FEATURES
The General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Doctor William Folohunso Kumuyi has advised Christians against giving their offerings to the Church but rather give it to the poor and unemployed in their communities.
Kumuyi who made the statement in a viral video was heard telling his church congregation that Christians should not spend all their money on building churches but also help their poor neighbours who can’t afford basic life needs.
Kumuyi narrated how a preacher had instructed his members to give monies meant for offering to the poor and unemployed people around them.
Recall that a controversial OAP, Daddy Freeze had rebuked some Nigerian pastors over their ostentatious lifestyle while their members lived in abject poverty.
Freeze was quoted to have said, “When I started going against tithe, there’s no Nigerian pastor that didn’t respond. I just came and read the bible to them: Deuteronomy chapter 14, if you read from verse 22, it said, ‘Eat your tithe by yourself.’ I read it.
Kumuyi noted that it is good to build the church but while building, Christians must remember their neighbours dying of hunger.
He said, “Look at all this offering we’re collecting, this church has silver and gold. I learned of a preacher somewhere who was having their church service. And he said, Now we’re going to collect the offering. If you have 10,000, N20,000, or N50,000, raise your hand, and they will be faithful.
“Then he stood up and said that N10,000, 20,000, and N50,000 go to the poor in your community. All the offering is not just church, there are poor, unemployed people around. There are indigent people around. We will build ours, but while you’re building, your neighbours are dying.
Hardship: Current constitution cannot resolve our economic challenges – Anyaoku
“Your neighbour, who does not have anything, your sisters, and your brother have nothing to send their children to school. We built DLICC (Deeper Life International Conference Centre) with all the offerings we could build. And we can now be at ease and allow our members to die of hunger and to be destroyed because they have nothing and we have the money.
“And what if this church, like we used to do in the olden days, in the good old days that we reserve some amount of money for charity? That we allocate some amount of money for building DLICC, and the district church, and the people we’re building for are dying of hunger, malnutrition, and starvation.
“Let’s budget part of the money, millions of our currency to take care of the people. Which one comes first when your house is leaking, and your mother is dying? How will you spend it—mending the leaking room or taking care of your mother?
“We should give priority to members of our church, even those who are not members. We know them, and we can contact them.
“We should not spend all our money on a building of a church that will not be raptured when Christ comes, because Christ is coming, he noted
Just recently, Vanguard reported how one of a family of six died after eating poisonous ‘Amala’ made from cassava pills, similarly, a popular online news medium reported how a father macheted his son over a portion of rice.
These sad incidents are coming on the heels of economic hardship facing the country which has greatly impacted the cost of living and rising inflation figures in Nigeria
The United Nations (UN) has released the list of the top ten happiest countries in Africa, as contained in the 2023 World Happiness Report.
Naija News reports that the World Happiness Report measures national happiness and the data is primarily from the Gallup World Poll based on respondent ratings of their own lives.
In Africa, Mauritius emerges as the happiest country on the continent, boasting a happiness score of 5.902. Its extremely happy landscapes and diverse culture undoubtedly contribute to this high ranking.
Algeria is a close second, with a score of 5.392, reflecting a sense of well-being prevalent in North Africa. South Africa and DR Congo were placed third and fourth consecutively.
Nigeria was placed eighth on the list, while Cameroon and Mozambique came ninth and tenth on the report.
Below is a list of most happiest African countries,
1. Mauritius
2. Algeria
3. South Africa
4. DR Congo
5. Guinea
6. Côte d’Ivoire
7. Gabon
8. Nigeria
9. Cameroon
10. Mozambique
In an astonishing turn of events, Chief Olisa Igbonwa, a man who was allegedly buried alive by his kinsmen in Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area in 2022, dramatically resurfaced last week at the Anambra State House of Assembly.
The incident occurred when he confronted his elder brother, Chief Uzoma Igbonwa, leading to a significant commotion among lawmakers and assembly workers.
The unexpected encounter between the two brothers took the assembly by surprise, prompting a member of the House to lock the assembly complex’s gate to prevent outsiders from witnessing the confrontation.
