The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dennis Idahosa, has refuted claims associating him with any clandestine cult organisation, labelling the accusation as untrue, damaging to his character, and designed to tarnish his image.

Naija News reports that Idahosa’s response came in light of a viral video shared by one Emmanuel Agbogun, who alleged that he and other notable figures from Edo were involved in different cult factions.

In a statement he personally signed and made public on Friday, May 9, the deputy governor asserted that the claims were baseless, slanderous, malicious, unfounded, and significantly deceptive.

“My attention has been drawn to a video circulating on social media, in which one Emmanuel Agbogun falsely accused me, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Dennis Idahosa, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, of being a member of a secret cult,” the statement reads.

“In the said publication, Agbogun mentioned my name and those of other notable citizens of Edo State, alleging that we are members of various cult groups in the state.

“I categorically state that these accusations are spurious, defamatory, malicious, unfounded, and grossly misleading. They are a deliberate attempt to tarnish my hard-earned reputation and to undermine my unwavering dedication to public service.”

The Edo State Deputy Governor stressed that the claims were not only false but also an attempt to distract from the current administration’s fight against cultism in the state.

“These allegations also seek to distract this administration’s ongoing efforts to combat cultism and restore peace and order in Edo State.

“The claim that I am affiliated with any secret cult group is entirely false and baseless. I vehemently deny any involvement, both past or present, in cult-related activities.

“As a public servant and the current Deputy Governor of Edo State, I have always upheld the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in serving the good people of Edo State and Nigeria at large,” he said.

Describing the publication as a direct attack on his character, Idahosa vowed to seek legal redress.

“Let me again reiterate that I consider this publication not only slanderous but also a direct attack on my character.

“I will not treat it lightly and will pursue all legal avenues to ensure that such defamation is addressed within the full extent of the law,” he said.

He further emphasised the government’s commitment to fighting cultism and reiterated that he has never been involved in such activities.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I am not, and have never been, a member of any secret cult. I am a Christian and a steadfast believer in the teachings of Jesus Christ,” he said.

Idahosa also urged citizens of the state to support the government’s efforts in tackling cultism.

“I urge all well-meaning citizens of Edo State to remain vigilant and continue supporting our collective efforts to eradicate cultism and uphold the values of peace, justice, and development,” he added

Three serving senators from Kebbi State, elected on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have resolved to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The three senators – Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North) and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) – declared their intentions on Friday, after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa, Abuja.

The three lawmakers were led to the meeting with President Tinubu by the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje.

A gale of defections from opposition parties to the APC has been sweeping through the political landscape in the past few weeks.

The Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris; his Sokoto State counterpart, Ahmad Aliyu; and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, were also at the meeting with the president.

The APC National Chairman, Ganduje, told newsmen after the meeting that the three senators will officially announce their defection on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday.

The Nigerian Senate’s proposed two-day national security summit has come under heavy criticism from security experts and civil society stakeholders, who warn that the effort may amount to a futile exercise without a clear policy framework to implement its outcomes.

Voicing their concerns during a forum in Enugu on Friday, several speakers pointed out that similar summits held in the past had produced commendable recommendations that were never acted upon, leading to a cycle of unproductive dialogue and worsening insecurity. 

Prince Cajethan Nnadi, a high-tech security expert and head of a private security agency in Enugu, described the proposed summit as another example of the country’s “usual frivolities” unless there is a binding commitment to act on its resolutions.

“State police are the solution,” Nnadi asserted. “It is difficult for someone from Ondo State to secure any part of Enugu State because he is not familiar with the terrain.

“State police will guarantee internal security. It is also the most effective in intelligence gathering because natives understand their environment more than even drones.”

According to him, Nigeria’s security agencies are frequently overwhelmed because personnel are deployed to unfamiliar regions, limiting their operational effectiveness and intelligence-gathering capabilities. “Let’s equip the natives to route these miscreants out,” he added.

Mr. Ebubeagu Felix Okafor, the Enugu State Coordinator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Coalition for Peace and Conflict Resolution, expressed deep regret over what he described as the government’s habitual “lip service” to security matters.

He cited the example of the national political conference convened by former President Goodluck Jonathan, lamenting how its extensive recommendations were never implemented despite the resources expended.

“Insecurity is the major source of all the problems facing us as a nation,” Okafor said.

