Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

A pressure group championing the interests of the western senatorial zone of Kogi State, Okun Leaders League, OLL, has sent a strong warning to traditional rulers in the six local government of the zone to be wary of any arrangement that does not promote the political interest of their people.

The call was made in a statement signed by representatives of the local governments against news of a visit to Kabba by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for a political meeting with traditional rulers of Okun land.

The statement suggested that the meeting was called to jettison the gubernatorial dream of Okun people in 2027.

But the group cautioned the royal fathers not to endorse any plans that will threaten the aspiration of the people of the senatorial zone to produce the next governor of the state.

The statement reads in full:

“It has come to the attention of the Okun Leaders League, OLL, that a meeting has reportedly been scheduled between the Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo and the Okun Traditional Council, for Friday October 31, 2025. The said meeting, which is purported for Kabba, headquarters of Kabba-Bunu council area, is intended to seek the endorsement of the Okun traditional institution for a second term for Ododo, come 2027.

“Information at the disposal of OLL suggests that Okunland will be baited with the position of Deputy Governor on the Ododo ticket for the 2027 gubernatorial poll. The aim is to effectively extinguish the aspirations of the good people of Okunland for the governorship office which has serially eluded them in the 34 year history of Kogi State, but more currently since the beginning of the Fourth Republic 26 years ago.

“To refresh our collective memories, by 2027, the Igala ethnicity in Kogi East would have held the office of Kogi State Governor for 16 years post-1999, while the Ebiras would have held the same position for 12 years. History reminds us that in the Second Republic in the old Kwara State, Alhaji Adamu Atta from Ebiraland served as governor for four years between 1979 and 1983. In Nigeria’s Third Republic, Prince Abubakar Audu served as Kogi State Governor for two years. When these figures are added, it sums up that while the Igala ethnic group has held the office of Governor for 18 years, the Ebiras would have occupied the same office for 16 years by 2027.

“In this curious leadership statistics in Kogi State, the Okun nationality which is supposed to be the third leg of the sociopolitical tripod in Kogi State has been utterly relegated in the governance scheme. On two occasions between 1992 and 1993, and between 2012 and 2016, Okun sons served as Deputy Governor of Kogi State. In Nigeria’s political system, we know too well that deputies are nothing but dispensable “spare tyres” who breathe and function at the sole discretion of their principals. They are toothless, powerless, and incapable of bringing home the dividends of growth and progress, which we all crave in a democracy.

“Okun Leaders League therefore calls upon our royal fathers to resist consenting to any arrangement calculated to hoodwink, cajole, and undermine the collective intelligence of our people. Much as they are appointees of the state government, they are primarily custodians of our customs and traditions who are expected to be totally non-partisan and apolitical. Okun traditional rulers must reject anything and everything that will set them up against their people, irrespective of the level of material inducement or intimidation that has characterized godfather politics in Kogi State within the past decade.

“Our numbers and support have been leveraged in the past to raise governors in Kogi State. Since the unbroken run of democratic rule in 1999, Kogi State has produced five governors, and not one has been from Okunland. To borrow from the evergreen lyrics of the iconic reggae artist Bob Marley, “we’ve been trampled upon for far too long.” Okun people reject any attempt to insult and patronise us with the position of Deputy Governor. We must warn that any individual or group of individuals who accept any denigrating office for self gratification, purportedly on behalf of the Okun nation straddling Lokoja, Kabba-Bunu, Ijumu, Mopamuro, Yagba East and Yagba West, does so at his or her own peril.”

The statement was endorsed by Group Captain Denja Mahmud rtd, Oworo, Lokoja; Canon Andrew Baiyekuhi Kabba-Bunu; Mallam Qassim Yusuf, Ijumu; Dr James Ogbondeminu, Mopamuro; Engineer Omobowale Palufe, Yagba East; and Chief Samuel Obaro, Yagba West.

