Famous Nollywood actress, Eniola Badmus, has revealed her future political ambitions.

The former plus-sized actress revealed her intention of becoming a senator in the near future in a recent Instagram post wherein she reminisced about her old body.

Badmus, who is the Special Assistant on Social Events and Public Hearings to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Tajudeen Abbas, also revealed her plan of becoming a minister in the future.

She wrote, “There are days when I miss my old body, the fullness, the softness, the way I took up space without hesitation. I miss how familiar it felt, how I knew its curves like the back of my hand, how certain outfits hugged me just right. There was comfort in that body, a sense of identity I never had to question.

“But then, I look at my new body, and I see growth not just physically, but emotionally. This body has carried me through change, through challenges, through moments of doubts and discovery. It moves differently, it feels different, but it is still mine. And just as I learned to love my body before, I am learning to love this one now.

“Missing who I was doesn’t take away from appreciating who I am becoming. Both versions of me deserve love, respect and kindness. And in this journey of transformation, I remind myself that no matter the size, my worth remained unchanged.

“Happy new month.

#incomingsenator

#incomingminister

#eniolabadmus.”

Recall that Eniola Badmus shocked Nigerians with her amazing transformation after sharing her inspiring weight loss journey from 170kg to 85kg in 2021

Operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) have arrested two principal suspects involved in the killing of 16 Nigerians of Northern extraction in Uromi, Esan North-East local government area of Edo State last week.

The suspects were arrested by operatives of the DSS in Uromi, following credible intelligence. Operatives of various security agencies were hunting for other key suspects involved in the unfortunate incidents

Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, had on Monday during a condolence visit to Kano State, revealed that 14 suspects had already been arrested in connection with the killing and were to be moved to Abuja for further interrogation.

Governor Okpebholo, who visited the State to condole with the government and families of the victims, had vowed that justice will be served and those involved in the killing will be brought to justice.

Governor Okpebholo had also assured families of the victims that adequate compensations will be paid.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday evening by the Edo State governor’s media office, said the two principal suspects arrested by officials of the DSS, have been transferred to Abuja, the nation’s capital, for further interrogation and prosecution by the relevant authorities.

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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has ordered a replay of the 2025 AFCON qualifier between Cameroon and Kenya after an extensive investigation uncovered credible evidence of match-fixing.

In an official letter addressed to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), CAF revealed that FIFA’s Integrity and Compliance Unit, in collaboration with CAF and global sports integrity agencies, found irregularities in the match played on October 16, 2024, in Yaoundé.

A forensic review of match footage and intelligence reports highlighted instances of match manipulation involving multiple individuals.

Kenyan goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has been specifically named, and his actions during the match raised significant concerns regarding compliance with FIFA’s anti-match-fixing regulations.

CAF will cover all expenses related to the replay to ensure no financial burden is placed on either federation.

The Cameroon vs. Kenya game will be replayed at a neutral venue within the next 60 days, to be determined by CAF.

Several Kenyan and Cameroonian players, including Matasi, were under formal investigation. If found guilty, they could face severe sanctions, including lifetime bans.

The Football Kenya Federation must fully cooperate with the investigation and provisionally suspend any implicated individuals from all FKF-sanctioned competitions.

Cameroon won both games against Kenya in the qualifiers with a 0-1 away win before beating the East Africans 4-1 in the reverse fixture en route to qualifying for the 2025 AFCON.

Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has declared that she is “not a bastard” and “not afraid of anyone” while addressing a massive crowd of supporters during her homecoming in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State on Tuesday afternoon.

Her return came amid heightened political tension, as the Kogi State Government and Police Command had earlier imposed a ban on public gatherings, citing security concerns. In response, the chairman of Okehi LGA, Hon. Amoka Eneji, also imposed a curfew on the LGA in a bid to halt Natasha’s planned homecoming and Sallah celebration with her constituents.

Switching between Ebira and English languages, she declared, “I am glad I came home. And nobody and nothing can stop me from coming home.”

The crowd erupted in cheers as she reaffirmed her identity and connection to Kogi Central.

