Abuja: Nigerian-British Grammy-winning singer and songwriter, Mark Olayinka, professionally know man as Talay Riley, dies at age 35 after a fatal stabbing in Silvertown, East London, on Friday.
The tragic incident occurred around 9 a.m on Pankhurst Avenue. Emergency responders discovered Orabiyi with severe stab wounds in a nearby garden on Rayleigh road, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Talay’s death was confirmed in a statement released by his family on Instagram handle @Queencleo, described their loss as an “overwhelming sadness”.
Throughout his career, he wrote and contributed to chart-topping hits for major international artists, including Chipmunk’s UK number-one single “Oopsy Daisy” and tracks for Dua Lipa, Usher, and Britney Spears.
NAN reports that his sudden passing triggered an outpouring of tributes around the globe as the family remembered Riley not only for his professional accomplishments, but also for his character.
Notable singers, including Stormzy, took to the comment section to write, “I’m sorry bro”.
Craig David said, “Sending so much love to you and the family. His beautiful energy will continue to be felt and shown from the other side”.
Riley was a highly acclaimed musical talent in the UK grime and R&B scenes. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Mrs Oluwakemi Oyeteju James, the late wife of Michael James, a journalist and former Editor of Ovation International Magazine, has been scheduled for burial April 1.
According to a statement by James on Sunday, the funeral rites for the mother of two would be held between March 31 and April 1.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that James is currently the Senior Special Assistant (Lagos Liaison) to Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom.
“While the service of songs will take place on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at the Stella Hall of Daystar Christian Centre, on Ikosi Road, Oregun, Lagos between 4pm and 6pm, the Funeral Service will hold the day after at the same venue, from 10am to 11am.
“The interment, after the service, is a strictly family affair,” the statement said.
Fondly called Kemi, the businesswoman died on March 12.
“As the first child of the family, she was born on July 29, 1972 to Army Captain Yemisi and Ololade Oyediran, married James on February 8, 2006, and they have two children: Kufreabasi and Anietientebasi.
“She began her primary education in Shomolu, Lagos before transiting to Shepherdhill Girls High School, Obanikoro, Lagos from 1984 to 1986, and finishing at Federal Government Girl’s College, Oyo (1986-1990).
“She attended the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos (1994-1996), and Yaba College of Technology (1997-1999), also in Lagos, for her Higher National Diploma.
“Professionally, she had her first industrial training attachment at First Bank of Nigeria PLC, Ikeja Branch, where she worked in the Savings Department.
“Her next stint as an intern was at African Concord Magazine, where she served as a Reporter/Researcher.
“Later, she served at Modern Design and Associate, Ikeja, Lagos, where she worked at the Proof Reading and Finishing Department.
“In 2000, she served the nation through the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
“She was posted to Lagos and served meritoriously at the Lagos State Printing Corporation.
“After her service, she became a Marketing Executive at Swift Freight International (Nig) Limited.
“She was at Swift for three years before she went into private business.
“After trying her hands on various endeavours, she decided to turn her passion for cooking into business with the establishment of Limelight Caterings Limited.
“Her initial clients were very close family and friends, but through a dint of hard work, she gradually grew the business to an enviable height where she handled large scale corporate and private events.
“Her forte was healthy cooking. She prided her brand as one that only deploys healthy and organic materials-and this won many hearts,” the statement concluded.
I once lived beside a mortuary.
Not close to it, but beside it.
Just an incomplete fence separated the house from the mortuary. If you stretched your neck, you could literally see the mortuary.
Every day.
Dead bodies coming in.
Mourners crying.
Ambulances arriving.
Silence afterwards.
The house had six flats and I was the only tenant.
Not because the rent was expensive.
Not because the house was bad.
People were simply afraid.
The mortuary scared them.
But for me, that was the cheapest place I could afford during a mission assignment, and when you are pursuing purpose, comfort becomes secondary.
So I moved in.
And for months, I lived there alone.
Every morning I stepped out, I saw the reality many people spend their lives trying to ignore.
Death.
Not in theory.
Not in movies.
Not in sermons.
Real life.
Stretchers going in.
Bodies being wheeled out.
Families shattered in minutes.
