Category: News

Controversial activist, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has reacted to a court order calling for his arrest as regards alleged defamation of gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo.

According to the social media critic, the judiciary is attempting to silence him.

VeryDarkMan, stated that his arrest shouldn’t have been ordered by the court considering the fact that he is not in Nigeria and has a pending case in the same court, which he has never missed.

He questions the legitimacy of the arrest order and accuses the judiciary of trying to shut him down.

He also disclosed that another court in Nyanyan, Abuja, had also issued an injunction restricting him from discussing Mercy Chinwo and Eezee Tee, which he believes is an attempt to silence him.

He said all these in a video he shared via his X handle on Friday, March 14.

He partly said: “So in respect to this news that went viral yesterday, that the courts have ordered for my arrest. First things first, the judiciary cannot shut me down. A lot of you don’t know, but there is a plot for the judiciary to shut me down, but I will resist it instead, I will expose all those people paying money for it. I will expose all of you, all those people forum-shopping judges and all those their illegal orders. I will expose all of you because Tell me something. How can a man have six cases in front of one magistrate in one day, one lawyer have six cases in front of one magistrate in one day, and on that same day, the judge ordered for my arrest.

“On that same day, after they told him, because my lawyer told him that this guy is not in Nigeria, my lawyer also told them that I have a case in that same court, and I have never missed a day. The lawyer told him that. As a matter of fact, I was even in China when they filed for that case. So I’m not around, and you’re ordering for my own arrest and I’m not even around, not just that on that same day when they ordered from arrest, that was yesterday, another court in Nyanya is also issuing an injunction that I should not talk about Mercy Chinwo and is Eezee Tee matter again.

“Meanwhile, this other magistrate that ordered my arrest has also issued an injunction that should not talk about this case. Now, the one in Nyanya that issued that injunction was also a magistrate. He was recently made judge. Was also a magistrate. Was recently made a judge. Now again, if you go through that their case, the affidavit is very scanty. No reasonable person will give an order based on that affidavit, based on that case. Wey, they file and they look the case, and I’m like, What’s what’s going on here? Not just that, this expertise that you people pass, this expert I thought the NJC, I’ve stopped that. I put a stop on that, and I’ve warned all judges to not do that experte thing anymore. So why is this judge in Nyanya, Why is he doing it? So the agency, is it that you don’t have the law does not stand. I mean, you put a stop to this. Why are they trying to do it?

“I know wetin ona dey look for, they want the news. Oh, Verydarkman came to Nigeria because their plan will be if I come, Nigeria make them handcuff me. They handcuff me. People go say, Yes, oh, mercy, don win and all that see, the truth is that even if I come to Nigeria now, hm, and they handcuff me, listen, it still does not change the truth that there was abuse of power and influence.”

The Nigerian Police in Lagos State have confirmed the de@th of a yet-to-be-identified woman who jumped off the Third Mainland Bridge on Thursday, March 13.

It was gathered that the woman jumped into the waters near the University of Lagos (UNILAG) waterfront in Lagos State, resulting in her death despite efforts to rescue her.

Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson for the Lagos Police Command said the incident occurred at about 4 pm as marine police office on ground immediately swung into action to rescue the woman.

Hundeyin said the efforts to rescue the woman was futile as she was pronounced dead on arrival by medical personnel from the University of Lagos.

He said, “Today, March 13, 2025, at about 1600 hours, an unidentified woman reportedly jumped from the Third Mainland Bridge into the water near the UNILAG waterfront at approximately 1500 hours.

“She was recovered at the University of Lagos shore slipway by a team of marine police officers stationed in the area. Despite their efforts, she was confirmed d@ad by a team of UNILAG medical doctors in the presence of officers from the Sabo Police Division.”

“Her body has been evacuated to the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) Mortuary in Yaba, Lagos, for preservation,” Hundeyin noted.

 

Personnel from the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Wednesday intervened to clear thugs from the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja.

According to a party source, the thugs had been allegedly hired to prevent members of the National Working Committee (NWC) from accessing the party’s headquarters for their scheduled meetings.

The escalating crisis within the PDP has caused significant disruption across its various organs.

Recently, the party has been rocked by a power struggle for the position of National Secretary, with both Samuel Anyanwu and former National Youth Leader Sunday Ude-Okoye laying claim to the post.

 

 

Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has lauded the progresses achieved by the President Bola Tinubu-led government within 2023 and now.

