A new record has been set for the highest price ever paid for a pair of sneakers at an auction with a game-worn pair of Air Jordan XIII Breds. The sneakers, featuring a red and black colorway, sold for over $2.2 million, surpassing the previous record set in 2021 when a pair of Nike Air Ships worn by Jordan in his first NBA regular season game were sold for $1.4 million.

Head of streetwear and modern collectibles at Sotheby’s, Brahm Wachter, stated that this new record further confirms the unparalleled demand for Michael Jordan sports memorabilia. He said, “Today’s record-breaking result further proves that the demand for Michael Jordan sports memorabilia continues to outperform and transcend all expectations.”

The Air Jordan XIII Breds were worn by the NBA legend during the second half of the Chicago Bulls 93-88 victory over the Utah Jazz on June 5, 1998. Jordan delivered an impressive performance of 37 points, five rebounds, three assists, and no turnovers, leading Chicago to tie the series 1-1. The Bulls went on to win the finals, with Jordan receiving his sixth ring and being named the MVP of the finals.

Following the game, Jordan gifted these historic sneakers to a ball boy from the Utah Jazz. The sneakers have been kept in excellent condition and come with a letter of authenticity signed by the ball boy, who is now a Utah Jazz superfan. With the recent sale, it’s clear that the value of Jordan’s memorabilia continues to rise, making him one of the most sought-after athletes in the world of collectibles.

Doyinsola Anuoluwapo David, also known as Doyin, a former housemate of the popular reality show Big Brother Naija, has stated that she would not mind if her partner cheats on her, as long as he remains caring and loyal to her. The reality TV star made this known on a recent episode of her podcast, Doyin's Corner, where she hosted Beauty Tukura and Modella as guests to discuss the intricacies of relationships.

Doyin noted that a partner could be unfaithful and still remain loyal, and vice versa. She believes that being cheated on does not equate to the absence of love in a relationship, and that her definition of loyalty does not hinge on faithfulness alone.

According to her, “My partner can love me but still cheat on me. But I don’t think that because he has cheated, he doesn’t love me. For me, my definition of loyalty is not, don’t cheat me."

Doyin also emphasized the importance of being realistic in a relationship, stating that she would prefer a partner who would be honest about his intentions, even if it means admitting to being unfaithful. She explained, "I’m just trying to be realistic in my relationship. For me, I will say I want a partner that he will tell me, babe, I’m travelling for six months, I can not promise you that I will be loyal for six months.”

Her statement has generated mixed reactions on social media, with some people supporting her view, while others disagree. Some people have argued that being unfaithful is a breach of trust and that it should never be tolerated in a relationship.

Professor Akinyemi Onigbinde, a leading political philosopher with expertise in public policies, politics, and governance, has criticized the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Yakubu Mahmood, over the outcome of the immediate past 2023 presidential election. Professor Onigbinde claimed that the INEC boss had "messed up" following the poll that saw Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerge as the winner.

Opposition parties have been demanding the nullification of the election, which they deemed fraudulent and unconstitutional. In his interview, Professor Onigbinde alleged that the 2023 presidential election, "without prejudice to the outcome of court judgment," was "not free and fair," adding that "INEC deliberately disabled BVAS for the presidential election."

Professor Onigbinde clarified that being a member of the professorial cadre, Yakubu's incompetence cannot be attributed to all professors. He cited the example of a professor who was the returning officer for Abia governorship election who rejected a bribe from politicians.

Professor Onigbinde also pointed out that APC was aiming for an agenda, and INEC chairman's appointment is not typically chosen from the dominant ethnic group, especially where there are chances that a presidential candidate is likely to emerge and win. He cited the example of how Jonathan never met Attahiru Jega before he appointed him, and when Jega left, nobody expected Buhari to pick from his Fulani ethnic group.

When asked to explain what he meant by Nigeria cannot be redeemed by election, Professor Onigbinde stated that elections are not enough to solve Nigeria's problems. He opined that while elections are an essential part of the democratic process, they cannot be a panacea for Nigeria's deep-seated socio-political and economic challenges. He added that good governance, transparency, and accountability were necessary ingredients for a successful democracy.

The former Resident Electoral Commissioner for Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa Ari, has finally spoken up about the controversial declaration of Aishatu Dahiru, also known as Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the governorship election. Ari was suspended by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after his illegal declaration of Binani as the winner, which was against the Electoral Act. INEC later announced Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the legitimate winner of the election after following the proper procedures.

In a recent letter to the Inspector General of Police, Ari claimed that he acted within the confines of the law. He stated that the results to be announced by the INEC Collation Officer differed from the copies he signed and uploaded on the Result Viewing (IReV) portal. He also alleged that there were attempts to replace him with his secretary, and accused two national commissioners of meeting with Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri at the Government House, Yola, during the supplementary election.

