Nigeria’s sovereignty is negotiable, says Soyinka

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has lent his voice to the growing calls for the restructuring of the Nigerian federation, saying the sovereignty of the nation is negotiable.

Speaking during a visit to PUNCH Place, the corporate headquarters of PUNCH Nigeria Limited, Kilometre 14, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, on Tuesday, Soyinka said decentralisation of the nation would ensure healthy rivalry among the component units.

Argentina fans beg Messi

Argentines begged Lionel Messi on Monday not to abandon the national team before the 2018 World Cup after he tearfully announced his retirement in frustration at another last-gasp international defeat, AFP reports.

As Chileans danced in the streets and honked their horns to hail their team’s victory by penalties in the Copa American Centenario, the rainy streets of Buenos Aires were deserted.

God hasn’t told me to quit acting –Mama G

Ever since veteran actress, Patience Ozokwo, announced that she has re-dedicated her life to Christ, various rumours have been circulating about her. Top on the list was that she said God told her to drop her popular pseudonym, Mama G. Others claimed that she said God told her to quit her lucrative career.
In an exclusive chat with Saturday Beats, the actress denied the rumour. However, she added that if God gives her such instructions, she would not flinch before bending to His will.

I am in London working on my album –Majek Fashek

Although the rain maker has had his fair share of bad press, he is currently unhappy about the falsehood peddled about him in the media. Some media portals have reported that the singer has had a relapse and is back to using illicit substances.

In an exclusive chat with Saturday Beats, the musician said that he has not relapsed, instead he is working on his album in the UK.

Tiwa Savage, Banky W, Praiz, Cobhams Asuquo, Stonebwoy set to put African music on world map

Nigeria’s foremost disc jockey had his patience tested by controversial singer, Terry G, when the singer slapped one of his apprentices at a comedy show tagged, D’Good, D’Bash and D’Ugly.

When the incident happened, the ‘cool’ DJ Jimmy Jatt simply asked his boy to close shop. In an exclusive chat with Saturday Beats, the disc jockey said that Terry G had mended fences and there was no problem between them.

National conference: Akinyemi blasts SGF for calling delegates boys

A former Minister of External Affairs and Vice Chairman of the 2014 National Conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has criticised the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, for referring to delegates at the conference as boys.

Akinyemi also faulted the claim by the SGF in an interview published on Monday that delegates to the conference were paid N7m.

N4.6bn fraud: Court remands Fani-Kayode, others in prison

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the remand of a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, and two others in prison over an alleged fraud of N4.6bn.

Justice Suleiman Hassan gave the remand order shortly after Fani-Kayode, Nenadi Usman and Danjuma Yusuf were arraigned before him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Diversion of N3.6bn Anambra funds to APGA unconstitutional

Our attention has been drawn to a grand plan to siphon Anambra State money to the tune of N3.6bn to APGA loyalists in the 177 towns in Anambra State. 

It is naked corruption!

We note that different publications online and different commentaries have described this venture by other names, but characteristically, we are stating what it is and asking Governor Obiano that stealing from the state in broad daylight belongs to the dark era before the 2003 liberation.

FG may redeploy North-East troops to N’Delta

There are strong indications that the Defence authorities will withdraw some war-tested soldiers from the North-East and deploy them in the Niger Delta as part of efforts to curb the attacks on oil installations in the region.

It was gathered on Sunday that the troops would form part of the newly formed Operation Delta Safe, which was formed to replace the defunct Operation Pulo Shield in the oil rich region.

Abuja woman turns six girls to sex slaves

A 28-year-old woman, Ifeoma Daniel, has been arrested by the police in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for allegedly turning six girls to sex slaves.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Daniel, who hails from Ahiazu Mbaise, Imo State, and a suspected accomplice, Collins Madueke, 28, were arrested in the Apo area by the Special Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector-General of Police.