By Ekamma UBA, Senior staff writer
THE banquet hall of the prestigious Sheraton Hotel on the sprawling Bank Anthony way, Ikeja Lagos was filled to capacity as quests, majorly the crème de la crème from all walks of life thronged to witness the public presentation of CrimeWorld, Nigeria’s first and only wholly crime and security newspaper and magazine. It was more of an epoch making occasion in the annals of journalism profession in the country as encomiums poured unrestrained; eulogizing the virtues and professional prowess of the man behind the Nigeria’s flagship, on crime and security reporting, Prince Albert Akpor Uba. Date was December 7, 2017 and time was the cool hours of 7.00 pm till 11.00pm. Two cardinal events happened at the launch: one, it was an occasion of the Publisher/Editor-in-chief of the Newspapers and magazines to cut his 50th birthday cake. The second event was the honouring of some deserving Nigerians with the maiden CrimeWorld Hallmark of Excellence Awards. These were the denouements. Prominent Nigerians who graced the occasion while some had them ably represented included Sir Mike Okiro, IGP (retd) His Royal Majesty, Oba Gbolahan Akanbi Timson, the Jagunmolu 111 of Shomolu/Bariga, Prince (Hon) Ned Munir Nwoko, Dr. Solomon Arase IGP (retd) AIG Zone 2 Command, Mr. Ibrahim Adamu, High Chief Damian Obianigwe, captains of industries, actors and actresses of repute including ace producer and director, Zeb Ijiro, award winning Lisa Onu, Cornel Udofia, and several others too numerous to mention here. Chairman of the occasion, Sir. Mike Okiro who was also an award recipient traced his relationship with the Publisher/Editor-in-chief to his early days as Commissioner of Police in Lagos State describing him as one of the intrepid journalists who would call a spade a spade no matter whose horse is gored. “My relationship with Albert dates back to my days as Commissioner of Police Lagos; he was one of the journalists I know to be down to earth professional; very fearless too. Before he puts anything down you should be rest assured that he had done enough investigations about his report. In those days while he was with the Vanguard, we would wait eagerly to read the version of Vanguard stories having read all other newspapers. He was an authority, so I am not surprised that he pulled out to start his own newspaper based on his experiences and training on the crime beat over the years. All we can wish him is the best of luck and God’s strength,” he said.
Then, enters the Jagunmolu 111 of Shomolu/Bariga; Oba Gbolahan Akanbi Timson. He was more theatrical in his eulogies: “What I am holding (lifts the newspapers and magazine up) can only come from Journalists like Albert, no one else. I say this because but for Albert; through his fearless write-ups, I would have been six feet down the earth today. I am here in this auditorium because the likes of Albert took it upon themselves to tell the world the truth and nothing but the truth about the battle of my stool. Albert is on the same groupings with the likes of Ben Akparanta of blessed memories. They will dig up facts and confront you with it; they were not interested in what they now call stomach infrastructure but the truth only. This is why in spite of my tight schedules, I said I must be here live to witness this history making occasion. Let us support him and pray for the growth of this newspaper and magazines,” he urged. Others who spoke include the AIG, who was represented by SP Dolapo Badmus, Mr. Dipo Kehinde of the Chief Detective and Newsmakers.
The occasion which was without a dull moment had the Master of Ceremony ‘MC Plentymouth’ occasionally thrilling the audience to rib-cracking jokes as the guests were entertained by an incredible lady dancer, christened ‘The Magic feet’ . The audience couldn’t but longed for more her sensuous waist twists.
A visibly elated Prince Albert Uba who was overwhelmed with joy in his appreciation remarks, thanked the guests for finding time to grace the occasion and prayed that God will be with them also in their moments of glory. He was however, quick to inform the audience that he opted out of his former employment over a squalid experience blaming God to have forsaking him not knowing that the Almighty God was actually preparing a better thing ahead for him. He said, “I have just come to the realization that when God wants to bless you, He takes you out of your comfort zone and that is what has happened with CrimeWorld. I thought God had forgotten me at the period of my travails in my former employment but today, it is all about glory unto His holy name.”