Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, says no law in Nigeria criminalises the prosecution of minors.

Fagbemi spoke at the commissioning of the Law Corridor’s new office complex and the presentation of a book on the modern legal system.

The AGF said the minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance protest were rightly arraigned before the Abuja federal high court.

The nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest lasted from August 1-10. Some protesters were arrested and arraigned in different parts of the country.

A handful of the suspects arraigned in Abuja were minors — eliciting outrage from across the country.

On Monday, the president directed the AGF to withdraw the charges against the minors.

On Tuesday, a federal high court in Abuja struck out the suit against 119 persons who allegedly participated in the protest.

The minors were released and hosted by Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the State House.

Addressing criticisms that trailed the arraignment, the AGF said: “No law in this country says a minor cannot be tried, and I have also heard suggestions that they should go to a family court”.

“The study of the law and the constitution leaves you no other conclusion than that the federal high court has jurisdiction in matters bordering on treason and related issues. So, whatever the situation, the president has closed the chapter by his decision to have these young men released,” Fagbemi added.

“The president was very compassionate; he is a father and a grandfather. If you look at the facts in the possession of the security agency, you would marvel.

“But the president said, despite all this, ‘I have children, grandchildren,’ and that motivated his passion to release them and also enable them in some ways.

“So the credit goes to him for showing compassionate consideration in releasing the young chaps.”

Gov Alex Otti of Abia State has disclosed plans to prosecute some civil servants accused of pension fraud.

Speaking on Thursday during a media briefing at the Government House in Umuahia, Governor Otti said about 10 or 11 people have been arrested over their involvement in the fraud, and they would be arraigned in court soon.

While reiterating the stand of his government against corruption, Otti described the suspects as thieves, adding that those defending the suspects and calling for their release are equally thieves.

The Governor, who disclosed that some of the suspects are outside the country, said such persons would be repatriated to face prosecution at home.

“My question is somebody stole and I arrested him and you went to the press to say I shouldn’t arrest a thief, that means you are a thief.

“They are about 10 or 11. From the report I got, some of them are outside the country. We are going to repatriate them to answer to their sins,” he said.

The Governor also disclosed that the decision to relocate the Abia State University Umuahia campus back to Uturu main campus won’t be reversed despite objections by some students.

According to him, the decision was in the best interest of the students.

He assured that adequate accommodation, water and modern facilities would be put in place in Uturu.

The popular Nollywood actress, Adebimpe Oyebade, is the young and beautiful wife of famous actor, Abdulateef Adetola Adedimeji.

With a rising career that kicked off in 2016 after she began establishing herself as a model, the  native of Ijero Ekiti, Ekiti State, Mo Bimpe, as she’s fondly referred to, is the last of her parent’s six children of her parents who grew up in Akure, Ondo state.

Unknown to many, her incursion into the world of films and storytelling is one of the traits she picked up from her father, who is a renowned historian best known for his storytelling.

Despite denying her relationship with Adedimeji for fears of scandals in the industry, this English graduate of the Ekiti State University, the leggy actress cum model walked down the aisle with Adedimeji in a colourful wedding that remains the talk of the town till the end of 2021.

“At first I was like ‘no way’ because I was scared obviously because of the way the industry is. And the way society is‌. I was so scared. I told him no, we can’t do this,” she told The Nation.

On her journey into being Mrs Adedimeji, she said, “Lateef is a very open person. He made it very easy for me because he told me everything, even the things that would really annoy me. He told me everything, this is me, can and will you accept me like this? So if you want to marry me, know that. This is my past. So, he told me everything. There’s nothing I would hear that I would say what am I hearing because I’ve already heard it from him. So he made the journey easy.”

For her primary and secondary school education, Mo Bimpe attended Asset College and Omelete school in Akure, Ondo State before she proceeded to study English at Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti after which she observed her compulsory National Youth Service Corps service in Benin, Edo state.

Unlike her husband, who just made his mark as a producer with the Netflix feature film, ‘Lisabi,’ Mo Bimpe has made her mark as a producer with over 20 films in her kitty. Some of her films include ‘Entrapped,’ ‘Jade’s Cross,’ and ‘Dear Sister.’

As a supportive wife, Mo Bimpe featured and also co-produced the biopic ‘Lisabi,’ alongside her husband.

On taking criticisms and backlash as a producer, she said, “Okay, the only thing I would say is, as a producer, you have to check. I was telling him (Lateef) that the only reason I’m reading all this thing – comments and criticisms – is to take notes for next time. Some will open your eyes to things that you didn’t even know. Some make sense, but some are just talking. So for me, I would say I picked my pen and paper, writing down some sensible ones, so that’s it. You learn better.”

