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Aisha Achimugu, founder of Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd, has denied that her wealth was built on her association with Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos State, insisting she has been an entrepreneur since 2001.

Achimugu made the denial in an interview with Channels Television on Monday, amid swirling controversy over her finances and an ongoing legal battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“I started my business in 2001. My background is a decent family. My late husband was the MD of PPMCC. I met him in the course of the work. I actually met him doing business in NNPC,” she said.

When directly asked whether her money came from Sanwo-Olu or any of her influential friends, she said “Not at all.”

The businesswoman came to national attention in January 2024, when she hosted a seven-day 50th birthday celebration on the Caribbean island of Grenada. 

The lavish event drew prominent figures from Nigeria’s entertainment industry and political class, including Governor Sanwo-Olu, sparking public speculation about the source of her wealth.

More than a year later, the EFCC declared her wanted over money laundering allegations before arresting her at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on April 29, 2025. 

In March 2026, a federal high court in Abuja granted a final forfeiture order of $13 million allegedly linked to her firm. 

Presiding judge Emeka Nwite held that the EFCC had proven the funds were proceeds of fraud. Achimugu’s firm has since commenced an appeal against the order.

On the forfeited funds, Achimugu declined to go into specifics, citing the pending litigation, but firmly distanced herself from the narrative that the money was found in her possession.

“My house was raided. Only $50,000 and N13 million belonging to my mom was found in my house and my personal belongings,” she said.

“I don’t know where Nigeria got the impression that I have $13 million in my house. I’m not a bank. I won’t keep $13 million in my house.”

On the oil block held by Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd, Achimugu said it was awarded to the company through what she described as a “competitive and transparent” bid process.

Addressing her well-documented access to political power — illustrated by Sanwo-Olu’s presence at her birthday — Achimugu argued that her connections were a function of her success, not its cause.

“I have always had access to power and governance. I’m a known Nigerian. I have friends, and I have done well. I have not done anything that will make anyone stay away from me,” she said.

“I’m an entrepreneur and business owner. Having to know those who will increase my portfolio is very important to me. It is not about Governor Sanwo-Olu at all.”

She added that the Lagos governor was simply among guests who were already present at the venue of the celebration.

Residents were thrown into shock after a couple, Paul Onyeama and Adline Ogbonna, allegedly beat their 10-year-old adopted daughter to death in the Igando area of Lagos State.

It was learnt that the incident occurred on Sunday, following weeks of alleged abuse.

It was gathered that the couple who lived on Jemesi Papa Street had reportedly subjected the child to persistent maltreatment, including frequent assaults and sending her on strenuous errands despite her young age.

The girl, identified as Faith, was said to have fallen ill for about two weeks, but the alleged abuse reportedly continued unabated.

A resident, Adekunle Taofeek, said Metro on Monday that the situation escalated on Sunday when the husband and wife were said to have severely beaten the ailing child, leading to her death.

He said, “The couple had adopted a 10-year-old girl. They had been consistently maltreating and assaulting the child, while also sending her on unnecessary errands.

“I was informed that the girl had been sick for about two weeks, yet the abuse continued. Yesterday, both the husband and wife allegedly beat the child severely despite her condition, and sadly, she died.”

It was gathered that the suspects later rushed the victim to a hospital, where she was confirmed dead on arrival.

Angered by the development, youths in the area who learnt of the incident apprehended the woman.

Another resident, who requested anonymity for personal reasons, told our correspondent that the husband, who had allegedly left home earlier to procure a tricycle to dispose of the girl’s corpse, was also held by the youths.

“The moment the girl died, they kept her corpse in the room and acted as though nothing had happened. The wife even came out this morning to cook in the kitchen like nothing had happened.

“It was residents who had been observing what was going on that raised the alarm about the whereabouts of the girl before they discovered that she had died. If they had succeeded in disposing of the body, no one would have known her whereabouts,” the resident said.

He added that the matter was promptly reported at the Igando Police Division.

Police operatives were thereafter deployed to the scene, leading to the arrest of the couple and the recovery of the child’s body.

A police sources said that the suspects, during interrogation, claimed the girl was sick and died while receiving treatment at a hospital.

“Our preliminary findings revealed that the child was already dead before she was brought to the medical facility. The case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, for further investigation,” the source said.

