Popular Nigerian singer, Simisola Kosoko, popularly known by her stage name as Simi, has finally responded to flirtatious comments about her made by fellow artists Brymo and Samklef.

Speaking with Angela Yee in a recent interview, Simi expressed confusion over the intentions behind the duo’s comments, dismissing them as comedic rather than serious.

Recalls that Brymo sparked controversy last year after admitting that he had demanded sex from Simi before agreeing to collaborate with her for a project while she was unmarried. When Simi rejected his proposition, Brymo declined to work with her.

Similarly, music producer-turned-blogger Samklef recently admitted that he had been in love with Simi during their early days as struggling artists but refrained from pursuing a relationship to avoid mixing business with pleasure.

It can also be recalled that on both occasions, Simi’s husband and singer, Adekunle Gold, had protested against what he viewed as disrespect for his wife from both Brymo and Samklef.

However, responding to the jibes from the duo in the interview, Simi said: “I don’t know what these people [Brymo and Samklef] are going on about. The funny thing is that these are two different people, and I don’t know why they keep talking about me like that. When you even look at what they’re saying, you can’t even pick out anything. I’m still confused.”

She further emphasised that their remarks have no impact on her, highlighting her husband’s supportive role in the scenario.

“I just feel like it doesn’t matter to me. It doesn’t change anything. My husband is speaking out for me, and he’s fighting for his woman as he would.”

Simi also emphasised her indifference to the Brymo and Samklef’s comments, noting that she has nothing to hide.

“I don’t feel anything about this. It doesn’t impact me. I don’t have anything to hide. If you’re going to post that you asked me out, and so what? Or that I had an ex [laughs]. The whole thing, to me, is more comedy than anything else,” she stated.

The Kano State Police Command has arrested 17 suspected forex hawkers during a raid in the Wappa Bureau De Change area of Fagge local government area on May 7, 2024.

Spokesperson of the Command, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa disclosed this in a statement.

Kiyawa said the operation was carried out in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), with the aim of stabilising the foreign exchange market and eliminate unauthorised operations.

The police raid targeted locations where foreign exchange transactions were taking place, ultimately resulting in the arrest of 29 individuals.

After thorough screening, 12 persons were released over their proven innocence from lack of evidence, while the remaining 17 were taken into custody.

The statement partly reads, “At the end of the operation, a total of twenty-nine (29) people were arrested out of which twelve (12) were screened out for lack of evidence while Seventeen (17) were arrested with the following exhibits recovered; (1) Sum of Sixty-eight Thousand (68,000) CFA, and (2) Thirty (30) Rupees (Indian Currency).

“Further investigation revealed that the seventeen (17) suspects were operating under one Association of unlicensed Bureau De Change and they will be charged to Court for prosecution,” the statement read.

Kiyawa said essence of the operation was to flush out elements that operates illegally in a bid to stabilise the foreign exchange market in the country.

The arrest excludes genuine Bureau de Change operators who carry on their legitimate businesses in their offices, the police spokesman explained.

Commissioner of Police in the state, Mohammed Gumel commended the combined efforts of the police and DSS operatives for their success in the operation.

He emphasised the importance of upholding the law while maintaining legitimate operations within the financial sector and warned that illegal practices will not be tolerated.

The statement also stated that the suspects will be prosecuted, while encouraging the public to report any suspicious movements or activities to the police.

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has said the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project complied 100 per cent with the Procurement Act.

Umahi made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesman, Orji Uchenna Orji while reacting to the accusations made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Recall that Atiku had accused the Bola Tinubu government of awarding the contract to HiTech construction without competitive bidding but rather due to a personal relationship between the president and chairman of the firm.

The vice president also accused President Tinubu of promoting propaganda and putting his personal interest above that of Nigeria.

Reacting, Umahi stated that the project was awarded based on the EPC+ F procurement process, stressing that the project is an unsolicited bid.

The minister also berated the former vice president for his comments over the landmark project and for linking the award of the coastal highway to nepotism

He added that Atiku’s accusations were, “intrinsically superficial, baseless, self-serving and politically motivated to imprint malice in the minds of unsuspecting members of the public, especially the gullible.

Umahi said Atiku’s claim that Seyi Tinubu, the son of the President has an interest in CDK Integrated Industries Ltd is not tenable as the company that did bid for the project was Hitech Construction Company Nigeria Ltd.

The statement read, “For the avoidance of doubt, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project complied 100 per cent with the provisions of the Procurement Act and was awarded based on the EPC+ F procurement process, that is to say, the project is an unsolicited bid done on EPC+F.

“Under this model of procurement, the investor provides all the designs, part of the financing and construction, while the FGN pays counterpart funds. The bid of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project came through this process.

“The ministry received the bid, worked on it, and sent the same to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). The BPP worked on it in accordance with the stipulations of the Procurement Act and came up with a competitive price slightly lower than the ministry’s price and even lower than the cost of similar projects awarded five years ago, including the Bodo-Bonny project awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. The BPP issued a certificate of “No Objection” on the project to the Federal Ministry of Works as required by the Procurement Act.

“Consequently, the Federal Ministry of Works took the certificate of “No Objection” to the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and the FEC deliberated on and approved the same. It would be recalled that the FEC had first approved the project model on EPC+F before the process of procurement even started.

“This is a testament that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, section 1, followed due process.

“The claim of the former Vice President that the son of the President of Nigeria has interest in CDK Integrated Industries Ltd is not tenable as the company that did bid for the project was Hitech Construction Company Nigeria Ltd which has a full legal personality, as it were. Again, these claims are nothing but a digression showing absolute frustration of a false accuser who is bereaved of facts to substantiate his claims.”

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, has slammed President Bola Tinubu’s government for the imposition of the cybersecurity levy on Nigerians.

He said the government was interested in milking a dying economy instead of nurturing it to recovery and growth.

Obi accused the government of coming up with policies that not only impoverish the citizens but also make the country’s economic environment less competitive.

 
According to him, the imposition of a Cybersecurity Levy on Nigerians will further erode whatever is left of their remaining capital after the impact of the Naira devaluation and high inflation rate.

In a post on his X handle on Wednesday, Obi questioned when the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, has become a revenue collecting centre.

The former Anambra State governor said it was unthinkable to expect the suffering citizens of Nigeria to separately fund all activities of the government.

He said: “The introduction of yet another tax, in the form of Cybersecurity Levy, on Nigerians who are already suffering severe economic distress is further proof that the government is more interested in milking a dying economy instead of nurturing it to recovery and growth.

“This does not only amount to multiple taxation on banking transactions, which are already subject to various other taxes including stamp duties but negates the Government’s avowed commitment to reduce the number of taxes and streamline the tax system.

“The imposition of a Cybersecurity Levy on bank transactions is particularly sad given that the tax is on the trading capital of businesses and not on their profit hence will further erode whatever is left of their remaining capital, after the impact of the Naira devaluation and high inflation rate.

“It is inconceivable to expect the suffering citizens of Nigeria to separately fund all activities of the government. Policies such as this not only impoverish the citizens but make the country’s economic environment less competitive.

“At a time when the government should be reducing taxes to curb inflation, the government is instead introducing new taxes. And when did the office of the NSA become a revenue collecting centre?

“And why should that purely national security office receive returns on a specific tax as stated in the new cybersecurity law?”