It was around 6pm yesterday, while I was washing some cloths, my cousin ran to our house and started saying "Emma I don enter trouble oo.. chai, which kind life be this??"
In my mind I was thinking he got into problem with someone or probably lost his phone,I never knew it was more than that. He was sweating profusely, I then told him to calm down and tell me what the problem is
Thus he started.
"This afternoon mumsy told me to go and send some money to Bishop,as I was about entering the bank,one guy approached me and asked me if I know Where they sell *Goko cleanser* around Alaba/Suru that he's just coming down from Delta,he came to get the drug for his sick mum.I told him I don't know the place and entered the bank premises so one guy standing close to the ATM started asking me what the guy is saying and I told him. meanwhile he has already met with the guy outside but on approaching him(the second guy) he started shouting ..."I don't have money..leave me" and the guy left him and was loitering outside the bank.
Note: The guy said he has 1.3m to buy the medicine
"So the guy at the ATM now said we should go and show him the place and that the medicine is not sold up to that amount so we can get the money and share the remaining later.so I followed them.We got to one old man's house around Agudu and the guy said we should greet the Baba with respect that he is very powerful which we did.
"They now said I should bring out my phone and every other thing I have and hand it to them I did I was told...handed over to them
1.My phone
2.The 6k I'm holding
Note: The Charm they used on him is in full action
"They now asked if I know where mumsy and Sis keeps their money or ATM,I said yes..they said i should go and bring it within 30mins and I shouldn't talk to anybody on the way or at home that if I do my belle will swell up and I will have accident and die
I ran home and took mumsy's
1.Phone
2.ATM
3.#600 from her handbag
"I went back to them and gave them everything, they asked me of the ATM Pin and I told them so they now said I should go to CMS bustop and bring sand,they even gave me T.fare and off I went on coming back to that place,alas I didn't see them,I asked people around and they said they don't know..That was when it dawned on me that I've been scammed and I started running home"
Meanwhile, before he came back from the back,mumsy has already started looking for him cause she put her Glo sim in a smaller phone and immediately Debit alert started flooding her inbox..20k...20k..20k. before you know it,they've collected close to or even more than 200k
she started running like mad woman looking for her son to know what's wrong she even went to the bank that they were making the withdrawals and met the security men there, complained to them of what's happening but they told her to go back that its late. Tomorrow she should go to one branch at Ikeja and complain
To cut whole thing short,
Meanwhile I was trying every means possible to block the Pin all to no avail,I checked my Quickteller app,the change pin there isn't bringing any other option when clicked.
I remembered UBA once sent me number of one of there staff as my personal manager,I immediately searched for the message,got the number and called the guy to know if at least he knows anyone in First bank that I can reach since he works with UBA and the bank in question is First bank. Sadly he said no but I should make use of Google to search for First bank's customer care contact of which I did.
I called the number I saw
What I heard was "Welcome to first bank blah blah blah...if you want to be serviced in English press one....e.t.c(My airtime was reading oo) I then pressed 0 waiting to be connected to a care agent...now second world war began.For over 5 mins nobody picked up and my airtime finished.
I Copied the Fb page address I saw,sent them message,I was hoping they will reply asap cause they made a post just a minute before I messaged them all to no avail
I resorted to mailing them,I think that's what they got and eventually blocked the card cause I called back the customer care after recharging since they didn't reply my mail and she said it seems the card has already been blocked cause she can't see it from her own end.
just like that my Aunty lost about 200+k yesterday in this Buhari regime
Sunday, 4 December 2016
“Kingdom Of Heaven On Earth" Lagos Church Members Believe The Pastor Is Jesus
Vulcaniser bus-stop is very popular on Akowonjo-Egbeda road in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. Not far from this bus-stop, on both sides of the road, are some church buildings. Boldly written on the sprawling signboards at the entrance of the two front church buildings are “Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.”
Members are decked in all white attires, giving a first time visitor the impression of a white garment church in the mold of Cherubim and Seraphim, and Celestial Church of Christ – but that’s where the similarity ends as this church differs greatly with these two in terms of doctrine and beliefs.
The SATURDAY SUN team had set out initially that evening for an interview with the founder of the church, a man highly revered and almost worshipped as a deity by members. Popularly called King Olutanmole of the Universe, the man said to be in his 60s is always regal in appearance.
Investigations by SATURDAY SUN revealed that King Olutanmole’s original name is Christopher Yomi Jacobs and he hails from Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State.
He started his ministry at Ilupeju area of Lagos in 1972 from a modest bungalow. Few years later when his ministry started growing, he moved to Akowonjo his present site where he was reported to have acquired large expanse of land through a female member of the church who was related to landowners in Akowonjo.
The old woman now deceased was elevated to the position of Mother-In-Israel as a result of her activities in the ministry. Her house is not far from the church.
Although several attempts made to book an appointment for interview with King Olutanmole were futile, Saturday Sun’s team observations while on visits to the place to book appointment with Olutanmole was revealing.
Although it was learnt that members of the church have been barred from speaking to the media about anything concerning the church, some observations that were made during the visits were confirmed by some members who pleaded anonymity.
While on one of the trips, it was noticed that members live together like in a commune. If you were outside or inside the church you may not know this, but a close observation one evening revealed that after their service, members rather than trooping outside to take commercial buses home or drive outside the premises were seen moving towards the back of the church.
But here it is a no-go area for non-members. It is here you have apartments where members live. Even on a particular day after a group of children had just finished playing football and other games on an open field located very close to the church, about 100 of them were moving into the commune. Boldly inscribed at the back of their Tee-shirts is ‘Olutanmole kids.’
Around 7 pm, some members of the church working in other parts of Lagos were also observed coming in through the main gate as they headed for the narrow path that led to the commune.
Curious about this, our team sought to find out where those trooping towards the back of the church were going. “They are going home – they are going to their residences. Their homes are inside the church but at the back. Although a visitor or non-member will just think that it is the only church we have here,” a member who pleaded not to be named declared.
Continuing he said: “We have rules for them. You have several families living here. Many even want to leave their house and join others that are living here because those that are living here enjoy Olutanmole’s special grace and favour.”
At another section of the church you have what looks like a mini supermarket but what is mostly on sale here are spiritual items like holy water, oil, rosary, books, all bearing the photos and the inscription, ‘King Olutanmole of the Universe.’
The holy water is put in kegs of various sizes, and with price range with the lowest being N250. Speaking on the holy water, another member who also spoke on condition of anonymity said there is no ailment that the water can’t cure. Thinking we are visitors that had come for spiritual counseling, he implored us to buy any of the items, insisting that buying them and using is like having personal encounter with Olutanmole himself.
“It is not easy to see Baba Olutanmole. Some people have been on the waiting list for more than six months. Some even for one year, they have not been able to see Baba. Buy those spiritual items, they will work wonders for you, they will solve all your problems at least until you are able to see Baba Olutanmole,” he pleaded.
