Reacts To Concerns About Her Safety

Nigerian singer, Tiwa Savage, has responded to concerns over her safety following a viral video of her swimming with sharks.

‘Somebody Son’ hitmaker got fans talking after she was seen swimming underwater with sharks that maintained a close distance from her.

The singer wore an oxygen mask and looked comfortable under the water.

According to Tiwa Savage, swimming underwater with sharks was on her bucket list, and she has ticked it off.

She wrote: “Swimming with sharks #bucketList.”

Reacting to the video, some fans expressed concern for Tiwa Savage over fear of being attacked by sharks

Responding to concerns via her Instagram story on Wednesday, Tiwa said people should not be worried about her decision to swim with sharks.

She noted that the ‘sharks’ in the music industry are more dangerous than those in water.

She wrote, “Everyone worried about me swimming with sharks, but the ones in this music industry are more fucking dangerous”.

Meanwhile, Tiwa Savage recently hinted at quitting the music industry after the release of her next album.

Recalls that the 44-year-old singer gave a hint via her Instagram story.

Tiwa said she now feels tired, noting she has done her best.

However, the ‘Koroba’ crooner did not reveal the title and release date of the next album.

The Nigerian Communications Commission has authorised telecommunications companies to disconnect the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data codes assigned to nine financial institutions due to unpaid debts.

This directive was made in a Tuesday public notice signed by NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka.

The telecom regulator said affected banks must settle their outstanding obligations by January 27, 2025, or risk losing access to their USSD codes.

These codes, essential for enabling mobile banking services, could be reassigned to other applicants if the debts remain unresolved.

The commission revealed that, as of Tuesday’s close of business, nine out of 18 financial institutions had not complied with regulatory directives.

While other banks have cleared their debts, the total amount initially owed by the financial institutions was reported to exceed N200 billion.

However, the regulator did not disclose the precise debt currently owed by the affected banks.

According to the NCC, some of the unpaid invoices have remained unpaid since 2020, indicating a prolonged financial dispute between the banks and telecom operators.

Part of the notice read, “By the information made available to the commission as at close of business on Tuesday, 14th January 2025, of a total of 18 financial institutions, the nine institutions listed below have failed to comply significantly with the directives in the Second Joint Circular of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the commission dated December 20, 2024, for the settlement of outstanding invoices due to MNOS, some since 2020.”

The regulator noted that banks’ failure to comply with the CBN-NCC joint circular also means that they are unable to meet the good standing requirements for the renewal of the USSD codes assigned to them by the commission.

It added, “In fulfilment of its consumer protection mandate, the commission wishes to inform consumers that they may be unable to access the USSD platform of the affected financial institutions from January 27, 2025.”

The affected financial institutions include Fidelity Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank, Jaiz Bank Plc, Polaris Bank Limited, Sterling Bank Limited, United Bank for Africa Plc, Unity Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, and Zenith Bank Plc.

The affected USSD codes include 770, 919, and 822, among others.

The NCC emphasised that the financial institutions had been duly notified of the need for immediate compliance and warned that consumers may face service disruptions if the issues remain unresolved.

This development highlights ongoing tensions between telecommunications companies and financial institutions over unpaid USSD-related debts, a challenge that has persisted for years.

Meanwhile, data from the CBN revealed that 252.06 million transactions worth N2.19 trillion were conducted via USSD between January and June 2024.

This represents a significant growth compared to 2023 when 630.6 million transactions valued at N4.84tn were completed using USSD codes.

Originally designed by telecom operators for services like airtime purchases and subscriptions, USSD has become a key tool in the banking sector, offering financial services to users without requiring an Internet connection.

The Lagos State Government has launched the EKO Learners’ Support Programme, an innovative initiative aimed at aiding students preparing for the West African Examinations Council and National Examinations Council examinations.

This was made known by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during an unveiling ceremony at the Education Resource Centre, Ojodu, Lagos, on Tuesday.

