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Big Brother Naija Season 10 housemate, Faith Adewale, has emerged as the lucky winner of one of the most prestigious prizes of the show.

Faith, who has had a good run in the reality TV show, emerged victorious during an intense final week task. This victory automatically made him the owner of a brand new Innoson electric car.

Faith, while expressing his disbelief and excitement, revealed that this is his first automobile.

‘This is my first car,’ he said.

The housemate was also the winner of the SuperKomando challenge which was held earlier in the season.

The Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, has cautioned Mrs Folashade Ojo-Tinubu that the concept of ‘Iyaloja-general’ title is not known to Benin culture.

The monarch stated this on Tuesday when Ojo-Tinubu who is the Iyaloja-General of market women associations in Nigeria, paid him homage in his palace.

The Iyaloja-general who was led to the palace by the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Mrs Edesili Okpebholo-Anani, had earlier informed the Monarch that she was in the state to inaugurate Pastor (Mrs) Josephine Isi Ibhaguezejele as the Iyeki-general of the State.

Oba Ewuare II ,however, told her that in Benin Kingdom the Iyeki must be confirmed by the palace after being selected by market women.

He added that outside her role of coordinating affairs of traders in the market, Iyeki performs certain cultural roles on his behalf in the various markets.

He added that the Iyeki has special relationship with the palace and performs expected roles in the shrine located in every market.

‘Iyaloja is alien to us here in Benin. You are in Benin, the home of culture; we have our culture here. I have discussed this matter with my chiefs and those that are knowledgeable.

‘Do you know the role of Iyeki in Benin culture? Every Iyeki has a special relationship with the palace. Are you aware of that? Do you know that every Iyeki has a cultural role to perform inside every market.

‘The Oba does not interfere so long as the Iyeki does what is expected of her in the shrine of a particular market on behalf of the Oba. We are not going to say much except to explain to you the concept of Iyeki in Benin,’ Oba Ewuare II said.

Giving further clarification on the roles of Iyeki in the kingdom, Chief Osaro Idah, whom the Oba permitted to enlighten Tinubu-Ojo, said:

‘Iyeki is independent in every market like the Oba market, Ogiso market and others. The traders select their leaders from within the markets. The Iyeki do more than the role of coordinating traders.

‘There are certain shrines inhabited in all the markets. They play certain roles on behalf of the palace. After their selection, they bring the person to the palace for confirmation.

‘The novelty of general Iyeki is alien to Benin custom and tradition. We just believe the Iyaloja is your socio-cultural thing like you have other clubs.

‘It is not in our culture to have a general Iyeki. Iyeki is particular to each market. No one has the right to control the other in another market. The Iyeki in Oba Market has no role to play in Ogiso Market. The Oba established the market for all in the society.’

Earlier while introducing the visitors, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo-Anani, said: ‘We are grateful to be here today. I present to you the Iyaloja-General.

‘She came to Edo State for the installation of Edo market women leader that has been chosen. And we deem it fit that we must pay homage to the Benin throne.’

Two men identified as Ibrahim Suleiman Umar and Tijani Adam Goni have been remanded by Federal Capital Territory High Court after pleading guilty to charges bordering on alleged involvement in a N4.8 million job scam and forgery of employment letters.

The two suspects who duped their victims with promises that they can get them employed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) were arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) before Justice B.M. Bassi on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, and forgery.

According to the ICPC, the duo, in June 2021, conspired to defraud two unsuspecting job seekers of N4.8 million under the guise of securing employment for them at the two organisations.

One of the counts reads:

‘That you, Ibrahim Suleiman Umar (m) and Tijani Adam Goni (m), on or about the month of June 2021 at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by false pretences and with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain by false pretences the sum of N4,800,000.00 (Four Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) from Saifdeen Yakub and Aminu Abubakar under the pretence that you will secure employment for them at the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, which representation you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.’

Investigations by ICPC further revealed that the accused persons forged employment letters purportedly issued by both CBN and FIRS, as well as a document titled ‘Final Document List’, which they presented to their victims as genuine.

Their offences contravene Section 1(1)(a) and are punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, as well as Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code.

When the charges were read, both defendants pleaded guilty to all five counts. Justice Bassi consequently ordered their remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to 29th October 2025 for continuation of hearing.

Meanwhile, the first defendant in the case, Mohammed Mustapha, remains at large, with efforts ongoing to apprehend him and bring him before the court to face justice.

Troops of 6 Brigade in collaboration with operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Taraba have arrested two fake police personnel with cannabis consignments in two vehicles.

A statement on Wednesday by Lt. Umar Muhammad, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations 6 Brigade, said the arrest was made in Wukari.

