Nollywood actress and filmmaker Temidayo Babatunde has offered her thoughts on the importance of talent in achieving success in the film industry.

In a recent interview with Saturday Beats, Temidayo Babatunde emphasized that while physical beauty can be an asset, it is not enough on its own to succeed in the industry.

Babatunde acknowledged the role of beauty in the entertainment industry but stressed that talent is essential for building a lasting career.

“Beauty is never enough. As much as beauty is important, talent is also very important because your talent will pave the way for you and allow you to sit with kings and queens. Both talent and beauty complement each other, and one cannot do without the other,” she said.

Temidayo Babatunde also shared her thoughts on the impact of social media on her career.

While she acknowledged the benefits of social media, including its ability to help her share her work and connect with fans, she also noted its potential drawbacks.

“Social media has been a powerful tool and influence. As much as it has its advantages, it also has its disadvantages. I have had my fair share of it.

“Social media has helped me share my craft and engage with many fans across the world. I would gladly say I am happy with the reception so far“, she stated

he House Of Representatives has submitted that the allegation by Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, against some federal lawmakers is not targeted at the lower chamber of the National Assembly as an institution but at some members of the House.

The position of the House was made known in a statement on Saturday by the spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi (Jr).

He disclosed that the three lawmakers mentioned specifically in the $150 million bribe allegation have assured the leadership of the House of their innocence and have been encouraged to take legal action to clear their names.

Rotimi added that the matter has escalated to a diplomatic issue between Nigeria and the United States of America, which is being handled by those concerned but warned members of the public not to be carried away by claims aimed at discrediting Nigerian institutions and public officials.

Due to the nature of the discussions, the spokesperson said the House would not be making further public comments.

“These allegations, which have been previously circulated last year, are directed at individual members, not the institution itself.

“The House of Representatives urges the public to rely on verified facts and not be misled by recycled claims aimed at discrediting Nigerian institutions and public officials,” the House spokesperson said.

Naija News recalls Gambaryan, who is the Binance Head of Financial Crime Compliance, has insisted three Nigerian lawmakers demanded a $150 million bribe from him in order to facilitate his release from detention.

He made the fresh claim in a statement via his ? account on Saturday.

It would be recalled the Binance executive had earlier, In a statement on his ? handle on Friday, titled ‘Some Unknown Facts’, alleged that in collaboration with Department of State Sevices (DSS), House of Representatives members, Peter Akpanke, Philip Agbese and Ginger Obinna Onwusibe demanded $150 million bribe from him to be paid in cryptocurrency to their wallets.

Following denials by Agbese, and the federal government through the Minister of Information,Mohammed Idris, Gambaryan insisted on Saturday that his claims are nothing but the hard truth.

Reacting to the allegations, Rotimi described the allegations as hefty, thus requiring clarification and stressed the need for the affected members to clear their names.

“The Honourable Members named have assured the House Leadership that they never had any such dealings as reported. One of the members has already instituted legal action to clear his name, while others affected have been encouraged to do the same in pursuit of justice and the protection of their reputations,” the statement added.

He emphasized the diplomatic implications of the matter, noting that the issue has now “evolved into a government-to-government engagement between Nigeria and America.

“These facts raise serious questions about the credibility and intent of the allegations being peddled.”

The House of Reps said since the claim has been taken to court and is a “matter of ongoing diplomatic engagements,” the lower lawmaker body “will refrain from further comment in line with established parliamentary, judicial, and diplomatic principles.”

“The House of Representatives urges the public to rely on verified facts and not be misled by recycled claims aimed at discrediting Nigerian institutions and public officials.

“The House remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the protection of Nigeria’s democratic institutions,” the statement added.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the National Assembly to implement more stringent regulations prohibiting the possession of significant amounts of cash in polling locations.

This initiative aims to combat vote-buying and other forms of electoral misconduct.

