KICNEWS

Category: Lifestyle

  • Ned Nwoko Speaks On Marriage, Pregnancy Rumours With Actress Chika Ike

    Ned Nwoko Speaks On Marriage, Pregnancy Rumours With Actress Chika Ike

     

    Senator Ned Nwoko has denied recent rumours alleging that he is planning to marry Nollywood actress Chika Ike as his seventh wife and that she is pregnant with his child.

    This development comes amid reports suggesting that Nwoko had been involved in an affair with Ike.

    The rumours intensified after the silence of Nwoko’s wife, Regina Daniels, who deactivated her Instagram account, leading to heightened public speculation.

    In a statement released by his Director of Communications on Monday and shared on Nwoko’s Instagram page, alongside pictures of the Senator and Regina, the rumours were dismissed as “entirely baseless” and a product of malicious speculation, urging the public to disregard the claims.

    The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to the recent false rumours alleging that Senator Prince Ned Munir Nwoko is planning to marry Nollywood actress Chika Ike as his seventh wife and that she is pregnant for him. We categorically state that these claims are entirely baseless and a product of malicious speculation.”

    It also addressed claims that Nwoko had made controversial remarks regarding Tuface Idibia and polygamy.

    “Similarly, reports claiming he made statements about Tuface and polygamy are completely untrue. As a public figure and with his wife also being an actress, it is not unusual for bloggers seeking attention to fabricate such stories,” it added.

    The statement added that Nwoko who is reportedly on a national assignment, is “focused on delivering on his political mandate, and has no time for distractions. ”

    The office concluded by warning against the spread of fake news, urging the public to disregard these rumours and rely only on official statements from Nwoko’s office.

  • Nedu steps down as host of ‘The Honest Bunch Podcast’

    Nedu steps down as host of ‘The Honest Bunch Podcast’

    Chinedu Ani, a popular media figure widely known as Nedu, has announced stepping down as a host of The Honest Bunch Podcast.

    This decision follows a fallout with VeryDarkMan, who publicly accused Nedu of being a “kiss and tell” figure on social media.

    In a statement on Instagram on Friday, November 14, Nedu shared that the past week had been particularly challenging, marked by baseless allegations and ongoing attacks that had taken a personal toll on him.

    The statement reads: “The past week has brought a lot into perspective for me. Hosting The Honest Bunch Podcast has been an incredible journey—one built on open conversations, bold perspectives, and the willingness to tackle difficult topics.

    “But with that responsibility has come an overwhelming level of scrutiny, antagonism, and unfounded accusations that have now begun to take a personal toll.

    “In light of recent events, I have made the difficult decision to step away from the podcast. This is not a decision I take lightly, but one I believe is necessary—for my peace of mind, for my family, and for the integrity of the show itself.

    “I have always been committed to honest conversations, but when those conversations lead to relentless attacks and misrepresentation, it becomes clear that stepping back is the best path forward.

    “I sincerely hope this decision brings an end to the negativity surrounding my name and allows The Honest Bunch Podcast to continue thriving. I remain committed to fostering dialogue in ways that encourage meaningful engagement and growth, and I look forward to new opportunities that align with that vision.
    “I wish the show continued success and thank everyone who has supported me throughout this journey.”

     

  • Govt seals shrine linked to Yahoo plus 

    Govt seals shrine linked to Yahoo plus 

     

    The Anambra State government has sealed a shrine in Umuofor village,Ojika in Ihiala Local Government Area allegedly used by Ekene Igboegbueze to make people rich through supernatural means.

    The Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, Ken Emeakai who disclosed this when he led men of Operation Udo Ga-Achi to the shrine, explained that the government sealed the place on account of complaints it received from the people of Okija about the illegal business of Igboegbueze and online video where Mr Ekene said that he does Oke ite, Yahoo Plus, Awele for people which is contrary to Anambra State Homeland Security Laws.

    He further said that state government has also sealed all the properties acquired by the suspect with the proceeds of the illegal business and all the items seen in the shrine will undergo foreinsic test and the outcome will determine what government will do with him.

    On his part, the Director of Operation, Agunechemba Security Outfit, Mr Chinenye Ihenko lamented that the activities of fake native doctors and pastors are promoting get rich quick syndrome in the state and cautioned the youths to desist from patronising them as they are deceitful.

    : FB/ABSRADIOTELEVISION

     

  • Ban valentine celebration in Nigeria – Bishop tells FG

    Ban valentine celebration in Nigeria – Bishop tells FG

    General Superintendent of the Holy Spirit Mission, Ikeja, Lagos State, Bishop Charles Ighele, on Wednesday called for a ban on the celebration of Valentine’s Day in Nigeria.

