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Former presidential candidate and media mogul, Dele Momodu, has sounded a warning to potential contenders in the 2027 presidential election: challenging President Bola Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike will be no small feat.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Momodu emphasized the formidable political strength of Tinubu, even before he became president—strength that is now magnified by Wike’s alliance with him.
“Tinubu, who is already president, even when he was not president, we faced a lot of fire,” Momodu said.
“Now, when you have Tinubu and Wike on one side, then it means you have to be battle-ready; you have to assemble all your weapons and be ready for the battle ahead because 2027 is going to be like the World Cup, and you need your best players.”
PDP Governors Under Fire Over Opposition Coalition Rejection
Momodu also criticized the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum for rejecting the opposition coalition led by former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. He expressed concern that the governors’ decision might be inadvertently aiding President Tinubu’s administration.
The proposed coalition includes Atiku, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, and Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate. Despite this significant alliance, the PDP governors—after meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State—declared their refusal to join.
“Opposition leaders are very determined to work together this time around. The truth of the matter is that Atiku cannot do it alone, Peter Obi cannot do it alone, and Kwankwaso cannot do it alone, and whosoever wants to run,” Momodu said.
“They have to find a way to pay the APC back in its own coin. I was one of those who supported APC in 2014 and 2015, they are going to pay them back in their own coin by at least trying to get a chunk of all the parties including APC to come together.”
He further questioned the motives behind the PDP governors’ stance:
“A Bully Only Respects a Bully”
Highlighting lessons from political history, Momodu stressed the importance of unity and resistance in the face of power:
“People must learn from history and I’m a good student of political history. The only way Lagos State under Tinubu survived blistering attack from Obasanjo’s government was because they were able to stand alone. A bully only respects a bully.”
He criticized the current climate of fear among opposition figures:
“But all of us are already behaving like chicken. People panic because of Tinubu—‘Oh they are going to use EFCC, they are going to arrest me.’”
A Call for Courage and Unity
Momodu concluded by calling on political actors to show courage and resist temptations to defect:
“The thing is that we all like to read about Mandela in South Africa, we all read about the Mau Mau struggle, even in Nigeria, we had the nationalists who struggled for our independence—but everybody suddenly feels power can be offered to you on a platter.
“But I can tell you that any governor, senator, or House member who may be tempted to jump ship, may jump into the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
“That is why some of us are appealing to people that this thing is doable if they agree to work together.”
The Kwara State Police command on Monday dragged a Nigerian controversial singer, Badmus Okikiola, popularly called Portable, before a Kwara state Upper Area Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Sunday Adeniyi.
Reports were, however, rife that Portable struggled to meet the bail condition on Monday.
According to Investigating Police Officer, ASP Adeniyi James, the charges were filed based on direct instructions from police authorities.
Portable was dragged to court following the petition of a famous Fuji music star, Okunola Saheed, who’s fondly called Osupa.
According to the Police First Information Report, the Fuji music star, in a direct complaint made to the Police, accused Portable of criminal defamation, criminal intimidation, inciting Public disturbance and cyberstalking.
The alleged offence was deemed contrary and punishable under Section 392 (Criminal Defamation), Section 114 (Inciting Disturbance), Section 397 (Criminal Intimidation) of the Penal Code and Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, as well as Sections 10 and 13 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020.
According to the Police First Information Report, Osupa alleged that Portable made a live stream video to abuse him, adding that the defendant (Portable) dented his personality by claiming that he removed his music from Apple Music and Spotify, which would have been fetching him income.
According to the First Information Report presented by the police, the complainant accused Portable of using a live stream video to malign his character.
He alleged that the defendant falsely claimed to have removed his music from streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify, thereby harming his reputation and potential income.
The petition alleged that Portable, during a live Instagram broadcast on March 19, 2025, made defamatory remarks against Osupa, accusing him of jealousy and attempts to sabotage his career.
In the viral video, Portable was quoted saying, “This man dey try to bring down my shine! He be like person wey dey chop snail with its shell—he doesn’t get sense. Osupa na tortoise. When Apple Music and Spotify wan drop money for me, na him remove my song from the platform make I no see money.”
Osupa described the statements as damaging, inciting, and an attack on his reputation, further claiming that the content had caused public tension and unrest.
