🤣 erico2k2 is still wasting his time and desperately trying to get my attention. He actually thinks that I will read his rubbish when he has failed the first time. Can you imagine that?
This was part of my entertainment when they began on the Third Mainland Bridge during the Fashola era.
Some people came with the usual excuse that there were no speed limit signs, but immediately other Twitter users countered them and said that there were. As someone appeared and said that there were no signs, so also would someone appear and say that there were signs. Some people went the extra step of actually taking pictures of the signs.
There have also been speed limit signs on the Lekki Expressway since it was rebuilt in 2011.
Everybody knows this and everybody knows that those people are not to be taken seriously.
I'll attach the photos of the speed limit signs when Nairaland allows me.
revelation2013: You obviously don't own a car in Lagos. If you do, you won't type this. Once the speed limit or camera device captures your vehicle plate number or license or anything that pinpoints it. No body will enforce it physically, it is already enforced electronically or computerly (if there is any word like that). Na when you wan renew your papers na then body go tell you!
There are people on this thread that should not be taken seriously. They are not here to make a serious point, they are here to be negative, even if what they are posting makes no sense. Arguing with them is a complete waste of time.
I would like to encourage and appeal to all those that have tried to derail the thread by posting nonsense that they should please break the law right in front of the cameras so that we can see if they actually work.
Lagos VIS Now Use Street Cameras To Capture Cars With Invalid Documents
autojosh: Last year, the Lagos State Government launched an e-inspection and e-billing system which will use Street Cameras, Car Number Plate Recognition and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to identify vehicles plying Lagos Roads without valid documents.
The street cameras will capture vehicles randomly as seen in the photo inset in the bill below, the details of the vehicle will be run through the vehicle database and a bill will be sent to the house of the owners of errant vehicles.
This is no fiction as people have started getting such bills in their houses and a team will be sent to your house to impound your car if you do not pay the fine or correct any inconsistent bill within 7 days.
The owner of the Uber fleet Toyota Echo seen in the photo below was at work last week Wednesday (3rd October 2018) when he got a call from his security man who told him he had a letter from Lagos State Government. It was the VIS at his doorstep with a N20,000 bill. Offense was - No valid Roadworthiness Certificate (RWC). The fines may range from N20, 000 to N250, 000, depending on the offence and the number of times you have been caught.
In order to avoid any form of embarrassment, the owner of the car visited the VIS office in Alausa on Monday and to his surprise, other car owners had been caught with fake vehicle licences, road worthiness and insurance certificates. Someone even had a fake comprehensive insurance certificate. The cameras also check for non-functioning headlights and tail lights. A man whose car was caught got so embarrassed that he has been fighting with the VIS officials to come and help him beg his landlord.
Fortunately for the owner of the Echo, they realized his car had a valid Roadworthiness Certificate after checking their database. The problem was from VIS after all and he was asked to come back for a clean-bill. The man was furious for his wasted time and energy. Some other vehicle owners were not that fortunate as they had to pay the huge fines.
If your vehicle papers are genuine, you should get an SMS notification when registering it. According to the VIS officials, short codes will be made available to check the authenticity of vehicle documents. You can also confirm the authenticity of your vehicle insurance HERE or use this short code *565*11# at the rate of N20.
If you were excited that the Vehicle Inspection Officers have been ordered off Lagos roads, this may hit you as a bad news because they are still watching from their office through those lenses.
Have you been caught before? Do you think this is a good development or are you against it? Tell us what you think in the comment section.
delpee: I learnt recently that there are cameras on some traffic lights. People receive SMS to pay fines or have their cars impounded. Maybe there's none in Lekki or they're not functioning well.
