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 CREATIVE INDUSTRY POWER THE PARENT COMPANY OF CIG, BECOMES MEMBER OF LAGOS CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. 7TH OF OCTOBER . It was indeed a breath of fresh Air as Creative industry Power Limited, the parent body of the Creative industry Group CIG was inducted into the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, This Singular Feat gives the entire CIG landscape a Pedestal to leverage on in the effective discharge of its duties to the full admiration of the quarters that matter the most. CIG has been bridging the Gap in the Creative Industry by Honouring Top creative industry Practitioners and Catering to the welfare and Healthcare needs of Creative Persons and creating awareness for the good of the general public across board in Nigeria and is poised now more than ever to take it a nudge higher. Numerous advantages abound as a result of the Creative industry Power recent induction, especially  in it's new position to attracting government's attention and affiliations in diverse areas. This ...

 PRESS RELEASE  PERSONNEL WELFARE: IGP APPROVES COMPENSATORY PAYMENT TO OFFICERS INVOLVED IN KANO ACCIDENT, REASSURES PAYMENTS OF OTHER BENEFITS. As IGP Reaffirms Dedication to Personnel Well-being. The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun PhD., NPM., has approved the immediate payment of relief funds to the families of officers that were involved in a fatal motor accident on 24th September 2024 while returning from the Edo Elections Special Duty to Kano State Command. The accident which occurred along the Zaria-Kano Expressway, Karfi Kura, had resulted in the loss of 5 officers, with 11 hospitalised after the accident. 8 individuals have been successfully discharged from the hospital after receiving medical attention, while 3 others are still undergoing treatment. In response to this tragic event, the Inspector General of Police has taken decisive actions to provide support to those affected, by approving the compensatory payment of Ten Million Naira (N10,...

 African Development Bank appoints Nnenna Nwabufo as Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery The African Development Bank Group has appointed a Nigerian, Nnenna Nwabufo, as Vice- President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, with effect from October 4. The President of the AfDB, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said in a statement by the bank that he was delighted with Nwabufo’s appointment. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Nwabufo has over 33 years of professional experience in financial management, budget planning, human resource management, corporate services and regional operations. She joined the bank’s treasury department in 1991 and went on to hold various managerial roles, including her appointment in May 2015 as acting vice-president for corporate services. In January 2021, Nwabufo was appointed as the Bank’s Director-General for East Africa to lead the Bank Group’s strategic objective of achieving developmental impac...

 Forbes has named Davido Africa’s richest artiste for 2024 Forbes has named Davido Africa’s richest artiste for 2024 Stating that he is 4x richer than his rival, Wizkid. The Forbes list, which ranked Africa’s top five wealthiest musicians, placed Davido at the top with a net worth of $100 million. Don Jazzy followed with $50 million, while Burna Boy and Wizkid held third and fourth spots with $30 million and $25 million, respectively. Rema stood at $15 million. Rema had previously hinted at his rising status in one of his songs, claiming that the “Big Three” era is over, as he now ranks fourth. The new Forbes ranking has however stirred disagreements among fans, particularly amid the ongoing social media clash between Davido and Wizkid. Fans of Wizkid and Burna Boy have expressed their displeasure with the ranking, igniting further discussions within the music circle.

 KANYE WEST & BIANCA CENSORI REUNITE IN TOKYO FOR SHOPPING SPREE Amid ongoing divorce rumours swirling on the internet, it seems like Kanye West and Bianca Censori are keeping their record straight. Soon after a TMZ report claimed that West and Bianca’s wedding had hit a rough patch, they were spotted putting up a united front as they headed out for shopping together. Many of their pictures have surfaced on the internet, where they could be seen roaming around hand-in-hand inside a mall in Tokyo, Japan. Dressed in matching white outfits, the couple appeared quite happy as they enjoyed each other’s company, contrary to the ongoing speculation about their alleged divorce. While the first picture shows Bianca Censori affectionately caressing her husband’s face, the second one shows them walking inside the mall holding hands. While the pictures seemingly clear a larger part of the air, silencing the rumours, their latest outing has also sparked skepticism among fans across social m...

