Popular actress, Iyabo Ojo, has responded to her colleague, Liz Anjorin, via a video post, stating that she should be held responsible if anything happens to her or any member of her family. This comes as Ojo has been fighting different battles, and receiving threats received.
Earlier in the week, her office in Lagos was engulfed in a fire but no causalities were involved. Her daughter, Priscilla, then stated online that the fire incident was only a part of other events that had been a threat to her and her family. Priscilla also noted that her mother, Iyabo, had received a threat letter in May that insinuated that her movement and that of her daughter were been monitored.
Also responding, Iyabo took to her Instagram page on Thursday, July 10, 2025. In a lengthy post, she corroborated her daughter’s account of the threat she allegedly recieved, stating that certain people were continuously trying to kill her and destroy her family.
The post read in part, “Without prejudice to the ongoing investigation, it is important to state that a few days before my daughter’s wedding in Tanzania, I received a letter threatening my life at my office. The letter explicitly stated that I would go through hell in the next three months”
Less than 24 hours after her response, her colleague, Lizzy Anjorin, announced the dismissal of the N1bn lawsuit. Her post got the attention of Iyabo, who later responded in a now-deleted video with the caption, “If anything should happen to my children or my kids, hold Lizzy Anjorin responsible… we haven’t started any case yet… that was just ADR, case never start.”
In the video, Iyabo explained that if anything happened to her or any of her loved ones, Anjorin should be held responsible. She further explained that although the case wasn’t a court case but stated that it was part of an Alternative Dispute Resolution process, which had not even begun properly.
In a more shocking turn of events, social media personality, Martins Otse, aka VDM, responded to the statement posted by Iyabo. He stated that her post was a shock to him, while also implying that he knows more than what was said, but would remain silent in respect of the actress.
A farm worker died on Friday after being injured during a raid by US immigration agents on a legal cannabis farm in California that resulted in the arrests of 200 undocumented migrants and clashes with protestors.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, called demonstrators involved in attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents “slimeballs” and said they should be arrested.
In another development, a district judge ordered a halt to “roving patrols” in Los Angeles by federal agents who were detaining suspected undocumented migrants without probable cause and denying them due process.
District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong ordered an end to the arrests, which she said were being made “based upon race alone,” on whether a person was speaking Spanish or English with an accent or because of their place of work and ordered them stopped.
Trump’s remarks and the court order come a day after a chaotic raid on a cannabis plantation in Ventura County some 56 miles (90 kilometers) from Los Angeles, left one farm worker critically injured.
The United Farm Workers labour union said in a post on X on Friday that the worker had “died of injuries they sustained as a result of yesterday’s immigration enforcement action.”
Tricia McLaughlin, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokeswoman, said the man who died was never in custody.
“Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a green house and fell 30 feet (10 meters),” McLaughlin said. “(Customs and Border Patrol) immediately called a medivac to the scene to get him care as quickly as possible.”
The DHS said 200 undocumented migrants were arrested during raids on marijuana growing sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo on Thursday, and 10 children were rescued “from potential exploitation, forced labour, and human trafficking.”
Glass House Brands, which owns the farms, said in a statement that it has “never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors.”
DHS said more than 500 “rioters” had attempted to disrupt the operation and four US citizens are facing charges for assaulting or resisting officers.
Tear gas was used against the protestors, some of whom were seen in television footage throwing projectiles at law enforcement vehicles.
The department said immigration agency vehicles were damaged and a $50,000 reward was being offered for the arrest of an individual who allegedly fired a gun at law enforcement officers.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had watched footage of “thugs” throwing rocks and bricks at ICE vehicles, causing “tremendous damage.”
Trump said he was authorising law enforcement officers who are “on the receiving end of thrown rocks, bricks, or any other form of assault, to stop their car, and arrest these SLIMEBALLS, using whatever means is necessary to do so.”
“I am giving Total Authorisation for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the Public,” he said.
Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to deport millions of migrants, has been involved in a showdown over immigration enforcement with Democratic-ruled California for weeks.
The Republican president sent thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles last month to quell protests against roundups of undocumented migrants by federal agents.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has said the troops were not necessary to address the mostly peaceful protests, but his legal efforts to have them removed have failed so far.
