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JUST IN: Conclave To Elect New Pope Begins May 7 — Vatican

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The Vatican has announced that the conclave to elect a new pope will begin on “May 7”.

Cardinals in Rome reached this decision on Monday at the “fifth general congregation” in the Vatican’s Synod Hall.

This decision follows the conclusion of the traditional mourning period for Pope Francis.

After his death last Monday, a “nine-day mourning period” was announced.

Francis was ultimately laid to rest on Saturday, initiating preparations to elect his successor.

Only cardinals “under the age of 80” are eligible to vote, with “135 electors” expected to participate out of the total of “252 cardinals”.

If the total number of electors is not evenly divisible by three, “an additional vote is necessary”.

The conclave will be held in the Sistine Chapel under “strict secrecy,” involving multiple rounds of voting until a candidate receives “a two-thirds majority”.

Throughout the election process, the Cardinal electors “must refrain from sending letters or engaging in conversations, including phone calls, except in cases of extreme urgency.”

They “are not allowed to send or receive messages of any kind, receive newspapers or magazines of any nature, or follow radio or television broadcasts.”

The election could span several days, but if the electors fail to agree on a candidate after “three days of inconclusive voting,” a break of “up to one day” is allowed for prayer, free discussion among voters, and a brief spiritual exhortation by Dominique Mamberti, “cardinal proto-deacon”.

The successful candidate will be announced with the traditional “Habemus papam” proclamation, accompanied by the appearance of “white smoke” from the chapel chimney.

If the ballot is inconclusive, the chimney will emit “black smoke”.

The new pope will face the challenge of uniting a church marked by “internal divisions” and navigating “complex global issues”.

BIG STORY

We Can’t Act On Natasha Akpoti’s Suspension Until Court Judgment Is Received — Senate

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Yemi Adaramodu, spokesperson for the senate, says the red chamber has not yet received the certified true copy (CTC) of the federal high court judgment delivered on July 4 in the case filed by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central.

In a statement on Sunday, Adaramodu said the senate cannot proceed on the matter until it gets the complete judgment.

“Our legal representatives, who were in attendance at the proceedings, have confirmed that the complete judgment was not read in open court,” the statement reads.

“Consequently, we have formally applied for the CTC to enable a thorough review and informed determination of the appropriate legal response, particularly in view of the uncertainty surrounding whether the court made any direct order nullifying the suspension of senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.”

Binta Nyako, judge of the federal high court, while affirming the senate’s authority to discipline its members, faulted the six-month suspension imposed on Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling it “overreaching” and one that effectively denied her constituents their right to representation.

The judge also imposed a fine of N5 million on the Kogi senator for violating an earlier court order through a satirical Facebook post.

Reacting to the ruling, Akpoti-Uduaghan described it as a victory and declared her intention to return to the senate on Tuesday.

But Adaramodu emphasised that no enrolled order of the judgment has been served on any party, pointing out that “none can enforce any perceived order or relief”.

“Pending receipt and examination of the CTC, and acting on the advice of counsel, the senate shall refrain from taking any steps that may prejudice its legal position,” he added.

“The senate remains committed to upholding the rule of law and will act strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria upon full clarification of the court’s pronouncements.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6 after the senate adopted a report by its committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions following an altercation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

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BREAKING: Olubadan Of Ibadan Oba Olakulehin Joins His Ancestors

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The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, has joined his ancestors.

It was gathered that the monarch, who became Olubadan in July 2024, passed away in the early hours of Monday, July 7, 2025, after spending a year on the throne.

The passing of Oba Olakulehin, who was born on July 5, 1935, occurred barely two days after he marked his 90th birthday.

According to Tribune Online, Oba Olakulehin was presented with the staff of office by Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde on July 12, 2024, as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland.

He rose to the throne from the chieftaincy rung of Balogun Olubadan, succeeding Oba (Dr.) Moshood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, who passed away at the age of 81 on March 14, 2024.

 

More to come…

 

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NDPC Fines MultiChoice N766m For ‘Violating Privacy Of Subscribers’

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The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has imposed a fine of N766.24 million on MultiChoice Nigeria, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, for “violating the privacy of subscribers and their friends”.

In a statement on Sunday signed by Babatunde Bamigboye, head of legal, enforcement and regulations at NDPC, the commission explained that the sanction followed an investigation launched in the second quarter of 2024.

NDPC said MultiChoice was found to have breached the Nigeria Data Protection (NDP) Act after an inquiry into alleged violations of the privacy rights of its subscribers and the illegal cross-border transfer of personal data belonging to Nigerians.

“NDPC found, among others, that Multichoice violated the data privacy rights of subscribers and their friends who are not necessarily subscribers,” the commission stated.

“The Commission also found that Multichoice carries out illegal cross-border transfer of personal data relating to data subjects in Nigeria.

“The depth of data processing by Multichoice is patently intrusive, unfair, unnecessary and disproportionate. This is a grave affront to fundamental right to privacy as enshrined in section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Nigeria is entitled to protect her citizens, and data sovereignty under both international and extant municipal laws – as these have far-reaching implication for rule of law, national security and economic growth.

“In line with its standard remediation procedure, the Commission directed Multichoice to carry out appropriate remedial measures. However, the Commission found the measures undertaken by Multichoice in this regard unsatisfactory.

“For want of cooperation, the Commission has directed Multichoice to pay N766,242,500 for violating the Nigeria Data Protection Act.”

NDPC also stated that Vincent Olatunji, the national commissioner of the agency, has directed that every outlet through which MultiChoice collects Nigerians’ personal data be investigated for possible non-compliance.

Olatunji emphasized that any outlet processing personal data in violation of the NDP Act would be subject to a penalty as stipulated by the Act.

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