Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Following his conviction and 50-month prison sentence for transporting people for prostitution in the United States, Hip Hop legend Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces one of the darkest chapters of his life. Once celebrated as a global music and business icon, his reputation now hangs in the balance.

Here are 15 things to know about the fallen star:

Early Life: Born Sean John Combs on November 4, 1969, in Harlem, New York, Diddy grew up in Mount Vernon, raised by his mother after his father was killed when he was just two years old.

Education and Hustle: Combs attended Howard University, where he majored in business. Though he left before graduation, his time there shaped his drive and ambition.

Music Industry Breakthrough: Diddy began his career as an intern at Uptown Records, quickly rising through the ranks before launching his own label.

Bad Boy Records Legacy: In 1993, he founded Bad Boy Records, propelling artists like The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, 112, and Mase to global fame.

Hitmaker Extraordinaire: As Puff Daddy, Diddy released several chart-topping singles. His 1997 tribute to The Notorious B.I.G., ‘I’ll Be Missing You,’ dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for 11 weeks.

The Business Mogul: Beyond music, Combs built a vast business empire, investing in brands like Cîroc vodka, DeLeón tequila, and AquaHydrate, with his net worth once estimated at over $800 million.

Fashion Influence: In 1998, he launched the Sean John clothing line, which redefined urban fashion and earned him the CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year award in 2004.

Television and Media Expansion: In 2013, Combs co-founded Revolt TV, a music and lifestyle network designed to amplify Black culture and creativity.

Multiple Reinventions: Known for frequently changing his stage name – Puff Daddy, Puffy, P. Diddy, Diddy, and Love – his identity shifts became part of his enduring brand.

Lavish Lifestyle: Diddy was famous for his extravagant ‘White Parties,’ luxury mansions, and celebrity-filled gatherings that defined the hip-hop elite lifestyle of the late ’90s and early 2000s.

Legal Troubles: His career has long been marred by controversies – from nightclub shootings in 1999 to multiple civil lawsuits alleging abuse, violence, and misconduct.

Criminal Conviction: In July 2025, Combs was found guilty of transporting individuals for prostitution and was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison in New York on October 3, 2025.

Courtroom Apology: During his sentencing, Diddy publicly apologized to his family, fans, and victims, admitting that ‘power and fame blinded him to the consequences of his actions.’

Public Reaction:

The conviction sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, with many fans expressing disappointment while others called it a long-overdue reckoning.

Legacy in Question: Once hailed as a symbol of Black excellence and innovation, Combs’ influence on music, fashion, and business now stands overshadowed by scandal leaving his legacy deeply tarnished.

From chart-topping success to a federal prison sentence, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ story is a powerful reminder of how fame, fortune, and unchecked excess can ultimately lead to a dramatic fall from grace.

No fewer than 250 commercial taxi drivers have been arrested across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for violating safety directives restricting only one passenger in the front seat.

The arrests, which took place within the first 48 hours of a renewed enforcement drive that began on October 2, were part of a wider campaign to end overloading and unsafe transport practices in Abuja.

Confirming the development, the FCT Sector Commander, Corps Commander Felix Theman, said the operation was launched to restore passenger dignity and safety on the roads.

‘Enforcement is the most civil and effective way to ensure that safety is not compromised for convenience,’ Theman stated.

He noted that many of the apprehended drivers were found carrying two passengers in the front seat, a practice that violates vehicle design standards and makes proper seatbelt use impossible.

The FRSC warned that overloading endangers lives, puts extra strain on tyres and suspension systems, and reduces a driver’s control in emergencies.

‘The overloading of passengers and goods not only endangers lives but also places undue stress on vehicles. It impairs the driver’s ability to control the vehicle effectively, especially in emergency situations,’ Theman added.

Theman disclosed that the Command had consulted transport unions and stakeholders before the operation, noting that the unions pledged full support for the safety drive.

The enforcement, he said, is being carried out with the aid of mobile magistrate courts for the on-the-spot prosecution of offenders.

He further warned commercial drivers using unsafe vehicles to upgrade or risk immediate impoundment as part of the broader push for safer urban transport.

‘Passengers must support the FRSC’s efforts to protect their right to safe and dignified transportation,’ he said.

The FRSC also announced that full activation of mobile court locations across the FCT will begin on Monday, October 6, to further intensify the clampdown on violators.

ýýPresident Bola Tinubu will attend funeral prayers for Nana Yilwatda Goshwe, mother of APC Chairman Prof. Nantewe Yilwatda after which he will address Christian leaders during his visit to Plateau State today, Saturday, 4 October, the presidency has said.

ýThe mother of APC National Chairman Mama Lydia Yilwatda died on August 17 at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital aged 83.

Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga announced this in a statement on Friday.

ýHe said during the visit, Tinubu will address northern church leaders at the COCIN Church headquarters in Jos.

Tinubu is further expected to use his address to the Christian leaders in Plateau State to dismiss the claims of religious genocide in Nigeria as being peddled by some lawmakers in the United States of America.