 Alleged N33.8bn Manbilla Project fraud: Proceeds used to Purchase Abuja Properties- Witness  Abubakar Kweido,   First Prosecuting witness, PW1 in the trial of a former Minister of Power,  Saleh Mamman,  on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja before Justice James Omotosho that he former minister  allegedly used funds from the Mambilla Hydro project's account to purchase Abuja properties. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting  Mamman on a 12 -count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering  to the tune of N33,804,830,503.73 (Thirty-Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, Seventy-Three Kobo).  During Wednesday’s  proceedings,  Kweido, an operative of the EFCC while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel,  Olumide Fusica, SAN said investigation activities showed that some ...

 EFCC Arrests 32 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Minna   The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arrested 32  suspected internet fraudsters in Minna, the Niger State capital. The arrests followed an intelligence-driven raid on their hideout. Items recovered from them include,  nine high-end automobiles, 44 mobile phones, 20 laptop computers and internet modems.  They will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.  More photos below. 

 My husband denounced me for refusing to swear against infidelity, housewife tells court A divorce-seeking woman, Omolara Busari on Wednesday told a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan to dissolve her 14-year-old marriage to her estranged husband, Olanrewaju Busari, on grounds of being forced to swear against infidelity. Busari, a mother of two and footwear trader at Ogunpa market, stated this in her counter-argument before the court that her husband suddenly started doubting her level of loyalty after returning from his Lagos hustling trip in 2020. “Lanre’s attitude completely changed toward me immediately after he came back from Lagos where he had gone to seek greener pasture. “He refused to talk to me and even ejected me from our bedroom and asked me to sleep in the corridor after accusing me of infidelity. “Then, he placed a charm on the ground and told me to cross over it in order to prove my innocence, but I declined. “Later, Olanrewaju began to insult and disrespect my pa...

  'Seek permission before using the National Anthem'- FG Tells Nigerians The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to seek permission before using the national anthem. In a statement released on Wednesday, October 8, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said seeking permission was necessary to avoid misinterpretation. He, however, did not state in what context permission should be sought before the anthem could be sung, or its lyrics could be used. “As custodians of Nigeria’s national symbols, the NOA is tasked with preventing all forms of misuse. The DG emphasised that permission must be sought from the Agency before using the National Anthem to avoid misrepresentation,” the statement partly read. He also clarified that the Nigerian flag is simply green, white, and green, with the correct shade of green being Emerald 2.0. Issa-Onilu explained that previous administrations focused solely on infrastructure development while neg...

 16 states to S’Court: bar EFCC, NFIU from probing our accounts ‘Law on anti-graft agency defective’ Apex court fixes Oct. 22 for hearing The Supreme Court is set to determine the powers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate states. It has scheduled a hearing for October 22. Sixteen state governments are challenging the constitutionality of the law establishing the EFCC. The apex court’s seven-member panel, presided over by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, chose the date yesterday after it consolidated three suits filed separately by three states, including Kogi. The court also granted the request by 13 states to be made co-plaintiffs in the case filed in the name of their Attorneys-General. The plaintiffs in the consolidated case, marked: SC/CV/178/2023, are Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Enugu, Edo, Kogi and Kebbi. Others are Katsina, Jigawa, Nassarawa, Niger, Ondo,  Oyo, Ogun, Plateau and Sokoto. The 16 states are contending that the Constitution is sup...

