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Oba Ladoja coronation rites begin with prayers

Published

4 weeks ago

September 23, 2025

The Balogun of Ibadan-designate, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, on Monday, gave an insight into how former governor of Oyo State and the Olubadan-designate, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, would be crowned the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland without any rancour, unlike his predecessor.

His revelation comes as activities leading to the coronation of Oba Ladoja began with interdenominational prayers at the Olubadan Palace in Oke-Aremo, in the Ibadan North Local Government Area of the state, on Monday.

At the event were the Otun Balogun, Oba Kolawole Adegbola; Ashipa Balogun, Oba Dauda Azeez, Ekaarun Olubadan, Oba Adebayo Akande and other dignitaries.

Oba Ladoja will receive the staff of office and instrument of office on Friday, September 26, at an elaborate ceremony scheduled for Mapo Hall, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The ceremony is expected to draw dignitaries from across the country, led by President Bola Tinubu.

His crowning followed the transition of the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who died on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the age of 90 years.

Speaking exclusively on the process that led to Ladoja’s emergence with The PUNCH in Ibadan, Oba Ajibola said the circumstances that surrounded Ladoja’s emergence were different from those of Olakulehin.

The PUNCH reported that Ajibola, who was then the Otun Balogun at the time of Oba Olakulehin’s emergence, had insisted that the late monarch should be given more time to be fit for the throne.

He based his reason on the fact that after the passage of Oba Lekan Balogun, the next-in-line, Oba Olakulehin, was not seen, nor was his whereabouts confirmed to ascertain the state of his health to mount the throne.

Ajibola described the Olubadan stool as a unique one, adding that Ladoja’s emergence was a settled matter.

“You see, the other time, during the emergence of Oba Olakulehin, what happened was just by coincidence. It was not that we disagreed. What we were saying was that it was too early, because Lekan Balogun had just been buried; he had not even gone properly. That’s why we had differences.

“And the position I was in then was a similar position our present Imperial Majesty was in at the time. When there was a difference, I was the one who went to Mapo to clear it, to say that the man (Olakulehin) was hearty and nothing was wrong with him. The issue came to pass, and we moved on.

“Then, nobody heard about him or from him. None of us could reach him for a long time.

“However, in this circumstance, immediately Oba Olakulehin joined his ancestors, Oba Ladoja communicated with us. He phoned me all the time, we talked, and we all knew the next person.

“So, there is no problem at all. No dispute. It’s destined, and the throne has been created by God,” he said.

Oba Ajibola also noted that what would have been another obstacle was the issue of the crown, adding that Oba Ladoja had sorted that out a long time ago, as he agreed to take the crown.

“So why would we continue to fight ourselves? We know it’s his turn, and after him, we know the next person, and the next, and the next.

“So, we thank God that He has made Ibadan peaceful. We will continue to celebrate.

“No complaints. Everybody is happy with the type of man coming to become Olubadan,” he said.

The Balogun-designate, who is at the apex of the Balogun ruling line chieftaincy, lauded the political experience of Ladoja, adding that Ibadan would be great with his leadership.

“If he can combine his political experience with traditional leadership and join hands with the people, Ibadan will be great.

“I’m very happy, Ibadan people are very happy, and the whole world is happy that the throne has clear lines and is well prepared.

“I celebrate and congratulate our Imperial Majesty, Oba Ladoja. So, no problem,” he stated.

Oba Ajibola further stated that Ladoja’s emergence was destined by God to happen.

“What I’m trying to say is that there is a foundation for everything. Everything is possible before God. What God has destined to happen, it will definitely happen,” he said.

Speaking on the uniqueness of Olubadan stool, Oba Ajibola said “You know Ibadan is a very big city, it is like a country, a kingdom on its own, we are very lucky that we don’t have dispute, we don’t have to look for Ifa oracle to know who is next, because there are only two lines to become the Olubadan. There used to be three lines, but there are two now, which are the Otun line and the Balogun line.

“The line that has just passed was Balogun’s line, so it’s Otun’s line now. That’s very clear.”

Speaking at the interdenominational prayers for the coronation on Monday, the President General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Ajeniyi Ajewole, posited that the reign of Oba Ladoja would bring peace and development to the ancient city.

