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If Nigeria Had A Dozen Dotun Sanusis (Ilaji Hotel & Resort), Only If | By Olayinka Agboola
Keeping faith with Nigeria and believing in it in these seriously trying times is a very onerous task for any citizen of the country.
A few hours spent in company with Engineer Dotun Sanusi, the enigmatic owner of International College of Arts, Science and Technology (ICAST), Ilaji Farms, Ilaji Hotel and Resort as well as other business ventures is about to reset my understanding and re-align me.
On a personal note, I am earnestly convinced that those who know me will tune in to open-mindedly flow with me in this academic exercise. Others may interpret these humble submissions as ‘patronising’. They are free to borrow more words and phrases but I categorically state here without any regret that I am proud to patronize this hardworking, undiluted fellow Ibadanman.
Engineer Sanusi was born sometime in 1968 into the family of Alhaji Ganiyu Oladosu Sanusi from Oja’ba, Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State. He was christened Dotun Jubril.
He grew up in the Elekuro area of the city and during this time, he enrolled at Wesley Primary School for his elementary education. After the completion of his primary education, Dotun Jubril Sanusi went to Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Grammar School, Aperin Oniyere, Ibadan for his secondary education. His thirst for more education coupled with the fact that he passed his West African Examination (WAEC) in flying colours earned him admission into the Department of Petroleum Engineering, University of Ibadan.
According to one of the businessman’s aides, Hazeez Ayansola, Sanusi’s contact with the corporate world began with Halliburton Nigeria Limited, an American Oil and Gas company. After rising through the ranks of the company, his professional competence was keenly sought after and it was not long before Saipem Drilling, an Italian oil and gas company, headhunted him.
This situation repeated itself a couple of times and before Dotun Sanusi knew what was happening, his immense skills and professional brilliance had taken him to five different companies within a short period of time, namely, Beckfield Drilling Services from Hanover, Germany; Measurement-While Drilling, Directional Drilling Services; Kasolute Nigeria Limited and Gyro Precision Survey Services.
In 2004, the youthful Dotun decided that he had served people enough and it was time to start serving himself. He therefore established his first-ever company, TNL Drilling Services (Tasaniola Nigeria Limited), an indigenous oil and gas drilling company which has since grown in leaps and bounds.
This company now has many healthy ‘siblings’ including the Ilaji Hotel and Resort where I spent quality time with the businessman on Saturday, February 20, 2021.
For those who may wish to know, I was at the popular resort to hold a two-day retreat/training programme organized by the South West Group of Online Publishers (SWEGOP).
It was on the second day of our programme that we had the privilege of listening to his brief lecture after the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Dare had carried out a similar assignment.
Actually, he was not originally on our list of Speakers. Being the Chairman of SWEGOP, my duty was to convince the suave businessman to squeeze out time to join us inside the exotic conference hall where our members had gathered to hear him talk. He was reluctant initially. But he later obliged. We will continue to appreciate this gesture.
By the time he started interacting with us, he could not hide his feelings. His words betrayed him – that he is a man in pains – pains of watching helplessly as Nigeria, our beloved nation slides, uncontrollably hanging on socio-economic cliff-edge.
Permit me to paraphrase some of his words “Whether people believe me or not, I know I have passion for humanity. I am sincere in my desire to give back to the society.
“You may wish to ask me why I decided to establish this Ilaji Hotel and Resort here. This is my answer: I was looking for a community with history. You will all agree with me that Akanran is an historical part of Ibadanland.”
After deciding on Akanran, located within Ona Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State, he went ahead to buy a very large parcel of land which used to accommodate about 28 villages.
He stated further “the urge to give back to the society led to the establishment of ICAST, Ilaji Soccer Academy and this academy serves as a fertile ground for talented children who came from both humble and well-to-do backgrounds. The idea behind Ilaji Soccer Academy is to give these talented players the platforms to showcase their skills in the advanced footballing nations of the world.
“We have, through Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort since partnered with SWIEQI Football Club in Malta and Malaga CF, a football club in the Spanish La-Liga. We invested in the outfits, that is why we have a smooth working relationship with them.
“I will say it here that for doing all these, politics is not on my mind. I do not have any plan to become a partisan politician. This is not in my agenda.