The cannabis farm in Camarillo was calm during a visit by an AFP reporter on Friday as workers waited in line to collect their belongings and paychecks.
“We’ve been here since six this morning asking questions but they’re not giving us any information,” said Saul Munoz, a 43-year-old Colombian whose son was detained on Thursday.
“I just want to know how he’s doing,” Munoz said. “Bring him back to me and if it’s time for us to leave, we’ll leave.
“The truth is the American dream is no longer the American dream.”
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has appealed to youths across the state to conduct themselves peacefully during Saturday’s local government elections, warning against any form of violence or disruption.
In a statement posted on his X page on Friday, the governor emphasised the importance of youth participation in the democratic process but stressed that such involvement must be peaceful, constructive, and responsible.
“Our youths in particular should shun any form of violence and instead act as ambassadors of peace and democratic responsibility,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He described the elections, scheduled for Saturday, July 12, as an opportunity for Lagosians to shape the future of their communities by voting in leaders who will drive grassroots development.
“The local government is the closest tier of government to the people and plays a vital role in delivering essential services and fostering grassroots development.
“The election offers Lagosians an opportunity to shape the leadership of their local councils by voting for Chairmen and councillors who will represent their interests and drive development at the community level.
“This election is not just a constitutional process; it is a powerful expression of your voice and your civic responsibility; it is your right. I urge every registered voter to go out peacefully tomorrow, cast your vote, and be a part of the democratic process that strengthens our communities and our state,” he said.
To ensure safety during the exercise, Sanwo-Olu said he had directed the strategic deployment of security agencies across all polling units and communities.
“Law enforcement officials will be present to protect voters, electoral officials, and election materials,” he said, while assuring Lagosians that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission was fully prepared for the polls.
The governor urged political stakeholders, party agents, and candidates to uphold the principles of peace, fairness, and respect for the rule of law.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to free, fair, and credible elections, saying: “Let us show the world once again that Lagos stands for peace, progress, and participatory governance.”
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission has said there will be bye-elections anywhere a ballot box is snatched during the conduct of the Saturday local government elections.
The chairman of LASIEC, Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile (retd.) said this on Thursday during a press briefing ahead of the poll.
“There will be bye elections if a ballot box is snatched anywhere,” she said while answering questions from journalists at Tripple C Event Centre, Sabo Yaba, Lagos.
The LASIEC boss said, “While we don’t pray for such to happen,” there would be a need to conduct a bye-election in any local council where such happened.
The LASIEC boss assured Lagos residents of the readiness of the commission to conduct a free, fair and transparent election.
PUNCH Online reports that the Lagos State Police Command has announced restrictions of vehicular movements on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
The police, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, on Wednesday, noted that they had deployed personnel at strategic locations for the Saturday poll.
Suspected bandits have abducted three persons, including two palace administrators, and burned several houses in the Bunyun community, Bashar District in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack, it was gathered, occurred on Wednesday around 7:30 pm, and is believed to be linked to last Sunday’s clash between vigilantes and bandits, which resulted in the deaths of several vigilantes and the destruction of several houses.
The paramount ruler of the community, Abdulbari’u Muhammad, confirmed the latest incident to journalists in Jos on Thursday, stating that the bandits stormed the community in large numbers, riding on motorcycles, and looted valuable items, including food, clothes, and motorcycles.
“We are completely confused and don’t know what to do, which is why we fled to Bashar. Everybody has fled because people are afraid to remain in the area,” Muhammad said.
He identified the abducted palace officials as Waziri & Wakili, his younger brother
Some villagers said the community had been deserted, with residents fleeing to nearby towns, including Bashar, for safety.
A resident of the area, Abubakar Zubairu, confirmed the incident, saying, “The community was deserted on Thursday morning following the Wednesday night attack.”
Muhammad emphasised the need for the government to deploy enough security personnel to the area to enable farmers to continue farming and secure their livelihoods.
“Our crops are already planted, and we are worried about our farms. We need the government to help us with security so that we can go back to our farms and secure our livelihoods,” he said.
The incident highlights the growing insecurity in Plateau communities and the need for urgent government intervention to protect lives and property.