According to Omokri, Nigerians have benefited from these progresses and would not jeopardise the progresses by supporting either the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, or the former Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Omokri recounted the successes achieved by the Bola Tinubu led-administration, adding that more regions now have individual regional development commissions to accelerate development in their zones.

He stated this in a statement he shared via his X handle on Wednesday, March 12.

The statement reads: “The Sokoto-Badagry Highway has reached Kebbi State and is progressing daily. The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is now approaching Ondo State. Fuel prices are down and still dropping to an average of ₦800 per litre. Four hundred thousand students are accessing student loans. The Minimum Wage is now ₦70,000. Food prices are dropping slightly, while inflation reduced seismically from 34.80% to 24.48% in February 2025. Power generation is at an all-time high of 6,003MW, the highest in our history.

“Federal allocations to states have doubled and, in some cases, tripled. Deaths from terrorism and insecurity are at their lowest level since 2014, even as our GDP grew by 3.8% in 2024, while Nigeria recorded a 209.6% increase in our trade surplus to ₦18.86 trillion in 2024 from ₦6.09 trillion in 2023.

“More regions now have individual regional development commissions to accelerate development in their zones.

“Nigerians are earning more than they did in 2023. Students are learning more than they did in 2023. Nigerians are safer than they were in 2023. Nigeria generates more power than it did in 2023.

“And you think Nigerians will jeopardise all these progresses to vote in Nasir el-Rufai to turn us into one big Southern Kaduna Genocidal Graveyard, or Peter Obi, who kowtows to IPOB, sides with fake drug peddlers and never built a single school for his eight years as a governor of Anambra?”

A dramatic scene unfolded at the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex on Wednesday when Governor Siminalayi Fubara arrived, only to find the entrance gate locked.

Security personnel had closed the gates as the governor’s convoy approached, citing a lack of official communication between the governor’s office and the Assembly.

Governor Fubara, however, disputed this claim, stating that he had informed Speaker Martins Amaewhule of his planned visit through a letter.

Additionally, the governor revealed that he had attempted to reach the Speaker by phone since Tuesday.

In December 2023, the 2025 budget was first presented to a faction of the Rivers State Assembly, but recent tensions have prompted renewed urgency.

Last week, the Assembly gave Governor Siminalayi Fubara a 48-hour ultimatum to present the budget for the upcoming year.

In response, Fubara explained that he was waiting for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court ruling before moving forward with the presentation.

On Sunday, Governor Fubara sent a letter to Speaker Martins Amaewhule, signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo.

The letter invited lawmakers to a meeting to discuss key issues arising from the Supreme Court decision. The talks are set to address the budget presentation, as well as the payment of unpaid salaries to legislators, among other critical matters, with the aim of finding a path forward for the state.

 

 

 

The Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, has urged the governments of Bauchi, Katsina, Kebbi, and Kano states to reconsider their decision to shut down state-owned schools for the duration of Ramadan.

Ahmad argued that no Muslim-majority country enforces such a practice, suggesting that it is neither a religious requirement nor a beneficial policy.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm, she emphasized that keeping schools open during Ramadan is a standard practice, even in countries where Islam is the dominant religion.

“In each state, the education system is under state jurisdiction, and they have the right to make decisions,” she said.

“However, we can only engage them and present our position on the matter.”

The minister further clarified that Islamic teachings do not mandate the closure of schools during fasting.

She cited countries like Saudi Arabia, where schools remain open during Ramadan, despite being home to Islam’s holiest sites.

“There is nowhere it is written that you must shut down schools because of fasting,” Ahmad emphasized, stressing that religious observance should not interfere with education.

Ahmad also referenced Islamic history to back her stance. “The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) went to war during Ramadan, so fasting was never an obstacle to fulfilling duties or engaging in significant activities,” she noted.

This historical example illustrates that fasting during Ramadan does not prevent people from engaging in essential functions, including education.

Ahmad contended that the closure of schools during Ramadan is unnecessary and counterproductive, particularly in the context of Nigeria’s already strained education system.

Expressing concern over the academic time lost due to the closures, Ahmad revealed that the Federal Ministry of Education is engaging with the affected states to discuss the matter and explore possible alternatives.

“What about the period that will be lost? This is something we are looking into as we continue discussions with the state governments,” she said.

