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  A 42-year-old man was publicly flogged inside a mosque on Friday after being convicted by a Sharia court for spending time alone with a woman who was neither his wife nor a relative, an act considered an Islamic offence under Malaysia’s conservative laws. The man, a construction worker, received six lashes in the state of Terengganu, marking the first time such a punishment was carried out in a mosque rather than a court setting, according to the official Bernama news agency. Wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, the man arrived at the mosque in a prison van following Friday prayers. An audience of about 90 people witnessed the punishment in silence, as reported by AFP. The Islamic crime, known locally as “khalwat,” is considered a serious moral violation. Public Reaction The punishment has drawn mixed reactions. The Malaysian Bar Association expressed deep concern over the flogging, stating that such practices "strip individuals of their dignity." In a public statement, the B...

In a shocking turn of events, popular Nigerian blogger and philanthropist Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, disclosed that hackers have siphoned N180 million from his non-governmental organization (NGO) account. The announcement, made via Otse's Instagram page on Friday, sent shockwaves through his followers and supporters. The incident comes just months after the launch of the Martins Vincent Osei Initiative in October, which raised over N35 million in donations within hours. The initiative gained further momentum following a remarkable N100 million donation from celebrated music producer Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy. Details of the Hack Otse revealed that the breach has resulted in N160 million being diverted to an undisclosed account, leaving only N20 million in the compromised account, which has since been placed on Post No Debit (PND) to prevent further losses. Expressing his distress, Otse stated: "For the past few days, I've ...

The Nigerian Army has achieved a major breakthrough in the fight against banditry with the arrest of Bako Wurgi, a notorious bandit leader and arms dealer, allegedly responsible for the assassination of the Sarkin Gobir of Sabon Birni, Alhaji Isa Mohammed Bawa. Wurgi, also known as Baka NaGarba, was apprehended by troops of the 1 Brigade in Shinkafi town, Zamfara State, on December 14 at 10 p.m. The arrest followed intelligence reports that he was receiving treatment at a local hospital for injuries sustained in a violent clash with a rival group. Key Details of the Operation Counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama confirmed the operation via his X (formerly Twitter) handle. According to Makama, troops acted swiftly on the information and arrested Wurgi despite attempts by two accomplices to evade capture. Another individual who transported Wurgi to the hospital using a tricycle was also apprehended. Reports indicate that Wurgi played a central role in the July 2024 kidnapping and ki...

Warri, Delta State – The Niger Delta Liberation Movement (NDLM), also known as the Movement, has announced an indefinite suspension of its protest campaign, Operation Chevron Dragnet. The group disclosed this decision in a statement sent via email to Fresh Angle International at 5:19AM today, Monday, December 16, 2024. The statement, signed by NDLM Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Tagbanaraewumi, revealed the appointment of six prominent Itsekiris as mediators to engage Chevron Nigeria Limited, government officials, and other stakeholders on key issues affecting the Itsekiri host communities. The mediators include: 1. Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, 2. Comrade Amaechi Ogbonna, 3. Hon. Mofe Pirah, 4. Hon. Mode Akoma, 5. Hon. Toritseju Godwin Ebosa, and 6. Prof. Itse Sagay. The group recalled its launch of Operation Chevron Dragnet on November 22, 2024, with a coordinated attack on multiple pipelines in Olero-Dibi-Abiteye fields and flow stations at 2:00 am. The campaign was prompted by Chevron’s allege...

While the donation is significant, it pales in comparison to Elon Musk’s nearly $270 million contribution to the America PAC fund, which supported Trump’s campaign. Nonetheless, Zuckerberg’s gesture underscores a shift in his approach toward Trump and the incoming Republican administration. The history between Trump and Zuckerberg has been fraught with tension. Trump has previously referred to Zuckerberg as an “enemy of the people” and accused Meta of censoring conservative voices during the 2020 election. Zuckerberg, for his part, had openly criticized Trump’s policies, particularly his 2017 executive orders on immigration. But in the world of politics and business, alliances can be fluid. The 2024 donation signals a recalibration of Meta’s strategy under the evolving political climate. It also comes amid broader efforts by tech executives to mend fences with the Republican Party. Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos, once a target of Trump’s ire, notably avoided having The Washington Post en...

The penalties were issued following a routine audit of the fintech ecosystem. According to insider sources, the audit revealed compliance shortcomings in areas such as licensing and Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols. While Moniepoint and OPay were the most heavily penalized, at least four other fintech firms also faced unspecified fines during the regulatory exercise. Fintech Under the Microscope The CBN's increased focus on fintechs comes as the sector continues to expand at an unprecedented rate, with companies like OPay boasting over 40 million customers and Moniepoint processing billions of transactions annually. Despite their success, many of these companies operate under microfinance bank licenses, which were originally designed to serve micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This has raised concerns about whether such licenses are sufficient to protect millions of customers now relying on these platforms. In addition to licensing issues, KYC compliance has been a per...