Speaking further on the incident, Taofeek, who is the state coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, said the medical facility where Faith was taken confirmed that she was brought in dead.

“While I was questioning the suspect, he claimed the girl was sick, that they rushed her to the hospital, and that she died while receiving treatment. I then asked which hospital was involved.

“Unfortunately for him, the doctor there is known to me and also my personal physician. I called the doctor to verify the claim, and he confirmed that a child was brought to the hospital, but she was already dead on arrival,” he added.

Taofeek also vowed that justice would be pursued in the matter.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, could not be reached for comments as calls to her telephone line were not answered. A text message sent to her had yet to be replied to as of the time of filing this report.

Punch 

Habiba Abubakar, mother of Abdulsamad Jamiu, the National Youth Service Corps member killed in Dei-Dei, Abuja, has narrated how she received the news of her son’s death, describing a distressing sequence of events marked by confusion and fear.

Speaking in an interview with TheCable on Monday, Abubakar said she was away with her husband for a burial ceremony when a neighbour alerted her to gunshots in their area in the early hours of the day.

“I travelled on Thursday, hoping to come back on Saturday to meet my son at home. Only for me to receive a call from my next neighbour around 2:30. ‘I said hello. Hope there is no problem?’ She said she’s hearing gunshots. Fear gripped me,” she recounted.

She said repeated attempts to reach her children were unsuccessful, as her first son’s line was switched off while her daughter’s phone was engaged.

When she eventually contacted her husband, she said he initially withheld details of the incident.

“Initially, he didn’t want to tell me the actual truth.

He said, ‘Soldier carried Abdulsamad.’ I said, soldier, Abdulsamad? How, for what? He said, no, they want to go and interrogate him,” she said.

Abubakar added that her phone was taken from her during the moment of distress, and when she requested it, family members claimed they could not find it.

“That was when I knew that my son was not alive again,” she said.

According to her, she continued to press her daughter, Farida, for clarity but was repeatedly asked to remain calm due to concerns about her health.

“I’m getting to Abuja, only for me to discover that my son was dead,” she said.

Recounting what she was later told about the incident, Abubakar alleged that soldiers gained access to the compound by scaling the fence rather than using the gate, moved through the back entrance, and went directly to her son’s room.

“They shot him through the door. They shot the door two times,” she claimed.

She further alleged that after the shooting, soldiers instructed local vigilante members to clean the scene, reportedly retrieving cleaning materials from her kitchen.

“They entered my kitchen, took Klin, from there, took a bucket and gave the vigilante to mop the blood. What happened? Why would they do that?” She queried.

Visibly emotional, Abubakar insisted that her son was inside his room at the time of the incident.

“Who did he offend? I want to know. Who did you offend?” She asked repeatedly.

Jamiu, 24, was killed in the early hours of April 25 at his family residence in Dei-Dei Shagari Quarters while his parents were away. His sister was reportedly in the house at the time.

The Nigerian Army, through the Headquarters Guards Brigade, had earlier stated that Jamiu died after being caught in crossfire when troops responded to a distress call over an armed robbery incident.

Brigade spokesperson, Olawuyi Odunola said soldiers came under fire from fleeing suspects and that the fatality occurred during the exchange.

However, the family has rejected the military’s account, describing it as inaccurate and misleading.

In a statement issued on Monday, the family argued that the trajectory of the bullet indicated it was fired from outside the room through a closed door, which they said does not align with a crossfire scenario.

They added that no weapons were recovered from the scene and that witnesses reported hearing only a single gunshot.

The family also alleged that soldiers at the scene admitted, in the presence of a Divisional Police Officer, that the shooting was a mistake.

Among its demands, the family called for an independent investigation, the suspension and prosecution of those involved, a retraction of the military’s statement, and a formal apology.

“The Nigerian Military operates under a constitutional mandate to protect Nigerian citizens. On the night of 25th April 2026, that mandate was catastrophically and fatally violated,” the family stated.

NYSC member’s mother recounts son’s death in Abuja shooting

Former All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, says every party will always push to weaken the opposition.

Cole said this on Monday when he appeared as a guest in an interview on ‘Prime Time’, a programme on Arise Television.

He was reacting to the activities of the ruling APC towards the African Democratic Congress, ADC, noting that such happens everywhere around the world.

He said, “Every party, regardless of being APC or not, will always push to weaken the opposition. It is the opposition’s response to that push that makes democracy work. This happens all over the world.

