It seems the hitherto raging war in the family of the Rivers
State-born late billionaire, Benson Lulu-Briggs, founder of Muni Polu Foundation, is finally
coming to the end, as his body has been finally released and brought to
Nigeria, 15 months after he passed on in controversial circumstance in Accra,
Ghana.
Following his death, one of his sons, Dumo Lulu Briggs and
the wife of the deceased, Seinye Lulu-Briggs, had been at each other jugular.
Recall, that after the Supreme Court of Ghana on February
11, 2020 dismissed the application of Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs to stop the
release of the mortal remains of her husband to the family led by Chief Dumo
Lulu-Briggs, Seinye on the same day filed another matter at the High Court for
orders of injunction against the removal of the body until her case against the
Coroner’s order for an inquest was determined.
Also on Tuesday, February 25, 2020, the High Court declined
to grant Seinye’s request to restrain the family led by Dumo from taking possession of the mortal
remains of her husband. This ruling enabled Dumo to
immediately take custody of the body of his father to the utter chagrin of Mrs.
Seinye Lulu-Briggs before she could serve the mortuary with papers of her
appeal to the Court of Appeal.
Not done, Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs in anticipation of the
unfavorable ruling by the High Court on her application against the orders of
the Coroner for an inquest, instituted another suit on February 25, 2020
against the Attorney General of Ghana to cancel the “Export Permit”
granted Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs to convey his father’s corpse from Ghana to
Nigeria.
Since February 25 and
27, 2020 when the High Court dismissed Seinye’s applications to restrain
the family from taking custody of the body and quash the orders of the Coroner
for an inquest, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs had waited on possible actions from the
Attorney General of Ghana in response to Seinye’s suit.
However, the good
news according to our source is that the
body has finally arrived Nigeria, and a meeting is on-going to agree on a date
for the burial of the patriarch who died at the age of 88.
And the family has finally agreed to bury their hatchets and sheathe their swords after intervention of well-meaning Nigerians.
Usually when great men die at a very ripe age in Kalabari
Kingdom in Rivers State, there is jubilation and the family gather to plan a
befitting burial for the departed.
But quite surprisingly, since December 2018 when he passed
on in Ghana, everything that has either been written or said about him has
continued to generate mixed reactions from members of the public.
In view of this, many had
expected that the family would
have accepted the grim reality of the passing of the late businessman and
philanthropist and accorded him the respect deserving of a man of his stature
by giving him a benefitting burial.
But many were shocked over the dust raised by his death
peaceful rest after his death.
It all started after an advertorial was published on May 23,
2019, where the Oruwari Briggs House Of Abonnema, among other disquieting
claims, said: ” We do not know if
High Chief O.B Lulu Briggs is dead or alive”.
In the said advertorial, it was said that since his wife,
Seinye, travelled with him to Ghana months ago, they had neither set their eyes
on him.
So, they pooh-poohed the reports of his death. To them,
there is no concrete proof that the patriarch of the Lulu family is truly dead!
The sponsors of the advertorial, unapologetically, also
premised their claim on the fact that the rumours of his death amount to a violation
of the Kalabari culture and tradition.
But this was countered by the woman who alleged that the
elders were only being economical with the truth.
The Group Chief Executive, Oando Group, Mr. Adewale Tinubu, CON, has felicitated the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, on his 80th birthday.
The oil mogul, in a message made available today, Thursday September 14, 2023 congratulated the revered and respected monarch, who is also the Chairman of Oando Group, on the milestone.
Tinubu wrote: “I felicitate the Chairman of Oando, His Royal Majesty, the Alake of Egbaland, on his landmark 80th birthday.
Kabiyesi, your leadership and wisdom have been a beacon of inspiration to us all, and we, who have been privileged to know and work with you, have been positively impacted by you.
“80 years is truly a blessing from God, and I wish you good health, and many more years of impactful leadership.
“May your reign be blessed with continued success and your legacy forever etched in history. Kabiyesi o.”
‘’Of all the gifts that life has to offer, a loving mother is the greatest of them all’’ so says a popular quote.
To say that Oando boss, Wale Tinubu and his siblings were blessed with a loving mother is like stating the obvious, their mother, Chief (Mrs.) Bintu-Fatima Tinubu, the Iyalode of Lagos is a one a million whose love and care has guide them to who they are today.
