Top Nigerian newspaper headlines and breaking news in Nigeria today, Monday, April 3, 2023.
BBTitans: Khosi Wins Big Brother Titans’ $100, 000 Prize
South Africa’s Khosi has emerged winner of the Big Brother Titans (BBTitans) reality show.
Khosi was announced winner of the show that had participants from Nigeria and South Africa.
With the win, she has become $100,000 richer, with lots of additional prizes.
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Nigeria’s fan-favorite, Kanaga (Jnr) came second behind Khosi. The actor and model, described himself as a ‘sensitive young man who loves older women’.
Twenty-four contestants slugged it out in the Big Brother House for 78 days to win the grand prize of $100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Dollars) cash and other consolation prizes.
Other BBTitans housemates that went through to the finale were Ipeleng, Ebubu, Tsatsii and Yvonne.
The edition was themed ZIYAKHALA WAHALA
Chelsea have announced the sacking of coach Graham Potter.
The Blues suffered 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge to Aston Villa on Saturday.
The loss left them 11th in the English Premier League table.
In a statement announcing Potter’s sack, the club said;
“Chelsea FC has announced that Graham Potter has departed the club,” a statement read. “Graham has agreed to collaborate with the Club to facilitate a smooth transition.
“In his time with the club, Graham has taken us to the quarter final of the Champions League, where we will face Real Madrid. Chelsea would like to thank Graham for all his efforts and contribution and wish him well for the future.”
NNPP National Party Chairman, Rufai Alkali Resigns
The National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), Professor Rufai Alkali has resigned as the leader of the party
Alkali, who made his decision known in a letter addressed to the National Secretary of the party.
Alkali revealed that he is resigning as the National Chairman of the party so as to make way for new people to build new ideas and improve on their modest contributions.
The Letter which was dated, Thursday, 31st March, 2023, copied the National Leader of the party and Presidential candidate of the NNPP, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; Chairman, Board of Trustees NNPP, Elder Chief Boniface Aniebonam and Secretary, Board of Trustees, NNPP, Engr Buba
The letter titled,
”Letter of stepping aside from the post of National Chairman, New Nigeria Peoples Party,” read, ”I am pleased to write and convey to you that I have stepped aside as the National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party with effect from today, Friday March 31, 2023.
“Following keenly the events before, during and after the recent general election held on February 25 and March 18, 2023, it is my humble view that our party, the NNPP, has a great future and potential to emerge as the leading political force that is capable of winning the presidential and all other elections in 2027.”
“To achieve this, we must think ahead and plan ahead. And the time is now. Our great party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party will require major and fundamental structural and systemic changes and reorganisation at all levels of the party in order to strengthen its base, improve its operational capabilities and generally enhance its competitive advantage over and above all the other 17 political parties on the Independent National Electoral Commission nominal roll.
“Since, we as a party, all believe in and aspire to bring in a better Nigeria through the astute leadership of our leader, His Excellency, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, I believe no sacrifice is too much from each and every one of us.
“I am convinced this change must start from me. This is precisely why I have decided, with all sense of responsibility, to step aside from the office of the National Chairman of our party to give room for fresh hands to take over to build upon and improve on our modest contributions. I wish I had done more.
”By this letter, I also wish to inform our National Leader and presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, members of the National Working Committee and our entire members nationwide that I am still and will remain a bonafide member of our party and I pledge to serve and offer support to our party at all levels to ensure the continued progress and advancement of our party.”
He extended special appreciation to the party’s National Leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate, Bishop Isaac Idahosa, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Boniface Aniebonam, the Secretary of the BoT, Buba Galadima, members of the National Working Committee, governorship and National/state House of Assembly members, and all members nationwide for their goodwill, support and encouragement during his sojourn as the party’s chairman.
“I pray, may God bless and reward you all With His bountiful mercies and blessings. Long live the New Nigeria Peoples Party. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
How Don Jazzy Contributed to My New Album – Davido
Born David Adeleke, Davido has attributed the success of his new Timeless music album to legendary singer, Don Jazzy.
Davido said the ace music producer had suggested the title Timeless to his album.
Explaining how it all began, Davido said Don Jazzy had sent him a private message on social media a year ago.
There, the Mavin Boss made a recommendation which he adopted.
The DMW boss made the revelation while answering questions in an interview about his latest music project.
Davido said he almost chose a different album name but eventually settled for Timeless.
He said:
“Funny enough, Jazzy actually DMed me like a year ago and suggested that I named my album Timeless. In the end I changed it like two months ago and changed it back.”
Davido finally dropped his long-anticipated Timeless music on March 31.
This came after a 5-month break following the death of his son, Ifeanyi Adeleke.
The 17-track album featured guest appearances from Grammy award-winning Beninese singer, Angelique Kidjo, British rapper, Skepta, Asake, Fave, Cavemen, and DMW’s latest signees; Morravey and Logos Olori.
Timeless was Davido’s fourth studio album.
INEC Appoints 9 SANs to Defend 2023 Election Result
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appointed nine Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) to defend the results of the February 25 presidential election, which produced Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner and president-elect of Nigeria.
According to City Lawyer, the team will be led by former Nigerian Bar Association President, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN).
Other members of the team are Stephen Adehi (SAN), Oluwakemi Pinheiro (SAN), Miannaya Essien (SAN), and Abdullahi Aliyu (SAN).
A member of the legal team confirmed that four SANs from INEC’s legal department are also members of the team alongside Garba Hassan, Musa Attah, and Patricia Obi.
INEC budgeted over N3 billion to defend the results of the February 25 presidential and national assembly elections and the March 18 governorship and state assembly polls.
