The candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the November 16, 2024, Ondo State governorship election, Bamidele Akingboye, is dead.

His death was confirmed on Wednesday in a statement by his aide, Oyeniyi Iwakun.

According to the statement, Akingboye died earlier on Wednesday at his residence in Victoria Garden City, Lagos.

The statement read, “Known for his unwavering integrity, humility, and generosity, Akingboye left an indelible mark as a successful businessman and a mentor to many across Nigeria and beyond.

“He is survived by his wives, children, grandchildren, and siblings. The family has requested privacy during this period of grief, adding that burial arrangements and further details will be communicated in due course.”

Akingboye contested the November 2024 governorship election but lost to the incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

After the poll, Akingboye and the SDP rejected the result, alleging widespread irregularities.

The party claimed its agents were harassed and chased away from polling units, while voters were intimidated.

Akingboye himself insisted that the exercise was marred by malpractices and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to cancel the election.

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The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has described Lagos State as a “no-man’s land” and the pride of Nigeria’s economy.

Bwala, who spoke on the Daybreak programme on Arise Television on Wednesday, argued that the concentration of federal projects in Lagos should not be seen as favouritism but as investment in the country’s commercial hub.

He said, “Let me tell you why Lagos State is different. Lagos State is a no-man’s land. In the last election, the President who comes from the South-West did not win Lagos. That tells you the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos State.

“The richest man in Africa is a northerner. His business is not in Kano, it’s in Lagos. Almost every rich man that you know in Nigeria has business undertaking in Lagos and the Nigerian people are represented in Lagos.

“If not because probably the majority of the people are Yoruba speaking, you will wonder whether Lagos indeed is from the South-West.”

Comparing Lagos with other global economic centres, he added, “ London has more investment than the entire states in England put together. New York has more infrastructure and investment than the rest of the United States, including California. Paris has more investment.

“So in every country, wherever you find the commercial nerve of that country, you are likely to see the need to put infrastructure in place in order to boost the economy. Whatever Lagos benefits, the country benefits.”

Bwala insisted that the N3.9 trillion worth of federal projects reportedly allocated to Lagos in two years was justifiable, stressing that Lagos remained Nigeria’s hub of commerce and a beacon of economic growth.

“So the idea that you put more in Lagos than in other states or the federation should be put into a proper context. Lagos is a no-man’s land. Lagos is the hub of Nigeria. Lagoss is the pride of the country,” Bwala stated.

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The Magistrate Court in Ikorodu has directed that two Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) tests be carried out on Liam Aloba, the son of late Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.

Magistrate Adefisoye Sonuga issued the order on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 while ruling on an application filed by the singer’s father, Joseph Aloba, who sought a paternity test.

The late Mohbad’s wife, Omowunmi Cynthia Aloba, was listed as the respondent in the application brought under the Family Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) 2012 and the Magistrate Courts (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009.

The application requested that samples be taken from the remains of the deceased at the Military Hospital in Yaba for use in conducting the tests, either within Lagos or in another recognised facility outside the state.

It further sought approval for a separate test to be conducted abroad at the applicant’s expense.

In court filings, Aloba argued that uncertainty about Liam’s paternity made it necessary to conclusively settle the matter, stressing its importance for maintenance obligations and the child’s welfare.

At the hearing, Aloba was represented by Augustine Adegbemi from the chambers of Dr Wahab Shittu (SAN) & Co., while Kabir Akingbolu appeared for the respondent. The application was moved without opposition, leading the magistrate to grant the request.

The court directed that the tests be conducted in accredited hospitals in Nigeria and abroad, with both parties or their representatives present during sample collection.

The matter was adjourned to November 11, 2025, for further proceedings.

The 26-year-old singer died on September 12, 2023, after sustaining an injury on the back of his right arm.

He was treated and given an injection at his Lekki home by a nurse, and d!ed shortly after he developed a sudden convulsion. He was buried the following day.

Following a massive public outcry, the body was exhumed on September 21, 2023, for an autopsy on the orders of the Lagos State Government.

The findings in that autopsy concluded on April 29, 2024, showed that the cause of death couldn’t be ascertained as the internal organs were already “in a state of moderate to severe decomposition”.

The second autopsy was ordered by the Coroner in June 2024, after the deceased’s family made an application for an independent review.

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