At least seven people were reportedly killed on Saturday after two suspected suicide bombers attacked some wedding guests at Marrarraban Gwoza in Borno state.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, reported that many of the victims were said to be returning from a wedding ceremony when the first suicide bomber detonated her explosive near a motor park.
Makama said the suicide bomber was identified as a lady in her early 20s, adding that the injured ones were taken to the hospital in Gwoza.
Also, another bomber, disguised as a mourner, detonated an explosive in Gwoza LGA as residents were preparing for the burial of those killed in the first attack.
Makama said one person reportedly died and 16 others were injured during the attack.
The publication added that Yusuf Lawal, Borno commissioner of police, confirmed the incident.
Meanwhile, the military has imposed a curfew in Gwoza LGA to enable them to secure the town from any further threat.
In March 2024, two people were injured after an improvised explosive device (IED), strapped to a suspected suicide bomber, detonated near a mosque in Biu LGA of Borno state.
Germany scored twice in the second half to overcome Denmark 2-0 in the second round of the 2024 European Championship.
Kai Havertz’s penalty and Jamal Musiala’s well-taken goal made the difference against a spirited Danish side at the BVB Stadion on Saturday.
The Germans, who were shaky in their last group game, started the second-round clash a better side and thought they had the lead early on, but a review by the video assistant referee (VAR) ruled it out for offside.
The Danes eventually settled into the match, but their newfound confidence was scuttled when the game was suspended after 36 minutes due to heavy rain and lightning.
The players were forced off for 25 minutes before the match was resumed, but both teams went into the interval with the score goalless.
The eventual breakthrough goal came dramatically in the 53rd minute after VAR cancelled Joachim Andersen’s goal for Denmark for offside before awarding a penalty against the same player for handball.
Havertz duly stepped up to dispatch the penalty, handing Germany a controversial lead.
The scoreline was extended in the 68th minute when Musiala latched on to a long punt forward before slotting into the bottom corner to send a vociferous crowd into celebration mode for an impending passage into the last eight.
Die Mannschaft held on for a comfortable win and progressed to the quarter-final stage, where they will face either Spain or Georgia.
In the other match of the day, Switzerland scored once in each half to claim a deserved 2-0 win over Italy, knocking the holders out of the tournament.
Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas were on target as the Swiss bagged the shock win to book a place in the last eight.
A Nigerian couple has been arrested in Anambra State and handed over to the police.
The couple was arrested over the treatment meted out to their five underage sons in the Osumenyi community, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Mr Uche and Mrs Peace Mbonu are accused of alleged child abuse, starvation and refusal to provide necessities for their five underaged boys.
The arrest was carried out by the security operatives of the Nnewi South LGA before they were handed over to the police through the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo.
This was made known on Saturday, June 29, in a statement by the media aide to the commissioner, Chidimma Ikeanyionwu.
The statement read, "On why they starved the kids, the couple denied the allegation and stated in their defence that the kids are always in the habit of eating raw rice, which makes them infuriated.
"While pleading for pardon, the couple said that they always feed the kids but that the children prefer eating raw rice, which they don’t know where they picked up the behaviour from.
"On his part, the oldest of the kids, Chigbo Mbonu, revealed that Peace Mbonu is his father’s third wife, and ever since she came into their family, they have faced a lot of untold hardship.
"Chigbo Mbonu, who is currently 17 years old, said that they feed once a day for the days their stepmother will give them food but rely on raw rice and palm kernel after hunger must have greatly dealt with them.
He went ahead to explain that he, at some point, stopped schooling because he helped his father in his block industry. He noted that he moulds blocks with four bags of cement on a bad day and six bags on normal days.
"Further physical examination of the children by the Women Affairs commissioner showed that they have been greatly starved and in need of medical care.
"It is important to note that Mr Uche Mbonu has married two wives before finally settling with the third one Peace Mbonu, who was his sales girl, and that the kids are all product of his previous marriages.
"According to the security operatives who helped in apprehending the culprits, they explained that after they got the husband, his wife Peace ran to Nnewi, her maternal home to hide before they eventually apprehended her too."
While reacting to the development, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ify Obinabo, condemned the act and stated that the state government will continue to ensure that child labour, abuse and all forms of maltreatment are reduced to the barest minimum.
The couple has since been handed over to the police for further investigation, after which the matter will be charged to court.
The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has advocated for an hourly minimum wage for workers in the country.
Oyedele shared this information during an interview with Channels TV on Friday in Abuja.
He suggested rethinking the structure of the minimum wage, proposing that it should be calculated based on hourly work.
