Justin Sun, the founder of blockchain platform Tron, has purchased Comedian, a conceptual artwork by Maurizio Cattelan featuring a banana duct-taped to a wall, for $6.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York.

Initially valued at $1–$1.5 million, the sale exceeded expectations, drawing bids from seven contenders. Originally priced at $120,000 during its 2019 debut at Art Basel Miami Beach, Comedian has sparked global debates about the absurdities of contemporary art.

Sun views the purchase as a cultural statement rather than a simple acquisition. “This bridges art, memes, and cryptocurrency,” he said, revealing plans to eat the banana as part of the artwork’s experiential essence.

Known for challenging societal norms, Cattelan’s works often provoke controversy. Buyers of Comedian receive instructions to replace the banana due to its perishability.

Sun’s acquisition highlights his growing involvement in art and tech intersections, following his $78.4 million purchase of Alberto Giacometti’s Le Nez. While celebrated as an entrepreneur, Sun has also faced legal challenges, including allegations of cryptocurrency manipulation.

The $6.2 million banana reinforces the unpredictable relationship between art, commerce, and culture, embodying modern art’s power to provoke and perplex.

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, recently took to his social media handle to share his visit to Mary Agro Farms, located in Omughu, Obeleagu-Umana, in the Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

After attending the Peaceland University conference in Enugu, Obi traveled to the farm to witness firsthand the progress of one of the nation’s promising agricultural initiatives.

In his post, Obi reflected on his previous visit to the farm’s pilot scheme in Udi over two years ago, during which he offered his support.

Yesterday’s visit to the farm’s permanent site, however, left him astounded by the remarkable transformation that had taken place.

The expansion of Mary Agro Farms is a testament to the hard work and resilience of its management and staff.

Obi praised the farm for its significant progress, noting that the scale of operations had grown considerably, demonstrating the immense potential of innovative farming practices to boost food security in Nigeria.

As part of his commitment to supporting productive ventures, Obi made a generous donation of ₦20 million to Mary Agro Farms.

He expressed his hope that the farm would continue to stay innovative and productive, especially during a time when Nigeria is grappling with severe hunger, food scarcity, and inflation.

The visit came at a time when global organizations have raised alarm over the worsening hunger crisis in Nigeria.

The United Nations recently issued a stark warning, indicating that at least 33 million Nigerians could face a major hunger crisis by 2025 unless urgent measures are taken.

In addition, a report by Save the Children International highlighted that 5.4 million Nigerian children are at risk of acute malnutrition within the same period.

These statistics paint a grim picture of the food security situation in the country and emphasize the need for immediate intervention.

Obi urges action by calling governments at all levels to prioritize and invest in food production to address the crisis.

He stressed that the ongoing food scarcity and inflation must be met with concrete efforts to boost local food production and secure the nation’s future.

Mary Agro Farms, which has already demonstrated its potential with a strong commitment to agricultural productivity, has played a significant role in tackling food security challenges in the region.

The farm’s success story is a model for how innovative farming techniques can transform the agricultural sector and contribute to the fight against hunger in the country.

By expanding its operations and scaling up production, Mary Agro Farms aims to play a part in alleviating the pressure on Nigeria’s food supply, which is critical in a nation struggling with high food prices and limited access to basic nutrition for many of its citizens.

Obi commended the management and staff of Mary Agro Farms for their dedication and urged them to continue their efforts, emphasizing that the country’s path to a more secure and well-fed future lies in the hands of innovators and hardworking individuals like them.

A Nigerian living in the United States, Ifeanyi Ozoh, has been sentenced to six years in prison for his role in a $6 million bribery scheme targeting the Medicaid insurance program.

The U.S. Department of Justice revealed in a statement by Attorney Alamdar Hamdani that Ozoh conspired to defraud Medicaid by bribing marketers and parents to bring insured patients to a non-existent dental clinic. The scheme involved filing fraudulent claims for treatments that never occurred.

Ozoh, 54, was convicted on February 14 after a three-day trial. He was also ordered to pay $4.9 million in restitution and will undergo three years of supervised release following his prison term.

At the sentencing hearing, the court emphasized Ozoh’s central role in orchestrating the scam, highlighting his efforts to secure kickbacks and manipulate the Medicaid system for personal gain.