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Traffic along the Chisco axis inward Victoria Island was disrupted on Monday following an accident involving an upturned gas tanker, prompting emergency operations and a temporary diversion of vehicles in the area.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), in coordination with other emergency responders, has commenced recovery efforts to safely remove the tanker from the road.

The incident occurred near the traffic light at the Chisco axis, causing significant delays for motorists heading towards Victoria Island.

In an official statement, the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, said the operation would require the temporary closure of the main carriageway to ensure a ‘safe, swift, and professional recovery’ of the tanker.

He said: ‘Motorists are strongly advised to exercise patience and cooperate with LASTMA officials and other emergency responders on the ground.’

According to him, efforts are being made to complete the evacuation within the shortest possible time and restore normal traffic flow.

He assured the public that the safety of all road users remains the top priority of the Lagos State Government and noted that an update would be issued once the evacuation process is completed.

Motorists and passers-by who are affected by the traffic voiced their frustration.

Jane Kenneth, a motorist, told The Nation that she has been on the traffic since 8 am.

Some commuters, who couldn’t stand the congestion, were seen trekking to their destinations.

As of press time, the traffic was still on a standstill.

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, representing Ondo South Senatorial District, says President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may deploy a liberalism strategy anchored on cooperation, corporations, and collaboration to end insecurity and strengthen ties with global partners, including the United States.

Ibrahim, who chairs the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, dismissed reports of tension between President Tinubu and former U.S. President Donald Trump, saying both leaders share liberal democratic values that favour dialogue over dispute.

In a statement personally signed and released on Sunday, the lawmaker urged Nigerians to ‘calm down,’ noting that ‘democratic liberal states don’t go to war with one another.’

‘In cooperation and collaboration, we engage and determine a new international order in a geocentric system,’ he said.

Blending humour with intellect, Ibrahim described himself as a close associate of both leaders.’Tinubu and Trump will not fight one another. What is more, T vs T or T plus T is usually T², no further mathematics is required,’ he noted.

The senator revealed that he once lived in Trump Tower, describing Trump as his former landlord and Tinubu as his political father.’I know them, their praxis, and their taxonomies,’ he added, echoing Winston Churchill’s line that ‘they simply jaw-jaw, not war-war.’

His remarks follow controversy over Trump’s recent comments alleging a ‘genocide’ against Christians in Nigeria, a claim that has sparked global reactions and diplomatic concern.

The Federal Government has since dismissed Trump’s comments as ‘misleading and unreflective of reality,’ stressing that insecurity in Nigeria affects both Christians and Muslims and is driven largely by terrorism, banditry, and resource conflicts.

Analysts say President Trump’s remarks could strain Nigeria-U.S. relations. But Senator Ibrahim’s intervention, they note, underscores the need for calm diplomacy, constructive dialogue, and international cooperation in addressing security challenges.

A security expert and advocate for national unity, Hon. Comrade Abdulhakeem Alawuje, has called on Nigerians to rise above fabricated religious and ethnic divisions threatening the country’s stability, urging citizens to embrace unity in diversity as the only path to lasting peace and development.

In a statement titled: ‘Nigeria and the dangers of fabricated religious and ethnic division: A call for immediate unity in diversity,’ Alawuje said Nigerians must first identify as citizens of one nation before any other affiliation, stressing that administrative boundaries must never define or divide the country’s collective identity.

According to him, nations that have achieved greatness, such as the United States, did so through unity despite differences.

‘A divided nation is sixty percent defeated before any external force attacks, but a united one is already fifty percent victorious,’ he noted, urging Nigerians to reset their mindset and caution young people against fueling ethnic or religious tensions.

Alawuje lamented that politics has become a breeding ground for division, warning that the exploitation of religion and ethnicity for political gain endangers national survival.

He said: ‘We must all, regardless of political affiliation, come together to extinguish the fires kindled by enemies of peace. Fire does not distinguish between those who ignite it and those it consumes.’

He cautioned against underestimating external interference in Nigeria’s affairs, alleging that some foreign interests benefit from internal disunity.

‘These foreign actors are not fighting for any religion or ethnicity. Their mission is to exploit, dominate, and profit from our conflicts. Their promises to rescue any side are false. Do not fall for it,’ he warned.

