The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has included 20 Nigerian words and expressions in its latest update.

The newly added words feature popular slang such as “japa,” “agbero,” “eba,” “419,” and “abi,” among others.

The OED noted that these words, which are integral to the everyday lives of Nigerians, highlight the global recognition of Pidgin English, street slang, and cultural expressions.

Additionally, some words like “japa” and “jand” have been categorized as both nouns and verbs in the dictionary, showcasing their versatility in usage.

Oludipe Oluwasanmi David, popularly known as Spyro, has expressed frustration over the challenges of living as a celebrity in Lagos, lamenting that “Billings choke.”

The singer shared his experience on Instagram on Wednesday, recounting an incident where he was insulted by someone after explaining he couldn’t provide assistance immediately but promised to help the following day.

Spyro, famous for his hit song Who’s Your Guy, revealed the financial strain of his lifestyle, stating that he spends at least ₦100,000 every time he steps out and an average of ₦15 million annually.

He wrote, “If I enter restaurant, Billings go dey wait me outside, I enter church, same thing…Enter estate, same, carry phone enter online, na same same.

“Everybody wants to take, but nobody dey give you and nobody thinks of how you are faring.

“S/O to every one of my colleagues out there going through this, y’all are the real MVPs and I celebrate you.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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On Monday, January 6, 2025, Justice M.S. Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a ruling mandating the release of controversial singer Speed Darlington, also known as Akpi, from detention.

The court directed the Inspector General of Police and the Nigerian Police Force to either charge Darlington to court within 48 hours or release him unconditionally.

This ruling follows an earlier court order two weeks ago granting Darlington bail after he had already spent nearly a month in custody. Despite the directive, the Nigerian Police Force has yet to comply, leaving the singer, born Darlington Okoye, still detained as of the time of this report.

Justice Liman reaffirmed in the ruling that Darlington’s prolonged detention constitutes a violation of his fundamental rights to dignity, liberty, and freedom of expression as enshrined in Chapter IV of the Nigerian Constitution. The court stated, “The applicant is to be charged to court within 48 hours or released unconditionally before the hearing of the substantive application.”

Darlington's legal team, led by defence counsel Stanley Alieke and Human Rights Lawyer Deji Adeyanju, expressed frustration over the police's disregard for the court order.

On Instagram, Alieke condemned the situation, highlighting systemic issues within the Nigerian Police Force. “This case has drawn public attention to the lawlessness in the Nigerian Police Force and their blatant disregard for court rulings when sentimentally involved in a case,” he said.

He added, “We cannot achieve a near-perfect society with a police force that disrespects the judiciary and the rule of law. Many officers are good people, but this kind of behavior tarnishes the institution.”

Similarly, Adeyanju criticized the police's actions, stating, “The refusal of the Nigerian Police to release Speed Darlington, despite explicit orders from the Federal High Court, is a blatant disrespect to the judiciary and the rule of law.”

The case continues to attract significant public attention, shedding light on concerns about police conduct and adherence to judicial authority in Nigeria.

Popular Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo has expressed regret over her earlier push for the exhumation of the late singer Mohbad.

In an emotional interview on the 'Talk to B' podcast with Biola Bayo, Iyabo admitted that she didn't foresee the complications that followed the request. She shared her sorrow over the delays in Mohbad's burial and the ongoing disputes within his family.

“I wouldn’t have asked for Mohbad to be exhumed if I had known things would turn out like this," she said. "He hasn’t even been buried yet. His father wants a DNA test, and I hear the court has granted it, though there are new conditions.”

She continued, “I only wanted the exhumation so they could perform an autopsy to determine the cause of his death. I did my best to ensure a thorough investigation, but when new theories came up, DNA became their priority.”

Mohbad passed away on September 12, 2023, under mysterious circumstances and was buried the following day. However, the Lagos State Police exhumed his body on September 21 for an autopsy.

In October 2023, Mohbad's father, Joseph Aloba, made it clear that the singer would not be reburied until a DNA test was conducted on his son Liam.