In his address, Alli-Balogun emphasised the importance of education as the foundation for development and highlighted the state’s commitment to providing students with the resources needed for academic success.

“This initiative has been designed to broadcast a head-start of 320 lessons in 10 different subjects; English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Government, History, Literature-in-English and Yoruba on Lagos Television and other social platforms, with proficient teachers, who were recruited painstakingly through thorough and rigorous screening.

“The programme is scheduled for 26 weeks in the period leading up to the start of these public examinations with a duration of 30 minutes per episode and each episode archived for easy access by learners and teachers,” the commissioner stated.

The approach, according to the ministry, ensures that students have continuous access to the materials, enabling them to review content at their own pace and engage with teachers and peers online.

“The lessons after broadcast on television are archived permanently on social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X – (formerly Twitter),” the commissioner added.

Alli-Balogun encouraged students to fully utilise the resource, emphasising that their hard work and dedication are crucial to their success. He also expressed gratitude to educators, partners, and stakeholders for their collaboration in making the programme possible.

Some Nigeria Police school staffers, who are on extended service following the Federal Government’s decision to increase the retirement age for teachers from 60 to 65, are expressing frustration over the authorities’ refusal to pay their salaries for 33 months.

During separate telephone interviews on Sunday, the aggrieved teachers expressed their frustrations to PUNCH Metro, revealing that their families were struggling with financial hardship and debt.

They explained that they had to borrow money to sustain their livelihood after the police stopped paying their salaries due to issues surrounding the extension of their service.

PUNCH Metro reports that the five-year service extension for teachers in Nigeria was introduced by the Muhammadu Buhari administration, effective January 1, 2021.

The beneficiaries of the service extension, including teachers in police schools, the army, navy, air force, and Federal Government colleges in Nigeria, have called for the immediate implementation of the new service scheme.

However, while other institutions, such as the Ministries of Education and Defence, promptly implemented the policy, the aggrieved teachers accused the former Nigeria Police Force Education Officer, DCP Rabi Umar (retd.), of refusing to enforce it. They claimed this decision had plunged the families of the police school teachers into financial hardship.

The situation took a new turn in November 2023 when the aggrieved teachers, despite having their salaries restored by the current Force Education Officer, ACP Ibidapo Oludare, did not receive their outstanding arrears.

Despite numerous appeals by the teachers for the payment of their over 33-month outstanding salaries, the aggrieved teachers lamented that the police authorities had failed to act.

Speaking to PUNCH Metro on Saturday, one of the affected teachers, identified simply as Peter, revealed that in addition to the police refusing to pay their arrears, there had been unexplained deductions from their monthly salaries.

He said, “When our salaries were restored in November 2023, we noticed that the arrears were not paid. On top of that, deductions started appearing in the salaries we received. We have no idea what is going on.

“Some reported deductions of about N40,000, others N36,000, and some N20,000. It’s only in our education system that we experience these kinds of deductions. The deductions were made last December, and we have no idea what will happen in January.”

Expressing concern that her five-year service extension granted by the Federal Government would end in November 2025, Odi feared that her 33-month unpaid salary might be lost once her extension expires later in the year.

“I borrowed money from several people during the period when our salaries weren’t paid. It was only by the grace of God and the support of loved ones that I managed to get through that time. When the salary was eventually restored, I started paying back little by little. I had hoped that once the arrears were settled, I would clear my debts.

“Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. We are desperately appealing for assistance, as it has been an extremely challenging time. By November 2026, the five-year extension would have come to an end, yet our salaries remain unpaid. This means the extension has had no meaningful impact. We are humbly requesting help, as we are struggling to make ends meet.

Similarly, another teacher, identified only as Mrs Awo, shared that the unpaid salaries had had a severe impact on them, urging those in authority to intervene and offer their support.

She said, “My unpaid salary amounts to 33 months, from February 2021 to November 2023. I didn’t receive a single payment during that entire period. During that time, I had to borrow money and buy items on credit, relying on the support of my husband and children to get by.

