FG denies plan to ban raw cocoa exports
The Federal Government says it is not banning raw cocoa exports but is promoting value addition to maximise earnings from the commodity. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said this in a statement issued on Friday, July 17, 2026. Kyari said reports claiming that the federal government planned to ban the export of raw cocoa beans did not...
Burna Boy, Shakira reunite ahead of historic World Cup final halftime show
Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy and Colombian pop icon Shakira have reunited ahead of their performance at the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show. Burna Boy shared a video on his X account on Friday showing the pair embracing and chatting during rehearsals for Sunday's show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, United States. Captioning the post, the Grammy-winning singer...
Facing Yamal after baby photo is crazy — Messi
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has described it as "crazy" that he will face Spain's teenage sensation, Lamine Yamal, in Sunday's FIFA World Cup final, years after a famous photograph showed him holding the youngster as a baby. Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Friday, Messi reflected on the image, saying it was remarkable that fate had brought them together...
Dangote refinery raises $2.5bn ahead of planned August IPO
Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, has nearly completed a $2.5 billion private share placement for Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE, paving the way for what could become Africa's largest initial public offering (IPO). According to a Bloomberg report published on Friday, the company sold a stake of up to six per cent, valuing the Lagos-based refinery at about $40...
Native doctor bags six-years jail term over fake spiritual claims
A High Court in Awka, Anambra State, has sentenced popular native doctor, Onyebuchi Okocha, popularly known as Onyeze Jesus, to six years' imprisonment and imposed a ₦20 million fine for fraudulent spiritual practices. The judgment was confirmed on Friday by the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr. Law Mefor, who described the conviction as part of the...
Tobi Makinde dismisses rift rumours with Funke Akindele
Nollywood actor Tobi Makinde has dismissed rumours of a fallout with filmmaker Funke Akindele, saying her absence from his wedding was due to work commitments and not any disagreement between them. Speaking in an interview with TVC, Makinde said Akindele was busy promoting one of her films at the time of the ceremony, adding that her absence was understandable. “There’s no...
DSS rescues abducted NSUK dean, arrests two suspects
The Department of State Services (DSS) has rescued the abducted Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), Prof. Samuel Okunsebor, less than 48 hours after he was kidnapped by gunmen in Nasarawa State. Prof. Okunsebor was abducted around midnight on Wednesday at Mile Uku, a boundary community between Lafia and Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Areas,...
Sowore vows to reverse Tinubu-named public projects if elected
African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has vowed to reverse the naming of highways, public institutions and other national assets after President Bola Tinubu and other serving public officials if elected president in 2027. Sowore made the pledge in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday while reacting to the Federal Government’s decision to rename the Lagos-Calabar...
Fake prophet jailed over N136.4m fraud, assets forfeited
The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of self-acclaimed prophet, Godwin Sunday Ajuluchukwucheya, popularly known as Prophet Sunday Koboko, for defrauding church members of N136.4 million through false pretences. The conviction was secured before Justice H.O. Eya of the Enugu State High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, where the defendant...
S’Court affirms final forfeiture of Emefiele’s properties, $2m, share certificates to FG
The Supreme Court on Friday, July 17, 2026, affirmed the final forfeiture of seven landed properties, the sum of $2,045,000, and share certificates linked to a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to the Federal Government. The Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgement delivered by a five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice...
