Prophet Itunu Onadeko, fiancé of late Nollywood actress Temitope Osoba, has claimed that the actress died at a police station in Ikorodu, Lagos State, contrary to reports and social media speculation linking her death to complications from breast cancer.

Onadeko made the claim in an interview with the Celestial Reality Check, the media investigative unit of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), on Saturday.

The prophet, who is the Shepherd-in-Charge of CCC Onibuore Cathedral in the Bogije area of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, also denied several allegations surrounding Osoba’s final days, including claims that she was poisoned, maltreated or subjected to harsh treatment before her death.

According to him, he learnt of the actress’ death from an unidentified caller around midnight.

“It was a random person that called me around 12 am that she died in a police station in Ikorodu,” he said.

Onadeko said he did not know the particular police station where Osoba allegedly died but reported himself at a nearby station after receiving the information.

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He explained that Osoba had insisted on visiting one Mrs Kehinde Osoba, who he said also runs a church, shortly before her death.

“She had insisted to see Mrs Kehinde Osoba, she also has a church, although she said she wanted to see me too. When they left for there, I told them that I wasn’t chanced to go that day because of church programmes,” he said.

According to him, the hairdresser with whom Osoba was staying accompanied her on the trip.

“The hairdresser that Tope was sleeping in her place was the person that went with her. We maintained communication and she even posted ‘Ogo tun tun’ until I heard that she died in the police station,” he added.

Fiancé denies cancer caused death

Osoba had previously spoken publicly about her battle with breast cancer, including undergoing treatment and surgery. In 2024, she announced her return to the public after the experience, describing the period as one that brought healing, growth and empowerment.

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However, Onadeko insisted that although Osoba had battled cancer and undergone surgery, the illness was not responsible for her death.

“When I first met her, after I did a redemption prayer for her, she told me she wants to do a surgery on cancer. I prayed for her. In fact, the day she planned for her surgery, she did a skit with Boda Wasiu and then we moved to Evacare Hospital,” he said.

He also denied allegations that he had access to money donated to Osoba for her surgery or that he used the funds to build his church.

“Who has an evidence that the money she got for her surgery is N30m? It wasn’t my account they sent the money to, it was hers. And I didn’t use the money to build church as rumoured,” he said.

Onadeko said several people, including businessman Mike Adenuga, supported Osoba financially during her treatment, but maintained that he never had access to the money.

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“I met Tope like two years ago and the church has been there since 20 years ago. The church is complete before she even joined us. It has been roofed and painted,” he added.

He denies claims she was prevented from driving

The prophet also rejected claims that Osoba was prevented from driving her car, saying she drove herself when she travelled to Iperu shortly before her death.

“She drove the car out herself. She was going to Iperu one Sunday. I don’t know Iperu that she went to neither do I know who she’s going to meet there but I think it is her mother’s side,” he said.

He said Osoba had reservations about visiting her maternal family because she believed they had not treated her well, but that he encouraged her to maintain contact with them because they were planning to get married.

Onadeko denies maltreatment allegations

Onadeko also denied allegations that Osoba was maltreated before her death, including claims that faeces or urine were poured on her body as punishment for allegedly stealing biscuits.

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He said there had never been a situation in which Osoba was subjected to such treatment or placed under duress.

“When we were living together, we borrowed each other money. She bought gold for herself and me. But she eventually sold them and we both spent the money, there has never been a time that we were under duress,” he said.

According to him, the house where Osoba lived belonged to her uncle and was not rented by the couple.

“After the surgery, she gave her uncle N1m when he insisted that he gave her something at least for staying in the house,” he added.

He also dismissed allegations that Osoba drank poison before her death.

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Actress had left church weeks before death

Onadeko said Osoba left the church about three weeks before her death.

He said that after learning of her death, he contacted one of her uncles, identified as Taiwo, but that the relative refused to speak with him.

“She’s left the church about three weeks ago before her death. Since she died, I didn’t call any of her family. It was one of her uncles, Taiwo that I called but he was really mad at me and insisted that he doesn’t want to speak with me,” he said.

