Author: Khadijah Olowode

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Bayelsa State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of the Operations Manager of Sterling Bank, Mrs Nneka Enuka UgoAnochie while on her way to the office. Her abduction around the Kpansia axis of Yenagoa, the state capital, caught many residents unaware due to the presence of multiple checkpoints manned by security operatives along the expressway. Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Romokere Ibani, confirmed the incident while addressing newsmen at the command’s headquarters on Tueday,20 June, 2023. “On the 16th of June, at 8 am, four armed men dressed in military camouflage, operating with a red Lexus jeep,…

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Russia, Ambassador Abdullahi Shehu on Monday, June 19, commended the remarkable transformation of the EFCC Academy at Karu, Abuja. The envoy, himself a former Director of the EFCC Training and Research Institute,TRI, the precursor to the Academy, is at the Academy, to facilitate training on International Standard for Investigating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing . He expressed gratitude to the Commission for inviting him to come and impact knowledge to the officers of the Commission which he was one of the founding fathers. “I have come here as a brother and a former colleague to contribute towards the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Court Prosecutors on Tuesday, 20 June, 2023 said US President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter has agreed to plead guilty to two counts of failure to pay federal income tax, and admitted to illegally owning a gun. Hunter Biden, whose business dealings have been under attack for years from Republican lawmakers, acknowledged possessing a firearm despite being a drug user. The plea agreement between the 53-year-old and the US Attorney’s Office in his home state of Delaware will still need to be approved by a federal judge. The president’s son is unlikely to face any prison time. President…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his party will on Thursday, 22 June, 2023 close their case in their joint petition challenging the declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the Saturday, 25 February, 2023 presidential election. The petitioners, according to a pre-hearing report were supposed to close their case on Tuesday, 20 June, 2023 but their lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) brought to the notice of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that they lost two days out of the days allotted to them and asked that…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele on Tuesday, 20 June, 2023, approached the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, challenging his detention by the Department of State Services (DSS), thegazellenews.com reports. In his originating motion on notice, Emefiele is praying for the court to enforce his right to liberty and freedom of movement, as there is no basis for his continuous detention. However, the Attorney General of the Federation as well as the DSS have insisted that the detention of the suspended CBN Governor is lawful. In a preliminary objection filed against the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Bunu, has presented N23.5 million to 21 families of officers who lost their lives while in active service. Bunu, while presenting the cheques on Monday, 19 June, 2023, appreciated the national leadership of the Police Force for the “kind” gesture and “persistent” concern for the welfare of serving and retired police officers in the state, as well as the families of late officers. The Police Commissioner described the gesture as timely, saying it would go a long way in alleviating the suffering being encountered by families of deceased officers. According…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike After his decoration with the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has said that he feels like a Tiger ready to chase away all the criminals in Nigeria, thegazellenews.com reports. The new acting IGP, who stated this during an interview with State House Correspondents, expressed his feelings about his new responsibility, stating that he is looking forward to taking over on Wednesday by 11 am. “I will tell you that right now, I feel like a Tiger inside of me ready to chase away all the criminals in Nigeria. And some other time, I feel like…

The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulkarim Chukkol, on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, called for strong partnership and cooperation among law enforcement agencies across Africa. Chukkol made the call while declaring open a Peer Exchange Programme organized by the EFCC for Ghana’s Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) at the Rockview Hotel, Abuja He stated that such alliances will be instrumental in combating economic and financial crimes in the region. “This study tour holds immense importance as it offers the unique opportunity to engage in peer learning through the exchange of knowledge, experiences and best…

The Government of Italy has invested over $14 million in the last one year on risk disaster management and sustainable development in West Africa. The Ambassador of Italy to Nigeria, Mr Stefano De Leo said this at the inauguration of the ECOWAS Disaster Operation Centre in Abuja on Thursday, a project which the Italian government donated $200,000 towards. De Leo said his country’s investment has been through the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). He said: “The Government of Italy is particularly proud of the cooperation in this sector with ECOWAS, United Nations Office for Disaster and Risk…

The United Kingdom (UK) said it has radically simplified trading rules and cut tariffs on products from developing countries, saving businesses and consumers millions of pounds a year. A statement on signed by the Senior Press & Public Affairs Officer | Comms Lead, Prosperity and Economic Development, Ndidiamaka Eze said the UK’s new post-Brexit Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) scheme has entered into force on Monday and that it covers 65 countries, including Nigeria. The statement said the scheme removes or reduces tariffs and simplifies trading rules so that more products qualify for the scheme, making it more generous than…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has been taken into the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Channels Television reports. Channels Television reports that the ex-Benue Governor arrived at the Abuja office of the EFCC on the morning of Tuesday, 20 June, 2023 and was sighted walking into the building of the anti-graft agency. Ortom was invited for questioning by the anti-graft agency for alleged misappropriation of funds, a month after leaving office. Benue State is said to have a debt profile of N187.7 billion. Source: Channels Television ReplyForward

