Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended senator representing Kogi Central, has alleged that forged petitions will soon be submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a tweet on her X handle on Saturday night, April 12, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that other ‘dubious’ steps were being taken to recall her from the National Assembly (NASS).
Natasha
She wrote with accompanying names of alleged constituents:
“Dear @inecnigeria, I’m aware these amongst other forged petitions In furtherance of “their” recall will be submitted to your good office next week. “Well, Nigerians will hold you to your constituted standards and authority.”
Recall that Akpabio petitioned the IG of police by calling for the “immediate investigation into the false and inciting allegation” and the prosecution of Akpoti-Uduaghan under relevant laws for criminal defamation, false accusation, incitement, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released the results of the 2025 Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted on Thursday, April 10.
JAMB disclosed this in a statement by its spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, on Sunday.
According to JAMB over 200,000 candidates registered for the Mock UTME conducted across the country on Thursday, 10 April.
BREAKING: JAMB Publishes 2025 Mock UTME Scores
However, only 126,181 candidates were able to successfully complete the examination.
The board said 73,844 candidates were absent on the day of the examination, and 88 other candidates could not clear the biometric verification screening.
JAMB further said that the results for 115,735 candidates are now ready for viewing.
“A total of 10,446 results are still in the processing stage and are going to be released soon,” it stated.
“A total of 200,115 candidates initially expressed interest in participating; however, two candidates later withdrew, making a total of 200,113 registered candidates.”
The board admitted that there was a backlog for some candidates during the examination and sympathy for any inconvenience caused.
States that challenges were expected owing to new features installed for bringing improvement in the overall conduct of the main UTME were also part of board assertions.
BREAKING: JAMB Publishes 2025 Mock UTME Scores
How to check the result
To check their results, JAMB asked candidates to text “MOCKRESULT” to either 55019 or 66019 using the phone number (SIM) registered for the examination.
The Mock UTME is an optional Computer-Based Test (CBT) just like the actual UTME and is formulated for the benefit of candidates to experience the nature of the examination before the main UTME.
JAMB insisted that Alumi Case was not said to have been designed as a mock examination under the new arrangements.
BREAKING: JAMB Publishes 2025 Mock UTME Scores
According to it, the mock exam is a trial run for UTME and also allows the board to try innovations, while making candidates understand the CBT environment.
Nigerian socialite and business mogul Obi Cubana yesterday shut down a luxury Abuja hotel for his 50th birthday celebration as it has been the talk of the town.
To commemorate this milestone, the socialite went all out, shutting down Transcorp Hilton hotel in Abuja for a night that would never be forgotten.
The grand celebration followed at night. The luxurious hall, with a 5000 sitting capacity, was decked out in style, with top figures from across the country in attendance with music performance by none other than Flavor, one of Nigeria’s biggest music stars.
Nollywood actress, producer, and box office queen Funke Akindele has reacted to accusations of her alleged underpayment of actor Ijoba Lande on one of her projects.
The controversy came up during her discussion with media personality Chude Jideonwo, where she poured her soul out about her recent ordeal-the failed marriage, the loss in the Lagos governorship election, her mother’s death, and the hectic job of single-handedly raising children.
“It’s Not True!” – Funke Responds to N90k Allegation
Ijoba Lande, whose real name is Ganiyu Kehinde, reportedly slammed Funke Akindele in the social media space, claiming he was paid 90,000 naira after staying on the movie set for a whole month.
In talking about the allegation of not paying Ijoba Lande adequately, Funke Akindele said she doesn’t even know him, explaining that he just came on her set to act, was paid, and left. Akindele narrated how she was affected by the controversy and how it affected her almost immediately. “Do I know this person?
This person came to act in my movie, got paid, and left. Why are you accusing me of something I didn’t do wrong?”
“It’s Not True!” – Funke Responds to N90k Allegation
“Do you know what I’m going through? My mum passed; my marriage crashed; I lost in the election; and I have to resume work. I need to earn a living. I have my children to raise on my own, and you decide to add to my sorrows. I can afford to cry for the first time. For some weeks, I wept.”
“It’s Not True!” – Funke Responds to N90k Allegation
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has raised a fresh alarm about the activities of fake native doctors and their influence on youths.
The governor said that fake native doctors and prophets deceive young people into taking many risks, including believing that they can evade security checks when smuggling drugs by using charms and talismans.
