TELL BY IT

Indigenous rapper, Owoh Chimaobi Chrismathner better known as Zoro, has petitioned the police over the rape allegation leveled against him by an Instagram user. The Instagram user @mystic_sweetness had alleged that the  rapper raped her  in his friend's house in Magodo area of Lagos on April 20, 2015. On Saturday, June 6, Zoro  denied the allegation and vowed to challenge  it in court. Today he petitioned the police, demanding an investigation into the allegation. Posting a copy of the petition online, Zoro wrote ''Dear Fans, Further to my last post, my team (legal and management) and I have reported the rape allegation leveled against me to the Nigeria Police. I want to implore you my fans, friends and family to kindly disbelieve any lies from the unscrupulous lady while the Police continue their investigation on the matter. I am more than certain that my innocence will vindicate me eventually. Finally, it is important to fight agains...

After 75 days, Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, today June 9 lifted the lockdown in the state, giving churches and mosques the opportunity to congregate once again for prayers. In a statewide broadcast today June 9, Governor El Rufai applauded residents of the state for their immense sacrifices in the last two-and-half months that the state had been on lockdown as containment measures against the spread of Coronavirus in the state. The governor announced that businesses and places of worship can now reopen under strict guidelines while schools and markets are to remain closed. “Businesses can reopen, subject to the provision of thermometers for temperature checks, sanitizers or hand washing equipment and physical distancing measures within all facilities. Working hours will be 9am to 3pm daily”. He said that Church services are allowed only on Sundays and Mosques are allowed to conduct only Friday Jumat services, for the time being, subject to com...

As Africa braces itself for a surge of coronavirus infections, both China and the US are claiming to be Africa's greatest supporter, but there is more at stake in this escalating rivalry than simply tackling the virus, writes BBC Africa correspondent Andrew Harding. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was adamant that "no country will rival what the US is doing" in terms of supporting the fight against Covid-19 in Africa. And he went further to say that "no nation ever has, or ever will" do more to support global health. Mr Pompeo was speaking on a conference call with a small group of African and Africa-based journalists. I was one of them.  At the time - last month - I put the bluster about "no nation ever doing more" down to the now-familiar rhetorical habits of the Trump administration, which was evidently trying to polish its internationalist credentials in the aftermath of its decision to turn its back on the World Health Organization (WHO...

Suspected Taraba kidnap kingpin, Alhaji Hamisu Bala aka Wadume was on Monday June 8 arraigned before before a Federal High Court in Abuja.  Wadume was arraigned alongside Aliyu Dadje (a police Inspector), Auwalu Bala (aka Omo Razor), Uba Bala (aka Uba Delu) Bashir Waziri (aka Baba Runs), Zubairu Abdullahi (aka Basho) and Rayyanu Abdul on amended charge of 13 counts bordering on terrorism, kidnapping and related offences. Though the case was initiated through a 16-count charge filed on January 21 this year, by Simon Lough (an Assistant Commissioner of Police) in the name of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and with 20 defendants, only seven of the 20 defendants were in court on Monday June 8.  This is coming after a lawyer from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Shuaibu Labaran told the court that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) had taken over the prosecution of the case pursuant to his power under Section 174(2) of t...

Nollywood Actress, Tonto Dikeh is celebrating her 35th birthday today June 9, and she has released stunning photos of herself to mark her special day.  In one post, she wrote : 'APPY BIRTHDAY TO ME..I’M GRATEFUL #35 NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD.' See more photos below. 

Lagos state house of assembly speaker, Mudashiru Obasa has been cleared of the corruption allegation levelled against him.  Victor Akande, the representative of Ojo constituency 1 and chairman of the nine-man fact-finding panel which probed Obasa, said all the allegations made against the speaker were “frivolous" during the presentation of his panel's report on Monday June 8.  The panel which recommended that the clerk of the house Azeez Sanni should investigate how documents which led to the allegations against the speaker were leaked, maintained that Obasa followed due process in disbursements of funds.  Akande said;  “We also recommend that the activities of the house should be digitalised for proper record keeping and monitoring. “It was then suggested by the committee that a vote of confidence should be passed in the speaker of the house. “The speaker did not have multiple accounts with Ecobank, the BVN ascribed to Wema Ban...

