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‘I Have Been Battling With Kidney Disease For 12 Years’ – Nollywood Actress Ufuoma McDermott Opens Up
AFOLABI
Nollywood actress, Ufuoma McDermott, has opened up about battling kidney disease for 12 years, revealing that she also lost her younger brother to chronic kidney disease.
The thespian, in an interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwu, said she cannot afford to add weight due to her health condition.
Ufuoma said she was also diagnosed with Stage 3 kidney disease last year and was told to slow down at work and rest, but she thought she had more time and negotiated with her doctors.
The actress noted that despite the warnings of her doctors, she stressed her body, and she was shortly diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney disease.
Ufuoma said he had thought about dying because of what happened to her brother.
The movie star added that she found her way back from Stage 4 kidney disease, and it changed how she lived her life.
Watch the video below.
Popular social media influencer, Martins Otse, also known as Verydarkman, VDM, has been detained by the Nigeria Police Force.
His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju stated this on Thursday night via a post on his official Facebook page.
According to the activist lawyer, the social media critic was arrested after honouring an invitation from the police.
He wrote, “Our client, VDM has been detained after honouring police invitation just like yesterday.
“VDM has been consistent in saying the Nigerian Police are our friends even when we all know they are not”.
This may not be unconnected to the recent use of police uniform as seen in a viral video clip.
DAILY POST recalls that the Police on Thursday last week, condemned the unauthorized use of its official uniforms and accoutrements by VDM in a video posted on his social media platforms.
The force said in a statement by its spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi said it had launched an investigation into the circulating video.
Health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, and the Assembly of Healthcare Professionals Association, AHPA, have suspended their seven-day warning strike effective from midnight October 31 in the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, and in general public interest.
The National Chairman of JOHESU, Mr Kabiru Minjibir, said this in a communiqué jointly signed by Mr Martin Egbanubi, National Secretary of the union on Thursday in Abuja.
DAILY POST recalls that JOHESU had embarked on a seven-day warning strike on October 25, to press home its demands from the Federal Government.
It said that the decision to suspend the warning strike was taken at an emergency meeting of the Expanded National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union.
It added that the expanded NEC comprised the Presidents and General Secretaries of JOHESU affiliate unions and professional Associations, National Executive Council, NEC, members of affiliate Unions and JOHESU Chairmen and Secretaries at the State and Branch levels.
The communiqué said NEC-in-Session critically appraised the various reports and the MoU signed between the JOHESU team and the Federal Government team during the conciliation meeting held on October 29 at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
“NEC-in-session after extensive deliberations resolved that the suspension of the seven-day warning strike effective from midnight, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024 in the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and in general public interest.
“Time line of six weeks given to the Federal Government to meet all her obligations contained in the MoU.
“Expanded NEC meeting shall be convened upon the expiration of the six (6) weeks’ deadlines to review development and take appropriate decisions.
“Indefinite strike action shall be the next option if the Expanded NEC of JOHESU is not satisfied with the Federal Government responses to the implementation of her obligations contained in the MoU,” it said.
The demands of the unions include immediate implementation of CONHESS adjustment, payment of 25 per cent CONHESS Review arrears, payment of nine months’ salary to staff of Regulatory Agencies.
Others were the restoration of funding to Environmental Health Regulatory Council, reconstitution of Boards/Governing Councils of Federal Health Institution, commencement of the process to upwardly review retirement age of health workers, among others.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arrested the controversial social media personality and crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.
This arrest occurred just days after Bobrisky was released on bail by Nigeria police authorities.
The dramatic arrest took place Thursday evening as Bobrisky was about to board a flight to London.
Eyewitnesses reported that Nigerian authorities halted the plane just before takeoff and escorted the socialite off in front of other passengers.
The embattled Bobrisky took to Instagram shortly after the incident, he wrote, “Nigerians help me, EFCC just arrested me. I’m badly injured.”
Last week, he was detained by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) at the Seme border while allegedly attempting to escape the country.
The cross dresser has been under investigation after an audio recording surfaced in which Bobrisky allegedly claimed he was permitted to serve his six-month jail term outside of Kirikiri prison due to “influential connections”.