Oyedele also mentioned that civil servants should be allowed to engage in other types of work, except farming, while working for the government, as long as it does not conflict with their government duties.
“My view is that we need to use this opportunity of minimum wage to have a rethink about our minimum wage structure.
“First and foremost, I do think it should be calculated per hour. And we need to relax some of the rules about civil services and what they can do. It should not just be limited to farming.
“You should be able to do more than one job provided that there’s no conflict and you can give the minimum hours to the government,” Oyedele said.
Wages to be linked to productivity
Speaking further, Oyedele believes that the minimum wage should be linked to worker productivity.
According to him, without productivity and output, even a N1 million minimum wage would soon lose value and be equivalent to N30,000.
He emphasized the need for measurable productivity standards for workers, which would help boost government revenue overall.
“There should also be conversations around measurable productivity. Imagine for instance if you’re able to measure the productivity of civil servants on behalf of government.
“And we have a structure that says the government cannot pay you a minimum wage that is less than the productivity that you have. What that will do for all of us is that civil servants will then start focusing on productivity because it drives their minimum wage.
“And otherwise, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how much we pay, even if it’s N1 million per month, if it’s not supported by productivity and output, give it about 2 months, the N1 million will look exactly like N30,000 today,” Oyedele added.
What you should know
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have repeatedly demanded an increase in the minimum wage from N30,000 over the past year.
The labour unions proposed a minimum wage of N459,000, citing this amount as necessary for a worker’s survival given the current economic realities of the country.
However, the federal government stated that it could not sustain this demand, saying it was unsustainable and would result in N9.5 trillion annually.
Meanwhile, after much negotiation, labour settled for a N250,000 proposal while the federal government said it would pay the sum of N62,000.
[Nairametrics]
Foreign aid has long been hailed as a vital tool for combating poverty in developing nations, according to the United Nations (UN). Over the decades, billions of dollars have been channelled from wealthier nations to poorer ones in the hope of fostering economic development, improving healthcare, and alleviating poverty.
However, upon closer examination of the outcomes, a complex and often disappointing reality emerges: despite these efforts, many developing countries, including those in Sub-Saharan Africa, continue to grapple with staggering levels of poverty.
Generously, the intention of the intention of foreign aid is to provide financial and technical assistance to developing countries, thereby fostering economic growth, improving infrastructure, and enhancing the quality of life for their citizens.
“When countries rely heavily on external assistance, they may lose the drive to develop self-sustaining policies and institutions.”
Aid in this context can be categorised into several types: humanitarian assistance, which addresses immediate needs during crises; development aid, aimed at long-term economic growth; and military aid, which focuses on security.
Here, both humanitarian and development aid are considered. However, while proponents of foreign aid, such as the United Nations, argue that foreign aid is key to alleviating poverty by bridging the gap between rich and poor nations, supporting critical infrastructure projects, and enhancing human capital through investments in education and healthcare, others disagree.
Despite the noble intentions, the practical outcomes of foreign aid often fall short of expectations. Several factors contribute to this discrepancy: one major criticism of foreign aid is its potential to foster dependency syndrome. When countries rely heavily on external assistance, they may lose the drive to develop self-sustaining policies and institutions.
This dependency syndrome has persistently plagued Nigeria and other third-world nations, stifling their economic autonomy and perpetuating structural deficiencies.
Recent studies highlighted in the Nile Journal of Political Science emphasise how this dependency has entrenched itself across various sectors of Nigerian society. It has led to an economy structurally reliant on foreign powers, lacking regional and sectoral complementarity, and failing to achieve auto-centric development.
Corruption is a significant barrier to the effective use of foreign aid. In many cases, aid funds are syphoned off by corrupt officials, leading to misallocation of resources. This not only reduces the intended impact of the aid but also erodes public trust.
Poor management and a lack of proper oversight can result in the inefficient use of aid. Projects might be poorly implemented, with funds being spent on non-priority areas or administrative overheads rather than on direct poverty alleviation.
Large inflows of foreign aid can distort local economies. For example, an influx of aid can appreciate the local currency, making exports less competitive and hurting local industries. Moreover, massive aid inflows can lead to inflationary pressures, reducing the purchasing power of the local population and potentially exacerbating poverty.
Often, aid is tied to the strategic interests of donor countries rather than the needs of the recipient country. Aid may come with conditions that align with the donor’s political or economic objectives, which may not necessarily benefit the recipient’s population.
Furthermore, the conditions attached to aid, such as economic policy changes, can sometimes be detrimental. These conditions might prioritise macroeconomic stability over poverty reduction, leading to austerity measures that hurt the poorest.
