Lagos Assembly: Obasa presides over 4-member plenary (Vanguard)
The embattled former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, is currently presiding over plenary with four other members at the chamber.
The plenary is being conducted after the doors to the chamber were forced open by security personnel.
As at 3.pm, the plenary commenced and was still on-going till about 3.30pm. Read more
Gunmen abduct Oyo corps member on Benin-Ore Expressway (Punch)
A member of the National Youth Service Corps serving in Ibadan, Oyo State, Rofiat Lawal, has been kidnapped by yet-to-be-identified abductors along the Benin-Ore Expressway.
PUNCH Metro gathered from a Facebook post by a user, Agbakwara, on Wednesday that Lawal was returning from Benin, Edo State to report to her place of primary assignment on Tuesday when she was abducted.
Agbakwara noted that the abductors were demanding N20m for her release. Read more
Anambra native doctors threaten to report pastors to Agunechemba (Sun)
A few days after a protest by native doctors in Anambra State against what they called the stigmatisation and witch-hunting of their members by the Agunechemba security outfit, the group has threatened to submit names of pastors to the security outfit for scrutiny.
Led by High Priest Ikele, the native doctors had accused the Anambra State Government of harassing their members, contending that their constitutional rights to freedom of religion were being trampled upon by Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his security outfit.
They also contended that the state government has not done what is necessary by liaising with them to help identify bad elements among them, insisting that it is a calculated attempt to suppress the traditional religion in Igboland. Read more
NAF Probes Civilian’s Death During Altercation With Personnel In Kaduna (Leadership)
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has ordered a probe into an incident involving its personnel and some civilians at Unguwan Gangare, Barakallahu, in Kaduna State.
The incident, which occurred on February 26, 2025, resulted in injuries to some individuals and death of one civilian.
A statement by the NAF Spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, confirming the incident, said the wounded persons are currently receiving medical care at the 461 NAF Hospital. Read more
Nnamdi Kanu reports Abuja Chief Judge to CJN over case transfer (Channels)
The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, urging her to direct the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, to reassign his case to another judge with proper jurisdiction.
In a letter to the CJN, Kanu’s legal team, led by Aloy Ejimakor, argued that Justice Binta Nyako, who is currently presiding over the case, had already recused herself following Kanu’s allegations of bias.
Kanu is facing seven counts of terrorism-related charges brought against him by the Federal Government. Read more
Court clears BDC operator, Okedele, of cybercrime, orders EFCC to apologise (Guardian)
A High Court sitting in Warri has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to publicly tender an apology to Mr Julius Oluwafunmisho Okedele for adding his name on a suit for Financial fraud.
The court In charge No. FHC/WR/110C/2019, filed on December 2, 2019, the EFCC charged Akegor Godbless Omamuyovwi and two other individuals (the latter tried in absentia) at the Warri Division of the Federal High Court, accusing them of cybercrimes and internet fraud.
The main accused, Akegor Godbless Omamuyovwi, was tried alongside the two other suspects, who were purportedly at large. Read more
FG, MTN set May 2026 deadline for Enugu-Onitsha expressway completion (ThisDay)
The Federal Ministry of Works and MTN Nigeria have agreed on a May 10, 2026, deadline for the completion of the Enugu-Onitsha dual-carriageway project, funded by MTN under the Tax Credit Scheme. This is just as the Minister of Works, David Umahi, called on cement manufacturers to reduce the price of cement to N7,000.
In a statement, the Special Adviser on Media to the Honourable Minister of Works, Orji Uchenna Orji, quoted Umahi as emphasising the need for quality and speedy delivery of the project.
Umahi noted that the Ministry has the responsibility to ensure that contractors comply with project specifications, and warned that MTN would be held responsible if the road fails after construction due to poor workmanship. Read more
She graduated from high school with honors but can’t read or write. Now she’s suing (CNN)
Despite graduating last June from Hartford Public High School in Hartford, Connecticut, and earning a scholarship to college, Aleysha is illiterate. She says she cannot read or write.
Many high school seniors feel proud and excited in the days before graduation. But Aleysha tells CNN she felt scared.
She graduated with honors, which usually means a student has demonstrated academic excellence. But after 12 years of attending public schools in Hartford, Aleysha testified at a May 2024 city council meeting that she could not read or write. Suddenly, she says, school officials seemed concerned about awarding her a diploma. Read more
Celebrations in Gaza as the latest group of freed prisoners arrive (AfricaNews)
There were celebrations in Khan Younis on Thursday morning as buses carrying hundreds of freed Palestinian prisoners arrived in the Gaza Strip city.
They were welcomed by family and friends, as one man stepped off the bus, threw down his Israeli prison service t-shirt, and stamped on it.
