Former Cameroonian and Chelsea football star Geremi Njitap has initiated divorce proceedings to terminate his marriage after discovering that he had raised twins for 12 years that were not biologically his.

The 45-year-old has been married to Toukam Fotso Laure Verline for over a decade.

According to The Sun, the couple’s twins were born after the player’s wife Laure had a fling.

The UK Sun reports that court documents in Geremi’s native Cameroon show Toukam “destroyed the harmony” of their marriage “through her abject behaviour”.

They also mention her “repeated lies”, and add: “No children have been born from this union.”

Toukam had claimed the twins born in June 2008 — four years before the couple’s marriage were his, which motivated them to get married.

“But the discovery that the children were from her previous partner destroyed the couple’s harmony,” the documents add.

The former Indomitable Lion also alleges verbal mistreatment at the hands of his spouse, claiming that he has been subjected to insults and derogatory language in front of their children.

During his playing days, Geremi Njitap was known for his versatility, being able to play at right back, right midfield or defensive midfielder.

Njitap played for Real Madrid, Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Turkish club Gençlerbirliği among others before his retirement in January 2011.

Geremi earned 118 caps for Cameroon from 1996 to 2010, scoring 13 goals.

He was a member of their squad for seven Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, winning in 2000 and 2002, as well as the World Cup in 2002 and 2010 and a gold medal at the 2000 Olympics.

Some unknown gunmen have abducted at least 10 passengers traveling in a commercial bus from Wukari, Taraba State, to Gboko, Benue State, in Jootar, Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue.

The passengers, said to be artisans, were heading to Akure in a Sharon bus when their abductors stopped their vehicle, forced the driver out of the bus before driving into one of the forests in Jootar.

According to a source, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard in confidence, he received a call from the driver, who informed him of the development shortly after the incident occurred on Friday afternoon.

He said: “The driver called me that his vehicle, a Sharon bus, was stopped by heavily armed gunmen. He said they took his bus, abandoned him and drove the vehicle into the bush with 10 persons who looked like artisans who were supposed to alight in Gbok

“He said his phone was collected and he had to use somebody’s phone to call me just as the incident happened. The driver, who is somebody I know very well, said the incident happened around 12pm on Friday.

“The driver said he picked the passengers from Takum Junction, Wukari in Taraba State, and that the incident happened just two kilometres from there in Jootar, Ukum LGA. According to the driver, they were supposed to drop in Gboko as they were en route to Akure in Ondo State.”

Speaking on the incident, the lawmaker representing Ukum Constituency, Mr Ezra Nyiyongo, said: “I was told that a vehicle was intercepted. According to what I heard, he said he picked those people from Wukari, Taraba State, to convey them to Gboko. According to the driver, the victims were intercepted in Jootar, while they were going to Akure for menial jobs.”

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene, said she had yet to receive any report on the incident.

The Lagos State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has called for the resignation of the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, in order to uphold the party's integrity.

Rasheed Bamishe, the LP chairman in Lagos State, made the call at the party’s secretariat in Lagos on Saturday.

He urged the National Working Committee, members of the party Board of Trustees and other relevant stakeholders to prevent Abure from holding his proposed National Convention on March 27, 2024.

According to him, Abure should prioritize the party interest while a Caretaker National Chairman should be appointed to organize State Congresses before convening the National Convention.

“We urge Barrister Abure to leave the Party now because the litany of corrupt cases against him has done collateral damage to the image of the Labour Party.

“The Labour Party which was formed by the founding fathers to be a beckon of hope for millions of Nigerians is gradually being destroyed by Barrister Abure and this should not be allowed to continue,” he said.

Bamishe further stated that Abure was free to create his political party and manage its business but declared that the Labour Party, as a democratic organisation, cannot function as a one-man show.

He said that allegations of dishonesty, forgery, and fabrication of signatures have brought public shame and embarrassment to the Labour Party.

