Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Bayelsa Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has sued the House of Assembly, the Speaker, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and othera over alleged plot to impeach him.

In an originating summons, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2212025, Ewhrudjakpo alleged among others, that members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly were being pressured to impeach him for failing to resign, like the governor, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on whose platform they got to office.

Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri, recently resigned for the PDP but with the Deputy Governor failing to resign his membership of the PDP as well.

In the suit filed on his behalf at the Federal High Court in Abuja, by his lawyer, Reuben Egwuaba, it was alleged that members of the House of Assembly were currently being plotting to impeach Ewhrudjakpo.

It was also alleged that some Local Government Chairmen, including that of Sagbama Local Government Area, Mrs. Alice Tange, are also being threatened with sack for allegedly failing to abandon the PDP along with the governor.

On October 27, after listening to Egwuaba, who moved an ex-parte motion, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered the defendants to appear before the court to show cause why the interim reliefs being sought against them by the plaintiff should not be granted.

Listed as defendants in the suit are: Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), the Attorney General of Bayelsa State, the state’s Chief Judge and the Clerk of the state’s Assembly.

Justice Nwite, in the October 27 ruling, held that that the interest of justice will be met by issuing an order for all the defendants to appear and show cause why an order of interim injunction should not be granted against them pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed by the plaintiff

The judge adjourned till November 13 for the defendants to show cause, failing which he would proceed to hear the motion on notice.

The interim reliefs being sought in the motion on notice includes an order restraining the defendants from removing or impeaching Ewhrudjakpo by disregarding the provision of Section 188(5), (6), (7)(a), (b), (8), (9) and (11) and Section 36(1) of the Constitution based on his decision not to defect/decamp from the PDO to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any registered political party before the expiration of his four years tenure as an elected deputy governor of Bayelsa state pending hearing of the motion on notice.

He also wants an order restraining the defendants from initiating impeachment notice, impeachment proceedings/meetings of the Bayelsa state House of Assembly against him on his decision not to defect/decamp from the PDP to the APC before the expiration of his four years tenure as an elected Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

Ewhrudjakpo also wants an order restraining the defendants from conducting any meeting, sitting, conference for the purpose of initiating or igniting impeachment proceedings against him as well as an order restraining the defendants from recognizing and dealing with the appointment of any member of the APC as the Deputy Governor of the state.

He is also praying the the court for an order restraining the IGP, the DG of the SSS and the Bayelsa State AG from withdrawing his security protection as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

Brendan Rodgers has resigned as Celtic manager with the Scottish giants’ major shareholder accusing him of ‘divisive, misleading and self-serving’ behaviour.

Former boss Martin O’Neill, 73, and ex-player Shaun Maloney will take charge until a permanent successor is appointed, the club said Monday.

Rodgers’ second spell at Celtic ended after Sunday’s 3-1 Scottish Premiership defeat at Hearts left them eight points adrift of the Edinburgh side in second.

‘Brendan leaves with our thanks for the role he has played during a period of continued success for the club and we wish him further success in the future,’ a statement said.

‘We are pleased that during this interim period former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill and former Celtic player Shaun Maloney have agreed to take charge of Celtic first-team matters,’ it said.

The club added that the search for a replacement was already under way, with former manager Ange Postecoglou among the bookmakers’ favourites following his recent sacking by Nottingham Forest.

Rodgers, 52, returned for a second spell at Celtic Park in 2023, winning successive titles, to add to his league triumphs from 2017 and 2018.

But clouds have gathered over the club this season with Celtic knocked out of the Champions League by Kazakhstan minnows Kairat Almaty.

Rodgers had appeared at odds with his employers over their summer transfer policy.

After Celtic’s first defeat at Dundee in 37 years this month, he said the team had ‘lost a lot of firepower, a lot of goals’.

‘And there’s no way you’ll go into a race and be given the keys to a Honda Civic and say, ‘I want you to drive it like a Ferrari’. It’s not going to happen.’

In a separate statement on Monday, Celtic’s main shareholder Dermot Desmond hit back, saying Rodgers’ criticism had come ‘entirely out of the blue’.

‘Despite ample opportunity he was unable to identify a single instance where the club had obstructed or failed to support him. The facts did not match his public narrative,’ he said.

‘Regrettably, his words and actions since then have been divisive, misleading, and self-serving.

‘They have contributed to a toxic atmosphere around the club and fuelled hostility towards members of the executive team and the board.’

