The Supreme Court of Nigeria has upheld the conviction and seven-year prison term handed to former senator Albert Bassey over a ₦240m fraud case, ending years of legal appeals. In a unanimous ruling delivered by Justice Stephen Jonah Adah, a five-member panel affirmed earlier decisions by lower courts that found Bassey guilty of corruption charges. The court also reinstated an order requiring him to refund ₦204m to Akwa Ibom State, ruling that the appellate court erred when it failed to uphold the restitution directive. Bassey served as senator for Akwa Ibom North-East from 2015 to 2023 and was previously finance…
Author: Justina Peters
Bola Tinubu has asked Friedrich Merz to support Nigeria’s security efforts with used helicopters for reconnaissance missions in the Sahel. The request came during a 10-minute phone call on Wednesday, according to presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga. He said both leaders discussed regional insecurity and agreed to deepen cooperation in defence, power and rail development. It is unclear if the request was approved. Tinubu said intelligence surveillance was vital to stabilise the Sahel corridor, which borders several West African states facing armed violence and insurgency. He stressed that stronger monitoring capacity would help Nigeria and its neighbours respond faster to threats.…
Nigerian singer Innocent Idibia, known as 2Baba, says he is not a womaniser but a man who loves deeply, rejecting a public image he says does not reflect his life. In an interview with Voice of Nigeria shared on Wednesday, the award-winning artist spoke about fame, family, and public scrutiny. “The biggest misconception about me is that I’m a womaniser,” he said. “I like women, I’m straightforward. But I’m a lover boy. I love hard.” He said one of his hardest struggles has been balancing music with fatherhood. The singer has eight children and said he feels both…
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky is preparing to announce a presidential election within days, as officials weigh plans for a national vote and a referendum on a possible peace deal with Russia. The announcement is expected on 24 February, marking four years since Russia’s invasion. Ukraine has not held elections during the war because martial law bans them. Reports say Kyiv is considering a May vote, though election authorities estimate organising one under current conditions could take up to six months. The plan comes as Ukraine faces outside pressure to set a timeline for both votes. According to sources, Washington wants…
Bad Bunny has revealed the personal story behind the number 64 worn during his Super Bowl 2026 halftime show, saying the jersey was a tribute to his late uncle. The Puerto Rican artist, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, performed at Levi’s Stadium on 8 February in a custom all-cream outfit by Zara. The look featured his surname and the number 64 printed across the chest and back. Speaking to The Cut, Bad Bunny said the number honoured his uncle, Cutito, who was born in 1964 and played a key role in shaping his love for American football.…
Grief has deepened over the death of Nigerian footballer Saburi Adeniji, known as Ola, after it emerged that his wife and young daughter arrived in the United Kingdom just a day after he died. Adeniji, a left winger for Kings Park Rangers FC of Sudbury, passed away on Friday morning at the age of 26 following complications from a severe brain stem injury. The non-league club, which competes in the Eastern Counties League Division One North, confirmed his death in a statement released on Saturday. The club said the footballer had struggled to stay alive while arrangements were made for…
The Nigeria Police Force has promoted 74,352 officers across the country since January 2025, rejecting claims that the exercise was marred by irregularities. A summary released on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Department showed that the promotions covered both senior and junior ranks, from Assistant Inspector-General of Police to Corporal. According to the breakdown, 45 Commissioners of Police were promoted to Assistant Inspectors-General, while 69 Deputy Commissioners rose to the rank of Commissioner of Police. A further 156 Assistant Commissioners were elevated to Deputy Commissioners. At the middle management level, 1,014 Superintendents of Police were promoted to Chief Superintendents,…
Veteran Nigerian musician Innocent Idibia, known as 2Face, has dismissed comparisons between Wizkid and the late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, describing the debate as misplaced and unfair. The singer spoke on a forthcoming episode of the Mic On podcast, reacting to recent comments by Wizkid that triggered backlash on social media. Wizkid had said he was “bigger” than Fela while responding to criticism from Fela’s son, Seun Kuti, over repeated comparisons between the two artists. 2Face said placing the two musicians side by side ignored the context in which each built his career. He argued that the comparison failed to…
Bill and Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before the US House Oversight Committee about their past contacts with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, ending months of resistance to congressional subpoenas. The decision follows pressure from the committee’s chairman, Republican James Comer, who had moved to hold the former president and former secretary of state in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with earlier demands. Confirmation of the shift came during a House Rules Committee hearing on Monday, when Democratic congressman James Walkinshaw said the Clintons had accepted Comer’s terms and would appear…
Newly released US justice department files suggest investigators once viewed the relationship between disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and illusionist David Copperfield as unusually close, though no criminal charges were brought against the performer.According to FBI memoranda from 2007, agents believed there was a “clear connection” between Epstein and Copperfield and said further work was needed to assess whether the pair shared contacts or referred potential victims to one another. The documents show the FBI examined Copperfield after a woman alleged she was raped on his private island in the Bahamas. The investigation ran for about two years but was dropped…