“Even if all these allegations are not true, the reasonable option open to the embattled Labour Party National Chairman is to step aside to pave the way for thorough investigations into the cases of alleged fraud against him.

“In a civilized clime, Barrister Abure should have exited office since the flurry of fraud cases against him became public knowledge but because of the culture of impunity in Nigeria, he is still clinging to power.

“Barrister Abure should tell the world where the National Convention of Labour Party in which he emerged as National Chairman was held.

“Barrister Abure is plotting to install himself again as the National Chairman of Labour Party through another illegal Convention and this should not be allowed to happen,” he stressed.

He emphasized the need for all stakeholders to unite to seek legitimate options including litigation to make sure Abure is removed from office to restore credibility, dignity, and integrity to the party.

As Naira continues to strengthen against foreign currencies, especially the United States Dollar (USD) at both parallel and official markets, the foreign exchange on cargo clearance at the nation’s seaports and international airports across the country has been reduced again.

LEADERSHIP reports that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on Saturday, slashed the foreign exchange rate on cargo clearance from N1,572.507/$1 to N1448.386/$1.

The slash represents 7.8% reduction or a difference of N124.121 between the new and the old rates.

It was gathered that the exchange rate between the Naira and the Dollar At the official market strengthened to N1,431/$ on Friday, March 22, 2024, closing the week on a positive note.

Data from the FMDQOTC, where the exchange rate is officially set, revealed that the official currency gained 1.52% at the close of business, continuing a rally that has now lasted seven days.

The Naira has now gained over 12% in one week, suggesting that the apex bank’s policies, implemented aggressively since February, were beginning to yield fruits.

On the parallel market where the exchange rate trades unofficially, traders still quoted between N1400-N1480/$1 depending on who is buying or selling.

To this end, importers that opened Form ‘M’ on Wednesday will pay less to clear their cargoes as import duties are benchmarked against the dollar.

Also, importers will open Form ‘M’ at a lower rate compared to those who opened Form ‘M’ on Friday, March 23, 2024, according to the central bank’s new directive to Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to use the rate on the date of submitting Form ‘M’ for calculating import duties.

Nigeria’s total public debt stock more than doubled to N97.3 trillion as at 2023 over the level in the previous year.

Latest data from the Dent Management Office (DMO) showed that the country’s total debt stock increased by 118 per cent year-on-year from N46.25 trillion as at December 2022 to N97.3 per cent in December 2023.

The DMO said the N97.3 trillion debt stock comprises of the domestic and external debt stocks of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

However, the public debt stock increased by N9.43 trillion in the last quarter of 2023 over the comparative figure for September 2023, which was largely due to new domestic borrowing by the FGN to part finance the deficit in the 2024 Appropriation Act and disbursements by multilateral and bilateral lenders,” DMO said on Friday.

Also, the massive depreciation of the Naira has resulted in a surge in the value of the country’s external debt which are dollar denominated.

Of the total debt, domestic debt constitutes a significant majority, standing at N59.12 trillion, accounting for 61 per cent of the total public debt stock.

Meanwhile, external debt amounted to 38.22 trillion Naira, representing the remaining 39 per cent.

Nigeria’s external debt structure reflects a strategic tilt towards loans from multilateral and bilateral lenders, which collectively

Despite the escalating debt figures, DMO says it maintains a commitment to implementing best practices in public debt management.

Moreover, concerted efforts by fiscal authorities to bolster revenue generation are anticipated to bolster debt sustainability moving forward. for 63.79 percent of the external debt stock. The dominance of these loans, primarily concessional and semi-concessional, underscores the nation’s prudent debt management strategy.

Despite the escalating debt figures, DMO says it maintains a commitment to implementing best practices in public debt management.

The sum of $3.5 billion was used to service external debt during the review period.

“Consistent with the debt management strategy, Nigeria’s external debt stock was skewed in favour of loans from multilateral (49.77 per cent) and bilateral lenders (14.02 per cent) or a total of 63.79 per cent which are mostly concessional and semi-concessional.

