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Punch is to terminate John Abayomi’s Employment as John sets to sue Linda Ikeji for False Accusation And Defamation Of Character

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On the verge of employment termination at The Punch, Mr Abayomi has denied being the owner of Instablog9ja and has vowed to sue Linda Ikeji in the coming days.

Following Linda Ikeji‘s revelation of a certain John Abayomi who she reported was the owner of the popular and controversial Instagram page InstaBlog9ja, the employers of the man have swung into action almost immediately, vowing to get to the bottom of it and possibly fire him if indeed he’s the brain behind it.

In the LIB report, it was alleged that Abayomi who is currently the online editor of Punch Newspapers and a former editor of Vanguard News had been running the platform since 2015, combining it with his daily duty at the 42-year-old media house.

Instablog9jahas grown to be one of the most followed handles in the Nigerian media space with 1.7 million followers. Using the Linda Ikeji model for publishing gossip and bizarre news, it usurped many a gossip site. Ironically, it was on IBJ9 that the identity of Linda Ikeji’s “baby daddy”, Sholaye Jeremi was first revealed. Before then she had hidden his identity, ostensibly because he’s a married man. While it is not clear if this was a case of her paying him back, what is known is that her story set in motion a chain of events that held the entire Punch Newspapers in a daze today.

Inside sources confirmed that no sooner had the news broke did several board members of Punch gather at the premises of the newspaper on Lagos/Ibadan Expressway for an emergency meeting.

”Abayomi was summoned into a high-level editorial meeting, along with his bosses and the management and everyone is confused about the whole situation” Our sources told us.

Our source further revealed that the main bone of contention was the issue of “moonlight”, the act of having a second job while in full-time employment. We gather that the rule is very strict at Punch Newspapers and the Abayomi’s case is of extreme importance because while the newspaper has a paltry 225,000 followers on Instagram, Instablog on its part has nearly eight times as much- while incurring no overhead costs and on company time.

Our source went on: “Everyone is confused and asking questions. Mr Abayomi is a dedicated man who is always in the office. I wonder where he would get the spare time to handle a blog like Instablog9ja, so I think it is untrue until investigations are complete.”

At the emergency meeting, Abayomi himself was said to have denied the allegation strenuously. He maintained that the report was untrue and a fabrication and vowed to sue Linda Ikeji in the coming days for libel, false accusation and defamation of character.

The identity of the owner and handlers of Instablog has been a mystery to many social media users in Nigeria. There is zero trace of who started it in 2015 or if a team made up of different individuals run it. At various times, a number of names have been touted as owners, including “Lillian” and Hauwa Mohammed of Jaruma Empire. Even when the platform started taking on adverts, the official name on their bank accounts is “Instablog9ja”.

While the management and board of Punch Newspapers took Abayomi at his words today, they have promised to continue investigations into the matter; even as the embattled individual on his part is determined to clear his name.

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Senator Ifeanyi Ubah dies at 52

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The Senator representing Anambra South in the National Assembly, Ifeanyi Ubah, is dead.

Ubah, who was the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil, was said to have died in a hotel in London, the United Kingdom, on Saturday.

He would have been 53 on September 3.

Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed Ubah’s death to our correspondent on Saturday.

He said, “It’s confirmed, but I am sending an official statement soon.”

Ubah, who was re-elected into the 10th Senate under the Young Peoples Party, had last year defected to the All Progressive Congress.

In September 2022, Ubah escaped assassination when he was attacked by gunmen on his way to Nnewi in Enugwu-Ukwu in Anambra State.

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JUST IN: Edo state Assembly impeaches Deputy Governor Shaibu

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The Edo State House of Assembly, on Monday, impeached the state’s Deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu.

The impeachment followed the adoption of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the Assembly to probe allegations of misconduct against Shaibu.

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JUST IN: Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun joins ancestors at 81

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The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun has joined his ancestors after a brief illness.

He joined his ancestors at the age of 81.

It was gathered that the late monarch was taken to the hospital Wednesday morning having stayed indoor throughout Tuesday on account of slight malaria fever, though, he was hail and hearty on Monday during which he personally received few guests that paid him congratulatory visits on his second year anniversary on that day.

Making this announcement was the Baba-Kekere Olubadan and his younger brother, Dr Kola Balogun in a statement by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the late monarch, Oladele Ogunsola.

According to the statement, Dr. Balogun disclosed that Oba Balogun would be buried at his Aliiwo ancestral home by 4.00pm on Friday according to Islamic rites just as he said that the State Governor Seyi Makinde, though already verbally informed, would be formally notified early in the morning.

The late Olubadan was the first most educated to have emerged as Ibadan monarch, a British trained P.hd holder, a former university lecturer, former member of management staff of Shell British Petroleum, former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Nigeria People’s Party, NPP, former Senator and a successful business man.

His last official outing was the Olubadan Advisory Council’s meeting which he presided over last Saturday where the decision to derobed Mogaji Akinsola, Olawale Oladoja was taken.

He however, on Tuesday instructed the Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade to midwife a small committee to deliberate on last Friday’s decision on what should be the position of Ibadan Zone in the proposed newly reconstituted Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

The decision of the small committee was earlier on Thursday ratified by the Olubadan Advisory Council at a meeting presided over by Otun Olubadan and the former governor of Oyo State, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja and was to be taken to the late Oba Balogun for his signature Friday morning so as to meet the deadline for submission to the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters later in the day.

The late Olubadan is survived by wives, children and grandchildren.

Announcing the passage of the monarch, Governor Makinde, in a statement, stated that Olubadan, who joined his ancestors late Thursday evening at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, described him as an epitome of royal excellence and a great achiever, who made great marks on Ibadanland in just a little over two years of his reign.

He expressed his condolences to the Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland and Oyo State, praying to God to grant repose to the soul of the deceased monarch.

Makinde said: “With total submission to the will of God, I announce the passing unto glory of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr. Mohood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland.

“A mighty Iroko has fallen; Oba Dr. Balogun has joined the ancestors.

“In Kabiyesi, Ibadanland had a cosmopolitan and well-experienced Olubadan, who made indelible marks on the sands of history and achieved greatly within a short while.

“On behalf of the Government and good People of Oyo State, I condole with the immediate family of the Oba Dr. Balogun, the Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland.

“It is my prayer that God grants repose to the soul of our late monarch.”

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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