Igho ‘Tiny’ Ubiribo, a British-Nigerian influencer and friend of Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, who died from complications following penis enlargement surgery in Bangkok, Thailand, was once declared wanted for drug trafficking by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Mr Ubiribo was famous for display of wealth on social media.

Before his death on March 6, 2026, Mr Ubiribo and his wife, Danielle Simba Allen, an Anglo-Zimbabwean clothier, were declared “celebrity couple wanted over seized illicit drugs” in Nigeria by the NDLEA.

In 2023, the NDLEA “declared a Port Harcourt, Rivers State- based popular prophetess and founder of Christ Power Adoration Ministries, Faith Ugochi and a celebrity couple: Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Simba Allen wanted for recruiting teenage girls into drug trafficking while they serve as the arrowheads of an international syndicate operating from Los Angeles, USA.”

The anti-drug agency in its investigations noted that Mr Ubiribo and his wife were involved in drug trafficking.

The NDLEA added, “Several attempts to get Prophetess Faith Ugochi, Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Simba Allen submit themselves for questioning have proved abortive

“Investigation was able to establish that Favour and Shalom were recruited as sales girls in the illicit drug trade by Prophetess Faith Ugochi of Christ Power Adoration Ministries, using her church platform to recruit teenage girls brought to her for help, on behalf of the celebrity couple: Igho Ubiribo (aka Tiny) and Danielle Simba Allen (aka Dani), who are the owners of the business, while Edward Omatseye (aka Montana) coordinates the illicit drug trade activities for them in Nigeria, with Nnochiri Chidinma Promise as representative of Ben Cargo Ltd, a freight company responsible for the shipment of illicit consignments into the country.”

• peoplesgazette

Former President  Ernest  Koroma has returned to Sierra Leonean  after more than two years of temporary stay in  Nigeria. JoinDiaspora Networks

He was accompanied yesterday  to Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

A statement by the Foreign Affairs Ministry added that Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, on the instruction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also  followed the ex-President to his country.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who facilitated Koroma’s return in his capacity as special envoy, saw him off to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.  

 Koroma served as Sierra Leone’s president from 2007 to 2018 before leaving for Nigeria in January 2024, after being charged with treason and other offences over the November 2023 unrest in the country.

The upheaval, which the Sierra Leonean authorities described as an attempted coup, left 21 people dead and led to the escape of hundreds of prisoners.

Jonathan, who described Koroma’s stay in Nigeria as “home away from home,”  expressed gratitude that the country supported him. JoinDiaspora Networks

He said he had worked with others to encourage dialogue with the Sierra Leonean authorities to create conditions for Koroma’s safe return.

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Yobe State, Muhammad Gadaka, has urged married women whose husbands prevent them from voting for the party to seek divorce, offering to pay their dowries.

Gadaka made the remark while speaking at a campaign rally in Nangere, Yobe State, on Thursday, according to Arise News.

In a video shared by News Central, the APC chairman said women whose husbands would not allow them to vote for the party should stand up to them and leave their marriages.

“If your husband won’t allow you to vote for APC, stand up to him and seek a divorce. If you leave the marriage, I will pay your dowry and marry you,” he said.

The remark has sparked criticism, with residents and Islamic scholars describing it as reckless and provocative and warning that it could undermine family values.

Gadaka has since apologised and withdrawn the comment amid the backlash.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has disowned 10 candidates’ names published by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2027 Anambra State House of Assembly elections, insisting that it neither nominated the persons nor submitted their Form EC9E documents.

The party also demanded an immediate electronic audit of INEC’s nomination portal to determine how the names and credentials of the candidates found their way into the commission’s system.

The NDC Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Theophilus Agada, disclosed the party’s position in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said, “The 10 names published by INEC neither emerged from the party’s nomination process nor its appeal process.

 “The NDC uploaded only candidates who emerged from our appeal process, but the commission rejected the names approved by the party and subsequently published persons unknown to us.”

The candidates disowned by the party include Umennaajiego Ezenwa (Onitsha South 1), Akpotue Chibuike (Onitsha South II), Nwankwo Chiemerie (Orumba North), Maduagwu Eric K. (Anaocha I), Ngoebisi Obinna (Idemili North) and Isintume Charles (Njikoka I).

