Author: Festus Adeloye

Veteran musician, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has been spotted shopping at a hair store alongside his new love interest, Natasha Osawaru. This public sighting comes shortly after his family expressed concerns over his whereabouts. A video that surfaced on Friday captured 2Baba and Osawaru casually browsing hair products. Earlier, 2Baba’s family had reportedly filed a petition with the Department of State Services, alleging that the singer had gone missing. His mother, Rose Idibia, also made a public plea to Osawaru, urging her to stay away from her son, especially since his divorce from his estranged wife, Annie Idibia,…

A woman who accused hip-hop stars Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jay-Z of sexually assaulting her when she was 13 dropped her civil lawsuit on Friday, court records showed. Jay-Z — real name Shawn Carter — was accused in December of raping the girl with Combs at a party following the MTV Video Music Awards in September of 2000. The document filed with the US District Court for the Southern District of New York claims the accuser “hereby gives notice that the above-captioned action is voluntarily dismissed, with prejudice” — meaning the suit cannot be refiled. It was not immediately clear…

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called for sustainable health financing mechanisms that ensure efficient resource mobilisation and utilisation to strengthen Africa’s healthcare systems. Speaking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the sidelines of the 38th African Union Summit, the First Lady stressed that Africa’s economic growth and social stability hinge on a robust healthcare system that guarantees access to essential medical services for millions across the continent. This was contained in a press statement signed by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, on Friday. According to the release, she made the call at a High-Level Meeting on…

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Lagos Zonal command have arraigned another 11 Chinese nationals and a company before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos for fraud. In a statement shared via the anti-graft agency’s X handle on Friday, EFCC said the suspects were arraigned on separate charges bordering on cyber-terrorism, cybercrimes, possession of documents containing false pretense, advance fee fraud, and identity theft. According to EFCC, the accused are part of a group of 792 suspects connected to alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud. The statement partly reads: “The Lagos Zonal…

FBN Holdings Plc has announced a change in its brand name to First HoldCo Plc (FirstHoldCo). The company in a statement by its Secretary, Adewale Arogundade, said the change will be implemented across all its subsidiaries. It said the rebranding marked a significant milestone in the company’s journey to redefine its identity, unify its subsidiaries, reinforce its heritage, and strengthen its position as a leader in the financial services industry. First HoldCo stressed that the new name reflected its forward-looking vision. Speaking on the milestone development, Group Managing Director, First Holdco Plc, Wale Oyedeji, said, “This transition to First Holdco…

The trial of Spain’s former football chief Luis Rubiales over the forced kiss he gave star forward Jenni Hermoso wrapped up Friday, with a verdict expected in several weeks. Rubiales is accused of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso in 2023 following Spain’s triumph at the women’s World Cup in Australia, as well as coercion for allegedly trying to convince the player to downplay the incident afterwards. The global outcry over the kiss forced Rubiales to resign in disgrace and thrust the spotlight on the prevalence of macho culture and sexism in sport. Hermoso, 34, says she did not consent to…

Fire has destroyed the Gwadabawa Local Government Area office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Sokoto State. This was contained in a statement signed by the commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, on Friday. According to the statement, the fire was reported by the Administrative Secretary in charge of the State office, Hauwa Kangiwa. The statement revealed that the “fire started in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. The entire building was damaged. “Items destroyed include furniture and fixtures as well as movable electoral facilities, among them 558…

Pope Francis was admitted to a hospital in Rome on Friday for tests and treatment for bronchitis, the Vatican announced. The 88-year-old, who has been breathless in recent days and has delegated officials to read his speeches, was admitted following his morning audiences, the Vatican stated. He was hospitalised at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for “some necessary diagnostic tests and to continue treatment for ongoing bronchitis in a hospital setting,” it added. The pope, who had part of one of his lungs removed as a young man, has been experiencing breathing difficulties for over a week and has repeatedly asked aides…

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has reaffirmed his commitment to education, healthcare, and empowerment as key drivers of national development. He made this declaration in a statement on Friday via X recounting his visit to Mater Misericordiae College of Nursing Sciences in Afikpo, Ebonyi State. Obi, who toured the institution, praised its long-standing contributions to Nigeria’s healthcare sector. “Established in 1946, it is one of Nigeria’s pioneering healthcare institutions. “Its Schools of Nursing and Midwifery, founded in 1952 and 1953, have produced thousands of professionals who continue to play vital roles in the medical…

Rose Idibia, the mother of veteran singer Innocent “2Face” Idibia, has publicly appealed for help, urging Nigerians to plead with Edo State lawmaker Natasha Osawaru to leave her son alone. In a video that went viral on Thursday evening, Mrs. Idibia expressed concern over her son’s state of mind, stating that he is not himself due to his ongoing divorce proceedings with his estranged wife, Annie Idibia. “Good evening, Nigerians. My name is Mrs. Rose Idibia, the mother of 2Face. This message is for Miss Natasha Osawaru of Edo State. I’m calling on all mothers in Nigeria to help me…