Fola Badmus, Author at Trendbrio.com

Nigerians React as Presidential Aide Applauds First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s Humility for Kneeling to Greet Afenifere Leader

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago01 mins

Nigerians are reacting to a recent post by Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, in which he praised First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for showing humility by kneeling to greet Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti. The gesture took place in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during a recent visit. Dare shared a photo of the moment on social media, commending the First Lady for her respectful conduct. However, the post has drawn mixed reactions online. While some praised the act as a sign of cultural respect, others criticized Dare for highlighting it in an official capacity. Critics argued that such displays, though personal and symbolic, are not matters of national importance and should not be amplified by government officials.

Wike’s Aide Fires Back At Falana: How Many Major Cases Did You Win To Become SAN

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago06 mins

Self-appointed human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has been challenged to list the number of major cases he won and what he has done for the development of the legal profession that qualified him to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), apart from being an “arrangee and errand lawyer.” Lere Olayinka, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, who threw this challenge in a statement on Monday, said “it is funny and ridiculous that in the mind of Falana, only those who have handled cases in trial court or appellate court are lawyers, and that a lawyer must have handled cases in trial or appellate court to be qualified for appointment as a Life Bencher.” Olayinka, who said the FCT Minister got his membership of the Body of Benchers on merit, having contributed immensely to the advancement of legal education, asked; “Apart from going on television to make noise, what has Falana contributed to the legal profession? Even the SAN that he got, was it not an afterthought? Was it not years after his mates had gotten SAN? He said; “As Governor of Rivers State, Wike, was instrumental to the establishment and infrastructural development of the campus of the Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt, which is the best centre for legal education in Nigeria today. He also played major roles in the development of facilities at the Yenagoa campus of the Nigerian Law School by constructing a state-of-the-art 1,500 capacity hall and 200-bed male and female hostels, among other interventions. “Now that he is FCT Minister, he is constructing a 10-unit housing quarters for the Nigerian Law school, Bwari, Abuja. He has also provided operational vehicles to the school to improve its operation. “The question is; what has Falana done for the legal profession? Even in Ekiti State, where he is from, he has not contributed anything. “The Bar Center in Ado Ekiti was built by Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) while the one in Ikere Ekiti was built by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN). Also, Aare Afe Babalola has been sponsoring Nigerian Bar Association annual lecture for years and has been assisting lawyers in Ekiti with medical treatments in his Ado Ekiti teaching hospital. What has Falana done? Nothing! “Did Falana not fail as a politician when he went to Ekiti to contest for governor and failed woefully?” Olayinka, who counselled lawyers like Falana to stop misleading their clients, pointed out that he (Falana) lied onNational Television by saying that the Supreme Court judgment on Rivers State “had nothing to do with who is the authentic Speaker of the House” when the issue of defection of the 27 members of the House of Assembly was determined by the Supreme Court. “It was on the basis of the Supreme Court judgment that Justice Emmanuel Obile of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt dismissed the suit filed by the Labour Party against the alleged detection, saying that the Supreme Court’s ruling had finalized the issue of defection. “But Falana went on television to lie and deceive his client that the Supreme Court didn’t rule on the defection. “The same Falana said three members of the Rivers State House of Assembly can carry out legislative functions despite the provision of Section 96 (1) of the 1999 Constitution that ‘The quorum of a House of Assembly shall be one-third of all the members of the House.’ “If as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, you could tell your client that Section 96 (1) of the Constitution of Nigeria is useless and in a House of Assembly of 32 members, three can sit, questions need to be asked as to how exactly you qualified as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria,” Olayinka said.

