Ope Banwo

12/13/2024

CHIEF AFE BABALOLA CROSS-EXAMINED IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE PEOPLE! [Read Full Transcript here: https://mayoroffadeyi.com/afe-babalola-cross-examined-in-supreme-court-of-the-people/ ]

*LEGAL DISCLAIMER*: This is an Imaginary Conversation. It did NOT happen. It is a fun skit for entertainment purposes only!🤷🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️

*COURT:* Your name, please.
*Chief Afe Babalola* : My name is Afe Babalola, SAN, CON, OFR, FNIALS, FNSE, and Life Bencher, my Lord.
*COURT:* Indeed, an impressive résumé. Let us proceed. Chief Afe, were you fined ₦10 million personally by the Supreme Court in the Bayelsa election case for what they described as “conduct unbecoming of a senior lawyer”?
*CHIEF AFE BABALOLA:* Well… yes, my Lord, but it was just a procedural misunderstanding…

*Court (cuts in):* Procedural misunderstanding? Justice Augie reportedly delivered the ruling with tears in her eyes, castigating you and your fellow SANs for trying to abuse the Supreme Court process by filing a spurious motion to overturn a final judgment. Is that accurate?
*CHIEF AFE BABALOLA:* W-W-Well… y-you s-see, my Lord, it w-was an h-h-honest m-mistake—

*COURT:* Honest mistake? You attempted to overturn the final decision of the Supreme Court, which is supposed to be sacrosanct, and you were sanctioned for it. Is this the conduct of a man upholding the dignity of the judiciary?

*COURT:* Now, let us turn to the Wikileaks report. Chief Afe, are you aware that you were accused of bribing the Court of Appeal with $1.2 million in a case involving an election petition?
*CHIEF AFE BABALOLA:* That is preposterous! A baseless allegation!

*COURT:* Baseless? Did you sue Wikileaks for libel to clear your name?
*CHIEF AFE BABALOLA:* Er… n-n-no, my Lord…

*COURT:* Did you report this grievous allegation to Interpol or the Nigerian Police?
*CHIEF AFE BABALOLA:* N-n-not exactly, m-my Lord—

*COURT:* So, a global platform accused you of bribery, and you neither refuted it publicly nor took legal action? Yet here you are, dragging Mr. Farotimi to court for allegedly defaming you. Curious, isn’t it?
*CHIEF AFE BABALOLA:* W-Well, y-you s-see, it’s n-n-not the s-same, my Lord…

*COURT:* Let us discuss a certain divorce and child custody case. Is it true that you used your influence to involve the police and have a woman arrested for “kidnapping” her own children after she filed a custody case against her abusive husband, who worked at your university?
*CHIEF AFE BABALOLA:* That is a mischaracterization—

*Court (interrupts)* : Mischaracterization? A doctor has come forward, willing to testify that you personally returned the children to their father without any formal court hearing while the mother languished in jail. Did this happen, yes or no?
*CHIEF AFE BABALOLA:* W-Well, the s-s-situation was c-c-complex—

*COURT:* Complex? You bypassed due process and used your influence to favor your employee over a mother’s legal rights. Do you consider that the hallmark of fairness and justice?
*CHIEF AFE BABALOLA:* M-my Lord, I… I… w-was only t-trying to h-help…

*COURT:* Let us now address the famous “10 hectares for 248 hectares” error. Chief Afe, do you seriously expect this court to believe that the Supreme Court “accidentally” wrote “10 hectares” instead of “248 hectares”?
*CHIEF AFE BABALOLA:* My Lord, it was a clerical slip—

*COURT:* A clerical slip? 10 and 248 are not similar in sound, structure, or magnitude. You later joined the lawsuit, and suddenly, the court corrected this “slip.” Why didn’t any of the five Supreme Court judges notice this glaring error at the time of judgment?
*CHIEF AFE BABALOLA:* M-My Lord, it’s p-p-possible the slip w-w-was… overlooked—

*COURT* : Overlooked? And this “slip” cost someone billions of naira. Does it not appear curious that such an “error” was only corrected after you got involved?
*CHIEF AFE BABALOLA:* W-Well, I… I d-don’t think it’s f-fair ..

