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Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo of Anambra State stated that the enforcement of the Monday sit-at-home order throughout the state is primarily carried out by non-indigenes. The governor made the claim in Awka, the state capital as he announced an agreement with market leaders to ensure that markets operate from Monday to Saturday across the state, according to a statement issued on Saturday by the Commissioner of Information, Law Mefor.  The governor disclosed this during a meeting with leaders of markets across Anambra State, held in Awka, as part of efforts to restore full commercial activities, particularly in the Onitsha Main Market, which he shut down for one week over traders’ continued observance of the Monday sit-at-home order. Soludo said the continued observance of the Monday sit-at-home had severely undermined the state’s economy, stressing that his administration had resolved that all markets and shops must remain open on every working day. According to him, the sit-at...

Afrobeat star, David Adeleke popularly known as Davido and Femi Kuti, the Afrobeat legend, were among the distinguished guests at the Grammys Honors Party in Los Angeles, celebrating the legacy of the late music icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. The event, organised as part of Grammy Week activities, brought together artists, industry executives and cultural figures to honour Fela Kuti’s lasting impact on global music and socio political activism. Videos from the gathering showed Davido and Femi Kuti interacting at the event, a moment many described as symbolic of the generational continuity within Nigeria’s music culture. The tribute highlighted Fela Kuti’s enduring influence decades after his death, with his music and ideals continuing to resonate across borders and genres.

  Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, has urged Nigerians to submit their annual tax returns. He stressed that both employers and individuals must comply under the law. He made this known during a webinar organized for HR managers, payroll officers, CFOs and tax managers in collaboration with the Joint Revenue Board. In the webinar which was posted on YouTube on Friday, Oyedele said many Nigerians remain non-compliant in filing self-assessment returns. “In terms of filing returns, you need to file annual returns as employers for your employees. Many of you must have done that already. If you haven’t, you have just a couple of days left to file those returns, including projections of how much you will pay your staff,”  he said. He added that individual taxpayers must also file their self-assessment, noting that compliance in this area remains very low. “This is one area where we have been non-compliant in Nigeria. In many stat...

  Two children of ex-Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar were officially married on Friday at the National Mosque in Abuja, during a ceremony attended by family, friends, and dignitaries. In a statement released after the event on his X page on Friday, Atiku said the occasion gave him “immense pleasure” and expressed gratitude to all who attended and supported the ceremonies. His daughter, Hafsat Atiku, was given in marriage to Umar Farouk Imam by General Aliyu Gusau, a close associate and friend of the family. His son, Abubakar Atiku Jr, also tied the knot with Asma’u Abdul’aziz Nyako, with the marriage conducted by Alhaji Kwairanga Jada, another family friend. Atiku noted that the unions would further strengthen longstanding family ties, particularly with his older brother, Admiral Murtala Nyako, and with his friend, Kashim Ibrahim Imam. He congratulated the newlyweds and wished them a happy marriage, thanking guests for making the day a memorable reality. “I have no doubt th...

  Femi Kuti, the Grammy-nominated Afrobeat musician, who is the first son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has responded to the recent controversy comparing singer Wizkid to his late father. Recall that Wizkid sparked outrage after claiming he is “bigger” than Fela while responding to Seun Kuti’s criticisms of him and his fans over the comparison of the Ojuelegba crooner with the Afrobeat legend. Speaking in a recent interview with Arise TV via Skype from Los Angeles, Femi said he wished the controversy didn’t come up because he has good relationships with his brother Seun Kuti and Wizkid, who are at the center of it. He expressed regret over the controversy, describing it as a misplaced priority. He argued that younger artists and musicians in general should focus on demanding for better governance and not bringing up trivial issues. Femi, however, noted that Fela is in a league of his own and defies comparison with any other artiste. He added that the late Afrobeat p...

  Human rights lawyer and IPOB lead counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on Ndigbo to disregard the lockdown order announced by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful. Powerful had issued a statement, saying that the entire South-East would be locked down on Monday, February 2, 2026, in solidarity with traders in Onitsha Main Market, whose shops were closed by Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, for their continuous observance of sit-at-home order. Soludo had insisted that the market must open every Monday, and that traders must always be in their shops. But in what seems to be a disagreement within the leadership of IPOB, the counsel to the group, Ejiofor in a statement he made available to journalists, urged everyone to discountenance  the order. He said IPOB had long denounced all sit-at-home orders and has no connection whatsoever with the purported directive. He said:  “Let it be stated clearly, unequivocally, and without ambiguity: this directive i...

  The Trump administration said Friday it had ordered the arrest of a prominent journalist over coverage of immigration protests in Minneapolis, as the U.S. President branded a nurse shot dead by federal agents in the city an “agitator.” The arrest of former CNN anchor, Don Lemon came as President Donald Trump walked back his conciliatory tone following public outrage over the killings of Alex Pretti and another American citizen in the Minnesota city. Attorney General Pam Bondi said that Lemon and several other people had been arrested “at my direction” on unspecified federal charges in connection with what she called a “coordinated attack” on the Cities Church in St. Paul, the twin city of Minneapolis. Lemon, now an independent journalist, was among reporters who covered a protest at the church where an official with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is a pastor. Lemon’s lawyer said he was taken into custody in Los Angeles overnight, adding that his work coverin...

