Category: PM News

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has responded to a law firm that issued a pre-action notice against the university concerning alleged irregularities in its Post-UTME process and admission, PM News has gathered.

In a reply dated October 4, 2025, OAU’s Legal Unit pointed out that the letter from the lawyer, Kene Nnadi of F.K. Nnadi and Co., Enugu State, carried a 2024 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) seal.

This, the university noted, shows that the lawyer had not renewed his practicing license for 2025.

The university therefore asked him to prove that he is qualified to practice law for the current year, as required by professional regulations.

PM News reports that In a letter signed by the Director of Legal Services, Yinka Ayantola, OAU stated:

‘It is our observation that the seal you affixed to your letter is your 2024 seal.

As you know, you must pay your practicing fee for 2025 before you can act as a lawyer.

We therefore request that you confirm your right to practice for this year as required by the relevant regulations.’

Earlier, the law firm had sued OAU and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) over alleged issues in their Post-UTME exercise.

Veteran Nigerian Scrabble player Chinedu Okwelogu, fondly known in Scrabble circles as Chinedu Thorpe or Sidespin, is brimming with excitement at the prospect of representing Nigeria at the 2025 World English Scrabble Players Association Championship (WESPAC) in Ghana.

At 60, Okwelogu is defying age barriers and proving that Scrabble is indeed a lifelong sport.

While many of his contemporaries are settling into retirement and grandparenthood, he is preparing to battle it out on the world stage against opponents young enough to be his grandchildren.

He is one of the 15 players selected by the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), to represent the country at the biannual competition holding in Accra, the Ghanaian capital next month.

For Okwelogu, the thrill of competing among the best minds in global Scrabble is not just about personal glory-it is a testament to the longevity and employability that the game offers.

Having first picked up Scrabble tiles in 1973 before a decade-long detour into table tennis, Okwelogu turned professional in 1983.

His love for the game eventually helped him achieve academic success, earning his O-Levels in 1986 after several unsuccessful attempts.

Sidespin’s passion for Scrabble also opened professional doors, leading to his employment within the Scrabble community in Kano State.

Now set to retire from the Federal Civil Service on November 7, Okwelogu remains fully active in the sport as a Tournament Scrabble Consultant, illustrating what he calls the ‘uncommon reality’ of Scrabble as a lifelong profession.

‘Scrabble can employ a human being for life in multiple capacities,’ he said. ‘I’m fulfilled just by being an example of that truth.’

In both Nigerian and international Scrabble circles, it is not unusual to see players well into their 70s still competing-and winning prize money. Okwelogu takes pride in being part of that enduring tradition.

Looking ahead to WESPAC 2025, the veteran aims to break into the Top 10, determined to better his previous outing at the 2009 Championship in Malaysia, where he finished around 68th position.

Before heading to camp with the rest of his teammates, his preparations have been intense, focusing particularly on mastering two- to six-letter words, a key component of elite-level Scrabble success.

Team Nigeria will be camping in Lagos for about two weeks before leaving for Accra.

As Okwelogu counts down to Ghana, his journey stands as an inspiring reminder that passion and persistence can indeed make age just another word on the board.

By virtue of Nigeria’s leading role and state in the World, the country has been given 15 slots for players representation at the global event which runs from the 9th to the 17th of November 2025 in Accra.

As a country, Nigeria is currently ranked second in the World and that’s our lowest ranking in the last ten years.

After a series of National and Continental championships and Qualifiers the most revered and respected NSF Technical Committee has carefully selected 15 players who will represent Nigeria at the World Championship.

The list include, current African Champion, Oluwatimilehin Doko, former African Champion Rex Ogbakpa, PANASA President’s Cup winner Victor Godwin and Africa number two player George Ezinore as well as number three ranked player on the continent and highly rated in the World, Abdulmumin Jimoh.

The rest of Team Nigeria are very experienced serial winners at national and international competitions in the last five years.

