Happy New Year! In today’s trending news stories;
1. President Bola Tinubu has ordered a thorough investigation into the alleged N585 million scandal involving the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu. The scandal centers around a leaked memo instructing the transfer of funds into a private account. Various groups, including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, have called for an unbiased probe. The Accountant-General of the Federation denied honoring the request, emphasizing that her office does not make payments on behalf of government entities. The Minister of Information and National Orientation assured the public of a transparent investigation, while human rights activist Deji Adeyanju urged President Tinubu to take appropriate action if financial misappropriation is confirmed.
2. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has announced his intention to sign the 2024 Appropriation Bill into law this week. The State House of Assembly had recently passed the N2.2 trillion budget, comprising 45% for recurrent expenditure and 55% for capital expenditure. The governor presented the budget, named ‘Budget of Renewal,’ on December 14, 2023, and expressed confidence that signing it into law would mark a crucial step in fulfilling promises made to the people of Lagos in the coming year.
3. Lawmakers have allocated an additional N30 billion for the renovation of the National Assembly Complex in the 2024 Appropriation Bill, bringing the total budget for the National Assembly to N344.85 billion, the highest ever allocated to the legislature. President Bola Tinubu signed the budget on January 1. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had previously announced that the renovation, initially set for completion in August 2022, would be inaugurated by President Tinubu in December 2023. However, as of January 2024, the renovation remains incomplete, with the contractor citing delays in fund release and fluctuations in the value of the naira to the U.S. dollar as contributing factors.
4. Morocco has become the first team, aside from the host nation, to arrive in Cote d’Ivoire for the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations. The Atlas Lions received a warm reception at Felix Houphouet Boigny Airport in Abidjan, marking a historic moment for the tournament. The team, having reached the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup, landed at 2:00 PM local time and experienced a vibrant cultural welcome organized by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) under tight security measures. The Moroccan community in Abidjan also joined in welcoming the team at the airport.
5. Kylian Mbappe is reportedly set to join Real Madrid next season after reaching an agreement with the club. Despite being out of contract at the end of the season, Mbappe had refused to extend his stay at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The financial package offered by Real Madrid is said to be lower than previous negotiations in 2022. Mbappe, who can activate a contractual option to extend his stay at PSG until 2025, had the freedom to negotiate with other clubs from January 1. The reported agreement comes after the last two summers saw transfer sagas involving Mbappe and Real Madrid.
6. The BBC investigation has revealed widespread abuse and torture by TB Joshua, the late founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan) in Lagos, Nigeria. Eyewitness accounts from dozens of former members detail atrocities, including rape, forced abortions, physical violence, and fake “miracle healings” over almost 20 years. The church did not respond to the allegations. The report exposes the church’s control over disciples, sleep deprivation, punishment, and coercion for recruiting new victims, describing the experiences as cult-like. Instances of sexual assault, rape, and forced abortions, particularly of young women, are highlighted, indicating systematic abuse over an extended period.
7. Deborah Olaki, known as Mummy Zee, gained social media attention after revealing she wakes up at 4:50 a.m. daily to cook for her husband, motivated by his comment about eating with a female colleague. Despite initial criticism, she received numerous gifts, money, and support, including an N200,000 voucher from NNPC and an N2 million pledge from Kuda Bank. Other entities, including NITDA and singer Teni, offered gifts. Mummy Zee’s husband, Abiola Adebisi, praised her and expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support.
