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Did you know a cake maker in Enugu refused to make Bianca Ojukwu’s wedding cake because she thought Bianca was poor and of lower class?
Bianca stated that the rather amusing but depressing history of her wedding cake comes to mind whenever she sees a picture of it. During the planning of her wedding, she did learn from a dependable friend that a woman in Enugu made excellent wedding cakes.
She actually offered to take Bianca to the woman’s home even though her friend didn’t have a personal relationship with the cake lady. Bianca made the choice to abandon her Mercedes and commute with her friend in her adorable yet modest Volkswagen (a Beetle back then).The well-known cake maker, whose identity is being kept a secret for obvious reasons, was completely unaware of Bianca when they arrived, and she gave the car they were riding in a mocking glance.When Bianca asked her to make her wedding cake, she immediately started making excuses of every synopsis. She first told Bianca that her cakes were very expensive and that she would not be able to afford them (at 25,000 naira back then).
She offered to point Bianca in the direction of a less expensive cake shop. She also stressed that she only makes cakes for important people (even going so far as to name drop one Union bank manager, one boutique owner, etc. who in her opinion were “dignitaries”). Bianca assured her that I would be able to afford it. Then, when she inquired as to the location of the wedding, Bianca replied that Abuja was where it was happening.
The cake lady said Bianca would be responsible for covering her travel expenses to Abuja to mount the cake and that since she only travels by air, not road, that an added cost would be difficult for Bianca to carry, to which Bianca replied that she would pay.
She brought up the question of hotel accommodations, which Bianca assured her would be handled. Bianca’s friend kept whispering in her ear and nudging Bianca to tell the cake lady who she was so the mocking melodrama could end, but Bianca refused.
Bianca despite being confused at the time, was secretly amused by human nature and social climbers, of which the woman was obviously one at the time based on her attitude. The lady was definitely not wealthy; her own car was an old Corolla; her surroundings were not luxurious; & she was simply one of those “I must belong by all means” individuals. Notwithstanding, she had the temerity to look down on others she considered to be less fortunate. Because she was still unsure that Bianca could afford her services (judging by her casual attire and the modest ride, which was not even Bianca’s), the cake lady quickly discharged both of them, telling her to drop her phone number and that she would call her later.
They parted ways after Bianca gave her, her phone number but wrote down her Igbo name which was Odinaka. The cake lady vanished without a trace.
A massive multi-tiered wedding cake was made for free as PR to market and advertise the hotel’s services after Bianca simply accepted a kind offer from the Canadian chef at the Nicon Hilton Abuja at the time, who was a master baker. A week before the wedding, the Enugu cake maker started to notice coverage of the upcoming wedding on television and recognized Bianca as the person who had come to her home for a wedding cake. The Nicon Noga Hilton (now known as the Transcorp Hilton) in Abuja hosted the very first event ever on a lovely, breezy day in November 1994, which was Bianca’s wedding.
The life-size multi-step cake that can be seen in the photo below was donated by the Hilton’s management. It is significantly larger and more opulent than any cake that the Enugu cake maker could have possibly offered. The fact that the event was broadcast nationwide meant that the Enugu cake maker missed a brilliant opportunity to show off her abilities and her goods. This magnificent use of advertising helped facilitate innumerable more weddings at the same Congress Hall at Hilton.
This significantly increased the hosting business for Hilton Events. The Cakemaker’s business, which had some issues years ago, has indeed closed, according to the most recent information Bianca got.
What marketing and life lessons have you learnt?
Aloy Ejimakor, lead counsel for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of denying the agitator access to his legal team and visitors, in violation of existing court orders.
Ejimakor expressed growing concern over Kanu’s health and wellbeing following the DSS’s latest refusal to allow his legal team to see him. The incident occurred during a routine visit to the DSS headquarters in Abuja on October 14, 2024, as part of a court-ordered visitation schedule.
“We were blocked from seeing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in direct violation of subsisting court orders,” Ejimakor revealed in a statement. He further noted that Kanu has been denied visitors since his last court appearance on September 24, 2024, when the IPOB leader demanded that Justice Binta Nyako recuse herself from his case due to a lack of confidence. Although the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, overruled the recusal, the DSS has consistently blocked access to Kanu since then.