TEAM NIGERIA SQUAD

? Oluwatimilehin Doko – Continental Champion

? John Aiyedun – All Africa Championship winner

? George Ezinore – Africa’s No 2 and NSF Green Jacket holder

? Victor Godwin – President Cup winner

? Rex Ogbakpa – Continental Champion

? Abdulmumin Jimoh – Exp

? Tega Okiemute

? Samuel Adebola

? Chinedu Thorpe

? Emmanuel Umujose – EEAST winner

? Larry Etuwa

? Ben Quickpen – 2024 NSF golden medallist

? Tuoyo Mayuku – The most decorated female of all time in Africa

? John Curtis Ebomah

? Peter Ebomah

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oba Maduabuchi, has described the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election, as ‘an abuse of court process.’

Maduabuchi made this assertion on Tuesday during an interview on Arise TV’s Morning Show.

‘An abuse of court process occurs when someone tries to relitigate an issue that has already been settled by a court of competent jurisdiction,’ he explained.

According to him, the question of Jonathan’s qualification or disqualification had already been adjudicated in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. ‘Nobody has taken that issue on appeal,’ he said. ‘Until that judgment is set aside, it remains the law.’

The senior lawyer stated that any party attempting to reopen that settled issue in another court of coordinate jurisdiction was merely ‘abusing the process of the court,’ describing such litigants as ‘busy bodies.’

Maduabuchi further explained that what governs any legal situation is the law in force ‘when the act in question was done.’ He queried whether Section 137(3) of the Constitution existed in 2010 when Jonathan took the oath of office.

He noted that the provision was only enacted in 2018. ‘When Goodluck Jonathan was taking the oath of office, there was no statutory limitation that could inhibit him from running for two constitutionally guaranteed terms,’ he said.

The SAN questioned whether Jonathan took any oath after the 2018 amendment, comparing attempts to apply the new law retroactively to punishing someone under a law that did not exist at the time of the act.

Illustrating his point, Maduabuchi recalled that judges’ retirement age was previously 65 before being raised to 70, asking whether a judge who retired before the amendment could return to the bench under the new law.

He stressed that ‘the law demands certainty,’ adding that ‘in 2010 and 2011, when Goodluck Jonathan took the oath of office, the prohibition in Section 137(3) was not in existence and therefore not binding on him.’

He concluded that no ‘pyrotechnic argument’ could give life to a law that did not exist at the time, referencing a decision of the Court of Appeal which affirmed that Jonathan had the right to contest and that retrospective laws could not be applied against him.

Reality TV star and media personality, Tacha Akide, has paid a visit to her former residence in Port Harcourt.

The former BBNaija housemate, who went on a tour in her former neighborhood was seen being emotional after visiting her former room.

Tacha showed her fans her former house and the small room she resided in, while taking a trip down memory lane.

She spoke about some of her experiences and struggles during her stay there, while taking pictures with residents and fans.

Veteran Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, has opened up about how fellow filmmaker Ruth Kadiri inspired her to embrace YouTube filmmaking.

Speaking on the Nollywood on Radio podcast, Omotola recounted how Kadiri persistently encouraged her to join the growing community of Nigerian filmmakers leveraging YouTube to showcase their works.

According to Omotola, the conversation took place while she was on vacation in 2023.

‘I came on vacation in 2023, and Ruth called me. She said, ‘Mama, do you know what’s going on? There’s a whole revolution with YouTube.’ She showed me numbers and everything,’ Omotola said.

The award-winning actress noted that Kadiri described YouTube as a ‘phenomenal platform’ that allows creators to have total control over their content.

‘She told me, ‘You can do what you want on YouTube, but I think you should get in on this. You would do very well.’ She didn’t let me rest,’ she added.

Omotola revealed that after much persuasion, she decided to give it a try.

‘That girl gave me no peace of mind. So I called my producer and said, ‘Let’s just try something.’ We shot the first project in four days and used the fifth day for cleanup. I surprised myself. I was thankful to her for giving me the courage to try.’

The success of her debut project on YouTube eventually inspired her to produce Mother’s Love, a feature film that later premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

‘Mother’s Love came because I was under pressure. I just told my producer, ‘What if we did a feature film?’ and that was it. We started planning immediately and shot it in less than two weeks,’ she shared.