According to the governor, these native doctors and prophets deceive young people by claiming they can prepare charms that make airport scanners blind to drug trafficking.
“These young people would believe them, and today, many of our people are languishing in jail across the world,” he stated.
Speaking at a political gathering in Awka, the state capital, the governor revealed that 23 Anambra indigenes are on death row in Indonesia, an Asian country, over drug-related issues.
Soludo
He said: “Go to Indonesia, 23 Anambra youths are on death row there for drug-related offences.”
Governor Soludo also responded to the protest staged by followers of a pastor detained by the Agunechemba security outfit. The protesters insisted that the pastor was innocent of the allegations against him, claiming he does not prepare charms for criminals. However, Governor Soludo disagreed with them.
“We don’t arrest anybody without being sure of what he has done – without having concrete evidence”, he said.
Nigerian singer Adedamola Adefolahan, popularly known as Fireboy DML, has disclosed how his tattoos affect his relationship with his father.
The 29-year-old said his dad might never forgive him for tattooing his body.
Featuring in a recent episode of the 90s Baby Show, Fireboy explained that he wears Jalabiya to hide his tattoos whenever his dad visits him.
“One thing that I would do that can break my dad’s heart? I think I already did; my tattoos. Whenever he comes to visit me, I’m always on jalabiya, fully covered. Because tattoos, they break his heart every time he sees them,” he said.
“My dad doesn’t have a problem with my piercing but these tattoos? He will never forgive me for these things.
“But even if I had ended up as a banker, I would still have still had tattoos. It is not even about being an artist for me, I’m just that kind person. I see it as an art. Because sometimes, I want to be shirtless and still look like I am dressed up. I want to wear a singlet and stop into a place and still have a presence. That is what tattoos are to me.”
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Lagos State has criticized the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) for its handling of the recently released guidelines for the 2025 local government elections.
In a joint statement issued on Saturday by IPAC Chairperson Emilade Akinade and the council’s Public Relations Officer, George Ashiru, the umbrella body of all 19 registered political parties in the state faulted LASIEC for allegedly bypassing proper communication protocols.
Recalls that on Friday LASIEC fixed July 12, 2025, for elections into the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas in the state.
Reacting to the announcement, IPAC said LASIEC failed to engage political parties on key issues before unveiling the guidelines, accusing the commission of operating in secrecy.
“Critical questions and issues remain unresolved as regards the appropriate interpretation of the Supreme Court’s pronouncements on LG autonomy and how that will impact the 37 LCDAs established by the state government.
“IPAC only recently learned that a revised LASIEC law empowering the agency to conduct executive elections into 57 LG/LCDAs was approved on January 9 and signed into law on January 10 by the governor.
“This took IPAC by surprise. Such critical legislation should be in the public domain. The information was not made public on any platform and copies of the new law are yet to be made available to IPAC for distribution to political parties.”
The council criticized the new LASIEC Board, chaired by retired Justice Mobolanle Okikiola-Ighinle, for failing to build a transparent and collaborative relationship with the commission or offer a platform for IPAC to contribute to election planning.
IPAC stated that since January, the board had only held a single meeting with political party representatives—and only after IPAC initiated the request.
The group stressed that LASIEC ought to have convened multiple meetings with political parties to clearly explain the implications of the new electoral law ahead of the polls.
It stated: “LASIEC has a lot to learn from INEC in Lagos State about the need for continuous engagement, communication, and transparency in order to have a smooth, free and fair election.
“The constant late release of guidelines close to when the electoral cycle begins and the lack of continued engagement with the political parties is an error.
“This will make political parties and their members misinterpret the actions of LASIEC as driving in the direction of a predetermined outcome.”
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has set ablaze illicit drugs weighing 1.6 million kilograms, which were confiscated across Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states.
The destruction was carried out at an isolated location in Ipara, along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Ogun state, on Saturday.
Some of the illicit drugs destroyed include 123 kilograms of cocaine, 46.8 kilograms of heroin, 1.4 million kilograms of cannabis, 148,000 kilograms of codeine syrup, 3,244.26 kilograms of tramadol, 1,544 kilograms of skuchies, and 111 kilograms of methamphetamine, among others.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, said the exercise was a testament to the agency’s steadfast commitment to tackling the scourge of drug trafficking in the country.
