Wike revokes over 4,700 land titles in Abuja (DailyTrust)
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has approved revocation of 4,794 land titles, over non-payment of Ground Rent, for more than 40 years.
In the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape, a total of 8,375 property owners have not paid Ground Rent in the last 43 years.
This was made known in a press briefing by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Director of Lands, Chijioke Nwankwoeze. Read more
S’Court Verdict: Rivers accuses pro-Wike lawmakers of frustrating Fubara’s efforts (Channels)
The Executive Arm of the Rivers State Government has accused the State House of Assembly of frustrating Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s efforts to implement the ruling of the Supreme Court on the state’s political crisis.
The Commissioner for Information, Joe Johnson, stated this on Monday in reaction to comments by the Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Information, Enemi Alabo-George, accusing Fubara of stalling the process.
Johnson stated that the Assembly has consistently refused to acknowledge correspondences from the governor, despite multiple attempts to engage with them. Read more
Rema defends claim of being one of Afrobeats’ greatest artistes (Nation)
Afrobeats sensation Rema has reiterated his claim of being one of the genre’s greatest artistes.
This he said, is due to his tireless work ethic and dedication to his craft.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, the 24-year-old singer-songwriter addressed the backlash surrounding his previous statement, where he confidently declared himself one of Nigeria’s top four artistes. Read more
Tinubu appoints Bishop Kukah Pro-Chancellor of Kaduna applied varsity (Guardian)
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Bishop Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State.
Additionally, the President appointed principal officers for the university, including Prof. Qurix Williams Barnabas as Vice Chancellor, Sanusi Gambo Adamu as Registrar, Ibrahim Dalhat as bursar, and Prof. Daniel Abubakar as university Librarian.
President Tinubu also approved the appointment of Mr Thomas Etuh, representing the North Central, Chief Fabian Nwaora (South East), Prof Femi Taiwo (South West) and Zarah Bukar (North East). as members of the university’s Governing Council. Read more
Obasa’s Impeachment: Court Reserves Judgment (NewTelegraph)
Lagos State High Court has reserved judgment in the legal challenge brought by the reinstated Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, over the controversial January 13, 2025, session that led to his removal from office.
Justice Yetunde Pinheiro, who presided over the case, also heard multiple preliminary objections from various legal representatives of the defendants.
She stated that a date for the final judgment and rulings on the preliminary objections would be communicated to all parties in due course. Read more
Amosun, Dangote differ over cement plant demolition (Punch)
The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has accused former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, of demolishing his cement plant twice during his tenure.
Dangote made the claim on Monday during a meeting with Governor Dapo Abiodun.
But in a swift reaction, Amosun, in a statement by his media office, described Dangote’s allegation, challenging him to “avail the public of the requisite approvals for the construction of the structures he alleged were demolished. Read more
APC mocks El- Rufai, accuses him of sulking (Sun)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed allegations of the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, that the ruling party has deviated from its ideals as baseless and driven by personal grievances.
In a recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service, El-Rufai had accused APC of abandoning its progressive ideals, claiming that the party had become a platform for politicians pursuing personal interests. The former governor, who recently defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), also criticised the President Bola Tinubu administration, claiming it has failed to deliver on its promises.
But, the APC in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, yesterday claimed that El-Rufai’s exit from the party was an act of self-interest due to his failure to secure a ministerial position under Tinubu’s administration. The party also claimed that El-Rufai’s allegations that it has deviated from its ideology was a smokescreen to mask his personal disappointment and bruised ego. Read more
Kendrick Lamar claims career-best 4th week atop Hot 100 with ‘Luther’ (Billboard)
Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” tops the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for a fourth week. Three weeks earlier, the single – whose title is an tribute to late R&B icon Luther Vandross, who is sampled on the track – became Lamar’s sixth No. 1 and SZA’s third.
Lamar rewrites his longest Hot 100 domination. He previously reigned for three nonconsecutive weeks with “Not Like Us” between last May and this February, and for three weeks in a row last April with “Like That,” with Future and Metro Boomin. (His other No. 1s led for a week each: “Squabble Up,” in December; “Humble.,” in 2017; and Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood,” on which he’s featured, in 2015.)
SZA extends her longest No. 1 Hot 100 stay. She previously topped the chart for a week each as featured on Drake’s “Slime You Out” and with her own “Kill Bill,” both in 2023. Read more
DR Congo’s M23 rebels say they will no longer join peace talks in Angola (AlJazeera)
The Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group has announced that it is no longer participating in peace talks after earlier confirming it would alongside the Congolese government, which says it will still attend the Angola-mediated Luanda meeting in Luanda Tuesday despite the M23 snub.
The M23 withdrawal from talks came after the European Union imposed sanctions on its leader and on Rwandan army commanders.
M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka wrote on X that “certain international institutions are deliberately working to sabotage peace efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and make the long-awaited talks impossible”. Read more
King meets Carney in symbolic support for Canada (BBC)
King Charles gave a warm welcome to the new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney when he visited Buckingham Palace.