Isaac Fayose, the younger brother to former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, shared photos of himself and Bobrisky at the airport.
However, drama ensued as the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stormed the Lagos airport to arrest Bobrisky.
The controversial crossdresser, in a post via his Instagram page, cried out to Nigeriansfor help, stating he was severely injured.
A video of the incident that emerged online shows how Bobrisky was forcefully dragged off the flight by airport security officers.
Isaac Fayose, younger brother of former Ekiti state governor, says he and crossdresser Bobrisky “boarded the same flight to London”.
Isaac, who had previously faulted Bobrisky’s detention by the police, took to his Instagram pageon Thursday evening to share photos of himself with the self-proclaimed transgender.
“See who is on the same flight ✈️ with me to London @bobrisky222,” he wrote.
Watch the video below:
Media
The Media Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has berated the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike over the empowerment given to some youths in Abuja as commercial vehicle drivers.
Ibe, in a post via his account on the X platform (formerly Twitter), cautioned the federal government against reducing Nigerian youths to mere taxi drivers.
He pointed out that most youths engaged in the business of commercial driving are not doing it out of their free will but due to the unconducive economic environment and the need to survive.
The position of Ibe follows an earlier statement by Wike on Thursday while giving out cars to some youths in the FCT to use for commercial driving.
In his speech, the Minister encouraged the beneficiaries not to be ashamed that they are being empowered to be taxi drivers, saying that many Nigerians who reject taxi driving jobs at home gladly embrace such when they travel abroad.
The aide of Atiku, however, disagreed with the submission by Wike and urged the government to stop denying Nigerians and the youths, in particular, the opportunity to enjoy a better life due to wrong government policies.
He wrote: “This is a big fat lie. First off, Nigerian youths did not create this economic situation that continues to serve them the wrong end of the stick. Megalomaniacs did and have continued to deny them opportunities through their trial-and-error policies.
“We know lots of youths who have taken to making a living of driving taxis be they green taxis (or any other colour depending on what part of the country they operate in, @Uber or @boltapp.
“By the way, is this what you want to reduce our youths to: driving taxis? Nigerian youths are better than that. They’ve proven time and time again that their limitations are the megalomaniacs that continue to mortgage their destiny!”
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has revealed a new government policy that would permit Nigerians who currently hold dollars outside the formal banking system to bring those funds into the financial system.
Edun said such individuals have a nine-month grace period to comply with the directive without attracting legal liability or financial penalties.
The finance minister spoke after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday, where update was given on the Excess Crude Account currently standing at $473,754.57, the Natural Resources Fund at N26,105,837,627.67, and the Stabilisation Account at N36,299,452,763.62.
Edun equally gave update on government economic relief measures, saying 25 million Nigerians have benefited from federal social protection initiatives, including digital outreach, microenterprise loans, and sector-specific support for power, agriculture, manufacturing, health, and compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives.
He said, “One element of the cost increase is the foreign exchange rate, and that is demand and supply. There is going to be a release today, details by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance, in conjunction with the central bank, a programme, starting today, 31st of October, and lasting nine months, that will allow people to bring in cash that is outside the banking system.
“Therefore it is unsafe, it is unsecure and it is outside of legal limits. They will be allowed forbearance to bring dollar cash. Let me emphasise once again, it is to bring dollars that they are holding outside the system to be able to bring them in and credit it to their bank accounts, as long as it is not proceeds of crime, illicit money. There will be no penalty, there will be no taxes, there will be no questions.
“They just meet the normal Know Your Customer criteria of banks and they have an opportunity to bring in those funds, make them safe, make them secure, and make them available through normal, economic activity. The details of that, the guidelines of that, will be released, first of all, the announcement by the Ministry of Finance and the guidelines later will follow very quickly by the central bank.
“That is an opportunity, not just for people who would normally like to comply, to be compliant with the laws and normal business practice, but of course, it gives us an opportunity to bring those dollars from where they are doing nothing to where they are within the financial system, they add to our reserves, and of course can help with the exchange rate”.
Former Nigerian Senator, Ishaku Abbo has condemned the alleged corruption going on in the judiciary.
