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Nollywood actor and director Daniel Etim-Effiong has revealed that he prays before filming romantic scenes, saying his faith keeps him grounded despite the demands of his profession.

The actor, who made his directorial debut with The Herd, said he often seeks divine guidance before performing kissing scenes on set, a practice he described as ‘part of his worship.’

‘I get all my inspiration from God,’ Etim-Effiong said during an interview on Channels TV’s Rubbin’ Minds. ‘I go on my knees and pray before I go to set and kiss.’

Etim-Effiong, who has faced public criticism for his romantic roles, particularly after a viral clip from Summer Rain showed him kissing actress Bolaji Ogunmola, said his focus remains on storytelling, not controversy.

‘The fact that I play a lot of romantic roles means I get to have kissing scenes sometimes. But the question should go to the producers, why are they expressing affection only one way? There are other ways to show intimacy,’ he said.

The 37-year-old actor, who quit a successful career in engineering to pursue acting, said his journey is rooted in purpose.

‘My family is my garden, then my work. Acting feels like a calling to me, a way to worship through storytelling,’ he added.

Daniel Etim-Effiong also explained why producers continue to include romantic scenes in movies, saying it’s simply market demand.

‘The average Nollywood script says, ‘kiss passionately,’ because that’s what sells. But I believe there are braver ways to explore affection on screen,’ he said.

Despite the attention around his roles, Etim-Effiong insists that faith, focus, and family remain his compass. ‘When you’re a focused person, you don’t let naysayers get to you,’ he said. ‘You just do your job and move with purpose.’

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has said his team actually played better in their loss to Arsenal than in some of their recent victories.

Arsenal had beaten United 1-0 at Old Trafford in the opening game of the 2025-26 season.

Since then, Amorim has helped the Red Devils turn things around with three straight wins against Sunderland, Liverpool, and Brighton. The team now sits fourth in the Premier League table.

After the 4-2 victory over Brighton on Saturday, Amorim told reporters:

‘I think our best game this season was the first one against Arsenal. But today’s game was more complete than the one against Liverpool.

You can say whatever you want about Liverpool they didn’t deserve to lose, even though we deserved to win.

‘Against Brighton, we did a bit of everything we kept the ball, created chances, defended well both high and deep. I liked today’s performance more than last weekend.’

The Portuguese coach also praised forward Bryan Mbeumo, who scored twice in the Brighton game.

‘He’s a machine,’ Amorim said. ‘He works so hard, especially in transitions, and he’s getting better in front of goal.’

The House of Representatives has summoned key government agencies and private sector stakeholders as it begins an investigation into the growing problem of illicit drugs and substance abuse across the country.

Among those invited are the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Nigeria Police Force, Punch disclosed.

Others include the Federal Ministries of Health and Aviation, the Nigeria Customs Service, Immigration Service, Correctional Service, and top pharmaceutical companies such as Emzor, Fidson, May and Baker, Juhel, and Dana.

Brewing giants like Nigerian Breweries, Guinness Nigeria, and International Distillers Limited, as well as representatives of the tobacco industry, have also been asked to appear.

The probe will also involve professional and civil society groups such as the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Nigerian Medical Association, Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, and the National Youth Council.

International development partners including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, UNDP, and USAID were also invited to submit memoranda.

The Ad-hoc Committee, chaired by Hon. Oluwatimehin Adelegbe (Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Ondo State), was set up to investigate drug trafficking, abuse, and regulatory lapses across Nigeria.

In a statement on Sunday, Adelegbe said the panel would examine the root causes of drug abuse, identify institutional weaknesses, and recommend stronger control measures to protect public health and security.

He added that the committee’s findings would guide a detailed report to be presented to the House for further legislative action.

Officials of the Kogi State Ministry of Works are putting finishing touches to the drawing and other technical details for a permanent solution to the deterioration of the access roads to Takete Ide, MopAmuro Local Government Area.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, who made this known, however, said he has directed the Kogi Road Management Agency, KOGROMA, to carry out a comprehensive palliative on the roads, pending its reconstruction.

The governor disclosed this on weekend when he was represented by his deputy Joel Salifu Oyibo at the annual Takete Ide Day festival. The event incorporated 200 million Naira fundraisers for development projects.

‘I am aware of some of the challenges confronting this community, particularly the state of your road, which links many communities and at least three Local Government Areas. Our administration is already working to address this. The engineers from the Kogi State Ministry of Works have completed all the necessary assessments, and I can assure you that work is in progress to ensure a lasting solution.

