An affidavit of age declaration is one of the most commonly requested legal documents in Nigeria, particularly for individuals who do not have an official birth certificate.
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José Mourinho is on the verge of completing a sensational return to Real Madrid after reportedly agreeing on all major terms with the Spanish giants ahead of a formal announcement expected later this month.
Sources close to the negotiations indicate that the veteran Portuguese manager has already reached a full agreement in principle with the Madrid hierarchy, with only final documentation and official signatures remaining before the deal is confirmed.
Mourinho is expected to sign an initial two-year contract, marking what would be one of the most dramatic managerial comebacks in European football in recent years.
According to reports emerging from Spain, the former Madrid boss never created complications during negotiations, making it clear from the outset that his priority was a return to the Santiago Bernabéu. Financial details are understood to have been resolved swiftly as Mourinho’s desire to rejoin the club outweighed lengthy contractual disputes.
The 63-year-old is reportedly expected to travel to Madrid immediately after his side’s clash against Athletic Bilbao, where final meetings and paperwork are anticipated to take place before the official unveiling.
Mourinho previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning a historic La Liga title with a record-breaking 100-point campaign while also lifting the Copa del Rey. His first spell at the club was marked by fierce rivalries, intense dressing-room battles and a relentless competitive mentality that restored Madrid’s domestic dominance during an era heavily controlled by FC Barcelona.
Club insiders believe Madrid sees Mourinho as the ideal figure to restore authority, discipline and elite mentality within the squad following growing pressure surrounding the team’s recent performances.
Fans across social media have reacted with excitement and disbelief at the prospect of “The Special One” returning to the Bernabéu dugout more than a decade after his departure.
Should the final paperwork be completed as expected, Mourinho’s return would instantly become one of the biggest stories of the European summer and potentially reshape Real Madrid’s ambitions both domestically and in the UEFA Champions League.
Mourinho Set For Stunning Real Madrid Return is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
When Bolanle Ositelu, a Nigerian-American girl-child advocate, landed in Nigeria on September 22, 2025, for her cousin’s wedding, she expected a whirlwind of celebration, family reunions, and the kind of Lagos energy you can only experience firsthand, but she left on October 4 with a very different story; one that left her fighting for her kidneys in a Houston hospital.
Ositelu, who narrated her experience to THE WHISTLER, stated that her trip started smoothly.
For six days she stayed at The Wheatbaker Hotel, eating every meal at its restaurant and moving between bridal showers, dinners at upscale restaurants, and nights out at clubs.
“Mommy’s night out” and other pre-wedding gatherings filled her calendar, and she said she had no issues during that time.
The trouble began after she checked into a newly built loft Airbnb in Victoria Island and started eating outside food.
“I did not eat or purchase food from any local markets. I mainly ate traditional Nigerian dishes, and one of the first places I tried near my Airbnb was a local spot which everyone highly recommended. Unfortunately, that’s when my problems began,” she explained.
Ositelu stated that she avoided local markets entirely, but the bottled water she drank at many establishments didn’t taste fresh, even though she kept drinking it.
Her days also included social outings in Lekki, Banana Island, Victoria Island, and a trip to Ogun State, where she occasionally had champagne like Ace of Spades and other drinks like Casa Azul and 1942.
She wasn’t a heavy drinker, she explained, just someone who enjoyed an occasional drink in company.
She explained that she knew that something was wrong when she started experiencing severe bowel issues and went through about three bottles of stomach relief medication that I had brought from the U.S.
“ Shortly before leaving Nigeria, I started developing fevers, nausea, and intense body pain—especially in my lower back near my kidneys,” Ositelu noted.
By the time she landed in Houston, she went straight from the airport to the emergency room and was admitted immediately due to the severity of her symptoms.
The doctors had immediately run some tests and also listened to her account of the trip.
“I usually get yearly health screenings and have never had any underlying health problems in my life. After running several tests and hearing my story, the doctors determined that I had consumed bad alcohol and had kidney failure.
“However, it wasn’t just kidney failure, I also contracted E. coli, likely from contaminated food or water.
