Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, has described the Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, GCON, as the pride of Yoruba race, saying Yoruba will always cherish the wisdom and the quality of life of the foremost monarch.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, Iba Adams said Awujale’s 64 years on the throne of his forebears is a big reference in Yoruba history and he is one of the longest-serving monarch in Yoruba land.

“Awujale’s life and impact as the paramount ruler of Ijebu land, Ogun state and Yorubaland in particular, is a testimony of God’s grace.

He is no doubt the pride of our race.The traditional institution is the sacred institution of our race and we will continue to respect that sanctity of the stool.

“The role Kabiesi Awujale played during the June 12 1993 struggle in defending the mandate of the late Aare MKO Abiola and that of the Yoruba would be indelible in our minds.

“Kabiesi is consistent,he is also uncompromising, very courageous as the rallying point of monarchs in Ijebu land.He is ready to stand alone on his beliefs and conviction and he is a big Iroko in Yoruba land, who comports himself as it is most expected.

“Two things has been working in Kabiesi’s favour.He enjoys the grace of old age and the wisdom that is also attached to it.As a first class monarch, Kabiesi Awujale is a man of the people.That is the reason for the various accolades and applause he got as he celebrated his 90th birthday anniversary and 64 years on the throne.

Iba Adams prayed for the Awujale, saying the foremost Ijebu monarch deserve to be celebrated in the most amazing way.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will arraign Hadi Sirika, a former aviation minister, before the federal capital territory (FCT) high court on Thursday.

Sirika would be arraigned on six-count amended charges related to an alleged N2.7 billion contract fraud.

NAN reports that the former minister will be arraigned alongside Fatima, his daughter; Jalal Hamma; and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd.

The EFCC was said to have detained the former minister on April 23, as part of investigations into the financial malfeasance allegedly committed by him, including fraudulent contracts awarded by the ministry under his watch.

“The former minister (Sirika) was invited for questioning by investigators handling the alleged contract fraud under his watch in the ministry,” NAN quoted an EFCC source as saying.

“He honoured the invitation and has been detained as I am talking with you.”

The source also said the EFCC had been investigating the alleged contract fraud when Sirika was in office as the minister, noting that he also met with investigators at the time.

The arraignment was earlier slated to take place on Tuesday, but due to an EFCC prayer to amend the charge, a new date was given.

American technology company, Microsoft, has sacked its workers at the African Development Centre (ADC) in Lagos, Nigeria.

The ADC is Microsoft’s initiative in Africa for an engineering centre to provide local solutions with global scalability as well as provide employment opportunities and further enhance technological innovations on the continent.

Confirming the development on Wednesday, a staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told TheCable the workforce was laid off but the reasons are still unknown.

The company has also reportedly shut down the centre.

The development is coming less than four years after Microsoft opened operations in Nigeria.

In May 2019, Microsoft announced the establishment of ADC in Nigeria and Kenya, with the mission of creating innovative technology not just for Africa, but for the entire world.

Microsoft called for talented engineers to work on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and mixed reality.

The company committed to investing $100 million in the first five years of operation.

On March 21, 2022, the facility was opened in Lagos.

Microsoft had said the centre will house the product engineering, ecosystem development and innovation teams.

The ADC facility also housed the Microsoft Garage, a new entity, launched as part of ongoing efforts to scale innovation in the tech ecosystem.