He said, “It has never happened in the history of Ibadanland for a former senator and governor to become the Olubadan.”

In his sermon, a former Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Sunday Makinde, admonished Oba Ladoja to allow peaceful co-existence among the three religions in Ibadanland.

He also urged the Olubadan-In-Council, monarchs, Baales, and Mogajis in Ibadanland to join hands with him towards the progress and development of the ancient city.

The Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Abdulganiyu Agbotomokekere, prayed for Ibadan to witness unprecedented peace and development during Ladoja’s reign.

Highlights of the event include rendition of Iyere Ifa by the traditionalists, reading of Psalms by the Christians and reading of the Quran by the Muslim faithful.

Other dignitaries at the event were the state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Joshua Akinyemiju; the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Daud Makanjuola; the Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland, Taliat Ayilara; representatives of other religious bodies, among others.

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News

UK Charity Commission freezes over 100 bank accounts linked to MFM

Published

12 hours ago

October 22, 2025

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

On Tuesday, the UK’s Charity Commission announced it had frozen the assets of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International (MFM), a Nigerian-founded church.

On its website, the UK government concluded that its trustees failed to manage the organisation’s finances properly across its UK branches.

The UK Charity Commission is a non-ministerial department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales, to ensure that the public can confidently support charities.

MFM, founded by Nigerian cleric Daniel Olukoya, is one of Nigeria’s most influential Pentecostal churches. It has a strong global presence, particularly in the United Kingdom, where many Nigerian diaspora communities worship.

MFM is not the first Nigerian-founded church to face scrutiny in the UK. In recent years, other Nigerian-origin churches, including SPAC Nation in December 2024 and Christ Embassy in November 2019, have been investigated regarding governance and financial accountability concerns.

The incident raises broader questions about how rapidly expanding churches adapt their internal systems when moving into regulated environments like the UK, where religious organisations registered as charities must meet strict financial reporting standards.

The case has, therefore, sparked wider conversations about financial transparency and governance among fast-growing African churches operating overseas.

How the investigation began

On 27 March 2018, the Charity Commission opened a statutory inquiry into MFM under Section 46 of the UK’s Charities Act 2011. Concerns have been raised regarding the possible misappropriation of charity funds and weak internal financial controls.

The Commission discovered that the church had expanded rapidly in the UK, growing from a few branches to more than 90 locations nationwide, without developing a solid financial governance structure to match its growth.

According to the final report, the Commission found that trustees did not properly oversee more than 100 separate bank accounts operated by different church branches. These accounts were opened and managed autonomously, often without informing central leadership or providing timely income reports.

Commission’s report

The commission reported that the church’s branches operated independently without central approval and that Major financial decisions, such as property purchases and lease agreements, were made without trustee authorisation.

Additionally, some branches used properties without securing planning permissions, leading to costly legal actions. It highlighted that Poor employment contract management resulted in financial settlements for employment disputes, and the lack of a unified monetary system created serious risks to charitable funds.

As a result, the regulator concluded that donor money was at risk due to weak financial oversight and poor governance.

Interim Manager Appointed to Restore Control

On 1 August 2019, following serious concerns about the trustees’ ability to manage the charity effectively, the Commission appointed an interim manager under Section 76(3)(g) of the Charities Act. The interim manager worked alongside the trustees to implement critical financial controls.

This oversight continued until 13 September 2024, when the interim manager was discharged after making progress.

Following the conclusion of the investigation, the Charity Commission announced that it had frozen the charity’s assets to prevent further financial risk while strengthening accountability structures.

Amy Spiller, Head of Investigations at the Charity Commission, said:

“The rapid growth of a charity comes with correspondingly larger potential risks, as our inquiry clearly shows. In this case, the trustees’ fundamental failure to maintain financial controls meant donor funds were at serious risk across their entire network.”

She added that the trustees are better positioned to ensure financial responsibility and compliance following regulatory intervention.

Regulatory Action

Upon completing its review, the Commission issued a regulatory action plan that required MFM to strengthen its governance policies and improve financial transparency. The Commission has confirmed that trustees have complied with the action plan, and the charity is now expected to operate under stricter financial controls going forward.

When this report was filed, neither MFM International nor its founder, Daniel Olukoya, had issued a public statement in response to the Charity Commission’s findings.

