•Professor Charles Nnolim

Professor of English and World Literatures, Charles Nnolim, is dead.

Nnolim died in Port Harcourt, where he lectured for many years.

Though Nnolim’s age at death is not very clear, it is estimated at mid to late eighties.

Nnolim’s scholarly works include: “Approaches to the African Novel”, “Teaching African Literature Today,. “Literature, Literary Criticism and National Development.”

Prof Chijoke Uwasomba of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife who is familiar with Nnolim’s works, said that Nnolim remains one of the finest as far as literary criticism is concerned.

Nnolim left an impressive imprint that is fascinating and worthy.

Nnolim’s death is the fall of an iroko, which will definitely be felt in the literary world.

Nnolim is a product of the old Alvan Ikokwu College of Education.

He capped his intellectual height with a PhD from the Catholic University in the United States.

He returned to Nigeria, landing at the University of Port Harcourt, in the thriving and tempting atmosphere at the time Nigerian universities were seen as the place to be.

Business mogul and philantrophist Aminu Dantata, is set to be buried tomorrow (Tuesday) in Medina, Saudi Arabia after he died on Saturday in the United Arab Emirates.

Sources closed to the family disclosed that it was Dantata’s wish to be buried in a city he adored and where Islam’s prophet Muhammad lived and died.

Dantata, 94, an uncle of Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, is survived by three wives, 21 children and 121 grandchildren.

His body was set to be transferred from Abu Dhabi, where he died, to the holy city of Medina after Saudi authorities approved his burial in their country.

Background and Wealth

He was known across Nigeria for his philanthropic activities.

Last year, he donated 1.5 billion naira ($972,000; £710,000) to victims of the devastating floods in north-eastern Borno state.

His business interests cut across agriculture, real estate, construction and manufacturing.

He first made his name in agriculture, starting trading kola nuts and groundnuts in the 1940s.

He came from a business family – his father Alhassan Dantata was once considered to be the richest man in West Africa.

Despite his riches, Dantata lived in one of the poorest areas of the northern city of Kano, like his parents before him.

His influence was also felt in politics, with politicians eager to seek his blessings before elections.

… As Trial begins September 2

Nigerian Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja, over alleged defamation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

This is the second arraignment for similar charges, as she was also arraigned on June 19, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
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‎Like in the previous arraignment, the Kogi Central Senator has pleaded not guilty to what she is being accused of.

A six-count charge against her stems from statements she allegedly made during a live television broadcast on April 3, 2025, and in a telephone conversation on March 27, 2025.
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‎The Federal Government, through the Attorney General’s office accuses Akpoti-Uduaghan of claiming that Akpabio and Bello conspired to orchestrate her assassination.

She is also accused of making statements regarding the alleged use of organs from a deceased individual for Akpabio’s wife.

The government contends that she made these imputations knowingly or with reason to believe they would harm the reputations of Akpabio and Bello, an act deemed to be criminal.
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‎At her arraignment on June 19, she pleaded not guilty to all charges and was granted bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety. The prosecution had initially requested her remand in a correctional facility, which was opposed by her legal team.
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‎At the Federal High Court, however, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has been granted bail on self-recognition, being a serving Senator. The judge, Muhammed Umar, then fixed September 22 for the start of trial.
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‎Similarly, Akpoti-Uduaghan has also filed a suit challenging her six-month suspension from the Senate, and a ruling on that matter, along with contempt proceedings, is expected on July 4, 2025. Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court is presiding over that particular case.