Nigerian actor, Jide Awobona has shared photos of his family to celebrate his 40th birthday and 10th wedding anniversary with his wife.

The photo features Jide, his wife, and their seven children, a surprise revelation that has sparked widespread reaction on social media.

Jide Awobona’s post was accompanied by a message, expressing his gratitude for the love and bond his family shares.

The actor also reflected on aging and the importance of maintaining a youthful spirit.

“GH2025 Despite our flaws, challenges, and trials, we cling to love and God. For in love, there is healing, and in faith, there is hope. Together, they light the way through even the darkest moments. ❤️????.”

“GH2025 Like fine wine, a youthful heart only gets better with time,aging in years but never in spirit.Forever young at heart, embracing life with curiosity, joy, and a sense of wonder. Just like a child, finding excitement in the little things, staying open to learning, and holding onto hope even in difficult times. No matter how old we grow, keeping that childlike spirit alive makes life more vibrant and meaningful. ????❤️.”

Faults Sultan’s Backing For Sharia In S’West

Iba Gani Adams, the Aare Ona-Kakanfo of Yorubaland has issued a stern warning against the use of religion to cause a crisis that would destabilize Yorubaland.

This is coming after the Sultan of Sokoto-led Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, on Wednesday, January 29, expressed support for establishing Sharia courts in South-West states.

According to Gani, Sharia law is alien to Yoruba culture and beliefs.

Speaking at the grand finale of the 2025 Oodua Festival held in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Adams warned against exploiting Sharia enforcement to plunge South West into avoidable crises.

He said, “Some religious fundamentalists now see Yorubaland as their target for destruction. But I want to assure you all that we will not allow religious fanatics and fundamentalists to destabilise Yorubaland.
 
“Those religious fanatics masquerading as Muslims should stay away from acts that could set Yorubaland on fire.”

“Nigeria is a secular nation where the constitution allows every citizen to practice whatever religion they believe in freely without any intimidation.

“Unfortunately, the Sharia law, as practised in the North, has become a tool for politics and intimidation. Yorubaland is never a Sharia region. The Yoruba is also a multi-religious ethnic nationality.

“We have Muslims, Christians, and the traditional religion believers among us, and we have been living together peacefully without any religious crisis. We have also been practising our different religions as allowed by the Nigerian Constitution. Therefore, nobody would be allowed to use religion as tools to cause religious crisis and disharmony in Yorubaland. Sharia law is alien to our culture and religious beliefs in Yorubaland.

“When some religious bigots decided to enforce their religious beliefs on the people, it becomes a major crisis. Therefore, those religious fanatics masquerading as Muslims should stay away from acts that could set Yoruba land on fire.”

Fans are divided, industry insiders are whispering, and social media is on fire as everyone tries to decipher whether these spats are merely misunderstandings or signs of a full-blown Fuji war

The Fuji music industry is once again ablaze with tension, as four of its biggest powerhouses, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (KWAM 1), Sefiu Alao, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, and Abass Akande Obesere, find themselves at the heart of fresh controversies, jabs, and speculated rivalries.

At the center of the storm is KWAM 1, whose recent “Ga Nusi” remark about Islamic clerics who attended his late mother’s Fidau prayer has sparked widespread backlash.

The controversy around him further deepened when a phone conversation between him and President Bola Tinubu went viral. In the clip, President Tinubu called to extend his condolences, but KWAM 1’s tone and mannerisms in response were perceived by many as laced with arrogance and self-importance.

The backlash took a dramatic turn when Fuji veteran Sefiu Alao, appearing on a Yoruba TV show, didn’t hold back in his criticism.

He lambasted KWAM 1, accused him of being excessively proud and disrespectful. Alao openly condemned KWAM 1’s attitude towards Islamic clerics and his alleged display of self-importance during the conversation with the President, branding him as a man consumed by his own ego.

As this feud raged, another controversy erupted in the wake of Obesere’s grand 60th birthday celebration, a star-studded affair graced by top Fuji icons, Nollywood actors, and high-profile socialites. However, one notable absence didn’t go unnoticed, Pasuma.

The no-show triggered an online storm, as a netizen took to social media to slam Pasuma, alleging that he disrespected and dishonored Obesere’s invitation.

According to the angry fan, Pasuma owed his rise to stardom to Obesere, yet he failed to acknowledge this by not attending his milestone celebration.

This claim sent Pasuma’s fans into a frenzy, as they quickly clapped back, argued that Obesere himself had also failed to attend Pasuma’s recent 40 Years on Stage anniversary.

