The owner of Ibadan-based broadcasting station, Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat, has perfected his bail conditions and has been released from Agodi Correctional Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The broadcaster regained freedom with his co-accused, including Ooni of Ife’s ex-queen, Naomi Silekunola, and the principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Abdulahi Fasasi.

They were all remanded over their alleged involvement in the Ibadan stampede that resulted in the deaths of 35 children in December 2024.

Giving a ruling on his bail application on Monday, Justice K. B. Olawoyin admitted the suspects to bail with a bond of ₦10 million each and two sureties in like sums.

However, Hamzat, after regaining his freedom on Tuesday, was received by a mammoth crowd at his broadcasting station, where he was captured in tears while addressing the people.

He told the crowd, “Oriyomi is back. At this time, I am in a moment of silence. Thank you very much.”

Recall that the Oyo State Government filed an 18-count criminal charge against Silekunola, Hamzat and Fasasi after the tragic incident.

The case, which was filed on Friday, January 10, 2025, at the State High Court, is marked with charge number I/05C/2025.

The trio were accused of offences including conspiracy to commit murder, manslaughter, criminal negligence, and other related charges.

The charge sheet obtained by The PUNCH on Sunday revealed that the accused individuals failed to provide adequate security, crowd control mechanisms, and medical facilities during the ill-fated funfair event held at the Islamic High School.

Their alleged negligence led to a stampede, resulting in the deaths of 35 children, with 14 victims identified in court documents.

The prosecution accused the defendants of conspiring to commit acts of criminal negligence, contrary to Section 517 of the Criminal Code, CAP 38, Vol II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

According to the charge sheet, the trio “Did negligently omit to provide adequate security, crowd control mechanisms, and medical facilities, resulting in the death of Musiliu Sofiat, aged 8, and 34 other children.”

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has stated that documents signed by his predecessor, Hadi Sirika, indicate that a foreign airline would have taken over Nigeria Air.

In a viral video, Keyamo exposed some pages of the documents, explaining parts of the deed of agreements signed by Sirika and the Ethiopian government.

He insisted that the Nigerian government had no regrets about ending the agreement with Ethiopian Airlines over Nigeria Air, stressing that the country cannot give its aviation ecosystem to another entity.

Keyamo said, “You will be shocked if you look at this agreement. What it simply says is that a foreign government should come and take over our national carrier. Ethiopian Air was the single major shareholder in that deal. It is the same thing they did in Togo with Asky. We cannot be Togo. We are big and ambitious.

“We cannot give up our aviation ecosystem to another entity. What would have happened is that the Ethiopian government would now be the complete beneficiary of all our Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) routes.

“A national carrier has first priority over all the BASA routes we have negotiated all over the world. If we give them all the routes we have suffered to negotiate, where will all those profits go? It is not Nigeria.”

This comes as Keyamo explained that Nigeria did not lose any foreign direct investment by not agreeing to the terms of Nigeria Air.

He said what the Ethiopian government was going to do was to get wet-lease aircraft and fly them as national carriers, with all the profits going to Addis Ababa.

The CEO of Nigeria Air would have been an Ethiopian, the financial officer Ethiopian, the director of operations Ethiopian, and all other key positions would have been reserved for foreigners. That is not a national carrier.

“In the document, it also says the people that will run Nigeria Air will not pay any tax to the Nigerian government. They are not also building any investments in the country. The documents also say Nigeria will be the guarantor of any loss they suffer here,” Keyamo further explained.

A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has alleged that there are efforts to transform the party into a subsidiary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP made this remark on Tuesday, January 14, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Morning Show.

Ologbondiyan stated that the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, is unlawfully occupying his position.

Ologbondiyan’s comments were made in light of external influences that he believes are attempting to undermine the party.

He emphasized that while Damagum hails from the Northeast, there is a desire within the Northcentral region for the National Chairman position to revert to their area.

According to Ologbondiyan: “Like a proverb said, if there is no spilt on the wall, the lizard can’t come in, so definitely there will be issues in the party, but how much these issues are managed is one side, and how external influences come into them to finally disrupt and reduce the party to nothing else is also there.

“There are issues in the party. In the case of the National Chairman, the Northcentral believes that the position should return to them. Damagum is from the Northeast, and he is occupying that position.

“No matter how long he continues to stay there, Damagum is staying there illegitimately. It’s an issue in the party.”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen has said the priority of the House is to ensure the passage of the Appropriation Bill and the Tax Reform Bills.

The Deputy Speaker, Ben Kalu, while delivering a speech on the resumption of the House from the Christmas and new year recess on behalf of Abbas said both bills are pivotal to economic recovery and fiscal stability.

He said: “The legislative agenda of the House for 2025 prioritises the passage of the Appropriation Bill and the Tax Reform Bills, both of which are pivotal to economic recovery and fiscal stability.

“These reforms are essential for broadening the tax base, improving compliance and reducing dependency on external borrowing.

“The House will ensure that these reforms are equitable and considerate of the needs of all Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable.”

Abbas said as the lawmakers engage with the budget and other legislative priorities, they must remain meticulous in their scrutiny, ensuring that every proposal aligns with national objectives and delivers tangible benefits to the citizenry.

He was of the opinion that the planned Citizens’ Town Hall on the budget would further reinforce transparency and inclusivity in our decision-making processes.