On another Sunday when the SATURDAY SUN team was asked to try and see whether Olutanmole would be able to see them, it was another shocker. Inside the sprawling well-decorated church that looks like a cathedral, you see this giant seat facing you. The seat has all the marks of royalty. You will think that it is a specially designed seat for a royal father. That is where King Olutanmole sits and conducts service whenever he is around.
In a section, you see testaments written inside a glass enclosure and they are referred to as their seven commandments. This provoked another curiosity, and further investigations revealed that members of the church had long time ago jettisoned the 10 biblical commandments generally believed by many churches.
Confirming the development, another member speaking on anonymity said:
“We no longer have anything to do with the 10 commandments again. We no longer believe in the Laws of Moses. Some years ago, around 1989 God revealed certain things to Baba while he was on the prayer mountain. When he came back, he told us that God told him to jettison the old 10 commandments and in its place have our new set of laws which are seven. If you even wake a five year old member of our ministry, he will recite the seven commandments without stress.”
And these are the seven commandments in Olutanmole’s church namely: Be Obedient, Worship God at all Times, Be Faithful in your Deeds, Be Obedient to God the Father, Be Obedient to God the Son, Be Obedient to the Holy Spirit, and Be Obedient to Olutanmole.
One interesting aspect of the Sunday Service at Olutanmole’s church is that there is no limit to the number of hours members can stay.
On this, another source in the church explains, “We complete or round off service as Olutanmole wishes. If Baba wishes that it should be two hours, so be it or if he says it is 24 hours, so also be it.”
While not describing Olutanmole as God, members fervently believe that he is Jesus Christ personified on earth. In fact, their major belief which they also professed during the Sunday worship was that they pity other Christians that still believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ. To them, Jesus Christ is not coming back again.
“Baba, King Olutanmole is Jesus Christ and he is the one that will take us to heaven to meet God and Jesus Christ his beloved son. This is why this ministry is called Kingdom of Heaven on Earth”.
Taken up on this, he fired back: “Have you not read anything about Baba? Although Baba hardly talks to the media, he rarely does, on such occasions, which are few he had declared that he is the one that is being expected, that he is the messiah who will take us to heaven. Forget about Jesus coming back again.”
It was also gathered that members that work in the church’s schools (Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary School), hospital, and bookshop earn salaries but the take home is not what can be considered as living wages.
A non-member of the church who works in the hospital but who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “We are working like slaves. It is nothing to write home about. Our own condition is even a bit better compared to what members experience. We have a situation whereby father, mother and the children either work in the hospital, bookshop, bakery or in one of the schools but their collective take home pay is not up to N20,000. What do you call that? Although, they dare not raise their voice or complain because they revere or do I say fear Olutanmole.”
Another issue that is shrouded in mystery is the number of wives and children Olutanmole has. A source told Saturday Sun that King Olutanmole is married to almost 100 women, and has numerous children, but another source countered that he has only one wife who has seven children for him.
It was gathered that Olutanmole also made it a rule that anybody getting married to any of his daughters must quit secular work and join his ministry. Not only that he must leave his house and move to the commune inside the church.
It was further learnt that one of the two men married to one of his daughters had to resign from his lucrative job as a banker to take up residence in the commune.
Always a beehive of activities, the church’s headquarters at Akowonjo is always besieged by visitors from different parts of the country and even from outside.
One of the strict rules in the church is the one that forbids members from eating anything containing palm oil every Friday.
Members are also required to pay obeisance to King Olutanmole like other earthly royals. While greeting him, you must not stand but prostrate or roll on the ground before him, while he also reportedly have the right to change name of members to whatever pleases or suits him.
Members are also required to pay spiritual visits to the ministry’s prayer mountain located at a spot between Ogun and Ondo States at least twice in a year.
“You can’t claim to be our member without going to Baba’s prayer mountain at least twice in a year. And you don’t go there to eat, but to meditate and fast in order to enjoy numerous spiritual benefits,” another member declared.
To his neighbours at Akowonjo, King Olutanmole of the Universe remains an enigma but to numerous followers, he remains a hero, a savior and the long-awaited messiah.
Some of them that also spoke with
Saturday Sun expressed fear about being seen or quoted on Olutanmole.
“We see a lot of people going inside that place including big men who drive in big cars, but honestly what goes on in there, I don’t know. There is something mysterious about the man called Olutanmole. His members hardly venture outside the commune inside the church, and not only that they hardly interact with neighbours”, one of the neighbours stated.
Continuing the man said: “Although, neither Baba Olutanmole nor his followers have been violent since the church started several years ago at Akowonjo, but when you mention that place, some people are uncomfortable. I don’t know why.”
Members are decked in all white attires, giving a first time visitor the impression of a white garment church in the mold of Cherubim and Seraphim, and Celestial Church of Christ – but that’s where the similarity ends as this church differs greatly with these two in terms of doctrine and beliefs.
The SATURDAY SUN team had set out initially that evening for an interview with the founder of the church, a man highly revered and almost worshipped as a deity by members. Popularly called King Olutanmole of the Universe, the man said to be in his 60s is always regal in appearance.
Investigations by SATURDAY SUN revealed that King Olutanmole’s original name is Christopher Yomi Jacobs and he hails from Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State.
He started his ministry at Ilupeju area of Lagos in 1972 from a modest bungalow. Few years later when his ministry started growing, he moved to Akowonjo his present site where he was reported to have acquired large expanse of land through a female member of the church who was related to landowners in Akowonjo.
The old woman now deceased was elevated to the position of Mother-In-Israel as a result of her activities in the ministry. Her house is not far from the church.
Although several attempts made to book an appointment for interview with King Olutanmole were futile, Saturday Sun’s team observations while on visits to the place to book appointment with Olutanmole was revealing.
Although it was learnt that members of the church have been barred from speaking to the media about anything concerning the church, some observations that were made during the visits were confirmed by some members who pleaded anonymity.
While on one of the trips, it was noticed that members live together like in a commune. If you were outside or inside the church you may not know this, but a close observation one evening revealed that after their service, members rather than trooping outside to take commercial buses home or drive outside the premises were seen moving towards the back of the church.
But here it is a no-go area for non-members. It is here you have apartments where members live. Even on a particular day after a group of children had just finished playing football and other games on an open field located very close to the church, about 100 of them were moving into the commune. Boldly inscribed at the back of their Tee-shirts is ‘Olutanmole kids.’
Around 7 pm, some members of the church working in other parts of Lagos were also observed coming in through the main gate as they headed for the narrow path that led to the commune.
Curious about this, our team sought to find out where those trooping towards the back of the church were going. “They are going home – they are going to their residences. Their homes are inside the church but at the back. Although a visitor or non-member will just think that it is the only church we have here,” a member who pleaded not to be named declared.
Continuing he said: “We have rules for them. You have several families living here. Many even want to leave their house and join others that are living here because those that are living here enjoy Olutanmole’s special grace and favour.”
At another section of the church you have what looks like a mini supermarket but what is mostly on sale here are spiritual items like holy water, oil, rosary, books, all bearing the photos and the inscription, ‘King Olutanmole of the Universe.’
