Home Blog Page 1510

Eight Years After, South-east Gets Seat At Security Meetings; Ogalla Appointed CNS

0
Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla Ogalla

By Gideon Njoku

“A Presidency source which pleaded anonymity told this medium that “With the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma’s profile in the Party, especially, as the Chairman of Progressive Governors, it is not possible to, like before, deny the Zone a slot in the appointment of new Service Chiefs”

There is good news for the South-east region of Nigeria. Eight years after its total exclusion from Security Council meetings in Abuja, it ,now, finally has a representative at that highest  level where security issues are discussed and decisions taken.

One of its sons, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla Ogalla,  has been appointed the Chief of Naval Staff.

Ogalla was appointed on Monday, June 19, 2023, alongside other Service Chiefs by President Bola Tinubu.

For the eight years of the administration of the immediate past Government of President Muhammadu Buhari, the South-east protested the injustice of excluding the Zone from Security meetings by the non-appointment of anybody from the Zone to a sensitive position.

Inspite of the complaints and protests, former President Buhari played deaf. On Monday, President Tinubu put an end to it.

Ogalla’s appointment, a Presidency source who pleaded anonymity told this medium, was helped by the high profile position of the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, in the ruling  All Progressives Congress, APC, especially his Chairmanship of the Progressives Governors Forum. In that position, the source said, it is not possible to deny the Zone a slot in the appointment of Service Chiefs.

The new Chief of Naval Staff is from Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State. He was a former Director of Audit, Naval Headquarters and later, Director, Lessons Learnt.

Rear Admiral Ogalla was born on December 20, 1968.

He is the second SE son to be appointed Chief of Naval Staff and the third to be appointed a Service Chief since after the Nigerian Civil War.

Rear Admiral Alison Madueke was the first Chief of Naval Staff from the South-east. The first Chief of Army Staff since 1999, from the Zone, was General Azubuike Ihejirika who was appointed during the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan.

President Tinubu Sacks Boards Of FG Parastatals, Agencies

0
Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Adesina Soyooye

President Bola Tinubu has sacked the Boards of Federal Government Parastatals and Agencies.

In the past few days, speculations have been rife that the President was all set to sack the Boards. The speculations were implemented on Monday in a statement signed by Willie Bassey, Director of Information in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on behalf of the SGF. The dissolution of the Boards took effect from Friday, 16th June, 2023, before the statement was made public.

It said: “In view of this development and until such a time new Boards are constituted, the Chief Executive Officers of the Parastatals, Agencies, institutions, and Government  -owned Companies are directed to refer matters requiring the attention of their Boards to the President through the Permanent Secretaries of their respective supervisory Ministries and offices.”

However, according to the statement, “the dissolution does not affect Boards, Commissions and Councils listed in the third schedule, Part 1, Section 153 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”

The full text of the statement reads:

PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU APPROVES DISSOLUTION OF BOARDS OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PARASTATALS, AGENCIES, INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENT-OWNED COMPANIES

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the immediate dissolution of the Governing Boards of all Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-Owned Companies in the exercise of its Constitutional Powers and in the Public interest.

“The dissolution does not, however, affect Boards, Commissions and Councils listed in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Section 153 (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

“In view of this development and until such a time new boards are constituted, the Chief Executive Officers of the Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-Owned Companies are directed to refer matters requiring the attention of their Boards to the President, through the Permanent Secretaries of their respective supervisory Ministries and Offices.

“Permanent Secretaries are directed, also, to route such correspondences to Mr President through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Consequently, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies are to ensure compliance to the provision of this directive which took effect from Friday 16th June, 2023.

“Permanent Secretaries are particularly directed to inform the Chief Executive Officers of the affected Agencies under the supervision of their respective Ministries/Offices for immediate compliance.”

“We Are Joining APC Because Of Uzodinma”, Say Defecting PDP Executives; Commend Governor for Developmental  Strides

0
Hope Uzodima and Imo PDP Members

Former members of Imo State Executive Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who resigned from the Party on Sunday have declared for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing Governor Hope Uzodimma’s monumental achievements as their motivation.