*COURT:* Chief Afe, is it true that Mr. Farotimi was abducted from Lagos by the police and taken to Ekiti, where you are regarded as a god and most influential citizen?
*CHIEF AFE BABALOLA:* I had no direct involvement—

*Court (interrupts):* No involvement? Yet Ekiti has no criminal defamation laws, and the charges were filed there anyway. Did you or did you not orchestrate this forum shopping?
*CHIEF AFE BABALOLA:* N-n-no, m-my Lord… I w-was only p-p-pursuing justice…
*COURT:* Justice? You caused multiple civil lawsuits, State and federal criminal charges (at the expense of the state and fedral govt), and an ex parte order against Mr. Farotimi, all while he languishes in jail without bail. Does this sound like justice to you, or vengeance?
*CHIEF AFE BABALOLA:* I… I… My Lord, it’s n-not v-v-vengeance—I am only trying ot protect my name.

________________________________________
*COURT:* One final question. Chief Afe, what do you say to the argument that your excessive use of state and federal might in this case is proof of the very undue influence Mr. Farotimi accused you of?
*CHIEF AFE BABALOLA:* M-My Lord, I have done n-n-nothing w-w-wrong… He is a rude boy who tried to ruin my 65 year legla career and needs to be taught a lesson.

*COURT* : That remains to be seen. But know this: when you silence critics with handcuffs, ex parte orders, and police interventions, you do not protect your reputation—you confirm every suspicion against you.
*CHIEF AFE BABALOLA:* W-W-Well, I d-d-don’t think—

*Court:* Chief Afe, let’s address another curious development. Is it true that you obtained an ex parte order from the court while Mr. Farotimi was still locked up and unable to respond?
*Afe Babalola (AB):* My Lord, it was a necessary step to protect my reputation—

*Court* (interrupts): Necessary? This “necessary step” essentially granted you a ruling on the substantive issues of the case without giving Mr. Farotimi an opportunity to defend himself. Do you understand how that appears to the public?
*cHIEF AFE bABALOLA* : W-well, m-my Lord, the c-court saw the merit in my c-c-case…

*Court:* The court saw merit in your case? Or was it that the court couldn’t hear the other side because the defendant was languishing in jail under questionable circumstances? Do you believe this aligns with the principles of fairness and justice?
*Afe BABALOLA:* M-my Lord, it w-was an u-unfortunate c-circumstance—

*Court:* Unfortunate? Chief Afe, you have essentially silenced the man who accused you while ensuring that your side of the story becomes the only narrative in the courtroom. Doesn’t this support the allegation that you are an operator who has captured the judiciary for your personal vendetta?
*Afe Babalola* : N-no, m-my Lord, I w-would never…

*Court:* Never? Yet here we are with an ex parte order that undermines the very idea of justice. You’ve turned what should have been a fair trial into a one-sided spectacle. Do you understand how this strengthens the perception that you are using undue influence to manipulate the system?

*Afe Babalola* : I… I… My Lord, I w-was only d-doing what was n-n-necessary to clear my name…

*Court:* Chief Afe, let us revisit the broader implications. You have initiated multiple civil lawsuits, criminal charges, and this ex parte order against Mr. Farotimi. Would you not agree that this goes beyond seeking justice and begins to resemble vengeance?
*Afe Babalola:* M-my Lord, I am only p-p-pursuing my rights…

*Court:* Your rights? While denying Mr. Farotimi the chance to defend his own? You have dragged him to court, orchestrated his arrest, and now obtained an order that essentially determines the case without his input. Does this sound like justice to you or an abuse of the system?
*Afe Babalola:* M-my Lord, I h-have done n-n-nothing w-wrong…

*Court:* Chief Afe, this court cannot ignore the optics. A man makes serious allegations about systemic corruption, including your involvement, and instead of disproving him through a fair and open process, you’ve gone out of your way to stack the deck. You’ve effectively turned a libel case into an indictment of the judiciary itself.

