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An Abuja woman identified as Ene Queen Bamaiyi has been arraigned for allegedly fraudulently converting the sum of N124 million out of N240 million entrusted to her by one Bright Okubo for foreign exchange conversion to her personal use.

Bamayi was arraigned before Justice A.A. Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja, on a one-count charge of criminal breach of trust to the tune of N240, 500,000 (Two Hundred and Forty Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) by the EFCC.

The charge reads: ‘That you, Ene Queen Bamayi (female), sometime in May 2024 in Abuja within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, while being entrusted with the sum of N240,500,000.00 (Two Hundred and Forty Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) by one Bright Okubo for conversion at dollar equivalent, did dishonestly convert N124,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty-Four Million Naira) out of the said sum to your personal use in violation of the purpose for which the money was entrusted with you, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 312 of the same Code.’

She pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge, following which the prosecution counsel, Joshua Saidi requested a trial date and informed the court of his intention to invite five witnesses to prove the case. However, the defence counsel, M.A. Attah, SAN, prayed the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition and on liberal terms, citing her status as a single mother of a two-year-old child.

Justice Halilu, after considering the submissions, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N30 million with two reliable sureties in like sum, who are not below Grade Level 14 in the civil service.

The Judge further ordered that the defendant deposited her passport with the EFCC and be remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre, pending the fulfilment of her bail conditions.

The case was adjourned till December 2 and 3, 2025 for trial.

Reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights suggest Bashar al-Assad has been hospitalised in Moscow following an alleged poisoning attempt.

Daily Mail report claims Assad was released from hospital on Monday, with his condition described as stable.

Assad, 60, who was granted asylum in Russia after being ousted in Syria nearly a year ago, has not been seen in public since arriving. Only his brother Maher has been permitted to visit him amid heightened security. The motive behind the alleged attack is unclear, but it is believed to have been orchestrated to damage Russia’s diplomatic interests and implicate Moscow. The Russian government has yet to comment.

Syria’s new authorities have demanded Assad’s extradition, but Russia has refused. There are no confirmed reports of his condition being critical, although unverified reports previously indicated he felt unwell before his hospitalisation.

There is no independent confirmation of the poisoning at this stage. Further updates are awaited.

Pan-African game development studio, Maliyo Games, is once again in the global spotlight as Apple Inc. prepares to feature some of its flagship titles as part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebrations.

The showcase underscores Maliyo’s growing reputation as one of Africa’s most influential creative technology companies.

Among the titles to be highlighted on the App Store are Safari City, Crazy Ludo, Whot King, and Secret Letter. Each game reflects African artistry and storytelling, combining familiar play mechanics with themes rooted in music, art, and everyday experiences across the continent.

‘This recognition from Apple, coming just months after our feature by Google, is another powerful validation of our vision,’ said Hugo Obi, Founder of Maliyo Games.

‘We are proving that African stories and creativity belong on the global stage, while inspiring the next generation of developers across the continent,’ Obi added.

Earlier this year, Maliyo was profiled in Google Play’s #WeArePlay campaign – a global film series spotlighting developers who are shaping the future of gaming. The feature chronicled Obi’s journey from Lagos to the world, emphasising not only the studio’s expanding catalogue but also its pioneering training initiative, GameUp Africa. ‘Through this feature, millions of players and industry leaders are discovering how Maliyo is blending African creativity with mobile-first accessibility, and how programmes like GameUp Africa are ensuring that African titles are designed for Africans, by Africans, and for the world,’ Obi explained.

Now in its fifth year, GameUp Africa has reached over 6,000 aspiring developers across more than 20 countries, offering training in programming, game art, and audio design.

According to Obi, its graduates are already contributing to major projects and launching independent studios. ‘Behind every global spotlight is a growing ecosystem of African talent,’ he said.

Maliyo’s recent milestones also include Apple’s Africa Day App Store Feature and partnerships such as the Disney-backed Iwájú: Rising Chef project, further positioning the studio as a cultural ambassador for African creativity in gaming.

Looking ahead, the company will host MaliyoCON 2025, its first-ever developer-led gaming conference, in Lagos this December. The event will bring together creators, investors, policymakers, and innovators to explore the future of Africa’s gaming industry, unlock opportunities in mobile entertainment, and showcase homegrown talent on a global stage.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has demanded a written retraction, public apology, and the sum of ?100 billion as compensation from Hon. Barr. Eze Chikamnayo, also known as Iyierioba Chikamnayo, over what he described as a series of defamatory publications on Facebook.

In a letter dated October 2, 2025, and signed by his counsel, Dr. Sonny Ajala (SAN) of Deeplaw Associates, Governor Otti said the publications were ‘defamatory and malicious.’

The governor accused Chikamnayo of consistently making ‘unjustified and malicious online defamatory statements’ against him on his Facebook account titled Iyierioba Chikamnayo. ‘Sabbath Message’ (September 13, 2025)

‘Alex Otthief is a confirmed criminal and congenital liar = looting governor!’ (August 15, 2025).

