Category Nigeria News

Music icon Innocent “2Baba” Idibia has responded to the petition filed by his family against his wife, Natasha Osawaru, a member of the Edo State House of Assembly.

The Idibia family had petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, demanding an investigation into allegations of bigamy, financial misconduct, and assault levelled against Natasha.

They alleged that her actions had caused the singer emotional distress, financial losses, and reputational harm.

But in a video released on the 2Baba House Instagram page on Friday, the 50-year-old dismissed the allegations and said his family’s petition had caused him personal damage.

The “African Queen” crooner said the tension surrounding the petition had escalated beyond control.

“This whole thing has gotten dangerously out of hand. I’m not just going to be quiet anymore. I feel I have to say some facts here. I’m a grown man, and I believe I have the right to be whoever I want to be,” he said.

He accused his family of worsening the situation rather than helping him.

“My family has, in trying to say they want to save me or help me, actually destroyed me. And they have killed somebody’s daughter’s character. Like, they’ve just literally killed somebody because Natasha is getting death threats right now.”

2Baba, who recently headlined a show in Abuja, stressed that he was fine and had been actively seen in public.

“How can you say you’re trying to save somebody’s life and then you’re messing my whole life up?” he asked.

The musician revealed that Natasha has been receiving daily death threats based on allegations he insists are completely fabricated.

“It’s my whole family, my brothers. I’m sorry to say, this is not right anyway. Natasha is getting death threats. This is so unacceptable. It’s not fair. It’s not nice. I have the right to be with whoever I want to be with.”

He accused his family of engaging in a pattern of harmful behaviour, saying they had done the same in the past.

“My family did the same thing with Annie. We all have our differences… but this has become so dangerous right now. It’s not funny anymore. I am totally devastated,” he said.

2Baba said the ongoing controversies were deeply hurtful and accused some of his former staff of spreading lies.

“What my family is doing, and the people I worked with before going out there, fabricating so many lies… it’s so unfair,” he said, adding that in the coming days he would openly address matters he had previously kept private.

He rejected claims that he was mentally unstable.

“I’m perfectly normal. Painting me as mentally unstable is ridiculous. This has got to stop.”

Appeal To Stop Threats

The singer also pleaded with those issuing threats against his wife to stop immediately.

“Writing a petition and saying all sorts of nonsense… this is not fair. All the people sending death threats, please, stop it. We are fine,” he said.

He urged his family to stay out of his marriage.

“Please, I want to tell my family, stay out of my private and personal life. Let me be with who I want to be with. Natasha has been hurt so terribly… you’re killing me. You say you’re helping me, but you’re killing me.”

2Baba said he would speak more openly in the coming days but appealed for space.

“Let us be. That’s the only simple appeal I have for everybody.”

Backstory

Since 2Baba publicly confirmed his relationship with Natasha, the couple has remained the subject of intense public scrutiny.

The situation escalated after a confrontation between the pair was captured during an Instagram Live session hosted by Daddy Freeze.

The singer also appeared in a separate viral video where he was purportedly arrested in the United Kingdom following an alleged dispute involving the lawmaker.

As the videos spread, 2Baba posted on his Instagram Story on Wednesday: “Help me.”

A health worker allegedly refused to accept a bank transfer to pay for the oxygen service, insisting on cash only after a pregnant woman, identified as Aisha Najamu, passed away at the Turai Umaru Musa Yar’adua Maternity and Children Hospital in Katsina State.

The unfortunate incident took place on Monday when the victim arrived at the hospital in a critical condition that required urgent oxygen support.

According to an eyewitness, the cashier on duty reportedly declined to issue a receipt or process payment because the deceased had no cash in hand, in accordance with the hospital’s internal policy prohibiting transfers.

The cashier claimed that the man who attempted to intervene pleaded with the cashier to accept a transfer so that the woman could be treated, but the cashier argued that staff members were required to abide by the hospital’s policy and that the woman’s staff was required to follow the directive.

The witness claimed that the cashier had declined because he had offered to pay an additional fee out of sympathy and later presented a $100 note to cover the cost.

Read more about UK Emergency Rooms Overwhelmed With Hiccups, Ingrown Toenails, and Other Things.

He did, however, describe the scene as being “deeply distressing,” claiming that the woman pleaded for assistance until about 11:30 p.m.

Although Turai Umaru Musa Yar’adua Hospital’s management, when contacted, claimed they had not yet received a formal complaint from the public regarding the matter, despite their use of the human rights advocacy group IHRAAC.

