
FEATURES
Yuki Gambaryan, wife of Tigran, the detained Binance executive in Nigeria, has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) to drop the charges against her husband.
On June 14, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) dropped its tax charges against the Binance’s head of financial crime compliance.
In April, the anti-graft body had arraigned Binance Holdings Limited, a cryptocurrency firm, and Gambaryan, over allegations bordering on money laundering.
The company and its executive were arraigned on a five-count charge before Emeka Nwite, a judge at the federal high court in Abuja, on April 8.
In a statement on Tuesday, Yuki asked the EFCC to follow the steps of FIRS.
She said her husband and his family are finding it more difficult to deal with his continued detention.
“He is suffering immensely under the strain of this injustice. I respectfully urge the EFCC to follow the example set by their colleagues at the FIRS (tax authority) and drop the charges against Tigran,” she said.
“As I have stated many times before and as the evidence in court is showing, Tigran has never been a decision-maker at Binance, and there is no justification for his continued detention.
“It is time for the Nigerian authorities to do the right thing and release my innocent husband. This situation has gone too far.”
According to the statement, Gambaryan’s health continues to “deteriorate in detention and he complained of numbness in his foot as well as back pain”.
“He has had double pneumonia and malaria whilst in prison,” Yuki said.
In the statement, Yuki said the federal high court in Abuja ordered Kuje correctional facility to release the medical records of Gambaryan — covering his visit to the hospital on June 3 — to his lawyers.
On Tuesday, the cross-examination of a witness from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) — the first witness presented by the EFCC in the ongoing trial of Binance and Gambaryan — was completed.
The trial has been adjourned to July 5.
Police have exhumed the corpse of a 72-year-old female trader, identified as Mrs Vero Akazuma, who was killed and buried in a shallow grave on a farm at Afuze, in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Yhe corpse of the deceased was exhumed from the grave by a combined team of police, vigilantes and mortuary attendants. She was reportedly killed on June 17, 2024, when her regular customer called her from Auchi to come and purchase corn on his farm.
The deceased and the farmer, according to eyewitnesses, boarded a motorcycle to the farm.
That the farmer, instead of selling corn to the woman, killed her, took her money, buried her remains in a shallow grave and escaped.
It was further gathered that the children who were worried when their mother did not return home reported the incident to police stations in Auchi and Afuze, respectively, where she was subsequently declared missing.
The case was transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Unit of the Edo State Police Command, which went into extensive investigation.
During the investigations, the deceased’s mobile phone was traced to the commercial motorcyclist who conveyed them to the farm, and he was arrested. The motorcyclist, during interrogation, admitted to taking the duo to the farm but added that he only dropped them on the farm and left her with one Michael, the farmer.
As part of the ongoing investigations, policemen from the Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Unit embarked on bush combing operations. The efforts paid off on June 26, 2024, when they discovered a grave in the bush where she was buried. They exhumed the decomposing body of the woman from the grave and deposited it in the mortuary for an autopsy and further investigation.
The farmer, whom the locals identified as Michael, is currently at large, as police assured that he would be fished out of his hideout.
In a video that has gone viral at the scene of the exhumation of the corpse, the son of the deceased is heard describing the incident as fortunate.
The son, identified as Mr Okonofua, said his mother hailed from Esan West Local Government Area but married in Esan Central Local Government Area.
While lamenting the killing of his mother, he stated that instead of only collecting her money, they also took her life.
Okonofua, who was heard speaking in the background of the video, wept profusely, stating that his mother travelled from Auchi, where she lived, to Afuze to purchase the corn, but she never returned home.
Popular Nigerian rapper Ice Prince, has stated that he is not ready for a committed relationship, contrary to Moet Abebe’s assertion that they have been dating for 12 years.
Recalls that on-air personality Moet Abebe had claimed during an interview that she and Ice Prince have been in a relationship for 12 years.
This statement came amid dating rumors after they both stepped out in matching outfits.