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on politicians and their supporters to stop using the name of Jesus Christ in partisan  political arguments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, in a statement issued Thursday, said the caution became necessary after recent comments by Precious Oruche, popularly known as Mama Pee, who invoked Jesus Christ while speaking on Peter Obi and the 2027 race.

In his sensitization that Jesus is not a campaign tool, Archbishop Okoh said political discourse can be robust, but the sacred must not be mixed with the partisan.

“Jesus Christ is not a political candidate, a campaign slogan or a weapon to advance one politician against another,” Okoh stated.

He noted that while Nigerians have the right to support Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, President Bola Tinubu or any other candidate, they must not elevate politicians to a status that belongs only to God.

The CAN leader warned against “messianic politics” and the tendency to describe politicians in terms that blur the line between political leadership and spiritual salvation. 

“No politician is the Messiah. No political party represents the salvation of the human spirit that Christ epitomises. And no electoral victory is worth compromising the honour due to His name,” he said.

In clearing the air on debate issues, not being divinity, Okoh urged Nigerians to shift focus to what matters in an election which reiterated includes competence, character, policies, performance and Nigeria’s future.

“Let us argue about competence, character, policies, performance and the future of Nigeria. Let us disagree passionately if necessary, but let us leave Jesus Christ out of our partisan quarrels,” he added.

As campaigns begin to gather momentum for 2027, CAN called on political actors and citizens to engage responsibly and with respect for shared sacred values.

The management of Opay has denied reports that the fintech institution is going shutting down its operations indefinitely in the country. This firm’s management, in a media chat, stressed that its operation in Nigeria continues to exist, clarifying that the organisation is not embarking on any break. 

The Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer of Opay, Dotun Adekunle, said: “We are aware of a false and misleading publication circulating across social media claiming that OPay will be going on an indefinite break from September 1, 2026, and advising customers to withdraw or transfer their funds. This claim is completely false. OPay is not going on any break. We remain fully operational, and our services continue as normal.

The circulating publication is not an official OPay communication.OPay is here, OPay is operating, and OPay is going nowhere, Opay is Okay,” he said.

In the same vein, Opay’s Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, made it known that the firm is working with the Department of State Services, (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the source of the false information claiming that the company is shutting down its operations in Nigeria.  Rokosu further added that the company had provided evidence to assist in identifying those responsible.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors of working against him ahead of the 2027 general elections, while reaffirming his support for President Bola Tinubu.

Wike made the allegations during a media chat on Wednesday, where he specifically named the governors of Kwara and Imo states, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Hope Uzodinma, respectively.

Speaking about his relationship with some APC governors, Wike said some politicians were more concerned about being seen as those working for the President.

“You see, the problem with people, they want them to be seen, that they are the people working for the President. I don’t do that,” he said.

Asked whether he was referring to Mr AbdulRazaq, Wike replied, “Yes.”

He accused the Kwara governor of championing what he described as a campaign against him, particularly over allegations that he was sponsoring political candidates in the state.

Wike said the removal of three senators and a member of the House of Representatives from the APC had created a political dilemma for the governor, arguing that those affected could seek alternative platforms ahead of 2027.

“Now, these senators you removed, you have no place for them. Therefore, do you prefer them to go to ADC or to go to NDC?” he asked.

He argued that politicians who moved to opposition parties such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or the National Democratic Congress (NDC) could work against President Tinubu, whereas those who aligned with him would support the President.

“Now, if they come to me, obviously, they will vote for Mr President,” Wike said.

The FCT minister also rejected claims that he was planting candidates across states, saying some governors had approached him to prevent the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from fielding candidates in their states.

“I said, ‘Ah, in any case, did I reach any agreement that, look, now that we are supporting Mr President, PDP will not have any candidate anywhere?” he said.

Wike also addressed his reported disagreement with Uzodinma, insisting that the Imo governor was aware of the support he received from him during his political journey.

“The governor of Imo State knows the support I gave to him very well,” he said.

Despite the political disagreements, Wike said his priority remained supporting President Tinubu’s re-election bid, arguing that failing to do so could expose him to political retaliation if the President lost in 2027.

“But you see, in politics, I’m not a threat. My concern is, I will support Mr President. If you watch what’s happening today and look at it, peradventure anything happens and Mr President fails today, I will be the first politician that Atiku, Obi will hunt for his head.

