Ogbe Ijoh Town in Warri Kingdom is set to witness a grand celebration as the families of Late Chief Peretubo Tulu of Ikiandumu, Ukpoware Quarter, and Late Chief French Williams Pouke of Arereware Quarter, Oturubiri, come together for the traditional marriage of their children, Florence Perekore Tulu and Comr. Albert Ekeke Pouke. The ceremony will take place in Ogbe-Ijoh town on Friday, March 21, 2025, at 10:00 AM, with a reception to follow immediately at the same venue. Dignitaries, family, and well-wishers are expected to grace this union, which promises to be a blend of love, culture, and tradition.

The Founder and President of Ogwashi-Uku Carnival, Anthonia Oguah, has congratulated Professor Christopher Bankole Ndubisi Ogbogbo on his appointment as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of The Admiralty University of Nigeria (ADUN). In a statement on Monday, Oguah expressed immense joy over Professor Ogbogbo’s emergence as Vice-Chancellor, describing the appointment as well-deserved. She lauded his vast experience in academia, dedication to educational excellence, and proven leadership qualities, which she believes make him the perfect candidate to lead ADUN into a new era of growth and innovation. She noted that his track record of academic brilliance, integrity, and commitment to student development will significantly enhance ADUN’s reputation and academic standing. Commending the ADUN Governing Council for its decision, Oguah praised the leadership for recognizing and appointing a visionary scholar capable of driving positive transformation. She expressed confidence that under Professor Ogbogbo’s stewardship, the university will witness remarkable advancements in infrastructure, research, and academic excellence. She wished him resounding success in his mission to elevate ADUN and ensure it remains a beacon of higher learning, innovation, and character development. Waffi TV recalls that Professor Ogbogbo was officially appointed as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of ADUN on March 4, 2025.

The Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Auditor, Pastor Arex Akemotubo, has felicitated with PDP chieftain and Chairman of Delta State Waterways and Land Security, Chief Boro Opudu, on his birth anniversary. In a statement on Monday, Akemotubo commended Opudu for his commitment to the security and development of Delta State. Akemotubo further praised Opudu’s diligence and tireless efforts in carrying out his duties with excellence, describing him as a dependable leader whose service reflects dedication, integrity, and a strong passion for the welfare of Delta residents. Recognising Opudu’s impactful leadership, Akemotubo offered heartfelt prayers for his continued strength, good health, and longevity.

The Ernest Bebenimibo Foundation is set to celebrate its fifth anniversary on March 10, 2025, marking five years of transforming lives across the Niger Delta. Since its inception, the foundation has been dedicated to supporting children in riverine communities, widows, orphans, and the less privileged. To commemorate this milestone, a grand event will be held at Okerenkoko Primary School Field, where the foundation will distribute: 5,000 notebooks 500 school bags Mathematical sets and writing materials to students of Okerenkoko Primary and Secondary Schools. Additionally, 100 wrappers will be gifted to widows and aged women in the Okerenkoko Federated Community. Supporters, partners, and well-wishers are invited to join in this celebration of impact and progress. Together, the foundation continues to build a brighter future for all.

The much-anticipated official launch of IDUWINI Voice is set to take place on Saturday, March 29, at 11 AM. In an official statement, the organisers extended a warm invitation to the general public, urging all stakeholders, media professionals, and community members to attend and witness this landmark event. According to the organisers, the launch promises to showcase the vision and mission of IDUWINI Voice, highlighting its commitment to amplifying the voices and concerns of the people. The grand event will be hosted at MBB Event Centre (Class Motors), Refinery Road, and is expected to feature key dignitaries, cultural displays, and engaging discussions on the role of the media in community development.