Olisa Igbonwa, who had been presumed dead following a ceremonial burial organized by his kinsmen two years ago, accused his elder brother of orchestrating the burial and concealing property documents belonging to their late father.
The confrontation, rooted in a family feud over inheritance and an unsettled debt of $45,000 allegedly sent by Olisa to his brother during his stay in Switzerland, unfolded against the backdrop of a summon by the House committee on public petitions.
The community of Alor had been called to appear before the committee in relation to a petition against the town’s traditional ruler, Igwe Mac Anthony Okonkwo, further complicating the Igweship crisis in Alor.
The elder Igbonwa, caught off-guard by his brother’s sudden appearance, found himself at the centre of allegations involving the prolonged leadership dispute in Alor.
The dispute had led to the emergence of a rival traditional ruler, with Olisa’s brother accused of exacerbating the crisis.
Amidst these allegations, Olisa’s brother claimed that Igwe Mac-Anthony Okonkwo had hired thugs to attack him at the assembly, where he had lodged a petition against the traditional ruler over the decade-long crisis.
Despite the chaos and the serious accusations flying within the assembly premises, the Anambra State House of Assembly dismissed the petition against Igwe Mac-Anthony Okonkwo, urging the community to refrain from spreading rumours.
The incident, marking Olisa Igbonwa’s first public appearance since his alleged ceremonial burial, underscores the deep-seated familial and communal tensions in Alor, further highlighted by the contentious issue of traditional rulership.
An indigene of the community said, “It was, therefore, not surprising that when the Igweship tussle reared its head in Alor, the two brothers supported opposing candidates.
“In September 2023, the same group of people, led by Olisa’s brother and his anointed President General, sent a letter to the Anambra State Attorney General, claiming that Igwe Mac-Anthony Okonkwo had been sacked by the courts and should not be allowed to perform the annual New Yam Festival of the town.
”It took a strongly worded letter from Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, Igwe Mac-Anthony’s lawyer, who promptly wrote the Anambra Attorney General to clear the air concerning the fictitious and deceptive petition.
“The Alor Peace and Reconciliation Committee, set up to mediate in the decade-long crisis in the community, indicted the Igbonwa-led group for rejecting the harmonized and consensus selection done in February 2022, which was supervised by the Anambra State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, which was supposed to bring peace to the town.”
‘Sex For Roles Victims Are Paid Peanuts After Production’ – BBNaija’s BamBam Narrates Experience
AdminFormer Big Brother Naija Housemate cum Nollywood actress, Bamike Olawunmi, popularly known as Bambam, has said the issue of ‘sex for roles’ in the Nigerian movie industry is a “scam”.
Naija News reports that the reality TV star made this known while speaking in the latest episode of the Secrets Behind the Scenes podcast.
According to her, filmmakers used ‘sex for role’ to exploit overzealous young actresses and often end up not fulfilling their promises of giving them major roles after sleeping with them.
She urged aspiring actresses not to fall prey to ‘sex for roles’, stressing that it is not worth it because they are paid little amount of money after production.
Bambam recalled how a producer gave her keys to his hotel room after casting her in a movie role.
She said, “Sex for roles is a scam. It’s not worth it. Some of them [victims] what they are paying them at the end of that production is not more than N50,000, N100,000. Don’t be deceived o! It’s a lie. It [sex for role] is a scam.
overlay-clevercloseLogo
“The one that I did waka pass that dem give me N5,000 and the guy [filmmaker] was giving me his hotel room key to hold. Ah! I don’t want to mention names.”
Jasmine Okafor, daughter of veteran Nollywood actor, Mr Ibu has opened up on her marriage crisis to her ex-husband.
Naija News understands that the man had reportedly flown from the US to Gambia to see her two months after talking on TikTok and proposed four days after their physical meeting.
The couple tied the knot in February, however nine months after their wedding, Jasmine announced that their marriage had come to an end.
