Akpabio said my waist would make good movements, says Natasha in fresh allegation (Nation)
There seems to be no end in sight in the face-off between the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In the midst of the dust raised by Akpoti Uduaghanโs allegation of sexual harassment against Akpabio, following her suspension from the Senate on March 6 for gross misconduct and unruly behaviour over the rearrangement of seats in the upper chamber, the Kogi senator has again claimed that the Senate President repeatedly threw suggestive and lewd comments her way.
In an interview with the BBC, Akpoti-Uduaghan restated that the โgross misconductโ on which her suspension was premised was a smokescreen to silence her. Read more
Ex-councillor killed, houses razed as Osun communal crisis worsens (Punch)
A former councilor from Ifon Orolu in Osun State identified simply as Azeez has been reportedly killed as the boundary disputes involving Ifon and Ilobu communities resurged.
It was not immediately clear how the deceased met his death.
But a resident of Ifon, who spoke on condition anonymity for fear of attack, said Azeez was confirmed dead at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, early on Friday. Read more
Mohbad: Naira Marley testifies as coroner summons Sam Larry (Channels)
Music Artiste, Naira Marley on Friday testified before a Magistrate Court sitting in Ikorodu, in the Coronerโs inquest seeking to unravel the cause of death of late Ilerioluwa Aloba popularly known as Mohbad.
Naira Marley, who joined the proceedings virtually told the Coroner, Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi that he signed late Mohbad on his record label, Marlian Records to produce 4 albums but until the artiste left, the 4 albums were not produced owing to constant disagreements between the artiste and his manager, Opere Babatunde.
Marley also denied threatening or molesting the late Mohbad pointing to a police report which exonerated him of these offences. He claimed that the allegations that he molested Mohbad existed only in peopleโs imaginations. Read more
Tailors lament low patronage ahead of Sallah (DailyTrust)
Usually, a few days to Sallah celebration, children, and sometimes, adults, wait with excitement as they make frantic efforts to get their new cloths from various tailors. Such periods are always very busy for cloth makers. While some of the tailors deliver on their promise, others renege, sometimes leading to heated arguments and fight as some Muslim faithful make it compulsory to wear new cloths during the celebration. Most times it is a chaotic scenario in most tailoring shops.
Ironically, as Sallah celebration approaches this year, tailors across Kano State have been lamenting over low patronage, unlike what obtained in others years when they were always busy as a result of rush by numerous customers.
Musa Bello, a 54-year-old civil servant who has been into tailoring as a side trade, said that things were no longer as they used to be during Sallah celebrations. Read more
State of emergency: Akpabio opens up on alleged $15,000 bribe to senators (Vanguard)
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has debunked insinuations of a $15,000 bribe allegedly parceled to senators to endorse the proclamation of a state of emergency on Rivers State. He has described the rumours as part of a hate campaign directed against his person.
Akpabio spoke for the first time on the swirling rumour in the social media space that he facilitated the disbursement of the dollar for votes in his Maitama residence during the breaking of fast with senators. Saturday Vanguard reports that the Senate President was alleged to have facilitated the disbursement of the dollars on two consecutive days; first $5,000 on Tuesday and then $10,000 on Wednesday, the eve of the vote on the proclamation. Read more
Nnamdi Kanu tenders apology over misconduct in open court (Tribune)
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has formally apologised to the Federal High Court, Justice Binta Nyako and Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN over his misconduct at the last proceedings of his trial on the terrorism charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.
The IPOB leader pleaded for forgiveness and promised to be of good conduct throughout the duration of his trial.
Kanuโs apology was contained in a lengthy prepared speech delivered by his lead counsel and former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Kanu Agabi, SSN. Read more
2027: Kwankwaso, Atiku, El-Rufai Are Self-Centered โ Illiyasu (NewTelegraph)
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Director of Finance at Hadejia Jamaโare River Basin, Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, has described former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso as self-centred politicians with no real political influence ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking to journalists in Kano, Illiyasu dismissed the trioโs political relevance, stating that their coalition lacks the capacity to make any meaningful impact in the next election cycle.
โLetโs take them one by one. Look at Kwankwasoโwhat has he got to offer? He always hides behind the success of others to remain relevant. Just see what he is doing to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State,โ he said. Read more
Lagos to introduce more vocational training programmes (Guardian)
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, pledged to introduce more vocational training programmes as well as enhance digital literacy initiatives in the state by ensuring that every school has access to modern technology and resources.
The governor made this pledge at the commissioning of new block of classrooms at Ipara Junior College, Majiyagbe; State Junior High School Ibereko, Badagry; Awori Junior College, Ojo and Thogli Community Grammar School, Badagry executed by the state government through the Committee on Rehabilitation of Public Schools (SCRPS).
These milestones, he said, underscores the state governmentโs dedication to ensuring that every child, regardless of their background or location, has access to quality education. Read more
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah sworn in as Namibiaโs first female president (AlJazeera)
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been sworn in as Namibiaโs first woman president, after winning elections last year that extended the governing partyโs 35-year grip on power.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, became one of the few women leaders on the African continent, following a ceremony on Friday attended by heads of state from several African countries including Angola, South Africa and Tanzania.
Outgoing President Nangolo Mbumba, 83, handed power to Nandi-Ndaitwah at a ceremony that coincided with the 35th anniversary of Namibiaโs independence and was moved from the Independence Stadium to State House because of rare heavy rains. Read more
Sudanese army recaptures presidential palace, military source confirms (AfricaNews)
Sudanโs military said it retook the Republican Palace in Khartoum, the last bastion in the capital of rival paramilitary forces, after nearly two years of fighting.
