Nigerian comedian Freedom Okpetoritse Atsepoyi, popularly known as Mr Jollof, has defended the brand-new Toyota Prado SUVs reportedly allocated for the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign mobilisation.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Mr Jollof claimed that the vehicles were purchased through private donations from wealthy individuals who had benefited from President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In a post on Tuesday, the comedian dismissed allegations that public funds were used to acquire the vehicles, insisting that they were contributions from individual supporters.

He argued that wealthy supporters had the right to donate vehicles, including Toyota Prado SUVs and Lexus cars, to help the APC achieve victory in the forthcoming elections.

Mr Jollof said, “If I have money today, I can decide to support the All Progressives Congress with 50 Prados, Lexus LS600; it is my money, and I can support in any way to enhance their victory.

“I know a man who has bought more than 20 brand-new Toyota Hiace buses, which will be used to campaign around the country. Yesterday, at his Abuja house, there were 10 already that he wants to give in support of the election. He has spent over N3bn on buses to aid the election. It is from his pocket, just like others, because President Bola Tinubu has made men.”

The comedian criticised those spreading claims that the vehicles were funded with taxpayers’ money, describing the narratives circulating on social media as misleading.

He insisted that vehicles bearing the APC emblem were provided by private individuals and urged supporters of political candidates to contribute their time and resources to their preferred parties.

Mr Jollof added that although he did not have the financial capacity to make large donations, he was supporting Tinubu and the Delta State governor through his personal efforts.

He said, “Like me, I don’t have money to give, but I’m using my body and strength to support President Tinubu and the Delta governor. Some people are using their money. Don’t whitewash or misinform the general public. It is very, very wrong.

“If Israel posts Prados to aid their election mobilisation, it doesn’t mean that they moved the money from Nigeria’s account. They are donations from individuals that Tinubu has made. Nobody took money from Nigeria’s coffers to buy a vehicle for election purposes. Put your money where your mouth is.”

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane defeated Kylian Mbappé to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or by a margin narrower than the 41-point difference between Rodri and Vinícius Júnior in 2024, according to France Football editor Vincent Garcia.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Garcia made the revelation following Kane’s presentation with the prestigious individual award at a ceremony held at the London Palladium on Monday evening, October 26. The complete voting results are expected to be released on Saturday.

Speaking to French newspaper L’Équipe, Garcia explained that Mbappé had led the race for a significant portion of the voting period before Kane staged a late comeback to secure the honour.

“The points gap between Kane and Mbappé was smaller than the gap between Rodri and Vinícius Júnior in 2024, which was 41 points, and that was already a very narrow margin at the time,” Garcia said.

He added that although Mbappé had maintained the lead for much of the contest, Kane’s late surge ultimately made the difference.

“Kylian led the race for a long time, but Harry Kane came back into contention, and in the end, it was decided by a very, very small number of points,” Garcia stated.

The disclosure indicates that the contest between the two forwards was exceptionally close, although the precise difference in their votes will remain unknown until the full results are published.

Kane secured his first Ballon d’Or after an outstanding campaign in which he scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for Bayern Munich and England. He also helped the German giants win the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal during the preceding season.

The 33-year-old further boosted his credentials by scoring six goals at the 2026 World Cup, where England finished third. His triumph makes him the first Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen claimed the award in 2001.

Mbappé finished second, recording his best-ever position in the Ballon d’Or rankings, while Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal came third.

The Real Madrid forward also enjoyed an impressive scoring campaign, finishing as La Liga’s leading scorer with 25 goals and topping the Champions League scoring chart with 15 goals. He also emerged as the leading scorer at the World Cup with 10 goals.

An investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) denied issuing the degree and discharge certificates allegedly presented by former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The investigator, Superintendent of Police Yakubu Ibrahim, made the disclosure on Monday, October 26, 2026, while testifying as the first prosecution witness in the trial of the former minister.

Naija News reports that Nnaji is facing a six-count charge bordering on alleged corruption, fraud, conferring corrupt advantage and providing false information in connection with the alleged presentation of forged university and NYSC certificates.

Testifying under questioning from the prosecution counsel, J. A. Mumini (SAN), Ibrahim said the ICPC launched an investigation after receiving two separate petitions accusing Nnaji of certificate forgery.

He explained that the chairman of the commission’s Special Task Force subsequently directed that the allegations be investigated.

According to the witness, the investigative team wrote to the National Assembly, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), UNN and the NYSC to obtain relevant documents and verify the claims.

Ibrahim said the ICPC contacted UNN to authenticate a Bachelor of Science certificate in Microbiology and Biochemistry allegedly submitted by Nnaji to the Senate during his ministerial screening in 2023.

He told the court that the university responded that it had not issued the certificate attributed to the former minister, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Enugu State for the 2027 election.

The witness further stated that the NYSC denied issuing a discharge certificate dated May 15, 1986, which Nnaji allegedly presented.

He added that UNN supplied the investigators with the former minister’s academic records, including a withdrawal notice reportedly connected to his failure to obtain the required grade in a course.

When the prosecution sought to tender copies of the correspondence between the ICPC and the two institutions, defence counsel Wole Olanipekun (SAN) said he would not oppose their admission at that stage but reserved the right to challenge them later.

How ICPC Tracked Down Nnaji

Ibrahim also explained that the investigative team initially encountered difficulties inviting Nnaji for questioning because it could not locate his address.

He said the head of his section later sent an invitation dated May 5, 2026, to the former minister through his email address and WhatsApp number.

According to the witness, after Nnaji failed to honour the invitation, the ICPC contacted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for assistance in securing his arrest.

Ibrahim told the court that Nnaji was arrested on July 1 and subsequently questioned, making statements dated July 1 and 2.

Investigator Makes Concessions During Cross-Examination

During cross-examination, Ibrahim admitted that he did not personally visit UNN during the investigation and did not know the faculty to which Nnaji had been admitted.

He maintained, however, that members of the investigative team interviewed the university’s Registrar.

The witness also acknowledged that investigators had not established where the allegedly forged certificates were produced.

When asked whether the team investigated where Nnaji completed his national service, Ibrahim said it did not, explaining that the NYSC had already denied issuing the discharge certificate.

“The NYSC said the certificate was not issued by it, which was why we didn’t inquire where he served,” he told the court.

Ibrahim also discussed a withdrawal notice supplied by UNN, which he identified as Exhibit C and said was dated November 7, 1984.

He explained that the university outlined its academic requirements for students to qualify for certificates, adding that a student who failed a course four times would not be eligible.

According to the witness, Nnaji failed at two stages and missed the examination at the third stage for medical reasons.

He further claimed that the former minister subsequently sat for a supplementary examination for which he had not registered.

However, during cross-examination, Olanipekun suggested that a later letter dated March 18, 1985, had reversed the earlier withdrawal notice.

Ibrahim agreed with the suggestion, explaining that the withdrawal notice related to a General Microbiology course.

The investigator also admitted that the team did not establish the number of years students studying Microbiology were expected to spend at the university.

He further confirmed that Nnaji made no comment on the allegations when questioned by investigators.

Following the cross-examination, the prosecution did not ask any additional questions.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik subsequently discharged the witness and adjourned the case until November 3 for further hearing.