He argued that the Nigerian democracy will fail to grow if the judiciary is not overhauled to deliver justice and not injustice.
Abbo shared his reservation in Yola during an interaction with journalists.
The erstwhile senator, who was sacked this year by the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja after earlier winning his case at the Tribunal to return to the Senate for a second term of legislative duties, claimed that the case of vote-buying was more pronounced in the courts than in practice in the real sense of it.
“My mandate was kidnapped in the courtroom by some judiciary bandits sitting on the throne of judgment.
“Judgment is from God, so if you are appointed as a judge, it means you are representing God on earth. So, if you collect money to deliver injustice, you will answer before your creator on the last day,” he said.
He alleged further, “A top judicial officer came to my hotel room in Abuja with his wife demanding money on behalf of the judges handling my case. I have the camera records. I want to talk to his people in Taraba State to caution him so that his career may not be terminated prematurely because of bribe money.”
The senator, who dwelled heavily on the height of corruption in the judiciary, also pointed out that the political leadership in the north has collapsed due to the selfish interest of some of the leaders in the region.
“You cannot blame president Bola Tinubu, because majority of the northern leaders went to him and bargained for their personal gains and not on behalf of the north, so they have already harvested what belongs to the entire north,” he added.
On his political ambition to contest for the governorship of the state come 2027, he disclosed that he is still making consultations with stakeholders and that he will soon make a public declaration on his ambition after he concludes his consultations.
Socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has chided President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the absence of official empathy concerning the “agony and distressing state of the nation,” which Nigerians are presently grappling with.
Rising from a meeting held at the residence of its leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, at Isanya-Ogbo, Ogun State, the group lamented that the Federal Government sounded distant from the “pervasive hardship, unflagging insecurity and incapacitating hunger,” that Nigerians grappled with.
According to the group, this lack of empathy was evidenced by policies ostensibly aimed at compounding the woes of the people, citing the recent fuel price hike as the latest in such a posture.
Contained in a communique by the Afenifere Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan and Deputy Secretary-General, Alade Rotimi-John, made available to The PUNCH on Thursday, the group said it observed that there was the absence of a coherent programme of action by the Tinubu government to alleviate the hardship faced by Nigerians.
“Afenifere reviewed the unremitting distressing state of the nation’s social and economic situation under the President Bola Tinubu administration.
“Meeting observed that the distressful condition of the country is exemplified in pervasive hardship, unflagging insecurity and incapacitating hunger.
“The meeting noted the absence of official empathy respecting the people’s agonising situation.
“Meeting has instead observed an unwearying policy enunciation ostensibly aimed at compounding the woes of the people, e.g. the unabating fuel price hike.
“Meeting further observed the cavalier conduct of state affairs in, for instance, the absence of any coherent or unequivocal programme on the part of the government and its party.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disclosed that Betta Edu, a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, is still under investigation.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, represented by the agency’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, said controversial cross-dresser Okuneye Idris, better known as Bobrisky, is also under investigation.
He explained that the investigation continues into Betta Edu for alleged misconduct, with N30 billion recovered and 40 linked bank accounts under scrutiny.
On Bobrisky, EFCC stated that it will not tolerate corruption within its ranks after allegations of bribery to drop money laundering charges against the cross-dresser.
Uwujaren said: “Regarding the investigation into the allegations by Bobrisky and VeryDarkman, I am certain that the investigative process will conclude effectively. If any misconduct is confirmed, appropriate action will be taken. Throughout my years here, I have witnessed law enforcement personnel being held accountable for professional misconduct.”
“On former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, when the investigation began, we provided updates on our progress. The Chairman mentioned monitoring over 40 accounts, which takes time to review thoroughly. These matters are ongoing.
“A senior government spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, stated that a report was submitted to the President, who acted on it by appointing a new Minister of Humanitarian Affairs. I respect this information and its source,” the EFCC said.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has said that the FCT Administration would not condone unprofiled vehicles in the nation’s capital beginning from January 2025.
This is as he said that all commercial buses in the nation’s capital would be profiled by the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, DSS.
