Nigerian disc jockey Florence Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy, has sparked mixed reactions after revealing her intention to pursue a fourth degree at the age of 31.

DJ Cuppy recently shared her plans to further her education, despite already holding multiple degrees.

Her announcement stirred diverse responses from the public, with some questioning the need for additional academic qualifications when she already possesses significant educational achievements.

In a recent post on Twitter (now X), DJ Cuppy acknowledged the reactions she received, humorously stating that people are urging her not to pursue another degree.

She wrote;

“People are really begging me not to go back to school for a 4th degree [laughing emoji]. LMAO.”

The famous DJ’s educational journey includes a degree in Business and Economics from King’s College, London, which she completed in July 2014.

Following this, she obtained a master’s degree in music business from New York University in 2015.

Most notably, DJ Cuppy graduated from Oxford University in 2023 with an MSc in African Studies.

Netizens Reactions…

@badlieutanant said: ” DJ Cuppy, earning degrees and master’s degrees shouldn’t be your priority at this point. You’re already 30+, you should focus on getting married and starting a family. Time is not on your side.

@Official_Ogiis said: “I’d definitely go back for a 4th if I have the money, opportunity and luxury for it. Create more opportunities for myself. So please go for a fourth or even a fifth, you never know when it’ll be needed and in all I wish you luck my dear ❣️

@stritmotivation said: “Shey u no wan marry, yoruba men plenty outside ohf Lagos ?”

@Tee_Classiquem1 said: “Don’t mind them, pls chase your dream.”

@Dr_Pharouk said: “Don’t listen to them, you need it for your future Rita Sunshine

@MeetSunshineMay said: “I think it’s boredom pushing you into these areas of study cos what’s the use? Your DJ career has been left hanging, man you don’t have, I honestly need to step in from here.

@EbiraConnect said: “Those people maybe just want you to get married first and then, you can pursue your 4th degree. After all, you can combine both marriage and education together since there is money. But at the end , do what makes you happy. “

See below;

Afrobeat artist Seun Kuti has accused the late MKO Abiola and his wife, Simbiat, of framing his father, Fela Kuti, for armed robbery during Muhammadu Buhari’s military regime.

According to Seun Kuti, the alleged conspiracy was part of a plan to have Fela executed under the regime’s harsh laws against armed robbery.

Seun Kuti detailed how the Abiolas fabricated a story, claiming that Fela and his associates had stolen Simbiat’s Ferrari at gunpoint.

This accusation came at a time when Buhari’s Deputy Head of State, Tunde Idiagbon, was enforcing strict laws that made armed robbery a capital offense, punishable by death.

In his words;

“Abiola and his wife, Simbiat, lied against Fela that he and his boys robbed her of her Ferrari at gunpoint under Idiagbon’s regime. This was Abiola and his wife’s plan to kill my dad because, under Idiagbon, armed robbery was punishable by death.

“Abiola and Simbiat wrote a statement at a police station that they saw Fela and his gang rob her at gunpoint. This led to Fela’s arrest which is punishable by death, but luckily for Fela, he was performing in Cameroon the very day Simbiat was lying about the theft. Fela escaped the case because he can’t be in two places at the same time; its either he’s on a stage in Cameroon or robbing in Lagos.

“Responding, Fela and my elder brother, Femi, took 12 buckets of faeces go and listen to his song – give me shit, I give you shit – then you will have a better understanding. They took it to Abiola’s house in the middle of the night and smeared his compound.

“The next day, the police visited my father’s house saying they came to investigate the shit-show in Abiola’s house the previous day. But Fela denied the act saying if given the opportunity, he would smear Abiola’s house with faeces.”

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has secured a plum job in president Bola Tinubu government.

Tinubu appointed Jega as co-chairman of the Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms.

The committee was inaugurated at the presidential villa in Abuja on Tuesday shortly after the creation of the livestock ministry.