I suddenly realize that the things people fight over, destroy relationships over, envy each other over, are incredibly temporary.
The car someone is killing himself to impress people with…
One day it will drive behind a hearse.
The house someone built with pride…
One day people will gather there for a condolence visit.
The body people spend years idolizing…
One day it will lie lifeless on a cold metal table.
*Life is short.*
*Purpose is urgent.*
*Eternity is real.*
Many evenings I would stand quietly and watch as families arrived crying uncontrollably.
Some of the people inside those freezers probably had plans for next week.
Appointments.
Meetings.
Projects.
Dreams.
But life had other plans.
And every day I asked myself a question
If my own body was wheeled into that mortuary tomorrow, what would my life have stood for?
Not popularity.
Not noise.
Not social media impressions.
But impact.
That season recalibrated my thinking forever.
*It taught me that the clock of destiny is always ticking, even when we are wasting time arguing about irrelevant things*.
Some people reading this are waiting for the “perfect time” to obey God.
The perfect time to start the assignment.
The perfect time to preach.
The perfect time to forgive.
The perfect time to reconcile.
The perfect time to become serious with God.
*Life does not always announce when it is ending*.
The people inside those cold rooms didn’t plan it that way.
And yet there they were.
Which means one thing.
The greatest tragedy in life is not death.
The greatest tragedy is reaching the end of life and discovering you never truly lived for what mattered.
Allah(subhanahu wa ta’aala) calls our attention to this in Quran 16: 90:
“*Whatever is with you, will be exhausted and whatever is with Allah(of good deeds) will remain. And those who are patient, We will certainly pay them in reward according to the best of what they used to do”*
We are all on a journey that has an end .
Please let’s ponder on this,
Let us live right and always remember our end.
{copied}
Yah Robi, Yah Allah,
grant us a fulfilled life and bless us with a good end🤲🏽🤲🏽
*As-salaam alaykum warahmatullah wa barakaatuhu and good morning*
MAJOR groups, which late Barrister Princess Mediatrix Nwamaka Chigbo, who was murdered by kidnappers in Abuja, on January 5, have roled out a programme of activities to honour her before her corpse is taken to her home state, Anambra.
The groups, who have announced their activities are the Blessed Iwene Tansi Catholic Community of St. Mary John Vianney, SJMV, Lugbe, Abuja, and Global Association of Female Attorneys, GAFA.
According to SJMV, there will be a three-day prayers, hymns and Requiem Mass for late Barrister Chigbo at SJMV Catholic Church, Lugbe, Abuja, F.C.T.
The activities will begin tomorrow Monday, January 12, by 5.30pm and will be led by Sacred Heart Society. This will be followed by evening Mass.
On Tuesday, January 13, Iwene Tansi Community will lead the prayers starting by 5.30pm and end with the celebration of evening Mass.
On Wednesday, January 14, there will be Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of late Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix Chigbo to round off the prayer sessions starting 6.00pm.
On Thursday, January 15, Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Procathedral, Area 3, Abuja, will celebrate Requiem Mass for the soul of late Barrister Chigbo. All the society she belongs such as Infant Jesus, Mother of Perpetual Help, Legion of Mary, Divine Mercy are expected to be at the Mass.
The Requiem Mass will begin by 6pm.
Additionally, the Global Association of Female Attorneys will host a night of tribute on Friday, January 16, to honour the life, legacy, and cherished memories of Princess Mediatrix Chigbo.
According to Chinelo Virginia Iriele, president, Global Association of Female Attorneys, “This will be a moment of reflection, remembrance, and mutual support as we celebrate a life well lived and bid her a peaceful farewell.
“Though words may never fully capture the depth of our sorrow, your presence will mean a great deal to us as we come together to honour her enduring impact and beautiful legacy.”
The venue for the night of tribute is
Delight Garden and Park, Plot 990, Joshua Madaki Close, Apo Zone E, By Start-Rite School, Abuja.
The event will start by 4:00pm and the dress code is black.
Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix Chigbo
Realnews reports that the late Barrister Chigbo’s family announced the death of Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix Chigbo, an Abuja-based lawyer, at the hands of still-to-be-identified kidnappers in the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory on Monday, January 5, 2026.
