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19-Year-Old Appeals Against Father’s Jail Sentence After Revealing Years Of Abuse

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19-Year-Old Appeals Against Father’s Jail Sentence After Revealing Years Of Abuse

A 19-year-old woman, identified as Ugo Rejoice, has pleaded against the imprisonment of her father, Uche Didie, after accusing him of sexually abusing her over several years in Lagos.

Ugo said the alleged abuse began in 2019, when she was 12, and continued until she opened up about it on September 6, 2026.

She alleged that the incidents occurred once or twice a month and that her father warned her against speaking about them.

“He has been having sexual intercourse with me since 2019. I have never had a boyfriend. My dad is the only man who has had carnal knowledge of me,” she said.

According to her, Didie forced himself on her and threatened to beat her whenever she considered telling someone.

“He did not convince me; he forced himself on me. He always asked me not to tell anyone and said he would beat me if I told anybody. Sometimes, he also bought me gifts,” she said.

Ugo said her mother was previously informed about the alleged abuse and confronted Didie, but he denied the allegation.

She eventually told a close friend, who is the son of their pastor. The matter was then brought to the pastor’s attention.

Read Also: National Assembly Bans Official Visits To South Africa

Didie was arrested by members of the OPC and handed over to the Police Tactical Unit in Araro, Ikorodu.

He was later transferred to the Gender Unit headed by ACP Oluwatoyin Kazeem.

Although Ugo said she wanted the alleged abuse to end, she said she was not seeking her father’s imprisonment because of the possible effect on the family.

“I know the best thing is for my dad to be arrested, but that’s not what I want because I don’t want it to affect our future. I’m his second child, and there are three of us, two girls and one boy,” she said.

She said she would rather leave her parents’ home and stay with her grandmother in Agege or her aunt in Egbeda.

“I wanted it to stop, I want him to be released, but I will stop staying with my parents. I will go to my grandmother in Agege or my aunt in Egbeda,” she said.

Didie, however, gave a different account in a video, disputing Ugo’s claim that the alleged abuse started in 2019.

He claimed that what she alleged only began in 2026.

“Na this year I start dey do am, na this year I start dey fuck am, my daughter Rejoice. The time wey the mama ask me that time, e never dey happen,” he said.

National Assembly Bans Official Visits To South Africa

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National Assembly Bans Official Visits To South Africa

The Nigerian National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and directed lawmakers, committees, officials and staff to boycott legislative activities hosted or organized by South African authorities.

The decision came amidst rising concerns over reports of xenophobic attacks, violence, intimidation, destruction of property and other forms of hostility against Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.

The resolution was contained in a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana on behalf of the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives.

The statement said the National Assembly is particularly concerned by reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other properties because of recurring violent attacks.

The leadership noted that despite the repeated appeals by the Nigeria Government and other stakeholders to the South African authorities to take decisive measures to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and bring perpetrators of xenophobic violence to justice, reports of such incidents have continued to emerge.It said:

It also recognized the interventions of the Government and other stakeholders, including efforts to support affected Nigerians and facilitate the evacuation of Nigerian nationals from South Africa.

The suspension covers official visits of the National Assembly, its committees, lawmakers, officials and staff to South Africa.

Read Also: INEC Announces Dates For By-Elections In Four States

It also applies to participation in conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary meetings, legislative exchanges and other activities organized or hosted by South African legislative authorities.

The boycott also includes physical participation in legislative programs hosted in South Africa, and participation via virtual or online platforms.

The leadership of the National Assembly has therefore directed the Clerk to convey the decision to all the senators, members of the House of Representatives, committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff for strict compliance.

The leadership stressed that the decision was not intended to jeopardize the long-standing historical, diplomatic and people-to-people relations between Nigeria and South Africa.

Rather, it said the move was a strong signal of concern for the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living and carrying out legitimate businesses in South Africa.