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir became the first Governor to pick his Commissioners, reports thegazellenews.com. On Tuesday, 20 June, 2023, the Governor forwarded a list of 19 Commissioners-designate to the state House of Assembly for screening and approval. Among them are: Hon. Ali Haruna Makoda, former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje; and Hon. Nasiru Sule Garo, elder brother of Murtala Garo, deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 elections. Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Jibril Ismail Falgore, read out the names while reading the letter at plenary on Tuesday, 20 June,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Famous Nigerian comedian, Bowoto Jephthah Tanimola, professionally known as Akpororo, has taunted the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, saying he will be in court for 8 years. Akpororo also described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as healthy and intelligent, who will be in charge for eight years. Recall that Obi is currently contesting the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election. “I always say this and people say I’m crazy. But in the end, what I said will happen. Tinubu will be president for eight years. “Before he became president, his head, hands and legs…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Vice-President Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday, 20 June, 2023, decorated the new acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, at the State House, Abuja following his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday, 19 June, 2023. Shettima was assisted with the decoration by Egbetokun’s wife at the event that was witnessed by senior government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodinma; the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila and the immediate past IGP, Usman Alkali. ReplyForward

Over 70,000 participants converged on the London Excel Arena, United Kingdom, to attend the New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations conference. Hosted on Saturday, 17 June, and Sunday, 18 June, 2023 by the Lead Pastor of the Streams of Joy International Church, Pastor Jerry Eze, the NSPPD Prayers has continued to grow in popularity and in the number of ardent followers and subscribers online and offline. Recall that in July 2022, it was reported in one of the nation’s major newspapers that the NSPPD prayers emerged as the number one online prayer platform and number one ‘Daily Most Super Chatted…

The Federal Government has raised the alarm that land degradation is expected to worsen in the country as the population continues to grow. Speaking at this year’s celebration of World Desertification and Drought Day in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Ibrahim Yusuf said: “Land degradation is currently one of the world’s most pressing environmental problems and it is expected to worsen especially in Nigeria with increasing population unless remedial action is taken.“ The Permanent Secretary who was represented at the ceremony by the Director Department of Drought and Desertification Management in the Ministry, Mrs…

The European Union (EU) is sponsoring a young Nigerian fashion designer to this year’s Madrid Fashion week holding in September, This is the prize for winning the 2023 Europe Day Afro-Euro Runway fashion show held in Abuja at the weekend. The young Nigerian, Oyindamola Aleshinloye, with the brand name “Kadiju” would be in Madrid being the winner of the maiden edition of the Fashion Show organised by EU. Aleshinloye was declared winner from among the seven finalists who had emerged from 124 young Nigerian designers who sent in their entries. According to the judges, the winner was picked using the…

The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on Monday, 19 June, 2023 during an Executive Council Meeting, administered oath of office, secrecy and allegiance on five returning appointees of his administration who initially resigned their appointments to seek for elective post in the recently concluded gubernatorial primary elections. The appointees are: the Chief of Staff, Pharm. Abdulkareem Jamiu; the state Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic planning, Asiwaju Idris Ashiru; the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bar. Deedat Ozigi; Accountant General of the State, Alh. Jubrin Momoh; and the Auditor General of the State, Alh. Yakubu Okala. In…

By Mansur Aramide, Gombe Youths numbering over 100 have urged the Senate to ratify appointment of the Acting Managing Director of North East Development Commission (NEDC), Umar Abubakar Hashidu. Umar is the son of the first civilian Governor of Gombe State. The agitators on the platform: Coalition of Tangale-Waja in Gombe State also pleaded with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider Gombe South indigenes in his ministerial list. According to the group’s Chairman, Sani Bilayabu at the weekend, “Umar possesses remarkable credentials and proven track records of dedication to public service. “We have complete trust in his ability to be…

Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo was on Tuesday, 20 June, 2023 re-elected the Speaker of the 10th Ogun State House of Assembly. Oluomo’s emergence followed the inauguration of the 10th Assembly by Governor Dapo Abiodun. Hon. Oluomo from Ifo II State Constituency in Ogun Central Senatorial District was elected unopposed. Hon. Ajayi Bolanle Latifat was elected the Deputy Speaker. Hon Bakare from ijebu Ode nominated the Deputy Speaker. The nomination was seconded by Hon Kaka. She was also elected unopposed. …details soon. ReplyForward