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Senior Lawyer Onyechi Ikpeazu Urges Promotion Of Cultural Practices: Africa

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Senior Lawyer Onyechi Ikpeazu

Senior Lawyer Onyechi Ikpeazu Urges Promotion Of Cultural Practices: Africa

Senior lawyer Onyechi Ikpeazu urges promotion of cultural practices. Mr Ikpeazu said that Africa’s civilisation existed long before Western civilisation and was unique.

ASenior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, has said cultural practices and traditional values of a people remain their identity and should not be erased by foreign influence.

Mr Onyechi made the assertion on Sunday.

Mr Ikpeazu spoke at the end of initiation of a Director of News Agency of Nigeria, Tony Nezianya, into the Agbalanze Society of Onitsha Ado in Anambra State.

The initiation ceremonies, which began on Thursday, ended on Sunday with a thanksgiving service.

Mr Nezianya, who now bears the traditional title, Ozomma, is the current Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Olympic Committee.
Mr Ikpeazu, a traditional titleholder, said that Africa’s civilisation existed long before Western civilisation and was unique.

He said that the ‘Ozo’ title was indigenous to the people of South-East, adding that, in Onitsha, the holder was purified and performed priestly functions.

He stated, “An ‘Ozo’ title holder is a purified being who speaks truth. He is in the class of people who can be relied upon for being truthful, for standing for justice and equity at all times. I congratulate Tony on his admission into the Agbalanze Society. He is mature in age and exposure. He is a retired senior civil servant. This is a call to duty.’’

Mr Ikpeazu, who is a leader in Our Saviour’s Church, Umudei, Umuosuma Village, Onitsha, said that the tradition was rooted in divinity and that Nezianya’s membership of Agbalanze Society was not rejection of Christian values.

He stated, “It is a rich heritage that we have sustained for ages which has nothing to do with the West and the so-called civilisation which really means nothing.’’
Mr Ikpeazu gave insight into the Agbalanze Society initiative processes.

He said that it began with notification of the family of the inductee about the initiation, after payment of entitlements to various groups including ‘Ozo’ titleholders, women and youths.

According to Mr Ikpeazu, this first stage is called ‘Ibu Ego’ ceremony.

He said that the next stage was the ‘Ina Obibi’ ceremony during which the inductee confessed any sins and pledged to be truthful and to protect the oppressed, widows and orphans.

Senior Lawyer Onyechi Ikpeazu

Africa

He added, “After this, the person being initiated will take a name, and his wife, too, will take a name. Then, he will be let out of the holy ground into the arena where there will be a dance. His wife and children will come and embrace him.

The last stage is the ‘Ikpo Ifejioku Iru’ – the first priestly function of the person initiated. If his father is dead, a goat is killed, and his staff of office will be anointed with sprinkling of blood.’’

Economy

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

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Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.

The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.

Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.

He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.

“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly

“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”

Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.

Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.

He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.

Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.

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Crime

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

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EFCC Probes Man

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,   on Tuesday, February 3, 2026  arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.

Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC Probes Man

EFCC

Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.

The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Dele Oyewale
Head,  Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026

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Economy

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

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National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.

Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.

Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.

She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.

“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”

Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.

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