Author: Khadijah Olowode

By Akeem Busari Former Super Falcons goalkeeper and USA Collegiate Hall of Famer, Judith Chime, has congratulated the newly elected board of the Nigeria Women’s Football Professional League, led by renowned football administrator and sports marketing expert Nkechi Obi. Speaking from her USA base on the latest development in Nigeria female football, Chime, who is now a recognised and certified coach and scout, advised the new board of NWPL to operate professionally and make it all-inclusive for corporate and private individuals, home and in diaspora to help contribute to the development and growth of female football in Nigeria. “I congratulate…

It is no news that the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has forwarded names of prospective members of his cabinet to the state House of Assembly for screening and subsequent approval. Thegazellenews.com had earlier reported that Governor Sanwo-Olu on Friday, 28 July, 2023, forwarded names of the Commissioners-designate to the Assembly. In all, the Governor sent names of 39 prospective cabinet members who will later be designated Commissioners and Special Advisers to the Assembly for screening and subsequent approval. This medium also reported that while some old members of the cabinet like Tokunbo Wahab, Gbenga Omotoso, Bisola Olusanya among others…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the contributions of the former Chief of General Staff, Lt. General Oladipo Diya to the sanctity of the country’s territorial integrity as legendary. President Tinubu who made this known during the final burial service for the late military boss held at the Cathedral Church of St.Paul, Diocese of Ijebu South West, Odogbolu, Ogun State, noted that the life of selflessness and diligence of the late Gen. Diya would remain a reference point for coming generations of military officers. The President, represented by the Governor of Ogun State; Prince Dapo Abiodun also noted that the…

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, on Friday, 28 July, 2023, visited Ngala and Gamboru communities both in Ngala Local Government Area in the central part of the State. The Governor, during the visit, opened Gamboru’s central mosque where he prayed, the juma’at service. He also inspected seven capital projects and approved houses for teachers. The seven projects Zulum inspected were the Gamboru International Cattle Market, a Police station and barracks, Customs barracks, an Immigration office and barracks, Ngala Central Primary School, a Mega-size Higher Islamic College and a Vocational Training Centre. The Governor noted that the projects aimed at…

The European Union (EU) has called on the coup plotters in Niger to vacate office and return government to democratically elected representatives, insisting that the government they formed would never be recognized. The EU also announced its readiness to join the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to impose severe sanction on Niger should the coup plotters not hand back power to duly elected officials, stressing that their action is without consequences. The EU, in a statement on Saturday, 29 July, 2023 by High Representative Josep Borrell said: “The EU does not recognize and will not recognize the authorities…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A 35-year-old ex-banker, Gift Igbinosun, has been arrested by the operatives of the Edo State Police Command over alleged ₦14.9 million fraud. The command’s Spokesperson, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the arrest of Igbinosun, saying she allegedly defrauded his victims, John Nnamdi and Obasogie Henry Osagieduwa, of more than ₦14.9 million.Briefing newsmen in Benin on Friday, 28 July, 2023, Nwabuzor said the suspect, a woman and ex-staff of Keystone Bank, allegedly defrauded the victims of their monies under the pretense of wanting to help them get new naira notes.Nwabuzor said the command’s State Intelligence Bureau operatives, on a…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A man, whose name is yet to be ascertained, has been electrocuted while trying to steal transformer cables at the Government Secondary School Owerri, Imo State, It was gathered that the incident happened around 1am on on the morning of Wednesday, 26 July, 2023. The school security man, Mr. Iwu told an online medium that the man may have jumped into the school fence late at night to access the transformer donated to the school by the 1970 class of the Old Boys Association. Iwu suggested that since power was restored at about 1am on Wednesday morning…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A man suspected to be mentally challenged on Friday, 28 July, 2023 beheaded an 84-year-old man, Elder Alfred Opadipe, in Ipara community, Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State. It was gathered that the lunatic, named David Shodola, 32, reportedly beheaded his victim yesterday morning, throwing the town into confusion. He also ended up dead as he violently resisted arrest and attacked police officers with a machete. The State Police Spokesperson, Omotola Odutola, who confirmed the sad incident, said a distress call from an unnamed informant prompted Divisional Police Officer (DPO) CSP Bankole Isara Eluyeru to…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Famous Anambra State-born native doctor, Chidozie Nwangwu, who was kidnapped last Sunday and released early on the morning of Saturday, 29 July, 2023, has recounted his ordeal in the hands of his abductors. Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki, narrating his experience to friends and well-wishers, said: “Let me tell you all what happened. While I was in the kidnappers’ den, I listened to the radio and saw how people were speaking all kinds of rubbish, so I decided to set the record straight. “What really happened was that I was there (at home) that day,…

The Oyo State Government has said an alternative route from Oki junction to Olodo Garage will be opened for motorists on Wednesday, 2 August, 2023, while the re-construction of the Olodo bridge is ongoing. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Orientation on Saturday, the alternative route will reduce the hardship of movement of road users. In the statement, the state Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Professor Dahud Kehinde Sangodoyin, stressed that the Oyo state government was committed to the free flow of traffic during the period Sangodoyin stated that ongoing repair works on the alternative…