 Aiyedatiwa sacks aide for allegedly demanding N30m bribe The Special Assistant on Forestry (Central Senatorial District) to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Mr. Adeboye Taofiq Ewenla, has been sacked for allegedly demanding N30m bribe from timber merchants. Ewenla was reportedly caught on tape demanding the money before the Ondo timber merchants be allowed to operate. Government sources said the telephone conversation was sent to Governor Aiyedatiwa after the merchants opted for a showdown. In the conversation with a timber merchant, the source said Ewenla was heard telling the traders not to begin any operation in forest without paying the money. A statement by Chief Press Secretary to Aiyedatiwa, Ebenezer Adeniyan, said the sack followed allegations of bribery and intimidation levelled against Ewenla by some timber merchants in the State. The statement said Governor Aiyedatiwa has ordered a probe into the activities of those saddled with the responsibility of managing forest reserves ...

 Matawalle: We'll flush out bandits, terrorists from Northwest The Minister of State Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle has said the Federal Government will get rid of bandits, terrorists and other criminal gangs terrorising the Northwest part of the country. Matawalle made this known while speaking to newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday. The Minister said he was in Sokoto to lead another onslaught against bandits, terrorists and other criminals in Northwest states as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “As directed by Mr President, I am back in Sokoto state to coordinate this assignment of flushing all bandits and other criminals. “We have recorded some level of achievements. Our troops killed notorious gang leaders and group members in different places. Relative peace has so far been restored specifically in Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina State. “I am optimistic that our gallant troops will sustain the strides and continue to record success through the operation Fansan Yamma, which is ongo...

 “You don’t have to play masculine to be a strong woman" - Funsho Adeoti Funsho Adeoti, the estranged wife of Kazim Adeoti, husband to popular Nollywood actress Mercy Aigbe, has taken to Instagram to share an empowering message to women. In a post celebrating her 50th birthday, Funsho posted a video from her celebration, using the page to deliver a message about femininity. In her caption, she noted that women don’t need to adopt masculine traits to be perceived as strong. “You don’t have to play masculine to be a strong woman, just be yourself,” she wrote. One follower, Mimi Shonoiki, expressed pride, writing, “We are super proud of you sis. Oju ti awon ota won olebode,” which translates to “The enemies are ashamed, they have no place to hide.” Another user, Checkers Fabrics, commented, “I’m so happy that you are happy. You deserve all the glitz and love on your birthday.” Other commenters echoed these sentiments, with one Rmd Alfred saying, “You’re more than a strong woman. I’m ...

 Ayra Starr, Tyla bag 4 MTV EMA 2024 nominations By Racheal Ayodele Famous Nigerian songstress, Oyinkansola Aderigbigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, has bagged four nominations for the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards. The organisers released the nominees list on Wednesday. Ayra Starr was nominated in the ‘Best African Act’, ‘Best Push’, ‘Best Afrobeats’ and ‘Best New Artist’ categories. Other Nigerian musicians nominated for ‘Best Afrobeats’ award are Tems, Burna Boy, Asake and Rema. Also, South Africa’s Tyla bagged four categories including ‘Best New’, ‘Best Afrobeats’, ‘Best African Act’ and ‘Best R&B’. American singer, Taylor Swift bagged the most nominations in seven categories. The 30th edition of the award show will take place on Sunday, November 10, 2024, at Manchester’s Co-op Live in UK. See the full list below: Best New Artist Ayra Starr Chappell Roan LE SSERAFIM Benson Boone The Last Dinner Party Teddy Swims Tyla Best Afrobeats Asake Burna Boy Rema Ayra Starr Tems Tyl...

 NLC opposes fuel hike, seeks immediate reversal The Nigeria Labour Congress has decried the recent hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol nationwide. The union also demanded an immediate reversal of the hike while accusing the government of only focusing on fuel price increments. The NLC in a statement signed by its president, Joe Ajaero, on Wednesday, called on the government to inform Nigerians of the destination it plans to take the country to. Ajaero also knocked on Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited for the increment. “Even following the logic of market forces, we find it an aberration that a private company (NNPCL) is the one fixing prices and projecting itself as a hegemonic monopoly. We challenge the government to go to the drawing board and present us with a blueprint for inclusive economic growth and national development instead of this spasmodic ad hocism and palliative policy. “It needs no stating the fact that the latest wave ...