The prosecution, led by Abubakar Issa, urged the court to remand the defendant to a correctional facility pending the conclusion of the police investigation.
However, Portable’s counsel, Barrister Adebayo Isaac, opposed the remand application, stating that the police had already granted his client administrative bail the previous day.
He argued that the defendant, being a public figure with a known and traceable address, would not evade trial, assuring the court of his client’s readiness to stand trial.
Adebayo urged the court to discountenance the submission of the prosecutor, saying the police would have held Portable back in custody till their investigation is completed.
He said, “I want to inform this honourable court that the defendant was granted administrative bail yesterday by the police”, adding that “Portable is a public figure with a traceable address and he will make himself available for trial if admitted to bail.”
Adebayo said that he premised his argument on Section 172 (1) and Sec 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice system, adding that a critical appraisal of the sections of the law may guide the court to admit him to bail.
Magistrate Adeniyi, in his short ruling, “admitted Portable to bail in the sum of N1 million and 2 sureties out of which one of them must be chairman of the Performing Musician Association of Nigeria while the other must own landed property in the Government Reserve Area within the jurisdiction of the Court.”
He, however, adjourned further trial of the case till the 30th of April, 2025.
Chief Bode George, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, has said that the opposition would collapse if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged as its 2027 presidential candidate.
The PDP chieftain said this on Channels Television when he appeared on the station’s Politics Today programme on Monday.
“If he (Atiku) picks it (PDP’s ticket), that is the end of this party. If he picks it by manipulation which was what was done the last time, we will not accept it,” he said.
Atiku, who has been contesting for Nigeria’s president for over three decades, came second in the 2023 presidential election, defeated by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ahead of the 2027 election, Atiku has championed an inter-party alliance that birthed a coalition, which was announced on Thursday, March 20, 2025, as a springboard to wrestle power from the Tinubu-led government.
The coalition, which includes the Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and ex-Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai as arrowheads, is banking on the numerical strength of the votes Atiku and Obi recorded in the 2023 poll.
It would be recalled that Atiku of the PDP and Obi of the LP came second and third, respectively, with combined votes of over 12 million.
However, while Atiku succeeded in establishing himself as a founding member of the coalition, governors elected in his party rejected the move.
The PDP governors on Monday, April 14, 2025, rejected the coalition spearheaded by Atiku and ruled out any party plan for mergers or coalitions.
Speaking on Channels Television, praised the PDP governors for rejecting the coalition led by Atiku.
He said Atiku has not shown himself to be a leader of the party because he has not made efforts to resolve the crisis rocking the party.
“No, if he is the leader of the party, he would have waded into it (the crisis). The fact that he was the presidential candidate of the party at the last election doesn’t mean he is a bona fide, fixated leader of the party. If he’s running for his private interest, it’s different from the interest of the party,” George said.
Asked if Atiku could be the flag bearer of the PDP in 2027, the PDP chieftain said, “He cannot be. This is what I am saying. There was eight years in the north, there should be eight years in the south. That is the dictate, that is the doctrine of the PDP. I can’t say he cannot contest; he can go to any party because it is his constitutional right but as far as we are concerned, he cannot be the candidate.”
George also said he doesn’t want Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, adding that he wants his party to win the next election with a southern candidate.
Tension is mounting among users of CBEX, a popular cryptocurrency and forex trading platform, following reports that the company has emptied the accounts of hundreds of investors without prior notice.
Naija News reports that the platform, which had gained widespread attention due to its high-yield investment packages and aggressive online marketing, is now facing serious allegations of investment fraud.
Multiple users have come forward, revealing that they discovered their account balances wiped out when they logged into the CBEX platform over the weekend. The affected users, some of whom had invested amounts ranging from ₦200,000 to over ₦5 million, have expressed devastation, with many finding themselves financially stranded.
Kunle Adewola, a tech expert, shared his shock with the Nigerian Tribune, stating, “I thought it was a glitch at first. But when I tried to withdraw and got an error message, I knew something was wrong. My entire savings is gone.”
The incident comes just hours before the scheduled withdrawal date of April 15, which CBEX had promised investors after suspending all withdrawals on April 11. This has added to the frustration of many who had hoped to retrieve their investments by that date.
The platform’s sudden and unexplained action has left users in a state of disbelief, as there was no prior communication from CBEX administrators explaining the situation or offering any recourse.
