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On Thursday, Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Lagos issued an arrest warrant for Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, the manager of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo. The order was granted following an ex parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which sought the manager's arrest. When the case was called, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, representing the EFCC, informed the court of an application based on Section 35(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution and several sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. Buhari moved the application, requesting the court to issue a warrant to compel the manager’s appearance to answer to criminal charges. She also stated that if the manager could not be arrested, the EFCC would issue a public summons declaring him wanted. The court granted the request and adjourned the case until January 24 for the manager’s arraignment. In support of the application, the EFCC filed an affidavit stating that it had received a ...

  A 53-year-old French interior designer, Anne  has been left devastated after she was scammed using an AI-generated image of Hollywood actor, Brad Pitt. She was defrauded a staggering  €830,000.   According to information gathered, the scammer allegedly posed as the actor, claiming he needed the money for cancer treatment.   The incident was revealed in a post shared on the popular social media platform TikTok.   According to the post, the scammer initiated contact with the woman, presenting a fabricated story about Brad Pitt’s health crisis and requesting financial assistance.   After a series of exchanges, the woman transferred the funds, only to later discover that the actor was in good health.   She subsequently reported the incident to the police.   SEE SOME REACTIONS BELOW:    Ethereal: “Ai Brad Pitt made some guy a millionaire overnight 😂.”   Tom D L: “what’s this woman’s name? asking for a friend?.”   James: “Doe...

  Nigerian singer, Akinmayokun Awodumila popularly known as May D has revealed how his marriage to a Swedish lady ended.   The singer opened up that after relocating from Nigeria, he became a “house husband” in Sweden but got divorced during the COVID-19 lockdown for being stuck in Nigeria.   He opened up during a recent episode of The Honest Bunch podcast.   May D revealed that he was staying at home in Sweden to take care of his child.   The singer shared that despite not working, he was earning more from shows than his working-class wife was earning.   He said,  “I went to Sweden for a show but decided to settle down there since my girlfriend was Swedish. I was a house husband. What do you want me to do? I should go and work?   “My wife was working but when I go for show, I make five times what she earn in a month. I was a house husband but I was comfortable. I had my baby, my wife can’t be the one taking care of the baby and working at the sam...

  The  Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has listed nine banks to be disconnected from the assigned Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes usage over unpaid invoices. NCC gave the permission on Tuesday.   The Commission disclosed this in a notice on Tuesday, signed by its spokesperson, Ruben Muoka.   According to the regulator, the nine Nigerian banks will no longer use the assigned mobile network operators USSD from January 27, 2025.   The affected financial institutions include Fidelity Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank, Jaiz Bank Plc, Polaris Bank Limited, Sterling Bank Limited, United Bank for Africa Plc, Unity Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, and Zenith Bank Plc.   The affected USSD codes include 770, 919, 822, among others.   “By the information made available to the commission as of the close of business on Tuesday, 14th January 2025, of a total of 18 financial institutions, the nine institutions listed below have failed to comply ...

  Popular fish pie guy, Alax Evalsam has taken to social media to cry out.   He claimed that he was used and dumped while narrating the struggles he has faced since becoming an internet sensation.   Recall that Alax’s life changed last year August when he posted a video of himself singing while hawking his fish pies on TikTok.   In the footage, he could be heard singing:  “Nawa o, some people dem too do oh, nawa o. Fish pieeee”.   The video raked in millions of views on social media platforms.   In a recent video, Alax revealed that claims of him getting millions from different celebrities are untrue.   He wrote:  “The rumours that they gave me N10 million, N5 million, and more are untrue. The truth is, many of these people took advantage of me. If they had given me all that money, I am a businessman and would have used it to stock my shop,”  he said.   “But if you visit my shop now, it is empty, and there are no goods. I have ...

  Pep  Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City and his wife, Cristina Serra, have called it quits after 30 years of marriage. According to a report by SPORT on Monday, the divorce is “totally cordial, stable and friendly”. The report claimed that Guardiola drifted apart from Cristina after working in different countries for at least five years. The couple met in 1994 and got married in 2014 near Barcelona. They have three children together: Maria, 24, Marius, 22, and Valentina, 17. It is understood that Serra has been living in Barcelona full time with one of three daughters, Valentina, while Guardiola stays in Manchester. Serra is a Brazilian journalist and has been pictured with Guardiola at different times last year. The report stated that the decision to end their marriage was made in December, with only members of their inner circle initially aware of the split. Friends and family have also been warned not to reveal more information about the divorce. Serra left Manches...

