Author: Khadijah Olowode

By Abimbola Ogunnaike After three hours of deliberation by a jury at Chester Crown Court London on Friday, 14 July, 2023, former Manchester City defender, Benjamin Mendy was cleared of rape and attempted rape. The 28-year-old was accused of carrying out sex attacks on two ladies at his £4m mansion. After the verdict the Frenchman became emotional and admitted he was “delighted” with the not-guilty verdicts. He could not hide his feelings as broke down in tears. Mendy had faced a retrial on one count of rape and one count of attempted rape during lockdown-busting parties. The player, who is now…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Nigerian Airforce Force(NAF) has confirmed that its FT-7NI trainer aircraft crashed in Makurdi, the Benue State capital on Friday, 14 July, 2023, thegazellenews.com reports. The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Friday, 14 July, 2023, adding that said two pilots onboard the aircraft survived and were being observed in a military facility. “Luckily, the two pilots on board survived the crash after successfully ejecting from the aircraft. Additionally, there was no loss of lives or damage to any property around the area of impact. “Both pilots…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Novak Djokovic powered into his ninth Wimbledon final as the fiery defending champion feuded with the umpire and spectators before beating Jannik Sinner to reach a record 35th Grand Slam singles title match on Friday, 14 July, 2023. Djokovic was in combative mood during a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) semi-final victory that moved him closer to a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title. The 36-year-old faces world number one Carlos Alcaraz or Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev in his fifth successive Wimbledon final on Sunday. “Semi-finals are always going to be very intense. Maybe the scoreline doesn’t give the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Multichoice Nigeria, organizers of the Big Brother Naija, (BBNaija) reality TV show, has announced that the 8th edition of the show will premiere on July 23, 2023. The winner of this year’s edition will walk away with the grand prize of N120 million among other consolidation prizes. The organizers said housemates will battle for the grand prize for 70 days; from July 23 till October 1. Ebuka Obi- Uchendu is returning again as the host of the show, tagged, “All Star Season”. As a reward for fans this season, the organisers added that 30 fans also have…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday, 14 July, 2023 invalidated the arrest and detention of the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. The presiding judge, Bello Kawu, granted the order following an application by Emefiele. Recall that on June 9, President Bola Tinubu suspended Emefiele as CBN Governor and directed him to transfer his responsibilities to Deputy Governor, Operations Directorate, Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi. The Department of State Services (DSS) confirmed the next day that Emefiele was in its custody for “some investigative reasons.” Emefiele has remained in DSS custody since…

Justice P.I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced one Silvar Meche Uzoeto (aka. William Parker) to one year imprisonment for impersonation and possession of fraudulent documents contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015, and punishable under the same Section of the Act. He was convicted on Wednesday, July 13, 2023, after pleading “guilty” to the one count charge brought against him by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The charge reads: “That you, Silvar Meche Uzoeto (aka.…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A non- governmental organization (NGO), Global Initiative for Peace Love and Care (GIPLC), has doll out the sum of N100 million to offset the medical bills of 15 children with some chronic diseases. The less privileged children will undergo complex surgeries at home and abroad. The beneficiaries, who were selected from different parts of the country, were handed symbolic cheques of different sums. The National Coordinator of GIPLC, Nuhu Kwajafa, made the presentation to them on Thursday, 13 July, 2023 in Abuja. According, Kwajafa said the gesture was part of the group’s commitment to promoting sustainable and…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal in Abuja presided has imposed N120 million fine against the Stanbic IBTC Bank to be paid into the tribunal’s account over the failure to make a transfer for a customer. In a split decision of the tribunal of two to one, the panel convicted the bank for contravening the provisions of Section 130(1)(a) of the FCCP Act, 2018 and Section 5(2)(8) and (9) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Regulation on Instant Interbank Electronic Transfers for failing to comply with 10 minutes mandatory timeline for transfers as guided by sections 154…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has sets free Senator Rochas Okorocha from corruption charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This is the third time Okorocha has been freed by courts in respect of alleged fraud and corruption said to have been committed while he was the Governor of Imo State between 2011 and 2019. Justice Halilu on Friday, 14 July, 2023 freed the former governor of Imo State from the charge after dismissing the charges filed by the commission for being an abuse…