Oporoza, the ancestral headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State, was abuzz over the weekend as the remains of Mrs. Pinapina Otuaro (née Omula), mother of the immediate past Deputy Governor, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, were laid to rest. Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, a native of the community, joined mourners in honoring the late matriarch, fondly called ‘Nene.’ The solemn ceremony drew dignitaries, government officials, friends, and well-wishers who came to pay their respects. Mrs. Otuaro, a devoted mother of four, passed away at 88. Her burial followed an all-night vigil filled with music and tributes, featuring performances by renowned Ijaw musician Ezonbi and his band. Mourners made their way through riverine paths and jetties to the event venue, where emotions ran high as the beloved matriarch was interred. Speaker Guwor, speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Nkem Nwaeke, described Mrs. Otuaro as a woman whose legacy of love and generosity would continue to inspire many. He expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from personalities within and outside Delta State, emphasizing the deep respect for the Otuaro family and the Gbaramatu Kingdom. Guwor prayed for the eternal rest of Mrs. Otuaro’s soul, as the community bid her a heartfelt farewell.

Nollywood actress Chika Ike has welcomed her first child with an undisclosed partner. The movie star shared the news on Instagram on Thursday. A photo she posted featured the word "Princess" in the background, hinting at the baby's gender. She captured the photos, “My baby is here. Welcome to the world my sunshine.” A few weeks ago, rumours surfaced claiming that Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, is the father of Chika Ike’s child after she shared her maternity photos on Instagram. However, both parties denied the speculation in separate statements, with the actress emphasizing that she has no intention of becoming any man's seventh wife.

Gospel singer Mercy Chinwo has filed a defamation lawsuit against blogger Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The suit arises from alleged defamatory statements made by VDM on social media, accusing Chinwo of involvement in a contractual dispute and the misappropriation of $345,000 linked to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as Eezee Tee. Filed by her legal representative, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the lawsuit seeks a court order compelling VDM to delete, retract, and publicly apologize for all alleged false and damaging statements against Chinwo and her brand. In support of her claims, Chinwo has submitted documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to prove that VDM’s allegations are baseless. Notably, on February 17, 2025, a Federal High Court in Lagos ruled that the arrest warrant against Eezee Tee over alleged fraudulent conversion remains valid, adjourning his arraignment to March 6, 2025. In the fresh defamation suit, Olajengbesi stated that VDM’s posts were made without provocation and were intended to tarnish Chinwo’s reputation. He further emphasized that VDM’s videos and posts, shared on February 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, and 17, falsely accused Chinwo of bypassing her record label to book shows and withholding payments. The lawyer asserted that these claims have significantly harmed Chinwo’s public image, professional standing, and emotional well-being. In the suit, Olajengbesi said VDM posted a series of videos to his millions of followers showing a “caricaturist and disdainful portrayal of the Claimant (Chinwo) as well the Defendant’s (VDM’s) bias towards the claim of Mr. EeZee T thereby deliberately ridiculing the position of the Claimant in the dispute between the Claimant and Mr. EeZee T”. “The Claimant avers that she has neither had any form of relationship with the Defendant nor was the Defendant involved in the issue between the Claimant and Mr. EeZee T in any material particular. “The Claimant avers that the statements which the Defendant made in the videos he published his Instagram page were as though the Defendant was personally involved in the issues between the Claimant and Mr. EeZee T; however, these statements were not only false, but damning and injurious to the Claimant’s public image and reputation.” The lawyer sought “an order of this Honourable Court directing the Defendant to remove the defamatory posts from all his social media platforms. “AN ORDER of this Honourable Court directing the Defendant to cause a retraction of the said defamatory statement in favour of the Claimant on all his social media platforms and to publish an unreserved apology to the Claimant in two widely circulated national dailies and all his social media platforms. “AN ORDER of this Honourable Court directing the Defendants to write an unreserved apology to the Claimant and publish same in four national dailies, causing same to run for at least 14 consecutive days. “AN ORDER of this Honourable Court directing the Defendant to pay to the Claimant the Sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) only as General Damages for defamation. “AN ORDER of this Honourable Court directing the Defendant to pay to the Claimant, the Sum of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) only as Punitive and Aggravated Damages for the grossly defamatory statement. “AN ORDER of this Honourable Court directing the Defendant to pay the sum of N25,000,000.00 (Twenty-Five Million Naira) as the cost of this suit. “AN ORDER of this Honourable Court directing the Defendant to pay 10% (Ten percent) on the judgment sum per annum until final liquidation of the judgment sum by the Defendants.”

