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Former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, was on Thursday arrested by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Police Command.

Finding revealed that Sowore was picked up within the Federal High Court where he had appeared in court.

According to information obtained by THE NATION the arrest was ordered by the FCT Commissioner of Police.

Sowore, who was scheduled to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite over what he described as a ‘bogus and farcical’ charge of alleged forgery of a police wireless message, filed under the instruction of the ‘illegal Inspector-General of Police, (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun’, was informed at the court that the judge would not be sitting.

A source disclosed that a police officer approached Sowore, informing him that he was under arrest in connection with Monday’s protest.

Members of his legal team, led by human rights lawyer Tope Temokun, immediately confronted the officers, demanding to know the reason for the sudden arrest.

However, the police insisted they were acting on ‘direct instruction’ from the Commissioner and proceeded to escort Sowore into a waiting vehicle.

The management of the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) has launched a probe into an allegations of a staff using personal bank account to receive payment from customers for services.

It frowned at such practices, stating ‘if verified, are contrary to the established financial and ethical procedures governing transactions within LASAA and the Lagos State Civil Service.’

It said the agency has identified the staff involved who has been directed to ‘report at the Agency’s Head Office for immediate investigation and disciplinary proceedings in accordance with public service rules.’

The agency maintained ‘all payments for its services must be made only through officially designated government channels.

‘We appreciate the vigilance of members of the public who bring such matters to our attention. The Agency assures all stakeholders and clients that necessary corrective measures will be taken to uphold public trust and the integrity of our processes.’

XL Creative Hub has announced the debut of Battle of the Beats Season 1, the country’s first-ever Afrobeats production reality show.

According to a statement by the Hub’s Business Manager, Clement Makinde, the 12-day musical contest will run from November 1 to 12, 2025, with live streaming on YouTube.

Makinde said the show would feature six top Afrobeats producers in a high-energy creative contest, judged by experienced industry professionals.

‘Watch six carefully selected producers locked in an intense camp, creating beats under pressure while professional judges evaluate every production,’ the organisers said.

He noted that participation in the show is completely free, adding, ‘We are not collecting a dime from any participant.’

The competition will kick off on November 1, followed by an elimination night on November 8, and the grand finale on November 12, when the top three producers will compete for the top prize.

Winners will receive ?500,000 for first place, ?300,000 for second, and ?200,000 for third.

Following the producers’ contest, artists across Nigeria will be invited to record songs using the winning beats and compete for major rewards between November 12 and 24, 2025.

Artists can participate by downloading the winning beat, recording a song, creating a video, and submitting their entries via Instagram or the official website.

The artist segment offers even bigger prizes – ?1 million and a label contract for the winner, ?500,000 for second place, and ?300,000 for third.

Winners will be determined through a combination of public votes and professional judging, with voting scheduled from November 12 to 25, 2025.

Makinde said the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between grassroots creativity and professional opportunity by giving talented producers and artists access to world-class production resources, regardless of financial background or location.

He said, ‘Battle of the Beats seeks to discover raw talent, document Afrobeats’ evolution, inject funds directly into the creative economy, and build a transparent annual platform that launches real careers.

‘We urged music lovers to follow @battleofthebeatsshow on Instagram and tune in for the show’s premiere on November 1, 2025.

‘This is your moment don’t miss a beat,’ Makinde declared.

In the short term, the competition aims to launch at least three professional careers, deliver measurable economic impact, and build a 50,000-member YouTube community. Its long-term vision targets Pan-African expansion, prize pools worth ?25 to ?30 million, and recognition alongside major music awards.

The organisers said the project directly tackles issues of industry gatekeeping, producer undervaluation, and limited exposure by creating a transparent, inclusive, and sustainable creative platform.

The judges include Nnaemeka Ugochukwu Onusiriuka professionally known as Mr. Mekoyo, Tunde Akinsanmi of Styl plus and Manasseh Mashi popularly known as Monlee Mane.

Mekoyo is a versatile Nigerian musician, music producer, songwriter, and multi-talented instrumentalist. He gained national recognition as the producer of Styl-Plus’s highly acclaimed hit single ‘Olufunmi,’ a timeless classic that remains one of Nigeria’s most celebrated love songs. Over the years, Mekoyo’s name has appeared on numerous album credits as a producer, composer, and songwriter, solidifying his reputation as one of Nigeria’s most respected creative minds. Manasseh is a music producer and an artiste.