“First and foremost, it’s one of the things that I personally have looked forward to, that democracy always requires an opposition, and if that opposition is strong, then it brings legitimacy to the entire process.

And so one of the things that you are seeing now is an opposition that is now determined that, let’s come together. Is that good for democracy? Absolutely. Would the APC oppose such a coming together? Definitely.

“I’m one of those creatures that believe that competition actually makes you better. Competition makes you think smarter. It makes you look forward at your own weaknesses and your strength.”

2027: Every party will always push to weaken opposition – Tonye Cole

Manchester United have moved very close to confirming their Champions League spot, thanks to a 2-1 win over Brentford on Monday night.

The Red Devils had defeated Chelsea 1-0 in their last game, as they began to pull away from other clubs chasing the top five places.

Against the Bees, they took the lead through Casemiro’s towering header.

Benjamin Sesko doubled their advantage before the break, as Michael Carrick’s men took control of the game.

The match was ending towards a 2-0 win until Mathias Jensen curled in an effort into the bottom corner.

United remain in third place with 51 points, three more than Liverpool who they play this weekend.

EPL table: Man Utd one win away from confirming Champions League qualification

German Chancellor, ‌Friedrich Merz has said that Iran is humiliating the United States and getting US officials to travel to Pakistan and then leave without results.

The Chancellor equally stated that he did not see what exit strategy the US was pursuing in the Iran war.

Merz stated this on Monday during a talk to students in the town of Marsberg.

“The Iranians are obviously very skilled ⁠at negotiating, or rather, very skillful at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result.

“An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards. And so I hope that this ends as quickly as possible,” he added.

Recall that United States President Donald Trump has harshly criticized NATO allies for not sending their navies to help open the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict.

The waterway has remained virtually shut, causing market turmoil and unprecedented ‌disruption ⁠in energy supplies.

War: Iran humiliating US – German Chancellor

Manchester United midfielder, Casemiro, on Monday night, made history following his side’s Premier League 2-1 win over Brentford.

Two goals from Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko gave the Red Devils all three points against Brentford at Old Trafford.

The win over Brentford means Man United remain in third position on the Premier League table with 61 points from 34 games.

However, Casemiro made 11 tackles, won 16 duels and made 9 clearances during the encounter against The Bees.

According to OptaJoe, with the stats, the Brazilian midfielder is the only player in the last 20 seasons to record all of those numbers in a single Premier League match.

Casemiro joined Man United from Real Madrid in 2022, and the 34-year-old will leave the Premier League club at the end of the season.

EPL: Casemiro makes history after Man Utd’s 2-1win over Brentford

Ex-Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher, has warned Arsenal that Fulham could be a potential banana skin in the Premier League title race.

Carragher was reviewing last weekend’s fixtures on Monday Night Football.

Arsenal defeated Newcastle 1-0 to move three points ahead of Manchester City, who still have one oustanding fixture.

If Mikel Arteta’s men beat Fulham at the Emirates this weekend, they would open up a six-point lead.

Carragher said: “It will feel like for Arsenal or Manchester City that one draw and you’ll feel like the league’s lost.

“I think Fulham are a really good team, and there’s a chance that could be the real banana skin for Arsenal.”

EPL: Carragher names team that could be Arsenal’s banana skin in title race

As students and teachers resume across Oyo State this week, many of them have bemoaned the sorry state of most of the public schools.

Findings by DAILY POST showed that many of the schools are in dilapidated condition.

This is as a lot of them are faced with blown off roofs, collapsed classroom walls, damaged ceilings, food vendor sheds destroyed, among others, a situation caused by a recent rainfall which wrecked havoc in some parts of the state.

Schools in the Ogbomoso geopolitical zone were worse hit by the havoc.

DAILY POST recalls that properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in some public schools in the state.

Some of the affected schools are: Emmanuel Agboola Baptist Grammar School, Laogun Adeoye Memorial High School, Muslim Comprehensive High School, Molete Community High School and Methodist Secondary Grammar School.

Others are: Baptist Grammar School Sunsun, Baptist Comprehensive High School, Muslim Grammar School, Ogbomoso Baptist High School, Government Technical College and Millennium Model Secondary High School.

Repair of the affected schools has not been carried out by the authorities concerned as of the time of filing this report.