 PRESS RELEASE  FG REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO HOLISTIC REFORMS IN CORRECTIONAL SERVICE.  The Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has assured Nigerians of the Federal Government's commitment to holistic reforms in the Correctional Service.  He made this assurance at the official launch of the report on the  National Assessment of the situation of Children and Young Adults Deprived of Liberty on Tuesday in Abuja. He stated that the Nigeria Correctional Service Act of 2019 mandates that issues on juvenile deliquesce be addressed through reforms, rehabilitation, reintegration of offenders into the society.   " I’m passionate about giving inmates, especially children and young adults, a second chance, as I strongly believe that a minor action of a minor should not be a major setback for his future," he said.  He decried the high number of correctional centres across the country as against the ratio of inmates to the population sayi...

 India has pledged over Rs. 6,300 crore in financial support to help the Maldives tackle its foreign exchange crisis.  The decision came after a meeting between Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The financial package includes a $400 million or Rs. 3320 crore (approx) currency swap and 230 billion under the INR swap window, aimed at stabilizing the Maldivian economy. The two leaders also discussed expanding economic ties and maritime security cooperation, unveiling a new vision document to boost trade, defense, and surveillance in the region. Prime Minister Modi emphasized India’s strong commitment to the Maldives, referring to the island nation as India’s “closest neighbour and steadfast friend.” This support marks a shift in relations between the two countries, as ties had previously cooled under President Muizzu’s earlier stance of reducing dependence on India in favor of China. However, Muizzu recognized India’s crucial role in assi...

 Kaduna Customs Mourns Over Demise of Assistant Comptroller Victor Tswanya The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Kaduna Area Command mourns over the demise of Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Victor Tswanya, who passed away at his residence in Barnawa, Kaduna, after a brief illness. The death of the senior officer was announced in an official statement released by the Command's Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Ridwan Yusuf, on 6 October 2024. The statement reads, "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Assistant Comptroller of Customs Victor Tswanya, who, until his demise, served as the Acting Deputy Comptroller in charge of Administration at the Kaduna Customs Area Command. "Assistant Comptroller Tswanya, a dedicated officer, passed away peacefully at his Barnawa, Kaduna residence. His contributions to the Nigeria Customs Service, where he served for over three decades, will be deeply missed." The statement further notes that the late senio...

 Edo 2024: Election Materials Inspection Shifted To Thursday On APC’s Request The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has agreed to move the inspection of election materials to Thursday to allow the party prepare itself. The chairman of the APC in Edo State, Jarret Tenebe and the legal counsel, Victor Ohiosumwan, confirmed to journalists that they did not come with all the necessary materials because of a mix up in the inspection process. Tenebe said, “They are supposed to start with inspection of register and we were not aware of it. INEC had already given us register which we were supposed to compare with the register INEC will bring because there are a lot of suspicions here and there because of the fact that I raised earlier with you guys about the BVAS that was loaded from the government house to this place and registers were also included. “And the reason why register is an issue, you guys are aware that the c...

 Bolivia joins South Africa's ICJ case on 'genocide' in Gaza Bolivia has joined South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice that alleges the Israeli Gaza offensive breaches the UN Genocide Convention, the court said on Wednesday, AFP reported. The South American country is the latest of several nations, including Colombia, Libya, Spain and Mexico, adding their weight to the case against Israel, which vehemently denies the accusations. Bolivia already announced in November it was severing diplomatic ties over what it described as the "disproportionate" attacks on Gaza by Israel. In a January 26 ruling that made headlines around the world, the ICJ told Israel to do everything possible to prevent acts of genocide during its military operations in Gaza. The court has also ordered Israel to ensure "unimpeded access" to UN-mandated investigators to look into allegations of genocide. South Africa has returned several times to th...