Best Actor winner Adrien Brody set a new record for the longest Oscar acceptance speech on Sunday, as the ceremony—already running nearly four hours—saw a slight ratings dip, drawing around 18 million viewers on ABC and Hulu. Despite repeatedly vowing to be “brief,” *The Brutalist* star spoke for an astonishing five minutes and 40 seconds, breaking an eight-decade-old record. British actress Greer Garson previously held the title with her five-minute, 30-second speech after winning Best Actress for *Mrs. Miniver* in 1943, according to Guinness World Records. In response, the Academy later introduced time limits and "play-off" music. However, on Sunday, Brody defiantly halted the orchestra mid-performance. Meanwhile, low-budget indie *Anora* dominated the night, taking home five Oscars, including Best Picture. “Please, turn the music off. I’ve done this before,” said Brody, who won best actor in 2003 for “The Pianist.” “It’s not my first rodeo, but I will be brief. I will not be egregious, I promise,” said Brody, before continuing for another 90 seconds. ABC reported on Monday that the preliminary U.S. audience for the Oscars reached 18.1 million, including viewers on Hulu. This year marked the ceremony’s live-streaming debut, though technical glitches caused some online viewers to miss the final awards. The drop in viewership ends a three-year streak of rising Oscars ratings. Last year’s early estimate was 19.5 million, boosted by *Oppenheimer*’s dominance and musical performances from *Barbie*. At its lowest, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oscars drew just 10.4 million viewers. A decade ago, the telecast regularly surpassed 40 million. ### Mixed but Mostly Positive Reviews Sunday’s show received generally favorable feedback. *Variety* called the 97th Academy Awards “successful in more ways than not,” praising host Conan O’Brien for striking the right balance of “acid and affection.” The *Los Angeles Times* found the ceremony “mostly navigable,” despite an unnecessary musical tribute to James Bond. *Indiewire* hailed it as “one of the best Oscars telecasts in years,” while *The Hollywood Reporter* deemed it “unstable” and “uneven.” A Fittingly Long Speech Adrien Brody’s record-breaking speech seemed apt for *The Brutalist*, a three-and-a-half-hour drama that even includes an intermission. In his nearly six-minute monologue, Brody thanked more than a dozen people by name, including his parents, director Brady Corbet, co-stars Guy Pearce and Felicity Jones, and his girlfriend, Georgina Chapman.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will arraign Jude Okoye, former manager and elder brother of P-Square’s Peter (Mr. P) and Paul (Rudeboy) Okoye, over alleged misappropriation of $1,019,763.87 and £34,537.59. The case will be heard at the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, on Tuesday. Okoye is accused of diverting funds meant for music digital distribution and publishing royalties between 2016 and 2023. The EFCC claims he dishonestly converted: - **$767,544.15** from Lex Records Limited - **£34,537.59** from Lex Records Limited - **$133,566.49** from Kobalt Music - **$118,652.23** from Mtech Limited These funds were allegedly intended for Peter Okoye’s royalties. His initial arraignment on Monday was delayed due to processing issues at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre. The EFCC’s four-count charge (Case No. Ref/99260/2025) cites violations of Sections 278 and 285 of Lagos State Criminal Laws. Separately, Okoye was arraigned on February 26, 2025, before the Federal High Court in Lagos on seven counts of money laundering involving **N1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59**. The EFCC alleges he used illicit funds in 2022 to: - **Purchase an N850 million property in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos** - **Engage a Bureau De Change to convert $1,019,762.87 into naira to obscure the source** Okoye pleaded **not guilty** to all charges. His legal team, led by **Inibehe Effiong**, applied for bail, which **Justice Alexander Owoeye** granted on Monday under these conditions: - **N100 million bail bond** - **Two sureties:** - One must own landed property - The other must be a business owner with a verifiable address - **Sureties must submit property documents and BVNs** The court ordered Okoye to remain in custody until he meets his bail conditions and barred him from traveling abroad during the trial. The case is set to resume on **April 14, 2025**, for trial commencement.