Popular Nigerian film actor, Daniel Etim-Effiong and his wife Toyosi have welcomed their third child.
The couple took to Instagram to announce the birth of their daughter, while thanking God for His kindness.
They are also parents to an older daughter and a son.
On the photo and video sharing platform, they wrote:
“She’s here ☺️ Our song! Our love-gift! Our evidence!! Another arrow in our quiver to the glory of GOD!!
Thank You LORD for your kindness towards us ❤️.”
Recall Nigerian film actor, Daniel Etim-Effiong and his wife, Toyosi announced they were expecting their third child together.
Actress Elvina Ibru has said she does not have an issue with people engaging in threesomes.
The 51-year-old said this in a podcast with media personality Joseph Edgar.
In a clip from the yet-to-be-released episode, Elvina who appears to be referring to someone else, said she thought the threesome was quite beautiful. She said in the one-minute clip:
“I didn’t have an issue with the threesome, in fact, I thought it was quite beautiful.”
Elvina Ibru is an ex-presenter with Classic FM, Lagos.
Her sister is singer Gloria Ibru.
The Bling Lagosians actress is the daughter of the late industrialist Michael Ibru.
Meanwhile, Nigerian actress cum politician, Laide Bakare came under fire for commenting under Portable’s 30th birthday post.
The actor who turned 30 on Tuesday, March 12, shared photos of himself in his attire, while wishing himself a happy birthday.
Laide Bakare despite their recent clash had taken to his comment section to make fun of him, rather than just wish him well like her colleagues.
This was before she set the record straight on her supposed relationship with a mystery man, who she has been parading on social media as her lover.
The actress repeatedly showed off photos and videos with the man, and at a point dropped a Lagos location for where her supposed marriage will take place, inviting her well wishers.
In a fresh post, Laide made a video debunking her earlier remarriage claim, stating that the actor is married and they simply got married only in movies.
Reality TV star Kiddwaya has taken to social media to celebrate his ex-girlfriend and fellow BBNaija alum Erica Nlewedim’s 30th birthday with a heartwarming post on Instagram.
The unexpected tribute from Kiddwaya, who had been romantically linked with Erica in the past, came as a surprise to many fans amidst their public breakup and subsequent engagements with other partners.
In a simple yet affectionate post, Kiddwaya curated a video showcasing a nostalgic moment shared between him and Erica Nlewedim.
Accompanying the endearing footage was Kiddwaya’s heartfelt birthday message addressed to Erica, where he fondly referred to her as “mango cheeks” and extended his warm wishes for her special day.
“Happy birthday mango cheeks @ericanlewedim,” Kiddwaya wrote.
The exchange between Erica and Kiddwaya reignited conversations among fans about the nature of their relationship and the significance of their bond.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike maintains he is still a member of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite threats of expulsion from some chieftains of the party.
Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers State, fell out with the PDP hierarchy in the run-up to the 2023 presidential election. He had insisted the party maintain its internal power-sharing formula by zoning the presidential ticket to southern Nigeria. While he backed out from supporting Atiku Abubakar – from northern Nigeria – who won the PDP primary election, the former governor worked for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), leading to the emergence of President Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu later appointed him as a minister, a move that triggered debates on whether Wike is still a member of the PDP. Despite the calls for his expulsion, the FCT minister says he is still a member of the PDP, doubling down on his support for Tinubu – the APC flagbearer for the 2023 election.
“I am a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” he said during a Friday media parley with selected journalists in Abuja. “Have you ever seen me change anything?”
‘Everybody Should Carry Their Cross’
Even though Wike insists he is a member of the PDP, the FCT minister has been absent from major meetings of the party and has not been seen campaigning for them in the recent off-cycle elections, he does not regret his action.
“The one I supported before, what happened? I have decided to take a break. As you see me now, everybody should carry their cross,” Wike maintained.
“I was in PDP and I did not hide it: I told them I was not going to support their presidential candidate. Is it that I spoke or acted in a way people did not understand?”