*AFE Babalola:* I… I… My Lord, this is a m-m-misrepresentation—

*Court* : Misrepresentation? Chief Afe, your actions have made this case less about clearing your name and more about confirming the very allegations you claim are false. If anything, the public now has even more reason to believe Mr. Farotimi’s claims, whether he can prove them or not. Do you see how this appears?

*Chief Afe Babalola:* M-my Lord, t-this is n-not fair—

*Court:* Fairness? That’s exactly what the court of public opinion is questioning. Your actions have raised serious doubts about the integrity of our judiciary, and you’ve made yourself the face of those doubts. That will be all for now. But remember, justice is not only about winning in court—it is about maintaining trust in the system. Good luck repairing that.

*COURT:* That will be all for now. We shall continue this cross examination to find out hte real truth later. But the court of public opinion is still in session. Be sure to come in person on next adjourned date. Dont send you acolytes sir.

*Social Influncer Bailiff:* COURT!!!!!

[Stay TUNED FOR PART II Loading…]

12/08/2024

“Dele Farotimi vs. Chief Afe Babalola: Are the New Cybercrime Charges Against Dele Farotimi By AGN Proof of The Kind Of Undue Influence that He Complained About in His book?” [By Dr. Ope Banwo is an Attorney; Public Affairs Commentator and Founder of Naija lives Matter Organization] READ FULL TEXT HERE: https://mayoroffadeyi.com/dele-farotimi-vs-the-state-new-cybercrime-charges/

The recent decision by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to file new charges under the Cybercrimes Act against Dele Farotimi, in addition to the criminal libel charges already instituted by the Ekiti State Attorney General at the instance of Chief Afe Babalola, easily the most prominent lawyer in Ekiti, and arguably the whole of Nigeria, has deepened the controversy surrounding this criminal libel case against Dele Farotimi.

From the point of view of the law, public interest and morality, this development raises serious concerns about potential overreach, the impartiality of the AGF, and the broader implications for public trust in our judicial and legal institutions.

1. A Troubling Escalation of Free Speech from Criminal Libel to Cyber Crime Charges by the Attorney General of the federation
According to the newly filed charges, Farotimi is now accused in FEDERAL COURT, by the AGN, of engaging in acts such as “cyberstalking” and “knowingly publishing false information against the judiciary and certain individuals to cause reputational damage.” While cyberstalking and the intentional spread of misinformation are undoubtedly serious offenses, the timing of these charges—five months after the publication of his book and only after his arrest for criminal libel at the instance of Chief Afe Babalola, a very influential private individual —casts serious doubt on the impartiality of the process, just like most have feared from the very beginning.

The new escalated charges, perceived by many as coming as an afterthought, and more than 5 months after the publication of the book, and AFTER chief Afe has caused Deel Farotimi to be dragged into the dungeons in his stronghold state of Ekiti, albeit with legimitate orders from a legitimate magistrate court, appear to suggest that Dele Farotimi’s book and public commentary have somehow morphed from simple libel, to criminal libel and now into acts of cybercrime overnight.

But can expressing controversial or even offensive opinions about the judiciary, however sweeping or unguarded or offensive, reasonably be construed as cybercrime? This feels like a stretch, especially given the context of a heated public dispute between 2 private individuals over the fallout of a case they both handled for their respective clients.

More worrisome is the fact that these charges were not brought forward until after Farotimi was detained on the instigation of a petition filed by Chief Afe Babalola—a highly respected figure in the Nigerian legal community and the former employer of the AGF.

In Yoruba language our elders have a saying “that the witch cried yesterday, and the child died this morning, who does not know that it was the witch of yesterday that was responsible for the death of the child?” It wont matter to the people if the cry of the witch has nothing to do with the death of today. Everyone will be convinced that’s the case.

2. The Optics of Undue Influence from the new Move by the AGN
Dele Farotimi’s book alleges that Chief Afe Babalola wields undue influence over organs of state, particularly the judiciary. While these are serious allegations that must be substantiated, the actions of the AGF in this matter do not pass the smell test of impartiality.