“They promised that they would pay it, and that was their commitment. However, up until this very moment, nothing has been paid, even after our monthly payments were restored.”

Regarding the salary deductions, she explained that the issue had been ongoing for some time, saying, “You just collect whatever you see.” She emphasised that no one knows the exact amount of their salaries.

A related report was published on Monday, where some retired staff members of Lagos State University of Education, Ijanikin Campus, appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for intervention in the non-payment of their 31-month pension arrears, stating that the delay was causing them significant hardship.

When our correspondent called ACP Olubiyi on Tuesday to inquire about the delay in paying the salary backlog, his mobile phone rang unanswered.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled February 4, 2025, to hear a N500m lawsuit filed against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, by a human rights lawyer, Abba Hikima, on behalf of vulnerable residents of the FCT.

The suit challenges the alleged violation of the fundamental rights of homeless individuals, scavengers, hawkers, and beggars, following their reported arbitrary arrest and detention by a joint task force under the minister’s directive.

Hikima claimed that on November 12, 2024, he witnessed a convoy of security operatives rounding up individuals perceived as vulnerable while passing through Ahmadu Bello Way at about 11 p.m.

He described the scene as one of “verbal harassment, physical threats, extortion, and detention without charge,” which he argued constituted “inhumane and degrading treatment contrary to Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”

He is seeking a declaration that “Nigerians, regardless of their economic status, place, birth or appearance, have the liberty to move freely in the FCT, Abuja, including the liberty to sleep on public roads without let, permission, or hindrance whatsoever in accordance with the spirit and purpose of Sections 35, 41, and 42 of the Constitution.”

Among his prayers is an order directing the respondents to issue “a public apology to the affected individuals and Nigerian citizens at large for the inhumane, arbitrary, and unconstitutional treatment meted on them pursuant to the directive of the 1st respondent (Wike) dated October 22, 2024.”

He also requested an order mandating the respondents to implement policies and reforms to protect the fundamental human rights of vulnerable Nigerians.

The lawsuit follows Wike’s October 2024 directive banning street hawking in the FCT.

The minister argued that such activities were linked to rising criminality in the capital city.

However, Hikima contends that homelessness, begging, and petty trading “are not crimes in Nigeria” and attributes these situations to “harsh and unbearable government policies” as well as the government’s “failure and ineptitude in providing vulnerable Nigerians with security and decent lives.”

Hikima’s affidavit also alleged that individuals arrested under the directive included hawkers of ice cream, sweets, and biscuits; petty traders conducting lawful roadside businesses; and those dressed in ways reflecting economic hardship.

“I felt devastated as a human rights lawyer,” Hikima said, adding that he had followed the task force’s motorcade to Eagle Square, where the victims were dropped off.

He  identified three of the victims – Abdullatif Shehu, Hajiya Talatu Danladi, and Judith Samuel – whose testimonies he documented as evidence.

Listed as respondents in the case are Wike, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

When the matter was called on Tuesday, Usman Chamo, counsel for the applicant, confirmed that all respondents had been served.

A.P. Korobo-Tamono, representing the DSS, stated that a counter-affidavit had been filed, but no legal representatives appeared for Wike, the Inspector-General of Police, or other respondents.

Justice James Omotosho ordered hearing notices to be served on the absent respondents and adjourned the case until February 4, 2025, for a substantive hearing.

Thirty-two-year-old Timileyin Ajayi, has been remanded in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Nasarawa State Police Command in Lafia, the Nasarawa State Capital

Timileyin was apprehended for the murder of his alleged girlfriend, Salome Eleojo Adaidu, a 24-year-old member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), serving at Nicon Insurance in the Nation’s capital, Abuja.

Salome was murdered when she visited the suspect at his house in the Papalana axis at New Karshi in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Timileyin Ajayi was brought to the headquarters of the Nasarawa State Police Command from Karshi development area of Karu Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday. He was paraded alongside the knife and machetes he used to commit the crime.