During a consultative meeting held in Abuja over the weekend, which included security personnel and a technical committee focused on electoral law reforms, INEC’s Director of Litigation and Prosecution, Tanimu Muhammed, SAN, expressed serious concerns regarding the escalating issue of vote-buying, which poses a substantial risk to Nigeria’s democratic integrity.

This meeting was organized by the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters, in partnership with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).

It served as a forum for stakeholders to discuss electoral security and necessary legal changes.

The INEC representative pointed out that politicians frequently defend their possession of large sums of cash on election day by referencing payments to party agents and logistical needs.

However, he cautioned that the unregulated cash flow at polling stations has exacerbated vote-buying and undermined the credibility of elections. To mitigate this issue, Muhammed proposed that individuals should be restricted to carrying no more than ₦50,000 in polling areas.

“Vote-buying remains one of the biggest threats to credible elections in Nigeria. We need legislation that not only criminalizes this practice but also puts preventive measures in place,”Muhammed stated.

The commission has called on legislators to focus on amendments aimed at eliminating loopholes that are being taken advantage of by political figures.

In addition to concerns regarding vote-buying, officials from INEC emphasized their persistent request to create an Electoral Offenses Commission, contending that the electoral body does not possess the necessary capabilities to prosecute violators adequately.

While INEC is making efforts to manage prosecutions, there is a pressing need for a specialized institution equipped with the legal power and resources to thoroughly investigate and prosecute electoral offenses, as stated by Muhammed.

“The creation of an Electoral Offenses Commission would ensure that vote-buying, ballot snatching, and other crimes are met with swift legal action,” he added.

On his part, the Ondo Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, stressed that reducing cash transactions at polling units would make it harder for politicians to influence voters with financial inducements.

“If we set a cash limit, security agencies will have clearer guidelines on what constitutes an electoral offense, making enforcement easier,” she added.

In addressing the concerns raised by INEC, the security agencies present at the meeting reiterated their dedication to facilitating free and fair elections.

Nonetheless, they recognized the difficulties faced, especially regarding logistics and coordination.

Police Face Logistic Issues During Elections

The Commissioner of Police responsible for election planning and evaluation, Abayomi Shogunle, who stood in for the Inspector General of Police, emphasized that insufficient resources frequently hinder law enforcement operations during electoral processes.

“We face major logistical challenges, from deploying officers to remote areas to ensuring real-time communication during elections. These are issues that need to be addressed if we are to effectively enforce electoral laws,” Shogunle said.

Despite these challenges, security agencies pledged to remain neutral and professional in carrying out their duties.

Responding to the concerns raised, the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Adebayo Balogun, assured that all issues discussed would be addressed in future electoral reforms.

He announced plans for a 2025 Electoral Act to replace the current 2022 version, which he said had exposed gaps during the 2023 elections.

“The 2022 Electoral Act was a significant step forward, but its implementation in the last general elections showed areas that need improvement. We are committed to strengthening our electoral laws to reflect the realities of our democracy,” Balogun said.

He underscored the need for heightened awareness among political parties, INEC officials, and civil society organizations regarding the risks associated with vote-buying and other electoral misconduct and the need for legislative reforms.

The citizens of Nigeria are entitled to a trustworthy electoral process. It is imperative that our laws are not only robust in theory but are also rigorously enforced, Balogun stated.

The Senate Chairman on Electoral Matters, Senator Sharafadeen Alli,  remarked that although the 2022 Electoral Act was initially viewed as thorough, its execution has exposed deficiencies that require rectification.

“This meeting is a step towards strengthening our electoral system. The reforms we propose must reflect lessons learned from past elections and ensure that our democracy continues to evolve positively,” Alli said.

… As Catholic priest is kidnapped

Tears flowed freely in Onitsha yesterday as the remains of the murdered member of the Anambra State House of Assembly representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency, Justice Azuka, was laid to rest in his country home Ogbeoza village, Onitsha.

