Category: News

The 2025 edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) brought glitz, glamour, and powerful storytelling to Lagos, Nigeria, as film and television stars from across the continent gathered to celebrate African excellence in entertainment. One of the night’s biggest winners was Lisabi: The Uprising, starring Lateef Adedimeji, which took home several major awards, including Best Indigenous Language (West Africa) and recognition for Adedimeji’s powerful lead performance. The film was lauded for its compelling narrative and cinematic quality, marking it as one of the year’s most significant productions. Another major highlight included veteran actors Nkem ‘Osuofia’ Okoh and Sani Mu’azu being honored with the Industry Merit Award for their outstanding contributions to African cinema, while Kayode Kasum received the prestigious Trailblazer Award. Full List of AMVCA 2025 Winners: Best Indigenous Language (West Africa)🏆 Lisabi: The Uprising – Adedimeji Lateef Best Cinematography🏆 The Legend of The Vagabond (Queen Of Lagos) – Leo Purman Best Documentary🏆 Mai DùnDún – Ifeoluwa Best Digital Content Creator🏆 Iyo Prosper Adokiye Best Short Film🏆 Brukaci Best Unscripted M-Net Original🏆 Kassim Suleiman Overall Best🏆 Pastor Wants a Wife Best Scripted M-Net Original🏆 My Fairytale Wedding – Chinenye Nworah & Taiwo Adebayo Best Music/Score🏆 Seven Doors – Composer: Tolu Obanro Best Supporting Actress🏆 Mercy Aigbe – Farmer’s Bride Best Supporting Actor🏆 Gabriel Afolayan – Inside Life Trailblazer Award🏆 Kayode Kasum Industry Merit Award🏆 Nkem ‘Osuofia’ Okoh & Sani Mu’azu Best Lead Actress🏆 Chioma Chukwuka – Seven Doors Best Lead Actor🏆 Femi Adebayo – Seven Doors The 2025 AMVCA not only honored outstanding talent but also reaffirmed the strength and global potential of African storytelling. 📖 Read Full Details Here Would you like a visual summary or infographic of the winners?

The Abia State Government has announced plans to repurpose the newly constructed Government House, initiated by former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, into a five-star hotel, citing structural and safety concerns. The disclosure was made by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, during an inspection of the three-storey building located at Ogurube Layout in Umuahia. Kanu described the edifice as unfit for habitation and a potential security risk, alleging that the previous administration hastily inaugurated an incomplete and poorly designed structure on the eve of their exit from office. “This place appears uninhabitable. There are no wardrobes anywhere. Most of what we saw were just empty halls,” Kanu said, expressing shock that the building was intended to serve as the governor’s official residence. He added that only the first floor was marginally completed, with the rest of the structure lacking basic amenities such as plastering and an operational elevator. He further warned, “If anybody missteps there, you can fall through the place to your death,” underscoring the building’s unsafe condition. The commissioner accused the previous administration of prioritizing political optics over structural integrity and safety. In a move to rectify what he described as a misguided project, Kanu revealed that Governor Alex Otti has approved the construction of a new Government House at the original site of the old Government House. He also dismissed the former administration’s claims that the old property was rented, asserting that it was legally acquired by the state. “Those in office before now were busy paying themselves rent from government coffers, deceiving the public they were paying rent for a Government House,” Kanu alleged. As part of a broader economic strategy, the current administration intends to convert the controversial Government House into a five-star hotel, which Kanu said would help generate revenue and stimulate tourism. He urged the public to support the government’s developmental vision and ignore opposition criticisms.

An early Saturday morning fire gutted six shops at the Police Barracks in the Omolewa area of Yemetu, Ibadan, Oyo State, leaving significant property damage but no reported casualties. The fire, which broke out around 2:09 a.m., affected six out of 24 lock-up shops located within the barracks. Mr. Yemi Akinyinka, General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, confirmed the incident in a statement issued to the press. According to Akinyinka, the agency received a distress call from a resident, Mr. S.O. Soyombo, and promptly dispatched a fire response team led by Mrs. Adedeji to the scene. “On getting there, it was discovered that the lock-up shops were on fire and we quickly swung into action. We were able to curtail the fire in time and restrict it from spreading to other nearby shops,” he said. Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire originated from an overheated deep freezer that had been left plugged in overnight. The appliance reportedly caught fire, which quickly spread to adjoining shops. Akinyinka used the opportunity to urge members of the public to be safety-conscious by switching off and unplugging all electrical appliances when not in use, particularly at night. Read Full Details Here: News360NG