The Federal Government has dismissed eight officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service, compulsorily retired five officers and reduced the ranks of eight others for various acts of misconducts.

The government also dismissed two junior personnel from the Service for criminal acts bothering on kidnapping, stealing and illegal possession of fire arms.

The government action was contingent upon the recommendations of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) Disciplinary and General Purpose Committee which sat on 11th July 2025.

According to a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS), Akinsola Akinlabi, the Board’s Disciplinary Committee reviewed 31 cases involving personnel and officers of the NIS.

Akinlabi, an Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, said :’Consequently, the Board has approved series of disciplinary actions in line with its avowed commitment to upholding highest standards of discipline and integrity within the Services it superintends and the Service wishes to notify the public as follows:

‘Eight officers were dismissed from the Service for serious misconduct and violation of Service Regulations;

‘ In addition, five officers were compulsorily retired for offences othering on misconduct, while Eight officers were demoted by one

rank.’

He further explained that five officers were issued with written warning letters for misconduct, while the Board also reviewed the appeal of dismissal of two officers but

were rejected due to lack of merit

He added: ‘One officer is to be reinstated following a successful appeal while the Board exonerated two officers against charges

preferred against them.’

Akinlabi said:’In the same vein, the public is further invited to note that the Service has dismissed two junior personnel; Aliyu Usman (AII) and Chukwu Nancy Ngozi (CIA) for criminal conspiracy bothering on stealing and illegal possession of firearms and proven allegation of kidnapping following completion of internal disciplinary proceedings on 14th April and 4th September 2025.’

‘Under the supervision of the Chairman of the Civil Defence,Correctional, Fire and immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) and Hon. Minister of interior Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria Immigration Service ably led by its Comptroller-General, KN Nandap, reiterates its commitment to maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards across all cadres and wishes to assure the general

public that the disciplinary actions will be carried out without fear or favour and in strict compliance with extant rules and regulations’, Akinlabi stated.

About 960,000 Nigerian youths are set to undergo technical and vocational skills training under the Federal Ministry of Education’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative after verification.

It noted the verification process was designed to prevent fraud.

The government said that over 250,000 trainees are currently enrolled in the first cohort, undergoing hands-on training across 2,600 centres nationwide.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during an inspection visit to selected TVET partner centres which included AFS Vocational Hub in Garki and Golden Finger Farms and Ranches Limited along the Kubwa-Zuba Expressway, Dei-Dei, Abuja yesterday.

Alausa described the programme as a clear demonstration of the power of political will behind government intervention.

He said: ‘From when we started conceiving this TVET initiative eight months ago, to now seeing the first quarter of students being trained, it shows what is possible when there’s commitment. We took our time to curate the way this vocational training would be done.

‘We didn’t want this to be another era of scams. Every single one of the 960,000 youths was verified using their NIN and BVN. We are paying the training centres and the vocational institutes directly.’

The minister said the ministry identified about 86 trades across the country but narrowed them down to 28 key skill areas, including fashion and garment making, livestock production, GSM repair, plumbing, tiling, and farming.

He added: ‘We created a curriculum that is 90 percent practical and 10 percent theoretical. After developing it, we opened the portal to the nation. Within the first 10 days, almost 1.3 million people applied. We had to close it quickly. Out of the 1.3 million applicants, 960,000 youths were verified on the portal.’

Alausa noted that the initiative reflects President Bola Tinubu’s belief in empowering young Nigerians with employable skills.

He said: ‘This president believes that the youth are the heartbeat of this nation. He is determined to give them the skills and opportunities they need to thrive. When he makes promises, he ensures those promises are fulfilled.’

He added that beyond skills acquisition, trainees would receive starter packs and grants to support their entrepreneurial journey.

The minister said: ‘We don’t want them to remain job seekers; we want them to become employers of labour. Many of these trainees are graduates from universities and polytechnics, but now they’re getting real-life skills that will make them useful to themselves, their communities, and the nation.’

