Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj has been named the greatest female rapper of all time by Billboard.

The list of the Best Female Rappers of All Time, released by Billboard staff, also featured hip-hop greats such as Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, and Queen Latifah.

Surprisingly, Nicki Minaj’s rivals, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, ranked outside the top 10.

Minaj topped the list, followed by Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, Lil’ Kim, and Queen Latifah at numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively.

MC Lyte, Salt-N-Pepa, Roxanne Shanté, Eve, and Foxy Brown completed the top 10.

Cardi B was ranked at number 11, while Megan Thee Stallion came in at number 15.

Despite being widely regarded as the greatest female rapper in history by many music enthusiasts, Nicki Minaj has yet to win a Grammy.

Her rivals, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, have both won Grammys in rap categories.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is aware of what could end his reign and is actively taking significant steps to tackle the issue, as stated by the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) Director of Media and Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, in a recent interview.

Ibrahim expressed confidence that the president will secure victory in the 2027 presidential election, despite concerns regarding insecurity.

He highlighted that, in contrast to former President Goodluck Jonathan, whose tenure was marked by rising violence leading up to the 2015 elections, Tinubu is already enacting strategies to mitigate security challenges.

The APC chieftain affirmed that the party recognizes the existing security threats and is committed to ensuring they do not influence the results of the upcoming election.

“If that was what was responsible for the downfall of Jonathan, I can tell you Jonathan was defeated by the APC, and the APC cannot blindfold itself and allow itself to defeat itself,” Ibrahim told THISDAY on Monday, April 7.

“President Bola Tinubu is already aware of the kind of problem that could lead to defeat, and he will not allow it.”

Ibrahim pointed to the deployment of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to the North-West and the continued efforts of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as evidence of the administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity.

“In a nutshell, the President will not allow himself to be defeated by himself.

“He’s taking measures to ensure that results are obtained… and he’s assuring Nigerians that the safety of the country is at the forefront of his agenda,” Ibrahim stated.

He also linked the recent spike in insecurity to geopolitical tensions with Nigeria’s Francophone neighbors, arguing that these diplomatic rifts have weakened regional security cooperation.

“Nigeria is literally left alone to fight this war without the collaborative effort of its neighbors,” he explained.

Meanwhile, a Labour Party (LP) senator representing Edo South senatorial district in the national assembly, Neda Imasuen, has advised northern politicians to shield their presidential ambition till 2031.

Naija News reports that the lawmaker, while speaking during a chat with newsmen in Benin City, stated that the advice has become necessary following the unwritten constitution that zoned the position of the presidency between the North and South.

The Federal Government has barred heads of tertiary institutions in an acting capacity from contesting to fill the same position.

Naija News reports that the new policy bars acting Vice Chancellors (VCs) of universities, Rectors of polytechnics and Provosts of colleges from joining in the contest for substantive heads of the institutions.

In a statement on Monday, signed by Boriowo Folasade, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, noted that acting VCs, Rectors, and Provosts, in most cases, take advantage of the selection process, thereby compromising fairness and transparency.

Alausa stated that acting VCs, Rectors and Provosts intending to contest the position must resign from their acting capacity within six months to qualify.

He added that the Ministry was committed to entrenching transparency in the tertiary education system to enhance quality education.

It read: “In line with the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Education to promote equity, transparency, and integrity in the appointment process of Federal Tertiary Institutions, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has approved the implementation of a guiding policy on eligibility for the appointment of Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts.

“This policy has become necessary following a pattern of undue advantage observed over the years, where officers serving in acting capacities often leverage their positions to influence appointment outcomes, thereby compromising the fairness and transparency of the selection process.

“To eliminate this practice, ensure a level playing field for all qualified candidates, and strengthen institutional governance, the policy stipulates that any officer serving in an acting capacity as Vice Chancellor, Rector, or Provost shall not be eligible to apply for the substantive position while still holding the acting appointment. However, in the interest of fairness, such officers may choose to recuse themselves from their acting positions before the expiration of their non-renewable six-month tenure, thereby becoming eligible to apply for the substantive roles.

