Author: Olamide Obayemi

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A United Kingdom court on Friday, 5 May, 2023 sentenced former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu to nine years and eight months in jail for plotting to harvest a man’s kidney for his sick daughter. Meanwhile, Ekweremadu’s wife, Beatrice was handed four years, six months sentence while Obinna Obeta, a medical doctor got a 10 years’ sentence for the same offence. The Prosecutor, Hugh Davies told the jury that the behaviour of Ekweremadu showed “entitlement, dishonesty and hypocrisy”. Recall the trio of Ekweremadu, Beatrice and Obeta were convicted of conspiracy to arrange the travel of a young…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Popular Nigerian Comedian, Oluwaseyitan Aletile, addressed as Seyi Law, has launched a search for an online troll who threatened him over his political affiliation with President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Recall that the comedian had in March 2nd tendered an apology to followers and supporters of opposition parties he offended during his campaign for Tinubu. His apology came after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared the All Progressives Congress,(APC), standard bearer as the winner of the just concluded 2023 general election. The comedian, however, in a new post shared on his Instagram page Thursday, 4 May ,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Minister of Mines and Steel, Olamilekan Adegbite, has inaugurated the first gemstone market in Nigeria, just as he disclosed that 2007 Mining Act only recognises families and individuals as rightful owners of acquired mining sites, not traditional rulers. Adegbite who said this during the inauguration of the International Gemstone Market under the Economic Sustainability Plan of the Federal Government on Thursday, 4 May 2023, in Ibadan, Oyo State, also explained that the Mineral and Mining Act 2007 favours individuals and families as rightful owners of mining sites, not traditional rulers. Adegbite was reacting to a question…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, has warned about the risk of the retail Central Bank Digital currencies amid a surge of e-Naira transactions in Nigeria. In an interview at the Milken Institute’s 2023 Global Conference in Argentina less than a week ago, Georgieva urged countries to stick to less risky Central Bank Digital Currencies, CBDC options. Georgrieva noted that wholesale CBDCs are a better option than retail CBDCs because of the room for errors. “We think wholesale CBDCs can be put in place with fairly little space for undesirable surprises, whereas…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Mark Totten, has unsealed a federal indictment charging three Nigerians. The defendants: Samuel Ogoshi, 22; Samson Ogoshi, 20; and Ezekiel Ejehem Robert, 19; all of Lagos, face a four-count indictment. They are accused of sexually extorting numerous young men and teenage boys in the Western District of Michigan and across the United States. One of them is charged with causing the death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay of Marquette, Michigan, who passed on March 25, 2022, after shooting himself. The teenager’s death prompted an investigation by the Marquette County…

The International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), has implored governments of African countries to arrest the growing cases of violent deaths against music stars on the continent just as it urged the South African authorities to expedite the process of prosecution of the killers of rapper Kiernan Forbes popularly known as AKA. AFRIMA recalled that the 35-year-old AKA was killed in a cold-blooded shooting on February 10, 2023, at a nightclub in Durban, South Africa and the awards body is demanding that everyone linked to his gruesome murder be expeditiously brought to justice. President and Executive Producer,…

(Published in The PUNCH, on Friday, May 5, 2023) I possess neither the intellect of Albert Einstein nor the anointing of Apostle Matthew, the tax collector and Jesus’ disciple. I’m only a Lagos-born hunter from Igbajo, the Citadel of the Brave — an inheritance of Osun State. Unlike Einstein and Matthew, I’m no Jew, no scholar, no philosopher. Never can I hold a candle to Einstein’s erudition and groundbreaking theories even if creation imbued me with a dozen brains plus the durability of Methuselah. Even if I spoke in a thousand tongues, I’d be unworthy to touch the hem of…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A Nigerian man has thrown his wife out after finding out that she withdrew N3.7 million from his bank account. In a video posted on facebook, the man broke down in tears as he threw out his wife’s bags since she could not reveal what she used the money for.His wife in her defence, stated that she had every right to take the money and she also threatened to arrest him.“My wife must leave my house today, I just found out she withdrew N3.7 million from bank account,” he wrote.