The post and reactions reignited long-standing speculations of a deep-seated rivalry between the two Fuji legends.

SEE VIDEO AND REACTIONS BELOW

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was notably absent as key leaders of the North East zonal caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, met in Bauchi to discuss reconciliation efforts and strategise for the party’s future, particularly the 2027 elections.
The meeting, held on Thursday, was attended by the three PDP governors from the region: Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Taraba State Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas, and Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

Also in attendance were the PDP Reconciliation Committee, led by former National Secretary Olagunsoye Oyinlola, senators, House of Representatives members, and state assembly members from the zone.

While other prominent party members who could not attend the event sent representatives, Atiku did not.

The meeting deliberated on key issues, particularly the upcoming PDP Zonal and National Conventions, and focused on resolving internal conflicts to strengthen the party as the main opposition.

Speaking at the meeting, PDP’s acting national chairman, Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagun, urged party leaders to set aside their differences and focus on unity.

He emphasised that individual interests could only be achieved if the party remained strong and united.

“Interest is paramount. We are all in politics for various reasons, but the most important thing is that you can only achieve your goals when your political vehicle is strong enough to take you to your destination,” Damagun said.

He reassured members that the party is greater than any individual, stating, “PDP is a Trojan horse – a tested and trusted party with experienced politicians who have seen it all. We have the capacity to weather any storm.”

Damagun also made it clear that his leadership would not serve the personal agenda of any individual, saying, “Nobody is above the party. We will support and acknowledge our members, but if you go against the party’s interests, we will part ways with you.”

In his remarks, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who is also chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, called for reconciliation within the party.

He proposed a swap of party positions across different states as a way of fostering unity.

“Positions in Gombe will be moved to Bauchi, those in Borno will be shifted to Yobe, and Adamawa’s positions will be reassigned to Taraba, and vice versa,” he suggested.

He assured members that PDP leaders in the region – including himself, the National Chairman from Yobe, Senator Hassan Dankwambo from Gombe, and Muhammad Imam from Borno – would work to minimise conflicts and reintegrate former members.

The leader of the Reconciliatory Committee, Oyinlola, reaffirmed the party’s commitment to resolving internal conflicts and strengthening its position ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said the committee’s objective is to rebuild a formidable PDP that can effectively challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

“Our mission is to reach out to aggrieved members and mend broken relationships within the party. We believe that if all members set aside their differences, PDP can reclaim power in 2027,” he stated.

Also speaking, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri described the committee’s intervention as timely, given the internal crises within the party.

He stressed that PDP can only regain its leadership position through collective efforts, urging all aggrieved members to embrace reconciliation.

Governor Fintiri assured the committee of the governors’ support in achieving their reconciliation objectives and strengthening the party.

The governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, on Thursday, stated that Nigerians are suffering, as the Tinubu’s economic policies are not working.

Fintiri said the President Bola Tinubu-led government’s policies are imposing severe hardship on Nigerians.

Governor Fintiri said these at the meeting of the National Reconciliation Committee of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, with governors from the North-East and other key stakeholders in Bauchi.

At the meeting were the governors of Bauchi and Taraba, as well as the acting PDP National Chairman.

Onyilola…

Also speaking at the meeting, the committee’s chairman, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said the party was ready to address its challenges for effective repositioning to enable it to wrestle power in the 2027 general election.

He said: “The main purpose of the committee is to reach out to the aggrieved members and those having issues, to re-establish a formidable political party in the country.”

Nigeria’s bleeding – Fintiri

Agreeing with Oyinlola, Fintiri described the reconciliation committee as timely, considering the lingering problems bedevilling the party.

On the nation’s leadership, Fintiri expressed frustration with the economy.

He said power is a divine privilege, so it must be wielded with trust and responsibility.

“Nigeria is bleeding. We are suffering, there is too much anger, and the economic policy is not working.

“That is why we always call on the Federal Government to reconsider some of these economic policies that are only putting hardship on Nigerians.

“Whatever will make us cry must not be part of your policy because the country belongs to us. It does not belong to the World Bank, IMF, or the international community.”

He urged the Federal Government to focus on policies that do not bring further pain to Nigerians.

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, has revealed that the Federal Government has approved an increase in corps members’ monthly allowance to ₦77,000, with payments set to commence in February 2025.

The NYSC DG also announced that corps members will no longer be posted to communities facing security threats.

