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 “The Most Beautiful Heavily Pregnant Woman in Africa” — Yul Edochie Gushes Over Wife Judy Austin Nollywood actor Yul Edochie has showered praises on his wife, Judy Austin, calling her “the most beautiful heavily pregnant woman in Africa.” The actor made the statement in a video shared on Instagram, where the couple was seen playfully chatting in Igbo. Yul, holding the camera, filmed Judy and couldn’t stop hyping her glow and beauty during pregnancy. The caption on the video read:  “The most beautiful heavily pregnant woman in Africa.”

 STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU WELCOMES NEW INVESTMENT INITIATIVES FROM QATAR, AFFIRMS NIGERIA'S READINESS FOR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP President Bola Tinubu has welcomed new initiatives by Qatari investors to explore opportunities in the agricultural sector and assured that Nigeria remains open to strategic partnerships.  The President gave the assurance on Friday at the State House while receiving Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, a special envoy from the Amir of the State of Qatar.  Dr Al-Khulaifi, Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, conveyed Amir's strong interest in expanding bilateral cooperation, announcing that a high-level Qatari business delegation will visit Nigeria in the coming weeks to explore opportunities in agriculture, food security, and other critical sectors. President Tinubu emphasised Nigeria's readiness to build on the momentum generated by his state visit to Qatar in 2024, pledging to implement all bilateral agreements be...

 Idemili North Mayor visits, sympathises with family of suspected food poisoning By Amaka Iloanya The Idemili North Mayor, Hon. Stanley Nkwoka has visited the family of the suspected food poisoning at Ogidi. Sympathising with the father of the victims, Mr Arinze Aghalu.the Mayor assured him of every support and promising to unravel the mystery behind the incident.  The traumatized father of the family, Mr. Aghalu lost almost an entire family which included his four children and a brother to the alleged food poisoning while his wife is lieing unconscious and on a life support in one of the hospitals in the area. Mayor Nkwoka, who  was visibly broken down at the sight and reality of the incident assured the bereaved that whatever led to the act must be looked into and publicized to forestall future occurrence. He also visited the hospital where the victim's wife, Mrs. Aghalu was receiving the treatment. The mayor pleaded with the hospital management to do everything within ...

 PRESS RELEASE No: MFA/PR/2025/39 MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS CONGRATULATES CATHOLICS WORLDWIDE FOR THE ELECTION OF POPE LEO XIV The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, OON, extends warm congratulations to the Catholic faithful worldwide for the successful election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV as the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, 8th May 2025. Nigeria rejoices with the global Catholic community on this momentous and historic occasion and prays for divine wisdom, strength, and guidance for the new Pope as he assumes this sacred responsibility.  We are confident that with his wealth of experience and devotion, His Holiness will lead with compassion, humility, and a steadfast commitment to peace, unity, and the spiritual well-being of humanity.   As a nation with a significant and large Catholic population, Nigeria values the enduring relationship between the Holy See and our country. We therefore look for...

CHOOSE PILGRIMAGE OVER VACATION, OKUDERO ADVISES CHRISTIAN FAITHFUL The Board Secretary of the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Dr. Gbolabo Okudero, has encouraged Christian faithful to prioritise pilgrimage to Jerusalem over vacation.  During a live radio programme, "Know Your Agency," aired on Lagos Traffic Radio, organised in collaboration with the Parastatals Monitoring Office, Dr. Okudero emphasised the spiritual fulfilment and life-changing experience that a pilgrimage to Jerusalem offers. Citing Zechariah 8:22, Dr. Okudero highlighted the significance of visiting Jerusalem to seek the Lord and entreat Him. He urged believers who can afford vacations to Western countries to consider visiting Israel through the Lagos State Government's pilgrimage programme, which provides world-class services, including safety and security, healthy meals, warm clothing, transportation, comfortable accommodations, healthcare, and experienced tour guides. Dr. Okudero noted...

