FEATURES
A yet-to-be-identified officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission attached to the Lagos Division of the anti-graft agency has slumped and died.
PUNCH Metro learnt on Monday from a video being circulated online that the officer who was not in uniform slumped and died in an undisclosed part of Lagos State on Sunday.
The video shows the lifeless body of the officer being surrounded by sympathisers including some police officers who coordinated a search on the deceased officer’s bag.
Following the search, it was discovered through his identity card that the man was an officer of the EFCC.
A voice in the video said, “He works with EFCC. His ID card is with him.”
Confirming the death to our correspondent in a telephone conversation on Monday, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, disclosed that the officer’s death was under investigation.
“Yes, the man is our officer. His death is being investigated. The incident happened on Sunday,” Oyewale said.
PUNCH Metro reported on January 15 that a suspected Yahoo boy, Joshua Ikechukwu, shot an Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, Aminu Salisu, during a raid in the Onitsha area of Anambra State.
The operatives, who had travelled from the EFCC’s zonal headquarters in Enugu, were said to be on a mission to apprehend a group of suspected cyber criminals when they were ambushed.
Oyewale, who condemned negative narratives about the officer’s killing, stressed that the commission would ensure justice is served.
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organisation, Afenifere and ex-Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Monday, commended legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), for agreeing to withdraw the defamation cases instituted against human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi.
Afenifere and Obi gave the commendation in separate interviews with The PUNCH on Monday.
Babalola and Farotimi had been locked in a legal battle since last year, following Babalola’s complaint that Farotimi defamed him in a book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.
Following Babalola’s petition, the police had arrested Farotimi and arraigned him before two courts in Ekiti.
Consequently, Farotimi was charged with criminal defamation before the Ekiti State Magistrates’ Court in Ado Ekiti; and was also arraigned for alleged cyber-bullying before the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti.
The activist was remanded for 20 days before perfecting his bail and regaining freedom on December 24, 2024.
However, Babalola, on Monday morning, announced that he would be withdrawing the court cases against Farotimi, following the intervention of Yoruba monarchs, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
“I will tell my lawyers to withdraw the case,” Babalola said after a midnight meeting with the traditional rulers at ABUAD.
Reacting to the development in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere, who had earlier called for Farotimi’s release, commended Babalola for his peace move.
Afenifere said that by heeding the calls of the traditional rulers “Aare Afe Babalola has demonstrated, as a true Yoruba son, certain core ethos of being an Omoluabi.
“He came to defend his reputation and when he was appealed to by our foremost traditional institutions, he dropped the gauntlet. This is highly commendable.
“We also applaud Ooni and other monarchs ‘for the bold step they took’. They acted as true elders in line with the saying ‘Agba kii wa loja, ki ori omo titun wo’ – Elders would not sit-by in a marketplace to watch the dangling head of a child!’
“This act has further demonstrated the valuable roles that our Obas – who are the custodians of our culture and tradition – can play in the society, if given the chance.”
In a similar vein, Obi, Obi, who had also last year visited Babalola over the matter, described Monday’s outcome as positive.
Speaking through his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, the former Anambra governor said, “We are pleased that this matter has been resolved amicably, and we believe that this outcome is a testament to the power of dialogue, and constructive engagement. Let me set the record straight: Obi’s visit to Afe Babalola was not about begging for pardon for Dele Farotimi, but rather a genuine effort at intervention and conflict resolution.
“As a leader, Obi recognises the importance of peaceful resolution of disputes, and his actions were guided by this principle. Now, with the news that Afe Babalola has agreed to withdraw the suit against Dele Farotimi, we welcome this development as a positive outcome of Obi’s intervention.
“This decision demonstrates that Chief Babalola is also committed to finding peaceful solutions to conflicts, and we commend him for this gesture. It’s worth noting that Mr. Obi’s actions were driven by his desire to facilitate a peaceful resolution that would allow all parties to move forward positively and constructively.”
At the reconciliatory meeting led by the Ooni were the Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole: the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu; the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju; and the Alaaye of Efon Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare.