She had written, “This was the best nine months of my life! I have no regrets whatsoever! I just won’t settle for asking you about this severally before we start! Finding out today from your mum really broke me! A foundation built upon a tiny lie won’t stand! I love how you loved me! But hate how you never mentioned your divorce or kids to me! Moving on, I don’t think I want anybody else! Just gonna love you from a distance.”
Sharing more details on her collapsed marriage during an interview with Chude Jideonwo, the content creator disclosed that her husband lied to her that he was 38 but she she discovered on their wedding day that he lied and was actually 51, hence her reason for calling off their wedding.
Watch the video below,
Media
Popular Yoruba actress Biodun Okeowo, known as Biodun Omoborty, has taken to social media to express her disbelief and shock at the sudden and tragic passing of veteran actor Sisi Quadri.
The news of the actor’s untimely demise due to kidney-related issues has left both the entertainment industry and fans in mourning.
Taking to her Instagram account, Biodun Omoborty shared her disbelief and pain over the loss of her colleague and friend.
“I’m not sure of how to deal with this” – Kunle Afolayan expresses heartbreak over colleague's untimely death
Admin
Renowned actor and filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has taken to social media to express his grief over the unexpected demise of Nollywood actor, Quadri Oyebamiji Tolani, popularly known as Sisi Quadri.
The news of his passing spread like wildfire across social media platforms, leaving fans and colleagues alike in shock and disbelief.
Sharing a poignant photo of himself and Sisi Quadri on the set of ‘Anikulapo,’ Kunle Afolayan conveyed his shock and deep sorrow at the tragic news.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Afolayan struggled to find adequate words to articulate his emotions, expressing disbelief over the untimely departure of the actor.
“Sad! Sad! Sad! I’m not sure of what to say or how to deal with this! There is a saying that “T’ibi t’ire la da Ile aye.” This is just so shocking????????♂️ May your soul rest in peace Quadri,” Afolayan wrote.
Revelations about Sisi Quadri’s cause of death emerged through blogger Seun Oloketuyi’s Instagram post, where it was disclosed that the actor succumbed to complications related to kidney issues.
See below;
Following the untimely demise of the comic actor Quadri Oyebamiji, popularly known as Sisi Quadri, the cause of the actor’s death has been revealed.
According to recent reports, the cause of Sisi Quadri’s death has been attributed to complications arising from kidney-related issues.
The disclosure was made by blogger Seun Oloketuyi, who shared the unfortunate news on social media.
Yoruba actor Sisi Quadri passes away due to Kidney-related issues
The devastating news was initially disclosed by fellow actor Tunde Olayusuf, who took to social media to announce Sisi Quadri’s death and offer prayers for his departed soul.
In the wake of Sisi Quadri’s passing, luminaries of the Yoruba movie industry, including Muyiwa Ademola, Folorunsho Adeola, Bukola Adeeyo, and others, have expressed their grief and shared heartfelt memories of their interactions with the late actor.
Sisi Quadri’s departure comes just a year after he faced the painful loss of his beloved mother.
The actor, emotionally shattered, had shared the news on his Instagram page, promising to keep her memory alive in his heart.
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted and seized smuggled fake drugs worth over N1 billion along Bakatari area of Omi-Adio, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The NCS’s Oyo/Osun Commander, Ben Oramalugo while addressing newsmen in Ibadan on Friday, said the seized fake drugs had a total Duty Paid Value (DPV ) of N1,739,000,000,000 only for the 2024 fiscal year.
The area Ccontroller said the command had been an enforcement oriented command that prioritised fighting against smuggling in all its operations.
According to him, NCS, through the area command, aimed to alleviate hardship experienced as a result of some economic saboteurs in the country, adding that they had also successfully intercepted and seized contraband goods, including items that posed threats to economic stability and lives of the citizens in the country.