He maintains he is an advocate of the rule of law, saying his non-support of the party in the 2023 presidential election was the right step and thus moves for his suspension are uncalled for.
“Discipline me for what? That I did what? I am an advocate of the party’s constitution. Assuming we lost the governorship, will they be talking about Rivers as a PDP state?”
Since the elections and politicking are over, Wike has only one thing in mind.
“Now is the time for governance. Now is the time to do your assignment. The president has given me an assignment and I am busy carrying out my assignment,” the former governor said. “When the time for politics comes, we would know who is where and who is not where.”
Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, has reacted to the controversy surrounding the allocation of funds to lawmakers for constituency projects in their various senatorial districts.
Ndume was responding to allegations by Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe from Cross River North that some senators got about N500 million each from the 2024 budget for constituency projects.
Agom-Jarigbe had on Tuesday, during a story session in Abuja, made the startling disclosure while the lawmakers debated budget padding claims by Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi Central Senatorial District.
Speaking with ChannelsTV on Wednesday, Ndume revealled that he and other leaders of the 10th Senate got more than the N200 million allocation his colleagues and floor members received for constituency projects in the 2024 budget.
“My colleagues know that I go more than them (floor members). All the senators have N200 million (each) as their constituency projects but I am a leader. That is the difference,” Ndume announced.
“Ten of us are leaders including those in the opposition. We get more than the floor members. It’s normal… My colleagues know that I go more than them,” he added.
Politics Nigeria’s checks revealled that the current leaders of the 10th Senate include:
- Godswill Akpabio – Senate President
- Jibrin Barau – Deputy Senate President
- Opeyemi Bamidele – Senate Majority Leader
- Oyelola Yisa Ashiru – Deputy Majority Leader
- Ali Ndume – Chief Whip
- Lola Ashiru – Deputy Whip
- Abba Moro – Minority Leader
- Kamorudeen Olarere – Deputy Minority Leader
- Darlington Nwokeocha – Senate Minority Whip
- Rufai Hanga – Deputy Minority Whip
When asked whether the claim by Agom-Jarigbe was true, Ndume said: “It’s disparity now, we are not the same; all animals are equal but some are more equal than the other. That’s what the case is. They have agreed to that.
“All the senators have N200m (each) as their constituency projects but I am a leader. That is the difference. 10 of us are leaders including those in the opposition. We get more than the floor members. It’s normal.
“That decision is taken by the senators. We have the senate budget committee before but now the floor members entrusted that to the presiding officers. That’s the difference. So, most the senators don’t know what I get and I will not tell you,” he added.
Lionel Messi built on his 13th minute assist to Luis Suarez, netting a stupendous finish for the Herons just 15 minutes later.
After a 2-2 draw in the first leg that saw Inter Miami seize an away goals advantage, the Herons came out firing on home turf in the second leg on Wednesday night.
The Herons opened the scoring just eight minutes in, with Suarez providing the goal on a Messi assist.
Just 15 minutes later, though, Messi got one of his own, firing home a feed from Diego Gomez to make the score 2-0.
The Argentine’s brilliant first half set the tone for the Herons, shooting them to a 3-1 victory (5-3 aggregate) over NSC.
Now, they’re off to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
The CONCACAF Champions League is Inter Miami’s first crack at a trophy this season, having won the club’s first-ever piece of silverware last season in the Leagues Cup.
Perhaps more importantly, though, the tournament gives Miami a chance to qualify for the Club World Cup, where they can match up against some of the world’s best.
Following Wednesday’s cup match, the Herons will be back in action this weekend as they return to MLS play. They’ll play host to D.C. United on Saturday as they look to bounce back from a frustrating defeat to CF Montreal.
As for the Champions Cup, Inter Miami will play the winner of FC Cincinnati and CF Monterrey Thursday evening, in the next round of the tournament.
