Author: CKN

Reigning Miss University of Jos, Promise Dikko, is mourning her fiance who was k!lled by bandits.

The beauty queen confirmed the devastating news in a Facebook post on Thursday, June 11, 2026.

According to Dikko, they had made preparation and bookings for their wedding scheduled to hold on December 27, 2026. 

“Rip my hero. I kept this photo to post it when it close to wedding date,” she wrote.

“27th December was supposed to be the date. We have made prep and bookings. 

“But you left me. Bandit k!lled you for me. Nigeria happened to me. Rest easy my hero.”

Nollywood actress, Doris Ogala, has disclosed that the Lagos State High Court has dismissed the case brought by Pastor Chris Okafor against her.

DAILY POST reports that Okafor, the founder of the Grace Nation Bible Ministry, had sued the actress for cyber bullying and harassment, publication of personal materials, attempted extortion and dissemination of false information against him.

Sharing an update on her Instagram page on Thursday, Doris announced that the court has dismissed the case.

Mocking the clergyman, Doris accompanied the post with laughing emojis.

She wrote, “Yes ooo who says God no day. The court dismissed Chris Okafor’s case against me. Hahaha. Now it’s war. Hahaha. JESUS is the ultimate ooo. Tori dey ooo.”

Recall that Doris who is Okafor’s ex lover, called the clergyman out in December 2025 for allegedly dumping her for a younger lady despite promising her marriage.

Doris Ogala jubilates, says court has dismissed Chris Okafor’s case against her

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has appointed Mr. Bismarck Rewane as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of its Board of Directors, following approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Mr. Rewane is a respected economist and experienced leader in Nigeria’s financial sector, with more than 40 years of experience in macroeconomic research, investment banking, and strategic management.

He is the Managing Director at Financial Derivatives Company Limited, a top financial advisory and economic research firm.

He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Economic Society and has held leadership roles at International Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited and First National Bank of Chicago.

He graduated from the University of Ibadan with a degree in Economics and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Bankers of England and Wales.

Mr. Rewane has served on the boards of blue-chip companies and multinationals, including Guinness Nigeria Plc., British American Tobacco, Henkel Nigeria Limited, Top Feeds Nigeria Limited, and Africa Infrastructure Plus Partners.

He was a member of the Presidential Steering Committee for the Resolution of the Global Economic Crisis.

He has completed executive management programmes at top business schools, including the Oxford International Capital Markets programme, the Euromoney Institute of Finance, and IMD Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Board of Directors of First City Monument Bank welcomes Mr. Rewane.
The Bank is confident that his expertise in macroeconomics, corporate governance, and strategic management, together with the Bank’s stronger capital base, will strengthen its leadership and help drive the next phase of growth while continuing to deliver value to stakeholders.

First City Monument Bank Limited is a member of FCMB Group Plc, a financial services company that provides banking, consumer finance, investment management, and fintech services.

First City Monument Bank Appoints Bismarck Rewane Non-Executive Director, Chairman Board of Directors

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Wisdom Okoye, says Nigeria, like the United States, is struggling to address insecurity challenges.

Okoye spoke on Thursday during a press briefing in Abuja.

He was reacting to the surge in insecurity nationwide.

DAILY POST reports that students and teachers kidnapped in Oyo State are still in captivity, nearly a month after the incident.

There have been several other abductions and insecurity incidents in Kogi, Benue, Borno and Abuja.

Reacting, Okoye, who is the president of Tinubu Support Group, said while the Nigerian government has vowed to end insecurity, nowhere in the world is free of crime.

According to him, governors and local government chairmen across Nigeria must double their efforts to support what President Bola Tinubu and his security chiefs are doing to end insecurity nationwide.

‎”That there is no country in the world that is not having challenges, even in America.

‎”No country in this world has ever completely stopped crime. Our president is a builder; he would tackle insecurity.

“The truth is a president of a country cannot do it alone.

‎”We have governors, we have local government chairmen, we have coordinators, we have counsellors,” he said.

Insecurity: No country in the world free of crime – Okoye

The House of Representatives has passed the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police.

Lawmakers voted and passed the bill on Thursday during plenary.

Details soon…

BREAKING: Reps Pass State Police Bill is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Prize money at this year’s Wimbledon will increase by 20% to £64.2m.

The singles’ champions will each take home £3.6m with first-round losers paid £80,000.

More than £6m has been set aside for the qualifying competition, an increase of 25%.

Overall prize money has increased by £10.7m at a time when a group of players are campaigning for an even greater share of the proceeds.

Chair of the All England Club (AELTC) Deborah Jevans, told reporters: “We are thrilled that we are able to give such a big uplift to the players.

“I hope that the players will sit back and recognise that we listened, that they are sharing in our success and will recognise that this is a significant uplift and a significant amount of money that goes not just to the semi-finalists and finalists.

“And I also hope that they recognise all the improvements that have been made in the facilities.”