Elon Musk is in advanced talks to combine SpaceX with his artificial intelligence firm, xAI, as rising costs push his companies closer together, according to people familiar with the discussions. The proposed deal would bring together Musk’s rocket and satellite business with his fast-growing AI venture. Investors in both firms have been briefed on the plan, the sources said. An agreement could be announced as soon as this week, though talks remain ongoing and could still collapse. Neither SpaceX nor xAI responded to requests for comment. A merger would unite two of the world’s largest privately held companies. xAI raised…
President Donald Trump has criticised the Grammy Awards and threatened legal action against its host, Trevor Noah, over a joke that appeared to link him to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a post on Truth Social shortly after the ceremony ended, Trump described the broadcast as “virtually unwatchable” and called the Grammys “the worst”. The awards aired on CBS on Sunday for the final time after a long run on the network. Trump also took aim at CBS, saying the broadcaster was “lucky” the programme would no longer be shown on its airwaves. His strongest response focused on…
Tension gripped Onitsha on Sunday night after a coffin was reportedly placed in front of the administrative headquarters of the Onitsha Main Market, hours before traders were due to resume business as ordered by Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo. The coffin was said to have been dropped at the market’s “White House”, a move traders described as an attempt to intimidate them and stop the market from reopening on Monday, February 2. The incident came amid unconfirmed reports that the Chairman of the Onitsha Main Market, Chijioke Okpalaugo, had resigned his position. Some traders linked the alleged resignation to the…
The Confederation of African Football has approved Nigeria’s request to move a key 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier away from Ibadan after concerns over pitch conditions. The first-leg third-round clash between Nigeria and Senegal, scheduled for Saturday, 7 February, will now take place at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The match had originally been billed for the Lekan Salami Stadium. The Nigeria Football Federation said the decision followed a fresh inspection of the Ibadan pitch, which has deteriorated since it was earlier cleared for international fixtures. Ruth David, the NFF’s Director of Competitions, said…
A Paris court has permanently banned two surgeons from practising after a billionaire died during a penis enlargement procedure at a private cosmetic clinic. Belgian-Israeli diamond dealer Ehud Arye Laniado, 65, died from a heart attack during treatment at the Saint-Honoré-Ponthieu aesthetic clinic in Paris. The case has drawn renewed attention to safety standards and oversight in high-end cosmetic surgery. Laniado, owner of Omega Diamonds, was undergoing injections intended to make his penis appear larger. The lead surgeon, known in court as Guy H, treated wealthy clients and saw Laniado several times a year for procedures that cost tens of…
Traders at the Onitsha Main Market have pledged to resume full business activities on Mondays, signalling an end to compliance with the sit-at-home that has disrupted trade across Anambra State. The commitment was made on Thursday during a meeting between Governor Chukwuma Soludo and market leaders from across the state, following the recent closure of the Onitsha Main Market and months of enforced Monday shutdowns. Speaking for the traders, the chairman of Onitsha Main Market, Chijioke Okpalugo, said traders were ready to reopen on Mondays in line with the state government’s directive. He said the decision was taken to support…
China has opened an investigation into its most senior military officer, Gen Zhang Youxia, over allegations that include leaking sensitive nuclear weapons information to the United States and accepting bribes for official promotions. The probe was outlined during a closed-door briefing attended by senior officers on Saturday, according to people familiar with the matter. It came shortly before China’s Ministry of National Defense announced an investigation into Zhang for serious violations of party discipline and state law, without giving details. Those briefed said Zhang is accused of forming political cliques and abusing his authority within the Central Military Commission, the…
The demolition of homes in Makoko has triggered sharp political reactions and public debate, with civil rights groups and prominent figures condemning the Lagos State Government’s handling of the exercise. Residents allege that some demolitions were carried out at night, with little warning. Several witnesses said bulldozers moved in while families were asleep, forcing people to flee in panic. Others claimed that some houses were set on fire, though the state government has not confirmed these allegations. Parents also reported pulling children out of school due to loss of income and displacement. Teachers in nearby schools said attendance among Makoko…
Cracks are emerging within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as disagreements grow over the presidential ambition of former Anambra State governor Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 elections. Findings show that the tension is linked to pressure from Obi’s supporters, known as the Obidients, who insist he must secure the party’s presidential ticket or risk their withdrawal. Some ADC leaders, particularly from the North, are said to be uneasy with what they describe as an aggressive approach by Obi’s promoters, leading a few to distance themselves from his camp. Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, joined the ADC…
The United States has approved the creation of a new Assistant Secretary for African Affairs and a Bureau of African Affairs as part of its 2026 defence and foreign policy framework. The move is contained in the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) for 2026 and is aimed at strengthening US oversight and coordination of policy towards sub-Saharan Africa. The new bureau will sit within the State Department and oversee foreign policy and assistance programmes across the region. The Act also mandates detailed assessments of Russia’s military strategy and force posture in Africa. This includes reviews of Moscow’s overseas bases, logistics…