‘Acting on credible intelligence, troops alongside NDLEA personnel intercepted and apprehended two fake policemen at Takum Junction in Wukari Local Government Area.

‘The suspects, who were dressed in mobile police uniforms, were found with two Toyota Hilux vehicles loaded with substances suspected to be cannabis.

‘Preliminary investigation revealed that none of the occupants are serving policemen.

‘The cannabis-laden vehicles were traced to have been loaded from Akure, Ondo State, and were heading towards Adamawa State before interception.’

According to him, the occupants of the second Hilux abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene on sighting the troops.

‘A total of 1,134 blocks of cannabis were recovered from the two vehicles. Both the suspects and the recovered exhibits have been handed over to the NDLEA office in Wukari for further investigation and prosecution.’

The Commander 6 Brigade, Brig. Gen. Kingsley Uwa, who commended the troops and NDLEA operatives for their synergy and resilience, reaffirmed the Brigade’s commitment to ensuring that Taraba remained unsafe for criminals.

Uwa urged members of the public to continue to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to enhance ongoing operations across the state.

The U17 Women National Team, Flamingos, are wrapping up their World Cup preparations in Abuja with a streak of impressive results that demonstrate their growing confidence and cohesion.

Since returning to camp, the girls have played eight friendly matches, winning all, scoring 26 goals and conceding nonea perfect record that has boosted morale ahead of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals taking place in Morocco.

Last week, the Flamingos turned on the style. They cruised to a 3-0 victory over Abuja All-Stars, with Praise Agba scoring on a loose ball, Olamide Olanrewaju converting from the penalty spot, and Zainab Raji adding a thundering third soon after the break. Goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu was heroic, pulling off multiple saves to keep her sheet clean.

Earlier, they battled through a rain-disrupted friendly against Josiah Academy, winning 2-0 thanks to a Chisom Nwachukwu brace inside the opening 10 minutes before the heavens forced an early halt.

There were also emphatic wins over Nazareth Angels (5-0), with Queen Joseph scoring twice alongside goals from Praise Agba, Mariam Yahaya, and Chisom Nwachukwu, and a commanding 5-0 triumph over Horvel

Prime, in which Queen Joseph grabbed a hat-trick in 35 minutes, supported by strikes from captain Shakirat Moshood and Azeezat Oduntan.

In all their tune-up games, the Flamingos have demonstrated balance, depth, and hunger, from precise finishing in attack to defensive resilience.

The team is now fully focused on their World Cup campaign, where they have been placed in Group D against Canada, France, and Samoa.

The team is scheduled to depart Nigeria on 8th October, bringing their perfect run and growing belief to the international stage as they seek glory in Morocco (17th October – 8th November 2025).

The Pro-Chancellor/Chairman Governing Council of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, has applauded the four lecturers of the institution recently named among the world’s top two percent scientists in the global ranking released by Top Scientists Network (TopSciNet).

Ndoma-Egba, who gave the applause in a statement, expressed great joy in the way FUOYE lecturers and students are redefining excellence in research and innovation, making the 14-year-old university proud through their outstanding accomplishments.

He said the feats of the lecturers have enhanced the institution’s reputation, and elevated its standing both nationally and internationally.

Noting that FUOYE, a highly rated young institution, has become one of the fastest growing universities in the country, the legal luminary said the Governing Council will continue to work with the management team to effectively manage the astronomical growth of the institution and ensure its sustainability.

The FUOYE Pro-Chancellor and ex-Senate Leader, stated: ‘I am excited, I am very proud and I am elated. I commend the four FUOYE lecturers who made the list for the 2025 world’s top 2% scientists. FUOYE is certainly on the path to national and, indeed, global distinction and recognition. We will keep our hands on the plough looking forward to greater glory and ignore the contrived distractions of the University by merchants of fake news.’

The Acting Vice Chancellor (VC) of FUOYE, Prof. Olubunmi Shittu, was reported to have also hailed the FUOYE scholars, noting that their global recognition validates the university’s efforts in fostering a culture of impactful research and innovation.

Prof. Shittu was quoted as saying: ‘Their achievements not only bring global visibility to our institution but also inspire young academics across Nigeria.’

According to FUOYE’s report on its website, the university’s lecturers that made the 2025 list of the world’s top 2% scientists are Prof. Olayide Samuel Lawal, Dr. Adeolu Adesoji Adediran, Prof. Bukola Olalekan Bolaji and Prof. Basiru Olaitan Ajiboye.

The report indicated that ‘The annual ranking identifies scientists whose research impact, citations, and productivity place them in the top 2% globally within their respective fields. This year’s list highlights the growing influence of Nigerian scholars on the international research stage.

