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How reports of Trump’s involvement with porn star caused fear – Ex-White House director, Hicks

A former Communications Director of White House, Hope Hicks, on Friday, said there was fear over the 2016 presidential campaign of ex-President Donald Trump.
Hicks said there was fear over the impact of ‘Access Hollywood’ tape of Trump and porn star, Stormy Daniels.
Testifying during the hush money trial, the former White House Communication Director told Manhattan prosecutors that Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign was turned upside down following a leak of the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape.
Trump’s 2016 campaign was seized with worry about the potential political damage from a tape that showed the former president bragging about grabbing women sexually without their permission.
The former president was said to have paid off Stormy Daniels $130,000 through his lawyer, Michael Cohen during the build-up to the 2016 presidential election.
When the story broke in October 7, 2016, about a month to the election, Hicks described being stunned and huddling with other Trump advisers after learning about the tape’s existence from the Washington Post reporter.
Hicks forwarded the reporter’s request to campaign leadership with the recommendation to “deny, deny, deny,” she said.
She testified: “I had a good sense to believe this was going to be a massive story and that it was going to dominate the news cycle for the next several days.
“This was a damaging development.
“This was just pulling us backwards in a way that was going to be hard to overcome.”
Prosecutors called her to the witness stand to strengthen their case alleging Trump worked to prevent damaging stories about his personal life from becoming public as part of a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has sought to establish that link not just to secure a conviction but also to persuade the public of the significance of the case, which may be the only one of four Trump prosecutions to reach trial this year.
Hicks told jurors that Trump claimed he did not know anything about Cohen paying $130,000 to Daniels to prevent her from going public with claims of a sexual encounter with Trump.
She said Trump eventually came to believe that burying Daniels’ story was prudent, saying he thought “it would have been bad to have that story come out before the election.”
But when asked if Trump was also worried about the story’s impact on the campaign, Hicks responded that everything they spoke about during that time was viewed through the lens of the campaign.
Trump would often ask her, “How is it playing?” as a way of gauging how his appearances, speeches and policies were landing with voters, she said.
News
Trump’s trade war is ‘wake-up call’ for Europe

European Central Bank, ECB, President, Christine Lagarde, on Friday said a full-scale global trade war would hurt the United States in particular and could re-energise Europe’s push towards unity.
Recall that the U.S. has imposed a raft of tariffs on allies and adversaries alike and threatened even more measures, prompting retaliation from many and raising concerns that global growth could take a major hit.
“If we were to go to a real trade war, where trade would be dampened significantly, that would have severe consequences. It would have severe consequences for growth around the world and for prices around the world, but particularly in the United States,” Lagarde said.
European Central Bank, ECB, President, Christine Lagarde, on Friday said a full-scale global trade war would hurt the United States in particular and could re-energise Europe’s push towards unity.
Recall that the U.S. has imposed a raft of tariffs on allies and adversaries alike and threatened even more measures, prompting retaliation from many and raising concerns that global growth could take a major hit.
“If we were to go to a real trade war, where trade would be dampened significantly, that would have severe consequences. It would have severe consequences for growth around the world and for prices around the world, but particularly in the United States,” Lagarde said.
The European Central Bank reiterated, however, that the tensions could also have the positive side effect of giving European unity another push.
“You know what it’s doing at the moment? Stirring European energy. It’s a big wake-up call for Europe. Maybe this is a European moment, yet again,” she said.
It was gathered that the European Commission and Germany, the bloc’s largest economy, have already announced increased spending on defense and infrastructure, ending years of reluctance to spend.
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Breaking: PANDEF replies Wike, we never took Tinubu to court

