In a shocking twist, a pastor from the End Time Messages church in Chiredzi has been ordered to pay child support after DNA tests revealed he fathered two children with the woman whose wedding he officiated.

The marriage of Eunice Mururi and Farai Hatirarami crumbled after it was confirmed that Hatirarami is not the biological father of the children Fatai had believed were his. Mururi recently took Pastor Vhetu to Chiredzi Magistrate Court, seeking US$700 in monthly child maintenance for her two children, aged 8 and 4.

In a surprising turn of events, Pastor Vhetu admitted in court to fathering the children but pleaded for a lower maintenance payment. He argued that his income as a pastor comes primarily from tithes and offerings, often in the form of food hampers rather than cash. Represented by Farai Chauke of F. Chauke and Associates, Vhetu claimed that he had no regular salary and could only afford 150 ZiG per child as maintenance.

Aside from his pastoral duties, Vhetu revealed that he is also a farmer and already has eight other children to support. He informed the court that he has no bank account, only an EcoCash account, and pledged to cover the children’s school uniforms and fees. However, he controversially suggested that new clothes should only be bought in June or December, sarcastically stating, “only Elon Musk’s children receive new clothes every month.”

Magistrate Diana Musiiwa was unimpressed by Vhetu’s arguments, calling his offer “insincere” and ruling that he must pay US$175 per month for both children. The case has left the community stunned, with many shocked by the pastor’s actions and the collapse of the marriage he once officiated.

The Principal of the Abuja Rehabilitation Center, Bala Tsoho Musa, has been tragically killed by an unknown assailant.

Musa, popularly known as “comrade,” was discovered dead late Friday night at the center located in Kuchiko, a community in the Bwari Area Council of Abuja.

The Abuja Rehabilitation Center was established by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to provide skill acquisition training for beggars and individuals detained for public nuisance within the territory. The shocking murd£r has left the community in distress.

Sources who spoke with Daily Trust said Musa’s lifeless body was found along with his wheelchair, and a piece of wood, believed to have been used in the attack. It was also reported that two of his mobile phones were missing, suggesting a possible motive for the attack.

“No one from the deceased’s house was aware of the incident, perhaps due to the sound of the power generator there, until a deaf female that usually assists the family as a maid raised an alarm on her way back to the hostel,” a source told the publication

The authorities have launched an investigation into the murder. The Divisional Police Officer in charge of Bwari, CSP Babayola Muhammad, confirmed the incident, though further details have yet to emerge as the investigation continues.

Unknown Gunmen have kidnapped two key stakeholders of the ruling Labour Party (LP) in Abia State.

It was gathered that the heavily armed gunmen invaded a Labour Party meeting in a hotel in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state.

The masked men reportedly claimed they were acting on orders “from above” without giving further explanation.

Those kidnapped include the Deputy National Chairman, Ceekay Igara and the Acting State Chairman, Prince G. O. Ndubueze.

Ndubueze was forcefully whisked away in an unmarked vehicle, a development that has since raised concerns.

Following the development, Labour Party members attending the meeting erupted into solidarity chants, condemning the act as “anti-people” and decrying the security situation in the state.

Nigeria’s national grid has collapsed again.

This is the third time this will happen in just one week.

The latest collapse occurred early Saturday morning, with many states reporting total blackouts.

Data obtained from the Nigerian System Operator’s portal (niggrid.org) and it revealed that the grid recorded zero megawatts (MW) as of 9.20am today.

This latest failure comes on the heels of two other collapses earlier in the week, further straining the already fragile power system.

Businesses and households continue to suffer over the nation’s unreliable electricity supply amid the high cost and unavailability of fuel.

France Football, the organizers of the Ballon d’Or, have listed the criteria they use in deciding the winners of the award.

This was posted on their official X handle on Friday night.

The first criteria is “Individual performances, decisive and impressive character”.

Secondly, they will consider “team performances and achievements”.

The last criteria is “class and fair play”.

A shortlist of 30 nominees was released in September.

It includes Vinicius Junior, who is regarded as favourite to win the prize this year, Rodri, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Bukayo Saka.

The winner will be unveiled at a ceremony on October 28.

Team Lagos won the maiden edition of the South-West Basketball Showdown, after beating Team Oyo 65-63.

In the final match of the competition held at the Indoor Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, Oyo State the host lost despite finishing strong.

Oyo dominated early to win the opening quarter 20-18, but Lagos pulled ahead of the host in the second quarter after winning 22-8 to lead 40-28 by the long break.

But Oyo braced up to the fight as they returned for the third quarter, gaining 11 points without dropping any in the early minutes of the third quarter.

They won it 18-17, even as Lagos fought back, reducing their opponent’s lead to turn the game into a tight contest by then.

