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JUST IN: Akpabio returns from London vacation amid health speculation

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has returned to Nigeria after a short vacation in London, dispelling widespread rumours about his health.

Akpabio arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 4am on Monday and was received by senators, aides and supporters at the presidential wing.

His absence after attending the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 29 to 31, had sparked speculation on social media that he was critically ill and hospitalised.

Speaking with journalists on arrival, Akpabio dismissed the rumours, describing them as baseless.

“There’s nothing like such. I’m fit as a fiddle. I only stopped over in London for a short vacation,” he said.

 

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Headlines

Paternity Fraud: 25% of fathers not biological parents – Report

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Nigeria’s leading DNA centre, Smart DNA, has released its 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report, highlighting a surge in immigration-related DNA cases amid the country’s ongoing “Japa” wave, while paternity disputes remain a persistent concern.

According to the report, released on Sunday in Lagos, immigration-related DNA testing rose sharply to 13.1 per cent of all cases between July 2024 and June 2025, a trend driven by families seeking documentation for relocation abroad.

“The increase reflects the growing number of dual-citizenship families securing foreign papers for their children, often as ‘second passport’ insurance,” the centre noted.

The report also shows that Nigeria’s paternity exclusion rate remains at 25 per cent, meaning one in four presumed fathers tested are not the biological parents of the children in question. Though slightly lower than the 27 per cent recorded in 2024, the figure underscores the scale of uncertainty in family structures.

Findings further revealed that firstborn children are most affected by paternity discrepancies, with firstborn sons accounting for 64 per cent of negative results.

The study also pointed to a striking gender divide in DNA test initiations: men requested nearly 90 per cent of paternity tests, compared to just 11.8 per cent initiated by women.

Smart DNA’s Operations Manager, Elizabeth Digia, called for urgent interventions through legal reform, healthcare integration, and public education.

Nigeria lacks specific paternity fraud laws, unlike South Africa, leaving men with little legal recourse after years of financial responsibility for children proven not to be theirs,” she said.

Digia urged that DNA testing be integrated into family health programs and premarital counselling, stressing that misconceptions still fuel mistrust.

“Many believe DNA testing is only for wealthy families or assume physical resemblance guarantees paternity. Our role is to provide certainty through accurate testing while encouraging sensitive handling of this life-changing information,” she added.

The centre concluded that the data paints a troubling picture of family trust, identity, and the socio-economic pressures shaping Nigerian households today.

 

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Headlines

Ibom Air: I can’t face my real estate business clients – Emmanson cries out

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Comfort Emmanson, the passenger at the centre of the altercation with Ibom Air crew members, has said the incident has left her traumatised and ruined her reputation.

In a video shared on her Instagram story on Sunday, Emmanson recounted that she was stopped from leaving the aircraft after the Lagos-bound flight landed on August 10, 2025.

She alleged that the flight attendant who earlier insisted she switch off her mobile phones dragged her back into the plane, tore at her hair, clothes and jewellery, and broke her phones.

She said she was then stripped partially naked as other staff and bystanders recorded her while mocking her.

According to her, being exposed in such a manner and seeing the videos shared online have caused her deep emotional pain.

She lamented that the recordings have been turned into social media content and WhatsApp stickers, leaving her too ashamed to face clients in her real estate business.

She partly said, “Going out of the aircraft, this lady Juliana stopped me. I asked her, why did you stop me? Why are you stopping me from going out of the aircraft? Everybody had left so I needed to go out. She didn’t say anything to me, she was just staring at me with the same bad eye. That was when I remembered that this was the same person instructing me to put off my phone. That was when I started recording and then she backed the person facing me and I told her to let me pass but she didn’t answer me, she ignored me.

“When she noticed I was making a video, she now pulled me back inside the aircraft and dragged my frontal, dragged my gold from my neck, my clothes, and my phones. The phone broke. The pain of doing that to me was when I went to poke her.”

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Headlines

National grid records 2% improvement in capacity

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Nigeria’s national power grid recorded a modest improvement in its operational performance for July 2025, with an increase of 2% in its plant availability factor compared to the previous month.

Data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), shared by the Nigeria National Grid on its official X handle on Saturday, revealed key insights into the country’s power sector.

According to the report, Nigeria’s power grid, with a total installed capacity of 13,625 MW, had an average available capacity of only 5,577 MW in July, representing a 41% plant availability factor.

This was a 2% improvement over the figures for June 2025. The average generation also saw a slight uptick, rising by 0.3% to 4,340 MWh per hour, although the average load factor dropped by 3% to 78%.

The report highlighted the contributions of several major power plants. The largest contributors to energy generation were: Egbin: Averaged 665 MWh per hour with a 93% load factor.

Delta: Contributed 417 MWh per hour with an 86% load factor; Kainji: Recorded 354 MWh per hour with an impressive 98% load factor; Okpai: Generated 344 MWh per hour with a 93% load factor; and Ihovbor 2: Added 403 MWh per hour at a 90% load factor.

Despite these positive contributions, the report also exposed significant underperformance. Afam 1, with a 726 MW installed capacity, and Alaoji 1 both recorded 0% availability for the entire month of July. Similarly, Sapele Steam 1, with a 720 MW capacity, managed only a 3% availability.

The NERC factsheet also noted that the grid’s stability continued to be a concern. The frequency operated outside the set limits of 49.75 Hz and 50.25 Hz, while the voltage also breached its acceptable range, with a high of 347.87 kV (1% above the limit) and a low of 301.10 kV (4% below the limit).