‘However, before the major construction begins, I have directed the Kogi State Road Maintenance Agency (KOGROMA) to make the Takete Ide-Amuro-Ayede Amuro road motorable through grading and filling of critical portions with laterite.’

Ododo also promised to engage the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the state’s development partners, to explore how the State Government can support the construction of a befitting palace of the Olude of Takete Ide.

The governor commended the people of Takete Ide for their remarkable communal efforts in providing basic infrastructure in their community.

‘Government cannot do it alone. We appreciate communities like yours that complement government’s developmental strides through self-help initiatives and unity of purpose.

‘In Takete Ide, we have remodelled the Government Day Secondary School, making it beautiful and conducive for learning. I have also approved the provision of befitting furniture for the school. In addition, the GYB Health Centre in Takete Ide is one of over 200 Primary Healthcare Centres being remodelled across the State. Work is ongoing there, and we will continue to do more for Takete Ide and its people.’

Previous speakers notably chairman of the Central Planning Committee and the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy Kingsley Fanwo and the Ptesident of the Takete Ide Progressive Union, TIPU, Richard Fiki, in separate remarks had appreciated the governor for his attendance and appealed for his urgent intervention in the reconstruction of the access roads.

The carnival-like ceremony featured the decoration of eight individuals as the community’s cultural ambassadors and presentation of awards to deserving sons and daughters in recognition of their commitment.

Different groups like the Takete Ide Students Union, TISU, women, Egungun, Imole dancers, and hunters also made presentations.

The festival was attended by Royal fathers led by the Elulu of Mopa and Cjairmam MopAmuro Tradotional Council, Oba Muyiwa Ibeun, businessmen, religious leaders and politicians.

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has opened a new examination centre in London, United Kingdom, PM News has learnt.

Findings show that the move is part of NECO’s plan to expand its global presence.

The Council now has centres in eight countries, with new ones expected soon in Burkina Faso and Egypt.

NECO’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, officially launched the London centre in partnership with Barnfield Education Ltd (BEP Education).

He said the new centre will make it easier for Nigerians living abroad to access quality education and take NECO exams.

In a statement from Minna, Niger State, NECO’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, said Professor Wushishi gave a keynote speech at the Education Matters Conference UK 2025.

The event was aimed at informing education stakeholders about NECO’s presence in the UK.

The new centre will give Nigerian students and adults living in the UK a chance to complete their secondary education or gain equivalent certificates, even if they could not do so before.

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, and his Edo State counterpart, Monday Okpebholo, will on Monday oversee the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus affirmation congress in Ekiti State.

The event will confirm Governor Biodun Oyebanji as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2026 election.

The Ekiti governorship election is scheduled for June 20, 2026.

Governor Oyebanji became the sole candidate after one of the two cleared aspirants, Mrs. Atinuke Omolayo Oluremi, voluntarily withdrew from the race and endorsed him.

The APC National Working Committee (NWC) had earlier changed the mode of the primary from direct to consensus, in line with the Electoral Act 2022 and the party’s constitution.

According to the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the decision followed Mrs. Omolayo’s withdrawal and endorsement of the governor.

She also stated her support for any legal process the party adopts to select its flag bearer.

The APC has informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of this change, as required by law.

A Special Nomination Congress will be held on Monday, October 27, 2025, to officially ratify the governor’s candidacy. The event will take place at Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado Ekiti, by 10 a.m.

A 10-member committee, led by Governor Ododo, will conduct the exercise. Okpebholo will serve as deputy chairman, while Hon. Taiwo Sunmonu is the secretary.

Other committee members include:

Iyom Nikky Ejezie

Hon. Rufus Bature

Hon. Latifah Ibirogba

Dr. Chibuzor Nduagbua Agu

Chief Gabriel Oyebode

Chief Hope Dike

Engr. Shehu Umaru Dange

Tags: APC, Ekiti, Oyebanji, Ododo, Okpebholo

A 36-year-old tenant, Akinola Babatunde, has been remanded by a Lagos Magistrate’s Court after being accused of fraudulently selling his landlord’s property for N45 million.

According to the police, Babatunde allegedly connived with others still at large to sell the property located at No. 7, Fagbile Estate, Isheri Oshun, to one Ernest Dumbri Igbinedion.

The sale was reportedly carried out with alleged forged documents.

The landlord was said to have initially accommodated the defendant in the building to deter suspected property grabbers.