They went into the final quarter at 57-46 in favour of Lagos, but the eventual winners knew they only needed to hold the game to run down the clock.

Oyo won the quarter 17-8, but it was not enough to stop Lagos from beating then the second time in the competition and returning to base with the title.

Lagos played six matches in the competition and won all, while Oyo State lost two out of their six matches. Team Ekiti won the third-place match to finish third in the competition which also had teams from Ogun, Osun and Ondo states participating.

Speaking about the competition, Head coach of Team Oyo, Taiye Sobogun, said it was still a good outing for them in spite of losing.

He said this was because his players really tried their best as it was not easy playing against a team that had been training since January.

He stated, “The players we played against are on Lagos State payroll, and they have been training for quite some time. During the break after the second quarter, I had to speak extensively with the players because they lost concentration after leading in the first quarter. So, I can only attribute this loss to lack of concentration, and I don’t blame them, though. This team was assembled in three days.’’

The Head coach of Team Lagos, Dossou Mensah, said the game ended as a close contest because they had a lot of turnovers and mistakes.

He said, “We didn’t take care of the major aspects of our game when the match started, and for two to three minutes in the first quarter we conceded several points. I had to secure a break to restrategise, and I must say Oyo State gave us a run for our money. Also, I must say it was a very good outing for us as we played six games and won all. But we still have a lot to work on as a team, and we are hoping to get better over time.”

Mr Mensah however warned that with this being the fifth competition they had won this year, any team meeting them should know they would not be easy nuts to crack.

“My team is fully ready for the 2024 National Sports Festival qualifiers and the League, and we will keep working to improve on our skills and style of play,” he said.

The competition was sponsored by the former national captain, Olumide Oyedeji. with the provision of feeding, kitting and accommodation for all participants.

The police command in Lagos State has confirmed the death of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ijanikin Police Station, CSP Bolaji Olugbenga.

The command spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to journalists on Friday night.

Mr Hundeyin, however, did not give details of the officer and what led to his death.

The DPO was said to have slumped in the office and died before he could be rushed to a hospital on Thursday night.

It was learnt that the news of his death threw the officers attached to the station into mourning.

A source from the division said the body of the officer had been moved to a mortuary.

Kenya’s President William Ruto nominated interior minister Kithure Kindiki as his new deputy president a day after the Senate voted to impeach Ruto’s previous deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.

“I have received a message from … the president, regarding the nomination of Prof. Kithure Kindiki to fill the vacancy which has occurred in the office,” Speaker Moses Wetang’ula said in parliament on Friday.

In an unprecedented move that risks pushing the country towards a political crisis, Mr Gachagua was removed from office by impeachment on Thursday of five out of 11 charges levelled against him.

The National Assembly voted last week to impeach Mr Gachagua, who helped President William Ruto win an election two years ago but has been assailed by the president’s allies over alleged disloyalty and a series of provocative public comments.

Fifty-four out of 67 senators voted to dismiss Mr Gachagua on the first count of “gross violation of the constitution,” more than the two-thirds majority required under the law.

That makes him the first Kenyan president or deputy president forced out of office by impeachment.

“Accordingly, His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua… ceases to hold office,” said Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.

The process, however, is unlikely to stop there as Mr Gachagua has filed several petitions challenging the push to oust him, and the chief justice has appointed a panel of three judges to examine them.

Mr Gachagua, who has denied the allegations, had been due to defend himself against the charges in the Senate on Thursday afternoon ahead of the vote.

When he failed to show up, his lawyer Paul Muite said the deputy president had been hospitalised with intense chest pains, urging the Senate to pause proceedings for a couple of days.

But the senate declined to do so, prompting Gachagua’s legal team to leave the chambers in protest.

Dan Gikonyo, a doctor treating Mr Gachagua, told reporters the deputy president was admitted to a Nairobi hospital with heart trouble on Thursday afternoon but was now stable and would likely have to remain in hospital for 24 to 72 hours.

Some senators questioned the decision to proceed with the vote in Mr Gachagua’s absence.

“We are to try a man in hospital because the only crime that Rigathi Gachagua has committed is a political crime, so he has to be removed out of the way, whatever it will take,” said Senator John Methu.

But Senator Moses Otieno Kajwang defended the move to impeach Mr Gachagua, saying, “We must drain the swamp.”

The new deputy president, Mr Kindiki, a close ally of Mr Ruto, has held the interior ministry post.

He previously served as senator for Tharaka Nithi County and was a top contender to be Mr Ruto’s running mate during the 2022 election.

Parliament will later have to vote to approve Mr Kindiki’s appointment before he is sworn in.

