..says alleged unaccounted N139.8bn baseless

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has rejected the report of the Benue State Income and Expenditure Commission of Inquiry, describing the exercise as a politically motivated witch-hunt orchestrated by the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia.

In a statement issued Saturday by his media aide, Zege Terhide, Ortom said the commission’s report was “fundamentally flawed, legally challenged and politically motivated.”

“What the people of Benue witnessed was not an exercise in accountability. It was the culmination of a carefully scripted political witch-hunt designed from the outset to indict the government of Chief Samuel Ortom at all costs,” the statement read.

The former governor’s reaction came a day after the commission submitted its report to the Benue state government in Makurdi.

The eight-member panel, chaired by retired Justice Jubril Idrisu, was inaugurated by Governor Alia in June 2025 to investigate the income and expenditure of the immediate past administration and the 23 local government councils between May 29, 2015, and May 28, 2023.

Presenting the report on Friday, Justice Idrisu said the commission reviewed financial records and conducted public hearings involving former government officials and institutions.

According to him, the commission’s findings revealed that the state generated over N826.5billion during the period under review, while expenditure stood at about N683.4billion, leaving an unaccounted balance of approximately N139.8 billion.

Receiving the report on behalf of Governor Alia, Deputy Governor Sam Ode said the administration remained committed to transparency, accountability and institutional reforms.

The deputy governor expressed confidence that implementing the commission’s recommendations would strengthen institutions, discourage the mismanagement of public funds and ensure accountability.

However, Ortom maintained that the legitimacy of the probe remains the subject of ongoing litigation.

According to his statement, earlier panels established by the Alia administration to investigate his government were challenged in court and subsequently dissolved before a new commission was constituted.

He noted that there is a pending appeal challenging the legality of the inquiry, with a hearing scheduled at the Court of Appeal on June 29, 2026. The former governor also said the Benue state government had approached the Supreme Court to challenge an earlier Appeal Court ruling that nullified the constitution of previous probe panels.

“It is therefore astonishing that a government which voluntarily submitted itself to the jurisdiction of the courts would, in the same breath, proceed as though those judicial processes do not exist,” the statement said.

Ortom accused the Alia administration of using the probe to divert attention from governance challenges, including insecurity, the plight of Internally Displaced Persons, industrial disputes in the education sector and questions surrounding the management of state finances.

“Whenever questions are asked about the over N1.3 trillion that has accrued to Benue state under the present administration, Governor Alia and his appointees quickly blame Ortom.

“Whenever the administration struggles to explain its performance after three years in office, it blames Ortom. Whenever insecurity worsens and communities continue to suffer attacks, the Alia government blames Ortom. Whenever public dissatisfaction grows, it blames Ortom.

“The unfortunate reality is that Governor Alia has become more interested in prosecuting media battles against his predecessor than in addressing the serious challenges confronting Benue state,” the statement read.

The former governor insisted that all financial activities under his administration were conducted in accordance with the law and established government procedures noting that government accounts were subjected to annual statutory audits, budgets were regularly presented and approved, and financial records were maintained by relevant institutions.

“The former governor has nothing to hide and remains proud of his record in office and committed to the rule of law,” the statement said.

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The Netherlands put one foot in the World Cup knockout rounds with a stylish 5-1 demolition of Sweden on Saturday.

Sweden, themselves 5-1 winners against Tunisia in their opening Group F match, went into Saturday’s showdown with the Dutch in Houston knowing that a victory would guarantee their passage out of the group stage.

But Graham Potter’s side were torn apart by a rampant Netherlands team, who roared into a 2-0 lead after after just 17 minutes thanks to a brace from Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey.

Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo scored twice in the first nine minutes of the second half to put the Dutch 4-0 up, ensuring that Sweden’s lone strike from Anthony Elanga was only ever going to be a consolation goal.

Crysencio Summerville completed the Dutch rout with a fifth goal on 89 minutes.

The win leaves the Netherlands, who drew 2-2 with Japan in their opening game, on four points with a healthy plus four goal difference, which is almost certainly likely to be enough to secure a place in the last 32 of the expanded 48-team tournament.

The last time Sweden conceded five goals in a World Cup match was the 1958 final against Brazil when they lost 5-2.

