Category: PM News

A 29-year-old loan officer, Ayomide Lamidi on Thursday appeared before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing N11.6 million belonging to his employer of one of the Microfinance Banks.

The prosecutor, Insp Sunday Bassey told the court that the defendant committed the offence between January and July, 2025 at the bank’s branch located along Ikorodu Road, Ketu. Bassey said an internal audit revealed that the defendant diverted customers’ loan repayments and deposits for personal use without remitting them into the bank’s account.

He said the bank’s auditor, Mr Adesola Adebowale and branch manager, Yetunde Ogundare, reported the matter to the police after discovering the fraud. The prosecutor added that during interrogation, the defendant admitted to the act.

He said the offence contravened Section 287(7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Daodu, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N700,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned until Oct. 7, 2025, for further hearing.

Tragedy struck in the United States after a seven-year-old boy, identified as Mazi Simmons died in horrific circumstances when his head got trapped in the backseat window of a car while his mother allegedly slept off under the influence of narcotics.

The incident occurred on April 6 in southwest Atlanta but has now resulted in his mother, 32-year-old Kandice Grace, being charged with second-degree murder and cruelty to children.

According to an arrest warrant obtained by 11Alive, police officers arrived at the scene to find Mazi unresponsive in the backseat of the car, his head caught in a closing window. His mother, Grace, was discovered unconscious in the front passenger seat, reportedly under the influence of opioids and THC.

Two of her other children were also in the vehicle but were unharmed.

Investigators said Grace had left the children unattended after passing out from drug use. Disturbingly, a witness told police that Grace had visited her home the night before the tragedy and left her children in the car. By the next morning, the witness found her still unconscious and the young boy hanging out of the window.

Police officers reported that during an on-scene interview, the mother repeatedly lost consciousness while attempting to hold her lifeless child. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation later confirmed that Grace tested positive for opioids and THC.

In the wake of the boy’s death, his godmother, Karion Bickham, launched a GoFundMe campaign, revealing that Mazi was not Grace’s first child to die. ‘Mazi was her second child, and heartbreakingly, not her first loss. She also lost her daughter Jordice, and now she is enduring the unthinkable pain of saying goodbye to another piece of her heart,’ the fundraiser reads.

Tributes poured in for the boy described as ‘full of life, joy, and love.’ The GoFundMe page noted: ‘Whether he was dancing, striking his signature peace sign, or just being his silly, playful self, he always found a way to make everyone around him feel joy. He loved life and he loved deeply.’

On social media, his mother identifies as an amateur rapper under the stage name KKokaine Kandi and also runs a cosmetics service company. One of her music videos on YouTube has nearly 7,000 views.

Grace was formally charged on September 29 and is being held while investigations continue.

The tragic death of Mazi, believed to be of Nigerian-American heritage, has sparked outrage online, with many calling for justice and questioning how such a preventable tragedy could occur.

The Nasarawa State Government has disbursed N592 million as bursary to 16,756 students studying at various tertiary institutions in the country.

The state Gov. Abdullahi Sule disclosed this during official disbursement of the bursary on Thursday at Akwanga Local Government Area. He said that the gesture was part of his commitment to investing in the future and transforming the education sector.

Sule explained that education is the topmost priority of his administration, saying it was why education had 36 per cent allocation in the 2025 budget of the state.

The governor stressed that his administration had restored international scholarship in the state and is currently sponsoring 155 students studying different courses in various countries of the world.

He further disclosed that the state government is sponsoring nursing students as well as others in different universities across the country to build future manpower for the state. ‘We paid 2025 National Examination Council (NECO) registration fees for more than 24, 000 secondary students in public schools to ease the burden on their parents,’ he added.

Sule further directed the board handling the bursary to commence the process for the disbursement of the allowances for the 2025/2026 academic session. Earlier, Hajia Sa’Adatu Yahaya, the Executive Secretary, Nasarawa State Scholarship Board, expressed gratitude to the governor for the gesture.

The Executive Secretary explained that 25,000 students had applied for the bursary on the portal, but the board shortlisted 17,762 applicants after an online screening exercise.

She further said that the board had decided to conduct physical verification of the beneficiaries after the state government approved the payment for the number of beneficiaries screened through the online process.