The security expert called on political leaders such as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and Hon. Rotimi Amaechi to set aside personal or partisan interests and rally around the cause of national unity.

‘This is not a call to defend any administration, but to defend Nigeria itself,’ he said, stressing that silence in the face of threats sends the wrong message to both citizens and the international community.

Alawuje, who described himself as a ‘military philosopher,’ reiterated the age-old maxim that those who desire peace must prepare for war. He advised that retired security personnel from across the country be engaged in strategic governance conversations to strengthen national preparedness and avert crises.

He noted that involving experienced military veterans in policy discussions could enhance Nigeria’s internal stability, particularly in volatile regions. ‘Their experience is invaluable to our national security, especially in the Southwest and across all geopolitical zones,’ he added.

Alawuje warned that the campaign to destabilise Nigeria was not new, describing it as a long-term external agenda that can only succeed if Nigerians remain divided.

He insisted that unity, dialogue, and patriotism are the strongest weapons against both internal and external subversion.

He concluded with a passionate appeal: ‘Let us rise as one people, protect our nation, and prove to the world that Nigeria’s strength is not in her tribes or religions but in her unity in diversity.’

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday said it has approved a final register of 2,802,790 eligible voters for the Anambra Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, 8 November 2025.

The Commission also said it has fine-tuned deployment arrangements for 24,000 personnel and election materials across 5,718 Polling Units, 326 Ward Collation Centres, 21 Local Government Collation Centres, and ultimately, the State Collation Centre in Awka.

Speaking at the International Conference Centre in Awka during the signing of Peace Accord for the Governorship Off-Cycle Election by National Peace Committee (NPC), INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan reaffirmed the commission’s resolve to combat vote-buying.

He warned that individuals or groups planning to subvert the will of the

people would be firmly confronted within the strong hands of the law.

‘The Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) has instituted robust security measures for this election.

‘The Nigeria Police Force will deploy 45,000 personnel, while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps is deploying 10,250 officers, alongside other agencies.

‘Voters should therefore expect a significant improvement in Election Day logistics. Enhanced result management processes will also be evident,’ he stated.

While reassuring the commission’s preparedness to deliver on its mandate, Amupitan urged political parties, candidates and supporters to adhere to the principles of the peace accord.

He added: ‘As the election management body, I want to reassure all political parties and candidates that INEC remains fully committed to discharging its duties in line with the law, global best practices, and the very principles enshrined in the Peace Accord we are about to endorse.

‘However, let me emphasise that it is not the signatures on this document that guarantee peace; it is the genuine commitment to honouring its provisions.

‘Without peace, logistics will be

disrupted, our personnel and materials put at risk, and ultimately, the credibility of the process undermined.

‘Therefore, as you append your signatures today, please ensure the message cascades to your supporters at all levels. This is the surest way to honour the sacrifice and labour

of the NPC in advancing peaceful elections.

‘By signing this Peace Accord, we are not only affirming our dedication to non-violence and mutual respect among all stakeholders, but we are also sending a strong message to our citizens: that democracy thrives when peace prevails.

‘Each one of us has a part to play in this process, and I urge all political parties, candidates, and their supporters to adhere to the principles of this

accord.

‘Let us work together to ensure that the upcoming election is remembered not for division or discord, but for its spirit of unity and the pursuit of common goals.

‘Let us demonstrate to the world that Anambra State is a beacon of hope, resilience, and democratic values.

‘For our part, the Commission has taken deliberate steps to address operational challenges and ensure a smooth, credible election across the state.

‘With the Peace Accord being signed today, the proactive efforts of security agencies, and the valuable contributions of traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, civil society, the media, and other stakeholders, we are confident, by God’s grace, that the 2025 Anambra Governorship Election will be peaceful and successful.’

Appreciating NPC for commitment to fostering peaceful elections in Nigeria, INEC boss expressed confidence that its efforts in convening stakeholders around shared vision of peace would continue to make immeasurable difference to nation’s democracy.

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday received Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri into the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring the move a ‘homecoming’ and a defining moment for national unity and political integration.

