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Suicide: US-based Nigerian doctor not my son-in-law, didn’t pay daughter’s bride price – Father Van-Lare
AFOLABI
Businessman, Francis Van-Lare, has stated that Dr. Ikenna Erinne, the late US-based Nigerian doctor, should not be referred to as his son-in-law, as no traditional marriage took place between him and his daughter.
Dr. Erinne, a 36-year-old medical professional from Anambra State, reportedly committed suicide on Sunday, January 26.
In a social media post, Van-Lare expressed frustration over what he called a misrepresentation of facts, emphasizing that Erinne never paid the bride price for his daughter—a key requirement for a valid marriage in Nigerian tradition.
“Most Nigerians think with emotions, not with reality and facts. How is someone who never paid bride price for my daughter a son-in-law? He is even an Anambra man like me,” he wrote.
Van-Lare further highlighted the cultural values of Anambra men, describing them as family-oriented and generous. However, he criticised Erinne for allegedly refusing to pay $1,900 per month in child support despite earning a substantial income.
“Anambra men are very proud of their family, hence most women like them. This one, earning big money, is refusing to pay ordinary $1,900 a month. Nobody should call him my son-in-law for someone I have only seen three times!” he added.
The businessman also compared the situation to his first daughter’s marriage, noting that her foreign husband fulfilled all traditional marriage obligations, unlike Erinne. Additionally, he claimed that Anambra men always find a way to provide for their families, even if it means engaging in ‘yahoo yahoo’ (internet fraud) to support their loved ones.
His comments come in the wake of reports that Erinne tragically took his own life after losing a custody battle and being ordered to pay $15,000 annually in child support.
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has charged African leaders to stop clinging to their old habit of depending on foreign plans, saying the continent is in dire need of leaders who wield policy as a surgical blade instead of a slogan.
President Tinubu lamented what he described as “the tragedy of our time” whereby African leaders do not only confine themselves to foreign blueprints but refused to emancipate themselves from client-state mentalities and governance by hashtag activism.
The President spoke on Thursday in Abuja during the Dr. Kayode Fayemi commemorative symposium and launch of the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement, with the theme “Renewing the Pan-African Ideal for the Changing Times: The Policy and Leadership Challenges and Opportunities.”
Represented at the event by the Vice-President, Senator Kashim Shettima, the President said, “Whatever our differences across the continent, one fact that can’t be eroded by our infighting is that we are in the age of machines, and we can’t fight our development dilemma with spears and arrows while the rest of the world is fighting the same battle with missiles and tanks. The world is not waiting for Africa to catch up.
“While we parse political rivalries, others parse datasets. While we litigate history, others engineer futures. The train of progress accelerates, yet too many of our leaders cling to old carriages. These are our client-state mentalities, our dependency on foreign blueprints, and our governance by hashtag activism. This is the tragedy of our time.
“The founding of Amandla Institute emerges as an antidote to this paralysis. We are here not only to generate more ideas but to create executors. We need leaders who wield policy as a scalpel, not a slogan. We need visionaries who see AI as a collaborator, not a competitor. We need a generation of Africans who recognise that Pan-Africanism, renewed for this age, must be rooted in actionable sovereignty.”
President Tinubu pointed out that it would be wishful thinking to hope that the renaissance of Africa will happen as a gift, maintaining that it must be built.
He regretted that for too long, leaders in Africa have outsourced their thinking, relying on institutions and ideologies that treat countries on the continent “as consumers, not creators,” just as he insisted that the youth must be empowered to innovate in tech hubs across the continent.
“But the post-idea world dissolves excuses. With the democratisation of knowledge, we must empower our youth to innovate in tech hubs across the continent, from Cairo, down through Nairobi, to Lagos, building unicorns without the permission of any gatekeepers. What they lack is not ideas but ecosystems—systems where policy, funding, and political will converge to scale their genius,” he noted.
The Nigerian leader further urged African leaders to “evolve from custodians of power to architects of platforms,” adding that their “imagination of Africa must be one where every government ministry houses
“AI strategists, where continental trade policies are drafted by homegrown think tanks like Amandla Institute, not foreign consultants, and where “Made in Africa” signifies not raw materials but algorithms, green tech, and cultural capital.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission has failed to present its witnesses before the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja.
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At the tribunal’s resumed sitting on Thursday, the electoral body didn’t field any witness to defend its declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo, as the winner of the September 21st governorship election in Edo State.
Through its team of lawyers led by a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi (SAN), INEC told the tribunal that it would not produce any witness to testify on its behalf.
Agabi, made the disclosure barely 24 hours after the Commission told the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led panel that it had a line-up of five witnesses that would give evidence to support the result it declared in favour of the governor.