They also reiterated their stand that PDP can never win the Imo Governorship election in November given the infrastructural revolution by the APC-led Government.

Speaking during a courtesy call on the Governor, Monday, the erstwhile PDP Executive members described Uzodimma as a performer who has beaten the records of all former Governors of the State since late Chief Sam Mbakwe.

In an address read on their behalf by the former Publicity Secretary of the Party,  Collins Opurozor, they said: “Today, we can confidently and comfortably tell the whole world that we are headed to APC because of His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma. We are joining APC because it is the Party for the future of Imo State and the future of Ndigbo. We are joining APC because of the superlative performance of His Excellency which no other Governor has achieved since the late Chief Sam Mbakwe.”

They also cited the Imo State Charter of Equity as another strong reason for aligning with Governor Uzodimma, saying that the impeccable logic of the Charter holds a promise for a better Imo State.

They noted that with their exit from PDP, the Party was dead in Imo State as they predicted a tsunami of defections from PDP to APC in the coming weeks.

While congratulating Governor Uzodimma for the strings of awards he received recently, including his emergence as Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, they assured him of their readiness to work for his  reelection.

Responding, Governor Uzodimma described the gesture of the former PDP bigwigs as a dream come true for him since he had always wished that Imo State’s “first eleven” play together as a team.

According to him, every member of the team is valuable to the prosperity Government of Imo State, hence, non will be discriminated against.

The Governor reminded them that Political Parties are like vehicles needed by one to get to one’s destination.

He said he  knew each of them and their capacities personally and as such will ensure their immediate integration into their areas of strength in the administration.

The Governor noted that since patriotic politicians place emphasis on the service of people, the erstwhile PDP executive members have done well by joining him in APC to serve their people.

Those who visited the Governor were Sir Martins Ejiogu (former State Deputy National Chairman of PDP),  Collins Opuruzor (former State Publicity Secretary), Hon Chief Mrs Maria Mbakwe (former State Women Leader), Barr Joseph Eze (former State Treasurer and Barr Chibuisi Obido (former State Vice Chairman’ Orlu Zone).

The former State Secretary, Hon Ray Emeana was said to have travelled outside the country today while the former State Youth Leader was engaged in an  unavoidable academic exercise.

Tinubu Retires NSA, Service Chiefs, IGP; Appoints New Ones; Confirms Ribadu NSA

0

By Ayodele Oni and Akinwale Kasali

President Bola Tinubu has retired the National Security  Adviser, NSA, Babagana Monguno. In a first, the President appointed a retired Police Officer, Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Nuhu Ribadu, as the Country’s NSA. Ribadu was the pioneer Chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The President had earlier, a few days ago, appointed him as his Special Adviser on Security.

Tinubu’s broom, also, swept away all Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Comptroller-General of the Customs.

He immediately appointed new Service Chiefs, IGP and a new Customs boss.

The appointments are in acting capacity pending their confirmation by the Senate.

A statement from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, signed by Willie Bassey, Director of Information, announced the new appointments on Monday, June 19, 2023.

The new appointees are:

*Mallam Nuhu Ribadu National Security Adviser

*Maj. Gen. C.G Musa Chief of Defence Staff

*Maj. T. A Lagbaja Chief of Army Staff

*Rear Admiral E. A Ogalla Chief of Naval Staff

*AVM H.B Abubakar Chief of Air Staff

*DIG Kayode Egbetokun  Acting Inspector-General of Police

*Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye Chief of Defense Intelligence.

The statement added that:

“The president also approved the immediate retirement of Comptroller-General of Customs from Service

“The President has also approved the following appointments:

*Col. Adebisi Onasanya  Brigade of Guards

*Commander; Lt. Col. Moshood Abiodun Yusuf  7 Guards Battalion, Asokoro, Abuja

*Lt. Col. Auwalu Baba Inuwa 177, Guards Battalion, Keffi, Nasarawa State.

