Popular reality TV show Big Brother Naija is set to make a spectacular return for its season 9.

The show organisers, in an announcement on X, called for applications from interested participants to audition as dynamic duos.

It revealed that unlike previous editions, this season will require participants to apply in pairs

Here’s how to apply for Big Brother Naija Season 9

Starting from March 27, 2024, aspiring housemates can begin their journey by submitting a 3-minute audition video showcasing why they and their partner deserve a spot in Big Brother’s house.

The video should highlight their personalities, backgrounds, likes, dislikes, and what makes them a dynamic duo.

Applicants are encouraged to keep their audition natural and fun, emphasizing their chemistry and compatibility as a team.

The auditions are open to individuals aged 21 and above, with a valid means of identification. Application is free.

The Mali national football team completely outplayed the Super Eagles of Nigeria in an international friendly on Tuesday night, March 26.

Ahead of the international friendly, most football enthusiasts expected that it would be an easy one for the Super Eagles given their 2-1 win over Ghana barely four days ago.

Unfortunately for the Nigerian team, they couldn’t record a successive back-to-back win at the Grand Stade de Marrakech in Morocco as coach Finidi George’s 3-4-3 formation fell flat to the lowly rated Malian team.

During the game, Mali proved to be more composed and had better passing accuracy than the Eagles’ side who were loaded with Europe-based players. The attacking trio of Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Moses Simon were starved of killer passes in the eighteen-yard box.

22-year-old El Bilal Touré opened the scoring in the 18th minute as the Malian dominated most of the first half.

Moses Simon was replaced by Cyriel Dessers in the 34th minute after suffering a knock in Mali’s penalty box which the referee didn’t deem worthy of a spot-kick.

While the Super Eagles were trying to put passes together and attempt a comeback, Mali grabbed the ball and launched a counter which 21-year-old Kamory Doumbia completed to make it 2-0 in the 87th minute.

The goal sealed the victory for Mali as coach Finidi George failed to convince the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) beyond a reasonable doubt that he deserves to be named Eagles’ permanent coach.

Former African Footballer of the Year, Victor Ikpeba, has said Super Eagles interim coach Finidi George is on the right track to becoming the team’s substantive coach.

Finidi took charge of the team for a 2-1 win over Ghana in an international friendly last Friday.

This follows the exit of Jose Peseiro, who led Nigeria to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.

Ikpeba, speaking on Monday Night Football, said: “I am happy with what Finidi is doing with the Super Eagles. I am in the system and I know what he’s doing. Don’t forget that I am in the committee set up to do the right thing.

“From what I have seen from the players’ comments, it’s looking good for Finidi George.

“As I speak right now, I think it’s looking good for him. Mind you. I am not the decision-maker, I am one of the people who will advise the NFF. but it’s looking good for Finidi.”

Finidi will be in charge again on Tuesday night when the Eagles play Mali in another international friendly.

Romelu Lukaku’s time at Stamford Bridge could be coming to an end.

According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Chelsea is looking to sell the striker to a Saudi Arabian club for a reported £34 million fee.

While AS Roma was interested in the Belgium international, they were unwilling to pay the hefty £40 million price tag that Chelsea placed on him.

With interest from the Middle East, the Blues are hoping to cash in on Lukaku who appears to have no future in London.

It is not the first time that Lukaku, who is currently on loan at Roma from Chelsea, has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia club Al Hilal had reportedly made an offer for the former Manchester United star last summer, which he ultimately rejected.

Bishop Matthew Kukah has challenged the government of President Bola Tinubu.

The Catholic Diocese of Sokoto called for a thorough interrogation of individuals who claim to have close ties with bandits, stating the need for decisive action by the Federal Government to address the insecurity plaguing the northern regions of Nigeria.

While speaking in an interview with newsmen during a function in Rivers State, he expressed concern over the government’s failure to investigate those claiming connections to bandits.

“It is clear that the Federal Government at the highest level knows what is going on, at least the intelligence community has an idea.

“There are key Nigerians who are saying openly that they know more than they think the rest of us know, and I think that it is the business of the Federal Government to find out those who claim to know where the bandits are, those who are collaborating with the bandits,” Kukah said on Tuesday.

His remarks come shortly after the news that influential Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi was invited for questioning by security agencies over his comments regarding the activities of bandits.