Rodgers previously managed Swansea, Liverpool and Leicester, and arrived at Celtic for the second time in June 2023 to succeed Postecoglou.

The Northern Irishman had been at Celtic between May 2016 and February 2019, completing successive league and cup trebles.

His first season in charge saw Celtic finish with a record 106 points and become the first Scottish side to complete a top-flight season undefeated since 1899.

Rodgers continued Celtic’s domestic supremacy by winning league titles in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, and also lifted the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup.

Rapper Oladips has recounted his experience with operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing how he was picked up during a night raid in his estate and detained for several days.

Speaking in a recent interview, the rapper said the incident occurred around 3 a.m. when officials entered his neighborhood.

‘Nigeria just happened to me. It was just a normal night and they entered my Estate going from house to house. They came to my house as well. It was like 3 a.m. The crazy thing is that I knew they were inside the compound, but I don’t do fraud, I don’t do yahoo,’ Oladips said.

‘I was on my bed pressing my phone because that’s none of my business- na person wey do fraud go dey run. Next thing, I heard a loud noise from downstairs. They broke my kitchen door, entered my house, and were like, ‘Hey, hey, where’s your phone?’ I don’t even have a laptop, just two phones. They collected them and took me to their office.’

He explained that he was detained for several days and later released after the investigation.

‘They didn’t find anything on my phone. One of their oga asked if I pay tax, so they just held me for that. I spent four, five days in that cell,’ he said.

Oladips noted that he considered taking legal action but decided against it due to the process involved.

‘I feel like when I came out I should have sued them because they collected money from me before they released me for nothing, absolutely nothing. I spent four, five days in their cell. But you know Nigeria – before I now sue them and start fighting for the money they collected from me, I’ll spend another money,’ he added.

‘The system is just messed up because I don’t know why I was locked up till date. They suffered me. You know Nigeria, before I’ll sue them and start spending money, it’s crazy. I can’t go through all of that stress, that was why I locked up,’ he said.

Filmmaker and actress Omoni Oboli has expressed gratitude t fans and supporters for overwhelming love and enthusiasm for her film, ‘Love in Every Word: The Wedding’.

In a post on Instagram, she thanked them for celebrating her work and making her feel seen and appreciated.

The actress acknowledged the impact of their support on her career, stating that it reminded her why she tells stories to touch hearts, make people laugh, and glorify God through love.

Oboli wrote: ‘My dearest besties, I honestly don’t even know where to start. Every view, every comment, every post, every share. you’ve poured so much love into LOVE IN EVERY WORD: THE WEDDING, and my heart is so full. You stayed up late, you celebrated like it was your own win, and you made and are still making history with me.

‘There were moments I cried reading your comments because I could feel your love through the screen. You made all the hard work worth it. You reminded me why I tell stories, to touch hearts, to make people laugh, and to glorify God through love.

‘From the bottom of my heart, thank you. You are the reason this dream keeps growing, and I’ll never take you for granted’.

Lagos is already the Afrobeats capital of the world, the only problem? It hasn’t been officially recognised. Lagos, the heartbeat of a genre that has crossed oceans and conquered global charts, stages and audiences across the world, from the bustling streets of Surulere to the neon glow of Victoria Island, the city has nurtured the sound, raised its stars, and set the rhythm for a generation. The official recognition and declaration from the state, federal government and international organisations like the UN Tourism and others of what the world already knows and is a fact, Afrobeats begins and thrives in Lagos, Nigeria is what is needed next.

Afrobeats superstars like Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Tems, Rema, Ayra Starr and many others have transcended regional and continental lines to become a global cultural force. From chart-topping hits dominating international airwaves to selling out arenas from London to New York, the world is listening and Lagos is always at the center. The city is in the lyrics, the visuals, and provides the soundtrack for the creative energy that fuels the culture. Lagos is the origin and Launchpad for this global phenomenon.

But, every day without the official recognition, Nigeria loses vast opportunities in year-round sustainable tourism, massive job creation, foreign and local investment, and the global branding power Afrobeats offers. This recognition is not merely symbolic but catalytic. It positions Lagos as a year-round sustainable creative tourism destination, beyond the now popular Detty December, for signature festivals, conferences, creative residencies, heritage trails, and cultural expos that keep the megacity vibrant all year long.

Other cities have successfully done this. New Orleans, Louisiana is officially branded the home of Jazz. Kingston, Jamaica, is synonymous with Reggae. Nashville is celebrated worldwide as the Country Music Capital. Seoul turned K-Pop into a multi-billion-dollar economy. These cities did not just create sound, they recognized it, branded it, invested in it, and built thriving cultural tourism industries around them. Lagos must now do the same with Afrobeats.

