Just In: Lagos Police Arraign Notorious Assassin, Olori Eso

The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has disclosed that it has arraigned one of the most notorious hired assassin in Lagos, Wasiu Akinwande, popularly known as Olori Eso.

Obasemprire reports that this was made known in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin.

Hundeyin wrote: “Wasiu Akinwande aka Olori Eso is currently being arraigned at the Ogba Magistrate Court on an eleven-count charge.”

Obasemprire recalls that Akinwande, 44, described by the police as “the most wanted vicious and notorious hired killer in Lagos,” was arrested in July following a covert tactical operation codenamed ‘Silence, Speed and Surprise’ executed by the Command’s Tactical Squad.

He was apprehended during a coordinated tactical operation code-named ‘Silence, Speed and Surprise’ carried out by the Command’s Tactical Squad in his hideout in the Agbado area of Ogun State.

Akinwande is accused of being the leader of a deadly gang responsible for over a decade of violent crimes, including murder, armed robbery, cult-related killings, and kidnappings, especially in the Mushin axis of Lagos State.

He was apprehended during a coordinated tactical operation code-named ‘Silence, Speed and Surprise’ carried out by the Command’s Tactical Squad in his hideout in the Agbado area of Ogun State.

Benjamin Hundeyin had said Akinwande who is known for terrorising Mushin and surrounding areas was trailed to Ogun after efforts to nab him were unsuccessful.

Arrest of most wanted vicious and notorious hired killer and head of killers gang in the history of Lagos State in recent time, Wasiu Akinwade a.k.a. Olori Eso, and recovery of nine (9) sophisticated firearms, ammunition, magazines, dagger, walkie-talkies and international passports,” the statement partly read.

The suspect is accused of leading several deadly gangs responsible for over a decade of violent crimes including armed robbery, murder, cult-related killings, and kidnappings.

Hundeyin had disclosed, “This serial killer suspect is the most wanted suspect in Lagos history in recent time.

His arrest marks a huge success in the ongoing fight against violent crimes that are threats to security and safety of residents in Mushin and some other parts of Lagos State.”

According to the statement, the police recovered a large cache of weapons and incriminating items from Akinwande’s residence, which the suspect “freely admitted he was using for his killing operations with his gang.”

The recovered items include: Two (2) AK-47 rifles, one (1) K2 assault rifle, one (1) Red Ryder rifle, three (3) pump action rifles, two (2) locally made single-barrel pistols, five (5) magazines, fifty-seven (57) live cartridges, seventy (70) 5.56 live ammunition, twenty-seven (27) 9mm ammunition, one (1) expended 5.56 ammunition, one (1) dagger, three (3) walkie-talkies, nine (9) international passports belonging to different individuals,” Hundeyin stated.

Wike finally reveals conditions for peace in PDP

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has given final conditions that will make peace return to the Peoples Democratic Party.

The Minister insisted that the South-South zonal congress of the party must stand.

Wike stated this on Monday while fielding questions during his monthly media parley in Abuja.

According to the Minister, the Court allowed for the congress to hold, saying there’s nothing a person could do about it.

He said: “Our South-South zonal congress that was held must be upheld. There’s no doubt, no two words about it.

Now, when we were doing our South-South congress, the Acting National Chairman claimed that the PDP governors were not in support of the National Congress. Where are the PDP governors now? Our congress was held in Calabar and there’s nothing anybody can tell us.”

If they want another round of passes, so be it. Our congress held and Chief Daniel Orbi emerged as the National Vice Chairman of the congress. And the Court allowed for the congress to hold.”

IVD Is Being Bullied, Held Hostage Because Of One Woman’ – Blessing CEO Cries Out After Arrest.

Relationship expert, Blessing Okoro also known as Blessing CEO, has reacted to the arrest of her fiancé, auto dealer Ikechukwu Ogbonna, also known as IVD.

ObasEmpire reports that IVD was picked up by officers of the Lagos State Police Command at the airport on his way to Qatar.