Sub-Saharan Africa, despite being a major recipient of aid, continues to grapple with pervasive poverty and economic instability. Despite receiving $36 billion annually in aid, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the poorest region globally.
Official Development Assistance (ODA) provides $134.38 billion in aid globally, with the largest portion going to Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite this substantial aid, half of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have poverty rates over 35 percent, and 18 of the top 20 economies with the highest poverty rates are in this region, according to the World Bank.
The case of Nigeria
In 1999, Nigeria found itself at a crossroads. The country had just emerged from decades of military rule and was taking its first steps towards democratic governance. As the new administration took office, one of the most pressing issues was the crippling national debt.
This financial burden severely limited the government’s ability to invest in critical infrastructure and social services, leaving millions of Nigerians in poverty.
The international community recognised the dire situation. The Paris Club, a group of major creditor countries, stepped in with a significant debt relief package for Nigeria. This move was seen as a beacon of hope.
The agreement provided Nigeria with the financial breathing room it desperately needed, allowing the government to redirect funds previously earmarked for debt servicing towards essential development projects.
In 2005, Nigeria received another substantial boost. The Paris Club agreed to an unprecedented debt relief package amounting to approximately $18 billion, according to internetgeography.net.
This decision was monumental, as it marked one of the largest debt relief efforts in history. For Nigeria, this meant a substantial reduction in its external debt and the opportunity to reallocate resources towards development initiatives aimed at improving the lives of its citizens.
The impact of this financial reprieve was immediately felt across the country. Schools that had long been neglected saw renovations and expansions. Healthcare facilities received much-needed upgrades, and new economic initiatives were launched to foster growth and reduce unemployment.
The debt relief was not just about numbers; it was about giving Nigeria a fighting chance to rebuild and prosper.
Fast forward to 2014, and Nigeria continued to benefit from international support. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided over $700 million in aid, focusing on critical areas such as health, education, and economic development.
This assistance was crucial in addressing the country’s most pressing challenges. It helped improve literacy rates, combat diseases, and support economic diversification efforts, laying the foundation for a more resilient and inclusive economy.
From 2015 to 2020, Nigeria’s reliance on foreign aid persisted, highlighting the ongoing need for international support. In 2020, the World Bank approved a $3 billion loan to help Nigeria address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This aid was vital in sustaining social programmes and stabilising the economy during an unprecedented global crisis.
Despite these substantial efforts and financial inflows, the journey towards poverty reduction and sustainable development in Nigeria remains arduous. The country’s struggle with poverty and underdevelopment continues to be a complex issue, influenced by various factors including governance, corruption, and infrastructure deficits.
Beyond Nigeria
Surprisingly, many of the poorest countries in 2024—BBurundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Somalia, and others—were also among the world’s poorest nations a quarter-century ago, according to a world population review.
These countries have consistently received substantial foreign aid, yet they remain entrenched in poverty. What is the problem? The answer often lies in corruption and mismanagement by African leaders, which hinder the effective use of aid and prevent meaningful development.
According to the World Bank, more than 48 percent of those living in sub-Saharan Africa live in poverty despite increased aid from donors.
Renowned economist William Easterly argued that decades of international aid initiatives were far better at feeding bureaucracies than alleviating poverty. One example Easterly cited was Tanzania, which received billions of dollars to improve its road system over a period of many years. Two decades later, Tanzania’s roads were still a disaster, but its bureaucracy had swelled.
“Tanzania produced more than 2,400 reports a year for its aid donors, who sent the beleaguered recipient 1,000 missions of donor officials per year,” Easterly wrote in his famous book “The White Man’s Burden: Why the West’s Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much I’ll and So Little Good.”.
Dambisa Moyo, a Zambian-born economist, noted in her book “Dead Aid” that the $1 trillion in aid African countries received from rich countries over the last half-century didn’t just fail to alleviate poverty in Africa; it exacerbated it.
“The notion that aid can alleviate systemic poverty and has done so is a myth,” Moyo said. “Millions in Africa are poorer today because of aid; misery and poverty have not ended but increased,” the now-member of the UK’s House of Lords wrote in her 2009 book.
To address these challenges, a paradigm shift in aid delivery and governance is imperative. Rather than perpetuating dependency, aid should prioritise capacity building, local ownership, and transparency.
Empowering local communities to drive their own development agenda and strengthening institutions can foster resilience and sustainable progress. Moreover, donor countries must align aid strategies with recipient countries’ long-term development priorities, ensuring that investments are targeted and sustainable.