*Lt. Col. Mohammed J. Abdulkarim 102 Guards Battalion, Suleja, Niger

*Lt. Col. Olumide A. Akingbesote  176 Guards Battalion, Gwagwalada, Abuja.

“Similarly, the President has approved the appointments of other Military Officers in the Presidential Villa as follows:

*Maj.  Isa Farouk Audu (N/14695) Commanding Officer State House Artillery

*Capt. Kazeem Olalekan Sunmonu (N/16183) Second-in-Command, State House Artillery

*Maj. Kamaru Koyejo Hamzat (N/14656) Commanding Officer, State House Military Intelligence

*Maj. TS Adeola (N/12860) Commanding Officer, State House Armament.

*Lt. A. Aminu (N/18578) Second-in- Command, State House Armament

“Mr. President has also approved the appointments of two (2) additional Special Advisers, and two (2) Senior Assistants, namely:

*Hadiza Bala Usman Special Adviser, Policy Coordination.

*Hannatu  Musa Musawa Special Adviser, Culture and Entertainment Economy

*Senator Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel Senior Special Assistant , National Assembly Matters  (Senate)

*Hon. (Barr) Olarewaju Kunle Ibrahim  Senior Special Assistant, National Assembly Matters  (House of Representatives).

“Finally, the President has approved the appointment of Adeniyi Bashir Adewale as the Ag. Comptroller General of Customs.

“It is to be noted that the appointed Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and the Comptroller General of Customs are to act in their positions, pending their confirmation in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Egbetokun, the Acting IGP, was President Tinubu’s Chief Security Officer, CSO.

Breaking: Tinubu Shakes-up Military; Confirms Ribadu As NSA

0

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has sacked all the Service Chiefs in a major shake-up of the country’s military and security architecture in general.

In their place, the president has also appointed the following as the new Service Chiefs with immediate effect.

Maj. Gen. CG Musa is the new Chief of Defence Staff, CDS; Gen. T Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Ogala, Chief of Naval Staff; Air Vice Marshal H B Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff.

Also appointed by the president is Kayode Egbetokun as the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP.

Meanwhile, the appointment of Nuhu Ribadu, a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, according to analysts is the biggest one to have been made by the president since he came to power on May 29.

The former anti-graft tsar had earlier been appointed as Special Adviser on Security by the president.

More Details……….

How Juicy, Irresistible Gifts Can Lead To Your Downfall –  CJN Admonished New Justices

0

By Ayodele Oni

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has told Judges in the country that the tendency of every litigant having cases before them is to lure them with juicy and irresistible gifts.

The CJN explained that corrupt people especially politicians and business men will always try as much as possible to sway justice in their favour and hence they lure Judges with offers.

Justice Ariwoola made the remarks on Monday in Abuja while inaugurating six newly appointed Judges for the National Industrial Court.

He said that many high profile cases in company of irresistible gifts would definitely come before Judges in the course of discharging their duties especially when they involve mouth-watery financial aid business transactions.

“I am making it clear to you now that you must flee from such disguised danger.”

The six new Judges inaugurated are Justices Subilim Emmanuel Danjuma, Mohammad Adamu Hamza,  Damachi-Onugba Joyce Agede, Hassan Mohammed Yakubu, Buhari Sami and Sanda Audu Yelwa.

The CJN told Judicial officers ” you must, against all odds, conduct your affairs within the ambit of the law and the oath that has just been administered on you.

” If you were hitherto 50 percent under public scrutiny, I can confidently tell you now that it has automatically risen to 100 percent by virtue of this your appointment.

“It absolutely takes nothing to join the crowd but it takes quite a lot to stand alone with good conscience.”

The CJN charged the new Judges to fasten their belts and roll up their sleeves to face the challenges head- on adding that they must double their pace to catch up with expectations of litigants.

“As Judicial officers, you have a divine mandate on earth that you must discharge with with unveiled honesty and sincerity.