Babalola, who restated the importance of the Yoruba traditional institution and the influence it wielded, said, “The monarchs are here, they have appealed to me over a criminal charge involving somebody who said I was corrupt.”
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said he felt so bad that Farotimi accused him of winning all his cases through corruption; hence, he rejected all earlier appeals to him to take the cases out of court.
He also listed those who earlier appealed to him to take the matter out of court, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah; and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe.
He said, “If you go through the pamphlet (Farotimi’s book), you will find that he attacked many judges by names, he attacked Supreme Court judges, and none is bothered, but I am bothered. I am bothered because of where and how I started life, from the farm to where I am.
“There is nothing I am going to gain from his imprisonment, there is nothing I am going to gain from so-called damages. I am not on the quest for more wealth, but rather, how to spend what I have for the benefit of others. The only time I am happy is when I give.
“The request is simple, take away this criminal case in court. When Obasanjo wrote, he came here, I said no. When Kukah phoned and came, I said no, but on this occasion, I say yes. Thank you, Kabiyesis. I will speak to my lawyers to withdraw it.”
The Ooni, Oba Ogunwusi, who spoke on behalf of Yoruba monarchs, had requested Babalola to withdraw the case in court, assuring him that “Nobody can tarnish your name. Your name is more than silver and gold and you have stood for your name with the message that nobody can joke with your name.”
Oba Ogunwusi, who acknowledged Babalola’s contributions to the development of Yoruba, Nigeria and the world, said, “We (monarchs) came here to discuss the matter with him and he gave full respect to the obas and agreed.
“We, the obas, can attest to the hard work of Aare Afe Babalola and how he has invested so hard to build his name. The name cannot be tarnished or rubbished by anyone. Aare Afe Babalola has proven to the world that he cherishes his name and the world has heard him clearly.
“Baba, we want to appeal and also use our race to instruct you. Dele Farotimi is your son, you may not know him, we give birth to different children in this world, some are tough, some are soft, some are hard. Why we are here is our ethos as a race.
“We are using our race because some of our elders in Yorubaland and even beyond Yorubaland have spoken, but combining forces with the traditional institution, we have heard you, enough, enough and enough. Your name is intact. We have resolved the matter in our own way, we have done the needful,” the Ooni said.
The Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi,CFR, Ojaja II in company of about prominent Yoruba traditional Rulers in Ekiti state was at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) last night to appeal to the founder of the university Aare Afe Babalola to forgive the human rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi and withdraw the ongoing criminal case instituted against him.
Ooni Ogunwusi arrived Ado Ekiti at about 10:08pm last night into the waiting hands of Aare Afe Babalola himself accompanied by the Vice Chancellor Professor Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde
Bursar Pastor Joseph Modupe Babalola,
The school PRO, Deans of various faculties at the university and the legal team of Afe Babalola handling Farotimi's criminal case.
The Vice chancellor in her welcome speech at the meeting acknowledged Ooni's love for the school's founder and the school itself which she described as one of the leading universities in Africa.
The Ooni briefed the journalists outcome of the meeting which was earlier held close door between Afe Babalola and the Ooni accompanied by Ewi of Ado, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, Ajero of Ijero, Oba Adewole Joseph Adebayo, the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Samuel Adejinmi Adu, Alaaye of Efon Alaaye, Oba Dr. Emmanuel Aladejare Agunsoye II and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti who doubles as Chairman, Ekiti Council Of Traditional Rulers, Oba Ilori Faboro that having watched the scenarios surrounding the criminal case instituted against Dele Farotimi with rapt attention, it has become very imperative to apply Alternative Dispute Resolution method which Yoruba race was known for in the past because it's a case between father and son.
"We have come today to appeal to Aare Babalola to forgive his son; Dele Farotimi and what we want from him is to withdraw the criminal charges against Farotimi today.
"Aare Afe Babalola, you are an elderstateman, you have seen it all, you are one of the iconic voices in this country, a great man per excellence, you are a rare breed who has excelled in everything you have touched in this life, a very God fearing elderstateman, above all, you are one of the proponents of the Yoruba ethos of Omoluwabi which has been your strongest value that you hold in our country. This what we are using to bring down the tempo in what has happened between you and your son Dele Farotimi. We have been very proud of you as a great Yoruba elderstateman. You have done great things for this race and Nigeria such that your name can never be forgotten."