Recall that the President had last Tuesday in Imo State said allegations of religious persecution in Nigeria were ‘unfounded and misleading’

Here, no faith is under siege, no community is excluded. Our churches, mosques, and traditional shrines stand side by side-not as rivals, but as symbols of the unity that binds us,’ Tinubu said while addressing a gathering at the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu Convention Centre, Owerri.

ýýThe President will return to Lagos on the same day after the visit.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has officially announced his intention to contest the 2026 governorship election under the APC platform.

Omisore made the announcement on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, revealing that a formal declaration will take place on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at the Osun APC Secretariat in Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo.

The event, themed ‘Fix the Broken, Restore Our Dreams,’ marks the beginning of his campaign journey.

‘My beloved people of Osun State, after deep reflection and wide consultations, I have decided to formally declare my intention to contest for the Governor of Osun State in 2026 under our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC),’ Omisore stated.

He noted that his campaign would focus on restoring hope, improving governance, and creating a brighter future for the people of Osun State.

‘This is not just my mission; it is a collective one. I humbly invite you to join me as we take this bold step towards the Osun Rescue Mission 2026,’ he added.

Omisore, who previously contested the 2014 governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before joining the APC, is expected to be among the top contenders for the party’s governorship ticket in the forthcoming election.

The Borno State Police Command has warned that criminals are increasingly using tinted vehicles to commit robberies, kidnappings, drug trafficking, and even terrorism across Nigeria.

Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, made this known in a statement released on Saturday, saying data from the Command’s Crime Frequency Report revealed that many serious crimes were carried out using vehicles with darkened glass.

‘Our findings show that tinted vehicles have frequently been used to conceal or facilitate serious crimes. Armed robbers, kidnappers, drug traffickers, and terrorists have all taken advantage of dark glass to hide their identities or illicit objects,’ Daso stated.

He cited a shocking example involving a University of Maiduguri lecturer murdered on April 2, 2024, where CCTV footage captured the vehicle but not the suspects’ faces due to heavy tinting – delaying justice.

Another tragic case, he said, occurred on September 26, 2025, when three children died after being trapped inside a dark-tinted vehicle. Passersby could not see them in time to intervene.

Daso said these incidents show why regulation is critical:

‘Criminals exploit the anonymity that dark glass provides. Failing to regulate it leaves law enforcement handicapped and the public vulnerable.’

He, however, clarified that the regulation is not a total ban on tinted vehicles. Exemptions apply to factory-fitted tint, VIPs, and individuals with medical conditions such as photophobia.

Vehicle owners must now register for digital tinted glass permits, which will capture biometric data, NIN, and vehicle details to aid investigations.

‘This process creates a verifiable database that strengthens security. When a tinted car is linked to a crime, we can trace its owner swiftly,’ he said, assuring that the process will be transparent and corruption-free.

The police also warned officers against using the regulation as a means to extort motorists, urging the public to report unprofessional conduct through the Complaint Response Unit (CRU).

Meanwhile, the Force Headquarters said it had not yet received the Federal High Court order reportedly stopping the enforcement of tinted-glass permits.

Force PRO, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, clarified that enforcement continues nationwide, adding that vehicles without valid tinted permits risk fines and possible impoundment as of October 2, 2025.

The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Ben Kalu has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in what he called demolition of the houses and offices of South Easterners in Lagos State

Kalu made the request on Friday while speaking during the reception at the Enyimba International Stadium organised in honour of Tinubu after inaugurating some projects in Abia.

Kalu pleaded with the president to speak with the Lagos State governor to allow the Igbo people whose houses have not been destroyed already to regularize their documents.

He said that destruction at this time of hardship makes the hearts of victims bleed, stressing that the need for an amicable resolution rather than destruction of property.

‘I also want to say that the destruction and the demolition of the houses, the offices of our brothers in Lagos makes our hearts bleed,’ he said.

The Deputy Speaker also urged the President to grant a sea port to enhance trade in the Southeast zone.

‘Mr President, we want to thank you for what you are doing in our state through our governor and what you are doing around the south East.

‘But I must say it is about time that we had another sea port in the South East; South Easterners are mainly traders and We need a sea port to enhance our trading.

Kalu said governance is about partnership hence the state must partner the federal government and the federal government must partner the state.

He said although he is an All Progressives Congress (APC) party member, it is his character to support the governors of his state to ensure the state succeeded and promised to support Alex Otti to succeed.

‘I have gone with him from the morning, visiting all the projects till this evening and I have seen the state’s projects carried out by the governor and for that we commend him.

‘But as a member and citizen of this state, I request, like Oliver Twist, that the governor should do more,’ he said.

He thanked the president for his assistance in the projects in Abia and urged the Abia Information Commissioner and media houses in Abia to accord Tinubu his merited credits.

Kalu said this would induce the president to do more for the state and the South East which he had shown love to.

Less than 24 hours after learning his fate in federal court, music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is back in the headlines, this time facing a new sexual assault lawsuit filed in Los Angeles.

According to TMZ, the new lawsuit was filed by Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents over 100 alleged victims suing Diddy for sexual assault. The complainant, identified as Leiana Ripley, alleged the incident happened around November 1, 2016, at Club Playhouse in L.A.

