Metro
Emotion, Tears As LAWMA’s Public Affairs Director Buries Husband
The remains of Mr. Oluwashola Kadiri, late husband of the Director of Public Affairs of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Folashade Kadiri, were laid to rest on Friday, 12th of August, 2022 at the Private Vaults, Atan Cemetery, Yaba, Lagos.
Mr. Kadiri, popularly called ‘Solar,’ an accomplished businessman, died on 28 July, 2022, after a brief illness.
The funeral service held at Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Ikeja, commenced with the processional hymn, ‘Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! The strife is o’er, the battle done; the victory of life is won; the song of triumph has begun, Alleluia!’
In his message, Vicar of Christ Anglican Church, Oworoshoki, Revd. Canon Garba Ibrahim Rika who presided at the service reminded the congregation about the inevitability of death for every human being, adding that individuals should endeavour to make positive impact on people and leave the society better than they met it.
He stated that Mr. Oluwashola Kadiri touched many lives meaningfully and should be emulated by all and sundry.
He, however, charged the congregation not to be found wanting in rendering assistance to the less privileged and downtrodden in society.
In a tribute, the wife of the deceased, Folashade, described him as a great family man, personal friend and confidant, a workaholic and good-natured fellow, who lived a rancour-free life and held no grudge against anyone.
In her words: “Dearly beloved, as you take those glorious steps, down the long lonely road, towards the waiting hands of our Lord, please remember to look back at intervals, to your loved ones you left behind, and assume your new role of a guardian angel; watching over and praying for us without ceasing.
“I must also inform you ‘Solar’, that it is not all tears upon your early transition. We got consolation from numerous testimonies of friends, acquaintances and others, all affirming your eventful life that permanently impacted humanity.”
According to her, “I am deeply filled with immense gratitude to God Almighty, who made it possible for Oluwashola to have lived a life worthy of emulation. It has been a long journey of over 25 years together with him and I find it difficult to say good-bye here on earth.
“I am, however, consoled that my beloved husband has gone to rest in the bosom of the Lord and has fulfilled the desire of every Christian which is to one day leave this sinful earth and meet our maker in heaven just like Oluwashola has done.
“I am also comforted in my hope and prayers that Oluwashola and I would one day meet again to part no more, at the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
The children of the deceased, Olasunkanmi and Olamide, also extolled the virtues of their father.
According to them, “we thank God for your life, as I remembered days we argued about football, world politics or random days I just chose to challenge you on a random topic because it was one of the best ways to get great insights from you. We even shared mutual interest in our love for cars and art.”
According to Olamide, “I can’t bring myself to write this because a part of me is still waiting for you to come home and say “Olamide Kadiri” while rubbing my head. I never could have asked for a better father, you showed me I could achieve anything in life if I could only put my mind to it. You worked hard and played even harder, never failing to be there for your family and friends.”
Scores of LAWMA staff led by the management team to the service, which commenced at 10am., joined wife of the deceased, her children, family, friends and well wishers to pay their last respect to the departed business tycoon.
In the tribute, e-Signed by the Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni described Mrs. Kadiri as a woman with rare ability to combine traumatic personal pressure, with demanding official responsibilities, without portraying negative emotions.
According to him, “She is the kind of woman I would describe as the real amazon, having the uncanny ability to cope with tense personal situations, yet found not wanting at work.
“The management and staff of LAWMA stand firm with you at this profoundly challenging period even as we unanimously pray that God will comfort you, your children and the extended family of your husband.”
The two days programme commenced on Thursday, 11th of August, 2022 with the wake-keep which was held at the Beehive School Hall, Alausa CBD, Ikeja and it enabled family, friends, associates, partners, well-wishers and mates from his Alma Mata pay their tribute.
The wake-keep and interment were attended by notable dignitaries, including present and past Permanent Secretaries, Special Advisers, Managing Directors, Directors in the Public Service, business tycoons, among others.
An unconfirmed number of children have reportedly lost their lives in a stampede that occurred during a children’s carnival in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday.
It was gathered that over 30 children lost their lives, with many others injured during the incident.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, confirmed that the stampede occurred at a private children’s funfair at Basorun Islamic High School after which the government swiftly mobilised a rapid response team.
The commissioner noted that victims had been swiftly transported to various hospitals within the Ibadan metropolis for medical attention.