Later Saturday, Germany or the Ivory Coast can guarantee their place in the knockout rounds with a victory when they meet in Group E in Toronto.

Germany thrashed debutants Curacao 7-1 in their opener and would be confirmed as group winners if they defeat Ivory Coast and Ecuador fail to beat Curacao in Kansas City.

Progressing to the knockout round would be a relief for the Germans who astonishingly have failed to reach that stage since they won their fourth World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said his team had to be prepared for Ivory Coast’s athleticism.

“Their speed is one of their biggest strengths and that’s what I think they do best,” he told reporters, highlighting the French-born Ivorian winger Nicolas Pepe.

“During the last game, he was everywhere,” Nagelsmann said of Pepe.

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Brazil and Barcelona winger Raphinha has suffered another injury setback, raising fears that his 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign could be over and adding further uncertainty to his future at club level.

The 29-year-old was forced off in the 40th minute of Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Haiti after experiencing discomfort in his right thigh.

According to Xavi Hernandez Navarro of ARA, medical tests have confirmed a hamstring tear, affecting the same muscle group that has troubled the Brazilian repeatedly over the past year.

Although an official statement is yet to be released, the injury is expected to rule him out of the remainder of the tournament.

The setback is another blow for both Brazil and Barcelona, with Raphinha enduring a frustrating spell plagued by recurring fitness issues.

His troubles began in September when he suffered a hamstring injury against Real Oviedo. Initially tipped to return in time for El Clasico against Real Madrid, he suffered a relapse shortly before the match, with Barcelona coach Hansi Flick later admitting the club had rushed his recovery.

Raphinha eventually returned in late November against Chelsea after spending two months on the sidelines, but another muscular problem struck at the end of January. He made his comeback again in February before suffering yet another injury during international duty with Brazil in March, causing him to miss the decisive stages of Barcelona’s Champions League campaign.

Despite the repeated setbacks, the winger has maintained impressive numbers. He has scored 21 goals and provided seven assists in 33 appearances this season.

Raphinha’s latest injury comes amid growing speculation over his future. Clubs in Saudi Arabia are reportedly maintaining strong interest in the Brazilian, with their financial muscle giving them hope of luring one of Barcelona’s key attacking players.

With injuries continuing to disrupt his career and lucrative offers reportedly on the table, the coming months could prove decisive for both Raphinha and Barcelona as the winger weighs his next move.

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A rare and remarkable wedding celebration took place in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday, as twin brothers exchanged vows with twin sisters in a joint ceremony that has attracted widespread attention on social media.

Oguntoye Taiwo Oye married a bride who shares his name, Taiwo, while his twin brother, Oguntoye Kehinde Oladele, tied the knot with another twin bride named Kehinde.

The couples announced their marriage in a joint post on Facebook, where they also shared photographs from their traditional engagement ceremony held on Friday.

“Twins wed twins!!! Yesterday’s traditional wedding was simply amazing! We are grateful to God and everyone who celebrated with us,” they wrote.

“Today is the grand finale as the most famous twins in African tourism say ‘I Do’! Taiwo & Taiwo. Kehinde & Kehinde. All glory, honour, and adoration belong to God for making this day a reality,” the post read.

In another post celebrating their engagement, the couples wrote: “Engagement done and dusted! What started as a dream is now a testimony. Thankful for love, family, friends, and God’s endless grace. Here’s to forever!”

Photos from the traditional wedding have since gone viral on social media, drawing congratulatory messages from friends, relatives and admirers.

In Yoruba culture, the first-born twin is traditionally named Taiwo, which means “taste the world,” while the second-born is named Kehinde, meaning “the one who came after.”

The unique combination of twin brothers marrying twin sisters with matching names has been described by many online users as an extraordinary occurrence.

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Former Ballon d’Or and World Cup winner Ronaldinho is set to come out of retirement aged 46 to play for Ravenna in the Italian third tier, according to reports in Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport.

The sports daily said that Ronaldinho was scheduled to sign a deal in Miami on Tuesday and that he was already in the United States for the World Cup.

Consulted by AFP, a source close to the deal confirmed the news.

“I can’t wait to get back dancing with the ball again and to write a new story with Ignazio Cipriani (the Italian-American owner of Ravenna) and his entire family,” Gazzetta quoted Ronaldinho as saying.