Ajala stressed that the governor’s identity was unmistakable, noting:

‘Our client is the only Governor and Chief Executive of a State within the 36 States of Nigeria who bears the name Alex Chioma Otti. Thus, no effort is required by members of the public to link your spiteful, false, and defamatory attacks to him, whether by direct name-calling or through caricature, pun, simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, or metonymy.’ The senior advocate defended Otti’s reputation, describing him as a man of ‘unimpeachable integrity,’ highlighting his distinguished career in the banking sector where he rose to become Managing Director/Chief Executive of Diamond Bank Plc before transitioning into politics.

The letter also noted that Otti became aware of the publications on September 29, 2025, while in Abuja for the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on the state’s Attorney-General. At that time, his attention was drawn to what was described as ‘a cocktail of disparaging publications calculated to instigate public hatred against him.’

Ajala stated that the governor ‘unequivocally denies in their entirety the malicious defamatory materials published online,’ insisting that Otti ‘has no criminal indictment or conviction by any court of law,’ and therefore the posts amounted to ‘blatant falsehood.’

The counsel further argued that the publications inflicted ‘unquantifiable mental torture, depression, denigration, and a brutal destruction of his reputation built over decades,’ leaving Otti ‘utterly disfigured and diminished in the eyes of right-thinking members of society.’

Governor Otti’s demands include:

A written retraction of all defamatory posts to be published both on the same Facebook wall and in four national newspapers.

A written apology published on the same platforms.

Payment of ?100 billion as compensation for reputational damage.

An undertaking to desist from any further defamatory publications.

Ajala concluded the letter with a stern warning:

‘Take very careful notice that should you fail, refuse, and/or ignore to comply with our demands within seven (7) days of receiving this letter, we shall, without further recourse to you, seek legal redress and pursue appropriate remedies for your malicious online libel against our client.’

President Bola Tinubu congratulates the management and staff of Kresta Laurel Limited on the 35th anniversary of the leading indigenous elevator company.

Kresta Laurel Limited is a major player in elevators and escalators, with headquarters in Lagos, branches in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Uyo, and a zonal office in Ibadan.

The company is a recipient of the African Order of Merit in Cranes, Escalators, and Elevator Technology.

President Tinubu commends Kresta Laurel for its enterprise discipline, noting that its longevity could only have come from resilience, effective management, and sound business practices. The President recalls the space support provided by the company to him and his transition team in 1999, when he put together his technocratic cabinet, which took charge of Lagos affairs from May 1999.

President Tinubu thanks Kresta Laurel for its support and unwavering belief in the Nigerian market.

The President congratulates Senator Gbenga Daniel, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kresta Laurel Limited, and wishes the business more success and many remarkable anniversaries.

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.

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.

Hellen Ati, the woman who claims to have a child with popular nightlife promoter Cubana Chiefpriest, has taken to social media in tears, lamenting his refusal to conduct a DNA test.

In a video shared on her Instagram page, Hellen expressed her frustration, accusing the socialite of manipulating public opinion against her. She said many now see her as a clout chaser, making her the target of online bullying.

‘He made people believe that what I am doing is clout chasing, content. Nobody believes me. Everybody is just dragging me every day,’ she said tearfully.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and other activists and passengers have been detained by the Israeli military while intercepting boats sailing towards Gaza with aid.

The aid, sponsored by the the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) was making an attempt to break Israel’s 18-year blockade of Gaza. The Israeli foreign ministry on, X, revealed that the people detained were safe and healthy and were being transported to Israel. He further revealed that they plan to begin their deportation process to Europe once they get to Israel.

‘One last vessel of this provocation remains at a distance. If it approaches, its attempt to enter an active combat zone and breach the blockade will also be prevented.Greta and her friends are safe and healthy,’ he stated.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed filed to challenge the state of emergency declared for Rivers State on 18 March 2025, by President Bola Tinubu.

Presiding Judge, Justice James Omotosho, while delivering his verdict in the case brought by Belema Briggs and four others, said the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to initiate the case.

Following a prolonged political tension in Rivers, Tinubu had declared emergency rule in Rivers State, citing a potential breakdown of law and order. The declaration entailed the suspension of the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months. In their place, the president appointed a sole administrator to oversee the state’s governance during the emergency period.

Displeased with the move, the plaintiffs approached the court seeking to overturn the declaration and restore the suspended officials. However, the court held that none of the claimants had the legal authority to file the suit, noting that they did not represent any state institution or hold any office that would grant them such powers. But Justice Omotosho stated that the plaintiffs failed to contest the president’s rationale for imposing emergency rule, which was to avert an impending breakdown of law and order. He noted that the relevant provisions of the law were properly invoked by the president, and that no breach of fundamental rights could be established under the circumstances.

He further dismissed the claim that the lawsuit was brought on behalf of the people of Rivers State, stating that there was no evidence that the plaintiffs had obtained the mandate of the people, nor had they secured authorisation from the Attorney General of the state.

Describing the suit as ‘frivolous and baseless,’ the judge said none of the plaintiffs had suffered any special harm or injury beyond what might affect the general population of Rivers State.

Tinubu officially ended the emergency rule on 18 September 2025. In a speech, he revealed that over 40 legal challenges had been lodged in relation to the declaration, including a high-profile suit by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party currently pending before the Supreme Court.