Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull drew chuckles Tuesday as he impersonated Donald Trump, urging the nation’s political leaders to contest a general election next month to “stand up” to the US president. Turnbull, who was Australian prime minister when Trump first took office in 2017, briefly adopted a nasal American accent as he mimicked the US commander-in-chief during a speech. Political hopefuls contesting Australia’s May 3 general election should not be scared of angering Trump, Turnbull said. “That’s the challenge for our leaders — they’ve got to be able to stand up,” he began. “If that means they get…

An elder in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David Parish, Quincy Ayodele, has denied claims that the former Pastor-in-charge of the parish, Idowu Iluyomade, rebelled against the church before starting his own. Ayodele stated that she had expected that Iluyomade would be restored to his parish or another after he had served his three-month suspension handed to him by the church leadership. According to Church Times, in a chat with Daddy Freeze posted on his YouTube Channel on Monday, the natural medicine practitioner said she was surprised and disappointed that Iluyomade was given a letter not to step into…

A total of 117 million Nigerians have registered for the National Identity Number as of February 28, 2025. Data sourced from the NIMC enrollment dashboard, Lagos State is taking the lead with over 12.6 million registrants. Kano State followed with 10.2 million registrants. A total of 66,281,803 (56.5%) of the registered individuals are male, while 51,079,521 (43.5%) are female. “NIMC’s enrollment figures as of February 28, 2025, currently stand at over 117 million unique records. The highest cumulative enrollment figure of over 12.6 million was recorded in Lagos State. Regional figures indicated an almost equal distribution across the North and…

President Bola  Tinubu has approved the amended Investment and Securities Act (ISA) 2024. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which disclosed this, said the legislation strengthens the legal framework of the Nigerian capital market, enhances investor protection, and introduces critical reforms to promote market integrity, transparency, and sustainable growth. “The new Act also introduces transformative provisions to further align Nigeria’s market operations with international best practice”. The Act enhances the regulatory powers of the SEC in a manner comparable with benchmark global securities regulators. These enhanced powers and functions ensure full conformity with the requirements of IOSCO’s Enhanced Multilateral Memorandum…

Three officials of the Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA) have tendered formal apologies to the Department of State Services (DSS) after being arrested for assaulting DSS operatives during the recent leadership crisis at the legislative house. The Assembly had requested DSS presence through a letter dated February 14, 2025, signed by Acting Clerk A.T.B. Ottun. The letter, with reference number LSHA/FAD/0/7554/323, specifically asked the DSS to secure the facility from February 15 until further notice. However, upon arrival, DSS personnel were reportedly attacked by three assembly workers. Relying on CCTV footage, the security agency arrested the suspects and subsequently…

19-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik beat his childhood idol, Novak Djokovic 7-6(4) 7-6(4) in an upset for the ages on Sunday, claiming his first ATP title at the Miami Open. Victory for Mensik meant he denied the former number one, Djokovic, his bid for a milestone 100th. The 54th-ranked Mensik faced tough odds in only his second ATP final but harnessed his best weapon to subdue the 24-time major winner with 14 aces. He collapsed onto the court, overcome with emotion, after sealing it with an unreturnable serve. The oldest ever to reach a Masters 1000 final, 37-year-old Djokovic had hoped to…

Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani said appointing the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) would cast aspersions on its content. Sani said this in an X post on Saturday following President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC to chair the NTA board. The appointment was contained in a statement signed by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Friday. However, Sani said Morka’s appointment would make the objectivity, image and professionalism of the national broadcaster…

Florence Nwaeke, wife of a former Head of Service in Rivers State, George Nwaeke, has suggested that her husband was under duress during the interview in which he made allegations against suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara. She was seen on a trending video calling for help over the whereabouts of her husband following his resignation. Florence said she was afraid of the safety of her husband complaining that she could not reach him on phone. She said someone asked him to come to Abuja and that she later saw her husband granting the interview. She said: “When he got to Abuja, he…

Suspended Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has denied the  allegations levelled against him by the immediate past Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke. The Governor in a counter statement said: “Ordinarily, I would not have responded to his claims, but to correct the erroneous impression such allegations may create in the minds of the people, and the disaffection it is bound to cause in the state and the country. “First, on the claim that he was aware of my discussions and plans to support Bala Mohammed’s alleged 2027 presidential bid, it is laughable that Dr. Nwaeke would be part of any high level…

The Kano State Police Command has banned all Sallah Durbar celebrations ahead of the 2025 Eid-el-Fitr festivities, citing security concerns and the need to prevent potential unrest.  The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, announced the decision on Friday while addressing journalists at the Bompai Police Headquarters in Kano. He stated that intelligence reports revealed plans by certain groups to use the Durbar to create instability. “In pursuit of a safe and secure celebration, and to maintain peace and public order, the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, has assessed the rising tensions and uncertainties surrounding the Durbar activities,”…