Cashier Aminu Kofar-Bai, the hospital’s representative, regrettably expressed condolences and promised to see the family and look into any medical personnel who had been found to be incompetent.

Hospital officials argued that the TSA regulations for the Katsina State Government forbid transfers into personal accounts, and that their payment policy was defended.

They added that cash payments are the only method of payment at the hospital because it doesn’t have any POS machines.

Additionally, they lamented the lack of medical oxygen, which they claimed they frequently purchased from Daura LGA.

Usman Salisu Wada, the head of pharmacy, acknowledged that oxygen is limited but that the employee “may have overadhered” to the policy out of fear of being accused of misconduct.

Wada noted that many hospital patients who receive assistance for troubled patients end up defaulting on their bills.

At the State House in Abuja on Thursday, President Bola Tinubu received Letters of Credence from 21 new foreign ambassadors.

This was made known by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement.

17 ambassadors and four high commissioners made the pledge to strengthen bilateral ties and intensify engagements across key sectors during a ceremony held in the Council Chamber.

President Tinubu stated after receiving their credentials that the country was still fully committed to promoting international peace, harmony, and prosperity.

I warmly welcome you to the State House and congratulate you on your appointment as Nigeria’s government’s official representatives.

Nigeria values long-standing relationships and strategic partnerships in all of the world. Your accreditation today confirms the breadth of our bilateral ties and our shared commitment to grow cooperation and partnership in mutually beneficial fields, he said.

Read more about Tinubu’s swearing in of General Christopher Musa as defense minister.

The President urged diplomats to strengthen their cooperation in fields of trade, energy, agriculture, education, technology, defense, and cultural exchange.

Security threats, climate pressures, economic instability, and humanitarian issues are all a part of the global community’s constantly evolving challenges. To promote peace, stability, and prosperity, Nigeria is prepared to work closely with your governments.

I can assure you of the government of Nigeria’s full cooperation as you begin your partnership duties. I’m confident that your tenure in Nigeria will be fruitful because my doors are open and will remain open for constructive engagements, Tinubu said.

Suzuki Hideo, the ambassador of Japan, praised the diplomats’ recent accomplishments and praised Nigeria’s strategic significance in ECOWAS and Africa.

“We are honored and overjoyed to have received our Letters of Credence today,” the statement states. For everyone, it’s a historic moment,” Hideo said.

Hideo noted that Nigeria’s support of ECOWAS’ economic growth and stability had earned it acclaim worldwide.

List of Newly Accredited Envoys

Ambassadors who gave their Letters of Credence include:

Suzuki Hideo (Japan)

Brah Mahamat (Chad)

Rodolf Estime Lekogo (Gabon)

Mehmet Poroy (Türkiye)

State of Palestine, Muhannad M. A. Alhammouri

Spanish artist Felix Costales

Indonesia’s Banbang Suharto

Ba Abdoulaaye Mamadou (Mauritania)

Austrian Peter Guschelbauer

Thailand’s Thirapath Mongkolnavin

Sweden’s Anna Westerholm

Czech Republic’s Tomas Vyprachticky

(Liberia) John Ballout Jr.

Poland’s Michal Cygan

Italy’s Roberto Mengoni

Slovak Republic’s Martins Podostavek

Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja (Iran)

The four High Commissioners are:

(Bangladesh) Miah M. D. Mainul Kabir

Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmod (Ghana)

Abheshek Singh (India)

Dennis Amachree, former director of the Department of State Services (DSS), stated that President Bola Tinubu’s recently declared nationwide security emergency would only be effective if those responsible for the insecurity were detained and brought to justice.

Amachree made this clear during a conversation on Politics Today on Channels Television.

According to him, “I believe that arrests are required for this state of emergency to be more effective.” We haven’t seen any arrests yet, so let’s not just say that these individuals have been identified as financiers.

He was responding to inquiries about alleged sabotage within the security structure, including the reports of military resumption prior to the kidnapping of schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the killing of Major General Musa Uba.

“I believe there are saboteurs, and we need to be aware of this in both politics and the military. However, I’m pleased that General Christopher Musa, the new defense minister, has declared that he is pursuing them. We need to repress those who finance projects and support organizations, he added.

Read more about Tinubu’s order to recruit more personnel and declares national security emergency.

Amachree argued that official declarations must be accompanied by specifics.

There should be a warrant for arrest, and we must of course instill fear in their hearts to make sure they are unable to do anything and escape.