Addressing the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream II corps members in Katsina, Ahmed reassured them that their welfare and security remain a top priority.

He stated that the newly approved allowance has been captured in the 2025 Federal Government budget, and once passed, corps members will start receiving the revised payment.

The NYSC DG said, “We will not send our corps members to wherever we have security challenges and threats. Wherever we send them they should be less assured that the place is safe and secured for them to serve.

“This month (January) has already ended but once the budget is passed. By next month (February), you will start receiving ₦77,000 instead of the usual ₦33,000.

“The ₦77,000 monthly allowance was approved by the Federal Government and the corps members are expected to reciprocate the government’s gesture during their service year.”

Ahmed assured them that the NYSC will only deploy them to safe and secure locations, ensuring they are not exposed to security risks during their service year.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has taken legal action against the Nigerian Communications Commission over its recent approval of a 50% increase in telecommunications tariffs.

SERAP, through its legal representatives, Ebunolu Adegboruwa (SAN), filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to halt the implementation of the tariff hike, citing economic hardship and constitutional violations.

The NCC’s decision, made public earlier in January will result in an increase in call rates from N11 to N16 per minute, data prices from N287.30 to N431.25 per GB, and SMS costs from N4 to N6.

It has since been rejected by the Nigeria Labour Congress and other pressure groups who cited prevailing economic hardship in the country.

The notice of pending civil action against the NCC filed by SERAP solicitors and obtained by The PUNCH was dated January 30 and directed to the NCC’s Executive Secretary and copied to its Director General and Legal Adviser.

It stated, “Given the increase comes at a time of economic hardship, further burdening Nigerians, many of whom struggle with poverty, unemployment, and high inflation; the hike will restrict access to telecommunications services, limiting the ability of citizens, including SERAP, to express themselves and share information, which is a fundamental human right.”

The legal challenge seeks a court declaration that the tariff hike is unlawful and a corresponding order restraining the NCC and telecommunications companies from enforcing it. SERAP argued that the decision had sparked public outcry and resistance from labour unions, who have threatened nationwide protests if the increase is not reversed.

It further read, “Being dissatisfied with the violation of its constitutional and vested right and further attempts to carry out activities to the detriment of our client’s interest and rights, take notice that the above-mentioned matter has been instituted at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking inter alia for a declaration that the tariff increase is unlawful and should be set aside with an order restraining the NCC and telecommunication companies from enforcing the tariff hike.

“Our client is therefore seeking judicial intervention and determination of the legality of all actions and decisions in relation to the increase and planned implementation of the telecommunication tariffs.

“Further take notice that in conjunction with the pending matter for determination, our client has filed an application before the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking inter alia interlocutory orders of injunction to restrain NCC, its officers, agents, privies, assigns, associates or any other person or persons acting on its instructions from further implementing, enforcing and doing any act to give effect to the decision of NCC approving/authorising a 50% increase in telecommunication tariffs in Nigeria, pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit.”

Former governor of Osun State, Bisi Akande, has revealed that former President Muhammadu Buhari wasn’t comfortable having his Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, go head-to-head with President Bola Tinubu for the sole presidential ticket at the 2022 primaries of the All Progressives Congress.

The pioneer national chairman of the APC disclosed this on a podcast anchored by a popular broadcaster, Edmund Obilo.

Akande recalled that the former VP did not step down for Tinubu, despite efforts to avoid bitterness among Yoruba contenders.

When asked if Buhari opposed Tinubu’s candidacy, Akande shook his head.

“He didn’t tell me so,” he said. “I asked him many questions, including whether he instigated Osinbajo to contest against Tinubu. He said no and explained that, in his culture, when your mentor is interested in a position, you don’t contest with him.”

In the build-up to the 2023 general elections, Tinubu polled 1,271 votes to clinch the party’s ticket.

The APC national leader defeated 13 other aspirants, including Osinbajo, to emerge as the APC flag-bearer at the end of the Special National Convention of the party in Abuja.

His other opponents included Rotimi Amaechi, ex-governor David Umuahi, Senator Ahmad Yarima, Dr Ahmed Lawal, ex-governor Yahaya Bello and the late Ogbonnaya Onu.

Others were  Chukwuemeka Nwajuba, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Tein Jack-Rich and former Governor Ben Ayade.

The race began with 23 aspirants, but nine withdrew shortly before the commencement of voting at the convention.

They included Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohnenye, Dr Felix Nicholas, former Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, former Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, former Speaker Dimeji Bankole, Sen. Ajayi Boroffice, Gov. Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa, Senator Ken Nnamani and Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.