He said that the training will run for six months at skills centres, 12 months at Vocational Enterprise Institutes, and up to three years in federal and state technical colleges.

He reaffirmed that the TVET programme is operational in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The Ogun State Television (OGTV) Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has inaugurated new executives following a bye-election that produced Comrade Moses Ojewumi as Chairman and Comrade Mathew Showunmi as Vice Chairman.

The inauguration, held at the OGTV premises, was attended by top media leaders including the Chairman of the Ogun State Council of NUJ, Comrade Wale Olanrewaju; Vice Chairman of the Council ; Comrade Abiodun Lawal ; Assistant General Manager (News and Current Affairs), OGTV ; Comrade Biodun Alabi; Former NUJ State Chairman, Comrade Tunde Sodeke; and Comrade Bunmi Adigun, Secretary, Ogun NUJ Council.

Sodeke charged the new leadership to revive the chapel’s vibrancy through capacity building and improved member welfare.

‘The essence of our union is the development of members,’ he said. ‘We must begin to organize workshops that expose our journalists to modern trends in technology, marketing, and finance. Welfare should also be a priority – members must feel the benefit of belonging to NUJ.’

Similarly, the Assistant General Manager, News and Current Affairs, Comrade Biodun Alabi, expressed optimism that the new team would restore the chapel’s past glory, noting that OGTV has historically produced some of the state’s most influential NUJ leaders.

In his acceptance speech, Comrade Ojewunmi described his elevation as ‘a call to serve and reposition the chapel.’

‘This time, our workshops will go beyond what we already know,’ he said. ‘We will bring experts who can expose us to emerging innovations, artificial intelligence, and digital trends in journalism.

‘We will also prioritize members’ welfare and ensure everyone has a sense of belonging.’

The Ogun NUJ Chairman, Comrade Wale Olanrewaju, congratulated the new executives and commended OGTV Chapel for its longstanding contribution to the union’s growth.

‘OGTV remains one of our most active chapels,’ he said. ‘Beyond this bye-election, I charge you to organize trainings, health checks, and fun fairs for your members.

‘We at the State Council are rebuilding a system that was once destroyed by greed and division – and we’re happy OGTV remains a strong pillar of support.’

He also urged the chapel to ensure full participation of its members in council activities and to submit only qualified members ahead of the forthcoming NUJ elections.

A minute silence was observed in honour of Comrade Mrs. Bukola Agbakaizu , a former ex-officio member of the Ogun NUJ Council from the OGTV Chapel.

The event ended with renewed optimism among members, as leaders and guests pledged continued collaboration to strengthen the chapel and the wider journalism community in Ogun State.

Paddy Adenuga, son of billionaire businessman Dr. Mike Adenuga, has announced engagement to his partner.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Adenuga shared a photo with a caption expressing gratitude to God for blessing him with forever love.

‘My faith in God never wavered.. and in return He blessed me with YOU. My forever love,’ he captioned the post.

The announcement has sparked widespread congratulations and well-wishes from friends, family, and fans.

Adenuga’s fiancée has not been publicly identified and details about the upcoming wedding are yet to be disclosed.

No fewer than 15 top leaders of the People Democratic Party (PDP) from Zamfara have defected to opposition All Progressives Congress(APC) in the State.

Zamfara APC chairman, Hon. Tukur Umar Danfulani, Senator Tijjani Yahaya and Hon.Lawal M Liman presented the defectors to the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle in Abuja.

The Minister welcomed and assured them of equal treatment and opportunities with all other party members.

Matawalle also described their decision to join the APC as bold and timely, considering the popularity and acceptance of the party in the state and the nation at large.

Matawalle further commended the state party leadership for its consultation and mobilisation within the state.

‘The party is more acceptable and popular in the all nooks and crannies of the state. The minister said.

‘APC will continue to be more united and strong with the current strategy mapped out and its welfare packages being delivered to the people of the state,’ Matawalle said.

A statement by Zamfara APC Publicity Secretary Malan Yusuf Idris said, among those who joined party include PDP Youth Leader, Isiyaka M. Dabo; Zonal Treasurer of Zamfara West, Nasiru Mohammed Anka; PDP Organising Secretary, Zamfara North Junaidu Magaji Kiyawa, Assistant Organising Secretary Zamfara West, Hon. Musa Halilu Faru.

