The group, in a statement signed by its President, Adeniji Kazeem, in Lagos, said Okunnu’s life exemplified leadership, service and vision.

The group said Okunnu’s distinguished career as a former Federal Commissioner of Works, combined with his continued role as a voice of reason and guidance on national issues, had earned him enduring respect across Nigeria and beyond.

It noted that his contributions to the Ansar‑ud‑Deen Society had been transformative.

The statement noted that Okunnu’s “donation of a parcel of land to the society stands out as a lasting legacy, now serving as a critical source of funding for the re-positioning and development of the society’s programmes.

“Beyond this, his numerous other acts of support, guidance, and philanthropy are too numerous to count, each leaving an indelible mark on the Society and inspiring generations of members.”

The group also described Okunnu as a mentor to young people, a distinguished King’s College, Lagos alumnus, and a custodian of the nation’s history.

“His almost photographic recollection of the history of Lagos and Nigeria affirms his status as a national treasure, whose wisdom continues to enlighten and guide society.

“Through his counsel and example, he has influenced not only the society but also institutions such as Summit University, where his support has had a lasting and meaningful impact,” it added.

According to the group, Okunnu remains a pillar of inspiration, a standard of integrity, and a beacon of guidance for current and future generations.

The group prayed for continued health, joy, and divine blessings for Okunnu and expressed profound gratitude for his lifelong contributions, which have helped shape the society and inspired the wider community.

Source: NAN

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MURIC said there was palpable fear that the mosque was going to be demolished.

The appeal is contained in a statement issued on Monday by the founder and executive director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The statement reads: “Residents and traders of Falomo Police Barracks, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos (Falomo ‘A&B’) got wind of a plan to demolish the buildings on both sides of the barracks about three weeks ago (July 2024). The information threw the Muslim Community into a state of uncertainty as the whole barracks was ordered to vacate within one month.

“The Muslim community is deeply worried that worshippers may be deprived of the opportunity to continue using the only mosque in the neighbourhood if the planned demolition affects their mosque.

“It may be necessary to go down the lanes of history to reveal the background and structural status of the mosque as a way of supplying necessary information. Falomo Police Barracks Mosque was built in 1970 and reconstructed in 2006 after due approval via an official letter issued by the Deputy Inspector General of Police ‘C’ Department. The letter was dated 22nd August 2006. The mosque is also properly registered (CAC/IT/NO 77616). The mosque sits on a land space of 376.48 square meters.

“In view of the elitist status of the mosque’s board of trustees which include eminent Lagosians like Alhaja Lateefat Okunnu, a former deputy governor in Lagos State and Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti, the current Deputy President of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), necessary steps are taken regularly to ensure that due process is followed in all matters affecting the mosque.

“One of such actions was an integrity test carried out by a certified independent tester company whose result was satisfactory. The same result was also confirmed by a related government agency thereby affirming the perfect condition of the mosque building. We can therefore confidently assert that the mosque building does not suffer from any structural defect.

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“Falomo Police Barracks Mosque is more than a mosque. It is a beehive of daily, weekly and monthly spiritual and enlightenment activities. The five daily worships are attended by no less than 200 worshippers each time. Jumuah prayer on Fridays is attended by no less than 1,000 males and females.

“Besides these spiritual activities, the mosque also renders educational, social and health services. It conducts free madrasah where both the young and old learn the Qur’an. The mosque has also been organising free medical outreach for the past ten years.

“Free meals are given to people of all faiths in Ramadan since 2010 and a total of 12,000 meals were served in 2024 Ramadan alone. At least 50 people participate yearly in I’tikaaf (spiritual seclusion) in the last ten days of Ramadan. The mosque recently added daily feeding programme in conjunction with Dangote Foundation, Ibeji Foundation, etc in response to the ravaging hunger in society.

“In view of the sine qua non humanitarian services offered by the Falomo Police Barracks Mosque as well as the immense and verifiable benefits accruing to the worshippers and their neighbours (both Muslims and non-Muslims), MURIC hereby appeals to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and other relevant authorities to exempt the mosque from the planned demolition exercise.