Tikobanidi: My vehicle license expired in March this year and I renewed it immediately. But the vehicle insurance and road worthiness still had some weeks to expire, that made me to relax and waited till the first week of May. I renewed the vehicle insurance as planned and was given a date for computerized vehicle inspection before the road worthiness certificate could be issued. I was at the inspection station yesterday, my car was subjected to series of tests and at the end the message was "congratulations your car passed all the tests". I was directed to the admin office to collect my certificate, that was when I got the shock of my life. A document was printed out and I was like, "you guys should give me the certificate and let me go". The officer then handed the document to me and said "your car was booked last month and you need to pay the fine before you can get the certificate". I checked the document and I was fined 20k for driving with expired vehicle insurance and 20k for driving without a valid road worthiness certificate, all totaling 40k. What is this! I exclaimed. On checking the date I was booked on 19th April 2022 at 16:53. Looking back, I deduced that I must had been booked around Alausa area in Ikeja. That is the "gbese" on my neck now o!
My advise to the car users is that please don't wait until your driving license, vehicle license, road worthiness etc expire before you commence renewal process, LASG have installed cameras at strategic locations in Lagos that are tracking and monitoring all vehicles. The camera is also booking the traffic offenders as well, so take heed now.
In case you want to find out if you have been booked for traffic offence, simply visit "https://payvis.ng" and type your vehicle registration/plate number in the box and search.
FineUsername: Better late than never. A good step.
This isn't the first time that they are installing cameras. They've had this sort of cameras for more than ten years. They are simply installing 3,000 more cameras.
LASG Plans to Install 3,000 E-Police and Speed Limit Cameras to Enforce Traffic Regulations
...Says About 50 Commercial Buses Are Apprehended Daily for Various Traffic Offenses
...Introduces Online Roadworthiness Recertification for Pre-Existing Vehicles
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to install approximately 3,000 e-police and speed limit cameras across the state to enhance traffic law enforcement.
The Director of the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), Engr. Akin-George Fashola, disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking on Lagos Transport Trends and Perspectives, a program sponsored by the State’s Ministry of Transportation on Traffic Radio 96.1 FM.
Engr. Fashola noted that speed limit cameras have already been installed at various locations, including Alapere-Ogudu Road (80km/h inbound Alausa and 60km/h inbound Iyana Oworo) and Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way (60km/h).
He further stated that e-police cameras are currently in place at Allen Junction and Nurudeen Olowopopo Road in Ikeja to check red light running, and other traffic violations, urging motorists to take note of warning signs installed at these locations to ensure compliance.
Speaking on penalties, the VIS Director emphasized that violators of speed limits would be required to pay a fine of Fifty Thousand Naira (₦50,000). However, he added that offenders who believe they did not violate the regulation could contest the fine by providing proof.
Responding to a caller who inquired whether commercial vehicles are exempted from the enforcement initiative, Engr. Fashola clarified that an average of 50 commercial buses are apprehended daily for various traffic violations.
Highlighting recent developments within the VIS, he revealed that the government has introduced an online roadworthiness recertification system for pre-existing vehicle owners, saying the new initiative allows vehicle owners to renew their roadworthiness certificates online without visiting a VIS office.
Additionally, he mentioned that the VIS now offers an auto verification service for individuals looking to purchase used vehicles. This service provides a detailed history of the vehicle, enabling buyers to make informed decisions.
Engr. Fashola encouraged Lagos residents to visit the VIS website or any of the 45 VIS centers across the state for reliable information and assistance.
Mil Mascaras was a global legend. He was like a god in Mexico and he was very popular in Nigeria. However, some American wrestlers did not like him.
They (including Mick Foley) said that he didn't put wrestlers over, they said that he showered with his mask on and that he didn't sit around to gist with the other wrestlers after matches.
But he was loved by fans the world over and that was because he could really wrestle.
naptu2: Watch this match between Mil Mascaras and Cactus Jack (Mick Foley/Mankind). What I want you to observe is the sheer number of holds and moves that Mascaras used.
naptu2: Sometime ago I was searching for an IWA match that shows what I liked about Mil Mascaras, but I couldn't find a perfect video. However, the WWE has a perfect video on the channel.
Watch the first few minutes of this video and see how Mascaras goes from hold to hold in seconds.
This was how I watched Mil Mascaras' matches in the late 1970s and early 1980s, on IWA wrestling.
naptu2: The WWE has blocked one of the videos of Mil Mascaras that I posted above, so I'll post another one.
Mil Mascaras vs Beautiful Bruce.
Big Ernie Lad came to the ring with Beautiful Bruce. Ernie Lad was a giant that was hated by the fans and he is known for cheating.