Foreign aid undoubtedly plays a crucial role in addressing immediate humanitarian needs and supporting development initiatives in struggling economies. However, the notion that aid alone can lift countries out of poverty is overly simplistic and often unrealistic.
Without addressing systemic issues such as governance, accountability, and economic inclusivity, foreign aid runs the risk of perpetuating dependency rather than fostering sustainable development.
As the global community continues to grapple with these challenges, a nuanced approach that prioritises local empowerment and long-term resilience remains essential in the quest for poverty eradication.
In essence, while foreign aid can provide temporary relief and support, its transformative impact hinges on addressing underlying structural barriers and empowering communities to chart their own path towards prosperity.
[BusinessDay]
Thursday’s decision of the two chambers of the National Assembly to extend the implementation of the capital components of the 2023 main and supplementary budgets to December 31, 2024 is raising questions.
The extension followed the request by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to both chambers of the National Assembly.
It would be recalled that the National Assembly, in December 2023, extended the implementation period of capital component of the budget for that fiscal year from December 31, 2023, to March 31, 2024. It similarly extended the lifespan of the N2.17 trillion 2023 Supplementary Budget, which was passed in November, 2023, following a request by President Tinubu.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives further extended the implementation period for the budgetary appropriations from March 31, 2024, to June 30, 2024, on the 19th and the 20th March, this year, respectively, following another similar request from the president.
The request for another extension of the implementation of the capital component of the budget is coming a few days to the June 30 implementation deadline earlier approved by the National Assembly.
Again, the president is about to submit another supplementary budget to the parliament by next week.
Daily Trust Saturday reports that with the extension of the three other appropriation acts, Nigeria will have four budgets running concurrently.
Dust at House of Reps over multiple budgets
Unlike the seeming smooth sail at the Senate, which considered the president’s request after an executive session, Tinubu’s proposal caused a heated debate at the House of Representatives, forcing Speaker Abbas Tajudeen to move the House into an executive session before the lawmakers approved the request.
Earlier, the president’s letter requesting the extension of the implementation of the capital components of the budget was read by Speaker Tajudeen, after which the executive bills were introduced.
However, when the Leader of the House, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere moved for the second reading of the bills, the House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, raised concerns over the request for extension of the two budgets.
Chinda, while voicing opposition against the request, said it will be morally wrong for the country to be running three to four budgets concurrently.
“We are aware of the importance of the implementation of capital projects and we know what capital projects can do in the lives of our people.
“But the application for extension of the 2023 Appropriation Act is also coming with the request to extend the life of the 2023 supplementary budget. We are also expecting the 2024 supplementary budget.
“A situation where we may have four budgets running concurrently is a bit of a problem. I will suggest that the House leader (Ihonvbere) step this bill down. Meanwhile, the projects that were not completed in the 2023 budgets can be transferred to the 2024 supplementary budget,” he said.
Former leader of the House, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, in his contribution, also supported the position of the minority leader, saying, while it may be legally right, it will be morally wrong to have three budgets running at the same.
He said, “Whatever we are doing, we must be accountable to the people. Each and every member here is representing a community and when we are discussing matters of budget, we should call a spade a spade. I agree with the submission made by the minority leader.
“This has nothing to do with (being a member of) the (ruling) APC. It has never happened. When you have something coming unexpected like this, then we should expect that people will ask questions whether overtly or covertly.
“Even if it is legal, it is unexpected; we have two budgets and a supplementary budget. It is legal but that moral aspect, for us as a House, I will appeal we allow this to go for now but the message has to be sent that the government should do the needful”, Doguwa said emphatically.
Speaker Tajudeen, while intervening, appealed to members to support the extensions, saying most of the items on the supplementary budget were security related issues.
Despite his pleas, majority of the lawmakers appeared not comfortable with the request for extension of the budgets as they kept on shouting “No!”No!
Following that development, the Speaker asked that the House enter into an executive session for members to iron out issues before resuming consideration of the bills.
Arising from the executive session, the House dissolved into the Committee of Supply to debate the various clauses in the bills, all of which were carried.
Subsequently, the House reverted to plenary where the bills were read for the third time and passed.
Meanwhile, questions have continued to trail the running of multiple appropriation laws in the country.
It’s abnormal – BudgIT
Commenting on the development, a civil society organisation known as BudgIT, whose primary goal is promoting transparency in governance and fostering active citizens engagement with institutional reforms and equitable society, condemned the plan by the federal government to concurrently implement four national budgets in 2024, as an “anomaly with no precedence”.
