- Atiku accuses Obasanjo of spreading ‘lies’ ahead of election
- Former Big Brother Africa housemate Bayo Okoh is dead
- ‘Ali Must Go’ student protest comes to life in a Nigerian film by Kolade Okeowo
- Chad to scrap visa requirements for all African travellers from January 2027
- Porsha Williams secures $1.5m divorce settlement and Atlanta home
Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the top five Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss.
Atiku accuses Obasanjo of spreading ‘lies’ ahead of election
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of sustaining a campaign of “lies, political manipulation, and orchestrated deceit” against him for more than two decades.
Atiku, through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, was reacting to Obasanjo’s recent claim that he mobilised the late Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba, to remove him from office during their time in government between 1999 and 2007. Ibe described the allegation as baseless and accused Obasanjo of reviving old claims against Atiku whenever elections approach.
Ibe said the latest allegation was particularly unfair because Na’Abba, who died in 2023, could no longer respond to it. He also cited former lawmaker Abubakar Bwari, who served as Chief Whip during the period, as contradicting Obasanjo’s account.
Former Big Brother Africa housemate Bayo Okoh is dead
Former Big Brother Africa housemate Bayo Adetomiwa Okoh has reportedly died, with news of his passing emerging on Saturday, August 8. Media personality Matilda Duncan announced the death on social media while sharing photos of the late reality star and expressing shock over the growing number of deaths in the entertainment industry.
The cause of Okoh’s death has not been disclosed. He was a housemate on the first season of Big Brother Africa in 2003, spending 91 days in the house before becoming the sixth contestant to be evicted from the reality show.
His death has sparked an outpouring of grief from celebrities and fans. The loss comes after the Nigerian entertainment industry recently mourned other stars. Since the launch of BBNaija, three former housemates, Francisca Owumi, Joseph Ada, and Rico Swavey, have also died.
‘Ali Must Go’ student protest comes to life in a Nigerian film by Kolade Okeowo
Nigeria’s historic “Ali Must Go” student protest of 1978 is set to be retold in a new film written and produced by filmmaker Kolade Segun Okeowo, son of the late student leader who led the nationwide movement.
The protest began after negotiations with the military government led by then General Olusegun Obasanjo failed over a proposed increase in university fees. The demonstrations escalated after soldiers opened fire, resulting in deaths and making the movement one of the most significant student protests in Nigeria’s history.
Speaking about the film, Kolade said the story was personal because his father, Segun Okeowo, was arrested and rusticated for leading the campaign. He described the movie as a warning about the consequences of unequal access to education, noting that while the cost of education has changed since 1978, the question of who can afford to be educated remains. The film’s cinema release date has not yet been announced.
Chad to scrap visa requirements for all African travellers from January 2027
Chad has announced plans to remove entry visa requirements for all African nationals from January 1, 2027, in a move aimed at promoting greater unity and freedom of movement across the continent.
President Mahamat Idriss Déby said the decision would help make the free movement of people and goods in Africa a practical reality. Chad will become the eighth African country to adopt a blanket visa-free policy for citizens of other African nations.
Other countries with similar policies include the Republic of Benin, The Gambia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Ghana, Kenya, and Togo. In May, Togo also announced that African travellers with valid passports could enter the country without obtaining a visa.
Porsha Williams secures $1.5m divorce settlement and Atlanta home
Porsha Williams has reached a seven-figure divorce settlement with her Nigerian ex-husband, Simon Guobadia, and will retain the Atlanta home they previously shared, according to court documents. Guobadia has transferred his interest in the property to Williams through a quitclaim deed.
Under the agreement, Williams will receive $1,568,181.63 from Guobadia’s share of the property’s equity. He will also transfer ownership of a 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost to the reality TV star. Williams will have full authority to refinance or sell the property without Guobadia’s involvement, provided the transaction is commercially reasonable.
The former couple confirmed the settlement under oath during a court hearing on August 5, telling the judge that the agreement resolved their outstanding disputes. Williams filed for divorce in February 2024, about 15 months after they married in November 2022.