This policy is designed to complement the existing Federal Ministry of Education Guidelines for the Appointment of Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts (2013), along with all other extant regulations governing appointments in federal tertiary institutions.

“Governing Councils, Managements, and relevant stakeholders are hereby requested to ensure strict compliance with the new directive.

“The Ministry appreciates the continued dedication and cooperation of stakeholders in upholding good governance and maintaining the integrity of leadership appointment processes within the education sector. It is our belief that this policy will bring about the desired reforms and enhance public confidence in the selection of principal officers in our institutions.”

Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested one Olawole Sunday, a suspected fraudster who specialised in buying bank account details from individuals to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

Sunday’s modus operandi involved encouraging young people to open multiple bank accounts, paying them either N25,000 or N50,000 for each account, and collect their bank details including Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.

Sunday allegedly employed the account details of one Uyi Godstime Eghosa to defraud a petitioner of the sum of N2 million under the guise of trading in forex.

The account owner, Eghosa was arrested and his disclosure that he was unaware that his account was used to defraud members of the public, led to Sunday’s arrest.

Eghosa explained that he relinquished his account details, including his ATM card, to Sunday after an N25,000 payment to him.

Sunday confessed to the crime and would be charged in court as soon as investigations are completed.

Governor Babagana Zulum has called for reinforced interventions in the war against Boko Haram and other insurgents in Borno State.

He lamented that Boko Haram now attacks and kidnaps people in many communities in Borno State almost on a daily basis without any confrontation from security forces.

Naija News reports Governor Zulum made the observation on Tuesday during Special Expanded Security Meeting (ESM) in Maiduguri, the state capital.

The meeting was attended by the General Officer Commanding 7 Div, Major General Abubakar Haruna, Sector Commanders, Commissioner of Police, heads of other security agencies, Shehu of Borno, Alh. Dr. Abubakar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi, Shehu of Bama, Emirs of Biu, Uba, Askira, Gwoza, while Shehu of Dikwa- and Emir of Shani were in absencia.

Zulum lamented that recent developments point to the fact that Borno State is losing ground in the fight against insurgency.

The Governor submitted that his administration has been very supportive of the military in the fight against Boko Haram and other terrorists leading to relative peace in the last three years, but the recent attacks and dislodgement of military formations in Wajirko, Sabon Gari in Damboa local government, Wulgo in Gamboru Ngala, Izge in Gwoza local government areas among other related killing of innocent civilians and security agencies calls for serious concern and a set back in the fragile state of Borno and the North East region.

He however commended the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the security agencies for their unwavering support in the fight against Boko Haram but stressed the need to strengthen efforts by equipping and deploying technological warfare to the military to stem the tide of all renewed attacks bedevilling parts of the sahelian Borno which shares international border with three African countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

His words: “As I address this important gathering today, it is unfortunate that the renewed Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings in many communities almost on daily basis without confrontation signaled that Borno State is loosing ground.

” As you are all aware that my administration has been very supportive to the military and other security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram and other terrorists leading to a relative peace in the last three years, it is disheartening to note the recent attacks and dislodgement of military formations in Wajirko, Sabon Gari in Damboa local government, Wulgo in Gamboru Ngala, Izge in Gwoza local government areas among other related killing of innocent civilians and security agencies calls for serious concern, and it is a set back in the fragile state of Borno and the North East region.

” In as much as Borno Government under my leadership commend the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the security agencies for their unwavering support in the fight against Boko Haram, more efforts have to be put in place through equipping and deploying of technological warfare to the military to stem the tide of all renewed attacks bedevilling parts of the sahelian Borno which shares international border with three African countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon,” Zulum stated.