Spokesperson for Operation Safe Haven, Major Samson Zhakom and his counterpart from the State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, were yet to respond to calls and text messages by our correspondent at the time of filling this report
The Nigerian Army’s 223 Light Battalion, Zuru, successfully repelled a large-scale attack by over 400 armed bandits on Ribah town in the Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The operation, which took place on Wednesday, saw the troops respond swiftly to the invasion, engaging the attackers in a fierce gun duel that lasted several hours. Eyewitnesses described the scene as a battlefield, with the superior firepower and tactics of the army ultimately forcing the bandits to retreat in disarray.
Military sources confirmed that many of the bandits were neutralised during the exchange, while others fled with injuries, abandoning a cache of weapons and ammunition. The town has since been secured, and normalcy restored.
The Director of Security at the Kebbi State Cabinet Office, AbdulRahman Zagga, on Thursday, praised the courage and professionalism of the soldiers involved.
“The troops displayed uncommon bravery. Their swift response and combat efficiency turned what could have been a major disaster into a remarkable victory,” he said.
Zagga also applauded the Nigerian Air Force for its timely intervention and aerial support, which he said inflicted heavy casualties on fleeing bandits and disrupted their escape routes.
“The situation is now fully under control. The people of Ribah can breathe a sigh of relief thanks to the coordinated efforts of our security forces,” he added.
Intelligence reports suggest the attackers were part of the same criminal syndicate responsible for recent attacks in Niger State. Their attempt to extend their terror campaign into Kebbi was decisively thwarted.
In a related development, troops from the Dukku Barracks repelled another bandit assault on Mera in the Augie Local Government Area. The attackers, identified as Lakurawa bandits, attempted to rustle cattle but met stiff resistance from the Nigerian Army, which forced them to flee empty-handed.
Reacting to the successful operations, Governor Nasir Idris commended the gallantry of the security personnel and reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to strengthening security across the state.
“These victories are proof that with sustained support and collaboration, our security agencies can defeat banditry and restore peace to our communities,” the governor stated.
Just two days earlier, a joint security operation in the same Danko Wasagu axis led to the rescue of six abducted persons and the recovery of stolen livestock, further highlighting the momentum gained in the fight against insecurity in the region.
Residents of Ribah and Mera have expressed relief and gratitude, calling on authorities to maintain the current tempo to prevent future attacks.
The Senate has called on the Federal Government to rethink its approach to the power sector by ending the indirect enrichment of private electricity distribution companies with public funds.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on the Environment, Senator Yunus Akintunde (APC – Oyo Central) said this at the plenary on Thursday.
Speaking on the floor of the Senate, the lawmaker decried the current practice where government funds are being used to purchase electricity transformers for communities, only for the assets to be taken over by DISCos.
“When you buy a transformer with government funds and hand it over to a community, the DisCos demand payment for installation.
“But the moment it is energised, it becomes their asset. That’s how public money ends up enriching private monopolies”, Akintunde lamented.
The lawmaker described the trend as unsustainable and unjust, adding that the government must develop a structured subsidy regime that truly benefits ordinary Nigerians.
“Electricity subsidies are not a Nigerian anomaly—they’re a global necessity.
“Even in advanced economies like the UK, energy is subsidised. We shouldn’t abandon the idea simply because of past abuses. Subsidies, when properly managed, drive growth and shield the poor,” he noted.
The senator also drew attention to what he called a fundamental structural imbalance in Nigeria’s power sector.
According to him, while generation and distribution have been privatised, the government still retains control of the ageing transmission infrastructure, an act he described as underutilised and inadequate.
“If you check most transmission lines and substations, they’re outdated and incapable of handling modern power needs. That’s one of the biggest bottlenecks to reliable supply across the country.
“This is not just about transformers—it’s about fixing a broken system. We must stop using public funds to empower private interests.
“Instead, we must empower Nigerians with affordable and reliable electricity,” he warned.
South Korea’s disgraced ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol was detained for a second time Thursday over his declaration of martial law and held in a solitary cell as investigators widened their insurrection probe.
Yoon plunged South Korea into a political crisis when he sought to subvert civilian rule on December 3 last year, sending armed soldiers to parliament in a bid to prevent lawmakers from voting down his declaration of martial law.
