Yuki Gambaryan, wife of Tigran, the Binance executive detained in Nigeria, has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) to drop the charges against her husband.
On June 14, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) dropped the tax charges against Gambaryan who is also Binance’s head of financial crime compliance.
However, the EFCC is yet to drop its charges.
The anti-graft body had arraigned Binance Holdings Limited, a cryptocurrency firm, and Gambaryan, over allegations of money laundering.
The company and its executive were arraigned on a five-count charge before Emeka Nwite, judge of a federal high court in Abuja, on April 8.
Expressing her disappointment with the ongoing legal proceedings in a statement on Thursday, Yuki called on the government of the United States to secure her husband’s release.
“Since the FIRS charges were dropped last week and they agreed to serve those charges solely on Binance, I do not see why the EFCC cannot do the same,” the statement reads.
“It is time for the Nigerian authorities to do the right thing and let my innocent husband go.
“I am also once again calling on the US government to intervene more forcefully. Tigran’s and my own tax dollars get sent to Nigeria in aid every year. Nigeria is supposed to be an ally.
“I refuse to believe that our state department cannot do more to have an innocent American citizen released.”
Yuki’s statement followed the start of the cross-examination of the witness from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) at the court in Abuja today. The cross-examination is expected to continue tomorrow.
Spain have qualified for the second round of the ongoing 2024 UEFA European Championship.
The Luis de la Fuente side became the second team to book the competition knockout ticket after defeating Italy 1-0 at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on Thursday.
A second-half own goal conceded by Riccardo Carlafiori was the sole difference, sending Spain top of Group B with six points.
Italy, the defending champions, cut a timid apparition of themselves throughout the game, and the scoreline was kept respectable by Gianluigi Donnarumma’s saves.
But even the goalkeeper was helpless in the 55th minute after he had gone down to save a header from Alvaro Morata, and the ball ricocheted off the shin of Carlafiori and into the net.
In the other games of the day, England were dealt a reality check and held to a 1-1 draw against Denmark.
The Three Lions had taken the lead after Harry Kane stroked the ball home from the six-yard area.
Shortly, the Danes responded with a sublime strike from Marten Hjulmand from 30 yards out. The shot flew beyond the stretched limb of Jordan Pickford into the net.
Slovenia and Serbia also played out a one-all draw earlier in the day.
The federal government has unveiled mobile courts and new guidelines for hotels and schools to ensure speedy access to justice for cases of gender-based violence, sexual assault, and bullying.
NAN reports that Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the women affairs minister, was at an Abuja partnership meeting with the stakeholders involved.
The stakeholders include representatives from the ministries of health and education, medical facilities, hotel owners, NGOs, and CSOs.
Mobile courts are easily moved from one place to another to adjudicate disputes and administer justice.
Kennedy-Ohanenye noted the alarming cases of sexual and gender-based violence, child abuse, child labour, harmful practices, and prison congestion in Nigeria.
She decried cases of exposure to alcohol and even death in hotels and bullying/sexual molestation in schools.
The minister also condemned cases where hospitals refuse to treat gunshot patients without police reports.
She said the enactment of legislation ushering in mobile courts would curtail such menace.
Kennedy-Ohanenye said the courts will usher in guidelines for new operational methods in hotels, hospitals, schools, and NGOs.
Among the guidelines, she said, is the mounting of signposts prohibiting actions that encourage gender-based violence.
The minister said toll-free numbers will also be posted for people to report violations.
Kennedy-Ohanenye said the objective of the mobile courts includes increasing the speed of deployment and dispensation of justice.
The minister said the courts will also enhance the efficiency of case trials and eliminate harmful practices.
She said they would reduce cases of child labour, out-of-school children, and the employment of underage as house help.
The minister added that they will also tackle the practice of using babies to beg for alms.
A desk officer in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG) of Gombe State, Usman Mallam has been arraigned by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Mallam who is in charge of responding to official correspondences in the SSG’s office, was arraigned on 11th June 2024, before Justice TG Ringim of the Federal High Court sitting in Gombe, following allegations by EFCC that he tore its official Investigation Activities’ letters.
According to a press statement by the EFCC spokesman on Thursday evening, Mallam tore the documents when an official of the Commission approached him to carry out an investigation involving some financial crimes.