Wike made this statement at the FCT Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Programme in Abuja on Thursday, where he handed over some new cars to beneficiaries to use as taxis.
“They are not paying a dime. No. The government is saying this is our support to feed your family and reduce the cost of transportation in the city. Abuja should compete with other cities in the world,” the minister said.
He charged the beneficiaries not to be ashamed that they are being empowered to be taxi drivers, saying that many Nigerians who reject taxi driving jobs at home gladly embrace such when they travel abroad.
To curb cases of kidnapping and ‘one-chance’ robbery, the minister said effective January 2025, any commercial bus not duly profiled by security agencies won’t be allowed to operate within the nation’s capital.
“Most of the Keke Napep and most of the motorcycles are informants. Everybody here that is a beneficiary is being profiled by the security.
“And so what we are coming up with is that from January next year, there will be nobody that will operate as a taxi driver or a bus driver without having approval from security, with security profiling you and without going about with the Abuja colour.
“Nothing like using any vehicle on the road. No, we won’t allow that. From January, we won’t allow that.
“We will take the vehicle number, name of the drivers and the rest so everybody will have confidence that this is the vehicle I’m entering in case anything happens,” he added.
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says it has recovered over N248bn in the last year.
The Director of Public Affairs of the Commission, Wilson Uwajaren, made this disclosure on Thursday when he gave an update on the achievements of the anti-graft agency so far.
Uwajaren said the sum of over £53,000 and €172,000 were also recovered. €5,000 were also recovered for victims of crime in Spain, according to him.
According to him, the commission is taking its rapid response a notch higher as it will lead to a drop in cybercrime.
He further said the commission has also secured more than 35 convictions for Naira abuse by Nigerians at social events.
Uwajaren stated that three new directorates are set to emerge in Ekiti, Katsina and Anambra states.
Nigerians react as 38-year-old lady offers N50M to any man who comes for her hand in marriage
AFOLABI
A Nigerian lady who claims to be 38 years old has elicited a barrage of comments on social media with a whopping offer of N50M to her prospective partner.
The video which was shared by self-styled entertainer and media personality, Tunde Ednut showed the lady holding a banner which communicated her message.
In addition to the N50M cash gift, the lady noted that she would sponsor the wedding and place the man on a huge salary monthly.
She noted that she only desires a submissive man who wouldn’t cheat and stay at home to take care of her children.
The lady proudly showed off her poultry farm as one of her massive investments.
Sharing the video, Tunde Ednut wrote:
“Abeg, if una dey interested, please comment below “Yaaaaaaaaay”. She go see you for comment section, DM you.”
Reacting to the clip, @smplyjessie1 wrote: “Y’all She’s my Neighbor, she’s already married o.”
__malyk wrote: “On top this two line cages fowls ???? way everything no reach 50 millions ?.”
esianyee wrote: “Some women will just be embarrassing the rest of us. Madam go and sit down one place.”
billy_chigor wrote: “You get 50million na em you wan marry?”
godson_allsom wrote: “Promise me that we will be ?slaughtering chicken ?every two two days ?.”
maanaroyal wrote: “I believe It’s just content, you can’t have such Big Table and you’re BEGGING for someone to dine with!?”
charminghela_ wrote: “All she needs is a submissive man, just know say na you go be the wife for that house and the only thing wey you no go do na to born. But you go really hear whennnnn? ?.”
Watch the video below:
Lola Alao, the iconic Yoruba movie star, bared her soul, gave fans an intimate look into the tumultuous journey of her life and the heartbreaking reasons behind her two failed marriages.
During a recent interview with her colleague Biola Adebayo on the show Talk-to-B, Lola Alao pulled back the curtain on her life, offering fans an unfiltered look at the complexities surrounding her decisions to leave her Ex-hubbys.
She bare the truth, pinpointing her lack of patience as a significant factor in her marital struggles.
One of the most painful episodes she recounted involved her ex-husband, who, with astonishing audacity, cheated on her right in front of her eyes, a betrayal that shattered her trust and left her with no choice but to walk away.
Reflecting on her past, Lola acknowledged that had she been more patient, things might have turned out differently. However, she emphasized that she does not regret her choices, believing that maintaining her dignity was far more important than enduring a toxic relationship.
