Tunde Onakoya, a chess master from Nigeria, achieved a remarkable feat on Saturday, April 20, by setting a new Guinness World Record for the longest continuous chess marathon.

On his official X account, he excitedly shared the news with his followers, expressing determination to push the record to 60 hours while emphasizing the charitable cause behind his endeavor – raising funds for the education of underprivileged African children worldwide.

Surpassing the previous record of 56 hours and 9 minutes set by Norwegian players, Tunde’s marathon took place at the iconic Times Square in New York City. 

Partnering with US counterpart Shawn Martinez, both national masters, Tunde aimed not only to break a record but also to draw attention to the importance of providing educational opportunities to disadvantaged children across Africa.

As of Saturday morning, Onakoya has garnered nearly $100,000 in donations.

Joined by Martinez after 23 hours of play, the duo continued their quest, garnering support from notable figures including Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and musicians Davido and Adekunle Gold.

Through their determination and support, Tunde and Shawn showcased the power of unity and love in making a positive impact on the world.

Renowned Nigerian songstress Tiwatope Omolara Savage, affectionately known as Tiwa Savage, caused quite a stir on social media with a sizzling video where she didn’t mince words about her longing for a man to share her bed.

During a fiery interview on MTV Base, Tiwa Savage was grilled about the driving force behind her viral hit song ‘Men are Crazy’, a scorching collaboration with fellow songstress Simi.

In her bold response, Tiwa Savage revealed that despite the rollercoaster of experiences with men in her life, she still desires their presence in her bed, emphasized the inevitable role they play in women’s lives.

The ‘Somebody’s son’ crooner showered Simi with accolades, expressed her admiration for the talented artist and admitting her longstanding desire to collaborate with her.

Tiwa lauded Simi as a queen of Afrobeats, drew parallels between their status in the music industry.

Simi and Tiwa Savage are two of the most popular Nigerian female stars who have dazzled fans with their music for over a decade.

In an Afrobeats industry where collaborations between female stars are few and far between, Simi and Tiwa Savage came together to give fans an unforgettable song titled ‘Men Are Crazy’.

On the single released on April 5, 2024, the award-winning stars combined their captivating vocals as they discussed the complexities of romantic relationships with men.

“Men are mad but I still want one in my bed,” Simi sings as she sets the mood for the track where both stars navigate the ups and downs of romantic relationships before reaching a conclusion to embrace love despite its many challenges.

Nigerian singer, Adewale Emmanuel Mayowa, popularly known as Mayorkun, has taken legal action against TikTok influencer Nicki DaBarbie, filing a N1 billion lawsuit for defamation.

The lawsuit stems from accusations made by Nicki DaBarbie, alleging that Mayorkun, along with fellow musician Skiibii, were involved in occult rituals.

According to reports from Within Nigeria, Nicki DaBarbie publicly accused Mayorkun and Skiibii of attempting to exploit her for occult rites.

These serious allegations have prompted Mayorkun to take swift legal action to defend his reputation.

Mayorkun, through his legal representatives, issued a letter demanding that Nicki DaBarbie cease making defamatory remarks about him and Skiibii.

The letter refuted all allegations made by the TikTok influencer and demanded the removal of the offensive content from all social media platforms within 24 hours.

Furthermore, Mayorkun’s legal team has demanded a payment of N1 billion in damages to compensate for emotional distress, lost endorsements, and legal fees incurred as a result of the defamation.

In addition to the financial compensation, Nicki DaBarbie has been instructed to issue a formal apology to Mayorkun on the same social media platforms where the defamatory remarks were made.

See below;

Ọlawale Ọlọfọrọ, the famous Nigerian singer, who is popularly known as Brymo has again called out his colleagues in the music industry, Burna Boy, Tuface and Davido, claiming they came for him first.

He made some shocking allegations against his colleagues in his new claim.

In a video he shared, Brymo stated that coming for him was Davido, Tuface and Burna Boy's worst mistake.

He claimed that 2face does not live with his sons and that Burna Boy may never give birth to children. He also claimed that Davido kills every male child he comes across.

Brymo also claimed they are playing with their lives while adding that the trio represents ''men's absence in their lives.' Brymo went on to describe them as murderers.