With the company’s credibility now in question, the ongoing developments have raised concerns about the safety of cryptocurrency and forex investments, leaving many users wondering if they will ever recover their funds.
Meanwhile, some angry Nigerians have looted the office of the CBEX platform in Oke Ado, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Trending videos show angry investors looting televisions, Air Conditions and many other items from the office.
Reactions have flooded social media platform X (formerly Twitter), with users sharing complaints, screenshots, and rallying around hashtags like #CBEXScam and #JusticeForCBEXInvestors.
Twitter user @DaddyGO4825 wrote,
“Cbex finally crashed. Check your account AI trade all. Millions of money gone ??? This is so sad. Sorry for the lose.”
Another user, @purity_gifts, tweeted,
“Let me go and take antibiotics to cure this #CBEX scam headache… My dream car will have to wait.”
@the_cruisetv commented,
“If you know anyone doing CBEX please hold them tight ? they are going through a lot rn ???? Where’s that Aunty 15th of April? ?”
User @r2kizzmusic shared,
“So I was invited to CBEX all in the name of making enough money to push my unreleased song Alhamdullilah which I have been begging @Zlatan_Ibile for a verse only to wake up today and discover that all my $4000 dollars is gone ??????? at this point I am lost.”
Another user, @Omo_Harkin1, tweeted,
“AI don lost all of una trade ?? They don lie on top AI head. Congratulations to all of una o.”
And @Fresh_Thiago urged,
“If you have any of your friends or family members wey run CBEX try check on them now ASAPU #CBEX.
@Nichola0081 said: “Nigerians! Invest in $GODL?? Hell NO!! CBEX? Sure sure ? Have you seen any AI trading without a loss?? Always green green green?? What happened to 15th kee??”
The factional leader of the Labour Party (LP) Lamidi Apapa, has insisted that Julius Abure and his supporters, including 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, must relinquish control of the party.
Apapa, who made a return last week after a two-year absence, affirmed his position as the legitimate acting National Chairman of the Labour Party. This comes after a recent Supreme Court ruling that overturned the Court of Appeal’s recognition of Abure.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Apapa emphasized that the apex court’s decision is consistent with prior judgments that restrained Abure, further solidifying his claim to leadership under the party’s constitution.
He stated, “If the chairman cannot function, the deputy steps in. That’s what Article 14 (2) A and B of our constitution says.”
Apapa maintained that his actions were not motivated by personal ambition but were driven by the need to address the ongoing crisis within the party. “The party is in crisis and someone has to take the wheel. I’ve acted within the constitution,” he explained.
He also rejected the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee, which has gained prominence within the party, claiming it lacks constitutional legitimacy.
Apapa addressed concerns about his prolonged absence from public view, admitting that the extensive litigation over the past two years had taken a toll on him.
“I needed to take a break. Going from one court to another over the past two years was draining. But the Supreme Court judgment has made it necessary for me to return,” he shared.
However, the Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has strongly opposed Apapa’s claims.
National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh dismissed Apapa’s assertions, accusing him of being used by external forces to destabilize the party.
“He is likely being sponsored by the Nenadi Usman camp, perhaps even Peter Obi and Governor Otti. One of their people visited him two months ago and gave him money while he was ill,” Ifoh alleged.
Ifoh further questioned the legitimacy of Apapa’s return, arguing that the Labour Party had not issued any official statement regarding his re-emergence, as his position is not recognized within the party.
“How can we sponsor such a person? His actions are simply a payback for the financial support he received. We don’t take him seriously,” he stated.
Efforts to contact the Nenadi Usman Caretaker Committee for comments were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
In Cross River State, the Labour Party’s Interim Committee has initiated reconciliation efforts, expressing loyalty to the Nenadi Usman-led leadership.
A statement issued Sunday by the state’s Publicity Secretary, Amawu Cletus, hailed the Supreme Court’s April 4 judgment as a victory for both the rule of law and party constitutionalism.
“The Supreme Court has spoken, and the matter is settled. The impunity led by Julius Abure has been firmly rejected,” the statement read.
The Cross River chapter also criticized the post-judgment response from the Abure camp, calling it reckless, and pledged to collaborate with the national body to rebuild the party from the grassroots level.
“This is a new dawn for the Labour Party. We are setting the foundation for credible congresses at all levels and restoring internal democracy,” Cletus concluded.