From examples sighted, the numbers speak for themselves. Ghana’s ‘Year of Return’ campaign generated approximately $2 billion in 2019. K-Pop contributed approximately over $4 billion to South Korea’s GDP in 2024. Nashville’s music tourism generates over $5 billion annually. With Afrobeats as its strongest cultural export well managed and organized, Lagos with its size has the potential to meet or surpass these figures. The official recognition would drive year-round cultural tourism through festivals, expos, conferences, and residencies; generate jobs across its ecosystem including music, fashion, film, food, dance, and allied industries; boost local industries such as hotels, airlines, restaurants, lounges, and event venues; strengthen Nigeria’s global brand and increase its cultural soft power.

The Planet Afrobeats project, powered by Inspiro Productions, is spearheading the Lagos Afrobeats Capital of the World Campaign. The mission is clear: brand Lagos as the Afrobeats capital of the world with a master-plan, empower youth by connecting and converting talent to wealth, and create multiple economic opportunities across the value chain. Ayoola Sadare, CEO of Inspiro Productions and the brain behind The Planet Afrobeats project and his company, have dedicated over two decades to championing Nigeria’s creative industries with several initiatives such as the Lagos International Jazz Festival (LIJF), NAIJAZZ – The Nigerian Jazz Project, LABULE – The Creative Community, The Tale of Two African Cities (TOTAC – Lagos/Johannesburg) amongst others.

At inspiro we drew some of our inspiration from cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town, in Africa, Stuttgart and other cities in Europe amongst others which have built thriving tourism economies around jazz festivals such as Joy of Jazz, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Jazz Open and others. Lagos, with its strong Afrobeats culture, has the cultural capital and firepower to drive sustainable year-round inbound tourism beyond Detty December. This is not just about music. It is about jobs, pride, investment, Lagos and Nigeria’s creative economy future. Afrobeats is perhaps now our strongest cultural export alongside Nollywood and Lagos is its undisputed home.

The Planet Afrobeats initiative aligns with the Lagos State Government’s THEMES Agenda Plus, particularly in Tourism, Entertainment, and the Creative Economy as well as the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy’s Destination 2030: Nigeria Everywhere vision. Recognising Lagos as the Global Afrobeats Capital would institutionalise the city and nation’s cultural leadership and secure billions in creative economy revenues. The time has come to officially recognize this.’

Lagos doesn’t need permission to be Afrobeats’ home because it already is. What is needed is an intentional declaration, a master-plan and the courage to brand it boldly. The time is now. Lagos is ready. The world is waiting.’

2022 bronze medallists Nigeria were eliminated from the ongoing FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup on Tuesday after a 4-0 defeat by Italy, who took their tournament tally to four wins in as many matches.

The Flamingos entered the game determined to prove that their passage into the Round of 16 was no fluke, and could have been in front after 24 minutes but Captain Shakirat Moshood saw her fierce shot from the left side of the penalty box pushed round the post by goalkeeper Matilde Robbioni.

Just before the close of the first half, Anna Copelli put Italy ahead when she danced round the Nigeria rearguard and then picked her spot to slot past goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu.

Nigeria thought they had drawn level 10 minutes into the second half when Nguemo Terlumun poked into the net after a battling effort by Queen Joseph, but the Video Support Review ruled that Joseph kicked the ball from Robbioni’hands.

The Italians increased the tally three minutes later, through an audacious long-range strike by Caterina Venturelli that flew over Echefu and into Nigeria’s net.

It was 3-0 five minutes later, thanks to Giulia Robino, and in the 89th minute, the Video Support Review ruled that Rachelle Giudici was not in the off-side position and had scored a legitimate fourth goal for the Italians.

The defeat ended Nigeria’s interest in the ongoing championship in Morocco, but the Flamingos must immediately commence preparations for the qualifying series for next year’s edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals, which is now an annual event.

The Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) has begun mobilising traders across Anambra State to actively participate in the forthcoming governorship election. It said their involvement is crucial to achieving a higher voter turnout.

SIDEC noted that only 92,000 out of over 2.6 million registered voters participated in the 2021 governorship election-a figure the organisation described as worryingly low.

The group is currently implementing the Inclusive Mobilisation for Participation, Advocacy and Civic Transformation (Project IMPACT) in partnership with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, with funding support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK-FCDO).