Popular Nollywood actress, Stella Damasus has disclosed that her family’s name was initially Ojukwu before the Nigerian civil war.

She said this during an interview with popular media personality, Ebuka Obi Uchendu.

While reacting to the mistake people make with her name, ‘Damasus’, she explained that her grandfather’s name ‘Ojukwu’ was changed during the civil war to avoid being attacked.

The actress stated that her family’s name was assumed to be related to the late Biafran war general, Ojukwu.

Ebuka said; ” It was interesting that so many people didn’t even understand that your surname was not what it was. So many people were shocked at the revelation, are you as shocked as a lot of people were?”

Stella responded; “Damasus is my granddaughter’s first name. It’s a Greek name. My original surname was Ojukwu but that changed during the Biafran war when my people were attacked in Asaba because they thought it was the same Ojukwu.

“I was born into Damasus, and when I asked why, that was the reason they gave me.”

Parents of a 13-year-old student of Etoi Secondary School, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State have cried out for justice in the case of their son who was gang-raped for three years after being hypnotised by a syndicate of six gay men.

However, operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command who launched investigations following a tip-off, swooped on the syndicate of ritualists specialising in the illicit gay practice with young male children within the age bracket of 10 and 13 years.

The gang, noted for their involvement in Sodomy and other unnatural sexual acts were successfully tracked with six of them arrested.

The suspects were paraded at the state Police Command along with others for sundry crimes of kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, vandalisation of public assets and utilities.

Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Baba Azare vowed to rid the state of crimes and perpetrators brought to justice.

“Based on information received from concerned journalists, a 13-year-old child reported being raped repeatedly for about three years by different men in sodomy practice.

“The operatives of the Command swung into action immediately and arrested, the following suspects: Okwudili Levi Okeke, a.k.a, Eze, aged 34 years; Idara Itam Daniel, aged 23 years; David Udoh James, aged 23 years; Udofia Edem Udosen; aged 29 years; David Bassey Bassey; aged 26 years; and Daniel Jacob Edet, aged 30 years.

“Investigation revealed that Okwudili Okeke, was recruited into sodomy and has had anal sex with several men in the state.

“This is a crime against humanity and will not be condoned. Suspects will soon be prosecuted after the completion of investigation,” the CP vowed.

CP Azare who took over the command late last month has assured of his commitment to addressing the security challenges facing the state especially the perennial farmers/herders’ crises, communal and boundary skirmishes.

“We are aware of issues such as Fulani herdsmen encroaching on farms and destroying crops, as well as senseless attacks on Fulani cows by troubleshooters.

“Let it be clear that the Police will not fold their arms and allow miscreants to unleash terror on law-abiding residents,” stressing effective enforcement of the anti-grazing law.

Following rising cases of vandalisation of public transformers and infrastructural facility across the state, the CP assured efforts have been stepped up to nip the crime and arrest the perpetrators.

Consequently, some suspects including one Prosper Brownson Jim, and his accomplice, Uduak Sunday Benson we’re apprehended for vandalisation of a transformer belonging to Sure Foundation Polytechnic at Ikot Akai, in Ukanafun LGA.

Police also recovery the transformer, transformer oil, armoured cables and charms from the suspects.

Other items recovered included four fire service trucks stolen by the agency’s officials and taken to the neighbouring Port Harcourt, Rivers state, with flour suspects arrested.

“The Command moved to recover the said trucks and further investigation revealed that the fire trucks were leased out to some multinational companies at the rate of N140,000 per truck per day for initial period of 3 years,” the CP explaine

Al Nassr striker, Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed an extension to his contract with the club, which will see him remain the “highest-paid player in history”, according to Goal.Com

It is believed that Ronaldo is close to agreeing terms on a deal worth £173 million per season.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s current contract is set to expire in the summer.

But it appears Ronaldo is willing to continue playing with Al Nassr.

The 39-year-old has been linked with a few clubs, including Al-Hilal – where Neymar Jr is currently playing.

It is, however, being claimed that Ronaldo wants to compete with them, rather than represent them.

Ronaldo is now seeking assurances that Al Nassr will spend big in the summer transfer window.

Ronaldo has scored 81 goals in 90 appearances for Al-Nassr.

He has already become a centurion in the goal department at previous clubs Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, and his wife, Cristina Serra, have decided to part ways after 30 years together.

The separation, as reported by El Periodico, a Spanish newspaper on Monday, was described as amicable, cordial, and stable.

The couple first met in 1994 and tied the knot in 2014 near Barcelona. Over the years, their relationship reportedly grew distant, especially due to Guardiola’s demanding managerial roles across different countries in the last five years.

Guardiola and Serra share three children: Maria, 24, Marius, 22 and Valentina, 17. While Guardiola resides in Manchester, Serra, a Brazilian journalist, has been living in Barcelona with their youngest daughter, Valentina.

Despite their separation, the couple spent Christmas together with their children. The decision to divorce was reportedly made in December, with close friends and family being informed and asked to maintain privacy regarding the situation.

Serra left Manchester in 2019 to pursue a career in fashion with her family’s business, Serra Claret.

The news of the divorce came just weeks after Guardiola signed a two-year contract extension with Manchester City, committing to the club until 2027. Despite speculation about his potential departure, Guardiola has shown no signs of stepping back from his footballing duties.