Afrobeats star, Davido and his wife, Chioma are currently on their honeymoon.

Recall the couple jetted out of the country following their high-profile wedding, which garnered significant attention in Nigeria and beyond.

They first travelled to the United States, which is believed to be their second home, for Davido’s performance at the BET Experience.

In a recent update, Davido revealed that they are now in Milan, Italy, as part of their honeymoon.

When a fan on X asked the singer how his honeymoon is going, he responded thus; “Well thank you … we Dey Milan like this.”

Adams Oshiomhole

The lawmaker representing Edo North senatorial district, Adams Oshiomhole has said that the Federal government prioritises the welfare of dogs over 80,000 inmates in correctional centres.

Oshiomhole stated this at a public lecture with the theme: ‘Nigeria Yesterday, Today and a Prosperous Future.’

He argued that correctional institutes were not meant to kill people but to correct wrong doers.

The senator lamented that 50 percent of those in prison are actually awaiting trial, adding that the law stipulates that one is innocent until proven guilty.

According to him,“We even take care of dogs better than Nigerian prisoners. The bad news is that out of the 80,000 prisoners, 50% are awaiting trials.

“In our laws you are presumed innocent until found guilty. Oppression is the name of the game. A person will tell you that I will teach you a lesson, and with the connection of the DPO he can teach you more lesson that you can ever imagined.”

Meanwhile, he frowned at the labeling of Nigeria and its currency as weak by foreign countries, stating that Nigeria should define its path and should not allow foreign profiling to soil the image of the country.

“In Nigeria, our people will go to the World Bank and they will tell us who we are. We are supposed to define who we are and not foreigners. And until we go back to this home-grown policy and damn the consequences of the world, because they are going to fight us, we will have problems.

“For us to secure the future, we must interrogate the immediate pass,” he added.

Four persons convicted of kidnapping have been sentenced to 40 years imprisonment by a Bayelsa High Court in Ogbia Town, Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

The individuals were said to be responsible for the abduction of a former Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Federal Otokito, on January 20, 2022, and demanding a ransom.

Their identities were revealed as Kingsley Obhesi (24), Joshua Abi (32), Gift Damene (38), and Powell Inegite (36).

The charges against them include conspiracy, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms.

The presiding judge, S.W. Amaduobogha, delivered the judgment in Suit No OHC/4C/2022 on Tuesday, declaring the men guilty of the charges.

According to police prosecuting counsel, Stella Jerry-Friday, the convicts, armed with guns and offensive weapons, unlawfully took Otokito against his will in Otuokpoti community, Ogbia Local Government Area, on January 20, 2022.

Jerry-Friday said, “They took him to Igbomotoru bush in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state with the intent to demand ransom or any other unlawful consideration and thereby committed an offence.”

Judge S.W. Amaduobogha stated that the investigative and prosecution team had diligently proven the case of conspiracy, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms against the convicts beyond a reasonable doubt.

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), disclosed on Friday, July 5, that he held a crucual meeting with the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Peter Obi said the meeting was an ongoing effort to encourage reconciliation and unity within the ranks of the Labour Party.

The meeting held late Thursday night, but entered early morning of Friday, with NLC Political Commission, was to bring back the spirit of harmony and mutual understanding between NLC and its political arm, Labour Party.

“As part of my ongoing efforts to encourage reconciliation and unity within our rank as Labour Party, I held a productive meeting with the NLC Political Commission today.

“At the all-important meeting, I reiterated my earlier appeal for us to put aside our differences and work together in a spirit of harmony and mutual understanding. I also emphasized the importance of moving forward with a shared sense of purpose and vision,” Obi disclosed in a statement on Friday.

The former governor of Anambra State said a comprehensive stakeholders’s meeting involving NLC leadership and Julius Abure – chairman of Labour Party – to ensure all interests and perspectives are harmonized will be held.

He said he was confident that through open communication, empathy and willingness to listen, all parties in the ongoing leadership crisis would be addressed.

“Following the meeting, I also had a fruitful discussion with Governor Alex Otti, updating him on my engaging in constructive dialogue. Our conversation laid the groundwork for future collaboration and progress.