    Ighele made the called in an interview with Newsmen in Lagos, against the backdrop of illicit sexual abuse attached to the day by some people.

    He said that the day had been misconstrued to the promotion of romantic relationships, rather than its original promotion of aid to the needy and humanitarian works.

    He described it as a deception from the devil to impose a universal day of immorality on planet earth.

    According to him, unfortunately, many boys, girls and married people have bought into this lie about love in disregard to the agape love described in the bible.

    ”The day is associated with a romantic demon known as cupid. This demon is one of the rulers of the darkness of this world as found in Ephesians 6 verses 11 and 12.

    ”Cupid is the Roman name for the Greek god of love known as Eros. The English word erotic has its root in Eros.

    ”The dictionary defines the word erotic as relating to or tendency to arouse sexual desire or excitement.

    ”The celebration of the day inspires sexual feelings on people and spread sexual entertainment in order to further institutionalise sex.”

    The cleric added that ”cupid” influenced humans to set aside Feb. 14, as a special day for people do whatever they want to do with sex and the perversion of true love.

    “The Bible tells us that ‘God is love’, and it is very certain that God will not want His type of love celebrated this way,’’ he said.

    Ighele therefore urged authorities to proscribe the celebration of the day because of its bad influence on youths.

    He noted that it was the duty of the government and other non-state actors, such as the church, school and family to unite to promote cultures of social redeeming values.

    He added that the ban on the celebration would redeem people from destruction.

    NAN reports that Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on Feb. 14.

    The Day originated as a Christian feast day honouring a martyr named Valentine, but has become a significant cultural and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.

    Although Valentine’s Day is not a public holiday, it is considered a significant cultural and religious celebration of romance in the Catholic Church.

    In spite of its popularity in countries all over the world, there are some countries, where Valentine’s Day is not celebrated, most of them owing to religious beliefs

  • I got my teacher pregnant, i made the first move – Teenage Boy insists after teacher’s arrest

    I got my teacher pregnant, i made the first move – Teenage Boy insists after teacher’s arrest

     

    A teenage boy who got his New Jersey teacher pregnant when he was 13 and she was 28, has insisted he instigated the relationship.

    The boy, who DailyMail is not naming, said in an extraordinary exclusive interview that he doesn’t want Laura Caron, 34, to face trial and is standing by her.

    Former college basketball player Caron is awaiting trial and potentially facing 10 years in prison on charges she r@ped the boy, who moved in with her when he was just 11.

    But the boy in question, who is now 19 years old, insists he doesn’t feel like a victim, loves Caron with all his heart, and is hoping they can be a family soon.

    Prosecutors say she preyed on the youngster and subjected him to years of abuse before allegedly having his child in 2019.

    It was gathered that the pair kept the romance secret, and Caron supposedly told friends at a baby shower that the father was ‘out of the picture’.

    The relationship only emerged years later when the boy’s father saw a photograph of Caron’s then-toddler daughter and noted the uncanny resemblance with his son.

    Now Caron, if convicted, could be facing a decade behind bars on aggravated sexual assault in a case that has sent shockwaves through the school and local community.

    In an interview with DailyMail, the boy said she shouldn’t be jailed and insists he was ‘wasn’t groomed’ by Coran.

    ‘They need to drop all charges. I wasn’t groomed or raped or manipulated by her. She never initiated anything,’ he told DailyMail

    ‘I started everything. If it was up to me she wouldn’t have been in jail. It’s been six or seven years. I’m 19 about to be 20.’

    The teen rejected any suggestion the alleged abuse happened when he was 11, calling the allegations ‘crazy’.

    Caron declined to comment on the sordid allegations as she left a bail hearing in Cape May, New Jersey, on January 21.

    Caron is scheduled back in court on February 25 for another hearing.

     

  • Tragedy: Three killed in Lagos-Ibadan expressway accident

    Tragedy: Three killed in Lagos-Ibadan expressway accident

    Three killed in Lagos-Ibadan expressway accident.

    Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

    No fewer than three unidentified passengers were confirmed dead late Thursday following a multi-vehicle crash on the Kara section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    PUNCH Online gathered that an unidentified truck driver transporting sugar, lost control and collided with another vehicle, triggering a chain of collisions around 7 pm along Isheri-Olofin, outward bound from Lagos State.

    Our correspondent learnt that the other vehicles involved in the accident included an SF3000 truck, a Toyota Camry car with the number plate EPE 200 GK, an Isuzu mini truck with the number plate T-1079 LA and a Honda Accord car.