The commentators were Jack Reynolds and Big Tex McKenzie. Tex McKenzie and Ernie Lad were enemies.
I initially thought that Ernie Lad would cheat again and Tex would get involved to help Mascaras, but that's not what happened. Mascaras beat both Beautiful Bruce and Ernie Lad on his own.
naptu2: I can still remember that day in 1984. I had to attend a party that I really didn't want to go to. Luckily I got home by 7 and I immediately went to the TV. The 7 o'clock news was on and that's how I heard that the Mighty Igor had lost. I was shocked.
naptu2: I wonder when we'll have major wrestling promotions in Nigeria again. So many wrestlers from all over the world came to fight in Nigeria in the 1970s, '80s and early 1990s.
The Mighty Igor, Mil Mascaras, Ox Baker and Kamala The Ugandan Giant from the US
Johnny Kwango and Gentleman Chris Adams from the UK
Ray Apollon from Trinidad and Tobago
The Great Mulumba from Zaire (now Congo)
Etc.
I remember when Mulumba came to Nigeria. I loved watching wrestling with certain older people at that time. Their facial expressions when someone was hit or when blood was oozing out of someone were hilarious.
I had been ill, so my doctor came to check up on me. It was a Saturday so Sports Spectacular was on TV and they were showing wrestling from the National Stadium.
Then the Great Mulumba came into the arena holding a white chicken. He danced round the ring with the chicken and then beheaded the chicken with his teeth. The look on my doctor's face was priceless.
naptu2: I've written a bit about Silverbird Promotion's concerts in the early 1980s and their pageants (Miss Intercontinental) in the mid 1980s to the early 1990s. The other major event series that was promoted in the early 1980s was professional wrestling. So I'm going to write about Nigerian (and some foreign) professional wrestling.
The main wrestling show on tv in the 1970s was a very boring British promotion that had wrestlers like Mick Mcmanus. Then came the very exciting American shows, The IWA and the NWA. The IWA had more of fun and entertainment, while the NWA was filled with hard and bloody battles. There have been other wrestling shows that have dominated Nigerian tv since then and each show always has that one superstar or group of superstars that have become the favourite of Nigerian wrestling fans. We've had: -
The Mighty Igor (and Mil Mascaras) of the IWA.
Dusty Rhodes (and Andre the Giant) of the NWA.
The Von Erichs of Georgia Wrestling.
Hulk Hogan (and the Ultimate Warrior) of the WWF
etc.
In Nigeria, Power Mike retired from active wrestling in the 1970s and moved over to the business side of things. He established the Power Mike Promotions company and staged many shows at the National Stadium in Lagos in the early 1980s. These shows attracted wrestlers from around the world, including some of the biggest stars of the IWA. Wrestlers who fought at these shows included: -
The Mighty Igor (Polish American)
Ray Apollon (Trinidad and Tobago)
Ox Baker (American)
Johnny Kwango (Britain)
The Great Malumba (billed as being from Zaire, but he's actually from Trinidad and Tobago)
Kamala "The Ugandan Giant" (billed as being from Uganda, but he's actually American).
D.ick "The Bulldog" Brower (from Canada).
Power Uti (Nigeria).
Gentleman Chris Adams (Britain).
Elephando Bassey (Nigeria).
Etc.
The biggest of those wrestling matches (in my opinion) took place c1984 when The Mighty Igor fought Ray Apollon. Unbelievably, Igor, who was the most popular wrestler in Nigeria at that time, lost the match.
The matches were usually promoted in the Friday night and Saturday afternoon editions of the NTA News, then we would find out who won on the 7 or 9pm news on Saturday and finally the matches would be shown in full on the next Saturday's edition of NTA Sports.
The Great Malumba usually entered the arena holding a live chicken in his left hand. He would dance round the ring with the chicken, then behead the chicken with his teeth and smear its blood on the ringpost.
There were other Nigerians, like Mike Bamidele and Ben Lionheart, who fought in wrestling promotions outside the country who sometimes came back to participate in these shows.
Unfortunately I don't have any videos of any of those matches, so enjoy this match from the IWA.