Ripley claims Diddy approached her with a drink and ordered her to take it. When she hesitated, he allegedly snapped: ‘Bitch, I’m not asking you. Drink that st and shut the f up.’* Feeling intimidated, she said she complied – only for Diddy to allegedly put his arm around her, shove his hand under her skirt, and penetrate her with his fingers while saying, ‘Bitch, I do what I want, take that s*.’*

The lawsuit claims Ripley tried to push him off but Diddy laughed, appearing amused by her discomfort, before eventually letting her go. She reportedly left the club in shock, returned to her hotel, and later discovered bruising and a tear in her genital area.

Ripley says the incident left her traumatized and is seeking damages for emotional and physical distress.

Diddy’s legal team ,who were in a New York courtroom on October 3 for his sentencing in a separate criminal case have not yet responded to the latest allegations.

Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were the stars of the show as Arsenal cruised past West Ham United on Saturday, marking Mikel Arteta’s 300th game in charge with a dominant 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.

Rice opened his account for the season against his former club, finishing neatly after Eberechi Eze’s shot was parried by Alphonse Areola. The goal came shortly after captain Martin Odegaard was forced off with an injury, the third straight home game the midfielder has failed to finish.

Despite the setback, Arsenal maintained full control of the match. Their attacking intent was clear from the start, with Arteta fielding an adventurous midfield of Rice, Odegaard, and Eze, showing the depth of a squad strengthened by a £250m summer overhaul.

The Gunners sealed victory in the second half after Jurrien Timber was brought down by El Hadji Malick Diouf inside the box. Saka, making his 200th Premier League appearance, calmly converted the resulting penalty, his 55th league goal for the club.

The win sent Arsenal to the top of the Premier League table, overtaking Liverpool ahead of their clash with Chelsea later in the day.

For West Ham, new boss Nuno Espirito Santo is still searching for his first win. His side showed flashes of discipline and organisation but were ultimately second best against a superior Arsenal team.

Niclas Fullkrug went close from a corner, while Lucas Paquetá fired over the bar, but the visitors rarely threatened Guglielmo Vicario’s goal.

The Nigerian naira fell sharply against the United States dollar at the close of trading on Friday, ending the week on a disappointing note after days of positive performance.

According to official data released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the naira depreciated to ?1,465.68 per dollar at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), compared to ?1,455.25 per dollar recorded on Thursday.

This represents a ?10.43 drop in value within a single day, signaling renewed pressure on the local currency after a brief period of recovery.

The decline comes after the naira had shown strong momentum earlier in the week, gaining steadily for four consecutive days due to improved dollar supply and increased investor confidence.

However, market analysts suggest that renewed demand for foreign exchange by importers and corporate entities toward the weekend may have triggered the latest round of depreciation.

At the parallel (black) market, the naira remained stable at ?1,485 per dollar on both Thursday and Friday, suggesting that traders are maintaining a wait-and-see approach as the market adjusts to recent policy measures introduced by the apex bank.

Despite Friday’s decline, the naira still recorded a slight improvement on a week-on-week basis, appreciating by ?14.98 when compared to the ?1,480.66 per dollar exchange rate recorded on Friday, September 27, 2025.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s external reserves have continued to grow, standing at $42.40 billion as of October 2, 2025, up from $42.33 billion just three days earlier.

Analysts view this steady rise in reserves as a positive sign, reflecting improved foreign inflows and potential stability for the foreign exchange market in the coming weeks.

Experts have continued to urge the Central Bank to sustain its monetary tightening measures and enhance transparency in the forex market to restore full confidence among investors and businesses.

They also emphasized the need for Nigeria to boost local production and reduce dependence on imports, which remains one of the major factors driving dollar demand.

While the week ended with a slight setback for the naira, economists remain cautiously optimistic that the local currency could regain strength if foreign inflows continue to rise and market reforms are fully implemented.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has celebrated 15-year-old Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, a Nigerian teenager living with autism, for making history by creating the world’s largest canvas painting by an individual.

The monumental artwork, titled ‘Impossibility is a Myth’, spans an astonishing 12,303.87 square metres, earning Kanyeyachukwu a place in the Guinness Book of World Records and international acclaim. The piece was unveiled at Marina, Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.

Speaking through his Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Idris Aregbe, the governor described the achievement as a powerful statement on youth potential, disability inclusion, and the indomitable Nigerian spirit.

‘At just 15, Kanyeyachukwu has done what many thought impossible. His painting is not just a personal triumph – it is a symbol of possibility, inclusion, and hope,’ Sanwo-Olu said.

He highlighted the infinity symbol at the centre of the painting as a message of boundless potential, particularly for people on the autism spectrum. The governor also reiterated his administration’s commitment to investing in platforms that promote youth creativity and global competitiveness.

The painting, first unveiled on World Autism Awareness Day 2025, combines turquoise and coral hues with imagery of multiple human faces to reflect emotions, diversity, and shared humanity.

Kanyeyachukwu, who is non-verbal, has used visual art as his primary form of communication since early childhood. His work has inspired global attention and advocacy for neurodiverse creatives.