Gunmen reportedly stormed a prayer session at a remote mountain site in the Egbola area, along Agbaja Road in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State and abducted an unspecified number of the worshipers.
The incident is said to have occurred on Friday during a night vigil on the mountain.
A woman identified as Mary Adams Gure was said to have been rescued by men of the state vigilante services who got the wind of the incident and mobilized to the scene and confronted the gunmen in a gun duel.
According to the source, their attackers stormed the prayer ground, firing sporadically to instil fear before forcefully whisking the worshippers into the bush.
The rescued woman was said to have escaped amidst chaos.
“The vigilantes were mobilized quickly in response to the attack; and in the process, Gure was rescued . A search-and-rescue operation is ongoing to locate the remaining abducted faithful.
“Gure managed to escape and later found safety, thanks to the swift intervention of local vigilante members who were alerted and got to the scene of the incident on time,” the vigilante source said.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP William Aya, did not respond to calls and messages sent to him on the incident.
[DailyTrust]
Niger Delta human rights activist, Ann-Kio Briggs, has accused Rivers State Administrator, Ibok Ete Ibas of pouring petrol to the fire President Bola Tinubu sent him to quench in the state.
This was as she said Ibas’s actions in the state were contrary to what the president sent him to do.
DAILY POST reports that Tinubu appointed Ibas, Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff from July 2015 to January 2021, as the Administrator of the oil-rich state in March after the President declared state of emergency and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The president had said that his decision was to restore peace in the state following the political tension between Governor Fubara and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
However, speaking on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television on Monday, Ann-Kio Briggs alleged that Ibas is pouring petrol on fire.
“First of all, I can assure you that he is pouring petrol on a fire Mr President believes that was on.
“So, he was told to come and pour water on that fire, to quench it. Well, he has done nothing of the sort, I have told you that he has removed people who were constitutionally and democratically in governance.
“There were no issues, and he came along and removed everybody. Even in the government house, it is alleged that he has removed the pictures of Siminalayi Fubara. I repeat Siminalayi Fubara remains the governor of Rivers State,” Ann-Kio Briggs said.
According to her, Ibas is currently overseeing violence in Rivers State, saying that the retired military chief is not welcomed in the state.
She added that although the President stated the state of emergency would last for six months, it doesn’t mean he can’t change his mind and return everything to the status quo before the stipulated time.
Recall that earlier on Monday, two groups of women held rallies in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
While one group was in support of Ibas and the emergency rule, the other group who were half-clothed demanded the return of Fubara.
[DailyPost]
The European Union has announced €258 million in humanitarian support for the Greater Horn of Africa, West and Central Africa.
This will bring the total EU humanitarian response in Africa to €750 million in 2025.
The latest donation is to address their urgent humanitarian needs.
According to the breakdown, €107.5 million for the Greater Horn of Africa will be used to support the most vulnerable people in the region, impacted by conflict and natural hazards, facing forced displacement, food and nutrition insecurity, and poor access to basic services.
Close to 70 million people in the Greater Horn of Africa urgently need humanitarian aid, constituting over a fifth of people in need worldwide. The primary causes of humanitarian needs remain conflicts and natural hazards.
The conflict in Sudan constitutes a major driver of humanitarian needs both within the country and in the region.
In West and Central Africa, €150.6 million will support the humanitarian response in the countries directly affected by ongoing insecurity and conflict, including West Africa’s coastal countries already impacted by the spill-over from the crisis in Central Sahel. West and Central Africa remains a region plagued by major complex and mostly protracted humanitarian crises, where Central Sahel and the Lake Chad area constitute the epicentre of conflicts.
Funding will be used for food and livelihoods assistance, nutrition, healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene and education amongst others.
Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality, Hadja Lahbib, said: “Across Africa, complex challenges, including security threats, political instability and socio-economic disparities are fuelling humanitarian crises. These crises displace entire communities and cause widespread food insecurity. The escalating effects of climate change are also intensifying vulnerabilities.
“The humanitarian and security situation is deeply concerning, as humanitarian partners face obstacles in reaching those in need. As humanitarian needs grow and resources become more limited, bridging this gap is becoming ever more urgent. The EU remains a reliable partner providing emergency assistance to Africa’s most vulnerable populations.”
The suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has slammed the Nigeria Police over their alleged high-handedness and clampdown on peaceful demonstrators in parts of Rivers State, as political tension continues to escalate in the oil-rich South-South state.
This followed two separate protests by women’s groups who took to the streets in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area and Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State to express their feelings about the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
The Port Harcourt protesters were in support of the emergency rule while the Ahoada East protesters called for the reinstatement of Fubara.
Last Friday, a group of women under the aegis of Rivers Women Unite for Sim protested against the emergency rule in the state and demanded the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The women carrying out the latest protest under the auspices of ‘Rivers Women for Peace and Good Governance’, mostly dressed in white, said the emergency rule was constitutional.
They also denied being hired to support emergency rule in the state, even as they declared their support for President Bola Tinubu.
The women had gathered at the Garrison junction at about 7.30am on Monday, marched through Aba Road and arrived at the popular Isaac Park in Port Harcourt.
They sang and displayed placards with several inscriptions to drive home their message.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards read,” Emergency rule is Constitutional,” “Rivers women voted for you but you made us your slaves”, “ Investigate Fubara’s bloated contracts award”, “say no to dictatorship”, “Rivers women need peace in our state”, “we support Tinubu”, among others.
Led by the former commissioner for Social Welfare in the state, Mrs Inime Aguma, and others, the protesters claimed that the state of emergency had brought relative calm and peace to Rivers since the emergency regime.
Mrs Aguma, speaking to journalists after the rally, expressed support for the Sole Administrator of Rivers State Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.), saying his leadership has brought peace and good governance in the State.
She stated, “Gathered here are Rivers women who need peace in Rivers State. We are gathered here because of the anomalies in our system.
“We also thank the President for declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State. We are grateful and pleased with it and living well with it.
“We said this because our democratic structure was decimated, the House of Assembly was left comatose and there cannot be any democracy with only two arms of government working.
“We know the doctrine of separation of powers, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. For over two years, the legislature was clamped down; we have a big wound that needs to heal.
“The House of Assembly was burnt down because of rumours of impeachment and while that was going on, the assembly complex was demolished, the taxpayers’ money was spent; that is an aberration.”
She added, “Despite such an incident, there was no investigation. Recently, we have heard the former Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, mention some allegations against the former government. We want the police to follow up on such allegations.
“Let us not be emotional and sentimental about facts. We have not had a government in Rivers State.”
Meanwhile, the situation at the Ahoada protest did not go down well as security operatives fired teargas at the women protesting against the emergency rule in Rivers State and the reinstatement of the suspended governor.
Around 200 protesters from Elleye and Engine communities in Ahoada East Local Government Area marched to condemn the appointment of a sole administrator in the state.
While the women from Ahoada were teargassed during their demonstration, members of the ‘Women for Peace and Good Governance’ group, who held a rally in Port Harcourt in support of the emergency rule, carried out their activities peacefully without any interference.
As the pro-Fubara women marched and chanted solidarity songs, they held placards with various messages, even as security operatives, including police officers, attempted to stop their progress.
Some of the placards bore messages such as “Ibas leave us alone” and “Our democracy is threatened,” among others.
Our correspondent further observed that after the women refused to back down from the protest, security operatives, including the police, fired teargas to disperse them, causing the protesters to flee in different directions.
A viral video that later surfaced online showed emotional scenes as some women were seen crying after inhaling the teargas. They insisted they wanted Governor Fubara reinstated to power.
An elderly woman without a brassiere was spotted in the video being supported by others who held her by the hand.
In the same footage, soldiers were seen attempting to disperse the crowd, pushing the women back and forcefully removing the banners and placards they were displaying.
One of the women said, “We are here to tell President Bola Tinubu that since he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, it has not been easy. We, the women, are hungry; we are suffering and dying.
“Sim is our hope. We say bring back our Governor. We love him. We say no to emergency rule in Rivers State. We voted for Sim, not sole administrator. We don’t want a caretaker.
“Let the FCT Minister remain in Abuja and leave Sim alone.”
Soon after, the chorus of ‘We want Fubara, we want Fubara’ filled the air while three of the elderly women knelt on the floor saying, “We want peace in Rivers State”.
Reacting to the twin protest, Special Adviser to the suspended Governor on Electronics Media, Jerry Omatsogunwa, hailed the pro-Fubara protesters, describing them as heroes of democracy.