[Leadership]
Famous Nigerian Catholic priest, Rev Fr Chinenye Oluoma, has urged women who have clocked 35 years and desire to marry not to wait for men to propose to them.
Oluoma suggested that women in that age bracket should break the law and convention by approaching men first, especially men have shown signs of liking to them, instead of waiting endlessly in vain.
The cleric’s advice was contained in a video he shared on his Facebook page on Wednesday.
According to him, those who are above 35 years and continue to wait for men to propose to them suggest they are not yet ready for marriage.
He said: “At 35 years of age, my dear sister, you are waiting for a man who will come to propose to you at the airport. 35 years? You’re not ready. You are waiting for a man to come and propose to you. ‘You don de enter menopause’. Menopause ‘means that men will pause’.
“Break the law! I’m saying this but it may sound funny. If you’re a young girl and you know marriage is your calling; you can be a good mother. You happen to see any guy who is interested in you but doesn’t have courage. You know some guys like some ladies but they don’t have the courage, some guys don’t the courage. You discover that this guy have shown signs of liking you but doesn’t have the courage of talking to you. My dear sister break that useless law. Approach that guy. Break that useless convention. Meet the guy and say ‘Bro, I know you like me but you don’t have the courage’. Tell him ‘I will make it easy for you’. Tell him your good qualities.”
Video below:
[DailyPost]
Media
Heirs Technologies, a leading digital transformation company, has announced the appointment of Obong Idiong as its chief executive officer.
The company also appointed Dr. Fumbi Chima as its Chair.
Idiong brings considerable experience in the technology sector and a visionary approach to this role.
Prior to joining Heirs Technologies, he served as the MD/CEO at Africa Prudential Plc, where he spearheaded the digital transformation of its registrar services and repositioned the company as an agile and technology-driven organisation. Idiong has held a series of senior management roles, including at the United Bank for Africa Plc and Heirs Holdings Limited.
Heirs Technologies, a subsidiary of Heirs Holdings, delivers efficiency and scalability to enterprise customers, offering specialised and localised services that include IT Consulting, Managed Services and Business Process Outsourcing. In addition, the company offers locally relevant enterprise solutions to enable companies to scale and transform their services. The company is committed to developing local talent through tailored skills development programmes.
Obong Idiong stated, “We are proud to bring Heirs Holdings’ core values and business approach to the tech sector, leading with excellence, execution, and enterprise. We are committed to bridging an enormous gap in the technology ecosystem by delivering local relevance to a global market and offering cutting-edge solutions to enable our customers to become more competitive”.
On her part, Dr. Fumbi Chima has served as CIO in global companies including Adidas, Fox Network Group, Burberry Corporation, Walmart Stores Inc. Asia business operations, and American Express’ Global Corporate Technologies prior to the current appointment.
In her statement she said, “I am pleased to be a part of this movement to unlock Africa’s potential. Having worked in technology leadership roles across global organisations, I am confident that Heirs Technologies will create impact that will improve lives and transform the continent”.
Heirs Technologies is Africa’s digital transformation partner, driving innovation across the continent. Building on Heirs Holdings’ track record of digital transformation in financial services, Heirs Technologies specialises in delivering world-class technology solutions to corporate customers, including Managed Services, System Integration, and bespoke IT Consulting.
Heirs Technologies empowers businesses to thrive, through the delivery of innovative solutions, world-class expertise, and access to global providers, while enhancing local capacity and value.
Heirs Technologies is a subsidiary of Heirs Holdings, the leading pan-African investment company with strategic investments in key sectors in the African economy, including resources, power, financial services, real estate and hospitality and healthcare, with portfolio operations across twenty-four countries worldwide. Heirs Holdings’ investment approach is driven by founder Tony Elumelu’s philosophy of Africapitalism that champions the African private sector’s commitment to the economic transformation of Africa, through investments that generate both economic prosperity and social wealth.
The lawmaker representing Bauchi Central, Senator Abdul Ningi, has made a startling revelation following his suspension from the Senate.