Boko Haram In Control Of Three LGAs

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers at the meeting, the Shehu of Borno, commended the efforts of security agencies in the fight against terrorism, but emphasized that about three local government areas of Guzamala, Marte, Abbadam and some parts of Mobbar are still under the total control of Boko Haram, stressing that, most of these communities are without civil authority.

He appealed to the federal government to reconstruct the dilapidated and deplorable Biu-Damboa-Maiduguri, Maiduguri- Dikwa- Ngala, Maiduguri- Monguno-Kukawa and Biu -Damaturu federal roads among others.

Veteran Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu‘s administration, stating it is filled with empty promises.

Naija News reports that Abdulkareem, in a new song titled ‘Tell Your Papa,’ urged the son of the president, Seyi Tinubu, to present the plight of Nigerians to his father.

Recall that Seyi Tinubu, while addressing a gathering of youths in Adamawa State in March, described his father as the greatest president in Nigeria’s history, which sparked controversy online.

However, in his new song, Abdulkareem slammed Seyi, stressing that the president’s son was insensitive to the plight of Nigerians from economic hardship and insecurity.

The singer said Seyi should inform his father about the spate of kidnappings in Nigeria and numerous deaths over the current economic policies.

He said, “Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga.

“Seyi, how far? I swear your papa no try. Too much empty promises. On behalf of Nigerians, take our message to him; kidnappers dey kill Nigerians.

“Seyi, try travelling by road without your security make you feel the pains of fellow Nigerians. You dey fly private jets, insecurity no be your problem.”

The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has rubbished the intending coalition of former presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, and the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.

Recalls that Atiku, during a press conference by Concerned Leaders and Political Stakeholders in Nigeria, announced plans to form a coalition with the aim of removing President Bola Tinubu from power in 2027.

Sowore, in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, vowed never to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

When asked if he would join Atiku and Peter Obi in forming a coalition, Sowore said he would not be part of those playing chess with the destiny of Nigeria and will only join the coalition of the oppressed.

He said: “I’m not joining any coalition, the coalition that they joined in 2013 and 2015 is what brought about the APC, so joining another coalition in 2025 is doing the same thing all over again without thinking of achieving the same set of results.

“The coalition that needs to be built is that of the oppressed, joining another coalition that is made up of the same people who were the ones that created the coalition that ruined Nigeria, it’s an injustice and an injury to the people of Nigeria.

“So you can never see me in their coalition and I will never be part of it, I’m not joining the SDP, I’m not part of those playing chess with the destiny of Nigerians.”

State governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) visited former President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna on Monday.

Led by the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, who also serves as the Chairman of the All Progressives Governors Forum, the governors held a closed-door meeting with Buhari.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Uzodimma explained that the visit was aimed at ensuring Buhari’s well-being, describing the former president as the “father of the APC.”

He highlighted that the gesture was meant to reaffirm the unity and strength of the APC despite the recent defections within the party.

Uzodimma emphasized that the meeting was a symbolic demonstration of the ruling party’s commitment to Buhari, acknowledging his foundational role in the formation and growth of the APC.

Naija News reports that the visit comes at a time when Buhari’s loyalists, including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, have defected from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). El-Rufai, who was the first to leave, publicly claimed that he had obtained Buhari’s blessing for the move.

Earlier reports had indicated that several former ministers who served under Buhari’s administration were preparing to join the SDP en masse.

Furthermore, members of the APC in Buhari’s home state of Katsina have also defected to the SDP, deepening concerns over the ruling party’s internal cohesion.

Despite these defections, Uzodimma maintained that the visit to Buhari was a powerful signal of the APC’s unity and strength.

He explained that the timing of the visit was significant, following the conclusion of the Ramadan, Lent, and Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

Uzodimma said, “We came to pay former President Muhammadu Buhari a courtesy visit. You know former President Muhammadu Buhari is the only former President produced by the APC.

“We came and saw him in good health. We fraternised with him; we stayed with him and are ready to go back to our various businesses.