‘After the physical verification, the board discovered that 2006 applicants were no longer students and we delisted them from the list of beneficiaries, bringing the number to 16,756. We, therefore, refunded the money meant for these ineligible students to the state government,’ she added.

The board secretary further explained that the candidates benefited from N30,000 to N90,000 as bursary allowances, depending on the course of study. She, therefore, promised that the board under her leadership would continue to maintain transparency and accountability in the discharge of their responsibility in line with the mandate given to them by the governor.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Ovey Abimiku, National President, Nasarawa State Students Association (NASSA), appreciated the governor for the gesture and promised that the beneficiaries would use the money to pursue their educational careers.

The family of late AriseTV correspondent, Somtochukwu ‘Sommie’ Maduagwu, say her death has robbed Nigeria of a young woman who abandoned the comfort of the United Kingdom to help build a better society at home.

Sommie, 29, tragically died after jumping from a three-storey building in Abuja on Monday, September 29, while trying to escape armed robbers. She had already planned to wed before Easter 2026.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, her uncle, Engineer Obi Maduagwu, said the young journalist always believed Nigeria could work if good people returned home to contribute.

‘She told her father she was leaving the UK, where she earned more, because she wanted Nigeria to work. She believed in a better society,’ he recalled.

The family pieced together the events of her death from calls and photographs. Convincing her father, who was offshore with Shell, to return home required urgent arrangements, including a helicopter evacuation to Port Harcourt. Her uncle described Sommie as independent, strong-willed and passionate about politics, especially women’s empowerment. She once called for more Senate seats for women and believed journalism was the best platform for her voice.

Just days before her death, she posted a haunting message: ‘Let Nigeria not happen to you.’

Engineer Maduagwu blamed insecurity and poor emergency response for her death. ‘If police had arrived on time, this tragedy could have been prevented. In the UK, distress calls are answered in minutes,’ he lamented, adding that hospitals must stop demanding ID cards or police reports before saving lives.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, also mourned Sommie, calling her ‘one of the shining stars Rivers State gave to Nigeria and the world.’ He described her death as ‘an unwholesome tragedy’ and assured that security agencies had been directed to ensure justice is served.

Davido’s longtime manager, Asa Asika, has stirred conversations online after sharing lighthearted advice about marriage and football.

In a social media post, Asa revealed how his wife made his night easier by helping him find a link to watch his favourite Champions League match.

He described the gesture as a small but meaningful win, noting that marriage goes beyond romance and thrives on everyday acts of support.

According to him, choosing a partner who understands and complements one’s lifestyle makes a big difference.

‘Marry a woman who doesn’t drag with your love for football,’ he advised.

‘That’s why we all have to marry our best friends,’ one user wrote.

Another added, ‘Having a good wife is a big W.’

In contrast, a fan joked, ‘This is nice, but I’m not getting married anytime soon.’

Media personality and disc jockey, Florence Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy, has joined in the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary with an emotional tribute to her homeland.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Cuppy proudly declared that if given another chance at life, she would still choose to be Nigerian.

‘Èmi ni Omo Naija. My birthplace. My home. My country. Nigeria turns 65 today. Through it all, our people keep pushing, persevering, and finding joy even in the toughest times. God didn’t rush when He made us. He gave us resilience, spirit, and endless energy. In my next life, I’d still choose to be Nigerian,’ she wrote.

The billionaire heiress praised Nigerians for their resilience, strength, and ability to thrive despite numerous challenges. She noted that her national identity is central to her brand and personal values, as it allows her to carry a piece of Nigeria wherever she goes.

This is not the first time DJ Cuppy has expressed deep pride in her roots. During last year’s independence celebration, she described Nigeria as her ‘superpower’ and a ‘piece of hope.’

As the United States battles through a government shutdown, rumours have gone viral that America’s borders are now wide open for illegal immigrants. But Washington has moved quickly to shut down the claims, insisting immigration laws remain intact and border enforcement as strict as ever.

In a statement issued on X, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement stressed that immigration laws and border enforcement remain fully intact despite the shutdown.

‘There is no change to U.S. immigration laws or border enforcement. Rumors that a shutdown will allow illegal immigrants to enter the United States are false,’ the advisory stated.

The ICE clarified that border security remains strict, and anyone attempting to cross without authorization will face the full weight of the law.