“Whilst the DMO continues to employ best practices in public debt management, the recent and ongoing efforts of the fiscal authorities to shore up revenue will support debt sustainability.”
Despite the escalating debt figures, DMO says it maintains a commitment to implementing best practices in public debt management.
Moreover, concerted efforts by fiscal authorities to bolster revenue generation are anticipated to bolster debt sustainability moving forward.

In line with last Tuesday’s resolution of the Edo State House of Assembly, the Chief judge of the State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa has set up a seven-man panel to probe the petition against the Deputy Governor of the State, Philip Shaibu.

DAILY POST reports that the House of Assembly had on March 6, 2024, served a notice of impeachment on
the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu over alleged misconduct and perjury with seven days ultimatum to respond to the petition.

The House, due to alleged evasion by the deputy governor to be served the impeachment notice, ordered for a substituted means of service through the State-owned Observer Newspaper and the Vanguard Newspapers, respectively.

The notice was published on March 12, 2024.

The House in its plenary last Tuesday, March 19, 2024 passed a resolution directing the Chief Judge to set up a seven-man panel to probe the allegations levelled against the deputy governor.

DAILY POST reports that the Chief Judge complied on Friday.

A statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, B.O. Osawaru, obtained by DAILY POST, named retired Justice
S.A. Omonua (Rtd), the chairman of the panel.

Three Professors from the University of Benin, UNIBEN, and Benson Idahosa University, BIU, are also members of the panel.

The professors are Violet Aigbokhaevbo, Faculty of Law, UNIBEN, Boniface Onomion Edegbai, Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, UNIBEN and Theresa Akpoghome, former Dean, Faculty of Law, BIU.

Other members are Surveyor Andrew Oliha, Oghogho Ayodele Oviasu and Idris Abdulkareen.

Part of the letter reads:

This is to bring to the notice of the general public that in line with Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Honourable Chief Judge of Edo State, Honourable Justice D.I. Okungbowa has constituted the PANEL OF SEVEN PERSONS to investigate the allegations contained in the impeachment notice against the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Honourable Philip Shaibu.

The said Panel of Seven Persons comprises the following
persons:

1. Hon. Justice S.A. Omonua (Rtd.) – chairman
2. Professor Violet Aigbokhaevbo
3. Professor Boniface Onomion Edegbai
4. Professor Theresa Akpoghome
5. Mr. Oghogho Ayodele Oviasu
6. Surv. Dr. Andrew Oliha
7. Mr. Idris Abdulkareen

Signed
B.0.Osawaru Esq.,
Chief Registrar.

The former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Lai Mohammed, has disclosed how fake news on social media almost destroyed his 40-year-old marriage.

Mohammed lamented that one of the most challenging issues he faced while he was a minister was the spate of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation.

He stated this at an event to commemorate the 90th birthday anniversary of Prof. Wole Soyinka, Africa’s first Nobel laureate for literature.

He claimed that his wife woke him up in the middle of the night and begged to be a signatory to an overseas account in Ali Financial which allegedly contained $1.3 billion.

Mohammed stated that he was shocked at his wife’s request and had to convince her that no such account existed.

The former minister said he could not believe that his wife could take, hook, line, and sinker the fake story in circulation crediting humongous sums of money in overseas accounts to government functionaries/ministers under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

According to him, “Permit me to share publicly with you today, for the first time, how social media threatened the foundation of my forty-year-old marriage.

“It was sometimes in 2018 when I came to Lagos from Abuja for an official assignment.

“As usual, I retire to bed about midnight, but about 3 a.m., my wife gently roused me from my slumber.

“At first, I panicked, fearing that there had been a security breach, but my wife’s mind belied that possibility, for she was calm and composed.

“Solemnly, my wife asked me if I was fully awake as there were some serious issues to discuss.

“I could not fathom what was that urgent or serious to warrant being woken up at this time of the night.