CBEX Scam Identified, Report Reveals Nigerian Connection

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago08 mins

As Nigerian investors in the crashed Ponzi cryptocurrency platform, CryptoBridge Exchange – CBEX continue to gnash their teeth over their losses, Nigerian promoters of the pyramid scheme have been exposed. Although subject to confirmation, an estimated N1.3 trillion was believed to have disappeared when the fraudsters crashed the platform on Monday, days after investors were denied the withdrawal access from their assets wallet. The development has generated nationwide reactions, with the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), pledging to recover the victims’ funds. This is as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) publicly declared that the scheme was unlicensed and had no authority to participate in Nigeria’s capital market. SEC said it’s preliminary investigations carried revealed that CBEX engaged in promotional activities to create a false perception of legitimacy to entice unsuspecting members of the public into investing monies. It further noted that the scheme promised high guaranteed returns within a short timeframe. “CBEX has failed to honour withdrawal requests from their subscribers and abruptly closed their physical offices, amid mounting complaints,” SEC noted. According to a report by an investigative online newspaper, FIJ, it unveiled the identities of some of the promoters of the fraudulent scheme. Prior to its crash, CBEX operated in Nigeria as an affiliate or subsidiary of ST Investment Co., Ltd owned by 55-year-old Briton, Harold David Charles. ST Investment Co. Ltd reportedly partly launched itself into Nigeria and the people’s consciousness through media publications between January 27 and 28, promoting Charles as a thoroughbred investment expert and wealth manager. The cross-published report stated, “It is worth mentioning that ST Investment Co. Ltd has also established an important strategic partnership with CryptoBridge Exchange. With his forward-looking strategic vision, Harold David Charles promotes cooperation between the two parties to provide investors with a safe, efficient and transparent digital asset trading environment.” However, while CBEX was not registered as an entity, it was floated by ST Technologies International, which was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and issued an anti-money laundering certificate with registration number SC 251514550 by the EFCC’s Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) on January 26. It has other affiliates which include Smart Treasure and Super Technology, all of which were consistent with ST as initials. According to the report, individuals like Adefowora Abiodun and Oluwanisola Adefowora were both leaders and representatives of CBEX in Nigeria. The newspaper could not establish the relationship between the two either as couple or siblings. Another persons associated with CBEX included Seyi Oloyede and Emmanuel Uko, who were identified as members . Abiodun had on February 10, 2025 led his team to open a CBEX office in Abuja, “I am introducing this platform to you again. It is called ST CBEX platform where we trade everyday, we make money and we live a good life. We encourage our people and we also bring people onboard so that you need to make money [alone], you don’t need to live a good life [alone]. Tell people about it. Let people know, let them come onboard and enjoy life.” Over than two months earlier on November 30, 2024, a scantily-attended seminar was organised in Lagos where the attendees were encouraged to bring their “friends and enemies” to sign up, abandon salaried jobs and earn a month’s salary in a day. One of the team lead at the event was one Victor Solomon, whose name was displayed in a video report. Aside from organising seminars in expensive hotel halls and at roadshows, or dispatching agents to bring in new subscribers, CBEX’s promoters also sponsored other programmes including a school inter-house sports as a strategy to gain people’s confidence in the scheme. One of such is sponsoring the inter-house sports competition of MAXFEM International Schools, Alagbado, Lagos on February 10. Proprietor of the school, Mr Olufemi Stephen Oguntola, said he did not know about CBEX until a friend linked him with a key promoter, Temitayo Oklet (Temitayo Oke), from Ibadan, Oyo State. Oguntola said who knew he was yet to get a sponsor for the sports competition connected him with Temitayo, and they agreed on N400,000 as a sponsorship fee for Yellow House. “He paid it through my friend,” Oguntola told the newspaper. “He told me that ‘ST CBEX House’ was their preferred name, and that was why we wrote it on the children’s sportswear. I had never seen him until the competition day and after that day, I have not seen him again. When I heard of the problem, I called him several times but he ignored my calls.” Oguntola admitted that due diligence on CBEX was not carried out before he acceptedd the sponsorship. “I did not do any background checks. I accepted their offer because a friend of my mine was the link between us. He also invested in the scheme and lost about $10,000, with the exception of the subscribers affiliated with him,” Oguntola said.