This came on the heels of the kidnapping of   a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr Jude Onyeka on Thursday.

Azuka was kidnapped on 24th December 2024; his abductors never released him alive until they were caught and they led security agencies to recover his decomposing body in a swamp along the second Niger Bridge.

At a burial mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Inland Town, Onitsha officiated by the Onitsha Archdiocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr Prudentus Aroh who represented Archbishop Valerian Okeke, the homilist, Episcopal Vicar in charge of Onitsha Region, Rev. Fr. John Bosco Okafor reflected on the lack of the sense of the sacred, which he described as one of the greatest problem of human society today.

Fr. John Bosco regretted that the youths of today no longer realise that life is sacred and that any human being created by God doesn’t have any right to take another person’s life. He called for repentance for those who shed human blood, noting that hard work pays instead of the get-rich quick syndrome destroying the society today.

“God created man in his own image and likeness and therefore we must respect that life that God gave man. It is only God that has the power to take that life when He wills and not anyone else. Life is very sacred and we must be very careful about how we treat humans. That is what some of our youths have failed to realise and that is why they are wasting human lives as if they are pouring water away.”

The priest said that even as security is everybody’s responsibility, the governments at all levels must double their efforts and do more to secure lives and properties. 

Governor Chukwuma Soludo in a remark condoled with the immediate family of the late lawmaker, noting that the death was a big loss to the entire state.

He recalled having a cordial working relationship with Azuka and disclosed that there were plans for some strategic partnership with him before the worst happened.

Governor Soludo said that the good thing was that his killers had been apprehended and that justice would surely be served in the matter.

“This is a promising young man with all his dreams cut off. Anambra State is grieving with you, but we shall take steps to ensure that this grief is ameliorated. We will do the needful.

“What is happening is a case of what the Igbo say that ‘when abominable acts last for one year, it becomes a tradition.’ All of us must share in this complicity. When people were applauding those who kill security agencies and snatch their rifles, this is what it has resulted into.

“But light and darkness have nothing in common. We are determined to flush out criminal elements in our midst including the evil native doctors who promote ritual killings and quick money making scams. Surely Anambra will return as the safest state in Nigeria. May we be able to rise up to see something and say something. With combined efforts and partnership, a new Anambra is possible,” Soludo stated.

The burial ceremony was attended by lawmakers both at the state and national levels, labour party stalwarts including the National leader, Mr Peter Obi and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko.

Meanwhile, a priest of Onitsha Archdiocese, popularly known as Fr. Marshal, formerly the Parish Priest of St. Edmund Catholic Church, Nkpor was kidnapped days before the incident. He was recently transferred to St. Dominic Catholic Church, Abatete, Idemili North LGA, Anambra State.

Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, Rev. Fr. Prudentus  Aroh who broke the news in a terse statement sent to the Onitsha Archdiocesan Presbyterium platform, said the sad incident occurred on Thursday evening, 13th February 2025, along Building Material-Ugwunwasike Bypass. Ogidi.

He said that until now, the abductors had not established any contact with anybody.

“His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian M. Okeke, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, invites us to earnestly pray for his quick and safe release as all efforts are being made to secure his freedom. We commend our brother, Fr. Jude, to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, for his speedy release from the hands of his abductors,” the chancellor stated.

When contacted for confirmation, the Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Command, SP Ikenga Toochi said the incident had not been brought to his attention.

Former lawmaker representing Kaduna South Senatorial District and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Danjuma Laar and 20 other politicians in the district have decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani received Senator Laar who represented the district from 2015 to 2023 alongside other defectors from the PDP and the Labour Party (LP) to APC during the ruling party’s stakeholders’ meeting in Kafanchan.

The defectors, who joined the APC included serving and former federal legislators, as well as lawmakers from Kaduna State House of Assembly, former Council Chairmen, state party chairmen, and flagbearers of opposition parties.