“We met with him and he is well pleased with our party. He expressed surprise about our visit. We are happy and thankful to Almighty God because we met him in good health. He is our father in politics. He is well pleased with our party and all of us, his children.

“He (Buhari) is well pleased with our visit. Members of our forum are pleased with him. We met him in good health because you know that our party, APC is the largest party in Africa and is the ruling party. The only party with 21 Governors. The party is strong, and we will continue to work hard to make it stronger.”

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, commended Buhari for supporting President Bola Tinubu and the APC.

“We are here along with other APC governors to visit former President Muhammadu Buhari. We are happy the way former President Buhari is supporting our party and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Sani said.

The Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Jaja, was, on Monday, arraigned in the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations bordering on money laundering.

Mr Jaja was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Obiora Egwuatu alongside Aliyu Abubakar, a Bureau de Change (BDC) operator, and his company.

After the counts were read to them, they pleaded not guilty to the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/101/2025.

The defence lawyer, Chris Uche, informed the court of a motion filed in respect of his clients’ bail.

He prayed the court to grant them bail on liberal terms.

Mr Uche, in his application for bail, argued that the charges against Mr Jaja allegedly arose out of the federal government’s determination to intimidate the Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State to drop his political ambition for 2027.

He said the offence with which they were being charged with was a bailable one.

He said the defendants were not being accused of any capital offence or acts of terrorism that would have warranted their continued detention.

He assured the court that the AG had reasonable sureties to stand for him and produce him whenever required by the court.

However, the EFCC’s lawyer, Abba Muhammed, opposed Mr Uche’s application.

Mr Muhammed, who said the commission filed a counteraffidavit to the bail applications, said Mr Abubakar (1st defendant) had earlier jumped administrative bail.

He said the accountant general was earlier granted administrative bail but failed to meet the bail conditions.

He urged the court to dismiss their plea.

Justice Egwuatu, in his ruling, held that bail is a constitutional right that the court must exercise judiciously.

The judge said he was minded to admit the defendants to bail.

He subsequently granted bail to them in the sum of N200 million each with two sureties in the like sum.

The judge said that the sureties must be residents of Abuja and one of the sureties must hold the position of a director with a federal government agency.

He directed the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court and must get the permission of the court whenever they needed to travel out of the country.

Justice Egwuatu also ordered Mr Jaja to be released to the Attorney General and Commissioner of Bauchi State pending the perfection of his bail within a given time.

The judge, however, ordered that if they failed to perfect their bail conditions within the period, they should be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.

He adjourned the matter until 17 June for the commencement of the trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aliyu Abubakar, Jasfad Resources Enterprise and Sirajo Jaja are listed as 1st to 3rd defendant respectively.

The EFCC alleged that Mr Abubakar, Jasfad Resources Enterprise, Ibrahim Kashim (former Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, now at large), Danjuma Garba (at large), Kabiru Yahaya (at large), Saleh U. Mohammed (at large), and Balarabe Abdullahi (at large) between 10th July 2024 and 25th November 2024 allegedly transferred and converted N1.8 billion of public funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government.

It alleged that the fund was transferred from the Bauchi State Expenditure Account domiciled in Polaris Bank into the bank accounts of Jasfad Resources Enterprise.

The offence is contrary to and punishable under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, among other counts.

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Labour Party (LP) has passed a vote of confidence on its National Working Committee (NWC).

The LP’s NWC is led by the party’s disputed National Chairperson, Julius Abure.

The party made the resolution at its NEC meeting held in Abuja on Monday.

The National Secretary, Ibrahim Umar-Farouk, read out a communique released at the end of the meeting.

Mr Umar-Farouk said the NEC expressed satisfaction with the Supreme Court decision which, it argued, had returned the power, glory and supremacy of political parties.

“The court asserted the supremacy of the party over its internal affairs and that leadership of a political party is not for any court to decide, as it is a no-go area for the court, and so the court did not sack the NWC leadership.