“The sheer volume of seizures, which totals approximately 1.6 million kilograms, serves as a reminder of the grave danger these substances pose to public health until they are completely and irreversibly destroyed.
“The NDLEA operates under a clear mandate to reduce these narcotics to rubble. At all times, we discharge this duty with the utmost seriousness and diligence,” he said.
He warned those involved in drug trafficking that the times have changed and there will be no breathing space or any safe haven for them in Nigeria.
“To those still involved in the illicit drug trade, we will persist in reminding them that times have changed.
“The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains unwavering in its commitment to providing the leadership and political will required to eradicate this menace.
“At the NDLEA, we are fully prepared to pursue our objective of holding accountable those who defy the law. In the past four years, we have successfully prosecuted and got convicted 10,572 such offenders, who are now serving various jail terms,” he warned.
He expressed gratitude to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo for their support for the Commands and operations of the Agency in their respective states.
Represented at the occasion by the agency’s Director of Assets and Financial Investigation (DAFI), Ibrahim Abdul, Marwa justified the public destruction of the confiscated drugs.
“The rationale is simple: to show transparency and accountability. By making this process open, we affirm our collective resolve against the insidious activities of illicit drug trafficking.
“This exercise is not merely symbolic—it is forensic, grounded in evidence. Random laboratory tests are carried out to confirm the authenticity of the seized items.
“The substances are destroyed with the approval of the court after the cases linked to them have been brought to closure, following arrests and successful prosecution,” he stated.
In his remark at the ceremony, Governor Abiodun, represented by his Special Adviser on Security, Olusola Subair, commended the efforts of the leadership and personnel of NDLEA in combating illicit drugs.
“Their work in saving lives, in strengthening communities and upholding the rule of law is well appreciated,” he said.
“We must invest in prevention through education, through counseling and youth empowerment initiatives. We must strengthen rehabilitation centers and provide support systems for those battling addiction,” Governor Abiodun added.
A professional driver who drove late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba aka Mohbad to a show before his demise has recounted the events that occurred on that fateful day.
According to the driver, he appeared emotionally unsettled and was involved in multiple heated arguments with his wife, Wunmi, and associate, Primeboy.
The driver emphasized that Mohbad and Wunmi began arguing in Yoruba during the drive to the event, with Wunmi saying in pidgin, “you dey disgrace me and your pikin.”
At the venue, he performed and was escorted back to the vehicle by soldiers due to a crowd of area boys requesting money.
The driver recounted a physical altercation between Mohbad and Primeboy, where Mohbad punched Primeboy and eventually injured himself when his hand struck the vehicle’s glass. The injury caused visible bloodstains on the vehicle’s footmat and Wunmi’s clothes.
On the way home, tensions escalated further, with Wunmi insulting him and grabbing him by the shirt collar tightly until his necklace broke.
The driver condemned her actions, stating, “If Wunmi was my wife, I would have beaten her blue-black for the nonsense she did in that car.”
The driver also denied rumours that he tried to throw his son into a river, saying, “That never happened. It’s not true.” He added that he urged both him and his wife to calm down after returning home and slept outside in the car.
The driver received a call instructing him to report to the nearest police station the next day, and it was then that he learned of his death.
“I was shocked, How come?” he said emotionally
He said:
“I am into the business of car hiring and have been doing this for over 20 years.”
“On the day of the show, I went to Mohbad’s house. He came out with his wife and son looking happy and was playing with his child.”
“The only thing I heard clearly was when Wunmi said in pidgin, ‘you dey disgrace me and your pikin.’ She even threatened not to go again, but we all pleaded with her.”
“He told Primeboy to get down and began punching him. Primeboy kept saying, ‘Mohbad I can’t fight you, I can’t touch you,’ but Mohbad didn’t stop. He kept hitting him. It was when Primeboy dodged one blow that Mohbad’s hand struck the Prado’s glass, and he injured himself.”
“Mohbad and Wunmi started arguing again. She insulted him, calling him names like ‘oloriburuku’ and ‘oloshi.’ She even claimed she once helped him borrow N200,000 in 2020 which he gave to his mother. Mohbad replied that he would pay her back. Then she grabbed him by the shirt collar tightly until his necklace broke.”
“If Wunmi was my wife, I would have beaten her blue-black for the nonsense she did in that car.”