He became South Korea’s first sitting president to be taken into custody when he was detained in a dawn raid in January, after he spent weeks resisting arrest, using his presidential security detail to head off investigators.
But he was released on procedural grounds in March, even as his trial on insurrection charges continued.
After Yoon’s impeachment was confirmed by the court in April, he again refused multiple summons from investigators, prompting them to seek his detention once more to ensure cooperation.
The latest arrest warrant was issued over concerns that Yoon would “destroy evidence” in the case, Nam Se-jin, a senior judge at Seoul’s Central District Court, said.
Yoon is being held in a solitary cell, which has only a fan and no air-conditioning, as a heat wave grips South Korea. According to the official schedule, he was offered a regulation breakfast including steamed potatoes and milk.
Investigators said Thursday that Yoon’s status as former president will be “duly considered” but otherwise he will be “treated like any other suspect”.
“Investigations during the detention period will focus on the warrant’s stated charges,” prosecutor Park Ji-young told reporters.
Yoon’s criminal trial also continued with a hearing Thursday, although he did not attend for the first time.
– Solitary –
The former president, 64, attended a hearing over the new warrant on Wednesday that lasted about seven hours, during which he rejected all charges, before being taken to a holding centre near Seoul where he awaited the court’s decision on whether to detain him again.
During his warrant hearing, the former president said he is now “fighting alone”, local media reported.
“The special counsel is now going after even my defence lawyers,” said Yoon during his hearing.
“One by one my lawyers are stepping away, and I may soon have to fight this alone.”
Once the warrant was issued early Thursday, Yoon was placed in a solitary cell at the facility, where he can be held for up to 20 days as prosecutors prepare to formally indict him including on additional charges.
“Once Yoon is indicted, he could remain detained for up to six months following indictment,” Yun Bok-nam, president of Lawyers for a Democratic Society, told AFP.
“Theoretically, immediate release is possible, but in this case, the special counsel has argued that the risk of evidence destruction remains high, and that the charges are already substantially supported.”
– Long time in detention? –
During the hearing, Yoon’s legal team criticised the detention request as unreasonable, stressing that Yoon has been ousted and “no longer holds any authority”.
Earlier this month, the special counsel questioned Yoon about his resistance during a failed arrest attempt in January, as well as accusations that he authorised drone flights to Pyongyang to help justify declaring martial law.
The former president also faces charges of falsifying official documents related to the martial law bid.
Yoon has defended his martial law decision as necessary to “root out” pro–North Korean and “anti-state” forces.
But the Constitutional Court, when ousting Yoon from office on April 4 in a unanimous decision, said his acts were a “betrayal of people’s trust” and “denial of the principles of democracy”.
South Korea’s current president, Lee Jae Myung, who won the June snap election, approved legislation launching sweeping special investigations into Yoon’s push for martial law and various criminal accusations tied to his administration and wife.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Katsina State Command, have arrested three suspected members of an interstate Human Trafficking syndicate.
NAPTIP’s Chief Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, disclosed this in a statement he signed on Wednesday.
The statement was titled ‘NAPTIP Raids Popular Hotel In Katsina, Arrests Three Suspected Members Of Inter–state Human Trafficking Syndicates And Rescues Three Victims.’
Adekoye stated, “They were arrested inside one of the prominent hotels located in Katsina township, with three suspected victims of human trafficking rescued during the operation.”
Adekoye said the syndicate specialises in the recruitment, harbouring and trafficking of young girls from other parts of the Country to the Northern region for sexual exploitation.
The Manager of the hotel and two other workers were also arrested.
“Two of the victims are from Benue State and one from Rivers State. Their age ranges from 21 to 26 years old,” the statement added.
According to a preliminary investigation, the suspects were believed to be the major suppliers of victims to brothels and other notorious Centres, including some neighbouring Countries.
Earlier, the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, had directed Operatives of the Agency across the country a few weeks ago to step up surveillance and intelligence-gathering activities within their jurisdictions to address the reported cases of inter-state recruitment and trafficking.