  An indigene of Edo State has been sworn-in as the new Head of Service for Abia State Governor.   Governor Alex Otti conducted the swearing in ceremony of Benson Ojeikere, an indigene of Edo State, as the new Head of Service for the state.   Ojeikere, who was initially posted to Abia as a youth corps member in the late 90s, stood out as the best corps member, which led to his automatic employment in the state’s civil service.   He was appointed Permanent Secretary in 2023 under Governor Otti’s administration.   Having excelled in the selection process for the Head of Service position, Ojeikere’s appointment was based on merit and competence.   The state government emphasized that this decision underscores Governor Otti’s commitment to meritocracy and his policy of  “If you live in Abia, you are Abian,” reflecting the true spirit of “One Nigeria,” as encapsulated in the National Anthem’s words: “Though Tribe and Tongue May Differ, In Brotherhood We Sta...

The photos of the lady who was beheaded by gospel singer, Timileyin Ajayi in Orozo, a community that borders the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State, have surfaced. In the caption, social media users pointed out that she did not go after money, but went after a church guy, yet she was killed. This comes one day after church members in Orozo noticed Timileyin Ajayi carrying a sac and looking suspicious. They confronted him on Sunday, January 12, and found a fresh human head in the sack. Video of the incident has sent shock waves through viewers and has sparked conversations about femicide in Nigeria. Others are discussing the economic situation in the country and how it is pushing youths, including a gospel singer in this case, to get their hands dirty.

  Gay men can now become priests following new guidelines introduced by the Italian Bishops Conference (CEI).   The new guidelines introduced permit gay men to enroll in Roman Catholic seminaries, provided they commit to a life of celibacy.   This new change in the guidelines permits gay men to enter seminaries, ending the 2016 Vatican directive that discouraged men with “deep-seated homosexual tendencies” from pursuing the priesthood.   While the Vatican had not outright banned gay men from becoming priests in the past, this move signals a more inclusive approach within the Church.   “When referring to homosexual tendencies in the formation process, it is also appropriate not to reduce the discernment to this aspect alone, but … to understand its meaning within the whole framework of the young person’s personality,”  the guidelines say.

Popular Nigerian-British rapper, Darkoo, has accused Nigerian musician, Peter ‘Mr P’ Okoye of sabotaging her newly released song ‘Focus on Me’. In a series of tweets on X, Darkoo said she had obtained the necessary clearance from Psquare for the sample used in her song. The rapper said Psquare was entitled to 50% of the song’s earnings. She, however, alleged that Peter demanded to be featured on the track — a request she initially declined but considered for a possible remix. Darkoo claimed Mr P thereafter facilitated the copyright infringement tagged on the music video on YouTube after she refused to feature him in the song. “I wasn’t going to say anything, but Peter of P-square took down my music video for six days in an attempt to completely sabotage the song. (Fortunately, the video is back up now.) Let me be clear: I had all the necessary clearance for the sample. This is not my first rodeo using a sample, as you know, and I did everything by the book,”  the tweet reads. “To p...

David Segun, a 21-year-old US returnee, and two others, have been arrested by the police in Lagos state. They were arrested for allegedly killing an Uber driver in the Obalende area of Lagos state on January 9, 2025. Confirming their arrest to newsmen, the state Commissioner of Police, Ishola Olanrewaju, stated that Segun and his friends, Emeka Akwara 19, Samuel Ariori 21 and Lukman Ariori 19, ordered an Uber ride from Chevron in Lekki to Obalende at midnight on Thursday, January 9 and when they got to Obalende, teamed up to murder the Uber rider and carted away his vehicle. “On January 9, 2025, at about midnight, a case of conspiracy, armed robbery and murder was reported. One Emeka Akwara 19yrs, David Segun, 21yrs, Samuel Ariori, 21yrs and Lukman Ariori, 19yrs  ordered an Uber at Chevron in the Lekki area – en-route to Obalende. On getting to Obalende in a lonely area, they robbed and killed the Uber driver by stabbing him multiple times in the neck, unfortunately, they were unab...