Timi was nabbed Sunday, January 12, while trying to dispose of the head of Salome after killing her and dismembering her body parts when she visited him at his house.

Frail from injuries sustained from the mob that identified him before his arrest, Timileyin confessed to the crime.

Answering to questions in an exclusive interview from our Correspondent, when asked if he killed Salome, he answered? Yes, narrating that it wasn’t planned but it is because they don’t have each other all the time.

“I killed her because we don’t have each other all the time, it’s not something I planned. It happened on that day and it happened. Not that I have the plan in mind, she was cheating. She hides most of the things from me most times. I got to know from her phone. I saw her chats with other guys on the phone, that was why I decided,” he said.

When probed further, he said he has no regrets in committing the crime.

Do you have any regrets?

He said, no. “I don’t have any regrets because life is reciprocal that is what I thought, if you must do something to someone, you have to be reciprocal with that person. You have to understand what that person is going through so that you can actually put yourself in the position that the person is going through, that is why I don’t have any regrets because we were actually compatible.”

Salome’s elder sister, Esther Adaidu denied knowledge of any relationship between her deceased sister and the suspect as she pleaded for justice.

She said, “This so-called Timi guy, we don’t know him. We have never seen him until we were called up to tell us that this guy murdered and dismembered our sister.

“I demand and need justice to be served to this guy sitting over there because he is the one that murdered my sister and he confirmed it to me.”

Salome’s uncle, Samson Adaji Adaidu stated the position of the family.

“The position of the family is we discovered this through the Nigerian Police and we are expecting justice from the police,” he said.

He narrated the sad experience, saying, “He has succeeded in destroying our daughter, not ordinary killing, he butchered her into pieces. He cut that body into more than 50 pieces and when you look at the whole thing, he is preparing that body for consumption because he cut them and left them in about six polythene bags’

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Nasarawa State Command, SP Ramhan Nansel assured that justice will be served.

He said, “Investigation is ongoing, and upon conclusion of the investigation he will be arraigned in court for prosecution. I want to assure the family and members of the public that this suspect will not be spared if found wanting.

“He will be charged to court for prosecution. We are calling on members of the public who may have any complaints against the suspect to come forward with their complaints and it will be looked into and investigated.”

With insinuations about Timileyin’s profession of being a gospel singer, he mentioned to Channels Television that he is a cryptocurrency trader.

He has been remanded in custody at the Nasarawa State Police Command’s Criminal Investigation Department pending further investigation.

The Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation has rejected the ₦8.9 billion allocation in the 2025 budget proposal to the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, describing it as inadequate.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kenneth Eze, announced the decision to reject the proposal when the Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, appeared before the committee to defend the ministry’s appropriation.

Eze stated that the decision to reject the budget is unanimous and had been adopted by all members of the committee.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance has increased the revenue projections for the Nigeria Customs Service from the proposed ₦6.5 trillion to ₦12 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year.

The committee also increased the revenue projection for the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation from ₦163.3 billion to ₦180 billion.

The decisions were taken when the heads of the two agencies appeared before the committee to defend the 2025 budget proposals and the revenue projections for 2025 fiscal year.

Nollywood actor Lateef Adedimeji has opened up on his denial of an alleged romantic relationship with Bimpe Oyebade-Adedimeji, years before their marriage. He also recounted the humorous story of how he proposed to his wife.

Speaking during an interview with Chude Jideonwo on the With Chude Podcast, the actor revealed that his wife thought he was joking as he proposed marriage to her over the phone.

Lateef Adedimeji stated that Mo Bimpe’s initial reluctance was because of his Islamic religion, and she feared that her father would not agree to that. He recalled:

“I called her and told her I wanted to ask her something, then I told her I wanted to marry her. She was just joking, like, ‘What is doing this one? Get out! I can’t marry a Muslim; are you okay? My daddy won’t even hear that.'”

