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 Deadline reported that a total of 58 titles will be leaving Disney+ and Hulu beginning on May 26 - and the internet is not happy about it. Disney has not given a specific reason for its decision to remove the titles - claiming in a statement from its chief financial officer that it is part of 'strategic changes in its approach to content curation' - however many are speculating that the company is attempting to delete shows and movies that are no longer making them major profit. Some of the titles being taken off includes the movie Big Shot (which starred John Stamos), the Turner & Hooch remake (which featured Josh Peck), and the beloved kids movie The One and Only Ivan.  The adventure series The Mysterious Benedict Society, the new version of Cheaper By the Dozen, and the 2020 film Artemis Fowl are some of the others among the lengthy list of titles that are getting axed from the platform.

EFCC Arrests Corps Member, 23 Others for Cyber-fraud in Ibadan Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  on Thursday, May 18, 2023, arrested a Youth Corps member, Ogundahunsi Victor Damilare and twenty-three (23) others for their alleged cybercrime activities. They were arrested at different areas of Ibadan, Oyo State following intelligence regarding their fraudulent cyber activities. Other suspected internet fraudsters are Habeeb Lawal Abdulateef, Jaiye Gbolahan Emmanuel, Giwa Usman Dolapo, Olawale Tosin Segun, Bisoye Muiz Abioye, Adesina Jubril Ayomide, Opeyemi Fatolu, Salami Afeez Adewale, John Kayode, Olatunde Abass, Odeniyi Faruq Idowu, Dada Olaitan, Ilugbo Emmanuel Adekunle, Oladokun Peter Ayomide, Ogundele Gbolahan Muiz, Olawale Jokolola David, Odeniyi Kehinde Adebayo, Ibrahim Ayobami, Enikankiselu Samuel, Azeez Hassan Ayobami, Okunola Samuel, Giwa Areef Olakunle and Akinade Oluwaseun Abimbola. Items recovered include five...

Kwara Driver, One Other Jailed for Internet Fraud in Ilorin Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin has sentenced a 28 year-old Driver, Ojeniyi Boluwatife from Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State to 12 months imprisonment, having found him guilty of offences bordering on internet fraud. Ojeniyi was convicted and sentenced alongside one Olaleye Solomon from Ilesa West Local Government Area of Osun State. The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had on Friday, May 19, 2023, arraigned the duo of Ojeniyi and Olaleye before Justice Akinpelu on separate charges. Count 2 of the charge against Ojeniyi reads: “That you, OJENIYI BOLUWAITFE sometime in July 2018 to June 2019 in Ilorin, Kwara State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did knowingly had in your control the sum of Nine Hundred and Sixty Five Thousand Eight Hundred Naira Only (N965,800) paid into your Guaranty Trust Bank Account Number 0220614310 which...

2023 PILGRIMAGE: SUCCESSFUL AIRLIFTING OF  SECOND BATCH OF IMO INTENDING PILGRIMS Over 300 second batch of imolites have been successfully airlifted to the Holyland for Pilgrimage Sponsored by IMO STATE GOVERNMENT, Under the leadership of His Excellency Dist Sen Hope Uzodimma for Easter pilgrimage exercise  More photos below. 

Tems Beats Rihanna, Beyoncé Others to New Music Chart Record in US Grammy-winning Nigerian female musician, Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems, has beaten American female superstars to a new record on the Billboard chart. Politics Nigeria gathered that the Nigerian achieved the rare feat after her song ‘Free Mind’ broke the record for longest-running number one by a female artist in Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart history. The song maintained its position at number one on the chart this week, making it a total of 17 weeks at peak, which is a record by any female artiste. The song debuted on the main chart, Billboard Hot 100 last year, making Tems the first Nigerian female soloist to appear as a lead on the chart. ‘Free Mind,” which is off Tems’ debut Extended Play (EP) has earned millions of streams in the United States across major digital streaming platforms.  

 ‘EFCC Chairman, Bawa Requested $2m Bribe From Me’ – Matawalle 19 May 2023 Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, has publicly accused Abdulrasheed Bawa, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), of requesting a $2 million bribe. This claim comes amidst a growing conflict between the governor and the anti-corruption agency. Governor Matawalle in an earlier statement released on Wednesday called for Bawa’s resignation, asserting that the EFCC Chairman should face scrutiny over corruption allegations. But in a swift reaction, Bawa rebutted these accusations, stating that he has nothing to conceal and encouraging the governor to petition relevant authorities if he possesses any incriminating evidence. Meanwhile, Matawalle, in a BBC Hausa interview, voiced his distrust of Bawa and questioned the EFCC’s selective scrutiny, saying, “It is not just to always blame governors. It is not only governors who have treasury, the federal government also has. What does...

Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers have k!lled an e-hailing driver identified as Raphael Toby in Rumuibiakani, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. The victim’s younger brother, Donald Toby, confirmed the incident in a Facebook post on Thursday, May 18, 2023.  Donald said his brother was shot dead on Tuesday, adding that the assailants made away with the deceased's vehicle and other personal belongings after k!lling him. Sharing pictures of the deceased's vehicle, he called on anyone with information to contact him. He also appealed to the security agencies to track down the killers and make them face the law. Reacting to the murder, the Chairman, Rivers State Civil Society Organization, Enefaa Georgewill advised all relevant regulators in the country to ensure that e-hailing drivers and their customers are protected during all rides. Georgewill stressed the need for e-hailing companies to link the bank account of customers to their apps as a way of guaranteeing ...

Spain has announced plans for an app that will tell wives if their men are doing enough housework. The new app intends to address the gender imbalance of housework and will log the hours a family member spends doing chores. Ángela Rodríguez, Spain's minister for gender equality and domestic violence, said her department is in the process of developing the free app. The minister said it would enable men and women to log the number of hours they spend doing chores around the house. The government hopes the app will be released in the summer and will be unveiled as part of its 'co-responsibility plan'. 'We women spend more time on domestic tasks than men,' Rodriguez said, as reported by The Times. The minister was speaking at a conference in Geneva discussing discrimination against women. The minister presented a report at the convention on Spain's women's rights. Rodriguez said nearly half of the women who took part in a survey by Spain's National Statisti...

 Enugu Governor-Elect’s NYSC Certificate Fake, Says Director-General  ***  The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Y.D Ahmed, has said the discharge certificate being paraded by Enugu State Governor-Elect, Peter Mbah, was not issued by the body. Brigadier-General Ahmed, while appearing on Arise TV’s breakfast programme on Friday said the argument on whether Mbah has a valid NYSC certificate or not did not arise because he has told the People’s Democratic Party’s candidate in the 2023 governorship elections that what he presented as a certificate was fake. “He came to me and I called my director to confirm the certificate and we discovered that the certificate was fake and I told him. I wonder how elites who have gone to school will resort to black market certificates. “Everyone knows how we issue our certificate in NYSC, we don’t give it in hotel rooms or houses,” the DG said. 

Buhari Appoints Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein As Substantive AGF  ***  President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein as the substantive Accountant General of the Federation, AGF.   This was contained in a statement, dated 19th May, 2023, and signed by the Director, Communications, Mohammed Abdullahi Ahmed, on Friday, in Abuja. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, stated that the appointment took effect from Thursday, May 18, 2023.  

Kano Enacts New Law To Regulate Preaching *** The Kano State Government has announced the enactment of a new law to regulate religious preaching. The Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Muhammad Garba, stated this to newsmen while explaining the key aspects of the law. He said the decision was reached in a recent State Executive Council meeting, held at the Government House. According to him: “The law would coordinate the mode of preaching, sermons to prevent an attack on the leadership of the opposite sect, and incitement of followers via radio, television, newspaper, or any other conventional platform.” He said the government has also approved the establishment of a Council of Ulama through an enabling law from the Kano State House of Assembly. Muhammad said the council will have the responsibility of supervising and regulating all religious sermons in the state.

Staff of Consumer Protection Council (CPC) Cautioned not to Compromise on the Standard and Quality of Goods and Services                                                                    Staff of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Imo state have been cautioned not to compromise on the standard and quality of goods and services but always uphold a high level of integrity and professionalism in carrying out their official duties, so as to eliminate the scourge of consumer rights abuse in the Nigerian marketplace and reduce corruption in the sector. This warning was contained in the presentation made by an Assistant Commissioner of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Imo state, Mrs. Chinwe Egbeocha, at a sensitization programme organised for the staff of the organization in t...

Dubai Police: Leading the Way in Criminal Training with International Accreditation The Dubai Police, represented by the Criminal Training and Development Department at the General Department of Criminal Investigation, has been officially accredited by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training in the United States for fully meeting the high standards of international standards for training.   The accreditation makes Dubai Police Criminal Training and Development Department the first in the Middle East to obtain this accreditation.   The accreditation certificate was received by Lieutenant Colonel Ali Ahmed Al Loughani, Director of the Criminal Training and Development Department, and Captain Mariam Al Kaabi, Head of the Training Impact Assessment Section, during the association's annual conference held in the United States.   His Excellency Major General Jamal Salem Al Jallaf, Director of the General Department of Criminal Invest...

