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Music legend Lionel Richie has lifted the lid on one of Michael Jackson’s lesser-known quirks and it’s wild.

In his new memoir, Truly, Richie recalls that the King of Pop, despite his global fame, often went days without changing clothes, earning him the teasing nickname ‘Smelly’ from producer Quincy Jones.

‘Michael would laugh, realizing he hadn’t changed or washed his clothes for a couple of days,’ Richie writes. ‘We all have our quirks.’

According to Richie, Jackson’s eccentric style of living was partly down to life on the road, performing in elaborate stage costumes or relaxing in loose pajamas and slippers at home.

But it didn’t stop there, the superstar reportedly wore his jeans and underwear until they were literally falling apart. Fans and staff often grabbed his outfits as souvenirs, leaving him with few options but to keep wearing them.

Richie recounts a hilarious moment when Jackson came to visit him looking particularly unkempt. The singer was handed clean jeans and underwear, encouraged to shower and left his old clothes behind.

‘There on the carpet were his old jeans and underwear, just lying there like roadkill,’ Richie writes. ‘What do I do but laugh? MJ was here.’

Even with his unusual hygiene habits, Richie reminds fans that Jackson was a musical genius, able to pick apart 15 different mixes of a single song. But off-stage, he was just like Richie says: ‘Winging it every minute.’

Police said they have rescued a man abducted by suspected armed hoodlums in Umuru Village, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State seven hours after he was abducted.

The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of ?10 million before the rescue was carried out, Anambra Police Command spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Awka.

Ikenga said the victim was rescued by joint operatives from the Police Command and Tactical Team in a coordinated operation in the early hours of Sept. 30. in Oba/Ojoto, Idemili South Local Government Area, seven hours after his abduction.

‘The victim was rescued seven hours after he was abducted by armed criminals at Umuru Village, Nnobi,’ Ikenga said.

According to him, intelligence-led tactical teams were deployed immediately to comb the location extensively.

‘Under pressure from the advancing rescue team, the kidnappers hastily released the victim and fled into nearby bushes,’ he said.

The victim was rescued unharmed, debriefed, and has since been reunited with his family.

Ikenga said the command was pursuing leads for the possible arrest of the fleeing suspects.

He quoted the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Ortugu, as commending the operatives for their swift intervention.

Ortugu reassured residents of the command’s commitment to tackling crime and safeguarding lives and property across the state.

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic chapter, Zaria, Kaduna State, has declared an indefinite strike effective Tuesday.

The branch Chairman, Malam Usman Suleiman, announced this in a statement issued on Monday in Zaria.

Suleiman said the decision followed a meeting with the Kaduna State Government where the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education appealed for patience, saying that Gov. Uba Sani had ‘impliedly approved’ their demands.

He explained that the union resolved to withdraw its services until a formal approval was granted by the Governor.

The chairman recalled that the congress had earlier mandated the leadership to embark on an indefinite strike should the Polytechnic Salary Structure (PSS) not be implemented after payment of the September 2025 salary.

The union’s demands include the implementation of CONPCASS/CONTEDISS salary structures for staff of state tertiary institutions and the extension of the 65-year retirement age to non-academic staff, as approved for academic staff.

‘After due deliberations, the unions unanimously resolved that members shall withdraw their services until the governor’s approval is officially granted,’ Suleiman said.

Former Super Eagles defender, Samuel Sodje, has said it is ’embarrassing’ for Nigerians to celebrate FIFA’s decision to punish South Africa.

On Monday, FIFA announced that Bafana Bafana lost three points and three goals for using an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their March 2025 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.

The deduction means Nigeria, who are third in the group with 11 points, are now just three points behind South Africa. Some Nigerians celebrated the news, seeing it as a lifeline for the Super Eagles.

Sodje, however, disagrees. He told Soccernet:

‘South Africa broke the rules, and FIFA punished them. That is normal. What I find surprising is that Nigerians are treating this as a big achievement. To me, it is embarrassing.’

Officers of the Niger State Police Command have neutralised three suspected kidnappers and recovered two AK-47 rifles along with 49 rounds of live ammunition during a clearance operation in the Kokolo Forest area of Magama Local Government Area.

The operation, which occurred in the early hours of September 12, 2025, was carried out by the Command’s Special Task Team (STT), FID-STS, in collaboration with local vigilante groups, following credible intelligence on the location of criminal hideouts.

Spokesman of the command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the development in a statement released Monday, noting that the operatives engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun duel.

‘During the operation within Kokolo Forest, via Kawo-Auna village in Nasko, Magama LGA, the team stormed a kidnappers’ camp and engaged them in a gun battle. Three suspects were neutralized, while others fled with gunshot wounds. One kidnapped victim was successfully rescued,’ Abiodun stated.

A thorough search of the hideout led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles and 49 rounds of live ammunition. Abiodun added that efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend the fleeing gang members.

He called on residents of nearby communities to report anyone seen with unexplained injuries.