The historic reception, held at the Samson Siasia Sports Stadium in Yenagoa, drew a large crowd as Diri and his supporters formally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling APC.

Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Shettima hailed the Governor’s defection as an act of conviction and courage, noting that Bayelsa had chosen ‘the light of national integration over the shadows of political isolation.’

‘Your Excellency, Governor Douye Diri, this gathering is a homecoming party for you. We are here not for a ceremony of convenience but for a celebration of your conviction. Yours is the story of a leader who has chosen the harder right over the easier wrong. Today, you have shown us that Bayelsa State has chosen the light of national integration over the shadows of political isolation,’ he told the Governor.

According to a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said while President Tinubu has demonstrated repeatedly that politics is not war but the ‘art of building bridges across rivers of difference,’ Governor Diri has shown profound understanding of that metaphor.

‘The All Progressives Congress is the party of those who believe that progress can only be guaranteed when we stand together, when we answer the call of the people. And, in many ways, Your Excellency, your story mirrors that of your people. You have led with calm dignity, but beneath that calm has flowed a restless commitment to development, to unity, and to peace,’ he stated.

Receiving the Governor and his teeming supporters into the party fold on behalf of President Tinubu and the entire APC family, the Vice President described Diri as ‘a son of the creeks who has built literal and political bridges across the waters of the Niger Delta.’

The VP noted that Governor Diri’s defection from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the governing APC ‘is a political reunion with a progressive mind whose ideals have always aligned with the philosophy’ of the governing party.

‘We are not a house of strangers; we are a family bound by the shared belief that Nigeria can, and must, work for all her citizens. And we know you, Your Excellency. We know you as a builder – a builder of infrastructure, a builder of peace, a builder of trust, a builder of the Bayelsa dream,’ he added.

Shettima assured the Governor that he won’t be judged by where he was coming from but by where he is going to, observing however that Diri’s arrival in the APC ‘is not the depletion of the opposition’ but the ‘confirmation of the pulse and constitutional clarity of Africa’s largest democracy-the freedom of choice.’

Noting that Diri and his supporters were now part of a progressive family that ‘thinks and acts together’, VP Shettima assured the Governor of the party’s support, as he champions what he had always done – purposeful governance.

‘From the health reforms that give hope to the sick to the schools that have opened the gates of opportunity to thousands of children, we are here to restore the confidence and dignity of those who have lost faith in government,’ he stated.

The VP told the people of Bayelsa that it was their faith in governance that brought their Governor to the APC, a house of progress, even as he said, ‘This is about the roof over all our heads – the roof called Nigeria. We have found out, through experience, that no one prospers under a leaking roof. The house must stand strong, united, and inclusive.

‘So, Your Excellency, on behalf of our leader and President, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. the leadership of our great party, and the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I welcome you to a family that rewards excellence, a family that respects loyalty, and a family that honours service,’ Senator Shettima further stated.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio congratulated Governor Diri for taking what he termed ‘a bold step in the right direction.’

The Senate President described Diri’s decision as a defining moment for the Ijaw nation and the entire South-South region.

Akpabio commended the Bayelsa Governor’s infrastructural strides, especially the dualised roads across Yenagoa, acknowledging that the cost of such projects in a riverine state was enormous.

National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, assured Governor Diri and his supporters of the party’s support at the national level, noting that they are at home in APC.

‘The party’s National Working Committee, millions of members of the APC family in Nigeria and other stakeholders have welcomed the Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri, to the Progressive family,’ Yilwatda stated.

Also, Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Imo Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, commended Governor Diri for what he described as ‘a progressive and courageous decision taken at the right time.’

Uzodimma noted that the decision to join the government at the centre was a confirmation that Nigerians are beginning to recognise the leadership qualities of President Tinubu.

‘We are highly joyed to observe that Nigerians are uniting under one purpose – love for our country,’ the PGF Chairman declared, emphasizing that Nigeria has no room for ethnic or religious differences, even as he assury that APC governors would continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

Diri explained that his decision to dump the PDP for the APC followed deep consultations with stakeholders across the state, saying internal crises within the PDP, coupled with his desire to protect the interest of Bayelsans, informed his defection.

