Entertainment
Bolanle: Defence Seeks No-case Submission, Citing “Lack Of Evidence”
The defence for Darambi Vandi, the police officer accused of shooting and killing Lagos-based lawyer Omobolanle Raheem on Christmas Day, has indicated that they will be submitting a no-case application to dismiss the charges.
Vandi, who has pleaded not guilty to the count charge, made this known to the Lagos High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square.
The announcement was made by Vandi’s counsel, Mr Adetokunbo Odutola, after the prosecution counsel, Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyo Onigbanjo, (SAN), had concluded their case.
During the hearing, the prosecution witness, Dr Williams Olatunde, a pathologist and forensic expert, testified about the post-mortem examination conducted on the deceased and the findings made.
Justice Ibironke Harrison instructed both parties to submit their final written addresses.
“The findings from the external to internal showed that there were multiple defects mainly on the anterior chest wall and one defect from the left axillary fold.
“On internal examination, there were multiple visceral or organ injuries and muscular skeletal injury,” he narrated.
According to him, the specific injuries includes multiple rib fracture, multiple injuries to the intercostal spaces and injuries to both lungs.
The doctor stated that he was able to establish three things; hemorrhagic shock, and destruction of the chest visceral and musculoskeletal tissues which could be the cause of her death.
He said that the defect in the body was caused by the largest shattered bullet fragment.
According to him, the target path of the bullet is determined by the relative positions of all injuries to each other.
He said that the base of the severity of the injuries seen was that the bullet moved at the maximum force which was likely to be a discharge from a close range.
“A bullet could strike an object and bounce in the direction of the body.
“In simple terms, the deceased was pregnant within the period of fewer than three months,” he added.
While being cross-examined, Odutola inquired whether the pathologist could identify the individual responsible for the fatal gunshot in the post-mortem report. The pathologist replied in the negative, stating that he was unable to do so.
In addition, Odutola contended that the witness had relied on media reports when compiling the post-mortem records.
The witness rebuffed this assertion, asserting that all conclusions were based on the autopsy’s findings. He went on to explain that the explosive power of an AK-47 bullet was so immense that it was equivalent to thousands of fire hoses piercing the body.
Following the cross-examination, Harrison adjourned the proceedings until Feb. 28, when the written arguments of the counsel would be presented.
Renowned Nigerian artist Wizkid recently released his highly anticipated album, Morayo, but the project has ignited a storm of opinions online.
While some fans hailed it as another masterpiece, critics like popular Twitter commentator Daniel Regha have called the album a disappointment, labeling it “quantity over quality.”
In a scathing review posted hours after the album’s release, Daniel Regha rated Morayo 3.5/10, citing repetitive tracks, uninspiring lyrics, and a lack of emotional depth. Regha argued that the album appears designed for TikTok virality rather than offering meaningful musical content.
Key Criticisms from Daniel Regha
Regha pointed out that tracks like “Bend” felt shallow and overly simplistic, while collaborations such as “Bad Girl” featuring Asake failed to live up to expectations. According to him, the standout tracks “Pray” and “Kese (Dance)” provide a glimpse of originality, but they aren’t enough to save the album. He further criticized Wizkid for not dedicating any song to his late mother, an omission many fans found surprising.
READ MORE: Wizkid Drops Sixth Studio Album ‘Morayo’
Regha concluded by suggesting the album would have been better off as a four-to-five-song EP, stating, “Wizkid needs new musical ideas.”
Fans and Critics React
Regha’s critique sparked divided opinions on social media, with some fans agreeing and others fiercely defending the album. A Twitter user, @AdegboyeBodunde, echoed Regha’s sentiment, comparing Morayo unfavorably to projects by rising artists like Fola Baloranking and Minz. “Honestly, the album is so below average. Even new artists are coming out with bangers back to back,” he tweeted.
However, others were quick to dismiss Regha’s comments, questioning his authority to critique music. @africanvogue lashed out, saying, “Why give this wicked boy a voice? He knows he will get a response from Wizkid’s fans. @DanielRegha has never done anything of worth but pulls down the hard labor of others for his profit. That is criminal!”
Another user, @akinmusi, questioned Regha’s qualifications, writing, “What certifications does he hold in music? Has he authored any scholarly work, thesis, dissertation, or conducted research in the field? I’m genuinely curious.”
Is Morayo a Hit or Miss?
Despite the backlash, Morayo is expected to perform well commercially, driven by Wizkid’s loyal fanbase and widespread hype. The album experiments with new sounds and features top-notch production quality, which Regha himself acknowledged as one of its redeeming features.
However, the larger question remains: Is Wizkid delivering music for artistic growth, or is he leaning too heavily on commercial trends? The polarised reactions to Morayo suggest that Wizkid’s latest project will be a topic of debate for weeks to come.
The release of Morayo highlights the ever-present tension between artistic expression and fan expectations in the music industry.
While critics and fans continue to clash over its quality, one thing is certain: Wizkid remains one of the most talked-about artists in Africa, capable of commanding attention with every move he makes.
Award-winning Nigerian singer and activist, Yemi Alade has accused Cool FM Nigeria and Clout Africa of blacklisting her music after she failed to perform at an event organized by the platforms in December 2023.
The singer, in a series of tweets on Thursday night, alleged that her music has been removed from the stations’ playlists for nearly a year, despite her efforts to resolve the misunderstanding.
Alade explained that she was invited by Cool FM to perform at their December event but couldn’t attend.
According to her, she apologized for her absence in January 2024 but faced a cold reception from the management.
She claims this eventually led to her entire music catalogue being banned from the station’s playlists.
“Mr Serge and Mr Joseph, this life is not hard like that. WE SEE YOU… I SEE YOU @cloutafrica @CoolFMNigeria. This world is a small village. My God will fight for me… Una dey form gatekeepers in 2024,” she tweeted, referring to Cool FM and Clout Africa executives Serge Noujaim and Joseph Adamu.
Alade expressed shock at what she described as a deliberate attempt to sabotage her career by refusing to play her songs. She accused the station of barring both her old and new music from the airwaves.
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“Since December 2023. I personally reached out in January. You are still refusing to play my music and giving my team a hard time. You’re not gatekeepers, and you are not God, Mr Serge Noujaim and Mr Joseph Adamu,” she wrote.
She further criticized the lack of communication from the management regarding the issue.
“The common decency to reach out and clear out any misunderstanding borne out of sheer carelessness on your path for a whole year, and your next move is to place an embargo on my songs? Remove my whole catalogue,” she added.
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has congratulated his nephew and global music icon, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido on the occasion of his birthday, describing him as a superstar Osun State is proud of.
This was revealed in a statement by his Spokesperson Olawale Rasheed, where he cited Gov Aeleke as pointing to Davido’s consistency, energy and passion yielding the result he has recorded not only in his music career but also in his life as a person.
Gov Adeleke, stated Rasheed, prayed for progress, more success and achievement for Davido, while commending his continuous outreach to the orphanages and less privileged, which he described as ‘a noble act every blessed hand in Nigeria must emulate’.
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He said, ” I want to rejoice with my nephew, David Adeleke, Davido, on the occasion of his 32nd birthday, I am very happy we are all alive to witness it.
“Davido is a global super star that Osun State is very proud of. The consistency, energy and passion he has inserted into building his music career is evident in the result he has recorded not only in his career but also in his life as a person.
“I pray for him for progress, more success and achievement in long life, prosperity, sound health and mind.
“I equally want to commend his continuous outreach to the orphanages and less privileged. I must say that this is a noble act every blessed hand in Nigeria must emulate.
“Once again, Happy Birthday to Davido”.
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