In his new position, Jega will oversee the surmounting of the challenges and barriers that plague agricultural productivity and creating new opportunities for farmers, herders, processors, and distributors within the livestock-farming value chain.

The President emphasized that the successful implementation of these reforms would require the collective efforts of committee members from both the public and private sectors, state governors, and all Nigerians.

“I appeal to everyone to remove any element of partisan politics from this. I will assume the chairmanship of the committee as President and appoint Professor Attahiru Jega as my deputy or co-chair,” Tinubu stated. “This is not about politics; this is about opportunity and our nation. While I may be absent, Jega will preside and continue to promote our objectives.”

During the inauguration at the Council Chamber of the State House, Tinubu expressed gratitude to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, for gathering experienced experts to ensure the harnessing of opportunities in the livestock sector.

“With the calibre of people here, this presents a unique opportunity to establish a central ministry called the Ministry of Livestock Development. It will enable our veterinary doctors to access research and cross-breeding opportunities and help us stop the wanton killings,” Tinubu added.

The President noted that the traditional methods of livestock farming need to be reviewed and repositioned with the support of stakeholders, including state governments, to open new opportunities for growth and prosperity.

Tinubu said the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), will remove legal impediments to the reforms, while the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, will support automation efforts.

“Modern technology is available to us. We are ready to work. With all of you, the solution is here, and we must run with it. Any law that might inhibit our objectives, the Attorney-General will prioritize its removal. The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning will create a budget for growth, and the Minister of Finance will work out the funding,” Tinubu stated.

The President called for comprehensive and collective reforms, urging the support of all stakeholders.

“We need to provide incentives to enable Nigeria to take advantage of livestock farming. Dairy products and cold-chain logistics collectively offer substantial commercial and economic advantages. Despite the adversities we have faced over the years, I believe prosperity is within our reach,” Tinubu concluded.

OB3 gas pipeline project

The presidency is concerned over the failure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to fulfill milestones critical to the goals of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, TheCable understands.

According to insiders, Hadiza Bala Usman, special adviser to Tinubu on policy and coordination and head of the central results delivery coordination unit (CRDCU), expressed these concerns during a review of the quarterly performance assessment of the ministry of petroleum resources (oil).

Usman said the government is worried about key uncompleted projects by NNPC, a source told TheCable.

Specifically, the government official said the NNPC has continued to delay the completion of state-owned refineries — including the Port Harcourt refinery.

This, according to Usman, followed the “mechanical completion” of the rehabilitation work on a section of the refinery on December 21, 2023 — with assurance that operations would commence after the Christmas break.

The NNPC shifted the commencement of operations to April 2024 — of which Usman noted that there has not been any update on whether production at the refinery would commence this month, the source said.

Usman was said to have stressed that the endless changes in timelines for the commencement of production at the refinery was concerning to the government and Nigerians.

“This continued shifting in timelines is eroding the confidence of Nigerians in the government, and as an administration, we cannot allow that,” Usman was quoted as saying.

“This is why Mr President mandated the CRCDU to track the deliverables and performances of all MDAs, and we have no option but to identify and engage the Ministry of Petroleum NNPC Ltd on the situation at hand.”

According to the source, Usman also said the rehabilitation of the refinery was meant to bring the facility to optimal capacity for production rather than “attain tokenistic and marginal production milestones”.

Furthermore, she expressed worry about the decline in crude oil production from 1.351 million barrels per day (mbpd) in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2023 to 1.265 million bpd in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024.

In addition, the source said the government official emphasised the need for the NNPC and the security agencies to work together to improve daily production and achieve the government’s target of 1.65mbpd for the second half of 2024.

She also identified the importance of ramping up efforts to expedite the speedy completion of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline project, which has been lingering.

Usman, it was learnt, said the CRDCU would employ the support of all stakeholders to ensure that the NNPC delivers on its performance indicators as directed by the president.