“Football has always been a source of joy for me. I want to bring the same spirit to Ravenna,” added the former Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona star.

However, Ravenna vice-president Ariedo Braida, told Italian media that Ronaldinho’s signing was more a marketing ploy than a piece of squad-building and he may never actually play.

“He’s a magical player, who will have his registration, that’s a huge coup for us,” he said.

“Will he play at 46? That depends, but he’ll be registered.”

Ronaldinho has not played since a two-month stint at Fluminense in 2015.

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By Rotimi Ojomoyela Ado Ekiti

Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured a landslide victory at the polling unit of Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, in Saturday’s Ekiti governorship election.

Announcing results, Polling Officer Ms. Elizabeth Oregbemeh said Oyebanji polled 164 votes.

PDP governorship candidate Dr. Wole Oluyede scored 8 votes, while Action Democratic Party (ADP) candidate Mr. Ayodeji Ojo got 1 vote.

Bamidele, who voted earlier, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election and commended the impressive voter turnout across the state.

The Senate leader praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the prompt deployment of electoral officials and materials across all 16 local government areas.

According to INEC, of 1,059,360 registered voters in Ekiti State, 1,028,929 collected their Permanent Voter Cards.

Result Summary – Bamidele’s Polling Unit
APC: 164 votes
PDP: 8 votes
ADP: 1 vote

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US President Donald Trump has suggested renaming the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to “NICE” by adding the letter “N” for “National,” saying the change would confuse critics in the media and among Democratic Party opponents.

In a post shared on his official X handle on Saturday, Trump launched a poll on the proposal while defending the agency and criticising its portrayal in the media.

“POLL: ICE has been abused by the Fake News Media at levels never seen before. They are Great Patriots who work hard and do a fantastic job in a very hostile environment,” he wrote.

He added that “Much of this hostility is caused by the Dumocrats and the Fake News,” while outlining his idea to rebrand the agency.

“The concept I have had for quite some time — A strong feeling that the name of these Patriots, ‘ICE,’ should be changed to ‘NICE,’ in that it will totally discombobulate crooked, dishonest, and unpatriotic reporters and journalists,” he said.

Explaining further, Trump argued that journalists would be forced to use positive-sounding language when reporting on immigration enforcement activities if the change is adopted.

“For them to say, ‘We went to a NICE Facility today,’ as opposed to ‘ICE’ or ‘NICE Agents have deported a violent drug dealer,’ they won’t be able to handle it, they will go totally crazy!” he said, adding that the change would involve “just adding an ‘N’ (‘National’) to ‘ICE’ (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), a much more prestigious name.”

Trump acknowledged that the idea has met some resistance within the agency’s leadership, noting comments attributed to former acting ICE Director Tom Homan.

He said while “everyone loves it,” Homan had indicated that “the Agents do not love it as much as the other population.”

The president ended his post by inviting public reaction, asking, “Who thinks that we should add an ‘N’ to change the name of ‘ICE’ to ‘NICE?’ Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT.”

The proposal comes amid continuing debates in the United States over immigration enforcement, with ICE often drawing support from conservatives for its deportation operations and criticism from opponents who accuse it of excessive tactics.

Trump has consistently defended the agency and positioned it as central to his immigration policy agenda.

The post sparked immediate reactions on X, with supporters praising the idea and critics mocking it as a distraction from pressing policy issues.

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By Dayo Johnson Ado Ekiti

The candidate of the All Progressive Congress and the governor Biodun Oyebanji has won his polling unit in the ongoing Ekiti State governorship election.

Results from Polling Unit 003, Oyebanji’s Compound, RA 04, Ekiti West LGA showes the governor polling 326 votes out of 333 accredited voters at the unit.

The unit has 668 registered voters.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) scored 2 votes, Action Democratic Party (ADP) 1 vote, and African Action Congress (AAC) 1 vote.

Three votes were voided while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not score any votes.

Speaking after casting his vote on Saturday, Oyebanji described the turnout as impressive and the exercise peaceful, despite recording about 49.9% turnout at the unit.

Result Summary – PU 003, Oyebanji’s Compound, RA 04, Ekiti West LGA
APC: 326 votes
ADC: 2 votes
ADP: 1 vote
AAC: 1 vote
PDP: 0 votes
Void: 3 votes

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Spanish giants Real Madrid said Saturday they have not made any contact with Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise over a potential transfer.

