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The family of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra has issued a warning to the Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele.

The family warned him to steer clear of the case of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

Kanu’s younger brother, Kanunta Kanu, gave the warning in a statement on Sunday while reacting to a supposed prophecy recently released by the clergy regarding Kanu’s continuous incarceration by the Department of State Services, DSS.

Recall that Primate Ayodele, during the launch of his 30th “Warning to the Nations” at his church in Lagos, said that “Kanu should beg the government before he is released or else he will die in jail.”

However, piqued by the comment, Kanu’s family asked the clergy to focus on his church and stop making provocative utterances against their son.

The family claimed that Ayodele’s prophecies have nothing to do with God, asking the clergy to stop using their son’s name “to seek public attention and draw traffic.”

According to the statement, the “God whose mouthpiece Ayodele is claiming to be is a God of justice who does not punish the innocent.”

“Ayodele should be courageous enough to tell the world what God said about the murderous invasion of our family home that resulted in the death of our parents and the murder of 28 other innocent visitors to our home.

“The righteous God I know cannot count the masterminds of this atrocity guiltless and hold their victims accountable,” the statement added.

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A former National Vice Chairman, North-West, of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman has sent a messge to the 2023 presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso; Labour Party, Peter Obi; as well as Nasir El-Rufai and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

He urged them to unite to remove President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Lukman lamented that given the advanced stage of ‘state capture’ at the federal level, political leaders like Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso, Osinbajo, and others have been operating in isolation from one another.

In a statement he signed, Lukman said Osinbajo, Rotimi Amaechi, Kayode Fayemi, Ibikunle Amosun, El-Rufai, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and others, who are more like political orphans due to their exclusion from President Tinubu’s administration, have been pushed to the peripheral edges of Nigerian politics.

He said: “Political leaders in Nigeria, notably Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and others, must answer the question as to whether they want to allow their narrow political ambitions to continue blocking the path to the democratic development of Nigeria.

“Or, why shouldn’t they aspire to register their names as political leaders who were able to rise to the occasion in Nigeria’s hour of national need by coming together to forge a united political front, which could transform Nigeria’s democracy and reverse the phenomenon of ‘state capture’ that produced ‘small corrupt groups’ of used ‘government officials’ who are appropriating ‘government decision-making to strengthen their own economic positions’?

“Although there are some indicative political activities taking place around some of these political leaders, it has not graduated to the level of commitment to build the kind of strong political parties capable of threatening the APC and President Asiwaju Tinubu, which is needed to guarantee the future of Nigerian democracy.

“What were the failings of the PDP? The failings of the PDP are reflected in the same way today’s challenges are manifesting. If the truth is to be told, whatever were the failings of the PDP in 2015, they were less grievous than what it has become under the APC in 2024.”

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The two factions of the Rivers State House of Assembly are set to hold parallel sittings this morning.

On Sunday night, the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led House loyal to the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara had in a letter by the Clerk, Dr G. M Gillis-West, invited a new commissioner-nominee, Emmanuel Frank-Fubara, to appear before it on Monday for screening and confirmation as a member box the State Executive Council.

Meanwhile, the Martin Amaewhule-led House loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, will also hold plenary today.

While the pro-Fubara lawmakers will hold it a string in an improvised Hallowed Chamber in the Government House, Port Harcourt, the pro-Wike legislators sit at the State Assembly official quarters along Aba Road, also in the metropolis.

Both factions will sit by 10 am today (Monday).

Though it is not clear what the Amaewhule-led lawmakers will deliberate on, it will be their first sitting since the Court of Appeal judgement recognised the pro-Wike lawmakers as members of the House.

The lawmakers may among others, discuss the issue of the 23 local government councils in the state, which has been barricaded by the police for over two weeks in the wake of the crisis that greeted the tenure of the then Local Government Chairmen.

Recall that the State House of Assembly Complex located along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt was bombed in October 2023, following an attempt by 27 lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister to impeach Fubara.

The pro-Wike lawmakers later during plenary announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress as the political crisis in the state deepened following the feud between Fubara and Wike.

The status of the 27 lawmakers is now a subject of litigation as the Court is expected to determine their faith.

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Nigerian disk jockey, Florence Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy, has revealed what she brings to the table in a relationship.

Cuppy who recently got baptised at a UK Church, said the Holy Bible is what she brings to the table.

She disclosed this while joining the viral social media ‘What do you bring to the table’ challenge, which implies what a partner can offer in a relationship or marriage.

On her X handle, Cuppy shared: “‘What do you bring to the table?’

“Me: Holy Bible.”

The music star recently shared updates on her spiritual growth with fans.

She explained that embracing her faith has made her realise that being beautiful is more than just an outward appearance.

According to her, true beauty is about inner peace, purpose, and self-worth.