“To give some context, normal kidney function levels are around 100, but mine dropped to 11, which nearly caused complete kidney failure and could have started affecting other organs. As for the E. coli infection, it likely came from something I ate or drank,” Ositelu explained.
She further narrated that she spent three days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and another three in a regular hospital room at Houston Methodist Hospital, receiving Intravenous (IV) antibiotics and pain relievers.
“ My kidneys are recovering, though they may not fully return to their original state. I’ll need to have checkups twice a year for the next few years to monitor my kidney function, but the E. coli infection has been successfully treated,” she narrated.
What was meant to be a joyful homecoming for a family wedding became a months-long recovery and a warning she now feels compelled to share.
Her story mirrors that of Rocboy, @Tomfordtitan, who raised the alarm after falling seriously ill from what he believes was fake alcohol at a Lagos club.
Rocboy who shared his story on X platform said the drink never made him feel tipsy, but he woke up with severe stomach pain and was later diagnosed with a gastrointestinal infection.
His warning is simple: “If you aren’t sure about the alcohol, don’t drink it. There’s a lot of fake alcohol in Lagos clubs and lounges.”
The problem isn’t isolated. Experts say counterfeit alcohol is fueling Nigeria’s public health crisis, where 25 million people were already living with Chronic Kidney Disease as of 2024, according to the Federal Ministry of Health.
A few weeks ago, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) uncovered two illegal alcohol production syndicates in Lagos, seizing counterfeit and adulterated products worth N350m.
According to the agency, raids at Zamfara Plaza in the Trade Fair Complex and parts of Lagos Island recovered over 1,800 cartons of fake drinks, along with plastic mixing tanks, empty branded bottles, and packaging materials used to produce and distribute them.
The issue has also drawn international attention. The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) last year renewed its travel advisory warning citizens about the risk of methanol poisoning from counterfeit or tainted alcohol in eight countries, including Nigeria and Uganda.
According to the FCDO, Methanol is a toxic industrial alcohol also found in antifreeze and paint thinners.
Peddlers of counterfeit alcohol illegally mixed it into spirit-based drinks to cut costs.
The advisory noted a rise in serious illness and deaths linked to contaminated beverages in destinations including Ecuador, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, and Nigeria.
Speaking on the issue, a quality assurance expert and public analyst specializing in food, drugs, and beverages, Dr. Abubakar Danraka, disclosed that counterfeit and adulterated alcohol has reached endemic levels in Nigeria and now poses a serious public health threat.
“The situation we are in Nigeria is very, very endemic,” Danraka said in an interview with THE WHISTLER. “Everywhere you go, the chances of getting a fake or adulterated drink are like one in three. Hardly will you select three bottles randomly without getting one.”
He said both the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Spirits and Wines Association of Nigeria (SWAN) agree on the scale of the problem, which cuts across popular and unknown brands alike.
“In many markets, they will ask you, ‘Do you want original or the one that is manageable?’ The originals are not even on display,” he said.
Danraka explained that the main health risk comes from methanol, an industrial alcohol used in antifreeze and paint thinners, which is being used to replace ethanol in fake drinks because it is cheaper and readily available.
“Methanol is three to four times cheaper than ethanol and readily available,” he said. “It looks the same and smells similar, but the body metabolizes it into formaldehyde and formic acid, which are highly toxic.”
The effects, he said, escalate quickly from dizziness to low blood pressure, severe abdominal pain, liver and kidney damage, blindness, coma, and death in high doses.
He noted that methanol produces a stronger and faster intoxication than ethanol, making the danger less obvious to drinkers.
“With normal alcohol, you take a cup and manage yourself. With methanol, if you take less than a cup, the intoxication is higher times two,” Danraka said.
He advised consumers to look for physical signs of tampering, including inconsistent fill levels, misspelled brand names, cheap packaging, and the absence of the typical ‘pop’ sound when opening non-alcoholic wines and some spirits. Price is another red flag.
“If you’re buying a bottle for N12,000 and you see it for N4,500 or N7,500, know that something is wrong,” he said.
Danraka also stressed the importance of buying from reputable suppliers, warning that purchasing alcohol anywhere increases the chances of getting a fake product.