 Goodwill messages flood in as Shaffy Bello celebrates her 61st birthday anniversary Nollywood actress Shaffy Bello turned sixty-one today, and she took to Instagram to celebrate. In her post, Shaffy Bello spoke about how she was grateful for her new age, and that her fans should pray for her. Fans and colleagues trooped to the comments to send in their goodwill messages

 Jubilation in the air as Davido celebrates the one-year birthday of his twin children Davido’s twin children just turn a year old, and the singer took to his Instagram stories to celebrate their birthday. In his post for them, Davido simply wrote, ‘+1 Alhamdulilah’, and that was it. He didn’t attach any photos of them or videos that effect Davido has managed to keep the identity of his kids a secret for about a year now, and only the photos from their exit at the hospital has been made available to the general public

 Anambra Assembly Passes LG Administration Bill, Economic Planning and Development Bill, 2024 By Chizoba Okeke  Anambra State House of Assembly has passed the Anambra State Local Government Administration Bill, 2024. The bill was passed during a plenary session in Awka, following the presentation and consideration of the report by the Joint House Committee on Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, and the Committee on Judiciary and Justice. The Speaker, Mr Somtochukwu Udeze, who presided during plenary said the bill seeks to clearly define the powers of both the Chairman and Councillors at the local government level, as they relate to the state and local government areas. He further noted that key sectors such as primary school teachers, primary healthcare, the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), the Local Government Service Commission, and the Pension Board are crucial areas where the local and state governments interface to ensure proper adm...

 FG names Dangote refinery sole supplier of Jet Fuel The Nigerian federal government has officially designated Dangote Refinery as the sole provider of Jet A1 fuel to aircraft operators across the country. This announcement was made by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, during an interview broadcast on Channels TV on October 8. Keyamo revealed that airline operators had recently convened and agreed, with his endorsement, to source all their jet fuel exclusively from the Dangote refinery, which has a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. “This decision stems from a recent meeting of the airline operators in Nigeria, where they collectively resolved to purchase Jet A1 fuel solely from Dangote Refinery, with my approval,” Keyamo stated. He noted that the federal government had also initiated a naira-for-crude agreement with Dangote, emphasizing that all transactions would now be conducted in Naira, eliminating any dollar components. “This arrangement is timely as we have just imp...

 Lisa Marie Presley Book Reveals Michael Jackson Was 'Still a Virgin' at 35 When They Dated: 'I Was Terrified' Lisa Marie Presley's posthumous memoir shares intimate details from her relationship with Michael Jackson. After first meeting when they were young, Presley and Jackson got together romantically in 1994. Before they officially began dating, Presley was still married to her first husband, Danny Keough — but they split after Jackson confessed his love to her during a trip they took to Las Vegas. “Michael said,’ I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m completely in love with you. I want us to get married and for you to have my children,’” Presley writes in From Here to the Great Unknown, which was released on Tuesday, Oct. 8. “I didn’t say anything immediately, but then I said, ‘I’m really flattered, I can’t even talk.’ By then, I felt I was in love with him too.” After that epiphany in Sin City, Presley and Keough amicably split, and she got together with Jac...

 Bianca Censori DEACTIVATES her Instagram while Kanye West wipes his account amid claims the couple have 'split and may file for divorce' Bianca Censori has shut down her Instagram account, following reports that she and Kanye West have split and maybe planning to divorce. The model, 29, had previously shared a slew of racy images on her grid under the handle @bianca.censori, but it appears her page has now vanished. Kanye, 47, has also once again wiped his account of all images except for one, which was posted on February 28. The image shows a Whatsapp exchange with Justin Laboy, who interviewed the Grammy Winner in April. The message read: 'I'm closing my Instagram account, My name is Ye. No brand or numbers gonna force me to call myself what they want me to still be.'. One more photo below. 