The holy water is put in kegs of various sizes, and with price range with the lowest being N250. Speaking on the holy water, another member who also spoke on condition of anonymity said there is no ailment that the water can’t cure. Thinking we are visitors that had come for spiritual counseling, he implored us to buy any of the items, insisting that buying them and using is like having personal encounter with Olutanmole himself.
“It is not easy to see Baba Olutanmole. Some people have been on the waiting list for more than six months. Some even for one year, they have not been able to see Baba. Buy those spiritual items, they will work wonders for you, they will solve all your problems at least until you are able to see Baba Olutanmole,” he pleaded.
On another Sunday when the SATURDAY SUN team was asked to try and see whether Olutanmole would be able to see them, it was another shocker. Inside the sprawling well-decorated church that looks like a cathedral, you see this giant seat facing you. The seat has all the marks of royalty. You will think that it is a specially designed seat for a royal father. That is where King Olutanmole sits and conducts service whenever he is around.
In a section, you see testaments written inside a glass enclosure and they are referred to as their seven commandments. This provoked another curiosity, and further investigations revealed that members of the church had long time ago jettisoned the 10 biblical commandments generally believed by many churches.
Confirming the development, another member speaking on anonymity said:
“We no longer have anything to do with the 10 commandments again. We no longer believe in the Laws of Moses. Some years ago, around 1989 God revealed certain things to Baba while he was on the prayer mountain. When he came back, he told us that God told him to jettison the old 10 commandments and in its place have our new set of laws which are seven. If you even wake a five year old member of our ministry, he will recite the seven commandments without stress.”
And these are the seven commandments in Olutanmole’s church namely: Be Obedient, Worship God at all Times, Be Faithful in your Deeds, Be Obedient to God the Father, Be Obedient to God the Son, Be Obedient to the Holy Spirit, and Be Obedient to Olutanmole.
One interesting aspect of the Sunday Service at Olutanmole’s church is that there is no limit to the number of hours members can stay.
On this, another source in the church explains, “We complete or round off service as Olutanmole wishes. If Baba wishes that it should be two hours, so be it or if he says it is 24 hours, so also be it.”
While not describing Olutanmole as God, members fervently believe that he is Jesus Christ personified on earth. In fact, their major belief which they also professed during the Sunday worship was that they pity other Christians that still believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ. To them, Jesus Christ is not coming back again.
“Baba, King Olutanmole is Jesus Christ and he is the one that will take us to heaven to meet God and Jesus Christ his beloved son. This is why this ministry is called Kingdom of Heaven on Earth”.
Taken up on this, he fired back: “Have you not read anything about Baba? Although Baba hardly talks to the media, he rarely does, on such occasions, which are few he had declared that he is the one that is being expected, that he is the messiah who will take us to heaven. Forget about Jesus coming back again.”
It was also gathered that members that work in the church’s schools (Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary School), hospital, and bookshop earn salaries but the take home is not what can be considered as living wages.
A non-member of the church who works in the hospital but who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “We are working like slaves. It is nothing to write home about. Our own condition is even a bit better compared to what members experience. We have a situation whereby father, mother and the children either work in the hospital, bookshop, bakery or in one of the schools but their collective take home pay is not up to N20,000. What do you call that? Although, they dare not raise their voice or complain because they revere or do I say fear Olutanmole.”
Another issue that is shrouded in mystery is the number of wives and children Olutanmole has. A source told Saturday Sun that King Olutanmole is married to almost 100 women, and has numerous children, but another source countered that he has only one wife who has seven children for him.
It was gathered that Olutanmole also made it a rule that anybody getting married to any of his daughters must quit secular work and join his ministry. Not only that he must leave his house and move to the commune inside the church.
It was further learnt that one of the two men married to one of his daughters had to resign from his lucrative job as a banker to take up residence in the commune.
Always a beehive of activities, the church’s headquarters at Akowonjo is always besieged by visitors from different parts of the country and even from outside.
One of the strict rules in the church is the one that forbids members from eating anything containing palm oil every Friday.
Members are also required to pay obeisance to King Olutanmole like other earthly royals. While greeting him, you must not stand but prostrate or roll on the ground before him, while he also reportedly have the right to change name of members to whatever pleases or suits him.
Members are also required to pay spiritual visits to the ministry’s prayer mountain located at a spot between Ogun and Ondo States at least twice in a year.
“You can’t claim to be our member without going to Baba’s prayer mountain at least twice in a year. And you don’t go there to eat, but to meditate and fast in order to enjoy numerous spiritual benefits,” another member declared.
To his neighbours at Akowonjo, King Olutanmole of the Universe remains an enigma but to numerous followers, he remains a hero, a savior and the long-awaited messiah.
Some of them that also spoke with
Saturday Sun expressed fear about being seen or quoted on Olutanmole.
“We see a lot of people going inside that place including big men who drive in big cars, but honestly what goes on in there, I don’t know. There is something mysterious about the man called Olutanmole. His members hardly venture outside the commune inside the church, and not only that they hardly interact with neighbours”, one of the neighbours stated.
Continuing the man said: “Although, neither Baba Olutanmole nor his followers have been violent since the church started several years ago at Akowonjo, but when you mention that place, some people are uncomfortable. I don’t know why.”
Highest Paid Musicians In Nigeria In 2016 - T.I.N Magazine
So its here finally, you all know T.I.N Magazine is the one online platform that brings you facts and sensible rankings in Nigeria. Many people have mailed us asking when we are going to publish the list of highest paid musicians in Nigeria for year 2016, well, its here.
We tried but we couldn't get the artistes to tell us the actual amount they earned within the last 12 months but learnt estimates from them.
So here we are going to list out the top ten Nigerian artistes that made the highest money within the past 12 months; which is from December 1st. last year to November 30 2016.
Here we are going to rank them according to how much they made from:
- Digital sales (iTunes,Music+,YouTube)
- Shows. (How much they charged for shows and how often they were called)
- Concerts+Tours (How big their concerts&tour were)
- Brand endorsements (How many and how huge)
Withing the past 12 months.
NOTE: This is not a ranking of the richest musicians in Nigeria but the ranking of the musicians that made the most money in year 2016.
TOP TEN HIGHEST PAID MUSICIANS IN NIGERIA 2016
10. KOREDE BELLO
Korede loved by his "bellovers", we can tell for sure the cute singer made most of his money within the last 12 months from digital sales. Not all his singles were hits in Nigeria this year but he sold a lot on digital platforms, the singer has quite a lot of fans internationally so they often buy his songs and watch his music videos a lot on YouTube. Korede didn't get called for many shows but he had a few. The singer also has an active endorsement deal with the telecom giant GLO.
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 60 - 100 million naira.
Remember he is signed to a record label so the earnings were shared between him his label.
9. TEKNO
The artiste of the year Tekno Miles is among the artistes who made the most money this year. Starting from digital sales Tekno dropped about 6 singles within the last 12 months and all were hits, they sold really well on several digital platforms with amazing views on YouTube, he made most of his money this year digitally as he sells even beyond Africa. Tekno made a lot from local and international shows, he also had a sold out tour this year. He had a 5million naira endorsement with MTN.
