Naija Daily Updates

QUESTION OF THE DAY 👇

If you and your 5 closest friends had only ONE chance to change your lives forever, what business would all of you start together?

Tag the 5 friends you would choose. 👥🔥

Let’s see who has a real team and who only has drinking-and-talking friends! 😂👇

Tension is running high in Anambra State as billionaire businessman Chief Joseph Ezeokafor, the owner of Jezco Group of Companies, remains in the hands of his kidnappers, despite social media claims that he has been freed.

According to reliable sources from THISDAY, Ezeokafor is still being held captive, and the Anambra State Police Command has confirmed that a major operation is currently underway to secure his release.

SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer, addressed inquiries about the situation, stating that security forces are actively working to rescue the businessman.

Ezeokafor was reportedly abducted in Awka last Tuesday after he left his home without his security team to fulfill some spiritual obligations at a location he frequently visits for prayer.

The incident has raised alarm in his hometown of Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area, leading the community to suspend its annual New Yam Festival, which was set for September 4, 2026.

Ezeokafor, who is also the father of social media influencer Jowi Zaza, is a well-respected figure in the community.

A source from Ekwulobia revealed that the traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty, Igwe (Engr.) Emmanuel Chukwukadibia Onyeneke, made the decision to officially suspend the festival due to the ongoing situation with the businessman.

Breaking News. VDM's lawyer fires back at Nigerian Police 👇

Marshal Abubakar, the attorney representing VeryDarkMan (Martins Vincent Otse), has fired back at the Nigeria Police National Cybercrime Center regarding their invitation letter to VDM.

In his response to the Inspector General of Police, Marshal made several key demands:

1. Establish a genuinely independent panel to look into the deaths of Prince Ademola Akinloye and Sheriff Salami Agboworin, as well as the allegations that police attempted to frame Ahmed Tajudeen Akanbi for these murders.

2. This panel should be well-balanced, including members from the NPF, nominees from the NBA, representatives from civil society, the media, and VDM's legal team.

3. AIG Jimoh Moshood's command should not be involved in investigating VDM, especially since Moshood himself is among those accused in the alleged cover-up.

4. Any report that excludes VDM and his legal representatives will be outright rejected and contested in court.

After all, no one should be investigating a case in which they are implicated. Justice must be perceived as fair.

Breaking News:
US To Impose $20,000 Visa Bond On Nigeria, Other African Nations

The United States has rolled out a new plan that will require Nigerians and other African business and tourist visa applicants to put down a hefty deposit of up to $20,000. This move is aimed at ensuring that these travelers leave the U.S. once their stay is over, a response to the growing issue of visa overstays and the lack of reliable information sharing from various countries across the continent.

Under this Visa Bond Programme, certain Nigerian and other African B-1/B-2 visa applicants will need to deposit between $10,000 and $20,000 as a guarantee that they will exit the U.S. before their authorized stay ends. This policy comes in light of concerns about increasing visa overstays, challenges with identity verification, and issues surrounding document security in some nations.

The specific bond amount will be decided by U.S. consular officers during the visa interview, taking into account factors like the applicant’s travel purpose, job situation, income, and connections to their home country. The bond amounts available are:
- $10,000
- $15,000
- $20,000

If travelers leave on time and follow all visa rules, the bond will be refunded without interest. However, if they overstay or break the terms of their admission, they will lose the deposit. The U.S. Department of State has emphasized that this programme is meant to encourage compliance rather than serve as a punishment, pushing foreign governments to enhance their immigration data sharing and document security.

During the pilot phase in 2025, there was a staggering 83% drop in visa issuance for the affected countries, with nearly half of the applicants opting out due to the bond requirement. The State Department noted that the pilot countries saw 45,488 B-1/B-2 overstays in 2024, but during the first ten months of the pilot, overstays among those who had to post a bond decreased significantly. This programme impacts applicants from several African nations, including Nigeria, Algeria, Tunisia, Benin, Senegal, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and more.
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Sad news has hit the Nigerian music scene as veteran Juju and Highlife artist, Iyun Janet Oluwatoyosi Ajilore, better known as Saint Janet, has passed away following a brief illness.

She reportedly left us on Saturday, marking the end of a remarkable career that made her a beloved figure, celebrated for her lively stage performances and unique way of connecting with her audience.

The news of her passing was shared on Sunday by publisher and socialite Otunba Femi Davies through a heartfelt post on Facebook.

In his message, Davies expressed, “St Janet (Iyun Janet Ajilore), a well-known Nigerian Juju and Highlife musician recognized for her vibrant live shows, dynamic stage presence, and candid party tracks, has died. She succumbed to a brief illness on Saturday.”

Over the years, St. Janet became famous for her knack for engaging audiences with performances that blended music, humor, and social insights, setting her apart from many of her peers.

Her impact on the Juju and Highlife genres has solidified her status as a key figure in the lively Nigerian live music scene.

As of now, there have been no announcements regarding her funeral arrangements.

Today, I joined the family of the late Major-General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (represented by the Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, rtd.), former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dame Patience Jonathan, Governor Alex Otti, Professor Chukwuma Soludo (represented), Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd), Dr Uche Ogah, Chief John Mbata, members of the diplomatic corps, senior military officers, and other eminent Nigerians at the Aguiyi-Ironsi Cenotaph in Umuahia to mark the 60th anniversary of his passing.

The ceremony was marked by solemn prayers, the sounding of the Last Post, and the laying of wreaths, a timeless symbol of honour, respect, sacrifice, and unity.

In her moving tribute, Louisa Aguiyi-Ironsi reminded us that the memorial is not merely ceremonial, but a call to collective remembrance and national reaffirmation. She urged us to anchor Nigeria’s future on justice, accountability, discipline, and the collective good of all citizens. Her words challenge us to choose unity over division, dialogue over conflict, and cooperation over resentment.

Nigeria must rise above the vices that divide us and embrace the virtues that bind us together. Our strength lies in unity, in building bridges across ethnic, religious, and political lines, and in pursuing justice and fairness for all.

May his soul continue to rest in peace, and may Nigeria stand strong, one nation, indivisible, prosperous, and united.

Alex Otti