In a brief chat, Lateef Adedimeji confirmed that Mo Bimpe joined in the casting of the film. She revealed why she chose Ibrahim Chatta and Mr Macaroni for their individual roles.

“Like he (Lateef) said, choosing uncle Ibrahim has been since when we came up with the story because personally, I’m a big fan of uncle Ibrahim and I feel like I’ve never worked with him personally.

"I was like, ah finally, there’s a chance to work with uncle Ibrahim closely. And then the character you can tell you’ve seen the movie can tell he killed it. So we knew that oh, it was either uncle Ibrahim or no nobody else. And for Debo (Mr. Macaroni), he is obviously very close with my husband in real life. They are very close.

"He was his best man for our wedding. So they are very close and we knew that for this role, we needed somebody that is very close with him so that people can relate with the character and with the friendship. And that was why we chose Debo.”

Nollywood veteran cum politician, Desmond Elliot  has addressed allegations claiming that he is gay.

Naija News recalls that Elliot’s name was among the top Nigerian celebrities alleged to be involved in homosexuality.

The list, which captured the names of many prominent figures in the country, sparked  fierce backlash from netizens.

Reacting to the allegation in an interview with TVC, the politician described the allegation as baseless.

He noted that he has more important issues to focus on than responding to malicious gossip.

He said, “Why would I respond to allegations made against me when it did not reduce or increase my life? Secondly, it is an opinion that is being conceived. And I don’t think it is necessary for me to come out and say it’s true or not true; as long as I’m affecting people positively, I’m good. So let me state it very clearly that I am straight.”

A Man Who Is Too Clean Might Be Gay – Daddy Freeze

On-Air-Personality, Daddy Freeze, has claimed that a man who is unnecessarily clean might be gay.

He stated this during a a live session on his Instagram page.

According to him, a guy who cuts his hair twice a week, grooms his beards and his nails might be gay.

Daddy Freeze argued that painted and dreaded hair are not signs that a man is not straight.

He said, ‘’Let me tell you one of the signs to look out for. When a guy is unnecessary clean, cuts hi hair twice a week, grooms his beards, it could be a sign that he is gay, When a man’s nail are too clean, no rough edges around the guy, when a man is squeaky clean, he is tilting towards being a gay man. 

“Being gay is no joke. Painted hair and dread hair are not the sign. The sign is a normal guy is way too clean. When a man cuts his hair, draws parting on one side, looks very fresh, that is a problem. They are usually clean. When you see a guy whose armpit is clean, his beard is clean, it is a problem. 80% is that he is gay.”

The family of the late First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor (Mrs) Patience Umo Eno, has formally announced the arrangements for her burial.

The funeral is set to take place on November 29, 2024, with a service at her country home in Ikot Ekpene Udo, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.

Governor Umo Eno, her grieving husband, along with the bereaved family and the State Government, have finalized the arrangements to celebrate her impactful life and lasting legacy.

The official announcement was made on Friday by the Secretary to the State Government and Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Enobong Uwah.

He expressed the family’s heartfelt appreciation for the outpouring of love and support from all corners of the nation.

“We are deeply thankful for the overwhelming prayers, tributes, and comforting words during this profoundly difficult period,” Uwah stated, encouraging friends and well-wishers to participate in the planned events honouring Pastor Patience Eno’s life.

Naija News previously reported her death on September 26, 2024.

Pastor Patience Eno’s passing has left a significant void, as she was known for her unwavering faith and dedication to community service. Her legacy of compassion and devotion continues to resonate with many across Akwa Ibom State and beyond.

Catholic Pope Francis has urged Christians to pray with their hearts and not with their lips.

The catholic leader gave the teaching during his general audience, urging everyone to avoid praying like parrots.

Pope Francis, instead, encouraged them to pray from their hearts, calling on the Holy Spirit to help guide their conversations with God.

“Don’t pray like parrots, please! Don’t say ‘blah, blah, blah’. Say, ‘Lord’, but say it without your heart; ‘help me, Lord.’ ‘I love you, Lord’.

“When you pray ‘our father’, pray, ‘father, you are my father’. Pray with your heart and not with your lips. Don’t act like parrots,” the Supreme Pontiff said.

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti revealed that his administration in 15 months, paid over N90 billion out of the N191.2 billion debt inherited from the previous administrations.

Also, he disclosed that Abia had recorded $159 million foreign direct investment between June 2023 and June 2024 under his watch.

Governor Otti said these during a media parley Thursday night in Umuahia.

He also declared that his administration had not borrowed money from any institution so far.

Otti explained that he had been judiciously deploying the resources of the state for infrastructural development, payment of salaries and pensions as well as other financial obligations of Government.