"We've all come together as traditional Rulers to discuss with you on this issue and this gentleman Dele Farotimi is your son and you must forgive him and withdraw the criminal charges against him. As a father, you have soft sons and you have tough sons, Dele Farotimi is a tough son of yours. You have indeed made a point that your name can not be be messed with".
"I hereby withdraw the criminal charges against Farotimi" - Afe Babalola.
When given the microphone to respond to the request made by the Ooni and the traditional Rulers, Aare Afe Babalola did not hesitate to accept the request saying he grew up as a child to understand such interventions by the traditional rulers. He declared he had not only forgiven Dele Farotimi but also will instruct his lawyers to withdraw the criminal charges against him with immediate effect, because of the honour for the Ooni and the other Obas.
"Today is a very important day for me, I'm a Yoruba man and I'm very proud to be one. Ewi of Ado has come here to meet me on this matter, former president Obasanjo has intervened, same with Bishop Matthew Kukah and a host of other prominent Nigerians to ask for the exact thing you have come to ask for this evening., my answer to them has been "NO" but today my answer is "YES"
Your coming is unquantifiable in terms of money, who Am I? When the colonialists came here in 17th century or thereabouts, they found as a fact that Yoruba land was a highly organised society with an advanced systems of government with each town headed by an Oba who was regarded as a replica of God on earth. His words were commands."
In the middle ages, the Greeks had a saying"the meadow that grow on the bank of a river which obeys the direction of the flood remains strong forever but the meadow that grow that disobey the direction of the flood were broken asunder".
Aare Babalola concluded his response with a an Adage in Yoruba saying " Eni ti o ba nI nkan lati se, kii wo elegan rara" meaning "those who change the world for the better do not wait to respond to criticism"
He said he had listened to the Ooni's advice and he certainly didn't want to be a meadow by the riverside which disobeys the flood.
I was a lawyer who defended the EFCC law, yes I'm corrupt, I was given an oil block, when I looked at the money and saw that it was too much , I rejected it, yes I'm corrupt, I was offered ministerial appointments twice, I rejected it, yes I'm corrupt because whatever I am, I don't want anybody to say I made it through corruption. Look at my books, I'm Chairman, Transparency International based in Germany, I have given lectures against corruption with my papers in many universities globally. For someone to allege me that I have won my cases through corruption, it's an attempt to defame me, that was why I rejected all appeals earlier made to me. But when I heard that Ooni was coming, I knew I'm in a fix today. "Nkan de o". There is nothing I'm going to gain from his(Dele) imprisonment and there's nothing I want from the so called damages. I am not in quest of more wealth, I'm rather concerned on managing the one I have already. Dele Farotimi is hereby forgiven. On this occasion, I say "YES".
Ooni departed venue of the meeting at about half past midnight for his Ojaja Park in Akure from where he is expected to make his departure to Abuja on Monday.
Signed:
Otunba Moses Olafare,
Director, Media & Public Affairs,
Ooni's Palace
A Nigerian-American woman, Victoria Ogunremi, returned the cash sum of $5,700, which she had found in the toilet at her workplace in New Jersey, United States.
Most Nigerians living abroad have described the gesture as one of the remarkable acts of honesty and kindness.
Ogunremi told the News Agency of Nigeria in a telephone interview on Monday that the gesture had earned widespread praise from her employer, colleagues and the person who lost the money.
According to her, the decision to return the money was made with concern for the person who had lost the money.
Ogunremi said, “The thought of the pain or trauma it could cause inspired me.
“I did not hesitate to return it because of my Christian faith and beliefs. Honesty brings peace of mind, and it is the key virtue I cherish.”
She said that she had found the owner of the money before informing her employer’s organisation management.
Ogunremi said that her co-workers also admired her gesture, and many were not surprised by her act of kindness.
“The management was very pleased and proud of me. The owner was incredibly grateful and showered me with praise.