Some officers of the federal ministry of foreign affairs have accused Ibrahim Lamuwa, permanent secretary in the ministry, of “multiple cases of sexual harassment and other infractions”.

In June, Simisola Fajemirokun Ajayi, a married female aide of Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, accused Lamuwa of sexual harassment.

Lamuwa has since denied the allegation, claiming that he turned down Ajayi’s request to pay her bills during an overseas trip.

However, in a letter dated July 3 and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the employees, under the aegis of “concerned and patriotic foreign service officers,” claimed that the accusation against Lamuwa by Ajayi was not the first of its kind.

They added that sexual harassment allegations against the permanent secretary have become “a recurring feature in his entire public service career,” including harassment of children.

“His unbridled sexual assaults and harassment on minors and women is legendary,” the letter reads.

“Cases include harassment of neighbours’ children, as a young officer, while occupying government property at the foreign affairs quarters in Gwarimpa, Abuja; the inglorious removal from his post in Canada to avoid an impending declaration of persona non-grata (PNG), and sexual assault cases involving a large number of locally-recruited staff in our mission in Dakar, Senegal.

“In Senegal, while serving as ambassador and principal representative of Mr President, ambassador Lamuwa threatened a female bank official, saddled with the management of the embassy’s account, that he would ensure the movement of the mission’s account to another financial institution in the event that she does not agree to engage in sexual activities with him.

“It took the voice recording of the incident before Ambassador Lamuwa could withdraw from his inherent evil intentions.

“More recently at the ministry’s headquarters, a married female policy officer tasked with the implementation of presidential reforms could not resist the intense pressure, and she succumbed to Ambassador Lamuwa’s threat and was duly rewarded for her compliance in the yet-to-be-released 2024 posting exercise without due diligence.

“All these incidents could have been avoided if a system of checks and balances was in place in the administration of the ministry, with the appointment of under-secretaries.”

Aside from the issue of sexual harassment, the group also accused the permanent secretary of sabotaging the ministry.

“In the last 24 months, all Nigerian missions abroad have received 20 percent of their budgeted allocation,” the ministry’s officers said.

“The affected missions wrote to Amb. Lamuwa, more than 21 months ago, to appeal for the budget shortfall, a result of the government’s policy on the unification of the exchange rate, to be brought to the attention of Mr President, but Ambassador Lamuwa rather devised a plan to suffocate missions and utilize the untoward situation for his personal gains.

“With the assistance of the director of finance and account (DFA), Amb. Lamuwa suppressed all missions’ desperate appeal and began to peddle a misrepresentation to the honourable minister of foreign affairs and other high-level government officials that missions are financially buoyant and the only reason they were writing was that officers at posts, who are diligently serving the country, wanted an excuse not to return. Even with several inquiries from the state house, Amb. Lamuwa remained obstinate in his covetous plot.

“The far-reaching implication is that the jaundiced posting, as he had orchestrated and implemented, will give him unimpeded control over all the missions more than Mr President and the honourable minister of foreign affairs.”

They said embassies and offices in Asia—Rome, Geneva, Brussels, Tehran, and Bern—are drawing in debt and unable to pay rent and salaries.

They accused Lamuwa of demonstrating impunity by claiming to be well-connected to principals at the State House, particularly the office of the vice-president.

“Ambassador Lamuwa is not an example of what the civil service should promote or be proud of, as he has indeed shown great disrespect and disregard for the service and government processes,” the group added.

“Such individuals are a potent threat to society and should be confined to the walls of rehabilitation or correction facilities.”

The concerned ministry of foreign affairs officers asked President Tinubu to “direct a wider investigation of the issues stated in the letter to ascertain the facts and for necessary actions”.

Bandits have released the remaining three children of Janet Gimba, a customary court judge, who were abducted in Kaduna, after spending 15 days in captivity.

Godwin Ochai, chairman of the Kaduna branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), confirmed the children’s release on Tuesday.

Family sources also confirmed the development to TheCable via telephone chat.

