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One Year After, Family And Friends Remember Deaconess Oluwatoyin Shola-Bakare In Lagos

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7 years ago

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By Michael Effiong and Pix by Segun Lawal

One year gone by without the love and care you gave everyone that crossed your path. How difficult it is coping without  your physical presence. Your absence is a silent grief, your life a beautiful memory. I miss you so much. My Oluwatoyin, rest on in peace”

Mr Shola Bakare with children, Enoch & Deborah and Pastor Max Gbinigie of TREM, Utako Abuja

These were the moving words of  Mr Abiodun Shola Bakare, as family and friends gathered to mark the first year remembrance  of the passing of his wonderful wife, Deaconess Princess Oluwatoyin Ajoke Shola-Bakare (nee Ogunlana Obanikoro)

Mr Shola Bakare deep in prayers

The sober  graveside ceremony held at the famous Vaults & Gardens, Ikoyi was officiated by Pastor Max Gbinigie of the The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Utako, Abuja.

Pastor Gbinigie preached about the need to thank God that the family she left behind has remained united and urged the widower, Mr Shola Bakare to remain strong.

Michael Effiong James with wife, Mrs Oluwakemi James, cousin of the late Deaconess Oluwatoyin Shola Bakare

In his words “I know the last one year has been tough, it has been rough but I want to encourage that the Lord who has seen you through will continue to be with you.Never abandon that God.He will give you long life.

“Deaconess Toyin was a good woman and that is why we are all here today.  The beautiful thing is we are not mourning, we remember her and we are excited, we are happy because everyone felt her touch.

Mr Shola Bakare with family and friends

We are here not because we want to sorrow afresh but we just thank God that we are alive to remember this great daughter of God, who served Him till her very last day on earth”

Pastor Max Gbinigie of TREM, Vision House, Utako Abuja delivering words of exhortation

He adminished all present that life was beyond wealth and materialism but should be about impact, the effect we have had on other people’s lives.

 

He added “What is your life like? What is the value of your life? He urged all to examine themselves to ensure they will be right with God”

Mr Shola Bakare, children, Pastor Gbinigie with siblings of the late Deaconnes Oluwatoyin Shola-Bakare

The sermon over, he then showered prayers on Mr Shola Bakare and his children, Enoch and Deborah as well as the other members of the family and friends who flew in from all.parts of the world for the remembrance.

After the prayers, guests were entertained with food and drinks and the Lagos leg of the ceremony was rounded off.

Mr Shola Bakare with friends

Mr Shola Bakare with Michael Effiong, Editor, Ovation International Magazine

The remembrance will continue in Abuja on Good Friday with a Solemn Night of Worship at her residence and on Easter  Sunday, April 21, there will be a first memorial service at TREM, Vision House, Utako.

 

 

 

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UK Court Acquittal: Diezani Goes Spiritual, Says God Will Always Be God

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3 days ago

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June 18, 2026

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Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has reacted to her acquittal by a London court after bribery charges brought against her were dismissed.

The Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, on Wednesday acquitted the former minister of all charges, including five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Reacting to the judgment, Alison-Madueke expressed relief and said she and her family had endured years of emotional distress over the case.

Speaking to News Central, she said she has remained in the United Kingdom since the legal proceedings began 11 years ago.

She said: “I’m just thankful to God, it’s been arduous, almost 11 years. It’s been traumatic not just for me but for my family, friends, my 93-year-old mother in Port Harcourt and for my son.

“It has been a hard journey, but I tell you this, God will always do as He will. God will be God and God is not a man that He should lie; when He promises you something, He will see it through.

“For almost 11 years I have been here. I did my job to the best of my ability.”

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I Never Saw Report that Led to Natasha’s Suspension, Says Ireti Kingibe

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3 days ago

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June 18, 2026

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The lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), at the Senate, Ireti Kingibe, says she did not see any report that led to the suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha  Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Kingibe made this disclosure on Wednesday when she featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.

She said she was at a retreat with Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, when she heard about the report.

“I never saw the report that led to Natasha’s suspension. I was at a retreat. I had earlier stated that I was there with three or four other senators who are members of the committee.

“We attended the Committee on Petitions and Public Complaints, signed the attendance register, and I later left for the tax reform retreat, which I considered more important at the time.

“It affects my constituents much more than disciplining a senator, and I figured that the other people who were not part of that committee would take care of it.

“I even complained to other Senators, specifically to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. I complained to him very bitterly that I had not seen that report. I didn’t see it then. I have not seen it till now,” she said.

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UK Court Clears Ex-Petroleum Minister Alison-Madueke of All Corruption Charges

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4 days ago

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June 17, 2026

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Former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke was on Wednesday found not guilty ​by a London jury of six bribery charges, after ‌a rare corruption trial of a high-profile former energy official.
Alison-Madueke, minister for petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015 under then-president Goodluck Jonathan, stood trial ​charged with five counts of accepting bribes and a ​charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, which she denied.
Prosecutors ⁠alleged Alison-Madueke, 65, was given “a life of luxury” in London ​from oil and gas industry figures seeking lucrative contracts in Nigeria, ​which has long grappled with mismanagement and corruption.
But the former minister, who was also briefly president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, ​said she never took any bribes and had no real ​influence over the awarding of lucrative government contracts.
After a trial at London’s Southwark ‌Crown ⁠Court, Alison-Madueke was acquitted by a jury of all six charges she faced after more than 46 hours of deliberation.
The not guilty verdicts are a major blow to British authorities, which began their ​investigation into corruption ​allegations against Alison-Madueke ⁠more than a decade ago.
Alison-Madueke stood trial alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who was ​charged with one count of bribery relating to ​Alison-Madueke ⁠and a separate count of bribery of a foreign public official.
Alison-Madueke’s brother Doye Agama, 69, was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery ⁠with ​his sister relating to payments made to ​Agama’s church.
Both Ayinde and Agama denied the charges against them and were also ​acquitted by the jury.

Source: Reuters

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