The Carpenter’s Church has announced the passing of its presiding pastor, Pastor Mrs. Nkechi Chinyere Ene, describing her transition as a great loss to the church and the body of Christ.

ccording to a statement issued by Pastor Sola Akinwale on behalf of the church, Pastor Ene passed away on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, after returning from an extensive ministry trip marked by “miracles and testimonies.” The statement noted that she experienced a sudden health crisis while in Lagos shortly after her return to Nigeria.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing into glory of God’s servant, our presiding pastor, our mother-in-Israel, Pastor Nkechi Ene,” the statement read. “As our hearts hurt and questions assail our minds, we rest assured in the unwavering truth that God is good and His mercies endure forever.”

Described as a woman of great faith and conviction, Pastor Ene was celebrated for her dedication to spreading the Word of God and her lifelong commitment to service. “She lived and believed the Word of God till the very end,” the church said. “She has now heard the words from her Master, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.'”

The church called for prayers and support for her family, including her husband, Brother Emeka Ene, and their daughters — Zoe, Chloe, Tracy, and Osi. The statement also extended condolences to her mother, Ma Mercy Chijioke, and her siblings.

“As a church family, we acknowledge that this is a very challenging time for us,” the statement continued. “At times like these, we must embrace, comfort, and encourage one another, starting with our pastor’s family.”

Despite the deep sense of loss, The Carpenter’s Church expressed gratitude to God for what it described as an “excellent and productive life well lived,” noting that Pastor Ene’s impact extended far beyond the pulpit.

“We honour and celebrate one of the great generals of God in our generation — one who lived and taught the undiluted Word of God, danced with the Holy Spirit, and by precept and example taught us to do the same,” Pastor Akinwale wrote. “Her life was marked by faith in God, sacrificial service, and profound love for humanity.”

The church emphasized that her legacy will continue to inspire the congregation and believers around the world.

“Though now absent from us, her impact and legacy endure in our hearts and in our lives,” the statement concluded. “We celebrate God’s general, our mother-in-Israel, Pastor Mrs. Nkechinyere Ene. The Lord is good, and His mercies endure forever.”

By Obinna Unaeze

The Anambra State Police Command has commenced a manhunt for the suspected abductors of a medical doctor kidnapped on Thursday in Uruagu, Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Friday in Awka.

ccording to Ikenga, the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered a full-scale investigation and directed tactical teams to ensure the victim’s safe rescue and the arrest of the perpetrators.

“Preliminary information indicates that the incident occurred on October 30, when unidentified assailants abducted the medical doctor under yet-to-be-determined circumstances,” the statement read.

Ikenga noted that the police were actively pursuing all leads, while assuring the public that every effort was being made to secure the victim’s release.

The commissioner, Orutugu called on residents, particularly those in Nnewi and its environs, to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative with law enforcement by providing credible information that could aid the investigation.

He urged anyone with useful details to contact the nearest police station, the Command Control Room via 07039194332, or the PPRO through 08039334002 for prompt assistance.

“The Command remains steadfast in its commitment to the safety and security of all residents and will not relent until the perpetrators are brought to justice,” Orutugu assured.

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Federal Government has commenced the disbursement of funds under the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF) designed to strengthen staff welfare, institutional productivity, and innovation across Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

This is contained in a statement made in Abuja on Friday by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Folasade Boriowo.

Boriowo, while quoting the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, on the milestone, said the welfare was an initiative of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

lausa said the programme had transitioned from planning to full implementation, with more than 9,000 staff of tertiary institutions receiving payments in the first year.

This, he said represented 28 per cent of the 33,000 verified applicants drawn from 219 Federal and State tertiary institutions across the federation.

lausa said the first phase of disbursement covered both academic and non-academic personnel in a 30:70 ratio, reflecting the government’s inclusive approach to supporting all categories of staff in the nation’s higher education institutions.

“The President is delivering for our tertiary institutions- for welfare, for productivity, and for the future.