Nwamaka was the elder sister of Dr. Maureen Chigbo, Editor/Publisher of Nigeria’s pioneer online Realnews Magazine, Barrister Mrs. Anthonia Ejenike of the Ministry of Justice, and Nwakaego Chigbo. Her brothers are Celestine Chigbo of Jogene Enterprises and Gerald Chigbo of Sparklinks Nigeria Ltd.
According to a statement by the Chigbo’s family, Nwamaka, before her abduction, was on the phone with Anthonia, another sister, who briefly interrupted the call to attend to a client.
“When Anthonia reverted, Nwamaka’s phone was still live, with her distress cry heard in the background before the phone suddenly went dead and unreachable,” the statement added.
“Anthonia alerted her elder sister, Maureen Chigbo, and other family members, who called the lawyer’s number repeatedly to reach her or her abductors to no avail,” the statement continued, adding that: “When a call finally went through, a male voice rained curses in English and Hausa language, saying: “Thunder fire you there, send three million Naira or else we will kill her.”
According to the statement, the captors gave no further details and abruptly terminated subsequent calls.
The family contacted the police, who sprang into action, assuring that they were tracking the kidnappers, who were said to be “in motion and would likely drop the lawyer off once they might have collected the ransom,” the statement further said.
“The kidnappers never initiated any calls, and when Nwamaka’s family members reached them through her phone for clarification on how the ransom would be paid, they only heard the lawyer screaming in pain, “I am dying. …save me, please send the money, I am dying,” before the phone finally went dead again,” the statement added.
While making frantic efforts for Nwamaka’s rescue, the family said, they were informed on Tuesday, 6th January, that “a lady had been found in a critical condition and taken to an Abuja specialist hospital.”
According to the statement, Maureen “immediately took a flight from Lagos to Abuja and on reaching the hospital, saw her sister’s lifeless body in the mortuary with bruises, swollen eyes and a cracked skull, all signs of a tortured death.”
The Chigbo family has met with the Police authorities, who assured them that the case was under investigation and that the culprits would be apprehended, the statement added.
Nwamaka was a former Treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja, a member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, and the Global Association of Female Lawyers, GAFA. She had also served as President of the Catholic Lawyers Association, Abuja Branch.
A devout Catholic, Nwamaka authored a book on Infant Jesus, and until her death, was the vice president of the Infant Jesus Association, and a member of the Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Group.
According to the statement, her family has expressed its “gratitude to the Police for their efforts and cooperation so far, and urges the force to ensure that justice is served in Nwamaka’s case.”
The family also thanked “Nwamaka’s friends, colleagues and well-wishers for their support and prayers,” the statement said, adding that her funeral arrangements “will be announced as soon as possible.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed a sense of loss at the passing of Major General Abdullahi Mohammed Adangba (rtd.), a former Chief of Staff to Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Yar’Adua.
General Mohammed, who died at the age of 86, left indelible marks on the nation’s security architecture, particularly in the establishment of the National Security Organisation, the precursor to the State Security Services, the National Intelligence Agency, and the Defence Intelligence Agency.
(General Abdullahi Mohammed Adangba)
He was also Governor of the defunct Benue-Plateau State between 1975 and 1976, a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on (Information and Strategy) disclosed
President Tinubu describes General Mohammed as a disciplined, loyal, and patriotic officer whose remarkable service to the nation spanned decades, marked by distinguished contributions to Nigeria’s stability and governance.
The President notes that General Mohammed brought to public service an uncommon sense of duty, order, humility and integrity that left a lasting imprint on the institutions he served and the people who came into contact with him, particularly in the State House, where he was instrumental in shaping the workings of the Presidency.
“He was a man of exemplary character, who combined the precision of a soldier with the prudence of a statesman.
His years in the State House were marked by humility, efficiency, and unwavering commitment to the Nigerian project,” the President says.
President Tinubu commiserates with the family, government, and people of Kwara State, the Nigerian Armed Forces, and all who mourn this
distinguished son of Nigeria.
**ABUJA, Nigeria: – The President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel, has extended his heartfelt condolences to the Nigerian sporting fraternity following the passing of Engr. Ifedayo Akindoju, the President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF).