Tragic Collapse of Equal Right Restaurant in Ojodu-Berger, Lagos: One Dead, 13 Rescued

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago04 mins

A poorly built three-storey building housing the popular Equal Right Restaurant and Bar on Oremeta Street, Ojodu-Berger, Lagos, collapsed around 8 a.m., leaving one person dead and 13 others rescued. The incident, which occurred in a bustling area, sparked panic as restaurant workers, customers, and a family were trapped under the rubble. Details of the Incident The building, described as old and partially occupied, had its ground floor in use as a restaurant, bar, and parking lot, while the upper floors remained unoccupied. Reports indicate the structure was undergoing unapproved construction work, which may have contributed to its collapse. Eyewitnesses described the building as a “ticking time bomb,” with concerns about its structural integrity raised long before the tragedy. The collapse occurred shortly after some restaurant workers arrived, catching occupants and passersby by surprise. Emergency response teams, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Nigeria Police, and others, were swiftly mobilized following a distress call at 8:32 a.m. By Saturday evening, 13 victims, including restaurant staff, customers, and a family, were rescued, with one adult confirmed dead. Rescue Efforts and Response Rescue operations continued into the night, with responders using both light and heavy-duty equipment to carefully clear debris and reach “ground zero” to ensure no one remained trapped. The rescued victims sustained varying degrees of injuries and were attended to by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) before being transported to hospitals for further treatment. LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, emphasized the need for property owners to seek proper approvals before altering ageing structures, noting that unapproved modifications likely contributed to the collapse. The Lagos State Government has launched an investigation to determine the exact cause and hold the building’s owner accountable. Community Impact and Reactions Residents expressed grief and frustration, with some recounting narrow escapes. One local, Chike, shared that he avoided eating at the restaurant the previous night, a decision that likely saved his life. Posts on X reflected community concern, with users urging people to check on loved ones in the Ojodu-Berger area. This incident marks the second building collapse in Lagos within weeks, highlighting ongoing concerns about structural safety in the state. Authorities have cordoned off the site, and rescue efforts are ongoing to ensure no further victims remain trapped. Moving Forward As the investigation continues, the tragedy underscores the urgent need for stricter building regulations and regular inspections to prevent such disasters. The Ojodu-Berger community mourns the loss of life and prays for the recovery of the injured, while emergency responders work tirelessly to provide closure to affected families.

Breaking: Pope Francis Dies at 88 – Vatican Mourns a Global Leader

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago05 mins

On April 21, 2025, the Vatican announced the passing of Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, at the age of 88. The news has sent ripples of sorrow across the globe, as millions mourn the loss of a pontiff known for his humility, compassion, and progressive vision for the Church. A Life of Service Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most influential spiritual leaders of the modern era. Elected pope in 2013, he was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European pontiff in over 1,200 years. His papacy was marked by a deep commitment to social justice, environmental stewardship, and interfaith dialogue. Francis was celebrated for his approachable demeanor, often shunning the grandeur of the papacy for simpler gestures—like living in a modest Vatican guesthouse instead of the Apostolic Palace and embracing the marginalized, from refugees to the poor. His encyclicals, such as Laudato Si’ (2015), which called for urgent action on climate change, and Fratelli Tutti (2020), which emphasized global solidarity, reshaped the Church’s role in addressing contemporary challenges. A Papacy of Reform Throughout his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis sought to bridge divides within the Church and beyond. He championed inclusivity, advocating for greater roles for women in the Church, though stopping short of ordaining them as priests. His outreach to the LGBTQ+ community, including his 2013 remark, “Who am I to judge?” signaled a shift toward a more pastoral tone, even as it sparked debate among traditionalists. His efforts to reform the Vatican’s finances and address the clergy abuse crisis, while not without criticism, reflected his determination to modernize an ancient institution. Global Reactions Tributes have poured in from world leaders, religious figures, and ordinary faithful. U.S. President [Name] called Francis “a moral beacon in a divided world,” while UN Secretary-General [Name] praised his “tireless advocacy for peace and the planet.” On X, posts from users worldwide reflect the profound impact of his leadership, with hashtags like #PopeFrancis and #Vatican trending as people share memories of his warmth and wisdom. The Path Forward The Vatican has not yet released details on the cause of Pope Francis’ death, though his health had been a concern in recent years, with visible frailty and multiple hospitalizations. The College of Cardinals will now convene to elect a new pope in a conclave, a process expected to begin within weeks. Speculation is already swirling about whether the next pontiff will continue Francis’ progressive legacy or steer the Church in a more conservative direction. A Lasting Legacy Pope Francis leaves behind a Church transformed by his emphasis on mercy over judgment, dialogue over division, and action over complacency. His death marks the end of an era, but his teachings will continue to inspire billions. As the Vatican prepares for a period of mourning and transition, the world pauses to honor a man who reminded us all to “build bridges, not walls.” Rest in peace, Holy Father.