He said: “For the period of 19th January to February, 2024, the command has intercepted and seized the following contraband goods, foreign parboiled rice 345 (50kg) bags, worth N24,218,000.00, Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, 344 (25 litres) kegs, worth N5,728,500.00, Indian Hemp, 4 wraps (4 Kilograms), worth N126, 000.00, Used tyres, 1309 pieces, worth N70, 140,000,00, used clothes and shoes, 45 sacks/, 8 sacks/9 sacks, bales, worth N32,400,000.00/N10, 320, 000,00.”
He reiterated commitment of the command towards fighting against ongoing economic difficulties by supporting the Federal Government to enhance food security in the country.
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has called for the arrest of Sunday Igboho, a prominent figure in the South West.
The call is in response to a recent viral video where Igboho was seen making inflammatory statements, demanding the expulsion of all Fulani cattle breeders from Yoruba land.
In the video, Igboho, known for his fiery rhetoric, vehemently asserts his intention to drive out Fulani herders from the South West, citing grievances and escalating tensions between ethnic groups in the region.
In a press release signed by the MACBAN national president, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, it was noted that Igboho’s bold proclamation sent shockwaves through the community, prompting swift reactions from various quarters.
“We call on the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and relevant security agencies to arrest and prosecute Sunday Igboho for making this unlawful statement that amounts to treason because he is asking for the actualisation of Oduduwa nation.
“His statements are unlawful. If Nnamdi Kanu will be held behind bars for a similar offence, we see no reason why Sunday Igboho will be allowed to go scot-free without being arrested and prosecuted.
The MACBAN emphasised the need for law and order, denouncing any form of vigilantism or ethnic profiling, stressing that individuals should be held accountable for their actions, regardless of their ethnic or religious background.
More...
The Theatre Arts And Motion Pictures Practitioners Association Of Nigeria, TAMPAN, on Friday confirmed the death of popularly comic Yoruba actor, Sisi Quadri.
TAMPAN National President, Bolaji Amusan, popularly known as Mr Latin, confirmed Sis Quadri’s death in an Instagram post.
Mr Latin wrote: “Hmmmmm! May God grant him eternal rest.”
Sisi Quadri had passed on at the age of 44.
His death was revealed by some of his colleagues in the Yoruba movie industry.
Writing on her verified Instagram handle, actress Abiola Bayo said: “You will be greatly missed, Sisi Quadri. May your soul rest in perfect peace”.
Sis Quadri was renowned for his exceptional comedic talent and his ability to deliver cutting insults with finesse.
Mrs Jane Ebi, a businesswoman, on Friday, dragged her husband, Monday, before a Customary Court in Jikwoyi, near Abuja.
She is accusing him of “following everything under skirt”.
Jane, who is seeking a divorce, said that her husband is hot-tempered, wicked, and had a bad attitude of getting drunk and following different women or anything under the skirt.
The petitioner alleged that her husband had been trying to get her out of the way by killing her.
She also told the court that her husband passes nights outside their matrimonial home.
“My husband always sleeps outside our matrimonial home with small girls leaving me and the children in danger.
“I have done all I can to make the respondent change from that life, but he has refused to change. It’s on these grounds that I seek to divorce him,” She said.
The respondent, Monday, who is a driver, however denied all the allegations.
The presiding judge, Doocivir Yawe, however, advised the couple to explore reconciliation and adjourned the matter until March 7, for report of settlement or hearing, NAN reports.
The Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, has arrested a couple, a former soldier and a printer, for allegedly producing fake currencies.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the police paraded the suspects, including the couple, aged 50 and 46, at the command’s headquarters on Friday in Lagos.
The Zonal Public Relations Officer, Tunni Ayuba, who spoke on behalf of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the zone, Mr Olatoye Durosinmi, said that the arrest of the printer led to the arrest of the couple and the former soldier.
Ayuba said the team swung into action on February 3, invaded the hideout of the printer on Lagos Island, and arrested him, based on an intelligence report duly approved by the AIG.
The spokesperson said the police also confiscated a printing machine allegedly used by the printer in printing security threads on counterfeit currencies and recovered a cash sum of 300 million CFA and N9m, both suspected to be counterfeit, from the printer.
