Author: Khadijah Olowode

Popular online comedian and comic actor Abdulgafar Ahmad, better known as Cute Abiola, and his wife, Khudrah Mosunmola have welcomed their first child (a boy) together in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The couple, who are currently at the holy land of Mecca, Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Hajj, announced the birth of their bundle of joy today, Friday, 23 June, 2023. It was thus, a special spiritual blessing for the Abiolas.

MTN Nigeria and Flykite Productions have announced the 12 clubs that will participate in the inaugural edition of the NAIJA Super 8 off-season club football tournament. With two teams from each of the country’s six geopolitical zones, these clubs will compete in zonal playoffs, mentored by a former Nigerian international. The top six teams will be joined by two wildcard entries in the Super 8 finals, which will hold at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos from Friday, July 7 to Sunday, July 16, 2023. The 12 clubs participating in the NAIJA Super 8 zonal playoffs were unveiled on Friday, May 26, 2023, at the Multichoice Studios in…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned an Ilorin-based Associate Pastor with the Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, Temidayo Eseyin before before Justice Funsho Lawal of the Kwara State High Court sitting for allegedly defrauding Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State to the tune of N19.3 million. Eseyin, a lawyer and former member of the Disciplinary Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin Branch, was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on dishonest misappropriation of funds belonging to the University. In a petition to the EFCC, it was alleged that Eseyin, as a counsel/Attorney to Landmark…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A report in France has revealed that Paris Saint-Germain have agreed to sell Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid. According to the report, the France international will finally be heading to the Spanish capital this summer as the Emir of Qatar and Madrid President Florentino Perez have agreed on a €250 million deal. The deal also includes a €50 million in bonuses for the Frenchman. The French League 1 champions have decided to sell Mbappe after the 2018 World Cup winner informed them he would not be extending his contract. La Liga giants have been in pursuit of…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Chelsea have reduced their asking price of £75 million for Manchester United target, Mason Mount, Metro reports. This new development came after the England international reiterated that he would not sign a new deal to stay at Stamford Bridge. Manchester United had their first and second bids for the player turned down by the Blues, but the Red Devils are now expected to return with an improved offer. Their second bid was around £45 million with £5 million of add-ons, which was short of Chelsea’s initial £75m asking price. Football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano now reports that…

The acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has appointed Commissioner of Police Tunji Disu as his Principal Staff Officer. A police bulletin released on Friday, 23 June, 2023, sighted by thegazellenews.com confirmed the new appointment. Before his latest appointment, Disu has been the Commander of the the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) where he distinguished himself and performed exceptionally. Before that, he was the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), an anti-crime outfit set up by the Lagos State Government. The appointment is with immediate effect. Born on April 13, 1966, Disu is a graduate of English Education from Lagos…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Ahead of the Eid-El-Kabir celebrations, the Department of State Services (DSS) has raised an alarm, saying that reports indicated plans to attack worship and recreational centres before and during the festivities,thegazellenes.com reports. This alarm was contained in a statement by the spokesperson for the secret police, Peter Afunanya, made available to media houses on Thurdsday, 22 June, 2023 The DSS also advised operators and patrons of public places including markets and malls to be watchful and report any suspicious movements and persons to the relevant security agencies. The secret Service said it will continue to partner with sister…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that it has fixed July 4 to August 5, 2023 for a post-elections review for the just-concluded 2023 polls. The commission made the disclosure in a statement on Thursday, 22 June, 2023 by its spokesperson, Festus Okoye, saying the review will commence with a meeting of the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and end with the commission’s retreat. The electoral umpire has been holding these review meetings after every general election since 2011. According to Okoye, the review will focus on all aspects of the electoral activities before, during and…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A struggling Nigerian restaurant in North London, known as Chuku’s, located in Tottenham, and run by the duo of Emeka and Ifeyinwa Frederik, which at risk of closure due to rising energy bills has been bailed out with £8,000 courtesy of the award-winning American singer, Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter. The siblings were one of 10 winners to receive a grant from the music superstar. As part of her Renaissance World Tour, the Halo hitmaker’s foundation BeyGOOD had pledged to donate a share of $1 million (£806,000) to ten businesses in cities around the world. Chuku’s found themselves facing difficult times…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The management of Ocean Gate has confirmed that all five people onboard a missing submersible near the wreck of the Titanic have died. “We now believe that our CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, have sadly been lost,” the company said in a pensive statement on Thursday, 22 June, 2023 “Men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans” while sending condolences to “every member of their families during this tragic time”. “We grieve the…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Thursday, 22 June, 2023, in Paris, France said ongoing reforms, starting with removal of fuel subsidy and streamlining of exchange rate, will be sustained for a more competitive economy that attracts Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), urging investors to take advantage of opportunities in Nigeria. “We are ready for business, prepared to welcome investments,’’ he said, while receiving President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim), Prof. Benedict Oramah and President of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Odile Renaud–Basso, in separate meetings, on the sidelines of the Summit for New…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Thursday, 22 June, 2023, in Paris-France joined world leaders on the consensus for redesigning the global financial architecture, which will favour poverty reduction, debt restructuring or cancellation, and more consideration for vulnerable countries affected by climate change and Covid-19. The President arrived at the venue of the event, Palais Brongniart, at 8.59 am (Local Time), for the opening ceremony of the High Level Summit for New Global Financing Pact and he was received by the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna. Welcoming the world leaders to Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron, said the…