“It was based on this that I compiled all the polling unit results and declared the election winner based on the highest number of valid votes scored by the candidate of the APC,” Ari stated. “I had the breakdown of the valid votes scored by the two leading candidates in the supplementary election, using the results from the polling units as collated into all relevant forms EC8B, C, D and E respectively by properly and legally appointed and recognized collation officers and my humble self as the Adamawa State Chief Collation Officer and Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).”

Meanwhile, INEC has refuted claims of its officials meeting with Fintiri during the supplementary election. INEC had earlier requested the Inspector-General of Police and necessary security agencies to investigate and prosecute Ari for his role in the illegal declaration of Binani as the winner of the governorship election.

The Nigerian government has recently introduced new taxes on imported vehicles, alcoholic beverages and single use plastics, and has also updated the list of items banned from being imported into the country. The new tax regime is set to come into effect on June 1, 2023, according to a circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

Under the new tax regime, imported vehicles with engine sizes ranging from 2000cc to 3999cc will pay a two per cent Import Adjustment Tax (IAT) levy on the value of the vehicle, while vehicles with engine sizes of 4000cc and above will attract a four per cent IAT levy. This is in addition to the existing 35% import duty and 35% levy paid by importers of vehicles. However, vehicles below 2000cc, mass transit buses, electric vehicles, and locally manufactured vehicles are exempt from the IAT levy.

In addition to the new tax on imported vehicles, the Nigerian government will charge N75 per litre of beer, stout and wine imported into the country in 2023 and N100 per litre in 2024. Prior to the new tax regime, imported alcoholic beverages were taxed ad valorem, meaning the tax or customs duties were proportional to the estimated value of the goods or transaction concerned.

The government has also updated the import prohibition list to include used motor vehicles above 12 years from the year of manufacture, paracetamol tablets and syrups, cotrimoxazole tablets and syrups, metronidazole tablets and syrups, chloroquine tablets and syrups, folic acid tablets, vitamin B complex tablets (except modified release formulations), multivitamin tablets, capsules and syrups (except special formulations), aspirin tablets (except modified release formulations and soluble aspirin), magnesium trisilicate tablets and suspensions, piperazine tablets and syrups, levamisole tablets and syrups, ointments penicillin/gentamycin, pyrantel pamoate tablets and syrups, intravenous fluids (dextrose, normal saline, etc.), waste pharmaceuticals and mineral or chemical fertilisers containing the three fertilising elements – nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Lastly, the government has introduced a green tax in the form of an excise duty on single use plastics, including plastic containers, films, and bags at a rate of 10%. The new taxes and import bans have been put in place to promote locally manufactured goods and protect the environment.

On Wednesday, nine additional local government chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State backed the decision of Kashere ward officials to expel former Governor Danjuma Goje from the party. This move follows the earlier expressions of support from the Akko and Yalmatu Deba Local Government executives over the punitive measure against Goje.

The Kashere ward APC, led by Chairman Tanimu Abdullahi, had announced Goje’s expulsion from the party on April 18. The decision followed an investigation of allegations of anti-party activities levelled against the former governor. Among the allegations listed were “open support for opposition party candidates by hosting the New Nigeria People’s Party governorship candidate and the Peoples Democratic Party Akko Federal House of Representatives candidate at his residence and offering support against the interest of his party, the APC, among many other instances. Making unguarded utterances and pronouncements capable of undermining the APC administration in Gombe State.”

Officials from Billiri, Gombe, Akko, Yalmatu Deba, Kaltungo, Shongom, Dukku, Nafada, Funakaye, and Balanga LGAs expressed their support for the Kashere ward APC’s decision to expel Goje. They praised Abdullahi and his executive members for taking disciplinary measures against party members and officials who commit anti-party activities before, during, and after the 2023 general elections.

The officials also endorsed incumbent governor Muhammadu Yahaya as the leader of the APC in the state. The chairman of Gombe LGA chapter of APC, Abubakar Danladi, expressed concern over the alleged charge of grave misconduct and anti-party activities levelled against some party members and officials. Danladi disclosed that such activities undermined the success of the party and caused serious harm to the party’s unity and progress.

Ayuba Hassan, APC Kaltungo LGA chairman, expressed his unreserved confidence in the leadership and stewardship of the governor as the leader of the party in Gombe state. He added that his members were in support of Goje’s expulsion. “The leaders and its Executive members support and endorse completely and without any reservation the decision of the APC Kashere ward Executive Committee to expel Goje for his shameful and unpardonable conduct of anti-party activities during the 2023 general elections,” the chairman said.