The spokesman noted that this act by the accused led to obstruction of the Commission’s investigation.
Mallam was therefore arraigned on a one – count charge of willful obstruction of investigation activities and tearing of EFCC official documents.
The lone charge against Mallam reads: “That you, Usman Mallam on or about 26th day of February 2024 at Gombe, Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while the officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC were carrying out an investigation activity involving an alleged economic and financial crime, did willfully obstruct the said investigation by tearing the EFCC formal letters of investigation activities dated January 1, 2024 and February 21, 2024 respectively” and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 38 (1) and punishable under Section 38 (2) (a) and (b) of the Economic and financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act”.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the one count charge, prompting the prosecution counsel AM Labaran to say, “My Lord, the defendant has put himself to trial hence we shall be asking for a date for trial.”
Meanwhile, counsel to the defendant, SS Usman said, “My Lord, we have a bail application dated July 11, 2024 , we are asking the court to exercise its discretion and grant the defendant bail.”
The judge then granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10m and one surety in like sum.
The judge also ordered that the surety must be a director in a government establishment or a private company with a capital worth of not less than N10m.
In addition to the conditions, the Registrar of the court should verify the identity of the surety, adding that both the surety and the defendant shall submit two passport photographs to the court.
Mallam was remanded at the Gombe State Correctional Service pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions and the matter was adjourned to 9th July 2024 for trial.
A Federal High Court in Kano on Thursday has set aside all steps taken by Kano state government to repeal the Kano Emirates Council Law.
In his ruling on Thursday, Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman ordered parties to maintain status quo.”
By implications, Bayero, 4 other Emirs dethroned by the emirate law are back to the throne.
Details soon.
Super Eagles of Nigeria dropped again in the latest FIFA world ranking that was released on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
The ranking which was posted on FIFA’s website saw the Eagles drop from 30th to 38th in the world and fifth in Africa.
Ahead of the Eagles in Africa are Morocco (1st), Senegal (2nd), Egypt (3rd) and AFCON champions Cote d’Ivoire (4th).
The Eagles’ drop could be attributed to their poor outings on matchday 3 and 4, in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic.
After a 1-1 draw against South Africa inside the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, the Eagles lost 2-1 to Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
While South Africa maintained 59th spot in the ranking, Gernot Rohr-led Benin Republic move to 91.
With four games played in the qualifiers, the three-time AFCON champions are in fifth place on three points.
They will be back in the World Cup qualifying campaign in March 2025 against Rwanda and Zimbabwe who are in 131st and 129th positions respectively in the latest ranking.
Meanwhile, the top three, however, remain unshakeable. Argentina (1st) retain their place at the summit, with France (2nd) and Belgium (3rd) hot on their heels.
But there is movement behind them, as Brazil (4th, up 1) and England (5th, down 1) swap places.
Meanwhile, Portugal (6th), the Netherlands (7th) and Spain (8th) consolidate their spots in the top ten, whilst Croatia (9th, up 1) overtake Italy (10th, down 1), who nonetheless hold onto a place among the leading pack.
The next FIFA world ranking will be published on 18 July, 2024
Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s most celebrated striker, recently vented his frustrations on social media towards Super Eagles coach Finidi George.
Osimhen reacted to an online publication suggesting that Finidi questioned his commitment to playing for Nigeria and refused to beg him to join the Super Eagles Super Eagles.
This incident followed Finidi’s resignation after disappointing results against South Africa and Benin, and the Nigerian Football Federation’s (NFF) decision to hire a foreign Technical Adviser.
Finidi, who was dealing with his own professional challenges, took some time to refute the report.
By the time he did, Osimhen had already made his grievance public. The situation has since sparked a week of chaos, dividing public opinion.
Some support Osimhen for defending his reputation, while others believe he disrespected a Nigerian legend and should apologize publicly, with some even calling for his ban from the national team.
Does Osimhen have a ‘bad boy’ reputation?
Amidst this turmoil, there have been revelations that suggest that Osimhen has a history of picking up fights.
According to OwnGoalNigeria, Osimhen’s recent outburst was not his first disciplinary issue with the national team, alleging past conflicts with teammates and coaches.