Collins Edomaruse, the media aide to Mr Olukoya, did not respond to calls or text messages.

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News

MDAs under fire as FG probes TSA violations

Published

16 hours ago

October 22, 2025

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Federal Government, through the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, has ordered all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to submit their statements of accounts in commercial banks.

The government said the move was part of its plans to maintain financial discipline.

This was disclosed in a memo signed by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, which was obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday.

Ogunjimi in the memo expressed grievance over the continuous usage of commercial banks by MDAs despite an earlier directive ordering MDAs to close such accounts and focus on the use of the Treasury Single Account domiciled in the Central Bank.

Recall that the government in February mandated MDAs to stop the use of commercial banks, as it opposes the framework of the TSA.

While reiterating the Federal Government’s commitment to the Treasury Single Account policy, the Accountant-General of the Federation urged the Federal Pay Officers to monitor and ensure that Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the States do not operate any account with the commercial banks or circumvent any provision of the TSA policy,” the statement by the OSGF said in February.

Reacting to the new memo, Ogunniyi said, “It has been observed with dismay that funds belonging to the Federal Government are still domiciled in several accounts held with commercial banks, contrary to Federal Government Circulars and the operational framework of the Treasury Single Account, which mandates the consolidation of all Federal Government revenues and receipts into the TSA domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“In view of the above and following the Honourable Minister of Finance directive, all Directors/Heads of Finance and Accounts in Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies and Federal Government-owned Enterprises are immediately required to submit Statements of all Bank Accounts (active, dormant and closed) maintained in all commercial banks over the last six (6) months, clearly indicating account names, account numbers, bank branches and current balances.”

“This directive takes immediate effect and must be treated with the utmost urgency, as it is part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen fiscal discipline and uphold the integrity of the Treasury Single Account Framework.”

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News

Kanu to defend self, lists Danjuma, Wike, Sanwo-Olu as witnesses

Published

16 hours ago

October 22, 2025

Newsbreak365_Admin

The detained leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, made a dramatic turn on Tuesday by informing the Federal High Court in Abuja that he was ready to open his defence.

This came just hours after Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, led protests in parts of Abuja demanding Kanu’s release.

Kanu had, last Thursday, filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction to continue his trial.

The objection came on the same day a team of medical experts appointed by the court declared him medically fit to stand trial, Channels reports.

In a fresh motion personally filed on Tuesday, October 21, Kanu told the court that he was prepared to begin his defence “pursuant to the order of this honourable court made on the 16th day of October 2015, directing the defendant to commence his defence on the 24th day of October 2025.”

He disclosed plans to call 23 witnesses divided into two categories, “ordinary but material witnesses” and “vital and compellable witnesses”, the latter to be summoned under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.

The motion, which Kanu personally signed, suggested that he may have disengaged his legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kanu Agabi.

He also requested 90 days to conclude his defence due to the number of witnesses he intends to call.

Kanu stated that he would testify on his own behalf, “providing a sworn account of the facts, denying the allegations, and explaining the political context of his statements and actions.”

Among those listed as “compellable witnesses” were former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd); former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd); Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma.

Others include the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; and former Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

Kanu also listed former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN); former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; and Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, among others whose identities he withheld.

Kanu pledged to submit sworn statements from all voluntary witnesses and to notify the prosecution within a reasonable time.

He assured the court that “no precious time of the honourable court would be delayed,” adding that “justice must not only be done but be manifestly seen to have been done.”

Meanwhile, on the same day Kanu filed his motion, a magistrate court in Abuja ordered the remand of his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, and 12 others arrested during protests demanding his release.

The police charged the 13 defendants with criminal conspiracy, disobedience of a lawful order, inciting disturbance, and disturbance of public peace — offences contrary to sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law.

Those named in the first two information reports include Ejimakor, Kanu’s brother Emmanuel, Joshua Emmanuel, Wilson Anyalewechi, Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, Clinton Chimeneze, Gabriel Joshua, Isiaka Husseini, Onyekachi Ferdinand, Amadi Prince, Edison Ojisom, Godwill Obioma, and Chima Onuchukwu.

The magistrate, after briefly standing down the case, ordered their remand at Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter till October 24 for arraignment.

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