Author: Halimah Olamide

Ace filmmaker and director, Kunle Afolayan has revealed details of a conversation between him and film producer, Funke Akindele who he claimed called him and accused him of disliking her, following comments he made about film promotion strategies. Afolayan noted that he made the comment on film promotion strategies while speaking at a film business forum Speaking in an interview on Arise News, he revealed that Funke phoned him after the event and alleged that he intentionally mentioned her name negatively during interviews. “Funke called me yesterday and that is why I felt maybe there was more to it. “She…

The Kwara State Police Command has dismissed as false and misleading a viral video alleging that women were beaten by security operatives during a protest at the Government House in Ilorin. The police described the video as digitally manipulated, saying it does not reflect any real incident at the Government House. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, following widespread outrage on social media over the footage. The video which surfaced on social media claimed that women protesters were assaulted by security personnel during a demonstration on December 27,…

The Katsina State Government has dismissed social media claims that over 60 per cent of secondary schools were closed due to insecurity. The denial is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Katsina by Sani Danjuma-Suleiman, spokesperson, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. He said the claim was false, misleading and did not reflect the true position of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. “For the avoidance of doubt, only two secondary schools were officially closed due to security concerns,” he said. They are Government Day Secondary School Shimfida and GDSS Gangara, both in Jibia Local Government Area.…

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Türkiye has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to achieving a $5 billion trade volume with Nigeria, as both nations move to deepen economic and strategic cooperation. Erdogan made this known on Tuesday in Ankara during a joint press briefing with President Bola Tinubu, held as part of Tinubu’s ongoing state visit to Türkiye. The committment was contained in a statement issued by the Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga. Erdogan said discussions aimed at reaching the $5 billion trade target had already begun between both countries. He also announced the establishment of a Joint Economy and Trade…

As Nigerian Customs Argues Jet Was Imported With Customs Duty Unpaid The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of a Bombardier BD-700 Global 6000 private jet, valued at over ₦1 billion, to the Federal Government of Nigeria over unpaid customs duty. Justice James Omotosho gave the ruling in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1085/2025, holding that the operators of the aircraft, Orlean Invest Africa Limited, failed to justify why the jet should not be forfeited to the government. Orlean Investment Holding Limited is owned and controlled by wealthy Italian businessman, Gabrielle Volpi. Volpi is resident in Nigeria with…

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) under Operation HADIN KAI have disrupted an illicit drug supply network in the North East as part of ongoing security operations. The military said the operation was carried out under Operation DESERT SANITY V and targeted criminal networks linked to terrorist activities in the region. Acting on credible intelligence on January 23, 2026, troops of Operation HADIN KAI arrested a suspected drug dealer, Hauwa Abulazeez, aged 65, in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. The suspect is alleged to be a supplier of cannabis sativa to Boko Haram terrorists operating…

The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has cautioned that the All Progressives Congress (APC) risks significant political setbacks ahead of the 2027 general election if it removes a Northern Muslim from President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ticket. Musawa made the assertion on a recent episode of Mic On Show with ace journalist, Seun Okinbaloye. This is following speculations that the ruling party may consider altering the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted in the 2023 presidential election. Musawa said Nigeria’s political structure, particularly the influence of the core North, makes it risky for the ruling party to alter the existing…

The Nigerian Army has dismissed reports alleging that a recruit identified as Ibrahim Nazifi died during military training at the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria, Kaduna State. In a statement issued on January 23, 2026, signed by Captain Chikadibia Viola Anele, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Depot NA Zaria, he described the reports as false, stating that no trainee by that name was recorded at the facility. According to the Army, available records show that Ibrahim Nazifi, an indigene of Gombe State with application number 90RRI-GO-9017726, passed the State Recruitment Screening Exercise conducted in December 2025 and was shortlisted…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026, citing the Ramadan fast. In a letter dated January 22, 2026, the party said the proposed election date falls within the Ramadan period, which will be observed by a significant number of voters in the FCT. The letter was signed by the ADC National Chairman, Senator David A. B. Mark, and the National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. According to the party, holding the elections during Ramadan could affect voter turnout…

A devastating fire has ravaged a residential building at Block D5, Ifedapo Estate, Amuloko area of Ibadan, and destroyed properties worth millions of naira. The Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Mr Moroof Akinwande disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in Ibadan. Akinwande said that the fire incident which happened on Friday, completely burnt down the six room residential bungalow . He said that the agency received a distress call about the fire incident on Friday at exactly 2:53 p.m., from one Odetunde and immediately deployed firemen led by ACFS Amoo to the…