Foreign / History / News

Germany to return 1,130 looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria – Lai Mohammed

Nigeria’s Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed says Nigeria has signed an agreement with Germany for the repatriation of over 1,130 looted Benin Bronze artifacts back to the country.

The Minister disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Washington DC, United States on Tuesday.

This was after three museums in the US repatriated 31 Benin Bronze artefacts to Nigeria.

He commended the German Government for that effort, adding that Nigeria is also getting positive response from France and Mexico to return some of its stolen artefacts.

In 1897 during a British raid on Benin, the royal palace was torched and looted, and the oba (ruler) was exiled.

The British confiscated all royal treasures, giving some to individual officers and taking most to auction in London.

The estimated 3,000 objects eventually made their way into museums and private collections around the world.

The Minister said the world had seen that it was an ethical and moral issue to return the artefacts to their owners, noting that it is not a matter of law as claimed by the British Government.

Mohammed said: ““This is important for the British Museum to understand and for the British Government to know, because I was also in the British Museum to ask them to return thousands of the artefacts in its custody.

“The standard response is that until the British Parliament changes the status, they are not in position to so do.

“The US and Germany are now seeing that this matter is not of law, but of morality.

“It is about doing the right thing.

“I hope that the British Government will also learn from the two countries and do same.”

According to Mohammed, Nigeria is planning to sign an agreement with the British Government on November 28 to return about 86 other artefacts from various museums in UK.

The Minister told NAN that the campaign of the current administration for the return of and restitution of Nigeria’s looted/smuggled artefacts from around the world, which was launched in November 2019, …

Music / News

Burna Boy’s ‘Last Last’ gets UK Certification

Nigerian megastar Burna Boy has achieved another landmark achievement after his hit single ‘Last Last’ was certified Gold in the United Kingdom. Grammy-winning Afrobeats icon Burna Boy has added another colorful feather to his hat after his hit single was recently declared eligible for Gold certification in the UK.

According to reputable chart news platform Chart Data, ‘Last Last’ was to receive a Gold certification after selling over 500,000 units in the United Kingdom.

The certification offers further proof of the song’s acclaim and success internationally and is also a marker of Burna Boy’s global fame.

Greater heights ahead: Burna Boy has announced that he intends to release ‘Love, Damini’ deluxe. The deluxe will likely come with a ‘Last Last’ remix that features Nigerian British rapper Dave.

The arrival of the remix will further propel the song to fame in the United Kingdom and give it a shot for a platinum plaque.

…
Music / News

Phantom signs a global publishing deal with UK-based record label, BMG

The deal follows the impressive success Phantom born Ayobami Olaleye has recorded in the Nigerian music industry where he has produced some of the biggest hits in last couple of years.

BMG officially announced his signing via their social media pages. “Phantom, the incredibly talented producer behind one of Burna Boy’s biggest hits “Ye”, has signed a global publishing deal with BMG,” the announcement post reads.

Phantom is the man behind Burna Boy‘s career changing hit ‘Ye’, Camidoh‘s ‘Sugarcane’, Zlatan’s ‘Bolanle’, Tekno‘s ‘Skeletun’, and most recently Fireboy‘s ‘Diana’.

Speaking on the new deal, Phantom said: “New season unlocked, more hits coming your speakers. Trust the process, getting the flowers I deserve and more, this year.”– Phantom

The deal is set to further promote Phantom’s fast-growing career and open him to more opportunities.

…
News / politics

2023: We’re waiting for Tinubu to take ‘important’ decisions – Akeredolu

The Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has described the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the Capo di tutti of the South.

The Ondo State Governor maintained that the next president of the country must come from the Southern region.

Akeredolu spoke during an interview on Arise Television on Sunday, monitored by The Nation.

Speaking on his visit to Tinubu in the United Kingdom and the 2023 elections, Akeredolu said his visit has nothing to do with the polls. He said: “APC is a party.

“APC will decide who the candidate will be.

“I have made the point everywhere: I’m going nowhere.

“I’m not going to leave APC.

“If I leave APC, I am going back to my chamber where I am more comfortable.

“For me, whatever APC decides, I will follow.

“…We went to visit our National Leader and I was there because there were a lot of rumors here and there.

“It was important for us to go and see for ourselves.

“And I was there, I have seen for myself and there is nothing alarming about his health.

“We are praying that he returns back on time.

“He’s the capo for us here in the South West and South South.

“So we are waiting for him to come so that by the time he comes, we can make some important decisions and he’ll support us.”…

News / politics

Kalu speaks on report he discussed IPOB with UK at meeting

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has debunked reports circulated on the social media that he paid a private visit to the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, where he allegedly discussed the affairs of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

The former Governor of Abia State spoke on the development in a statement on Monday.

This was even as he snapped at individuals and groups to desist from antagonizing his person.

In the statement by Emeka Nwala, Kalu explained that the British High Commissioner visited him (Kalu) in his Abuja residence on May 13 in company of the Political Counsellor, British High Commission, Jonathan Bacon, and Stuart Gardner, the First Secretary, Political.

“To put the records straight, I neither visited nor discussed IPOB with the British High Commissioner as reported.

“Those behind this repeatedly shameful act will live to regret their actions as their efforts will not only fail but turn around to favour me.”

The fake story circulated in the media with Kalu as the author read: “I visited the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Her Excellency, Mrs Catriona Laing with my brother Senator Chris Ngige to express gratitude over her contributions in silencing the issues of insecurities and attacks on the Nigerian force personnel championed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as the issue of insecurity and killing has been defeated totally in the Eastern region.

“We also made it known to her that the entire Igbo elites strongly believed in one Nigeria and very much in support of President Muhammadu Buhari led government.”

 …

Crime / Foreign / Sports

Nigerian footballer shot dead by police in UK

An up and coming young Nigerian footballer, Kelvin Igweani, has been reportedly shot dead by the police in the United Kingdom.

Daily mail reports that the shooting incident is currently being investigated by the Thame Valley Force after the Nigerian was shot dead by officers who attended a call-out to a house where a child was found with serious injuries.

Officers were called to a property in Two Mile Ash, north-west Milton Keynes at around 9:40am on June 26 and made a forced entry after acting on information from a witness, said Thames Valley Police in a statement.

Inside, they found a man in his 30s who was later confirmed dead, and a young child with serious injuries.

They also located a man who is believed to be a Nigerian footballer, Kelvin Ifeanyi Odinaka Nathaniel Igweani, 23, with the force, saying it was understood officers deployed a Taser before shots were fired at him.

He subsequently required first aid and treatment from ambulance crew, but was pronounced dead at the scene, TVP said.

The young child was taken to a hospital.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct said a probe is now underway after a police firearm was discharged at the address in Denmead.

“What has happened this morning can only be described as absolutely tragic and will no doubt have an impact on the community. Our thoughts are with those who have been impacted by this incident. Our major crime unit is working closely with the IOPC to understand exactly what has happened,” Assistant Chief Constable, Christian Bunt, said in a statement.…