Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his daughter, former senator Iyabo Obasanjo, provided a light-hearted moment at a public event in Abeokuta, Ogun State, with a playful exchange that quickly spread online.

What happened

At the Ajibosin Platform symposium, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library on Friday, 30 October 2026, Iyabo reportedly greeted the dignitaries in her opening address and acknowledged her father last, joking that he was someone she did not know. When the former President took the microphone, he responded that the abuse of artificial intelligence had already started, since his own daughter now claimed not to know her father. The audience laughed at both remarks.

About the event

The symposium, part of the Odun Omo Olowu festival, focused on using artificial intelligence to solve grassroots problems and speed up national development. It was at the same event that Obasanjo criticised President Bola Tinubu's attitude to borrowing, saying debt destroys generations, and warned against relying too heavily on advice from foreign-trained economists.

Background

Iyabo Obasanjo is a public health specialist who served as Ogun State Commissioner for Health and later as a senator representing Ogun Central. She is currently the PDP candidate for Ogun Central in the 2027 elections. Father and daughter have had a well-publicised strained relationship in the past, which made their friendly exchange all the more talked about.

How people reacted

Many social media users enjoyed the moment, saying it showed a warmer side of the former President, while others joked about the role of AI in family relationships.

A United States federal court has turned down an attempt to obtain evidence from President Bola Tinubu as part of a long-running records lawsuit, according to a statement from the Presidency on Saturday, 31 October 2026.

What the court decided

The case, before the US District Court for the District of Columbia, is a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by American researcher Aaron Greenspan against the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). On 30 October, the court reportedly denied Greenspan's request for limited discovery from President Tinubu and the lobbying firm DCI Group, which he had linked to alleged cyberattacks on his website. The court found the request was not relevant enough to the main records dispute. It also rejected a request by a third party to file a friend-of-the-court brief, refused a related request for judicial notice, and denied Greenspan's motion for summary judgment, meaning the main case continues.

The Presidency's reaction

The President's adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the development. Lawyers quoted in the statement said the ruling kept the case focused on the issues properly before the court and set clear limits on what it would consider.

Background

Greenspan has for several years sought the release of US government records he says relate to investigations involving the President in the 1990s. The President's lawyers have consistently opposed the release of the records, and the Presidency has dismissed the claims linked to them. The case has drawn wide attention in Nigeria, particularly from opposition supporters.

What happens next

The FOIA case itself will continue, and further rulings are expected. Greenspan had not publicly responded to the decision at the time of the report.

What was supposed to be a beautiful celebration of love reportedly took an unexpected turn in Mbaise, Imo State, after a groom allegedly walked away from his bride and their traditional wedding arrangements.

What reportedly happened

According to reports circulating online, trouble began when the bride's family demanded ₦1.2 million as bride price, a sum that reportedly did not sit well with the groom.

Rather than go ahead with the marriage under those conditions, the man allegedly called everything off, leaving the bride and both families in an embarrassing situation.

The cost of getting married

The incident has raised fresh questions about the financial demands sometimes placed on intending couples during traditional marriage ceremonies.

Some people believe families have every right to uphold their marriage customs. Others argue that excessive financial demands can discourage young people who genuinely want to settle down.

The full circumstances of the reported incident, including whether the ₦1.2 million covered only the bride price or other traditional marriage expenses as well, have not been independently confirmed, and the people involved have not been identified.

Over to you

Should a man walk away from a marriage because of expensive traditional demands, or should both families find a way to reach an agreement?

What would you do if you were in his shoes?

Nigerian gospel singer and pastor Nathaniel Bassey has reached a milestone no other African gospel artist has achieved, according to reports on Monday, 2 November 2026.

The milestone

His main YouTube channel had passed 1.014 billion views at the time of reporting, with about 5.24 million subscribers. The channel has been active since 2011. Among his most popular songs are 'Imela', 'Onise Iyanu', 'Olowogbogboro' and 'You Are God', which are sung in churches across Nigeria and the diaspora.

The Hallelujah Challenge

The milestone came during the October 2026 edition of the Hallelujah Challenge, the midnight prayer and worship programme Bassey started in 2017. It runs twice a year and draws huge online audiences, with many viewers joining live on Instagram and YouTube. Earlier this week, a plane crash survivor shared a testimony during the programme, and a Muslim woman's decision to join drew attention online.

A non-commercial approach

Some of Bassey's followers have suggested he should make money from the large audience. He has previously described the Hallelujah Challenge as a spiritual exercise focused on devotion and worship rather than revenue. He did not give a public statement about the milestone at the time of reporting.

Background

Bassey, who is also a trumpeter, has become one of the best-known voices in Nigerian worship music. His success shows the growing global reach of Nigerian gospel music, which has produced several international stars in recent years.

How fans reacted

Fans celebrated the news online, describing it as a proud moment for African gospel music.