The National Assembly urged the South African Government to take urgent and concrete measures to protect Nigerians and other African nationals in its territory, prevent further xenophobic attacks, thoroughly investigate reported incidents, arrest suspected perpetrators and prosecute those found culpable in accordance with the law.

The leadership also urged the various State Houses of Assembly to take cognizance of the decision and consider adopting similar measures.

The National Assembly reiterated its commitment to the protection of Nigerian citizens abroad and said it would continue to monitor developments on the safety and welfare of Nigerians in South Africa.

The suspension and boycott will continue until further notice and may be reviewed by the leadership of the National Assembly as circumstances require.

INEC Announces Dates For By-Elections In Four States

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INEC Announces Dates For By-Elections In Four States

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set September 19, 2026 for by-elections to fill five vacant legislative seats in Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta states.

The date was announced Friday in a post on the commission’s official 𝕏 handle.

Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State, Dawakin Kudu State Constituency of Kano State, Sakwa and Disina State Constituencies of Bauchi State and Udu State Constituency of Delta State, it was reported.

INEC said voting would take place at polling units within the affected constituencies and the exercise would commence at 8:30am and end at 2:30pm.

The five seats became vacant due to the death, resignation, defection or a move by some lawmakers to contest other positions.

Read Also: Reps Spokesman Denies Claims Wike Borrowed Funds Behind National Assembly

The seat of the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe has been declared vacant following the death of the lawmaker representing the area, Yaya Bauchi Tongo, in June 2026.

In Bauchi, the former occupant of the Sakwa State Constituency died while the lawmaker representing Disina resigned from the State House of Assembly to contest for a chairmanship position.

The Delta State House of Assembly has declared the seat of the Udu State Constituency vacant following the defection of its former occupant, Collins Egbetamah, from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

The seat of the Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano was vacated after its former occupant, Rabiu Shuaibu, left the State Assembly to contest for the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency seat.

Shuaibu later won the by-election for the federal constituency in June, defeating the candidates of the Labor Party and the Allied Peoples Movement.

INEC said the September 19 election would hold in polling units in the affected constituencies.

Reps Spokesman Denies Claims Wike Borrowed Funds Behind National Assembly

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Reps Spokesman Denies Claims Wike Borrowed Funds Behind National Assembly

Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, has reacted to allegations that the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, took loans without the consent of the National Assembly.

Agbese was reacting to allegations by Senator Ireti Kingibe that the FCT Administration had taken a loan without the approval of the legislature.

But Agbese said in a chat with journalists in Abuja on Thursday that it was misleading to claim that Wike had bypassed the National Assembly or acted outside the laid down procedures in securing funds for projects in the FCT.

He said there was no evidence that Wike breached any law in the execution of projects and programs in the FCT.

“Public borrowing was regulated by constitutional, statutory and administrative processes involving government institutions,” the lawmaker said.

“Wike has not breached any rule in borrowings. “There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.

He said Wike has always been subjected to legislative scrutiny the administration of the FCT particularly through the presentation and consideration of its budgets and appearances before relevant committees of the National Assembly.

Agbese said the increase in the debt profile of the FCT could not be considered as an illegal borrowing arrangement in itself.

Borrowing for infrastructure development was not illegal in itself if the required approvals and procedures were followed, he said.

Read Also: 2027 Election: Religious Leaders Urged To Preach Peace, Unity

“The key issue is whether the necessary approvals and procedures have been followed,” he added.

He also debunked the claim that Wike acted without legislative oversight, saying the National Assembly had continued to exercise oversight functions on the FCT Administration in line with its constitutional mandate.

“FCT Minister is one of the most legislatively compliant public servants under our searchlight. “He has always been engaging with the National Assembly and the activities of the FCT Administration have been subjected to legislative scrutiny,” he said.

He urged lawmakers and others to base allegations on public borrowing on specific transactions and official documents and not political claims.

He said if there were concerns about specific borrowing arrangements, Senator Kingibe or any other interested party should name the transactions and ask the relevant authorities to present the documents and approvals by which they were governed.