The prophet also disclosed that Osoba had struggled with smoking and that he had encouraged her to quit.

“She was dealing with smoking habit. And I wanted her to leave it. All the church members know about her smoking habit,” he said.

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Osoba died on Wednesday at the age of 40. She is scheduled to be buried on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Iperu Remo, Ogun State.

However, Onadeko’s claims about the circumstances of Osoba’s death could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report, and the exact cause and location of her death remain unconfirmed.

Chief Executive Officer of Oceanwave Group, Peter Dunia, and globally acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie have emerged as the 2026 Man of the Year and Woman of the Year, respectively, at the 8th Leadership Excellence Awards (LEEX) following the conclusion of a nationwide public voting exercise monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The results released by the Local Organising Committee on Friday showed that Dunia secured a commanding victory in the Man of the Year category with 2,189,857 votes, defeating Chairman of Geregu Power Plc, Femi Otedola, who polled 1,083,683 votes, and Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Oil & Gas Services Ltd., Ekeoma Ekeoma, who garnered 485,308 votes.

In the Woman of the Year category, Chimamanda Adichie polled 826,097 votes to emerge winner, ahead of Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, who received 287,569 votes, while Dr. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, secured 152,853 votes.

The online voting exercise attracted millions of votes from across Nigeria and the diaspora, underscoring the growing credibility and popularity of the Leadership Excellence Awards as one of Africa’s foremost platforms for recognising transformational leadership.

Dunia’s emergence as LEEX Man of the Year reflects widespread public recognition of his remarkable contributions to Nigeria’s maritime and energy sectors, as well as his unwavering commitment to philanthropy and humanitarian service. Beyond building one of Africa’s leading indigenous offshore and marine logistics companies, he has consistently invested in initiatives that improve the lives of vulnerable communities through educational support, healthcare interventions, youth empowerment, community development projects, and assistance to victims of natural disasters and economic hardship. His commitment to creating opportunities, uplifting underserved communities, and promoting indigenous enterprise has earned him admiration far beyond the business community.

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Adichie’s victory recognises her extraordinary contributions to literature, education and global advocacy. Through internationally acclaimed works such as Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah and Purple Hibiscus, she has elevated African storytelling on the global stage while championing gender equality, social justice and human dignity. Her writings, lectures and advocacy have inspired millions across the world, making her one of Africa’s most influential contemporary intellectuals and cultural ambassadors.

Speaking on the outcome, the Local Organising Committee described both winners as exceptional leaders whose impact transcends their respective professions, noting that they exemplify the ideals of visionary leadership, excellence, integrity and service to humanity.

“Peter Dunia, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and over 20 other winners represent the very best of Africa—leaders who have not only excelled in their fields but have also used their platforms to uplift others and drive meaningful change,” the Committee stated.

The Leadership Excellence Awards (LEEX) is Africa’s premier online media awards, established to honour outstanding achievements in governance, business, innovation, entrepreneurship, public service, philanthropy, humanitarian service and sustainable development. The awards are proudly endorsed by the African Union–African Film Institute (AU-AFI), further affirming their growing reputation as one of the continent’s most respected platforms for celebrating transformational leadership.

Previous recipients of the prestigious LEEX Man of the Year Award include renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, and industrialist Abdul Samad Rabiu, CFR. Previous Woman of the Year winners include Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization; Adaora Umeoji, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc; and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

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Peter Dunia and Chimamanda Adichie will be formally decorated at the 8th Leadership Excellence Awards Ceremony, scheduled for Thursday, 12 November 2026, at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Banquet Hall, Abuja alongside more than 20 distinguished recipients in other award categories.The event is expected to attract senior government officials, diplomats, business leaders, traditional rulers, development partners, academics, civil society leaders and other distinguished personalities from across Africa.

The Local Organising Committee congratulated all the finalists for their outstanding achievements and expressed appreciation to millions of Nigerians and members of the international community who participated in what it described as a transparent, credible and independently monitored voting process.