‘Members of the public, especially in neighbouring villages, are urged to report anyone found with gunshot injuries to the nearest police station or security agency,’ he said.

YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by US President Donald Trump after the video-streaming platform suspended his account in the aftermath of the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

The settlement, reached with YouTube’s parent company Alphabet, follows similar deals Trump secured with Meta and X (formerly Twitter).

Trump had accused the platforms of political bias, alleging they unfairly censored conservative voices.

At the time of his suspension, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter argued that Trump’s posts risked inciting further violence as Washington reeled from the storming of the Capitol.

Under the settlement terms, $22 million will be directed to the Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit raising funds to build a new White House ballroom. Another $2.5 million will go to co-plaintiffs in Trump’s case, including the American Conservative Union.

Earlier this year, Meta agreed to pay $25 million, with $22 million allocated for Trump’s planned presidential library. In February, X settled for $10 million, weeks after its purchase by Trump ally Elon Musk.

All of Trump’s accounts have since been reinstated across major platforms, marking a notable shift from the mass de-platforming that followed the Capitol attack. The settlements highlight Silicon Valley’s broader softening stance toward Trump and the Republican Party.

The tech sector has also begun easing content moderation rules, responding to long-standing Republican criticism of alleged free speech violations.

Just last week, YouTube announced plans to restore several previously banned accounts, including creators who had repeatedly shared false claims about Covid-19 and the 2020 presidential election.

In a letter to a Republican-led congressional committee, YouTube wrote, ‘YouTube values conservative voices on its platform and recognises that these creators have extensive reach and play an important role in civic discourse.’

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, struck out two separate suits filed by former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to seek court protection against the plan by EFCC to probe him.

Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the two cases following a notice of discontinuance of the suits sighted in the court record and after no lawyer appeared for parties at the resumed hearing.

The former Senate president had filed the suits following the EFCC’s decision in 2019 to probe his earnings between 2003 and 2011 when he was governor of Kwara.

The anti-graft commission was reported to have seized some of his houses in the Ikoyi area of Lagos then.

However, Saraki, on May 10, 2019, filed the two separate suits, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/507/2019 and FHC/ABJ/CS/508/2019, before retired Justice Taiwo Taiwo to challenge the action of the EFCC.

The ex-Senate president named the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and State Security Service (SSS) are 1st to 3rd defendants.

Others are EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as 4th to 6th respondents respectively.

Justice Taiwo, who was the presiding judge then, had ruled on an ex-parte application filed along with the substantive suits.

The judge ordered the EFCC and the other five respondents to the suits to stay action on their investigations.

He directed the parties to maintain the status quo by suspending the probe, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed by the applicant.

The order was granted after Saraki’s lawyer moved the application on May 14, 2019.

But the EFCC later applied that the judge should recuse himself and the matter be transferred to another court.

Justice Taiwo sent back the case file to the chief judge and the matter was reassigned to Justice Anwuli Chikere (rtd.) for adjudication.

When the matter came up on July 14, 2021 before Justice Chikere, EFCC Counsel, Chile Okoronkwo, complained that Taiwo’s order had hindered the agency ‘from performing its duty for about two years.’

The lawyer, who stated that Saraki continued to hinge on the order of the court any time he was invited, urged the court to vacate the order.

But the suits were reassigned to Justice Inyang Ekwo following the retirement of Chikere.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Ekwo had, on Jan. 25, 2023, struck out the two suits for lack of diligent prosecution.

After the suits were struck out, the ex-Senate president, through his lawyer, approached the court for a relisting of the cases to the cause list of the court.

And on Oct. 28, 2024, Justice Ekwo granted Saraki’s prayer to amend the suits against the respondents.

The judge granted the application after it was moved by Saraki’s counsel, Tunde Afe-Babalola, SAN, and was not opposed by the defence lawyers.

The cases were recently reassigned to Justice Umar.

Colleagues of late ARISE News correspondent, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, have broken their silence, accusing a hospital of negligence that cost the 29-year-old her life after she narrowly escaped a robbery attack.

During Tuesday’s edition of The Morning Show, anchors Ojy Okpe and Dr Reuben Abati recounted how Maduagwu’s life could have been saved but was instead cut short by a system they described as ‘callous and unethical.’

Okpe, narrating the tragic sequence, said the journalist had jumped from her Abuja apartment when she realised 14 armed robbers had stormed the building. Though badly injured from the fall, she survived and was rushed to the Maitama District General Hospital.

‘She did not die on the spot,’ Okpe stressed. ‘She was taken to the hospital, but she was rejected. This really is a tragic incident. Sommie’s life could have been saved, but the hospital refused to treat her.’

Reports said Maduagwu and an aged security guard, who was also injured, were both turned away because hospital staff allegedly demanded identification before treatment. They later died.

Abati condemned the hospital’s actions, calling it a betrayal of medical ethics and a violation of the law.