Watch the video below…

City FM is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Programme: CITY TALKS WITH REUBEN ABATI

Time: 12:00pm

Guest: Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo (National Publicity Secretary of The Afẹ́nifẹ́re)

Topic: "Yoruba Nation Agitation"

Date: 20th April, 2024
                         
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/92877141732?pwd=VEJWb29OL2VVekZUTHRpdWYxK0xxZz09

Meeting ID: 928 7714 1732
Passcode: 600206

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) distributed a substantial sum of ₦1.123 trillion from the March 2024 Federation Account revenue to the federal, state, and local government tiers on Friday.
Naija News reports that the allocation, as reported by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, reflects an uptick in several major revenue streams, including import duty, value-added tax (VAT), gas royalty, and companies’ income tax (CIT).

According to a communique released after FAAC’s April meeting, the total distributable revenue consisted of ₦311.233 billion from distributable statutory revenue, ₦511.879 billion from distributable VAT revenue, ₦14.754 billion from Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), and ₦285.525 billion from exchange difference revenue.

The total available revenue for March was ₦1,867,808,000,000. Deductions for the cost of collection amounted to ₦69.537 billion, while transfers, interventions, and refunds totaled ₦674.880 billion.

March’s gross statutory revenue was ₦1.017 trillion, a decrease of ₦175.212 billion from February’s ₦1.192 trillion.

Conversely, the gross revenue available from VAT for the same period was ₦549.698 billion, marking an increase of ₦89.210 billion over the previous month.

The communique detailed that the Federal Government received ₦345.890 billion, state governments were allocated ₦398.689 billion, and local government councils received ₦288.688 billion. Additionally, mineral-producing states received ₦90.124 billion as a 13% derivation of mineral revenue.

From the ₦311.233 billion distributable statutory revenue, the Federal Government received ₦133.960 billion, state governments ₦67.946 billion, and local government councils ₦52.384 billion. A total of ₦56.943 billion was distributed as derivation revenue to the benefiting states.

For the distributable VAT revenue of ₦511.879 billion, the Federal Government received ₦76.782 billion, state governments ₦255.940 billion, and local government councils ₦179.158 billion.

The allocation of the ₦14.754 billion EMTL revenue saw the Federal Government receiving N2.213 billion, state governments ₦7.377 billion, and local government councils ₦5.164 billion.

Furthermore, from the ₦285.525 billion in exchange difference revenue, the Federal Government was allotted ₦132.935 billion, state governments ₦67.426 billion, and local government councils ₦51.983 billion, with an additional ₦33.181 billion shared as derivation revenue with the mineral-producing states.

The Osun State Police Command apprehended four suspects who purportedly conspired and murdered a 45-year-old woman for money ritual in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The spokesperson of the command, SP Yemisi Opalola, made this known during the parade of the suspects in Osogbo on Friday, April 19, 2024.

Opalola said that the suspects’ arrest followed a report of a missing person lodged by the son of the woman at the Apomu Police Division in Osun.

“On March 18, at 5:10p.m., a complainant reported at Apomu Division that on March 13, at about 10:00am, his mother, Usman Aminat, 45, left home for lyana Ajia-lbadan, Oyo State to pay a visit to Onifade Oyekanmi,” the PPRO said.

"He stated that since his mother left home, her cell phones were switched off and her whereabout was unknown and that he strongly suspected that the said Oyekanmi, who is an herbalist, knew about his mother’s disappearance.

“The said Onifade was subsequently arrested and the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Osogbo, Osun, for further and discreet investigation.”

Opalola said the suspect’s confession led to the arrest of the three other suspects.

She said all the arrested suspects confessed to the individual roles they played, revealing that they all conspired to use the victim for money making rituals.

"Thereafter, search warrants were executed on the houses and premises of the suspects where three bottles containing black substance suspected to be burnt human parts, two cutlasses, a big black clay pot and some black soaps were recovered,”

Opalola said that a female, a neighbour to one of the suspects, who helped him conceal his own share of the powder substance, was also arrested

She said that the lady was later granted administrative bail because she is nursing a four-month old baby

The police spokesperson said the suspects narrated how they conspired and strangled the victim to death in the house of Oyekanmi and dismembered her body.

"They confessed to have mixed the intestine of their victim with that of the dog, pig, goat and other herbs in a black clay pot and burnt everything to black powder which they shared among themselves.