INEC had persuaded the tribunal to adjourn the case till Thursday, stressing that the witnesses would come to Abuja from Benin, Edo State.
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However, at the resumed proceeding, INEC’s lead counsel, Agabi (SAN) said his team shelved the idea of bringing witnesses after it reviewed the case.
“My lords, after we left you yesterday (Wednesday), we gave more thought to the matter and came to the conclusion that the sensible thing to do is to close the case of the 1st Respondent, which we hereby do,” Agabi told the tribunal.
On their part, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, said they were not surprised by the development.
“Frankly speaking, we are not surprised and it is well within the right of the 1st Respondent to show such a good discretion. We are not objecting,” the petitioners’ counsel, Adetunji Oyeyipo, stated.
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Following the absence of INEC witnesses and closure of their case, counsels to Governor Okpebholo, Onyechi Ikpeazu, and D. C. Dewigwe, who represented the APC, said they were not opposed to INEC’s decision and pleaded for an adjournment to enable them to gather their witnesses and open their cases respectively.
Consequently, the panel adjourned the matter till Monday for Governor Okpebholo to open his defence to the petition.
INEC had declared that Okpebholo of the APC secured a total of 291, 667 votes to defeat his closet rivalry, Ighodalo of the PDP, who got a total of 247, 655 votes
A frantic race by tech giants to develop ever more powerful artificial intelligence (AI) could have “harmful” effects, leading researcher Yoshua Bengio warned Thursday as scientists marked the start of the Paris global summit on the technology.
The computer scientist and 2018 winner of the prestigious Turing Prize was presenting the first-ever International AI Safety Report, compiled under his supervision, at Paris’s ENS university.
Bengio pointed to AI risks that are already widely acknowledged, such as its use to create fake or misleading content online.
But the University of Montreal professor added that “proof is steadily appearing of additional risks, like biological attacks or cyberattacks”.
In the longer term, he fears a possible “loss of control” by humans over AI systems, potentially motivated by “their own will to survive”.
The emergence last month of the low-cost, high-performance Chinese AI model DeepSeek had “sped up the race, which isn’t good for safety”, Bengio added.
He called for heavier international regulation and more extensive research on AI safety, which for now accounts for “a tiny fraction” of the massive investments being made in the sector.
“Without government intervention, I don’t know how we’re going to get through this,” Bengio said.
Still the world’s leading AI nation for now, the United States has dropped former president Joe Biden’s attempt to impose some rules on development since the inauguration of Donald Trump.
When OpenAI’s ChatGPT burst onto the public scene two years ago, “I felt the urgency of thinking about this question of safety,” Bengio said as he presented the report — designed to match now-familiar documents from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
“What scares me the most is the possibility that humanity could disappear within 10 years. It’s terrifying. I don’t know why more people don’t realise it,” he said.
Around 100 experts from 30 countries, the United Nations, the European Union and the OECD contributed to the Bengio-led report, published at the end of January.
Work was kicked off at a previous summit on AI safety in Britain in November 2023
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad have announced the arrest of five individuals allegedly involved in illegal firearms possession, gun running, kidnapping, banditry and job racketeering.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson for NSCDC, Babawale Afolabi, items recovered during the operation include two automatic rifles with three magazines, an AK-47 rifle with 15 live rounds of ammunition, an FN rifle with two live rounds, one live cartridge, and nine locally fabricated pistols.
The statement added that a bayonet and two pairs of uniforms from the Nigerian Forest Security Services were seized.
The suspects arrested, according to the statement, are Umar Ibrahim, Nura Abubakar, and Mohammed Sule, who are currently being detained in Ukoso Komva Ward, Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State,
The Service Spokesman explained that the suspects were apprehended on their way to deliver arms to a buyer.
He added that upon interrogation, 3 of the suspects claimed that they were deceived into the crime by one Ali who is currently at large as he earlier invited them to assist him with the sales of firearms in his possession.
“They were, however, apprehended on their way to deliver it to the buyer”.
The former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi has stated that President Bola Tinubu desire to give Nigeria the best is not enough in leadership.
He asserted that there must be a framework in place to bring about the change Nigerians are earnestly awaiting.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain shared his reservation on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday.
The ex-governor, who described the president as his elder brother, said that intentionality is critical to the success of the Nigeria project.
“He (Tinubu) is well-meaning but well-meaning is not enough in leadership; intentionality is critical to success,” he said.
Fayemi said those in power know the truth but do not act the truth “because sometimes there are many mediating factors”.
He said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done many good things, we all must acknowledge that. He’s been bold to take on some of the most difficult decisions that previous leaders have been reluctant to take on.
“The fallout of those decisions has caused us huge cost of living crisis. Fuel subsidy removal, convergence of FX window.
“Whether you talk about student loan or other efforts at resisting insurgency, taming insecurity, tax policy reform, increase revenue into the federal coffers, some elements are there but need to come together.