‘The TopSciNet list, updated annually, evaluates millions of researchers worldwide across all disciplines, factoring in citations, h-index, and other standardized metrics. FUOYE’s inclusion affirms the university’s rising profile as a hub for cutting-edge research in West Africa.

‘This recognition adds to FUOYE’s growing reputation for academic excellence and its mission to produce research that addresses national and global challenges.’

Popular disc jockey and billionaire heiress, Florence Otedola, better known as DJ Cuppy, has joined millions of Nigerians in celebrating the country’s 65th Independence Anniversary.

Taking to her official X account on Tuesday, the entertainer penned an emotional message about her love for the country of her birth.

‘My birthplace. My home. My country. Today Nigeria turns 65 ,’ she wrote.

Despite the challenges bedeviling the nation, Cuppy praised the resilience and unwavering spirit of Nigerians.

‘Through it all, our people keep persevering and finding joy even in the toughest times. God didn’t rush when He made us!!! He gave us resilience and spirit. In my next life, would STILL choose to be Nigerian,’ she added.

Her post has since sparked reactions online, with many users hailing her for her patriotic message while others called on leaders to make the country truly worth celebrating.

Nigeria marked 65 years of independence on October 1, 2025, with nationwide events and messages of hope from citizens both at home and abroad.

Ebonyi governor, Francis Nwifuru has assured that the state is working hard to overcome the challenge of high illiteracy among its people by expanding opportunities for education.

Nwifuru said that the state had expanded opportunities for primary, secondary and higher education in the state.

The Governor revealed this in Abakiliki on Wednesday at a rally marking the state’s 29th and Nigeria’s 65 years anniversary.

He, however, said it was unfortunate that many youths in the state were not leveraging opportunities being created by the government to advance their education background.

He urged the youths to embrace the policies of the state government on education and ensure that they went back to school to protect their future.

‘My government has created a lot of opportunities for the youths. We have 200 young graduates who are on overseas scholarship and no fewer than 600 are also in different universities on scholarship.

‘Sincerely I commend our past leaders and elder statesmen. I appreciate your resilience in advancing the state, your efforts and the infrastructure that you have put in place are commendable.

‘I salute former governor, Sen. David Umahi, for the legacies he left behind. The infrastructural development speaks volumes in the state and Nigeria at large,’ he said.

‘I thank God Ebonyi is moving forward; 2026 is our set year for project commissioning. We have done a lot in human capital development,’ Nwifuru said.

Also speaking, a former governor of the state, Dr Sam Egwu, commended Nwifuru for his developmental stride and urged him to keep the flag flying.

‘I commended him for taking Ebonyi to greater heights, especially in the area of education and infrastructure,’ Egwu said.

An American animated sitcom, The Simpsons Movie has announced that it will be making a comeback with a sequel.

This sequel, which comes 20 years after the original was released is set to be released in 2027. The announcement of the sequel was made on Monday and was confirmed by 20th Century Studios and Disney.

Fans quickly expressed their excitement for the announcement. The initial Simpsons movie, which was directed by David Silverman, made about $536 million at the box office.

Matt Selma, the sitcom’s writer and producer also expressed his excitement for the sequel, noting that it will gain fans from a different generation.

Kogi State has been thrown into mourning after a tragic boat mishap on the River Niger claimed no fewer than 20 lives.

The ill-fated boat, packed with traders and community members from Onugwa in Ibaji Local Government Area, was heading to Ilushi Market in Edo State on Tuesday evening when it capsized midway.

Eyewitnesses said the passengers were travelling for the October 1 celebration and market day when the boat, overloaded with people and goods, went under.

Local farmer James Otoga, who witnessed the tragedy, said only five people were rescued alive. ‘So far, 20 bodies have been recovered, but more of our people are still trapped in the river,’ he said, his voice breaking.

Confirming the disaster, Ibaji council chairman Hon. Ugeh Emmanuel described it as ‘the most disastrous accident in the history of the local government.’

‘As I speak to you, nobody can say the exact number of casualties. We don’t even know how many boarded the boat. It happened around 4:30pm, and most of the victims were on their way for the October 1st celebration,’ he said.

The state government, through Commissioner for Information Kingsley Fanwo, called the tragedy ‘unfortunate’ and confirmed the rising death toll.

Governor Usman Ododo, in a condolence message, directed emergency agencies to support the victims’ families and promised tighter waterway safety measures in collaboration with federal authorities.

He also urged riverine communities to prioritise safety by avoiding overloading and always using life jackets.

Boat accidents have become a grim trend in Kogi and other riverine states. Last December, 19 passengers died when another overloaded wooden boat capsized on the River Niger while heading to Kacha Market in Niger State.

For the families of Ibaji, however, this latest tragedy has brought October 1 not as a day of celebration, but of tears.