 LASHMA COMMISSIONS NEW DIVISIONAL OFFICE IN AJAH, CALLS ON RESIDENTS TO ENROL ON ILERA EKO The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), in its efforts to increase visibility and ensure ease of access for residents in the Lagos Division to register and enrol on the State Social Health Insurance, has commissioned the ILERA EKO Divisional Office at the BRT Bus Terminal, Ajah. The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, represented by the Director, Administration and Human Resource, Mrs. Olufunke Longe, in her address at the commissioning, said that the relocation of Lagos Divisional office from the Maternal and Child Centre, Eti-Osa, to Ajah, was a deliberate move by the Agency to ensure that no resident in Lagos Island, Eti-Osa, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Badore and surrounding towns is left behind. While noting that the terminal has a heavy traffic of people who daily access transport services. Dr. Zamba implored residents and p...

 LAGOS COMMISSIONER URGES CIVIL SERVANTS TO EMBRACE "CIVIC INNOVATION" FOR FUTURE-READY PUBLIC SERVICE The  Lagos State Government has once again reiterated its commitment to a dynamic and future-forward public service, urging its civil servants to evolve into "civic innovators." This call to action was made by the Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo, at the inauguration of a strategic training programme, themed: “Leveraging Talent Development for the Next Public Service,” held recently in Alausa, Ikeja. Describing the initiative as a critical intervention, Commissioner Ayantayo underscored the urgent need for public sector employees to transition from traditional administrative roles to proactive problem-solvers and forward-thinking civic innovators. “In an era defined by rapid change, maintaining the status quo is no longer an option for our public institutions. The next public service must be characterised by innovation, adaptabilit...

 Zaria Community Seeks Help As Diphtheria Outbreak Kills Two A dire public health crisis has emerged in the Tukur-Tukur community of Zaria, Kaduna State, following a resurgence of diphtheria—a disease once thought to be largely eradicated in the region. In a statement issued on Sunday, a community leader and Director of Publicity in the Northern Elders Forum, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, raised the alarm over the outbreak, disclosing that two children had died within a span of 48 hours. According to Suleiman, the deceased children displayed classic diphtheria symptoms, including sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and severe fatigue. Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that primarily affects the throat and nose. It poses serious health risks, including respiratory failure, heart complications, and even death if untreated. Although once common, the disease’s prevalence dropped dramatically due to widespread vaccination efforts in the mid-20th century. The recent deat...

 Six Soldiers, Two Civilians Detained By Nigerian Police In Kaduna Over Death Of 65-Year-Old Man  Six military personnel and two civilians have been arrested in connection with the alleged torture and death of a 65-year-old man, Surajo, popularly known as “Alhaji M,” in Millennium City, Kaduna State. According to sources, the incident occurred on May 3, 2025, after two civilians — Alhaji Adamu Jinjiri of Shehu Laminu Road and Ibrahim Yakubu of Maladanga Road, both residents of Unguwan Rimi — accused Surajo of conspiring in the theft of a cow and an electrical distribution box.  They alleged he was assisting a suspect identified as Yahaya Aleiru, who is currently at large. The accused was subsequently handed over to members of the Millennium City Strike Force, a local military security outfit. Investigations revealed that Surajo was allegedly subjected to severe torture at a military checkpoint by Lieutenant Alhassan Musa and five other soldiers, resulting in his collapse....

 Kaduna Government Applauds Dangote For Donating 35,000 Bags Of Rice Across 23 LGAs Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has praised Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the Aliko Dangote Foundation for their steadfast efforts in tackling hunger and poverty in Nigeria. The commendation was made during the official distribution of 35,000 bags of 10kg rice donated by the Foundation to all 23 local government areas of the state.  Representing the Governor at the event, Chief of Staff Alhaji Sani Liman Kila announced that each LGA would receive 1,522 bags. Governor Sani noted that the Dangote Foundation’s social interventions are both impactful and strategically aligned with the state government's social investment policies. “Since taking office, our administration has prioritized the delivery of basic services, especially in health, education, and social protection,” he said. “We have championed inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, and humanitarian assistance, particularly for Intern...