2027 Polls: Minister Urges Religious Leaders To Champion Peace

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2027 Polls: Minister Urges Religious Leaders To Champion Peace

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called on religious leaders to leverage their platforms to promote peace and national unity ahead of the 2027 general elections, cautioning that inflammatory messages could escalate religious and ethnic tensions in the country.

It was made at the grand finale of the 2026 Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and International Communion of Charismatic Archbishops, Bishops and Apostles (ICCABA) which held at the National Christian Center, Abuja.

Religious leaders, he said, had a vital role in keeping the peace because millions of Nigerians looked to them for direction, not only on spiritual issues but also on issues affecting their communities and the country.
“In an era where misinformation, hate speech, religious intolerance and political tension can be disseminated within minutes, the pulpit and other platforms of religious communication should be spaces for the promotion of truth, peace and responsible citizenship,” Idris warned.

He said political competition was a normal part of democracy but warned that political differences should not be allowed to become religious or ethnic conflicts.

The Minister also warned against portraying the country’s security issues as a religious conflict, saying that terrorists and criminal groups had attacked Nigerians of different religious and ethnic backgrounds.

“The Nigerian Government is committed to protecting the constitutional right of every Nigerian to practise his or her religion freely,” Idris said.

“No Nigerian should be assaulted or discriminated against on the grounds of religion. “Christians, Muslims and other faiths should be able to live and worship in peace,” the Minister emphasized.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has strengthened intelligence gathering, inter-agency cooperation and military operations against terrorist and criminal networks, Idris said.

On the economy, the Minister said the Nigerian Government was carrying out reforms and creating opportunities for young Nigerians through programs like NELFUND, 3MTT, NYIF, NATEP, SVCG, SUPA and iDICE.

“Nigeria’s greatest resource is not just what is under our soil. It is also the talent and ability of our people. He stressed: “Our greater obligation therefore is to preserve the peace of Nigeria, strengthen its unity and safeguard its future for generations yet to come.

But he said the onus of creating a safe society did not lie with the military and police alone, calling on religious leaders to help check radicalization and criminality among young people.

“Religious leaders have a vital role to play in strengthening social cohesion, steering young people away from radicalization and criminality and promoting dialog and peaceful engagement as the proper response to political, social and economic grievances,” Idris urged.

Idris urged religious organizations to join the government in the fight against misinformation and the promotion of responsible national discourse, and called on churches to increase their contributions to national development through education, healthcare, skills acquisition, youth development and humanitarian services.

A respected religious leader’s statement can bring peace to a community. It can also make you angry. “Therefore, leadership must always go hand in hand with responsibility,” the Minister warned.

Idris urged the religious leaders to see elections within the larger context of the nation’s continuity.

“Looking forward to 2027 and the years ahead, let us remember that elections are events in the life of a nation, while the nation itself goes beyond electoral cycles, governments and political parties,” he reminded the gathering.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume, also speaking, praised the Church for its prayers, humanitarian interventions and contributions to peace, national cohesion and moral formation.

Akume acknowledged the sacrifices Nigerians have made in the ongoing course of economic reforms, assuring citizens that the Government remains focused on improving household incomes, reducing hardship and ensuring that the benefits of reform are increasingly felt across the country.

Akume assured Nigerians, “Our citizens are patriotic and resilient and we commend them for that and we assure them that it will never be in vain, as promised by Mr President himself.

He also called for greater partnership between the Government and the Church to address Nigeria’s security and development challenges particularly in the areas of youth empowerment, education, peace building, civic responsibility and humanitarian service.

For his part, the President General of CBCN, Archbishop Prof. Leonard Bature Kawas, said the Conference would support the presidential election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 general election, citing the policies of the administration and what he described as the administration’s efforts to promote national development and inclusivity.

Kawas told the assembly that the Church had reviewed the record of the administration and was ready to continue supporting the President.

