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NBA star Brandon Clarke has d!ed at age 29.   Clarke's de@th was announced on Tuesday, May 12,  by his team, the Memphis Grizzlies, and his agency, Priority Sports. A cause of de@th was not announced.   The Grizzlies said in a statement that they "are heartbroken by the tragic loss" of Clarke.   "Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten," the team said.   Priority Sports said in a statement that it is "just impossible to put into words how much he'll be missed."   Clarke was drafted in the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019 and was traded two weeks later to Memphis, where he played his entire seven-year career.   "As one of the longest-tenured members of the Grizzlies, Brandon was a beloved teammate and leader who played the game with enormous passion and grit," the NBA said in a statement. "Our thou...

The Oyo State House of Assembly on Wednesday passed a unanimous vote of confidence in Governor Seyi Makinde and Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin, dismissing reports of an alleged impeachment plot in the state. The resolution followed plenary in Ibadan, where lawmakers reaffirmed their support for both the executive and legislative leadership. Moving the motion, the Majority Leader, Sanjo Adedoyin, described the rumours as baseless and politically motivated. In his submission, he characterised the allegations as “baseless, distracting, and politically motivated.” He said, “The Assembly remains united and committed to its constitutional responsibilities, and no formal communication or process suggesting impeachment had been initiated within the chamber.” The lawmakers also noted recent political speculations, including claims linking Makinde, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, and some legislators to alleged plots against one another, describing them as unfounded. There h...

President Bola Tinubu has approved new appointments across key education agencies, including the National Examinations Council and the National Board for Technical Education. According to a statement on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the appointments are part of efforts to strengthen institutions under the Federal Ministry of Education. The President appointed Prof. Modupe Adeola Adelabu as Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Examinations Council, while retaining the Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi. He also named Prof. Babatunde Salako as Chairman of the National Board for Technical Education, while earlier reappointing the Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, for a second and final term of five years. In the polytechnic sector, Tinubu appointed Dr Bongfa Binfa as Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, N’yak-Shendam, Plateau State, for a single term of five years. Binfa succeeds the pioneer recto...

The Lagos State Government has provided further details on the reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise, set to resume on Saturday, April 25, 2026, with movement restrictions and enforcement measures in place. In a statement on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said, “The exercise will hold every last Saturday of the month between the hours of 6:30 am and 8:30 am. During this period, there will be controlled movement across the state to allow residents to carry out thorough cleaning of their homes, surroundings and drainage frontages.” He stated that enforcement teams comprising officials of the ministry, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Kick Against Indiscipline, Lagos Waste Management Authority, and local government sanitation inspectors would “conduct physical inspections during and after the sanitation window to ensure compliance,” warning that “defaulters will be sanctioned in accordance with the L...

The Federal Government has announced the death of Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Algeria, Mohammed Mahmud Lele, who died at the age of 50. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa. According to the ministry, Lele died in the early hours of April 19, 2026, in Ankara, Türkiye, after a protracted illness. The ministry described the late diplomat as a dedicated officer who served the country with distinction. “The late Ambassador Lele, until his death after a protracted illness, was the Director in charge of the Middle East and Gulf Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Ambassador Lele, a career diplomat, was recently appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Ambassador-designate to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, following the Nigerian Senate’s confirmation of his nomination,” the statement said. Born in Gamawa, Bauchi State, in 1976, Lele studied Economics at Bayer...

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has attributed the rising insecurity in the country to the forthcoming 2027 elections.  Speaking at the official launch of the Nigerian Revenue Service Corporate Headquarters  in Abuja, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Akpabio said President Bola Tinubu is performing so well and those opposed to him do not know what to do than to sponsor insecurity.  He said immediately after the election, insecurity will be a thing of the past. “Insecurity is increasing because election is coming, because people don’t know what to do again. Immediately after election, two weeks after election, the insecurity will stop. The insecurity is being sponsored by people,” he said.  Mocking the opposition for being in disarray, Akpabio aimed a dig Peter Obi, candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential election. “Opposition is in disarray, someone got six million votes and abandoned the party, abandoned the six million votes and went shopping fo...

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has fixed April 22 for the hearing of appeals arising from the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party. The appeals were filed by a faction of the party led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, challenging earlier judgments of the Court of Appeal delivered on March 9. A five-member panel of the apex court, headed by Justice Mohammed Garba, fixed the date on Tuesday after granting an application for accelerated hearing. The court also abridged the time within which parties are to file their briefs, directing respondents to file their responses within five days, while the appellants were given two days to file any reply. The appeals stem from decisions of the appellate court, which affirmed earlier rulings of the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining the PDP from conducting its planned national convention pending compliance with statutory provisions, including the Electoral Act and party regulations. The Fed...