‘Anybody who is a victim of an accident should be treated immediately,’ he said. ‘But those who were taken to the hospital were refused treatment because staff were looking for identification. It is the duty of doctors and nurses to save lives. Lives could have been saved.’

The anchors described the incident as a national disgrace, adding that it reflects the risks journalists face in Nigeria.

‘This job that we do is very dangerous,’ Abati said. ‘It is unfortunate that a young woman has fallen.’

Maduagwu’s final post on X from August – ‘I pray from the depth of my heart that Nigeria never happens to me or anyone I care about’ – has since resurfaced online, sparking an outpour of grief and anger.

The FCT Police Command confirmed that investigations are ongoing into the robbery and circumstances of her death.

Maduagwu, a lawyer and former beauty queen, joined ARISE in 2024 and was celebrated for her advocacy for out-of-school children and her fight against gender-based violence.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has assured that Police would unravel the circumstances surrounding the Somtochukwu Maduagwu, a news anchor at Arise News Tv and bring those responsible to justice.

Wike said this in reaction to death of Maduagwu in her home in Katampe area of Abuja early Monday morning, in the statement signed by Mr Lere Olayinka, his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The Minister commiserated with the management and staff of the Arise News Channel over the death of Maduagwu, describing her death as tragic and painful.

The minister prayed for the repose of her soul and assured that the Police would unravel the circumstances surrounding her death and bring those responsible to justice.

He said her death was not only a loss to the Arise News family but to the Nigerian media and entire nation.

‘I feel pained that such a wonderful soul could be cut down in her prime. It is sad.

‘From the report by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Mandate Secretary on Health, Dr Dolapo Fasawe, Somtochukwu was brought to the Maitama General Hospital dead at about 4:30 a.m. on Monday.

‘Preliminary medical report will be made available to the police to aid their investigation while all efforts will be made to unravel the circumstances surrounding her death.’

Wike called for continuous prayers and support of the Almighty God for members of staff and management of the Arise News, especially the Chairman, Nduka Obaigbena, family and friends left behind by the deceased.

‘It is my prayer that God in His infinite mercies will accept her soul and give her family members, friends and associates the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.’

Wike’s colleague, the Minister of Information and National Orientation ministry, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, had in an earlier statement also described the death of Maduagwu as regrettable.

The Minister said this in a letter of condolence signed by Idris to the Chairman of the Arise News channel, Chief Nduka Obaigbena and issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Malam Rabiu Ibrahim on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the minister, her death is a grievous loss not only to her immediate family and the Arise News team, but to the Nigerian media fraternity and indeed, the nation.

‘I write to convey our deepest condolences to you and the entire ARISE News family on the shocking and untimely death of your esteemed anchor, Ms. Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu.

‘By every account, she was a vibrant and a dedicated news anchor, consummate lawyer, and a model of professionalism whose work resonated with audiences across Nigeria and beyond.

‘I am saddened by the heinous incident that cut down a promising young journalist in her prime.

‘Ms Somtochukwu’s tragic death is a grievous loss not only to the ARISE News family but to the Nigerian media fraternity, and indeed the nation,’ Idris said.

He gave assurances for a swift investigation to unravel the circumstances leading to the death of the late news anchor.

The minister also extended his heartfelt sympathy to the parents, siblings, colleagues, and all who knew and loved the late news anchor and prayed that God grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

The Nigeria Police Force said it has launched an investigation into the death of the journalist.

The Lagos State Government has filed contempt proceedings against the National Assembly, accusing lawmakers of defying a Supreme Court judgment on the regulation of lotteries and gaming in Nigeria.

Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing marking his second year in office.

Pedro recalled that in a landmark decision, the Supreme Court had ruled that lotteries and games of chance fall within the residual legislative powers of states, not the Federal Government.

The judgment, he said, affirmed the constitutional authority of Lagos and other states to regulate and generate revenue from gaming activities, thereby strengthening fiscal federalism.

Despite this clear pronouncement, Pedro noted that members of the House of Representatives recently passed a Central Gaming Bill, which seeks to bring lotteries and gaming under federal control.

He said the move was not only unconstitutional but also in direct violation of the apex court’s declaratory and injunctive orders.

‘The National Assembly, being bound by the decisions of the Supreme Court like every other person and authority in Nigeria, cannot enact a law on a subject already determined as outside its legislative competence,’ Pedro stated.

‘For this reason, Lagos State has approached the courts to initiate contempt proceedings against the National Assembly,’ he added.

The Attorney-General described the development as an affront to the rule of law, warning that allowing such acts to stand would undermine constitutional governance and judicial authority.

Beyond the gaming dispute, Pedro highlighted achievements of the Ministry of Justice over the past two years, including improved legal advisory services to government ministries and the successful prosecution of high-profile cases such as the conviction of Andrew Nice for the rape and murder of BRT passenger Oluwabamise Ayanwola.

He stressed that Lagos remains committed to upholding justice, protecting state revenues, and defending the constitutional principle of true federalism.