“I am an Ebira person. Dr. Akpoti is my father. I know my home. I am not a bastard,” she stated emphatically.

Reiterating her stance, she continued, “I am an Ebira girl. This is my land. I am the daughter of the late Dr. Jimoh Akpoti. I am not a bastard, and I am not afraid of anybody.”

Natasha’s visit came amid a ban on public gatherings imposed by the Kogi State Government on Monday, citing potential threats to public peace. In a move to enforce the ban, Okehi LGA Chairman, Hon. Amoka Eneji, declared a curfew across the council area in an attempt to prevent Natasha’s homecoming event.

Despite the restrictions apparently to stop her planned homecoming Sallah party, Natasha’s supporters defied the curfew, turning out in large numbers to welcome her back.

“Yesterday, we heard on the news that rallies, gatherings will not be allowed, that roads will be blocked, and convoys leading into the state will not be allowed. I knew that we were the targets. But then I said, this is not political season, this is not campaign time,” the embattled lawmaker said.

“We are not having a rally. This is just me, the senator representing Kogi Central, coming down to her people to celebrate this festive time – the Sallah with you, and there is nothing wrong with that. I am breaking no law. This is Nigeria. We have the right to be free, to express our choice in gatherings and celebrations.”

The Nigerian Army has announced the commencement of online registration for its 89 Regular Recruits Intake Exercise for trades, non-tradesmen and women.

The recruitment exercise which was made public on Monday via the Army’s official X handle, aimed at enlisting qualified candidates for the positions.

According to the Army, the registration period will run from March 31 to May 7, 2025, encouraging interested individuals to apply via the official recruitment portal at https://recruitment.army.mil.ng.

In a detailed breakdown of the eligibility criteria, the Nigerian Army emphasised that applicants must be single Nigerian citizens by birth and possess a valid National Identity Card (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN).

Interested candidates must also be medically, physically, and psychologically fit in accordance with the Army’s standards, and must not have any criminal conviction by a court of law.

Also, applicants must have at least four passes, including English Language, in WASSEC/NECO/GCE/NABTEB, and tradesmen/women must possess a valid trade test/certificate.

Applicants must present a valid birth certificate issued by the National Population Commission, hospital, or local government council as part of the application requirements.

The announcement also gave the age limit at 18-22 years for non-tradesmen/women, and 18-26 years for tradesmen/women, and such persons’ minimum height requirements are 1.68m for male candidates and 1.65m for female candidates.

A state of origin certificate is also required as part of the requirements.

The Nigerian Army reaffirmed that the recruitment process is entirely free of charge, warning applicants against making payments to any individual or group claiming to influence the selection process.

“Candidates are advised to conduct their own due diligence and not engage in any form of financial transaction to secure recruitment,” the statement read.

The Army also stated that successful recruits will enjoy several benefits, including career opportunities in the military, regular and enhanced pay allowances, opportunities for further education and interaction with people from diverse backgrounds.

Other benefits include health and insurance housing in choice locations across Nigeria, pension and gratuity upon retirement, and the opportunity to serve the nation within and outside Nigeria.

Interested candidates must apply via the official portal https://recruitment.army.mil.ng.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a screening exercise from June 2 to June 19, 2025, at their respective states of origin.

To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process, the Army warned that all documents submitted will be thoroughly verified by the appropriate issuing authorities.

“All those with fake documents will be handed over to the police for prosecution,” the Army cautioned.

The Nigerian Army also reminded applicants that there will be no pre-selection computer-based test, and all shortlisted candidates must participate in the physical screening exercise at designated centers.

The Army’s announcement concluded with an appeal to young Nigerians to take advantage of this opportunity to contribute to national security and territorial integrity.

“Join the Nigerian Army and contribute to the preservation and protection of Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Army stated

Elon Musk has taken the top spot on Forbes’ 39th annual World’s Billionaires list, surpassing French luxury mogul Bernard Arnault.

Musk’s net worth skyrocketed 75% to $342 billion, driven by rising valuations of xAI, SpaceX and a strong performance by Tesla stock over the past year.