The National Association of Nigerian Students has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government and the Plateau State Government over the abduction of a University of Jos student, John Arum, warning of nationwide protests if urgent action is not taken. In a Tuesday statement signed by its National President, Olushola Oladoja, the student body expressed outrage over the incident, describing it as a reflection of worsening insecurity across the country. NANS said Arum was kidnapped while travelling to Kaduna, with disturbing evidence of his captivity already circulating publicly. “The National Association of Nigerian Students expresses its utmost grief, outrage, and condemnation over the abduction of one of our own, John Arum, a student of the University of Jos, who was kidnapped while travelling to Kaduna,” the statement read. It added that visuals from captivity showed “duress and inhumane conditions, brutality, and torture,” while the abductors have reportedly deman...

The Imo State Police Command has smashed an armed robbery syndicate that specialised in the robbery of motorbikes and vehicles, as well as attempted murder. Already, five suspects have been arrested for their different roles in the robbery syndicate. The police spokesperson for the Imo State Command, Henry Okoye, made the disclosure on Sunday while addressing journalists at the Police headquarters in Owerri. He disclosed that the suspects attempted to bribe police operatives with the sum of ₦5 million to evade arrest, but the offer was rejected. According to him, investigations by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, led by Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, resulted in the arrest of five suspects and the recovery of one snatched shuttle bus, 450 motorcycles, the sum of ₦6,495,900, several vehicle plate numbers, and other incriminating exhibits, including criminal charms. He said a complainant, Chimeze Christian of Urata, Owerri North Local Government Area, owner of Wonder Shuttle, ha...

The Federal Road Safety Corps, Kaduna State Command, has confirmed an incident involving a fully loaded Liquefied Natural Gas tanker that caught fire in the Kwangila area of Zaria Local Government Area. The state Sector Commander of the corps, Mr Andrew Longkam, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday in Kaduna. Longkam said the tanker, belonging to Greenville Company, was parked by the roadside along the Funtua–Zaria road when a gas valve malfunctioned, leading to ignition and a fire outbreak. He said the fire affected some nearby shops and left three adult males with varying degrees of burn injuries. “The injured victims were promptly evacuated to Nakowa Hospital at Yangoro for initial treatment, and later referred to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika, for further medical care,” he said. The sector commander added that emergency responders swiftly brought the fire under control, though it briefly reignited before being completely extingu...

The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has criticised supporters of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, describing them as “monsters” and warning that their conduct could undermine his political ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections. In a series of posts on X on Sunday, Dabiri-Erewa said Obi bears responsibility for the actions of his supporters, popularly known as Obidients. “@PeterObi has actually raised monsters. By God’s grace @officialABAT will win the 2027 elections. When it’s the turn of the South-East and who knows, if the lot falls on him, I hope he knows that these obingos/Obi-dients will ironically be his downfall. He needs to call them to order,” she wrote. The NiDCOM chairman reiterated her position in subsequent posts, insisting that the behaviour of Obi’s supporters could ultimately harm his political prospects if not addressed. “😀😀@obidients obingos. They will eventually be @PeterObi ‘s downfall if he d...

President Donald Trump on Sunday ordered a US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in response to Iran’s “unyielding” refusal to give up its nuclear ambitions during peace talks in Islamabad. While acknowledging that the marathon negotiations in Pakistan had gone “well” and “most points were agreed to,” Trump said Tehran had refused to concede on the issue of its nuclear program. “Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!” US Vice President JD Vance left Pakistan without a deal after weekend talks with a team led by Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf — the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Tehran’s delegation also included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. “We l...

Saudi authorities executed seven people who had been convicted of drug trafficking in a single day, state media said Sunday. The Saudi Press Agency said five Saudis and two Jordanians were found guilty of trafficking amphetamine pills into the kingdom. “The death penalty was carried out as a discretionary punishment against the perpetrators,” the agency reported, adding that the executions took place on Sunday in the Riyadh region. Since the beginning of 2026, Riyadh has executed 38 people in drug-related cases, the majority of the 61 executions carried out, according to an AFP tally based on official data. Foreign nationals make up the majority of those executed this year, totalling 33 people. In 2025, executions in the kingdom reached a record level for the second consecutive year, with authorities executing 356 people, including 243 in drug-related cases. The number of executions in 2025 marked the highest in a single year since Amnesty International began documenting de...

An airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force has reportedly resulted in civilian casualties at a market along the Borno–Yobe border. ‎ The incident occurred on Saturday evening at Dilli Market in Yobe State, near Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State. ‎ The Yobe State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Dungus Abdulkarim confirmed the development to PUNCH Online but said no official casualty figures were available as of the time of filing this report. He added, “We are aware of the incident that occurred at Dilli Market along the Borno–Yobe border, and we are currently gathering information on what transpired. At this moment, we do not have confirmed casualty figures, as details are still being verified. “Security agencies are on the ground assessing the situation, while efforts are ongoing to ensure proper documentation and response, after which the public will be duly informed with accurate and official updates.” Dilli Market is known to attract traders and buyers f...

Recently, a rumor has been circulating across social media platforms claiming that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced a new ₦5000 note featuring President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The claim gained traction, sparking excitement and confusion among Nigerians eager to know if their wallets might soon contain the highest denomination in the country. However, the CBN quickly put the speculation to rest. Using its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the bank clarified that no such currency has been issued. The statement explicitly debunked the claim, emphasizing that the circulating currency remains unchanged and that the ₦5000 note does not exist. The CBN’s reminder serves as an important lesson on verifying information before sharing it online. Social media rumors about new currency notes are common in Nigeria and can lead to unnecessary panic or misguided financial decisions. For now, Nigerians can continue to transact using existing denominations, and an...

The Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee has dismissed reports claiming that the Minister of State for Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, admitted errors in Nigeria’s new tax laws. In a statement posted on Sunday via Oyedele’s X handle, the committee described the reports as “misleading” and a misrepresentation of the minister’s comments. “Our attention has been drawn to misleading media reports claiming that the Honourable Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele has ‘finally admitted errors in the new tax laws.’ “These publications misrepresent the Minister’s statements, falsely alleging that he urged Nigerians to await the outcome of a ‘legislative probe’, a process that has long been concluded and the gazetted copies certified by the National Assembly published since early January 2026,” the statement said. It warned that such narratives could distort public understanding of the reforms. The committee said the minister, while speaking at a fireside chat dur...

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially announced via their X (formerly Twitter) handle that the 2026 UTME Examination Slips are now available for printing. ​For every candidate, this is the "Golden Ticket." Without this document, you will not be granted access to the examination hall. Here is everything you need to know to get yours ready. ​Why is the Exam Slip Important? ​Your examination slip is more than just a piece of paper; it is your official guide for the exam season. It contains: ​ Examination Venue: The specific CBT center assigned to you. ​ Examination Date: The exact day you are scheduled to sit for the papers. ​ Registration Time: The time you are expected to be at the venue for screening. ​ Subject Combination: A final confirmation of the subjects you will be tested on. ​How to Print Your 2026 UTME Slip ​Candidates can access their slips through the official JAMB portal. Follow these simple steps: ​ Visit...

The Abia State Police Command has dismissed as false a viral social media claim alleging that 488 Boko Haram members were recently arrested in the state, warning residents against the spread of misinformation capable of triggering panic. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the command clarified that the video being circulated alongside the claim was an old broadcast recorded over 11 years ago and does not reflect the current security situation in Abia State. The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police. The police described the report as misleading and deliberately designed to incite fear and unrest among members of the public. The statement read “As the lead internal security agency, the command assures residents of its continued commitment to safeguarding lives and property, urging citizens to go about their lawful activities without apprehension. “The State Police wants the public to support i...

Commencement Of 2026 Batch 'A' Stream II Orientation Course The Management of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has released a schedule of major activities for 2026 Batch 'A' Stream II Orientation Course. The 21-day exercise will hold in all 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory simultaneously. The Orientation Course will commence with reception and registration of Prospective Corps Members on Wednesday, 22nd April 2026, and end at midnight of Friday, 24th April, 2026. Prospective Corps Members mobilized for the 2026 Batch 'A' Stream II service year will be sworn-in on Friday, 24th April, 2026. Meanwhile, the Orientation Course will come to an end on Tuesday, 12th May, 2026. Management wish Nigerian graduates mobilized for the 2026 Batch 'A' Stream II service year safe trips to the various orientation camps across the country, while reiterating its warning against night journeys. Accordingly, Prospective Corps Member...

The Independent National Electoral Commission has underscored the critical role of broadcast media in safeguarding electoral integrity, urging broadcasters to uphold fairness, professionalism, and accuracy ahead of the 2027 general elections. Addressing the 81st General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja, the INEC chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, stressed that the management of the airwaves under the Electoral Act 2026 would be decisive in shaping public trust and democratic outcomes. Amupitan noted that the growing influence of broadcast platforms has made it central to political communication. He warned, saying, “Your airwaves have become the primary infrastructure of our democracy. If they are clear, the nation sees the truth; if they are clouded by misinformation, the sovereign will of the people is threatened.” Amupitan highlighted key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly those mandating equal access to media platfo...