“I will be the first politician. I challenge anybody. So, I won’t make that mistake, to be sleeping to see the President lose his election. No,” he said.

Uber has commenced the winding down of its operations in Nigeria, with the company’s exit coming amid a major global restructuring aimed at cutting costs and redirecting investments to areas it considers to have stronger growth potential.

Uber announced that its Nigerian operations would end effective September, 2026, 12 years after it launched its service in Lagos in 2014.

The decision is part of a broader restructuring by the company, which includes plans to cut approximately 3,300 jobs globally and reduce management layers as Uber seeks to streamline its operations and redirect resources towards its core businesses, including ride-hailing, delivery and autonomous vehicles.

Although Uber is leaving Nigeria and Uganda, the company has said it remains committed to the Sub-Saharan African market.

The development has, however, triggered mixed reactions among Nigerians, with some expressing sadness and others questioning why the company would leave a country with such a large population and transportation market.

Reacting to the development on Facebook, Ifeanyi Christopher attributed Uber’s difficulties in Nigeria partly to the challenging business environment, particularly the naira-to-dollar exchange rate and competition within the ride-hailing industry.

He said Nigeria was “a very difficult market for foreign companies to operate in”, arguing that rising foreign-currency costs could eventually make services too expensive for consumers.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Has Delisted The Names Of Members Of The Executive Of The Julius Abure-Led Faction From Its Portal.

The Electoral Body Has Removed All The Names Of The Abure-Led Executives For The Party And Replaced Them With Nenadi Usman’s Faction As Ordered By The Court.

Recall That The Federal High Court, Sitting On January 21 In Abuja, Sacked Abure As The National Chairman Of The Labour Party.

In Its Ruling, The Court Presided Over By Peter Lifu Cited The Supreme Court’s April 4, 2025 Verdict To Declare The Former Minister Of Finance As The Valid Chairman Of The Party.

Subsequently, On INEC’s Portal, Usman Was Listed As The Labour Party’s National Chairman With A Ticker Stating That The Change Was Made By The Electoral Body Following The Court Order.

Also, Darlington Nwokocha, Hamisu Santuraki, Aisha Madije And Eric Ifere Were Listed As The New National Secretary, National Treasurer, National Financial Secretary And National Legal Adviser Respectively.

INEC Also Indicated Clearly That All The Leaders Of The Party Listed On The Portal Followed The Order Of The Court.

Chelsea delivered a clinical performance to claim their first Club World Cup title in style, defeating Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Cole Palmer was the star of the night, playing a role in all three goals during a dominant first-half display that stunned the heavily favored French side.

PSG, who had dismantled Real Madrid and Inter Milan in previous matches, were tipped to complete a historic quadruple. But Chelsea had other plans.

Palmer opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a composed low finish after connecting with a Malo Gusto cut-back. Just eight minutes later, he doubled the lead with a near-identical strike, exposing PSG’s weakness down the left flank.

The third goal came after Palmer slipped in Joao Pedro, who chipped past Gianluigi Donnarumma with confidence, following up his brace against Fluminense in the semi-final. PSG’s frustration was later compounded when Joao Neves received a red card for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair, and a post-match brawl marred the final moments.

The victory earns Chelsea approximately £100 million in prize money and makes them the inaugural champions of the newly expanded 32-team tournament. The triumph also adds to their earlier UEFA Conference League title, marking a memorable season for head coach Enzo Maresca.

“We set the tone in the first 10 minutes—even before the first goal,” said Maresca. “The intensity, the pressing—we were sharp from the start. I have no words for the players. They deserve every bit of this.”

The match also made headlines for its spectacle, featuring fighter-jet flyovers, a 24-minute halftime show (which breached IFAB regulations), and a surprise guest—former US President Donald Trump, who joined the Chelsea squad for the trophy lift.

While Chelsea celebrated their dominant win, PSG’s evening unravelled. Tensions boiled over after the final whistle, with pushing and shoving between both sides. However, the drama couldn’t overshadow Chelsea’s masterclass.

As Reece James lifted the trophy, joined awkwardly by Trump and watched by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the Blues marked the end of their season with silverware, style, and a message to Europe’s elite: Chelsea are back.