General
PHOTOS: Dr Olubiyi, Siblings Honour Late Father
By Dipo Olowookere
On Thursday, April 15, 2021, family members and associates of Dr Tmileyin Olubiyi gathered at the Vaults and Garden Cemetery, Ikoyi, Lagos, for the one-year remembrance of the late Chief Sehindemi Hezekiah Awe Olubiyi.
At the event, the children and friends of the late founder of the Awe Olubiyi Builders, a construction giant in Lagos, took turns to pay tribute to the late icon.
His first son, Dr Olubiyi, in his tribute, said, “I have lovely memories of my dear father, death and parting hurts but his memories are with me all characterized by genuine affection, dedication, and dependability.
“Even though I wanted you to stay longer with us, we cannot question God, with a why? It pleases the Lord to call you home to rest; therefore, we are all pleased with His wish.
“I knew it had to happen at some point, of course. It’s the cycle of life. Therefore, my consolation and that of others is that Baa’ba Awe is in a better place, resting with no pain or illness. A very hard worker and a dependable father, I must say, your memories linger each day, particularly joining Baa’ba Awe for prayers every morning growing up, a pleasant experience and a dad per excellence.
“Continue to worship the Lord face to face with the angels. My thoughts and prayers are with you, and we do miss you deeply. Rest on peacefully, dad. Love you always!”
Chief Olubiyi was born on May 27, 1950, to the late and first Odofin of Iponda Land, king David Erinopojo Olubiyi and late madam Abolaji Victoria Olubiyi (nee Ayeni) of Igbogi Ilesa both townships in Obokun Local Government Area Ilesha Osun State Nigeria.
Chief Awe Olubiyi was the first illustrious son of the union. The great kingdom and family hailed from Ikole Ekiti in the old Western Region, the present-day Ekiti State. He spent the early part of his life with his mother because of the demise of the king when he was at a tender age.
He was raised by his mother alone; he showed gratitude to his mother at an early stage of work-life for this gesture by building and gifting Abolaji Cottage in Iponda Osun to show appreciation for the care and motherly love.
He arrived in Lagos State in the 60s to pursue his career in construction, mobility and decision that eventually brought a generational shift to the family. He moved and settled in Somolu Bariga at a young age; however, he was intensely focused, strong-minded and resolute to make it.
Consequently, with verse training and formal education, he eventually became a well experienced and hardworking construction magnate and builder.
After adequate diverse working experience and acquiring needed entrepreneurial skills, he was able to register and incorporate the company – Awe Olubiyi Builders, a business he managed and run privately till retirement.
Before losing counts, his remarkable odyssey in building development in Nigeria recorded over 400 completed and delivered residential and commercial building, to companies, governments, and high net worth individuals in Nigeria and Diaspora. Even after retirement, in 2014 he continued to make strategic contributions to property management and construction because he was passionate, diligent and devoted to the profession and sector.
He was married for many years till his last breath to Mrs Titilayo Elizabeth Olubiyi the beloved, committed wife and a retired civil servant of the Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria.
The union is blessed with bright, focused sons and daughters who are professionals and who are equally happily married with kids. The first son, Dr Timilehin Olasoji Olubiyi, followed by the first daughter – Mrs Temitope Adeola, the second daughter is Mrs Olufunmbi Beckley, the second son is Mr Olabode Olubiyi and the third son, and the last born is Mr Oluwatobiloba Olubiyi.
Baa’ba Awe, as he was fondly called, embraced the tenets of Jesus Christ on kindness and giving. It is in the area of giving that he built his most considerable reputation, he gave without restraints or reservations but passionately.
The act of giving to Baa’ba Awe was a way of life and he exhibited that undoubtedly. Both at work and home, he could not stand or bear the sight of anyone in distress, particularly basic needs such as food, shelter and funds. Chief Awe Olubiyi was a devoted, prayerful and committed Christian and a selfless member of the Cherubim and Seraphim church.
One particular hobby he enjoyed was travelling, and for that reason, he toured South Africa, the Republic of Benin, Ghana, India, Dublin-Ireland, United Kingdom, Jerusalem, Dubai (UAE), amongst others.
He was a lover of pets, especially dogs, monkeys and parrot birds and he equally enjoyed watching the Discovery channel on DSTV. He was known for his warm hospitality and kind gesture in Alagbado Lagos State, Ilaje Ilesa Osun State and Arepo Ogun State communities where he resided before the call to glory.
Also, within the family, residential associations and church societies, he was well known as a compassionate and benevolent peacemaker.
On the home front his wife, sons, daughters and grandchildren exceedingly loved Baa’ba Awe chiefly because of his profound attention and commitment to family ties.
He made the home front comfortable for everyone before he rested in the Lord on April 15, 2020, at about 12.15 am. He will be sorely missed by immediate family, staff, friends, associates, neighbours and other relations.