Its public knowledge that the AGF once worked in Chief Afe Babalola’s chambers for many years and even earned the coveted rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) while under his mentorship and guidance. The AGF’s decision to now escalate what began as a private matter of libel between his mentor and another lawyer into a broader state-backed prosecution under the Cybercrimes Act only amplifies the perception that private individuals may be exercising undue influence on government actions—even if that is not the case. This by thew way is one of the big claims by Dele Farotimi in his vexatious book to many people the legal profession.

For many Nigerians, the optics of this situation are troubling. The AGF’s involvement at this stage, and in this manner, even beyond and above what the Ekiti police command is already doing to send Dele Farotimi to jail for his audacious speech and book risks lending credibility to Farotimi’s claims of undue influence in our judicial process.

3. A Question of Priorities and Perceived Strategic Missteps
In my humble and most respectful opinion, if the AGF truly believed that Farotimi’s actions constituted a breach of the Cybercrimes Act, why did it take five months for these charges to surface? Why did the AGF wait until after Farotimi had been detained in Ekiti State, under a petition for criminal libel filed by his mentor, to act?

This delayed action undermines the legitimacy of the charges. It gives the impression that the cybercrime allegations are an afterthought—a tool deployed to reinforce the weight of the legal hammer already brought down on Farotimi. It may appear to most people watching that the protégé is now using his sacred office held in trust for the people of Nigeria to settle scores on behalf of his godfather, even if that was not his intention.

From a strategic perspective, at least to my own possibly inexperienced thinking, it would have been far more effective for the AGF to have initiated cybercrime charges earlier and independently of the libel case. By framing the matter as a breach of cybersecurity laws affecting the judiciary as a whole, the AGF could have shielded Chief Afe from public scrutiny while presenting the case as an issue of state interest rather than personal grievance. He could have saved Chief Afe from further reputational damage this whole case is causing him by making him more of an afterthought in the whole matter as opposed to being the instigator batting for the head of Deel Farotimi.

Unfortunately, by acting after the fact, the AGF has inadvertently strengthened the narrative that this is less about protecting the judiciary and more about avenging a personal affront to his benefactor, mentor and godfather.

4. The Issue Of Collateral Damage to the Judiciary and the Legal Profession by this whole affair
This saga about criminalizing the exercise of free speech, instead of making it a civil case like most such case are made, is not just about Dele Farotimi or Chief Afe Babalola anymore—Judging by the most public reaction and most comments on the issue, both and home and abroad, it has now become a referendum on the credibility of the judiciary and the Nigerian Bar Association and now the impartiality of our Attorney General of the Federation.

Allowing this matter to spiral into a public spectacle risks undermining the public’s already fragile trust in the judiciary. The perception that Farotimi is being persecuted for telling the truth—regardless of the veracity of his claims—only reinforces skepticism about the impartiality of the legal system.

This situation calls for introspection within the legal community. The people involved—Farotimi, the alleged victims, and the judges—are all part of the same legal ecosystem and therein may lie a solution that can save our legal institutions and judiciary from further collateral damage. The Nigerian Bar Association and the Nigerian Judicial Commission must step in to mediate and find an internal resolution. Farotimi’s unguarded and sweeping comments about the judiciary deserve censure, and must be censured, but this must be done in a way that minimizes collateral damage to the entire legal profession.

5. The Risk of Inadvertently Turning Dele Farotimi Into a Hero
The government’s heavy-handed approach risks turning Farotimi into a hero for the disillusioned masses. Public confidence in the judiciary and the government is already at an all-time low. By escalating this matter, the AGF may have inadvertently handed Farotimi the platform to position himself as a martyr—a “truth-teller” being silenced by Chief Afe Babalola and his ‘boys’ in government, for his audacity to speak out.