 Diddy 'powerful' behind bars as insider reveals 'everyone' is afraid Despite P Diddy's current stint in jail, it's reported that his name still sends a shiver down the spine of some celebrities. Sean Combs, also known as P Diddy, was arrested last month on accusations of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and soliciting for prostitution - charges he firmly denies. Yet, the denial did little to sway the courts, resulting in a failed bail plea. Since his lock-up, the lawsuits are piling up with lawyer Tony Buzbee's hotline buzzing with 12,000 calls within a day about claims related to the artist - so the legal expert claims. Some insiders confess that despite the legal turmoil, Diddy's clout lingers in the industry. As per a People insider: "He's so powerful. Everyone was afraid to cross him. Even though he's behind bars now, he's still so powerful. We all knew it even back then." Adding, "Everyone always chalked it up to ...

 Senate demands increased funding for varsities The Senate, on Tuesday, called on the Federal Government to increase budgetary allocations to federal universities in the 2025 budget to help address the brain drain plaguing Nigerian universities. It also mandated its relevant committees to collaborate with the Ministries of Finance, Education, Health, and other relevant agencies to develop strategies to tackle infrastructural decay and improve the monthly remuneration of lecturers. The Senate’s resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Senator Anthony Ani (APC, Ebonyi South), titled “Urgent Need to Address the Challenges of Increasing Cases of Brain Drain in the Nigerian University System.” In the motion, Ani lamented that, according to the National Universities Commission report, many Nigerian universities operate with less than 50 per cent of the required academic staff due to brain drain. He pointed out that the remuneration for Nigerian university lecturers was among the lowest...

 Speed Darlington released from police custody  Popular activist Deji Adeyanju has confirmed the release of singer and social media sensation Darlington Okoye, aka Speed Darlington, from the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria police. In a statement late Tuesday, Adeyanju tweeting as #adeyanjudeji, confirmed the release of Speeddarlington, also known as Akpi. Adeyanju, who is also a lawyer, equally commended the efforts of popular activist Omoyele Sowore and another legal counsel, Stan Alieke, in ensuring Speeddarlington’s release. “Special appreciation to #YeleSowore, super reliable senior lawyer #stanalieke, and to all Nigerians for raising their voice for Speed Darlington. Must also appreciate Prof Sanusi and his team at IRT for the professionalism today,” the tweet read. Adeyanju had revealed that Speeddarlington was arrested in Lagos State last Friday and subsequently transferred to Abuja, where he has remained in detention since. He claimed the arrest was based on ...

 Our officer did not extort N1m from arrested suspects— Abia Police Command The Abia State Police Command has said that it has been inundated over an allegation trending online by a social media blogger who accused a police officer in Aba of extorting N100,000 as bail from each of 10 arrested suspects on October 4, 2024. The position of the police was made known on Tuesday evening by the command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Maureen Chinaka, in a press statement she made available to journalists, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police. According to her, preliminary investigation revealed that on October 3, the Aba Area Command received a complaint through a written petition from the management of Life Stock Feed PLC Aba, where the petitioner alleged that several staff members had misappropriated a substantial amount of money and made away with some production materials from the company. She noted that based on this complaint, some suspects from the company connected with the cri...

 LG polls outcome: PDP plotting Rivers mayhem in Imo – Uzodinma govt The All Progressives Congress-led administration of Hope Uzodinma has pointed accusing fingers at its major political rival, the People Democratic Party, PDP, alleging that the party is plotting means to discredit the present government. Uzodinma’s Government made the allegation by insinuating that the PDP is planning a way of instigating violence in the state over the just concluded local government elections. Making the position of the State Government known, the Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Declan Emelumba disclosed that credible information at its disposal indicated that the PDP wants to borrow a leaf from the recent violence in Rivers State against newly sworn in local government chairmen and councillors. Emelumba said that it was surprisingly unbelievable that just barely 24 hours after the Rivers violence broke out following the outcome of the local government elections in ...