According to Ayuba, the printer confessed to having been in currency counterfeiting for over three years and named those he supplied fake currencies for circulation.
“His confession led to the arrest of the couple, who are partners in the crime,” she added.
She further stated that the confessions of the couple led to the arrest of the former soldier who was allegedly found to be in possession of some suspected counterfeit local and foreign currencies when his house was searched.
According to her, efforts are being intensified to apprehend fleeing members of the syndicate.
Olu Agunloye, a former Minister of Power and Steel under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, has filed a N1 billion suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations that it published his name on its website’s wanted list.
Mr Agunloye, in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/167/2024 and filed by his team of lawyers led by Adeola Adedipe (SAN), also joined the Attorney-General of Federation (AGF) as the second defendant.
The case before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has now been fixed for April 18 for hearing.
The ex-minister sought six reliefs, including a declaration that the EFCC cannot lawfully exercise its discretion, powers and or functions under sections 1(2\(c\, 6, 7, 13 of the EFCC Act, 2004, ditto section 4 of the Police Act 2020, by declaring him wanted on its official website or any other related platform.
Mr Agunloye said this was without recourse to any safeguard in sections 34({1)(a), 35, 37, 39, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), including a judicial intervention, order or leave of court pursuant to sections 1(1), 8(1) & 42(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
He, therefore, sought an order for the EFCC, its agents, privies, representatives and other related affiliates to forthwith remove his picture, name, references, details and or particulars from the wanted list published on its official website or any other related platform.
He also sought a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC and the AGF, “both jointly or severally, whether by themselves or their staff, from further declaring the plaintiff wanted in relation to the particulars and subject matter of this suit, either on the EFCC official website, newspaper publication or any other related platform, except by a judicial intervention and recourse to all constitutional safeguards available to him in law and equity.
“General damages of one billion naira (N1,000,000,000:00) against the defendants, especially the first defendant.”
In the affidavit which he deposed to, Mr Agunloye said he sought a redress and judicial intervention from the court concerning some actions of the anti-graft agency, which he said ought not to occur under the watch of the AGF, who is the chief law officer of the federation.
He said he sought a judicial determination on the propriety or otherwise of exercising the EFCC’s discretion or power to declare him wanted without recourse to any judicial intervention or relevant constitutional safeguards.
“As at the time of filing this suit, my picture, name, particulars and other details are currently uploaded on the official website of the first defendant,” he said.
The plaintiff said he was declared wanted for corruption and forgery.
He said that as a result of the action by the first defendant, “I have become a subject of ridicule, stripped of my dignity, freedom of movement and even presumption of innocence, with respect to a criminal trial which I am currently being prosecuted of, by the first defendant.”
Mr Agunloye alleged that the deliberate act of the EFCC was orchestrated to project him negatively in the international community.
He said this was so because sometime from November 2002 to May 2003, while he served as Minister of Power and Steel, he awarded a contract to Messrs Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited for the construction of the Mambila Power Project by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN).
On December 12, 2023, the commission declared Mr Agunloye wanted over his role in the $6 billion Mambilla hydropower contract.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had accused Mr Agunloye of mismanaging the power project during his tenure from 1999 to 2003 and failed to brief him on the state of the project.
Mr Agunloye, however, denied the allegations, stressing that the nature of the initial contract for the project was awarded as a Build, Operate and Transfer contract in May 2003 under his watch.
The ex-minister said it was traumatising for EFCC to declare him wanted, “Knowing fully well that I was not on the run, I reported at the EFCC headquarters here in Abuja the next day, December 13, 2023, where I was served with a criminal charge and was detained till December 18, 2023.
“On January 10, 2024, I was arraigned in court and admitted to bail on January 11, 2024, because I am presumed innocent of all the criminal allegations,” he averred.
Mr Agunloye said even though the law presumes him innocent of the criminal charge, EFCC continued with the unlawful publication on its website.
He described the action of the anti-graft agency as “arbitrariness, oppression, violation of its statutory powers and functions and unlawful.