Author: Ugochukwu Oha-Ema

Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of Telegram, remains in French custody for a second day, facing questioning over alleged offenses related to the messaging app. Durov, who holds a French passport, was arrested at Le Bourget airport outside Paris on Saturday. The investigating magistrate has extended Durov’s detention for questioning, which can last up to 96 hours. After this period, the judge will decide whether to free Durov or press charges and remand him in further custody. Russia has accused France of “refusing to cooperate” in the case, while Elon Musk has called for Durov’s release. Telegram has insisted that…

A shocking incident has unfolded in Cross River State, where a young woman, Pretty Goddess, allegedly lured her friend, Debit Queen, to a hotel and subjected her to a brutal assault. The attack, which has sparked widespread outrage, was reportedly over Pretty Goddess’s boyfriend, Ralph. Debit Queen, recounting her harrowing experience, denied allegations of infidelity and claimed she was unaware of the conflict with Pretty Goddess’s boyfriend. “I know him, but he’s not my friend. I haven’t seen him before. I didn’t sleep with him. It’s untrue that I was caught sleeping with her boyfriend,” she asserted. Pretty Goddess admitted…

Ride-hailing company Bolt has lamented significant financial losses due to a recent prank war between Nigerians and South Africans. The company was forced to restrict inter-country ride requests and block numerous riders, resulting in substantial losses and service disruptions. According to Country Manager Yahaya Mohammed, an internal investigation is ongoing to assess the financial impact. “An investigation will be done internally, and everything will be analyzed… We will have more restricted access, particularly for these two countries.” Mohammed hinted at possible compensation for drivers who suffered losses due to the prank requests. “It will have to be on an in-depth…

A devastating Ukrainian attack has sunk a Russian ferry loaded with fuel in the port of Kavkaz, southern Krasnodar, causing widespread damage and a massive fire. The blaze required over 100 personnel to tackle, with photos on social media showing thick black smoke billowing from the vessel. The extent of potential casualties is still being assessed. The attack also damaged jetty and port structures in the area, highlighting the intensity of the Ukrainian strike. In a separate development, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported that Russia has lost 605,330 troops since the invasion began in February 2022. This…

Chelsea’s rising star, Cole Palmer, has thrown his weight behind Lionel Messi in the enduring Greatest of All Time (GOAT) debate, snubbing Cristiano Ronaldo. During a quickfire Q&A session with Goal at the PFA Awards, Palmer was asked to choose between the two football legends. His response was concise: “Messi.” Palmer’s endorsement of Messi comes on the heels of his impressive breakthrough season with Chelsea, which earned him the PFA Young Player of the Year award. The 22-year-old England international enjoyed a remarkable campaign, scoring 22 Premier League goals and providing 11 assists. Palmer’s opinion adds a fresh perspective to…

The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of conniving with the police to harass and arrest its members. In a statement, APC Publicity Secretary Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie described the claims as baseless and aimed at distracting from the PDP’s own involvement in violence. Uwadiae-Igbinigie revealed that the police had arrested individuals, including a young man found with a gun, who confessed to being procured by the Chairman of Esan North Local Government Area to attack APC members. He commended the police for their efforts in ensuring security in the…

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has made some surprising changes to his squad ahead of their UEFA Conference League match against Servette on Thursday. Four players have been dropped from the team, including Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, and Tosin Adarabioyo. Notably, Sterling and Chilwell were also absent from the squad that faced Manchester City in the Premier League opener on Sunday. The two England players are rumored to be leaving Stamford Bridge this summer, sparking speculation about their future at the club. Meanwhile, Adarabioyo, who joined Chelsea on a free transfer from Fulham this summer, was an unused substitute…

The Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has begun the sale of nomination forms for the upcoming local government council elections. According to the party’s publicity secretary, Oryina Orvaa, the chairmanship form costs N100,000, with an additional N50,000 for the Expression of Interest form. Councillorship aspirants will pay N70,000 for the nomination form and N20,000 for the Expression of Interest form. Female aspirants for both positions are exempt from paying for the nomination forms, but will still pay for the Expression of Interest forms. The sale and submission of forms will close on August 24, 2024. Screening…

A devastating incident has occurred in Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State, where six family members lost their lives after consuming a suspected contaminated local delicacy, Danwake. The victims, including a widow, Alhakatu Abdulkarim, and her five children, were rushed to Gwarzo General Hospital, where they were confirmed dead by doctors. The tragic incident has left the community in shock. The Kano State Police Command has launched an investigation into the mysterious deaths. Spokesman Abdullahi Haruna stated, “We are still waiting for the medical report from the hospital to ascertain the cause of the death of the six persons.”…

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has won all 20 Local Government chairmanship seats in Bauchi State’s Saturday elections, but the All Progressive Congress (APC) has rejected the results, calling them “robbery” and a “mockery of democracy”. APC’s legal adviser, Barrister Rabiu Garba, alleged numerous irregularities, including inadequate materials, withheld result sheets, and allocated votes. The APC demanded the resignation of Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission Chairman, Ahmed Makama, and called for the cancellation of the elections and the reconstitution of a new electoral team. Despite the controversy, some opposition parties won councillor seats, including the Young Progressive Party and African…