 

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HeadlinesUncategorized

2027: You are banned from playing politics — FG to civil servants

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Ahead of the 2027 general election draws nigh, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoS), Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has issued a stern warning to civil servants against engaging in political activities while in service.

Speaking in Abuja on Friday during the Quarterly Stakeholders and Citizens Engagement interactive session, Mrs Walson-Jack emphasised that civil servants must remain neutral and uphold the rules of the service.

Addressing concerns about a trending Supreme Court judgement, she clarified that while civil servants are allowed to be card-carrying members of political parties to protect their fundamental right of association, this does not permit partisan conduct.

Mrs Walson-Jack stated, “It’s an old judgement, and it is still very much in force.

But what that judgement said was that civil servants can be card-carrying members of a political party, just so that their fundamental human right of association is not denied. It went on to caution that civil servants must abide by the terms and conditions of their service.

“We all know a civil servant is supposed to be non-political. So your first responsibility is to be neutral, non-political, and do your job.”

She further warned, “You cannot go and be partisan. You serve the government of the day with neutrality. Anything contrary will be dealt with in accordance with the rules and regulations of the public service.”

 

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Headlines

Dangote Group Pledges Full Support, Compensation for BBNaija Star Phyna’s Sister Injured in Truck Accident

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Dangote Group Plc has pledged full medical support and compensation for Mrs. Ruth Otabor, sister of Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner, Ijeoma “Phyna” Otabor, who was injured in a recent accident involving one of the company’s trucks in Auchi, Edo State.

The incident, which occurred last week along the Auchi axis, left Mrs. Otabor hospitalised at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital. Eyewitnesses said the crash caused heavy traffic in the area until emergency responders and security personnel arrived at the scene.

In a statement on Thursday, Dangote Cement Plc confirmed that senior officials and its insurance team had visited the accident site, liaised with law enforcement, and met with the victim and her family at the hospital.

“Following the recent road accident in Auchi involving one of our trucks, we are ensuring full support for Mrs. Otabor, including comprehensive medical care and appropriate compensation, in line with our welfare policy,” the company stated.

The group reaffirmed its commitment to the well-being of those affected by its operations, expressing hopes for Mrs. Otabor’s full and speedy recovery.

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Bauchi Governor
Headlines

Bauchi Governor Appoints Chinese National as Economic Adviser

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has appointed a Chinese national, Mr. Li Zhensheng, as Economic Adviser to the state government.

The announcement was made during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Bauchi State Government and the China Global Promotion Cooperation Research Centre, held in Bauchi.

Governor Mohammed said the appointment and partnership aim to transform Bauchi into a hub for international cooperation. The agreement is expected to attract investments and drive projects in key sectors such as agriculture, education, healthcare, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, and trade.

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INEC
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INEC Warns Against Multiple Registration Ahead of Continuous Voter Registration

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned Nigerians against engaging in multiple registrations in the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

Alhaji Mohammed Sadiq, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Plateau State, issued the warning on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting on the resumption of CVR nationwide.

Sadiq stressed that multiple registration carries serious consequences, including the complete removal of offenders from the voter register.

“Voter registration is not only a fundamental right, but also a duty of every eligible Nigerian. No one can vote in an election unless they are duly registered,” he said.

He urged citizens who have turned 18 and above but are yet to register to take advantage of the opportunity to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

“The commission will not accept multiple registration. Any attempt to engage in such acts may result in the registrant being completely delisted from the register,” Sadiq warned.

According to him, the CVR will commence on August 18 with an online registration option available for eligible voters.

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Tambuwal
Headlines

EFCC Grants Aminu Tambuwal Bail Over N189bn Alleged Fraud

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has granted administrative bail to former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, following his interrogation over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals amounting to N189 billion.

Tambuwal, who served as governor from 2015 to 2023, was invited to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Monday, arriving at about 11:30 a.m. He was questioned by investigators and detained overnight at the commission’s corporate headquarters.

According to EFCC sources, the withdrawals are suspected to violate provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“Former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, is being held over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals to the tune of N189bn. The withdrawals are in flagrant violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” a source had earlier disclosed.

On Tuesday, officials confirmed that Tambuwal had been released after meeting what they described as “not stringent” bail conditions. His passport, however, remains in the custody of the EFCC.

“He has been released on administrative bail. He met all the bail conditions. His passport is with us,” an EFCC official said.

Efforts to obtain comments from EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, were unsuccessful as calls to his phone went unanswered, and he had not replied to a message sent to him at the time of filing this report.

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Keyamo
Headlines

Keyamo Orders Withdrawal of Charges Against Comfort Emmanson, Reduces KWAM 1 Flight Ban

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed Ibom Air to withdraw criminal charges filed against Comfort Emmanson, paving the way for her release from Kirikiri Prisons within the week.

Keyamo, in a statement posted on X on Wednesday, said the police will take immediate steps to facilitate her release.

The minister also instructed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to reduce the flight ban imposed on music icon Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, to one month.

According to Keyamo, the decisions followed consultations with key stakeholders in the aviation sector and parties involved in the incidents. He noted that “valuable lessons have been learnt by all sides.”

In a related development, Keyamo ordered the NCAA to restore the licences of Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba of ValueJet after serving a one-month suspension and completing a mandatory professional reappraisal.

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