The arrest is said to be linked to an ongoing domestic violence case involving the death of his wife, Bimbo, in 2022.

Blessing CEO in an Instagram post claimed there was no official travel restriction placed on IVD, wondering why he would openly plan his trip if he was not allowed to travel.

She also insisted that his passport had only recently been replaced after being declared missing for two years, and no court order had taken it from him.

She questioned why the police held him without a proper case file or official charges

According to her, the officers told them IVD would remain in custody until Monday, even though no formal statement had been taken.

She accused an unnamed person of using their influence to detain IVD unjustly.

She described the situation as a power play filled with emotion and alleged that IVD had been subjected to pressure and threats for the past three years since the case began.

She wrote: “What are you charging him for? Show us the paperwork. Why are you holding him hostage just to please a woman? This is a tribal war; it has nothing to do with justice. And the state must be questioned. Nobody arrested ivd, 1 man is using power to bully ivd. No case file, no statement just said oga said hold him till monday so we go lock am up. My question is for what??? They know the judges are on vacation, which is why the bully. How come bloggers know everything that the police don’t know? I wonder how much that woman paid you, Oga.

“I rest my case. Stop bullying Ivd because he is a MAN. Stop intimidating him. Just because you could not take his life, you are doing everything to intimidate him. This is an injustice. They have bullied him for over 3 years.”

Obi’s N650m donation spark political firestorm

A fresh political storm is brewing against former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, following revelations that he has donated over N650m to educational and humanitarian causes across 11 states since the beginning of the year.

The donations, which the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate disclosed in separate updates on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, cut across Anambra, Ebonyi, Cross River, Enugu, Kaduna, Edo, Borno, Abuja, Abia, Plateau, and Imo states.

According to him, the gestures reflect his commitment to human capital development and social welfare.

We must continue to support our health and educational institutions and poverty alleviation if we are to build a strong and sustainable nation for our future leaders,” Obi wrote in a post.

However, the National Vice Chairman (South-East) of the All Progressives Congress, Ijeomah Arodiogbu, described the acts as “politically desperate.”

In an interview on Saturday, Arodiogbu claimed Obi’s outreach was not borne out of genuine compassion, stating that it was part of a calculated move to regain relevance ahead of the 2027 polls.

Peter Obi has not stopped showing his level of desperation and our people are aware of that. Our people know that he’s just being desperate.

When did it become Obi’s habit to share money? That’s his inconsistency of character. We’re not bothered,” he said.

Arodiogbu also accused Obi of failing to support young people in his community, describing him as a “stingy man” pretending to care.

The APC Vice Chair said, “In our communities, when a master finishes with an apprentice, he settles him to start his own business. Obi is the kind of master who doesn’t settle his boys. Nobody wants to identify with such a man.

Anybody that cannot build with the people around him, and is only considering himself, can never be a good leader. Whatever he’s doing now is a cheap one, a very cheap one.”

Speaking with our correspondent on Thursday, movement’s National Coordinator, Yunusa Tanko, said Obi had always been committed to humanitarian causes, even before venturing into politics.

However, in a swift response, the Obidient Movement blasted Arodiogbu, describing his comments as misleading and politically motivated.

Obi has been doing humanitarian activities even before he became a governor. He went and supported Haiti when there was a devastating earthquake. That’s even outside the country,” Tanko stated.

He insisted that Obi’s outreach efforts were not a product of desperation but an extension of his values and longstanding commitment to people-focused initiatives.

This is his natural self. He’s not doing them because of politics. He has been doing that for the interest of the people,” he added.

Tanko further asked Arodiogbu and the APC to focus on nation-building by complimenting Obi’s humanitarian moves instead of attacking them.

The truth about it is that, why is he concerned about Peter Obi? He should be concerned about the presidency.

Let them be concerned about what they are doing to the people. If they are doing good, they should be saying it.”