"Onifade equally added that he burnt the two cell phones belonging to the deceased after killing her to evade being traced,” Opalola added.

Opalola said the suspects would be charged to court after the completion of investigation.

She admonished residents to always give prompt and credible information/reports to the police and also report every strange movement and strange people around them.

Jonathan Marcus, a mechanic, has been apprehended in connection with the brutal murder of an elderly couple at their home in Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja.

Marcus, who often worked as chauffeur to the deceased identified as Adebola Ezekiel, 80; and his wife, Abiodun Ezekiel, 79, was among several suspects paraded by the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory Command, Benneth Igweh, during a press conference on Friday.

Igweh revealed that the police began an investigation immediately after the incident occurred on March 31, 2024, and were able to arrest the suspect, a former driver to the deceased couple.

He noted that policemen trailed the suspect and arrested him in his hideout in Obajana, Kogi State.

Igwe claimed that the suspect had freely confessed to having gained access to the house on the same date, slit the throats of the couples and made away with their phones and automated teller machine cards.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police also revealed that the command, on April 11, 2024, arrested another two suspects, for alleged culpable homicide in the Mabushi area of Abuja.

Igweh said the suspects were arrested by policemen from the Mabushi division following a tip-off that the corpse of one Bilkisu Mohammed was being discreetly conveyed.

He said, “The deceased had earlier visited the house of her supposed boyfriend, who eventually travelled to Kano and left her in the care of the female suspect. The deceased allegedly fell ill and was given non-prescribed drugs that led to her death by the male suspect who came into the house on the invitation of the female suspect.”

He said the suspects were currently in police custody, undergoing interrogation.

Igweh further disclosed that the Utako division, in a well-coordinated operation on April 6, 2024, arrested nine suspected armed robbers.

The CP said the suspects, during interrogation, freely confessed to being part of an armed robbery gang responsible for a series of robberies and other heinous crimes in the FCT.

He said four locally fabricated AK 47 rifles, three locally fabricated cartridge rifles, one English pistol, and one Dane gun were recovered from the suspects.

Other items recovered from the suspects were three live rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one live round of 5.56mm ammunition, and an empty cartridge.

The CP said all the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.

Some musicians have applauded the recent move by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to enforce the ban on abuse of the Naira.

Last Friday, a controversial cross dresser, Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, was sentenced to six months imprisonment without the option of fine for abusing the Naira; and, on Wednesday, a socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana Chief Priest, a N10m bail after he pleaded ‘not guilty’ to a charge of abusing the Naira.

Though many believe that the ban on spraying money at parties will affect musicians, especially indigenous ones, some of them have said it is a good development.

In separate interviews with our correspondent, popular musicians— Wasiu Alabi, aka Pasuma; Saheed Osupa, and Adewale Ayuba— maintained that the country’s currency had to be respected.

On his part, Pasuma said, ““I want to believe that there is a difference between spraying a musician money, and mutilating naira notes.

“Spraying a musician money is an inseparable part of our African culture during celebrations. Meanwhile, abuse or mutilation of currencies has to do with throwing money around and stepping on them, thus reducing their lifespan.

“Right from the onset, I have never been a fan of naira abuse. I don’t like it when people throw money around on my stage. It is a sign of disrespect to the artiste and the currency itself.

“If you watch my stage performances, you will see that I have a box where people put money when they want to appreciate my work. And, that was even before this naira abuse campaign started. I think that is the right and respectful manner to treat the artiste and the naira.

“So, the war against naira spraying has not affected my performances and earnings as a law-abiding citizen that I am.”

Pasuma also enjoined fans to be orderly in the course of appreciating their favourite artistes and loved ones with money at events. He said, “There is usually a box in front of me. All fans need to do is put the money there. I know them, and I will praise them to appreciate their gesture. They should not ‘disrespect’ my office, and I will reciprocate through my craft.”

Osupa also stated that the new development had not affected his business. He said, “People no longer spray money at my shows. They just drop money in a box that is provided on stage. So, I cannot say it has affected me badly. We still make money the way we made it before. The only difference is that people don’t spray the money again.”

