Author: Khadijah Olowode

The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi has warned communities against interfering in criminal prosecution of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), insisting that cases of rape and incense are no go area for family and community leaders. Waziri-Azi also threatened that parents may be prosecuted as accomplices in cases of rape and incense if they should cover up for the violators of the children and wards. The NAPTIP boss lamented that many cases of rape and incense were prematurely dropped due to pressures from families and communities which…

The Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has called on Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, across the country to strengthen their existing relationships with the Commission in the fight against economic and financial crimes.The Chairman stated this during an interactive session with members of CSOs in Edo State at the Benin Zonal Command of the Commission. The Chairman who spoke through Ag. Zonal Director, ACE I Effa Imoh Okim, noted that CSOs were pivotal in combating the menace of corruption in Nigeria. “Let’s work together in tackling the menace of corruption. I want us to…

Some stakeholders in the philanthropy business in Africa have put together a conference to advance the development of the continent through philanthropy efforts. The Programme Coordinator of the Fifth African Philanthropy Conference, Briggs Bomba, who disclosed this on Wednesday in Senegal, said the conference would facilitate progressive dialogue and action within the field of African philanthropy. Bomba, who is also the Programme Director, TrustAfrica, stated that the conference would be held at the Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe from 29th July to 2nd August, 2024. This year’s conference, according to him, is being convened under the theme “The…

The Government of Japan has announced the 2024 spring Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals, with Prof James Chukwuma Ogbonna, the former Deputy Vice Chancellor at University of Nigeria, Nsukka being one of the recipients. Ogbonna who is a former Professor of Microbiology at the same university, according to a statement, was nominated in recognition of his contributions to promoting academic exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and Nigeria in the field of agriculture. He would be given the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. The summary of Ogbonna’s contributions, according to the statement, include Inter-University…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulkarim Kana, has disclosed that only the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) has the power to suspend its National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje. Kana spoke Monday, 6 May, 2024 on Channels Television’s Politics Today. He was reacting to the recent controversial suspension of Ganduje, by different factional excos of his ward. The two factions of the Ganduje ward had suspended the membership of Ganduje, for alleged corruption among other offenses, during his tenure as governor of Kano. However, the State Working Committee of the APC in Kano swiftly…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Operatives of the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, have arrested a 37-year-old fake medical doctor with suspected forged certificates. The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the zone, Olatoye Durosinmi, confirmed the arrest on Tuesday, 7 May, 2024 while parading the suspect before newsmen in Lagos. According to Durosinmi, operatives of the Zonal Anti-Piracy Unit arrested the suspect, who claimed to be the Managing Director of Skylink Medical Centre in Ikorodu. “Based on the intelligence gathered by the command through members of the Elepe community concerning the activities of the suspect, a team of detectives,…

Shell exclusively paid a total of $1.09 billion in corporate taxes and royalties to the Government of Nigeria last year through the operations of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria Ltd (SNEPCo.) The figures, announced in the just published 2023 Shell Briefing Notes, show that SPDC paid $442 million, while SNEPCo remitted $649 million. Similar payments made by the two companies in 2022 amounted to $1.36 billion. “These payments are Shell exclusive and do not include those made by our partners,” said SPDC Managing Director and Country Chair,…

In a surprising turn of events, Aminu Yunusa, a key witness in the case of kidney harvesting against Alliance Hospital, its Medical Director, Dr. Christopher Otabor, and two others, disowned the statement tendered in court by the prosecution witness from NAPTIP. During cross-examination by the defense counsel, Bar. Afam Osigwe SAN, Yunusa denied ownership of the statement, claiming he neither deposed to it nor signed it by thumbprinting. The witness’s testimony further unraveled as he contradicted himself on crucial points, including his place of origin and the circumstances surrounding his alleged agreement to donate his kidney. Yunusa claimed to be…

The Federal Government of Nigeria is aware of attempts by Binance to launder its impaired image as an organisation that does not play by the rules and laws guiding business conduct in sovereign nations. In a blog post that has now been published by many international media organisations, in an apparent well-coordinated public relations effort, Binance Chief Executive Officer Richard Teng made false allegations of bribery against unidentified Nigerian government officials who he claimed demanded $150m in cryptocurrency payments to resolve the ongoing criminal investigation against the company. This claim by Binance CEO lacks any iota of substance. It is…

Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) are to train a million girls in Nigeria on education skills through the UNICEF’s program, Girls’ Education Skills and Partnership (GESP). The college is expected to empower 5,000 girls in Lagos State to boost access to skills and economic opportunities for adolescent girls and young women, supporting them to become employable, entrepreneurial and better skilled in information communication technology (ICT). The Rector, Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Engr. Ibraheem Abdul disclosed this at the opening ceremony of a five-day course design workshop on Girls…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company(IEDC) has reduced the electricity tariff for Band A customers. Recall that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), had charged customers with a daily supply of a minimum of 20 hours to pay N225/Kwh. However, under the approved review, Band A customers are now to pay N206.80/Kwh. Ikeja Electric, in a notice to its customers on Monday, 6 May, 2024 said, “Please be informed of the downward tariff review of our Band A feeders from N225/kwh to N206.80/kwh effective May 6, 2024, with guaranteed availability of 20–24 hours of supply daily.” The tariffs…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Niger State Internal Revenue Service (NGSIRS) has revealed that in the first quarter of 2024 , it generated the sum of N7,031,981,398.93 as Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) in the state. It stated that the amount represented a 170 per cent growth in IGR compared to the N2,605,507,197.15 released in the first quarter of 2023. The Executive Chairman of the NGSIRS, Mohammed M. Etsu, who made the disclosure in Minna, said the collection was for the months of January, February, and March 2024. “This marks a significant improvement from the total sum of N2,605,507,197.15 collected for the…

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday, 6 May, 2024, paid a congratulatory visit to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus College in Ilorin to personally commend the students who scored between 300 and 355 in the recently held Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, a symbolic gesture to acknowledge the strides of all Kwara pupils across public and private schools who came top in the national examination. “I am here today on behalf of the people and government of Kwara State to say we are proud of you and all others like you across our state. We are proud of the achievements…

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu has said despite the difficult economic times, the federal government has ensured that fund is made available for the nation’s energy transition programme. Speaking at a conversation: “Unlocking Climate Finance: Actionable Pathways for Nigeria’s Low Net Emissions Growth,” organised by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) and Enzi Ijayo Africa Initiative, in Abuja on Monday, the Minister who was represented by Special Assistant, Bolaji Onalaja, said: “There is no understatement of the importance of Climate action for all governments. It is particularly important for Nigeria given that the country has…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike An Ekiti High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti presided over by Justice Lekan Ogunmoye has sentenced three convicts to death by hanging for armed robbery. Five accused persons – Bidemi Babalola, 28, Oluwaseun Akinwale 26, Sola Oyebanji, aka Solademmy, 31, Azeez Jimoh, aka Asela, 31, and Babatunde Ogunlade, 28 – were arraigned before Justice Ogunmoye. The five men, whose addresses were not provided, were arraigned on 30 January, 2020, on five counts of conspiracy, armed robbery, possession of firearms, receiving stolen properties and membership of a secret cult. Delivering his judgment, the trial judge said,”In all, the sole…

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has welcomed 2nd Lt Princess Oluchukwu Owowoh after she completed her training on the 12th of April, 2024 at the Royal Military Academy, Snadhurst, UK. The First Lady who noted the sterling performances of 24 year old Owowoh said the officer is a good example of the great feats Nigerian youth can achieve. “Your determination and resilience are quite remarkable and you are an inspiration to the youth of this country. As a woman, the first who has made a mark in a male dominated field, I salute you. “You have the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, 6 May, 2026 re-arraigned a businessman, Edrian Ididia, before an Ikeja Special Offences Court presided over by Justice Ismail Ijelu for alleged N84 million car fraud. According to the the News Agency of Nigeria, Ididia was re-arraigned before Justice Ijelu on an amended two counts of obtaining by false pretence and stealing. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, was sometime in November 2021 arraigned before retired Justice Serifat Solebo but was granted bail. When the case was called on Monday, 6 May, 2024 the EFCC counsel,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Gunmen on Saturday, 4 May, abducted a four month old baby in Enen-Atai village, Itu local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Narrating his ordeal on Monday, 6 May, 2024, the father of the abducted infant, Udeme Eyo, told an online medium that the child was abducted at gunpoint in his residence at about 3:00 am. “I was half asleep when I heard the bang on the door, I jumped out of my bed but the door was pulled to the ground with force. “Two strange men entered and demanded for my son. As a man I tried…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Tragedy occurred at the weekend in Ipe-Akoko in Akoko South East Local Government Area of Ondo State as two persons lost their lives after consuming herbal concoctions during a traditional festival. The victims, who were identified as Alex Ojulewa and Samuel Alonge, were said to have died after arriving in the community for the celebration of the age-grade traditional festival known as ‘Ibogbe’. According to eyewitnesses, shortly after drinking the concoction, the two individuals began experiencing severe vomiting and rapidly deterioration in health. One of the witnesses, who gave his name as Tunji, stated that despite efforts…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Federal Government has disclosed plans to delist the Naira from all peer-to-peer, P2P, platforms. The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Emomotimi Agama, made this disclosure during a virtual meeting with blockchain stakeholders on Monday, 6 May, 2026. This decision aims to tackle the manipulation of the local currency’s value in the foreign exchange market. The country’s regulatory authorities have been investigating and scrutinising cryptocurrency exchanges in recent months. On 8 March,2024, the biggest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, stopped its Naira services.