The message comes amid rising speculation online that the budget standoff in Washington had created loopholes at U.S. entry points. But authorities insist the shutdown only affects funding to some government operations and has no bearing on immigration enforcement.

Crossing America’s borders without legal clearance, they warned, ‘remains a crime.’

Nollywood actress and politician’s wife, Regina Daniels, has joined in celebrating Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary.

In a video shared on social media, Daniels lightheartedly noted that Nigeria is now ‘older than her husband,’ billionaire businessman and politician Ned Nwoko.

Reflecting on past Independence Day celebrations, the actress recalled fond childhood memories of parades, green-and-white outfits, and children proudly singing the national anthem.

She expressed hope that the tradition of patriotic celebrations remains alive, stressing the importance of instilling national pride in younger generations.

Attempting to sing the country’s old national anthem during the video, Daniels stumbled on some lines, laughing at her mistakes but still emphasizing her love for the patriotic exercise.

‘Nigeria is 65. that’s a big number that’s a big number it’s older than my husband so yeah But you know, guys, I remember those days when it’s independence. Like you see every kid, the street is flooded. Myself, I’m dressed in green. Everyone doing their march pass, singing national anthems. You know, I hope it’s still the same. Like that practice. Like I hope it’s still the same. The joy to celebrate your country. I just hope it’s still the same. The fact that every school would have to go somewhere to sing their national anthem, it’s just, thinking about it now, it’s ridiculously patriotic. I love it. They don’t even sing our national anthem. Nobody should laugh here. Nigerians we hail thee, our own dear native land. Though tribes and tongues may differ, in brotherhood we stand. Nigerians all are proud to serve our sovereign motherland. Our flag shall be a symbol. That truth and justice reigns. In peace and battle honored. And this. In peace and battle honored. And handle. Shit. The next part is to handle. And hand on to a flag to our children without stain. Guys, fu.ck off. But I’ll still post this video because I don’t have enough time to do another one. But I’ll do another video.’

Victor Osimhen was named Man of the Match after helping Galatasaray shock Premier League champions Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League.

His 16th-minute penalty gave the Turkish champions a famous 1-0 victory in Istanbul.

‘Congratulations to the team. It was a very tough game against a strong opponent. Many people didn’t believe we could win, except for the players you see here,’ said the Super Eagles striker.

‘I’ve been away from the team for a while, but for me, this is the biggest club in the world!

‘We achieved a huge victory for Galatasaray and for me personally. The fans were the main reason I came here. Their support pushes me to give my best.

‘I love Galatasaray and the fans.’

The win was an impressive comeback for Galatasaray, who had lost 5-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt in their opening group game last month.

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has described corruption as Nigeria’s biggest stumbling block to development, even as the nation marked its 65th Independence Anniversary on Wednesday.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Debo Adeniran, CACOL congratulated Nigerians for their resilience in sustaining democracy and nationhood despite decades of misrule.

However, the group lamented that the country’s story since independence had largely been one of ‘squandered opportunities, stunted growth, and unfulfilled potential.’

‘Since 1960, Nigeria has been blessed with abundant human and material resources, yet cursed by successive governments that have failed to manage them prudently. Corruption has remained the major albatross to our national development,’ Adeniran said.

The organisation pointed to how nations like Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea, which gained independence around the same period, have become economic powers, while Nigeria remains trapped in underdevelopment due to entrenched corruption.

CACOL listed the fallout of corruption as insecurity, poverty, infrastructural decay, unemployment, and an economy in perpetual crisis.

It cited a string of scandals ranging from fuel subsidy fraud to pension scams, arms procurement diversions, and the looting of COVID-19 palliatives as evidence of systemic rot.

The group called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight, demanding stronger independence for the EFCC, ICPC, and the judiciary, as well as the prosecution of corrupt officials without political bias.

It also urged that recovered loot be channelled into education, healthcare, infrastructure, and job creation.

‘True independence is not just about lowering the colonial flag. It is about liberating citizens from oppression, deprivation, and corruption,’ Adeniran stressed.

CACOL added that Nigerians themselves must take responsibility by demanding accountability from leaders and refusing to glorify looters.

‘Nigeria at 65 must not continue to crawl when others are running. If we confront corruption with seriousness, our nation can still rise to greatness,’ the statement read.