As per the report, Osimhen had fights with Leon Balogun in 2019 and Francis Uzoho, suggesting a pattern of poor behaviour.
The report also quoted former teammate John Ogu, who mentioned these incidents and described Osimhen as a “combustive player” who often reacts without thinking.
This portrayal has fueled speculation and criticism, with some arguing that Osimhen is a negative influence on the team.
Fact-Check from Soccernet.ng
Soccernet.ng can confirm that while there were indeed training ground squabbles between Osimhen and Balogun, as well as Uzoho, these were typical of the intensity seen in football training sessions globally.
Such incidents are common and are usually resolved quickly, without lingering animosity.
Regarding claims of Osimhen being a negative influence, it is essential to highlight his fierce competitiveness and commitment.
Osimhen’s drive to win sometimes leads to high-intensity interactions with teammates and coaches.
Last season, he had a couple of disputes with Napoli teammates and coach Luciano Spalletti, yet they all knew all he did was for the good of the team. Osimhen’s goals would later power Napoli to their first Scudetto title in over 30 years.
Nearly two-thirds of Nigerian professionals and three-quarters of Ghanaian professionals are willing to work abroad, a new report by Boston Consulting Group and The Network has shown.
The report, Decoding Global Talent 2024, surveyed over 150,000 workers in 188 countries and found that younger professionals and those from fast-growing populations were more likely to seek opportunities abroad.
English-speaking countries with strong economies, such as Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, were the top destinations, with London and New York ranking among the most desirable cities.
The report stated that Nigeria ranked 67th and Ghana 72nd in terms of attractiveness to global workers, while Abuja and Lagos ranked 63rd and 103rd, respectively, in terms of desired cities.
“The world’s most important economies are facing a major challenge: the great shortage of people. This looming gap in the global labour market is primarily due to declining birth rates and mismatches between job supply and demand,” said the CEO of Stepstone Group, Sebastian Dettmers.
“Labour migration represents a prime opportunity to bridge this gap. We must adapt our job markets to be more versatile, enabling workers to move to where they are most needed and where they can find the best positions for their skills and aspirations.”
The top 10 countries Nigerians prefer to work abroad for are Canada, the UK, the USA, Australia, Germany, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and France.
This marks a slight change from the survey done in 2020 that found that people from Nigeria were looking for work in the Netherlands (8th position in 2020), New Zealand (9th position in 2020), and Ireland (10th position in 2020).
Ghanaians’ top 10 countries for work opportunities are Canada, the USA, the UK, Australia, Germany, the UAE, Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium.
The Principal at BCG, Adwoa Banful, stated, “West Africa continues to offer attractive job opportunities for local professionals and for others from the rest of the continent and overseas, who are seeking to advance their careers.
“There are some clear reasons why people are choosing to relocate to Nigeria and Ghana, most notably the quality of job opportunities, and the region’s welcoming culture and family-centric environment.”
According to the report, global talent moves abroad primarily for professional progress, with those willing to do so citing financial and economic reasons (64 per cent of global, 60 per cent of Nigerian, and 69 per cent of Ghanaian respondents).
Also, career considerations such as work experience (56 per cent of global, 69 per cent of Nigerian, and 73 per cent of Ghanaian respondents), better overall life quality (55 per cent of global, 51 per cent of Nigerian and 57 per cent of Ghanaian respondents), and a concrete job offer (54 per cent of global, 51 per cent of Nigerian and 50 per cent of Ghanaian respondents) were their top reasons for doing so.
Nigerian respondents also highlighted better educational and training opportunities (64 per cent versus 37 per cent of global respondents) and more interesting or challenging work (63 per cent versus 48 per cent of global respondents) as top reasons to relocate.
The same goes for Ghanaian respondents who would relocate because of better educational and training opportunities (70 per cent ) and more interesting or challenging work (68 per cent).
“For global respondents who listed a specific reason for choosing a particular country, the quality of job opportunities was the top decisive factor (65 per cent), with quality of life and climate ranking second (54 per cent).
“Other country-specific characteristics, such as opportunities for citizenship (18 per cent) and health care (15 per cent) also play a role but are secondary factors,” the report highlighted.