“They told me that it could only have been an act of kindness by a woman with the fear of God to do something like this,” she recounted.
The Nigerian-American attributed her kind nature to her late father’s teachings on moral upbringing, adding “he taught us never to take what does not belong to us.
“Such principles have guided me throughout my life, knowing that honesty is a principle I hope to instill in my children and grandchildren.
“Whether someone is watching or not, doing the right thing matters. A good name is priceless, and peace of mind is golden.
“No matter how tough your situation is, always return what does not belong to you. Doing the right thing brings rewards far greater than anything material.”
NAN reports that Ogunremi’s gesture is a shining example of integrity and compassion, of doing what is right even when it is not the easiest path.
NAN
The administration of President Bola Tinubu has announced the commencement of the process for recruitment of Nigerians into the Federal Civil Service.
This was made known in a statement on Monday by the Head, Press and Public Relations of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Taiwo Hassan.
The vacancy announcement was published on the Commission’s website and also announced in several national dailies.
Applicants who are physically challenged should state the nature of their disability.
Applicants are to upload the following documents as applicable:
i. Curriculum Vitae
ii. Ph.D/Master’s Degree Certificate
iii. Degree/HND/NCE Certificate
iv. WAEC/NECO/NABTEB Certificate
v. Primary School Certificate
vi. NYSC discharge/exemption/exclusion certificate
vii. Birth Certificate/Declaration of Age
viii. Local Government Identification
ix. Recent Passport photograph
Naija News reports the deadline for the submission of applications is Monday, 10th March, 2025.
Eligible applicants are to apply for only one position via the application link: https://recruitment.fedcivilservice.gov.ng.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerian universities that his administration was committed to addressing challenges confronting the university system.
Naija News reports the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Said Ahmad, stated this as she represented the President at the 44th Convocation Ceremony of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, on Saturday.
Tinubu challenged universities to intensify research efforts and bring out practical solutions to challenges affecting the economy.
Nigeria is ready to collaborate with Switzerland to drive innovation – Senate President, Akpabio
Admin
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate with Switzerland to drive innovation, diversify the economy, and create lasting opportunities for future generations.
Akpabio highlighted Nigeria’s position as Africa’s largest economy and a member of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), emphasizing the country’s willingness to engage with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) beyond traditional trade partnerships.
Speaking in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Chairman and members of the Swiss EFTA delegation to the National Assembly, Akpabio said, “We envision partnerships that will ignite innovation, diversify our economy, and create opportunities for generations to come. Switzerland and EFTA have long exemplified ingenuity and economic cooperation, setting a benchmark for unity and shared progress.”
He recalled the 2017 agreement in which Switzerland returned $321 million in recovered funds to Nigeria, describing it as a historic act that strengthened trust and set a global standard for accountability and justice.
Akpabio also highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the naira exchange rate. He noted that these reforms are paving the way for sustainable growth, with projections suggesting a GDP growth rate of 4.17% by 2025.
“Our challenges can be overcome—not by one nation alone, but through the unity of many,” Akpabio said, expressing optimism about future collaborations.
On behalf of the Nigerian Senate, he thanked the delegation, saying, “May our deliberations be fruitful, our resolve unshakable, and our partnership enduring.”
Thomas Aeschi, leader of the delegation and a member of Switzerland’s House of Representatives, expressed optimism about strengthening economic ties with Nigeria. He noted that while EFTA has yet to formalize trade negotiations with Nigeria, the visit aimed to lay the groundwork for future collaboration.
“EFTA, comprising Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein, is dedicated to fostering free trade and economic cooperation with countries outside the European Union. Nigeria, as a country of immense potential, is an indispensable partner for Switzerland in Western Africa,” Aeschi said.
He underscored Nigeria’s significant potential, driven by its large population, and expressed confidence in parliamentary diplomacy as a tool to enhance bilateral ties and initiate new processes for collaboration.
“While we do not yet have a formal trade negotiation framework with Nigeria, we are here to explore possibilities and set the stage for future engagements,” Aeschi concluded.