John Eke Uti was born in Delta State, but he came to Lagos to further his education. In an old interview that I saw, he said that he became interested in bodybuilding while in Lagos. This was because of the bodybuilding magazines and TV shows that he saw.
Wrestling
He tried to feature on a show on the NTA, but he wasn't successful. He saw the famous actor, Enebeli Elebuwa (of Andrew fame) while he was at the NTA premises and Mr Elebuwa advised him to go into professional wrestling because he had the physique for it.
Power Mike Promotions
Power Uti then tried to get the attention of famous wrestling promoter and retired wrestler, Power Mike. Power Mike set up a match between Power Uti and Timesman Udo and although Power Uti lost that match, the crowd at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium loved him and that's how he got involved with Power Mike Promotions.
Power Uti's first major match on the Power Mike platform was against the Mexican legend, "Ariba" Luis Martinez. Back then, in the early 1980s, the NTA showed 3 main American wrestling promotions on TV and they were the IWA (which was the most popular), the NWA and the WWF. Luis Martinez was on the IWA platform and Nigerians knew him very well back then because they saw him on television every weekend. Power Uti was relatively unknown at that time and the crowd at the National Stadium supported Luis Martinez.
Power Uti fought against many famous foreign stars at the National Stadium in the 1980s and 1990s. These include Kamala The Ugandan Giant, Mr Fuji, Ox Baker, Playboy Buddy Rose, etc. Most of these fights were promoted by Power Mike Promotions.
Problems with Power Mike
I read a newspaper interview sometime in the late 2000s or early 2010s in which Power Uti talked about the problems that he had with Power Mike. He praised Power Mike in that interview and talked about his contributions to wrestling, but he also talked about some problems that they had in their relationship.
Power Uti told Power Mike that he would like to go to the United States in order to wrestle there. Power Mike convinced Power Uti to go to the West Indies instead. He said that Power Uti would do well in Trinidad and so he got legendary Trinidadian wrestler, Ray Apollon to take Power Uti to Trinidad.
However, there was something that Power Uti did not know. Power Mike was owing Ray Apollon and the promoters that helped him to bring some American wrestlers to Nigeria and he used Power Uti as part payment of the debt. This meant that Power Uti was paid less than he was due in Trinidad, because the promoters used to balance to offset the debt that Power Mike was owing. He had 63 fights in Trinidad, but he came back with much less money than he thought that he would make.
When they eventually returned to Nigeria, Ray Apollon told Power Mike that he couldn't get a particular American wrestler who they wanted to fight Power Uti in Lagos. He suggested that Power Uti should fight Mil Mascaras instead (Mascaras was due to be in Lagos for one of Power Mike's shows). He said that he believed that a match between Mascaras and Uti would be a huge draw. Power Mike agreed.
However, when he was in a car with some other people, Power Uti said that Power Mike did not tell him that he was going to use the Trinidad trip to settle his debts. Power Uti told the journalist that was interviewing him that he believed that someone in the car told Power Mike what he said because Power Mike later cancelled the match between Power Uti and Mil Mascaras. Instead he decided that Mascaras would fight Ben Lionheart. Ben Lionheart was a Nigerian wrestler who had been abroad for a long time and only returned to Nigeria shortly before the promotion (I remember that this was one of the reasons that I was looking forward to that show). He was also the Commonwealth champion.
Power Uti later made up with Power Mike and Power Mike scheduled him to fight against Mr Fuji at the same show.
Ben Lionheart lost to Mascaras and the crowd (at the National Stadium in Lagos) was not happy with the result, but Power Uti defeated Mr Fuji and this energised the crowd.
United States and the CWA
Power Uti's match against Mr Fuji made waves and this gave him an opportunity to wrestle in the United States.
He wrestled in the Continental Wrestling Alliance (CWA) and soon became their junior champion. Some of his matches were shown in Nigeria (just a few).
He eventually got a title shot and defeated Dino Rosetti (the champion) to become the CWA Heavy Weight Champion. He is the first person to hold both the junior and heavyweight championship belts at the same time.