Reasons to relocate to Nigeria that were highlighted by respondents include the quality of job opportunities (52 per cent of respondents), a family-friendly environment (40 per cent), and a welcoming culture and inclusiveness (34 per cent).
Reasons for choosing Ghana include quality of job opportunities (48 per cent of respondents), a welcoming culture and inclusiveness (40 per cent), and safety, stability and security (38 per cent).
“The biggest reasons highlighted by Nigerian and Ghanaian respondents, who are not willing to move overseas are the inability to bring family members or a life partner with them when they relocate (43 per cent and 50 per cent respectively) and the cost of relocation (39 per cent and 36 per cent respectively),” Banful stated.
Co-managing Director at The Network, Sacha Knorr said, “People don’t associate countries with certain generally attributed advantages and choose them on that basis.
Sometime in November 2019 Emmanuel Oluwasayomi Ahmadu, a graduate of Mass Communications University of Benin was carrying out his One-year National Youth Service Corps assignment in Kwara state, granted audience to the state Correspondent, Demola Akinyemi, in Vanguard office Ilorin on how he sat for WAEC/GCE examinations for seventeen times all because he didn’t want to cut corners, before he secured admission into the University of Benin, in Edo state. It was widely published in our Online back then, precisely on December,1,2019.
Emmanuel’s story is a testament to resilience and determination, akin to Dr. Ben Carson’s. He first gained international attention in 2018 when he won the International Award for Student Brand of the Year in West Africa while an undergraduate at the University of Benin (UNIBEN).
Emmanuel who graduated in Mass Communication from the University of Benin in 2018, received recognition from the Vice-Chancellor as an extraordinary student whose achievements were archived in the university’s main library to inspire hope in others.
He was also recognized as the Most Innovative Student in Nigeria, Media Personality of the Year, and received several other prestigious awards for his impactful initiatives and media influence.
Shortly after his service year, fortune smiled on Emmanuel as his family raised funds for him from Church, Cooperatives and loans from banks with which he proceeded to study in USA.
The Global Changemaker, Emmanuel popularly known as ‘Mr. Voiceover,’ in a chat with Vanguard Correspondent said he was admitted into Cleveland State University in the USA in 2021 for graduate studies in School Counseling, even though he still work with the professors there.
“But I needed to transfer to Cuyahoga Community College to get the basic background into Human Services and get closer access to community resources and programs about the field I’m equipping myself for.” he added .
He also said that on June 4,2024 he was honored with an academic honorary Doctorate Degree in International Affairs (DIA) from Global Seminary University, New York, USA stressing that,”This recognition, in collaboration with GEPEA University, Portugal, acknowledges my distinguished contributions to the promotion of peace and sustainable mental wellness and hope globally.
“Additionally,I have been honored as a Professional Doctoral Fellow by The Across Global Institute of Foreign Languages (AGIFL) for my impactful use of English as a foreign language to create positive changes across the world.My remarkable journey from overcoming significant educational and personal challenges to making significant global impacts in mental health advocacy and suicide prevention has earned me these prestigious honors.”he said.
His contributions to mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and curbing social misconduct among adolescents and youths across nations have been profound.
Emmanuel’s innovative approaches and advocacy efforts according to him,have reached over 10 million young people globally through various school mental awareness programs, media engagements, and interviews with prominent media outlets such as Vanguard Newspapers, BBC News (Pidgin), ITV, Galaxy TV,and Arise TV News, among others.
In the USA, Emmanuel has made significant strides. As a Student Government President and Vice President of the Joint Student Council Board across five campuses of Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, his administration brought hope and connected students to essential resources, including mental health support.
He stated that his impact earned him numerous awards, including “Distinguished Student Leader with a Big Heart” from the College and “Outstanding Mental Health Advocate of the Year” by the Active Minds Organization.
Currently, Emmanuel said he serves the Federal Government as a Peer Reviewer and Judge with the United States Federal Department of Education for the School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMH) and Mental Health Services Professional Demonstration (MHSP) grant programs.
His role highlights his expertise and commitment to advancing mental health services across all educational institutions to impacts young people in America.
Emmanuel’s further involvement with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) in Ohio State demonstrates his dedication to this cause.