“I am a Christian with a Muslim background. But I am a realist. We are too much into sentiments. In addition, if we were not selfish, Nigeria would have been a better place for us all to live. Our leaders are not sincere, they are biased.
“We all need to mend our ways. We are too much into religion, tribalism and we are not honest people. In addition, our constitution is not working for us. It does not give room for fairness and accountability.
“Nobody is talking about cocoa. Was our famous Cocoa House not built from proceeds from cocoa business by the then Western State government?
“I am sure we all know that our petroleum resources are fast decreasing. And there is urgent need to diversify.
“As for me and my household, we do not have any option than to remain focused and hardworking and we also believe God is with us.”
Indeed, God has been with this man who has succeeded in getting me to continue to imagine if and only if Nigeria can reproduce his likes in a dozen times…
For a man who confirmed that politics was not on his agenda, he has done so much and these feats are almost impossible to be copied.
According to Mr Ayansola, “the people of Elebu section of Ido Local Government Area, Amuloko-Akanran axis of Ona-Ara Local Government Area and Elewura within Ibadan South West local Government Area have benefited immensely from the uncommon philanthropic gestures of Dotun Sanusi in the areas of road constructions and rehabilitations.
He recently partnered with Oyo State Government which led to the rehabilitation of the First Bank end of Amuloko-Akanran axis, a road that covers about 17 kilometers; Chief Dotun Sanusi provided the funds for the rehabilitation while the State government provided the personnel.
The Amuloko-Akanran axis notoriously known for congested traffic conditions and rough-driving by commercial drivers has been experiencing free flow of traffic since its rehabilitation; this effort has since put an end to the nightmares being experienced by commuters and motorists alike plying the road.
It is also on record that during the COVID-19 lockdown period last year, this great Nigerian fed so many people. He ensured that his people at Akanran benefitted from him.
In addition, he took charge of security of the community during the EndSARS days.
According to him, “we worked with a group of hunters called Soludero. We did not allow any Police Station or government property to be burnt or vandalized. I can add that I am a grassroots man to the core. I know all the boys who can cause and foment trouble. They know they can come to me when they have issues. So, this has made our community to be the most peaceful in Oyo State.”
Engineer Sanusi, today is the biggest in the business of hospitality in this part of the country. His Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort can boast of over 165 rooms while over 150 other rooms are at present under construction.
Despite all these, he has remained a humble man, a lover of God, an astute businessman and supporter of the underprivileged.
For now, one can only continue to conjecture and persist in imagining how progressive and prosperous Nigeria will be if, and only if, the country can boast of a dozen Dotun Sanusis.
• Olayinka Agboola is the Publisher of PMParrot.com and Parrot Xtra Magazine. He is also the chairman, South West Group of Online Publisher (SWEGOP).
He sent this in from Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State
Residents of the Hotoro area of Kano were thrown into panic after a woman allegedly set her co-wife and two children ablaze in a late-night domestic attack.
The incident occurred on Monday night in the Mai Allo area of Hotoro, leaving four persons with varying degrees of burns.
The victims — a 28-year-old woman and her two children aged seven and three — are currently receiving treatment at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala and Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.
Their father, who reportedly sustained injuries while attempting to rescue the victims from the inferno, is also undergoing treatment.
A relative of the family informed that they received a distress call around 3am informing them that the woman, her husband and the children had been set ablaze.
According to the source, the victim had spent less than two weeks in her matrimonial home before the attack occurred.
“She is about 28 years old. The children are from her previous marriage. They are stepchildren to the husband, who works as a tricycle rider,” the relative added.
Residents of the area described the incident as horrifying and called on security agencies to ensure justice was served.
“We are shocked by what happened. This kind of violence has no place in our community,” a resident said.
The suspect has since been taken into custody at the Mariri Police Division.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kano State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
Crime & Court
UNIBEN killing: Edo security squad arrests 12 suspected cultists, seals initiation centres
Security operatives in Edo State have arrested 12 suspected cultists and sealed two apartments allegedly used as initiation centres during coordinated raids across parts of Benin City following the killing of a young man near the gate of the University of Benin.
The operation, code-named “Operation Flush Out Cultists and Kidnappers,” was carried out by the state’s Special Security Squad after the killing recorded on Sunday, May 10, 2026.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Patrick Ebojele.
