Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has revealed the scale of racism and hostility she has faced since becoming the first black woman to lead the Tories.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Badenoch admitted she did not expect the level of personal attacks she has endured online and within political circle.

“There’s a certain cadre of people who clearly can’t cope with the fact that I won this and I’m doing it,” she said.

“The level of personal attacks from anonymous people is hysterical.

Not just from MPs only two or three out of 120 but also online.

People used to talk about Trump derangement syndrome. I think there’s a Kemi derangement syndrome: ‘How could she possibly have done this?’.”

The 44-year-old politician, who was born in Wimbledon and raised in Nigeria before returning to the UK at 16, said much of the abuse has focused on her race and identity.

“On social media, there’s a lot of ethno-nationalism creeping up,” she noted.

“There are tropes around, ‘well, she couldn’t possibly have done this all by herself.’”

Badenoch rarely speaks at length about her race, often stressing that she sees Britain as a country where minorities thrive. She has previously argued that “Britain is not a racist country” and faced criticism for saying that white working-class boys struggle more than ethnic minorities on many social indicators.

“I always try to think of every possible explanation before I go to race and racism,” she told the paper.

“That is a healthy way to run a society. There will always be people who throw mud and hope it sticks.”

The Tory leader now faces a critical moment as she prepares for her first party conference speech.

With the Conservatives polling at just 17%, she is under pressure to unite her party and fend off speculation of a leadership challenge from her shadow justice secretary, Robert Jenrick.

On rumours Jenrick could soon replace her, Badenoch dismissed the claims as “wishful thinking.”

“There will always be sore losers—our candidate didn’t win, and so on,” she said.

“When I hear those things, I can tell those people are not focused on the country at all. Many of them think this is a game. But the lives of people in this country aren’t a game.”

The University of Uyo, a federal government-owned university in Akwa Ibom State, has become the first campus where the Federal Government’s new loan scheme for indigent students is being twisted into a money-making scam.

At the centre of the storm is Vice Chancellor Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, accused by staff, students, and academics of sabotaging the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) and weaponizing poverty for profit.

How the Loan Works

Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy, each beneficiary should receive ₦284,100:
₦44,100, for institutional fees, and ₦240,000, for upkeep

The design is simple: government pays so that poor students won’t drop out.

How Uniuyo Twists It

Inside Uniuyo, the VC has allegedly flipped the scheme on its head. Beneficiaries are being told to pay fees first pending when the Federal Government will release the money (loan). Refunds, staff say, could take “months or years—if they ever come at all.”

To make matters worse, NELFund students are being charged higher fees than their classmates. Documents and testimonies show that final year students in the Faculty of Arts are made to pay an extra ₦20,000 ‘development levy’ and ₦30,000 ‘professional accreditation fee’ imposed only on NELFund beneficiaries. That’s a shocking ₦50,000 illegal surcharge—punishing the very students government is trying to help.

Staff Blow the Whistle

A Registry officer said bluntly:
“The Federal Government created NELFund to ease students’ burden. But the VC has turned it upside down. He is using it to raise money.”

A top Bursary official added:
“Prof. Ndaeyo knows refunds hardly work here. He wants students to pay first, knowing many will never get their money back. This is deliberate monetization of education.”

“Cruel Irony”

Lecturers are furious. A senior academic in the Faculty of Arts called it a cruel irony:
“Poor students are paying more than the rich. This is wickedness. It shows the VC loves money more than humanity.”

Others point to a disturbing pattern under Ndaeyo—skyrocketing acceptance fees, inflated transcript costs, and endless hidden charges.

“Every policy he introduces is about extracting money. NELFund is just the latest victim,” said a professor in Engineering.

Students Cry Out

For students, the betrayal cuts deepest.

“If I had money, why would I apply for a loan?” asked a Political Science student. “They are using our suffering to make money for themselves. This is exploitation.”

Bigger Question

Why would a Vice Chancellor sabotage a Federal Government program meant to help the poor? Insiders say it’s either an obsession with internally generated revenue—or plain greed.

Either way, the consequences are devastating: poor students are being pushed out while Uniuyo’s coffers grow fat.

Time for Action

As one Education professor warned:
“We cannot allow one man’s greed to mortgage the future of our children. Universities should be centres of hope, not dens of extortion.”

With ₦284,100 per student at stake, attention now shifts to the Ministry of Education and the Presidency. Will they act to protect indigent students—or let Uniuyo’s Vice Chancellor turn a national lifeline into an extortion racket?

The Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Aondona Dajoh, has resigned from his position, citing the “best interest of the state” as the reason for his decision.

Dajoh’s resignation was conveyed in a letter he personally signed, dated August 24, 2025, and made available to Channels Television.

In the letter, titled “Resignation As The Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly,” the Gboko West representative wrote:

“I write to resign my position as the Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, effective today, August 24, 2025.

This is done in good faith and in the best interest of the state. I want to appreciate my dear colleagues for the opportunity they gave me to be the first among equals.

I pledge to remain committed to my duties as a legislator and representative of Gboko West State Constituency.”

Dajoh’s resignation comes just days after the House suspended four members — Alfred Berger (Makurdi North), Terna Shimawua (Kian), Cyril Ekong (Obi), and James Umoru (Apa) — for six months.

The lawmakers had allegedly spearheaded an attempt to impeach the Speaker in a late-night move.

The Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer, who raised a motion of urgent importance, accused the four of attempting to destabilise the Assembly with a “needless crisis.”

The motion was unanimously adopted, and Dajoh subsequently directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the suspended members out of the chambers.