[Opinion Nigeria]
The Group Chief Executive Officer of OandO Plc, Wale Tinubu has disclosed that the oil firm is partnering with the Lagos State Government to deploy 5,000 electric buses for public transportation in the state.
Tinubu, said this in an interview with CNBC Africa, on the sidelines of the just concluded World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
He said the decision to invest in electric vehicles, particularly for public transportation, is informed by the company’s commitment to adopting cleaner energy solutions as part of its ‘just’ energy transition drive.
He makes a case for a ‘just transition’ over decarbonisation in Africa as the continent “is actually a victim of global warming,” bearing the brunt of climate change while contributing only about 3% of global emissions.
He stressed that Africa cannot decarbonise or abandon its large deposits of fossil fuels for clean energy sources while the majority of its citizens wallow in energy poverty.
“The arguments for decarbonisation are as important as the arguments for a just transition, and that transition has to recognize the fact that Africa has 45% of the people who have no access to electricity or energy products so our first step really must be to use what we need, which means that we need to use our gas as part of the energy mix to service the needs of our continent and that we need to do so as a transitional fuel whilst we work with an energy mix”
He noted that Oando, being a major player in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is deploying EVs as a “carbon capture technique” to contribute to the global decarbonisation campaign.
“For every modicum of carbon we put into the economy, into the world and the environment, we are also taking that out by ensuring that we have carbon capture techniques as well as ensuring that our clean energy offering to as part of our products and services is high so we’re focusing a lot on e-vehicles,” he explained.
He disclosed that the company will deploy 5,000 electric buses to Lagos in its contribution to helping Nigeria transition its public transport system from combustion engines to electric vehicles.
“We are using gas as a transitional fuel to create electricity to generate the power to power buses, transport is 10% of global emissions so if we tackle public transport we would be able to reduce emissions by 5% almost immediately and the first step we’re doing now is also working on a public system of being able to transit the bus system in Nigeria from diesel or petrol to electric vehicles starting with a project which we’re working on with the Lagos state government as a pilot case where we expect to see up to 5,000 buses, e-buses being deployed in our streets.”
Oando to deploy AI in next oil drilling campaign
Tinubu also hinted at the potential deployment of artificial intelligence in the company’s next drilling campaign, as the company aims to enhance operational efficiency through technology.
He explained that the deployment of AI has become necessary to effectively utilise resources, and improve overall performance in Oando’s upcoming projects.
“It (AI) is a big game-changer. For example in our drilling operations, we have to make serious decisions which have a high impact on cost. And being able to throw in all the potential answers to our questions based on old experiences, by having a whole sequence of possibilities which can be taken through artificial intelligence. So it is something we are looking forward to deploying in our next drilling campaign,” he disclosed.
What you should know
- In August 2024, Oando PLC acquired Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) from Italian oil giant, Eni in a deal worth $783 million. The acquisition increased Oando’s oil and gas reserves and doubled its oil and gas reserves.
- Earlier this year, the company announced that its subsidiary, Oando Energy Resources (OER), was awarded the operatorship of Block KON 13 in Angola’s Onshore Kwanza Basin.
[Nairametrics]
President Bola Tinubu’s government has reaffirmed its commitment to combat corruption, revitalize the economy, enhance national unity, bolster the judiciary’s independence and ensure free and fair elections in Nigeria.
Naija News reports that Vice President Kashim Shettima made this statement at the national conference on Monday in Abuja, which focused on reinforcing democracy in Nigeria.
The conference, titled ‘Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Pathways to Good Governance and Political Integrity,’ was organized by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development.
Represented by his Special Adviser on political matters, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, Shettima acknowledged that while democracy may not be flawless, it remains the most effective form of governance when compared to others.
Shettima urged Nigerians to rally behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) government during this difficult yet ultimately fulfilling journey, emphasizing that the Bola Tinubu government is deeply invested in the quality of the democratic framework.
“We will listen and adjust where necessary, and we will account for our stewardship in all matters our challenging democratic systems demand.
“I am convinced that Nigeria shall rise again, answer to its full potential and lead the way to a future that has learnt lessons from a difficult past into a world in which our country will be a key player, and our young will be active champions of a democratic system because it speaks to them.