A 3.7 magnitude earthquake hit California on Friday morning, further compounding the state's ongoing struggles with devastating wildfires. The tremor was detected near the San Francisco Bay Area at 7:02am PT, with its epicentre approximately five miles southwest of the Golden Gate Bridge and two miles west of the Great Highway, Mail Online reports. The quake was followed by a 2.2 magnitude aftershock four minutes later, and a 2.5 magnitude tremor six minutes after the initial hit. The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that more than 5,000 people in the area felt the shake, and the number of reports continues to grow. This seismic activity occurred about 350 miles away from the Los Angeles area, where wildfires have caused widespread destruction. In Los Angeles, at least 10 people have died in the fires, and 180,000 residents have been forced to evacuate. Over 10,000 structures have been destroyed, with nearly 30,000 acres of land scorched. Mayor Daniel Lurie commented on the sit...

  Djimon Hounsou, the Beninese-American actor, has admitted that he is still struggling financially despite being in the film industry for over two decades. Appearing on African Voices Changemakers, the popular CNN magazine program, the ‘Gladiator’ actor said he’s underpaid. “I’m still struggling to make a living. I’ve been in the filmmaking business for over two decades with two Oscar nominations and many blockbuster films, and yet, I’m still struggling financially. I’m definitely underpaid,”  he said. On racism in Hollywood, Hounsou said,  “I was nominated for the Golden Globe, but they ignored me for the Oscars because they thought that I had just come off the boat and the streets. Even though I successfully did that, they just didn’t feel like I was an actor to whom they should pay any respect. “So, this conceptual idea of diversity still has a long way to go. Systemic racism won’t change like that anytime soon.”

Senator John Azuta-Mbata has been elected as the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, a leading Igbo socio-cultural organization. He was elected during the Ohanaeze meeting in Enugu State on Friday, marking the beginning of a new era for the organisation. Azuta-Mbata succeeds Fidelis Chukwu, whose tenure as President-General came to an end. Notably, Azuta-Mbata hails from Rivers State in South-South Nigeria, bringing a unique perspective to the role. The election process was conducted through voice voting, with Azuta-Mbata winning the confidence of the members. In addition to Azuta-Mbata's election, 15 other individuals were elected to various executive positions within the organization. As the 13th President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Azuta-Mbata brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served as a senator for the Rivers East constituency of Rivers State, Nigeria, from 1999 to 2007. His leadership is expected to shape the organisation's direc...

A Nigerian-born Australian teacher who taught Maths and science at Staughton College in Melton, Victoria, has drowned at Rye Beach, Australia. Mr Onuorah was found floating in the water by a jet ski rider last Friday, on 3 January 2025 off a beach on the Mornington Peninsula, 100km south of Melbourne’s CBD. According to reports, the emergency services were called to Tyrone Beach in Rye at around 5.30pm on January 3 after Mr Onuorah was found in the water. He was given CPR once he was brought to shore but was unable to be revived. Mr Onuorah taught maths and science at Staughton College, in the north-western Melbourne suburb of Melton South. He wrote on his LinkedIn profile that " I pride myself in approaching each child as a unique individual with specific learning needs". "I’m passionate about using my experience to actualise an all-round development of children, " he added. His Australia-based friends have set up a GoFundMe to raise enough money to send his remain...

Nigeria's Para powerlifter, Kafilat Almaruf, has been banned by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for doping violations. The disciplinary action, which will see the Nigerian banned for a period of three years,  is for committing an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV), in breach of the IPC Anti-Doping Code (the Code). The IPC in a statement said Almarf returned an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for the administration of an anabolic agent in a urine sample provided out-of-competition on 11 July 2024. “Almaruf’s(GC/C/IRMS), differentiates between anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) naturally produced by the body and prohibited anabolic agents of external origin. The GC/C/IRMS analysis confirmed the presence of an anabolic agent of exogenous origin in Almaruf’s urine sample.” “Exogenous anabolic steroids are included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2024 Prohibited List under the class S1.1 Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) and are prohibited at all times.” The athlete...

Anthony Hopkins, the world-famous Welsh movie icon and legend, has tragically lost his home in the devastating California wildfires ravaging through Los Angeles. The legendary actor, 87, now joins a growing list of Hollywood elites who have lost their homes as the blazes continue to ravage the area. According to reports,  over 30,000 residents are under evacuation orders, with numerous celebrities among those affected by the fires.   Hopkins, who purchased a stunning four-bedroom, five-bathroom home in the Pacific Palisades area for $6 million in 2021, saw his property destroyed by the flames. Photos reveal the remains of the classic colonial home after it was destroyed. The house purchase was a fresh start for the Oscar-winning actor, who had just sold his long-time Malibu oceanfront place for $10.5 million—more than double what he paid for it back in 2001.