  Some unidentified gunmen have attacked the Okporojo community in Oso Edda, Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, leaving several people dead and others abducted. The assailants reportedly ambushed the community, setting houses on fire, killing people and then whisked others away. The gunmen allegedly beheaded five persons and took their heads away. In a viral video circulating online, houses were seen set on fire, as the residents of the community called on the state government and security agencies for help. At the time of filing this report, the Ebonyi State Police Command and the state government are yet to issue any statement regarding the incident.

Tega Dominic, the Big Brother Naija star and actress, has been appointed as Special Adviser on Sexual Harassment to Abubakar Yakubu, the newly elected president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN). Tega’s appointment was made public on Thursday, January 29, 2026, in a post on AGN’s Instagram story. Reacting to the development, Tega who shared her appointment letter on Instagram, outlined her commitment. She wrote,  “My commitment is clear: Education, awareness, and accountability, zero tolerance for sexual harassment, protection and support for survivors, safe, and confidential reporting systems, and a culture where respect is non-negotiable.” Recall that Tega gained fame in 2021 after her appearance in the ‘Shine Ya Eye’ edition of the BBNaija reality show.

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has announced that his administration will assume control of operations at the Onitsha Main Market. The governor had last Monday visited the market and also announced a one week closure over the continued adherence to sit-at-home protest by traders in the market. The closure had generated a lot of tension, leading to protests by the traders, while the governor stuck to his gone, insisting that the market will remain closed for one week. He also held a meeting with the leaders of the market yesterday, where he presented them with two options. Though it was a closed door meeting, which was held at the Light House, Awka, a source in the meeting told the newsmen that the traders chose to open their shops on Monday, against an earlier option of demolishing and remodelling the market. The source said:  “The governor gave them two options. The first included; they will resume full trading activities on Mondays, mark attendance as requ...

On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted Nollywood actress Angela Okorie bail of ₦5 million in connection with an alleged criminal defamation and cyberstalking case. Justice Emeka Nwite granted the bail after listening to arguments from both the prosecution and the defence following Okorie’s re-arraignment on a seven-count amended charge. Recall that Justice Nwite had on Wednesday remanded Angela Okorie in Suleja Prison, Niger State, following her arraignment. The judge issued the order while ruling on an oral bail application by Okorie’s lawyer, Alex Ejesieme (SAN), shortly after the actress pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge filed by the police. The judge directed that Okorie, a single mother of one, be kept in custody until January 30, when a formal bail application would be heard. Okorie, of 1 Henry Montero Street, Lekki Palm City, Ajah, Lagos, is being prosecuted on Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/278/2025. The police allege that she conspired with Ifeoma Mbonu (now at lar...

Nearly three decades after his passing, iconic Nigerian musician and Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti is poised to receive one of the highest honors in global music. The Recording Academy will posthumously award Fela a Lifetime Achievement Award at the forthcoming Grammy Awards, a distinction that makes him the first African musician to receive the honour. The recognition celebrates Fela’s profound and lasting contribution to music, culture and political expression worldwide. As the undisputed founder of Afrobeat, his revolutionary sound and philosophy have influenced generations of artists across Africa and the global music scene. Commenting on the development, Fela’s son and Afrobeat artiste, Seun Kuti, described the moment as both emotional and significant. “Fela has lived in the hearts of the people for a very long time. Now the Grammys have recognized that, and it feels like a double victory. It brings balance to the Fela story,”  he said. Fela’s former manager and long-ti...

Governor Alex Otti has announced that Abia State is no longer affected by national grid collapses, emphasizing that his administration is investing in the conversion of organic waste into electricity. The governor made the assertion on Thursday when he spoke to newsmen at the Government House in Umuahia. Otti stated that waste products are now being converted from biogas into renewable energy for Abians, adding that the state is no longer under the control of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). According to the governor, the new arrangement had been negotiated and accepted by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), which is in charge of power distribution in the state. “This is a pilot programme. Instead of throwing away waste, we can turn it into clean energy, and we will be able to power a lot of places, particularly the Umuahia in-farms. “I had reported earlier that our offers to EEDC have been accepted, and we are in the process of raising the funds to...

A  team of three robbers stole suitcases holding $2.7 million (approximately ₦3.789 billion) in cash on a busy street in central Tokyo, police and media said Friday, a rare crime in the Japanese metropolis that prides itself on safety. The heist saw the thieves deploy pepper spray to grab luggage containing the money at around 9:30 pm (1230 GMT) Thursday near Ueno station, an area popular with tourists, a spokeswoman at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police said. She declined to give further details of the case, but local media said the victims were a group of five Chinese and Japanese nationals who were trying to place suitcases containing some 420 million yen ($2.7 million) in a vehicle. It was not immediately clear why the group was carrying the money. Fuji Television said the victims told investigators that the cash was being delivered to currency exchange station. Separately, a man with 190 million yen in cash was also attacked with pepper spray by a group of three men in the early ho...

