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‘You Didn’t Deserve To Die’ – Super TV CEO’s Mum, Wife Mourns Pay Tribute At Funeral

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Mrs Sylvia Ataga, the mother of the slain Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Usifo Ataga, has shared fond memories of her son who was laid to rest on Friday at Ebony Vaults in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

JomogNews Nigeria gathered that Sylvia said her heart bled whenever she remembered Usifo’s death, lamenting that it was painful she could not monitor his last moments.

Usifo’s wife and children also paid their tributes as friends of the deceased demanded a thorough investigation into his murder.

They noted that though he had been buried, the case should not be swept under the carpet.

Usifo was found dead with multiple stabs on June 16 at a short let apartment on Adebowale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase I where he had checked in with his lover, 21-year-old Chidinma Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student at the University of Lagos.

Ojukwu was consequently arrested on June 23 in her father’s house in Yaba and paraded at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters in Ikeja.

She confessed to stabbing Usifo with a knife under the influence of alcohol and withdrawing N380,000 from the victim’s account with his ATM card. She, however, backtracked later in a video, absolving herself from the murder

Usifo, aged 50, was buried on Friday in a low-key ceremony attended by his family members, including his wife, and friends. Most of the mourners were dressed in black outfits. Some of them donned black shirts with Usifo’s picture and #justice4Usifo inscribed on them.

Journalists were restricted from covering some aspects of the burial. A relation of the late Usifo seized our correspondent’s phone and deleted photos of the interment.

The late Usifo, enclosed in a white coffin, was lowered to the ground amid sobs and prayers by his family and friends.

Some bereaved family members at the burial ground declined comments. However, Usifo’s mother, wife and children paid tributes to him in a service of songs and funeral programme sighted by our correspondent.

In her tribute, the mother, Mrs Sylvia Ataga, reminisced about his birth and growing up, describing him as a loving, caring and peaceful son.

She wrote, “As an adult, he became so caring that I would hesitate to tell him that I was not feeling well. He would either hop on the next plane or send me funds to go and see a doctor. And monitor me for days. My pain is that I could not monitor him in his last week.

“God knows he did not deserve what those people did to him. My heart bleeds any time I remember. He was generous to a fault. It took his death for me to know how loved he was. He has been robbed of the joy of seeing a project he spent seven years working on.

He has been denied the joy of seeing his children grow up, go to university, get married and make him a grandfather….Not to worry, Usifo has found glory with his Maker. I know one day I will hold my baby boy in my arms again.

Usifo, you were taken from me at your golden age; a day before your golden birthday. That makes you extra precious; my golden son who gave me so much pleasure; quiet and loving….It broke my heart to lose you but you didn’t go alone, for part of me went with you the day God called you home.”

The wife, Brenda Ataga, said she and her daughters were looking forward to marking Usifo’s milestone in a special way before the news of his demise shattered their plan.

Brenda stated that her late husband was a man with a ‘heart of gold’ who led a godly life, adding that she had yet to come to terms with his death.

She said, “The girls and I were looking forward to seeing you, to celebrating your milestone. I had imagined how surprised you would be when you walked in to see a place set up for you. I had imagined your infectious smile.

“Now we’re in this nightmare. I’m yet to comprehend the stark reality. That your life was cut short in your prime; at a renaissance of all you had toiled for…I’m lost for words.

“Our daughters were your pride and joy. You were always there as my backbone supporting as we shaped them. What a proud father you were…. You were a man after God’s heart! How can I forget our fervent prayers for the children; your faith that birthed our first child? Nor can I forget the corporate fellowship you led.”

One of the daughters, Emoata Ataga, described Usifo as an amazing man with whom she spent memorable pastimes and who always listened to her problems. “I miss you daddy….Rest peacefully, Love. You will be sorely missed,” another daughter, Eboselulu Ataga, wrote.

A friend of the deceased, Adebayo Afon, urged the police to carry out thorough investigation and bring all those involved in the murder to justice.

He said, “It is always bad when you lose somebody but this is an exceptional one. Most of us, his friends, are still very surprised and confused. The good thing is that we have come to bury him today (Friday) but putting him to rest is not the answer.

“We need to know what happened. I don’t want to say much about police investigation but I must say it is an odd way of doing investigation. We demand justice and must get it no matter what happens.’’

A close friend of the deceased, Daddinson Olumese, said he felt so pained at losing Usifo in such a cruel manner and enjoined the police to ensure justice is served.

Olumese said, “He was my first employer after I graduated from the university. I held him in high regard. He was a gentle man, God-fearing and humble. We are happy that the family had a form of closure by laying him to rest today. However, the rest may not be complete until we get to the end of this issue. We want the police to do their job and let us get justice so that my friend can have a peaceful rest.’

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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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