Recall that INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, on March 1, 2023, declared the All Progressives Congress candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as the winner of the 2023 presidential election.
However, his victory is being challenged by several candidates who lost in the election over claims that the commission erred in declaring Tinubu winner because he failed to meet all the constitutional requirements for a candidate to emerge.
Also, some candidates and their political parties accused INEC of manipulating the results of the election.
The presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; the Labour Party, Peter Obi; the Action Alliance, Solomon Okangbuan; Allied Peoples Movement, Chichi Ojei, have also filed petitions for the nullification of the presidential election results.
NDLEA Declares Prophetess, Celebrity Couple Wanted for Drug Trafficking
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has declared a popular Port Harcourt- based prophetess and founder of Christ Power Adoration Ministries, Faith Ugochi as well as a celebrity couple Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Simba Allen, wanted for allegedly recruiting teenage girls into drug trafficking.
The Spokesperson for the anti-drug agency, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said they serve as the arrowheads of an international syndicate operating from Los Angeles, USA.
According to Babafemi, the lid was blown off the cartel when NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos intercepted a consignment of 32.70 kilograms of Loud, a strong variant of cannabis concealed in cartons of used wears on Wednesday, November 16, 2022.
A freight agent, Ukoh Ifeanyi Oguguo, was immediately arrested while further investigations led to the arrest of four more suspects: Chikodi Favour; Obiyom Shalom Chiamaka; Nnochiri Chidinma Promise and Edward Omatseye (aka Montana).
The statement reads,
“The 15-year-old Favour was the first sales girl to be arrested at a fuel station in Ajah area of Lagos.
“She thereafter led the operatives to a duplex accommodation around the Ikate area of Lekki, which was later discovered to be a rented apartment by the criminal group purposely for four young girls that the syndicate uses for marketing and distribution of illicit drugs.
“Another girl, Shalom, who is a fresh graduate of Agricultural Science from Rivers State University of Science and Technology was picked from the house alongside Favour.
“During their preliminary interviews, it was learnt that the syndicate rented another building used as a drugs warehouse inside Richmond Estate, Lekki. By the time operatives located the house, it was discovered that other members of the syndicate had broken into the store and carted away bags of illicit substances.
“However, some illicit drug paraphernalia including sealing machines, bloating machines and packaging bags were recovered from the warehouse.
“A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Edward Omatseye at his residence around the Lekki area. Edward confessed during an interview to be working for Igho and his wife, Danielle, who are identified as the overall heads of the criminal group.
“Investigation was able to establish that Favour and Shalom were recruited as sales girls in the illicit drug trade by Prophetess Faith Ugochi of Christ Power Adoration Ministries, using her church platform to recruit teenage girls brought to her for help, on behalf of the celebrity couple: Igho Ubiribo (aka Tiny) and Danielle Simba Allen (aka Dani), who are the owners of the business, while Edward Omatseye (aka Montana) coordinates the illicit drug trade activities for them in Nigeria, with Nnochiri Chidinma Promise as representative of Ben Cargo Ltd, a freight company responsible for the shipment of illicit consignments into the country.
“While Nnochiri Chidinma Promise and Edward Omatseye (aka Montana) have already been charged to court and are currently facing trial at the Federal High Court, Lagos alongside Ben Cargo Ltd, a freight company which had been linked to two previous drug seizures and also involved in the current case, several attempts to get Prophetess Faith Ugochi, Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Simba Allen submit themselves for questioning have proved abortive.
“A letter of invitation sent to Prophetess Faith Ugochi of Christ Adoration Ministries, No. 27 Anozie Street, Mile 2, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on 28th November 2022 was received and acknowledged by her mother with whom she runs the Church. The letter was followed with a reminder on January 9, 2023 after a long wait.
Also a letters of invitation was sent to Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Simba Allen.
“A reminder was also sent when the couple didn’t show any readiness to respond to the first invitation. While Prophetess Ugochi fled her home and went into hiding but continued her prophetic ministration on Facebook, the duo of Igho and Danielle initially sent a legal representation to ask for another time to honour the invitation, they have since gone incommunicado.
“Curiously, they hurriedly moved all funds traced to their company Lasgidi Backwood Ltd where all proceeds from the sales of illicit drugs were deposited into a private account of one Victor Imagoro. The agency has since blocked the sum of Eighty Million Naira (N80,000,000) traced to the account and obtained a court order to seize all properties including a fuel station linked to the suspects in Lagos and Port Harcourt.
“The NDLEA has further sought and obtained an order of the Federal High Court Lagos to declare wanted the celebrity couple: Ubiribo Igho and Danielle Allen, as the arrowheads of the illicit trade as well as Prophetess Faith Ugochi, who recruits teenage girls as sales representatives for the duo.”
“While a suspect, Abraham Alaigwu was arrested at Slaughter, Trans/Amadi area of Port Harcourt, Rivers state with 91.7kg of cannabis on Thursday 30th March, 228kg of same substance was seized from Ayodele Osuya, 35, in a Toyota Camry car around Quarter Guard area of Akure, Ondo state.
While commending the officers and men of MMIA for a painstaking investigation of Prophetess Faith Ugochi and the celebrity couple, Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Simba Allen along with other members of their cartel, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) assured that no effort will be spared to ensure the fleeing suspects are brought to face the consequences of their actions.
“He also expressed his gratitude to operatives of Apapa, DOGI, Edo, Cross River, Rivers, Kaduna, FCT and Ondo Commands of the Agency for their resilience, professionalism and excellent synergy with other security agencies in their areas of responsibility. He charged them and their colleagues across the country to continue to raise the bar in their daily attainments.”