People prepare to board a bus departing from Khartoum in the Sudanese capital’s south on April 24, 2023, as battles rage in the city between the army and paramilitaries. (Photo by – / AFP)

The Nigerian Federal Government has spent $1.2 million to evacuate over 2,400 stranded Nigerians from Sudan. This was revealed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who disclosed that the high cost of the evacuation was due to the need for security cover for the eight-hour journey from Luxor to Cairo and the eleven-hour trip from Aswan to Cairo, Egypt.

The evacuation was necessary due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, although the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces had agreed to halt hostilities at midnight on Monday. Local media, however, reported that fighting resumed, with a hospital being shelled on Wednesday.

Onyeama stated that no Nigerian lost their lives in the conflict, but there were no plans for continued education for the evacuees, most of whom are students of the University of Khartoum.

The evacuation was initially planned for Tuesday, but it failed due to logistic challenges. The Chairperson of the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, confirmed that the new travel plans were finalized on Tuesday night. At least 40 buses were sent to move the Nigerians out of Khartoum and other troubled parts of Sudan early on Wednesday.

More buses were expected to arrive, and the stranded students were scheduled to depart for Nigeria on Wednesday. The Nigerian Embassy in Sudan and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were responsible for the evacuation.

Turin police have fined 171 Juventus fans and banned them from their stadium after racist chants were directed at Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku during the Italian Cup semi-final between the two teams on April 4. Representatives for Lukaku called the chants "hostile and disgusting racist abuse". The police cited "racist chants" in a brief statement announcing the fines, but did not provide details of the penalties or the duration of the stadium ban.

Following the match, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) closed Juventus' stadium for one game due to racist chants from "the majority of fans" in the section where the chanting took place. However, the ban was overturned on appeal.

Lukaku was suspended for one game for receiving two yellow cards, the second for his goal celebration in front of Juventus fans after scoring a stoppage-time penalty that secured a 1-1 draw for Inter. He held his finger to his lips and told the Juve supporters to "shut up". The suspension was later lifted by the FIGC following public outrage, allowing Lukaku to play in the second leg of the semi-final in Milan on Wednesday.

Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s President-elect, has returned to the country from Paris, France, after a month abroad. There were reports while he was away that he was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed ailment, but he dismissed these rumours, stating that he was refreshed and ready for the task ahead. He said he had been consulting and planning, and was putting together a strong team so he could hit the ground running once he assumes office on May 29.

Tinubu arrived in Abuja with his wife, Senator Remi Tinubu, and son, Seyi Tinubu. He was welcomed by Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Governors Simon Lalong and Abubakar Sani-Bello, former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, and other dignitaries. Tinubu later posted a tweet in which he expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and affirmed his promise to deliver a nation of Renewed Hope for all Nigerians.

Senator Barau Jibril, Adeola Olamilekan Yahyi, Opeyemi Bamidele, Dayo Adeyeye, Sabi Abdullahi and Adelere Oriolowo as well as Secretary of the recently-dissolved Presidential Campaign Council, Hon. James Faleke, Hon. Babajimi Benson, and Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Director of media and publicity in the dissolved Presidential Campaign Council, were also present at the airport.

Tinubu’s return to Nigeria and his readiness to assume office has reassured many Nigerians, dispelling rumours about his health. With his promise to deliver a nation of Renewed Hope, he has set the tone for his administration, and many Nigerians look forward to seeing what he will achieve as their President.

With just a few weeks to go before the handover on May 29, 2023, the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, has returned to Nigeria to a warm welcome from hundreds of his supporters and well-wishers across the country. Tinubu's private jet landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the federal capital territory (FCT), at exactly 4:30 pm.

Having been away for over a month, Tinubu was received at the airport by top party officials, including a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu. The party faithful cheered as Tinubu headed straight to his vehicle, which is believed to be heading to the Defence House, the official residence reserved for President Elects since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

Tinubu's return has put to rest the speculations by some opposition political parties and his adversaries that he may not be available to take over power after the end of President Muhammadu Buhari's tenure on May 29, due to ill-health.

The atmosphere at the airport was electrifying, as Tinubu's supporters expressed their joy at his safe return. The president-elect has a lot of work ahead of him, as he prepares to take over the mantle of leadership in a few weeks. However, with the overwhelming support he has received from his party faithful, there is no doubt that he is up to the task.

The next few weeks promise to be very eventful as Nigeria prepares for a change of leadership. All eyes will be on Tinubu as he begins to put his plans in place to move the country forward. We wish him all the best in his new role as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Charles Oputa, also known as Charly Boy, a veteran Nigerian singer, has criticized President Muhammadu Buhari for begging Nigerians for forgiveness after what he called a deliberate mismanagement of the country for eight years. In his Eid-el-Fitr message, the president begged Nigerians to forgive him for any way he may have hurt them, saying, "all those that I have hurt, I ask that they pardon me."

