Human rights lawyer, Malcolm Omirhobo, has criticised President Bola Tinubu, describing him as a hypocrite following his recent presidential media chat where he advised Nigerians to manage their electricity consumption.

During the chat, Tinubu had suggested that Nigerians reduce their electricity bills by switching off lights when not in use.

He said, “It’s not negative to learn to manage. You learn to control your electricity bill, switch off the light, let’s learn to manage.”

However, Omirhobo questioned the President’s credibility in offering such advice amidst rising costs of living and governance expenses.

His remarks come in the wake of escalating energy costs. Since Tinubu’s inauguration in May 2023, petrol prices have quadrupled from less than ₦200 per litre to over ₦1,100 in many regions, following the removal of subsidies.

Additionally, electricity tariffs have surged. On April 3, 2024, the electricity regulator increased the Band A tariff to ₦225 per kilowatt-hour from ₦66, prompting widespread public backlash.

Omirhobo urged the government to prioritise reducing governance costs and providing practical solutions to Nigeria’s energy crisis.

Omirhobo in a post on Twitter wrote, “It is hypocritical for Tinubu to advise Nigerians to learn to manage by learning to control their electricity bill by switching off their light when he has refused to learn how to cut down the cost of governance.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has phased out high-interest foreign exchange (FX) swaps to stabilise financial markets.

It has settled 80 per cent of FX forward obligations, thereby boosting liquidity and market confidence.

Deputy Governor, Monetary Policy, Mohammed Sani, said the CBN has also maintained robust external reserves to support exchange rate appreciation.

He stated these in a presentation titled “Enhancing FX Market Efficiency” at a meeting of the Economic Management Team (EMT) convened by the Federal Government to assess critical economic policies and progress in key sectors.

Sani highlighted the launch of the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS), which aims to improve transparency and enhance market operations.

The meeting, chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, focused on strengthening economic resilience.

A statement by Mohammed Manga, Director, Information and Public Relations at the Ministry of Finance, said the meeting noted efforts to address market reforms and agricultural performance.

Edun commended the progress made in the foreign exchange and agricultural sectors.

He urged stakeholders to accelerate efforts toward achieving economic stability, food security, and sustainable growth.

He emphasised the importance of coordinated implementation of policies to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at ensuring affordable food and improved living conditions for Nigerians.

Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, presented a report on the 2024 wet season performance, revealing a 4.5 per cent increase in overall crop production.

However, millet production declined slightly by 0.2 per cent.

The minister expressed concern over rising production costs, particularly maize, which surged by 69.7 per cent, and significant food price increases, with cowpea prices rising by 300 per cent.

He lamented the food crises reported in 31 states, which have severely impacted the Northeast.

Despite these challenges, there were slight improvements in mechanisation and farmland expansion, with a two per cent increase in tractor use and a 2.3 per cent rise in cultivated farmland.

The Ministry of Agriculture outlined ambitious plans for 2025, which include boosting food security through hybrid seed production, technology adoption, and climate-smart practices; promoting export crops such as cocoa, sesame, and ginger; and enhancing rural infrastructure with cold chain facilities, feeder roads, and electrification.

Nigerian movie actor and filmmaker Toyin Abraham’s newly released movie ‘Alakada! Bad & Boujee’ has grossed N58 million in its first weekend at the box office.

The film, which is the fifth installment in the Alakada series, premiered in cinemas nationwide on December 20.

Taking to Instagram as well as the X platform on Monday, December 3, Abraham expressed gratitude to her fans for their unwavering support during the movie’s opening weekend.

She also highlighted how the success was achieved without offering incentives to encourage ticket sales. She wrote:

“With an overwhelming outpouring of love, kindness, and compassion from fans all across the country, we were able to make this as our opening weekend figure.”

“Thank you for watching and supporting us. Without expecting gift or inducement at the box office to buy our tickets, you’ve stood by us, and we are deeply grateful.”

She also addressed the limited availability of the film in cinemas but urged fans to spread the word and continue supporting the movie. Toyin Abraham added:

“However, we’ve learned that #AlakadaBadAndBoujee isn’t showing in many cinemas.”

“Nigerians, thank you from the bottom of my heart! This support means the world to me. Please, let’s keep the momentum going—spread the word far and wide.”

See screenshot of Alakada: Bad and Boujee milestone below:

Abraham began her acting career in 2003 and is celebrated for her versatility in both comedic and dramatic roles. She has produced and starred in several hit movies, including ‘Ijakumo’ and ‘The Ghost and the Tout’.