‘Some ignorant people said I had lost my office. There is only one way a Governor can lose his office by impeachment from the State House of Assembly. And in this case, the Speaker and majority of members are with me,’ he stated.

Diri added that he was not motivated by personal ambition but by the need to align Bayelsa with a national leadership that values development.

The Governor recalled his long-standing advocacy for the construction of a coastal road linking Lagos to Calabar, a demand championed by the Ijaw Nation since the late 1990s.

‘Today, President Bola Tinubu is the first to take that demand seriously,’ he said, adding that the project symbolizes inclusion for the people of the Niger Delta.

The Governor concluded by declaring that Bayelsa’s future lies with the progressives, promising to deliver more development and unity for the people.

Highlight of the event was the handing over of the party’s flag to the Governor by the National Chairman of APC.

Angry residents of Aponmu community in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State have appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to urgently intervene in an alleged land-grabbing incident involving some ‘powerful individuals’ in the State.

The residents, who are mostly farmers, stormed the Governor’s Office in Akure on Monday, lamenting that their farmlands, spanning over 1,000 hectares, had been taken over by land grabbers allegedly aided by some government officials.

Carrying placards with inscriptions such as ‘Mr Governor, Please Save Our Souls,’ ‘We Can’t Pay Our Children’s School Fees,’ and ‘Powerful People Have Taken Over Our Cocoa Farms,’ the protesters accused the invaders of destroying their cocoa plantations and displacing local farmers.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, a community leader, Pastor Tope Akinkuade, warned that there could be a breakdown of law and order if the government fails to act swiftly.

‘Aponmu is a multi-ethnic community that has, for over a century, accommodated people from across Nigeria, most of whom are cocoa farmers.

‘Our cocoa farms – our only source of livelihood – are being destroyed by these land grabbers who invade with armed men, clear farmlands with bulldozers, and sell them off with impunity,’ Akinkuade.

He alleged that several farmers had been harassed, arrested and detained after resisting the invaders, citing the killing of a community leader, Emmanuel Ogboriefon, and the destruction of plantations belonging to another farmer, Charles Akinrolayo, who was detained after protesting the invasion.

Akinkuade described cocoa farming as ‘the lifeblood of Ondo State’s economy,’ lamenting the ongoing destruction of their farmlands had thrown families into hardship and caused significant revenue losses for the state.

He revealed that the community had written to Governor Aiyedatiwa on October 17, 2025 to report the activities of the land grabbers, but the situation had worsened despite the appeal.

According to him, although the State Government once intervened to stop the attacks, the invasion resumed in mid-October when surveyors and bulldozers, escorted by armed policemen, returned to clear more farmlands.

‘On Thursday, October 16, 2025, the bulldozers came again, guarded by policemen. When villagers confronted them, the policemen briefly withdrew, only to return later, claiming they were acting under some authority,’ he said.

Akinkuade appealed to Aiyedatiwa to act swiftly to prevent chaos, saying the people’s patience was running out.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Union Matters, Bola Taiwo, urged the protesters to remain calm, assuring them that the government would look into their grievances.

Taiwo advised the community to channel their complaints through the appropriate authorities, promising that Governor Aiyedatiwa would ensure a peaceful and fair resolution.

He commended the protesters for conducting themselves peacefully and reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting lives, property, and investments across the state.

Last December, the Ondo House of Assembly achieved a significant legislative milestone with the passage of the Bill to Prohibit Forceful Entry and Illegal Occupation of Landed Properties in Ondo State.

The landmark legislation, championed by Hon. Moyinolorun Taiwo Ogunwumiju, Parliamentary Secretary of the House and Member representing Ondo West Constituency I, marked a step toward eradicating land grabbing and illegal property transactions in the state.

The session, presided over by Speaker Oladiji Olamide (Landmark), reflected the Assembly’s proactive response to the rising cases of land disputes and unlawful property dealings.

Comrade Daniel Onjeh, former Chairman of the Governing Board of the Project Development Institute (PRODA) and the 2023 APC senatorial candidate for Benue South, has reacted to the recent statement credited to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, in which he threatened possible military action against Nigeria on the grounds of alleged religious persecution.

Onjeh said the comment has raised serious concern among Nigerians, not only because of the tone of the threat but because of the long history of foreign discussions portraying Nigeria as a country that may not survive its internal challenges.