The organisation’s Country Director, Gabriel Okeowo, said this on Friday in a statement, faulting the proposed elongation of the implementation period for the 2023 approved Budget and 2023 Supplementary Budget from the proposed termination date of December 31, 2023, to December 31, 2024.
He recalled that the 2023 Approved Budget of N21.83 trillion, signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2023, was designed to run for 12 calendar months from January to December, as is the practice globally.
The BudgIT boss said that in addition, while the 2024 Appropriation Bill was being drafted, the 2023 Supplementary Budget of N2.17 trillion was passed by the National Assembly, and assented to by President Tinubu, barely two months before the end of the 2023 fiscal year.
“For a brief period, Nigeria returned to the January-December budget calendar in 2019, but retrogressed from the 2020 fiscal year. From 2020 to date, the federal government has routinely extended the implementation period for the capital budgets beyond 12 calendar months, a practice that negates the principle of annuality of public budgets.
“The National Assembly had initially extended the implementation of the 2023 Approved Budget and 2023 Supplementary Budget to June 30, 2024, and now to December 31, 2024. If allowed to be implemented, the practice would convert Nigeria’s annual budget into a biennial one, a practice neither provided for by the 1999 Constitution, nor the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007”, Okeowo said.
He said more worrisome is that the federal government is currently drafting another 2024 supplementary budget, which it intends to implement alongside the 2023 Approved Budget, 2023 Supplementary Budget and 2024 Approved Budget, thereby resulting in the simultaneous implementation of four budgets, an “anomaly with no precedence.”
He said, “Standard practice should be that projects not catered to within a fiscal year are rolled over to the budget of a new fiscal year. The concurrent implementation of four budgets will lead to severe budget credibility issues, as revenues projected in 2024 alone would most likely be used in implementing four different budgets, negatively impacting service delivery in critical social sectors and the provision of essential public infrastructure”.
He said BudgIT had identified many frivolous items in the 2023 Approved Budget and 2023 Supplementary Budget that would compete with essential projects in the 2024 Budget for the meagre resources available to the federal government.
“We call on the federal government and the National Assembly to amend the complications of this convoluted budgeting system and return to a disciplined January to December Budget Calendar.
“We also urge the federal government to identify and implement only the projects and programmes that align with Nigeria’s overarching development goals, reduce inequality, and improve the lives of citizens, the bulk of whom are multidimensionally poor,” he said.
Speaking on the development, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), said that this is the first time Nigeria is going through this kind of “disturbing zero discipline, directionless and lack of public priorities and national interest budgeting, which rather creates opportunities for duplication, waste and corruption.”
Rafsanjani said that the 2024 appropriation law and a number of supplementary budgets submitted to the National Assembly with unjustified borrowings for consumption and reckless spending on some public officials without tangible efforts to improve the nation’s economy and revenue for national development was “terrifying”, as Nigerians are suffering and poverty is on the increased.
“But at the same time, we are witnessing collapse of critical infrastructures and human capital development, poverty, unemployment and overwhelming insecurity in Nigeria with no capacity through budgetary system to address all these challenges.
“The current National Assembly members seem to be satisfied with only their constituencies’ projects, which are often personalised, with no “needs assessment” carried out or even consultation with the constituents they represent.
“As a result, they have decided to leave their fundamental job of checking that the federal government has a budget for national development. They don’t scrutinise the budget to ensure pro poor and national interest budgets for development. And if an individual member raises concerns, they will gang up against him/her like what happened to Senator (Abdul) Ningi. This is sad,” Rafsanjani said.
Also, the Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said that the organisation had consistently emphasised that the Tinubu/APC-led administration lacked a clear agenda for governing the nation.
He said that it was perplexing, how a government could manage multiple budgets simultaneously and still expect accountability.
“Such confusion and lack of direction epitomise the current administration. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the government’s policies and programmes. And without a clear agenda and direction, it is challenging to assess the impact and success of this government.
“Overall, CHRICED’s criticism of the Tinubu/APC-led administration underscores the need for a more coherent and transparent approach to governance in Nigeria. We will continue to advocate for greater accountability and transparency in government actions, in order to ensure that the needs and interests of the Nigerian people are prioritised and addressed,” Zikirullahi said.
Tinubu responding to IMF dictates – Falana
When contacted, Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), said the amendment of the 2023 Appropriation Act was to accommodate the unpredictability of the market occasioned by the ruining of the economy through floating of the naira and removal of subsidies from petroleum products as well as electricity as dictated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“The Bola Tinubu administration is responding to the crisis of peripheral capitalism,” he said.