However, in a viral interview with The DateBizz, the rapper contradicted her claims, stating that finding love has been challenging for him.
He said, “Recently, it’s been hard for me to get love. Not because I don’t want to, but my mind has not been in the right place for a relationship. And I don’t want to have a girl suffering with me. I needed time to put certain things together, especially my music and finances.
“I don’t go around with holes. If you see me with a woman, she’s probably someone that I so much respect, somebody that we have mutual understanding. Any woman that you see me with or having sex with is someone I respect.
“As to a committed relationship, I wouldn’t say that I’m in one right now. I should get married soon, hopefully. I don’t want to go past 40 years before getting married. So I’m searching.”
Video:
Media
"I wouldn't say I am in a committed relationship right now...I don't want to go past 40 without getting married"
— @????????????? (@OneJoblessBoy) June 28, 2024
- Ice Prince Zamani pic.twitter.com/PzgEDB6tw2
Popular Nigerian filmmaker, Patrick Doyle has claimed that the entertainment industry is being controlled by satan.
The actor stated this while reacting to singer Tems’ recent BET award.
Recall that Tems, a secular musician won the best gospel award at the 2024 BET Awards held on Monday, at the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, United States.
Tems win left the mainstream gospel musicians who felt betrayed in shock.
Reacting to the controversies in a Facebook post, Doyle cautioned gospel singers to stop seeking validation from the entertainment industry mafia
He wrote, “I feel the pain of mainstream gospel artists who feel slighted that an evidently secular musician, Tems was awarded for best gospel song.
“That said, I believe it is about time that committed Christians should stop seeking validation from fickle institutions like the entertainment industry mafia which by the way is in the grip of Satan.”
Ex-BBNaija star Kiddwaya on Tuesday opened up about an incident of robbery that occurred in his villa in ‘Ibiza’, Spain, where he claimed he was robbed of 70,000 euros and a Birkin bag.
Kiddwaya, in a video post on Instagram, said, “What’s up, guys? So something crazy happened last night. For the second time, I was robbed in Ibiza at the villa I was staying in.”
The reality TV star further revealed that the robbery occurred around 3:00 am local time, with the perpetrators reportedly gaining access to his room and conducting the theft.
Kiddwaya advised fellow Nigerians travelling to Europe, especially those staying in villas, to exercise caution.
He said, “All my rich Nigerians, when you travel to these places, be careful with all these villas.”
He suggested having additional security personnel and private drivers to avoid potential risks associated with local services.
“Make sure you have bouncers and people walking on the property day and night. Don’t get a regular taxi; always have a private driver,” he cautioned.
Kiddwaya also highlighted concerns about internal threats and called for vigilance.
“Be careful with your maid; she is the one who goes into the room and knows where the money is and where everything is kept.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has hailed President Bola Tinubu for appointing Nyesom Wike as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Akpabio spoke during the flag-off of the construction of the Kugbo Bus and Taxi Terminal in the Karu District of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
He said the decision to construct bus terminals has also shown the minister’s desire to not only construct roads but also provide services that will make life more comfortable for FCT residents.
He said the terminal will serve as a hub that will facilitate the efficient movement of people, ensure traffic decongestion and improve the overall quality of life for FCT residents.
“The development of this bus terminal is more than just a construction project. It is a testament to the good works and commitment of you (FCT Minister) and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President said Tinubu’s picking of Wike as the FCT Minister was the right choice.
He said: “This bus terminal you are talking about, I looked at the picture, and I saw where they are going to be seated, waiting for their bus to come and it is almost as if they are inside a major terminal at the airport.
“This is for me, another major wonder of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. This is the way to cater for a city of this nature. This is a way to take care of the people of the Area Councils and also the FCT residents and visitors alike.
“So, I believe that your appointment is a square peg in a square hole and I must thank the President for having the eyes to pinpoint those who can perform and bring them in. He did this in Lagos and today Lagos is one of the best, one of the largest economies in the whole of Africa, when we are talking about cities.”