He said that even though such views were not official government declarations, they created a lingering sense that some external forces have always looked at Nigeria through the lens of instability. That is why many Nigerians do not take this recent statement as a mere expression of concern.

He acknowledged that the issues Trump raised, including killings and insecurity, are real and painful and every sincere Nigerian wants them addressed.

He added that he is speaking not only as a Christian but also as someone from one of the regions that has suffered some of the worst attacks in recent years, the North Central, with Benue State in particular bearing a heavy share of the violence.

He stressed that terrorism in Nigeria has not spared anyone. Christians have been killed. Muslims have been killed. Traditional worshippers have been killed. Even those with no religion have been killed. What the country is facing is not a religious war, but a national assault on every citizen, regardless of faith or background.

He noted that there are many Muslim countries where terrorists also kill Muslims, which shows that terrorism does not obey religion. It feeds on fear, chaos, and division. Narrowing the Nigerian crisis to only Christian persecution, he warned, will deepen mistrust among citizens and make the terrorists’ work easier. He said Nigerians must refuse any foreign attempt to turn a national tragedy into a religious divide.

Onjeh recalled that countries such as Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Somalia were promised foreign help but were left in ruins after military intervention. He said Nigeria cannot afford to follow that path or open its doors to foreign soldiers under the illusion of protection.

He explained that there is a clear difference between an intervention and an invasion. An intervention happens when a sovereign nation invites another country to assist it. An invasion is when a country forces itself in without consent, even if it claims to be acting for humanitarian reasons. Nigeria has not requested foreign troops, and any attempt to deploy external military forces on Nigerian soil against the will of the Nigerian government would amount to an invasion.

He said what Nigeria truly needs is support to strengthen its own security forces, not foreign boots on the ground.

He called on the United States to allow Nigeria to acquire the modern weapons required to confront terrorists and criminal gangs who are already using advanced arms.

He questioned how bandits and extremist groups obtained these weapons when legitimate governments are blocked from accessing them.

Onjeh said the United States can help Nigeria by sharing intelligence, training security forces, and exposing the local and foreign sponsors of terrorism. If there is credible information about Nigerians aiding violence, he said such information should be made public so that the country can confront the problem directly.

He called on Nigerians to close ranks and stand with the President on this matter. Political disagreements at home, he said, must never blind citizens to the danger of foreign interference. Nigeria is open to friendship and partnership, but will not accept intimidation from any country, no matter how powerful.

He concluded that what Nigeria needs is genuine support, not a forced rescue mission. What the country seeks is cooperation, not control, and progress, not destabilisation.

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) says it cannot disrupt health services in Enugu State, following the strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) because of their increased renumeration.

The association also hailed Gov. Peter Mbah for motivating healthcare workers in the state with improved remuneration.

The Chairman, NMA, Enugu State, Dr Sunday Okafor, disclosed this during a World Press Conference on 2025 Physicians’ Week and Maiden Enugu South-East Regional Health Summit in Enugu, on Monday.

According to Okafor, doctors in the state, under Mbah, are one of the best paid healthcare workers in the country, in terms of remuneration for medical personnel.

He said that health workers owed gratitude to the governor, whose vision and love to improve efficiency across the public health system and public service, had continued to be an enigma to everyone.

He, therefore, called on the Federal Government and other governors to emulate Mbah to prioritise the welfare of health workers for improved service delivery and prevent frequent strikes by NARD members.

‘It is on record that in the country, Enugu healthcare personnel are the highest paid and, as a parent body, we cannot disrupt health services in those areas where the governor is actually doing well.

‘We allowed resident doctors in the federal hospitals in the state to embark on strike because Mbah is motivating state health workers.

‘The issue of the strike is poor renumeration and welfare, so we don’t have issues with the Enugu State Government, in terms of remuneration and welfare,’ Okafor said.

He emphasised the need for the Federal Government to resolve the issue with resident doctors so they could attend to their teeming patients.

He said that shutting down the healthcare system would disrupt social services and make patients to suffer.

He also commended Mbah for investing in healthcare infrastructure by improving primary, secondary and tertiary hospitals in the state.