Famous Nigerian live streamer Habeeb Hamzat Adelaja, popularly known as Peller, has stunned fans after revealing the highest amount he earned in a single night from TikTok Live.

During an appearance on The Honest Bunch podcast, Peller opened up on his earnings, sharing that he made an impressive N10 million in one night.

According to Peller, the substantial amount came from gifts sent by viewers during a live-streamed match.

He said: “N10 million is the biggest money I’ve gotten from TikTok, one night like that wey I play one match like that, I come get N10 million.”

Peller further elaborated that the gifts viewers send on TikTok Live are converted into money, which contributes to his substantial earnings.

“They would be gifting you, so those gifts na money,” he added.

However, he clarified that the value of the “lion money” gift is relatively low, with some users only talking big but not contributing significantly.

When asked about his previous live session with Nigerian music star Davido, Peller cleared up the rumors that he had made $220,000.

He disclosed that the actual amount earned from the live stream with Davido was much lower, approximately N1.5 million.

Peller’s revelation has sparked discussions across social media, with many users expressing surprise at the potential earnings from TikTok Live.

Businessman Olakunle Churchill and Nollywood actress Rosy Meurer mark their 5th wedding anniversary on December 23, 2024.

The couple, who tied the knot in 2019, took to the popular image sharing platform, Instagram to share their love and appreciation for each other, with Rosy posting a heartfelt tribute to her husband.

In her message, Rosy Meurer referred to their marriage as a “timeless” bond, emphasizing that while their anniversary is a momentary occasion, their love for each other is enduring.

She expressed deep affection for Olakunle, calling him her “baby” and reaffirming her commitment to him, stating that she would always belong to him—”today, tomorrow, and forever.”

To commemorate the special day, Rosy shared sweet photos of herself and Olakunle, where the couple was seen dressed in matching outfits, radiating joy and love.

The images were accompanied by loving words, with Rosy acknowledging the strength of their relationship and the journey they’ve shared so far.

Fans and colleagues of the couple also joined in the celebrations, sending their well wishes and congratulatory messages to the duo.

The couple’s enduring love story continues to capture the hearts of their followers, with many expressing admiration for the bond they have built together.

Olakunle Churchill, who was previously married to actress Tonto Dikeh, has found happiness with Rosy, and their relationship has been flourishing since they tied the knot.

Despite the challenges of his past, Olakunle’s marriage to Rosy seems to be full of love and mutual respect, as evidenced by their public displays of affection and support for each other.

See below;

Popular Nollywood actress Funke Akindele has reached another milestone with her latest movie, Everybody Loves Jenifa, which has officially become the highest-grossing Nollywood film of 2024.

The movie has raked in an impressive N500 million within just 12 days of its release.

Taking to her Instagram page, Funke expressed her heartfelt gratitude to fans and supporters, as well as her faith in God, for the overwhelming success.

“Thank you, Lord!! Thank you, everyone!! I couldn’t have done this without your love and support!! God bless you all!!!” she wrote.

This accomplishment comes shortly after the UK premiere of the film at Odeon Cinemas, where tickets sold out within minutes.

• With boldness and precision, Pastor Abel Damina, in new interview, addressed pressing controversies and weighty matters, sparing no detail on his take on the nation’s spiritual and political pulse.
• The conversation turned intense as Damina was thrust into the heart of debates surrounding revered spiritual icons like Pastor Adeboye, Bishop Oyedepo, and Pastor Enenche, figures who command immense influence over millions.
• He also didn’t shy away from scrutinizing the leadership of President Tinubu’s administration, offering thought-provoking perspectives on the state of governance in Nigeria.

Dr. Abel Damina, the formidable force behind Abel Damina Ministries and Power City International, recently sat down for a captivating, no-holds-barred conversation with Nigerian journalist Seun Okinbaloye on the Mic On podcast.

In a revealing snippet making waves across social media, Damina doubled down on his long-held stance that tithe is not a mandatory requirement, despite the overwhelming chorus of his fellow pastors who adamantly preach otherwise. With uncompromising clarity, he declared that neither the Old nor the New Testament supports the doctrine of compulsory tithing.

When the conversation veered toward the revered General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Adeboye, and the question of whether he considers him a mentor, Damina’s response was nothing short of startling. He immediately rejected the notion.

Turning his attention to the growing tide of dissatisfaction surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Damina offered a measured yet firm perspective.

While acknowledging the widespread complaints of hardship plaguing the country, he insisted that it’s far too early to pass judgment on Tinubu’s government, and he reminded listeners that no earthly government can ever be perfect.