Ningi disclosed that there were intentions among his colleagues to have him arrested following his controversial claim regarding the 2024 budget allocations.
The senator’s suspension, which is to last three months, comes on the heels of his allegation that N3.7 trillion of the budget could not be accounted for in any specific project.
The accusation, initially made during an interview with BBC Hausa, sparked widespread interest and debate, both within the legislative chamber and among the Nigerian public.
Ahead of the Senate’s next plenary session, Ningi addressed the media, affirming his previous statements and expressing readiness to face any repercussions for his candidness.
However, the situation escalated when the Senate convened on Tuesday. Discussion over Ningi’s allegations led to heightened tensions, with some lawmakers advocating for his suspension.
Amidst the ensuing disorder, Senator Olamilekan Adeola from Ogun West proposed a motion to formally discuss Ningi’s comments, leading to further controversy as Senator Jarigbe Jarigbe of Cross River North made additional accusations.
Jarigbe claimed that select “senior senators” had received N500 million each for constituency projects, insinuating widespread complicity within the Senate.
These allegations have since dominated public discourse, with citizens calling on their senators to clarify their involvement and the specifics of their allocated funds.
In a subsequent appearance on Arise TV, Ningi reiterated his concerns, suggesting that there were concerted efforts by members of the Senate to silence or even arrest him over his disclosure of the untraceable N3.7 trillion.
He said: “That is why I said I know this parliament very well, I have come a long way. And that is why we are speaking. Let’s speak. Have they ever asked me since the beginning of this so-called crisis, where are your findings? Where are the documents? I’m not using my head to come up with figures.
“Nobody has talked to me about evidence. Nobody has suggested even listening to me. All they are trying to do is to ensure that ‘how do we make sure that Ningi is silenced or arrested so that he doesn’t do anything?’. I have opened this can of worms. Neither they nor I will be able to control it.”
A baker, Tina Ileogben, has been killed and her heart reportedly ripped out of her chest and stolen at her residence on Olowo Street, in the Alhaja Shifiwa area of Dopemu, Agege, Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the victim, who was said to be working at a bakery, did not report for duty on Wednesday when one of her colleagues was instructed to check her at home.
On getting to the premises, it was learnt that the colleague met the door leading into her flat open and upon gaining entry, met her lifeless body on her bed.
A resident in the area, who gave his name simply as Segun, said the colleague quickly raised the alarm, adding that neighbours who rushed into Ileogben’s flat observed that her throat had been slit and her heart removed from her chest.
He said, “The incident has thrown people including her neighbours into confusion. People got to know what happened to Ileogben when her colleague came to her flat.
“Ileogben’s colleagues did not see her at work and one of her colleagues came to check her at home when they could not reach her on the phone. It was when the colleague got to her flat, met the door open and entered that he saw her lifeless remains on the bed.
“The person who perpetrated the crime slit her throat, put a hand into her neck to access her chest and removed her heart. People saw some of her intestines around her neck and a doctor who was also at the crime scene confirmed that her heart had been taken away.”
Speaking with our correspondent, Ileogben’s elder sister, Justina, said her sister was raped before she was killed, adding that her sister’s blood was visible in her flat.
She said, “I am dead already. I was at home when I received a call informing me that my sister had fallen and they needed my presence. I quickly rushed to her house and saw a lot of people there.
“I suspected something bad had happened, started crying and rushed to my shop. I later summoned the courage to go into her flat to find out what happened to her and saw her corpse.
“Blood stains were on the floor, wall, and her bed. When I looked closer at her corpse, I saw that the person raped her before killing her. The person used a knife to slit her throat and her heart was also removed from her chest.”
Justina, while demanding justice, urged men of the state police command to track down the suspect responsible for her sister’s death.
Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident, noting that officials of the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit had evacuated the deceased’s remains to the Mainland General Hospital, Yaba, for post-mortem examination.
