WHALEXTRA

  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has disclosed how public funds were moved from a local government account to a private company before being transferred into cryptocurrency wallets. The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed on Monday while addressing media executives and journalists in Abuja, stressing that the commission could not ignore the suspicious movement of public funds. Olukoyede, however, did not disclose the local government, company or state involved in the transaction. He said the commission’s Fraud Risk Assessment and Control Department had detected the suspicious transactions and intervened by freezing the funds for 72 hours to establish their destination and purpose. Olukoyede, however, expressed his displeasure over people who called for his head as a result of the action taken by his agency.

  President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said the economic reforms introduced by his administration have placed Nigeria on the path to achieving a $1tn economy by 2030, despite the hardship and challenges confronting Nigerians. Represented by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, at the second edition of the Asiwaju Scorecard Series and Policy Roundtable in Abuja, Tinubu said the reforms had strengthened the foundation for economic stability, growth and prosperity. Tinubu commenced major economic reforms on May 29, 2023, at his inauguration, measures that were met with mixed reactions from Nigerians due to their varying impact on citizens’ livelihoods. However, more than three years into the administration, the Presidency has maintained that the reforms are in the best interest of the country and are delivering the desired results. Tinubu said the removal of fuel subsidy and reforms in the foreign exchange market, alongside increased revenue mob...

Nollywood actress, Jemima Osunde has expressed anger after a road user allegedly drove against traffic in Lagos, saying she refused to give way to the vehicle. Osunde spoke in a video shared online, alleging that the driver left his lane to avoid traffic and entered a lane meant for motorists heading towards Lekki. She said she remained in her lane and blocked the vehicle, insisting that motorists should not break traffic rules simply to avoid congestion. “I will not leave my lane for you when you are passing one way. I won’t do it. I don’t care if you have police in your car,” Osunde said. The actress said she was willing to delay her plans or remain in traffic rather than allow the alleged traffic violation.

  Digital creator, Pamela Mbaefo popularly known as nwanyi Nnewi, has 170, 000 followers on Instagram, and 190, 300 followers on Tiktok. She tells Naomi Chima about her style of content creation and other issues Tell us about yourself and your family background. I am from Anambra State. I graduated from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, where I studied Food Science and Technology. I come from a family of nine children, and I am the seventh child. How did your content creation journey begin? The whole story started during the COVID-19 pandemic when everybody was at home. The first video I made was with my brother’s friend’s phone. I didn’t really start with my current name; I started with something else. I was just talking, trying to be funny and playing around with things happening around me.

The African Democratic Congress , ADC, on Wednesday faulted President Bola Tinubu over his declaration that he was prepared to ‘fight to the finish’ politically, saying the President should direct that resolve against terrorists, bandits and kidnappers instead of the opposition. With killings and kidnappings continuing across parts of the country, the opposition party said Nigerians are looking to the President for decisive action against insecurity, not another political showdown with his opponents. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it found the timing of Tinubu’s remarks troubling, noting that they came during a meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, only hours after gunmen reportedly killed at least 30 people in Naridon village in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The ADC said: “Nigerians did not elect a Commander-in-Chief to become the nation’s chief iss...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will conduct the 2027 general elections in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Plateau. Prof. Sam Egwu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, disclosed this during a one-day workshop on Wednesday in Jos. Egwu said that the commission was committed to ensuring that no eligible Nigerian, including those displaced by conflict, was disenfranchised. “INEC is making provisions for elections to hold in IDP camps in 2027. “We have learnt from previous experiences that displacement should not mean the loss of voting rights,” he said.

A UK-based contestant in Big Brother Naija Season 11, “Show Ya Sef” edition, Temi Nkem , created a stir in the house on Sunday evening due to her English proficiency. Housemates expressed their inability to grasp her grammar when she attempted to read the instructions from Big Brother. On the first day of the reality show, Big Brother instructed that a housemate should visit the diary room to collect the weekly guidelines. Temi Nkem, who reportedly received her education in the United Kingdom, hurried to the room to retrieve Big Brother’s instructions, which she was to relay to the other housemates. Regrettably, it became evident that the other housemates struggled to comprehend her English, leading to chaos in the house.

