Babatunde Omidina, the legendary Nigerian comic actor, fondly called Baba Suwe, has revealed that he is currently unwell at the moment and unable to walk, no thanks to the experience he said was meted out to him by the personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

In 2011, the veteran thespian was arrested by the NDLEA with claims that he was in possession of substances suspected to be cocaine.

In an exclusive chat with The PUNCH, the iconic actor said that he has been rendered crippled due to his experience in the hands of the NDLEA.

He said, “I have not forgotten about my issue with the NDLEA and I will never forget because I am still bearing the pains and suffering from that encounter. I am still affected by the inflictions they meted on me at that time.

“As I speak with you, I cannot walk with both my legs. Just to visit the toilet in my room, I have to be carried there. Even using the toilet is a problem as well.

“Although I travel abroad for medical check-up, my body is still not okay at all. As I said, I cannot walk to my toilet at all without assistance. This development began about a week or two ago. Before then, I hardly walk properly and anyone who sees me would know that I have difficulty walking.”

The veteran actor, while narrating his experience in the hands of the NDLEA personnel, said, “When I was in the custody of the NDLEA, they searched me, injected me, asked me to go to the toilet, but they never found any cocaine inside my system. I defecated there and they did not see anything.

“If my lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, was still alive, I will have got my compensation a long time ago because he is a good lawyer. He is also a compassionate person. The man was nice. When we were in court, he really tried. If he was alive, I would have been compensated.”
Baba Suwe further noted that the state of his health had affected his career. He said, “I have not been able to continue my work as an actor partly because of what I am currently going through. I cannot start work because I am not strong enough.

“I am grateful to one of my younger ones who I introduced to the business, Yomi Fabiyi, for always yielding my calls. He is my son; he stayed with me and learnt from me. Fabiyi is one of those that has promised to get me a means of transportation to aid my movement, especially if I have to be at a location.”

Recently, the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, presented cheques worth N500m to owners of properties demolished for the construction of the ongoing Igbogbo-Igbe Road Expansion Road project.

Baba Suwe got the sum of N3.1m as compensation for his demolished property.

Speaking on the development, Baba Suwe said, “I am very ill and was supposed to see the Governor yesterday, but I could not. We have not yet gone to collect the money the government promised us. It is until we go there and receive the money before I can believe that they have compensated me.

“I am supposed to be where we ought to collect the money today. I ought to take one of my cars there, but since I do not have anyone to drive me there, that is why I have not gone there yet.

“The amount the government wants to compensate me with cannot be compared to how much we spent on the property; ever! After the government is done, when we visit the site, we will be able to determine whether we will rebuild or not. “

Nollywood actress, Ify Onwuemene popular for her role in sitcom ‘Everyday People’, has died of cancer.

According to her colleague, Gloria Anozie-Young, the actress died on Tuesday after battling endometrial cancer, during which her womb was removed.

She writes:

“With a deep sense of loss but total submission to God Almighty, we regret to announce that Ify Onwuemene has gone to be with the Lord, Gloria wrote on Facebook

“Ify Onwuemene was diagnosed with endometrial cancer, her womb was removed but she has been battling the ailment for many years now. In 2019, even after 8 sessions of chemotherapy, the doctors told her she had reached stage 4.

“However, we are not sure if she was given the wrong diagnosis or being treated with the wrong chemo, because she still felt pains on her upper abdomen and her tummy bloated.

“Ify spent more than 10million naira, being helped with donations by her fellow actors and other Nigerians. A Gofundme account was opened for her but it did not yield much.

“She had to go for draining every two weeks at a cost of 280,000naira but only 3litres of liquid can be removed at a time so that her heart is not affected.

“Ify has finally gone to rest, today 25th May 2021. May her soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.

Burial arrangements will be released by the family, Gloria wrote.

Governors Are The Ones Running Nigeria, President Just One Person In Abuja – Dr. Jonathan

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan has said state governors are the ones “running” Nigeria.

Jonathan stressed that the coming together of all the governors in a round table to discuss and proffer solutions to issues affecting Nigeria would help the President.

“Governors themselves should continue to meet, I don’t really love a situation where the Northern governors will meet then the Southern governors will cry foul.

“Then the Southern governors will meet then the Northern governors will cry foul,. That will not help our country.

“The governors through the governors forum should meet, they are the people who run this country, the President is just one person in Abuja.

“The states, especially in a country where the local governments are very weak, it’s the states that people fall back to.