However, it was not immediately clear if a ransom was paid for their release.

The judge and her sons were reportedly abducted at their residence in the Mahuta area of Kaduna on June 23.

The abductors, numbering up to 15, invaded the home of the judge at night when her husband, a medical doctor, was away on duty.

The bandits were said to have demanded N300 million ransom for their release and threatened to start killing their victims one after the other if payment was delayed.

One of the children, a 14-year-old boy, was, however, killed by the bandits when the N298 million ransom demanded could not be delivered at the stipulated time.

On July 4, the abductors released Janet, holding the three children captive.

She said the bandits had reduced the ransom demand to N150 million upon release.

A witness at the Ikeja Special Offences Court has disclosed how former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele transferred millions of naira to his wife, Margaret’s accounts.

The witness, an assistant bank manager, Ifeoma Ogbonnaya, on Tuesday, testified that millions were moved in tranches to various companies’ accounts.

Emefiele faces trial for abuse of office and alleged $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud. He is facing trial in three courts in Lagos and Abuja, alongside co-defendant Henry Omoile.

Prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) led Ogbonnaya in evidence. The witness managed accounts that received huge funds from CBN. She confirmed that Margaret Emefiele owned the accounts and approved transactions.

Ogbonnaya listed companies involved, including Amswinh Resources and Solution, Limelight Dimensional Service Limited, Omec Support Service Limited, and Mango Farm.

The witness said: “The accounts are for Mrs Margaret Emefiele, the ex-CBN governor’s wife.

“The companies sent transfer instructions to my email and Margaret Emefiele is the beneficiary and owner of the money.”

She said Emefiele’s wife sent transfer instructions via email, phone calls, and WhatsApp.

The court admitted transaction details as evidence. The trial is expected to continue today.

In a separate case, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) adjourned ruling on Emefiele’s application to travel abroad for medical treatment. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opposed the application, fearing Emefiele might flee if his International Passport is released.

Lionel Messi was on target for Argentina in the 2-0 win over Canada to guide them into the final of the 2024 Copa America.

The defending champions produced arguably their best performance of the competition with a dominant showing to qualify for a second consecutive final.

Manchester City forward, Julian Alvarez put Argentina in the lead in the 22nd minute with a low key finish following good work from Rodrigo Paul.

The trio of Angel Di Maria, Rodrigo Paul and Lionel Messi combined to devastating effect to rip Canada open at every opportunity but they were unable to add to their lead going into the break.

Six minutes into the second half, Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the competition with a close range finish to make it 2-0 for Argentina.

Canada failed to test Argentina goalkeeper, Emi Martinez until the last minute when Tani Oluwaseyi’s effort was parried away from safety.

Lionel Messi was named the player of the match following another influential performance and he is on course to win a third consecutive trophy for Argentina after the Copa America in 2021, FIFA World Cup in 2022.

He has now become the only player to lead his country to eight major finals in the history of football after guiding them to five Copa America finals, two World Cup finals and Olympic football finals.

The 37-year-old revealed that he is enjoying his “last battles” as he closes in on rounding up an illustrious career.

Messi said, “I’m living it like I lived it in the last Copa America, in the last World Cup….these are the last battles and I’m enjoying them to the maximum.”

He also praised his teammates for the way they have recovered from past disappointments to become successful.

He said, “The truth is that it’s crazy what this group has done, what the Argentina national team has been doing, because after all this it gives value to all (the tournaments) I and the old generation have played in,

“It’s not easy for us to be in a final again, for us to compete again to be champions,”

Lionel Messi and his teammates will take on the winner between Uruguay and Colombia in the final on Sunday.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, is planning to secure a fresh $2 billion oil-backed prepayment loan amid fuel scarcity in the country.

This is according to a report by Reuters on Tuesday, suggesting that NNPCL plans to achieve the deal in two months.

The Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari said the new financing would allow investment in its business. 