“In the coming days, we will convene a more comprehensive stakeholders’ meeting, bringing together a broader representation of interests and perspectives.

“I am confident that through open communication, empathy, and a willingness to listen, we will successfully resolve our differences and emerge stronger and more united than ever. Our strength lies in greater unity for our common national good,” Obi added.

Labour Party leadership had been accused by Joe Ajaero, NLC chairman, of running LP against the guiding principle of its founders.

The NLC leadership also condemned the National Convention held on 27 March, by Abure-led leadership in Anambra State.

Labour Party Board of Trustee (BoT) Chairman, Comrade S.O.Z. Ejiofor, in a statement on 28 March, described the Nnewi-held convention as illegal and maintained Abure’s tenure was over.

Also, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disagreed with the national convention held by Abure.

The controversial National Convention was held without stakeholders of the party, including Peter Obi, Abia State Governor – Alex Otti, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), BoT members and the NLC Political Committee.

“While we commend members of the Labour Party, especially workers, students, youths, market women and men, Obidients, and candidates on the platform of the Labour Party, for their contributions and fidelity to the ideals of the party, the Board of Trustees promises to quickly set in motion processes for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive national convention.

“Unlike the charade that took place today in Nnewi and in tandem with the principles of popular democracy, the all-inclusive national convention will start with grassroots congresses at ward, local government, state and, ultimately, at the national level.

“This process will not leave any genuine member of Labour Party out and will be held in the full view of the Independent National Electoral Commission, media, civil society, security agents and the general public.

“We commend the leader of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, and key stakeholders in the Labour Party for declining to deodorize the malfeasance that took place in Nnewi with their presence.

“The BOT assures all stakeholders that we are committed to reclaiming and repositioning the Labour Party as the vehicle for the socio-political emancipation of our dear country, her working people and populace,” Comrade Ejiofor-led Labour Party BoT said in a communique.

The operations of 10 private jet companies have been suspended by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for failing to commence the recertification process.

This information was released in a statement by Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, on Friday in Abuja.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the NCAA highlighted that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 Part 18.3.4 prohibits holders of Permits for Non-Commercial Flights (PNCF) from using their aircraft to carry passengers, cargo, or mail for commercial purposes.

“Due to blatant non-compliance with this rule, the NCAA had previously ordered all PNCF holders to undergo re-evaluation, which was to be completed by April 19, 2024,” the statement partly read.

As a result, the NCAA has suspended the PNCFs of the following companies: Azikel Dredging Nigeria Ltd, Bli-Aviation Safety Services, Ferry Aviation Developments Ltd, Matrix Energy Ltd, Marrietta Management Services Ltd, Worldwide Skypaths Services, Mattini Airline Services Ltd, Aero Lead Ltd, Sky Bird Air Ltd, and Ezuma Jets Ltd.

The NCAA emphasized that it is illegal for PNCF holders to engage in commercial operations and warned that any PNCF holder found guilty of illegal activities would face enforcement actions.

To ensure compliance, NCAA officials have been deployed to General Aviation Terminals (GAT) and private wings of airports to monitor the activities of PNCF holders.

A 38-year-old TikTok music executive, Govind Sandhu, has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer — non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Sandhu says he was “the healthiest I’ve ever been” and “thought I was in the best shape of my life” before the diagnosis.

He’s now sharing his health journey, beginning with a two-day chemotherapy treatment.

“I’m 38 years old and I’ve been diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. What. The. Hell?” Govind Sandhu, the head of Global Music Partnerships at TikTok Australia, said in an Instagram video where he shared his diagnosis.

“This wasn’t exactly part of my five-year plan,” he said. “I thought I was in the best shape of my life, the healthiest I’ve ever been. A Crossfitter who runs ultra-marathons and marathons, lives and breathes training, optimizes sleep and recovery, supplements, nutrition.”

Sandhu continued, “I just finished 75 Hard” — the at-times controversial fitness plan that has landed some devotees in the hospital  — “and was in Bali for a couple of weeks training up a storm.”

He shared that he got the news of his cancer after completing the Sydney half-marathon.