Players are campaigning for the Grand Slams to link prize money to tournament revenue – while also making contributions to their benefit pool and offering them a greater say in how the events are run.

The players had been hoping for a sum close to £71.7m from Wimbledon. They want all four Slams to pay 16% of their revenue in prize money this year – and calculate that figure by adding 5% to last year’s revenue.

For this year’s Wimbledon, players advocated for total prize money of £71m, Jevans said, citing her recent talks in Paris with Larry Scott, the former WTA CEO who has been advising the players.

At Roland Garros, top-10 players limited their press conferences with journalists to 15 minutes in symbolic protest of their share of the tournament revenues.

Just over a year ago, 20 leading players signed a letter to the heads of the four Grand Slams seeking more prize money and a greater voice in decision making.

Wimbledon, the oldest Grand Slam tournament, begins on June 29. Iga Swiatek is the defending women’s champion, while the men’s defending champion is Jannik Sinner.

Wimbledon Announces Record Increase In Prize Money is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Senate on Thursday vacated the arrest warrant earlier issued against former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, and also distanced itself from comments made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole describing the company as “a bunch of criminals and thieves.”

The development came amid the ongoing investigation by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts into the financial records and transactions of the NNPCL.

The committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, had initially resolved to invoke its constitutional powers following what lawmakers described as repeated failures by the former NNPCL boss to honour invitations.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Victor Umeh.

“This matter has lingered for too long. Nigerians deserve answers. The committee cannot continue to wait indefinitely while critical questions concerning trillions of naira remain unanswered,” Umeh said.

The hearing witnessed a tense moment when Senator Tony Nwoye sought to explain Kyari’s absence. Nwoye informed the committee that the former NNPCL chief was receiving medical treatment in Germany.

“I spoke to Mele Kyari about a week ago. He promised that he would be here. But incidentally, I learned last night that the man is hospitalized in Germany,” Nwoye told the committee.

His intervention was met with resistance from Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, who accused him of appearing to defend Kyari.

“You are not Kyari’s lawyer!” Nwaebonyi fired back.

The exchange briefly disrupted proceedings as lawmakers debated whether Kyari’s reported health condition should affect the committee’s decision on the warrant.

Responding, Nwoye denied acting on behalf of the former NNPCL chief.

“I am not holding brief for Mele Kyari. I am duty-bound to bring this information to the committee. The decision on whether to issue a warrant of arrest is entirely for this committee to make,” he said.

Reacting to the arrest warrant, Kyari denied allegations that he deliberately avoided the Senate investigation and described the committee’s action as surprising.

In a letter addressed to the committee chairman, Kyari said he had formally notified lawmakers of his inability to attend the hearing because he was undergoing medical treatment abroad.

He stated that a letter dated May 11, 2026, had been sent to the committee explaining his health condition and expressing his readiness to appear before lawmakers upon his return to Nigeria.

“I remain very willing and ready to honour the invitation of the Committee and to appear before it once I return to the country,” he stated.

“However, I wish to respectfully state that I have neither received nor sighted the said invitation. Had the invitation reached me, I would have gladly honoured it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the committee also heard from former NNPCL Chief Finance Officer, Bala Ajiya, who appeared before lawmakers to respond to issues arising from the company’s audited accounts.

Ajiya strongly defended the corporation’s financial records and rejected claims that funds were missing from the company’s books.
“There is no money missing,” he told the committee.

According to him, reports alleging that N210 trillion had disappeared from NNPCL accounts were based on a misunderstanding of accounting entries involving different entities within the company’s structure.

He further dismissed allegations that N5.8 billion was spent on registering the new NNPCL, explaining that the actual amount involved was N2.9 billion paid directly to government agencies, including the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Ajiya maintained that all transactions were properly documented and verifiable.
The Senate also clarified that remarks attributed to Senator Oshiomhole, in which he reportedly described the NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves” during Wednesday’s hearing, did not represent the position of the upper chamber.

The NNPCL had earlier responded to the comments, insisting that it was not a thief.

BREAKING: Senate Disowns Kyari Arrest Warrant, Carpets Oshiomhole Over Remarks is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

 

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a constitutional amendment bill to establish state police nationwide.

The passage marks a significant step in Nigeria’s long-running debate over decentralising policing and tackling insecurity.

The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police; and for Related Matters (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026,” was approved during consideration at the Committee of the Whole, presided over by Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas.

The voting commenced after the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Benjamin Kalu, presented arguments in support of the proposal and urged lawmakers to back the measure.

The exercise was conducted manually, with members raising their hands to indicate their positions.

At the end of the count, about 288 lawmakers voted in support of the bill, while four members voted against it.

The proposed amendment seeks to fundamentally restructure policing in Nigeria by creating both Federal and State Police formations.

One of the key provisions of the bill alters Section 214 of the Constitution to establish the Federal Police and State Police formally.

