Author: Khadijah Olowode

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The convicted billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans facing attempted murder has approached the Lagos State High Court, in Ikeja for settlement. Evans alongside his co-defendant Joseph Emeka, facing murder, and attempted kidnap has opted for the option of a plea bargain. The state prosecution counsel, Mr. Yusuf Sule, on Thursday, 16 May, 2024 informed the court about the plea bargain option after the case was called for the re-arraignment before Justice Adenike Coker. Evans and his co-defendant are to be re-arraigned on an amended five-counts bordering on murder, attempt to murder, and conspiracy to commit felony…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Nigeria’s newly constructed Dangote refinery, Lagos is planning to purchase millions of barrels of US crude oil over the next year as it ramps up processing rates, Bloomberg reports on Thursday, 16 May, 2024. According to the report, the plant has issued a term tender for the purchase of two million barrels a month of West Texas Intermediate Midland crude for 12 months starting in July. “The plant, built by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, issued a so-called term tender for the purchase of two million barrels a month of West Texas Intermediate Midland crude for 12 months…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Ogun State Government on Thursday, 16 May, 2026 kick-started the demolition of shanties and makeshift structures erected under bridges and public places across the state. The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Environment, Farouk Akintunde, who led the operation, noted that the demolition exercise came after the expiration of notice issued to the traders. Akintunde, who added that the shanties have become a hideout for criminals, which has resulted in insecurity, said, “We have issued them a notice since last year, but they refused to leave. The notice has expired. That is why we are…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Kano Chief Judge, Justice Dije Abdu Aboki, has transferred the corruption case involving the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and seven others to another court. The case before Kano High Court 4 sitting at Audu Bako presided by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba was transferred to Court 7 on Miller Road presided by Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu. Confirming the development, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State High Court, Baba Jibo Ibrahim said, “The office of the CJ of the state has the power to direct and transfer a case at…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Elections will be held across the 16 local government areas of Kwara State on September 21, 2024. This was contained in a statement issued by the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission in Ilorin on Thursday, 16 May, 2024. “Arrangement is being put in place to make this happen within the set date. We will give further breakdown on the election time table of activities soon, all things being equal. “We urge all stakeholders to follow our public communications, updates, and get ready for the elections within the time frame,” the statement said.

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Following resignation of some commissioners in Rivers State loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Nyesom Wike, Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s supporters are now ii jubilation mood. Recall that about five commissioners on Wednesday, 15 May, 2024 resigned from the Rivers State Executive Council,, citing the lingering political crisis in the state as their reasons. Prior to Wednesday, about two commissioners had quit the government after the Governor reshuffled the cabinet. The resignations followed the ongoing political supremacy battle between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike. It was gathered on Thursday, 16 May, 2024 that the development triggered…

Egypt is looking at the possibility of merging its petroleum and renewable energy ministries, creating an integrated Ministry of Energy to streamline industry operations and regulations.Mohamed Fouad, CEO of Egypt Oil & Gas, Secretary General of the Egyptian Gas Association and Marketing & Communications Committee Chairman of the International Gas Union, told an audience at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum in Paris that the merger will “make discussions and open dialogue with international companies much more efficient.”The merger comes in response to changing dynamics within Egypt’s energy industry, as the country aims to increase the penetration of renewable…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his counterparts from Sokoto and Borno States have emphasised the need to make the country’s tax system more transparent and accountable to Nigerians to boost confidence and voluntary compliance. The Governors made the call at the ongoing 26th Annual Tax Conference organized by the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) in Abuja, with the theme, “Sustainable Tax Culture and Economic Roadmap for Nation Building”. Speaking at the conference, Governor Sanwo-Olu who was represented by his Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue, Mr. Abdul-Kabir Opeyemi Ogungbo, said the theme of the Conference was…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The World Bank has barred 59 Nigerian companies and individuals for engaging in corrupt practices and other procurement offences. This is according to a document recently released on its website, ‘World Bank Listing of Ineligible Firms and Individuals Notes on Debarred Firms and Individuals’. Among those affected are 39 Nigerian companies previously debarred by the African Development Bank (AfDB), along with 19 individuals identified by the World Bank under the cross-debarment policy. The World Bank lists updates every three hours and, at the time of this report, contained 1,210 companies and individuals globally. The implication is that…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Tragedy occurred on the morning of Thursday, 16 May, 2024 as no fewer than 18 travellers died in a crash on the Umuahia-Enugu axis of the Port Harcourt Enugu Highway on Thursday morning. It was gathered that the accident occurred at a police checkpoint around the Lokpanta area of Abia State It was also learned that an 18-seater commercial bus was at the checkpoint awaiting police clearance when a truck driver lost control and rammed into them killing the driver and all the passengers. According to The Nation, an eyewitness, Bananas Okereke, told our reporter on the…