For anyone who suspects they have consumed adulterated alcohol, he said immediate medical attention is critical.
“Stop drinking and go to the hospital. There are antidotes for methanol poisoning. Take the bottle with you if you still have it. The hospital will run the protocol to flush it out and stabilize you,” he said.
He added that victims should also report cases to NAFDAC, which has carried out raids in some states in the past year, seizing and destroying millions of naira worth of fake alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
“It’s a criminal offence. Reporting helps NAFDAC trace and shut down these syndicates,” he said.
Danraka said methanol poisoning is increasingly showing up in cases of kidney failure and other organ damage, particularly among patients in dialysis units.
“Now we’re having a lot of dialysis due to kidney failure and end-organ damage of unknown origin. But when you trace it, methanol poisoning comes up,” he said.
While many factors can cause organ damage, he noted that methanol poisoning is directly linked to adulterated alcohol.
“Nobody consumes methanol knowingly. The only reason you get methanol poisoning is because of counterfeiting,” he said.
He encouraged journalists and researchers to work with hospitals to document cases linked to fake alcohol, saying more data and patient stories are needed to raise awareness.
His final warning to Nigerians is simple, “These fakers don’t care about taste or leisure. They care about high returns. But the cost is public health.”
How Fake Alcohol Is Fuelling Kidney Failure Crisis is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
A protest over worsening bandit attacks in border communities between Kano and Katsina states turned violent on Sunday, leaving at least one person reportedly dead and paralysing movement along the busy Kano-Katsina highway.
The demonstration erupted at the Dayi-Gwarzo axis, a strategic interstate corridor linking Gwarzo Local Government Area in Kano State with Malumfashi in Katsina State, where residents blocked the road, burnt tyres and stopped all vehicular movement in protest against repeated attacks and alleged extortion by armed groups.
Travellers and commercial motorists were stranded for hours as protesters insisted the route would remain shut until authorities addressed rising insecurity in the area.
Tensions escalated when security operatives were deployed to disperse the crowd and reopen the highway.
During the operation, a protester was reportedly shot dead under unclear circumstances, with witnesses alleging the victim may have been hit by a stray bullet.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause of death or the identity of the deceased.
Spokesperson for the Kano State Police Command, Abdullahi Kiyawa, confirmed to THE WHISTLER that security operatives were engaging community leaders in efforts to restore calm, but did not confirm the fatality or whether normal traffic had resumed.
The protest, which began peacefully, later spread to Gwarzo town, where angry demonstrators marched to the local government headquarters to demand stronger security intervention following a series of deadly raids in surrounding villages.
Residents said the crisis was triggered by repeated attacks in communities such as Lakwoya, where armed bandits were accused of killing residents, destroying property, stealing livestock, and collecting ransom from locals.
Anger peaked when protesters reportedly set fire to the office of the local government chairman after expressing dissatisfaction with the response to their complaints. The incident forced businesses to shut down, with many residents fleeing for safety.
Sabiu Umar described the atmosphere as tense and uncertain, with fears of further escalation if security conditions do not improve.
“We can no longer go to our farms or protect our livestock. The attacks are frequent and response is slow,” one resident said, blaming delayed intervention by security agencies.
Another commuter described widespread fear among non-indigenes and traders, noting that economic activity in the area had been brought to a standstill.
The Dayi-Gwarzo corridor, a key commercial link between Kano, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states, remains under heavy tension as community leaders demand permanent security deployment, including military checkpoints, before normal movement can resume.
Terrorism: Protesters Block Kano-Katsina Highway is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Getting into a tertiary institution is only half the journey. Staying in school, paying fees on time, and having the right support system can be the bigger challenge. Over the past year, OPay has stepped into that gap, not just as a fintech company, but as a partner in the ambition and aspirations of thousands of students.
Through its long-term scholarship initiative, OPay has committed ₦1.2 billion over 10 years to support outstanding and indigent students across more than 20 partner tertiary institutions nationwide. What began as tuition support has grown into something more profound, a structured investment in young people who have the capacity but need financial backing to stay focused on their studies.
