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Lagos telecoms accountant commits suicide, friend blames depression

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Folake Abiola

A Lagos accountant, Folake Abiola, has committed suicide at her residence at Osapa London, in the Lekki area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the 45-year-old was at her house on Friday when she allegedly drank what was suspected to be insecticide.

She was said to have died shortly after, as her family members, friends and men of the Nigeria Police Force met her lying motionless.

A colleague of the deceased, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said Abiola had been suffering from depression for years, adding that the news of her death was shocking.

Contrary to claims online that Abiola committed suicide due to loneliness, lack of a husband, among others, the colleague said her associates knew that she had been in romantic relationships, adding that she ended them due to depression.

The source said, “She had been suffering from depression for years and her death has nothing to do with loneliness or lack of a husband or sex. Within the last seven years, I know she was in a relationship twice.

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“She ended those relationships on her own because of depression. She said she did not want to bring someone else into her life when she could not take care of herself. She was going through extreme depression, but people that did not know what she was going through have been posting rubbish online.

“She was a senior accountant at a telecoms firm and we are colleagues. She took her life herself and was buried that same Friday as she was the only Christian in her family.”

The colleague described Abiola as an angel, a conscientious accountant and a lover of Christ, who was liberal in giving, adding that she had been saying she wanted to end it all before she took her life.

“In Nigeria, we don’t pay attention to mental health; a lot of people are going through depression and it is not necessary that it has to be caused by anything,” she added.

A source said the deceased worked with Globacom Limited, adding that she was on leave when the incident happened.

“She recently celebrated her 45th birthday. She was not talking to people; she always kept to herself,” the source added.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the police visited Abiola’s house and met her lifeless body on the floor.

Hundeyin said, “The moment the police in that area were alerted, they arrived at the scene and met the woman lifeless on the floor. A bottle of insecticide was also found by her, apparently, she had ingested that insecticide.

“The family members that were there officially wrote to the divisional police officer requesting for the release of the corpse to enable them to bury her in accordance with Islamic rites and the corpse was released to the family on compassionate grounds.”

Depression is a leading cause of suicide in Nigeria as experts decry lack of proper awareness of mental health in the country.

In December 2021, a Diploma holder, Lekan Odunare, was filmed jumping into the lagoon.

His wife, Sofiat Amusa, later claimed he was driven by depression and frustration.

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Police to arraign alleged fake Presidential Council DG over forgery, impersonation Tuesday

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Police to arraign alleged fake Presidential Council DG over forgery, impersonation Tuesday

Police to arraign alleged fake Presidential Council DG over forgery, impersonation Tuesday

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is set to arraign Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday over allegations of forgery, impersonation and other related offences.

The arraignment follows months of investigation into the activities of the purported council, which the Presidency has described as a fictitious organisation with no legal recognition or executive approval.

According to court documents marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, Adeyemi and two other defendants will face an eight-count charge bordering on forgery, criminal impersonation and other alleged offences.

The charges were filed on November 27, 2025, by police prosecutor Wisdom Madaki.

The case was initially scheduled for hearing on June 16, but proceedings were stalled after Adeyemi was reported to be ill. Consequently, Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the matter to Tuesday for the defendants to take their pleas.

Court records show that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, is among the prosecution’s key witnesses.

Other witnesses listed by the prosecution include Paul Emmanuel, Jeremiah Imoukhede, Ituah Sylvester, Akimbo Shola, Deputy Superintendent of Police Adamu Balongu, and officials from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

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Also expected to testify are Ojo Victor, Omeh Amarachukwu, Wakili Saidu, Joy Ngwoke, owner of Kachi Hotel in Abuja, and Ven. Okoriko of St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Maitama, among others.

The prosecution said it would tender several documents as evidence during the trial, including the police investigation report, a petition allegedly submitted by Gbajabiamila dated October 17, 2025, and what investigators described as a fake presidential appointment letter dated March 8, 2024.

Other documentary exhibits include Adeyemi’s request for a note verbale to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approvals allegedly obtained to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), correspondence seeking self-accounting approval from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and documents relating to the establishment and operations of the purported PFIPC.

The prosecution also plans to present letters requesting collaboration with government ministries and agencies for land allocation and office accommodation across Nigeria’s 36 states, statements obtained from witnesses and the defendants, as well as photographic evidence gathered during the investigation.

According to the charge sheet, the prosecution reserves the right to call additional witnesses where necessary to strengthen its case during the trial.

Police investigators alleged that Adeyemi operated the non-existent agency from the second floor of the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja, where he allegedly held official meetings, issued correspondence and presented himself as the head of a presidential agency before his arrest.

The case attracted national attention after the Presidency publicly distanced itself from the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, maintaining that no such agency exists within the Federal Government.

Following the revelation, President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the alleged organisation and submit its findings within 30 days.

The Presidency said the investigation was aimed at determining how the purported agency operated, identifying possible collaborators and preventing similar incidents capable of undermining public confidence in government institutions.

The case has also raised broader concerns about the activities of individuals allegedly using forged government documents and false official identities to gain access to public institutions, financial systems and unsuspecting members of the public.

Adeyemi and the two other defendants are expected to enter their pleas when the matter comes up before the Federal High Court on Tuesday.

It is important to note that the charges remain allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by the court.

Police to arraign alleged fake Presidential Council DG over forgery, impersonation Tuesday

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Five Years After #EndSARS, LSDPC Restores LASTMA Office, Donates Patrol Vehicles

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Five Years After #EndSARS, LSDPC Restores LASTMA Office, Donates Patrol Vehicles

Five Years After #EndSARS, LSDPC Restores LASTMA Office, Donates Patrol Vehicles

The Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) has rebuilt and handed over the Zone 25 office of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), alongside two operational vehicles, in a move aimed at strengthening traffic management and public service delivery in Lagos.