Bello also directed the Operatives to beam searchlights on the activities of some hotels, drinking joints, and motor parks in all the state capitals, to curtail the activities of some criminal elements who operate as members of human trafficking gangs in the Country.
Reports say the rescued victims were found inside a small room located within the Hotel complex, while the traffickers were inside another well-furnished room within the same compound, relishing the proceeds of the exploitation.
Speaking after the operation, the victims claimed that they were deceived, recruited, and trafficked to Katsina with a promise of a legitimate job, only to be forced into prostitution against their will.
One rescued victim said, “I was brought here by a woman. She promised to give us a job and that we would be paid very well.
“I asked her the details of the job, but she said I would know the nature of the job when I get here.
“When we got here, she introduced us to prostitution, which was not part of what they told us before.”
Another said, “We actually sleep with a lot of men, at least 20 men a day, and all the money we get goes to the chairlady of the place, by name Amarachi.
“We have no choice but to sleep with 20 men a day. Even when we are on our monthly period, we are being forced to sleep with the same number of men.
“Even when we are sick of tired, they will force us to sleep with me. They said it is not their business to know how we feel, but to engage in prostitution.”
The unnamed rescued victim said the girls were drugged and given energy drinks to boost sexual performance.
“They give us a fearless energy drink each to take every evening so that we can have energy to work, be awake to sleep with the men, and get money for them. They take all the money we make and leave us to feed ourselves,” she added x
While thanking NAPTIP for the rescue, the victims disclosed that the traffickers, in addition to crippling them financially so they cannot escape, also paid some men for surveillance on them.
Speaking on the development, NAPTIP’s DG, Bello, expressed worry over the activities of some hoteliers and centres nationwide who harbour victims of human trafficking.
She said the hotel in question will be sanctioned in line with the provisions of the trafficking law.
“I wish to commend the Operatives of NAPTIP in Katsina for the raid and rescue of the victims.
Their stories are painful and sad. They were deceived, recruited, trafficked, and forced into prostitution.
“While they are facing horror every day from prostitution, their traffickers were somewhere within the same hotel, feeding fat on the proceeds of the exploitation,” said Bello.
“It is also important to reiterate our earlier warning about operators of hotels aiding and abetting the exploitation of victims of human trafficking in their facilities.
“We have commenced a legal process to determine the next execution order for the hotel. The law shall definitely take its course,” Bello stated.
A Spanish court on Wednesday sentenced former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti to a year in jail for tax fraud committed in 2014, a punishment that will not oblige the Brazil coach to serve prison time.
Prosecutors alleged the Italian created a system of shell companies to hide extra earnings during his first spell as Real Madrid manager in 2014 and 2015, notably through image rights.
They said the 66-year-old, one of the most successful managers in football history, failed to pay more than one million euros due to undeclared earnings in those years, seeking four years and nine months’ jail against him.
Ancelotti denied having intentionally committed fraud at his highly publicised trial in April, saying he never realised a scheme allowing him to collect some of his salary in image rights would see him pay less tax.
A Madrid court announced it had convicted Ancelotti for “an offence against the treasury… to the punishment of one year in prison” and a fine of 386,361 euros ($452,821).
Ancelotti showed a “conscious desire to evade the payment of taxes on the income obtained from the exploitation of his image rights, through artificial mechanisms”, the court wrote in a ruling.
“The actions are blatantly fraudulent and the structures used do not conform to a real economic logic. The deliberate concealment of income through opaque structures and entities in tax havens proves a fraudulent intent,” it added.
But the former Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain boss, who no longer lives in Spain, will not serve jail time because the sentence is less than two years and he has no criminal record.
The court cleared Ancelotti of the fraud allegation for the 2015 tax year, saying it could not conclude “beyond reasonable doubt” that his fiscal residence for that year was in Spain.
He joins a list of football greats who have fallen afoul of Spain’s crackdown on stars who have not paid their due.
Former Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho received a one-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to tax fraud in 2019.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were both found guilty of tax evasion and received prison sentences that were waived for being first-time offenders.
Ancelotti’s glittering career has seen him win a record five Champions League titles as a manager and lift the European Cup twice with AC Milan as a player.
The former Italy midfielder left Real Madrid to become Brazil boss at the end of last season after a rare trophyless campaign.