Omotola admitted that she initially felt nervous about her comeback to the screen.

‘It took long to release because I was scared people might laugh at me or say it wasn’t good enough,’ she said.

A City investment banker, Damilare Ajao, may be heading to jail after falsely claiming that his female manager sexually harassed him by commenting on his string vest.

Ajao, who worked with German finance giant Commerzbank in London, had alleged that his boss made flirtatious remarks about seeing his vest through his shirt and even tried to touch his Gucci belt buckle in the staff canteen.

But the claims, which formed the basis of his 2019 employment tribunal suit against the bank, were later dismissed by Judge Anthony Snelson, who ruled that Ajao’s story was ‘false and in large part made up’, calling it ‘pure invention.’

Now, Commerzbank has dragged the former banker back to court, accusing him of ‘wicked lies’ and seeking to have him jailed for contempt. If found guilty, Ajao could spend up to two years in prison.

According to the bank’s lawyers, Ajao’s fabricated allegations caused severe psychological distress to the female manager, identified only as Q, who has since developed a serious psychiatric illness.

‘What Mr Ajao has done is to manufacture a wholly bogus claim of sexual assault and harassment,’ the bank’s lawyer, Louis Browne KC, told the High Court. ‘He did that to obtain compensation, and those false allegations have had a very detrimental effect on Q’s health.’

But Ajao insists he did not lie. His defence lawyer, Sasha Wass KC, argued that he genuinely believed he was a victim of harassment, saying he merely ‘perceived’ the comments about his vest to be inappropriate.

‘She says it happened once and didn’t mean it sexually,’ Wass said. ‘He says it happened more than once and took it as a sexual comment. There’s room here for a grey area.’

The case continues, but for Ajao, what started as a workplace complaint over a string vest may now end with the loss of his freedom.

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed marked his 67th birthday on Monday with a humble message, seeking forgiveness from anyone he may have wronged in the course of his public service.

In a heartfelt post on his official Facebook page, the governor said his birthday was not one for elaborate celebration, but a moment of quiet reflection and gratitude to God for His mercy and guidance.

‘As I mark my 67th birthday, I am filled with profound gratitude to Almighty Allah for His mercy and guidance throughout my journey in leadership and public service,’ he wrote.

The governor, who has been in the political spotlight for decades, said he used the occasion to reflect on his actions and renew his commitment to fairness and equity.

‘I humbly seek forgiveness from anyone I may have wronged, knowingly or unknowingly, and I reaffirm my commitment to continue leading with fairness, equity, and a deep sense of responsibility,’ he added.

Mohammed expressed appreciation for the goodwill messages and prayers from family, friends, and the people of Bauchi State, saying their support continues to strengthen his resolve to serve better.

‘Looking ahead, my resolve remains unshaken: I will leave Bauchi better than I met it. With God’s help, we will continue to expand access to education, healthcare, and critical infrastructure,’ the governor said.

He noted that his administration had already exceeded public expectations in several key areas but promised to build on the current momentum.

Mohammed concluded his message by urging Bauchi residents to stay united and optimistic as the state continues to forge ahead.

When the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, declared that the title ‘Iyaloja-General’ is alien to Benin tradition, he was not merely defending an institution, he was protecting the soul of a civilisation. His pronouncement was a necessary reminder that cultural sovereignty is not a political accessory, and no individual, no matter how well connected, has the mandate to rewrite centuries of indigenous order.

At the heart of the recent controversy is Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the self-styled Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, who reportedly sought to extend her influence to Edo State by appointing a so-called Iyaloja-General over all markets in the state. Such ambition, however, collides directly with the traditional hierarchy of the Benin Kingdom, where each market is governed by its own Iyeki-women who serve not just as traders’ leaders, but as custodians of sacred oaths and local deities associated with market life.

The Benin monarchy predates Nigeria by nearly a millennium. Its governance system, from the Uzama to the Iweguae and Igiohon, is built on well-defined roles sanctioned by culture and divine ancestry. The Iyeki institution is no different, every market in Benin operates under its own spiritual and administrative order. There is no concept, nor any historical precedent, for a ‘General’ market leader presiding over all others.