The France international, currently at the World Cup, has been linked with Madrid by Spanish media, reporting Los Blancos were considering making a bid of more than 200 million euros ($230m).

“In light of the information published in various media outlets regarding an alleged interest of our club in Bayern Munich player Michael Olise, Real Madrid wishes to clarify that they have not had any direct or indirect contact with the aforementioned footballer, his representatives, or people in his circle,” said Madrid in a statement.

Madrid said they have an “excellent institutional relationship” with Bayern and said the reports “do not correspond to reality”.

Olise joined Bayern from Crystal Palace in 2024 for around 60 million euros and shone as Vincent Kompany’s team won the Bundesliga and reached the Champions League semi-finals.

Real Madrid, who appointed Portuguese veteran Jose Mourinho as coach earlier in June, have made a spate of signings already this summer.

Madrid brought in Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate on free transfers, and spent 55 million euros on Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella.

After going two consecutive seasons without lifting a major trophy, record 15-time Champions League winners Madrid are remodelling their squad.

AFP

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Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ekiti, has commended voters and election officials for their peaceful and professional conduct across the state.

Omoseyindemi told journalists after monitoring the governorship exercise in the state on Saturday that the election was largely peaceful.

“We never had it so good. You can see that people came out to vote, and there were no reports of violence. Everything went on peacefully, and it was well,” he said.

The REC noted that special provisions were put in place to ensure the participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), including those with visual impairments and other physical challenges.

According to him, INEC had earlier mapped the distribution of PWDs during the voter registration exercise to enable the commission to provide the necessary assistive devices and support at designated polling locations.

“You can see people with disabilities and physically challenged persons participating in the process. Those with visual disabilities were provided with the necessary aids to enable them to vote independently.

“We carried out mapping during voter registration to identify where these persons are located and ensured that the required facilities were made available for them,” he said.

Omoseyindemi also urged the electorate to remain patient as the election results were announced, assuring that the collation process was ongoing.

“Ekiti people should be patient and the results will be out soon. In some places, counting has already commenced, while reports are being received through our election operations support system,” he said.

The REC explained that INEC’s election operations support system was actively monitoring developments across the state and maintaining communication with field officials to promptly address any challenges that might arise throughout the process.

He stressed the need for stakeholders and members of the public to rely on verified information rather than speculations, noting that allegations should always be verified.

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The EU-SDGN Election Observation Hub has commended the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during the Ekiti governorship Election.

The hub, however, expressed concern over incidents of vote-buying, voter intimidation and ballot-paper irregularities.

The hub, comprising the Kukah Centre, TAF Africa, Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), Yiaga Africa, International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), made this known in a preliminary statement issued on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti.

According to the hub reports, 246 out of the 250 sampled polling units showed that INEC officials and election materials arrived early in most locations, with voting commencing by 8:30 a.m in 69 per cent of observed polling units.

It said that the BVAS recorded a 96 per cent functionality rate across polling units monitored, describing its performance as optimal.

It, however, noted discrepancies in election materials, including differences in the number of political parties listed on ballot papers and result sheets.

The hub also reported strong participation by women in the electoral process, noting that women served as polling officials, party agents and voters, while Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) participated actively with minimal accessibility challenges.

It noted the isolated incidences, including difficulties in capturing the biometrics of some elderly voters and the initial denial of priority voting to a nursing mother in Ifaki, Ido-Osi Local Government Area.

While describing the overall security situation as peaceful, it noted 24 incidents of violence across 10 local government areas and raised concerns over organised vote-buying activities and voter intimidation in nine LGAs.

The observers also commended the generally conducive environment for journalists but noted reports of restrictions on media access and movement in parts of Ikere, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti West and Ikole LGAs.

They urged INEC to ensure strict compliance with its guidelines on result management, including the prompt uploading of polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), and to replace malfunctioning BVAS machines where necessary.

They further called on security agencies, political parties, voters and the media to play their respective roles responsibly to safeguard the credibility of the election and ensure a peaceful conclusion of the electoral process.

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By Adeola Badru 

Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has issued a two-hour ultimatum to Fulani leaders in Igboho, Oyo State. He said they should raise the ransom of N150 million demanded for the release of a pregnant woman, her children and a sibling allegedly abducted by suspected Fulani gunmen.