“Within just four months, payments have started going out. This is a President that delivers, and the Ministry of Education is profoundly grateful for his continuous support and commitment to staff welfare,” Alausa said.

lausa emphasised that the initiative goes beyond financial assistance, describing it as an investment in the nation’s knowledge economy.

“This Fund is not merely about disbursement; it is about restoring dignity, rewarding dedication, and rebuilding the foundation of our knowledge economy,” he said.

He reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to transparency, pledging quarterly financial reporting, institutional engagement, and robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure that all funds were effectively utilised and repaid to expand access for more beneficiaries in the future.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the initiative, launched in August 2025, following a high-level stakeholder engagement in July is a key component of the federal government’s Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI)

It is designed to enhance morale, performance, and institutional excellence within the tertiary education sector.

Under the scheme, eligible staff can access up to N10 million in concessionary zero-interest loans to tackle essential livelihood and productivity needs, including housing, healthcare, education, transportation, and small business ventures.

(NAN)

The Federal Government of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) signed three landmark agreements on Thursday to boost investment in local pharmaceutical manufacturing, broaden vaccine access, and strengthen reproductive health systems across West Africa.

Speaking at the NigeriaEU Health Investment Forum and Signing Ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, stated that the partnership represents “a platform that embodies our shared aspiration for a healthier, more resilient, and more prosperous world through the EU-Nigeria partnership.”

He explained that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding: “Our shared vision is to build a stronger and more competitive pharmaceutical sector that drives innovation, job creation, and mutual prosperity.”

Referring to findings from the World BankIFC Country Private Sector Diagnostic Report (2025), the Minister emphasised Nigeria’s considerable potential for pharmaceutical growth and investment.

“Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing subsector holds enormous potential for technology transfer, value addition, and employment generation,” he said, noting that the government remains focused on policies that “encourage private-sector investment and long-term economic transformation.”

He further stated that Nigeria’s Agenda 2050 aims to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030, driven by private-sector participation and reforms that enhance stability and competitiveness.

“President Tinubu has demonstrated exceptional courage by undertaking the difficult but necessary reforms to put our economy on the right track,” the minister said.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Health (Office of the Vice President), Dr Uju Rochas, who represented Vice President Kashim Shettima, described the agreements as “a turning point in Nigeria’s health investment journey.”

She said: “Our message is clear — Nigeria is open for health investment, innovation, and impact. The President has declared that Nigeria’s health transformation will not be driven by aid and dependency, but by ownership, accountability, and innovation — made in Nigeria, for Nigerians, and by Nigerians.”

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, praised the partnership as evidence of a new cooperation model, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to supporting health resilience and local production through the Global Gateway Initiative.

The three agreements that have been signed are:

ELM-N Enabling Local Manufacturing of Health, Immunisation and Nutrition Commodities in Nigeria

QUALIMEDS Quality Uplift for Advancing Local Industry in Medicine Standards

SRHR-WA Strengthening Reproductive Health and Rights in West Africa

These agreements build upon the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), launched in 2023, which aims to achieve 70% domestic production of essential medicines by 2030, supported by fiscal incentives such as the 2024 Executive Order waiving tariffs and VAT on pharmaceutical machinery and raw materials.

“Nigeria should be the first destination for any investor seeking growth in Africa. This partnership is a reflection of President Tinubu’s vision for a prosperous, self-reliant, and globally competitive Nigeria,” Bagudu stated at the ceremony that was attended by senior Nigerian and EU officials, development partners, and business leaders.

By Abbas Bamalli

The Katsina State Government says it plans to shore up its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), to about N140 billion by 2026.

The state’s Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Malik Anas, disclosed this at the launch of the ‘State of States 2025 Report’ by BudgIT in Abuja.