“Accordingly, NEC in session reaffirmed the Nnewi National Convention held on the 27th of March 2024 that produced the current National Working Committee (NWC) members, under the chairmanship of Barrister Julius Abure,” he said. 

Anti-party activities

In the communique, the NEC accused Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, of committing various anti-party activities.

Giving instances of the alleged anti-party activities, Mr Umar-Farouk said Mr Otti had called for “an unauthorised stakeholders’ meeting and usurping the powers of NEC.”

Mr Otti was elected governor of Abia State under the LP platform in 2023.

The party also accused the governor of backing another political party in the last local government election in Abia State.

“The governor has also intensified his effort to factionalise the party leadership by calling an illegal NEC scheduled to hold on Wednesday.

“His anti-party activities are unbecoming of a highly respected personality and this is no longer acceptable,” the communique read.

Otti, Peter Obi, others may be sanctioned

The LP NEC said that it would not hesitate to discipline Mr Otti for the alleged offence, in line with Article 19 of the party’s constitution.

It also threatened to discipline any other member who violated the party’s constitution, regardless of how big or powerful such individuals might be.

The party vowed to sanction its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, if he further engages in any anti-party activity.

“NEC-in-session, in exercise of its duties, hereby cautions the former presidential candidate of our great party not to participate in any action capable of undermining the peace unity and integrity of the party, as the NEC will not hesitate to issue stiffer penalty if found culpable,” it said.

The NEC equally condemned the activities of the party’s House of Representatives caucus leader, Victor Ogene.

It said, as a result, Mr Ogene has now been replaced with another House of Representatives member, Ben Etanabene.

While Mr Ogene represents Anambra’s Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the lower chamber, Mr Etanabene represents Delta’s Okpe-Sapele – Uvwie Federal Constituency.

Anambra 2025: We’ll resolve our challenges

Mr Abure, at the meeting, said the LP would resolve its challenges ahead of the forth November governorship election in Anambra State and the 2027 general election.

The disputed national chairperson, however, said that the party would only field candidates who would be ready to promote its programmes.

He also said that the party was not opposed to coalition with other parties that would promote good governance.

“What the party is against is subversive activities that promote divisions in the party,” he said.

The meeting was attended by members of NWC, national officers of the party, state chairpersons and secretaries, other party leaders and co-opted NEC members.

Background

The Supreme Court, on Friday, set aside the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which recognised Mr Abure as the national chairperson of the LP.

A five-member panel of the Supreme Court unanimously held that the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction to have affirmed Mr Abure as chairman of the LP since the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership.

But the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Obiora Ifoh, later argued that Mr Abure remains the party’s national chairperson.

Mr Ifoh claimed that the Supreme Court’s position is that the matter is purely an internal affair of the party, insisting that the court did not set aside the Court of Appeal judgement of 13 November 2024, which affirmed Mr Abure as the national chairperson of the party.

Meanwhile,  the LP has been battling an intense leadership crisis for a while now which has split the party into two factions. 

Messrs Otti and Obi, belong to the same faction of the LP.

In September 2024, the faction appointed Nenadi Usman, a former Nigerian Minister, to manage the party’s affairs by heading its caretaker committee.

But, about a month after Mrs Usman’s appointment, a federal court recognised Mr Abure as the authentic national chairperson of the LP.

Mr Abure dismissed the convention that produced Mrs Usman and threatened to suspend Mr Otti and others from the party.

There was a mild drama in October when Mr Otti allied with an opposition party, the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), ahead of the conduct of local government elections in the state, which were held on 2 November 2024.

The ZLP later won chairmanship seats in 15 of the 17 local government areas of Abia State despite the state being governed by Mr Otti, a member of the LP. 

The LP won nine of the chairmanship seats, and the Young Progressives Party won the remaining two.

Instructively, ZLP enjoyed the support of Mr Otti. The governor had asked his aides and allies to contest the election under the ZLP platform, not the LP.

(NAN)