🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Nigerian wrestler Oba Femi discusses transition from Olympic hopeful to WWE star
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Nigerian professional wrestler Isaac Odugbesan, known as Oba Femi in World Wrestling Entertainment, has detailed his journey from an Olympic medal hopeful in shot put to a WWE superstar. Earlier this month, Oba Femi defeated WWE veteran Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas in under five minutes. His victory involved dominating key moments, enduring Lesnar’s “F5,” and securing the win with a chokeslam and his finishing move, “Fall From Grace.” Oba Femi's rising profile is linked to his Nigerian background; he previously competed for the University of Lagos at the National University Games, winning individual honors in athletics before moving abroad in 2017. He continued track and field in the United States, winning the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships in 2021 and 2022, and the outdoor title in 2020. By 2021, he joined WWE’s Next In Line initiative, which recruits collegiate athletes for professional wrestling. He stated that WWE contacted him via Instagram for a trial, and he signed with the company on December 8, 2021, after a tryout in August 2021.
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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA arrested Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, a 55-year-old Lagos businessman, for attempting to export 3.30kg of cocaine to the United Kingdom. The cocaine was found concealed in the walls of cartons packaging foodstuffs. Chinedu, a clothing trader at Balogun Market, was apprehended on Thursday, July 23, 2026, following the interception of the shipment at Murtala Muhammed International Airport the previous day. Three cargo agents, Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed, and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim, were initially arrested for handling the consignment, leading to the arrest of Kenneth Okakpu, who delivered the drugs. Okakpu's arrest identified Chinedu as the syndicate's leader. In other operations, NDLEA operatives arrested 31-year-old entrepreneur Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo with 2.80kg of Loud, a synthetic cannabis strain, and recovered 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, valued at over N2.2 billion, from a shipment from India. At Apapa Seaport, 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud, weighing 2,388.5kg and valued at over N7.1 billion, were discovered hidden in three vehicles within a shipping container. In Katsina State, NDLEA arrested Mustapha Sani with 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition and Abubakar Amadu with 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. In Edo State, a raid on a warehouse yielded 1,286kg of cannabis and 86kg of cannabis seeds, while Ojore Onweze and George Agwumede were arrested with 60kg and 13kg of skunk, respectively.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, stated in an interview with Symfoni TV that a joint presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso would have a 70 percent chance of winning the 2027 presidential election. Lawal predicted that President Bola Tinubu would have a 50 percent chance of victory, while former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar would lose. Lawal emphasized that an Obi-Kwankwaso pairing would be more successful than if they contested individually. His comments follow his resignation from the African Democratic Congress and allegations of irregularities in the party's presidential primary that produced Atiku as a candidate.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, stated that former President Buhari initially hesitated to publicly support Bola Tinubu in the 2023 All Progressives Congress primary. In an interview, Lawal indicated that Buhari had religious and ethical concerns regarding Tinubu's suitability as a successor. Despite these reservations, Lawal claimed that after discussions, Buhari agreed to remain neutral, allowing party delegates to decide the candidate. Lawal noted Tinubu's critical role in previous APC campaigns, providing resources and strategists, which made it difficult for Buhari to outright oppose his ambition. Lawal also recounted advising Buhari to stay neutral before the convention, a proposal Buhari initially resisted, fearing Lawal would ensure Tinubu's victory. Buhari also expressed concerns about Tinubu's fairness to their political camp if elected. Ultimately, Buhari remained neutral, and Tinubu secured the APC presidential ticket, later winning the February 2023 presidential election.