‘The governor is building Type two primary health centres across 260

electoral wards in Enugu State and each of them is actually being operationalised.

‘NMA Enugu State has continued to partner with the government because when you see the vision of the leader, you complement his efforts,’ he said.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Healthcare as a Value Chain – Building Efficiency from Policy to Patients’ for the physicians’ week, Okafor called for patient-centred policies to address health inequalities.

‘So we have decided for the first time in our history to have

a regional health summit, where the various heads of our health systems in the South-East will say what they were able to do to improve the healthcare system,’ he said.

Global Relocation Academy (GRA), an Ibadan-based organisation known for helping Nigerians secure fully funded and low-tuition study opportunities abroad, has announced plans to host a six-day virtual education and travel conference tagged Campaign 5000.

The event, scheduled for December 1 to 6, 2025, aims to train and empower at least 5,000 students, graduates, and professionals across Nigeria and Africa on how to access affordable international education.

Acting Chief Operating Officer and Programme Director of GRA, Oluwagbenga Orolu, said the initiative will be the organization’s most ambitious yet. ‘Campaign 5000 is designed to be the biggest virtual education movement we’ve ever organized,’ he said.

‘Our goal is to ensure every participant leaves with clarity, confidence, and a concrete plan to gain admission into a foreign university without wasting time or money.’

He explained that the conference will feature six interactive sessions covering practical topics such as identifying fully funded scholarships in the United States, applying to affordable European universities, preparing strong academic documents, and understanding visa application processes.

‘Many Nigerians miss out on scholarships not because they are unqualified, but because they lack the right guidance,’ Orolu noted. ‘We will walk participants through every step – from contacting professors to writing compelling Statements of Purpose and securing the necessary documents.’

The summit will host several guest speakers, including a U.S.-based scholar who will share personal experiences on obtaining research and teaching assistantships, and a Europe-based graduate who successfully gained admission into low-tuition universities in France, Poland, and Hungary.

Orolu will also deliver the opening and closing sessions, focusing on how global education can serve as a launchpad for Nigerians seeking international careers and long-term impact.

He further emphasised the importance of the event in addressing widespread misinformation about scholarship applications.

‘Every year, thousands of Nigerians lose opportunities for funded admissions because they apply wrongly or depend on unreliable agents. Campaign 5000 will change that narrative by offering verified, practical knowledge that improves success rates for the 2026 academic intakes,’ he said.

‘Participation in Campaign 5000 will be free, but registration is required. Interested attendees are encouraged to follow Global RelocationAcademy on social platforms for updates and access links to the live sessions.

This December, Campaign 5000 will not just be another conference,’ Orolu concluded. ‘It will be a turning point for thousands of Nigerians who deserve a fair chance to study abroad and build global relevance.’

Controversial relationship therapist and social media influencer Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has denied allegations fiancé, Ikechukwu Ogbonna (IVD), physically assaulted her.

The controversy erupted after a now-deleted Instagram video surfaced, showing Okoro in visible distress, pleading for help and expressing fear for her safety.

The clip went viral, with social media users speculating that IVD was the source of her distress, a claim fueled by his controversial past, including the 2022 death of his late wife, Bimbo Martins, amid domestic violence allegations.

In a series of Instagram posts and live sessions over the weekend, Okoro dismissed the rumors as ‘malicious lies’ intended to damage her reputation and relationship.

She said in part: ‘You all should bring the proof that I was be@ten. IVD is someone’s son and brother. Why do you want me to lie against him that he be@t me? Why do you people want to force me to accept a domestic v!olence that doesn’t exist?’

Okoro clarified that the viral video was recorded during a robbery at their residence, not an incident of abuse.

She explained that a male housekeeper allegedly stole valuables, and when confronted by IVD, the situation escalated into a physical altercation between the two men, not involving her.

Recall that IVD was arrested in August 2025 upon arrival at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos over the unresolved case, which he and Okoro have described as ‘persecution.’

The couple’s relationship, which became public in early 2025, has been under constant online commentary.

Their engagement in April drew criticism, with many accusing Okoro, a vocal advocate against domestic violence of hypocrisy.

In October, a brief ‘breakup’ announcement was later revealed to be a social media stunt.