This is coming five years after the office was destroyed during the 2020 #EndSARS protests.

The reconstructed office, which serves the Bariga and Oworonshoki axis, had remained abandoned since it was razed during the unrest.

Through the intervention, executed under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, LSDPC restored the facility and provided two operational vehicles to enhance LASTMA’s emergency response and traffic management capabilities.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LSDPC, Hon. Ayodeji Joseph, represented by the Executive Director, Business Development and Joint Venture, Mr. Derin Phillips, said the project underscores the corporation’s commitment to supporting public institutions through impactful CSR initiatives.

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He said the intervention reflects LSDPC’s belief that stronger collaboration among government agencies is vital to improving service delivery, adding that well-equipped public institutions are better positioned to meet the needs of Lagos residents.

Receiving the renovated facility and vehicles, the General Manager of LASTMA expressed appreciation to the management of LSDPC for the timely intervention, describing it as a significant boost to the agency’s operations.

He noted that the modernised office would provide a more conducive working environment for officers in Zone 25, while the donated vehicles would improve operational efficiency and enable quicker response to traffic incidents within the Bariga, Oworonshoki and adjoining areas.

LSDPC said it would continue to invest in strategic initiatives that strengthen public institutions, promote inter-agency collaboration and enhance service delivery across Lagos State.

 

Five Years After #EndSARS, LSDPC Restores LASTMA Office, Donates Patrol Vehicles

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Peter Obi has no police escort — Spokesman replies Keyamo over CCTV video

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Peter Obi has no police escort — Spokesman replies Keyamo over CCTV video

Peter Obi has no police escort — Spokesman replies Keyamo over CCTV video

A fresh controversy has emerged between Peter Obi, the Labour Party‘s 2023 presidential candidate, and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, over the release of CCTV footage linked to an airport incident involving the former Anambra State governor.

The dispute began after Keyamo released surveillance footage from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, which he said showed a vehicle associated with Obi violating airport parking regulations. The minister maintained that the footage contradicted Obi’s recent claim that he had been subjected to intimidation and unfair treatment at Nigerian airports.

However, Zekeri Idris, one of Obi’s spokespersons, has rejected the minister’s position, insisting that the footage released by Keyamo relates to a different incident from the one Obi publicly described during a recent interview.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Idris argued that the minister based part of his response on the mistaken assumption that Obi enjoys official security protection similar to that of serving government officials.

According to him, although Obi is entitled to security as a prominent opposition leader, he currently has no police or Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel attached to him in Abuja.

“Mr. Peter Obi does not have any police or civil defence personnel attached to him in Abuja, despite being entitled to VVIP protection by virtue of his status as a leading opposition figure in Nigeria. He certainly does not have a police officer serving as his driver.

“Your reference to a ‘police driver’ appears to have been based on the assumption that he enjoys the level of security protection ordinarily accorded to someone of his standing. He does not.”

Idris said he had accompanied Obi on numerous trips across the country and had personally observed what he described as repeated discourteous treatment from some government officials at airports.

He maintained that the CCTV footage published by Keyamo did not capture the same incident Obi referred to during his interview.

“The incident you posted is entirely different from the one Mr. Peter Obi narrated in his interview. In that interview, he clearly stated: ‘I was there…’ In the incident contained in your tweet, he was not present.”

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The spokesman argued that if there were now multiple incidents involving vehicles linked to Obi being clamped at airports, the development could indicate a pattern that deserved closer public scrutiny.

“If we now have at least two separate incidents in which vehicles associated with Mr. Obi were clamped under questionable circumstances, does this not suggest a pattern of targeting an individual simply because of who he is?”

Idris also disputed claims that Obi’s vehicle remained parked for about 30 minutes, insisting that the entire sequence—from the vehicle’s arrival to its eventual clamping—lasted approximately five minutes.

He questioned the basis of the 30-minute claim, noting that many international airports allow vehicles a short window to drop off or pick up passengers before enforcement measures are taken.

“The entire sequence of events you referenced, from arrival to the eventual clamping of the vehicle, lasted approximately five minutes.

“At most airports around the world, including major international airports, a ten-minute drop-off window is generally considered acceptable. Where, then, did the claim of 30 minutes originate?”

The Obi spokesperson further alleged that several other vehicles parked in the same area were not subjected to similar enforcement by airport officials.

According to him, some of those vehicles had been parked before the arrival of the vehicle linked to Obi, yet they were neither clamped nor sanctioned.

He also referenced previous airport controversies involving former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1), questioning why similar official attention, including the release of CCTV footage, was not given to those incidents.

“Where was this same enthusiasm to instigate public outrage and issue official condemnations? Was CCTV footage from those incidents also released, or was the CCTV system only activated when it involved Mr. Peter Obi?” he asked.

The controversy follows Obi’s recent allegation that he had repeatedly experienced intimidation and harassment at Nigerian airports. In response, Keyamo released the CCTV footage, insisting that airport officials merely enforced existing parking regulations and denying any form of political victimisation.

The exchange has continued to generate debate across social media and political circles, with supporters of both men offering contrasting interpretations of the events. While Obi’s camp insists the minister relied on footage from a different incident, the Aviation Ministry maintains that the released video demonstrates that airport officials acted within established operational guidelines.

As of the time of filing this report, neither Peter Obi nor Festus Keyamo had issued any additional statement beyond those already released by their respective camps.

Peter Obi has no police escort — Spokesman replies Keyamo over CCTV video

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