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON has met with the wives of the 36 State Governors to formally introduce and acquaint them with the objectives and the mission of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI). The meeting was held in her office on Friday, 14 July, 2023. The First Lady congratulated the wives of the governors on the successful conduct of the 2023 elections which brought their husbands to office and reminded them that it is time to keep promises made during the elections. She pointed out that she will require the support of the wives of the State Governors to reach every…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Bayern Munich chiefs jetted into London on night of Thursday, 13 July, 2023 to try to sign Harry Kane. The German giants sent a delegation to meet Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy in a central London hotel in the hope of landing the England captain. Levy is prepared to offer Kane a post-playing role to keep him in north London, it has been claimed. Bayern, who had wanted to do a £60million deal, believe Kane wants a move to Germany with only one year left on his deal. Yet although Levy would listen to offers north of £100 million, he previously insisted to Real Madrid that the club’s star…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The leadership of Nasrul Lahil Fatih Society (NASFAT) has honoured the record-bresking best graduating student in the Department of Law at the Lagos State University for the year 2023, Aminat Yusuf. Yusuf emerged the overall best in the recently held LASU convocation, graduating with a perfect CGPA of 5.0 which has earned her several accolades including a N10 million cash reward from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. NASFAT is the latest organisation to identify with the incredible feat of Aminat at its Asalatu ground, Alausa Ikeja. The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of a N500,000 cheque by…

By Abimnbola Ogunnaike Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 13 Chinese over alleged illegal mining in Kwara State. The suspects, a female and 12 males, were arrested on Wednesday, 12 July, 2023 in the GRA of Ilorin, the state capital. The commission said the action followed credible intelligence about their activities of illegal mining and non-payment of royalties to the federal government as required by law contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, 1983. EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed the Chinese…

Thursday July 13, the Redemption City of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) was a beehive of activities. It was the 75th birthday of the Mother-in- Israel and wife of the General Overseer, Pastor Mrs Folu Adeboye. The colourful celebration started with a birthday lecture theme: “Effective Teaching and Discipleship Through Christian Education” delivered by former University of Lagos VC, Prof Toyin Ogundipe. Ogundipe, the guest speaker at the event, said that effective teaching and discipleship would raise generations that would actively participate in nation-building by promoting virtues and spiritual growth. The lecture was followed by a reception in…

(Published in The PUNCH, on Friday, July 14, 2023) Intricate, intelligent and dangerous beauties of creation, I love snakes and their zigzaggery. For its undergraduates in the 80s and early 90s, Abia State University, Uturu, was a Garden like Eden, where cashew wasn’t the forbidden fruit. American collegiate architecture etched on a breathtaking landscape covering unending cashew plantations, ABSU was the oasis of learning, cohabiting nature and nurture. In the ABSU garden, snakes sneaked up on the descendants of Adam and Eve, like their progenitor, the Serpent, did in Eden, validating the curse: “Your children and her children will be…

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been drawn in Group C alongside South Africa, Benin Republic, Rwanda, Lesotho and Zimbabwe for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The African qualification draw for the 2026 World Cup to be co-hosted in USA, Mexico and Canada, was held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday, 13 July, 2023. It will be a reunion between the Super Eagles players and former coach Gernot Rohr who is the current handler of Benin Republic. The German coach led the Eagles to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where they crashed out at the group stage.…

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has organised a freemedical screening, for over 1000 sanitation workers (street sweepers) atthe Authority’s headquarters, Ijora Olopa. Speaking at the event, the Acting Managing Director of LAWMA, Mr. KunleAdebiyi, noted that the exercise was a testament to the commitment ofGovernor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, to prioritise the wellnessof LAWMA sweepers. He said, “Your well-being is our priority. Whatever happens to yourhealth, will affect us in one way or the other. Therefore, we don’t wantany ill-health to befall you. Today, your blood pressure, sugar level,urine and eye and hepatitis will be checked for proper diagnosis. Theaim…

Help has come the way of victims of the June 23, 2023 flood mishap which occurred at the TradeMore Estate, Lugbe Abuja, through the Renewed Hope Initiative of the Office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, OON. In her remarks at the brief event, the First Lady through her representative, Wife of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hajia Nana Kashim Shettima, expressed her sympathy at the unfortunate incident. She said though there is no assurance that this kind of incident would not reoccur, since the rains are not…

The Nigeria Police Force in its ongoing efforts to combat crime and criminality and curb the proliferation of illegal weapons in the country has recorded several notable breakthroughs in the past two months, resulting in the arrest of 1,412 suspects for various violent crimes including 548 suspects for armed robbery, 242 suspects for kidnapping, 365 suspects for murder/homicide, and 237 suspects for rape/defilement. Also, 350 illicit firearms, and 4,055 ammunition of various calibers were equally recovered from across the country within the period under review, while 113 kidnap suspects were rescued unhurt and re-united with their families. Prominent amongst these…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Nigerian Senate on Thursday, 13 July, 2023, confirmed the Service Chiefs whose appointments were transmitted to the Senate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for legislative action. The confirmation followed the screening by the Committee of the whole which was presided over by the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabío. Earlier in the day after their arrival, the nominees were subjected to the Chamber’s protocol where they were asked to introduce themselves. It was gathered that Senators went into a closed doors after their introduction at about 11:00 am to deliberate security issues with the nominees. After three hours…