The criminalization of Farotimi’s speech through cybercrime charges only deepens the perception that this is about ganging up on him to silence dissent rather than addressing legitimate grievances raised by Deel Farotimi’s controversial and sweeping gaslighting comments in his book. If anything, this approach could embolden other critics to keep coming out to attack out judges many of whom are actually doing a great job despite some corrupt ones in their midst, and further erode public trust in the judiciary.

6. The Call For Wisdom, Restraint And A Different Approach for The Sake Of Our Legal Proffesion and The Judiciary
This case presents an opportunity for the legal profession to demonstrate leadership. The NBA and NJC must take proactive steps to address this matter internally, ensuring that justice is served without exposing the judiciary and the legal profession to further reputational damage.

No doubt, Dele Farotimi must face accountability for his unprofessional conduct, unless he really can back up his claims, but this must be done in a manner that upholds the dignity of the judiciary and minimizes the fallout for the legal community. The focus should be on rebuilding trust in our institutions, not fueling public cynicism.

Conclusion

In my sincere and strongly considered opinion, the filing of new cybercrime charges against Dele Farotimi raises serious questions about impartiality and overreach of the government in this matter. While Farotimi’s conduct warrants scrutiny, unless he present concrete proofs of his allegations, the approach taken so far risks overshadowing the real issues at stake: the integrity of the judiciary, the credibility of the legal profession, and public confidence in governance.

This is a moment for cooler heads to prevail. Cutting off the head is not a solution to migraine. Let us focus on solutions that strengthen our institutions rather than deepening divisions and suspicions of the public. Anything less risks permanent damage to the very fabric of our legal and democratic systems.

As the Founder of Naija Lives Matter Organization, I believe EVERY LIFE in Nigeria matters, both rich and the poor, the influential and the not-so-influential. As a Nigerian Born lawyer who was admitted to the supreme court of Nigeria since 1986, I also have a personal stake in the Nigerian legal system even if I am not practicing law in Nigeria at this time. Justice must be done in this matter of Dele Farotimi and other cases like it, I agree, but it must also be seen to be done in a fair and transparent manner or none of us public commentators are safe in our country of birth.

READ, COMMENT AND SHARE..... This is a national conversation now about the issue of coruption in our land and how to call it out.

Blog Dele Farotimi vs. Chief Afe Babalola: Are the New Cybercrime Charges Against Dele Farotimi By AGN Proof of The Kind Of Undue Influence He Complained About in His book? December 7, 2024 by The Mayor Of Fadeyi Spread the love“Dele Farotimi vs. The State: Are the New Cybercrime Charges Against D...

12/03/2024

Join The Mayo Of Fadeyi as discuss the major changes introduced by the New Tax Reform BIls Introduced by President Bola Tinubu's Government

12/03/2024

FREE CHATBOT: YOUR GUIDE TO THE NEW TAX BILLS
Explore everything you need to know about the new tax bills being considered in Nigeria!
🔗 https://chatgpt.com/g/g-674e2c26291c8191bc541aa004cc94ae-naija-tax-bot

A lot of discussions about these tax reform bills are happening, but unfortunately, many are rooted in misinformation or a lack of knowledge about the actual content of the proposed laws. Many commentators either haven’t read the bills (which span hundreds of pages) or rely on second-hand opinions from equally uninformed sources.

To address this, I’ve created a FREE CHATBOT trained on all four draft tax bills. This tool allows you to ask any question about the bills and get direct, factual answers without sifting through the documents yourself.

Sample Questions You Can Ask:
* What are the key changes in the new tax bills?
* How does the revised VAT system differ from the old one?
* What impact do these bills have on everyday citizens?
* What are the top 10 updates to Nigeria’s tax laws?
Stay informed and make your arguments based on facts, not hearsay. The chatbot provides instant access to insights from the proposed tax reforms, helping you form well-informed opinions.

💡 It’s free, easy, and ready to educate you about the tax reform bills!

👉 Click here to get started: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-674e2c26291c8191bc541aa004cc94ae-naija-tax-bot

Stay informed and spread the word!