  An emotional video has captured the moment Abi’s husband celebrated her unveiling as a housemate on Big Brother Naija Season 11. In the clip circulating online, he was seen kneeling in front of the television in excitement as Abi appeared on the screen, repeatedly expressing how proud he was of her. He said … “Oh my God I love you baby yes my love. I’m so proud of you baby!” The heartwarming reaction has drawn praise from fans, many of whom described the display as a touching show of support ahead of Abi’s journey in the reality show.

The Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) has alerted its customers to a fraudulent message circulating on social media, falsely claiming that electricity consumers can receive an additional 20 per cent bonus units when recharging their prepaid meters through unofficial channels. In a statement issued by the company’s management on Monday, YEDC described the claim as false and urged customers to disregard the misleading information, stressing that it did not originate from the company. According to the statement, YEDC does not offer bonus electricity units through individuals, agents, personal bank accounts, phone numbers, or social media contacts. The company advised customers to purchase electricity tokens only through approved cashless payment platforms, including the YEDC Pay App, OPay, Interswitch, and other authorised vending channels, or to visit the nearest YEDC office for assistance. YEDC also cautioned customers against sharing their meter details or personal informat...

  Former President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed how he put his life at risk in his bid to ensure peace in the Niger Delta region. Jonathan disclosed that he went into a militant camp in the Niger Delta without armed security to negotiate peace, at the risk of his life. He made the disclosure on Monday while delivering the chairman’s address at the De Mangrove Conversation, organised in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Renaissance Africa Energy and the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation at the NCDMB Conference Hall in Yenagoa. Jonathan said his experience as a scientist, governor, vice president and president gave him a unique perspective on the challenges facing the region. He recalled that as vice president, he personally led negotiations with militants and insisted on visiting one of their camps without armed escorts despite objections from security officials.

Popular Nigerian actor Blossom Chukwujekwu and his wife, Winifred Akhuemokhan Ehinome, welcome a newborn daughter The Christ Embassy Lagos Virtual Zone (CELVZ) Phenom church revealed on Instagram on Sunday that the baby’s name is Angela-Ritsa Evanna Chukwujekwu. Their church also congratulated the couple and prayed for divine love, joy, and grace as they welcomed their first child together. “Congratulations on the birth of your daughter, Angela-Ritsa Evanna Chukwujekwu.” The post reads: “Brother Blossom Chukwujekwu and Pastor Ehinome Chukwujekwu.” “We rejoice with you on this beautiful gift from the Lord. May your family be blessed with divine love, joy, and grace as you raise your precious daughter in God’s light. Welcome, Little Princess!”

  A Jay-Z concert at Yankee Stadium in New York was delayed for more than four hours on Sunday night after hundreds of ticketless fans tried to get in, organizers said. “Hundreds of individuals in large groups — who did not have tickets to tonight’s performance — stormed over peaceful ticket holders, and in some cases, breached security,” a Live Nation representative told AFP. “Gates at all entrances of the Stadium were closed for an extended period of time” before they were “reopened cautiously and carefully to ensure the safety of those inside and outside.” The concert was scheduled to start at 8:00 pm (0000 GMT), but hundreds of people remained outside the stadium, despite having valid tickets, an AFP reporter observed. Ticket holders were eventually let in in small groups, and Jay-Z finally took the stage at around 12:15 am (0415 GMT Monday).

Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke , OPWS, have killed a suspected bandit believed to be linked to the attack that resulted in the death of former Secretary to the Government, SSG, of Benue State, Professor David Salifu. The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, Ahmad Zubairu. Zubairu said the operation was carried out in Jotar village, close to the Quarantine Checkpoint, after security operatives received credible intelligence about the activities of suspected kidnappers in the area. According to Zubairu, troops deployed at Kyado quickly moved to the location on July 2, 2026, to stop the criminal gang from carrying out its planned operation. “On arrival at the scene, troops engaged the armed suspects in a fierce gun battle, neutralising one of the terrorists while others fled with suspected gunshot wounds,” he said.

  Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to either resign or abandon any plans to seek re-election in 2027, citing the worsening insecurity across the country. In a statement released on Monday, Obi expressed concern over the continued captivity of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo State more than 50 days ago. Following a visit to Governor Seyi Makinde, he said the prolonged delay in rescuing the victims reflects a failure of leadership and governance. The former Anambra governor revealed that he was surprised to learn that President Tinubu had allegedly not contacted Makinde over the abduction. Obi said previous presidents, including Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, regularly reached out to state governors during major security crises.

At least two people died on Wednesday during massive celebrations in Mexico City as the national team advanced to the next round at the World Cup, according to the local government. A 19-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man died of asphyxiation, according to the city’s health ministry. Authorities have not confirmed the death of a third person, reported by local media. The celebrations came after Mexico beat Ecuador to record their first World Cup knockout win since 1986, sending the co-hosts into the round of 16. More than a million people gathered in the streets of Mexico City, mainly around the Angel of Independence monument, according to estimates by the city government.

  France winger Michael Olise has moved to the top of the assists chart at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after another impressive display in Les Bleus’ Round of 32 victory over Sweden. Olise registered two assists in France’s comfortable 3-0 win, helping Didier Deschamps’ side book a place in the Round of 16, where they will face Paraguay. The Bayern Munich star set up two second-half goals to take his tally to five assists in the tournament, making him the outright leader in the playmaking rankings. The 24-year-old also came close to opening his goalscoring account with a spectacular bicycle-kick before half-time, but his effort crashed against the post. Olise’s five assists are already the highest by any player in a single World Cup campaign since 1994, underlining his influence in France’s run to the knockout stages.

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru , has approved a major cabinet reshuffle, and redeployed commissioners in a move aimed at strengthening governance and improving service delivery. The changes were announced on Monday by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ikeuwa Omebe, while briefing reporters after the State Executive Council meeting at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Abakaliki. Omebe said the reshuffle followed the swearing-in of two new appointees into the administration—Prof. Omari Omaka (SAN), who was inaugurated as Commissioner for Tertiary Education, and Njoku Onyekachi Felix, who was sworn in as Special Assistant to the Governor and subsequently assigned as Special Assistant on Youth Mobilisation. Under the new arrangement, Hon. Chidi Onyia has been redeployed from the Ministry of Solid Mineral Development to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development. Mrs. Dr. Ngozi Obichukwu moves from the Ministry of Aviation to the Mini...

  The member representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will secure an easy victory in the 2027 general election. Oseni, an All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial aspirant for Oyo South Senatorial District, said the achievements recorded by the Tinubu administration over the past three years have positioned the President for re-election, insisting that no opposition party can prevent Nigerians from returning him to office for a second term. The lawmaker spoke in Ibadan during an empowerment programme he facilitated for farmers in his constituency, where more than 7,000 beneficiaries received farm inputs, agrochemicals and farming tools. Oseni, who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), also reaffirmed his commitment to mobilising support for the President through the Remi Oseni Committee of Friends (ROCOF...

Three African nations have secured places in the Round of 32 at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking a strong showing for the continent at the expanded tournament. Out of the 10 teams representing the continent, Morocco, South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire have so far confirmed their places in the knockout stage. Egypt, Ghana, Cabo Verde, Algeria, Senegal and Congo DR remain in contention ahead of their final group matches as of Friday, June 26. Morocco finished runners-up in Group C after a 4-2 victory over Haiti, setting up a Round of 32 clash against Group F winners the Netherlands on June 29. South Africa made history by reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time after recovering from an opening defeat to co-hosts Mexico.

  The parents of a Nigerian student convicted of robbery and blackmail in the United Kingdom have appealed to the authorities to review the verdict, insisting that their son was wrongly convicted and is innocent of all the charges against him. Mr Aderinkola Akinrinola and Mrs Olayinka Akinrinola made the appeal in a statement released in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, following the conviction of their son, Oluwatobiloba Akinrinola , by a UK court on June 19, 2026. He is currently being held in a prison in Nottingham pending his sentencing, scheduled for July 27. The distraught parents alleged that the conviction was based largely on circumstantial evidence and their son’s association with the principal suspect in the case. They explained that their son met Richile Vagnu shortly after resuming his studies as a first-year student at Leicester University in September 2025, describing their relationship as that of acquaintances rather than close associates.