    A fuel attendant at a nearby filling station, identified only as Michael, told our correspondent that he saw several other passengers being rushed to the hospital.

    “Three vehicles were involved in the accident, including one fully loaded with bags of sugar. I heard that some people lost their lives.

    “However, I saw several injured passengers being rushed to the hospital. The truck driver fled the scene before he could be arrested,” Michael stated.

    The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident around 11:30 pm on Thursday and stated that the victims had been taken to a hospital in Lagos for medical attention.

    She said, “Three passengers including two women and one man, died at the scene. The injured were transported to the emergency clinic at Old Toll Gate in Ojota for treatment. The Lagos State Fire Service was present to extinguish the fire.

    “The bodies have been taken to the mortuary at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for identification and autopsy. Authorities are actively working to locate the truck driver who fled the scene.”

    The spokesperson for the Lagos State Fire Service, Amodu Shakiru, stated, “The incident occurred in Ogun State but our team was on-site to do everything possible to manage the situation. It took place along the Kara Bridge.”

    Ther3 have been reported of a similar incident on Wednesday involving another crash that resulted in the death of an unidentified driver and injuries to three other passengers on the Ogun State section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

  • Troops nab kidnapper, gun-runners in Kaduna, Borno, Plateau, Oyo

    Troops nab kidnapper, gun-runners in Kaduna, Borno, Plateau, Oyo

    Troops nab kidnapper, gun-runners in Kaduna, Borno, Plateau, Oyo

    Army foils kidnap attempt along Nasarawa Road, rescues victim, nabs suspect

     

    The Army said, yesterday, that its troops on counter-insurgency operations recorded a significant breakthrough by the dismantling of a gun-running syndicate that specialises in supplying arms and ammunition to terrorist groups operating in the North West.

     

    Troops also apprehended a notorious kidnap syndicate and recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition from the suspects.

     

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    A statement by the army said: “On August 7, 2024, troops working in coordination with other security agencies arrested a notorious gun-runner, Mallam Yau Ibrahim, in Babinga Kudaru village of Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

     

    “This arrest followed an earlier apprehension of another syndicate member on July 31, 2024, by troops of Operation Safe Haven in Jos.

     

    “Among the items recovered are AK-47 rifle, AK-47 rifle magazine, 1,641 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, and 49 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition.

     

    “In a separate operation, while acting on credible intelligence, troops tracked down and arrested Abubakar Shehu, 25 years, in the Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State.

     

    “Shehu is a member of a kidnap syndicate responsible for the assassination of Alhaji Mairuga Abubakar, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN, in Orelope Local Government Area of Oyo State.

     

    “Following preliminary investigation, the suspect led troops to Okoka forest in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of the state, where they recovered four AK-47 rifles, a locally fabricated pistol, eight magazines, one cartridge, and 110 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.

     

    “In Katsina State, troops laid ambush and neutralised a terrorist at Anguwa Boka in Faskari Local Government Area of the state.

     

    “Items recovered from the terrorists include one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, three rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition, a mobile phone and assorted items.

     

    “The arrest of the notorious gun-runner, Mallam Yau Ibrahim, and the apprehension of the kidnap syndicate, as well as the elimination of a terrorist alongside the recovery of arms and ammunition, are a veritable testament of the NA’s unflinching commitment in safeguarding our nation from the scourge of terrorism and criminality.”

     

     

  • Crossdresser found dead on Abuja road, police begin probe

    Crossdresser found dead on Abuja road, police begin probe

    Crossdresser found dead on Abuja road, police begin probe.

    The Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, on Thursday ordered an investigation into the death of a yet-to-be-identified man dressed in women’s clothing.

    The police, in a statement by the command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said it received a distress call about a woman’s corpse found along the Katampe-Mabushi expressway and promptly dispatched detectives to the scene.

    Adah added that preliminary investigations carried out by the detectives revealed that the individual was a man fully dressed in female clothing with no means of identification on him.

    She said the individual was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.

    Adah said, “In response to a distress call received by the Command Control Room on 08/08/2024 at about 07:40 AM, that an unidentified lady was seen lying motionless along Katampe – Mabushi expressway, a team of detectives were immediately dispatched to the scene.

    “Preliminary investigations revealed that the individual was a man fully dressed in female clothing with no means of identification on him. He was immediately taken to Maitama District Hospital where Doctors on duty confirmed him dead. “

    Adeh said Igweh ordered a discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death.

    She said, “The Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP has promptly ordered a thorough and discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death. Updates on this matter will be communicated in due course.