The Chairman, National Drug law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) has called on Nigerians to stop stigmatising persons struggling with substance abuse. Marwa made the appeal on Wednesday, 21 June, 2023, during a Special Anti-Drug Abuse Conference and Public Presentation of a book, titled “The Last Syndicate” in Abuja. The event was organised by the NDLEA Celebrity Drug-Free Club to commemorate the 2023 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Trafficking. Marwa said that the drug abuse call centre recently launched by the agency has afforded victims of drug abuse opportunity to get counselling anonymously without fear of…

It was another round of legal setback for Ladi Adebutu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday, 22 June, 2023, as the Ogun State Election Petitions Tribunal dismissed their application seeking to strike out Governor Dapo Abiodun’s prayers establishing vote buying allegations against them. Previously, Governor Abiodun had made a strong allegation of electoral fraud against the PDP candidate, Ladi Adebutu, and his party, allegedly perpetrated during the March 18 governorship election in the state. Consequently, acting on what it termed a plethora of evidences at its disposal through discreet investigation and the confessions of some members of PDP…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The unthinkable happened in Cheberen, Mogotio, Baringo county of Kenya as a man identified as Kirwa Kipngetich killed his wife and used his belt to hang himself on a mango tree. His corpse was found by a neighbour who had gone to tend his farm at around 9 am on Tuesday, 20 June, 2023. Cheberen chief, Sammy Kandie, revealed that the deceased who killed his wife the night before, fled from an irate crowd and dashed into a nearby bush.According to Kandie, he stabbed his wife Leolinda Jeruto, who is a JSS teacher at Tian primary school,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Nigerian Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has disclosed that its operatives will arrest a skit maker identified as Trinity for involving a little girl in his sexualized prank in a viral video. In the video, a skit-maker was captured asking a girl if he saw his pen!s. The little girl who spoke in fear admitted to seeing it and responded to the colour she saw before running away from the prankster.Reacting to the video, Adejobi described the video as criminal and the skitmaker should be arrested and charged to court.“This is rubbish and criminal. This…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike World Cup winner and Argentinian team captain, Lionel Messi, has been nominated in three categories for the ESPY 2023 award. The prize is given by popular American broadcast TV station, ABC. The former Barcelona and PSG star player has enjoyed a stellar campaign in recent times Messi lifted the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scoring seven goals and registering three assists. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner also scored twice in the final against France at the Lusail Iconic Stadium. His performance has gotten him a nomination in the ESPY Best Championship Performance category. Other candidates in the category…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A stunning new revelation is now in the public domain that Neymar and his partner Bruna Biancardi agreed on three conditions that allow the Paris Saint-Germain forward to cheat. According to Em Off, via The Daily Mail, three conditions are in place for the PSG forward to cheat. These conditions are: wearing a condom, keeping it discreet, and not kissing the other participant on the mouth. The Brazilian outlet claims that the Brazil International is allowed to flirt and have sex with other women. This is despite his commitment to Bruna Biancardi, who he has been dating…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Iran state run media on Wednesday, 21 June, 2023, reported that no fewer than 15 individuals have lost their lives due to alcohol poisoning from consuming illicit alcohol, just as the number of such fatalities is on the rise throughout the country. The highest judicial official in the nation also disclosed that approximately 180 people are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals for poisoning-related issues.“So far, 15 people have died and 180 people have been poisoned and hospitalised,” the chief justice of Alborz province, Hossein Fazeli Harikandi, where the poisonings took place, told state news agency IRNA.Most of those…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The United States of America (USA) regulators have, for the first time, approved the sale of chicken made from animal cells, allowing two California companies to offer “lab- grown” meat to the nation’s restaurant tables and eventually, supermarket shelves. The Agriculture Department gave the green light to Upside Foods and Good Meat, firms that had been racing to be the first in the United States (U.S.) to sell meat that doesn’t come from slaughtered animals — what’s now being referred to as ‘cell-cultivated’ or ‘cultured’ meat as it emerges from the laboratory and arrives on dinner plates.The…