By Okey Maduforo, Awka

Despite a legal action instituted by 56 serving councillors in Anambra State challenging the conduct of the forthcoming local government election, the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) says it is proceeding with preparations for the exercise.

The Chairman of ANSIEC, Mrs. Genevieve Osakwe, who spoke to reporters in Awka, said the commission was currently working to conclude arrangements for a free, fair and transparent electoral process.

She maintained that the suit filed by the 56 councillors does not automatically stop the election, adding that all political parties should continue preparations for the exercise.

“As you can see, we are in our offices working ahead of the conduct of the election, and it is not automatic that when a suit is filed in court, the electoral process will stop,” she said.

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The primary elections for the nomination of candidates by political parties were conducted between December 18 and February 16, while the local government election has been scheduled for August 29, 2026.

According to Osakwe, the election will be conducted in strict compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 and the relevant Anambra State law. She also assured all political parties and their candidates of a free and fair process.

However, 56 serving councillors last month instituted a suit challenging the planned election, arguing that their tenure of office has not expired.

Recall that the Anambra State House of Assembly had passed a bill into law prescribing a two-year tenure for elected local government chairmen and councillors.

The suit, which joined the Attorney-General of Anambra State, the Anambra State House of Assembly and the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) as the first, second and third defendants respectively, was filed as Suit No. A/261/2026.

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The plaintiffs are seeking, among other reliefs, a declaration that the statutory system of local government guaranteed under Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) implies a secure, stable and reasonable tenure capable of achieving grassroots governance and does not permit the arbitrary truncation of its life cycle by state actors.

They are also seeking:

“A declaration that Section 110(A) of the Anambra State Electoral (Amendment No. 3) Law, 2024, which limits the tenure of democratically elected Local Government Chairmen, Deputy Chairmen and Ward Councillors in Anambra State to two (2) years, is inconsistent with Section 7(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and is therefore unconstitutional, null, void and of no legal consequence.”

The plaintiffs are further seeking an order of the court striking down, invalidating and expunging Section 110(4) of the Anambra State Electoral (Amendment No. 3) Law, 2024, from the statute books of Anambra State on the grounds that it is inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Among the other reliefs sought are an order of the court directing and affirming that the plaintiffs, and indeed all democratically elected local government councils, are entitled to a secure and standard tenure of four years, in alignment with the democratic mandates of the federal and state tiers of government.

The plaintiffs are also seeking:

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“An Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the defendants, their agents or privies or anyone acting on their behalf, from dissolving, terminating or interfering with the tenure of the elected local council at the two-year mark.”

They further seek:

“An Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the 3rd defendant from taking any steps, publishing any timetables, or conducting any elections aimed at replacing the plaintiffs as the current elected local councils until their full four-year tenure is spent.”

Despite the pending suit, ANSIEC has maintained that preparations for the August 29 local government election will continue.

Bristol Airport in the United Kingdom suspended all flight operations on Friday evening after a defect was discovered on part of its runway, leaving passengers stranded and forcing incoming flights to divert to other airports.

The airport halted all departures and arrivals at about 6:08pm on Friday, initially announcing that the suspension would remain in place until 8am on Saturday.

However, the disruption extended into Saturday morning as officials carried out inspection and repair work on the affected section of the runway.

The airport said the suspension was a precautionary measure, stressing that passenger safety remained its priority.

It advised affected passengers to contact their airlines for information about individual flights, while easyJet warned travellers flying to and from Bristol to expect continued disruption.

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Passengers described confusion and frustration at the airport following the shutdown, with some reporting limited information and difficulties retrieving their luggage.

Richard Broadbent, who was due to travel to Newcastle with his partner and daughter, said passengers were moved to a crowded area after their flight was cancelled.

“She said suddenly all flights were cancelled and all passengers were moved to one place down at ground level, and it was absolutely packed,” he told the BBC.

Broadbent said alarms later sounded at the airport, causing further distress among passengers.

Another traveller, Paul Smith, who was due to travel to Glasgow for his son’s 20th birthday, criticised the communication and support provided to passengers during the disruption.