He occasionally returned to fight in Nigeria and I remember that he defended his title against Dino Rosetti in Lagos.
Most popular wrestler
Power Uti was the most famous Nigerian wrestler in the 1980s and 1990s. He was one of the famous people that were regularly interviewed at half time during Super Eagles matches (they were interviewed either in the stands or at the side of the pitch). He also often appeared on Morning Ride to promote his matches (Morning Ride was on Saturday mornings and most of the wrestling shows were on Saturday evenings).
Born Again
Power Uti became born again in the mid-2000s and he appeared at one of David Oyedepo's events to give testimony about his transformation.
He modified his ring walk after he became born again. Now he plays gospel songs on his saxophone as he walks to the ring. If I remember correctly, he actually became a reverend.
Bizarre matches
Power Mike moved to Abuja in the year 2000 and left the wrestling business. He died in 2004.
Power Uti tried to promote some matches by himself in the late 2000s and 2010s. They were the strangest, weirdest and most bizarre matches that I have ever seen.
I remember that he was publicising a match against someone and there were adverts and so on, but the match never actually held (I can't remember who his opponent was supposed to be). (Modified: I think it was Cliff Compton).
Then, in 2011, he had a series of matches against Super Festus (Doc Gallows). This was shortly after Festus left the WWE.
The first match was held on the football field of the main bowl of the National Stadium in Lagos and it was shocking. This was back when the stadium had electricity problems. The match was held at night and a man held up a rechargeable lamp to illuminate the ring. I mean that a man held up one of those cheap red Sunca rechargeable lamps to illuminate the ring. The rest of the stadium was in complete darkness. Fans who were used to the great promotions of the 1980s and 1990s were very disappointed. The booed and asked for a refund. I was in shock.
The second match was held at the Velodrome of the National Stadium in Abuja and it was equally shocking. It seems like the fans had heard about what happened in Lagos because there were no spectators. The hall was empty!
Jide Alabi brought Power Uti to Silverbird Sports Cafe so that he could defend himself. Power Uti tried to pretend that nothing wrong happened, but Jide Alabi told him exactly what the fans thought. People were expecting to see the kind of shows that we had in the 1980s. Thousands of fans in the Main Bowl of the National Stadium, working floodlights (otherwise the match should have been held during the day), proper ring announcers, multi-camera coverage, etc. but there was none of that. I felt sad all over again while watching him on Sports Cafe.
These matches have become a source of discussion on American wrestling blogs and YouTube channels. Some people in wrestling circles have mocked Power Uti because of those matches, while some of his American fans have defended him.
Wife's death
In 2017 there was a headline on Nairaland's front page which stated that Power Uti had been arrested for killing his wife. The story went viral and was on blogs and social media sites all over the place. It was also discussed on American wrestling sites.
There are 4 versions of the story and I'm going to give you all of them.
1) The first story was that Power Uti beat his wife to death. This is the story that went viral on the Internet.
2) The second story was that Power Uti didn't kill his wife, but he kept her corpse in his house until the body decomposed and began smelling and that it was his neighbours that called the police when they couldn't bear the smell.
3) The third story was told by his in-laws. They said that Power Uti refused to take his wife to the hospital, rather he kept her at home and was praying for her when she was sick and they also claimed that, after she died, Power Uti took her corpse to a church where people prayed for her revival. They said that they called the police on Power Uti because he desecrated the corpse of his wife by taking it to church for people to pray for her revival.
4) The fourth story was told by Power Uti. He said that he was very conscious of his strength and that he never laid hands on his wife and that he loved her very much.
He said that he never went to the hospital and that even when he had injuries from wrestling, he usually just went home and his wife would massage him and he would better. He said that it was probably this practice that his wife copied.
He said that his wife complained of a severe headache and he offered to take her to the hospital, but she refused. His wife's cousin came to visit them and also advised his wife to go to the hospital, but she refused again.
He said that he took his kids to school one morning and when he got back he discovered that his wife's situation had deteriorated, so he rushed her to the hospital. She was at the hospital when she died. He said that it's not true that he refused to take her to the hospital or that he kept the corpse at home, rather her body was still at the hospital. He said that he prayed for her at the hospital before she died. He also said that there was a secret that his in-laws were hiding and that's why they were persecuting him.
