Author: Khadijah Olowode

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The President of the Nigeria Football Federation,(NFF) Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has revealed details of the contract given to new Super Eagles coach Finidi George. Recall that the former Super Eagles winger was appointed the coach of the senior national men’s team, and unveiled by the board at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on Monday, 13 May, 2024. Details of his contract were shrouded in secrecy with some media reports saying the federation only committed him to a one-year deal. However, refuting the claims on Soccer Africa, a popular TV show in South Africa, the NFF boss, “I…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The National Judicial Council has issued warning letters to Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court; Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of the Delta State High Court and Justice Amina Shehu of the Yobe State High Court, The Punch Online reports. According to the reports, the trio were found guilty of different degrees of misconduct, during the 105th plenary meeting of the council, held between May 15 and 16, 2024; under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. This was disclosed in a statement issued by the council’s Director of Information, Soji Oye, dated…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The world football governing body, FIFA announced at its congress on Friday, 17 May, 2024 that the Women World Cup will take place in 2027 Brazil for the first time in South America. After the success of Australia and New Zealand last year, FIFA members picked Brazil over a European bid in a push to expand women’s football to new continents. Delegates meeting in Bangkok voted by 119 votes to 78 to send the 10th Women’s World Cup to the land of samba football, beating a joint bid from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. The decision sparked…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Famous Nigerian businessman and socialite, Emeka Okonkwo, aka E-Money, has denied allegations of having an affair with the late Nollywood actor, Junior Pope’s wife. Recall that Junior Pope and three others lost their lives after their boat capsized on the Anam River in Anambra State while returning from a filming location last month. Following his death, some online analysts had linked Junior Pope’s death to E-money because he was having an affair with the late actor’s wife. Reacting, E-money vowed to ensure that those behind the false information are made to face the full wrath of the law.…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike An Abuja Federal High Court presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, on Friday, 17 May, 2024 dismissed a bail application filed by the detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan. Nwite, in a ruling, held that based on the affidavit evidence before him, Gambaryan would jump bail if the application is granted. “I have carefully considered the affidavit evidence before me and I am of the view that the applicant will jump bail if granted bail,” Justice Nwite declared. However, the judge ordered for an accelerated hearing in the trial. Recall that Justice Nwite had, on 23 April 2024,…

The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwagwalada, Abuja has sentenced a businesswoman and mother of five children, Mrs. Ramat Mercy Mba to one-year imprisonment for her involvement in an employment scam and forging of the signature of late Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to the former President, Muhammadu Buhari. The presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Mohammad had last week, deferred the sentencing of the convict till Thursday but directed that she should be remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre. ICPC had arraigned Mba in June 2022 on a 5-count charge bordering on cheating, fraud, and forgery contrary to Section…

President Bola Tinubu has reassured investors in the energy sector of his administration’s resolve to further enhance the business environment and ensure investment convenience. The President inaugurated three milestone projects, which are the expanded AHL Gas Processing Plant; the ANOH Gas Processing Plant, and the 23.3km ANOH to Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Custody Transfer Metering Station Gas Pipeline, on Wednesday, 15 May, 2024. Speaking during the virtual inauguration of the projects at the State House, President Tinubu also assured citizens that his administration is stepping up its coordination of other landmark projects and initiatives that will ensure the earliest realization of gas-fueled…

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, will on Friday May 17, 2024, chair a high-level dialogue on advancing the gains made within the first year of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The event is part of efforts by the Tinubu administration to leverage international cooperation in delivering on the promises of the Renewed Hope Agenda. Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, disclosed this at a Press Conference in Abuja on Thursday, 16 May, 2024. He said the Vice President’s keynote address titled, “Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda Through Enhanced…

“Officially 4 years today, 15th of May! @realtalkwithkike Guess what Kiki! We’ve got forever to go in each other’s arms. Kiki, you are a tough cookie, and your stubbornness is next to none. But,Your positivity and kindness overshadow your naughtiness. We’ve had 3 misunderstanding in 4 years and well handled. Your enterprising nature, hard work, and adorable spirit make you truly special though too trusting. I jumped on the boat to sail with you because I see more than just a future with you. You are my ride-or-die, and I’m 100% loyal to you. I gave your Dad my word, and…

The Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) has described the recent statement by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on the Federal Government’s plan to tap into pension funds assets to bridge Nigeria’s huge infrastructure deficit as another of his now routine inclination to raise unfounded alarms riddled with manipulative logic and lies. The group noted in a statement signed by its Chairman, Chief Niyi Akinsiju that by Atiku appending his signature to a document that is capricious in context, the former Vice President has shown that he is just out to be perceived as a government critic and opposition leader.…