Speaking during a voter education session at Ochanja Market, Onitsha, SIDEC’s Executive Director, Mrs Ugochi Ehiahuruike, stressed that good governance depends on the active involvement of citizens, not just elected leaders.

‘It is not their government but our government,’ she said. ‘We all must take ownership, and one way to do that is by casting our votes for candidates of our choice.’

Ehiahuruike urged traders not to stay away from the polls or allow a few voters to decide the future of the state.

‘November 8, 2025, is not a day for football matches or movie marathons. It is a day to decide the destiny of Anambra State for the next four years.

Even if you choose not to vote, those who do will determine our collective direction. Come out and be counted. INEC has assured that every vote will count-speak loudly with your voter’s card.’

She also appealed to candidates, supporters, and the electorate to maintain peace before, during, and after the election, stressing that development can only thrive in a peaceful environment.

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has called for reforms to strengthen access to finance for small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) and ensure Nigeria benefits from the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).

The governor described the ETLS as a major opportunity to expand trade across the West African region.

Mbah, who was represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, spoke at a one-day sensitisation workshop on the ETLS, with the theme: Increasing Intra-Regional Trade through ETLS, held on Monday at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Enugu.

He hailed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ECOWAS National Unit for choosing Enugu as the venue of the workshop.

Mbah noted that the Southeast, known for its strong trading culture and entrepreneurial drive, stood to gain immensely from the scheme.

‘You know we’re traders. When you talk about SMEs in Nigeria, you can’t discount the Southeast because that’s what we’re known for,’ Mbah said.

‘The ETLS presents an opportunity to expand trade not just for us but for other countries within our region.’

The governor cautioned that while regional integration offers new trade opportunities, the lessons from the past must not be ignored.

‘There are critics who view globalisation as suffocating local production. They’re not entirely wrong. We once had Peugeot in Kaduna, Michelin in Port Harcourt and Lagos, and Aba was known for some of the best shoes. Sadly, all those have disappeared,’ he said.

Mbah urged the Federal Government to establish frameworks that would protect local manufacturers while implementing regional and global trade agreements.

The governor also called for the decentralisation of approval powers in development finance institutions, such as the Bank of Industry (BoI), the Bank of Agriculture, and NEXIM Bank, to ensure quicker access to funding for entrepreneurs.

‘For an SME trader in Ogbete Market or Coal Camp seeking finance, applications shouldn’t have to wait for approval from Abuja,’ he said. ‘The government must restructure policies to empower regional offices to approve facilities for viable businesses. Development finance should be based on business potential, not collateral.’

Mbah also proposed the creation of an ECOWAS Commercial Bank to support regional infrastructure and SMEs.

‘Manufacturing and production cannot thrive without robust infrastructure. ECOWAS must begin to tinker with a commercial bank that finances governments and supports SMEs,’ he added.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, described the workshop as a vital step towards deepening regional integration and empowering small businesses to take advantage of West Africa’s growing market.

‘The ETLS is not just a technical instrument but a strategic pillar of West Africa’s integration agenda,’ she said.

Pan-African Economic Reformer and Founder of the Compassionate Capitalism Economic System, King Charles Lambert, has premiered a groundbreaking African traditional theatre masterpiece titled Wait Until Dawn – a sweeping tragedy that fuses myth, politics, and morality to illuminate the timeless struggle between ambition and truth.

In Wait Until Dawn, Lambert rekindles the soul of traditional African drama, using theatre as a mirror for society’s moral crisis and a beacon for its ethical revival

Lambert, known for merging ideology with artistic expression, uses literature and theatre as tools for African moral and economic awakening. Wait Until Dawn reflects his conviction that financial liberation must be grounded in ethical and spiritual renewal.

Set in the fictional precolonial kingdom of Ameke, the play unravels a gripping tale of royal betrayal, murder, and divine justice. It opens with the shocking assassination of Eze Kalu Ibi, Ameke’s revered king, which triggers a storm of suspicion among his council of elders.

At the heart of the crisis is Akaike, a power-hungry elder whose deceit leads to the tragic downfall of Dike Ugwuala, a proud rival wrongly accused of regicide. Dike’s suicide, borne out of humiliation, exposes the devastating cost of falsehood and moral decay.

‘The house is now on fire. There is no hiding place for the rat anymore,’ says Akaike in one of the play’s most haunting lines – a chilling echo of the corruption and moral tension that drives the drama.