Read Also: Ireland deports 42 South Africans, sets new visa requirements

Igboho accused the kidnappers of terrorising residents of the community and insisted that the victims’ family would not pay the ransom reportedly demanded by the abductors.

According to him, the pregnant woman and her sibling were kidnapped in the dead of night in the Igboho area of Oyo State by suspected Fulani gunmen, who initially demanded a ransom of N300 million before reducing it to N150 million.

The activist maintained that Fulani leaders in the town should take responsibility for securing the victims’ freedom and bear the burden of any ransom payment, stressing that the victims’ family would not part with any money.

Addressing the Fulani leaders in Igboho in Yoruba, he expressed outrage over the incident and warned that he would not tolerate criminal activities in his ancestral home.

“You can’t be kidnapping in my father’s land and expect me to keep quiet. I’m an original indigene of Igboho land.“

“You kidnapped a pregnant woman, and the person who brought the ransom, you killed him and killed the pregnant woman, for what? In Igboho? You people are not even afraid of me in my father’s land?

“This should be the last and it must end. My father has urged me to address you people patiently. What I’m fighting in other people’s land, you can’t come here and be doing it in my father’s land,“ Igboho warned.

He further alleged that those responsible for the abduction were known to members of the Fulani community.

“You people kidnapped a pregnant woman, killed the person that brought the ransom and left one person. You are not even afraid of God. It’s your boys that did the job,” he said.

Questioning the pattern of abductions in the area, Igboho added: “Since you have been kidnapping here, have they ever abducted Fulani?“

“No, it’s the Yorubas they have been kidnapping and it should not be like that. This should be the last, and let us stay in harmony.”

Issuing a direct warning to the community leaders, he said: “I give you people two hours to release the woman, her children and her sibling who were kidnapped in the middle of the night. If I don’t see them within the next two hours, we will face each other.”

Igboho also claimed that investigations had traced the victims’ whereabouts to several locations linked to prominent individuals within the community.

“When we first tracked that number, it led us to Alhaji’s residence and they removed them from there in the middle of the night to Bani’s compound. They took them to Baale’s compound, where they currently are,” he alleged.

Rejecting any possibility of the victims’ family paying the ransom, he insisted that Fulani residents should collectively raise the money demanded by the kidnappers.

“We don’t have any ransom to pay. You Fulanis should raise that ransom among yourselves and pay because we don’t have such money to pay. They started from N300 million and brought it down to N150 million.“

“Fulanis should contribute the ransom and get the woman, children and her sibling released. If they are killed, we will have a problem,“ he maintained.

Meanwhile, the development has heightened tensions in the community, with residents awaiting the outcome of the ultimatum issued by the Yoruba Nation activist.

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By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

The Ogun State government has temporarily relocated students of Our Lady of Apostles Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, to an alternative location as investigations into the recent chemical inhalation incident on the school premises intensify.

Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed this during an on-the-spot assessment of the school, noting that preliminary findings have confirmed the presence of methane gas in the affected area.

The governor explained that the relocation became necessary to safeguard the health and safety of students, teachers, and other members of the school community while also creating an enabling environment for experts to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the source and cause of the contamination.

He noted that the state government, through the ministries of environment and health, is collaborating with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Department of Geology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, to determine the root cause of the incident.

“Twice now, we have recorded cases of pollution in this school and some neighboring schools.

“What is interesting is that the gas pollution occurred at about the same time in the affected schools—about three schools altogether—and this has happened on two separate occasions.

“Following the first occurrence, we installed gas analyzers across the schools to determine the nature and concentration of the gas, which has now been confirmed to be methane.

“Preliminary findings suggest there may be geological factors involved, possibly fault lines common to these locations, which could be responsible for the emissions.

“We are awaiting the final report from the professionals handling the investigation,” he said.

Governor Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting the lives of students, teachers, and residents of the affected communities, stressing that every necessary measure would be taken to identify the source of the pollution and prevent a recurrence.

He assured residents that the government remains focused on safeguarding public health and environmental safety, adding that updates would be provided as investigations progress.

“In the meantime, we have evacuated the students from the school. The rumor that these incidents are being deliberately targeted at schools is unfounded and should be disregarded. This appears to be a natural occurrence, and we are determined to get to the bottom of it.