Under the proposal, the National Assembly would be empowered to prescribe the structure, organisation, administration and powers of the Federal Police, while also providing the framework and guidelines for the establishment of state police services.

The bill stipulates that no state police formation shall commence operations unless it is established through a law passed by the relevant State House of Assembly and certified as meeting national minimum standards prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.

It further provides that until a state police force becomes operational, the Federal Police will continue to perform policing functions in that state.

The amendment also seeks to limit federal interference in the operations of state police.

Under the proposal, the Federal Police may only intervene in a state’s internal security affairs in cases of a complete breakdown of law and order, upon the request of a governor, or where a state police force becomes unable to function due to administrative, financial or other challenges.

The bill also proposes significant changes to the appointment and command structure of the police.

Under the amended Section 215, the Inspector-General of Police would be appointed by the President on the advice of the National Police Council from among serving members of the Federal Police, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly.

Similarly, a State Commissioner of Police would be appointed by a governor on the advice of the National Police Council from among serving members of the State Police, subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly.

The proposal empowers governors to issue lawful directives to State Commissioners of Police on matters relating to public safety and order.

However, where a commissioner believes such directives are unlawful or inconsistent with accepted policing standards, the matter may be referred to the National Police Council, whose decision would be final.

The bill also amends Section 84 of the Constitution by replacing references to the “National Police Council and the Federal Police Service Commission” with the “Nigeria Police Council and the Police Service Commission.”

The proposal, however, will still require approval by the Senate and endorsement by at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly, assented to by the President before it can become part of the Constitution.

Super Falcons striker Esther Okoronkwo has returned to training following an injury layoff, DAILY POST reports.

Okoronkwo picked up a hamstring injury in AFC Toronto’s league clash with Halifax early last month.

The 29-year-old has missed her club’s last five league matches due to the setback.

She also missed Nigeria’s recent friendlies against the Terangha Lionesses of Senegal.

The talented forward is now expected to feature in AFC Toronto’s league clash against Montreal Roses at the  York Lions Stadium on Saturday.

Okoronkwo played a key role in AFC Toronto’s title success last season.

WAFCON 2026: Boost for Super Falcons as Esther Okoronkwo returns to training

There was pandemonium at the Legislative Council Complex in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on Thursday as thugs invaded the chambers, disrupting an ongoing sitting of the councillors.

Some of the lawmakers sustained injuries while scampering for safety. A female councillor, Ekomobong Isaac, was seen bleeding before she was evacuated to the hospital.

Journalists who came to cover the plenary were not spared as one of them, Emmanuel Ufon, was assaulted and his cameras confiscated.

Speaking after the incident, the Leader of the 8th Ini Legislative Council, Donald Usoroh, described the attack as unwarranted, alleging that it was sponsored by the Council Chairman, Inibehe Umah.

Usoroh recalled that trouble started when the legislators wrote to the chairman, inviting him to give account of the council’s monthly income and expenditure, in order to ensure accountability and good governance.

He said rather than the chairman responding to the request, he resorted to intimidation and violence by allegedly sending thugs to disrupt the scheduled plenary.

Usoroh maintained that the legislators were not even planning to impeach the chairman as they know the due protocols to follow if they want to do such but only wanted him to give account of huge funds he had collected from Governor Umo Eno for the development of the local government.

He, therefore,  urged Governor Eno, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and other stakeholders to wade into the matter to forestall a full blown crisis in Ini LGA even as he reaffirmed their commitments to serving the people with courage, integrity and dedication to democratic principles.

Usoroh said, “We were not holding a sitting to impeach the chairman. The order paper and agenda for the sitting had already been prepared, and no item relating to impeachment was included.

“In the discharge of our constitutional duties, we had earlier requested a transparent account of the council’s monthly income and expenditure. This was a legitimate legislative responsibility aimed at ensuring accountability and good governance.

“This shameful act of aggression not only undermined democracy at the grassroots but also inflicted devastating consequences. Tragically, one of our female colleagues lost her two-month pregnancy as a direct result of the assault. This heartbreaking incident has left the Council and the community deeply shaken.”

Speaking on behalf of the journalists attacked during the incident, Comrade Ufon said he had been invited to cover the legislative beat which he normally covered and was carrying out his professional duties when the violence occurred.

Ufon alleged that individuals he described as “suspected terrorists and hoodlums” stormed the legislative chambers, destroyed his tripod, assaulted him and his cameraman, and seized their cameras.

According to him, the attackers claimed they were acting on the instructions of the council chairman and informed him that he would have to recover his equipment through them.

He said, “A free press depends on journalists being able to gather information, document events, and report news without intimidation, violence, or arbitrary interference. When journalists are physically attacked or their equipment is confiscated, several concerns should arise.”

Meanwhile, attempts to reach the council chairman were not successful as his phone lines were switched off and messages sent to him were not delivered.

Pandemonium in Akwa Ibom local council as thugs disrupt plenary, sack councillors