Kukah’s concern extends to the recent spate of school kidnappings, including the abduction of 137 schoolchildren in Kuriga, Kaduna State, who were recently freed from captivity.

While celebrating their release, he stated the need to consider the psychological impact of such abductions on the children.

The bishop stated the importance of collaboration between security agencies and individuals with relevant information, reiterating the government’s capacity to apprehend perpetrators of such crimes.

47-year-old Chinese national, Frank Geng-Quangrong, has been sentenced to death by hanging over the murder of his Nigerian girlfriend, Ummukulsum Sani.

The Kano High Court sitting on Tuesday, gave the sentence after he was found guilty of stabbing the deceased to death.

Frank, who lives in Railway Quarters Kano, was convicted on one count charge of culpable homicide.

Delivering judgment, Justice Sanusi Ado-Ma’aji, held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

“The defendant’s testimony is inconsistent. I hereby find him guilty.

“I hereby recommend mercy by the Kano State Governor on behalf of the convict,” he ruled.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, the Attorney-General of Kano State, Haruna Dederi, had informed the court that the convict committed the offence on September 16, 2022, at Janbulo Quarters, Kano.

He said on the same date at about 9 pm, the convict stabbed the deceased with a knife in her house situated at Janbulo Quarters Kano for an undisclosed reason.

“The victim was rushed to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Kano where she was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he said.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecution presented six witnesses to prove their case against the defendant and four exhibits.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes the provision of Section 221(b) of the Penal Code.

The defence counsel, Muhummad Dan’azumi, presented the defendant to defend himself, and one other witness and tendered five exhibits.

Dan’azumi urged the court to recommend the defendant for a prerogative of mercy pursuant to Section 313 of ACJL.

In his testimony, Frank said, “I didn’t kill Ummulkhulsum intentionally but stabbed her in self-defense after she grabbed my testes”.

He pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in its judgment.

Speaking with NAN shortly after the judgment, the victim’s mother, Hajiya Fatima Zubairu, expressed satisfaction with the judge’s decision.

Six out of the 137 Kuriga students who were rescued by troops from their abductors have been hospitalized.

In a statement issued on Monday, the General Officer of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Mayirenso Saraso, stated that the hospitalized students will be handed over to the state government once they are deemed medically fit by the doctors.

Saraso revealed this information after delivering 131 Kuriga children to the Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, at the Government House.

The unfortunate incident occurred on March 7, 2024, when bandits invaded the LEA Primary School and Government Secondary School in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna, and abducted the students.

Fortunately, the military successfully rescued the students in Zamfara State on Sunday morning.

It could be recalled that the bandits had demanded a ransom of N1 billion for their release and set a deadline of March 27.

Nevertheless, the federal government clarified that no ransom was given to secure the students’ freedom.

During a speech at the Kaduna Government House, General Saraso mentioned that a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies were utilized to rescue the students, who were held captive for 16 days.

He also informed me that one of the abducted teachers, Mr Abubakar, passed away while in captivity.

The general further elaborated that 131 students were physically brought to the Government House on Monday, as six were receiving medical treatment at a military facility in the state.

“In all, there were 137 children and one staff member, making 138 persons altogether, that were abducted from the co-located schools on the ill-fated day. But unfortunately, the staff member, Mr Abubakar, is not here with us today because he died while in captivity,” he said.

The Nigerian Army has reportedly cleared 200 suspects accused of having links with deadly terrorist group, Bokoharam.

According to reports, the detainees who were arrested by the military in the heat of insurgency would be released to the Borno State government today.

According to Daily Trust, Governor Babagana Zulum’s led government will receive the suspected terrorists today for proper reintegration into society.

It was reported that the event will occur on Tuesday morning at Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, the state capital.

“Not fewer than 200 cleared Boko Haram suspects are being cleared of any wrongdoing by security operatives, and they will be handed over to the Borno State Government for rehabilitation and reintegration.

“The handing over ceremony is set to be this morning (Tuesday) at 10: am at Giwa Barracks,” a source, who spoke with the news platform, revealed.

The source further disclosed that the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Zuwaira Gambo, and her Information and Internal Security counterpart, Prof Tar Umar, will receive the clear detainees on behalf of the state government.