  Veteran  Nollywood filmmaker and actor, Stanley Amandi has been arrested alongside military officers allegedly plotting a violent overthrow of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. It was gathered that Stanley Amandi,  director and former chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), was arrested in September 2025, marking the first public disclosure of his alleged involvement in the foiled plot. Investigations revealed that the actor was allegedly recruited by the suspected coup plotters to function as a propagandist, as part of preparations for what security sources described as a violent takeover of government. Government sources earlier briefed on the matter said the plotters allegedly planned to assassinate top government officials, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, among others. On Monday, the Defen...

  Iyanya Onoyom Mbuk, the Nigerian singer, who is popularly known as Iyanya, has opened up about how his career has impacted his love life. The Kukere hitmaker explained that he is still single at 39 because the ladies he dated in the past manipulated him and often threatened to tarnish his image whenever there is a misunderstanding. Speaking in a recent episode of the Afropolitan podcast, Iyanya said those experiences traumatized and left him with a commitment issue. “I’m not thinking of a serious relationship or marriage because I’m not mentally ready yet. If you are patient and stick around until I get to a convenient space, then we can do it. “But for now, to be committed is one of the hardest things for me to do. Because I have been committed several times as a celebrity and each time, I got hurt. “You know, when you are famous, you always have girlfriends who can’t wait to go to the blogs when you have misunderstandings. “I’m human, too. It’s not possible for me to be in...

Pastor Chris Okafor, a televangelist, founder and General Overseer of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministries, widely known as the Grace Nation International or Liberation City has condemned what he described as cyberbullying and called for regulation of the nation’s cyberspace. Okafor made the call at a news conference on Thursday in Lagos, calling to explain his displeasure with most bloggers and online influencers in Nigeria. It was gathered that in November 2025, Nollywood actress, Doris Ogala, accused Okafor of a long-term affair and breaking a promise to marry her. The actress also accused the pastor of murdering her brother and also burying the head of a murdered unidentified person at his altar, in his church, located in Ojodu area of the state. The pastor said that while his media trial was going on, what remained most painful was the fact that the bloggers and influencers were all bullying him on an allegation without evidence or hearing from him. “It is so sad that...

The Headquarters 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has arrested seven suspected human traffickers in an intelligence-led operation in Calabar Municipality Local Government Area of Cross River State. The operation was conducted on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, following detailed and credible intelligence received by troops of the Brigade on the activities of a suspected human trafficking syndicate operating within the area. Assistant Director, Army Public Relations Headquarters 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, Major Yemi Sokoya, who disclosed this in a statement said suspects were arrested while negotiating to sell a day-old baby boy for the sum of ₦3 million.  “Acting swiftly on the intelligence, troops carried out a coordinated raid on Glorious Amazing Grace Hospital, located in the Ikot Ekpo general area of Calabar Municipality,”  the statement read.  "During the raid, the suspects w...

  The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has raised an alarm over what it described as a grand conspiracy by South-East state governments to undermine the struggle for the restoration of Biafra. The group said the shutdown of Onitsha Main Market by Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, and his subsequent threats to close more markets, is part of the alleged plot, which it said also involves reversing the normalcy that has returned to the South-East and creating instability in the region. IPOB made the assertion in a statement released by spokesman, Emma Powerful, on Thursday. The statement is titled ‘Soludo’s reckless threats unmask a sinister plot to undermine Biafra’s peaceful struggle and foment instability in Igboland’. The secessionist group further alleged that the plot against Biafra restoration was orchestrated by the Nigerian government. “The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), led by the unyielding Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, vehemently condemns the outrageous and ...

American singer, actor and media personality, William Ray Norwood Jr., popularly known as Ray J has sparked widespread concern across social media after claiming that doctors told him he may have only a few months left to live. The alarming revelation comes shortly after the entertainer was rushed to the hospital with severe chest pain. Ray J had earlier disclosed that following medical examinations, doctors informed him that his heart was functioning at just 25 percent after he was diagnosed with pneumonia. He described the condition as life-threatening, noting that the experience forced him to confront his mortality. At the time of his hospitalization, Ray J expressed gratitude to fans, friends, and loved ones for their overwhelming prayers and messages of support, saying they gave him strength during a very difficult period. His latest statement, however, has intensified concern, with many supporters flooding social media with words of encouragement and well-wishes, while others urg...

  French energy giant TotalEnergies officially relaunched a $20 billion Mozambique gas project on Thursday after a five-year pause following a deadly jihadist attack. TotalEnergies chief executive Patrick Pouyanne announced the restart of the Mozambique LNG project at a ceremony attended by President Daniel Chapo. “I am delighted to announce the full restart of the Mozambique LNG project … The force majeure is over,” Pouyanne told the event. The $20 billion project in the northern Cabo Delgado province on the border with Tanzania was suspended following a bloody jihadist attack in 2021 that killed an estimated 800 people. TotalEnergies had already lifted in October the force majeure it declared after the attack, and has sought compensation of $4.5 billion in cost overruns linked to the delay from the Mozambique government. Chapo’s office said in a statement that the restart of the project “presents a significant milestone for the national economy and reaffirms the confidence of int...