He said, “One Akeem, a coworker of the deceased, and her landlord reported the case at the Dopemu Division. The deceased, Tina Ileogben, was supposed to report on duty but when was not seen, and the senior staff on duty instructed him to go and check up on her since she lived close to the company.
“On getting there, Akeem met her room open, he entered the room with two neighbours and discovered the lifeless body of the deceased naked in a pool of her blood with her neck slit. An investigation into the case is ongoing. Regarding the missing heart, nothing of such happened.”
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The Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has accused Mikano International Limited of obstructing its investigation into the operations of the company.
The FCCPC is empowered by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 (FCCPA) to, among other things, promote fair business practices and safeguard the interest of
consumers.
According to a statement by Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, Acting Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, the commission obtained a search warrant on December 16th, 2022 from the Federal High Court in Abuja to execute a search on multiple generator companies.
“The Court, being satisfied that there was adequate information to show untoward behavior and business practices by certain companies requiring further investigation, issued the order.
“The Commission proceeded in the investigation and investigatory efforts including securing the order because of a high prioritization of the electricity power industry both from a primary/substantive production, and alternative power sources standpoints. Power, and the cost thereof being vital and critical to businesses, and households, particularly small businesses and vulnerable households is a major concern, and any practices in that sector that exploits or negatively affects consumers is of grave concern.
“That investigation is currently at various stages. Extensive briefings with topmost officials in government, and evidence gathering from relevant targets have also occurred.
“As part of the investigation, and to ensure compliance with the law, the Commission on March 8th, 2024 filed criminal charges against one of the targets (Mikano International Limited and Others) of investigation,”the statement read in part.
The Commission however lamented that Mikano was failing to comply with the court order and frustrating the investigation.
“The Charges allege violations of Sections 28(5), 33, 110 and 111 of the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) which provide and mandate companies to comply and be transparent in investigative procedures.
“The Commission is strongly committed to ensuring compliance and transparency in enforcement of the law. The Commission recognises the prevailing hardship in consumers, and business operations, and as such reiterates that compliance with the law, and lawful requests under the law are vital to economic and market stability and protection of consumers.
“The Commission will continue to enforce the law in a fair and humane manner for both consumers and businesses, but will not tolerate any action by any that weakens the regulatory framework or encourages others to violate the law as that leads to exploitation of consumers,” the statement concluded.
A civic-tech non-profit organisation, BudgIT, has accused the National Assembly of inserting 7,447 constituency projects worth N2.24 trillion in the 2024 project.
The organisation said this in a report released on Wednesday in its reaction to the allegation of budget padding made by the suspended Senator Abdul Ningi representing Bauchi Central.
In its report, BudgIT said most of the projects inserted into the budget by the National Assembly are of personal interests and have no national significance.
According to the organisation, a breakdown of the 2024 budget shows that N25.4 trillion was earmarked for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MSAs).
It said the N3.32 trillion allocation earmarked for government-owned enterprises (GOEs), the national assembly, the National Judicial Commission (NJC), the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), was excluded from the budget passed and published.
The report reads: “However, our findings show that a budget breakdown totalling N25.4tn was provided for the budgets of the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and some other agencies receiving a statutory allocation from the federal government.
“The comprehensive budget breakdown of government-owned enterprises, the National Assembly, the National Judicial Commission, the Public Complaints Commission, INEC, and TETFUND totalling N3.32tn was excluded from the budget that was passed and published.
“This does not mean the country operates two separate budgets and that there’s only one final budget known to us.”
In the report, the organisation said the 10th National Assembly continued the “ugly trend” of indiscriminate insertion of projects in the budget.
BudgIT said the members of the national assembly target some agencies and organisations for the insertion of projects.
The organisation said the federal ministry of agriculture and food security has the highest number of inserted projects, with 2,470 projects worth N632.31 billion.
It added: “A total of 7,447 projects culminating in N2.24tn were inserted in the 2024 budget by the National Assembly, an ugly trend that was accelerated in the 9th National Assembly.