Ejimakor raised alarms about the DSS’s actions, suggesting that they may be related to Kanu’s successful bid to have Justice Nyako step down, even though her recusal was later overturned. He added that previous attempts to enforce court compliance through legal applications have been ignored, leaving the impression that the DSS is acting above the law.
“The DSS should remember that court-ordered visitations are meant for Kanu’s relatives and lawyers to ensure his wellbeing. Now that access has been completely denied, one must ask: What is the DSS hiding? Is Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hale and hearty?” Ejimakor questioned.
This latest development has fueled ongoing tensions, as the legal battle surrounding Kanu’s trial intensifies, with the DSS facing increasing criticism for defying judicial orders and infringing on Kanu’s rights.
Three kidnappers suspected to have attempted to kidnap the wife of a member of the Delta State House of Assembly have been killed by the police in a fierce gun duel.
According to the information on PUNCH Metro, it was gathered that the hoodlums had failed in an attempt to kidnap the woman on September 2, 2024, at the Okoloba Junction, Jakpa Road, Uvwie, where the suspected kidnappers killed two policemen and the driver, Mr. David Imela, during the incident.
However, the police spokesperson, Bright Edafe, confirmed this to the PUNCH Metro on Sunday in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
He said, “Following the failed attempted kidnap of the wife of one of the members of Delta State House of Assembly where the suspected kidnappers murdered two Mobile Policemen and the driver, the Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, immediately ordered a water-tight deployment around Warri and its environs as well as narrowing the roads and blockage of all exit points.
“Police operatives of the Ebrumede Division led by the DPO CSP Iwok Ndifereke strategically deployed and created an artificial hold-up at the DSC Roundabout and sighted the vehicle as described with a matching registration number.
“On noticing the traffic and sighting the policemen, the hoodlums opened fire on the team which the team equally responded professionally owing to the busy nature of the area.”
He said the hoodlums immediately abandoned the vehicle shattered with bullets and escaped with bullet injuries while three AK-47 rifles and their operational vehicle with registration no. WWR-436-GZ were recovered.
According to Edafe, the CP who was not satisfied with their escape, directed that the DPO Ebrumede should go all out and ensure the suspects were arrested and brought to book.
“Armed with available information and exhibits found in the abandoned vehicle, on October 3, 2024, the DPO Ebrumede Division, CSP Iwok Ndifereke, led operatives to their hideout in Agbarho where the police engaged the suspects in a fierce gun duel.
“The policemen who prepared for the battle ahead overpowered the hoodlums, three of the suspects sustained serious gunshot injuries while others escaped and another AK-47 rifle was also recovered.
“The suspects were taken to the hospital where they were confirmed dead. A manhunt for the other fleeing members of the gang is ongoing,” he said.
Edafe said Olufemi also commended the bravery the DPO and his men displayed during the operation and urged other officers and men of the command to emulate them.
The Ogun State police command on Monday said that its Igbeba Division, Ijebu-Ode, arrested one Shedrack Olawale Olayemi, who had been on the police wanted list for armed robbery and alleged rape of some female students of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, in July.
The spokesperson for the state police command, SP Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Monday.
Odutola said that Olayemi was picked up after an intelligence report revealed that the 33-year-old alleged armed robber and rapist was sighted at the university area, Ijagun, where he has been trying to conceal his identity.
The statement said, “The divisional police officer of Igbeba Division has arrested a wanted notorious suspect for armed robbery.
“Following a tip-off, that one Olayemi Olawale Shedrack, aged 33 was sighted in Ijagun, trying to conceal himself among other citizens, but his identity was immediately confirmed by intelligence, and the police were contacted. In swift action, he was apprehended.
“Olayemi Olawale Shedrack has been on the police search for armed robbery and rape. He was fingered as the prime suspect for an alleged crime of armed robbery and rape in which he participated actively on the 21st of July, 2024, where he and his cohort broke into a female Royal Villa accommodation area in Tai University of Education Ijagun, where he robbed harmless female students of their luxury educational devices, including laptops, iPhones, sports wristwatches and cash, and further had unlawful carnal knowledge of the innocent female student and has since fled.”
The police said that a preliminary investigation has commenced, and the suspect has been immediately taken to the Igbeba police station for interrogation and will soon be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation and prosecution.