Ask Me Anything ABout The Proposed Nigeiran Reform Tax bills of 2024

12/02/2024

🔥 *Did YOU miss The YouTube Premiere of “The Kingmaker of Muguland: Part 1? It Was EPIC!*🔥
(You can Watch replay at www.KingmakerOfMuguland.com/part1 )

Thank you to everyone who joined the Instant Premiere yesterday—it was a night to remember! The drama, the power plays, and the rise of Chief Bisola Eleniyan had us all on the edge of our seats for n YouTube!

Here’s what some of the people on the live event were saying:

💬 “Absolutely gripping! The twists and power plays are unmatched and reminds me about what I have forgotten about Nigerian vicious politics. I don’t know if this is fiction at all but Can’t wait for Part 2!” – Ada O.

💬 “This is historical fiction storytelling at its finest. Muguland feels so real, because it took me back memory lanes about the parallels with Nigeria’s real political history. Nicely done Dr Ope. Portrayal of Iyanla Eleniyan and General Bacha-Bacha’s military rule and end was epic. Hope you don’t get into trouble for this ‘fiction’ - Affiz B.

‘💬 Hmmmm. Fiction indeed. the characters in the graphic-based move reminds vividly of real life characters in our current politics!” – Tunde A.

💬 “Every scene was explosive! I’m already hooked for the next part. This is a masterpiece or historical proportions. Be safe bro. This one is volatile.” – Kemi J.

💬”Wow. I was having PTSD watching the scenes especially the parts about General Bacha-Bacha’s rule and how he eventually died of ‘poisoned apple’ from Lebanon. That was epic story telling where fiction is indistinguishable from real life facts 🙌🙌🙌’ Sola A.

🚨 *Missed it? Don’t worry! You can still catch the thrilling Part 1 before Part 2 drops this Sunday*.
🎥 Watch it here 👉 www.KingmakerofMuguland.com/part1

👑 Don’t be left behind—the legacy continues this Sunday WAT with Part II. Meanwhile, Watch the Part 1 now and Be ready!

🌟 Dive into the gripping saga of The Kingmaker of Muguland, where ambition, betrayal, and power collide! In this video, we present Chapters 1-14, chroniclin...

11/23/2024

MUGULAND FOREVER is one of the theme songs from the YouTube video series based on my Historical Political Fiction Book "The Kingmaker of Muguland" is dedicated to all Africans in the diaspora who have a love/hate relationship with their country of birth.
https://youtu.be/wHD6MEwohkU?si=AVJIyd-GUNqDZ0kH

As a Nigerian in the diaspora, I deeply relate to the lyrics of this song. This soulful and thought-provoking track, titled "MUGULAND FOREVER," delves into the Diaspora Dilemma those of us abroad know too well and those in Nigeria imagined they understaood. 😎😎😎

The song is one of the theme tracks for our ongoing Book-to-Video Series, inspired by my historical fiction book "The Kingmaker of Muguland." You can watch the series on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/.

Enjoy this anthem, and share it with friends! Together, let’s keep believing that our country shall rebound and, one day, we can all find peace—wherever we are.

Respect,
Dr. Ope Banwo
Creator of the Chronicles of Muguland Series

https://youtu.be/wHD6MEwohkU?si=AVJIyd-GUNqDZ0kH

*"MUGULAND FOREVER" SONG IS OUT NOW ON YOUTUBE, SPOTIFY, SOUNDCLOUD, AND MORE!* This theme song from the video series based on my Historical Fiction Book *"T...

11/06/2024

THE LAZARUS OF AMERICAN POLITICS STEPS OUT OF THE TOMB AS DONALD TRUMP WINS HISTORIC ELECTION USA – Join me in congratulating Donald Trump as the Lazarus of American Politics.

My Prayer Point: Just as Donald Trump rose from political death to make the ultimate comeback, may you also rise from every failure in your life to confound your enemies.

Just as Donald Trump has resurrected from defeat, shame, and ridicule to claim the highest seat of political power, may you also rise from shame, defeat, and despair into a brighter day, in Jesus’ name.

If you receive that prayer, say a loud AMEN below!