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 80 - 110 million naira.
Remember he is signed to a record label so the earnings were shared between him his label.
8. KISS DANIEL
We can basically tell you Kiss Daniel is the Nigerian artiste that headlined most shows in Nigeria and outside Nigeria this year. The singer made a lot from shows the singer we can say had a show or 2 two to headline almost every week of the year. Kiss Daniel dropped his album NEW ERA which was one of the best selling albums in Nigeria 2016, his hit songs MAMA and JOMBO where said to have sold hundred of thousand records this year. Kiss Daniel does not have any popular endorsement deal but he made quite a lot naturally from music this year.
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 90 - 110 million naira.
Remember he is signed to a record label so the earnings were shared between him his label.
7. PHYNO
With the release of several hit singles within the last 12 months we can tell you phyno made quite a lot from digital sales, Phyno doesn't headline shows too often but he made a lot from concerts and tour within the last 12 months. Phyno has quite the endorsement deals right now he is an ambassador of many big brands which includes; Guiness, Nairabet.
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 100 - 160 million naira.
6. DAVIDO
Yes, the OBO earned quite well this year. Earned well from digital sales, and most especially his successful tours. Davido in December 2015 performed to an audience of about 30,000 people, Davido in 2016 also had a lot of attendants in his tour and also had successful shows. He also signed a deal with Pepsi said to be worth 100 million naira. Davido active endorsement deals includes: MTN deal, Pepsi deal. He charges between 5-8 million naira per show.
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 150 - 180 million naira.
5. OLAMIDE
The YBNL label boss is a music business man and an A-list artiste himself, we ranked him based on the money he made from his brand as a music act. Olamide dropped an album in December 2015 an album which sold quite well on digital platforms, Olamide continued to drop several hit singles within the year which sold quite well too, Olamide headlined many popular shows in 2016, went on a sold out world tour and his OLIC2 concert in December 2015 was a total sold-out. Olamide is also a brand with many endorsements, they include; ETISALAT, SUREBET,CIROC,GUINESS deals.
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 150 - 200 million naira.
4. WIZKID
The "Starboy" had an amazing year, starting from his Ojuelegba remix featuring Drake we learnt the song grossed over one hundred thousand dollars as of December 2015. Wizkid hasn't dropped many offciial projects within the last 12 months but the few he dropped made a lot from digital sales. WizKid also earned royalties from the biggest song in the whole world for year 2016; (One Dance). The starboy also had a hugely successful world tour in 2016. Within the past 12 months his active endorsement deals include; GLO deal, PEPSI deal. He charges between 5-10 million naira per show
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 150 - 220 million naira.
3. TIWA SAVAGE
It was a very great year for the most popular female artiste in Africa. Tiwa savage dropped her sophomore album last year December and the album broke and set a couple records when it comes to digital sales. According Music+ Tiwa's RED album is the most bought album on the platform, the album also did great on iTunes and YouTube. The singer also had a sold out tour this year, and the biggest of all Tiwa Savage's endorsement keeps piling up, her active endorsement within last 12 months includes; MTN DEAL, Forte Oil Deal, Pampers,Maggi,Konga And Pepsi which all are multi million naira deals. She charges between 4-6 million naira per show
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 150 - 250 million naira.
2. D'BANJ
You all know the name D'banj is a huge one in the showbiz, D'banj is a business man and a music act. But here we only used D'banj's earnings from music within the last 12 months to rank him, criteria which includes; brand endorsement of course, digital sales, tours and concerts. The singer was called for popular shows and went on a tour this year, even though we can tell he didn't make much from digital sales the singer made a lot from brand endorsements which includes; Ciroc deal, Glo Deal, Bank of industry deal, SLOT deal, and MTN deal. He charges between 6-10 million naira per show
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 200 - 250 million naira.
1. PETER OKOYE(MrP)
Well, you may not be expecting this but after our research and contacts the singer was the one who earned the most as an artiste this year. Peter who goes by the stage name: MrP made a lot of money from brand endorsements which was his major source of earning within the last 12 months. Leaving his brother behind peter has gotten endorsement deals from huge brands locally and globally within the last 2 years. Peter also gets a 50-50 share of whatever PSQAURE as a band earns from endorsements,digital sales and shows.
Peter's active brand endorsement includes; Nutricima, Adidas, Kia, MerryBet, football academy and Adidas.
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 200 - 300 million naira.
[NOTE: This is not a ranking of the richest musicians in Nigeria but the ranking of the musicians that made the most money in year 2016. This ranking may change totally next year.] -
More Like This From
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We tried but we couldn't get the artistes to tell us the actual amount they earned within the last 12 months but learnt estimates from them.
So here we are going to list out the top ten Nigerian artistes that made the highest money within the past 12 months; which is from December 1st. last year to November 30 2016.
Here we are going to rank them according to how much they made from:
- Digital sales (iTunes,Music+,YouTube)
- Shows. (How much they charged for shows and how often they were called)
- Concerts+Tours (How big their concerts&tour were)
- Brand endorsements (How many and how huge)
Withing the past 12 months.
NOTE: This is not a ranking of the richest musicians in Nigeria but the ranking of the musicians that made the most money in year 2016.
TOP TEN HIGHEST PAID MUSICIANS IN NIGERIA 2016
10. KOREDE BELLO
Korede loved by his "bellovers", we can tell for sure the cute singer made most of his money within the last 12 months from digital sales. Not all his singles were hits in Nigeria this year but he sold a lot on digital platforms, the singer has quite a lot of fans internationally so they often buy his songs and watch his music videos a lot on YouTube. Korede didn't get called for many shows but he had a few. The singer also has an active endorsement deal with the telecom giant GLO.
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 60 - 100 million naira.
Remember he is signed to a record label so the earnings were shared between him his label.
9. TEKNO
The artiste of the year Tekno Miles is among the artistes who made the most money this year. Starting from digital sales Tekno dropped about 6 singles within the last 12 months and all were hits, they sold really well on several digital platforms with amazing views on YouTube, he made most of his money this year digitally as he sells even beyond Africa. Tekno made a lot from local and international shows, he also had a sold out tour this year. He had a 5million naira endorsement with MTN.
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 80 - 110 million naira.
Remember he is signed to a record label so the earnings were shared between him his label.
8. KISS DANIEL
We can basically tell you Kiss Daniel is the Nigerian artiste that headlined most shows in Nigeria and outside Nigeria this year. The singer made a lot from shows the singer we can say had a show or 2 two to headline almost every week of the year. Kiss Daniel dropped his album NEW ERA which was one of the best selling albums in Nigeria 2016, his hit songs MAMA and JOMBO where said to have sold hundred of thousand records this year. Kiss Daniel does not have any popular endorsement deal but he made quite a lot naturally from music this year.
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 90 - 110 million naira.
Remember he is signed to a record label so the earnings were shared between him his label.
