Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. The Nigerian House of Representatives has introduced the Counter Subversion Bill 2024, proposing severe penalties, including a 10-year prison sentence and a N5 million fine, for refusing to recite the national anthem. This has sparked debates on its implications for civil liberties and national unity, with some Nigerians mocking the bill and questioning the lawmakers’ priorities. The bill also penalizes defacing national symbols and unauthorized activities, such as illegal roadblocks and forceful takeovers of public spaces. Having passed its first reading, the bill is now moving to the second reading stage for further debate.
2. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released N50 billion from recovered assets to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to support the student loan scheme. EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede praised the program, stating its role in combating corruption by addressing the financial challenges that often lead students to economic crimes. He noted that the inability of parents to fund their children’s education is a significant factor in youth involvement in cybercrimes, and commended President Bola Tinubu for initiating the fund.
3. The Federal Government has advised those calling for a regime change to wait until the 2027 presidential election. Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals, made this statement after the inaugural Council of State meeting under President Bola Tinubu. Alake described a recent hunger protest as an attempted regime change by force, which was resisted. He emphasized that any change in government must occur through elections, not unconstitutional means. The Council of State and the Nigerian Governor’s Forum expressed confidence in President Tinubu and discussed economic diversification efforts during the meeting.
4. Chief Jimi Adebisi Lawal, former Senior Counsellor and Chairman of the Kaduna State Economic Development Council has denied reports that he refused to honor an invitation from the ICPC regarding an alleged N11 billion light rail project in Kaduna. In a statement, Lawal explained that he requested the ICPC reschedule the appointment due to the timing conflict with the #Endbadgovernanceprotest. He later followed up to arrange a new date and received a rescheduled invitation for August 14, 2024. Lawal dismissed the investigation as politically motivated and emphasized that he had no authority over the alleged funds.
5. Nollywood actress Omoni Oboli has joyfully announced the arrival of her first grandchild, Naya, born to her son Tobe and his Canadian wife, Marelle. She shared the news on Instagram, expressing immense love and gratitude for the new addition to the family. Alongside the announcement, Oboli posted a video from the baby shower, capturing the family’s excitement. Fans and well-wishers have been sending their congratulations to the actress. The announcement comes a few months after Tobe and Marelle’s wedding in March.
6. Davido’s popular wedding song, “Ogechi Remix,” has been removed from YouTube due to copyright issues. The song, performed live at Davido’s wedding to Chioma on June 25, 2024, featured BoyPee, Brown Joel, and Hyce and quickly gained popularity. Although the music video was uploaded on July 19, 2024, it was taken down by YouTube following a copyright claim. The audio version remains available on BoyPee’s official YouTube page. Notably, Davido is not credited as the official artist for the song on YouTube, and a viral video suggests that the original version of “Ogechi” was created by another artist before the remix.