 In a dramatic escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, major cities across Pakistan—including Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad—experienced widespread blackouts late Thursday night.  The outages coincided with reports of missile strikes and aerial engagements between the two nations. While the Pakistani government has not officially attributed the blackouts to any specific cause, the timing has raised concerns about the stability of the national power grid amid heightened military activities. Residents in affected areas reported sudden power losses, with entire neighborhoods plunged into darkness. The outages disrupted daily life, halting public transportation, affecting hospital operations, and causing widespread confusion. In Karachi, the country’s economic hub, businesses were forced to close early, and emergency services operated under challenging conditions. The blackout follows a series of retaliatory actions between India and Pakistan. Earlier this week, India c...

 External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar conveyed a strong message to the United States regarding India’s stance amid the ongoing cross-border tensions with Pakistan.  In a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jaishankar emphasized that India will firmly counter any attempts at escalation by Pakistan, reiterating the country’s right to defend itself against hostile actions. The conversation took place in the backdrop of repeated drone and missile attacks on Indian border states, which have followed India’s precision strikes under Operation Sindoor. Jaishankar stressed that India’s military actions have been targeted, proportionate, and specifically aimed at terrorist infrastructure within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. He assured the US that while India remains committed to regional stability, it will not hesitate to respond with strength to any further provocation. Jaishankar also called for international cooperation in holding state sponsors of terrori...

 On Friday, Pakistan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs claimed that its official X (formerly Twitter) account had been hacked after a post was shared appealing for international loans due to escalating tensions with India.  The post, which quickly went viral, stated that the country needed help after “heavy losses inflicted by the enemy” and urged global partners to support de-escalation efforts. However, ministry officials told Reuters the post was unauthorized and that they were working to regain control of the account. The timing of the alleged hack raised eyebrows, as Pakistan’s economy is already under severe stress. The country owes around $8.8 billion to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), making it one of the IMF’s largest debtors. Moody’s, a global credit rating agency, also warned earlier this week that any sustained conflict with India could threaten Pakistan’s economic recovery, fiscal targets, and overall stability. The tensions come in the wake of India’s militar...

 It’s now more expensive to be boyfriend than husband – BBNaija Tochi Former Big Brother Naija reality star, Tochi, has sparked debate with his recent comparison of the financial burden between a boyfriend and a husband. The reality star, known for sharing hot takes on relationships, recently claimed that it is now more expensive to be a boyfriend than a husband. On his Instastory, the outspoken reality star wrote, “It’s more expensive now to be a boyfriend than a husband.” A screenshot of his original post quickly went viral on social media, sparking a fierce debate. While many agreed with his claim, others expressed disbelief, describing it as unrealistic to a large extent and a gross generalisation.

EFCC Arrests Two Chinese,  Six Nigerians for Illegal Mining in Ogun State Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, have arrested two Chinese and six  Nigerians for alleged involvement in illegal mining activities in the Ogere area of Ogun State. The suspects: Zhang Hang Lin, Gao Pei Hai, Matthew Mathias, Oluwaseun Amoo Wasiu Ademola Alao, Ajibola Nurudeen Ibrahim Yinusa and Saidu Shuaibu were arrested on Friday, 9 May 2025, during a sting operation following credible intelligence received by the Commission and detailed surveillance carried out on them. At the point of arrest, operatives recovered three trucks loaded with sacks of substances suspected to be ground lithium powder and other yet-to-be-identified solid minerals.  Other items recovered from the suspects include a Toyota 4Runner SUV, mobile phones, samples of low grade lithium,  Automated Teller Machine,  ATM cards, the suspects’ international passpo...

 Yahaya Bello: Court fixes June 26 to rule on EFCC’s request to ‘cross-examine’ own witness The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has fixed June 26 for ruling on the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to “cross-examine” its own witness, Nicholas Ojehomon in the alleged money laundering case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date after listening to arguments by EFCC and Yahaya Bello on whether it was proper in law for the prosecution to cross examine its own witness after the cross examination by Bello’s lawyer, Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN. Disagreement arose when Daudu vehemently objected the procedural mode of cross examining the witness after cross examination by the defense. Daudu told Justice Emeka Nwite that the only option opened to EFCC was to re-examine the witness as required by law and not to cross examine the witness. Specifically, the senior lawyer argued that for EFCC to lawful...