7. PHYNO
With the release of several hit singles within the last 12 months we can tell you phyno made quite a lot from digital sales, Phyno doesn't headline shows too often but he made a lot from concerts and tour within the last 12 months. Phyno has quite the endorsement deals right now he is an ambassador of many big brands which includes; Guiness, Nairabet.
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 100 - 160 million naira.
6. DAVIDO
Yes, the OBO earned quite well this year. Earned well from digital sales, and most especially his successful tours. Davido in December 2015 performed to an audience of about 30,000 people, Davido in 2016 also had a lot of attendants in his tour and also had successful shows. He also signed a deal with Pepsi said to be worth 100 million naira. Davido active endorsement deals includes: MTN deal, Pepsi deal. He charges between 5-8 million naira per show.
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 150 - 180 million naira.
5. OLAMIDE
The YBNL label boss is a music business man and an A-list artiste himself, we ranked him based on the money he made from his brand as a music act. Olamide dropped an album in December 2015 an album which sold quite well on digital platforms, Olamide continued to drop several hit singles within the year which sold quite well too, Olamide headlined many popular shows in 2016, went on a sold out world tour and his OLIC2 concert in December 2015 was a total sold-out. Olamide is also a brand with many endorsements, they include; ETISALAT, SUREBET,CIROC,GUINESS deals.
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 150 - 200 million naira.
4. WIZKID
The "Starboy" had an amazing year, starting from his Ojuelegba remix featuring Drake we learnt the song grossed over one hundred thousand dollars as of December 2015. Wizkid hasn't dropped many offciial projects within the last 12 months but the few he dropped made a lot from digital sales. WizKid also earned royalties from the biggest song in the whole world for year 2016; (One Dance). The starboy also had a hugely successful world tour in 2016. Within the past 12 months his active endorsement deals include; GLO deal, PEPSI deal. He charges between 5-10 million naira per show
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 150 - 220 million naira.
3. TIWA SAVAGE
It was a very great year for the most popular female artiste in Africa. Tiwa savage dropped her sophomore album last year December and the album broke and set a couple records when it comes to digital sales. According Music+ Tiwa's RED album is the most bought album on the platform, the album also did great on iTunes and YouTube. The singer also had a sold out tour this year, and the biggest of all Tiwa Savage's endorsement keeps piling up, her active endorsement within last 12 months includes; MTN DEAL, Forte Oil Deal, Pampers,Maggi,Konga And Pepsi which all are multi million naira deals. She charges between 4-6 million naira per show
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 150 - 250 million naira.
2. D'BANJ
You all know the name D'banj is a huge one in the showbiz, D'banj is a business man and a music act. But here we only used D'banj's earnings from music within the last 12 months to rank him, criteria which includes; brand endorsement of course, digital sales, tours and concerts. The singer was called for popular shows and went on a tour this year, even though we can tell he didn't make much from digital sales the singer made a lot from brand endorsements which includes; Ciroc deal, Glo Deal, Bank of industry deal, SLOT deal, and MTN deal. He charges between 6-10 million naira per show
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 200 - 250 million naira.
1. PETER OKOYE(MrP)
Well, you may not be expecting this but after our research and contacts the singer was the one who earned the most as an artiste this year. Peter who goes by the stage name: MrP made a lot of money from brand endorsements which was his major source of earning within the last 12 months. Leaving his brother behind peter has gotten endorsement deals from huge brands locally and globally within the last 2 years. Peter also gets a 50-50 share of whatever PSQAURE as a band earns from endorsements,digital sales and shows.
Peter's active brand endorsement includes; Nutricima, Adidas, Kia, MerryBet, football academy and Adidas.
Estimated 2016 earnings is between: 200 - 300 million naira.
[NOTE: This is not a ranking of the richest musicians in Nigeria but the ranking of the musicians that made the most money in year 2016. This ranking may change totally next year.] -
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'Emir Sanusi Doesn't Have His Facts Right' - Garba Shehu
Spokesman to president Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu has responded to remarks made by the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, that the CBN was illegally funding the Nigerian government.
Sanusi revealed that the CBN's lending to the government since Buhari came to power spiked from N1.5 trillion to N4.5 trillion.In the Emir's words;
The CBN-FGN relationship is no longer independent. In fact, one could argue their relationship has become unhealthy. CBN claims on the FGN now tops N4.7 trillion — equal to almost 50% of the FGN’s total domestic debt. This is a clear violation of the Central Bank Act of 2007 (Section 38.2) which caps advances to the FGN at 5% of last year’s revenues. Has CBN become the government’s lender of last or first resort?
In response to this, Shehu wrote;
With every respect to the Emir, you know he is my ruler,because I come from Kano.
He doesn't have his facts as far as those issues are concerned. The issue in CBN, that government has overdrawn its Central Consolidated Account is true, but the overdrawing is within limits.
The overdraw does not exceed 1.5 trillion. It is incorrect to say, as he did that the account was overdrawn by 4.5 trillion.
But even assuming that he was correct. This is a government that has money in excess the amount he mentioned in the Treasury Single Account, TSA. It is just like you, a bank customer operating two accounts, one in the red and the other, well funded to the point that it can at any time wipe the indebtedness on the other. Would any bank manager lose their sleep over this?
This, I am told is what the IMF found at the CBN and they said it is perfectly normal.
As for his opposition to the USD 30 billion loan, I'am aware that the Minister of Finance is responding to that.
As a private citizen, I want to read his statement again. I thought that the borrowing is for projects that include the railway development in Kano, his own city.
Sanusi revealed that the CBN's lending to the government since Buhari came to power spiked from N1.5 trillion to N4.5 trillion.In the Emir's words;
The CBN-FGN relationship is no longer independent. In fact, one could argue their relationship has become unhealthy. CBN claims on the FGN now tops N4.7 trillion — equal to almost 50% of the FGN’s total domestic debt. This is a clear violation of the Central Bank Act of 2007 (Section 38.2) which caps advances to the FGN at 5% of last year’s revenues. Has CBN become the government’s lender of last or first resort?
In response to this, Shehu wrote;
With every respect to the Emir, you know he is my ruler,because I come from Kano.
He doesn't have his facts as far as those issues are concerned. The issue in CBN, that government has overdrawn its Central Consolidated Account is true, but the overdrawing is within limits.
The overdraw does not exceed 1.5 trillion. It is incorrect to say, as he did that the account was overdrawn by 4.5 trillion.
But even assuming that he was correct. This is a government that has money in excess the amount he mentioned in the Treasury Single Account, TSA. It is just like you, a bank customer operating two accounts, one in the red and the other, well funded to the point that it can at any time wipe the indebtedness on the other. Would any bank manager lose their sleep over this?
This, I am told is what the IMF found at the CBN and they said it is perfectly normal.
As for his opposition to the USD 30 billion loan, I'am aware that the Minister of Finance is responding to that.
As a private citizen, I want to read his statement again. I thought that the borrowing is for projects that include the railway development in Kano, his own city.
