The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, has expressed profound sadness over the death of veteran journalist and publisher of The Eagle Online, Dotun Oladipo.

Akpabio described Oladipo’s passing as a painful loss to the Nigerian media industry and the nation, noting his significant contributions to journalism, public discourse and the growth of online media in Nigeria.

The President of the Senate commiserated with the family, friends, colleagues and professional associates of the deceased, particularly members of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), where Oladipo served as Emeritus President.

“Dotun Oladipo was a courageous, principled and dedicated journalist who devoted a significant part of his life to the pursuit of truth, responsible journalism and the advancement of society.

“His sudden passing is a profound loss to his family, the journalism profession and Nigeria as a whole. His immense contributions to the development of online journalism, as well as his commitment to professional excellence, integrity and public interest, will remain indelible.

“As the philosopher John Stuart Mill reminded us, ‘He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that.’ Dotun understood that a free and responsible press must listen, question and speak truth to power. His life demonstrated that journalism, when guided by courage and conscience, can illuminate society and strengthen democracy.

“His legacy will continue to inspire journalists and media professionals who believe in the power of responsible journalism to strengthen democracy and contribute to national development,” Akpabio said.

READ ALSO: PENGASSAN Urges Strategic Focus on Local Refining Expansion

The Senate President prayed that God Almighty would grant the deceased eternal rest and give his family, friends, colleagues and loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Akpabio also urged members of the media to uphold and build upon Oladipo’s legacy of professionalism, integrity, courage and unwavering commitment to the public interest.
“May God acquaint his soul with the compass of His course” he added.

Norway’s King Harald V has died at the age of 89, bringing an end to his more than three-decade reign and ushering in a new era for the Norwegian monarchy.

The Royal Palace announced on Friday, August 28, 2026, that the monarch died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital at 6:35am local time.

ALSO READ: Infantino’s Re-Election Bid Suffers Fresh Blow as Italy Withdraws Backing

“It is with deep sadness that we announce that His Majesty King Harald passed away today. King Harald passed away peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on Friday, August 28 at 6:35 am,” the palace said in a statement.

King Harald, who ascended the throne in 1991, had been hospitalised in Oslo since August 17 while receiving treatment for haemolytic anaemia.

His condition became “extremely serious” on Thursday, prompting members of the royal family to gather at his bedside.

His 53-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakon, has automatically succeeded him as monarch under Norway’s constitutional succession rules. He is expected to take the name King Haakon VIII.

Following the announcement of Harald’s death, the flag at the Royal Palace in Oslo was lowered to half-mast, while members of the public gathered outside the palace to lay flowers and mourn the late monarch.

Harald was widely regarded as a popular and unifying figure during his 35 years on the throne. He was also known for his modest lifestyle and efforts to modernise the monarchy.

Kaspara Bolstad, 24, described him as “a very steady and warm king.”

“I think the entire Norwegian people see him as a role model and as someone who brings people together. Whether you’re for or against the monarchy, I think he’s well-liked across the board,” she said.

Magnus Skaugseth, 27, also praised the late King’s inclusive approach.

“He was so inclusive and committed to having values that are inclusive in the society we live in today. When there is so much division and polarisation, he was a pillar pointing in the opposite direction,” Skaugseth said.

Harald had experienced several health challenges in recent years and had undergone procedures including the fitting of a pacemaker. Despite his declining health, he repeatedly ruled out abdication, maintaining that his oath to serve Norway was lifelong.

His death comes during a turbulent period for the Norwegian royal family, which has faced a series of health and personal controversies in recent months.

With Harald’s death, Crown Prince Haakon now takes over the Norwegian throne, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the country’s monarchy.

Social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has fired back at Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, following the lawyer’s criticism of his invitation to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) annual conference.

Recall that Falana had criticised the decision to feature VDM as a panelist during a session on “Unknown Gunmen,” arguing that discussions on national security should involve individuals with established experience in the country’s security architecture.

RELATED NEWS: ‘Bring Experts, Not Entertainers’ — Falana Questions VDMs NBA Invitation

“In those days, the NBA brought individuals who had paid their dues, who were coming to engage lawyers intellectually. We wanted to learn from them and so none of our conferences was a circus show in the past,” Falana said.

He further stated: “So, if you are bringing in an expert to discuss the security of the country, either from the private or public sector, such an individual must have contributed to the security architecture of the country.”

Falana also said: “But to just go and bring somebody from nowhere to come and entertain you, there are problems with that.”

Reacting in a Facebook post on Friday, VDM said he was initially disappointed by Falana’s comments but claimed they helped him understand the opposition to his invitation.

“And then again, I listened to Femi Falana. When I listened to him, I won’t lie, I was so disappointed in him. Then again, after he spoke, I understood why a lot of them were upset and Femi Falana gave me the answer.

“Their problem is that a son of a nobody was invited and that is just simply what is going on in the media and Femi Falana just made it clear to me. Who knows me? Who is my father? Who knows my family? Who are we? What empire do we have?”

Defending his participation, VDM said his contribution would be based on firsthand experiences.

“This is not about book, it is about experience,” he said, adding, “Security is for everybody. Security is not for some set of people.”