“You must give good account of yourselves to justify your appointment. However, if you decide to do the contrary, the sledge hammer will, without hesitation, descend heavily on you.

“No judicial officers at any level of our Courts will be allowed to drag the reputation of the Nigerian Judiciary into the mud. We cannot come this far to fail.

“Take heed of this admonition by working rightly towards occupying an enviable space in the annals of the Nigerian Judiciary.

Lawyers Well Placed To Tackle Security Challenges – Ekiti Assembly Speaker

0
Adeoye Aribasoye - Ekiti State House of Assemlby Speaker

By Ayodele Oni

The Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, has said lawyers have a role to play in curbing insecurity in the country, urging them to collaborate with the legislature.

Aribasoye who made the remarks on Monday while declaring open the Annual Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikere Branch, described lawyers as important partners with the legislature in the quest for safety and security of the citizenry.

The Speaker said the theme of the event, “Security and People’s Welfare in Nigeria’s Democratic Experience: Leveraging the Legal Practice as a Catalyst” was very apt and timely adding that lawyers are well positioned to proffer innovative strategies to address the security challenges already identified.

He also called on the legal practitioners to uphold rule of law and promote the common goals of people as they have unique role to play in advocating  for justice and welfare of society.

“Our state, Ekiti, like many other states in Nigeria, is facing significant challenges in the areas of security and welfare and I am happy to see legal practitioners coming together to explore ways to leverage their expertise towards finding lasting solutions to these challenges.

“The legal profession has always been a key partner in the quest for justice, equity and the rule of law in our society.

“Lawyers have a unique role to play in advocating for the rights and interests of the people, upholding the law and promoting the common goal in the face of current challenges facing our nation.

“It is even more important that we work together to find innovative ways to address these challenges. This is why I am calling on lawyers who have a lot to do particularly with us in the House of Assembly.

“You all know that to re-engineer our society, good laws have to be in place and we need lawyers to collaborate with us to find innovative ways to address the challenges we have all identified.

“How do we confront these challenges? There is need for us to collaborate and I am confident that this Law Week will provide a platform for legal practitioners to share experiences, discuss the best practices and explore innovative solutions to the issues of security and people’s welfare in Nigeria.”

In her keynote Address, the president, Customary Court of Appeal, Ekiti State, Justice Monisola Abodunde, charged legal practitioners to be catalyst by using law as a tool for development in the society.

She solicited the cooperation of the House under the leadership of  Aribasoye in impacting people’s life through effective legislations and initiating the process of reviewing old laws for the benefit of people.

Earlier, the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ikere Ekiti Branch, Dr. Michael Afolayan stressed the need for the lawyers to complement Government’s effort by unleashing their skills and potentials in resolving issues of injustice in the society.

Uzodinma “Sacks” Imo PDP EXCO;  Members Join APC En Masse; Declares  Governor Best Since Mbakwe

0
Hope Uzodima and Imo PDP Members

By Charles Igbo

“We are joining APC because of the superlative performance of Your Excellency which no Governor has achieved since the late Chief Sam Mbakwe”

Finally, Governor Hope Uzodinma has swallowed the State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Imo State.

24 hours after seven of them resigned en masse from the PDP, they have joined the All Progressives Congress, APC.

In an address read during a courtesy call on the Governor, they gave many reasons why they dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC. They said they left to avoid being assassinated by, alleged, PDP thugs. They said they left because of the dictatorial tendencies of one man. They said they left because the PDP is dead in the State and would never win an election in Imo no thanks to one man. They said the APC is the way to go and with their exit, only the carcass of PDP remains in Imo.

But here’s the most dramatic  of their reasons.

In an unbelievable about-turn, they said they left to be part of the good job Governor Uzodinma is doing in the State. They declared Uzodinma the best Governor  ever to have held fort in the State since the Government of the late Sam Mbakwe.