DJ Cuppy is publicly known to be single at the moment.

Her most recent relationship was her failed engagement to British boxer, Ryan Taylor.

The duo parted ways in July 2023, barely seven months after their shocking engagement in November 2022.

Cuppy has been vocal about her desire to find her “true love,” saying being “single and childless” in her 30s is “lonely and boring.”

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A 40-year-old woman, Rafiat Sheriff, and her seven-year-old daughter, Asisat, have been confirmed dead after a gas explosion rocked a residence situated on Church Street, beside Ebute Road, in the Ibafo region of Ogun State, last weekend.

It was learnt that the tragic event took place around 8:30 pm on a Saturday night, injuring two others.

The spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, has confirmed the occurrence of the incident, stating that it happened Saturday night when the mother instructed her seven-year-old daughter to prepare a meal.

“The girl was attempting to light up the gas cylinder when the entire house went up in flames.

“The mother and the child lost their lives in the explosion. Two other girls, including one of the children of the deceased, are currently receiving treatment in the hospital,” the police spokesperson noted.

Barely two weeks ago, over a hundred houses reportedly suffered unfortunate destruction in a cooking gas explosion which rocked Jamata, a neighbourhood within the Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The explosion toppled structures and damaged properties valued at millions of naira.

Upon inspecting the impacted area, the Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources in Kogi State, Bashir Abubakar Gegu, expressed sorrow over the damages and encouraged the residents to exercise caution when handling cooking gas.

“I am urging all and sundry to abide by the rules of gas usage. This accident is avoidable, but for negligence and failure to abide by the safety rules of the use of cooking gas, this happened,” the commissioner noted.

He promised the victims of the state government’s prompt and sustained assistance, allowing them to recover and continue with their business operations.

News about the Kogi explosion was reported hours after explosions were heard at the Dangote Group refinery located in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State.

The cause of the fire outbreak was not immediately ascertained.

However, it was gathered that workers at the Dangote Refinery immediately vacated the affected section to enable fire service officials to quench the raging fire.
 

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The Nigerian Army has clarified that it has schools for Islamic and Christian affairs.

The army made the clarification while restating that the institution remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the values of secularism and religious freedom, ensuring that all personnel can serve with dignity and respect for their individual beliefs.

Recall that a viral report suggesting that the Nigerian Army only runs a School of Islamic Affairs, ignoring other faiths.

Clarifying the report, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, in a statement on Monday, described the report as not only fake but also as making a futile effort to portray the Nigerian Army as exclusively encouraging religious bigotry among its personnel.

“Considering the gravity of this falsehood, the Nigerian Army wishes to categorically state that this propaganda in its entirety is dead on arrival as it clearly does not reflect the values of our esteemed institution,” the statement said.

“The Nigerian Army is a secular organisation that upholds the principle of religious freedom for all its personnel and ensures that personnel, irrespective of rank, are free to practice their religions without any form of bias or endorsement of a specific religion.

“Our unwavering commitment to secularism guarantees that religious diversity is respected and accommodated, allowing soldiers to observe their faith without hindrance to their duties.

“Our dedication to secularism is aimed at fostering a professional and inclusive environment where individuals can serve their country without fear of religious discrimination or bias.

“This approach ensures that all officers and soldiers can practice their beliefs in a supportive and respectful setting,” it added.

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Liberia’s President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has slashed his salary by 40 per cent.

He took the step on Saturday.

Mr Boakai, who was quoted in a statement published on Liberia’s government website on Saturday, said this move was “aimed at setting a precedent for responsible governance and nation-building.”

“In fulfilment of his commitment to fiscal integrity and national financial security, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has announced a voluntary 40 per cent reduction in his salary,” the statement added.

According to Mr Boakai, the announcement reflects his determination to lead by example in strengthening government accountability and demonstrating solidarity with the people of the nation.

This followed Mr Boakai’s public declaration of assets last month.

The Liberian leader said his action is in fulfilment of his commitment to upholding the constitution and laws of Liberia, in addition to his dedication to fostering a culture of accountability, integrity, and good governance.

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The Vatican has banished archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano after finding him guilty of schism.

According to BBC, schism is one of the gravest crimes in canon law and occurs when someone withdraws submission to the Pope or his Catholic subjects.

Carlo Maria Vigano served as the Vatican’s ambassador to the US from 2011 to 2016 but went into hiding in 2018.

This came after he alleged Pope Francis knew about US cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s sexual misconduct and did nothing about it.

The Vatican has rejected this claim.

Vigano also branded the Pope a “false prophet” and a “servant of Satan”, before calling for him to resign.

The Vatican’s doctrinal office announced the 83-year-old’s excommunication – or banishment – on Friday.

It said his previous comments made it clear he refused “to recognise and submit” to the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Vigano had also rejected the legitimacy of liberal reforms made by the church in the 1960s, it added.