The singer asserted that when fans were mandated to put money in a box instead of spraying it, they actually made more money. He said, “Most people just use spraying money to show off. Many of them don’t really want to spray that money, they just want to spite some people. Also, there are times that those who spray money don’t really spend much, they just make it look as if they are spraying a lot. However, it is when they put money in the box that we actuually make more money. Some people also make bank transfers.”

He added that the ban would even relieve the pressure on some people. He said, “Squandering of money has never made sense to me. But, it (spraying of money) is part of our culture, and it has been with us for long. However with that practice, someone that did not have money might start thinking of different things whenever they saw the way some people were spraying money. And, that could eventually Iead them into dabbling into what they shouldn’t do. On that account, the enforcement against the abuse of the naira is good, but the government has taken it too seriously. They should have created more sensitisation.”

Echoing the thoughts of his colleagues, Ayuba said, “The problem with spraying money is the way some people handle the currency by flinging it, throwing it to a crowd, stepping on it, and treating it like trash. That is ridiculous, and I don’t support it. The new enforcement drive by the government won’t affect me, because whenever I am performing, I have a box where people can put the money they want to spray me.

“What the government is say is that people should not abuse our currency; they are not saying that people should not spend money on artistes. Government is only telling citizens to respect our currency, because it is part of our identity as a nation.”

The singer, fondly known as Mr Johnson, also enjoined fellow musicians and citizens in general to be more respectful of the country. He noted that just as citizens of other countries revere their nations is how Nigerians should behave. He said, “In the United States of America, they often say, ‘God bless America’. We should be saying things like that too. The power of life and death is in the tongue. And, we need to speak positive things about our country.”

On if he felt that the EFCC should have carried out more sensitisation, particularly by engaging musicians like him, Ayuba said, “Yes, I believe it would have been better if they had done that. Anyway, they haven’t come to me. It is better to talk to some of the artistes to sentise people, because spraying money is part of our culture, and it will take time to reorientate people.”

Pastor Enoch Mark, whose daughter, Monica, and others were abducted in the Chibok community of Borno State on April 14, 2014, speaks on the sad impacts of his child’s abduction.

I have six children. Monica Mark is my second child. When she was kidnapped on April 14, 2014, she was 18 years old. I was in Chibok then. I was a pastor in the Church of the Brethren in the area. I was transferred from Michika, Adamawa State to Chibok in Borno State. I had been there for just some months so I didn’t even know the town too well. My daughter attended the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok. On 14 April 2014, there was a gun attack all over the town. There were shootings everywhere and we were all running for our dear lives that night. While we ran, I didn’t go far. I just stood somewhere behind the town. Early in the morning, I came out to see the church because it looked like they set fire to my church, so I was not able to stay for a long time. I was moved to go and see what was burning. But fortunately enough, it was not the church. It was a place that was very close to my church. We also discovered that girls from the community had been taken captive by Boko Haram. I saw the car carrying some girls and I pursued it. While pursuing, I saw that one of the cars had broken down on the way, and some men were guiding it while it was being fixed. They said that if anybody came close, they would ‘finish’ the person. I was forced to come back. On the way back, I met one of the daughters of my watchmen who was among the girls that were kidnapped. She jumped from the car and escaped. As I met her on the way, I brought her back to the town.

How have you been dealing with the fact that your child is still in captivity ten years after the incident?

I cannot explain how it had been because it was very terrible. I lost her mother, Martha, because of the trauma she went through. She died on July 10, 2020. Even because of too much thinking, I came down with a stroke. Presently, I’m suffering from stroke. When I lost my wife and I remembered that my daughter Monica was in captivity, I couldn’t hold myself. I just didn’t know when I collapsed on the ground. As I’m talking to you now, I cannot walk for a long distance.

How certain are you that your wife died from the trauma of the incident?

Since my daughter was kidnapped, my wife has been going up and down praying in so many places. They often call her from Lagos for newspaper and radio interviews, and she always goes. There are even pictures of her in the newspapers when she was crying. She cried while she was being interviewed. She wasn’t able to eat. Whenever we remembered to pray for Monica, she would shed tears. She died while calling the name of Monica.

How did your other children react to Monica’s kidnap?

I cannot explain it, because when we discovered that our daughter was kidnapped, the children, the mother, and the relatives were not at ease. We all felt the pain, and we can’t explain how badly we feel.