Despite a recent market dip, he remains the first person to surpass $300 billion in wealth.

This was disclosed in a statement released by Forbes on its Website on Tuesday. 

Forbes’ latest rankings show a record 3,028 billionaires worldwide, the highest since the list began in 1987.

Collectively, they are worth an unprecedented $16.1 trillion.

US President Donald Trump also saw a sharp rise in wealth, more than doubling his net worth to $5.1 billion. 

This growth comes from his Trump Media & Technology Group shares and profits from recent crypto ventures.

“It’s another record-breaking year for the world’s richest people, despite financial uncertainty for many and geopolitical tensions on the rise.

“And, from Elon Musk to Howard Lutnick and the other billionaires taking over the U.S. government, they’re growing more and more powerful,” said Chase Peterson-Withorn, Forbes’ Senior Editor for Wealth.

Following Musk, the top five billionaires on the list are:

• Mark Zuckerberg at No. 2 with $216 billion.
• Jeff Bezos at No. 3 with $215 billion.
• Larry Ellison at No. 4 with $192 billion.
• Bernard Arnault & family at No. 5 with $178 billion

The lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Tuesday, urged Nigerians to hold Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo and his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, responsible if she and her supporters are attacked.

Akpoti-Uduaghan raised the alarm in a post via her official Facebook.

She said, “My dear people of Kogi Central, I look forward to our peaceful Sallah celebrations today.

“However, should we be met with or infiltrated by violence, Nigerians should hold Gov Òdodo, Yahaya Bello & SP Godswill Akpabio wholly responsible.”

Her warning comes a few hours after she vowed in a statement to go ahead with her scheduled visit to her constituency for the Eid-el-Fìtr break and the rally planned for her homecoming.

The senator also urged her supporters to disregard speculations making the round that she has cancelled her scheduled visit.

While stating that she has a statutory function in her capacity as the lawmaker representing her constituents, the embattled senator encouraged her supporters to troop out en masse to celebrate the Eid-el-Fitr with her.

On Monday, the Kogi State Government banned rallies and public gatherings in the state over ‘security reports’.

The government also stopped fishing and other activities, arguing that they recently resulted in the loss of two lives in Kasemiya, Katubo and Umozu Ette, all in Kogi Local Government Area in Kogi West.

The Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo said the move was to prevent any form of security breach that might destabilise the state.

Similarly, the Kogi Police Command warned Akpoti-Uduagan to cancel her planned Sallah rally.

Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye stated that the planned gathering goes against the state government’s recent ban on political gatherings, which was announced on Monday.

Meanwhile, videos of the purported rally for the homecoming of the senator have started making the rounds on social media.

As of the time of filing this story, one of the Kogi senators named, Bashir Haroon, shared a live feed showing hundreds of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters, comprising mainly women singing and drumming in anticipation of her return.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of fostering nepotism by extending the tenures of certain public officials, particularly those from the Yoruba ethnic group.

Naija News reports that the group claims that this practice undermines meritocracy and promotes tribalism in Nigeria’s national governance.

HURIWA’s criticism comes after the president approved the extension of Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap’s tenure as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) until December 31, 2026.

The group labelled the move as an “abuse of power” and questioned whether there were no other qualified officers within the service who could take on the role.

In a statement signed by HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group expressed its concern that President Tinubu was prioritizing ethnicity over competence in making key decisions about national leadership.

HURIWA argued that the decision to retain officials from predominantly Yoruba backgrounds suggests that capable candidates from other ethnic groups are being sidelined.

The group likened this to the nepotism of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, which heavily favored Fulani appointees.

“This decision suggests that competent candidates outside the Yoruba ethnic group are being overlooked for strategic national positions. It mirrors the nepotism of the Buhari administration, which heavily favored Fulani appointees,” HURIWA said in the statement.

In addition to the NIS Comptroller-General’s extension, HURIWA also condemned the extension of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun’s tenure.

The group criticized the amendment to the Police Act, which allowed Egbetokun to remain in office beyond the mandatory retirement age of 60, alleging that the decision was driven by ethnic and personal affiliations rather than adherence to public service rules.