Mr Shuaibu Sada, the spokesperson of the state’s International Revenue Service (KT-IRS), announced this in a statement on Thursday in Katsina.

ccording to the commissioner, the state’s IGR rose from 10 billion in 2021, to 24 billion in 2024. But he acknowledged that this remained below the state’s extant revenue potential.

He said the government was adopting a community-driven tax system and data-based planning to link revenue collection directly to visible development outcomes at the grassroots.

“We now use tax proceeds to fund community projects so people can see the value of what they contribute.

“We’ve also introduced an e-invoice system for real-time tax assessment and payment, reducing leakages and improving compliance,”Anas.was quoted as adding.

He emphasised that Katsina state was building a comprehensive enterprises’ data warehouse to capture all small and medium-sized businesses, strengthen projections, and broaden the tax base.

“By 2026, we expect to generate up to 140 billion annually, if our data and digital systems are fully implemented,” he said.

(NAN)

Nigerian singer and song-writer, Tiwa Savage has debunked the negative statements made about Afrobeats by other artists.

The artist, in an interview at the Unstoppable Africans event, claimed that the Afrobeats genre is becoming that fastest growing genre in the world.

She dismissed the negative claims made about the genre by fellow artists like Paul Okoye and DJ Big N.

“Afrobeats is the fastest growing genre in the world. We kind of created it with nothing; no support, no infrastructure, no real belief even from our own people initially. I remember growing up in London and I was not happy being African. But now I’m so proud because of how big Afrobeats is growing,” she said.

Tiwa Savage also spoke about the impact of Afrobetas globally. She stated that Afrobeats songs keep topping and dominating international and global charts, emphasising that the genre is here to stay.

“There was a conversation at one point that Afrobeats is going to have its 15 minutes of fame and then fades away. But we are still here. We are not slowing down. In fact, we are filling out stadiums, and we are getting the biggest songs on the charts right now. I don’t know how true this is, but apparently one in every four black persons is a Nigerian or an African. So, we are not going anywhere. As much as they are trying to quiet us down, the music is not going anywhere. We are Africans and we are unstoppable,” she added.

Ghanaian court has sentenced a 29-year-old Nigerian man, Chukwudi Nwachukwu, to 10 years in prison for trafficking his younger sister and nine other girls from Nigeria to Ghana for prostitution.

ccording to court records, Nwachukwu lured the victims, aged between 15 and 18 years, from different communities in Imo and Plateau States, promising them decent jobs in restaurants and beauty salons.

Upon arrival in Ghana, however, the young girls were forced into sex work and subjected to abuse, intimidation, and spiritual manipulation.

;hHow the trafficking ring was uncovered;/h Prosecutor ASP Isaac Babayi told the Achimota Circuit Court that the case came to light after Chief Calistus Eloziepuwa, a member of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Ghana, raised the alarm and rescued the girls.

He narrated that on June 7, 2024, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) at the Ghana Police CID Headquarters received a report from the Nmai Dzorn Police Station that Chief Eloziepuwa and his team had intercepted Nwachukwu and freed ten girls who had been confined in a house at Liberia Camp near Kasoa, Central Region.

“Upon investigation, it was revealed that Nwachukwu had sponsored their transportation from Nigeria and worked with unidentified agents who recruited them from their villages,” Babayi told the court.

;hChilling rituals and threats;/h Further investigations revealed disturbing details. Before forcing the girls into prostitution, Nwachukwu allegedly took them to a shrine, where their pubic hair was cut and used to administer oaths of secrecy.

He reportedly told them that any attempt to disobey him or flee would result in incurable skin diseases or instant death. Each girl was also made to wear waist beads from the shrine as a form of “spiritual control.”

;hFrom deception to forced labour;/h fter the ritual, Chukwudi Nwachukwu moved the girls to Odorkor, a suburb of Accra, where they were made to serve clients daily and pay him G00 (32,000) each day from their earnings. He kept detailed financial records of their payments in an exercise book seized by the police.

The victims were eventually rescued in a sting operation coordinated between NIDO Ghana and the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit.