“You’re not just threatening the country, but you’re also moving on, moving on.” I believe that the government needs to “push its feet.”

In response to the rise in gunmen and suspected terrorists’ abductions and attacks, President Tinubu declared a national security emergency on November 26.

He added that more personnel could be hired by the police and the military.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to nominate the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, as an ambassador, describing it as “inappropriate” and “damaging” to public trust.

In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Atiku said he would never, “under any circumstance,” nominate the former electoral umpire if he were president, insisting that such an appointment “raises serious concerns” and amounts to “terrible optics” for an administration already battling credibility issues.

“Such a nomination risks appearing as a quid pro quo rather than a recognition of merit. It sends the wrong message to the current INEC leadership; that partisan, compromised, or poorly executed elections may ultimately be rewarded.

“And most importantly, it is morally indefensible for an umpire at the centre of one of the most disputed elections in our history to become a beneficiary of its outcome,” Atiku said.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Receives Letters Of Credence From 17 Ambassadors, Four High Commissioners
He maintained that the development does not strengthen Nigeria’s democracy nor help restore public confidence in national institutions.

President Tinubu had earlier forwarded 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

The list includes the former INEC chairman, former Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; ex-minister, Femi Fani-Kayode; former presidential aide, Reno Omokri; former Abia governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; and former Lagos deputy governor, Femi Pedro.

Others include Ondo senator and businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim; former Ekiti First Lady, Erelu Angela Adebayo; and former Adamawa senator, Grace Bent.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is reportedly failing to return the N1.4 trillion in operating surplus, as the Senate demanded a detailed explanation from the CBN today after the apex bank reported that the country’s economy was at its most stable level in more than ten years.

Senator Tokunbo Abiru, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions, made a strong request for transparency during its briefing.

Senator Abiru argued that the Auditor-General’s inquiry into the unremitted funds required a comprehensive, objective, and documented response, and that strict accountability was required for public trust in monetary governance.

Abiru praised the CBN’s efforts to stabilize the foreign exchange market and lower inflation while also recognizing that institutional responsibility must accompany these efforts.

He claimed that the CBN should provide details on the circumstances surrounding the query, provide recommendations for corrective actions, and provide details on safeguards against future errors.

Olayemi Cardoso, the CBN governor, addressed the senate committee, who outlined the extent of the country’s economic situation and claimed that there was renewed macroeconomic stability across all important indicators.

Since mid-2020, Cardoso attributed the progress to bold monetary reforms, liberalization of the world, and disciplined liquidity management, which have been implemented since mid-2020.

According to him, headline inflation has fallen for seven straight months, dropping from 34.6 percent in November 2024 to 16.05 percent in October 2025, the longest and steepest disinflation trend in over ten years.

He also saw a decline in his food inflation of 13.12%, thanks to better supply conditions and exchange-rate predictability.

CBN Updates Cash Withdrawal Regulations Effective January 20, 2026 READ ALSO.

The foreign exchange market has undergone a fundamental transformation, according to the CBN governor, adding that speculative fraud and opportunities for arbitrage have largely vanished.

According to him, the premium between the official and parallel markets had dropped to less than 2% from the previous year’s high of over 60%. The Naira was trading at N1, 442.92 per dollar as of November 26th, higher than the N1, 551 average that the country experienced in the first half of 2025.

Additionally, he made a significant increase in imports, reaching $46.7 billion, which is the highest level in nearly seven years.

He noted that Diaspora remittances had increased by about $600 million per month while foreign capital inflows increased by more than $ ten times that amount in the first ten years of 2025, more than four times the figure from 2024.

Further, Cardoso further confirmed that the CBN had cleared the $7 billion verified FX backlog, restoring investor confidence, and strengthening Nigeria’s balance-of-payments position.

He claimed that recapitalization efforts were going smoothly in terms of banking-sector stability. Before the March 31, 2026 deadline, a total of 27 banks had already raised new capital, with sixteen of them meeting or exceeding the new regulatory thresholds, highlighting improvements in digital-payments oversight, cybersecurity compliance, and ATM cash availability.

Despite the encouraging signs, the Senate sought clarification in several policy choices.

Abiru pressed for clarifications regarding the sustained 45% Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), the 75% CRR for public-sector deposits, FX forward settlements, damaged naira notes, excessive bank fees, failed electronic transactions, and CBN subsidiaries’ compliance with parliamentary oversight.

He argued that stronger inter-agency cooperation was required to maintain public confidence and that the Financial Services Regulatory Coordinating Committee’s activities should be updated.