In a video message shared on his Twitter handle, Charly Boy said he does not accept the president's apology. He accused Buhari and his party of intentionally mismanaging Nigeria for the last eight years. He said, "Dear General Buhari, apology not accepted! At least, by me. Abeg abeg, stop forming."

He further added, "The power that you hungered for, you have tested it twice, and this your second coming was to perfect what you failed to complete on your first. Are you happy now? Many will agree that Nigeria in the last eight years has been intentionally and deliberately mismanaged under your watch and the APC cabals with impunity and intensity."

Charly Boy's statement has generated mixed reactions on social media, with some supporting his views while others criticizing him for being too harsh on the president. The issue of mismanagement of the country and the president's apology is likely to continue to be a subject of debate among Nigerians.

Just a day after the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave the directive for the demolition of some buildings within Banana Island due to infractions, another tragic event has occurred in Lagos. This time, a five-storey building collapsed in GRA Apapa, Lagos, adding to the list of recent building collapses in the state.

It's been less than two weeks since a seven-storey building caved in on Banana Island, Lagos, causing the death of one worker and leaving others with severe injuries. Unfortunately, this latest collapse is yet another grim reminder of the hazards of building construction in Lagos.

According to reports, the collapsed building located on Ladipo Oluwole Street in GRA Apapa was still under construction when it gave way. It was alleged that a thunder strike hit the building, leading to its collapse. This incident once again raises concerns over the quality of materials used in building construction, as well as the safety measures put in place during construction.

The recent building collapses in Lagos have sparked public outrage, and many are calling on the government to take decisive action to prevent such incidents from recurring. This includes enforcing building codes and regulations, as well as ensuring strict compliance with safety standards.

As the investigation into the cause of the collapse continues, it is important for all stakeholders in the building industry to prioritize safety above all else. The loss of lives and property resulting from building collapses is avoidable, and it's time for everyone to take responsibility and play their part in preventing such tragedies.

Former Governor of Enugu State, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, has made a public appeal to the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, to withdraw his petition against the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He urged Obi to join him in the task of making a new nation and align with the ebullience and conviviality of welcoming Tinubu's victory to the Office of the President of the greatest black nation on earth.

Obi had filed a petition to challenge the victory of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress in the 25 February election. Obi, who came third in the election, alleged that the election was characterized by various irregularities, including the non-qualification of Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, to contest the election. Obi also stated that Tinubu failed to win the majority of the lawful votes cast in the election and just as he could not secure one-quarter of the legal votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

In response to Obi's petition, Nnamani said that Obi knows he has neither the spread nor national appeal to win the Presidential election, and what he is doing with the petition is "bad belle, petulance and demarketing." Nnamani believes that Obi's petition is ego-driven and a joke carried too far. His attempt to highlight non-electoral issues is trying to embarrass the President-elect.

Nnamani advised Obi to come down from his high horse to allow sedate minds to negotiate on behalf of the Igbo and South East for a safe landing to include their stake in the national Palavar and share of the accruals of the commonwealth. He believes that it's time for the Igbo to confront reality and align themselves with the mainstream to participate in making a new Nigeria. They cannot afford to be consigned to the backwoods of history.

Above all, Nnamani's public appeal to Obi to withdraw his petition against the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a call for unity and national development. He believes that the Igbo and South East can only bargain for their share of the accruals of the commonwealth by aligning themselves with the mainstream and participating in making a new Nigeria. It's time for the Igbo to confront reality and join the task of making a new nation.

Asake, a rising Nigerian singer known for his hit song ‘Mr Money With The Vibe’, has recently opened up about how poverty led him to pursue a career in music. In an interview with ABC News, the 24-year-old artist shared that he initially started as a dancer, but eventually turned to singing because dancing couldn’t earn him enough money.

Despite not having any formal training in music, Asake had an early exposure to it through his parents. He said, “My parents used to play me a lot of classical Songs. They love listening to songs. The kind of father I have is the one that will wake up in the morning and have one cigarette then loud music.”

Although Asake originally wanted to pursue a career in dance, he eventually realized that it may not provide him with the financial stability he desired. He said, “But at the end of the day, after dancing I fell in love with having money too. Then I started thinking about it, is dance going to give me the kind of money I want?”

This realization prompted Asake to explore other avenues, leading him to discover his talent for singing. He explained, “At the end of the day, I feel like I can actually sing. Then I added music to it. Maybe because I know how to dance then I know how to bounce on music. I actually don’t want to be a musician in the first place. I just wanted to dance. It feels like water. I love everything that comes with dancing.”

Asake’s story highlights the struggles of many aspiring artists in Nigeria, where poverty is still rampant, and pursuing a career in the arts is often seen as a risky venture. Despite these challenges, Asake has managed to make a name for himself in the music industry and is quickly becoming one of Nigeria’s rising stars.