Akande however concluded by acknowledging Tinubu’s growth as a political strategist.

The former governor also touched on the relationship between Tinubu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, revealing that he played a key role in Osinbajo’s nomination as vice president.

He said, “In 2011, Tinubu was discussing with Buhari about replacing Bakare with someone. I told Tinubu, ‘I’m going to recommend Osinbajo, and I did.”

A judge has sentenced Bob Menendez, former New Jersey senator in the United States, to 11 years in prison.

Prosecutors sought at least a 15-year sentence, citing in court documents the “rare gravity” of the ex-senator’s crimes.

Last year, Menendez, 71, was found guilty on 16 counts of accepting gifts, including gold bars, cash, and a Mercedes-Benz, in exchange for helping the Egyptian and Qatari governments.

Menendez pleaded with Sidney Stein, US district judge for mercy, twice breaking down in tears.

“I have lost everything,” he said.

But the former senator’s pleas fell on deaf ears.

His lawyers called for a shorter sentence paired with community service.

“Somewhere along the way, you became, I’m sorry to say, a corrupt politician,” Stein said before handing down the 11-year sentence on Wednesday.

The judge also ordered a forfeiture for all of Menendez’s ill-gotten gains, which totalled $992,188.10, according to the US attorney’s office.

Menendez has vowed to appeal the conviction.

The former senator has also been seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump after failing to get one from former President Joe Biden.

Borrowing Trump’s infamous assertion during his trials before his presidential win, Menendez claimed he was the victim of a “political witch hunt”.

A witness identified as prosecution witness D has testified in the ongoing trial of Tukur Mamu, the publisher of Desert Herald newspaper, at the federal high court in Abuja.

The masked witness was led in evidence on Thursday by David Kaswe, a lawyer to the attorney-general of the federation (AGF).

Mamu is facing trial on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism after he was accused of aiding and negotiating with the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train in March 2022.

Mamu was accused of collecting $120,000 in ransom payments on behalf of Boko Haram terrorists responsible for the train attack.

He was also accused of exchanging voice note communications relating to the hostages with one Baba Adamu, a Boko Haram spokesperson.

However, the Desert Herald publisher pleaded not guilty to the terrorism charges.

THURSDAY’S PROCEEDINGS

Giving his testimony, the witness said he was informed that his mother and sister were among the passengers on board the train during the March 2022 attack. 

The witness said a day after the terrorist attack, he visited the Kaduna hospital where the injured passengers were taken but could not see his mother and sister.

The witness told the court one of the abductors called him two weeks after the attack via telephone and asked him to speak with his sister.

He added that there was regular communication between him and the terrorists for about two weeks before they demanded a ransom of N200 million.

The witness said the terrorists provided him with the names and phone numbers of four journalists who could be contacted for negotiations.

He said out of the four journalists, only Mamu volunteered “to take up the responsibility”.

The witness said while struggling to raise the money for ransom, he received calls from Lucky Irabor, former chief of defence staff (CDS), and Yusuf Bichi, the former director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS).

He said the former defence staff requested a meeting in Abuja.

The witness said he was instructed by Irabor to tell him whatever he discussed with Mamu, adding that the former defence chief connected him with the committee set up by the federal government to facilitate the release of the kidnapped victims.

The witness said after he told the terrorists that Mamu had agreed to negotiate with them, they stopped communicating with him.

“As soon as they contacted Tukur Mamu, they stopped communicating with us. All information is from Tukur Mamu,” he told the court.

“We will go to Tukur Mamu, and he will tell us they have asked us to pay N100 million each.

“When the negotiation was going on, we had to link Tukur Mamu with the CDS committee.”

He added that one day, his sister called him from captivity to go back to Mamu for negotiations.

“After some people started getting their loved ones out, it got to a stage that kidnappers were no longer talking with the CDS committee,” he added.

“It should be noted that Tukur Mamu penciled me as a government agent. So, he never wants to talk to me.”

The witness said Mamu later agreed to communicate after a relation, who was the publisher’s former boss, intervened in the matter.

The witness said he negotiated the ransom from N200 million to N80 million and took the ransom in cash in August 2022 to Mamu in his Kaduna residence.

The witness disclosed that he was asked to convert the money to dollars, adding that the money amounted to $118,750 after the conversion.

He said two weeks later, Mamu called him for additional money to make it up to $120,000.

He added that his mother and sister were released after the ransom was paid.