Rivers yet to receive assembly 48-hour budget ultimatum – SSG (Punch)
The Rivers State Government has said it has yet to receive any document on the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly resolution following last Friday’s Supreme Court judgment.
Recall that the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, in a letter addressed to the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Monday, requested the latter to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House within 48 hours, in line with the 1999 Constitution.
However, in a statement on Wednesday, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, maintained that the governor has yet to receive the letter, saying the state government heard of the purported on social media. Read more
Mbah salutes Obasanjo at 88, calls him a global leader (NewTelegraph)
The Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, has joined other well-meaning Nigerians in congratulating former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on his 88th birthday, describing him as not only a consummate nationalist but also Nigeria’s gift to the world.
Taking to his verified X handle on Wednesday, Mbah said, “It is a great honour for me to felicitate former President, His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, on his 88th birthday.
“Chief Obasanjo is an international icon, elder statesman, consummate leader, and quintessential global citizen, who by dint of tenacity, hard work, and fate, has played important roles in Nigeria’s political development and in shaping African and global affairs. Read more
Journalist set for Guinness World Record with longest interview marathon (Leadership)
Nigerian journalist Livinus Chibuike Victor is gearing up for an extraordinary challenge as he attempts to break the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the Longest Interviewing Marathon.
With a goal of 72 hours and 30 seconds of continuous interviews, the event is set to take place from April 17 to April 20, 2026, at Harrow Park Golf Club in Abuja.
Victor’s journey towards this record was not only about endurance, but a testament to his unyielding determination. According to him, “This challenge is about pushing beyond limits, proving that perseverance and purpose can break barriers. Journalism is more than a profession to me—it’s a mission. This attempt is about demonstrating the power of resilience, the strength of the human mind, and the importance of meaningful conversations.” Read more
Akpabio: Court halts Senate disciplinary action against Senator Natasha (Guardian)
The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with disciplinary actions against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order on Tuesday following an ex parte application by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, which includes Sanusi Musa, M. J. Numa, Y. M. Zakari, B. J. Tabai, Tijanni Jimol, and M. C. Bekee.
The senator, representing Kogi Central, had been summoned before the disciplinary committee after a heated exchange with Senate President Godswill Akpabio during the February 20 plenary. Read more
I’m resting after delivering $20b refinery – Dangote (DailyTrust)
President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has said he is currently resting after delivering his refinery project.
The 650,000-barrel refinery and petrochemicals project worth over $20bn has come to disrupt the oil and gas market in Africa and the world even as the refinery now exports refined products to other countries in Africa and Middle East.
Dangote recently spoke about the challenges he faced constructing the refinery which he described as the biggest risk of his life, saying he went through hell. Read more
Court orders INEC to recognise NRM’s leadership led by Edozie Njoku (Nation)
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the leadership of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) that emerged from the party emergency national convention held in Abuja on January 17.
The emergency convention held to fill vacant positions in the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and correct lopsidedness in its composition produced Edozie Njoku as NRM’s National Chairman.
Since the convention was held, INEC refused to accept the outcome of the convention because it did not monitor the exercise, a position Justice Obiora Egwuatu faulted in a judgment delivered on Wednesday. Read more
Nigeria joins European Bank as 77th shareholder (Channels)
Nigeria has officially joined the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
This addition brings the total number of EBRD shareholders to 77, comprising 75 national shareholders alongside the European Union and the European Investment Bank.
In April 2024, Nigeria submitted its application to join the bank, which the EBRD’s Board of Governors approved in May 2024. Read more
Former Miss Australia found guilty of emotionally abusing and intimidating her ex-husband: Reports (People)
A former Miss Australia has been found guilty in court of emotionally abusing and intimidating her ex-husband.
On Wednesday, March 5, Kathryn Isobel Hay, 49 — who was Miss Australia and Miss Tasmania in 1999 — was found guilty of emotional abuse or intimidation at the Launceston Magistrates Court in Tasmania, per the Australian Associated Press (AAP).
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Hay pleaded not guilty to a single charge of emotional abuse or intimidation in 2023 before she faced a hearing last year. Read more
South African play on Winnie Madikizela-Mandela explores black women’s enduring wait for absent men (AfricaNews)
A new play about anti-apartheid icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela seeks to highlight the struggles of Black women in South Africa who had to wait years for their husbands’ return from exile, prison or faraway work during decades of white minority rule. The play about the late former wife of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first Black president, is adapted from the novel “The Cry of Winnie Mandela” by Njabulo Ndebele.