Beautiful Beginning Academy, Apo, Abuja, has denied allegations of bullying at its institution following a viral video depicting what appeared to be a junior student being assaulted by seniors. The school has described the incident as a staged performance, not an act of aggression, asserting that the claims are baseless and aimed at tarnishing its reputation. The Principal of the Academy, Aaron Ipke, addressed the controversy during a fact-finding visit, stating, "There was no bullying case here at Beautiful Beginning Academy. The video in question was part of a stage play conducted by students in their hostel. It was misunderstood and taken out of context." The Alleged Incident The video, which surfaced a few days ago, showed a junior student, Imtiyas, allegedly chained and assaulted by senior students. The shocking footage triggered public outrage, with demands for accountability from the school. However, the school administration refuted the claims, describing the incident...

Governor Oborevwori emphasized his administration's unwavering commitment to advancing development across all sectors. He thanked the people of Delta State for their steadfast support and called for continued cooperation to ensure the realization of the state’s ambitious goals for 2025. “This budget underscores our dedication to delivering on our promises of growth, improved infrastructure, and enhanced public services,” the governor stated. “Together, we will achieve new milestones in the development of our great state.” In addition to the Appropriation Bill, Governor Oborevwori signed five other critical bills into law, reinforcing the state’s legislative framework: 1. Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro (Establishment) Amendment Bill, 2024 Aims to enhance the operational efficiency and governance of the institution. 2. Delta State Structure for Signage and Advertisement Amendment Bill, 2024 Introduces new regulations for signage and advertising structures to ...

Anambra State's foreign debt portfolio has surged to N96 billion in 2023, nearly doubling from N46 billion in 2022. This comes amid a national economic downturn marked by the naira’s significant devaluation against the dollar, intensifying concerns over the country’s fiscal stability. The alarming debt increase was highlighted in Anambra State’s 2023 financial statement, filed by the Office of the Accountant-General. Despite the spike in foreign debt, the state’s internal loans slightly decreased from N46.2 billion in 2022 to N45.5 billion in 2023. Adding to the financial strain, a review of the state’s 2024 Third Quarter (Q3) budget performance report, obtained by SaharaReporters, revealed that critical sectors like religious welfare and media services have been neglected. The Christian and Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, along with the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), received no funding in Q3 2024, a trend consistent throughout the first and second quarters of the year. The r...

Port Harcourt — The Executive Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State, Chijioke Ihunwo, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, of deploying police officers to harass residents and close the Oginigba Market. Ihunwo claims that the police actions are part of a politically motivated attempt to seize control of the market and disrupt local peace. Speaking to the press on Monday, Ihunwo alleged that officers from the Police Anti-Cultism Unit, led by CSP Mohammed, and the C41 Unit, under CSP Masalachi, were involved in the operation to shut down the market. He reported that the police used teargas and live ammunition to disperse traders, causing panic and disruption. "I received information that armed policemen had taken over Oginigba Market, which was opened by the local government," Ihunwo stated. "I immediately contacted the Assistant Commissioner of Police for Operations and the...

YENAGOA — After enduring nearly five months without electricity, residents of Bayelsa State’s capital, Yenagoa, can expect power restoration within the next 48 hours, according to the Bayelsa State government. This development follows extensive repairs to 19 transmission towers vandalized in late July, cutting the state off from the national grid and crippling local businesses. The Commissioner for Information, Orientation, and Strategy, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, provided an update on the situation during a press briefing on Monday. She emphasized that, although the vandalized towers are federal assets, the Bayelsa State government invested significant resources to repair them, underscoring its commitment to residents’ welfare. “We have been in darkness for four months due to the destruction of 16 towers between Ahoada and Mbiama and three additional towers within Bayelsa State,” Koku-Obiyai explained. “These towers belong to the Federal Government, but the state stepped in to fix them...

In a harrowing incident, gunmen abducted multiple passengers traveling on a GIGMobility (GIGM) bus on Saturday in the Obajana area of Kogi State, demanding a staggering N100 million ransom for each captive. The bus, en route from Lagos to Abuja, was attacked near the Dangote refinery at Obajana, leaving only the driver free, as he managed to escape the scene. Eyewitness accounts and social media posts have shed light on the ordeal. A user on X (formerly Twitter) revealed that her friend, who had just attended her convocation in Cotonou, Benin Republic, was among the kidnapped passengers. In a desperate plea, she wrote, “Please guys, I need your help. My friend was kidnapped at Lokoja, Kogi State, and the kidnappers are demanding N100 million for her release. No amount is too small.” Another witness who narrowly escaped the incident shared his experience, explaining how he saw the bus with its windscreens shattered. “I drove past the scene, and it was only the driver left. The bus had p...

  Abuja, Nigeria – The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, has made an urgent decision to relocate his daughter's wedding ceremony from Kano to Abuja following escalating security threats. The announcement came over the weekend, amid rising tensions fueled by a group of Arewa youth issuing a stern warning against his entry into any northern state. The youth, angered by what they described as unpatriotic actions by Jibrin and other senators, vowed to retaliate with violence if they attempted to set foot in Kano or other northern regions. They threatened to pelt the lawmakers with stones, sparking concerns over public safety. In a statement released by Jibrin’s office, the decision to move the event was made to ensure the safety of both local and international guests expected at the wedding. “The wellbeing of all attendees is paramount, and relocating to Abuja is the most prudent course of action in the face of these threats,” the statement read. This incident underscores growing ...