“It has adversely affected the lawmakers, the judiciary, and indeed the nation’s economy. There is no summit that will solve the problems unless there is a framework to implement its outcome.”

Okafor further criticized the National Assembly for its inability to hold security agencies accountable, despite frequent invitations and hearings.

He warned that insurgents are reportedly acquiring more sophisticated weapons than the Nigerian military, a sign of deep structural issues within the country’s security architecture.

Security consultant Cyril Obosi took a different angle, suggesting that rather than another summit, the federal government should establish an independent investigative committee to scrutinize defence spending, especially in light of persistent reports of corruption and inefficiency.

“We need to address our security architecture totally,” Obosi said. “There are allegations that sophisticated weapons meant for the military are ending up in the hands of insurgents.

“Our food security is endangered. Some children are out of school because of insecurity. The government needs to do more, otherwise we are headed for a major economic downturn in this country.”

Despite these concerns, the Senate maintains that the summit is a necessary step toward forging a national consensus on security.

However, even the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, expressed skepticism earlier in the week, stating that “strategy is far more important than a summit.”

As insecurity continues to plague various parts of the country—ranging from terrorism in the Northeast to banditry and kidnapping in the Northwest and Southeast—the public appears increasingly disillusioned with high-level meetings that fail to produce tangible results.

Stakeholders insist that unless the summit’s recommendations are backed by political will, budgetary support, and a practical implementation plan, the initiative risks becoming another missed opportunity in Nigeria’s prolonged struggle with insecurity

Suspended senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has urged a federal high court in Abuja to dismiss a motion filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio seeking to compel her to delete a satirical apology posted on social media. 

Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, had asked the court to order Akpoti-Uduaghan to remove the post from all platforms, publish a formal apology in two national newspapers, and submit an affidavit confirming she had complied.

In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a counter-affidavit arguing that her post did not breach any court order and described the motion as an attempt to suppress her voice.

“That the instant motion is borne of malice and intended to harass, intimidate, and scandalise me for exercising my constitutionally guaranteed right to fair hearing and to free expression,” the affidavit reads.

Her lead counsel, Jubril Okutepa, maintained that the motion was frivolous and rooted in intimidation tactics.

The court is set to rule on both motions on May 12.

Tensions between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio escalated following a heated exchange over seating arrangements in the Senate chamber. She was suspended in March after accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment.

When Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, becoming the first American to lead the Catholic Church, an unlikely childhood prediction came true.

The pontiff’s elder brother, John Prevost, revealed in an interview with ABC News that a neighbourhood woman once foretold this when his brother was just in first grade.

“…when he was in first grade, a woman across the street that we used to play with, and a woman down the street, said he would be the first American pope,” said John.

Cardinal Prevost, 69, made history on May 8 when white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney to signal his election as the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Chicago native’s ascension marked an unprecedented moment as the first United States cardinal to assume the papacy.

“It’s kind of surreal. To be honest, there hasn’t been a chance to think about it because it’s been constant phone calls, emails, messages, and interviews. So I don’t think it’s really sunk in.

“It’s great pride. This is an awesome thing in the sense that it’s not only the first pope from America, but the first American pope—from Chicago and a relative. Not a lot of people can say, ‘My brother is the pope,’” John added.

John further described the moment he learnt about his brother’s election: “I was watching TV. I got a text that said there was white smoke. So I went down and turned the TV on. No one knew at that point who the pope was, but there was white smoke, so we knew,” he recalled.

He went on to say that he called his niece, and they watched together while the curtains stirred at the balcony of St. Peter’s.

“She said, ‘Look, the curtains are moving.’ I said, ‘Well, something’s coming up.’ Then it came out who was going to announce it, and we heard the name. She screamed and I said, ‘Oh my gosh, here we go.’ And then it has been nonstop—phones, everything else,” John said with excitement on his face.

Despite his brother’s prominence in the Church, John said he never expected him to become pope, largely because of geopolitical assumptions.

“To tell you the truth, no,” he said, “I kept hearing there will never be an American pope just because of politics and the fact that the United States has too much world power now. They don’t need that influence also in the Church. So I did not expect it.”

“When I heard he was in a group of three, then I thought, ‘Well, this could happen.’” he added.

“I spoke to him Tuesday before he went into the conclave, and he just kept saying, ‘No, that’s not true. That’s not true.’ He was pushing it away, hoping it would go away, and it didn’t go away.”