Omatsogunwa, however, berated the women in Port Harcourt who supported the emergency rule and backed the appointment of a sole administrator in the state.
He also slammed the police for the unequal treatment of the protesters, firing teargas at one and providing security for the other.
He stated, “First and foremost, I want to thank the women in Ahoada for standing and fighting for democracy. And it is like the police have two standards for the same activity right now.
“You can see old women who came out in Ahoada to exercise their right to protest when they see that things are not going well, the police teargassed them. The police teargassed them to the extent that one of them, an old woman, fainted.
“While the ones in Port Harcourt here that said they support illegality and said they support the King Solomon son-division situation that said let us kill the child so that we can prove the owner, they were guarded, protected and directed by the police.
“So I tell you, those women who protested in Port Harcourt, I think they don’t mean well for the state, and the ones that protested in Ahoada, I say kudos. They are the heroes of democracy.”
Fubara’s aide added, “I think the whole world should keep an eye on the state Commissioner of Police and the sole administrator.
“When the sole administrator came here, he said there was no problem in the state. Maybe he has another agenda because we learnt he is nursing a governorship ambition in his own Cross River
State, so he needs to also gather some money just to justify it.”
The political crisis in the oil-rich state had escalated into a full-blown conflict before President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency and suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Tinubu further appointed Ibas as the sole administrator of the state for an initial period of six months.
This directive was supported by the Senate and House of Representatives through a voice vote.
Consequently, 11 PDP governors sued the President and the National Assembly before the Supreme Court, challenging the President’s powers to declare an emergency rule and suspend elected officials in a state
The PDP governors have further engaged 11 Senior Advocates of Nigeria and six other attorneys to battle the Federal Government at the Supreme Court on what powers the President has to declare emergency rule in a state and suspend a democratically elected institution of the state.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has sprung into action and commenced drafting the response of President Bola Tinubu to the Peoples Democratic Party’s governors’ suit challenging the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State.
[Punch]
Kylian Mbappe joined Real Madrid in search of Champions League glory, hoping to be on the right side of exactly the kind of magical night they need against Arsenal on Wednesday if they are to progress to the semi-finals.
The Gunners lead 3-0 after dismantling the holders in London last week in the quarter-final first leg, leaving Madrid craving the sort of dramatic comeback the 15-time winners are renowned for.
Returning from a three-goal defeat would be step further than anything Los Blancos have managed so far, but that is precisely why they tried to lure Mbappe to the club for years.
The French superstar’s explosive edge gives Madrid hope of achieving what appears to be borderline impossible.
“Of course we can,” said Mbappe on his way out of the Emirates last Tuesday, heading to the team bus after Arsenal’s stunning victory.
Declan Rice struck two sublime free-kicks and Mikel Merino’s third helped Mikel Arteta’s side put one foot in the final four.
Arsenal will be fully aware the job is not yet complete, having seen Mbappe’s devastating impact against Premier League champions Manchester City earlier this season.
Mbappe netted a hat-trick against Pep Guardiola’s side in February at the Santiago Bernabeu in the play-off round, helping Madrid eliminate City 6-3 on aggregate.
The striker was sent off for a wild challenge against Alaves in La Liga on Sunday, putting his team-mates under pressure, but can make it up to them with a special performance at the Santiago Bernabeu against Arsenal.
Madrid scraped a 1-0 win and Mbappe only played 38 minutes before his dismissal, so he should be fresh for Wednesday.
Mbappe has 33 goals in 49 games across all competitions this season, matching Madrid’s all-time top goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally in his first season at the club.
– ‘Big night’ –
Mbappe failed to lift the Champions League trophy with Paris Saint-Germain during his seven seasons at the club and in 2022, was on the sharp end of a spectacular Real Madrid comeback.
PSG led 1-0 from the last 16 first leg, with Mbappe on target, and he netted his second goal of the tie to give the French side the lead at the Bernabeu.
It sparked Real Madrid into life and a remarkable 17-minute Karim Benzema hat-trick turned the tie around and powered Los Blancos into the quarter-finals, on the way to lifting the trophy.
Mbappe said his treble against Man City was exactly the kind of night he was craving.
“I’ve been dreaming of moments like this since I was a kid, to play for this club and to feel what it’s like on a big night at the Bernabeu,” said the Frenchman.