Bose Ogulu, the mother and manager of Grammy-winning singer, Burna Boy, took to her Instastories to celebrate him as he turned 33.
She wrote, “Wishing the happiest of birthdays to this living legend. May your day be filled with love, laughter, and all the joy you bring to others every day.”
This milestone birthday comes on the heels of Burna Boy’s electrifying performance at a sold-out London stadium concert on Saturday, showcasing his remarkable talent and dedication to his craft.
See Post Below;
The Imo State Police Command has arrested a couple, Chukwudinma Umunnakwe and Comfort Umunnakwe, for allegedly running a baby factory in the state.
The suspects, who own Comfort Orphanage Home in Owerri, were paraded at the police command’s headquarters on Sunday.
Henry Okoye, spokesman for the Imo state police command said on Tuesday, July 2, the arrest was made possible by an intelligence report received by the operatives.
“The suspects have confessed to being in the criminal activity for over 12 years and will be arraigned in court upon completion of the investigation.
“The suspects coerced their victims into signing a document to give away their children upon delivery for either N400,000 or N500,000 depending on the gender of the child,” Okoye said.
One of the victims, Ijeoma, revealed that the suspects lured them to the orphanage with promises of care, but instead subjected them to inhuman treatment and threats.
“I refused to sign the document and have been asking them to allow me to leave or contact my family, but they refused till now,” she said.
The police urged residents to report any criminal activity to the nearest police station or via the command’s emergency lines.
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New Zealand has implemented new regulations tightening visa rules for Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders, specifically targeting individuals in certain job classifications.
The changes, announced on the Immigration New Zealand website, restrict AEWV holders in jobs classified at levels 4 and 5 of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) from sponsoring visa applications for their partners and dependent children, unless they have a pathway to residency.
Already effective from June 26, these amendments are part of broader reforms reverting the AEWV scheme to settings akin to the previous Essential Skills Work Visa framework.
The government clarified that affected partners and dependent children can still apply for visas independently, such as the AEWV or international student visas, provided they meet requisite criteria.
However, the new rules exempt individuals already holding visas as partners or dependents of AEWV holders, as well as those in ANZSCO level 4 and 5 roles with residency pathways like the Green List or sector agreements.
Workers also earning at least 1.5 times the average salary threshold for the Skilled Migrant Category remain unaffected.
This move follows previous adjustments made to work visa policies earlier this year, including a language proficiency requirement for low-skilled job applicants under ANZSCO levels 4 and 5.
These changes aim to ensure that foreign workers understand their rights and can effectively address employment issues.
Despite these stricter measures, New Zealand continues its efforts to attract and retain highly skilled workers, particularly in sectors experiencing shortages such as secondary education.
The government’s recent immigration statistics highlight significant visitor entries and resident numbers, underscoring ongoing efforts to manage migration sustainably.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford emphasized the reforms’ goals of enhancing economic adaptability, attracting top talent, supporting international education, and improving risk management within the immigration framework.
Tiri Gyan David, a lecturer with the Federal University Dutsinma (FUDMA) in Katsina State, has been killed by bandits.
Tiri, the Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension, and Rural Development at the university, was killed in a fresh bandits attack in the early hours of Tuesday.
An eyewitness who spoke with Channels TV said the incident occurred at about 1:30 am at the lecturer’s residence in the Yarima Quarters, Low-Cost Estate, Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State.
He said the bandits invaded the community with sophisticated weapons, shooting sporadically to scare the residents.
According to the eyewitness, the bandits also abducted two of the lecturer’s children.
Confirming the incident, the Katsina Police Command spokesman, Abubakar Sadiq, said the command will soon release a detailed statement about the attack.
Dutsinma is among the ten security frontline local government areas grappling with frequent bandit attacks almost daily despite efforts by both the state government and security agencies to restore peace in the state.