According to him: “The crisis has been compounded by oil theft and smuggling of mineral resources and the revenue expected is not forthcoming”.
Presidency speaks
Speaking on the development, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga said the budget cycle was extended to December to ensure that the capital projects contained in the appropriations were not abandoned.
“It is because it (the 2023 supplementary budget) is running simultaneously with the 2023 budget. There are some elements of that budget that were not implemented. That is why they are moving it forward to be implemented.
“They have already got the provisions meant for them. So, they are trying to make sure they implement them based on the provisions of that budget. It means the 2023 and 2024 budgets will run concurrently,” Onanuga said.
[DailyTrust]
Media personality and actress Moet Abebe has confirmed that she is in a long-term romantic relationship with rapper Ice Prince.
On the “Bahd And Boujee” podcast, she revealed that they have been together for 12 years, calling herself his “baby girl.”
When asked about having children with him, she playfully dodged the question, while she affirmed to have received financial support from him, referring to him as her “boo.”
She said, “Ice Prince is my man. We have been dating for 12 years. I’m his baby girl.”
Tolanibaj asked: “Do you plan to have children with him?”
Abebe replied :“Our babies will be fine but no. Let me not say no [laughs].”
Tolanibaj asked again: “Have you ever received a credit alert from him?”
Abebe replied: “Why not. That’s my boo.”
[TheNation]
Kayode Adesile did not anticipate the tragedy that occurred when he visited his newlywed wife, Oluwaseun Omolara Olusola, on June 25, 2024, at her residence in the Powerline area of Meiran, a suburb of Lagos.
Unknown to Adesile, an automobile technician, he had incurred the wrath of Esther, his wife’s 15-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, for reprimanding on an occasion she disrespected her mother, The Nation reports.
Esther, it was said, invited hoodlums to teach her stepfather a bitter lesson for meddling in her matter. The hoodlums, who were around when Adesile was visiting Esther’s expectant mother, pounced on him while he was about to enter the house, dealt him blows and recorded the scenario with their mobile phones.
“I verbally reprimanded her recently for being rude and disrespectful to her mother, who is my wife. I didn’t know that she was upset by my action which I took in good faith.
“They had carefully plotted the assault on me, knowing that I usually visit my wife’s home three times in a week.
“It was when I came around on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 that I was accosted by Esther who beckoned on the hoodlums to beat me up.
“I was badly beaten and humiliated as they took their time to make videos of the assault.”
It was said that after Adesile was assaulted, his attackers ran to the Meiran Police Station to lie that he attacked them. By the time Adesile reported the matter at the same police station he was detained.
The police, according to sources, would later find out that he was actually the victim of the assault, contrary to the complaint made by his attackers.
“The hoodlums invited by Esther were led by one Oluwakemi a.k.a. Honour, who supervised the brutality meted out to me and even filmed the scene with his boys.
“I was severely punched and battered by the hoodlums and left helpless as there was no one to save me from them.
“Even my wife who tried to save me was slapped silly by the boys and pushed to the ground.
“The hoodlums then left for the station and lied that I had attacked them.
“The police detained me when I went there to complain about the assault.
“It was later discovered that the hoodlums had lied and that they were the aggressors in this case.
“Hence, I was released on bail on Thursday June 27.”
He further said: “I started dating my wife six years ago before her mother died, and there was no problem between us.
“Her mother had asked her to bring me home for proper introduction after she told her that we were in a relationship.
“I later went to see her mother and we had a very cordial relationship before she died two years ago.
“When her mother was sick, my wife and I took very good care of her by taking her to a hospital in Abeokuta.
“She died shortly after we brought her back to Lagos.
“My wife is currently pregnant for me. I was the one that raised money to send her to school after she finished her JSS 3.
“I did not do anything to deserve the brutality meted out to me by the hoodlums she invited in connivance with a disgruntled family member of her mother to dehumanise me and even ran to the police to further detain me when in actual fact they were the aggressors.
“I was released on bail this morning (June 27) and the leader of the hoodlums is the leader a cult group in the community.”
Speaking with The Nation, Adesile’s wife, Oluwaseun, who is also Esther’s mother, said her daughter was being brainwashed and used by her unscrupulous family members and neighbours.
Oluwaseun said: “Esther Adekunle is a product of my former marriage. Her father humiliated me and was fond of brutalising me till we parted ways.”
She said she had struggled and weathered the storm to ensure that Esther and her two siblings got a good life and education after she parted with their father.