It was another symbolic gesture of support for Canada from a King, wearing a red tie, who has to send coded signals rather than spell things out in words, as Canada faces threats from US President Donald Trump.
But the King has sought to make clear his commitment to Canada – and if it had not been for his cancer diagnosis, the BBC understands he would have travelled there for an intended visit in 2024. Read more
Israel hits Gaza with ‘extensive strikes,’ killing over 130 and ending ceasefire (ABC)
Israel hit Gaza with a series of “extensive strikes” overnight Tuesday, vowing to open the “gates of hell” because Hamas has not released the remaining hostages.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israel Defense Forces is targeting Hamas terrorists throughout the region and will act with “increasing military force” against Hamas from now on.
Ministry of Health officials told ABC News that at least 131 people were killed in the widespread attacks, with over 300 more injured. Read more
At least 11 bodies discovered in well in Sudan’s Fayhaa neighborhood (AfricaNews)
Sudanese officials announced on Sunday that numerous bodies have been discovered at the bottom of a well in Khartoum, just days after the military expelled a notorious paramilitary group from the area.
Police reported that 11 bodies, including those of women and children, were retrieved from the deep well located in the Fayhaa neighborhood on Saturday.
Col. Abdul-Rahanan Mohamed Hassan, who leads the civil defense team in Khartoum, stated that the search was initiated after residents alerted authorities about a dead body found in the well. Read more
Man accused of hiding stolen ruby slippers from “Wizard of Oz” is dead, prosecutors say (CBS)
/A federal judge dismissed the charges Monday against a Minnesota man accused of hiding a stolen pair of ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in the 1939 musical “The Wizard of Oz” after prosecutors informed the court that he died on Sunday.
Jerry Hal Saliterman, 77, of Crystal, who had been in poor health with lung disease and other ailments, had been scheduled to change his plea to guilty in January but that hearing was postponed indefinitely after he was hospitalized.
Federal prosecutor Matthew Greenley notified the court in a one-page motion Monday that Saliterman died Sunday but did not say how or where. U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz granted the request and dropped the charges. Read more
Messi left out of Argentina’s next World Cup qualifiers (BBC)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has been left out of Argentina’s squad for their next two World Cup qualifiers.
The 37-year-old returned to Miami’s starting line-up for their Major League Soccer win over Atlanta United but reportedly picked up an injury during Sunday’s game.
Inter later confirmed the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has a “low-grade” injury to his adductor muscle. Read more
NPFL: Bosso dreams continental berth with Bayelsa United (CompleteSports)
Ladan Bosso, Technical Adviser of Bayelsa United, has sensationally revealed that he’s not given up on a possible continental berth with the Prosperity Boys, Completesports.com reports.
Bosso spoke after his side edged struggling Lobi Stars 1-0 in a matchday 29 clash on Sunday at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The veteran tactician disclosed that winning his remaining games could secure his side a top-three finish, adding that the Federation Cup is also another avenue for the 2009 NPFL champions to earn a return to the 2025/2026 CAF interclub competitions. Read more
Iga Swiatek responds to viral Indian Wells ball boy incident (Tennis)
Iga Swiatek is giving her side of the story after a bounce heard around the world.
The world No. 2 posted a lengthy statement to her Instagram account Monday where she took ownership of a viral outburst during her semifinal defeat to Mirra Andreeva at the BNP Paribas Open last week, placing the incident in the context of the mental strain she’s experience since testing positive for a banned substance last year.
Overcome by frustration in her three-set semifinal loss to eventual champion Andreeva, Swiatek let things slip away in the decider in more ways than one: At one stage, she smacked a ball into the ground with her racquet in the direction of an awaiting ball boy, and the ball ricocheted off the court and into the stands as boos rained down from the stands. Read more
IOC board puts boxing back on Olympic program for LA in 2028 (CBC)
Boxing is set to be on the program for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles after years of disputes over how the sport is run.
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said Monday the IOC’s executive board approved including boxing on the 2028 programme.
It still needs a full IOC session to sign off on the decision later this week, but that’s usually a formality. Read more
Marc Marquez wins Argentina MotoGP to maintain perfect start (AlJazeera)
Ducati’s red-hot Marc Marquez won the Argentina Grand Prix after trailing his brother Alex of Gresini Racing for much of the race, as the pair finished in the top two yet again, while VR46 Racing’s Franco Morbidelli was third.
Just as in the season-opening Grand Prix in Thailand, pole-sitter Marc had yet another perfect weekend, having also won Saturday’s sprint, to stay on top of the MotoGP riders’ championship standings with a 16-point lead over Alex.
On his return to Argentina for the first time since 2019, Marc was virtually untouchable barring one error which allowed Alex to move up before the elder sibling ruthlessly snatched first place again and never looked back. Read more