Ogun State based Nigeria National League side Ijebu United have raised the alarm over the ownership of youngster, AbdulGaniyu Damilare Ibrahim, who is currently playing for the Golden Eaglets in the ongoing WAFU B championship in Ghana. In a letter of concern and protest signed by its General Manager, Fatai Olayinka, which was sent to the Nigerian football authorities and also made available to the media, the club categorically stated that the said player is a legally acquired player of Ijebu United. It noted further that it was wrong to say that the player belongs to Hero Power Academy, saying…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A housewife, Muinat Ibrahim on Thursday, 16 May, 2024 filed for divorce in an Area Court in Ilorin on grounds that her husband, Jamiu Abdulmumini has a gambling problem. The petitioner told the court that she discovered her husband’s addiction to gambling immediately after their wedding and had tried all her best to make him stop. “My husband sold our television set, fridge and my two Android phones to gamble. He also lost two commercial motorcycles and spent my school fees on gambling. “I moved out of his house but returned after he promised to stop. He never…

The Acting Zonal Director of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Harry Erin, has described the Nigeria Army as a veritable ally in the fight against economic and financial crimes. Erin, who spoke Tuesday, on May 14, 2024, during a courtesy visit to the Brigade Commander, 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi, Ilorin, Brigadier General Oluwafemi D. Williams, lauded the synergy between the two agencies. He however said there was need for improved inter -agency collaboration among government agencies if corruption must be kicked out of Nigeria. He specifically requested the collaboration of the army in tackling…

Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 convicted and sentenced two Chinese: Duan Ya Hong and Xiao Yi to one year imprisonment for offences bordering on illegal mining and possession of solid minerals without requisite licences. The duo were arraigned on Monday, April 22, 2024 alongside their company, Ebuy Concept Limited on one-count charge bordering on illegal mining The lone-count charge reads: “That you, Ebuy Trading Worldwide Nig. LTD, Duan Ya Hong, Xiao Yi sometime in the Month of February 2024 at Banni, in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, within the…

By Emmanuel Udom Last year, a medical doctor based in Calabar, Cross River State contacted a poultry feed trader based in Lagos to buy some waste indomie feed products for the poultry business she was running at Calabar. The deal valued at about N2.5 million was sealed and delivered. It was gathered that five tons of the product was agreed by both parties. But, the trader, whose shop is located around Abattoir area of Agege in Lagos, was able to deliver only two, out of the five tons agreed. Sources at Abattoir area of Agege in Lagos, where the shop…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The wife of the late Nigerian singer, Ileriowa Aloba, aka Mohbad, Wunmi, has urged her deceased husband not to sleep in death. She made the call amid speculations of an attempt to cover up Mohbad’s autopsy report. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Wahab Shittu, had disclosed that the toxicology test carried out on the late music star revealed that his cause of death could not be ascertained. Addressing newsmen after the coroner’s inquest on Wednesday, 15 May, 2024 Wahab said the pathologist, in his submission in court, said that at the time the test was carried…

Appoints Eight Others Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has appointed Chief Adewale Atanda into the Oyo State Advisory Council. This is just as a former Chairman of Ibadan South-East Local Government and former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Akeem Ademola Ige, has been appointed Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board. A letter signed by the Chief of Staff to the governor, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi, indicated that the governor has also appointed eight other people into various positions. The other newly-appointed persons are as follows: Akeem Oladeji- Full-time member, SUBEB Dr Monsura Mustapha,…

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has approved a $15 million trade finance package for First Capital Bank (FCB) in Zimbabwe to help bolster intra-African commerce in line with the goals of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area. The package, comprising a $7.5 million trade finance line of credit and a $7.5 million transaction guarantee, is expected to catalyse about $146 million in trade over the next three years. The line of credit will provide the much-needed hard currency financing to support FCB to close its trade finance gap and expand its trade finance support…

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has charged the 1,007 intending pilgrims performing 2024 Hajj from the state to be good ambassadors by exhibiting good behaviours, following laid down rules and avoiding any act capable of tarnishing the image of the state and the country. He charged them to focus on the main purpose of their travel to the Holy Land, spend their money wisely and look out for one another. The Governor, who stated this on Wednesday, during the farewell ceremony for the Oyo State Hajj 2024 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, held at the Exhibition Ground of the Broadcasting…

Leading telecommunications and technology enabler, MTN Nigeria is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Microsoft, providing advanced data hosting solutions and Microsoft Business Licenses to small and medium enterprises. This development is in line with the company’s commitment to accelerate the digitalisation of businesses, leveraging robust and reliable connectivity, in Nigeria. This collaboration leverages Microsoft’s Azure Cloud platform to offer customers a comprehensive suite of services, blending flexibility, scalability, and security. This includes Virtual Machine (VM) Hosting, which enables the instant generation of virtual machines to address specific workload requirements, and Azure Virtual Desktop, (formerly known as Windows Virtual…