“A lot of people have told me about it, but now I’ve seen it with my own eyes, and I hope we’ll have many more.”
In 2022 Madrid made a stunning comeback to beat Man City despite trailing 5-3 on aggregate in the final minutes of the semi-final second leg, progressing 6-5 in the end.
Perhaps their most important comeback came in the 2014 final against rivals Atletico, trailing 1-0 until Sergio Ramos headed home in the 93rd minute to force extra-time, with Los Blancos winning 4-1 to claim ‘La Decima’, their 10th Champions League trophy.
They also overcame a 2-0 quarter-final first leg deficit against Wolfsburg in 2016, winning the second leg 3-0 with a Ronaldo hat-trick.
Mbappe would dearly love to emulate the Portuguese forward’s feat against Arsenal.
“At the Santiago Bernabeu, comebacks are always on everyone’s lips,” said Ronaldo.
Madrid and comebacks have been synonomous since the 1980s when winger Juanito was involved in several, including the UEFA Cup semi-finals in 1985.
“90 minutes at the Bernabeu is a long time,” he warned Inter Milan after the hosts won the first leg 2-0 in Italy, with Madrid going on to triumph 3-0 on their way to glory.
Mbappe came to Madrid to add to their rich history and Arsenal’s visit presents the ideal opportunity.
“We have to believe, we have to have confidence,” said coach Carlo Ancelotti last week. “Because sometimes, quite often at the Bernabeu, it happens.”
[Vanguard]
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Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of Lagos state, says his electricity bill inexplicably skyrocketed from N2.7 million in March to N29 million in April.
Hamzat said the electricity distribution company (DisCo) also frustrated his efforts to utilise the prepaid meter he procured.
Punch reports that the deputy governor spoke on Monday during a roundtable discussion between the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the Lagos state government in Victoria Island.
Both parties were billed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the electrification of rural communities in Lagos.
Hamzat, who represented Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, at the event, decried what he called “crazy bills” from DisCos.
“People that are trying to survive, and the common denominator for them is power. They don’t have power. There are billing challenges. In fact I’m a very good example,” he said.
“Last month, in my house, or the state house that I live in, the bill was N2.7 million last month. This month, Eko DisCo sent us a bill of N29 million.
“I sent it to the commissioner for energy. It’s crazy. I actually procured a meter. I bought a meter to say, ‘Look, don’t give estimated billing’. I bought the meter, but to convert it is wahala.”
He narrated how a consumer in the Coker Aguda area of Surulere was charged N2.8 million when his house rent is N2 million per annum.
“There’s a place called Coker Aguda in Surulere, and people came to me, and I was asking them to calm down. A man’s rent in a year is about N2 million; they gave him a bill of N2.8 million for electricity,” he said.
“How can the bill be more than the man’s rent for a year? Those are the challenges that we have.
“Our people are suffering because of estimated billing.”
Hamzat commended Biodun Ogunleye, commissioner for energy, for facilitating a solar power deal with the REA.
In his remarks, Ogunleye said Lagos has entered a partnership with REA to unlock new opportunities.
“Opportunities for those who never thought in their lifetime they would experience or live within an environment where there will be constant and stable supply of electricity,” he said.
“I am delighted that I know that REA has been to a number of other states, but when you are not in Lagos, you’re not yet there.”
[TheCable]
Popular Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, famously known as Portable, has been remanded at the Oke Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin, Kwara State, after failing to meet the strict bail conditions set by an Upper Area Court.
Portable, who appeared in court on charges of defamation of character, was granted bail on Monday in the sum of ₦1 million.
However, the court ruled that his release was contingent upon providing two sureties in like sum.
According to the court's directive, one of the sureties must be either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), while the other must be a property owner within a Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Ilorin, supported by a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).
Despite being granted bail, the "Zazoo Zeh" crooner could not immediately fulfil the conditions.
The case, documented under First Information Report (FIR) 117(1) CPC, was filed by the State Intelligence Department of the Nigeria police following a petition dated March 21, 2025, by fellow artist Okunola Saheed Osupa, aka Osupa.
According to the petition, on March 19, 2025, Portable made a live broadcast on Instagram, where he allegedly defamed Osupa, claiming the complainant was envious of his success and attempting to destroy his reputation.
