News

Anambra Govt Reacts To Gov Obiano Been Placed On Watchlist By EFCC

Following the news that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has placed the outgoing governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano on their watchlist, the State Government has responded to the report, calling it a witch hunt and an attempt to get back at the governor for overseeing a free and fair election in the state – one in which the ruling party’s candidate Senator Andy Uba lost.

In the press release signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, the state government also accused the EFCC of acting a script written by the powers that be after their efforts to declare emergency rule in the state failed – which was followed by the dreadful loss in the November 6 governorship election.

It would be recalled that the outgoing governor of the state, Willie Obiano, who would vacate the State Government House on March 17, 2022, upon completion of his tenure in office was placed on the nation’s anti-graft commission’s watchlist for reasons yet to be revealed.

The Commission made this known in a letter dated November 15, 2021, which was addressed to the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). In the letter, the EFCC asked the NIS to intimate them if Mr. Willie Obiano attempts to leave the country.

However, the state government has asked the EFCC to drop their witch hunt. In a press statement, he reiterated that Governor Obiano will be ready to answer questions about his service record when invited.

Read the statement below:

EFCC’s Inelegant Drama over Anambra Governor

1. Nigerians were dismayed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) went a new low on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, when it sponsored media reports claiming that it has placed Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State on its watch list. The EFCC provided no details of how Governor Obiano has been placed on its watch list but made a reference to a letter it purportedly wrote on November 15, 2021, to the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) asking it to inform the anti-graft agency anytime the Governor is traveling out of the country.

2. Everything that can be wrong with politically motivated statements like this one is obviously wrong with this statement. The EFCC knows fully well that it is acting inelegantly in this instance, and so has tried as much as possible not to make an official public statement on the alleged placing of Chief Obiano on the watch list. It furtively gave a section of the media the news report it wrote based on ostensibly its letter to the NIS on November 15.

3. Governor Obiano is out of the country currently. And he traveled through one of the country’s international airports. He did not disguise himself, but rather left the country with his identity fully disclosed at the necessary immigration point.

4. The EFCC sounded more inelegant when it claimed in the sponsored press report that it received intelligence reports that the Governor plans to “flee” from Nigeria once he hands over power next March 17 to the newly-elected Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. Chief Obiano has never left any person(s) in doubt that he will relocate to his base in the United States once he finishes his tenure. As early as August 31, 2020, he announced his decision to a meeting of the Anambra State Council of Elders, comprising such personages as the erstwhile Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe who is also the chairman of both the Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers; a former Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife; an ex-Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih, mni; the founding Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Professor Elochukwu Amucheazi; the Archbishop-Emeritus of the Anglican Church in Anambra State, The Most Reverend Dr. Maxwell Samuel Chukwunweike Anikwenwa; and the Catholic Bishop of the Awka Diocese, Rev Dr. Paulinus Ezeokafor.

5. Governor Obiano has a whole four months to remain in office as the Anambra State Chief Executive. Nobody in Nigeria can circumscribe his constitutionally conferred immunity which shields him from both criminal and civil prosecution. The EFCC went too far as to announce in November that it is observing him. We are not aware of any State Governor who had up to four months to be in office and the EFCC went on to sponsor media reports that he was being investigated.

6. It is, indeed strange that the EFCC is making a show that it is investigating a high public officer. Anti-corruption agencies, like intelligence services, conduct their investigations discreetly, and not on pages of newspapers. Media trial has never benefitted the EFCC.

7. The whole nation knows those behind all the present histrionics about Obiano. They are those who didn’t want the November 6 election to hold. They are those in high places who unsuccessfully canvassed for emergency rule in Anambra supposedly on security grounds. They are those who masterminded the Birnin Kudu High Court charade in Jigawa State over the APGA leadership and, more importantly, the authentic APGA candidate in the November Gubernatorial Election in Anambra State. They are those responsible for the sacrilege of a Customary Court in Abuja issuing criminal summons to Professor Soludo, a former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor. These people are still fighting the gubernatorial battle on behalf of their badly defeated friends and political associates in the Anambra vote. They will fail badly, as they have done in the recent past.

8. The EFCC should not allow itself to be used by politicians who are mere birds of passage. Its ongoing Anambra drama is in bad taste. It did not serve Governor Obiano any notice. Nor did it invite him to answer questions about his service record. It just went to the press. Yet, the Governor is willing to answer any question(s) about his years in office. After all, he has received a prestigious award from the United Nations Development Programme for transparency.

God bless Anambra State.