10/27/2024

*MUGULAND, THE BEAUTIFUL* by my new artiste, Mugu Prince, IS OUT! I am so excited! The feel good song about the fictional country in the book “The Kingmaker of Muguland titled “Muguland The Beautiful” by Mugu Prince is live on
https://on.soundcloud.com/NTLbdxnhmPEUqZ13A

Listen and give it a thumbs up for me.

This is one of the theme songs made specially by Mugu Prince for the upcoming release of my first HISTORICAL SATIRE NOVEL titled “The Kingmaker Of Muguland”

This song introduced MUGULAND country that was the setting of the book “The Kingmaker Of Muguland” before we drop the novel and some songs for the characters as part of the book roll out

Listen, comment and share !

"Muguland, The Beautiful" by Mugu Prince is an uplifting anthem that celebrates the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Muguland. The song takes listeners on a journey across the land, from i

09/21/2024

**MY DAD, OMOTAYO ODUKOYA BANWO, PASSED 25 YEARS AGO TODAY, AND I JUST WANT TO CELEBRATE MY SIBLINGS WHO ARE ALL STILL ALIVE!**

This picture is the only surviving picture of my complete family—parents and all my siblings together—and we are still complete today to the glory of God.

My father died 25 years ago today (Sept 20th, 1999), and my mum died 46 years ago on my 14th birthday (April 30th, 1978) when Olu was 4; Segun was 9; Funmi was 12; I was 14; brother Ola was 17; and Aunty Mosun was barely 21).

My father, who was barely just over 50 years old at the time my mother passed, never remarried for our sake (that’s a long story about an incredible sacrifice of Fatherhood for another day).

Yet, against all odds, my siblings and I all made it in life and defied the expectations growing up in Fadeyi (though to be fair, the Fadeyi of those days was not as scary as the one we are being made to understand today )

We not only survived but also succeeded without a mother for most of our youth in Fadeyi, Lagos, under the very stern watch of our father, Ojogbon Omotayo Odukoya Banwo. He was a mid-level honest to a fault civil servant with no money but a lot of unshakeable principles that forced everyone to accept responsibility for their lives. He does not condone whining or excuses, no matter how valid. You get it done or face his famous whip with 3 heads.

My dad is the one who used to tell me over and over again as I tried to talk my way out of the many jams I found myself that a good excuse is still an excuse . So stretch out your hands once I messed up and receive your punishment. Period.

He taught us to take whatever life throws at us and push back with double ferocity… and we all won in the end by remembering this!

- None became a Tout.
- None became a criminal.
- None became a druggie.
- None became a felon.
- None became a slacker in life waiting on others to bail them out
- None of us were known for feeling sorry for ourselves or for giving excuses for ANYTHING—good or bad.

Now, 46 years after our mum passed and 25 years after our patriarch passed, we are all running things in our corners of the world.

**TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!!!**

My dad cannot hear me now, so I won’t say anything to him (and I don’t believe in toasting or praying for the dead either) but I strongly attribute it all to the POWER OF A PRAYING FATHER WHO PAID ATTENTION TO WHAT HIS KIDS WERE UP TO (He would painstakingly go through each of your school report card and you have to explain why you didn’t come first in some subjects. (He would ask if you thought the person who came first was the son of the teacher. Any answer you give you will get the cane so we all learnt to not answer the question).

If you failed then even you can’t bring the report home by yourself . You have other get Baba Bisi (our uncle living in the same house then) to help you present it. 🤷🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️

My dad was very stern, but he prayed for his children EVERYDAY, five times a day, seriously, and he would LIST ALL SIX of our names specifically and pray! And he put education as priority A1.

And I am not exaggerating at all.

It’s what I remembered the most about him even more than the endless whipping I got to keep me straight from becoming a tout.

He was a very proud Aladura man, and he would pray, and pray, even when we all grew up. Everyday, without fail, he would still enter his special prayer room and pray five times a day with all our names written out on a list.