In the video, Portable was quoted to have said: “This man dey try bring down my shine! He be like person wey dey chop snail with shell—him no get sense. Osupa na tortoise. When Apple Music and Spotify wan drop money for me, na him remove my song from platform make I no see money (This man is trying to dim my shine! He behaves like someone eating a snail with the shell—he lacks sense. Osupa is like a tortoise. When Apple Music and Spotify were about to pay me, he took down my song from the platforms so I wouldn’t get the money).”
In his statement, the complainant, Osupa, maintained that Portable’s remarks were not only defamatory and damaging but also intended to incite public hatred and disturb the peace.
Upon interrogation at the State Intelligence Department (SID), Ilorin, Portable reportedly confessed to the allegations, police said.
The accused was arraigned under several legal provisions: Section 392 (Criminal Defamation), Section 114 (Inciting Disturbance), Section 397 (Criminal Intimidation) of the Penal Code.
Section 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, Sections 10 and 13 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020.
The Investigating Police Officer, ASP Adeniyi James, confirmed that Portable was charged based on a directive from the police authorities.
Portable, a native of Oke-Osa in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, is expected to fulfil his bail conditions before being released. The case has been adjourned, and the presiding judge has urged all parties to maintain decorum as proceedings continue.
Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba, has proposed an ambitious 500 trillion naira national budget target for Nigeria by 2027, urging the federal government to adopt a “disruptive development plan” to achieve it.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS following the release of his policy report, Governance and Economic Analysis and Forecast 2025, Agbakoba said the goal may seem unrealistic but is achievable if Nigeria abandons “business as usual.”
“We’ve had national development plans for the last 60 or 70 years, and I suggest to you that none have really worked,” he said.
“What I’m suggesting in order to drive this process is an entirely disruptive development plan.”
Agbakoba emphasized that the issue is not Nigeria’s lack of resources but how they are utilized.
He called for structural reforms in both political and economic governance, beginning with a downsizing of the federal government.
“There’s no way Nigeria can be successful unless it decapitates its current political arrangements,” he said.
“The federal government must downsize. If America runs with 16 departments, Nigeria shouldn’t have more than 10.”
He also advocated for the devolution of power to state and local governments, turning them into “economic-bearing entities.”
On economic reforms, Agbakoba criticized the current structure of Nigeria’s oil sector, stating, “Nigeria is one of the few countries in the world that outsources its oil capacity to international oil companies.
We have to own everything so that 80 to 90 percent of the wealth generated from oil stays here. Right now, nothing stays, less than 10 percent.”
Highlighting the recent performance of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) under Zacch Adedeji, Agbakoba noted that reforms can yield results.
“When we were talking about a 9 trillion naira economy, people said it wasn’t possible. But with Zacch Adedeji’s reforms, we’ve moved from 9 trillion to 50 trillion, and we’re headed for 100 trillion.”
Concluding, Agbakoba maintained that Nigeria’s economic transformation is possible with bold, unconventional changes.
“It is possible. It’s just a way to get things done in a different way,” he said.
A Chief Magistrate in the Rivers State Judiciary, Ejike George, has tendered his resignation from service, citing unease over the appointment of a Sole Administrator to oversee the affairs of the state.
George, who disclosed that he has put in sixteen years in the judiciary, already said the appointment of a sole administrator is tantamount to a ‘quasi-military administration’.
George’s resignation was contained in a letter dated April 11, 2025, and addressed to the Honourable Chief Judge of Rivers State through the Secretary of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission.
The letter was titled ‘Voluntary Retirement From Service’.
George expressed dismay over the direction of the governance of the state, which he said is “alien” and “antithetical” to the values of the legal profession.
The statement reads, “This present is intended to convey my decision to voluntarily retire my appointment as Magistrate of the Judiciary of Rivers State.
“This difficult and regrettable decision is informed largely by my discomfort with the recent appointment of a quasi-military administration to run the affairs of a modern state like ours.
“Milord will agree with me that this type of governance system is not only alien but also runs antithetical to our hallowed profession as legal practitioners and adjudicators.
“Having put in a whopping 16 (sixteen) out of my 22 (twenty-two) years of legal practice into this Judiciary as Magistrate under successive democratic administrations, I find it difficult to work with the current setting, as doing so would amount to a tacit and naive acquiescence.
“Thanks Milord, for the opportunity to serve.”