Until his death, Engr. Akindoju was a highly respected member of the Nigeria Olympic Movement, a sports administrator par excellence, and a significant figure in both Nigerian and African tennis. A true leader, he served diligently as President of the NTF, a position where he was renowned for his dedication, passion, and vision for developing the sport.
Engr. Akindoju’s influence extended across the continent, as he also served as the Treasurer of the Confederation of African Tennis (CAT).
His leadership was further demonstrated through his roles as a member of the Executive Board of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Chairman of the Committee for the Nigeria House Project for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and President of the Abuja Country Club.
His tenure at the NTF was characterised by a strong focus on grassroots development, with the goal of producing the next generation of world-class Nigerian tennis players. Tributes describe him as a “visionary leader” whose commitment left an “indelible mark.”
He was personally involved in sponsoring events, including the annual VEMP Open tennis championship, and his company, Dayak Nigeria Limited, was noted for bankrolling tournaments to provide players and officials with international exposure.
In a statement, released by NOC Public Relations Officer,nTony Nezianya, Engr. Gumel described his colleague’s death as a major blow to the nation’s sports community.
“His death is a huge loss, not only to the tennis family he left behind but to the entire Olympic Movement and the sport of arm wrestling, which he was also closely associated with,” said Engr. Gumel.
“I pray that the Almighty God forgives his transgressions here on earth and admits his soul into paradise, while granting his family and all who miss him the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
The will await further directive from late Akindoju family to announce the funeral plan.
Tony Nezianya
PRO NOC
08033034910
tonynezianya@gmail.com
The wife of the Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Iyanda Oyedotun, Olori Abosede Funmilayo, has passed away.
It was gathered that Olori Abosede died on Thursday.
Details surrounding her death could not be immediately ascertained at the time of filing this report.
In his condolence message shared online, a UK-based Nigerian pastor from Ila Orangun, Pastor Adelani Ayeni, described Olori Abosede’s death as a great loss to the royal institution and the entire Ila Orangun community.
According to him, she was a devoted wife, a committed Olori, a faithful servant of God, and the beloved consort of the Orangun of Ila.
He wrote “OLORI Abosede Funmilayo,The Eesaya Orangun Ile Ila.
“What a great loss to the Royal Institution of the Orangun of Ila and the entire Ila Orangun community!
“A devoted wife, a committed Olori, a faithful servant of God, and the beloved consort of the Orangun of Ila, Alaiyeluwa Oba Wahab Iyanda Oyedotun, Bibire I.
“The last time we spoke, you told me you were sick but recovering well. It grieves my heart that you are gone so soon.
“May the Lord comfort Baba Kabiyesi, your children, the royal household, and the entire Ila Orangun community.
Flowerbud News/ Yusuf Lawal, the late elder brother to the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali M. Ali, was on Wednesday buried in Kano according to Islamic rites.
Late Mr Lawal, 61, died on Wednesday after a protracted illness at his residence in Tudun-Wada Quarters of Nasarawa Local Government Area.
The Janazah (funeral) prayer was conducted at the Tudun-Wada graveyard and was attended by NAN MD, family members, friends, and well-wishers, including members of the media community.
The remains were later interred at the Tudun-Wada cemetery in accordance with Islamic injunctions.
In a brief remark, Mr Ali expressed gratitude to all those who attended the funeral and prayed for the repose of his brother’s soul.
He described his sibling as a fantastic individual who loved family and assumed a fatherly role after their parent’s death.
“He was always there for the family and relatives and he was more like a friend,” the managing director said.
Ali expressed deep sorrow, stating that his brother was a close confidant and partner, almost like a twin.
“I feel exposed and alone due to his brother’s passing, especially since he represented the family while the I was away for my career.
“I admire his my brother’s simple, frugal life and his dedication to family, including extended ties.
“Everyone will eventually pass away and finds solace in the Quranic verse about death, ours it’s just a matter of time before we are reunited,” Ali said.
Similarly, the eldest son of the deceased, Ahmad Yusuf, described his father as a good man.
He explained that his father took very good care of them and he would continue to pray for him.
Late Mr Yusuf is survived by one wife and six children.