In campuses from Ife to Zaria and Calabar, OPay scholarship beneficiaries have shared stories of relief and renewed confidence. For many, the scholarship meant their parents no longer had to borrow money for school fees. For others, it meant more time in the library and less time worrying about part-time work. In a country where education remains one of the strongest ladders to upward mobility, this kind of support goes beyond money; it restores dignity and hope.
But OPay’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) journey is not stopping at the scholarship initiative.
Building on the strong foundation already laid, OPay is launching OPay Scholars, a bold expansion that moves from financial support to full career development. The 2026 edition will introduce OPay Futures and a National Innovation Challenge, where students can propose practical solutions to real-world problems. It will also feature a focused webinar session and a bootcamp led by industry experts, providing scholars with direct access to knowledge in technology, entrepreneurship, and career growth.
Most notably, the 2026 edition will create a structured career development pathway, culminating in a grand finale of OPay’s second annual Empowering Futures Conference. This platform will not only celebrate academic excellence but also spotlight creativity, leadership, and innovation among Nigerian students.
At a time when many young Nigerians are asking, “What next after school?”, OPay is helping to answer that question. By combining financial aid with mentorship, exposure, and opportunities for innovation, the company is positioning education as both a safety net and a springboard.
OPay’s impact over the past year proves one thing clearly: when businesses invest consistently in people, communities grow stronger. And in 2026, OPay Scholars is set to support ambitions and actively shape the future, one student, one idea, and one opportunity at a time.
One year into OPay’s ₦1.2 billion 10-year Scholarship Initiative, what’s next?
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Taraba State, Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris, has called on security agencies and other stakeholders to support the Commission’s ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise through public sensitization and voter education campaigns.
Dr. Idris made the appeal during a two-day advocacy and courtesy visit to security agencies, paramilitary formations and key institutions across the state as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the REC, the visits also served to formally notify stakeholders of the commencement of Phase III of the ongoing CVR exercise, which began on May 11 and is scheduled to end on July 10, 2026.
He urged the agencies to use their various platforms to educate residents on the importance of voter registration and the collection of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, stressing that the process would enable eligible citizens to participate fully in future elections.
Speaking during the engagements, the REC emphasized the strategic role of security agencies as members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), noting that they remain critical to election planning and security coordination.
At the NOA and NYSC offices, he sought stronger collaboration in the areas of voter education, public enlightenment and civic engagement, while also highlighting the contribution of corps members to election duties as a major component of INEC’s ad hoc workforce.
On the second day, the REC visited the State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, the Controller of the Federal Fire Service, the Brigade Commander of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army in Jalingo, and the Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
INEC said the visits underscore the Commission’s commitment to strategic leadership, effective election management and stakeholder engagement as preparations gradually gather momentum for the 2027 general elections.
Taraba REC seeks security agencies’ backing ahead of 2027 elections
The race for the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket in Benue South has become intense ahead of the party’s primary election taking place, as leading aspirants continue to lobby members and mobilise support across the district.
Leading the race are former APC senatorial candidate, Daniel Onjeh, former House of Representatives member, Francis Ottah Agbo; former lawmaker, Nelson Alapa; Joe Ojobo; Patrick Ojechema Idoko; and Oloche Agidani, all vying to emerge as the party’s candidate for the 2027 general election.
DAILY POST gathered that the contest, which has generated tension within the APC in Benue South, is also exposing growing cracks among stakeholders, party loyalists and influential political interests ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Benue South Senatorial District, largely dominated by the Idoma Igede ethnic nationalities, remains one of the most politically sensitive zones in the state.
The APC is seeking a strong candidate capable of challenging the incumbent senator, Senator Abba Moro of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is eyeing a third term in office.
Since the return of democracy in 1999, the PDP has remained dominant in Benue South, with Senator David Mark representing the district for 20 years, while Senator Abba Moro is currently rounding off his second term in office.
This development has heightened internal pressure within the APC, with stakeholders reportedly divided over who possesses the political strength, grassroots appeal, financial capacity and acceptability to capture the district for the ruling party.
Among the leading aspirants, Francis Ottah Agbo appears to have gained momentum within influential circles of the party.