Tanko added that the movement was not out to fight anyone but to hold the government accountable, particularly on public spending and rising debt.

We are only dealing with the issues. We’ve made the public notice about their spending and their borrowing. Therefore, any attempt or any attack, we welcome it in good stride. Let them bring us an alternative solution to what they are doing, or what we are doing,” he said.

Also weighing in, Obi’s ally and National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ameh, strongly condemned efforts to politicise the donations.

.It is both unfortunate and disappointing that the APC National Vice Chairman South-East would attempt to politicise the genuine humanitarian efforts of Obi.

“These efforts, rooted in empathy, vision, and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of Nigerians and beyond, have been a hallmark of his character long before and far beyond election seasons,” Ameh said.

He added that Obi’s history of philanthropy, spanning decades and continents, reflected a deep-seated dedication to uplifting humanity, not a quest for political gain.

He also recalled that Obi had engaged in refugee work in war-torn regions like Afghanistan and Rwanda before becoming governor of Anambra State in 2006, describing it as a consistent pattern of humanitarian service.

Trump Slaps Nigeria with 15% Tariff

U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed a 15 percent tariff on imports from Nigeria, alongside several other African nations, under a sweeping executive order.

The directive is part of a move targeting over 60 countries.

Some nations, including Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria, and Ghana, face tariffs of up to 30 percent under the new regime.

Trump’s announcement triggered a scramble among world leaders to renegotiate trade terms with the United States, as his administration pushes forward with what analysts describe as one of the most aggressive protectionist strategies in recent history.

Reacting to the development, Akin Dawodu, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at Citigroup, expressed concern that the tariffs could speed up Africa’s gradual shift toward non-Western trade blocs.

The continent’s already fragile trade relationship with the U.S. may weaken further, potentially strengthening ties with China, the EU, and Gulf states,” he said in comments published by Bloomberg

In Nigeria, the currency market registered a mild reaction. The naira slipped slightly to ₦1,555 per dollar at the official window, down from ₦1,550 the previous day. However, the parallel market held firm, with the rate unchanged at ₦1,533 per dollar.

Despite the mounting uncertainty, Nigeria’s equities market posted gains. The All Share Index on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) climbed 1 percent to close at 141,263.05 points, while the overall market capitalisation increased to ₦89.373 trillion, up from ₦88.425 trillion.

Tragedy in Anambra: “Fish Magnet” Entrepreneur Kidnapped and Killed by Gunmen

A chilling tragedy struck Anambra State over the weekend as Ifesinachi Martins Onyekere—better known as “Fish Magnet” on social media—was abducted and murdered in cold blood after an armed raid on his home in Okpuno, Awka South Local Government Area.

Gunmen in an ash‑coloured Lexus SUV stormed Onyekere’s residence in Ezinifite Village around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, shooting him in the leg and forcibly abducting him in his own navy‑blue Toyota Corolla. The attackers then escaped via bush paths toward Nawfia, evading local security forces.

Though reports suggest a ransom was paid for his release, Fish Magnet’s body was later discovered abandoned along a roadside in Awka on Wednesday, triggering widespread public outrage

Fish Magnet, a youthful and enterprising fish seller, had built a reputation for offering lower prices in the trade—earning admiration but also stirring envy. An old video resurfaced after his death in which he openly discussed resentment from colleagues in the industry, stating he “reduced the price for everybody” which stirred anger among fellow sellers.

The police spokesperson in Anambra, Superintendent Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the kidnapping and murder, saying the victim’s vehicle was recovered on Ukwulu/Igbariam Road by security operatives. The Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered all investigative units to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Social media has erupted with grief and calls for justice. Social commentator Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), wept publicly over Fish Magnet’s death and vowed to visit Anambra on August 4 for a candlelight procession through the fish market to raise awareness about the growing insecurity in the region.

The slain entrepreneur was the only child of his mother, who also serves as a women’s leader in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State—a connection that has amplified public interest and concern over the incident.