“It has been said many times that democracy is an imperfect system, yet superior to all others.
“We will continue to seek to provide evidence of the values of the democratic systems by, among others, fixing major weaknesses of our economy, securing our communities, fighting corruption, supporting free and fair elections, strengthening the independence of the judiciary and improving national cohesion,” he said.
[NaijaNews]
The FCT Police Command says preliminary investigations have revealed that the abductors of family members in Chikakore community in Bwari area council, were unknown men who disguised as vigilantes wielding machetes and sticks.
Daily Trust had reported that a man, his wife and their son were abducted in the early hours of Monday.
A statement by the command spokeswoman, SP Adeh Josephine, said the suspects deceived the man into opening his house gate, after which they abducted him alongside three of his family members.
She said a neighbour, who attempted to intervene, sustained injuries during the attack and was rushed to Kubwa General Hospital for treatment.
She said the FCT Police Command received a distress call at about 1:00:am regarding a case of abduction and assault in the Chikakore community, adding that police operatives were swiftly deployed to the scene.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that seven unknown men, disguised as vigilante members and armed with machetes and sticks, attacked the residence of the victim. The suspects deceived him the victim into opening his gate, after which they abducted him and three members of his family. A neighbour who attempted to intervene sustained injuries during the attack and was promptly rushed to Kubwa General Hospital for medical attention,” she said.
She, however, said that the police command had commenced a comprehensive search and rescue operation, aimed at rescuing the abducted victims safely and apprehending the perpetrators.
The command urged residents of the Chikakore community and the general public to remain calm and vigilant, calling on members of the public with useful information that could assist in the rescue of the victims to promptly report to the police.
She said the FCT Police Command can be reached via its emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883.
[DailyTrust]
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has opened up about his health since leaving office on May 29, 2023.
Buhari said his health has improved, adding that he looks better since leaving office in 2023.
While in office as President, Buhari was plagued by illness which led to him being flown abroad for medical attention.
He handed over to Bola Tinubu after serving his two terms as President.
Speaking at an All Progressives Congress, APC, stakeholders’ meeting at the Katsina State Government House, Buhari suggested that the complexities of being the President of Nigeria affected his health.
“Those outside the corridors of power do not understand the complexities and difficulties facing Nigeria.
“My health has improved since leaving office. People who visited me told me I look better than before.”
[DailyPost]
More...
Actress and producer Mary Njoku and netizens have criticized 2baba’s decision to divorce his wife, Annie Idibia.
Njoku expressed her concerns on Instagram, stating that 2baba’s actions would humiliate Annie, who has already made tough choices for the family.
Njoku’s reaction is not isolated, as many fans and friends of Annie have questioned 2baba’s decision.
She wrote: “Bro, Annie has a family o, your sisters-in-law are many, and we’ve stayed quiet out of respect for her tough choices.
“But since you’ve decided to humiliate her at her lowest, no wahala. It’s your choice, just make sure she’s healthy and ok.
“Because when the time comes, we’ll have plenty of questions for you.”
Netizens reactions: One Bayo Otedola on X wrote: “We all know 2face to be a very quiet and private person about his marriage and for him to come online to make such statement about his marriage means he’s seen enough. I wish the guy all the love and support he needs at this time. All the best 2baba”
Oku_yungx wrote: “It is really difficult to see a grown man speak up honestly. 2face needs all the support he can get this period. He looks worn out just like Pep Guardiola. Gentlemen, stay praying for 2baba and his family.”
The Amazon wrote: “This whole 2baba and Annie saga is just a description of how men always put themselves first! Men are very selfish with their life choices, they use their head not heart to act, unlike women, always emotional about everything and put men first before themselves”.
Big Love wrote: “The way 2face embarrasses Annie is just too much! Disgracing the woman who stood by him when he had nothing, giving him her life. Even if the whole world is against her, 2baba should know better. He’s always finding a way to disgrace her when people are against her. Her first love is you, 2baba. She sees you as her best friend and husband! She doesn’t have anyone else but you. You’re the one she trusts and leans on. It’s heartbreaking for Annie. I hope all of you won’t kill her because of your madness and hate for this innocent girl. She’s been nothing but loyal and deserves better than all this negativity”.