The identity of Chloe Green's mystery boyfriend has been revealed. It was also discovered that they have been dating since last year. Since Topshop heiress, Chloe Green split from her ex-fiance and the father of her child, Jeremy Meeks, there have been speculations about her love life. Her new man has now been identified as Manuele Thiella, 34.  The identity of Chloe Green's mystery boyfriend has been revealed. It was also discovered that they have been dating since last year. Since Topshop heiress, Chloe Green split from her ex-fiance and the father of her child, Jeremy Meeks, there have been speculations about her love life. Her new man has now been identified as Manuele Thiella, 34.  Chloe was pictured passionately kissing Manuele on her father, Sir Philip Green's  £118 yacht in the South of France on Saturday. Manuele is the CEO of Royal Yacht Brokers. His impressive business boasts a host of cele...

In our series of letters from African writers, Nigerian novelist Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani says children are now having to police their credulous parents on WhatsApp. Just a few years ago, local comedians had a field day with jokes about elderly Nigerian mothers and their nonchalant attitudes towards their mobile phones.  They needed their children's assistance to type and send text messages or log in to their accounts and read emails. And their frequent excuse for missed calls was: "My phone was in my handbag." These days, the jokes have upgraded to Nigerian mothers and their infatuation with WhatsApp, the most popular messaging app in Africa. Nigerian comedians like Maraji have been making skits about them. My mother spends her entire morning on WhatsApp," 39-year-old Udo, whose home is in Lagos, told me.  "Throughout while she's having her breakfast and drinking her tea, she's checking people's status updates and watching videos....

Malawi's President Peter Mutharika has appointed a new electoral commission chairperson ahead of a presidential re-run. The Constitutional Court had in February ordered a fresh presidential election  be held within 150 days after annulling last year’s re-election of President Mutharika - a ruling upheld by the Supreme Court. The former commission chairperson Jane Ansah resigned amid criticism by the opposition on how she managed the disputed election. President Mutharika on Sunday appointed Justice Chifundo Kachale to head the commission. He also appointed new commissioners, namely Arthur Nanthuru, Steve Duwa, Jean Mathanga, Linda Kunje, Anthony Mukumbwa and Olivia Liwewe. MPs are due to meet to decide on the exact date of the election - one of the proposed dates is 23 June. The new chairperson will have a task to deliver credible presidential election that have been demanded by the opposition. A tweeter shared a photo of the incoming chairperson:

Popular socialite, Cubana Chief Priest has reacted to the recent social media campaign which has seen many people including the rich and famous being called out for rape. In his Instagram post, the club manager stated that rape victims who wait for a rapist to get rich or famous before speaking out are gold-digging. He also appealed to parents to teach their children how to speak up to ensure justice is served because silence endangers others. Cubana Chief Priest wrote:- Waiting For A Rapist To Blow Or Get Rich Before Speaking Out Or Reporting To The Right Authorities Is An Act Of Gold Digging N Dragging, Parents We Have To Teach Our Children How To Speak Up Immediately It Helps Authorities In Proper Investigation To Get Justice Served, Why Did It Take You So Much Time To Report What Caused You Severe Pain ? To Be A Rape Victim No Be Hustle Or Pay Back, I Wonder Why This Recent Calling Out No Dey Reach The Poor Or Don’t The Poor Rape, Lets Be Guided How Can You Wait For S...

A Nigerian lady identified as Miss Seyitan Babatayo who accused D’banj of sexual assault has demanded for an apology from the singer. The young lady through her lawyer demanded a private and public apology. She also threatened to institute a criminal charges against Dbanj’ if he does not comply. A letter from her lawyer reads in part; “Our brief details the following narrations as recounted by our client in establishing the premise for her request as follows. On 30th December 2018, our client was invited to an All-White Rendezvous Party at Eko Atlantic City by your former manager who at that point in time was your manager, one Mr Franklin. The party ended a bit late and our client was stranded on the Island as she could not find a way back home. She was thereafter faced with the option of following one Oyinda and her boyfriend to their hotel room at Glee Hotel Victoria Island to wait for Mr Franklin who invited her. Oyinda’s boyfriend is one of your friends and Oyinda i...