 

The actor then arranged to meet her father and asked for her hand in marriage, and eventually, he agreed. He continued:

“Then I told her that we’d go see her dad, and I’d speak to him and calm him down. So we went to her village during one of their masquerade festivals, and towards the end, I asked to see her dad. I promised him that I’d take care of his daughter, and he said he’d pray and get back to me, and that was it.”

Though the couple consistently denied being an item for months before their wedding, fans had long suspected that the pair were together. Clearing the air, Lateef claimed he dated Mo Bimpe for about three months before their marriage and not as long as their fans perceived. He concluded:

“The proposal wasn’t planned because we just dated for like two, three months and then we got married.”

Lateef and Bimpe had the traditional leg of their celebrity wedding at Ijero-Ekiti in Ekiti State on Saturday, December 18. A Nikhai then followed on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, in Ikeja, Lagos State.

Some of the celebrities in attendance were Toyin Abraham, Kolawole Ajeyemi, Nkechi Blessing, Mercy Aigbe, Adunni Ade, Wumi Toriola, Femi Adebayo, Yetunde Bakare, Odunlade Adekola and Tunde Kelani.

Nollywood actor Saidi Balogun and his ex-wife, Faithia Williams, shared a heartfelt moment at their son Khalid Balogun’s graduation ceremony from the University of Lagos.

Khalid, who made his parents proud, graduated with a first-class degree, a feat that left both parents beaming with pride and gratitude.

Faithia Williams, visibly emotional, expressed her overwhelming joy at her son’s success, taking to social media to celebrate his academic achievement.

“I am so overwhelmed with joy and gratitude at the incredible achievement of my son,” she wrote.

In a touching video shared by Saidi Balogun, the actor reunited with his ex-wife at the graduation event, both clearly pleased to celebrate Khalid’s milestone together.

Expressing his profound joy, Saidi wrote:

“What joy is greater than this? I am proud of you, Khalid Ayomide Balogun @khalidgram__. You have made me proud today, so also, will your children make you proud? My son graduated with a 1st class!! Thank you, almighty Allah. Thank you for bringing joy back into my heart”.

This celebration comes at a poignant time for Saidi, who lost one of his daughters last year. Despite the grief, the actor expressed deep gratitude for the joy Khalid’s achievement has brought him.

The proud mother celebrated the milestone on Instagram, sharing a photo of Khalid alongside a heartfelt tribute.

Faithia praised his resilience and tireless dedication, describing the achievement as overwhelming and a moment of deep gratitude.

“Hmm, I’m short of words… Alhamdulillah! Alhamdulillah! Alhamdulillah!
My darling son, @khalidgram__ I’m overwhelmed with joy and gratitude as I celebrate your incredible achievement! You’ve worked tirelessly and persevered through the challenges, and today, you’ve emerged with a FIRST CLASS DEGREE from the University of Lagos’ Creative Department!

Alhamdulillah, My heart is bursting with pride and love for you, my darling son! As you embark on this new journey, I ask that you continue to be guided by faith, courage, and determination.

Hey Fam, please join me in praying for my son’s continued success, happiness, and fulfilment. May Allah bless him with wisdom, resilience, and prosperity on his path forward.” she wrote.

Faithia also called on her followers to join in praying for Khalid’s continued success and prosperity.

Omowunmi, the widow of Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has accused her late husband’s father, Joseph Aloba, of avoiding a Deoxyribonucleic Acid test to resolve the dispute surrounding the paternity of the son she had with Mohbad.

The Magistrates Court, during its sitting on July 9, 2024, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, directed both parties to explore an Alternative Dispute Resolution, leading to closed-door negotiations that also failed to yield an agreement.

Mohbad’s father had filed the suit to seek a DNA test for his grandson.

In a statement in October 2024, a representative of the family’s legal team, Monisola Odumosu, stated that Omowunmi had agreed to carry out the DNA.

Odumosu added that this was followed by the settlement terms drafted by both parties.

Subsequently, the court further ordered that the DNA test be conducted at a mutually agreed-upon laboratory or medical centre within Nigeria.