Activist politician, Omoyele Sowore on Friday described President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a sadistic government.

Sowore was reacting to the planned arraignment of 75 #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters by the Federal Government.

The Nigerian government is set to arraign the protesters, who are minors, before Justice Egwuatu of the Abuja Federal High Court on November 1, 2024.

Sowore said most of the protesters had spent 80 days in detention.

Posting on X, Sowore wrote: “The sadistic regime of @officialABAT is set to prosecute 75 individuals affiliated with the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria movement on treason charges before Justice Egwuatu on November 1st, 2024.

“Several of these individuals -several of them minors- have spent 80 days in unjust incarceration before the sham trial is to commence. #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria #RevolutionNow.”

Nigerians took to the streets to protest against the hardship in the country from August 1 to August 10 under the hashtag, EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.

The protest was however hijacked by hoodlums who wreaked havoc on some of the protesters and vandalized some infrastructure across the country.

A team of combined security operatives arrested some of the protesters.

The management of the Abuja National Mosque has appointed Professor Iliyasu Usman as the first-ever Igbo Muslim to serve as an Imam at the mosque.

Usman is set to deliver his inaugural khutbah (sermon) on Friday, today, during Jumm’at prayer, marking a significant moment for the Muslim community in Nigeria.

This appointment has been celebrated widely, especially among the South East Muslim Organisation of Nigeria, SEMON, which views it as a testament to Usman’s commitment to Islamic scholarship and leadership.

In a statement, SEMON praised the inclusiveness of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, under the guidance of the President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.

SEMON emphasized that this appointment is not only a personal milestone for Usman but also a divine duty to lead the Muslim community in worship and service to Allah.

The organization expressed hope that his leadership would enhance the Igbo Muslim community and foster unity within the larger Nigerian Muslim population.

The statement reads, “We, the South East Muslim Organisation of Nigeria (SEMON), extend our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Ilyasu Usman on your recent appointment as an Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja.
“This prestigious role is not only a testament to your unwavering dedication and scholarly excellence but also a divine blessing and responsibility to lead the Ummah in worship and service to Allah.

“We pray that Allah (SWT) grants you the wisdom, strength, and steadfastness to discharge this sacred duty with diligence, integrity, and humility. May your leadership inspire unity, peace, and piety.”

A building comprising four rooms and 23 shops has been gutted by fire in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The incident occurred on Thursday, along Onimamayin Street, in the Agbo-Oba Taiwo Oke area of Ilorin metropolis.

A statement by the spokesman of the state Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle disclosed that the quick response of firefighters saved the building from total destruction.

“Only nine shops were affected by the inferno. Unfortunately, a provision store and several industrial sewing machines were lost in the incident.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was caused by a power surge,” the statement added.

Director of the Fire Service, Prince John Falade Olumuyiwa, expressed sympathy to the victims, praying for the restoration of their losses.

He urged the public to remain vigilant and safety-conscious, ensuring that all electrical appliances are unplugged when not in use.

A baby died when an overloaded migrant boat headed for Britain sank in the Channel off the coast of France on Thursday night, French maritime authorities said Friday.

The accident occurred off the French town of Wissant, the maritime authority in charge of the Channel and the North Sea told AFP, adding that 65 people were rescued but a “baby was found unconscious and sadly declared dead”.

Troops of the 6 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have again apprehended three individuals suspected of collaborating with terrorists’ elements in Taraba State.

The operation, which according to the soldiers, was driven by intelligence reports, took place on October 15, 2024, in Landey Jessy village, Lau local government council of the state.

In a statement made available to journalists in Jalingo in the early hours of Friday by the Acting spokesperson of the Bridge, Captain Oni Olubodunde, he said the operation was launched after reports of bandit activity in the Kona mountain range, which spans Jalingo and Lau council.

“The troops moved swiftly, arresting three suspects identified as Ahijo Sulaiman, Abdulrahman Isah, and Aisha Mohammed.

“During questioning, Aisha Mohammed, the wife of Ahijo Sulaiman, revealed that their residence was used to hide weapons after terrorist operations.

“Abdulrahman Isah was also identified by a victim he allegedly attempted to kidnap in September 2024 in Iware, Ardo-Kola local government council,” he stated.

The three suspects, at the time of filing this report, were said to be currently cooling off their heels in the troops’ custody.

The Army reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives, property and preserving the nation’s territorial integrity.

Bauchi State Police Command has apprehended two teenage students in connection with a robbery at a mobile phone shop in Wunti Market, in the Bauchi metropolis.

The suspects, both 15-year-old students of Bakari Dukku Comprehensive Secondary School, were said to have been involved in the alleged theft of 100 mobile phones, 75 MP4 players, 30 cell phone batteries, 50 external memory cards, and a Bluetooth headset.