The legendary singer announced his plans to divorce Annie on Sunday, which sparked widespread criticism.
[TheNation]
South Sudanese authorities have blocked access to social media platforms in response to recent unrest, drawing condemnation from the Committee to Protect Journalists and concerns over press freedom and public access to information.
On January 22, South Sudan’s telecommunications regulator, the National Communication Authority, directed all internet service providers to “block access to all social media accounts” for a “minimum of 30 days” and a “maximum of 90 days,” according to a copy of the authority’s letter reviewed by CPJ as well as multiple media reports.
The directive aims to curb the spread of footage showing the killings of South Sudanese nationals in neighbouring Sudan, which had sparked violent protests, including retaliatory killings of Sudanese nationals.
CPJ in a statement on Monday strongly criticised the move, describing it as a disproportionate response to the unrest.
“Blocking social media access is a blanket act of censorship and a disproportionate response to unrest that makes it difficult for journalists to do their jobs and robs the public of the diverse sources of news.
“South Sudanese authorities should immediately lift this social media suspension,” said CPJ Africa programme coordinator, Muthoki Mumo.
According to CPJ, journalists in South Sudan are struggling to navigate the ban, resorting to virtual private networks to continue their work.
However, they remain uncertain whether their audience can access their reports.
“We journalists are using VPNs to work. What we don’t know is whether our audience is receiving [our news],” said Mariak Bol, editor-in-chief of Hot in Juba, a news site that also publishes content on Facebook.
The social media ban comes amid broader measures to address unrest in the country, including a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed in the capital, Juba, on January 17.
The Authority’s director general, Napoleon Adok Gai, suggested in a press briefing on January 23 that the ban could be lifted within 72 hours, though no official confirmation has been made.
CPJ noted that efforts to reach South Sudan’s information minister and the National Communication Authority for further clarification were unsuccessful.
[Punch]
Betty Otimenyin on Monday assumed duty as the first female Commissioner of Police in Edo State.
Ms Otimenyin arrived at the headquarters of the Police Command in Edo, some minutes before 10 am, where she inspected the guard mounted in her honour.
The commissioner of police, who is the 49th to be deployed to the state, was received by senior officers of the command.
Otimenyin replaced Umoru Ozigi, who retired from the service on Saturday, after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60.
In a short interview with newsmen, the police chief, who also hailed from Edo, said she would do a lot to reduce the rate of crime in the South-South state.
“I will do a lot of things until the crime level comes down.
“We will also look at extortion (among the men and officers) of the command. The Inspector-General of Police frowns at it,” she said.
According to her, the command will be tougher on violence against women and children.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Otimenyin enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant of Police (ASP) in 1992.
Before her redeployment to Edo, she had served in various commands including Force Intelligence Department (FID) as Commissioner of Police, Administration.
NAN
DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) platform, has overtaken OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the most downloaded free application on the Apple store in the United States.
DeepSeek is an AI search platform that leverages deep learning algorithms and natural language processing (NLP) to deliver highly relevant, intent-driven results.
The platform was launched in 2023 with two versions: DeepSeek-R1, a standard model, and DeepSeek-R1-Zero, which features unsupervised fine-tuning for superior reasoning capabilities.
According to Reuters, the AI application recently surpassed ChatGPT to become the most downloaded free application in the US.
The feat comes amid US restrictions on the export of advanced chips to China.
Despite the limitations, the app’s researchers claim to have trained their latest model on Nvidia’s H800 chips.
The training process reportedly costs about $6 million, a fraction of the usual expenses for developing advanced AI systems.
On January 20, DeepSeek shared its performance comparison with OpenAI on X.
DeepSeek’s rapid rise has sparked conversations about a reevaluation of the global AI power structure.
Some have lauded its affordability and robust performance, predicting it would challenge the status quo; while others view its open-source philosophy as a disruptive force with long-term implications.
[TheCable]