  • Forex crisis: Nigeria’s ID4D project gains N8.6 billion from Naira devaluation in 2024

    Forex crisis: Nigeria’s ID4D project gains N8.6 billion from Naira devaluation in 2024

    FForex crisis: Nigeria’s ID4D project gains N8.6 billion from Naira devaluation in 2024

    The devaluation of the Naira resulted in a forex gain of N8.6 billion for the Nigeria Identification for Development (ID4D) project, through which international financiers led by the World Bank are pushing for the enrollment of all Nigerians for the National Identification Number (NIN).

    The World Bank disclosed this in the project’s 2023 audited financial statement just released.

    The $430 million project started in 2020 is being funded jointly by the International Development Association (IDA), the French Development Agency (AFD), and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

     

    According to the report, funds received from the financiers in US$ or in Euro (€) are translated into the Nigerian Naira (NGN) On withdrawal at the exchange rate ruling on the date of withdrawal based on the CBN Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (AFEM).

    Funds received

    The report shows that the project’s USD and EURO-denominated accounts being managed by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) received a total of $2,538.92 and €3.03 million in the year under review.

    News continues after this ad

    The report indicated that one dollar which was exchanged for N448.05 at the beginning of the year, closed the year at N898.8, while one EURO that was exchanged for N478.3 in January 2023, closed the year at N993.9. The decline in the value of the Naira led to a forex gain of N8.6 billion.

    “During the period, the Project’s transactions were carried out in local currency (NGN). Foreign Exchange gain of N8,607,679,554.68 is recognised,” the report stated. 

    What this means 

    With Naira now exchanging for about N1,600/$1 and N1,750/€, NIMC will now have more money to fund several outstanding aspects of the project, which include procurement of power backup systems; improvement of telecommunication links between NIMC’s critical backend sites; procurement of a Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Security Operations Center (SOC); upgrading of the data recovery center (DRC); and procurement of a contact center and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions.

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    According to the World Bank, the project disbursement rate stood at 37.37% as of June 2024. This means that only about $160.7 million has been released out of the $430 million budgeted,

    To ensure full disbursement and realize the objectives of the project, the Bank last month announced the restructuring and extension of the project, which was originally designed to close on June 30, 2024.

    More disbursements are to be unlocked with the NIMC Amendment Bill

    The World Bank in the project restructuring document released in July noted that Nigeria has yet to meet one of the conditions for the disbursement of more funds for the implementation of the project.

    “One final disbursement condition which has yet to be met is the amendment of the NIMC Act to promote an inclusive and non-discriminatory legal and regulatory framework,” it said. 

    However, the NIMC in a statement issued last week disclosed that the Nigerian National Assembly has begun the process of repealing and enacting the NIMC Act No. 23. It added that the NIMC Amendment Bill represents a significant legislative endeavour to enhance the efficacy and inclusivity of the Identity Management System.

    “The amendments seek to fortify the foundational framework of the NIMC and its operations by; Expanding the Scope of Registrable Persons.  

    “The benefit to the country is a more comprehensive and inclusive identification system, which enhances national security, facilitates efficient service delivery and promotes financial inclusion,” NIMC said in a statement signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke.   

    What you should know 

    The ID4D project approved by the Board of IDA in 2020 is seeking to increase the number of persons with a national ID number, issued by the NIMC to facilitate easy access to digital services in the country.

    • The project was designed to close on June 30, 2024, with several targets set for the country to achieve by that date. However, many of the targets have been missed, necessitating the restructuring and extension to 2026.
    • According to NIMC, only 107.3 million Nigerians had been issued NIN as of April 2024.
    • Aside from issuing NIN to 148 million Nigerians by 2024, the Bank listed other targets to include the issuance of NIN to at least 65 million female Nigerians by June 1, 2024, as well as 50 million NIN to children under 16 years of age.
    • Other performance indicators set for the country include the development of pro-poor functional public and private services employing the foundational ID system for the purpose of authentication and service delivery; NIN enrolments in rural areas; and government personnel trained in best practices for legal and regulatory enabling environments for foundational ID, including privacy and data protection, all of which were to have been achieved by June 2024.
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  • Rating: GCR affirms Dangote Industries Limited AA+(NG)/ A1+(NG)

    Rating: GCR affirms Dangote Industries Limited AA+(NG)/ A1+(NG)

    Rating: GCR affirms Dangote Industries Limited AA+(NG)/ A1+(NG)

    .strong earnings prospects from the new refinery

     

    GCR Ratings (GCR) has affirmed the national scale long-term and short-term issuer ratings of AA+(NG) and A1+(NG) respectively accorded to Dangote Industries Limited (DIL).