He prayed for us without fail until he died at 76 years of age

Now, this is the ONLY picture we have of all of us together—parents and six siblings—in the same picture: my dad, my mum, and all of us right after a church service.

- **AUNTY MOSUN** (our eldest and mother figure to us all), who had to keep swiveling her head around to keep track of all of us to figure out who was up to mischief at any point in time when daddy was at work, with some serious *abara* (vicious back slap) waiting for anyone making funny moves. 🤷🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️

I honesty can’t really say much that will do justice to this amazing woman other than to confirm that she was the MVP of the family after mom passed. Without her playing the role of ‘mother’ to 5 rowdy siblings and with dad going ot work everyday , who knows what would have happened to us all .. especially myself and segun banwo who were the most problematic kids growing up. THANK YOU BIG MOMMY . You know you rock so I don’t need ot say it ❤️❤️❤️

- **My brother OLA BANWO** (He was my childhood hero, and also my nemesis growing up. I admired him so much and just wanted to be like him and copy him in everything and even forced myself to befriend his friends. He also taught me all the ‘bad moves’ I know, my weak pickup lines, and all the naughty stuff I learned but somehow always made it appear to everyone as if all the bad moves were my idea in the first place. So I got the whip, and he just stood around looking innocent 🤷🏿‍♂️).

Plus, since I believed everything he told me 100%, he filled my head with a lot of fake myths that I still struggle to get out of my head even at 60 years old.

We also fought physically everyday for like 300 days of the year (no joke) because I wouldn’t back down, and he wouldn’t let me be. So we fought, and daddy would beat both of us every day he came back from work after neighbors reported that we were fighting again. He wouldn’t even ask us what the fight was about: brother Ola will receive 12 strokes of the hydra headed cane. Me, I would receive 8 strokes. Then it was ‘face the wall!’ time for 1 hour, with our hands raised high, for both of us. 🤷🏿‍♂️. He would watch our backs while eating his usual Eba and Ewedu and mutter to himself .. “We are all in this house together, but I will kill both of you first before you both kill me” or something like that 🤷🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️

- **FUNMI BANWO**, now Mrs. Onapeju (She was the closest to me growing up and was many times the recipient of my quick left slap or left jab anytime she ‘harassed’ me with her sharp tongue… and her tongue is STILL sharp too. 🤷🏿‍♂️)

- **SEGUN BANWO** (He was supposed to be the “Medical Doctor” in the family but turned to accounting after seeing blood for the first time. He turned out to be a first-class accountant but was our local boxing champion in Fadeyi and the terror of Igbobi Sabe Street, who fought everyone on the streets of Fadeyi at the slightest provocation in those days).

And you better not mess with Funmi or me because Segese would come for you, even though he was much younger than both of us. 🤷🏿‍♂️

Irony of all ironies about Segun Banwo: The Warrior of the Banwo clan became the biggest pacifist in the family and now a big time pastor who is pastoring one of the Top 10 Redeem Churches in Nigeria. He inherited the mantle of PRAYER n behalf of all of us 🤷🏿‍♂️❤️

- **OLU BANWO**, our baby *ajebota* ‘Mummy’s Boy,’ who turned ‘Brothers’ Boy’ after our mom passed when he was just 4 years old. Olu Banwo of London , my own real baby as we all grew up and, of course, he remains my favorite in the family to this day . I tell him he is still my baby even after he turned 50 and won’t even let him have his own opinion in our family group on WhatsApp though he is now 50 years old and father of 2 big boys himself 🤷🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️

My super siblings, we are not always the hugging type, and we used to fight more often than we hug, but I LOVE YOU ALL TO PIECES. You are MY family and NOTHING can change that .

I know if daddy could see us he would be very proud of how we have all taken the game to another level by raising some amazing butt kicking grandkids for him in every area of life ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

So here is my toast to the Banwo Family Generation one consisting of Aunty Mosun Adeogun; Bro Ola Banwo, Funmi Onapeju, Segun Banwo and Olu Banwo on the 25th death anniversary of our Patriarch: YOU ALL ROCK !!! 🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