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Wanted ex-beauty queen surrenders after 8 months in hiding

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A wanted ex-beauty queen, Ms. Aderinoye Queen Christmas, also known as Ms. Queen Oluwadamilola Aderinoye, has surrendered to the Lagos Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after about eight months in hiding.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director, Media & Advocacy, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said Aderioye was declared wanted by the Agency in January after she escaped from her residence when NDLEA operatives raided her apartment at Oral estate, Lekki, Lagos, on Wednesday 24th January following credible intelligence she deals in illicit substances.

“The suspect was Miss Commonwealth Nigeria Culture 2015/2016 and founder of Queen Christmas Foundation. Recovered from her home during the search witnessed by the estate officials include 606 grams of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, an electronic weighing scale, large quantities of drugs packing plastics, a black RAV 4 SUV marked Lagos KSF 872 GQ, and her picture frame among others.

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“The suspect, who claimed she has been hiding in Akure Ondo state since January when she escaped arrest in Lekki Lagos however surrendered to the Agency on Wednesday 28th August,” Babafemi stated.

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Jailed Osun monarch drags Adeleke to court over plan to replace him

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Dethroned Oba Joseph Oloyede, Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, who is presently serving jail time in the United States of America for offences bordering on fraud, has dragged the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, before the court, asking it to stop him from filling the stool.

Oloyede, who is the second claimant in suit no. HIF/50/2026, in his motion on notice filed before an Osun State High Court sitting in Ile-Ife, alleged that Adeleke did not formally inform him of any infraction he committed before embarking on the process to replace him.

He is seeking an order of the court stopping the governor or any of his officials from filling the stool of Apetumodu until the substantive suit was determined.

Other claimants in the matter include Prince Oyewusi Adewusi, Prince Isaac Adewuni, and Prince Abiodun Oyetoro, for themselves and on behalf of other members of the Latimogun Royal Family of the Aribile Ruling House of Ipetumodu.

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Aside from Adeleke, other defendants in the matter are the Osun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Afolabi Adedeji, the Asalu of Ipetumodu and the head of the kingmakers, Chief Adesoye Babalola, the Malefon of Ipetumodu, and the Ife North Local Government.

The motion on notice filed by Oloyede, dated September 16, 2026, partly read, “An order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants/respondents either by themselves or through their servants, agents or privies from taking any step to fill the stool of the Apetu (Apetumodu) of Ipetumodu or appoint any person in place of the 2nd claimant who is the occupant of the Apetu’s stool, pending the hearing and final determination of this suit.

“That in The Guardian Newspaper of May 11, 2026 (online edition), it was alleged that the 2nd claimant/applicant has, by order/instrument purportedly signed by the 1st defendant on May 7, 2026, been deposed from office as the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu without any lawful basis.

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“That there was no time the 2nd claimant/applicant was informed by the 1st-3rd defendants of any wrongdoing before the issuance of the publication contained in the said Guardian Newspaper and the purported instrument or order of deposition.”

The hearing in the matter was, however, stalled on Monday, following non-service of hearing notices on the parties in the case.

During the day’s proceedings, only the claimants’ counsel, O. Ogbewe, and counsel for the 5th defendant, Soji Oyetayo, entered appearances.

Addressing the court, Ogbewe said he had served the defendants with the processes regarding the case.

But Oyetayo, counsel for the 5th respondent, Adesoye Babalola, said hearing notice had not been served on him by the claimants.

Oyetayo subsequently urged the court to adjourn the matter for the claimants to serve all the defendants’ hearing notices.

In his ruling, Justice Dapo Adeniji adjourned the case to January 21, 2027, and ordered that fresh hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants.

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It would be recalled that Adeleke approved the deposition of Oba Oloyede as the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, following his conviction in the US on tax fraud and money laundering charges.

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Two Oyo commissioner, special adviser resign

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Two senior officials in the Oyo State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning have resigned their appointments from Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.

The officials are Ayobami Ojo, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, and Simeon Oyeleke, the ministry’s Special Adviser on Budget and Economic Planning.

In separate letters dated November 2, and addressed to Mr Makinde, both officials said their resignations would take effect immediately, while thanking the governor for the opportunity to serve but did not give specific reasons for their decisions.

In his letter, Ojo referred to his appointment letter dated 22 June 2026 and formally announced his resignation as commissioner.

“With reference to your letter dated 22nd June, 2026 (SP.S.662/2/VOL.IV/192), I respectfully write to formally resign my appointment as Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, with effect from today, 2nd November, 2026,” he wrote.

He described his time in government as an honour and said he appreciated the opportunity to serve the state.

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Oyeleke also tendered his resignation with effect from 2 November.

In his letter, he thanked Mr Makinde for the confidence reposed in him and the opportunity to contribute to the administration’s policies and development programmes.

He also expressed appreciation for the governor’s leadership, support and encouragement during his time in office.

“I remain grateful for the opportunity to have been part of this administration and to have contributed to its laudable achievements. I also remain committed to the peace, progress and development of Oyo State,” he wrote.