“The students have been moved out temporarily, and until we are satisfied that the environment is completely safe and conducive for learning, they will not return. We will continue to investigate the cause of this situation and take all necessary steps to address it,” the governor added.

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Former Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti has commended the conduct of Saturday’s governorship election in the state, describing the accreditation and voting process as seamless.

Fayemi, who spoke with newsmen after casting his vote at his Ward 11, Unit 9, Ogilolo, Isan-Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area of the state, praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its efficiency in the handling of the exercise.

“It was a smooth experience, and everything went reasonably well. The accreditation process was fast and seamless, and I could see that it was the same for my wife.

“I want to commend the team working for INEC on this occasion. It’s not always that things would be this smooth.

“So, at least on the technical side, it would appear to have been a process that was seamless.

“In spite of the unfortunate incident that we experienced here last night, which had nothing to do with politics, the process has been well ordered,” Fayemi said.

Also, a former lawmaker representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Sen. Ayo Arise, expressed optimism that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would emerge victorious in the election.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after casting his vote in Oye-Ekiti, Arise described the election process as peaceful, smooth and efficient.

The former senator, however, noted that the turnout at his polling unit was lower than he had anticipated.

He explained that voters leaving voting centers immediately after voting might make it difficult to accurately assess their turnout.

“My observations were limited to the period I was present at the polling unit.

“The election was very peaceful, very smooth and quick too. But I am not too sure whether we had the kind of crowd we expected.

“At my polling unit, I have seen longer queues in previous elections. The turnout I witnessed was around average, not too poor, but certainly not exceptionally high,” he said.

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Cuts export freight costs below $2/kg

By Yinka Kolawole

The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has formally flagged off the expanded Nigeria–East and Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor in partnership with RwandAir, in a move to lower export logistics costs and strengthen Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

A key highlight of the initiative is the sharp reduction in air cargo charges for exports to major African markets. Through the arrangement, cargo rates on the airline’s routes have been fixed at below $2 per kilogram across five destinations—Kigali (Rwanda), Lusaka (Zambia), Harare (Zimbabwe), Nairobi (Kenya) and Johannesburg (South Africa).
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Lagos at the weekend, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said: “The new pricing marks a substantial improvement for exporters who previously paid between $3 and $10 per kilogram to ship goods to East and Southern African markets, costs that often eroded competitiveness and constrained market access.”

Oduwole described the initiative as a practical step towards translating AfCFTA into tangible business opportunities.

“Our goal is clear: to make it easier and cheaper for Nigerian businesses to trade across Africa. One year ago, we launched this corridor to solve a real problem for exporters—the high cost of moving goods into African markets.

“Today, with RwandAir, we are widening that corridor, opening more routes and giving our exporters more options to compete. With eight businesses receiving AfCFTA Certificates of Origin today, we are also showing that this is not just about policy—it is about real businesses, real exports and real market access. This is AfCFTA in action,” she stated.

Available to exporters holding an AfCFTA Certificate of Origin issued by the Nigeria Customs Service, the corridor is expected to provide faster, more affordable and predictable logistics services, enabling businesses to scale exports across the continent.

According to Oduwole, the initiative will particularly benefit businesses in agribusiness, fashion and textiles, cosmetics, processed foods, light manufacturing and other Made-in-Nigeria product segments, while supporting the government’s industrialisation and export diversification agenda.

Director of Cargo Services at RwandAir, Jean Bosco Gakwaya, said the partnership would enhance trade connectivity and improve access to African markets for Nigerian businesses.

“This partnership between RwandAir Cargo and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment enables us to connect Nigerian manufacturers to key markets across East and Southern Africa using our network. This is a pivotal moment for intra-African trade and for how we move goods across the continent,” he said.

The expanded corridor builds on the initiative launched in 2025 with Uganda Airlines, which opened export routes to Entebbe, Nairobi and Johannesburg. With RwandAir’s entry, Nigerian exporters now have access to a broader network and increased cargo capacity across East and Southern Africa.

The development also underscores growing economic cooperation between Nigeria and Rwanda following engagements between President Bola Tinubu and President Paul Kagame during the 13th Africa CEO Forum in Kigali in May 2026.