“Speechless,” he said.

“I ran the half-marathon along with being away a weekend prior in a remote part of Australia running trails with stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma running wild through my system,” he later elaborated, according to The New York Post.

Non-Hodgkins lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in the lymph nodes, the Mayo Clinic says, where white blood cells grow abnormally and can cause tumors throughout the body.

Following the marathon, Sandhu experienced flu-like symptoms, pain in his neck, knee, and shoulder, and “wild night sweats” that kept waking him. The symptoms caused him to go to the doctor, the NYP reported.

“You don’t know what you don’t know,” he later wrote on Instagram as news of his diagnosis began to spread.

“Book in for a general check up, get your blood done & speak to your GP. Pretty easy first step to be ahead of the game!”

Sandhu is now sharing details of his cancer journey, posting a photo of a handful of six pills that are his “cancer meds”. He said they “supercharged” him for “chemo administration day.”

He posted a video in the car as he headed to Saint Vincent’s Private Hospital for a two-day chemotherapy session, saying, “To be honest, feeling up for it. Had a good night’s sleep, had a good dinner, had a lovely breakfast this morning. And the way that I look at it is that we are another step down on the road to recovery.”

Sandhu later shared a video “tour of the chemo ward,” flashing a peace sign as he received his treatment.

“Very lucky,” he captioned the video, and updated followers following his second day of treatment.

“Not feeling too bad,” he said, admitting that the first day was “so overwhelming.”

“Super comfortable, very lucky,” he said.

“All in all, a really successful day — all things considered.”

Although Sandhu didn’t share his prognosis, Verywell Health explains that the five-year survival rate for different types of non-Hodgkins lymphoma ranges from 57% to 86%.

A commercial bus driver, Elijah Shokoya, was on Thursday, July 4, sentenced to 12 years imprisonment by the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja for killing an officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA).

Justice Oyindamola Ogala jailed Shokoya after holding that the prosecution, the Lagos State Government, had proven beyond reasonable doubt the one-count charge of manslaughter of the LASTMA officer, Olawale Akinmade, who died on Wednesday, January 27, 2012.

The judge held, “The prosecution has established beyond reasonable doubt that the deceased died, that the unlawful acts of the defendant caused the death of the deceased and that the acts of the defendant which eventually caused the death of the deceased were with the knowledge that injury or grievous bodily harm was the probable consequence.”

The Lagos State government accused the convict of knocking down Akinmade with a blue and black Opel space bus with number plate AAA 74 GG while controlling traffic after which the LASTMA official was said to have suffered injuries to his head and body.

The prosecution claimed that the tragic incident occurred at Demurin Street junction inwards Mile 12 area of Lagos contrary to Section 224 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and was punishable under Section 229.

The convict was arraigned on June 23, 2021, and pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge.

In her judgement, Justice Ogala held that the sole issue for determination is whether the totality of the evidence before the court, showed that the prosecution, has successfully proved the charge of involuntary manslaughter proffered against the defendant to secure the conviction of the defendant.

The judge pointed out that the position of the law is indeed well settled that the burden of proof in criminal cases rests on the prosecution, and the standard of proof is proof beyond reasonable doubt.

She held, “As regards the death of Akinmade Samson Olawale, there seems to be no dispute as to the death of the deceased.”

The testimony of a first prosecution witness, Aderonke Malik, is that she saw the defendant pushing the deceased into the front of his vehicle.

Her testimony is also that she ran to the scene asking the defendant to stop the car, but he did not, and that the deceased kept on banging the bonnet of the vehicle to stop. She further testified that the defendant did not stop until he knocked down the deceased.

“Also, in this instant case, it is instructive that the Investigating Police Officer also gave direct evidence of what she saw, heard, and investigated. The Court, therefore, finds that the evidence cannot be faulted as suggested by the defence in this instance.

“It must be pointed out that proof beyond reasonable doubt is not proof beyond every shadow of doubt. The degree of proof amounting to reasonable doubt need not reach certainty, but it will carry a high degree of probability.