I Have Fulfilled Ojukwu’s Dying Wish – Bianca
Widow to the late Head of State of the defunct Biafra Republic, Bianca Ojukwu, said she has fulfilled two of the dying wishes of her husband, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu who died on November 26, 2011.
Bianca who spoke at an event marking Ojukwu’s fifth memorial in Owerri, disclosed that the Biafran warlord had before his death, urged her to fulfill three wishes for him which includes that his body must be taken to Aba, Abia state before burial.
The ex beauty queen expressed gratitude to God that she was able to fulfill the wish to take Ojukwu’s body to Aba, while the second one which required erecting a monument in memory of a 19 year old American, Bruce Mayrock who died for Biafra, would soon be met. She, however, failed to disclose the third wish, promising to do so at the appropriate time.
According to her, There are three things Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu asked me to do for him when he is dead. I have done one; the first is that he demanded that when he is dead, before he is buried, I should take his body to Aba. When I get to Aba, that I should place the coffin on the ground, touch the dust and sprinkle it on the coffin. After this, we should bury him whenever we wish to. By the grace of God, I was able to do that.
“The second one is that before Dim Ojukwu died, he narrated the story of a young American boy named Bruce Mayrock. He told me that this young boy was 19 years old, a white American and University student who came from a wealthy family. During the Biafra war, Mayrock was too disturbed about the pictures of starving Biafran children and the genocide. He wrote letters to American senators and President, individuals, Christian organizations and the United Nations calling on them to come to the aid of the Biafran people. Mayrock lamented that the Biafrans were facing extermination.
“All these people even the United Nations could not do anything. To bring attention to the plight of suffering Biafrans, this boy went to the front of the United Nations building doused himself with gasoline, struck a match and set himself on fire. When they were chasing him to put away the fire he was running with the inferno. He ran until he collapsed. He was taken to the hospital and by midnight on 30th May 1966, he died. Ojukwu was humbled that a 19 year old boy sacrificed his life for a people thousand miles away that he never knew or met. His parents were unhappy that he sacrificed himself but he had told his priest that it was the only way he could get attention from the United Nation to take notice and save dying Biafra people.”
“Ojukwu demanded that when he is dead, the story be narrated to his children and when his son turns 19, that a little plot of land be gotten to erect a monument in honour of Bruce Mayrock who sacrificed his life for the people of Biafra. Today in America, many Igbo people regularly visit Mayrock’s grave to lay flowers and pray for him.”
Amidst applause from the teeming crowd, Bianca disclosed that she has fulfilled Ojukwu’s second wish by erecting a monument in favour of Mayrock, stressing that her family has been in touch with Mayrock’s family in America and expressed hope that they would be in Nigeria for the commissioning of the monument.
Bianca urged Ndigbo to be united, adding that Ojukwu who she described as an extraordinary man,, sacrificed a lot for the welfare of his people and commended MASSOB founder, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike for always honouring Ojukwu
Bianca who spoke at an event marking Ojukwu’s fifth memorial in Owerri, disclosed that the Biafran warlord had before his death, urged her to fulfill three wishes for him which includes that his body must be taken to Aba, Abia state before burial.
The ex beauty queen expressed gratitude to God that she was able to fulfill the wish to take Ojukwu’s body to Aba, while the second one which required erecting a monument in memory of a 19 year old American, Bruce Mayrock who died for Biafra, would soon be met. She, however, failed to disclose the third wish, promising to do so at the appropriate time.
According to her, There are three things Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu asked me to do for him when he is dead. I have done one; the first is that he demanded that when he is dead, before he is buried, I should take his body to Aba. When I get to Aba, that I should place the coffin on the ground, touch the dust and sprinkle it on the coffin. After this, we should bury him whenever we wish to. By the grace of God, I was able to do that.
“The second one is that before Dim Ojukwu died, he narrated the story of a young American boy named Bruce Mayrock. He told me that this young boy was 19 years old, a white American and University student who came from a wealthy family. During the Biafra war, Mayrock was too disturbed about the pictures of starving Biafran children and the genocide. He wrote letters to American senators and President, individuals, Christian organizations and the United Nations calling on them to come to the aid of the Biafran people. Mayrock lamented that the Biafrans were facing extermination.
“All these people even the United Nations could not do anything. To bring attention to the plight of suffering Biafrans, this boy went to the front of the United Nations building doused himself with gasoline, struck a match and set himself on fire. When they were chasing him to put away the fire he was running with the inferno. He ran until he collapsed. He was taken to the hospital and by midnight on 30th May 1966, he died. Ojukwu was humbled that a 19 year old boy sacrificed his life for a people thousand miles away that he never knew or met. His parents were unhappy that he sacrificed himself but he had told his priest that it was the only way he could get attention from the United Nation to take notice and save dying Biafra people.”
“Ojukwu demanded that when he is dead, the story be narrated to his children and when his son turns 19, that a little plot of land be gotten to erect a monument in honour of Bruce Mayrock who sacrificed his life for the people of Biafra. Today in America, many Igbo people regularly visit Mayrock’s grave to lay flowers and pray for him.”
Amidst applause from the teeming crowd, Bianca disclosed that she has fulfilled Ojukwu’s second wish by erecting a monument in favour of Mayrock, stressing that her family has been in touch with Mayrock’s family in America and expressed hope that they would be in Nigeria for the commissioning of the monument.
Bianca urged Ndigbo to be united, adding that Ojukwu who she described as an extraordinary man,, sacrificed a lot for the welfare of his people and commended MASSOB founder, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike for always honouring Ojukwu
How SSS Tortured Man To Death; Then Paid Family N15m To Keep Mum
After “torturing” a man to death, Nigeria’s secret police, SSS, exploited the influence of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, to pay a paltry N1.5 million compensation to the victim’s family, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.
At about 2.30 a.m. on April 4, SSS operatives on the trail of a suspect accused of cloning the phone number of the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, stormed No 37, Aje Street, Pleasure, in the Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos in commando style.
Residents of the address said the operatives scaled the fence of the compound, screaming and threatening as they knocked down doors and shattered ceilings. They rough-handled residents, who thought they were armed robbers as they did not introduce themselves, dragged them from their beds, ordered them out of their apartments and forced them to sit on the dusty ground of the compound.
About an hour later, when they were done harassing the residents, Saheed Eyitayo, 34, a friend to the suspect the operatives were looking for, laid in the dust motionless – beaten to a pulp by the operatives.
One resident, who described the entire experience as “nightmarish,” told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Eyitayo was so battered that he couldn’t stand unaided – three operatives had to drag his him into one of the vans the armed men brought with them.
Unfortunately, that was the last time he would be seen alive in public.
The operatives were led to the residence by Adejoke Ogunbona, the wife of the wanted man, Rilwanu Jamiu. While on the run for the alleged crime, Mr. Jamiu, who is now facing trial alongside another suspect, had spent few days at Mr. Eyitayo’s apartment before moving on to another place in the Oke Aro area of Lagos, where he was eventually arrested.
It is not clear if Mr. Eyitayo knew his friend was a fugitive when he allowed him to stay at his apartment.