He actively contributes to three AFSP State Board committees: the Walk Committee, the Advocacy Committee, and the Education Committee. His efforts have significantly advanced suicide prevention initiatives and mental health education, earning him numerous awards, including Advocate of the Year in Ohio State at the Annual Mental Health First Aid Summit in 2023.
Reflecting on these honor, Emmanuel stated, “Receiving these honorary Doctorate Honors is not just a recognition of my past efforts but a catalyst for future impact. It reinforces my commitment to mental health advocacy and suicide prevention, and I am inspired to collaborate with young champions and survivors to create a supportive environment for all to rise.”
Emmanuel’s research proposal and paper presentation through the Cleveland Humanities Collaborative partnered with Case Western Reserve University, USA, on “Fostering Mental Health Awareness and Preventing Social Misconducts among Adolescents and Youths- using a multifaceted approach,” emphasizes the critical importance of mental health awareness and innovative approaches to prevent adolescent and youth suicide.
His initiatives, such as the R.I.S.E Global Voices Organization, aim to address these issues by promoting resilience, inclusion, self-care, and empowerment among adolescents and youth.
His vision includes launching a social networking platform to connect young champions/survivors of different traumatic experiences across the world, training and supporting them to help others struggling in silence.
Futhermore, part of his vision for the future includes launching collaborative projects with local and international human services agencies, leveraging his role and recognition to foster global partnerships aimed at tackling mental health challenges. His dedication to this cause and his innovative approaches continue to inspire hope and resilience in young people worldwide.
—- 16 victims duped, we get fake dollars from Lagos
A 53-year-old electrician turned fraudster, Temidayo Olagundoye, has confessed that he went into crime because he was duped.
Olagundoye, who is the leader of a counterfeit currency syndicate, was paraded alongside 47 suspected criminals by the Ondo state security outfit, codenamed, Amotekun, in Akure, the state capital.
In an interview, the suspect said that his gang had defrauded 16 victims.
According to him ” I have been involved in one-chance operation and defrauding people for over three years. Our route is along the Ondo/Akure/Osogbo/Ife highway.
“After some unsuspecting passengers might have boarded our vehicles, I will ask one of my gang members what is inside the bag with him, and he will respond that it is dollars with a charm on it.
“We do get the fake dollars from Lagos. About 16 people have fallen into our trick, with N260,000 being our highest catch.
“The charm we put on the fake dollar is not real; it was just to deceive our victims.
“I used to be an electrician, but I was duped in Abuja. After I was duped, I decided to also dupe people.”
The state commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, while narrating how the suspected one-chance taxi operators were apprehended, said “there is this syndicate that specialises in what is called ‘One-Chance’ in local parlance.
” Unsuspecting commuters will board their vehicles, get midway, rob them, dispose of their valuables, and make away with them.
“So, we were able to put some of our men in one of the vehicles, and as we talk today, out of the ten vehicles they use, we were able to retrieve three, and the kingpin of the criminal activities has been arrested and is here on parade.
“They have an herbalist who deceives them by telling customers of theirs that they can produce dollars for them, but you can see that they are counterfeit dollars.
“So, they collected naira from them in exchange for counterfeit dollars. So, we were able to break their cartel, and you can see the pots and charms they use in hypnotising their customers.
“So, all they need to tell the victims is to go home and bring all their valuables for these counterfeit dollars.”
Adeleye said that the suspect and other already profiled would soon be charged to court for prosecution.
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France captain, Kylian Mbappe, on Wednesday, returned to light training with a bandage covering his broken nose.
Mbappe suffered the injury during their Euro 2024 opening game against Austria.
Hours before his first public appearance after the incident, the forward wrote on Instagram: “Without risks, there are no victories”.
It is understood that the Real Madrid-bound player underwent more tests on the nose injury.
Mbappé showed up for a late-afternoon practice session 30 minutes after his teammates came out.
The 25-year-old was initially seen running with the ball alone, with a trainer, and later speaking to France coach Didier Deschamps, before taking part in a shooting drill with other players.
Nigerian Muslims faithful joined their counterparts all over the world to celebrate Eid-El-Kabir.
The celebration came amid worsening economic hardship and rising food inflation.