“Once the ingredients of the offence the accused is charged with are proved, that constitutes proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and for him to be entitled to the benefit of the doubt, the doubt must be a genuine and reasonable one arising from some evidence before the Court.

“The Honourable Court, therefore, finds the Defendant Guilty of the One Count charge of Involuntary Manslaughter he stands faced with and is accordingly convicted.

“I hereby sentenced the defendant to 12 years imprisonment from the day of judgment,” Justice Ogala held.

Popular X influencer, Suraj Oyewale aka Sir Jarus, has disclosed that the case filed against him in court by the Lagos State government through the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), after it was alleged that he beat his wife has been struck out.
 
In a post shared on his X handle, Suraj confirmed he was indeed arraigned in court but that the case was struck out with conditions that he goes for counselling and use his platform to speak against Domestic violence.

He also mentioned that the court ordered he stayed away from social media for one month.

Last week, Sir Jarus admitted on X (formerly Twitter) that he beat his first wife, Mrs Oyewale Ayoola because she tried to stop him from taking a second wife by getting help from a “Cele Prophet” who gave her “juju”.

His post sparked widespread outrage, with the DSVA later putting out a statement announcing Sir Jarus had been arrested and currently in police custody.

On Thursday, July 4, the agency announced in a statement shared on its X added that the influencer had been charged to court on two counts bordering on assault and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

Addressing his court case, Sir Jarus wrote;

‘’Re: Domestic Violence

On Monday, I got a call from the Lagos State Police Command inviting me to appear before them.

Yesterday, I reported at the office to make statement in respect of some allegations and answer questions.

Today, I also walked into the office and was subsequently charged to court. Fortunately, the matter was struck out by the court with conditions that I go for counseling, use my platform to speak against domestic violence and stay off Twitter for a month.

In compliance, I want to appeal to married people to seek peaceful means of seeking marital disputes. Patience will always solve issues no matter how long it takes.

Also in compliance, I will be logging off Twitter for one month. I will also appreciate if nobody sends me anything from Twitter on other platforms of reaching me. I do not want to see or hear anything from Twitter. Please do not send to me.

Special thanks to the Lagos State Police Command for speedy attention to the matter. Special thanks to the firm of Wahab Shittu SAN, my legal representatives in court and my friend Adam Muhammad for further legal support.

In my 17 years of active participation on social media, I have always used the platforms as a force for good, devoting a generous amount of my Internet time to advising and supporting the ambitions of younger ones, especially on education and career matters, evident in the general feedback about how my free education and career tips have changed the lives of people for life.  

I try to exude positivity and preach the message of hope. Confident that an isolated case of marital challenge will not bring down such brand. This use of social media to mass-mentor and share life-transforming information to younger folks will not stop when I return.

Thank you.

Jarus”
 

Ireti Kingbe, the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has stated that she has never met the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

She stated this while responding to Wike’s claim that she wants to forcefully become friends with him.

Recall that Wike and the Senator have been in the news in recent times due to a rift between the duo.

Speaking during an interview with Reuben Abati on Arise TV on Monday, Kinigbe said she has no interest in being friends with him.

According to her, she has not sat in the same room with the governor except in the senate committee.

She said, “Please what constitutes friendship between two people who have never met each other? I have never sat in the same room with the minister except in the senate committee. So how does friendship arise? Why would I want to be the friend of somebody I do not know?

“The truth of the matter is that the minister refuses to speak or communicate in any way with the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory. So, how are the wishes and the needs of the people to be communicated to him? Please tell me if you know a way.”

A Federal High Court in Abuja has declared as invalid the Peoples Democratic Party’s primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as its governorship candidate.

The primary election conducted on February 22, 2024, was voided on the ground that 378 delegates who were supposed to vote at the primary election were unlawfully excluded by PDP.

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo invalidated the primary election while delivering judgment in a suit instituted by the aggrieved delegates.

The suit marked THC/ABJ/CS/165/2024 was instituted by one Hon Kelvin Mohammed in a representative capacity.

Justice Ekwo held that both the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the PDP Guidelines were grossly violated in the conduct of the primary election at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin.

Details later…