Mr. Jamiu’s wife had visited her husband while he was hiding at Mr. Eyitayo’s apartment. Though she later confessed that even though she knew her husband was no longer at Mr. Eyitayo’s apartment, she took the SSS operatives there.
SUSPICIOUS DEATH
Three days after the raid, the SSS invited Mr. Eyitayo’s landlord, Mathew Sobiye, to the Lagos office in Shangisha and told him, for the first time, that they had carried out the raid on his compound and that Mr. Eyitayo was dead.
They warned him not to disclose this to anyone, the Septuagenarian said.
The SSS claimed Mr. Eyitayo was resisting arrest on the night of the raid and tried to jump from the moving van as he was being conveyed to their office. They said he died from injuries sustained in the process.
But Mr. Eyitayo’s family would have none of that. They claimed that from account of fellow tenants at his Pleasure residence, he was already unconscious when he was handcuffed and carried into the waiting van.
They wondered how an unconscious man in chains could overpower several SSS operatives and jump to his death. They said if the SSS had nothing to hide, it shouldn’t have waited for 19 days before formally informing them of Mr. Eyitayo’s death.
Michael Lasisi, one of Mr. Eyitayo’s relatives, told PREMIUM TIMES that the SSS waited that long because they were trying to perfect a fabricated story to hide the fact that they tortured Mr. Eyitayo to death.
“We had gone to the SSS office several times, and they told us ‘come back you cannot see him.’ Until finally on the 23rd (of April), 19 days after he was killed, they now told one of my brothers Oyetunji that he had died. Meanwhile they had told the landlord not to tell anybody that he had died.
“They did that so as the days elapsed they would be able to manufacture lies to cover up the official criminality. They could not tell us what he has done. They said his friend was part of those who cloned the governor’s number. They traced the friend to his house but they did not see him.
At a meeting between Mr. Eyitayo’s family and the SSS on May 3 at their Shangisha office, angered by an SSS attempt to implicate Mr. Eyitayo in the number cloning scam, Mr. Lasisi and other family members walked out on the officials of the secret service threatening to drag the agency to court.
“A SHOW OF SHAME”
Not wanting the story of the alleged extrajudicial killing by its operatives out in the open, the SSS approached Mr. Akiolu, the paramount traditional monarch in Lagos, to appeal to the family of the dead man, after its original attempt to use officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice failed to assuage Mr. Eyitayo’s family.
Some members of the family said they first suspected that something was fishy when those who had resisted the antics of the Lagos State officials were exempted from the delegation to meet with Mr. Akiolu.
“I think the SSS had told the Oba that some members of the family who gave them a hard time during the initial discussion shouldn’t be allowed to be part of the negotiation. The excuse they gave was that the Oba did not want a crowd in his palace,” a family member, who sought anonymity for security reasons, said.
Several family sources present described the negotiation at the monarch’s palace as a show of shame. They said the moment the SSS offered to pay N15 million, some of the most outspoken members of the delegation suddenly became quiet.
They said Mr. Akiolu doused the flickering flame of resistance from the family members when he appealed to them to accept what the SSS was offering in order to bring a closure to the matter and stop acting like they were there to sell the body of their dead kin.
“The family lawyer put up a spirited effort to make the DSS [as the SSS is also called] pay more compensation, but members of Saheed’s family would have none of that,” an attendee at the meeting said.
“In fact, one of them was stepping on his (lawyer’s) feet and telling him not to be too hard of the DSS and to accept whatever the DSS was offering so that the matter can be settled. The lawyer was almost in tears,” another family source said.
“At a point, they even threatened to fire the lawyer if he would not agree with the decision of the family.”
“One of them said that they should accept the offer of the DSS because the body of Saheed was suffering and they needed to bury him urgently to stop the suffering,” the source said.
Another source, however, added that Mr Akiolu insisted that N10 million be given entirely to the parents of the deceased. He also insisted that the SSS must pay the lawyer’s professional fees.
According to our sources, the five million that was remaining from the compensation paid was shared among members of the deceased’s family involved in the negotiation.
Meanwhile, even as they agreed to accept the compensation, none of the victim’s family members had seen his corpse as the SSS did not disclose where it kept the body.
The family did not also press the SSS to conduct an autopsy on the deceased as required by Lagos State laws for persons who died under suspicious circumstances like Mr. Eyitayo
“The DSS did not allow the family see the corpse of the dead victim before they forced the family to reach a negotiation. That was the plan. When they finished the negotiation, they called Saheed’s uncle to come and look at the body but he was only shown his legs,” one of our sources said.
CUT AND BRUISES ALL OVER
Family members who saw Mr. Eyitayo’s corpse after it was released for burial by the SSS said it dawned on them the reason the agency refused to let his family see the body before the negotiation was concluded and all documents signed.
“If you see the corpse, you would know that he was tortured and killed in a brutal manner. He had two deep cuts in the back of his head, apparently inflicted by a machete or other similar sharp objects. There were cuts and bruises all over his body,” the source said.
As part of the agreement reached with the deceased family, the SSS agreed to foot the bill for his funeral. Mr. Eyitayo’s body was carried to his hometown in Oyo for burial in the most disrespectful manner, the source said.
“If you see the way they carried his body home. They couldn’t even get a proper vehicle to deliver his body to his family.
“They got a rickety vehicle. On their way to Oyo State, the vehicle conveying his body was so old that its tyres bust twice before it got to the town. And they spent several hours on the road fixing the tyres.
“His body was not even put in a casket. He was taken home for burial in a body bag made of jute sack. The type used for keeping rice.
Babs Animashaun, the lawyer who represented the family, declined to discuss details of the negotiation when reached for comments. He however said the family has moved on after settlement.
“That is strictly confidential between the parties. I cannot share the details of the settlement with the public,” he said.
“The family agreed to settle with the SSS out of court. They can never be happy with what has happened but at least they were able to move on. That is what is important,” he added.
The SSS could not be reached for comments. The agency does not have a spokesperson, neither does it have an email address or phone number through which it can be contacted. Before the current administration, the SSS used to have a spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, but the current leadership of the agency led by Lawal Daura, has refused to appoint one or disclose how it should be officially contacted for enquiries.
When PREMIUM TIMES visited the palace of the Oba of Lagos to ask about his role in the saga, officials requested a formal letter. About two weeks after the letter was delivered, the monarch has not responded or agreed to a formal interview
At about 2.30 a.m. on April 4, SSS operatives on the trail of a suspect accused of cloning the phone number of the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, stormed No 37, Aje Street, Pleasure, in the Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos in commando style.
Residents of the address said the operatives scaled the fence of the compound, screaming and threatening as they knocked down doors and shattered ceilings. They rough-handled residents, who thought they were armed robbers as they did not introduce themselves, dragged them from their beds, ordered them out of their apartments and forced them to sit on the dusty ground of the compound.
About an hour later, when they were done harassing the residents, Saheed Eyitayo, 34, a friend to the suspect the operatives were looking for, laid in the dust motionless – beaten to a pulp by the operatives.
