Author: Khadijah Olowode

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Seven people, who claimed to be Yoruba Nation agitators, have been sent to the Abolongo correctional facility in Oyo by a Magistrate Court in Iyaganku, Ibadan,Oyo State capital. The accused, dragged to court on Tuesday, 20 June, 2023 due to their alleged involvement in the invasion of a radio station in Ibadan last month, were ordered remanded pending the time when their case would be decided. Recall that some people who claimed to be Yoruba Nation agitators invaded Amuludun FM 99.1 in Ibadan last month. The accused seized the radio station and broadcast for about an hour. Those arrested…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed that its operatives arrested no fewer than 501 drug offenders, 10 of whom are women, in Adamawa State in the past 12 months. The agency also disclosed that an assortment of illicit substances amounting to 1,164.7kg were seized within the period in view. Adamawa State NDLEA commander, Femi Agboalu, made this disclosure on Tuesday, 20 June, 2023, while addressing newsmen at the state headquarters of the NDLEA in Yola, the state capital The press briefing was part of the programme to mark this year’s United Nations International Day…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Popular American rapper Milton Powell, popularly addressed as Big Pokey, is dead. The 45-year-old singer collapsed on stage while performing at a bar in Beaumont, Texas, late on the night of Saturday, 18 June, 2023. Footage from the event showed the Houston-born rapper with a mic in his hand, speaking with a DJ on stage when he exhaled heavily, tripped, and fell. The incident was confirmed in a statement on the rapper’s verified Instagram page. “It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of our beloved Milton ‘Big Pokey’ Powell. “Big Pokey…

Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR) has expressed disappointment on the recurring spat between the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and some states’ Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards and Agencies over the Hajj Saving Scheme (HSS). When it was first launched, the HSS was welcomed by all stakeholders and was seen to be the perfect solution to the lingering issue of Hajj operations planning and executions. Since the launch about three years ago, however, IHR notes that both the apex Hajj regulatory body, which is NAHCON and the states have found it difficult to work smoothly on the project. Central to the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has continued to to be showered with praises over the removal of Service Chiefs, others on Monday, 19 June, 2023, thegazellenews.com reports. The latest praise is coming from no other than a former Aviation Minister and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Femi Fani-Kayode. Reacting, FFK, in a statement on Tuesday, 20 June, 2023, said the staunch supporters of Tinubu, who believed in his capability amid criticism, have been vindicated. “No leader or President in the history of our country has effected so many positive changes and reforms and appointed so many credible,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command on Monday, 19 June, 2023, raided a hotel and rescued nine under aged girls used as sex workers, thegazellenews.com reports. The girls, who are said to be within the age bracket of 15 – 23 years, were taken away from the hotel while the owner of the brothel was arrested. The state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the development in a statement issued on Monday, 19 June, 2023, stated that the police carried out the operation on the Awka-based hotel, after a reliable information from the state Ministry of Women and…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been commended by the Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide for appointing an Igbo son as one of the Service Chiefs, saying good things and better days are ahead, thegazellenews.com reports. With the appointment, the group said Tinubu has good plans for the country and would carry everyone along in his administration. Recall that Tinubu had on Monday, 19 June, 2023, sacked Service Chiefs and announced their replacements. The National President of the Igbo group, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, in a statement on Tuesday, 20 June, 2023, stated that Tinubu had taken…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Airfares on Nigeria routes to various destinations in Europe, North America, Middle East and other foreign cities have skyrocketed as exchange rate for ticket pricing hits N702, The Punch reports. The development came barely one week after the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) floated the naira and directed commercial banks to sell foreign exchange at market-determined rates. As part of its moves to end multiple exchange rates that have left to the exit of several investors from Nigeria, the CBN last week introduced new forex guidelines aimed at unifying the nation’s exchange rate. Among others things, the CBN…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike At least 5,000 applicants nationwide have been shortlisted for the award of scholarships for the 2023/2024 academic session overseas scheme by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), thegazellenews.com reports. The Head, Oversees Scholarship Scheme in the PTDF, Mrs Bolanle Kehinde-Agboola made this disclosure on Monday, 19 June, 2023 at a selected interview exercise for the shortlisted candidates for MSc and PhD postgraduate programme According to her, the selection interview was in continuation of the application process which commenced on February 13, 2023, through publications in some national newspapers, inviting qualified Nigerians to apply. “What is happening here today is…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has disclosed that henceforth commercial banks, telecommunications companies, and other organisations will now lose two percent of their annual revenue to the federal government for any breach of their customers’ data, thegazellenews.com reports. NDPC’s National Commissioner/CEO, Dr Vincent Olatunji, made this disclosure on Monday, 19 June, 2023 in Abuja during a news conference on the implementation of the recently signed Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. Olatunji also explained