Others were Alh Lawali Aliyu Shinkafi PDP Zonal Secretary Zamfara North, Hajiya Rabi Bakura; ex officio and Hajiya Amina Duniya state ex-officio

Danfulani assured the newcomers of full integration, noting that the APC ‘remains open and fair to all those committed to its progress.’

In their separate speeches while handing over their PDP membership cards, Isiyaka M. Dabo. said he left the PDP because the party favours only the rich, stressing that he was inspired by Senator Yari and Matawalle’s leadership to join the winning party.

Amina Duniya, who said she spent 25 years in the PDP, called on APC leaders to ensure fairness and justice, pledging to mobilise more supporters.

Other defectors included Bashar Mohammed Dogon Kade, a former PDP aspirant for the Kaura Namoda South constituency, and Rilwanu Bello, an ex-councillorship aspirant.

The Police have explained why its Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command arrested 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said Sowore was taken into custody for allegedly leading protesters into a restricted area in Abuja in defiance of a subsisting court order.

Hundeyin, who addressed journalists in Abuja on Thursday, said the activist would be charged to court once investigations are concluded.

According to him: ‘Today, Omoyele Sowore has been arrested by the Nigerian Police Force. You may ask why he was arrested. The reason is straightforward.

‘The thirteen people previously arrested all mentioned that Sowore led them into the restricted area,l in clear contravention of the court order’.

He added that it would be unjust to prosecute those earlier arrested while leaving out the person alleged to have led them.

According to him, eight persons were initially arrested on Monday in front of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja while five others were picked up around the Ministry of Finance, bringing the total number of suspects to thirteen.

‘They were arraigned the very next day and did not spend up to 24 hours in our custody,’ Hundeyin said, adding that Sowore would also be arraigned soon.

The police spokesman stressed that the protest breached the restriction order issued to maintain public order within parts of the capital.

An Abuja-based fashion brand, Wendu Clothing, has been spotlighted for its efforts in reviving Nigeria’s centuries-old Akwete fabric and reimagining it for contemporary luxury fashion.

The brand’s founder and creative director, Chinwendu Nwochiri, said that Wendu Clothing was established to preserve the heritage of Akwete weaving while transforming it into modern expressions of identity, pride, and artistry.

She explained that the Akwete fabric – a handwoven textile from Abia State traditionally reserved for royalty and sacred ceremonies – is now gaining renewed relevance on both local and international fashion stages.

Nwochiri, who hails from Abia State but grew up in Zaria, Kaduna State, stated that her exposure to Nigeria’s cultural diversity inspired her creative vision.

Though she studied Biochemistry, she said her passion for art and storytelling through clothing eventually led her to pursue a career in fashion design.

She described Akwete as ‘a living heritage’ and emphasized that each thread woven into the fabric carries the legacy of women who have kept the art alive for generations. According to her, Wendu Clothing’s collections seek to balance tradition with modernity, presenting Akwete in contemporary styles ranging from traditional wedding attire to office and streetwear.

Nwochiri noted that the brand’s approach has helped position Akwete as one of Nigeria’s most distinctive cultural exports.

She said that Wendu Clothing blends Akwete with materials such as silk, denim, cotton, and organza to create fusion designs that resonate across global fashion hubs like Lagos, London, Abuja, and Atlanta.

Beyond fashion, she stressed that the brand’s work supports female artisans in Abia State who weave the fabric. By incorporating their craftsmanship into high-end designs, she said, Wendu Clothing contributes to their empowerment and helps sustain a cultural tradition that might otherwise fade.

According to her, true luxury is not about excess but about meaning – and in this case, meaning is rooted in cultural pride and continuity. She described the brand’s mission as building a bridge between Nigeria’s past and future by ‘stitching legacy into modern style, one Akwete thread at a time.’

Nwochiri expressed hope that Akwete would one day be celebrated globally as a timeless emblem of African craftsmanship and excellence, not merely as an exotic textile. Through Wendu Clothing, she said, she aims to redefine what it means to be African in fashion – proud, bold, and authentically creative.