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“The communication, advice and support for passengers has been really poor,” Smith told the BBC.

Smith said some travellers were left in the baggage reclaim area attempting to locate their luggage, while another passenger took to X to ask the airport for information after being stranded for several hours.

The airport confirmed that the disruption was caused by a defect on the runway but did not disclose details about the nature or cause of the problem.

Some passengers described the affected section as a “hole in the runway”, although the airport did not use that description in its official statement.

Flights bound for Bristol on Friday evening were reportedly diverted to London Gatwick, Birmingham and Cardiff airports.

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Bristol Airport urged affected passengers to contact their airlines for the latest information regarding their flights.

At the time of the report, the airport had not confirmed when normal flight operations would fully resume.

By Okey Maduforo, Awka

Osita Chidoka, Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership and a former Minister of Aviation, has called for a new Nigerian national consensus founded on equal citizenship, accountable public power and a common duty to defend the rights of every Nigerian.

Chidoka made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture, which this year also marked the inauguration of the National Association of Seadogs’ (NAS) Martyrs’ Day. Professor Wole Soyinka, who is now 92, was present throughout the lecture.

According to a statement by Chidoka’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Ikechukwu Okafor, the Wole Soyinka Lecture Series was established in 1994 by the National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, to mark Professor Soyinka’s 60th birthday. Since then, it has become an annual platform for national and global discourse on good governance, social justice and democratic ideals.

The statement added that NAS was founded in 1952 at University College, Ibadan, by seven undergraduates, including Soyinka, and was formally registered in 1980.

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This year’s Martyrs’ Day, inaugurated alongside the lecture, honours 33 NAS members who were detained for 72 days in Port Harcourt in 1997, an episode Chidoka examined extensively in his address.

In his address, titled “Reclaiming the Nigerian State Through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” Chidoka argued that Nigeria’s difficulties go deeper than the structure of the federation.

What the country lacks, he said, is “a sufficiently shared organising ideal”—an agreement on “what Nigerian power is for, what citizenship must guarantee and what Nigerians owe one another.”

He acknowledged that Nigeria’s federal arrangements require reform, particularly in the areas of devolution, policing and fiscal responsibility. However, he warned that structural reform without a moral purpose could simply redistribute injustice.

“A federation can be decentralised and still be unjust,” he said. “A regional government can oppress a local minority. A state police service can protect a Governor rather than the citizen.”

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Tracing the country’s founding aspirations through the 1957 Willink Commission, the independence anthem and the 1999 Constitution, Chidoka said Nigeria was established on a promise to protect minorities, uphold justice and build a nation in which no citizen would be oppressed.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for restoring “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the national anthem in 2024, arguing that the anthem “does more than ask us to love Nigeria: it tells us what kind of Nigeria deserves our loyalty.”

Chidoka proposed three commitments as the foundation of a renewed national consensus: equal citizenship without the need for an ethnic sponsor or political godfather; public power treated as a trust that leaves a trail and submits to correction; and a shared duty to defend the dignity of Nigerians beyond one’s own party, faith or community.

On accountability, which he defined as “answerability joined to consequence,” Chidoka, drawing on his years as Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, said explanations, audit reports and court judgments mean little on their own.

“Explanation without correction is not accountability,” he said, proposing a three-part discipline for public power: trace, test, correct.

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Drawing a direct line between the 1997 detention of NAS members in Port Harcourt and the 2005 Apo Six killings in Abuja, Chidoka argued that Nigeria has changed the uniform of its rulers without sufficiently changing the reflexes of power.

He called on NAS to extend the meaning of Martyrs’ Day beyond its own members, insisting that “the best way to honour the F18 survivors is to defend citizens who do not belong to this Association.”

He closed with a direct appeal:

“Let us construct a new national consensus around equal citizenship, answerable power and common brotherhood. Let us give young Nigerians a banner worth carrying. Let us build a Nigeria where courage can live and no citizen needs a martyr’s bravery merely to enjoy a citizen’s rights.”

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