Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, the controversial Onitsha-based pastor better known as Odumeje, has argued that “every Nigerian is illiterate as long as the country is still underdeveloped”.

In a recent sermon, the clergyman opined that it was wrong for a Nigerian to assume he or she is learned when the country does not enjoy basic infrastructure.

Odumeje likened literacy to development, arguing that Nigeria lacks strong economies, advanced technology, and high standards of living.

He also cited an example with Dubai — a city in the United Arab Emirates — referring to it “as one of the most developed countries in the world”.

“Anybody claiming educated in Nigeria where there is no good road, do you know what they call learned people? Educated people stay in a country where there is a lot of digital development,” he said.

“Everybody in this country is illiterate. Go to intelligent countries like Dubai, you will see modern things. Any educated people or country, go there you will see development every day because being an educated person means you have something others do not have and you must bring into practice.

“Educated people in a white man’s country are the ones who manufacture cars, bringing modern cars. They want to kill fuel, now they have brought electric cars. Every borrowed a professor and doctorate and borrowed certificates and coming out to say, my learned colleague. As far as this country is not moving forward, all of us are illiterates.”

Seyi Vibez, the Nigerian singer, has opened up about his challenging past.

In an interview with Cool FM, the singer said his family asked him to leave home at 15 because of difficult conditions.

The 23-year-old added that his family advised him to hustle and survive on his own than to “die” living with them.

“I left home when I was 15. Things were difficult in the ghetto, so I had to make way for myself. Even my own family freed me. They said, ‘Go, do not die here. It is better you go away and hustle for yourself’,” the singer said.

The criminal trial of Nigerian singer Azeez Fashola (a.k.a Naira Marley) could not proceed on Thursday before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The trial was stalled because parties in the suit are still awaiting approval of a fiat by the chief judge of the Federal High Court.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Fashola for alleged cybercrime.

The anti-graft agency preferred the charges on May 14, 2019.

Fashola, who sang the popular song – “Am I a Yahoo Boy” – was arraigned on May 20, 2019, before Justice Nicholas Oweibo and he pleaded not guilty.

Oweibo granted him bail for two million naira with two sureties in like sum.

Witnesses were still being led in evidence by EFCC when Oweibo was transferred out of the Lagos division of the court.

The case was, therefore, transferred to Justice Isaac Dipeolu.

On March 6, when the case was first mentioned before Dipeolu, both defence and prosecution counsel confirmed to the judge that there was a pending fiat awaiting a response from the chief judge.

The judge consequently adjourned the case until Thursday (May 30) for the report.

On Thursday, journalists learnt that the fiat had yet to be approved.

There is no slated date yet for the continuation of the trial.

According to the EFCC, the defendant committed the offences on different dates between Nov. 26, 2018, and Dec.11, 2018, as well as on May 10, 2019.

The commission alleged that Fashola and his accomplices conspired to use different Access Bank automated teller machine cards to defraud their victims.

It alleged that the defendant used a bank credit card issued to another person, in a bid to obtain fraudulent financial gains.

The EFCC also said that the defendant possessed counterfeit credit cards belonging to different people, with intent to defraud, which, it said, amounted to theft.

The alleged offences contravene Sections 1 23 (1) (b), 27 (1) and 33(9) of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition) Prevention Act, 2015.