My mind immediately did a kaleidoscope of my rascalities and escapades in the last few months.”

Mohammed said the accusation from his wife which according to him, was ‘a bombshell’ narrated to him in Yoruba language, but roughly translated thus:

“Daddy, death can come knocking at any moment, please let me also, as your wife, be a signatory to your oversea account in Ali Financial which contains 1.3 billion dollars.

“I spent the next two hours or so, sweating to convince my wife that there is no iota of truth in the allegation.

“I had to fetch a calculator and reproduce the Federal Appropriation Act for 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 in the middle of the night and explain to her why it is simply preposterous for me to have 1.3 billion dollars in a foreign account.

“I explained to her that there is no year my capital budget exceeded N5 billion, which, at about N400 to a dollar, was just 12.5 million dollars.

“I explained that, even if I managed to divert every kobo of it to my personal account, it would take at least 104 years to save the sum of 1.3 billion dollars being peddled that I stole,” he said.

Mohammed added: “My wife insisted that the whole world believed the story and that her friends had as a result, besieged her with all kinds of requests.

“She said every effort on her part to deny the existence of this foreign account only succeeded in depicting her in the minds of her friends as a selfish, greedy, and uncaring friend.

“Is my wife truly convinced of my innocence? The answer is in the wind.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Saturday alerted members of the public, especially those who have loved ones abroad, of a new scheme by scammers who impersonate its officers.

The agency said the new scheme involves the scammers calling unsuspecting citizens to inform them of the arrest of their relatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos or any other international airport in Nigeria with illicit drugs upon arrival in the country.

This was made known in a statement by Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy.

He disclosed that after throwing the family members into panic, they then demand millions of naira to facilitate the release of such persons from custody.

Babafemi said: “We have thwarted a number of such bids in the past when the family members called the Agency’s official contacts for help or clarification.

“At the moment, there is one of such scenarios the Agency has just investigated. In this case, the picture of a Nigerian man based in the US is being circulated with an audio of a purported NDLEA officer negotiating the payment of N5 million with a female relative for the release of the US-based Nigerian man purportedly arrested at the Lagos airport on Friday 22nd March upon his arrival with a ‘contraband’

“Just like in previous instances, our investigation has also shown that the current incident is the work of scammers. No NDLEA officer is involved in the audio conversation and the person whose photo is attached to the audio recording being circulated is not in our custody at MMIA or any of our Commands either as at yesterday or any other day.”

The NDLEA’s spokesman said the family members involved in this case are advised not to part with their hard-earned money to scammers.

He further urged Nigerians with loved ones abroad to keep discussions on travel plans of their relatives to themselves to avoid the hijacking of such by criminal elements for devious schemes.

NDLEA said those who may have a similar challenge, should feel free to seek help or clarification through any of these contact lines: +2347064670026 and +2348033326327.

Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, has insisted the club does not need “big signings” this summer.

Laporta was responding to questions during an interview with MD, where he was asked about Erling Haaland rumours.

He said: “We don’t need any big signing. There will be movements but I don’t anticipate big ones, just team players.

“Our priority is to trust the team we have right now, we don’t want to sign players who could distort our harmony.”

On Frenkie De Jong’s future, Laporta added: “Frenkie de Jong is super happy here. The last thing he wants is leaving Barcelona.

“He always told me that he loves to be at Barça and we’re delighted with Frenkie too.

“I’m not worried with his future, at all.”

Colombian pop star Shakira has expressed doubts over finding love again after her split from former Barcelona defender, Gerard Pique.

The couple, who had been together for 11 years, announced their separation in June 2022.

This came amid allegations of infidelity on Pique’s part.

Shakira, who is now 47, said on Zane Lowe’s Apple Music 1 show: “I thought love would be there forever for me, and that’s one of my broken dreams.

“I don’t know if I’d like to find that again. Probably not.”

Despite the heartbreak, Shakira has focused on her music career.

Her long-awaited 12th album, “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” was released recently, marking her return to the music scene.