They were arrested following an investigation conducted by the Operation Restore Peace (ORP) unit after the shop owner alerted the police about the missing items.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, revealed that the incident occurred October 1, 2024.

According to the statement, CSP Kim Albert, under the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Auwal Musa, led the ORP team to investigate the crime.

The suspects, identified as Hamza Sadiq and Adamu Ahmadu, were said to have confessed to obtaining the shop’s key and exploiting the shop owner’s absence to repeatedly steal items during the day.

”They sold the stolen goods at reduced prices, using the proceeds to buy personal items such as clothes, food, and a smartphone.

“The Police recovered 21 mobile phones, 5 MP4 players, a mobile phone charger, and a metal key from the suspects while efforts are ongoing to recover the remaining stolen items,” Wakil revealed in the statement.

He further revealed that the teenagers will be remanded in a rehabilitation facility following the completion of the investigation.

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a POS operator for receiving the sum of N4 million from kidnappers.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday,

He said the POS operator received just N40,000 as profit for the transaction.

The Police spokesman warned POS operators against getting themselves involved in such criminal transactions.

“My message to POS operators, transaction above five hundred thousand naira (N500,000) can get you into trouble,” he warned.

Edafe said the POS operators should be wise in doing their businesses, saying, “You may argue that you are doing business, but before your lawyer will get you out, you may spend sometime cooling off in prison.”

There was panic on Thursday morning in Benin, the Edo State Capital when a Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, powered vehicle exploded at NIPCO filling station along the Benin-Auchi Expressway.

The vehicle, in a video making the rounds, was smashed while people ran for dear lives as the loud sound from the explosion created panic among residents in the vicinity.

It was gathered that three persons sustained various degrees of injuries and have been rushed to a private hospital for medical attention.

The incident comes in the wake of safety concerns raised about the conversion of petrol-powered vehicles to CNG as advocated for by the Federal Government as a measure to lower the cost of transportation following the removal of fuel subsidies.

Former Mexican secretary of public security Genaro García Luna has been sentenced to over 38 years in prison by a New York court for his role in collaborating with the Sinaloa cartel led by notorious drug lord Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán.

The sentencing follows his conviction in February, where a jury found him guilty of accepting millions in bribes to protect the cartel’s drug trafficking operations for more than a decade.

The judge also imposed a $2 million fine, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Thursday.

“After years of destructive narcotic trafficking and deceit, Garcia Luna will spend nearly 40 years where he belongs: federal prison,’’ said Breon Peace.

The U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York said in a statement.

“Garcia Luna accepted millions of dollars in bribes from the Sinaloa Cartel to allow millions of kilograms of cocaine to flood the streets of the U.S.,’’ it added.

Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milgram said.

“Instead of protecting the citizens of Mexico, Garcia Luna was protecting drug cartels,’’ she added.

Mr García Luna, 56, was Mexico’s top law enforcement official between 2006 and 2012 under then-President Felipe Calderón, responsible for leading the fight against drug cartels.

He was arrested in Dallas, Texas, in 2019.

His defence had claimed he was a victim of revenge by criminals he helped incarcerate with U.S. cooperation.

The same judge had sentenced “El Chapo’’ to life imprisonment in 2019.

A total of 15 people were sentenced to prison in central China’s Hunan Province on Thursday for their roles in a deadly building collapse that claimed 54 lives in 2022.

The defendants, including the owner of the illegally built and extended building and officials found of dereliction of duty, received jail terms ranging from two years and nine months to 12 years.

This is according to their first-instance verdicts by local courts.

The incident occurred in Wangcheng District in the provincial capital of Changsha on April 29, 2022, leaving 54 dead and nine wounded.

The State Council set up an investigation team to look into the incident shortly after it occurred.

Wu Zhiyong, the owner of the building, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for negligence leading to the fatal collapse.

He had hired unqualified construction workers to illegally construct and extend the building, which he then leased as an accommodation and catering venue, according to the verdict.

Despite clear signs of the building’s imminent collapse, Mr Wu failed to organise emergency evacuations, resulting in heavy casualties.

He was also convicted of conspiring with others to destroy other people’s property repeatedly, the verdict showed.

Zhou Zhengmao, former deputy head of Wangcheng District, was handed a jail term of 12 years for dereliction of duty and accepting bribes.

Others convicted include inspectors from urban management and market regulation departments and shareholders and testing personnel from a company that issued fake documents for the building project.

Hunan Xiangda Engineering Testing Co., Ltd. was fined one million yuan (about $140,400).

Lawmakers, political advisors and relatives of the victims and defendants attended the sentencing.