 Edo PDP suffers major blow as political titan, Irehovbude leads supporters to join APC The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost one of its most formidable figures, Chief (Amb.) Tom Irehovbude, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State. Chief Irehovbude, the Egbonghon of Ekpoma, a revered grassroots mobilizer from Esan West Local Government Area, led thousands of PDP loyalists into the APC. Addressing party faithful and supporters, Chief Irehovbude cited the transformative leadership and developmental strides of Governor Monday Okpebholo as the driving force behind his move. “I am joining the APC because I have seen what Sen. Monday Okpebholo is doing-touching lives, initiating meaningful development, and bringing governance closer to the people. I believe in leadership that works, and I am ready to contribute to that vision”, he explained. Lauding the governor’s people-centric approach, Irehovbude praised the APC’s governance style as “a breath of fresh air” and pledg...

 Mali's efforts to stem political protests to face test May 9, 2025 An attempt by Mali's military government to stamp out public dissent by banning all political activity will be put to the test on Friday as critics wary of security and economic woes call for protests. Authorities on Wednesday announced that all work by political parties and other political organisations had been suspended until further notice to preserve public order The move came ahead of planned protests in the capital, Bamako, and the city of Segou against the government, which came to power after coups in 2020 and 2021. Government critics, including activists and opposition politicians, appeared keen to build momentum after unprecedented public gatherings on May 3 and 4 in Bamako. Those were triggered by recommendations from a national council of political actors to hand military leader Assimi Goita a five-year mandate and dissolve all political parties. Several hundred participants carried placards displa...

 Trump hints at cutting China tariffs to 80% 9th May 2025 US President Donald Trump signalled on Friday that he could lower tariffs on Chinese imports, as the rival superpowers prepare for trade talks over the weekend. “80% Tariff on China seems right!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, which would bring them down from 145 per cent, with cumulative duties on some goods reaching a staggering 245 per cent. He added that it was “Up to Scott B.”, referring to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who will confer with China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng this weekend in Geneva to try to cool the conflict roiling international markets. In his post, Trump did not say if he thought 80 per cent should be the final, definitive level for tariffs on Chinese goods if and when the trade war ends, or an interim status. In another post, this time all in capital letters, Trump said, “China should open up its market to USA – would be so good for them!!! Closed markets don’t work anymore!!!” Trump’s...

 EFCC Arraigns Man over N70m Fraud in Lagos   The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, May 8, 2025 arraigned one Ntai Bagshaw and his company, Terraworks Limited before Justice I. O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja, Lagos for fraud. They are being prosecuted on a two-count charge, bordering on obtaining money under false pretence and stealing. Count one reads: "That you Ntai Bagshow and Terraworks Limited sometime in December 2021 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division with intent to defraud obtained from Muyiwa Makinde the sum of N70,000,000.00 (Seventy Million Naira) under the false pretense that the money is for the payment of a detached Duplex in Renat Axis, located at Ogudu GRA, Lagos State which pretence you knew to be false".   Count two reads: "That you Ntai Bagshow and Terraworks Limited sometime in December 2021 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of thi...

 JAMB Releases 2025 UTME Results, Withholds 39,834 Candidates’ Scores Over Malpractice The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the release of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made the disclosure during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, stating that over 1.9 million candidates participated in the examination nationwide. Oloyede revealed that the results of 39,834 candidates are being withheld due to suspected examination malpractices. He added that 80 individuals are currently under interrogation for various forms of exam fraud, with Anambra State recording the highest number of suspects at 14. The registrar also noted that 467 underage candidates scored above the minimum cut-off mark, while 50 candidates have been linked to cheating so far.

 Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Denies Violating Court Orders in Dispute with Senate President Akpabio Suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has denied breaching court orders that restrained her from posting on social media or granting interviews regarding her allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The denial comes in response to a fresh application filed by Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, demanding that Akpoti-Uduaghan delete a controversial video and remove related posts from her social media accounts. The legal action stems from a video Akpoti-Uduaghan shared on April 27, 2025, on her Facebook page, where she sarcastically “apologized” to Akpabio, saying she was “sorry for the crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect” and for not allowing the Senate President to “have his way” with her. The post, described as a satirical apology, went viral and was widely interpreted as a j...