The discussion then turned to Bishop David Oyedepo’s decision to retire long-standing associates like Davis Abioye and Thomas Aremu. Damina, ever the contrarian, expressed disbelief at the very concept of ministers retiring. For him, God’s calling into ministry is eternal and irreversible.

The topic of his well-known rift with Pastor Paul Enenche, senior pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, sparked even deeper reflections. Damina shared the painful truth of how Enenche, once his spiritual son, turned against him.

Damina ended the clip with one of his most controversial topics— the prevalence of fake miracles in churches. He pointed to his earlier expose on the new crutches phenomenon, where he called out fraudulent acts of miracle claims, and proudly claimed credit for the reduction in such deceit.

WATCH HIS INSIGHTFUL INTERVIEW BELOW 

The husband of one of the victims of the stampede that occurred at Okija, in Anambra State on Saturday, identified as Uchenna Nwaudo, has lamented the loss of his wife in the incident, saying he had warned her not to attend the programme, but she did not need his advice.

No fewer than 22 persons died in a stampede that occurred at the gate of a charity event at the Obijackson Centre in Amanranta area of the community.

The victims, particularly middle-aged women, the elderly and children were stampeded upon as they struggled to gain entrance at the gate amid a very large crowd.

It was gathered that the centre was the venue of the sharing of 25kg bags of rice palliatives including vegetable oil and cash.

Speaking to our correspondent on Sunday, Nwaudo lamented the loss of his wife in the incident, saying, “I am from Umuohi village in Okija. On the fateful day, I had warned my wife not to go to the rice-sharing venue because of our little baby who was not feeling fine. I asked my wife not to attend the event to look after the boy.

“But I was at the place of my business at Ihiala junction when I was called to rush to Amaranta, venue of the palliatives sharing, that there was a heavy stampede and my wife was trampled upon and that she had just slumped on the floor. I expressed surprise as I had already warned her not to attend.

“But when I got there, to my surprise, I met her lifeless body and my baby still strapped on her back while everywhere was rowdy and everybody scampering to safety. I looked and observed that the baby was still alive. What I did was remove the baby from her back and leave the scene.”

He said he could not even carry her lifeless body as everywhere was still very rowdy noting that it was by the grace of God that he managed to escape the scene. “Even my mobile phone and her handbag were nowhere to be found,” he added.

“It was later that I learnt that the lifeless body was taken to the mortuary by the ambulance provided by the organisers of the event. I went to the mortuary at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala, to see the lifeless body. I have consulted with members of the family and we are making arrangements to go and pick up the corpse for proper burial.

“It was an unfortunate situation. I won’t blame the organisers of the event, because it is a gesture they have been doing over the years as a way of helping the members of the community to put a smile on their faces during Yuletide. But this one turned out to be like this.

“It was impatience on the part of the people and poor crowd control that contributed to the incident. I learnt that the security operatives battled to control the surging crowd who forced entry into the premises.

Our correspondent, who also visited the scene observed that many shoes, slippers, handbags and some other belongings of the victims were still littered on the floor in front of the gate.
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A relative of one of the victims, Uju Udoka, said, “I lost a sister, who was a nursing mother to the incident. She left her baby to quickly go and share the palliatives. Unfortunately, she ended up not coming back home. It is something that the community has been benefiting from the foundation every year. It’s unfortunate that this year’s edition turned out to be like this due to impatience.

“Some people were fortunate to enter the venue without any problem and they benefitted from the rice shared. Despite what happened, some people still benefitted.”

An eyewitness identified as Nnamdi Uzor, said those who collapsed were rushed to nearby hospitals, and at the hospitals, those confirmed dead were deposited at the morgue, adding that two morgues were filled up and at a point stopped accepting more corpses.

Uzor said, “The stampede occurred in the morning of the sharing as the gate of the arena was about to be opened because many struggled to gain entrance. Many people, particularly the aged and children were trampled upon and many collapsed and critically injured while some died before being rushed to the hospital.

“I saw a woman that lay lifeless on the floor with her baby strapped on her back. Fortunately, the child was still alive, but when the husband came, he picked the child from the back of his wife and immediately left the scene.”

One of the survivors receiving treatment at the hospital visited, who identified herself simply as Ngozi, said, “I thank God that I survived the situation. I cannot tell what happened, all I can remember was that there were too many people at the entrance of the venue and as the security people were about to open the gate, people started rushing and pushing one another.

“And when the gate was eventually opened, people started running and in the process, so many people fell and as a result, people coming behind started trampling upon one another. Someone pushed me, and I also fell to the floor. Before I knew what was happening, I felt a heavy load on my body as so many people fell on me.