HURIWA urged President Tinubu’s government to prioritize merit, competence, and patriotism over ethnic considerations. The group emphasized the need for inclusive governance that fosters national unity and fairness, rejecting what it sees as a trend of ethnic favoritism under the current administration.

“Merit, competence, and patriotism must be the guiding principles in our leadership appointments,” HURIWA concluded, reiterating its call for a fairer and more inclusive governance structure.

A purported copy of the judgment by the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has surfaced online just a day after the tribunal summoned parties involved in the case to appear before it.

This follows a March 3, 2025, ruling where the three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, had reserved its judgment in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo.

On the morning of Tuesday, April 1, 2025, the tribunal directed all parties to return the following day, Wednesday, for the formal delivery of the judgment.

However, according to Vanguard, what appeared to be a leak of the judgment documents surfaced online, revealing a split decision of the tribunal.

The leaked documents show a two-to-one split in the tribunal’s ruling, with Justice Kpochi and Justice A.B. Yusuf dismissing the petition, while Justice A.A. Adewole issued a minority judgment that ordered the issuance of a fresh Certificate of Return to Ighodalo of the PDP as the legitimate winner of the election.

In the leaked minority judgment, Justice Adewole argued that Governor Monday Okpebholo’s election was invalid due to non-substantial compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act.

Justice Adewole noted that the petitioners, Ighodalo and the PDP, had shown evidence that the total votes should have been 243,113 for Ighodalo, with Okpebholo’s tally standing at 210,326, which would have reversed the election outcome.

“The petitioners’ case was not rebutted, and they showed unit by unit how the actual total should be 243,113 votes, while the 2nd Respondent’s tally should stand at 210,326 votes—a clear reversal of the declared result,” Justice Adewole was quoted in the leaked documents.

On the other hand, the tribunal’s chairman, Justice Kpochi, in the majority ruling, acknowledged that there was credible evidence of non-compliance, particularly regarding issues like failure to record serial numbers in EC 25B forms and over-voting.

However, the tribunal found that the petitioners failed to prove that these violations had substantially impacted the election result.

Justice Kpochi stated that while there were instances of incorrect collation and exclusion of results, the petitioners did not provide enough mathematical or documentary evidence to demonstrate that the margin of victory was affected or that they had scored the highest number of lawful votes.

“The petitioners have not discharged the dual burden to the satisfaction of the law. Accordingly, the petition lacks merit and is hereby dismissed,” the majority judgment read.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Governor Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the election, with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Ighodalo of the PDP, who secured 247,655 votes.

Ighodalo and the PDP, dissatisfied with the outcome, approached the tribunal, arguing that the election was marred by non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.

The petitioners contended that INEC had failed to properly serialize and pre-record certain sensitive materials used in the election, which they argued contributed to alleged rigging in favor of the APC and its candidate.

The petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, questioned the legitimacy of Okpebholo’s victory, claiming that he did not secure the highest number of lawful votes in the election.

The World Bank has approved fresh loans for Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.

Naija News reports that the bank, on Monday, approved a total of $632 million for use in critical areas of Nigeria’s economy, including nutrition enhancement and provision of quality basic education.

A breakdown of the figures as made available on the World Bank website shows that $80 million was approved for the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria 2.0 initiative, and $552 million was approved to finance the HOPE for Quality Basic Education for All program.

These new loans are part of the World Bank’s broader plan to assist Nigeria’s development goals, with a focus on improving healthcare, education, and community resilience.

The anticipated loans are intended to bolster the government’s initiatives in enhancing nutritional outcomes and improving Nigerian children’s access to quality education.

Last Friday, the World Bank granted approval for a $500 million loan to Nigeria in order to bolster the country’s Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus Programme.

The initiative, formally called the NIGERIA: Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus Programme, aims to deliver crucial aid to households impacted by economic challenges and strengthen the resilience of communities.

The program focuses on supporting at-risk groups by providing financial assistance to families and small enterprises, aiming to alleviate the economic difficulties they encounter.