By Abimbola Ogunnaike One of Kenya’s highest profile pastors, Ezekiel Odero was released on bail Thursday, 4 May, 2023 after appearing in court in connection with the horrific discovery last month of dozens of bodies in mass graves. Odero, a wealthy televangelist who boasts a huge following, is being investigated on a raft of charges including murder, aiding suicide, abduction, radicalisation, crimes against humanity, child cruelty, fraud and money laundering.Prosecutors accuse Odero of links to cult leader Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, who is in custody facing terrorism charges over the deaths of more than 100 people, many of them children, in…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos has convicted and sentenced one Ume Ifechukwu Clinton, who defrauded a Belgian educator and caregiver, Axelle Mahieu, of the sum of €45,000 in a well-orchestrated online fraud, to one year imprisonment. Justice Dada passed the judgement on Wednesday, 3 May 2023.Clinton, 30, was arraigned on February 22, 2023, on an amended three-count charge bordering on possession of fraudulent documents and impersonation.However, overwhelmed by the weight of the evidence gathered against him, Clinton had approached the prosecution for a plea bargain, thereby necessitating the need for…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A Catholic Missionary seminarian, who did not disclosed his name, has disclosed that two Nigerian girls were burnt to death by their boyfriends in Burkina Faso.The seminarian who disclosed this on Twitter said the incident happened on Wednesday, 3 May, 2023. According to him, the remains of the girls were buried on Thursday afternoon, 4 May, 2023. He also added that he will reveal the identity of the girls on Friday, 5 May, 2023, as the person who took photos of their bodies was sent to the Nigerian embassy in Quagadougou. “Two Nigerian girls that came to…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the arrest of 40 suspected internet fraudsters in Ogun State. The anti-graft agency in a statement issued Thursday, 4 May, 2023, said operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command made the arrest on Wednesday in Abeokuta following intelligence on their alleged cyber fraudulent activities. Items recovered from the suspects included seven exotic cars, several mobile phones, laptops, playing station video games, apple wrist watches and charms. They have given useful information and will be charged to court as soon as the investigations are concluded. Those arrested are: Emmanuel Adebowale…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike 9mobile has stated that its business in Nigeria is on the path of a resurgence following a N70 billion investment into its network operations and a strong commitment by the board and management to aggressively reclaim market share. The Chief Executive Officer of 9mobile, Juergen Peschel, made this disclosure in a statement issued on Thursday, 4 May, 2023. “9mobile is on the path of resurgence. We are taking back lost territories in the market and forging ahead to reclaim our innovative position and industry leadership,” Peschel said. Peschel, who highlighted the business plans and revealed that 9mobile…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has disclosed its readiness to conduct its 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The Head of WAEC National Office, Patrick Areghan stated this while addressing newsmen on Thursday, 4 May, 2023 in Lagos. Areghan confirmed the examinations have been scheduled for Monday, 8 May to Friday, 23 June, 2023 a period of seven weeks. According to him, the level of insecurity in the country was a concern, adding that some areas require extra security arrangements. “We are liaising with the Inspector General of Police, Brigade Commanders, other security agencies…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Nigerian military has again warned those planning to scuttle the Monday, 29 May, 2023 inauguration of President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying it is fully readyto forestall any threat to the inauguration by any individual or group of persons. Director, Defence Media Operation, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, issued out the warning while addressing newsmen in Abuja, nations capital on Thursday, 4 May, 2023. Danmadani, who said the military had not seen reasons the inauguration would not take place, added that “As far as internal security is concerned, the police still remain the lead agency. The Armed Forces…

In their determination to ensure a smooth transition from the outgoing administration of President Muhammadu Buhari whose two-term tenure of eight years expires on Monday, 29 May, 2023 paving the way for the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, many Nigerians from all over the country have camped at the Unity Fountain, Abuja for well over a month clamoring for a smooth, uninhibited transition. This is their own way of countering earlier calls by some opposition figures for either interim government or a military takeover because of their allegations that the presidential election was deeply flawed. But this group…

The Lagos State Government has deployed addition 500 Traffic Management Solution (TMS) devices to personnel of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to enhance transparency in traffic management across the State. The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Bolaji Oreagba disclosed this today, Friday, 5 May, 2023 at the formal closing ceremony of a 21-day scientific training of personnel on the usage of these devices. Oreagba disclosed further that the present administration has brought lots of modern technological innovations to address transport challenges of the State of which the body camera was one for accurate traffic management among many other…

By Ayoola Amao, Gombe The Executive Director, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD,) Engineer Yunusa Ya’u has advised the Federal Government to prioritise other alternatives rather than military force in the ongoing war against the insurgents. He admitted that the military, though has shaken the insurgents, it has not and may not totally eradicate the menace in the North East. Fielding questions from newsmen in Gombe State during his presentation of the book titled: Community Perception of Dialogue and Reconciliation in Northern Nigeria: Boko Haram, Ya’u said all major achievements by the military were because of the internal wranglings…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Veteran pop Nigerian singer, Chris Mba, has died after a long battle with heart issues. Mba, it was gathered that the singer died on Wednesday, 3 May, 2023, at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Mba made waves in the 1980s and was fondly known for his signature hairdo, jerry curl. He had hits like: ‘Funky Situation’, ‘Baby Don’t Cry’, ‘Making My Way’ and ‘Love Everlasting’. The death of the singer was announced on Thursday, 4 May, 2023 by the General Manager of Premier Music, Michael Odiong, which Mba was signed to. Sharing the news in a post…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Femi Fani-Kayode has said those who want the President-elect, Bola Tinubu dead before the May 29 inauguration would see the grave long before him. Reacting to the call for a shift in the date of the presidential inauguration by Cardinal John Onaiyekan, a former Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Abuja, Fani-Kayode said those against Tinubu’s inauguration would perish like Pharaoh. Tweeting, the former Aviation Minister said Tinubu would be sworn-in on May 29 adding that the Nigerian people have spoken and the Deep State conspiracy to stop Asiwaju Bola…