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Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
- The Nigerian Senate has urged Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike to cease property demolitions in Abuja, citing alleged irregularities and hardships created by the operation. An ad hoc committee, led by Deputy Senate President Senator Jibrin Barau, will look into the matter and report back within two weeks. The resolution came after a motion by Senator Ireti Kingibe (LP – FCT), who claimed billions of naira in property losses as a result of demolitions without due process. Despite some senators advising prudence before giving directions, the Senate agreed to halt demolitions until the probe was completed. In response, Wike defended his administration’s activities, dismissing land-grabbing charges and promising to reclaim undeveloped land with unpaid ground rent. He also announced intentions to establish twelve new police divisions.
- Abiola Kayode, 37, has been extradited from Ghana to Nebraska in the United States to face charges in connection with a $6 million Business Email Compromise (BEC) cyber fraud scam. Ghanaian officials arrested him in April 2023 in response to an extradition request from the United States. On December 11, 2024, he made his initial court appearance and was ordered to remain in detention pending trial. According to the indictment, Kayode and his co-conspirators utilized forged email accounts to impersonate business executives and initiate illegal wire transactions. Kayode reportedly provided bank account information for victims of internet romance scams. Several co-conspirators have previously been sentenced, including Adewale Aniyeloye, Pelumi Fawehinmi, Onome Ijomone, and Alex Ogunshakin, to prison terms and restitution. FBI Omaha Special Agent Eugene Kowel confirmed the United States’ commitment to dismantle.
- Queen Dami, the estranged wife of the late Alaafin of Oyo, has openly broken her two-year romance with notorious artist Portable following a furious Instagram live session. During the session, Portable chastised Dami for being online, resulting in a fight that spiraled into mutual allegations on social media. Portable said he financially supported Dami before ending the relationship owing to her alleged wrongdoing and manipulating tactics. He also accused her of violence and blamed her for Alaafin’s death. Dami refuted Portable’s charges, saying he was cruel, controlling, and had never committed to her. She denounced the living conditions he provided, revealing that she was constantly beaten and threatened by him. Their stormy relationship earlier made headlines when Portable revealed their dating.
- The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced that Ademola Lookman, the only Nigerian on the shortlist for the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award, will be unveiled at a ceremony at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco. The award was created by France Football in 1970 and later taken over by CAF in 1992, and it has honored Africa’s best football players. Notable previous winners include Salif Keïta, Abedi Pele, George Weah, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Touré, Mohamed Salah, and Sadio Mané. Eto’o and Touré hold the record with four titles each, with Touré winning consecutively.
BREAKING: Yahaya Bello pleaded not guilty to the EFCC’s 19-count accusations