“As people were falling on me, I was gasping for breath and shouting, other people in similar circumstances were also shouting. There was noise everywhere. I urinated on my body. It was not a palatable experience, it was as if a trailer of container fell on me.

“I became unconscious and when I opened my eyes, I found myself at the hospital. I don’t know how I managed to survive. I give God the glory. I lost my mobile set and my handbag containing some money in the process, but that is not my concern now as I am happy to be alive.

“What happened was not the fault of the organisers. People were just impatient and in the process, it led to what happened.”

Speaking to our correspondent on Sunday, the President-General, Okija Progressives Union, Dr Paul Isioma Ohaguim, described it as “very unfortunate”, adding that the community received the news with rude shock.

Ohaguim stated that the actual casualty figure has not been ascertained, saying the information so far gathered had different figures.

We’re yet to hear from kidnappers — Family Source

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have ambushed an Ado-Ekiti-bound 18-passenger bus at Emure Ile, kidnapping all the passengers on board.

The incident occurred on the outskirts of Emure-Owo on Sunday night, at the boundary between Ekiti and Ondo states, as the bus was returning from Onitsha.

A source at the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, Ado-Ekiti Motor Terminal branch, said the bandits kidnapped the driver, identified as Sunday Emmanuel, alongside other passengers, demanding a ransom of N30 million each.

The source, who craved anonymity, revealed that the kidnappers abandoned some children in the bus, whose cries attracted the attention of passersby in the early hours of yesterday, before it was reported to the nearest police station.

The source added that two passengers escaped before police arrived at the scene to recover the bus.
He said: “They drove the bus into the bush and dragged people inside the bush. The called the family of the driver and I pleaded to speak with the driver and after our conversation, they demanded a ransom of N30 million. They said they would call back, but they have not done so yet.

“They left some children on the bus, and it seems that some people at the the farm saw the kids and alerted the police in Emure-Owo

“The driver’s union in Ado-Ekiti is currently holding a meeting on how to reach out to the kidnappers.

The source added that two of the kidnapped victims escaped while they were being herded into the bush.”

The Ekiti State police command was yet to react to the incident at the time of this report as the police PPRO could not be reached on his phone.

We’re yet to hear from kidnappers — Family source

Meanwhile, the family of the kidnapped bus driver has said they are yet to receive further calls from the abductors.

A family member, who craved anonymity, told Vanguard that the driver’s union in Ado-Ekiti had been contacted about the development.

The source said the kidnappers have not communicated with the family after their initial demand of N30m ransom.

The family source said: “When I called the union, they said they are also making calls on how to sort out the ransom. The union called me again today and I told them I have not heard again from the kidnappers and no one knows how to reach out to them.

“We learned that the union held a meeting today to discuss the ransom and how to negotiate with the kidnappers.”

— Recognized for Outstanding Contributions to Education, Law, and Humanitarian Causes

The Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), has been named the 2024 Best Nigerian Patriot by the Association of United Nations Ambassadors for Peace.

The award comes amidst recent controversies surrounding alleged defamation by human rights activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi in his book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.

The notification of the award was conveyed in a letter addressed to the legal icon, co-signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Selection Committee, Prof. Joseph Mfon and Prof. Barika Saro-Laka, respectively.

In the letter, the association described Afe Babalola as a detribalized nationalist whose selfless contributions have left a significant impact, not just in Nigeria, but across Africa and beyond.

The association highlighted the reasons for honoring Aare Afe Babalola: Employment Creation: Providing over 1,600 jobs to Nigerians across various tribes and cultures.

Legal Excellence: Producing the highest number of lawyers in Africa, including over 100 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), as well as Judges and Attorneys General of the Federation.

Educational Development: Establishing the self-funded Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), aimed at reducing illiteracy, crime, and ignorance in Nigeria.

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Labour House, Abuja, on Thursday, 9th January, 2025.

The letter partly reads: “We have approved the conferment of our pioneer merit award of 2024 Best Nigerian Patriot on your dignified personality due to your consistent and impactful contributions to humanity and societal development across multiple sectors.”

The association also announced a humanitarian gesture in honor of Afe Babalola: Support for 300 Widows: Verified members of the National Association of Nigerian Widows (NANIWO) will receive Christmas food packs and transportation allowances as part of the celebration.

The association further commended Afe Babalola for his enduring commitment to national development, integrity, and excellence in both education and law.

This recognition reinforces Aare Afe Babalola’s status as a visionary leader, an advocate for justice, and a tireless contributor to Nigeria’s progress and development.