Findings by DAILY POST revealed that some Muslim faithful celebrated the festive season on a low key due to the increasing inflation that has caused a hike in the prices of food items and transportation fares.
DAILY POST reports that the rising inflation that peaked at 33.95 per cent in the month of May caused prices to continually increase daily.
According to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, NBS, food inflation in Nigeria is above 40%, making it extra difficult for many to purchase food items.
During a visit to some markets at the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, DAILY POST found that the prices of items have continued to rise.
Some consumers, who spoke to DAILY POST, said regardless of the appreciation of the Naira against the dollar, the prices of foodstuffs were still exorbitant for the common man.
A dealer in pepper and tomatoes, who gave his name simply as Dauda in Mararaba Market, told DAILY POST that a basket of tomatoes sold as high as N200,000, adding that in April, the same basket was sold for N40,000 or even less.
“Most people can’t afford these things anymore,” he admitted.
“Smaller baskets and mini buckets of the perishable item were sold from N10,000 to N15,000, respectively,” he further lamented.
At ram selling points in the same Mararaba, DAILY POST gathered that an average-sized ram was sold above N80,000, with some going for as high as a negotiable price of N500, 000.
Similarly, at the Kugbo ram market in Abuja, the price significantly increased owing to several factors, including inflation, insecurity, hike in transport fares, multiple taxation and feeding costs.
A ram dealer, who refused to give his name, highlighted some reasons behind the rise in price.
He said, “Last year, the ram of this size was N350,000 but it is N550,000 now.
“The cost of feeding has changed and transportation costs have skyrocketed.
“Last year, transporting a ram from the Niger Republic border cost N2,000, but now it’s N8,000. A trailer load that used to be transported for N500,000 is now over N1,000,000.”
A Muslim faithful in the same ram market said the cost of ram had increased and was almost unaffordable due to the prevailing economic challenges.
“I went to the market to buy a big ram but ended up with a small one because I could not afford the big one.
“The one I ended up buying cost me N85,000, while the big one I wanted to buy was sold for a negotiable price of N190, 000.
“Many buyers went there and couldn’t afford the ram and they went home disappointed,” he said.
A commercial motorcyclist, Adamu Hassan said that people were only trying to fulfill their religious obligations.
He said: “I could not afford a ram last year and even this year because the price keeps going higher due to the inflation in the economy.
“If Allah permits me to buy, I will, but people must know that Allah has not put a burden on any Muslim who cannot afford a ram.”
A food seller, Njoku Mary lamented low patronage by customers as a result of the hike in the price of commodities and the low purchasing power of citizens.
“Imagine, maggi moved from N700 to N1,300 per pack and Spaghetti is N850. We are not making any gain, the government should help us, this is too much for us,” she said.
Also, a trader, Ene Joseph, who sells groceries and provisions at Nyanya Market, bemoaned the hardship she faced in her business as a result of the hyperinflation.
“We used to buy a bag of milk for 5,500, now it is N15,000.
“The loaf of bread that I used to buy from bakers at N600, now sells for N1600 to N2000 because of the high cost of flour, milk and sugar.
“As traders, we are tired, we just sit under the sun getting nothing and we pay for shop in the market,” she lamented.
Another trader, who sells cereal items such as local rice, corn, beans, and others, said a mudu of rice is now between N2,500 and N2,700, while a 50kg bag of rice is between N70,000 and N8,000.
In the same vein, a buyer, who gave his name simply as Mohammed said it was a sad thing that he could not afford what his family needed for the celebration because of the hike in the prices of food items.
“A lot of people are using the economic situation to dupe others and blame it on fuel subsidy removal.
“I witnessed how somebody will keep what she bought previously at a certain amount but refuse to sell those items.
“She kept them to watch when the prices would go higher so she could double the price and make a higher gain.
“Let the government monitor the market with a view to controlling the prices of goods. This will help a lot in curtailing the rising cost of things,’’ he said.
Veteran Fuji singer, Adewale Ayuba, has opened up on how he almost gave up his interest in music to explore lecturing in the United States of America.
Ayuba recalled traveling to US with his band for their three-month summer show in 1995, but being unable to return to Nigeria due to threats from late military head of state, Sani Abacha.