“There is no work that I have not done to give Esther and her siblings education. I am into cleaning services just so that I can have money to ensure that they feed well and go to school since their father abandoned them for me.”
The 36-year-old woman said that Esther had formed the habit of disrespecting and insulting her in public.
“Yet, despite all my struggle to make ends meet and raise them, Esther disrespects me in public and refused to heed my instructions.
“She would leave home without my consent and return when she wishes. She bedwets and exhibits dirty habits at home.
“It was recently when she insulted me openly that my new husband called her out and verbally reprimanded her for her misguided attitude.
“It was for that reason that she further became recalcitrant and planned with my mother’s family members and neighbours to invite the hoodlums to brutalise my husband.
“My new husband is not a gold digger. I have been dating him before my mother passed on two years ago.
“He was the one that provided the money we spent in processing admission for Esther to proceed for her Senior Secobdary education.
“Yet, he is the same person my daughter brought hoodlums to humiliate in public on June 25.
“While the boys were beating my husband, they also slapped me when i tried to stop them.
“”To my surprise, the boys came back the next day, June 26, and further assaulted me and there was no one to save me from them.
“They rushed to the police station and lied to the police that my husband attacked them. The police later detained my husband.
“The leader of the hoodlums, who is the husband of my daughter’s boss, was also detained when my husband indentified him as the leader of the gang that attacked him.
She added: “My husband was freed after the police discovered that the hoodlums were the culprits.”
In an audio recording obtained by our reporter, Esther, confronted by some persons on her complicity in the assault on her mother’s husband, accused Adesile of fondling her breasts about two months earlier.
“He (stepfather) fondled my breasts about two months ago,” Esther said.
Asked why it took her two months to avenge her purported molestation and why she did not tell her mother about it, she said: “I told my mother’s family members about it.”
Adesile and Esther’s mother however described the allegation as a tissue of lies.
“She is lying. I have never molested her. She is acting a script handed to her by the people that are guiding her to disrespect her mother and myself over my wife’s inheritance which they want to dispossess her of, ” Adesile said.
Esther’s mother also said her daughter was misguided and told to lie against her stepfather after it dawned on them that their action was criminal and could have consequences.
She said: “My daughter was told to lie that my husband recently molested her.
“The truth is that she is doing a hatchet job for some people who are planning to take over my late mother’s property at all cost.
“My husband has never molested Esther. She is being used without her knowing.”
Contacted for comments, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Lagos Command, Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin, did not answer his call and also had not responded to the inquiry sent to his WhatsApp at press time.
The passing of Nollywood’s beloved comic legend, Mr. Ibu, marked a somber and heart-wrenching moment for the entertainment industry and his grieving family.
The iconic actor, who brought joy and laughter to countless fans, passed away on March 2 at the age of 62, leaving a void that can never be filled.
Amidst the solemn funeral ceremonies that had his loved ones and colleagues in attendance, a deeply emotional and shocking revelation came to light from Mr. Ibu’s first daughter, Amarachi.
Emerging at her father’s burial, she delivered a soul-stirring speech that has since gone viral, shedding light on her heartbreaking relationship with the late actor.
In the now widely circulated video, Amarachi disclosed that her connection with her father was virtually nonexistent.
The painful reality she unveiled was that the only time she ever met Mr. Ibu was during his final moments in the hospital, as he lay on his deathbed.
Amarachi noted that the only memories she would carry with her of her father were the ones forged in the hospital during his final moments. Fighting back tears, she shared how the accounts of others painted a picture of Mr. Ibu as a great actor and a compassionate man, beloved by many.
Her sorrow was palpable as she revealed that she had always lived with her mother and expressed deep regret that their relationship never had the chance to develop.
The tragic reality that their first and only meeting occurred at the brink of his death weighed heavily on her.
Mr. Ibu laid to rest right inside his sitting room in the presence of grieving family members, colleagues
AFOLABI
The late, legendary actor John Okafor, affectionately known as Mr. Ibu, who succumbed to a prolonged battle with ill health on March 2, 2024, was finally laid to rest on a poignant Friday, June 28, 2024.
The solemn yet grand ceremony took place in his hometown of Amuri, located within the Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, drawing a significant crowd of mourners.
A trending clip captured Mr. Ibu’s wife, Stella Maris Okafor, and their children, all donned in pristine white attire, leading a striking parade of undertakers who carried the late actor’s body in a gleaming white coffin.
The procession moved to the rhythm of bustling, vibrant music, creating a powerful and emotionally charged atmosphere.
In an unexpected twist that left onlookers in awe, the parade came to a halt right in front of Mr. Ibu’s residence. The coffin was then ceremoniously carried inside, right into his sitting room, marking an unprecedented and deeply personal final resting place.