Twitter
Power Uti is on Twitter and this is his Twitter account. He was released from detention sometime in 2018 and it was through his tweets that I knew that he was free. https://mobile.twitter.com/PowerUti
Photo 1) World Top rated wrestlers at a press conference in Lagos where trophies to be won during the tournament was displayed (1979). Source: Nigerian Herald.
The trophies were displayed by the President of Pegson International Promotions, Mr Peter Eruteya (right) and in the middle is Nigeria's female wrestler Bella Ogunlana (in dark glasses).
Photo 3) Bella Ogunlana and her manager, Orig Williams.
Bella Ogunlana (aka Black Panther) is a British-Nigerian wrestler who fought in the UK and Nigeria in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
She was sometimes billed as being from Lagos, Nigeria and sometimes billed as being from Llandudno in North Wales.
She was trained by Orig Williams and fought in matches that were promoted by him in the UK. She also fought for Power Mike Promotions in Nigeria.
She fought against the top women wrestlers of the time, including Mitzi Mueller.
She became world champion when she defeated Rusty Blair in Lagos Nigeria. However, she also lost to Rusty Blair in matches in Kaduna and London.
Bella Ogunlana and other female wrestlers had a difficult time in the UK in the early 1980s. Women's wrestling had not been shown on television and when they were able to get some of their matches on ITV, the TV regulator banned women's wrestling on TV.
She has a sister, Caroline Ogunlana, who is a model.
Photos 1 and 2) Nigerian wrestler, Bella Ogunlana before the world championship match against her arch rival Rusty Blair of Great Britain in Kaduna May 1981. The match was promoted by Power Mike International Promotions
Photo 3) A more recent photo of Bella Ogunlana.
Photo 4) Nigeria's Bella Ogunlana applies to the winning Boston Crab to subdue Lola Ashlery of England. Source: Daily Times, May 22, 1979
naptu2: I have written about him very many times on this thread and other threads since 2012 (search for Ben Lionheart and you'll see the posts). I have also posted his pictures many times. Unfortunately I still don't have videos of his exploits (which I watched when I was a kid), but here is a video of his community paying tribute to him.
Ben Lionheart
FORMER COMMON WEALTH HEAVY WEIGHT WRESTLING CHAMPION: AKPO COMMUNITY IN AGUATA LGA IMMORTALIZES HIM
The story of NZE BENNETH AFULUEKE OKOYE (A.K.A BEN LION HEART) began on the 24th december (before the lords days) 1942, when he was born as the first child in a family of five children to NZE & LOLO OKOYE IGWEBUIKE of udo village, Akpo in Aguata Local Govt. Area of Anambra state.
Benneth attended St. paul's catholic school (Now Akpo Central School) from 1953 to 1960 where he obtained his first school leaving certificate. While in school he was one of the most brilliant student of his time, and was also noted for his very active involvement in sports such as football and athletics.
Even though benneth lost his mother at a very tender of eleven, he was uncharacteristically of a boy at such age to take care of his younger ones. He made sure that his immediate younger brother, now a medical practitioner, who was a toddler when he was in junior class accompanied him to school. He also took care of his other siblings, thereby filling the lucuna creating by the death of his mother. This early hardship impose upon him by fate was to be of immense value to him in later part of his life as it imbued with an unimaginable survival instincts that saw him through the fratricidal biafram war and even beyond his chosen professional career in wrestling.
At the end of his Primary education Benneth opted for business and served late FIDELIS UMEOPRINNAKA (Alias :Kwa-aji Kwa) a rich trader as at that time, before setting up his own business in Lagos. This was before the commencement of the civil war and by this time he was already a well established timber merchant. When the war eventually broke out In 1967, he like every true igbo Youth returned home to defend his fathers land, He Joined BIAFRAN ORGANIZATION OF FREEDOM FIGHTERS (BOFF) and as a result of his intimidating personality and fearlessness he was revered and respected by both commissioned and non-commissioned officers where eve he went.