Following Berger’s suspension, Dajoh also appointed Audu Elias as the new spokesperson of the House.

Meanwhile, Governor Hyacinth Alia has distanced himself from the political tension in the Assembly.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor said he had no role in the alleged impeachment plot.

“The governor, Hyacinth Alia, is not aware of and has no involvement whatsoever in any purported attempt to remove the Speaker or in any activities currently taking place in the Benue State House of Assembly,” the statement read.

It added that Governor Alia maintained a cordial working relationship with the Dajoh-led Assembly and remained committed to supporting the legislature in carrying out its duties.

The resignation also follows a turbulent week in the Assembly. Just a day earlier, the House screened and confirmed six commissioner nominees but rejected two, including a law professor, Timothy Ornguga.

Ornguga’s nomination was struck out after four petitions were submitted against him, alleging misconduct during his years as a lecturer, as well as concerns about his qualifications.

Lawmakers, led by Tarka representative Manger Manger, queried his credentials, including the absence of a primary school certificate.

Alongside Ornguga, nominee James Dwen was also rejected after failing to adequately defend himself against allegations contained in petitions.

The House asked Governor Alia to submit replacements for both nominees.

Dajoh’s resignation is expected to reshape the leadership dynamics of the Assembly, which has been rocked in recent weeks by internal divisions, impeachment plots, and controversial legislative battles.

While he has stepped down from the top seat, Dajoh assured his constituents that he will remain fully committed to his legislative responsibilities.

His exit as Speaker raises questions about whether the recent suspension of lawmakers and rejection of commissioner nominees may have deepened divisions within the Benue political space.

A devastating tragedy unfolded in Garin Faji, Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where at least six villagers lost their lives and three others remain missing after a canoe capsized during an early morning escape from suspected bandits.

The incident occurred on Thursday, August 21, marking the second fatal boat mishap in less than a week.

Just six days earlier, four people drowned in a similar accident in nearby Goronyo Local Government Area.

Eyewitness accounts painted a grim picture of desperation as terrified residents attempted to flee advancing attackers.

Many villagers, who had been spending nights in the bush to evade raids, were returning home when panic struck.

“Out of fear, people no longer sleep in their homes. That morning, they were returning when the canoe capsized”, a local source who doesn’t want to be quoted said.

Another resident explained that the chaos intensified when villagers spotted the approaching bandits, leading to an overcrowded rush onto the canoe, which capsized midway.

“They rushed into the canoe, but it couldn’t carry them all”, the resident recounted.

Hon. Aminu Boza, a member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly representing Sabon Birni, confirmed the tragic incident, describing how insecurity has emptied out entire communities.

“Some communities are now completely deserted. Most men spend the night in the bush and only return home in the morning,” Boza said.

He acknowledged the state government’s efforts to address the crisis, including deploying Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), which have helped foil attacks and arrest suspects.

“Just two days ago, security personnel foiled an attack and arrested four suspected bandits. But the area still requires more security presence”, he added.

The Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) also confirmed the accident, revealing that 19 people were rescued from the water, while search efforts to locate the missing individuals are ongoing.

A senior SEMA official noted that the agency, alongside the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and the Red Cross, visited the community to assess the situation and support grieving families.

A comprehensive joint report on the incident is expected soon.

India’s parliament has passed a landmark bill outlawing online gambling, citing growing concerns over financial losses, addiction, and suicides linked to the industry.

The legislation, approved late Thursday, August 21, by both houses, criminalises the offering, promotion, and financing of online gambling platforms, with violators facing up to five years in prison.

It covers card games, poker, and fantasy sports  including India’s hugely popular fantasy cricket apps.

Government figures revealed that gambling companies had extracted an estimated $2.3 billion annually from more than 450 million Indians. Officials said nearly one in three citizens had lost money on gambling apps.

The ban casts uncertainty over Indian cricket’s biggest sponsorship deal. Fantasy sports giant Dream11, named in July 2023 as the lead sponsor of the national team, has its logo splashed across Team India’s jerseys.

While no announcement has yet been made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), its secretary Devajit Saikia said the board would comply with the law.

“If it’s not permissible, we’ll not do anything,” Saikia said on Friday. “The BCCI will follow every policy framed by the central government.”

Dream11 has since suspended cash contests, telling users on its website: “Following the passing of the bill, cash games and contests have been discontinued. Stay tuned.”

‘Predatory Platforms’

The government defended the move as necessary to protect vulnerable citizens from what it called “predatory gaming platforms.”

“This legislation is designed to curb addiction, financial ruin and social distress caused by misleading promises of quick wealth,” a statement read.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi added that the new law would encourage safe digital gaming while shielding society from the harmful effects of gambling.

“It will encourage e-sports and online social games,” Modi said, “while saving our society from the dangers of online money games.”

The sweeping ban does not cover e-sports or educational games, which the government said it would continue to promote as part of India’s growing digital economy.

Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw explained that the bill draws a clear line between competitive online gaming and gambling.

“It separates constructive digital recreation from betting and fantasy money games that exploit users with false promises of profit,” he said.

Gaming industry groups had lobbied for regulation and taxation instead of an outright ban, warning the decision could push millions of players toward illegal offshore platforms.

But lawmakers insisted the social costs were too severe to ignore.

Beyond addiction and financial ruin, officials said gambling apps had been linked to fraud, money laundering, and even terrorism financing.

The bill, titled the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, now awaits presidential assent before taking effect.

Once signed into law, it is expected to transform India’s vast online gaming landscape, placing heavy restrictions on one of the world’s largest digital markets while reshaping its $1.5 billion fantasy sports industry.