Among them are member, House of Representatives for Zangon Kataf/Jaba Federal Constituency, Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji and his counterpart for Kaura Federal Constituency, Hon. Donatus Mathew.

Others are a former House of Representatives member, Hon. Godfrey Ali Gaiya; member representing Jaba State Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Henry Marah Zakarieh, among others.

Governor Sani thanked the stakeholders for their commitment to the progress of the party and assured that his administration will continue to develop and implement policies and programmes to empower citizens.

“I had the honour of receiving very important personalities and their supporters who decamped to the APC. They include both serving and former lawmakers, and executives from other political parties, amongst others,” Governor Sani said.

A 29-year-old Islamic teacher, Abdulrahman Bello, was on Saturday arrested by the Kwara State Police Command for allegedly killing a final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education, Yetunde Lawal.

Bello was said to have connected with 25-year-old Lawal on Facebook and invited her to his house through a phone call on February 10, 2025.

According to sources, the suspect allegedly killed and dismembered Lawal at a location in Ganmo, on the outskirts of Ilorin, the state capital.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the incident to Sunday PUNCH, stating that an investigation had commenced.

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She said, “The Kwara Police Command is aware of the gruesome killing of one Miss Yetunde H. Lawal. On 11/02/2025 at about 1800 hours, a case of a missing person was reported at C Division, Oja-Oba, by her father, Ibrahim A. Lawal.

“Immediately, police detectives swung into action, tracked her number, and arrested a suspect. Exhibits were recovered, and the case was transferred yesterday to the SCID for discreet investigations.”

Sources revealed that Lawal was last seen on February 10, 2025, after leaving a naming ceremony, during which she received a phone call, suspected to be from Bello.

The sources added that Lawal’s caller was tracked and identified as Bello, who lived at Offa Garage, a distinct area of Ilorin.

A source said, “The suspect was arrested. He initially denied knowledge of Yetunde’s (Lawal) whereabouts but later confessed after police searched his house. He claimed she was in his house and had died from an asthma attack. However, the police later discovered Yetunde’s dismembered body parts in a bowl.

“They met on Facebook, where the suspect obtained Yetunde’s phone number before inviting her to his house.”

Former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has expressed disappointment over the recent wave of defections by members of the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

According to Tambuwal, no politician with a conscience would join the APC, given the current economic situation in the country.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the North-West Zonal meeting of the PDP in Kaduna on Saturday, Tambuwal attributed the defections to “stomach infrastructure” rather than the interest of the people.

He said, “People leave parties for different reasons, but what I have been observing in recent times are defections not based on the interest of the people but on stomach infrastructure.”

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Tambuwal, who represents Sokoto South Senatorial District in the Senate, questioned the rationale behind the defections, stating that no politician with a conscience would align with the APC, considering its policies and the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.

’

“I believe no one with a conscience will join the APC. With the current policies being driven by the APC government, the economic doldrums it has plunged Nigerians into, the hardship across the country, and the dismal performance of Tinubu’s administration, there is nothing attractive beyond stomach infrastructure.

“Defections based on stomach infrastructure are not worrisome. But all of us who believe in this country and in serving the people must unite and work towards ensuring that by 2027, we vote out this administration that lacks focus, compassion, and direction,” he added.

The senator urged PDP members and other Nigerians to come together and work towards defeating the APC in 2027.

Meanwhile, the North-West PDP has vowed to unseat the APC in the next election.

According to a communiqué read by the North-West Zonal Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bello Gwarzo, the party resolved to swiftly address all conflicts at the national level.

The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has revealed that over 11,553 underage candidates have registered for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

Oloyede made the disclosure in Lagos on Friday while inspecting approved computer-based test centres where candidates are being registered.

According to Oloyede, a total of 782,027 candidates have been registered in the last 10 days.

“Now, we have registered 782,027, and 11,553 of them are underage. So, you can see that as we are registering, the system is reporting from all over the country. Out of the expected two million candidates, we’re not yet at the 14th day.