However, the alleged fraud came to light when Igbinedion moved workers to the site to begin development, only for the landlord to confront them, insisting he never authorised the sale.

Following a petition from the complainant, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, AIG Adegoke Fayoade, ordered Babatunde’s arrest.

The defendant was later arraigned before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court sitting at Tinubu Magistrate’s Court on a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, and stealing.

Police prosecutor, DSP Francis Igbinosa, told the court that the offence occurred in March 2025, at Fagbile Estate, Isheri Oshun

. He stated that Babatunde’s actions contravened Sections 411, 314, and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges. Chief Magistrate A.O. Alogba granted him bail and adjourned the case for further hearing.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied releasing a timetable for its upcoming congresses that has been circulating online.

The fake document, titled ‘Draft APC 2025 Schedule of Nationwide Congresses and Related Activities,’ claimed that ward and local government congresses would hold on December 10 and 12, 2025. It also mentioned that state and zonal congresses would follow, leading up to a national convention between March 25 and 28, 2026.

However, the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, released a statement on Sunday saying the document was fake.

‘The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a false ‘APC 2025 Schedule of Nationwide Congresses and Related Activities’ circulating on social media,’ the statement read. ‘Our party wishes to make it clear that this schedule was not issued or approved by the APC and should be ignored.’

The APC last held its ward, local government, and state congresses in 2021. Its most recent national convention took place in March 2022, where Senator Abdullahi Adamu became national chairman and Senator Iyiola Omisore national secretary.

There are reports suggesting that the current National Working Committee (NWC), along with state, local government, and ward executives, may have their tenures extended beyond the 2027 general elections.

The South-East Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the House Representatives have threatened to boycott the forthcoming national convention of the party if Woman Leader position is removed from the zone.

Spokesperson of the zone in the House of Representatives, Ikenga-Imo Ugochinyere, made the position of his colleagues known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Ugochinyere said that they will issue a disclaimer against the convention slated to hold Nov.15 and Nov.16 in Ibadan in two weeks if they confirmed that the party had zoned woman leader outside the zone.

He said that there is still time to remedy the situation before screening of aspirants if the insinuation making the rounds has any iota of truth.

Ugochinyere said that no elected lawmaker from South-East will remain in PDP if the impending insult is allowed to happen.

‘We don’t want to see PDP suffer more setbacks, still, we will stick to our position at the Ibadan convention if, in the next few weeks what we are hearing is confirmed.

‘If the position of National woman leader is not ceded expressly to Imo and an Imo person is allowed to emerge, we will boycott the convention,’ he said.

According to him, now that Gov. Mbah has left for APC, that earlier arrangement of Enugu producing a woman leader no longer stands because Mbah’s woman leader nominee is also in APC.

The lawmaker explained that Gov. Mbah’s defection has provided opportunity for the party to address the injustice of depriving Imo the woman leader position.

He alleged that an arrow head within the party is the brain behind the plot to deprive Imo its rightful woman leader slot.

‘However, confirmed information is filtering in that some people is trying to move that woman leader position out of the South-East to the South-South.’

He warned that such a plot would provoke the entire South-East and alienate them from the Ibadan national convention and the PDP generally.

‘This will compound the ongoing confusion in the PDP. If the remaining stakeholders from the South-East boycott the convention, that will bring the party into more crisis.’

Ugochinyere appealed to Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun to use his position as one of the leaders of PDP in Southern Nigeria to ensure that the position is given to the South-East and Imo.

‘We don’t want to believe the information that one of the party’s leader is plotting to cede the woman leader position to the South-South.

‘It would be very insulting to the South-East if a position that is there is taking away and given to the South-South.’

A shocking tragedy has struck a small Russian community after a newborn baby was killed when her five-year-old sister allegedly threw her out of a fourth-floor window.

The horrifying incident happened in Vasilyevo village, Tatarstan, while the children’s mother was reportedly away visiting a friend.

Eyewitnesses said they heard a child screaming from the apartment window before spotting the lifeless body of the 21-day-old baby on the concrete below.

Paramedics rushed to the scene but confirmed the infant was already dead.

Local investigators said the mother, who left the girls alone while her husband was at work, may face criminal charges for negligence.

Authorities are probing whether the older child acted out of jealousy toward her baby sister.

District chief Mikhail Afanasyev described the case as ‘heartbreaking’ and urged parents to ‘never leave young children unattended.’

Police say a criminal case has been opened to determine the full circumstances surrounding the child’s death.