The Oyo state government, on Friday, 28 July, 2023, inaugurated a 20-man committee that will review its public health law, to meet current realities and solve health challenges in the state. The committee, drawn from relevant ministries, agencies, law enforcement agencies, health institutions, civil society organizations amongst others, is expected to converge next week for the task ahead. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusoji Adeyanju, in a chat with journalists, shortly after the inauguration at the Conference Hall of the Ministry, said the move was based on the need to continually preserve and promote community health. Dr. Adeyanju…

Wema Bank achieved improved performance including Gross Earnings of ₦89.09bn, a y/y increase of 49% (H1 2022: ₦59.59bn). Interest Income up 53% y/y to ₦76.11bn (H1 2022: ₦49.75bn). Non-Interest Income up 32% y/y to ₦12.98bn (H1 2022: ₦9.85bn). Profit before Tax (PBT) was ₦12.05bn a y/y increase of 97% over the ₦6.13bn reported in H1 2022. Profit after Tax (PAT) also increased y/y by 97% to ₦10.48bn (₦5.30bn in H1 2022). The bank grew its deposit year to date by 19% as at H1 2023 to ₦1,392.85bn from ₦1,165.93bn reported in FY 2022. Loans and Advances also grew by 20%…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Former Super Eagles skipper, John Mikel Obi, has been appointed as Honorary Adviser on Sports to Governor Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State. Obi, who grew up in Jos, Plateau capital, made a mark in football during his days as footballer. Muftwang also appointed the renowned rapper, Jude Abaga, popularly known as MI, as Honorary Adviser on Entertainment and Creativity. The Governor made the appointments known in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere. In his remark about the appointments of the sports and music legends, Muftwang said it was part of…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square presided over by Justice Yetunde Adesanya has denied the bail application of the “Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate” in the state, Frederick Nwajagu. Adesanya instead ordered an accelerated hearing of the terrorism trial of the defendant which she fixed for October 3, 2023. Recall that at the last sitting of the court on 25 July, 2023, Nwajagu’s counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chino Obiagwu, had applied for his bail. Obiagwu told the court that the defendant was a widower who had six children whom he could…

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, OON, CON has said that women will play a pivotal role in nursing Nigeria back to health. She spoke after a closed door meeting with wives of former Governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the State House, Abuja. The First Lady noted that the visit was to get the support of the wives of the former Governors for the various programmes of government in general and the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI, in particular. Senator Oluremi Tinubu said the Former First Ladies will be partnering with the various…

Youthful but resourceful and popular women mobiliser in Surulere Local Government, Barakat Bakare was among the 39 names forwarded to the Lagos State House of Assembly by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for screening and approval as prospective members of the state Executive Council, reports thegazellenews.com In a list that points towards a cabinet of youthful but resourceful minds, a youth leader in the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Idris Aregbe was also named just as another young mind, Lekan Fatodu was on the list. There was also place for former Solicitor-General of the State and National President of Anwar-ul-Islam…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Armed Bandits on Wednesday, 26 July, 2023 abducted no fewer than 23 women in a forest near Damaga community in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State. It was gathered that women including young ladies went into the forest to fetch firewood when they were intercepted intercepted by a gang of armed men on motorbikes. The criminals then herded them to their enclaves inside the forest. The abduction came two days after seven soldiers and 22 farmers were killed in a gunfight between the troops and armed men near Kangon Garucci community in Maru Local Government Area of the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has confirmed that no fewer than 1,200 Nigerians have died while trying to migrate through the Sahara desert and Mediterranean Sea this year. The acting Deputy Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, confirmed the development Thursday, 27 July, 2023 during the 2023 Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Nationwide Sensitization and Enlightenment Campaign at the NIS headquarters in Abuja. The event was held in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the NIS. The team visited Jabi Park, the Federal Government Boys College Apo, and Garki on yesterday. Nandap, who is…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Deputy Comptroller Generals and Assistant Comptroller Generals of Nigeria Customs Service. The spokesperson of NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, made this disclosure on Friday, 28 July, 2023, just as he also added that the new appointment includes three DCGs: FO Okun, MBA Musa, and A Hamisu. Also, three ACGs were appointed and they include: K Olumoh, AB Mohammed and A Alajogun. “Following the appointment of the Acting Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR on 19 June 2023 and the retirement of some management members in the Service, the…

The Federal High Court Abuja presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo has dismissed the preliminary objection filed by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) against Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah’s N20 billion suit over alleged certificate forgery. In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that the provisions of Section 20 of the NYSC Act do not relate to Mbah, as he is not currently a serving NYSC member, an intended one, or an employee of the corps. At the last adjourned date, the counsel for NYSC had argued that Mbah contravened the NYSC Act in the institution of the suit. While urging the…