“We’re behind him now. “We support him today, we support him tomorrow, and we will support him as long as he is willing to be our president,” Kawas said.

He added that the position was the mandate of the gathering, saying, “This house has endorsed him for the 2027 presidency.”

The 2026 Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and the International Communion of Charismatic Archbishops, Bishops and Apostles (ICCABA) gathered Christian faith leaders, bishops and apostles to discuss the future of the Church, worship and community collaboration.

Nimmy Ferrari: Father Shares Emotional Secret His Daughter Wanted Hidden

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Nimmy Ferrari: Father Shares Emotional Secret His Daughter Wanted Hidden

The father of late Nollywood actress Nimmy Ferrari has reacted to allegations made by her mother on the burial of the actress and ownership of her newly completed house.

Nimmy’s mother is reported to have accused her late daughter’s father of trying to get her remains out of the property so that the family could take over and sell the house, it is claimed.

In reply to the allegations, Nimmy’s father denied any intention of harming his daughter saying he could not kill his own child.

He said it was Nimmy who told him she was already in a hospital for fibroid surgery.

He said: “When I got to know that she went to hospital for the procedure, I asked why she didn’t tell me earlier.

He also said he got worried when he found out Nimmy had already paid for some medical examinations and the proposed surgery would cost about ₦3.6 million.

Read Also: Certificate Verification: Step-By-Step Guide To Checking Your Academic Credentials Online

The actress’ father said he told her to go see another doctor in Abeokuta whom he knew and who, according to him, could provide an alternative treatment.

He said, “I can’t kpai my child. She was already at the hospital for f! She called me she was at the hospital alreadybroid surgery. I asked her why she didn’t tell me earlier. I know people who use herbs for it. They had collected scan fees and the surgery would cost 3.6 million, she said. And I recommended a doctor I know in Abeokuta instead.

“About the house she called me and said she wanted to build her own house. I told the elders in the family and they told us to cut out a portion for her from our family land.

“While I was building the house for her, she implored me not to let her mother know about it. That the first land she ever bought was through her mom. Her mother sold the land later.”

Certificate Verification: Step-By-Step Guide To Checking Your Academic Credentials Online

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Certificate Verification: Step-By-Step Guide To Checking Your Academic Credentials Online

The Federal Ministry of Education has launched an online platform through which Nigerians can apply for the authentication of Nigerian academic credentials and assessment of foreign qualifications via its ESSVerify portal without having to physically visit the ministry. NigeriaTravel Guides The ministry said the online platform further allows users to verify earlier issued documents through its Education Sector Support and Services (ESS), as well as apply for eligibility or proficiency letters and letters of no objection.

The ministry said the Education Sector Support Services were fully digitized in April 2026 with the launch of the ESSVerify portal, replacing the previous physical verification process. On Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said that the digitization process had been completed.

The ministry told applicants they should first determine the service they need, noting the portal has different application options for different academic credential needs.

It said holders of Nigerian academic qualification who wish to use their certificates abroad may apply for authentication, which authenticates credentials for purpose of further studies, employment and migration.

The ministry said the evaluation service was for the assessment of foreign academic qualifications for employment, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilization and other official purposes for people who obtained qualifications outside the country and intend to use them in Nigeria.

Applicants can also use the portal to request for eligibility letters or proficiency letters confirming their suitability for admission in foreign institutions or for employment requirements. The platform also facilitates applications for letters of no objection from institutions and organizations needing the ministry’s approval for programs or partnerships.

How to verify an already issued ESS document

This option is different from application of to authenticate or evaluate a certificate. It is for employers, schools, organizations or individuals who want to verify the authenticity of a document issued by the Ministry via ESS.
To see if a document exists:

Go to the ESSVerify portal at https://essverify.education.gov.ng/

Click on ‘Verify a document’ or the corresponding document verification option on the portal.

Enter the document number on the certificate or letter issued by ESS.

Click \”Verify\” to submit the request.