“Demolition of the mosque will definitely create a yawning vacuum because man is body, soul and spirit. Both the Muslim policemen and businessmen need recourse to their Maker at the appropriate times and within reasonable distance. Incidentally this is the only mosque for police officers and businessmen and women in the vicinity whereas there are many churches in the neighbourhood.

“Apart from the humanitarian services being rendered regularly by the mosque’s board of trustees which will stop immediately if the mosque is demolished, the constitutional provision on freedom of worship contained in Section 38(i&ii) makes it most advisable for the authorities to exempt religious buildings within the complex (the mosque and the church in Falomo A&B) from the impending demolition exercise so that they can continue to serve Falomo and Ikoyi communities.

“In a country bedevilled with gymnastic religiousity and extreme spiritual ideology leading to widespread violence as exemplified by the Boko Haram phenomenon with the attendant humongous waste of lives and properties, Nigerian authorities will be taking a wise decision if a mosque like Falomo Police Barracks which engages in the above-mentioned corrective and reformatory activities is spared from a demolition exercise.”

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Atuche and Ugo Anyanwu, a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, were both found guilty of 22 of the 27 counts of conspiracy and stealing charge proffered against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in 2011.

Okunnu found Atuche’s wife, Elizabeth, who faced trial  alongside the duo, not guilty of two counts of conspiracy and stealing brought against  her.

Atuche and Anyanwu were sentenced at night time following a very lengthy judgment that began at 9:12 a.m. and ended at 9:21 p.m.

After convicting Atuche and Anyanwu at 8:18 p.m., the judge asked if they had any plea to make.

They answered in the affirmative.

Addressing the court, Atuche begged not to be sent to jail.

He prayed Okunnu to temper justice with mercy.

“All the time I was the MD of Bank PHB, I gave my all to the bank.

“Never at any material time did it occur to me that I would set up a scheme to defraud the bank.

“I plead for mercy, leniency, your kindness, and I plead that out of your kindness and generosity, you will not allow me to go to jail.

“I am sorry and remorseful,” he said.

Atuche told the court that as a professional banker and chartered accountant, he certainly did not want to become a convict.

“I pray that God will place in your heart to be kind.

“I plead from the bottom of my heart. I’m extremely sorry;  today will be a turning point in my life, I’m very sorry,” he begged.

Atuche’s counsel, Mr Paul Nneoma, in his plea for mercy, described Atuche as a responsible family man who had never been convicted of any crime.

He appealed to the court to give Atuche a fine instead of incarceration, in order to preserve his professional career.

Pleading  also, Anyanwu told the court that he was the only son of a police officer who died when he was barely a year old.

He said that he grew up on the premise of hard work.

“What I achieved in the banking industry is by stint of hard work. I have suffered in the last 10 years of this trial.

“I am sorry if I was appearing cocky in the witness box during my examination-in-chief.

“I have two kids who are barely teenagers. They look up to their father, and I wonder what kind of impact this will have on them.

“Please temper justice with mercy,” Anyanwu prayed.

Anyanwu’s counsel, Mr Silva Ogwemoh (SAN),  also begged for mercy on his client.

He said that one of Anyanwu’s children had a medical condition requiring special attention.

He added that Anyanwu was hypertensive, urging that the court should take judicial notice of the COVID-19 pandemic and impose a fine on him instead of  custodial sentence.

Reacting to the pleas of the defendants,  EFCC team led by Mr Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), requested for a stiff sentence as well as an order of restitution against the convicts.

He said that Lagos State government spent much funds and resources prosecuting the case in the past 10 years.

“We were taken to the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court several times by the defendants.

“During the trial, they were rude and cocky. That is not remorse, the third defendant (Anyanwu) decided to hold unto his loyalty to his boss (Atuche) against his loyalty to the state.

“We pray the court imposes the maximum sentence and orders restitution,” he said.

Okunnu eventually sentenced Atuche to six years’ jail term and gave Anyanwu four years’ imprisonment

She equally made an order for restitution.

The judge said Atuche abused his position of trust by stealing from the bank.

“By stealing from the bank, they stole from innocent customers of the bank.

“I hereby make an order of restitution against the first and third defendants to refund the sums stated in counts one to 11, 14 and 24.

“The sums are to paid to the relevant agencies that recovered the funds on behalf of the bank,” she ordered.

Source: NAN

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