“That never happened. It’s not true.” (referring to rumours that Mohbad tried to throw his son into a river)
Prayer to theft: FCT police investigate theft of official vehicle from NSA during prayers
The disappearance of a black Toyota Hilux belonging to Nuhu Ribadu, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has prompted the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command to launch a comprehensive inquiry.
According to security source Zagazola Makama, who shared the event on his X (formerly Twitter) page, the ONSA official returned from the mosque to discover the car was gone.
Former Abia state governors battle words over condition of state
Senator Theodore Orji, the former governor of Abia situation, has criticized Okezie Ikpeazu, his successor, for allegedly meeting Abia in a depressing situation.
Ikpeazu was recently cited as saying that when he became governor, he met the state in a deteriorated condition.
In response to the remarks, Orji advised Ikpeazu to take responsibility for his actions and refrain from making thoughtless remarks about other people.
Speaking through Ifeanyi Umere, his media assistant, Orji chastised Ikpeazu for claiming to have met Abia in a depressed mood.
He said he was shocked that Ikpeazu both criticized his predecessor and denounced leaders who criticize their predecessors in the same sentence.
Former Governor of Abia state, Theodore-orji
Additionally, he claimed that successors are “lazy leaders” if they attack their predecessors while in government.
The previous governor advised his successor to accept accountability for his deeds and inactions during his tenure in office rather than placing the blame elsewhere.
Orji went on to say, “Government is not necessarily about making speeches, so Ikpeazu should once again carry his cross and take responsibility for his actions and inactions instead of looking for who to blame.”
Breaking: 7 killed, several injured in deadly explosion rocks Borno
An explosion which occurred along the Maiduguri-Damboa Road has claimed the lives of at least seven travelers.
The explosion was said to have occurred after Boko Haram terrorists planted an Improvised Explosive Device, or IED, on the abandoned and run-down road that runs through the Sambisa forest.
Breaking: 7 killed, several injured in deadly explosion rocks Borno
Several more were reportedly injured to varied degrees when it occurred on Saturday while vehicles on a planned military-escorted convoy were carrying passengers from Damboa to Maiduguri.
According to reports gathered by our correspondent, the Maiduguri-Damboa Road, which connects Maiduguri to many local government districts in Southern Borno, has been a hotbed for Boko Haram terrorists for more than ten years, according to reports our journalists obtained.
Before the Babagana Zulum administration allowed passengers to travel to Damboa, Chibok, and other LGAs in southern Borno, the road was closed to both cars and commuters. A military convoy provided security cover for the commuters.
Eedris Abdulkareem, a veteran in Nigerian hip-hop, alleged that someone who identified himself to be a senator offered him bribe of N200 million as payment for his music and activism.
Abdulkareem noted in his video going round, the offer was under the guise of underground support for his latest protest anthem.
‘Tell Your Papa’: Eedris Rejects ₦200M Bribe
This claim by the musician came amidst the prohibition of the singer’s protest latest song “Tell Your Papa” by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
Abdulkareem further added that the person who called him on the phone as a senator offered him 200 million naira as a support for the viral song, “Tell Your Papa”, activism.
He said, “So I got that call from one criminal who claimed to be an honorabler. He didn’t even allow me to hear his name. After claiming to be an honorable, at the end of the call when I asked him what his name was, he claimed to be a senator.”
“Yesterday he told me that he was in a meeting with Seyi (a son to President Bola Tinubu) and some government officials. He said, ‘They are going to call you and bribe you, don’t listen to them, we are going to be sponsoring you underground.’ I then asked him, ‘who told you that I need anything’?”
‘Tell Your Papa’: Eedris Rejects ₦200M Bribe
He immediately rejected the offer, “I don’t understand why someone would do such.”
“I’m immediately obviating his voice; I knew he was being sent by them, so I told him I’m not interested. In return, he says, ‘We will give you N200m; don’t even listen to them’.
So I asked him, the video I shot, was it you who sponsored me underground?”
“You guys should go and rest somewhere; I am not interested. Thieves, may God punish all of you. It is me that you guys want to record for caricature; you people are insane. I have prepared for you people a long time ago,” he said.
He again accused the masterminds of the alleged plot to manipulate and discredit him.
The controversial song Tell Your Papa, which questions political leadership and economic hardships in Nigeria, was officially prohibited on Thursday, April 10, by NBC.
