Category: PM News

American singer and songwriter David Anthony Burke, popularly known as D4vd, has transferred the deeds of his landed properties to his mother.

According to TMZ, the transfer was implemented on the 18th of September and the 22nd of September 2025.

The singer, D4vd, is currently being investigated after the body of Celeste Rivas was found in an automobile registered under his name.

The singer has since then, cancelled his scheduled appearances and tour.

Nigerian singer and songwriter, Adekunle Gold, has opened up on his priorities as a musician, a father and a husband.

Gold, in an interview with NotJustOk, revealed that although he can afford to fail as a musician, he cannot fail as a father and husband.

Gold added that his family is the center of his life.

‘All I wanted to be is to do more for my own daughter because I can’t afford to bring her to the kind of life that I grow up living. It has to be way better. And that’s why I’m working hard. My family is my centre. I don’t joke with my family. I can afford to be a failed musician, not a failed father or a man. That’s not negotiable for me,’ he expressed

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Mr. Abubakar Bawa Makuku, Sole Administrator and Caretaker Chairman of Sakaba Local Government Area in Kebbi State, and Mr. Ahmed Abdullahi Fakai, Director of Finance and Supply of the same Local Government, for contract fraud and abuse of office involving the sum of N54 million.

The duo was arraigned before Honourable Justice E. Gakko of the Federal High Court sitting in Birnin-Kebbi on multiple counts bordering on abuse of office, fraudulent contract awards, and financial misconduct.

During the trial, prosecution counsel, Mr. Hamza Sani, presented evidence showing that Mr. Fakai unlawfully withdrew a total of N54 million from the coffers of Sakaba Local Government in six tranches of N9 million each, in a deliberate attempt to evade financial reporting protocols.

The court also heard how Mr. Makuku corruptly awarded contracts without following due process and personally benefited from the diversion of N10 million earmarked for official engagements of the local government.

One of the charges reads:

‘That you, Ahmed Abdullahi Fakai, in June 2016 or thereabout, at Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while serving as Director of Finance and Supply, withdrew a total of N54,000,000.00 (Fifty-Four Million Naira) from the Sakaba Local Government bank account at First Bank Nigeria Plc in six tranches of N9,000,000.00 each, with the intent to avoid the legal duty of reporting the said sum, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 19(1)(c) and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.’

Another charge against the Sole Administrator reads:

‘That you, Abubakar Bawa Makuku, in May 2016 or thereabout, at Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State, while serving as Sole Administrator, used your office to confer corrupt advantage upon yourself by receiving N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) in cash from the Finance and Supply office of Sakaba Local Government. The funds were designated for official government activities but were not utilized for their intended purpose, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.’

The defendants had pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them. However, in his judgment, Justice Gakko found them guilty as charged and convicted them accordingly.

Mr. Fakai was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment or a fine of N2.5 million, while Mr. Makuku received a four-year jail term or a fine of N1 million as compensation to Sakaba Local Government, in addition to another N1.5 million fine.

The judgment underscores ICPC’s resolve to ensure that public officers who betray the trust of their offices for personal gain are brought to justice in accordance with the law.

Anambra governor Chukwuma Soludo has joined the league of governors who have banned graduation ceremonies and Christmas parties in their schools to reduce the financial burden on parents and guardians.

Speaking during a campaign rally organised by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Friday at Awka North, Soludo frowned at the practice of organising ‘graduation ceremonies’ for pupils moving from one class to another, which often require parents to pay for gowns or uniforms.

He also expressed concern over what he described as unnecessary expenses imposed on parents through school-related activities.

Soludo said the ban on such activities was part of his administration’s effort to make education more affordable and equitable for all families.

‘This is to owners and administrators of government, private and mission schools in Anambra. We have set out some basic standards to ensure that the poor are not made to spend so much just because their children are in school.

‘One of the measures includes discontinuing the use of textbooks designed for students to write in. This practice forces parents to buy new textbooks annually.

‘Once a child finishes a class, he should be able to pass on his textbooks to his younger siblings,’ he said.

He described such activities as unnecessary and exploitative.

‘Even Christmas parties, parents should not be made to pay for such. These are too many expenses on poor parents,’ the governor said.

Soludo warned that the state government would begin strict enforcement of the new directives, adding that any school found violating them would be sealed.

‘These activities will end in Anambra schools because we will begin enforcement and any school that fails to comply or violates these standards will be closed.

‘I will personally see to that. And when we seal your school, you can go to court. We will meet there,’ he said.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promoting quality, accessible and affordable education for every child in the state.

Afrobeats sensation Adekunle Gold has opened up on his work relationship with his wife and singer, Simi.

Gold in an interview regarded his partnership with Simi as seamless, noting that she contributes during the production of some of his hit songs.

‘My partnership with Simi is very seamless. When I write. So, Don Corleone, when I made the song, I think she was listening to the chorus when I made it, and she just said, well, she has an idea, that she wanted to add something to it. I’m like, okay, go for it. And then she just went, go Kunle, and that was it. I’m like, oh, this is smart. And that’s it,’ he stated.

Gold also added that he also contributes to some of Simi’s songs as a colleague and a partner. He noted that they are happy with their work-life relationship.

‘She just does some backups, things that the song needs, and then that’s it. It’s just very easy. When she writes the songs, when she sends to me, I tell her what I think she should add to it, and that’s easy,’ he added.

Popular Reality TV star and entrepreneur, Symply Tacha, is set to make history with an ambitious beauty event in Lagos – 150 makeovers in 24 hours.