“So if the governors of the states meet and dialogue, interrogate things that are good for this country, then we will move forward.

“I don’t really enjoy the antagonism between governors, they should come together and discuss.

“If there are issues affecting one or two states, I think the governors should see how they can collectively come with a way to address those issues,” he added.

The plot to remove Senate president, Ahmed Lawan is gaining momentum in the National Assembly, ABUJAPRESS has gathered.

Hon. Sergius Ogun, a member of the house of Representatives(North-East/Esan South-East contituency of Edo state) was first to hint that all was not well in the hallowed chambers. He appeared on ‘The Morning Show,’ a programme on ARISE NEWS Channel, revealing that plans were underway to oust Lawan.

He disclosed that Lawan may be removed from office this week after he criticised Southern governors over their resolution to ban Open grazing. In his words;

“We are in the process of reviewing the constitution and the chairman of the National Assembly (Lawan) is rebuking, chastising the governors for saying that they should restructure the country. So, if you ask me, any right-thinking person will believe that the process is dead on arrival. He doesn’t believe in it; why would he talk like that?

“For him really to be talking to governors representing a section of the country like that, he’s not fit to be the Senate president and I strongly believe that the senators from the South will do something about it this week.”

“We are even talking about impeachment? Who is the leader? The Chairman of the National Assembly. If we are going to start any process of impeachment of the president, who is going to superintend over that? The same man we are talking about. I think he should go and I am sure the process has started.”

Fresh information emerging on Monday night revealed some North-west senators are already mobilizing their colleagues from the North-central for a possible onslaught on Lawan.

Among other reasons for the opposition against Lawan include allegations of Sluggishness in approving funds, ‘tight-fistedness’ and his unbridled support for President Buhari.

If Lawan is shoved aside, the position may move to the North-west zone, which has the highest number of senators.

Nigerian comedienne cum actress Damilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess, has reacted to report that Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, who allegedly defiled her daughter, has been granted bail by the police.

Baba Ijesha was granted bail by the Lagos State Police Command on Monday on health ground.

Reacting to the development, Princess took to her Instagram page to express confidence that she would win, though not immediately, but definitely.

“I will win, not immediately but definitely,” she wrote, putting her trust for justice in God.

According to Princess, God does not as well as loved children.

“Say no to child defilement, say no to rape and say something if you see something,” she added.

On Monday, Baba Ijesha was granted bail by the police.

He was arrested by the police over a month ago on allegation of defiling a minor.

His health has deteriorated in detention as he has not yet been arraigned in court over the alleged defilement.

His lawyer, Adesina Ogunlana confirmed on Monday that the Yoruba actor has been released by the police on bail.

According to him, Baba Ijesha was granted bail on Monday evening.

He said he is currently working to perfect the bail.

Ogunlana stated that the actor was was granted bail on health grounds.

He said he would be released as soon as he met the bail conditions.

Popular Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo has taken legal action against her colleague, Yomi Fabiyi, and has demanded N100m as payment for damages caused by his ‘defamatory publication’.

Earlier today, Fabiyi staged a protest demanding the bail and release of Baba Ijesha who has been held by the police for allegedly molesting a minor.

In a letter written by Ojo’s lawyers, The Maverick Forte Legal, it was said that during Fabiyi’s protest defamatory statements were inscribed on placards some of which read, “Nigeria Police please allow the law to dictate to you not Iyabo Ojo, Princess and co. Please release Baba Ijesha.”

Another read, “Iyabo Ojo and Princess promised to kill Baba Ijesha if released on bail in this era??”

Ojo, through her lawyers, denied making any statement to kill Baba Ijesha or unlawfully interfering with the statutory responsibilities of the Nigeria Police Force.

The letter which the actress posted on her verified Instagram page read in part, “Take further notice that consequent upon your false, odious, malicious, vexatious and ludicrous statement and publication against our client which were broadcasted through your Instagram handle, viewed by a huge number of people and further published by several online blogs and newspaper outlets stemming from your orchestrated scheme that has so far damaged our client’s hard-earned reputation, vilify her integrity, rubbish her professional career as a businesswoman, entertainer and artiste, and more so caused our clients children grievous trauma and anxiety since the publication of your defamatory statement.

“It is expedient to state that your defamatory publication has lowered our client’s estimation in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society. Our client has equally suffered huge stigmatisation by business partners, mental agony, restlessness, public scorn, emotional distress.