… Accuses minister of blocking peace efforts in Rivers crisis
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has debunked claims by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, in a recent media chat, alleging that the organisation to court President Bola Tinubu over his position on the Rivers State crisis.
Wike had criticised PANDEF over its stance on the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State. He described PANDEF as “the worst organization anybody can rely on,” accusing its leaders of being financially driven and politically motivated.
But addressing press conference on Friday, Co-Chairman, Board of Trustees of PANDEF and Chairman of the organisation’s Peace, Reconciliation Committee and former Governor of Cross River State, Victor Attah, and its President, Godknows Igali, said the organization had placed embargo on speaking on the issue.
Igali said: “There was no time that PANDEF took Mr President to court, maybe it’s it a slip of the tongue. It never happened. This is the first time that PANDEF as an organization is making a public statement on this situation in the Rivers State since the crisis started. And even when the peace committee started working we placed an embargo that they must not speak to anybody until we arrive at the threshold.
“Yes, there were personal views that were expressed by some members of PANDEF. But there was no time that PANDEF as an organization…there is no press statement. So it is unthinkable to say that PANDEF went to court at all.“
PANDEF also raised concerns over the refusal of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to engage with its Peace and Reconciliation Committee, despite President Bola Tinubu’s appeal for dialogue to restore stability in Rivers State.
Attah, lamented that Wike’s unwillingness to meet with the committee is obstructing efforts to de-escalate tensions in the state.
Attah detailed how PANDEF, a respected regional body established in 2016 to champion the interests of the Niger Delta, had taken proactive steps to mediate in the political crisis in Rivers State.
Following a Special General Assembly in Port Harcourt in October 2024, the group set up a seven-member High-Level Peace and Reconciliation Committee.
Notably, the committee excluded any representatives from Rivers State to ensure neutrality.
“In a determination to prevent a full-blown crisis from developing, we constituted a team of eminent elders from across the South-South region,” Attah said.
“However, despite repeated attempts, we have been unable to secure a meeting with Chief Nyesom Wike, who has continued to rebuff our peace efforts.”
According to Attah, a PANDEF delegation met with President Tinubu on March 11, 2025, to seek his intervention. The delegation made it clear that the success of any peace process hinged on Wike’s willingness to come to the table.
“We informed Mr. President of the difficulties we have faced in securing the cooperation of his cabinet minister,” Attah explained.
“It is deeply troubling that Chief Wike has dismissed PANDEF as ‘the worst organization for anyone to rely on’ in a recent media chat, yet the President did not treat us with such disregard when he received us.”
Attah stressed that dialogue requires mutual engagement and cannot be forced upon one party alone.
“It is not possible to clap with one hand. Negotiation can only take place if both parties in dispute agree to be accessible and available,” he said.
Given Wike’s continued rebuff, PANDEF is now considering withdrawing entirely from mediation efforts.
“If this impasse persists, we will have no choice but to disband the Peace and Reconciliation Committee and step back from any further attempts to resolve this crisis,” Attah warned. “However, our fear is that this could have catastrophic consequences.”
PANDEF urged President Tinubu to intervene and ensure Wike comes to the negotiation table before the situation in Rivers State spirals further out of control.
PANDEF’s National President, Igali described the FCT minister’s insinuation that they were financially induced as very cheeky. “That is very cheeky. Because I’ve said earlier, when you have a group made up of former governors, former ministers, chairman of traditional religious councils, some of whom have been themselves former governors and former ministers, It’s just totally out of question. Wike himself, is our son. Every son of Niger Delta is part of PANDEF.”
Igali also recalled on the organization has stood by Wike including when they were protest against his nomination as minister, and it was the late Elder Statesman, Edwin Clark, whom they accused Wike of disparaging him and his memory, that issues a statement in his defence.
“Let me tell you, when the minister became minister, and you will recall, in fact, there were some insinuations that somebody from the south, should not be minister of FCT, and there were even demonstrations in Abuja against the honorable minister of the FCT. It was the same PANDEF that came out to rebuffed the Nigerians, and the same chief Clark that he (Wike) waved at that issued a statement and said that every Nigerian can hold any position if the president finds him worthy and the Senate clears him.
“That press statement is there we can pull it out. After that, Wike the minister of the Federal Capital City, our son, received the delegation from PANDEF, in his office in appreciation, of his people standing by him. So if after some time, he now feels that it is a worse organization, well, maybe times have change.”
Details later…
News
Couple arrested for gun running in Delta, wife confesses to helping hubby dispatch firearms

A couple, Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Bogbon Godwell, have been arrested by operatives of the Delta CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) for alleged gun running in the state.
The couple was picked up from their home following a sting operation by police detective on March 9, 2025.
State Police Public Relations Officer, SP. Edafe Bright, who confirmed this in a statement on Thursday, said that they were held following a credible intelligence on them at their residence in Okpe local government area of the state.
Mrs. Uche Joshua, the wife, was said to have admitted to helping her husband dispatch guns to clients in Warri and Sapele.
The police said it recovered a fabricated Beretta pistol with a single live ammunition, which was planned to be delivered to a client in Sapele from their residence.
During interrogation, Mrs. Joshua confessed to her involvement in the gun-running business, saying, “I helped my husband dispatch guns to clients in Warri and Sapele. I was the one who delivered the guns to the clients.”
Edale said that police are still investigating the couple and their associates, with efforts to recover more firearms and arrest other suspects.
Equally, on February 3, 2025, operatives arrested a suspected cultist and gun runner, Stephen Oma Odu, who has been on wanted list from Obagho community in Warri North LGA Delta State at Sapele town.
His arrest also led to the arrest of another 42 years old suspected cultist, Abel Festus, aka “TOMPOLO.” of Oghareki community in Ethiope West LGA, at Oghara town.
Two pump action guns and 24 rounds of live cartridges were recovered from Festus’ apartment.
“Two other suspected cultists were also arrested during the raid including Godspower Moses m” aka power of Kokori community in Ethiope West LGA Delta State and Oloriode Owebe m” 24 years of Oghareki community in Ethiope West LGA Delta State”, Edafe added.
Police says preliminary investigations revealed that they were suspected members of the Vikings’ confraternity.
Additionally, CP-SAT arrested 26 years old Oboyo, a notorious cultist and suspected kidnapper from Igbopa community in Ethiope West LGA, and recovered a locally made gun with a single cartridge.
According to Edafe, an “FBI” impersonated enlargement carrying his picture was also recovered, which he used for internet fraud.
“Other members of his gang which include Favor omowo “m” 29yrs aka “Voltage” of Jesse town in Ethiope West LGA Delta State and Gift Omowo “26yrs of Jesse community in Ethiope West LGA Delta State were also arrested.
“Trailing of his other fleeing gang members is on course while investigation is ongoing”, the statement added.
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