  The  cause of death of late singer Liam Payne has been confirmed at a UK inquest, three months after the One Direction star tragically fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Payne was staying at the Casa Sur hotel in the South American country when he fell to his death after a drink-drug binge on October 16. His medical cause of death has now been announced to be 'polytrauma', a term which means a person has multiple traumatic injuries to their body. A hearing, which Buckinghamshire Coroner's Court said was held on December 17, was told it may take 'some time' to ascertain exactly how the 31-year-old died. Five people have been charged over Payne's death in Argentina after he fell from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel. The hotel's manager, a receptionist, and a friend of Payne have been charged with manslaughter, Argentina's National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office previously said in a statement. They are rep...

  Christ Mitots School, located in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, announced on Thursday the indefinite suspension of a teacher, Stella Nwadigo, who was caught on video assaulting a three-year-old pupil, Abayomi Michael, during a numeracy lesson. The disturbing footage, which surfaced on social media, shows the female teacher violently smacking the young child for struggling with the lesson. The video sparked widespread outrage, leading to the teacher’s subsequent arrest on Wednesday. In a statement, the school management condemned the teacher’s actions, describing them as unacceptable. The institution assured the public that the teacher would remain suspended until the ongoing investigation is concluded. “We are aware of a deeply troubling incident involving one of our teachers and a student, which has been circulating on social media,”  the statement reads. “The video shows a teacher engaging in the physical discipline of a student in a manner that is completely unacceptable and ...

Miriam Cruz and husband  Romeo Santos An apparently angry husband has divorced his wife of 10 years over something she did during a music concert. The man left his wife of ten years after she kissed a hunky singer at the concert. Influencer Miriam Cruz stormed on stage on December 28, 2024 to make out with American musician Romeo Santos but said she got "carried away" during the show. Footage caught the wife of 10 years hugging and kissing the Aventura singer after she was invited up on stage, in her hometown of the Dominican Republic.

  Everybody Loves Jenifa has made history by becoming the highest-grossing Nollywood movie of all time.   The movie by Nollywood sensation Funke Akindele had gone head-to-head with Toyin Abraham’s Alakada: Bad and Boujee and other notable films before outclassing them.   The latest feat was announced by FilmOne, the distributor of the film in an Instagram post.   The post read:  “Everybody Loves Jenifa has officially reached a historic ₦1.466 billion and counting at the box office, making it the highest-grossing film of all time! A massive THANK YOU to our incredible audiences in Nigeria and Ghana for making this dream a reality! Your support means everything. On to even greater heights! Still showing in cinemas near you—experience the magic on the big screen.”   The film crossed the ₦1 billion mark in less than two weeks, cementing Akindele’s reputation as a trailblazer in Nollywood.   This achievement follows her record-breaking success last year wit...

  Eric Chelle has been appointed as the head coach of the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The NFF announced the appointment of the Malian tactician in a statement on Tuesday, January 7. The decision followed the recommendation of the NFF’s Technical and Development Sub-Committee during its meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, January 2, 2025. Chelle, 47, is a former head coach of Mali’s senior national team, who also managed clubs such as GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne, and MC Oran. During his playing career in France, he represented Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres, and Chamois Niortais. Born in Côte d’Ivoire to a French father and a Malian mother, Chelle was eligible to represent Côte d’Ivoire, France, and Mali. He opted for Mali, earning five caps before retiring. As Mali’s head coach from 2022 to 2024, Chelle led the Aiglons to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire. Under his leadership, Mali recorded 14 win...

  Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a respiratory disease that causes flu or cold-like symptoms, but can increase risks or lead to more serious complications like bronchitis or pneumonia, particularly among the elderly, young children, and immunocompromised people. The disease is in the same family as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and has been around since at least 2001 when it was first identified in The Netherlands. Its outbreaks are concentrated during colder seasons. Cases have been surging in northern China, particularly among children, according to local authorities. The country’s centre for disease control (CDC) has warned people to take precautions with health and hygiene, but has also pushed back against online claims of overwhelmed hospitals and fears of another COVID-19 like pandemic. “ Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday. “The diseases appear to be less severe and spread with a s...