DAILY POST learnt that this has compounded the problems being faced by the students, teachers and other staff members in the affected schools.

Checks revealed that the dilapidated condition of the schools would hinder effective learning.

A teacher in one of the affected schools narrated that the rain destroyed some properties in the school.

The teacher, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “It is devastating. The government needs to come to the aid of the school.”

A resident of Ogbomoso, identified as Mamoru Adesina, noted that the incident may affect learning in the schools.

He used the opportunity to call on the state government to do the needful as quickly as possible.

He said, “However, assistance doesn’t normally come and if it does, it may take a long time.

“If schools resume, that will be a serious problem, because facilities have become reduced and will affect teaching and learning.

“In some schools also like Emmanuel Agboola Baptist Grammar School, their exam hall has partly collapsed.

“Ironically, it is public schools that are majorly affected; does that tell of the quality of work being done by the so-called government contractors who built some of the facilities?”

A principal in one of the affected schools, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told DAILY POST on Sunday that the rainstorm affected his school.

He, however, noted that the Local Inspectors of Education (LIEs) have informed principals to keep students away from all buildings that were not in good condition.

He said, “The LIEs have issued a statement to all the principals. The statement is from the commissioner and directed all the schools not to jeopardise the welfare of the students.

“The Honourable Commissioner for Education Science and Technology informed that no Principal should allow students to stay in a blown-off building.

“It is better to use all available classrooms that are conducive to learning and teaching activities in the School. The LIEs shared it with principals. You know it’s meant for principals”.

Destruction poses serious safety risks to students upon resumption – Majority leader, Adedoyin

Meanwhile, the majority leader of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin, has declared that the destruction of the schools poses serious safety risks to both the students and their teachers.

Adedoyin used the opportunity to call for urgent executive intervention to address the devastating damage inflicted on the public secondary schools in the State.

He made these declarations while moving a motion of urgent public importance during the House plenary on Wednesday.

Adedoyin, who represents Ogbomoso South State constituency, described education as a fundamental right and a central tool for human capital development that must not be compromised under any circumstance.

He stressed that safe and well-equipped schools were a prerequisite for a conducive learning environment that supports students’ psychosocial and academic growth and confirmed that many public schools were affected by the havoc.

Adedoyin said, “In many of the affected schools, academic activities will be abruptly halted, leaving students stranded and disrupting the educational calendar.

“The implication is prolonged interruption in learning, which may affect academic performance and overall development. Teachers will also be unable to carry out their duties effectively due to the damaged infrastructure.

“Preliminary findings revealed that the examination hall of Emmanuel Agboola Baptist Grammar School has partly collapsed. Molete Community High School, Molete Comprehensive High School and Government Technical College, Ogbomoso were seriously affected, and these damages would automatically deprive students of those schools and hinder their learning activities.

“Further observes that schools seriously damaged by the rainstorm need urgent government attention without delay, as schools are preparing for resumption on April 27, 2026.

“The fact remains that delay in rehabilitating the affected schools may be dangerous, in view of the importance of essential school infrastructure to teaching and learning which has been severely damaged”.

We directed principals, others to keep students away from unsafe buildings – Education commissioner

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology in the State, Mr Olusegun Olayiwola, when contacted, confirmed the destruction, saying that it affected schools in all parts of the State and not only in the Ogbomoso geopolitical zone.

Olayiwola, who spoke with DAILY POST on Sunday, noted that he has issued a circular to all principals and heads of schools not to allow students in any building that is not safe for reading and learning.

The commissioner in a telephone conversation with DAILY POST said that a rainstorm is a natural disaster that can come at any time.

He said, “Rainstorm is a natural disaster that will not knock on anybody’s doors before it comes.

“We are working it out, it is not in Ogbomoso alone, it happens all over the places. We are making requests, we are discussing it, we are working on it.
“Because of that, I have already issued a circular to all schools, all LIEs, heads of schools that they should critically look at their schools, any building that is dilapidated or about to collapse, they should not allow any student to stay there. The life of every child that is under our custody is so important to us.

“We are working on it. So, that one, it is not our making. It is not the Oyo State government that brought the rainstorm, so when it happens, they will give us more time, people should be patient. We have to work on it so as to do something. So, we are working on it”.

Infrastructure: Uncertainty in Oyo schools as students, teachers resume