“We have no problem covering our gasoline payments. This is just money for normal business and not a desperate act,” Kyari told Reuters.

Kyari said the company wanted the new loan against 30,000-35,000 barrels per day of crude production, though he declined to say how much money it sought.

“It will be a syndication with critical but regular partners who have been in business with our company to forward the cash,” Kyari said on Tuesday, adding that he expected to conclude the deal in the next two months.

This comes as a report emerged that NNPCL’s debts to petrol suppliers had doubled in the last four months to hit $6 billion.

However, the spokesperson of NNPC, Olufemi Soneye dismissed the claim.

Recall that on August 16, 2023, NNPCL secured a $3.3 billion emergency crude repayment loan — a transaction aimed at supporting the naira and stabilizing the foreign exchange (FX) market.

Arranged by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the $3.3 billion crude-for-cash loan was also targeted at supporting the federal government’s monetary and fiscal reforms.

Further analysis showed that the existing $3.3 billion and the new $2 billion would amount to a $5.3 crude-for-cash loan.

The development comes amid concerns by Dangote Refinery over its inability to get Nigerian crude from International Oil Companies.

This is also as Nigerians have continued to groan as fuel scarcity which started last week in Abuja, Nasarawa, Lagos has spread across Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and other states.

The Lagos State Police Command has resolved to conceal the identities of nine suspected kidnappers who invaded the state on July 4.

Seven of the alleged kidnappers were killed in an intelligence-driven ambush. However, the reason for this decision by the police is unknown.

The quest to unravel their identities followed controversies surrounding the involvement of a Nollywood ‘actor/producer’, Henry Odenigbo, alleged to have been killed during the ambush.

According to the police, seven alleged kidnappers that invaded the state were killed, and two escaped with bullet injuries. The syndicate were said to have targeted residents or business persons in the Ladipo area of the state before the ambush.

The area is a host to the popular Ladipo market ranked as the largest auto spare part market in the country, and is likely to house successful business traders, dealers or residents.

The said Nollywood ‘actor/producer’ is alleged to have been among the syndicate, thus questioning the authenticity of the controversy as well as the personalities and the source of wealth of some Nollywood actors.

The Lagos Police Command when contacted by THE WHISTLER on Tuesday, declined to give out the identities of the slain suspected kidnappers.

Its spokesperson, Ben Hundeyin also declined any future plan to make public, the profile of the slain kidnappers. “I am not speaking about it… I decline to address any allegations,” he said, reacting to all questions asked by our correspondent.

Interestingly, the ambush of this syndicate occurred after eight months of surveillance.

A statement shared via Hundeyin’s X handle, concerning the matter, partly read, “It is worthy of note that the command had been on the trail of this gang for the past eight months for their numerous kidnapping of wealthy individuals in Ikolo, Okota, Ejigbo and Ladipo of the state.”

The non-disclosure of the suspects’ identities by the police, is likely to incite sustained disinformation and defame the individual in question if not addressedz

Videos and pictures circulating on X showed the slain suspects, in a relatively identifiable state, sandwiched in a Hilux trunk.

Those who claimed to have identified the said ‘actor’ through a particular picture allegedly showing him in his blood, further raised concerns among many Nigerians.

THE WHISTLER contacted the president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Ejezie on the matter. He said he had only gotten wind of the circulated information on Tuesday evening and had plans to investigate the situation.

In addition, Ejezie said, “I am going to the national secretariat to check whether we have such people as members of the guild.”

Checks on the Instagram page of the said actor showed that he operates a movie production company called Ason-Rich, and is a member of the Association of Movie Practitioners (AMPRAC).

His sparse following Instagram page features movie content shared either daily or in close succession since he actively commenced movie-related content in December 2022.

While his last post on Instagram was shared on June 28, the same content was also shared via his Facebook page on June 29.

At the time of this report, some Nigerians had taken to his comment session to hurl painful statements, pointing out his connection to the reported kidnapping incident.