John, who described his brother as a humble and grounded man, said he was shaped by years of mission work among the poor and marginalised in South America.

“A regular, run-of-the-mill person. “I think because he was trained in missionary work in South America for so many years, he will be looking out for the disenfranchised. He will be looking out for the poor. He will be looking out for those that don’t have a voice. I think he will follow in Saint Francis—pardon me, Pope Francis, as you say,” he said.

Asked if the new pope would differ from his predecessor, John said, “I don’t know that you’ll see a big difference. He met Pope Francis before he was pope, when he was in Argentina and my brother was in Peru. That’s how the connection began. I think they kind of believed in the same issues, so I don’t know that there’ll be much difference. He might prove me wrong, but I don’t see there being much of a break in the tradition of Pope Francis.”

Though Pope Leo XIV grew up on the South Side of Chicago, John said his brother was rarely home after his early teens.

“He wasn’t around a whole lot because after eighth grade graduation, he went immediately to the seminary,” John explained adding that, “He was in Holland, Michigan at the Augustinian seminary for four years, and then he went into Villanova University. So he wasn’t home a lot during summer vacations.”

Speaking further on their childhood memory, John said it was filled with the simplicity of American upbringing, long before the world would call his brother “Your Holiness.”

“That’s right,” John said with a smile, “My brother is the pope.”

“The Board’s decision to withhold the results of this category of candidates to send a clear message that those who engage in such activities are complicit in wrongdoing, regardless of whether the efforts succeed or fail,” he said.

He also reported challenges with biometric verification, with 2,157 candidates failing to confirm their candidature due to failed biometric authentication.

“There was the initial report from registration centres of 578 candidates whose biometric details were allegedly not capturable during the registration for whom the Board created another opportunity.

“Many of them were eventually successfully captured and verified for registration and were able to sit the examination without any hindrances. Only 69 candidates were granted exemption from the biometric verification process.

He added that investigations are ongoing, and those found not to be at fault would be rescheduled to sit the examination.

“A total of 3,656 candidates fall within this category. Consequently, the results of the candidates have been withheld,” he said.

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said its operatives have apprehended one Mr. Madu Abuchi Simon, involved in the sale and production of adulterated and expired alcoholic beverages in Lagos.

NAFDAC, on its official X on Thursday, said Simon was caught in the act of falsifying popular alcoholic drinks including Hennessy, William Lawson, Baileys, Martell, St. Remy, and Jameson.

It added that the agency’s operatives confiscated over 100 cartons of assorted adulterated alcoholic beverages valued at more than N114 million, and the shop was sealed pending further notice.

The statement read, “NAFDAC has uncovered an operative involved in the sale and of adulterated and expired alcoholic beverages in Lagos. One Mr. Madu Abuchi Simon was caught in the act of falsifying popular alcoholic brands including Hennessy, William Lawson, Baileys, Martell, St. Remy, and Jameson.

“Over 100 cartons of assorted alcoholic beverages, valued at more than N114 million, were evacuated. The outlet has been sealed pending further investigation.”

The agency advised the public to buy alcoholic products only from reputable vendors and to report any suspicious activity to the nearest NAFDAC office.

NAFDAC said it remains committed to protecting public health and ensuring consumer safety.

Muhammad Ali Pate, minister of health and social welfare, and Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, director of nutrition at the federal ministry of health, have been named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in Global Health.

The list, released on Thursday, celebrates trailblazers who are shaping policy, driving innovation, and making significant strides in the global health space.

Pate and Bako-Aiyegbusi are the only Nigerians to make the magazine’s 2025 list. 

TIME described Pate as a reformer shaped by both personal experiences and global exposure, while Bako-Aiyegbusi was recognised for her innovative, homegrown approaches to addressing Nigeria’s malnutrition crisis.

Reacting to the recognition in a post shared on X, Pate expressed gratitude for being recognised alongside Bako-Aiyegbusi.

He said the honour reflects Nigeria’s ongoing health reform efforts under the health sector renewal investment initiative (NHSRII), which is backed by President Bola Tinubu.

“I am deeply honored to share that Nigeria’s ongoing health sector reform, under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (#NHSRII), has received global recognition, as I have been named to @TIME’s list of the 100 Most #Time100 Influential People in Global Health, released today,” he wrote.