This incident has reignited fears about worsening insecurity in southeastern Nigeria, where kidnappings and armed attacks have become grimly frequent—often targeting young entrepreneurs and traders. Public pressure is mounting on authorities to act swiftly and prevent further loss of promising lives.

Real cause of Junior Pope’s death revealed

Managing Director of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji, made the disclosure during a multi-modal transportation stakeholders forum in Abuja on Thursday.

The National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, says the boat mishap which happened on Anam River in Anambra State in 2024, involving Nollywood actor Junior Pope and four others, was due to human error and not mechanical fault.

According to him, some of the passengers on board before the fatality happened rejected life jackets offered to them.

It was not mechanical failure, not impediments in the water or weather challenges, but purely a flagrant disregard for rules and regulations guiding movement on the inland waterways,” Oyebamiji said.

Citing the incident, Oyebamiji said such actions by passengers undermine the agency’s efforts at ensuring optimum safety on waterways.

He also called on all water users to support NIWA in raising safety awareness across the country.

The event was also attended by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the Director-General, Nigerian safety Investigation Bureau, the Director-General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, the CEO Air Peace Limited, Allen Onyema, among others.

Junior Pope was among the persons who drowned while returning from a shoot for a movie called ‘Another Side of Life’ which was being produced by Adanma in April 2024.

Why I Suspended My Son Immediately After His Wedding – Chosen Church Founder, Lazarus Muoka

Leader of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, has suspended his son, Benhail Muoka.

ObasEmpire reports that Benhail was suspended shortly after his wedding to Precious Duru, which took place on July 26.

The decision was made public during a sermon shared on Chosen Son TV, where the pastor addressed his congregation.

He said his son acted in a way that went against the teachings he upholds, especially during a moment as important as a wedding.

As a result, he took immediate action to correct him.

According to the pastor, parents must not hesitate to correct their children, regardless of age or status.

He explained that allowing children to act without correction can lead to serious consequences, and he stressed the need for discipline in the home.

He said he had to stop his son from continuing certain responsibilities after the wedding to ensure he felt the weight of the discipline.

Pastor Muoka used the incident as an example, urging parents not to let their children become uncontrollable.

He said no child is above correction, even if they are grown or educated, and reminded the congregation that proper upbringing requires firm action when necessary.

He said: “Look at what would have happened. And if you don’t learn lesson from this, you might be a victim of your own word.

Which is not the will of God for you. So, control your children. Let them be subject to you. Let them fear you. Let them do what you want them to do.

And if they have done something wrong, you don’t waste time. You have to discipline them. Praise the Lord. I said, you don’t do what? You don’t waste time, you have to discipline them.

Don’t say they are too big, they have gone to school and you don’t have power over them. That is wrong.

Even me, at this point in time, I still discipline my children. One of them wedded yesterday, I disciplined him last night. Yes. I said, you are now suspended because you must do what I asked you, what I am teaching in your wedding. So, I have to do what? Discipline him.

“I said now, you will stop whatever you are doing, so that you will have pain. So, you have to discipline your children.

Don’t allow them to overgrown you and then perish. So, I discipline my own children and you have to discipline your own children.”

Ayra Starr React to a viral claim that she’s not allowed to date or start a family under Roc nation contract

Afrobeats star Ayra Starr has responded to the viral tweets and videos claiming her contract with Roc Nation forbids her from having a boyfriend or starting a family for five years.

She replied to a particular tweet which boldly stated:

Ayra Starr isn’t allowed to have a boyfriend or start a family during her five years contract with Roc Nation.”

While many fans expressed shock or disbelief, Ayra Starr didn’t waste time clearing the air. She simply wrote:

Does Ayra Starr know about this?”

Ayra Starr joined Roc Nation, the American entertainment agency founded by Jay-Z, in 2023. Since then, she’s continued to rise steadily on the international scene, recently becoming the youngest Nigerian female artist to perform at the BET Awards.