• Passing of Hon. Mohammad Wanzam: The Bauchi State House of Assembly announced the death of Hon. Mohammad Wanzam, the lawmaker representing the Sakwa Constituency, who passed away on Sunday morning. Hon. Wanzam also served as the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations. The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y. Sulaiman, paid tribute to the late legislator, praising his dedicated service to both his constituency and the state, and expressed prayers for his soul to be granted Aljannatul Firdaus.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The funeral prayer for the late lawmaker was scheduled for 11:00 a.m. this Sunday at the Gwallaga Juma’at Mosque in Bauchi.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Passing of Audu Sule Katagum: Additionally, the former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Audu Sule Katagum, has died at the age of 69. He served as deputy governor from 2018 to 2019 under the administration of former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar. His passing was confirmed early Saturday by Shamsuddeen Lukman Abubakar, an aide to the former governor.

Tunisia has been officially eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a devastating 4-0 loss to Japan in Monterrey on Sunday. This defeat, combined with their earlier 5-1 loss to Sweden, leaves the team with zero points after two matches. With only one group stage game remaining, the Carthage Eagles cannot accumulate enough points to advance to the Round of 32.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• In Philadelphia, Brazil secured a 3-0 victory over Haiti, effectively ending the Caribbean side’s chances of advancing.

• With no points from two matches and a goal difference of minus four, Haiti’s final game against Morocco on June 24 will have no impact on the qualification standings.

• Türkiye’s World Cup journey concluded following a 1-0 defeat to Paraguay at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.

• Having lost both of their opening matches, Türkiye remains without a point and is mathematically unable to progress to the knockout stage.

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has officially announced that veteran Nollywood actor Benedict Johnson is currently hospitalized and in need of surgery. The news was confirmed by the National President of the AGN, Abubakar Yakubu, on Saturday following public concern sparked by a viral video of the actor undergoing an MRI scan.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• While the actor’s specific medical condition remains undisclosed, it has been confirmed that he requires a surgical procedure.

• The leadership of the AGN is fully aware of the situation and has pledged to provide institutional support to ensure the surgery is successful.

• “Yes, he is ill. Actually, he is ill and requires surgery. The guild is aware, and we are lending our full support to ensure that he undergoes this surgery,” Yakubu stated.

• Benedict Johnson is a notable alumnus of Abia State University whose career began as a recording artist in the late 1980s before transitioning to acting in foundational Nollywood films like Living in Bondage and Stolen Bible.

Nollywood Bids Farewell to Alexx Ekubo

In a separate development, the film industry and grieving loved ones have laid actor Alexx Ekubo to rest.

• The late actor was buried on Thursday, June 18, in his hometown of Arochukwu, Abia State.

• The burial was marked by an emotional ceremony attended by a large crowd of mourners, including many colleagues from the acting profession, to honor his decade-long career.

• The event featured moving tributes and prayers as family and friends gathered to commit his body to mother earth, marking a final, painful goodbye to a cherished colleague.