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No Need To Investigate Circumstances Surrounding My Husband’s Death- Helen Prest-Ajayi

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A former beauty queen, Helen Prest-Ajayi, says there is no need to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of her husband and Managing Director of First Foundation Medical Centre, Lagos, Dr Tosin Ajayi.

Helen told PUNCH Metro her position through her lawyer, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), on Saturday.

Five children of the deceased had through their lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), written to the Chief Justice of Lagos State demanding a coroner’s inquest into the circumstances surrounding their father’s death.
A family friend, who spoke on behalf of the children, had told PUNCH Metro that Helen and Tosin were never legally married, because his marriage to his first wife, Oluyemisi, which produced the five children, was never dissolved.

The family friend further alleged that four weeks to the time of Tosin’s death, Helen never informed the children of his condition and even his death, adding that they only got to know of his demise through a third party and she also allegedly prevented them from viewing his corpse in the mortuary.
Upon his death, Helen was said to have gone to Tosin’s office, where she reportedly made away with some documents, fuelling further suspicion.

Her lawyer, however, told PUNCH Metro that the allegations against his client were baseless.

“This whole thing is not good for the memory of the deceased. A coroner’s inquest should not be abused. It should not be a theatre for infighting in the family. There are genuine cases that should go for coroner’s inquest, but if they are looking for public sympathy and are grandstanding, they should remember that the soul of the departed deserves rest and respect,” Owonikoko said.

Narrating the circumstances surrounding Tosin’s death, Owonikoko said sometime in March, he had high blood pressure and his condition worsened at home.
The senior advocate said Tosin was taken to a hospital in Ikoyi, where he was diagnosed with a heart condition, and later suffered kidney failure.

Owonikoko said the deceased was taken to the St Nicholas Hospital, then First Cardiologists on Victoria Island and back to St Nicholas Hospital, where he eventually died.
He stated, “A cardiologist was invited to the house three days after Dr Ajayi took ill and after running some tests, he concluded that he must be taken to a hospital. He was taken to a hospital in Ikoyi that Sunday and by the next morning, his condition got worse and Mrs Ajayi (Helen) started calling his associates and friends. About three or four friends responded and they suggested that he be taken to a hospital that could attend to him properly.

“On Monday, he was admitted to the St Nicholas Hospital. That was on March 9. On getting there, they discovered that he needed a cardiologist. He was then referred to First Cardiologists, Victoria Island. He was on treatment for three days and when he stabilised, he was returned to St Nicholas.
“He was there undergoing treatment, which included dialysis for kidney failure. He was there until April 26 by which time we were hoping he would be discharged and taken home. But that day, he passed away.”

When asked if Helen and the deceased were married, Owonikoko told PUNCH Metro that their relationship spanned more than 25 years and produced a daughter.

He stated, “She (Helen) was made to understand that Dr Ajayi had divorced his first wife, but this is not the time to be discussing such. Things like this will be addressed in the fullness of time
“They lived together for 25 years and no one, including the children, challenged their relationship all through when the man was alive. I think they should not let the old man’s memory be soiled.”
When asked why Helen never informed Tosin’s five children of their father’s illness, Owonikoko said the deceased had categorically instructed her that his condition be kept a secret, adding that he did not want anyone coming to visit him during the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On why his client made away with some documents from Tosin’s office shortly after his demise, the lawyer said she needed vital information such as his date of birth and other bio-data, which would be included in his death certificate.

“One of the controversies was his age. So, she needed to consult documents. The documents she got revealed that he was actually 75 and not 68 as she had thought,” the senior advocate said.

When asked why Helen prevented the children from seeing their father’s corpse in the mortuary, Owonikoko said his client was also hospitalised a day after Tosin passed away and immediately after she was discharged, she reached out to one of the children of the deceased, Mayowa.
He further claimed that Helen informed the children of their father’s death the day after he passed away.

However, a family friend told PUNCH Metro that most of Helen’s claims were untrue, adding that they learnt of Tosin’s death through a third party.

The family friend said Helen pointedly told the children that she would not let them see their father’s death certificate and made it clear that she would not let them play their rightful role during his funeral.
PUNCH.

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Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race

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The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”

He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”

Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.

He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.

“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”

The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.

He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”

“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”

Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.

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Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency

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The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.

In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.

Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote

Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.

The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.

‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.

President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded

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Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience

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Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.

The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.

In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.

He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”

The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.

Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.

“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”

Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.

“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”

The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.

By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.

The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.

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