News

Ijaw Leaders Ask Britain To Help Facilitate Their Independence From Nigeria

While we reel from the agitations by the Igbos and the Yorubas to leave the Nigerian Federation, through the Indigenous People of Biafra – led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the Oduduwa Republic – led by Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo respectively, the Ijaws has already embarked on a mission to follow suit.

The popular saying that “when things fall apart, the center cannot hold” may come true for the Nigerian federation whose component units are beginning to canvass for self-determination and independence. However, they intend to do so without carrying arms or bloodshed of any kind.

It has been reported by The Sun that Ijaw leaders under the umbrella of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) have begun tinkering on ways to remove itself from the geographical expression called Nigeria and have met with the British government to that effect.

The report reveals that the group believes that its people – the Ijaw nation – which has continuously sustained the economy of Nigeria since oil was discovered in Oloibiri in 1956 has been neglected and relegated to the background despite the fact the oil exploration in their communities has brought untold sufferings and hardships to its people.

Since their overall objective is to carry out the divorce from Nigerian in the most legal and rancor-free avenue available to them, the Ijaw leaders have called on the British government to assist them in dissolving the marriage between the Ijaw nation and Nigeria – which was instituted by British colonial master, Fredrick Lord Lugard.

They further accused the British government of abandoning them to their plight after convincing them to join the Nigerian equation, promising that they would be taken care of if they joined Nigeria.

This resolution was contained in the seven-page address given by the delegation of Ijaw leaders representing the Ijaw nation at a meeting with the representatives of the British High Commission led by Mr. John Kekeh. The meeting was held at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and the Ijaw nation delegation was led by the President of the INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba.

The seven-page address read in part:

“Again in the light of truth, good conscience, fairness, equity, and justice would the British people and her government be perpetually silent and feign ignorance to the excruciating plight of the Ijaw people. Furthermore, perhaps the once colonial masters would with all intent and purpose act to rescue the ugly situation- may we ask if not now then when?

“We are indeed eager and anxious to know: is your intervention coming when we are completely ripped off our God-given Oil and Gas natural resources and abandoned to our fate in wallowing and the criminally degraded environment without remediation. In all honesty, would that not be a crime against humanity where the British government would be seen as accomplices.

“The visitation is about us telling them that you (British) brought us into Nigeria and they should play their role to take us out of this country. The British have the moral duty to take us out. We were deceived to join Nigeria; they abandoned us and deceived us. Let them do the needful. As Ijaw people, we are tired of this country. We have suffered in this country; we have carried the burden of this nation on our shoulders for too long.

“We have placed minimum conditions. The first condition is the restoration of true federalism. Number two, we have to be placed not as balkanized people. We cannot be scattered into different states and make us minorities and slaves. We cannot be slaves in a place where our resources are used to sustain the people. It is unacceptable.

“So Ijaw people are saying to the Federal Government that if this minimum requirement is not met, we are no longer committed to the Nigerian project. And that if we are leaving as an Ijaw republic, we shall do it peacefully and legally. This is the message we are sending to the British High Commission and to the British Government to come and undo what they did.”

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.