At the end of the war Benneth married former Miss Jane Ezeaka (Now Mrs. Jane Okoye) before returning to Lagos to re-establish his timber business. While there, he made it a priority to identify with his towns people. In recognition of his efforts at assembling Akpo people residing in Lagos under one umbrella, he was elected the first executive chairman of Akpo Development Association (A.D.A) Lagos branch, about two years after the civil war and under his leadership a solid foundation of his branch was laid in Lagos.
But when Benneth was struggling for the welfare of his people, his business was dwindling due to lack of funds all the Capital required to run it had gone with the war and there was no one to offer assistance. As time went by, life become very unbearable for him and members of his family.
On realizing that he had a lot of Physical strength he decided to try his hands on weight lifting, and it was at this stage that he met Chief Mike Okpala A.K.A. "Power Mike" from whom he drew inspiration to become a wrestler. As luck would have it a good Samaritan in the person of Chief J.S. Abajue assisted him to procure travelling documents with which he traveled to Greece (ITALY) to learn the art of wrestling and from there he traveled to other countries, including Great Britain and Germany.
After his training he returned to his country as a professional wrestler. On arrival he introduced himself to the nation as one of the best wrestlers in the world and adopted the name "BEN LION HEART OF AFRICA" His first fight caused a big sensation because people were so thrilled by his wonderfully performance and display of raw strength that he pulled large fellowship of supporters in his subsequent fights. He was specialized in what was described as the "Greek-Roman" style with this he was able to defeat many famous wrestlers, such as john kwango, Silva man etc. His achievement in his new found love "wrestling" bore eloquent testimony to his charisma, perseverance determination and fearlessness even in the face of all odds.
On the 22nd of January 1978 he won the national heavy weight title, and on 30th march 1978 he beat Honey boy zimba of sierra leone to win the African heavy weight title. His effort were crowned on the 16th day of December 1978 when he defeated Count Bertilli of Great Britain to become the "Common Wealth Heavy Weight Wrestling Champion"
His selfless nature and desire to see to the Welfare Growth and Development of others were manifested in 1985 when he single handedly and with the unalloyed support of the then Military Governor of the Old Anambra State "Navy Captain Alison Madueke (as he then was) organised the championship match in defense of his common wealth title, the proceeds of which were specifically meant for the coffers of "Anambra State Stadium Appeal Fund" for which there was a strongly worded letter of commendation from the Governor. He was also a source of inspiration as well as the Patron of "Akpo Lion babes football Club of Lagos" which purpose was to develop and bring to limelight the latent football artistry among indigenous youths. Being a man that was filled with the zeal to serve in whatever capacity towards ensuring a functional society, he was not found wanting even in his professional association. He was at various times Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary General of Nigerian Professional Wrestlers Association (N.P.W.A.) and a member of Nigerian Wrestling Board of control.
Following professional controversy, he retired from active wrestling in the late 1985, But as result of his insatiable love for sports, he engaged in the importation and sales of sports equipment till the time his ill health began to manifest in the year 1992.
In the month of march 1997 he was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) by his wife & daughter who did every thing humanly possible to help him regain his health. The doctors after diagnosing his heath problem as "DIABETICS" discharged him after one month of intensive treatment , But Ben never regained his old self.
On the 15th August 1998 he was yet again admitted in the same hospital where he gave up the ghost ten days later. It is pertinent to mention that despite his busy schedule and engagement. Ben Lion Heart still found time for development of his home town Akpo. In 1988 he was appointed Chairman Akpo Rural Electrification Project (A.R.E.P.) and through his influence the project was commissioned by the Anambra State Government. He was also an active foundation member of Njikoka Age Grade, Akpo Development Association (A.D.A) and Udo Charity Movement. He was always participating in Community Development and Social Activities. He also donated various sums of money to support individuals and groups.
BENNETH AFULUEKE OKOYE A.K.A. BEN LION HEART will be remembered for a long time to come, for the glory and honour he brought to Aguata Anambra state in particular and the nation Nigeria in general through his exploits as a wrestler. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen
REMEMBERING MIKE BAMIDELE, FORGOTTEN NIGERIAN UNDEFEATED WORLD CHAMPION
Mar 17, 2021. Written By Olusesan Olukoya
Born in 1945 at Ipetu Ijesha, Osun State, he attended St. Mary’s Primary School, Ipetu Ijesha. He was forced to leave the school in standard four owing to financial problems and the sudden death of his father.