The event, tagged Tacha Beauty Fest, will take place from October 10 to 12 at the John Randle Centre, Lagos.

According to organisers, the event aims to bring together makeup artists, fans, and beauty enthusiasts in a celebration of creativity, confidence, and community.

Backed by Unik Soap, one of Nigeria’s popular skincare brands, the event seeks to set a new standard in beauty and empowerment.

According to a Unik representative, the collaboration goes beyond looks – ‘We’re not just showing beauty; we’re showing the power of confidence.’

With Tacha’s bold personality and Unik Soap’s reputation for promoting authentic radiance, the partnership promises an unforgettable weekend of glow, energy, and record-setting moments.

The European Commission has launched a probe into U.S. tech giants, Apple, Google, YouTube, and Snapchat, over alleged failure to protect minors online.

EU Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen said on Friday that the companies may have breached the Digital Services Act (DSA) by not ensuring adequate privacy and safety for children.

‘EU law is clear – minors must have a very high level of privacy and security online. This is not always the case,’ Virkkunen said at a meeting of EU telecom ministers in Horsens, Denmark.

Brussels is demanding detailed information from the four platforms to assess how they protect young users.

If violations are confirmed, the companies could face fines of up to 6% of their global revenue.

The EU suspects YouTube’s age checks are easy to bypass and that its algorithms may promote addictive content to minors.

It also wants answers from Apple and Google on whether children can access gambling apps through their stores, and from Snapchat over claims that underage users can buy drugs on the platform.

The DSA requires tech platforms to swiftly remove illegal content and protect users, with tougher rules for larger firms.

Virkkunen stressed that while ‘kids have the right to connect and access information,’ online platforms must ensure their safety.

Tensions have risen between Brussels and Washington over the law, with U.S. President Donald Trump recently calling the EU’s digital rules ‘anti-competitive.’

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to appoint a new prime minister in France later on Friday, as he remains under huge pressure to resolve the country’s political deadlock.

It is not yet clear whether Sébastien Lecornu, who resigned after just four weeks in office, will stay on after all, or whether a new person will fill the role.

Before making his decision, Macron invited the leaders of the parties in parliament to the Élysée Palace for consultations at 2:30 pm (1230 GMT), French media reported.

The only parties not present will be Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally and left-wing party France Unbowed (LFI).

Various names have been suggested in the media for the country’s next premier, including Socialist leader Olivier Faure, former Socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, centrist politician Jean-Louis Borloo as well as François Villeroy de Galhau, the head of France’s central bank.

Macron is under time pressure, because if highly indebted France wants to get a budget for the coming year in place in time, according to the constitution it must be submitted to parliament by Monday at the latest, and by a prime minister.

Fresh elections could be another potential path out of the crisis.

Former premier Édouard Philippe, who served under Macron from 2017 to 2020 and plans to run in the next presidential election, on Thursday urged the president to step down, saying it was the only way to overcome the months of deadlock.

Macron should announce he is ‘organising an early presidential election,’ Philippe told RTL radio.

Nollywood actress and politician, Tonto Dikeh, has opened up about her short-lived music career, revealing that the negative influence of her closest friends was the major reason behind her failure in the industry.

The 40-year-old film star shared this on Friday, October 10, while singing ‘God Is Good’ by Don Moen in a video posted on her Instagram page.

Tonto, who ventured into music in 2013 with songs like ‘Hi,’ ‘Crazically Fit,’ and ‘Jeje,’ and collaborations with artists such as Solid Star and Terry G, said she never truly had the talent for singing but was pressured by friends who convinced her otherwise.

Reflecting on that period, she described her failed music attempt as a reminder of a time when she surrounded herself with the ‘worst kind of friends,’ warning her fans to be cautious about the company they keep.

She humorously claimed that if she actually had the voice to match her ambition, she would have outshined celebrated singers like Tiwa Savage, CeCe Winans, and Whitney Houston.

‘If I could sing ehn, una for don dey sick of me. Who is Tiwa? Who is Whitney? Who is CeCe Winans? Watching this video reminds me of the time I had the worst kind of friends who pushed me to release an album,’ she said.

Oyin Olugbile has been announced as the winner of the 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature, taking home the prestigious $100,000 award for her captivating fantasy novel, Sanya.

The announcement was made at the Grand Award Nite held on Friday, October 10, 2025, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Olugbile’s Sanya triumphed over The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma and This Motherless Land by Nikki May, both of which were strong contenders for the coveted prize.

Olugbile’s masterful debut explores themes of love-lost, found, and lost again, set in a richly imagined empire so enchanting that even the Òrì?à are held spellbound.

The judges lauded Sanya as a ‘fascinating novel’ with ‘an unrelenting pace and an intriguing plot that immediately grabs attention.’

Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chairperson of the Advisory Board, described the shortlisted works as ‘exceptional,’ adding: ‘Each work distinguishes itself through masterful plotting, characterisation, and a command of language that transports readers into imagined worlds. These are not merely stories-they are carefully woven realities, compelling in beauty, stirring in emotion, and unflinching in their engagement with urgent societal issues.’

Olugbile holds a B.A. (Hons) in Creative Arts from the University of Lagos, postgraduate certificates from the Lagos Business School, Harvard Business School Online, and the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG), as well as an MSc from King’s College London.

She currently works as a Social Impact Management Consultant and serves as the Chief Curator of the Experience Factory (EXF), an education enterprise curating out-of-classroom learning experiences for young people across disciplines including Arts, STEM, Health, and Financial Literacy.

Sanya is her debut novel.