The decision, however, sparked uproar from civil society and music industry stakeholders.
The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) decried the ban, warning that it might backfire.
“This only serves to make all forms of noise about the song in the face of the current socio-economic challenges facing Nigerians,” reads the statement by the association.
The same way, the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has condemned the action taken by the NBC as “offensive abuse of regulatory power.”
‘Tell Your Papa’: Eedris Rejects ₦200M Bribe
According to a statement from Programme Officer, Ayomide Eweje, the group charged the commission with abandoning its impartial role.
“The NBC has completely confused its supposed independent media regulatory status with that of a propaganda agency charged with shielding the government from criticism or embarrassment,” read the statement.
As public discourse continues to unravel around themes such as censorship, freedom of expression, and accountability, the recent bold stance taken by Abdulkareem on issues has reignited conversations regarding the issues.
Hundreds of civil servants in Ondo state face possible homelessness as the state government moves forward with plans to demolish over 150 residential buildings in the Alagbaka area of Akure, the state capital.
The affected structures are located in Phases 1, 2, and 3 of the Alagbaka Government Staff Quarters.
It was gathered that the quarters, originally constructed during the administration of late Governor Adekunle Ajasin in the late 1970s, have served as a vital housing solution for civil servants for decades. Pure act of wickedness, civil servants lament A staff member at the Ondo State Emergency Medical Service Agency, who asked not to be named, described the development as a “pure act of wickedness.”
“The government is planning to demolish our houses. This is the house that was given to us years ago to solve the problem of accommodation. We are paying subsidised rent every month. Now, if the government takes this house, where do I want to start from? I have to start thinking of where to live from the salary that is not even enough to feed me and my family,” she said.
Another affected resident working at the state’s Ministry of Information echoed similar fears. “These houses were built in 1976 under the leadership of Pa Adekunle Ajasin. They were given to civil servants. Phase 1 alone has about 156 houses, and there are still Phases 2 and 3. The government deducts the rent directly from our salaries, ₦5,000 for a three-bedroom and ₦4,000 for two-bedroom flats,” he said.
He accused the government of eyeing the valuable land for profit. “Once they succeed in evicting us and building new structures on this land, we all know we are not coming back. The plan is to build estates with modern houses that no civil servant will be able to afford. Presently, what we pay as rent is small and comfortable, and that was the vision of Pa Ajasin when this place was built,” he said.
The move has sparked outrage across labour unions in the state. Organised Labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), has vowed to resist the eviction. At a recent event in Akure, the NLC Chairman in Ondo state, Comrade Olapade Ademola Adeniji, threatened mass protests if the government does not halt the planned demolition.
Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, visited Alabi Yusuf Quadri at the Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre in Apapa, Lagos, on Friday, April 11.
According to Yunusa Tanko, the interim national coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Obi visited the minors in detention through the group.
Tanko wrote on his known X account:
“During the visit, he (Obi) connected with Quadri’s mother and sister, standing in solidarity with the family and expressing unwavering support during this difficult time”.
Recalls that Quadri was the center of attention during the 2023 election campaign when he stood in front of the convoy of Obi in Lagos state. Following rife claims in the past few days about Quadri’s imprisonment, prominent human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, visited the teenager at the Minimum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Apapa. The legal practitioner confirmed that Quadri had been in custody since January 2025. Apart from Tanko, other top Obidient members on the team who visited Quadri at the Lagos correctional centre include the interim director of mobilization of the Obidient movement Morris Monye; and social activist Moses Paul.
Peter Obi
Obi also addressed UNILAG students In the same vein, on Friday, April 11, Obi addressed students at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), where he was a special guest at the 28th annual general assembly of the National University Nursing Students’ Association (NUNSA). In his speech, the former Anambra state governor encouraged the future nurses to embrace excellence, service, and compassion.
The presidential hopeful said the theme of the conference, ‘Empowering Nurses: A Catalyst for Sustainable Health Care in Africa’, is both timely and essential. At the event, Obi highlighted the shortage of nurses in Nigeria which, he insisted, should be addressed by investing in the training of more nurses to satisfy the country’s domestic healthcare needs.
Obi’s statement posted on his X account:
“We also need to invest more in nursing internship programs to enable newly trained nurses to gain hands-on experience to function effectively in the health sector. “By so doing, we will raise an army of well-trained nurses who productively contribute to our healthcare sector.”