Nigerian televangelist and founder of Jesus Dominion International, Timothy Omotoso, has been rearrested in South Africa, just weeks after being acquitted of multiple charges including rape, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation. South African police authorities confirmed that the 66-year-old preacher was taken into custody early Saturday morning in East London. According to National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, Omotoso’s latest arrest stems from immigration-related matters. “Well, I know it’s Omotoso. He was arrested this morning around 5 o’clock in East London as he was finishing the church,” Masemola stated. “Inspectorate immigration of the Department of Home Affairs, together with the South African Police Service and TRT [Tactical Response Team], did effect the arrest. The arrest is based on immigration matters. He will appear in court somewhere around Monday, and everybody will know exactly what charges he’s facing.” Omotoso was first arrested in 2017 and faced a high-profile trial involving 32 charges including rape and human trafficking. Several young women, including minors at the time, testified that he had groomed and sexually exploited them under the guise of religious mentorship. Despite the serious allegations and lengthy trial, Omotoso was acquitted last month on all charges, a decision that sparked outrage among advocacy groups and women’s rights activists in South Africa. His sudden rearrest has raised fresh questions and renewed media attention on the controversial preacher, with immigration authorities expected to clarify the specific violations during his court appearance on Monday. Read Full Details Here: News360NG

Popular social media personality, Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has announced his intention to take legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) if the agency publishes a photograph of him with allegations of money laundering. In a video shared on social media following his release from EFCC custody, VeryDarkMan revealed that a photo was taken of him holding the agency’s signature placard. He warned that should the EFCC publish the image on its website or social media and label it with a money laundering allegation, he would sue. “EFCC, I want us to start a friendship, but what could ruin that friendship is if you people post the picture you took of me and label it as money laundering,” he said. “If you post that picture claiming it’s about money laundering, then you should also release the full context behind it.” The influencer emphasized that posting the image with such a caption would amount to defamation, and he would challenge it in court. “If I see my picture on your website with a caption suggesting money laundering, you’ll have to prove it. That’s where our issue will begin—and we will settle it in court. It might even become the first open court case of its kind. If you go ahead and post it, it simply means the picture with the alleged money laundering claim is false,” he said. VDM further claimed that his phone remains in the custody of the EFCC and expressed concerns that his private information could be compromised. Despite these tensions, he referred to the EFCC as a “potential future friend,” saying their relationship hinges on how the agency handles the situation. “I don’t mind anything else you put up—no problem. In fact, I even want to use your placard as my profile picture,” he added jokingly. “But if you associate it with lies, we’re going to court.” He also criticized GTBank, the financial institution reportedly connected to the location where he was arrested, accusing them of releasing misleading content online during his ordeal. “As for GTBank, I’m coming to explain what happened. What you people did is crazy, I’ve seen the various images and videos you posted online. Did you think I wouldn’t survive or come out? I’m out now, and I have evidence. Your only saving grace is if the EFCC deletes those videos. I have the full footage of how everything happened,” he stated. VeryDarkMan warned that if the EFCC publishes misleading content, not only will it harm his image, but it will also backfire on the commission. “Yes, you’re a big agency, part of the government, but I promise you—I’ll give you stress,” he warned. “It will damage your image and integrity. And it will further prove that what you posted online isn’t the truth.” The outspoken influencer’s comments have added to public interest in his arrest and the EFCC’s handling of his case, as concerns mount over accountability and the treatment of individuals in custody.

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has revoked the bail previously granted to Lagos socialite Fred Ajudua, who is currently facing trial over allegations of defrauding a German-based Palestinian businessman of $1.43 million in 1993. In a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday by a five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, the court ruled that Ajudua must be remanded in prison custody, and his trial must resume without delay. The ruling was in response to an appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), marked SC/CR/51/2019, challenging the December 10, 2018 decision of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, which had granted Ajudua bail. Supreme Court’s Rationale Justice Nwosu-Iheme held that the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction to grant Ajudua bail after it had already declared his brief of argument as incompetent and struck it out. The Court concluded that the appellate court had become functus officio—having exhausted its legal authority on the matter—and could not proceed to rule on the bail application. “At that point, the appellant’s (Ajudua’s) appeal was extinguished. The lower court had no jurisdiction to proceed further,” the court ruled. The apex court reinstated the July 5, 2018 decision by Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos High Court, who had earlier denied Ajudua’s bail application, and ordered that the trial resume before the same judge for speedy determination. Background of the Case The EFCC alleges that Ajudua, alongside an accomplice Joseph Ochunor (still at large), defrauded Ziad Abu Zalaf, a Palestinian businessman, through forged CBN and NNPC receipts, under the guise of executing oil-related contracts. The scam, according to prosecutors, occurred in 1993 and involved multiple payments by Zalaf, including: The total amount allegedly swindled reached $1.43 million. Bail History and Legal Maneuvers Ajudua, who pleaded for bail on health grounds, was initially denied by the trial court. However, in a controversial decision, the Court of Appeal later overturned that ruling, granting him bail and describing it as a constitutional right. Following this, the EFCC escalated the matter to the Supreme Court, which has now overruled the appellate decision, emphasizing due process and judicial consistency. Next Steps The Supreme Court has directed the Chief Judge of Lagos State to reassign the case to Justice Mojisola Dada for immediate continuation of trial. Ajudua is to remain in prison custody during this process. Would you like a summary version of this ruling tailored for press or social media?