Among the witnesses were his colleagues—Charles Inojie, Charles Awurum, and Victor Osuagwu—who, alongside family members and grave diggers, solemnly covered the ground of the freshly dug grave within the sitting room, sharing a moment of collective grief and reverence.
The funeral ceremony continued with even more notable personalities paying their respects. Figures such as Shatta Bandle, Bob Manuel, and a host of other celebrities and dignitaries were present, further highlighting the significant impact Mr. Ibu had on the entertainment industry and beyond.
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A 41-year-old man, Baridapsi Needam has been sentenced to to 14 years imprisonment by the Bayelsa State High Court, sitting in Yenagoa.
The man was jailed for r*ping and impregnating his daughter.
It was learnt that the victim gave birth to a baby girl while the trial was pending.
Bayelsa State Commissioner of Justice and Attorney-General Biriyai Dambo, in the suit numbered YHC/14C/2022, charged the accused with the offence of r*pe, contrary to Section 1(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of Bayelsa State, 2021.
The State Prosecuting Counsel and Deputy Director in the Bayelsa State Ministry of Justice, Pere Amanda Egbuson, told the court that investigations revealed that the accused began defiling his daughter when she was seven years old by inserting his fingers into her vagina and started having sex with her in 2020 until she got pregnant in 2022.
The presiding judge, Justice D.E. Adokeme, stated while delivering the judgement that the prosecution presented credible evidence and made reference to the DNA result, which revealed a 99.99 per cent positive report that the convict is the father of the child.
The court ruled that the prosecution has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt that Needam committed the offence of r*pe and sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment.
Speaking after the judgement, lead prosecuting counsel Pere Amanda Egbuson noted that the judgement will serve as a deterrent to others as a strong message has been sent that the court will not tolerate such heinous acts.
The convict, Baridapsi Needman, who hails from Ogani Wily Kaira Community in Ogoni in Rivers State, was reported to the police by members of the state gender advocacy group, Gender Response Initiative Team, GRIT, in 2022, when a concerned neighbour noticed that the victim was five months pregnant and that the father was responsible for the pregnancy.
Needman was reported to have replaced his deceased wife with his daughter on his matrimonial bed. While the 14-year-old girl, who was in Junior Secondary School 3, was sleeping on the bed with her father, her two younger brothers were made to sleep on the floor.
Talent manager Paulo Okoye has shared a throwback video with Davido on Instagram, revealing how he tirelessly fought for Davido’s career in the early days.
Despite being rejected six times by a company, Paulo persisted and eventually secured a job for Davido.
He attributed their success to hard work, stating that he wasn’t born with a “golden spoon.”
“Is all about hard work !!! Respect!!! Then Davido have on One song !!! Duro!! I fought for that job for him !! The company says no to me 6x I come back fighting before they say Yes. it is well !!! !!! I’m not born with a golden spoon, it’s just hard work,” he wrote on Instagram.
Davido and his brother, Adewale Adeleke, validated Paulo’s claims in the comment section, with Davido writing “Facts” and Adewale acknowledging Paulo’s significant role in Davido’s career, he wrote: “Yep our first endorsement, MTN was done by you sir. You forever played a major role in David’s story! God bless you”.
This testimony comes amidst Paulo’s online dispute with Very Dark Man, who disparaged Paulo’s girlfriend, Iyabo Ojo.
Media personality and actress Moet Abebe has confirmed that she is in a long-term romantic relationship with rapper Ice Prince.
On the “Bahd And Boujee” podcast, she revealed that they have been together for 12 years, calling herself his “baby girl.”
When asked about having children with him, she playfully dodged the question, while she affirmed to have received financial support from him, referring to him as her “boo.”
She said, “Ice Prince is my man. We have been dating for 12 years. I’m his baby girl.”
Tolanibaj asked: “Do you plan to have children with him?”
Abebe replied :“Our babies will be fine but no. Let me not say no [laughs].”
Tolanibaj asked again: “Have you ever received a credit alert from him?”
Abebe replied: “Why not. That’s my boo.”
Talent manager Soso Soberekon, has shared valuable advice for women on his Instagram page.
He emphasised that no amount of s3xual prowess can prevent a man from cheating if he is inclined to do so.
He encouraged women not to strain themselves trying to please a man, using the metaphor of “breaking their spinal cord.”
“No sex position makes a man faithful. Who’ll cheat will cheat. Don’t break your spinal cord my sister,” he wrote on Instagram.