To attempt to superimpose such a structure is not innovation; it is cultural imposition. It is, quite frankly, an act of administrative arrogance and historical ignorance. It reduces an ancient system of self-regulation to a political patronage network controlled from outside Edo borders.

Mrs. Tinubu-Ojo’s national title, Iyaloja-General, may find legitimacy within the Yoruba socio-economic context, where the office emerged organically within market unions and later assumed a political hue under her late grandmother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji. But Benin is not Lagos, and Edo’s traditional market system is not a franchise of the Lagos market association.

Every cultural space has its rhythm. To extend the Iyaloja-General concept to Benin, without regard for its distinct cultural laws, is to trespass on the sacred. It is akin to appointing an Emir in Oyo or installing an Oba in Sokoto, a direct insult to the cultural geometry of Nigeria’s federation.

The Oba’s intervention, therefore, was not an act of defiance but of preservation. His Majesty’s reminder that every Iyeki is selected by the market community and presented to the Palace for confirmation reaffirms the structure that has kept Benin’s market system stable for generations. It is a system where spiritual responsibility and community accountability coexist.

Attempts to distort this structure under the pretext of ‘national coordination’ must be viewed for what they are: a creeping politicisation of traditional institutions. Such trends, if unchecked, risk turning revered cultural titles into instruments of influence rather than service.

Nigeria’s beauty lies in its diversity, in the ability of each ethnic nation to maintain its unique traditions while coexisting in a shared republic. Respecting those differences is the bedrock of national cohesion. Cultural unification by decree, especially when driven by political proximity to power, is not unity; it is colonisation by culture.

Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo may continue to exercise her authority where it is culturally legitimate. But in Benin, tradition reigns supreme, and the word of the Oba is law. The Benin Palace has spoken with clarity and dignity and that voice deserves not just obedience, but deep national respect.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi could form the strongest opposition team against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections, according to Demola Olarewaju, Special Assistant on Digital Media Strategy to Atiku.

Speaking on the Mic On Podcast, Olarewaju said that a partnership between Atiku and Obi could give Nigerians the benefit of both leaders’ ideas, describing it as a kind of ‘co-presidency.’

‘I think the best option is to have both of them on one ticket, so Nigerians can enjoy their combined leadership,’ he said.

Olarewaju praised Atiku as a loyal and consistent politician who always supports others even after losing elections.

‘He lost the 2011 primaries to Goodluck Jonathan but still worked for him and helped deliver Adamawa State.

That’s who Atiku is,’ he explained.

He also stressed the need for more youth involvement in politics, noting that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) plans to give 35 to 50 percent of its leadership positions to young people and women.

‘Nigerians need a party that values the energy and creativity of young people – including Gen Z and even Gen Alpha,’ he added.

Olarewaju further said that Atiku is open to stepping down for a younger candidate if he loses in the primaries but remains the strongest opposition contender for now.

‘The best and strongest opposition ticket for 2027 would be a partnership between Atiku and Obi,’ he concluded, adding that their shared political views make such a team both possible and powerful.

The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has started verifying residents affected by the recent demolition in Oworonshoki.

The process is part of plans to compensate and relocate those who lost their homes.

According to LASBCA, the verification aims to confirm who the real victims are, check ownership documents, and assess the level of damage before any help is given.

The exercise includes reviewing documents, visiting sites, and interviewing affected residents to prevent false claims.

Officials explained that only people who can show legal proof of ownership or tenancy for properly approved buildings will be eligible for compensation.

Those who built on restricted areas like canals or drainage paths will not be considered, as such structures are against state laws.

Community members have welcomed the move, calling it a fair step toward justice.

However, they asked the government to make the process transparent to avoid favoritism or political interference.

LASBCA said the verification will be completed within a set period, after which compensation and relocation will begin.

The agency added that the demolition was part of Lagos State’s flood control and urban renewal efforts, meant to protect lives and key infrastructure in high-risk areas.