The  PDP SWC members who dumped the Party for the APC are:

*Sir Martins Ejiogu – Deputy Chairman

*Hon. (Nze) Ray Emeaña – State Secretary

*Barr. Chibuisi Obido- State Vice Chairman, Orlu Zone

*Collins Opurozor – Publicity Secretary

*Hon. (Mrs) Maria Mbakwe –  State Woman Leader

*Comrade Greg GOC Nwadike – State Youth Leader

*Barr. Josiah Eze – Treasurer.

Following is the text of their address during the courtesy call on the Governor.

DDRESS BY FORMER MEMBERS OF IMO STATE PDP STATE WORKING COMMITTEE (SWC) AT THEIR DECLARATION TO JOIN THE APC AND COURTESY VISIT TO GOVERNOR HOPE UZODIMMA, CON, ON MONDAY, JUNE 19TH, 2023

“Your Excellency, we wish to thank you profusely for granting us audience on such short notice. That is the hallmark of leadership, being receptive and accommodating

Let us  use this auspicious moment to congratulate you for the strings of awards you have received recently, especially that of the Commander of the Order of Nigeria(CON), bestowed on you by the Federal Government. Your assumption of office as chairman of the Progressive Governors’  Forum also gladdens our hearts.

“Your Excellency, we are here to inform you that we have come to join you in your patriotic and tenacious drive at  transforming Imo State in infrastructure, economy, and social status. We have come to be admitted into the All Progressive Congress, APC, and your  Prosperity administration where accountability, inclusivity, and a burning desire to make Imo state better are the order of the day.  Besides, we are tired of being under a torn umbrella that can no longer shield us from the vagaries of the economic and political weather. We have come to receive the broom so that we could sweep away the evil that held us captive and threatened our lives in the hands of an unscrupulous dictator whose stock in trade is violence.

“Your Excellency, yesterday, we addressed a World Press conference wherein we catalogued our reasons why we dumped the opposition People’s Democratic Party ( PDP).

“The name of the party became a misnomer because of the dictatorial tendencies of one man who could not decide on being either a national secretary or candidate of the party in the state. It is noteworthy that many founders and stakeholders of PDP in Imo State have deserted the party because of the greed of one man .

“The man who claimed to be a a PDP Governorship candidate could not pay the rent  for the party’s office. He could not pay staff salaries. He could not fund the party. All he wanted and still wants is naked power to Lord it over everybody. Those who refused to submit to him were targeted for elimination.

“Your Excellency, we could have endured this modern dictator if he had not introduced violence and intimidation into the mix. Is it not a dramatic irony that a man who claims he was contesting the governorship to “keep imo safe again” is the one unleashing violence on innocent PDP members who disagree with him on principles and methodology? Now, in the words of Prof Ola Rotimi in his epic play, THE GODS ARE NOT TO BLAME…..”if a crocodile can eat its own eggs,what will it not do to the flesh of the frog?” Imagine such a man becoming a GOVERNOR!

“In a nutshell,we left PDP to escape assassination. We left PDP because of the inertia of one man. We left PDP because of lack of internal democracy. And we left PDP because the usurper can NEVER win the forthcoming governorship election.

“Yesterday, we could not answer the question of where we are headed.

“Today,we can confidently and comfortably tell the whole world that we are headed to All Progressive Congress ( APC), because of Your Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma,CON, the Executive Governor of Imo State. We are not joining APC”to come and chop”. We are joining APC because it is the party for the future of Imo State and the future of Ndigbo. We are joining APC because of the superlative performance of Your Excellency which no other governor has achieved since the late Chief Sam Mbakwe. We are joining APC because of the impeccable logic of the Imo Charter of Equity and the promise it holds for a better Imo State and for a peaceful political space for everyone.

“Your Excellency, with our exit from PDP, its soul is gone in Imo State. What is remaining is the carcass. As we declared in our press conference yesterday, there is going to be a tsunami of defections from PDP and we are happy to inform Your Excellency that all are headed to APC ,to join you in your mission to make Imo the state of our collective dreams.