As chaos deepens, the women of Ameke emerge as spiritual anchors. Ogonna, the widowed queen, invokes ancestral spirits in search of truth, while Ugonma, Akaike’s wife, becomes the voice of conscience. In a climactic moment of revelation, Ugonma confronts her husband: ‘Akaike! Akaike! So, you killed my father?’

Her courage pierces the veil of deceit and restores the kingdom’s moral order, affirming the ancient African belief that truth, like dawn, can never be hidden forever.

Rich in proverbs, chants, and traditional symbolism, Wait Until Dawn captures the rhythm and depth of African oral heritage. From lines like ‘The widow’s cat would never leave the rat that stole her fish,’ to ‘When a child cries and points in one direction, if the father is not there, the mother must be,’ Lambert invokes the timeless wisdom of the continent’s moral code.

Critics have likened Wait Until Dawn to the grandeur of Ola Rotimi’s The Gods Are Not to Blame and Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman, yet Lambert’s storytelling remains distinct – lyrical, direct, and charged with philosophical and spiritual energy.

Each act of the play builds toward the metaphorical dawn – the inevitable triumph of truth over deceit. From the queen’s incense-filled invocation to Akaike’s blood-soaked confession, the production is designed for visual richness and emotional intensity.

Lambert describes the play as more than art – ‘a cultural statement and moral call to Africa.’

‘The gods may wait, the people may suffer, but justice never sleeps,’ he declares.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has said Abuja’s ‘Smart City Vision’ is being driven by strategic investments across five key areas.

He named the areas as Urban Mobility, Sustainability, Public Safety, Digital Governance and Economic Empowerment.

Wike, who spoke at this year’s edition of Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), also announced that Abuja was actively collaborating with international agencies and private sector actors.

The minister named the projects in which international agencies and private sector actors are partnering, including JICA on smart water metering, Chinese support for intelligent traffic lights, and ongoing ventures such as the Abuja City Walk and the Abuja Industrial Park.

These, he stressed, reflected Abuja’s commitment to leveraging public-private partnerships and city-to-city exchanges to accelerate innovation.

Wike had met with the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, who also oversees the Political Affairs Office of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

A statement yesterday in Dubai by the minister’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said Wike joined global mayors and city leaders at the event to highlight ‘Abuja’s bold steps toward becoming a world-class smart city’.

Apart from the FCT Minister, other speakers at the forum, which was moderated by the Lead of the Sustainable Urban Development Portfolio, UNESCWA, Dr. Sukaina Al Nasrawi, were: the Director of Data and Statistics Planning and Governance, Digital Dubai Authority, Sara Al Zarooni; the Executive Director of Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Dubai Future Foundation, Saeed Al Falasi; the Deputy CEO and Head of Investments, Crescent Enterprises, UAE, Tushar Singh Singhvi, and Chief Sales Officer, Asia, Middle East and Africa of Wilo Group, Lyman Tu.

Wike was accompanied to the event by the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Legal and Multilateral Cooperation, Benedict Daudu; the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Richard Yunana Dauda; the Director, Department of Development and Control, Mukhtar Galadima; the Director of Engineering Services, Chuks Udeh, and the Director of Protocol, Sani Musa Daura.

The minister underscored Abuja’s unique status as ‘a purpose-built and ever-evolving capital with a clear master plan, vision, and mission anchored on service delivery to citizens’.

He said under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Abuja’s ‘Smart City Vision’ was being driven by strategic investments in five key areas.

Expatiating the key areas, Wike said: ‘Urban mobility is about the expansion of transportation networks, intelligent traffic systems, and public transport solutions to reduce congestion and enhance accessibility.

‘Sustainability is about smart waste management, renewable energy adoption, and waste-to-wealth initiatives aimed at a cleaner, greener environment.

‘Public Safety entails deployment of smart solar streetlights, CCTV surveillance, and rapid emergency response systems to improve security.

‘Digital Governance involves the creation of platforms like the FCT Call Centre and digitised land registry to promote citizen engagement, transparency, and efficiency in service delivery.

‘Economic Empowerment revolves on creating jobs and attracting tech companies by expanding Abuja’s digital environment.’

The minister stressed the essence of data in shaping opportunities for Abuja’s youths.

He alluded to Nigeria’s upcoming National Employment Database in partnership with global development partners.

‘This system will match skills with job opportunities, guide targeted training, and support entrepreneurship programs led by the Abuja Enterprise Agency,’ he said.

The minister stressed that ‘Abuja’s transformation into a smart and sustainable city was not only about technology, but about placing citizens at the center of development – building a safer, more inclusive, and prosperous environment for all’.