While appreciating the Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, for immediately activating all available response teams to assist at the scene, Oyelade said, “The state government will do all it can to support the victims of this tragic incident during this difficult period.
“The government was not involved in any planning, nor was the Ministry of Health asked to provide logistics for the private children’s end-of-year funfair.”
Oyelade, however, emphasised the importance of proper coordination when organising events of such magnitude, particularly those involving children and the elderly.
The commissioner indicated that they were awaiting a detailed report from the Commissioner of Police to clarify the total number of victims involved in this unfortunate incident.
“Parents who are concerned about the whereabouts of their children are urged to check the following medical facilities in Ibadan, where affected children have been taken for proper medical care, with valid means of identification:Patnas Hospital, Basorun; Western Hospital, Basorun; Ringroad State Hospital; Molly Specialist Hospital; and the University College Hospital, Ibadan.”
He extended the government’s deepest sympathies to the families affected by this tragedy, urging the public to remain calm as relevant information is gathered and necessary support arranged for the victims.
A businessman, Kehinde Balogun, has told a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan to put an end to his 14-year-old marriage with his estranged wife Stella, on the grounds of adultery.
Balogun, a father of three, said with regrets that if he had known that Stella would bring him such an embarrassment, he would not have exchanged marital vows with her.
“My lord, I became completely frustrated when I found out that Stella was having extra-marital affairs with my plumber and I made her realise this.
“Then, she decided to move out of my house, packing my belongings with her and abandoning our three children,” Balogun said.
During cross examination, the petitioner said his wife did not catch him on their matrimonial bed with any woman.
He also denied sending her photographs to anybody.
However, Stella denied any wrong doing, stating that one of her friends had told lies against her.
“That friend of mine had told Balogun that I’ve been sleeping around and he consequently began to react to me negatively.
“He turned me into a punching bag and stopped sleeping in the house.
“Later on, Balogun started sending my photographs to his woman-friend.
“My lord, he has remarried with my three children in his care and they are not properly catered for,” Stella told the court.
Delivering judgment, the court’s President, Mrs. S.M. Akintayo, pronounced the marriage dissolved on the ground that both Balogun and Stella were no longer willing to continue with the union.
Akintayo granted an order restraining Stella from harassing, disturbing, threatening and interfering with Balogun’s private life henceforth.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has carried out its largest single-day operation against cryptocurrency and romance scam networks, arresting 792 suspects in Lagos.
The EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed during a press briefing that the operation, conducted at a seven-storey building known as the Big Leaf Building at No. 7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, led to the apprehension of 193 foreign nationals, including 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, two individuals from Kharzartan, one Pakistani, and one Indonesian.
He said the raid followed months of surveillance and intelligence gathering on the syndicate’s activities.
Uwujaren described the building as designed to mimic a corporate financial headquarters, was allegedly used to train Nigerian recruits in romance and investment scams.
The official said the investigators found the building equipped with high-end desktop computers, and over 500 SIM cards were recovered from just one floor.
He stated that the syndicate reportedly recruited Nigerian youths with advanced computer skills, training them for two weeks on impersonation techniques to target victims in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
Uwujaren explained that the recruits created fake online profiles to lure victims through platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram. Once trust was established, victims were directed to a fraudulent investment platform, ‘www.yooto.com’, where activation fees started at $35.
He revealed that the Nigerian recruits were unaware of the full scope of the operation.
“They worked under the supervision of foreign syndicate members and were paid either in cash or through personal accounts without formal employment contracts.
He noted that after securing victims, the recruits were cut off from the operation while the foreign kingpins completed the scams.
The director pointed out that the recovered items included desktop computers, mobile phones, laptops, and vehicles.
He revealed that the EFCC has obtained statements from the suspects and screened their devices, noting that all suspects are being detained under a valid remand warrant, with plans to arraign them in court soon.
Uwujaren highlighted the international nature of the crime, stressing the role of foreign nationals in exploiting Nigeria’s reputation and contributing to global fraud.
“This operation shows that the notion that Nigerians are solely behind these frauds is incorrect. Foreigners are leveraging our unfortunate reputation to establish criminal enterprises,” he said.
“The EFCC is collaborating with foreign partners to ensure that the arrested individuals face justice.
“There will be no hiding places for criminals in Nigeria,” he added.