Her love is sweeter than flower of love.
To appreciate the loving, selfless and hardworking mother, her children Wale, Shola, Iyabo, Kunle, Jide and Olu yesterday gathered the world when the celebrated the woman as she clocked 80 in a blaze of glory.
For the children, the attainment of the ripe age of 80 is worth celebrating, particularly in a country, where death is so cheap.
It was a great moment for the Edo State-born businesswoman as her families, friends and business associates gathered to share her gladsome moment with her.
The birthday party is no doubt would be described as a blowout, lively, sparkling, fun, exciting, and enjoyable, it is simply the best so far in the year 2023.
Trust the Tinubus, they are detribalised Nigerians whose circle of friends cuts across the various Nigerian tribes that they has built over the years.
They showcased their hospitality side as they hosted Who- is-who in high society, including captains of industry, monarchs, politicians, socialites and celebrities, yesterday Sunday, July 2nd 2023 at the Grand Ballroom, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
It was indeed a night for the high-networth, high profile and highflying eminent personalities.
It was obvious that they have a commanding sense of hospitality. It was upscale and finest in all ramifications.
From the catering to the ushering, no stone was left unturned. Ushers were brought in to perform different tasks; from assigning seats to guests to taking their meal requests and even ensuring that the place was immaculate and clean.
The hall was colourfully decorated with balloons and other aesthetic materials to give it a regal look. The foods were incredibly rich, flavoursome and magically moreish.
Premium and top-quality drinks only meant for the elites flowed like an endless river. Indeed, the gaily guests had no reason to complain as everything was well taken care of.
There was no dull moment as Vintage Band was there to serenade the gaily dressed guests.
The party go to its peak with the King of Juju music, King Sunny Ade that proved that he is still on top of his game as he livened up the atmosphere with his world class beat while guests danced until their legs could no longer carry them.
Some of the guests at the birthday bash include, the governor of Lagos; Babajide Sanwoolu with his wife, Ibijoke Sanwoolu, Ogun State governor; Dapo Abiodun, Kwara State governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, Senator Gbenga Daniel with his wife, Yeye Funke Daniel Senator Ibikunle Amosun with his wife, Funsho Amosun, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Tony Elumelu, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Hajia Bola Shagaya, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki with his wife, Toyin Saraki, Babagana Kingigbe, Folly Coker, Wale Edun, Mo Abudu, Founder and Coordinator of Tinubu Support Group; Hon. Aminu Suleiman, Segun Awolowo, Hajia Abbah Folawiyo, Yomi Awobokun, Among several other eminent personalities.
From midnight, even as Jubril Adewale Tinubu, CON, Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, chose to put his mobile phone on silent mode, its screen flashed continuously and aroused him from his beautiful sleep, as it was bombarded with calls and text messages from family members, friends , business associates et al.
Interestingly, the undisguised expressions of love by his loved ones from that dead of night and through the rest of the day have become like an annual ritual of sorts that they perform whenever the oil guru marks his birthday.
On his part, the University of Liverpool- trained lawyer has so much to thank God for, as he turned 56 today, Monday, June 26.
A reliable source told us that Tinubu, who began his career with his family law firm, K.O. Tinubu and Co., in 1990 and later co-founded Ocean and Oil Group in 1994, is celebrating the birthday surrounded by his family at his residence in London.
Also, the occasion affords Tinubu, fondly called The King of African Oil, to thanked God for the rare grace to have lived an eventful life thus far and for another great opportunity to reflective on his earthly sojourn so far, and pray for greater blessings in the coming years.
It was also gathered that he would use the occasion to put smiles on the faces of the needy around him in his characteristic magnanimity and sense of fellow-feeling.
This may not be surprising to those who know him too well, as he had used the occasions of his birthday in the past to act as the Angel of hope to the disadvantaged members of the society.
Just like his name, Jubril, he has been an angel to many whose paths have crossed with his on many occasions. He has lent support and been a shoulder to lean on for numerous less-privileged and the poor. He is indeed a bellwether in the acts of generosity to others. He sees sharing love with them as a sacred devotion.
The man who today is Africa’s pride in oil and gas is usually driven by an abiding quest to change the lives of his people for the better.