that the sanctions could be more or less severe, depending on the impact on the victim and other factors. According to him, the act would ensure a…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike American singer Bebe Rexha has given fans an update after a man threw a phone and hit her in the face during a concert in New York City on Sunday, 18 June,2023. The singer/songwriter, 33, was performing on stage at The Rooftop at Pier 17 on her Best F’n Night Of My Life tour when she was struck in the face by a mobile.The man has been identified as luxury dog kennel worker Nicolas Malvagna.Taking to Instagram on Monday,19 June, 2023, Bebe shared two close-up selfies, revealing her bruised left eye with tape over her eyebrow after…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Gunmen have kidnapped the Oba of Idofin and his wife in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi on Monday, 19 June, 2023. It was gathered that the traditional ruler, Shedrack Durojaye Obibeni, and his wife were kidnapped along Makutu-Idofin road at about 5 p.m Yagba East Local Government Council Chairman, Mr Abdulrasak Asiru, who confirmed the incident to NAN, described it as “very shocking” and “sad”. Asiru said he was still in shock over the incident, which had not happened in the area for almost two years. “I, as the council chairman and the people of…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Kwara State firefighters on Monday, 19 June, 2023, recovered the corpse of a 57-year-old woman, Mrs Jamiu Sikirat, from a well in Ilorin, the state capital. The woman of the Ile-Agunko compound of Adeta area Ilorin, Ilorin West Local Government Area, fell into the well on Monday evening around 6:42 pm. According to a report, the deceased woman went to fetch water at the well before one of her legs slipped off the ground and eventually fell into the well. According to the state fire service spokesman, Hassan Adekunle, the service was alerted through an exchange telephone…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Manchester United Player, Marcus Rashford, currently occupies first place among the list of wealthiest Three Lions footballers, the Sun reports. The report stated that Manchester United striker Rashford is the wealthiest player in the England squad. Rashford boasts a net worth of £65 million, and behind the 25-year-old is Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling, who has a net worth of £61 million. Rashford is also ahead of England captain and Tottenham Hotspur striker, Harry Kane who occupies third position in the list. According to The Sun, Kane is presently the third wealthiest player in the current England squad, as…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Director, Media and Publicity of the defunct All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC), Bayo Onanuga, has said the appointment of new Service Chiefs by President Bola Tinubu was not based on favouritism. Recall that Tinubu sacked all Service Chiefs on Monday, 19 June, 2023 and named their replacements. Onanuga made this clarification on Monday, 19 June, 2023 through his official Twitter handle. Reacting to claims of nepotism, Onanuga stated that Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff, is from Enugu State in the South East geo-political zone; while Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have shot dead an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) personnel, Emmanuel Igwe, and abducted his wife in Ebonyi State. Her whereabouts were yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing in this report It was gathered that the INEC staff, an Assistant Electoral Officer in the Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state, encountered the attackers while on his way back from Abia State in the Ishiagu area of the Uturu-Okigwe axis, on the night of Sunday, 18 June 2023 with his wife, when he was shot…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Colonel Adebisi Onasanya as Brigade of Guards Commander reports thegazellenews.com. This was contained in statement released from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation signed by a Director in the Office, Willie Bassey. The statement stated further that Lt Colonel Moshood Abiodun Yusuf was appointed 7 Guards Battalion, Asokoro; Lt. Col. Auwalu Baba Inuwa was appointed Commander of 177, Guards Battalion, Keffi, Nasarawa State; Lt. Col. Mohammed J. Abdulkarim was appointed Commander of 102 Guards Battalion, Suleja, Niger; while Lt. Col. Olumide A. Akingbesote was named Commander of…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the immediate dissolution of the Governing Boards of all Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-owned Companies in the exercise of its Constitutional Powers and in the public interest. “The dissolution does not, however, affect Boards, Commissions and Councils listed in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Section 153 (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended,” a statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation signed by Willie Basset, Director of Information in the Office said. The statement stated further that, “In view…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Electricity tariff in the country is set to increase by over 40 per cent in the coming days, Guardian reports This development which is likely to cause hardship may eventually end all forms of energy subsidy in the country. Guardian reports that with a monthly subsidy of about N50 billion still in the electricity sector owing to revenue shortfall, the tariff hike due from July 1, may be another acid test for the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s market reform. The administration has already removed subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and floated the naira, decisions that…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A 54-year-old woman identified as Funmi Edeni could not contain her joy as she becomes a mother to triplets. She gave birth to the babies in Nigeria after six failed IVFs in the United Kingdom, UK. The woman shared the video on her Tiktok page. According to her, after the 6th IVF failed in the UK, she was advised to go to Nigeria and try the IVF clinics. According to Edeni, she took the advice and came to Nigeria to do the 7th IVF, which was successful. She disclosed in her video she welcomed a set of…