Otunba Subomi's death painful - Gbajabiamila The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has described the demise of the founder of the First Monument City Bank, Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun, as painful. While commiserating with the family, people and government of Ogun State over the demise of Otunba Balogun, Gbajabiamila regretted that the death of the banker of note in the early hours of Friday in London came at a time when his wise counsel would be needed as the country transits to a new government.  Gbajabiamila said Otunba Balogun's impacts and innovations on the Nigerian banking sector cannot be overemphasized, which makes his death painful. Saying that Otunba Balogun would be sorely missed, Gbajabiamila, however, urged his family and friends to take solace in the knowledge that he lived a fulfilled life while contributing positively to society and the Nigerian economy. The Speaker also prayed for the repose of the soul of the late septuagena...

Zamfara State Police Command has assured it’s commitment to restore normalcy in the State and to rescue all kidnapped victims and reunite them with their families. The state commissioner of Police CP Muhammad Bunu gave the assurance in a statement issued to newsmen in Gusau the state capital by the command’s public relations officer, ASP Yazid Abubakar. CP Bunu said the Police Tactical Operatives while on search and rescue operations along Gusami Forest in Birnin magaji local government area acted on intelligence reports and rescued ten persons kidnapped from Gidan Gobirawa village of Kaura Namoda local government. The victims, while undergoing interview by the commissioner of police said that, they had been in Captivity since May 7th, 2023 when the bandit took them to unknown destination and spent ten days in captivity. The rescued victims were checked by the police medical doctor, debriefed and handed over to their respective families. Meanwhile the Command under the leadership of CP...

FG ORDERS CLOSURE OF ROADS IN FCT FOR TINUBU'S INAUGURATION PARADE 19th May, 2023 The order is in line with security arrangements by the Presidential Transition Council, for the smooth conduct of the inauguration parade for Tinubu's swearing-in ceremony. Dr Ngozi Onwudiwe, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, office of the Head of the Service of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), made the disclosure in a circular on Friday in Abuja. According to Onwudiwe, the order is in line with security arrangements by the Presidential Transition Council, for the smooth conduct of the inauguration parade for the swearing-in ceremony of President-Elect, Senator Bola Tinubu on May 29.

Transport Commissioner cautions against indiscriminate loading, offloading of vehicles on the roads By Florence Okpeti The Anambra State Transport Commissioner, Mrs Patricia Igwebuike has charged drivers to desist from loading and offloading of vehicles on unauthorised sections of roads across the state. Mrs Igwebuike gave the charge while speaking with Tricycle Operators popularly known as "Keke drivers" during a courtesy visit in her office at Jerome Udorji State Secretariat Complex, Awka. The Commissioner explained that loading and offloading of vehicles on the road should be avoided, adding that it could lead to disaster. "You should always consider your safety and that of other road users, that is why you should observe traffic laws and regulations. "Note that tricycle is not permitted to ply the highway because it is not safe for you and you should adhere to it. "I want you to be of good conduct while on the road because if tricycle operators get it right...

Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion Observes 2023 Homage, Pray Over Farm implement By Angela Oduche The Church of Nigeria Anglican communion, Diocese on the Niger has observed their homage and blessing of farm implement at the All Saints Cathdral Onitsha. His lordship, Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo, Bishop on the Niger prayed for all the faithful who garther with their farm implement for bountiful harvest this year. Bishop Nwokolo also prayed that the lord will preserve them at a time like this. Ven. Obi Ubaka, the archdeacon of the Onitsha main archdeanconry in his homily explained that homage is an annual event so dear to the diocese. According to him, homage is a special event where all the faithful across the diocese gather at the Cathedral to worship God and show him appreciation for what he has done for them. "Rogation sunday is one of the season for the church, it reminds the church that raining season has come and the faithfuls will come with their farm implements, seedlings, ...

Soludo bags kudos for committed attention to Uruagu Nnewi-Nnewi hotel road Michael Ezenwata A former dean Faculty of Environmental Sciences,Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka campus Professor Joel Igbokwe has confirmed the commitment of Governor Chukwuma Soludo's administration to enhance the road network profile in the state. In a press statement in Awka,Professor Igbokwe an indigene of Uruagu Nnewi expressed delight in the ongoing rehabilitation of the Okpuno Eze Uruagu Nnewi - Hotel road by the Soludo administration. Commending the goodwill of the governor in embarking on the project with some difficult terrains,the university don urged that work on the project site be accelerated before the major rains for the year set in. In another development, the president Enugu village in Umuawulu Mr.Nnaemeka Oranye expressed faith in the determination of the present administration to move the state to the next level, and drew its attention to the Umuawulu- Amaetiti and the Umuawulu- Mbaukw...

