Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. The Nigerian Supreme Court has upheld President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the presidential election held on February 25, dismissing a petition filed by former President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party. The court ruled that Atiku failed to prove that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s actions substantially affected the election’s outcome. It also stated that Tinubu’s failure to secure 25% of the votes in the Federal Capital Territory was not sufficient grounds to disqualify him, and it disregarded claims of Tinubu’s involvement in a drug-related case.
2. The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the release of the former EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, following his suspension due to allegations of abuse of office. Bawa’s release comes after accusations of soliciting a $2 million bribe, which he denied. Ola Olukoyede has been appointed as the new chief of the EFCC following Bawa’s resignation.
3. Perry Tukuwei Jr, a broadcast journalist and Director of Media and Publicity for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council in Bayelsa State, died in a boat accident during the party’s governorship campaign. The incident occurred in Nembe Local Government Area while Tukuwei and two other journalists were on their way to Okoroba Community on Wednesday. Eyewitnesses reported that despite wearing life jackets, Tukuwei was unable to secure his properly, leading to his drowning. The APC has suspended its campaign activities following the tragic event.
4. Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola has generously donated N1 million to each of the 750 students of Augustine University for the 2023/2024 academic session, amounting to a total of N750 million. The donation is intended to ease the financial strain on the students’ families amid Nigeria’s challenging economic conditions. Otedola, the university’s newly inaugurated Chancellor, emphasized his dedication to the institution and its student body during the announcement.
5. Brighton celebrated their first-ever European victory with a 2-0 win over Ajax in the UEFA Europa League at the Amex Stadium. Despite Ajax’s prestigious history, they have been struggling, sitting in the relegation zone of the Eredivisie without a permanent manager. Brighton capitalized on Ajax’s turmoil, controlling the game and scoring through Joao Pedro and Ansu Fati. The win puts Brighton level on points with AEK Athens in Group B, with Marseille leading the table by a point.
6. The Billboard Music Awards has introduced nine new categories this year, including Top Afrobeats Artist and Top Afrobeats Song. Nigerian artists Rema, Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Tems were nominated for the Top Afrobeats Artist category, while various songs, including Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ and Ayra Starr’s ‘Rush,’ were nominated for the Top Afrobeats Song category. Additionally, Rema received seven nominations in various other categories. The event is set to take place on Sunday, November 19, presented by Marriott Bonvoy, with Taylor Swift leading the nominations.
7. A 400-level student at the University of Port Harcourt, Demain Okoligwe, was arrested for allegedly murdering his girlfriend, Justina Otuene, a 300-level student, and harvesting her organs for ritual purposes at his residence in Ozuoba, near Port Harcourt. The police discovered the victim’s decomposing body concealed in the suspect’s apartment after a neighbor reported a foul odor.