According to the statement, the Chief Security Officer and Principal Security Officer to the governor led the raids conducted in Ekosodin, Isihor, Old Road off S&T Barracks, Airport Road, 19th Street Ugbowo, Ogba-Evbuodia and Evbuomore Quarters, all in Benin City.
Spokesman for the security squad, Noah Idemudia, alleged that some youth leaders within communities in the state were aiding violent crimes and harbouring criminal elements.
He said intelligence reports indicated that sophisticated weapons used in deadly attacks were often traced to communities across the state.
“Reports reaching us indicate that some persons are allegedly harbouring criminals. Intelligence reports also suggest that sophisticated weapons used in deadly attacks on citizens are allegedly sourced from communities.
“The governor is warning community leaders to maintain peace in their various communities and ensure that no unlicensed weapons are found in their possession, as they will be held liable and treated as criminals,” Idemudia said.
He, however, clarified that the 12 suspects arrested were not directly linked to the killing near the university gate.
According to him, the suspects were allegedly identified as members of different cult groups after security operatives reportedly discovered symbols, signs and other incriminating materials on them during the raids.
Idemudia added that the suspects had been handed over to the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Nigeria Police Force for profiling and further investigation.
Speaking on the properties sealed during the operation, he said one of the apartments was allegedly being used as a cult initiation centre.
He explained that operatives came under attack while attempting to arrest suspects at the location, forcing authorities to seal the premises and invite the property owner for questioning.
He added that another apartment raided allegedly contained shrines and fetish items scattered across several rooms, which investigators suspect were being used for initiation into different confraternities.
According to him, the owner of the property had also been invited for questioning by security agencies.
“The governor has warned those sponsoring cultism and violent killings in the state to desist immediately.
“Anyone found aiding criminality in Edo State will face the full weight of the law, as the state will no longer be conducive for criminal elements,” Idemudia added.
He also warned against unlawful gatherings, alleging that some cult groups were planning anniversary celebrations across the state.
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday convicted and sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to a cumulative 75 years imprisonment in absentia over a ₦33.8bn money laundering scandal linked to the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.
The trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, found Mamman guilty on all 12 counts bordering on conspiracy and money laundering filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The judge ruled that the prison terms would run consecutively, bringing the total sentence to 75 years.
Justice Omotosho held that Mamman deliberately absented himself from court on the day of judgment and during the previous adjourned sitting in a bid to frustrate the administration of justice.
He agreed with counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 empowered the court to proceed with sentencing despite the defendant’s absence.
The court consequently sentenced the former minister to seven years imprisonment each on Counts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 without an option of fine.
Mamman was also sentenced to three years imprisonment on Count 4 with an option of a ₦10m fine, and two years imprisonment on Count 5 without an option of fine.
Justice Omotosho further ordered that the sentence would commence from the date of Mamman’s arrest since he was convicted in absentia.
The judge directed security agencies within and outside Nigeria, including Interpol, to arrest the convict wherever he is found and hand him over to the Nigerian Correctional Service to serve his jail term.
The court also ordered the final forfeiture of two Abuja properties linked to the former minister, alongside various sums recovered in different currencies by anti-graft agencies.
In addition, the court ordered Mamman to refund the outstanding balance from the ₦22bn already traced to the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects out of the ₦33.8bn allegedly diverted.
The conviction followed a lengthy trial instituted by the EFCC, which accused Mamman of conspiring with ministry officials and private companies to divert funds earmarked for the two power projects.
Mamman was arraigned on July 11, 2024 on a 12-count charge and pleaded not guilty.
During the trial, the EFCC called 17 witnesses and tendered 43 exhibits to support its case.
Following the close of the prosecution’s case, the former minister filed a no-case submission on November 19, 2025, contending that the EFCC had failed to establish sufficient evidence against him.
However, Justice Omotosho, in a ruling delivered on December 11, 2025, dismissed the application and held that the prosecution had established a prima facie case requiring the defendant to open his defence.
The matter was subsequently adjourned for continuation of defence before Wednesday’s judgment brought the proceedings to a close.
The case, regarded as one of the most significant corruption convictions in recent years, stemmed from Mamman’s arrest and detention by the EFCC on May 10, 2021.
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