To ensure and ascertain the reliability of the test, the court further appointed some officers to supervise the process of the DNA test.

However, a letter from Salawu Akingbolu Chambers, Omowunmi’s legal representatives, signed by Kabir Akingbolu and dated January 9, 2025, stated that Omowunmi admitted to rejecting Mohbad’s father’s choice of the UCH Ibadan, while he also rejected her choice of Lagoon Hospitals.

Omowunmi added that they had suggested The Eko Hospital and Reddington Hospitals to demonstrate transparency, as stated in their letter of December 11, 2024. However, Mohbad’s father did not respond.

The letter read,  “We remain solicitors to the Respondent in the referenced suit and we have her express consent to write this letter to you.

“It would be recalled that we have exchanged a series of letters on the above but we seem not to be making any progress and it is sad. Suffice it to say that after we have duly responded to your letter dated December 5, 2024, which we received and acknowledged on December 9, 2024, we have patiently waited for your response but nothing of the sort to date.

“Although we objected to your choice of the UCH Ibadan because of the fact that the court itself observed for good reason that it is not proper after your client mentioned the same in open court.

“In the same vein, we have conceded all the same to your objection to us using Lagoon Hospitals even though no tenable reasons were given.

“Quite reasonably, in replacement, we chose two other hospitals which are: The Eko Hospital and Reddington Hospitals, just so for us to show that we absolutely have nothing to hide and this was contained in our letter of December 11, 2024.”

Omowunmi stated that, surprisingly, Mohbad’s father’s lawyer went on social media accusing her of not being ready for the DNA test.

 “To our utter surprise however, instead of you responding to our letter of the above-quoted date, we saw Mr. Taiwo Odumosu of counsel, whom we have profound respect for and counsel for the Applicant, saying on social media that we are the ones who are not ready for the DNA, whereas that is not the case, and we are by this letter denouncing any such misrepresentation Mr. Taiwo Odumosu of counsel must have tainted us with on the social media. As a matter of fact, we deserve an apology for such unhealthy allegations,” the letter added.

She also lamented that Mohbad’s father defamed her son on social media.

“Also, and most unfortunate is the fact that we saw the Applicant on social media about three weeks ago, defaming and maligning Master Liam, and quite in his usual manner, portraying him as a bastard and this is very unacceptable, especially as the court had asked him to go and conduct the DNA that he is now obviously and quite surprisingly running away from in an irreconcilable irony. Very laughable,” the letter continued.

Omowunmi threatened to carry out the DNA test independently if Mohbad’s father continued delaying the matter.

“We want to ask you to promptly take steps or advise your client to do all that may be necessary to ensure the timely conduct of the DNA so that we can make progress. If your client, however, chooses to continue in this tardy manner and rather prefers the empty social media hype for bad reasons, you will leave us no other option than to conduct the DNA ourselves and publish the same for the whole world to see. We shall inform the court of our position in this regard, “ the letter stated.

 In a response dated January 11, 2025, from Hillceetee Partners and signed by Emmanuel Oroko, Mohbad’s father denied the allegations, adding that Taiwo Odumosu never stated in any media interview that Omowunmi was not ready for the DNA test.

 “Your letter dated January 9, 2025, with the above caption has been shown to our Mr Taiwo Odumosu and upon his instructions, we respond as follows.

“Mr Odumosu wishes to inform you that there was no time during his media interaction that he mentioned that your client ‘was not ready for the DNA’. What he was saying, which has been misinterpreted, was that the hospitals had yet to respond to enquiries on their readiness to conduct the test. We heard your client express sentiment in that respect after the media interaction.

“Mr Odumosu has absolute respect for your office and your client. He would not in any way derogate the professionalism and maturity both law firms have exhibited so far while the case lasted.”

Oroko, however, announced through the letter that their chambers would cease representing Mohbad’s father in the matter.

“This response is necessary as a courtesy to your good self and to set the record straight as our chambers no longer represent the Applicant, “the letter stated.