The ministry urged exporters, logistics providers, business associations and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to take advantage of the corridor to expand the reach of Nigerian products across African markets, leveraging lower freight costs and improved connectivity to boost intra-African trade.

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No fewer than 42 South African nationals, who were living in Ireland illegally, have been deported back to Johannesburg, and arrived on Friday in a chartered flight.

Read Also: South Africa to charge FG for cost of deporting Nigerians

The deportees included nine men, 18 women, and 15 children. The children were deported as part of their family units. They departed from Dublin Airport on Thursday afternoon and landed in South Africa on Friday morning.

According to reports from The Irish Times on June 19, 2026, two of the individuals included in the deportation group held criminal convictions in Ireland.

Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, addressed the situation, noting that the vast majority of South Africans residing in the country do so legally.

He emphasised that the Irish immigration system must remain “rules-based and robust”.

He further explained that enforcement actions, including deportations, are deemed essential by the government to ensure the system functions effectively and to maintain public confidence in existing immigration laws.

New visa requirements

Earlier, the Government of Ireland announced new visa requirements.

The updated rules mandate that citizens from specific global regions must secure entry documents before arrival.

Under the new directive, nationals of Saint Lucia, Nicaragua, and Saint Kitts and Nevis will be required to obtain a visa before travelling to Ireland. This major immigration adjustment took effect on June 15, 2026

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni fired back at US President Donald Trump on Saturday, saying his “constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless” after he escalated a diplomatic row by accusing her of repeatedly seeking a photograph with him.

The clash has opened an unusually personal rift between Trump and one of Europe’s most prominent right-wing leaders, who had sought to cast herself as a bridge between Washington and the continent during Trump’s return to power.

Trump had initially told Italian broadcaster La7 that Meloni “begged” him for a picture at this week’s G7 summit in France, saying he agreed only because he “felt sorry for her.”

Meloni angrily denied the claim, calling it “made up,” but Trump doubled down in a post on Truth Social, saying Meloni had asked “over and over” for a photograph during the summit.

He also accused her of trying to repair relations with Washington for domestic political reasons after Italy failed to support US action against Iran.

“Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her ‘numbers up.’ No thanks!!!” Trump wrote.

He said Meloni was doing “poorly in Italy” and suggested this was linked to her refusal to let the United States use Italian “landing strips or runways” during the conflict with Iran.

Trump also revived his long-running complaint that the United States spends heavily to protect “so-called” NATO allies, saying Washington contributes hundreds of billions of dollars to defend Italy and others.

Meloni, in a blistering response on Instagram, accused Trump of “constant, unprovoked… senseless” attacks and said her popularity did not depend on her relationship with the US president.

“Being your friend certainly has not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you,” she wrote.

She rejected Trump’s criticism over the use of US military facilities in Italy, saying they were governed by agreements that Rome had respected.

“In any case, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours,” she added.

– ‘Painful injury’ –

The remarks were a sharp escalation of a dispute that had already triggered anger in Rome and came at a moment when Trump has already unsettled European partners with his handling of the war in Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a planned visit to the United States, saying on Friday that Trump’s “grave and offensive” words toward Meloni “offend the whole of Italy.”

Meloni, who leads Italy’s far-right Brothers of Italy party, had said earlier she was “frankly stunned” by Trump’s original comments and accused him of showing more deference to the West’s adversaries than to its partners.

The backlash was notable because Meloni, unlike many European leaders, had invested heavily in personal diplomacy with Trump and had been viewed in Rome and Washington as one of his most natural partners on the continent.

She had spent months cultivating close ties with the US president while trying to reassure European allies wary of his second term.

Meloni had said at the end of the G7 summit in Evian that the atmosphere had been “very positive” and that there was “no friction” between Trump and other leaders.

She acknowledged, however, that she and Trump both had “quite strong characters,” and the pair were seen together several times at the summit, including during a meeting on a sofa after which Trump appeared to pat her shoulder.

In her latest comments, Meloni sought to draw a line under the spat, saying Saturday’s response would be her last remarks on the subject.

Relations between the two had already deteriorated during the Middle East war.

Trump turned on Meloni in April after she defended Pope Leo XIV from his criticism of the pontiff’s anti-war views, accusing the Italian leader of failing to help the United States through NATO.