Despite the growing momentum behind Ottah, supporters of former National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) president, Daniel Onjeh, insist that he remains the strongest grassroots politician in the race.
Onjeh, who flew the APC flag in the 2015, 2016 rerun and 2023 senatorial elections, still retains a loyal political structure across parts of Benue South.
Sources said Onjeh was initially believed to be the preferred aspirant of some influential figures within the party before the dynamics allegedly changed at the last minute.
The development reportedly triggered frustration within his camp.
Tensions escalated after reports emerged that some stakeholders outside Benue South allegedly participated in attempts to influence the choice of candidate for the zone.
The situation reportedly led to heated disagreements during a stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi.
Onjeh was later said to have stormed the residence of Governor Hyacinth Alia to seek clarification over the alleged endorsement of another aspirant by his pointman, Moses Ternenge, who is not from Benue South.
Shortly after the meeting, Onjeh issued a public statement, saying: “Relax, Benue South. I just left the Governor, and he vowed on his integrity that he never sent Moses Ternenge to endorse any candidate.”
The statement further fueled speculation about deepening divisions within the party ahead of the primaries.
However, Ottah in a post on Facebook claimed that all stakeholders of the party were behind him as the claim of external influence were misleading and untrue.
While much attention has focused on the rivalry between Ottah and Onjeh, former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Nelson Alapa is also said to be quietly building support within strategic blocs of the APC.
Though less vocal publicly, party insiders told our report that Alapa enjoys support among some stakeholders who believe he represents a compromise option capable of uniting aggrieved factions after the primaries.
His supporters are reportedly banking on his legislative background, relationship with grassroots mobilisers and perceived neutrality in the ongoing power struggle within the party.
Apart from the leading contenders, other aspirants in the race include former Benue State House of Assembly lawmaker representing Ogbadibo, Joe Ojobo, oil magnate Patrick Ojechema Idoko and young politician Oloche Agidani.
Each of them is believed to command pockets of influence within different local government areas.
For now, tension remains high across the district as party members prepare to decide who eventually emerges as the APC standard bearer in one of the most closely watched senatorial contests in Benue State.
APC primaries: Onjeh, Ottah, Alapa, others battle for senatorial ticket in Benue South
Two APC senatorial aspirants in Kebbi State, Senator Bala Ibn Na’All and Alhaji Sani Kabiru Giant, have withdrawn from Tuesday’s
The post Two APC senatorial aspirants withdraw from primary in Kebbi appeared first on Tribune Online.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) coalition in Lagos on Sunday unveiled its “Reset Lagos Agenda 2027,” presenting Prince Laja Adeboye as its consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election. Speaking at the unveiling in Lagos on Sunday, Chairman of the PDP-APM Coalition, Barrister (Dr) Amos Fawole, said the alliance was […]
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Nigerian singer, Chike has sparked reactions after sharing a cryptic post amid the ongoing scandal of his alleged illicit affair with media personality Frank Edoho’s estranged wife, Sandra Edoho.
Rumors have been circulating that Chike was romantically involved with Sandra Edoho after the media personality claimed he caught his then wife cheating on him with a musician but refused to mention a name.
Despite the media personality not mentioning the singer involved in the alleged illicit affair with his ex-wife, controversial social media critic Verydarkman released a video analysing the situation, bluntly telling Chike that his actions could permanently destroy his career.
He noted that the bulk of Chike income comes from performing at weddings, charging millions per booking.
He argued that husbands will now feel insecure and stop hiring Chike, out of fear of infidelity or his proximity to their wives.
Amid the scandal, the singer shared a cryptic post on Sunday night when he wrote, “Pity my soul!”
While it is unclear whether Chike’s post was connected to the ongoing scandal or not, fans are speculating that it was the singer’s way of telling his critics to stop vilifying him over mere allegations.
Meanwhile, the singer was recently spotted at a cinema in Lagos, signing autographs and taking pictures with female fans amid the ongoing scandal.
A clip from the event showed enthusiastic female fans seemingly assuring Chike’s of their unwavering support as they sing his song ‘Running To You’ while taking pictures with him.
Pity my soul – Chike says amid alleged scandal with Frank Edoho’s ex-wife, Sandra