Entertainment

$20K, ₦400m mansion, other lavish gifts Peller and Jarvis received for wedding

The wedding of TikTok stars Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, and Elizabeth Amadou, better known as Jarvis, was filled with memorable moments. Beyond the glamorous outfits, celebrity guests, and cultural displays, it was the extravagant gifts presented to the newlyweds that became one of the biggest talking points.

Even before the wedding day, gifts had already started pouring in, while several admirers promised to present theirs during the ceremony. Peller’s longtime TikTok supporter, Gregory, kicked off the celebrations with a generous wedding gift of $20,000.

Gregory travelled to Nigeria specifically for the wedding and expressed excitement about being part of the occasion. Speaking during the event, he also revealed his interest in investing in Nigeria. “I can’t relocate, but Peller and Peller are going to work on some investment opportunities in Nigeria. One of the things that I really wanna do is open a school here. Hopefully we can do it; that would be my dream

One of the biggest surprises of the day came from Delta based billionaire Mohammed Ochacho, who presented the couple with a mansion worth ₦400 million in Lifecamp, Abuja.

While announcing the gift, the businessman explained that his children encouraged him to make the presentation. “On behalf of my children, I am presenting a brand new house for you worth ₦400 million in Lifecamp, Abuja.”

The gesture came just days after Peller met Ochacho at music executive Soso Soberekon’s event. During that meeting, the billionaire introduced the content creator to some of his associates and had earlier promised him 10 cows as part of his wedding gifts. Peller later jokingly called him out for not fulfilling that promise before the mansion was eventually unveiled.

In June 2026, Peller proposed to Jarvis during a private beachside ceremony at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Ghana

Just weeks later, he paid her bride price during a traditional introduction ceremony in Edo State, after which they had a court wedding.

News

Bishop Oyedepo Takes A Swipe at Tinubu over worsening insecurity, economy

General Overseer of Living Faith Church Worldwide, a.k.a Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, has taken a swipe at President Bola Tinubu over the worsening insecurity and economic hardship in Nigeria.

In a viral video shared online, Oyedepo alleged that the Tinubu administration was failing to take decisive action to address the challenges bedeviling Nigerian people.

The cleric expressed anger over the persistent attacks and killings across the country, issuing a note of warning that Nigerians who have endured the situation for a long time may no longer remain silent.

The General Overseer, however, condemned those behind the attacks and killings of armless Nigerians, stating that victims should not be expected to show sympathy towards the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

“The president needs to act now and stop pretending. You can’t slaughter members of my family and expect me to pray for you. I will pray against you and your household.

“The government is pretending like they don’t know what to do. I have been quiet for a long time, but the bubble is about to burst,” he fumed.

He equally accused the government of appearing unaware of the severity of the security crisis, saying leaders had failed to demonstrate the urgency required to protect citizens and restore confidence

Entertainment

Court dismisses N5bn copyright suit, confirms Sinach as sole owner of ‘Way Maker’

A Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a N5 billion copyright suit filed against acclaimed Nigerian gospel singer Osinachi Joseph Egbu, popularly known as Sinach, affirming her as the sole author and copyright owner of the globally celebrated song Way Maker.

Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, who delivered the judgment on July 24, 2026, ruled that music producer Michael Oluwole failed to establish claims of co-authorship and co-ownership of the award-winning song.

Oluwole had approached the court in March 2024, seeking legal recognition as a co-author and co-owner of Way Maker.

He also demanded a share of revenues generated from the song and requested N5 billion in damages, alleging infringement of his performer’s rights.

However, the court held that the producer’s involvement was limited to mixing and mastering an already existing work for commercial release after being contracted and paid for his services.

According to the judgment, “Evidence before the court showed that Sinach had created and performed the song before engaging Oluwole’s services”.

The court noted that she had performed Way Maker internationally prior to its studio production.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa stated that copyright ownership belongs to the individual responsible for the original creative content of a work, including its melody, harmony, lyrics, or arrangement.

He stressed that “Technical contributors such as producers, engineers, and sound technicians do not automatically become authors unless they contribute original expressive content”.

The judge described the suit as unmeritorious and dismissed all claims brought by the plaintiff.

The court further reaffirmed that Sinach, as the creator of the song, holds exclusive rights over its reproduction, distribution, performance, and licensing under Nigeria’s copyright laws.

Reacting to the judgment, Sinach and her husband, Joseph Egbu, who chairs Slic Inspire Ltd. and Gosgem Records, expressed satisfaction with the outcome.