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said Trump’s latest comments were a “painful injury” to Italy-US ties, while Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said such “jokes do not benefit anyone.”

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the upload of polling unit results from the Ekiti governorship election to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

The results began appearing on the portal at about 4:10 p.m. on Saturday following concerns from stakeholders over the delay in making polling unit outcomes available online.

In one of the early results confirmed, the governor and candidate of the APC, Biodun Oyebanji, defeated the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Ambassador Dare Bejide, at Polling Unit 4, Ward 2, in Ekiti South West Local Government Area, securing 140 votes against Bejide’s 37, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled two votes.

As of the time of filing this report, only about 20 per cent of polling unit results had been uploaded to the IReV portal.

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An Iranian court sentenced a prominent singer named Parastoo Ahmadi and a group of seven fellow artists to 74 lashes each after they livestreamed a performance on YouTube, according to her videographer and local media.

The concert featured Ahmadi singing powerful, mournful songs to an empty audience, on a dimly-lit stage adorned solely with a large Persian carpet in the grounds of a traditional caravanserai complex.

Ahmadi was backed by a pianist, drummer, guitarist and bassist.

All the musicians wore black, with Ahmadi dressed in a long, strappy gown and wearing deep red lipstick, in a country where women are banned from singing in public.

They are also required to dress modestly and wear the headscarf.

Ahmadi livestreamed the concert on her own channel in December 2024, where it has been viewed three million times. It has also been viewed many thousands of times more on other channels.

“Two years banned from artistic activities, banned from leaving the country, and 74 lashes for all of us,” wrote videographer Tahmineh Monzavi in a post on Instagram on Thursday.

Ahmadi, Monzavi, the musicians and others involved in the production were first taken into custody in December 2024, days after the concert took place.

Local media had at the time said they were released on bail, while the judiciary’s Mizan Online news website said a case was filed for performing “music without observing legal and religious standards”.

Mizan and other official websites have not confirmed the latest sentencing, but Iran’s Emtedad news platform also reported on the story on Thursday.

Ahmadi and other participants “were sentenced to 74 lashes, a two-year ban on leaving the country, and a two-year ban on artistic activity,” according to a post on Emtedad’s Telegram.

“This verdict was issued by the Qom Provincial Criminal Court… The charge against them is hurting public decency by producing and publishing vulgar and immoral content on the internet.”

Increasing numbers of Iranian women are appearing without hijab, especially since protests erupted following the death in custody of a woman named Mahsa Amini in September 2022. She had been arrested for allegedly violating the dress code.

Since then, Iran has once again erupted in nationwide protests, peaking in January before the United States and Israel launched a war against the Islamic republic.

Among the lyrics Ahmadi sang were references to Iranian young people detained for protesting against the authorities.

“The time of wine and blossoms came, the gardens dressed in Spring,” was one such line. “The captive birds, like my own soul that is in love with its homeland, are filled with longing.”

AFP

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The Federal Government has approved the release of N21.2 million in outbreak investigation and response funds to each state to strengthen preparedness against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and other public health threats.

This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen by Mr Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, on Saturday in Abuja.

According to Bako, Prof. Mohammed Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, approved the disbursement of 50 per cent of the State Outbreak Investigation and Response Fund (S-OIRF) allocation.

He said the funds would be released through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) gateway of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).

Bako said the intervention formed part of measures to strengthen Nigeria’s readiness against Ebola and other emerging public health threats.

He added that the approval complemented broader federal government efforts to strengthen national preparedness and response capacities.

According to the statement, the efforts include the activities of the multi-sectoral Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness and Other Health Threats.

Bako said that the task force would be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The spokesperson noted that although Nigeria had no confirmed case of the disease, the government was taking proactive measures to enhance preparedness.

He said the approval would enable states to access resources required to strengthen surveillance, preparedness and rapid response capacities during public health emergencies.

Bala further quoted Pate as directing all beneficiary states to retire both current and previously disbursed outbreak response funds within six months.

He said states must also ensure full compliance with established financial management, reporting and accountability requirements.

“This approval reflects our commitment to both health security and accountability.

“We will continue to support states to strengthen their capacity to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats while ensuring transparency in the use of public resources,” the minister said.

Pate reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding national health security through proactive preparedness, effective coordination and sustained investments in disease prevention, detection and response capacities nationwide (NAN).

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