 African leaders join Putin for Russia's Victory Day parade African leaders are among 27 world leaders who attended Russia's Victory Day commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War two, TRT Afrika reported. Moscow hosted a massive military parade on Friday on Red Square and other ceremonies after Britain, France and the US held similar ceremonies on Thursday. African leaders in attendance included Burkina Faso’s Transitional President Ibrahim Traore, Egypt’s Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Guinea Bissau’s Umaro Sissoco Embalo and Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema. Others were Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa and Congo Brazziville’s Denis Sassou Nguesso. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Slovakan Prime Minister Robert Fico also attended. The foreign leaders looked on as various weapons, including new tanks and Russian-made drones were driven across the vast square. President Putin said that Russi...

 Labour Party Reps dismiss suspension, accuse Abure of desperation post-court ruling Three members of the House of Representatives under the Labour Party (LP) have rejected their reported suspension from the party, describing the move as both baseless and desperate. They claim it is a ploy by embattled former National Chairman, Julius Abure, to remain politically relevant following his removal by the Supreme Court. In a strongly worded joint statement issued on Thursday, Leader of the Labour Party Caucus in the House; Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, Deputy Leader, Hon. Seyi Sowunmi, and a caucus member,  Hon. Amobi Ogah, accused Abure of attempting to destabilize the party rather than rebuild it. The lawmakers described their alleged suspension as "laughable," asserting that Abure no longer holds legitimate authority within the party following the apex court’s decision that effectively ended his tenure. They further criticized Abure's recent announcements, which also purportedly ...

 Leo XIV says church must fight ‘lack of faith’ in first mass as Pope Leo XIV urged the Catholic Church to “desperately” counter a lack of faith in his first homily as pope Friday, a day after the modest cardinal largely unknown to the world became the first US head of the 2,000-year institution. Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost on Thursday became the 267th pope, spiritual leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics and successor to Argentina’s Pope Francis, after a secret conclave by his fellow cardinals in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. In today’s world, Leo warned in his homily to assembled cardinals, there are places or situations where “it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied”. “Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed,” said the new pope, 69, standing at the Sistine Chapel altar with Michelangelo’s famed fres...

 Tinubu, Trump, Obi hail Prevost on emergence as Pope May 9, 2025 VATICAN CITY — President Bola Tinubu, his US counterpart, Mr. Donald Trump and presidential candidate of Labour Party in the last general elections, Mr Peter Gregory Obi have congratulated Robert Cardinal Francis Prevost, who emerged yesterday the new Pontiff of the Catholic Church and successor to late Pope Francis. Their congratulatory messages came yesterday at the end of a conclave by cardinal-electors, after which the new Pope was announced A moderate, who was close to Pope Francis, Prevost becomes the first pope from the United States and has taken Leo XIV as his papal name. French Cardinal, Dominique Mamberti, announced the new pope, with the Latin words “Habemus Papam” (We have a pope). Tens of thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square cheered as Prevost appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, waving with both hands, smiling and bowing. “Peace be with you,” he told the crowds. White smoke from...

 Philippines votes amid political feud, violence fears 9th May 2025 The Philippines votes Monday in a ballot that will decide half the Senate’s seats, thousands of local posts, and quite possibly the political future of impeached Vice President Sara Duterte. More than 160,000 national police have been deployed to secure polling stations, escort election officials and guard checkpoints in a country where hotly contested provincial postings are known to erupt in violence. But it is the vice president’s feud with President Ferdinand Marcos that has dominated national politics heading into the mid-term election. The rift between the two former allies came to a head in the wake of the vice president’s February impeachment and her father Rodrigo Duterte’s subsequent arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to face charges over his deadly drug war while he was president. The 12 senators elected Monday, and 12 others already in office, will serve as jurors in an impeac...