 "It is with a heavy heart and sadness that we receive the news of the passing of our dear father, Otunba Michael Subomi Balogun, the Asiwaju Omooba of Ijeband and founder, First City Monument Bank - FCMB. He will be remembered as a visionary leader who dedicated his life to the betterment of our society and his unwavering commitment, tireless efforts, and remarkable contributions will continue to inspire generations to come. May the memories of Otunba Balogun Subomi serve as a guiding light and source of inspiration as we carry forward his legacy of service and dedication. We hereby express our heartfelt condolences to his family and pray God grants them the strength to bear this sad loss. May God rest his soul.- PRINCE DAPO ABIODUN.

OTUNBA SUBOMI Balogun Passes On:  “Otunba's Jewel" - late Subomi Balogun’ s palatial Ikoyi home is one of the most astonishing architectural masterpieces in Nigeria with it's crystal-coated Grecian Porticos & Colonnaded Porches. Some parts of the mansion are Cladded in White Calacatta Carra, a Brand of Italian Marbles, the finest & most expensive in the world.  The rest of the mansion was painted by Farrow & Ball UK. The late business magnate was one of the biggest real estate owners in the history of Nigeria.  He owns jaw-dropping mansions in different cities of the world and his country home, Ijebu Ode. Now I know where all the FCMB branches got their designs from,is from his house design.  More photos below.   

PRESIDENT BUHARI MOURNS FOUNDER OF FCMB, SUBOMI BALOGUN President Muhammadu Buhari shares in the grief of loss with the business community, particularly banking and investment sector, over the passing of an illustrious citizen, Chief Michael Olasubomi "Subomi" Balogun, 89. The President condoles with family members, friends, and associates of the revered businessman, whose legacy of kindness and charity stretched into many homes, institutions, and communities, touching lives through education, health, and multiple empowerment opportunities. President Buhari affirms that Chief Balogun, through foresight, wisdom, and hard work, lived ahead of his time, by starting the First City Merchant Bank in 1983, which has grown over the years, with branches across the country, and working assiduously for the take-off and success of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The President notes the outpouring of testimonies on the life and times of the legendary banker, especially his towering influence...

PRESIDENT BUHARI COMMENDS GOVERNOR LALONG ON EFFORTS AT SECURING PLATEAU STATE; COMMISSIONS STATE-WIDE PROJECTS  President Muhammadu Buhari Friday at the State House, Abuja, lauded the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, for his efforts at restoring peace and security in the State, adding that these have made Plateau safer to inhabit. He urged the citizens to continue to support government commitment at making the State safer.  President Buhari stated this at the virtual commissioning of projects executed by the Lalong administration in various parts of the State.   According to the President, “Governor Lalong has worked hard to restore peace and security to Plateau State. His efforts have yielded positive results as Plateau is no longer perceived as a place to feel unsafe. Well done, Governor Lalong!   “I advise the citizens of this state to continue to work with the Government and security agencies in uniting against crises merchants who seek to exploit the di...

Madonna University awards Hilda Baci PhD-level scholarship 19th May, 2023 Nigerian tertiary institution, Madonna University, has awarded its alumna, Hilda Effiong Bassey also known as Hilda Baci, a PhD-level scholarship. This is contained in a statement titled ““Celebrating excellence and congratulating our proud Alumna, Hilda Bassey Effiong” by Associate Professor Martin Anagboso (DVC Admin)”. Hilda Baci, a 27-year-old chef, attempted to break and set a new Guinness World Records by cooking for over 100 hours. Speaking on the scholarship, Anagboso said it was offered to Hilda by the founder and chancellor on the university. The statement reads: “The management, staff and students of Madonna University, Nigeria congratulate Hilda Bassey Effiong on the award of scholarship to PhD level and Madonna University, Nigeria highest merit award by the Founder and Chancellor. “These awards are in recognition of her achievement. Since its inception over two decades ago, Madonna University has pri...

EFCC Secures Conviction of Three for N1.5bn Fraud in Lagos The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, May 18, 2023, secured the conviction and sentencing of the trio of Semiu Oladiti, Owolabi Azeez and Nnagbogu Chikelu Nicodemus, who were prosecuted for a N1.5 billion fraud, before Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.  Nnagbogu was arraigned on an amended one-count bordering on stealing to the tune of N15 million. However, Azeez and Oladiti were arraigned separately alongside Dauda Adeboyega, Ojo Samson Gbemi, and Zuraai Gold Ventures Limited on an amended 13-count charge bordering on stealing to the tune of N1,598,144,188.36 (One Billion, Five Hundred and Ninety-Eight Million One Hundred and Forty-four Thousand, One Hundred and Eighty-eight Naira Thirty-six Kobo). The count against Nnagbogu reads: "Nnagbogu Chikelu Nicodemus, between January 2023 and 18th January 2023 in Lagos, within the...