As a young boy, he took delightful interest in street wrestling and to keep the banner of his family flying, he wrestled with many of his contemporaries round the town clearly distinguishing himself as a terror in the localities before he moved down to Lagos at the age of 19.
Bamidele never started in Lagos as a wrestler; rather he was selling electrical parts at Lewis Street. He had interest in boxing and left his shop several times to watch boxers. In 1962, he signed up as a boxer when he enrolled at the Broadway Boxing Club at Lewis Street, Lagos under the guardianship of Howard Jones, trainer Speedy Twitch, Lawson Moon, a former middleweight champion of Nigeria boxer who turned promoter Bonny Ade. He finally sealed up his shop in to enable him have full attention to purse his sporting career.
He followed the sport steadily until 1964 when he decided to change to wrestling – a game he loved very well because of all the gymnastics and acrobatic displays involved. For instance he watched the first world light heavyweight wrestling title fight staged in Nigeria between the former champion Khalil Abu Khalil – the Seven Up man from Lebanon and contender Apinosse of Greece.
Inspired by the performance of the Abu Khalil, Bamidele followed the great wrestler to Beirut on July 10, 1964 and started active amateur wrestling training in the same year. He showed remarkable talent in mastering all the technicalities of the sport of his choice and within four years of his sojourn in Beirut where he fought many amateur and international contests, Bamidele has become a force to be reckoned with in the world of Professional Wrestling.
In a career ranging from Spain, France, Belgium, Cardiff, Valencia, Pakistan, Australia etc, Mike courageously sought and fought his way to stardom successfully.
Some of Michael Bamidele’s victims in his over 500 professional wrestling fights were Ray McGuine who was kayoed in 1967 the same year Jon Contex of Mexico fell by the knock out route. Steve Grey was knocked out in 1968 in France. His record further shows that he fought more than 300 times in the middleweight class before switching to the light heavyweight category where he became a world champion.
Mike Bamidele died on the 27th December, 1989 in his residence in London of heart attack, The history of the pro wrestling stars in Nigeria and Africa will be an uncompleted story without putting into considerations and its proper place the immense contributions and the exploits of Mike Bamidele as the first indigenous Amateur coach in Nigeria as well as the first pro wrestling coach who took some selected Nigerian wrestlers round the nation to introduce the game in 1979.
In commemoration of his the 10th year remembrance anniversary, on January 29, 2000, a statue was unveiled in his hometown, Ipetu-Ijesa on his behalf where little or nothing is known about him on the sincere exploits he made in his active days as an undefeated world champion.
Unfortunately, this statue is the only form of immortalization for Mike. He was one of the many Nigeria’s Unsung Heroes.
Statue of an Undefeated World Light Heavyweight Champion
Mike Bamidele, was a London-based Wrestler and a former World Light Heavyweight Champion who died undefeated.
A lover of his country, he came to introduce Amateur Wrestling in Nigeria. As reported, In 1979 he took some selected Nigerians round the States to introduce the game.
As part of the10th year remembrance celebration of the late wrestler, on January 29, 2000, this statue was unveiled in his hometown, Ipetu-Ijesa in Osun State, where little or nothing is known about him or the exploits he made in his days.
I remember seeing the representatives of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation and the family of the Champion during the unveiling ceremony while heading to school that early morning of January 29th, 2000. I also remember seeing the surroundings unkempt and the statue in bad shape. This definitely is a renovated one.
Unfortunately, this statue is the only form of immortalization for Mike. Mike was one of the many Nigeria's Unsung Heroes.
Travel › Re: Lagos To Install 3,000 E-Police and Speed Limit Cameras by naptu2(op): 1:18pm On Mar 26, 2025*. Modified: 2:20pm On Mar 26, 2025
I would like to encourage and appeal to all those that have tried to derail the thread by posting nonsense that they should please break the law right in front of the cameras so that we can see if they actually work.