The latest resignations come amid a series of exits of political appointees and other officials from the Makinde administration in recent months.

It would be recalled that Segun Ogunwuyi resigned as the governor’s chief of staff on 12 October, a position he had held since July 2021. His resignation took immediate effect, although he did not state a reason for his departure.

A few hours after Ogunwuyi’s departure, Makinde appointed Bashorun Akinwole, popularly known as Wolekanle, as his replacement.

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On the same day, Tara Adefope, the Director-General of the Oyo State Due Process Office, also resigned from her position, while in late October, Kabiru Salami, the governor’s Executive Assistant on Security Coordination, also tendered his resignation.

Other officials who have left the administration include Funmi Arulogun, a Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters, who resigned in August, citing personal and political considerations.

Babatunde Oduyoye, a member of the Oyo State Advisory Council, also resigned in July, while Fatai Owoseni, a former Commissioner of Police who served as the governor’s Special Adviser on Security resigned in May.

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Wema Bank sets November 6 for HACKAHOLICS 7.0 grand finale, unveils ‘Festival of the future’ as theme

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Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank, most innovative and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has announced November 6, 2026, as the date for the grand finale of Hackaholics 7.0, its flagship innovation platform.

Themed ‘Festival of the Future’, the grand finale will bring together innovators, technology leaders, startup founders, investors and other key players in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem for an immersive celebration of ideas, technology and the possibilities shaping the future.

Beyond the much anticipated announcement of this year’s Hackaholics finalists, the event will feature innovation showcases, interactive experiences and conversations exploring how emerging technologies are transforming the way people live, work, build and create.

Designed to go beyond the traditional innovation competition, the Festival of the Future will provide a platform for participants and attendees to experience emerging technologies, discover innovative solutions, connect with industry players and engage in conversations about the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly evolving world.

The event will also recognise and celebrate outstanding innovators whose ideas have demonstrated the potential to address real-world challenges and create meaningful impact.

Speaking on the significance of the grand finale and the inspiration behind the Festival of the Future, Wema Bank’s MD/CEO, Moruf Oseni, explained that the concept builds on the Bank’s commitment to creating a future of possibilities while encouraging Nigerians to take a more active role in shaping that future.

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“The world is changing at an unprecedented pace. Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are transforming industries, businesses and everyday life, creating opportunities that would have been difficult to imagine just a few years ago. The question is no longer simply what the future holds, but how prepared we are to shape it.

“This thinking inspired the Festival of the Future. We want to create an experience that brings innovation closer to people, encourages meaningful conversations and challenges us to think differently about how we will live, work, build and create in the years ahead,” he said.

Reaffirming Wema Bank’s commitment to supporting innovation and empowering young Nigerians, Oseni noted that Hackaholics has continued to evolve beyond a competition into a platform for discovering talent, nurturing ideas and connecting innovators with opportunities.

“Since we launched Hackaholics, our goal has remained consistent; to provide young Nigerians with the platform, resources, opportunities and support they need to transform their ideas into practical solutions. We believe that the future of innovation in Nigeria must be driven by the talent, creativity and potential of our people.

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“With Hackaholics 7.0, we are taking that commitment further. Beyond recognising outstanding ideas, we want to bring together the people, conversations and experiences that can inspire the next generation of solutions.

“Our ambition is to continue building an ecosystem where innovation thrives, possibilities are unlocked and Nigeria is better positioned for the future,” he added.

Launched on July 1, 2026, under the theme “Powering Possibilities,”Hackaholics 7.0 commenced with a nationwide pitch centre tour designed to discover and support innovative ideas from young Nigerians across different regions of the country.

The four-month tour attracted 5,329 participants and 1,632 innovative ideas and solutions, with pitch centres hosted across seven locations: Uyo, Kano, Yabatech, Benin, Ibadan, Enugu and Lagos.

Through three distinct tracks; the Ideathon, Hackathon and Social Impact, the initiative provided opportunities for students, graduates, technology enthusiasts, developers and social innovators to present solutions addressing challenges across different sectors.

The Ideathon focused on promising ideas, the Hackathon provided a platform for technology developers and builders, while the Social Impact track recognised solutions designed to deliver measurable value to society.

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At the conclusion of the nationwide tour, 59 participants emerged from the various pitch centres, reflecting the diversity of ideas, talent and innovation discovered throughout the programme.

As Hackaholics 7.0 progresses towards its final stage, the 59 finalists will be further shortlisted to 20, who will present refined versions of their solutions at the Pre-Pitch scheduled for November 4, 2026.

On November 5, the participants will embark on an Ecosystem Tour powered by Wema Bank, providing an opportunity to visit other top institutions within the technology and innovation ecosystem, interact with industry professionals and gain practical insights ahead of the grand finale.

The journey will culminate on November 6 at the Festival of the Future, where the top innovators will be recognised and celebrated.

Through Hackaholics, Wema Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to driving innovation, supporting entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for young Nigerians to contribute meaningfully to economic development.

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