The statement read: “At the conclusion of the penal process, the Most Reverend Carlo Maria Vigano was found guilty of the reserved delict (violation of the law) of schism.”

The excommunication means Vigano is formally outside the church and cannot celebrate or receive its sacraments, such as communion

As is normal, the ruling was signed by the head of the Doctrine of the Faith office instead of the Pope himself, but it’s highly unlikely the punishment was given without his approval.

Responding on X, where he has frequently posted while in hiding, Vigano remained unrepentant and urged Catholics to support him with a quote from Jesus in the New Testament: “If they keep quiet, the stones themselves will start shouting.”

Vigano has cultivated a following of like-minded ultra-conservatives over the years, delving into conspiracy theories and labelling the coronavirus pandemic the “Great Reset”.

In a post on X last month, he criticised the Vatican’s proceedings against him and accused Pope Francis of representing an “inclusive, immigrationist, eco-sustainable, and gay-friendly” church.

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Three members of a syndicate specialised in mobile phone theft and defrauding unsuspecting members of the public have been arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Osun State Command.

The suspects who were arrested at different locations in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, are 35-year-old Kayode Owoseni, a two-time ex-convict, resident of Agbode Street, Oke Baale, Osogbo; 43-year-old Olasunkanmi Adesina, resident of Oke-Ayepe, a suspected cultist and 32-year-old Kehinde Bankole, resident of Idi-Omo, Sabo Road, Osogbo, Osun State.

The Osun NSCDC, Michael Adaralewa while speaking with journalists on Sunday revealed that the arrest followed a complaint from one of their victims, whose phone was stolen.

Commandant Adaralewa said, “The complainant made it known that on the 14th day of June 2024, two men came to buy sachet water in her shop at Inisa, Osun State. While attending to the men, she kept her phone on one of the tables in the shop. The duo later said they were not buying again and promised to come back. It was after they left the shop that the victim realised she could not find her phone again.

“Upon her complaint, the command swung into action and members of the syndicate were arrested on 1st July, 2024.”

He also said, “Diligent investigation revealed that one of the suspects, Kayode Owoseni, had been convicted twice for a similar offence.

Commandant Michael Adaralewa said it was a case of stealing, impersonation, fraud and conspiracy to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

While assuring that the suspects would be made to face the full wrath of the law, Adaralewa warned criminally minded people in the state to desist from their activities or face the consequences of their actions.

While making his confessional statement, Kayode said he learnt the act of pickpocketing from his friends and their base is at Oja-Oba, Osogbo.

In his statement, one of the syndicate members, Adeshina Olasunkanmi said he belongs to a cult group known as ‘Eta Fraternity’.

He confessed that the stolen phones had been sold, but before then he used the phone’s Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card to call unsuspecting members of the public, pretending to be an old man who mistakenly dialled phone numbers.

He revealed that in the course of the conversation, he would tell the receiver of the call that he was an herbalist and would want to offer assistance with money rituals.

Members of the public who fell for the trap had sent money to him for sacrifice and he later destroyed the SIM cards, to obliterate evidence.

The suspect further revealed that he worked in collaboration with a man he referred to as ‘JEEGUN’, and both of them have been defrauding members of the public of their hard-earned money for fifteen years.

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The 10-year-old son of American rapper, Lil Durk has allegedly shot his stepdad, Joshua Pippens.

The incident happened during a domestic dispute with the youngster’s mother.

Surveillance cameras captured the moment the child allegedly grabbed a weapon from his stepdad, Joshua Pippens, aimed the gun at him, and fired.

In the footage, Pippens, seen in orange, can be observed attempting to restrain the child’s mother, who is wearing purple. In the middle of the confrontation, the child, wearing a red t-shirt and shorts, aims what seems to be a gun directly at Pippens.

Subsequently, the child points the weapon at Pippens, and a single gunshot is heard. Pippens can then be seen falling to the ground after being hit by a bullet.

The shooting incident occurred on July 1, since which time Pippens has spoken out from his hospital bed.

Speaking via his Instagram page, Pippens claimed that he was not the aggressor and that the young child acted on the institutions of his mother.

He wrote, “As y’all can see I was not the aggressor. And y’all also can see how I still had my gun on my hip. He grabbed my gun off my hip following his mom’s lead and tried to shoot me and then actually shot me.

“My gun was on my hip and I was trying to protect myself from getting shot. I never in a million years thought a kid I bought four wheelers and paid football leagues and everything would do this but he only knows what mom shows him. I still love him like he’s mine.”

Pippins suggested that the argument may have been about custody arrangements over a child the couple share.

“Whatever makes y’all feel better. That’s why I got custody of my kids and she don’t. Y’all so internet think [sic] god it was me that took the shot and not her,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, rapper Lil Durk is yet to react to the incident.