Author: News Room
Patrick Ocheme delivered the moment of the night, knocking out Cameroon’s Octave Ayinda with a stunning punch-and-flying-knee combination to send the Lagos crowd into a frenzy as the Professional Fighters League made its historic debut in Nigeria at the Eko Convention Centre on Saturday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. The co-main event ended in spectacular fashion in the first round when Ocheme, patient and composed throughout the early exchanges, exploded with a short check hook that hurt Ayinda before measuring him for a double-clutch flying knee that landed flush on the jaw. Ayinda slumped against the fence, unconscious, as the home…
Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, have emerged winners of the 2026 University Duel and Smart Challenge competitions sponsored by MTN Nigeria, earning a total of N4m in prize money and scholarships. While the winners of the University Duel received N3m, the Smart Challenge champions were awarded N1m. A statement by the founder of the STEM Africa Initiative, organisers of the competitions, Oladapo Ojo, said the contests brought together students from universities across the country and were designed to promote excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education. According to him, the participants were tested in Applied Mathematics, Data…
Crypto exchange Bybit will offer eligible customers access to tokenized bond funds managed by PIMCO and China Merchants Bank International, expanding its push into real-world assets through partnerships with Plume and DigiFT. Bybit’s new RWA Earn platform launched with two tokenized bond funds: the PIMCO Dynamic Income Opportunities Fund (PDO), which invests across fixed-income assets including corporate debt, mortgage-backed securities and government bonds, and the CMBI Investment Grade Bond Fund, which focuses on investment-grade credit in Asian and global markets.According to Monday’s announcement, the funds are tokenized through DigiFT, a digital asset exchange regulated in Singapore and Hong Kong, while…
Mackenzie Shirilla’s mother, Natalie Shirilla, revealed that her daughter has gained weight and looks healthier as she serves her two concurrent 15 years to life sentence in prison for a fatal car crash that killed her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and their friend Davion Flanagan. “She’s actually gained a little bit of weight, she looks healthier,” Natalie, 51, told The Daily Mail of Mackenzie, 21, in an interview published on Sunday, June 14. While Natalie said that Mackenzie is doing “physically better,” she added that “she’s still mentally struggling.” Mackenzie was arrested after she drove 100 mph into a brick building…
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo, Abuja, on Monday dismissed an application by former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Developments, Sadiya Unar-Farouq, seeking to set aside a warrant of arrest earlier issued against her. The judge, Jude Onwuegbuzie, ruled that Ms Farouq failed to appear before the court without a valid reason, holding that the law empowers the court to issue a bench warrant when a defendant deliberately absents herself from criminal proceedings. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Ms Umar-Farouq alongside Bashir Alkali and Sani Mohammed on charges of criminal…
A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta has sentenced a 29-year-old woman, Eniola Adedeji, to 45 years’ imprisonment for trafficking one minor (name withheld) for sexual exploitation in Cotonou, Republic of Benin. Adedeji, who was arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on various human trafficking offences, was, however, found guilty on nine of the charges and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for each count charge, with the jail terms to run concurrently. The Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Ogun State Command, Bose Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement forwarded to our correspondent on…
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested five suspects linked to a kidnapping and banditry network operating on the outskirts of Abuja, including a heavily pregnant woman who served as a cook and logistics supplier for the criminal gang and their hostages. The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, while parading the suspects before journalists in Abuja on Monday, said the arrests followed a clearance operation at the Byazin area of the FCT on June 11, 2026, during which some bandits were arrested, others were neutralised, and victims were rescued. According to him, the woman, identified as Hauwa Shafiu,…
Babatunde Raji Fashola is one of the few Nigerian political leaders who still command respect across party lines. Even many of his critics acknowledge his intellect, competence, and ability to engage public issues thoughtfully. Given how highly I have rated him over the years, it is hard for me to criticise his views. That image of his is why his recent comment on elections attracted attention. Speaking at The Platform on Democracy Day, Fashola argued that elections were inherently imperfect and that Nigerians, especially the opposition, should focus more on strengthening institutions than endlessly disputing election outcomes. He noted that…
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has congratulated Edo Queens Football Club on their outstanding achievement, describing the team’s success as a proud moment for the state and a testament to the talent, determination, and resilience of Edo athletes. In Sunday’s final game against Bayelsa Queens, the Edo Queens secured a 0-0 draw, enough for them to finish with 10 points from five games. The Benin team won three games, drew one and lost one. The win confirmed the Edo Queens as the top team of 2026 NWFL, further highlighting the team’s strength, consistency, and competitive spirit. The Governor, in…
The Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State, has dismissed five staff members, including two professors, two senior lecturers, and one principal assistant registrar for gross misconduct. In a statement on Monday, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Harrison Madubueze, said the officers were dismissed at the 122nd meeting of the Governing Council held on Friday. Madubueze said those dismissed for misconduct include Prof. C.C. Nwabachili, immediate past Dean of Faculty of Law and Prof. Chike Osegbue of the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences. Others are Dr I.H. Iheukwumere and Mr Emeka Nwabunnia – both from the…