;hThe court’s verdict;/h Presiding Judge Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong described Nwachukwu’s actions as “heinous and cruel,” especially given that one of the victims was his biological sister.

She convicted him on two counts of human trafficking and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently. Nwachukwu was also ordered to pay GH15,000 (N1.8 million) in compensation to each of the ten victims.

lthough he pleaded for leniency as a first-time offender, the judge stressed that human trafficking had become rampant and required a strong deterrent.

“The court cannot close its eyes to the growing menace of human trafficking. Such crimes destroy lives, families, and the dignity of humanity,” she said.

;hAftermath and Nigerian response;/h The Nigerian High Commission in Ghana confirmed that it had taken custody of the rescued girls. In a memo signed by Acting High Commissioner Ambassador Adeoye Ifedayo, the victims were identified as indigenes of Imo and Plateau States, aged between 14 and 18 years.

They were temporarily sheltered at the High Commission’s compound on Circular Road, Cantonment, Accra, while arrangements were made for their repatriation and rehabilitation.

“We have the honour to report that the Nigerian High Commission, Accra, has taken custody of the 11 trafficked Nigerian girls rescued by officials of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation,” the memo read.

American music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has officially begun serving his 50-month prison sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Fort Dix, a low-security facility located within a military base in New Jersey.

Diddy was convicted in July 2025 on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, was transferred early Thursday morning, October 30, from the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, where he had been held since his September 2024 arrest.

ccording to People Magazine, the transfer came days after a near-death scare inside the MDC, where an inmate allegedly broke into Diddy’s cell and held a knife to his throat.

close associate, Charlucci Finney, described the incident to the Daily Mail as “a warning” rather than a murder attempt.

Following the incident, Diddy’s lawyers reportedly requested an urgent transfer, citing safety concerns and the harsh conditions at the Brooklyn facility. They requested Fort Dix due to its rehabilitation programs, family access, and lower security risks.

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons confirmed that Diddy’s 13 months already served will count toward his sentence. His projected release date is May 8, 2028, though he may be released earlier with good behaviour and participation in rehabilitation programmes.

Fort Dix, which has previously housed public figures like Real Housewives of New Jersey star Joe Giudice, offers inmates basic privileges, including access to vocational classes and a commissary that sells snacks like tuna, rice cakes, and Pop-Tarts.

The 55-year-old’s legal team is appealing his conviction, while reports confirm that President Donald Trump has received his request for a presidential pardon, though no decision has been made.

The transfer marks a major turning point in Diddy’s ongoing legal saga, one now shadowed by alleged prison threats, safety fears, and a growing public debate over his fall from grace.

US space agency NASA has dismissed claims by reality TV star Kim Kardashian that the 1969 Moon landing was staged.

Kardashian, in the latest episode of The Kardashians, said she believed the Apollo 11 mission that took astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the Moon “didn’t happen.”

“I think it was fake. I’ve seen videos of Buzz Aldrin talking about how it didn’t happen,” she told co-star Sarah Paulson, adding that she often “centres conspiracy theories.”

Reacting on X, NASA’s acting administrator, Sean Duffy, directly addressed Kardashian’s claim. “Yes, we’ve been to the Moon before six times!” he wrote, tagging the celebrity.

He also used the moment to promote NASA’s upcoming Artemis mission — part of America’s renewed effort to return to the Moon under President Donald Trump’s leadership.

“We won the last space race, and we will win this one too,” Duffy added.

Kardashian later responded by asking about a new interstellar object called 3I/Atlas, believed to be one of the oldest comets ever recorded.

Duffy then invited her to visit the Kennedy Space Center for the next Artemis launch.

For over 50 years, scientists have consistently debunked conspiracy theories that suggest the Apollo 11 mission was faked. According to the Institute of Physics, “Every single argument claiming NASA faked the Moon landings has been discredited.”