Thank you, Your Excellency, for the opportunity to be with you today

Signed:

1. Sir Martins Ejiogu (Former Deputy Chairman, Imo PDP)

“2. Hon. (Nze) Ray Emeaña (Former State Secretary, Imo PDP)

“3. Barr. Chibuisi Obido (Former State Vice Chairman, Orlu Zone, Imo PDP)

“4. Collins Opurozor (Former State Publicity Secretary, Imo PDP)

“5. Hon. (Mrs.) Maria Mbakwe (Former State Woman Leader, Imo PDP)

“6. Comrade Greg GOC Nwadike ( Former State Youth Leader, Imo PDP)

“7. Barr. Josiah Eze (Former Treasurer, Imo PDP)”

Not a few people thought they were headed yo the Labour Party, LP. That they defected to the APC took many Imolites by surprise, considering the opinion they held on the Governor and his  performance, which, however, most Imolites are hailing to high heavens.

Foreign: Tinubu To Travel To France As President

0
Bola Ahmed Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will travel to France on Tuesday, according to the Presidency.

This was made known in a statement on Monday by the president’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication, and Strategy, Dele Alake.

According to the president’s spokesman, Tinubu will join other world leaders, including President Emmanuel Macron, the host,  to review and sign a New Global Financial Pact that places vulnerable countries on priority list for support and investment, following devastating impact of climate change, energy crisis, and after effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The trip is Tinubu’s first since he came to power as President and Commander-in-chief, on May 29.

The Summit, which will be hosted by President Emmanuel Macron of France, will be held at Palais Brongniart.

According to Alake, the two-day Summit will look at opportunities to restore fiscal space to countries that face difficult short-term financial challenges, especially the most indebted; mobilise innovative financing for countries vulnerable to climate change; foster development in low-income countries, and encourage investment in “green” infrastructure for the energy transition in emerging and developing economies.

“The President will be accompanied by members of the Presidential Policy Advisory Council and senior government officials. He will return to Abuja on Saturday,” Alake stated.

Gov Adeleke, Sen. Basiru In War Of Words Over Security Situation In Osun

0
Surajudeen Basiru and Ademola Adeleke

By Ayodele Oni

Osun state Governor, Ademola Adeleke and the immediate past Senate Spokesperson,  Surajudeen Basiru, are presently tackling each other over the security situation in the State.

Governor Adeleke, through his Chief Press Secretary, Olawale Rasheed, was first to challenge the former Senator, accusing him of bringing into the State some strange Policemen.

He called on the Inspector General of Police, (IGP)  to order the arrest of the Senator and his imported Policemen.

Senator Basiru on Monday fired back, describing the accusations against him by the Osun State governor, as ridiculous, baseless and could only come from such “unserious quarter”.

Basiru in a press statement signed personally said, “My attention has been drawn to a press statement with screaming headline “Call Ajibola Bashiru to Order, Gov Adeleke Tasks IGP” purportedly signed by one Mallam Olawale Rasheed.

“In the said statement, the Governor was said to have alleged that I have imported “some unauthorized policemen into Osun to create confusion, mayhem and destabilize the peace and stability of the state” and that the Inspector General of Police to order the immediate withdrawal of such policemen.

“I do not believe any serious Government, or its spokesman, will spew such rubbish as a press statement, but in case journalists confirm that was released by the Governor’s spokesperson my reactions are:

“That I sympathize with Osun people for allowing comedians to get close to the Government House in Osogbo. They are obviously jittery already that our party, the APC, will kick out their incompetent Government in 2026.

“Obviously, illiteracy is a disease! The accusations by the Governor are ridiculous, baseless and could only come from such unserious quarter.

“If indeed, Jackson Adeleke is concerned with the peace of the State, he should immediately hand over the Police declared criminals that he is harbouring at the Country home in Ede.

“If the intention of Adeleke and his minions is to harass or intimidate me, they are embarking on a failed venture.

“I have instructed my lawyers to consider possible legal action against the said Mallam Rasheed Olawale for defamation of character.”