With profound insight, Lola extended a heartfelt message to married women everywhere: learn from her experiences and recognize the delicate balance between patience and self-respect.
She urged them to consider that while enduring the trials of marriage can sometimes be necessary, it should never come at the expense of one’s dignity.
To her, enduring a toxic relationship was far more painful than embracing the freedom that comes with leaving.
WATCH HER SPEAK IN CLIP BELOW
Media
Donald Trump pulled an election stunt with a garbage truck Wednesday as the White House campaign was forced off-piste by muddled remarks from President Joe Biden about the Republican’s supporters that caused a headache for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Harris had hoped to spend the day expanding on the final week “closing argument” she made at a huge Washington rally the night before — but found herself instead disavowing Biden’s remark that appeared to label Trump supporters “garbage.”
Trump — who, unlike Harris, has recently called his political opponents “garbage” in public — was on hand to exploit the misstep with a photo op, climbing into a garbage truck at an airport in Wisconsin and answering questions from reporters.
The row started over the weekend when a warm-up speaker at a Trump rally called the US territory of Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage,” in remarks that initially put the Republican campaign on the defensive.
Yet Biden’s gaffe provided Trump the opportunity to play the victim.
“How do you like my garbage truck? This truck is in honor of Kamala and Joe Biden,” Trump said from the cabin of the vehicle.
“You can’t be president if you hate the American people, which I believe they do,” Trump added later at his rally in Green Bay, still wearing his high-visibility jacket.
But as Republicans voiced outrage over Biden’s remarks, anti-Trump political group The Lincoln Project shared a video from the Republican’s September 7 rally in Mosinee, Wisconsin — verified by AFP — in which he called “the people that surround” the vice president “garbage.”
Trump had just attacked Harris over employment figures before he said: “And it’s not her, it’s the people that surround her. They’re scum. They’re scum, and they want to take down our country. They are absolute garbage.”
Harris meanwhile traveled to North Carolina and onward to Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, focusing again on three of seven battleground states that could determine who wins the closest election in modern US history.
In Madison, Wisconsin she told supporters: “Folks are exhausted and want it to stop, the pointing fingers. It is time that we start locking arms together as a people who rise and fall together.”
More than 57 million have already cast their ballots via early or mail-in voting, over a third of the 2020 total.
– ‘Unstable, obsessed’ –
Trump — who has 34 felony convictions for crimes connected to the 2016 election — is expected to reject Tuesday’s result if he loses.
The Republican is already seizing on commonplace verification processes by election officials to amplify his claims of widespread “cheating.”
Harris meanwhile was forced to fend off questions about Biden’s gaffe, which came when the president reacted to a comedian at a Trump rally referring to Puerto Rico as “a floating island of garbage.”
“The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters,” Biden said, before the White House sought to clarify that he was referring to Trump’s rhetoric, not to his supporters.
“Let me be clear, I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for,” said Harris, Biden’s vice president.
In North Carolina, Harris hammered home her campaign’s message to “turn the page” on Trump, leading the crowd in chants of “we are not going back!”
“This is someone who is unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance and out for unchecked power,” said Harris.
– ‘Cheating’ claims –
In Washington, Harris had spoken at the very spot where Trump stirred up a mob that went on to attack the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 in a violent attempt to keep him in power even though he lost the 2020 election to Biden.
Trump has taken to social media to repeat his claims of voter fraud, appearing to set the stage for a repeat performance around the unfounded claim that his 2020 loss to Biden was rigged.
He denounced what he said was “cheating” at “large-scale levels never seen before” in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania.
At his North Carolina rally, Trump again cast doubt on the fairness of voting machines and called for a return to paper ballots.
His campaign on Wednesday made a fresh plea for campaign donations by referencing Biden’s comments.
But one person who will not be voting for Trump on November 5 will be actor and former Republican governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, who endorsed Harris.
“Rejecting the results of an election is as un-American as it gets,” he said of Trump.
Inflation and the economy have been key issues this election, and on Wednesday new data showed solid economic growth despite a slight slowdown.