He will be fondly remembered for his amiable smiles, accessibility and his ever readiness to help. He is survived by his wife, sons, daughters, and many grandchildren. May he find a place in the bosom of his Maker and may his soul continue to rest peacefully, Amen.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to vacate the court ordering the freezing of the bank account of the Osun Srate government.
In a statement today by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President said he’s “deeply embarrassed not by the EFCC’s exercise of its mandate backed by a court order” because of its timing, which is just a few days to the governorship election in the state next Saturday.
According to him, actions of an institution of State, especially at the Federal level, is always credited to me, as the President, even when I may not have had any prior knowledge of the action.
“Since assuming office, I have consistently maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies must be allowed to discharge their statutory responsibilities independently, professionally, without fear or favour, or political interference. I have therefore deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC or any other investigative or prosecutorial agency because I firmly believe that strong democratic institutions, operating within the confines of the law, are indispensable to democratic good governance and the rule of law.
“As President, I am committed to allowing institutions of State to function and take any action they consider necessary in the interest of proper governance without the need for any prior approval. Indeed, that is why institutions are set up by law with clearly defined powers. While I am yet to be fully apprised of the facts which informed the action of EFCC in approaching the court to obtain the said order freezing the Osun State Government account, I am not in the slightest doubt that the timing of the action of EFCC is inauspicious, and therefore I feel compelled to intervene.
“Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the federal government is being used to interfere with the election.
“Based on the foregoing premise, I am duty-bound to issue a directive on this issue in consonance with the overriding public interest in preserving public confidence and the integrity, credibility, and fairness of our democratic process.
“Accordingly, I have directed the EFCC to immediately proceed to the court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it has instituted against the Osun State Government in this regard,” the statement stated.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained why it initiated a move to freeze the bank account of the Osun State government.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Governor of Osun State, Mr Ademola Adeleke, claimed that the anti-money laundering agency asked one of its bankers, First Bank, not to release funds to the state government.
According to the Governor, this was part of the strategies to frustrate his administration ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election in the state.
Reacting to the issue on Wednesday night, the EFCC, in a statement, said it has been investigating the state government since March 2026 over an alleged “fraudulent handling of Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) account to the tune of N11.0 billion.
The organisation noted that some officials of the state government, especially the Accountant General of the State, have had interview sessions with investigators of the EFCC.
“These ongoing investigations of the state government would not have warranted any placement of Post No Debit order on its account but for the precipitate and unwarranted movement of funds from the accounts to different suspicious accounts since August 2, 2026.
“The commission noticed huge transfers of funds into different corporate entities and had to swiftly halt the trend by freezing the accounts from which such heavy funds are being moved,” parts of the statement said.
In the disclosure, the agency noted that its preventive mandate is a public-inclined framework of safeguarding public funds, assets and resources, stressing that it cannot “watch idly while a state government’s account is being pillaged.”
“While the commission is fully aware of the impending governorship election in Osun State, it has a responsibility to act in defence of the sanctity of the funds of the state. It will be uncharitable for the commission to allow an excuse of an upcoming election to fold its arms to perform its legally-assigned functions,” it pointed out.
The EFCC disclosed that it is “keeping watch over the finances of other states like Osun State. Many of these states are on the investigative radar of the commission to ensure accountability and probity. The commission has always pointed out that it is non-partisan and non-sectarian but always working in the overall interests of Nigerians. The Osun State government account was frozen to save public funds from being looted.”
The organisation urged the public “to ignore false narratives and deliberate demonisation of the works of the EFCC. The interests of all Nigerians are greater and will always be protected by the commission.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has launched a mobile application designed to monitor fuel consumption patterns in real time across retail outlets nationwide.
The NMDPRA, established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, is responsible for the technical and commercial regulation of Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations. The deployment of the mobile application aligns with the authority’s broader efforts to leverage technology to improve regulatory compliance and strengthen accountability.
The pilot phase of the project began on August 1 in Abuja and its six Area Councils, the authority said in a statement published on X.
As part of the rollout, the Executive Director for Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure (DSSRI), Mr Ogbugo Ukoha, led a team alongside officials from the Abuja Regional Office to assess the readiness and operational performance of the digital platform at participating retail outlets.
According to the NMDPRA, the application captures inventory and compliance data in real time, enabling regulators to monitor fuel distribution more effectively while improving operational efficiency across the sector.
The authority said the platform would generate reliable, data-driven insights to support evidence-based decision-making, strengthen national energy security planning and enhance transparency in the downstream petroleum industry.
It added that the initiative is expected to provide significant value to government, investors, operators and other stakeholders by improving access to accurate fuel consumption and compliance data.
Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector has undergone significant changes since the deregulation of the petrol market and the removal of fuel subsidies, with regulators placing greater emphasis on data-driven supervision to ensure product availability, prevent supply disruptions and discourage sharp regional disparities in distribution.