To boost the ease of doing business in the mining sector, the Federal Government has launched the Nigeria Mineral Resources Decision Support System (NMDSS). Launching the system, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake stated that the portal will expand access of prospective investors to critical information on Nigeria’s mineral deposits, policies guiding the mining sector and incentives for investment from anywhere  in the world.  The Nigeria Mineral Resources Decision Support System (NMDSS) is a communication tool to enhance government strategy to ease business in the solid minerals sector. Highlighting its cost-saving opportunties, the Minister said prospective foreign…

By Farooq A. Kperogi I don’t want to be known as the guy who exposes or popularizes exposés on people’s forged qualifications. But when our reporters have shown themselves to be either unable or unwilling to bring to light cases of shockingly brazen and bizarre certificate forgeries in high places, it behooves those of us on the reportorial fringes but with knowledge of these frauds to fill the gap. Early this month, the Nigerian diasporan online media were abuzz over the scandal of Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke’s fake doctoral degree on the basis of which she became so many things in Nigeria.…

How Africa can win the war against cancer by promoting the culture of early detection and treatment of the scourge is on the front burner again. It was at a high level Regional Seminar on Cancer Awareness programme for member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) hosted by the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu in Abuja. Acknowledging several initiatives of the current administration in cancer management, including improved budgetary funding for health in 2024 and expanded access to cancer treatment, the First Lady of Nigeria said that reversing the grim statistics of cancer prevalence in the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Tinubu has urged the Senate to review and approve a bill aimed at prohibiting athletes from using substances that enhance their performance. Tinubu’s request was conveyed in a letter read on Thursday, 16 May, 2024 on the floor of the upper legislative chamber by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau. The President stated that the bill would establish a legal framework for the formation of the National Anti-Doping Organization. He further emphasized that the establishment of the agency is essential for Nigeria to meet the standards set forth in the World Anti-Doping Code. “In accordance…

Amid rampant terrorism and financial misconduct, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has reaffirmed its dedication to combatting terrorism financing as a means to curtail illicit financial activities. This commitment was reiterated yesterday by the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN during a Multi-Stakeholders’ National Dialogue on preventing terrorism financing and violent extremism, organized by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in partnership with Transparency International in Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) and the Inter-Governmental Action Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA ECOWAS), held at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja. In his address, Dr. Aliyu emphasized…

A Federal High Court sitting in Maitama Abuja has threatened to issue a bench warrant against a legal practitioner, Barrister Ferdinand Baba Isa following his failure to appear in court in a N550 million fraud case filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Barrister Baba Isa, who is the second defendant in the N550m corruption case, was due to be arraigned in the court on the 10th May, 2024 but failed to show up when the case was mentioned. The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho said the failure of the defendant to appear…

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum supervised the distribution of N250 million to over 25,000 widows and vulnerable women through the Borno Renaissance Microfinance Bank in Gwoza Local Government Area on Wednesday. The distribution took place in four centres, including Central Stadium, Mega Primary School, Government Secondary School and Government Day Secondary School, all in Gwoza town. The distribution, according to Zulum, was to support women who were victims of the Boko Haram insurgents, some of whom has lost their husbands due to the crisis. “About 25,000 women benefited from today’s distribution exercise; each of them received N10,000 through the…

A former Vice President of the ECOWAS Court, Prof. Friday Nwoke has advocated a triple approach towards resolving the disconnect between the Court and the national courts of the Member States, which have an important role in the enforcement of the decisions of the regional court. In a paper presented at the ongoing 2024 international conference of the Court in Freetown, Nwoke suggested that the Court should focus on such measures as training for officials of national courts, workshops and meetings with the sole objective of facilitating cooperation as these will impact positively on compliance and the enforcements of the…

Swap Station Mobility Limited has signed partnership agreement with Glovo and Siltech World to deploy electric motorbikes, smart swappable batteries, and a network of quick interchange stations across Lagos State. The partnership will provide Glovo couriers with 2-wheel electric motorbikes that offer lower cost, clean mobility alternative to the internal combustion engine (ICE). The Electric Vehicles (EVs) are provided on a lease-to-own model whilst also offering riders a unique “pay as you ride” or “weekly subscription” to access SSM’s battery swap and charging facilities, technical support and cover for insurance, licensing, and routine maintenance services. In order to increase adoption,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A Ghanaian identified as Nelson Shardey has instituted a legal case against the United Kingdom Home Office after he was denied permanent residency despite living in the country for 42 years. Shardey is a retired 74-year-old man who arrived in the UK in 1977. But after living in the UK for almost 50 years, Shardey was informed to wait another 10 years before the Home Office could grant him permanent residency, the BBC reports. Shardey had for many years assumed he was officially British after he first arrived in the UK in 1977 to study accountancy on…