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Black Thursday

Rostrum The ancient narrow pathway had become so bad that they could not find their way to their destination as the three moved in a grey Honda Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) being piloted by Dayo who was very mindful of the steering. It was on a Thursday. The 35-year-old Misters Dayo, Emeka and Okon were old time friends who reunited just a few days ago at Nsukka in Enugu State having lost contacts about eight years back, or thereabouts, after their graduation from one of the reputable higher citadels of learning in Nigeria situated in the Eastern part of the country, precisely University of Nigeria Nsukka popularly known by its acronym ‘U.N.N’. What occasioned the long-awaited reunion was the convention of their alma-mater’s alumni body themed ‘The homecoming of UNN Alumni’, which usually held once in a blue moon. Though they never studied in the same department, they were conspicuously best of friends during their school days that people within bega...

Suntory CEO, Niinami resigns over Drug Probe

RostrumNews
The outspoken Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Japanese global liquor giant, Suntory Group, Takeshi Niinami, has resigned after police raided his house in a n ongoing probe on illegal drugs deal.

Niinami, 66, was put under police investigation following the arrest of a close ally in an illegal drug case in July, 2025.

Consequently, police searched Niinami’s house in August, but he has denied involvement, and no illegal drugs have been found.

“An investigation was conducted into supplements he purchased under the belief that they were legal,” Suntory president Nobuhiro Torii told news conference on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

Niinami was reportedly suspected of importing products containing THC, an active ingredient in cannabis, from the United States.

During the search, Niinami told police that he thought it was a legal product, saying a female acquaintance sent it to him unsolicited.

Niinami, who also serves as the head of the country’s business lobby, joined Suntory Holdings in 2014, after serving as CEO of convenience store chain Lawson.

Suntory is known for its world-famous whisky and the company’s brands include Jim Beam bourbon, Laphroaig whisky and Courvoisier cognac.

In 2014, it acquired the United States' maker of Jim Beam for $16 billion to become one of the world’s biggest spirits makers.

NiinIt's noteworthy that Niinami is known as a vocal business leader. In 2023, he openly criticised Japan’s former biggest boyband agency following revelations about decades of sex abuse by its late founder.

Japan has strict drug laws and possession can result in jail time. In 2024, the German-born former CEO of optical equipment firm, Olympus, was found guilty of a drug charge.

In 2017, a German executive working at Volkswagen’s Tokyo office was arrested on suspicion of drug use.