Among the former detainees were hundreds arrested in the enclave on suspicion of militancy following the 7 October 2023 attack on southern Israel, and held for months without charge. Read more
Nipsey Hussle posthumous album should be out ‘around this summer,’ says brother (HipHopDx)
Nipsey Hussle‘s brother Blacc Sam has confirmed a posthumous album from the late rapper will be arriving this summer.
Appearing on Power 106’s Brown Bag Morning Show on Wednesday (February 26), Sam revealed the LP will be a joint project with Bino Rideaux and that it was recorded before Nipsey was killed in 2019.
“If Hussle didn’t actually do the verse or work with the person or put together the blueprint for the project, we not doing it,” Sam said. “He did something with Bino and there’s a new project that we’re about to release. This was a project that he had with Bino that was pretty much like 80% finished.” Read more
Foul play not suspected as actor Gene Hackman, wife and dog found dead in home, sheriff says (ABC)
Actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 64, were found dead alongside a dog in their New Mexico home on Wednesday afternoon, local law enforcement told ABC News.
The couple was found during a welfare check after their neighbor called in concerned about their well-being, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Denise Avila said.
“Foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time however exact cause of death has not been determined,” the office said in a statement. Read more
Blake Lively, Chace Crawford and more Gossip Girl stars say XOXO to Michelle Trachtenberg after her death at 39 (CinemaBlend)
Celebrity deaths are a unique thing, as they have a way of affecting both the people who actually knew the late star, as well as the generations of fans who were moved by their work. Case in point: Michelle Trachtenberg’s death at 39, which definitely took the public by surprise. Celebrity tributes to Trachtenberg have been rolling in, and her Gossip Girl stars like Blake Lively and Chace Crawford (among others) have shared their love for her on social media.
Gossip Girl (which is streaming with a Netflix subscription) was a wildly popular show on The CW, and is also regularly re-watched via streaming services.
Trachtenberg appeared as Regina Sparks in 28 episodes throughout its original run, so she got to work with the Gossip Girl cast quite a bit. Read more
Trump foreign aid freeze to stay for now, US Supreme Court chief rules (BBC)
The top judge in the United States has given temporary backing to the Trump administration’s freeze on foreign aid payments.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts’ intervention came as the administration faced a midnight deadline (05:00 GMT on Thursday) to pay contractors.
Officials had argued that they could not process the payments within the timeframe set by a lower court judge. Read more
Broos backs Nigeria to bounce back in W’Cup qualifiers (Punch)
South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has backed the Super Eagles to rediscover their form and return to winning ways next month when the 2026 World Cup qualifiers resumes, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The three-time Africa champions have endured a disappointing start to their campaign, failing to secure a victory in their first four matches.
The Eagles managed draws against Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa before suffering a shock 2-1 defeat to Benin Republic. That poor run has left them with just three points, trailing group leaders South Africa, Rwanda, and Benin by four points. Read more
IBF downgrades Bakole-Ajagba fight (Guardian)
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) will continue with the proposed Martin Bakole versus Efe Ajagba fight, but with reduced stakes, reports ringmagazine.com.
The IBF said that it would figure out a new plan to fulfill its heavyweight mandatory slot.
The Ring has confirmed that a new IBF heavyweight title eliminator will be assigned, though the participants were not yet established. Bakole (21-2, 16 KOs) will still move forward with his planned May clash with Efe Ajagba (20-1, 14 KOs) at a New York City location to be determined. Read more
World Cup qualifiers Chelle drops Iheanacho from Super Eagles (Sun)
New Middlesbrough signing, Kelechi Iheanacho appears to have played himself out of the Super Eagles under Malian coach Eric Chelle, atleast for the time being, if report by owngoalnigeria.com proves true.
According to the report, the coach has submitted his preliminary list of players for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe without the name of the former Manchester City triker.
Owngoalnigeria added that Chelle submitted list of 35 players but picked 23 as the players that will definitely be in the squad, in order for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to begin the process of making their flight arrangements. Read more
Nuno shares brutal reason behind key tactical decision against toothless Arsenal (Metro)
Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo admitted there was no need to field an extra defender against a toothless Arsenal side last night.
The Gunners slipped even further behind runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool following a goalless draw at the City Ground during which they registered just two shots on target.
Without the likes of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, midfielder Mikel Merino was again asked to plough a lone furrow up front. Read more
Ex-England coach Jones returns to South Africa staff (BBC)
Former England defence coach Felix Jones will become an assistant coach with South Africa from next week.
Jones stepped down from his position with England in December after becoming disillusioned in Steve Borthwick’s set-up.The 37-year-old was part of the Springboks’ coaching staff during their 2019 and 2023 World Cup victories, working under head coach Rassie Erasmus in the first of those triumphs. Read more