Lagos Hotelier Slumps, Dies During Wife’s 60th Birthday Celebration

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago02 mins

Tragedy struck in the Egbeda area of Lagos yesterday, Saturday, April 19, 2025, as a popular hotelier, Mr A O Akinyele, slumped and died during his wife’s 60th birthday celebration at an event centre. Mr Akinyele who was speaking on stage during the event when he suddenly slumped. Attempts made to revive him were unsuccessful, “leading to his being rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.” “Mrs Catherine Akinyele and other guests were in high mood on stage during the event when he beckoned on the wife to whisper something into her ears “Immediately she left, he slumped,” the report said. It added that “the family has been thrown into mourning,” adding that, “As part of the celebration Mr Akinyele unveiled a brand new Toyota Highlander he bought for his wife at the event.” “Many have expressed shock over his death. He was described many as an amiable man,” the report further said.

Chess: Tunde Onakoya Reclaims Guinness World Record

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago03 mins

Nigerian chess champion, Tunde Onakoya, on Sunday set a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest chess marathon, exceeding the previous record of 61 hours. Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, alongside United States chess master Shawn Martinez, surpassed the 62-hour mark on Sunday. Announcing this via his X handle, Onakoya said, “For all the dreamers! We’ve officially broken the record. “If you had 70 hours to change the world, what would you do? Sometimes the world won’t hand you 70 hours on a golden platter. Sometimes, you have to carve it out of your own breath, your own becoming. Not for applause. Not for records. But for the quiet dreamers who need to see someone leap so they know it’s possible to fly. “It’s been over 50 hours of chess beneath the lights of Times Square.Every move, every hour, a love letter to children who’ve never known the luxury of a second chance. If your heart has ever burned for something bigger than yourself, come find us. Stand with us. “Proceeds from my limited edition chess sets will go directly towards our fundraising goal: to build a tuition-free school for homeless children. This is a dream I’ve carried for years. Because no child should ever have their childhood sacrificed for survival. No dream should be buried beneath the weight of poverty.” The chess marathon, taking place at the iconic Times Square in New York City, kicked off on Wednesday, 17 April, and is set to conclude later on Sunday, 20 April. This marks Onakoya’s second bid to achieve the prestigious record. He emphasised that the marathon’s purpose extends beyond breaking a record, as it is also about raising awareness and garnering support for the construction of the largest free school for homeless children in Nigeria. With the same Martinez, Onakoya completed a 60-hour chess marathon in April 2024, surpassing the 56-hour record previously set in 2018 by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad.