Social media videos showed its soldiers inside giving the date as the 21st day of Ramadan, which was Friday. A Sudanese military officer wearing a captainโs epaulettes made the announcement in the video, and confirmed the troops were inside the compound.
The palace appeared to be partly in ruins, with soldiersโ steps crunching broken tiles underneath their boots. Soldiers carrying assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers chanted: โGod is the greatest!โ Read more
Tina Knowles to be honoured as Mother of the Year at 2025 Billboard Women in Music (Billboard)
Tina Knowles is the ultimate matriarch in Hollywood, and the businesswoman and beloved mom to Beyoncรฉ and Solange Knowles will be receiving a special honor at this yearโs Billboard Women in Music event.
Knowles will be the first-ever Mother of the Year honoree at the event taking place live at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, Calif., on March 29.
Knowles is gearing up to head out on a book tour this spring in support of her upcoming memoir, fittingly titled Matriarch (out April 22). The nine-city book tour launches in Washington, D.C., on April 30 with special guest and former first lady Michelle Obama joining Knowles as the eveningโs moderator. The press tour will conclude on June 4 in London. Read more
Travel chaos as Londonโs Heathrow remains closed (CNBC)
A fire at an electrical substation caused the closure of London’s Heathrow Airport on Friday causing major travel disruption around the world.
Heathrow, the U.K.’s biggest airport and a global travel hub, will remain closed until 11:59 p.m on Friday, the airport said, with disruption expected to affect hundreds of flights.
According to flight-tracker site Flightradar24, 679 flights were scheduled to land at Heathrow on Friday, while 678 flights were scheduled to take off from the airport. Read more
Court rules against K-pop group NewJeans in record label dispute (BBC)
A South Korean court has ruled against chart-topping K-pop group NewJeans which had sought to cut ties with its record label Ador.
The court said the band, which had renamed themselves NJZ and began organising their own appearances, must not conduct any independent activities – from making music to signing advertising deals.
Earlier last year, NewJeans said that they were leaving Ador, after accusing them of mistreatment. Ador subsequently sued to have NewJeans’ contracts upheld and, after accusing the group of trying to sign independent deals without its approval, filed an injunction against them in January. Read more
Top brands drop South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun after relationship controversy (CNN)
Several international brands including luxury house Prada have cut ties with South Korean superstar actor Kim Soo Hyun after he became embroiled in controversy this month over the nature of his relationship with late actress Kim Sae-ron.
Kim Soo Hyun, one of the top names in the South Korean entertainment industry, has refuted allegations made earlier this month by a YouTube channel known for its political news that he had started the relationship with Kim Sae-ron, 24, when she was still a minor.
The allegations prompted an online firestorm of criticism toward Kim Soo Hyun, highlighting the close scrutiny that top stars face in South Koreaโs high-stakes, billion-dollar entertainment industry. Read more
GBโs Azu wins 60m gold, eyes on Nigeriaโs Ochonogor to leap into history books (Guardian)
Great Britainโs Jeremiah Azu sprinted to 60m gold in a dramatic photo finish at the World Athletics Indoor Championships to secure the first global title of his career.
Within two weeks of his triumph at the European indoors, the 23-year-old announced himself as a world champion by equalling that personal best performance of 6.49 seconds.
It saw him cross the line one hundredth of a second ahead of Australian Lachlan Kennedy, who was initially shown as the winner on the big screen in Nanjing, China. Read more
Nigerian athletes missing as World Indoor Champs begins (Punch)
Nigerian athletes were conspicuously missing from the start lists and event summaries on Friday as the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championship got underway in Nanjing, China, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
PUNCH Sports Extra reported that the countryโs participation was dealt a blow by visa issues which depleted the countryโs 10-man contingent.
As of day one of the event on Friday, they were yet to overcome the issues as the names of Nigerian athletes billed to compete on Friday and Saturday (today) were missing from the championshipโs schedule. Read more
Joao Fonseca gives his fans a Miami debut to remember in edging out Learner Tien (Tennis)
At the Next Gen ATP Finals last December, Joao Fonseca and Learner Tien provided us a preview of a potential future rivalry. On Thursday evening at the Miami Open presented by Itau, the two teens graduated to the big leagues as they brought down the house inside Hard Rock Stadium.
With some help from the passionate Latin American fan base filling out the stands, Fonsecaโfresh off winning the Phoenix Challengerโbattled through a disappointing opening tiebreaker and illness late in the match to edge out the American, 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-4. A second-round clash with 19th-seeded Ugo Humbert now awaits.
“I’m very grateful for the Brazilian fans who came here and cheered my name and were being so loud,” he told press afterward. Read more
India eyes hosting 2030 Commonwealth Games as it bids for 2036 Olympics (AlJazeera)
India has submitted an โexpression of interestโ to stage the 2030 Commonwealth Games, potentially the perfect dress rehearsal for the countryโs bigger dream of hosting the Olympic Games six years later.
India, which has never hosted an Olympics, staged the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. The build-up was marred by allegations of corruption and mismanagement, however, although the event itself was considered a success.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was the centrepiece of the 12 days of sporting action at the $6bn games. Read more
Hamilton takes first Ferrari pole for China sprint race (BBC)
Lewis Hamilton took his first pole position for Ferrari as he headed sprint qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Hamilton beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.018 seconds as McLaren’s challenge faded around the Shanghai circuit and will start Saturday’s sprint race from the front.Oscar Piastri was third and Lando Norris, winner of the season-opening race in Australia last weekend, sixth behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ George Russell. Read more