Otti said: “I inherited N191.3 billion from my predecessor in May 2023. My predecessor inherited about N35 billion from his predecessor in 2015.

“But today, my administration has paid over N90 billion of the debt we inherited.

“We still pay salaries and pensions every month. And I have not borrowed a Kobo from anybody.

“The achievements you see today are a product of prudent management of scare resources.”

On the foreign direct investment, Governor Otti said that Abia had moved from the 27th position to the 3rd position in the states with highest foreign direct investment.

He explained that the efforts of his administration to put in place the necessary infrastructure and other investment-friendly factors, had made Abia a destination for investors.

According to Otti, “We saw the need to lay the foundations upon which investment drives would stand. And that is why a lot of investors are now coming into the state.”

The governor argued that it does not make sense chasing investors around, submitting that they would naturally come when the needed environment is provided.

“Investors don’t listen to platitudes, they look at actions. Without any campaign, we have had investors coming to set up their investments in Abia.

“Apostle Chibuzor of OPM, the other day, brought a team of investors – one from Italy, another from Turkey and one from the US.

“That’s why we are making sure we make Abia investor-friendly.

“Akaikenga Think Tank also came, and we are discussing on how they would set tech hub in Abia. We want our people to come back and invest at home,” Otti noted.

Governor Otti also said his administration was making spirited efforts towards achieving food security. He equally disclosed that he had approved funds to 300 Abians who were recently sponsored by the state government to under-study modern farming in Nasarawa State.

He further explained that the intention of his administration to establish Greater Ohafia Development Commission, GADO, was to ensure no senatorial district was sidelined in the development agenda of government.

“Since we already have Greater Aba Development Authority, GADA; and Umuahia Capital Development Agency, UCDA, we need to complete the tripod and that’s what we have done to ensure even development in the state,” he added.

On road infrastructure, the governor said his administration had awarded projects for the rehabilitation of more new roads to make all parts of the state easily accessible.

He said the expansion of 5-kilometer Onuimo Bridge-Abia Tower Umuahia road had commenced. He added that contract has equally been awarded for 11.5 Ntigha Road, 11.27 Mbala -Ngodo Isuochi Road, 11.5 kilometer Obehie -Owaza Road in Ukwa, among others.

Otti said he had secured the assurances of Julius Berger handling the reconstruction of the strategic Port Harcourt Road Aba that the project would be delivered on or before February 2025.

He also said that work was progressing on so many other road projects as scheduled, including Umuahia -Uzuakoli -Ohafia Road, Ohafia-Atochukwu road, Ndiokorie Abam -Atochukwu road, and several others.

The governor added that the zero-pothole policy of his administration was ongoing.

Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo State, has claimed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is planning to arrest him after his tenure ends on November 14.

Speaking at the EdoBEST National Results-Sharing Session on Thursday in Abuja, Obaseki revealed he received information about the EFCC’s plan to arrest and detain him over alleged fraud.

He, however, asserted that he is not afraid of any arrest or investigation into his administration, attributing the petitions filed against him to individuals acting out of vendetta.

Obaseki mentioned that he would spend his time in EFCC custody conducting research, stressing that he has nothing to hide.

He said, “I hear that the EFCC will pick me up next week after my tenure. Wherever they keep me, I’ll spend time doing research.

“There are many things we have done that can be described as legacy projects. I believe in Edo State. One of the enduring achievements is our focus on the Edo people and issues that matter to them, implementing necessary reforms.

“Why should I be afraid? I just focused on what I believe in, and today, you can see what has been accomplished. What happens after that is beyond my control. They can continue with their political witch-hunt and do all they can to harm me. That’s their problem.

“I’m not afraid; I’m not worried. They’ve written all sorts of unfounded petitions against me, and that’s part of the challenge. In fact, I can even turn myself in if they call me – I have nothing to hide.”

The governor accused his opponents of being envious of his achievements over the past eight years, stressing that he has left a legacy in the South-South state.

“You know how this country is. It’s filled with bitterness, vendettas, and wickedness. Those who have opposed me in Edo State are cruel, very wicked, and filled with jealousy and envy because they cannot match the accomplishments we’ve made in the past eight years.

“But what’s important is to focus on the people to improve Nigeria, as the suffering is excessive. We are privileged to make a difference, so let’s focus on issues, not vendettas.

“Reforming the bureaucracy is a priority. We focused on the people and the civil servants,” he added.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission had declared the All Progressives Congress candidate, Monday Okpebholo, as the winner of the September 21, 2024, Edo governorship election.

Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, who secured 247,274 votes, with Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata trailing with 22,763 votes.