“Fifty-five of the projects range with a value of N580.7bn are greater than N5bn in value. We also noticed that 281 projects worth N491bn, and 3,706 projects within the range of N100–500m, worth 759bn, as inserted into the budget.
“The National Assembly has indiscriminately added projects to the budget, with most projects having no national significance but narrowed to personal interests.”
Recall that Senator Ningi stirred controversy when he alleged during an interview last Saturday that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion and that the country is operating two budgets concurrently.
During plenary on Tuesday, the allegations were debated on the floor of the Red Chamber, amid a rowdy session.
Subsequently, the Bauchi senator was suspended for three months from all legislative duties over the allegations.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu says the Federal Government, FG is addressing power deficit by using alternative energy sources, such as windfall, solar and mini-grids.
Adelabu, represented by Mr Abdulrasheed Lawal, Director Procurement, Ministry of Power said this in Abuja on Wednesday at the presentation of the proposed 30 Megawatts (MW) Windfall And Solar Hybrid Project at Lekki, Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that project after necessary appraisal would be executed by Crown Resources Development Company Limited (CREDCO) in collaboration with Vergnet a French Wind Turbine Company, based in France.
He said, “We are aware that presently there is energy deficit in the country, so we are doing everything possible to address the issue by investing in alternative sources.
”We have to think out of the box to achieve energy sufficiency; we have to look at using mini-grids, solar and wind to achieve this.
”We are already doing 10MW using Windfall in Katsina and we are trying to replicate same in Lagos in order to ensure reliable and steady power supply in the country,” he said.
On his part, Mr Barney Ojiah, Chief Executive Officer of CREDCO, said that they were in the ministry of power to make a presentation on the project and to discuss how to further improve power supply for Nigerians.
He emphasised that power was important in the lives of all Nigerians no matter how it comes.
”This is a collaborative effort between the ministry of power and CREDCO on how to achieve reliable and steady power supply,”he said.
Also, Mr Frederic Cheve, Subsidiaries Manager, Africa, Vergnet while making his presentation said that the project was a renewable and innovative solution to Lagos energy need.
According to him, the project aims to harness the abundant wind and solar resources to generate clean and reliable power while mitigating the risks associated with relying on a single source of energy.
He said that the proposed capacity of the project was 20/30 megawatts wind and solar hybridised system.
Cheve, who said the project would be developed in phases, added it would have a number of significant benefits for Lagos and the country.
He listed the benefits to include improved energy security and grid stability.
”It will create green jobs and boost the local economy, reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and curtail greenhouse gas emissions.
”This project will contribute to achieving Nigeria’s national energy goals,”he said.
Cheve further said the project aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Presidential Power initiative (PPI) which aimed to add 12,000 MW of electricity to the national grid and to provide 24 hours electricity for Nigerians.
”The project is in line with the renewable energy plan that is based on Nigeria’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2060,”he said.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said some kidnappings in the territory are stage-managed.
He spoke with newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, shortly after a closed-door meeting with Senators at the National Assembly.
The Senate summoned him to intimate them on the arrangements to nip in the bud the deteriorating security situation in the FCT.
Wike said it was impossible to put a total stop to crime and criminalities within any society, but assured that he would work with the security agencies, for improved security and infrastructure in the FCT.
He said, “The kidnappings you hear, sometimes, are stage-managed by people. There are some internal arrangements. Take for example, you have a housekeeper in the house, you have a driver who will plot to kidnap the child of their master. In that case, what do you want us to do?
“All we can do is to see how the person that has been kidnapped is released. But to stop it will be difficult because it’s an in-house arrangement, where a driver that is involved in bringing a child from school will mastermind the kidnapping.
” I am glad they (senators) are all happy with what we have done, what we are going to be doing and they provided some suggestions on the way forwards. What is important is what the FCT residents should expect now; improved security, more infrastructure. You can see what is going on in the FCT. It has been turned I to a construction site.”