The extended break could further exacerbate existing challenges, including overcrowded classrooms and gaps in learning, particularly in northern states where educational standards remain a significant issue.

The decision by the northern states to shut down schools for Ramadan has stirred considerable debate, with many education stakeholders questioning its necessity.

Critics argue that the closure may have negative consequences on the quality of education, particularly in regions already grappling with high levels of poverty and illiteracy.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has raised concerns, arguing that the closure of schools for five weeks in these regions could be counterproductive, discriminatory, and potentially violate the rights of non-Muslim students living in the affected states.

CAN further highlighted that such a measure could deepen existing educational inequalities, particularly among vulnerable groups who may already struggle to access quality education.

 

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has claimed that Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, will soon join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bwala made this statement while speaking on TVC’s Breakfast Show, where he reacted to reports about former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, leaving the APC for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

During the discussion, Bwala stated, “Do you know we are emptying the Labour Party? Not because we are asking them to come, they are coming. Valentine Ozigbo has joined us, Balami has joined us, even Peter Obi will join us.”

He further suggested that ongoing political realignments, including discussions about a coalition against the APC ahead of the 2027 elections and El-Rufai’s move to the SDP, are primarily driven by personal ambitions rather than for good governance.

 

 

The President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Tulia Ackson, has responded to plea from suspended Kogi Central lawmaker, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

According to Ackson, necessary steps will only be taken after hearing from both sides on her suspension.

Ackson made this statement in a video seen on Wednesday, following Natasha’s plea to the IPU and the United Nations (UN) for intervention in what she tagged as an unjust suspension.

Natasha bagged a six months suspension for breaking the rules of the Senate.

However, during the Women in Parliament session at the IPU meeting, Natasha called for justice and urged global democratic institutions to address what she claimed was a political victimisation.

Reacting to Natasha’s appeal, IPU President Tulia Ackson acknowledged the issues raised and assured that action would only be taken after listening to the other side.

Ackson said: “Dear colleagues, there was I matter before I closed the meeting, there was a matter that arose during the first session which we had this morning, the matter that was raised by our colleague from Nigeria, Senator Natasha. And because all of us heard what she said and it only serves us better if I put a word in what she has said. So I would like to say we have.

“We have heard her concerns and having heard her, it would have been an opportunity for all of us to understand more about what she has said. But because we listened only on her side as an institution, as IPU, we will be taking the concerns that have been raised, not only taking her side but also giving a chance to listen to the other side as it is a custom for IPU and after having listened to the other side. We will take steps as necessary. So I thought it was necessary for us to say a word about it and then be able to take it further.

“So I thought I should let you members before we think she because she said something different from what the contributions were. So we have taken care of, we have taken the concerns that she raised and we will be working on them, of course, having listened to the other side and we will be able to take steps after that. I also recognize the fact that our Nigerian delegate who is here had requested the floor but because of time she wasn’t given a chance to speak. But like I said, we have had the concerns that have been raised by Senator Natasha.”

 

 

On Tuesday, a number of protesters stormed the National Assembly complex, rallying in support of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

At least three distinct groups gathered outside the entrance, each voicing their backing for Akpabio’s leadership.

The protests were sparked by the recent suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from Kogi Central for six months, a decision tied to her removal from the chairmanship of the Senate’s Local Content Committee.

The protesters, unified in their stance, expressed their approval of the suspension and accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of attempting to blackmail the Senate.

They hailed the decision as necessary to maintain discipline and integrity within the Senate’s leadership.

However, in a video seen online, some of the protesters revealed that they were not aware of the content of the placards they held.

When asked to explain the content of the poster they were holding, they confessed the placards were just handed to them.

 

 

The Nigerian Senate has given its approval for the creation of a Federal University in Okigwe, Imo State.

Sponsored by Senator Patrick Ndubueze, the bill was passed after its third reading in the Senate on Tuesday, March 11, paving the way for the university’s establishment.

The bill outlines provisions for the institution’s management, administration, and other related matters.

Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, lauded the sponsor of the bill, emphasising that education is the cornerstone of national development.

Jibrin said: “Education is bedrock of every society. Any nation, any society, any country that treats the issue of education with levity will be doomed. Of course people are saying that we have several universities in this country but they are not enough, compared to our population.

“We have a very strong population with promising youth and what we have to do for them is to provide them with education so we can have the necessary human capital to drive the process of building our country. And it is through this kind of university that we can be able to do so.”