One resident, who described the entire experience as “nightmarish,” told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Eyitayo was so battered that he couldn’t stand unaided – three operatives had to drag his him into one of the vans the armed men brought with them.
Unfortunately, that was the last time he would be seen alive in public.
The operatives were led to the residence by Adejoke Ogunbona, the wife of the wanted man, Rilwanu Jamiu. While on the run for the alleged crime, Mr. Jamiu, who is now facing trial alongside another suspect, had spent few days at Mr. Eyitayo’s apartment before moving on to another place in the Oke Aro area of Lagos, where he was eventually arrested.
It is not clear if Mr. Eyitayo knew his friend was a fugitive when he allowed him to stay at his apartment.
Mr. Jamiu’s wife had visited her husband while he was hiding at Mr. Eyitayo’s apartment. Though she later confessed that even though she knew her husband was no longer at Mr. Eyitayo’s apartment, she took the SSS operatives there.
SUSPICIOUS DEATH
Three days after the raid, the SSS invited Mr. Eyitayo’s landlord, Mathew Sobiye, to the Lagos office in Shangisha and told him, for the first time, that they had carried out the raid on his compound and that Mr. Eyitayo was dead.
They warned him not to disclose this to anyone, the Septuagenarian said.
The SSS claimed Mr. Eyitayo was resisting arrest on the night of the raid and tried to jump from the moving van as he was being conveyed to their office. They said he died from injuries sustained in the process.
But Mr. Eyitayo’s family would have none of that. They claimed that from account of fellow tenants at his Pleasure residence, he was already unconscious when he was handcuffed and carried into the waiting van.
They wondered how an unconscious man in chains could overpower several SSS operatives and jump to his death. They said if the SSS had nothing to hide, it shouldn’t have waited for 19 days before formally informing them of Mr. Eyitayo’s death.
Michael Lasisi, one of Mr. Eyitayo’s relatives, told PREMIUM TIMES that the SSS waited that long because they were trying to perfect a fabricated story to hide the fact that they tortured Mr. Eyitayo to death.
“We had gone to the SSS office several times, and they told us ‘come back you cannot see him.’ Until finally on the 23rd (of April), 19 days after he was killed, they now told one of my brothers Oyetunji that he had died. Meanwhile they had told the landlord not to tell anybody that he had died.
“They did that so as the days elapsed they would be able to manufacture lies to cover up the official criminality. They could not tell us what he has done. They said his friend was part of those who cloned the governor’s number. They traced the friend to his house but they did not see him.
At a meeting between Mr. Eyitayo’s family and the SSS on May 3 at their Shangisha office, angered by an SSS attempt to implicate Mr. Eyitayo in the number cloning scam, Mr. Lasisi and other family members walked out on the officials of the secret service threatening to drag the agency to court.
“A SHOW OF SHAME”
Not wanting the story of the alleged extrajudicial killing by its operatives out in the open, the SSS approached Mr. Akiolu, the paramount traditional monarch in Lagos, to appeal to the family of the dead man, after its original attempt to use officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice failed to assuage Mr. Eyitayo’s family.
Some members of the family said they first suspected that something was fishy when those who had resisted the antics of the Lagos State officials were exempted from the delegation to meet with Mr. Akiolu.
“I think the SSS had told the Oba that some members of the family who gave them a hard time during the initial discussion shouldn’t be allowed to be part of the negotiation. The excuse they gave was that the Oba did not want a crowd in his palace,” a family member, who sought anonymity for security reasons, said.
Several family sources present described the negotiation at the monarch’s palace as a show of shame. They said the moment the SSS offered to pay N15 million, some of the most outspoken members of the delegation suddenly became quiet.
They said Mr. Akiolu doused the flickering flame of resistance from the family members when he appealed to them to accept what the SSS was offering in order to bring a closure to the matter and stop acting like they were there to sell the body of their dead kin.
“The family lawyer put up a spirited effort to make the DSS [as the SSS is also called] pay more compensation, but members of Saheed’s family would have none of that,” an attendee at the meeting said.
“In fact, one of them was stepping on his (lawyer’s) feet and telling him not to be too hard of the DSS and to accept whatever the DSS was offering so that the matter can be settled. The lawyer was almost in tears,” another family source said.
“At a point, they even threatened to fire the lawyer if he would not agree with the decision of the family.”
“One of them said that they should accept the offer of the DSS because the body of Saheed was suffering and they needed to bury him urgently to stop the suffering,” the source said.
Another source, however, added that Mr Akiolu insisted that N10 million be given entirely to the parents of the deceased. He also insisted that the SSS must pay the lawyer’s professional fees.
According to our sources, the five million that was remaining from the compensation paid was shared among members of the deceased’s family involved in the negotiation.
Meanwhile, even as they agreed to accept the compensation, none of the victim’s family members had seen his corpse as the SSS did not disclose where it kept the body.
The family did not also press the SSS to conduct an autopsy on the deceased as required by Lagos State laws for persons who died under suspicious circumstances like Mr. Eyitayo
“The DSS did not allow the family see the corpse of the dead victim before they forced the family to reach a negotiation. That was the plan. When they finished the negotiation, they called Saheed’s uncle to come and look at the body but he was only shown his legs,” one of our sources said.
CUT AND BRUISES ALL OVER
Family members who saw Mr. Eyitayo’s corpse after it was released for burial by the SSS said it dawned on them the reason the agency refused to let his family see the body before the negotiation was concluded and all documents signed.
“If you see the corpse, you would know that he was tortured and killed in a brutal manner. He had two deep cuts in the back of his head, apparently inflicted by a machete or other similar sharp objects. There were cuts and bruises all over his body,” the source said.
As part of the agreement reached with the deceased family, the SSS agreed to foot the bill for his funeral. Mr. Eyitayo’s body was carried to his hometown in Oyo for burial in the most disrespectful manner, the source said.
“If you see the way they carried his body home. They couldn’t even get a proper vehicle to deliver his body to his family.
“They got a rickety vehicle. On their way to Oyo State, the vehicle conveying his body was so old that its tyres bust twice before it got to the town. And they spent several hours on the road fixing the tyres.
“His body was not even put in a casket. He was taken home for burial in a body bag made of jute sack. The type used for keeping rice.
Babs Animashaun, the lawyer who represented the family, declined to discuss details of the negotiation when reached for comments. He however said the family has moved on after settlement.
“That is strictly confidential between the parties. I cannot share the details of the settlement with the public,” he said.
“The family agreed to settle with the SSS out of court. They can never be happy with what has happened but at least they were able to move on. That is what is important,” he added.
The SSS could not be reached for comments. The agency does not have a spokesperson, neither does it have an email address or phone number through which it can be contacted. Before the current administration, the SSS used to have a spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, but the current leadership of the agency led by Lawal Daura, has refused to appoint one or disclose how it should be officially contacted for enquiries.
When PREMIUM TIMES visited the palace of the Oba of Lagos to ask about his role in the saga, officials requested a formal letter. About two weeks after the letter was delivered, the monarch has not responded or agreed to a formal interview
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