How to Confirm or Validate Your Academic Certificate

Applicants seeking authentication of a Nigerian qualification or evaluation of a foreign qualification will need to make a full application through the portal.

To start:

Go to the ESSVerify portal and click “Start an application”.

Sign up with a valid email address. Confirm the email and fill your profile.

Log in and pick the service you want: Authentication, Evaluation, Eligibility/English Proficiency Letter or Letter of No Objection.

Complete required personal and qualification details.

Choose the documents to be processed and type in the number of pages, as the application requests.

Generate the Remita retrieval reference and effect payment. All payments are non-refundable.

Upload clear, legible scanned copies of the documents you need to provide.

When an official transcript is needed, contact the registry of the awarding institution and ask that the transcript be sent directly to the email address specified.

China, Slovakia Move To Deepen Bilateral Cooperation – Xi, Pellegrini

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China, Slovakia Move To Deepen Bilateral Cooperation – Xi, Pellegrini

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Slovak President Peter Pellegrini have pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation, with trade, technology and China-European Union relations high on the agenda of their talks in Beijing.

Xi said China was ready to deepen its strategic partnership with Slovakia and broaden cooperation in emerging and strategic sectors, including clean energy, the digital economy, robotics and artificial intelligence.

The Chinese president also called on Slovakia to play a constructive role in promoting China-EU relations, stressing the need for dialogue and cooperation in managing differences.

Pellegrini, who is on a three-day state visit to China, urged Beijing to improve market access for Slovak companies as part of efforts to address Slovakia’s trade deficit with China.

“I asked the President and members of the government for better access for Slovak companies to the Chinese market so that we could reduce the negative trade balance,” he said.

Read Also: UNIBEN Refutes ASUU’s Claim That Lecturers Received Half Salary

The Slovak president said Bratislava supported dialogue rather than confrontation between the European Union and China, warning that a trade war would serve neither side’s interests.

On artificial intelligence, Pellegrini said the two sides agreed on the need to ensure that the technology remained subject to human oversight.

The leaders also exchanged views on international conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, with Pellegrini stressing that diplomatic engagement remained the only viable path towards a resolution.

Pellegrini also invited Xi to visit Slovakia, saying the Chinese president had responded positively to the invitation.

UNIBEN Refutes ASUU’s Claim That Lecturers Received Half Salary

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UNIBEN Refutes ASUU’s Claim That Lecturers Received Half Salary

The University of Benin (UNIBEN) has dissociated itself from the industrial action embarked upon by the institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), describing the claims of salary underpayment as misinformation and misinterpretation of facts.

ASUU, in a communique signed by its Chairman, Professor Enaruna Edosa, and Secretary, Dr Lucky Aimiyekagbon, had directed its members to withdraw their services over what it described as the payment of half salaries to academic staff.

The union announced “a total and indefinite withdrawal of services until the underpaid salaries are paid in full”.

Read Also: TikTok Permanently Bans Carter Efe’s Account With Over Five Million Followers

ASUU also instructed members to “cease to teach, supervise or attend Departmental Board, Faculty Board, Senate or other statutory meetings or participate in any academic or administrative activity while this action lasts.

However, the University Management denied the allegations that academic staff received half salaries in August 2026, saying the matter was a misunderstanding regarding a certain allowance.

The Management, in a statement signed by the University’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Dr Benedicta Ehanire, said the confusion had been cleared.

“The Federal Government has paid the salaries of all categories of staff up to August, 2026,” the PRO stated.

The University Management noted that before publication, any allegation against the institution must be verified, adding that UNIBEN is a public institution with a system already in place for the authentication of information.

“The Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), which was mistaken for salary, has now been paid out to the staff who are eligible for the allowance, and the federal government has released it,” she said.

Dr Ehanire assured members of ASUU that Management remained committed to the payment of all entitlements due to staff without hindrance.

She called on stakeholders not to undue sensationalisation of issues in an effort to keep the existing industrial harmony in the University and the Nigerian university system generally.

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