PRESIDENT TINUBU'S EASTER MESSAGE TO THE NATION

SERAP Sues Tinubu’s Govt Over Ban on Eedris’ Song ‘Tell Your Papa’

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago010 mins

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over “the failure to reverse the arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s song ‘Tell Your Papa’. The song, which allegedly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, was prohibited from radio and TV broadcast over its “objectionable nature”. The NBC cited the song’s violation of “public decency standards” on radio and TV stations. In the suit number FHC/L/CS/797/2025 filed last Thursday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is seeking: “an order setting aside the arbitrary and illegal ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s song ‘Tell Your Papa’, for being inconsistent and incompatible with the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.” SERAP is seeking: “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the NBC whether jointly or severally or any other authority, person or group of persons from preventing the airing of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song on all broadcast stations and other similar media platforms in Nigeria.” SERAP is also seeking “a declaration that the NBC’s directive, issued via a letter dated 9 April 2025 to all broadcast stations in Nigeria, banning the airing of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song is unlawful and inconsistent and incompatible with the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.” In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: “The NBC is censoring music under the guise of ‘protecting public decency’. Public decency is not a carte blanche for banning Eedris’ song and placing a chokehold on information and suppressing peaceful dissent.” SERAP is arguing that, “Freedom of expression constitutes one of the essential foundations of a democratic society and extends not only to information or ideas that are favourably received, but also to those that offend, shock or disturb in such domains as political discourse and commentary on public affairs.” SERAP is also arguing that, “The ban on Eedris’ song has a chilling effect on freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom. The NBC has not shown that the song would impose a specific risk of harm to a legitimate State interest that outweighs the public interest in the information provided by the song.” According to SERAP, “Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code is overbroad and excessively intrusive, as it breaches the fundamental rights to freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom.” The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Ms Oluwakemi Agunbiade and Ms Valentina Adegoke, read in part: “All persons enjoy the rights to freedom of expression and creativity and to enjoy the arts. “The ban on Eedris’ song fails to meet the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality. “The requirement of necessity also implies an assessment of the proportionality of the grounds, with the aim of ensuring that the excuse of ‘objectionable nature’ and ‘public decency’ are not used as a pretext to ban Eedris’ song and unduly intrude upon Nigerians’ human rights. “Expressions, whether artistic or not, always remain protected under the right to freedom of expression. The NBC directive is also inconsistent and incompatible with the right to freedom of artistic expression and creativity. “Art constitutes an important vehicle for each person, individually and in community with others, as well as groups of people, to develop and express their humanity. Artists may entertain people, but they also contribute to social debates, sometimes bringing counter-discourses and potential counterweights to existing power centres. “The vitality of artistic creativity is necessary for the functioning of democratic societies. Banning or removing creative expressions from public access is a way to restrict artistic freedom. “It is inconsistent and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations to use vague and overly broad grounds of ‘objectionable nature’ and ‘public decency’ as justifications to ban Eedris’ song. “The action by the NBC is arbitrary, illegal, and unconstitutional, as it is contrary to the provisions of section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nigeria is a state party. “Media freedom and media plurality are a central part of the effective exercise of freedom of expression. The media has a vital role to play as ‘public watchdog’ in imparting information of serious public concern and should not be inhibited or intimidated from playing that role. “While the media may be subject to some restrictions necessary for the protection of certain vital interests of the state, such as national security or public health, the media has a role and responsibility to convey information and ideas on political issues, even divisive ones and the public has a right to receive them. “Article 19(2) of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, states that the right to freedom of expression includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds ‘in the form of art’. “The effects of art censorship or unjustified restrictions of the right to freedom of artistic expression and creativity are devastating. They generate important social and economic losses, deprive artists of their means of expression and livelihood, create an unsafe environment for all those engaged in the arts and their audiences. “Restrictions of the right to freedom of artistic expression also sterilize debates on human, social and political issues and hamper the functioning of democracy. “Article 19 (1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights establishes the right to freedom of opinion without interference. Article 19(2) establishes Nigeria’s obligations to respect ‘the right to freedom of expression,’ which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information, regardless of frontiers. “Under article 19(3), restrictions on the right to freedom of expression must be ‘provided by law’, and necessary ‘for respect of the rights or reputations of others’ or ‘for the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health and morals.’” No date has been fixed for the…