“Monday will mark our 14th day. So, in two weeks, we would have completed about half of our registration process, and by that time, we expect to have over one million candidates registered. So far, everything has been smooth,” he said.

Oloyede pointed out that on Friday alone, 443 underage candidates were registered, with 18,813 candidates successfully registered that morning.

“Today alone, we have 443 underage candidates, and out of the 18,813 registered this morning, 443 are underage. This year, we’ve introduced a system that allows us to identify and track underage candidates.

“This will help us understand their issues and even identify those who might be genuinely gifted but still underage,” he explained.

He also spoke about a growing trend of parents enrolling their children early, stating, “It has become a common thing now, where parents whether mothers or fathers are registering their underage children, sometimes due to pressure or other reasons.”

He noted that the registration process for this year’s examination has experienced both commendable progress and notable delays, according to an official statement issued earlier this week.

Oloyede shared insights into the ongoing technical challenges and improvements.

“You are here. You were here last year. See if you can find any power outages, network failures, and so forth. I just heard recently that due to the technical measures put in place this year, things are a bit slow,” he said.

Oloyede acknowledged the delays while hinting that the situation was being actively managed.

Despite some criticisms, Oloyede noted that Nigerians’ desire for efficiency can sometimes clash with the systems put in place to regulate the process.

He said, “No, it’s not a bit slow. You know Nigerians generally want to have things their own way. Look at these students. In other climes, they have to register on their own. Nobody should be doing registration for them.”

He went on to emphasise the effort being made to ensure the system is thorough, stating that while some students had the option of having assistance with registration, many were not taking the process seriously.

“But go and see the attitude. Even when we have engaged people to be doing the enrollment for them, something they are supposed to do on their own, they are even not attentive.”

To mitigate potential issues, Oloyede disclosed that new measures were being introduced to ensure candidates fully engaged with the registration process.

He added, “What we do is that we put some safety valves into it. For example, for a candidate who is registered, we expect him to read certain rules. Before he will say, I agree. In the past, once he said, I agree, it goes. But we have now put a time limit. A time-space that whether he likes it or not, he must read because the system will not go until that time elapses.”

Despite the challenges, he pointed out the significant progress in registrations.

Oloyede said, “This is the first time that we have been registering 80,000-plus. Yesterday, we registered close to 100,000 across the country. And we have budgeted for 60,000 per day. That’s what we use in our planning.”

“But from the third day, we started 80,000, 90,000 per day. So, which means we will finish long before the time.”

A total of 18 kidnapping and armed robbery suspects were on Friday apprehended along the Benin – Auchi axis by the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) with pellets and several charms recovered.

ESSC’s Corps Commandant, Friday Ibadin who made this known on Saturday, said the arrests were made during a bush combing exercise along Benin – Auchi Road by Equedion Camp, close to the Army Checkpoint.

Identifying 17 out of the 18 arrested suspects as non-indigenes of the state, Comm. Ibadin reassured Edo Citizens of government’s commitment to ensuring and providing an enabling environment for them during this farming season.

He stressed that his men will continue to assert more effort to that ensure Edo State is completely free of criminals.

Ibadin said on sighting his men, the suspects took to their heels but were chased to a camp were 18 persons were arrested.

“17 of the 18 arrested suspects are non – indigenes, while one is an indigene from Agbede community,” he said.

Ibadin said thirty-eight (38) fully loaded locally made guns and charms were also recovered in the process.

“Our men will continue to comb the bushes and sensitise locals to ensure our forests are rid of this criminals and that Edo State is safe and secured for all.

While handing over the suspected criminals to the DPO of Agbede Police Station, Ibadin sued for closer synergy between the corps and other security agencies in the state, maintaining that collaborative effort is required to completely combat criminal elements in the state.

He added that the arrests by the Corps is coming few days after Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo ordered security agencies to flush out criminals in the state and make Edo forests and bushes safe and secured for farmers, and all Edo people.