Speaking in a chat with Teju Babyface, the music star revealed that he was threatened by the military government after he released an album advocating for the freedom of political detainees, particularly the late MKO Abiola.
Ayuba said during his three years in the US, he enrolled in school, became an American citizen and contemplated pursuing a career in academics. He said;
“I left for America with my full band members in 1995 for a summer show and others. We came to America for about three months and then returned to Nigeria.
“I returned to Nigeria in 1998 when Abacha died. The three years I stayed in America were by the grace of God because He is a good planner.
“When I was in America, I realised that I could only perform shows on weekends. My Mondays to Fridays were free. So, I enrolled in school. That was where I met my wife.
“After that, I took part in a lot of activities. Doing so was like building another foundation in America. That was not easy. From there, I completed my documentation and became an American citizen.
“I don’t see myself continuing in Fuji music, I believe I have done well. This is America, there’s more to explore in life, trusting that God has a plan”.
Asked if truly he almost lost interest in Fuji music, Ayuba said;
“True, true true, particularly the kind of genre that I met myself singing Fuji. I’ve started developing a kind of interest in my education. From day one, if anybody asked me what would I wanted to become in life, I would love to become a lecturer or teacher. I can’t lie to you.
“I was thinking if I finished my bachelor’s degree, I would go for my master, and P.hD to be a lecturer. I don’t want the level of being a Fuji musician, I believe I’ve done well, and I’m OK, this is America, let me choose another line.”
Davido takes first baby mama, Sophia Momodu to court, demands full custody of daughter, Imade
AFOLABI
Nigerian music star Davido Adeleke has taken legal action against his first baby mama, Sophia Momodu, demanding full custody of their nine-year-old daughter, Imade Aurora Adeleke.
According to documents filed by Davido’s legal team, which includes prominent lawyers Dr. Olaniyi Arije and Okey Barrah, at the Lagos State High Court on April 17, 2024, the musician cited several reasons for his decision.
Davido accused Sophia Momodu of exploiting their daughter to extract substantial financial benefits from him, alleging that she consistently made exorbitant demands and refused reasonable accommodations offered by him.
Among the grievances outlined in the petition, Davido claimed he had diligently fulfilled his responsibilities towards Imade.
This reportedly included paying for her education, accommodation, and various other expenses essential for her well-being.
He stated that despite providing a secure apartment and vehicles for their daughter’s transportation needs, Sophia Momodu opted for continued financial support, insisting on hefty sums for rent and vehicle maintenance.
“That it is on record that I have been responsible for the payment of all the school fees of my daughter to provide her with the best education possible and to meet all her educational needs without a hitch.
“That I have also been providing money for the rent of the apartment where the respondent resides with our daughter.”
“The respondent rejected the offer to stay and live at the above-described secured Oniru apartment, which had been purchased already, but demanded that I continue to pay N5,000,000 annually for a rented facility as my own contribution towards my daughter’s accommodation”
“I bought a Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle for the use of the child and the respondent to meet the transport needs, including transportation of the child to and from school, etc.”
“She began to make excuses and complained that the Range Rover SUV was not in a good condition, however, she refused to inform me about that,” Davido said in the suit.
He went on allege that her demands for expenses such as nanny fees and international travel costs were excessive and not in the child’s best interest.
In his statement to the court, Davido expressed deep concern over what he described as Sophia Momodu’s unreasonable behavior, which he claimed had caused him significant emotional distress.
“That sequel to the information about the said condition of the vehicle, I provided another vehicle, Highlander SUV, and in addition, the sum of N5.8m as requested by her for the repair of the Range Rover SUV, making it two vehicles in the custody and use of the respondent and our daughter.”
“I also made commitments to pay for living expenses, the fees of the nanny to our child, provide medical and health care, insurance, periodic international travel expenses and tickets.”
“That notwithstanding my efforts in the overall interest of my daughter, the respondent has continued to make outlandish and Utopian demands to frustrate me,” the singer added.
Listing the other demands allegedly made by Sophia Momodu, he said, “The respondent, among others, is demanding that I should pay the nanny she hired the sum of $800 per month, and that the total sum of $19,600 per annum be paid as a lump sum.”