It explores themes of loneliness, infidelity and betrayal. At the height of apartheid, Madikizela-Mandela was one of the most recognizable faces of South Africa’s liberation struggle while her husband and other freedom fighters spent decades in prison. That meant constant harassment by police. At one point, she was banished from her home in Soweto on the outskirts of Johannesburg and forcefully relocated to Brandfort, a small rural town she had never visited nearly 350 kilometers (217 miles) away. Read more
Gypsy Rose Blanchard reveals plans to tell her daughter that she murdered her mother (Unilad)
Gypsy Rose Blanchard has detailed she has plans to eventually tell her daughter that she murdered her mother, Claudine ‘Dee Dee’ Blanchard.
The now-33-year-old was sentenced to ten years in prison in 2016 after she pleaded guilty to her role in the killing of her parent.
For years, Dee Dee had created the appearance that Gypsy was a terminally ill child, making her use a wheelchair, shaving her head, and forcing her to take medication she didn’t need. Read more
French box office dips in February as local comedy tops chart (ScreenDaily)
The French box office fell 4% in February year on year to 14.48 million admissions, according to CNC estimates.
So far this year, total admissions are 28 million, 1.7% less than the same period in 2024. Ticket sales reached €104.8m in February and €202.7m since January based on an average ticket price of €7.24.
The month’s top titles had British connections, with the number one spot taken by comedy God Save The Tuche (Pathe), a French production about a family experiencing culture shock as they meet British royalty, with 2.4m admissions. Read more
Supreme Court won’t block judge’s order requiring Trump administration pay foreign aid groups (USAToday)
A divided Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration’s request to block an order that set a deadline for the administration to pay foreign aid organizations for work already performed for the government.
Because the original deadline has lapsed, the court said the judge should clarify how the government should comply “with due regard for the feasibility of any compliance timelines” − but did not overturn the order.
Four of the court’s conservative justices − Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh − dissented. Read more
South Sudan arrests key Machar allies as army surrounds his house (AlJazeera)
South Sudanese forces have arrested the petroleum minister and several senior military officials allied with First Vice President Riek Machar as soldiers surrounded his home in the capital, Juba.
Deputy army chief, General Gabriel Duop Lam, a Machar loyalist, was held on Tuesday, while Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol was arrested on Wednesday alongside his bodyguards and family.
No reason was given for the arrests, which came after an armed group allied to Machar overran an army base in the country’s northern Upper Nile state. Read more
Slavia Prague celebrate Ogbu’s maiden Super Eagles call-up (Leadership)
Czech Republic side, Slavia Prague have celebrated Igho Ogbu’s maiden invitation to the Super Eagles.
Ogbu was named in the 39-man provisional squad released by Nigeria head coach, Eric Chelle on Tuesday for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
“Igho Ogbu earns his first senior @NGSuperEagles call-up!,” the Red and Whites wrote on X.
“Nigeria will face Rwanda and Zimbabwe in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Read more
Joshua right to turn down Dubois rematch – Khan (Punch)
Former British boxer Amir Khan believes Anthony Joshua should forget about a rematch with Daniel Dubois, declaring that ‘AJ’ was right to turn down an immediate return fight after his devastating knockout defeat last September.
Speaking exclusively to Prime Casino, the fan-favourite boxer said Joshua made a brilliant and smart decision by avoiding an immediate rematch with the powerful IBF Champion.
“I don’t think he should have taken that re-match. It’s the best choice he’s made,” Khan said. Read more
Where will Lookman play next season as Europe scramble for Eagles star? (NewTelegraph)
Ademola Lookman is a key player in the upcoming summer transfer market, with several top European clubs showing interest in the Atalanta striker.
Although his contract runs until summer 2026, recent criticism from coach Gian Piero Gasperini over a missed penalty has raised speculation about his future, making a summer departure increasingly likely. Following are the clubs linked with the player:
Arsenal
The Gunners chased Lookman last summer, and they are believed to have returned for the striker with renewed vigour. Read more
Lakers star LeBron James sets bar with another NBA career points milestone (USAToday)
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has set the bar high regarding the NBA records book.
The 40-year-old player continues to make history. And for the records he already holds, he continues to expand upon those marks with each game he plays during the final years of his career.
James collected his latest career points milestone Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans when he became the first player in NBA history to score 50,000 combined points in the regular season and playoffs. He reached the mark with his first basket of the contest – a 25-foot 3-pointer off an assist from Luka Doncic early in the first quarter. Read more
Austin finalists borrow Jessica Pegula’s jet to fly to Indian Wells (UPI)
Tennis star Jessica Pegula, the daughter of the billionaire owners of the Buffalo Bills, helped fellow ATX Open finalists travel to the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., by offering them seats on her private jet.
China’s Zhang Shuai, who teamed up with American McCartney Kessler for a women’s doubles loss to China’s Yue Yuan and Russian Anna Blinkova on Sunday in Austin, was among the players to share the news on social media.”The final day girls discuss how flight to Indian Wells, many different ways, some one [could] leave from Austin/Houston/Dallas, someone might need to transfer at Los Angeles in the middle of the night,” Zhang wrote in an Instagram post, including a photo of the jet. Read more