi from further damaging my reputation, the reputation of my law firm and that of my lawyers.

We also request that all existing hard copies of the said book should be recovered by the police while we take other necessary legal actions against Dele Farotimi.

 

In addition, his admission of corrupting the judiciary should also be investigated .

We request that this should be treated with utmost urgency in other to preserve the dignity of the temple of justice and the legal profession.

Yours faithfully

Aare Afe Babalola SAN

Founding Partner

Afe Babalola & Co

How Dele Farotimi defamed me – Afe Babalola

Ogun Police hunts Woman for dumping Baby outside Oru-Ijebu Clinic

 

The Ogun State Police Command is searching for an unidentified woman who is accused of abandoning an infant in front of Blessed Clinic, located in Oru Ijebu within the Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

PUNCH Metro learnt on Saturday that the mother allegedly abandoned the child at around 6:45 a.m. on Friday, in front of the clinic, just a few days after giving birth.

The command informed PUNCH Metro that the child was likely no more than 40 days old when the mother allegedly abandoned it.

Upon discovering the baby in front of the hospital, PUNCH Metro learnt that the clinic’s owner immediately brought the abandoned child inside for urgent medical care before contacting the Oru Police Division to file a report.

The spokesperson for the state police command, Omolola Odutola, told our correspondent that an investigation had begun to identify those responsible for the incident.

Odutola stated, “The medical doctor in charge of the hospital alerted our division about the child. We have initiated an investigation into the matter, and the child is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.”

Abandoning newborns on the streets and at dumpsites is not uncommon in Nigeria. In 2022, PUNCH Metro reported the case of a baby girl who could neither speak nor walk, abandoned in front of a shop on Tajudeen Bello Street, Giwa Oke-Aro Road, Ogun State, by her parents.

The child was rejected by the orphanages she was taken to and is currently left helpless in police custody at the Agbado Division, which rescued her from the street.

Similarly, in January 2024, the command arrested a 30-year-old mother, Olubunmi Ajayi, for attempting to drown her five-month-old baby, Imole Anifowose, in the Remo Secondary School river in the Sagamu area of the state.

A man named Olusola Sonaya, who happened to be nearby, was said to have helped to rescue the baby after her mother threw her into the water.

 
Ogun Police hunts Woman for dumping Baby outside Oru-Ijebu Clinic

Afe Babalola! Court grants Dele Farotimi N50m bail

 

Embattled Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has been granted bail by an Ekiti State Magistrate Court, in a defamation case filed by Afe Babalola.

The 2023 African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, announced the development on his X handle on Monday.

“The first hurdle was crossed. #DeleFarotimi was granted bail of N50 million surety in the like sum with someone with landed property. The case was adjourned to January 29, 2025,” the tweet read.

Details later…

 
 
Afe Babalola! Court grants Dele Farotimi N50m bail

World Trade Organisation reappoints Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director General

 

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has reappointed Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as its Director-General for a second term.

This was announced by the WTO in a post on X on Friday.

The General Council of the WTO stated that the reappointment will take effect on September 1, 2025.

The Council said it agreed by consensus to reappoint Okonjo-Iweala as DG for a second four-year term, stressing that the decision reflects broad recognition of her exceptional leadership and strategic vision for the future of the WTO.

It further explained that the reappointment process, initiated on October 8, 2024, was overseen by Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, Chair of the General Council.

“With no additional nominations submitted by the November 8 deadline, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala stood as the sole candidate. The process was conducted in a fully open and transparent manner, adhering to the WTO’s ‘Procedures for the Appointment of Directors-General’ (WT/L/509).

“During a special General Council meeting on November 28-29, 2024, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala outlined her forward-looking vision for the WTO. Following her presentation and a Q&A session with members, the Council formally endorsed her reappointment by consensus.”

“The General Council commends Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for her outstanding leadership during her first term. Amid significant global economic challenges, she strengthened the WTO’s ability to support its members and set a forward-looking agenda for the organization. Her leadership was instrumental in securing meaningful outcomes at pivotal moments, including the 12th and 13th Ministerial Conferences (MC12 and MC13), where major milestones were achieved.”

If you recall Okonjo-Iweala first assumed office as Director-General on March 1, 2021, becoming the first woman and first African to lead the WTO.

Her first term concludes on August 31, 2025.

 
 
World Trade Organisation reappoints Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director General

Finland court sends Simon Ekpa to prison for ‘inciting terror in Nigeria’

 

Simon Ekpa, self acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been arrested by law enforcement in Finland.

The BBC reports that Ekpa was subsequently sent to prison by the district court of Päijät-Häme for “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media”.

 

Ekpa was said to have committed the crime in 2021 in Lahti municipality.

The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also arrested four other men over alleged terrorist offences.

A citizen of Finland and Nigeria, Ekpa has described himself as leader of the separatist IPOB group since Nnamdi Kanu’s incarceration.

Finnish police say Ekpa’s activities and social media rhetoric may have fanned the flames of violence in the south-east of Nigeria.

 “He carries out these activities from his social media channels, for example,” said Otto Hiltunen, detective chief inspector of the NBI.

In February 2023,  Ekpa was arrested by police at his residence in Lahti but was released after hours of questioning.

 

Using his social media channels, Ekpa had directed Igbos not to participate in Nigeria’s 2023 general election.

In September 2021, the Biafra agitator and secessionist denounced Nigeria and vowed to return the medal he won for the country at the 2003 African Junior Athletics Championships.

Finland court sends Simon Ekpa to prison for ‘inciting terror in Nigeria’
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