“This is where effective policy framework go side by side with leadership acumen to get a change of narrative to the story. Maybe that’s the area where we need to do lots more.”
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has vowed to “down tools,” arguing that citizens are “feeding from hand to mouth” following the recent hike in telecom tariff.
Festus Osifo, the President of TUC, made this known when he appeared on Channels Television’s *
Politics Today on Thursday, blaming the hike on mismanagement of foreign exchange, which he believes the government can handle easily.
e said the TUC is not begrudging the telcos, knowing very well that the socio-economic landscape they operate in has changed dramatically, but insisted that the government has the responsibility to ensure that the economic outlook of the country is stable for businesses to thrive.
According to him, “Government has the tools and wherewithal to be able to manage the landscape to ensure that the cost of doing business goes down. And one of the ways is that exchange rate because that is the root cause of the problem.”
Asked what ultimatum they are giving to the Nigerian government, he added, “The NAC [TUC, which is like the National Working Committee] has met today. After that, we’ll have the Central Working Committee meeting, and we also have the NEC.
“So at the NEC, we’ll take the final decision. So the NAC was the one that met today.
“All we are saying is that if you allow your currency to slide, it will affect all of us.”
He added, “We are completely apolitical. For one, I don’t belong to any political party; I’ve said that severally, so we look for what is in the best interest of the Nigerian workers and Nigerians in general.
“We started shouting about this early last year; if our exchange rate is better managed, at the end you are going to see that there is no need for that increment.”
Asked if the TUC is proceeding with an industrial action, he said, “Absolutely,” adding that they will “down tools and go to the streets.”
He said the NEC of TUC has the responsibility to give a date for the strike.
DAILY POST reports that members of the Trade Union Congress are in charge of the oil sector and other sectors crucial to the running of the economy
A manufacturer, the Operations Director of Manufacturing Industry Canada, Olufemi Johnson, said what is consumed as milk in Nigeria are creamers.
Johnson made this known in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday while speaking on the challenges facing Nigeria’s dairy industry.
According to him, Nigeria’s dairy has remained stagnated due to under-investment.
“When it comes to the dairy industry, we are not anywhere in Nigeria.
“As a society, we don’t have milk, or kids don’t have milk protein. We didn’t grow with milk protein. What we called milk in Nigeria is not milk but creamers. They are not qualified to be called milk.
“There is a global standard of what is called milk. You don’t milk, milk, but bottle it,” he stated.
Experts in the have lamented the widespread of inferior milk in Nigeria.
Recall that the federal government in June 2024 launched the National Dairy Policy, 2023-2028 to drive growth in the sector
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has issued guidelines for the sale of foreign exchange (FX) to Bureaux De Change, BDC, operators.
The modalities are outlined in a statement issued by the Trade and Exchange Department of the CBN on Wednesday.
The Apex Bank stated that this is in response to its earlier authorization granting temporary access to existing BDCs to the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) for the purchase of FX from authorized dealers.
The CBN noted that authorized dealers are only allowed to sell foreign exchange cash to BDCs, subject to a maximum of USD 25,000.00 per week per BDC.
The Apex Bank warned that any breach of this condition will attract appropriate sanctions.
The CBN emphasized that the selling rate by authorized dealers to BDCs shall be the prevailing day rate at the NFEM window.
According to the statement from the bank, “foreign exchange cash purchased by BDCs from authorized dealer banks shall be sold to foreign exchange end-users at a rate not exceeding a one percent margin above the buying rate.
“While the one percent margin stated above shall be applicable to all funds to be retailed by BDCs, regardless of the source of funds.”
The mother of famous Nigerian singer Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, aka Ayra Starr, has urged Nigerians to encourage their middle-aged mothers to join social media platform, TikTok.
Mrs Aderibigbe, who is known for her trendy content on TikTok, claimed that the platform helps middle-aged women mentally.
She made the claim in a video message shared via her TikTok page recently.
“I’m so grateful to be on TikTok. I’m so privileged to have you all in my life as part of me. Thanks you for your support.
“If your mum is between 40-60 years old, encourage them to be on TikTok because it helps them mentally.
“I’m on TikTok now and I can testify to it. My thinking now is different from before. Now, I’m creative in my thoughts.
“You guys can see the way I’m looking. So please, encourage your mums, let them come and teach us their experiences in life,” she said
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Former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has joined the Nigerian movie industry, Nollywood.
Kennedy joined Nollywood a few months after being sacked by President Bola Tinubu.
DAILY POST reports that Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye was appointed as minister in August 2023, and removed alongside four others in a cabinet reshuffle on October 23, 2024.
The 51-year-old politician has now shifted her focus to filmmaking barely four months after her removal from the cabinet.