“Proud to also have been named along with the Director of Nutrition in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare @Fmohnigeria, Dr. (Mrs) Ladidi K. Bako-Aiyegbusi.”

President Bola Tinubu has appointed governing boards and managing directors for the recently established north-central, south-west and south-south development commissions.

In a letter read on the floor of the red chamber on Thursday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu sought the red chamber’s confirmation of the appointees.

NORTH CENTRAL 

The president nominated Cosmas Akyhir as chairman of the board. Akyhir hails from Benue state.

Tsenyil Yiltsen, who is from Plateau, was appointed managing director of the commission.

Other members of the board are James Uloko (Benue), Atika Ajanah (Kogi), Bilgis Jumoke Sanni (Kwara), Aishatu Ibrahim (Nasarawa), and Muhammad Bashar (Niger).

They also include Dauda Kigbu (Nasarawa), Zakari Jikantoro (Niger), Sulaiman Ali (Kogi), Bunmi Olusona (Kwara), Umar Mantu, (Plateau), Atotse Abraham (Benue), Solomon Adodo (FCT), Abdulkadir Usman (north-west), Habu Maman (north-east), Atinuke Owolabi (south-west), Rachael Nse (south-south), and Boniface Izziogu (south-east).

SOUTH WEST 

For the South West Development Commission (SWDC), Tinubu nominated Olubunmi Adetunmbi as chairman; and Charles Akinola as managing director.

Other nominees include Bolaji Ariyo, Joseph Olugbenga, Scholastica Omoworare, Olumuyiwa Olabimtan, Adewinle Martins, Ibrahim Olaifa, Kabiru Lakwaya, Abdul Adamu, Arinola Fagbemi, Ukoha Onyekwere, Howell Ihenacho, Olugbenga Olufehinti, Tele Ogunjobi, Funmilayo Tejuosho, Fatai Ibikunle, and Lateef Ajijola.

SOUTH SOUTH 

The president nominated Chibudom Nwuche as chairman of the South South Development Commission, and Usoro Akpabio, who is from Akwa Ibom, as the managing director. 

Also appointed to the board are Marcus Eji (Rivers), Aganaba Steven (Bayelsa), Timi Ayibatonye (Delta), Joseph Ugheoke (Edo), and Sony Abang (Cross River).

Other members include Larry Odey (Cross River), Charles Zuofa (Bayelsa), Nkereuwem Ebong(Akwa Ibom), Chika Chinedu (Rivers), Femi Oise (Edo), Charles Enukhowhate (Delta), Tijani Kaura(north-west), Tabitha Sallah (north-east), Yusuf Amao (north-central), Joseph Mmamal (south-east), and Bukonola Braimoh (south-west).

After reading the president’s request, Akpabio referred the letter to the relevant committees for screening and confirmation.

Desmond Elliot, the actor-turned-politician, has revealed how he narrowly escaped an attack by unknown assailants during the 2020 EndSARS protests.

In an interview on Nollywood On Radio, the Lagos lawmaker recounted being trapped in his Surulere constituency office due to the curfew, only to face a life-threatening ambush.

Elliot explained that after being unable to return home to Lekki because of the curfew, he decided to spend the night in his office.

The 51-year-old politician said while relaxing and watching TV, chaos erupted when he heard his landlady’s daughter screaming and attempting to shield him by shouting, “he doesn’t stay here!”

Elliot disclosed that the situation escalated when a bottle filled with fuel and fire was hurled into his office, causing a fire. He added that “I have never been so scared in my life”.

“When there was curfew during the EndSARS period, a lot of bad boys came into Surulere and because of the curfew I could not go home,” he said.

“I was stucked in Lekki so I could not go home and has to go back to my office in Surulere.

“I was inside my office and never knew there was going to be anything so I was watching the TV in my office because I had intention the intention to spend the night at the office.

“Next thing, I heard my landlady’s daughter screaming, saying I don’t stay there.

“When I knew there was a problem was when a bottle with fuel and fire was thrown into my office and it caught fire.

“I had to call the chief of staff for help. I have never been so scared in my life, it was horrible.”

During the EndSARS protests, Elliot faced backlash for his words and actions, which ultimately led to him being labeled “Nigeria Twitter’s number one scapegoat”, as memes and banter from users targeted him for days.