Announcing her acting career on her X handle, the former minister shared a video of her latest project.
Kennedy who is also a lawyer and entrepreneur, joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2015 and emerged the party’s first female presidential aspirant in 2023, before ultimately withdrawing to support Tinubu.
Veteran Nollywood actor, Columbus Irisoanga, popularly known as ‘Igbudu’ is dead.
Columbus Irisoanga’s death was announced by another veteran actress and politician, Hilda Dokubo, in a post on Instagram.
Hilda said that Irisoanga had gone to be with the Lord.
She also stated that the actor’s death is a heavy one on University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Nollywood.
“Our uncle Coli @colu_mbusirisoanga has gone to be with the lord. Ikoli eh dein na mu.
“There can’t be shortage of Angels in heaven that the few here are called home like this na! This one is heavy on Uniport Rivers state Nollywood,” she wrote.
Columbus’s death comes just a few days after another Nollywood actress, Pat Ugwu, 35, died.
Reality TV star and disc jockey, Tolani Shobajo, popularly known as Tolanibaj, has revealed that one of her best decisions was relocating to Nigeria from the United States.
In a post on her X handle, Tolanibaj revealed that the thought of her relocation didn’t make complete sense to her at the time, but she took the risk.
The reality star noted how it’s been six years since she moved to Nigeria, and she couldn’t be happier.
She wrote: “Honestly, one of the best choices I ever made in life was relocating to Nigeria. I’m grateful to God for the timing of my move. The thought of moving didn’t make complete sense to me at the time, but it just felt right, and I took the risk. It’s been six interesting years, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Tolanibaj was born on 20th October 1993 in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
She rose to fame after participating in the Big Brother Naija reality show in 2020.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has raised concerns over the high rate of malnutrition in North Eastern Nigeria, revealing that 3.7 million children in the region are stunted, wasted, or anaemic.
This is according to a statement shared via email with our correspondent by FAO’s Communication Specialist, David Tsokar, on Thursday.
This statistic was disclosed during a high-level roundtable discussion convened by the Government of Borno State in collaboration with FAO to scale up the production and utilisation of the Tom Brown initiative.
The event, held at the UN House in Abuja on Wednesday, brought together representatives of federal ministries, donors, UN agencies, and NGOs, reaffirming their commitment to addressing food insecurity in the region.
According to the Northeast Nutrition Sector, represented by the Nutrition Sector Coordinator, John Mukisa, “an alarming 3.7 million children in northeastern Nigeria are stunted, wasted, or anaemic. Investments in low-cost, innovative, and locally sourced solutions such as Tom Brown could save the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States an estimated USD 120 million annually.”
The roundtable was held against the backdrop of a worsening food crisis in Nigeria, as recent Cadre Harmonisé figures indicate that 25 million Nigerians are currently food insecure—a number projected to rise to 33.1 million across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory between June and August 2025.
Borno State Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Professor Baba Gana, stressed the urgency of combating malnutrition, stating, “Nigeria continues to bear one of the highest burdens of malnutrition globally. This reality underscores the urgency of our gathering today. It is imperative that we adopt innovative, community-driven approaches to combat malnutrition and ensure food security. Tom Brown has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in addressing malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children under five and lactating mothers.”
The FAO Representative ad interim, Koffy Dominique Kouacou, emphasised the broader benefits of the initiative, saying, “Scaling up Tom Brown will not only meet urgent nutritional needs but also create livelihood opportunities, strengthen local markets, and generate revenue for regional development. To bring this vision to life, we need partnership, expertise, and resources. Beyond figures and policies, we must remember the human faces behind the statistics—the children whose lives we can save, the families we can uplift, and the communities we can transform.”
The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, underscored the economic potential of Tom Brown, stating, “The production and commercialization of Tom Brown will attract investment from the private sector, boosting state revenue and positioning Borno as a leader in nutrition-sensitive agriculture.”
Stakeholders at the roundtable deliberated on the challenges and opportunities in scaling up Tom Brown production, with a focus on establishing a dedicated production facility in Borno State. The meeting resulted in a draft roadmap outlining expansion efforts, including strategies to sustain the initiative.
Tom Brown, a nutrient-dense food made from locally available ingredients, has been recognized as an effective intervention in reducing malnutrition and preventing relapse by up to 35 per cent among children discharged from UNICEF and WFP-supported nutrition centres.
FAO has also enhanced the product with fish protein, which has been distributed as emergency nutritional assistance to flood-affected families.
FAO and the Borno State Government have called on donors, government agencies, private sector investors, and humanitarian organizations to support the initiative.
“Scaling up Tom Brown production in Borno State and beyond has the potential to significantly reduce malnutrition and improve food security for the most vulnerable populations across Nigeria,” the FAO statement added.