Author: Khadijah Olowode

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The arraignment of Binance Holdings Limited and two of its executives, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, on Thursday, 4 April, 2024, could not proceed as expected due to the inability of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, (FIRS), to effect service of the charge on the defendants. When the matter was called for the defendants to take their plea before Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court, Abuja, only Gambaryan was represented by a lawyer. It was gathered tha at neither the company nor Anjarwalla, who recently escaped from lawful custody, was represented by a counsel. However,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike with agency report A Lancet report published on Thursday, 4 April, 2024 has disclosed that the numbers of new prostate cancer cases around the world will more than double over the next two decades as poorer countries catch up with the ageing of richer nations. “Our findings suggest that the number of new cases annually will rise from 1.4 million in 2020 to 2.9 million by 2040,” said the medical journal, based on a study of demographic changes. Researchers behind the study said the rise in cases is linked to increased life expectancy and changes in the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike with agency report The world’s first living recipient of a genetically edited pig kidney transplant, Rick Slayman, has been discharged from the hospital. CNN reports that Slayman was discharged on Wednesday,3 April 2024, two weeks after his operation, according to a statement by Massachusetts General Hospital. “He is recovering well and will continue to recuperate at home with his family,” the hospital wrote on X. Slayman was quoted in the statement issued by the hospital saying: “This moment – leaving the hospital today with one of the cleanest bills of health I’ve had in a long time…

By Ibrahim Muhammed If your relative requests that you assist him or her in raising money to pay the balance of Hajj fare due to circumstances beyond their control, that is a personal Hajj subsidy to a family member especially when you are the causative factor for his inability to meet his target. Remember your brother has paid 90 per cent of the total sum. Can you now claim that you sponsor your brother to Hajj? That is what some uniformed writers are portraying about the alleged N90 billion subsidy by the Federal Government. In the same vein, if you…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, presided by Emmanuel Iyanna has summoned five social media users for “criminal defamation” of the reputation of gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo; and her husband, Blessed Uzochikwa. In the court summons dated Wednesday, 3 April, 2024, Iyanna ordered the five defendants to appear in person before the court on April 23, 2024. The five defendants are: Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, DJ Spoiltkid, Terrence Ekot, and Samuel Agozie. Uzochikwa had earlier filed a direct criminal complaint before the Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, dated April 2, through his…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly called Sunday Igboho, on Thursday, 4 April, 2024 instituted a court case of alleged defamation of character against the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams. Recall that Adams had recently, in a leaked audio conversation, alleged that Igboho is an assassin allegedly being used by President Bola Tinubu for dirty jobs. Igboho added that unconfirmed information linked him to the murder of a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, late Bola Ige, who was killed by gunmen at his Bodija residence, in Ibadan, on December 23, 2001. In the suit marked…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Super Eagles of Nigeria is presently ranked 30th in the 2024 Men’s World ranking, dropping two places from the previous 28th position. The ranking, as released by the Federation of International Football Association on Thursday, 4 April, 2024 revealed that the Eagles topped the 2023 CAF African Cup of Nations winner, Cote d’Ivoire, and seven-time AFCON winner, Egypt. Having participated in two friendly matches after the AFCON tourney, the Eagles earned a 2-1 win against neighbouring rivals, Ghana, and fell to a 2-0 defeat against Mali. With the latest development, the Eagles rank third in African…

By Harry Iwuala A section of followers of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) appear overly excited by the results of away teams and are given to adjudging the league to have improved when teams win on the road. On the other hand, they hit hard at organisers when all home teams win their games. To some analysts, wins away from home are indicative of fair and firm officiating, which they conclude is a benchmark for a developed league. And to these, total home wins on a matchday suggest that Referees have been compromised or intimidated. None of the above…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has announced plans to purchase modern farming equipment, such as tractors, to boost its agricultural initiatives, notably the Holistic Opportunities, Projects, and Engagement (HOPE) project.Speaking during a visit to inspect farming equipment at Bob Track Limited in Port Harcourt, NDDC’s Executive Director of Projects, Sir Victor Antai, emphasized the Commission’s commitment to maximizing the agricultural potential of the Niger Delta region and promoting the shift from traditional to mechanized farming practices.The Executive Director, who was accompanied by the NDDC Director, Agriculture and Fisheries, Mrs. Winifred Madume and the Director of Commercial and Industrial Development,…

By Lateef Adekola Pan Ocean Oil Corporation (Nigeria) Limited, Newcross Petroleum Limited and Newcross Exploration and Production Limited have announced the appointment of Engineer Ahmadu Musa Kida, into their Boards, as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Commenting on the appointment, the Group Managing Director, Mr. Steven Fadeyi, said the appointment of Engr. Musa Kida to the boards reflect the companies’ commitment to reinforcing good corporate governance and improving overall corporate performance and image of the companies. With close to over four decades of experience and flawless career in the oil and gas industry, Engr. Kida brings to the company his extensive…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr Philip Shaibu, on Wednesday, 3 April, 2024, prayed the seven-member investigative panel on his planned impeachment to obey an interlocutory injunction of a Federal High Court, Abuja. At its maiden sitting on Wednesday, 3 April, 2024, in Benin, the state capital,Shaibu, through his lawyer, Prof. Oladoyin Awoyale, SAN, said the panel’s sitting to investigate him would amount to fait accompli. He argued that there was a subsisting order of interlocutory injunction granted by an Abuja Federal High Court and further hearing had been adjourned to April 8. Awoyale argued that with…

Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye has apologized for the slight delay in revealing this week tourism product and gave his assurances that he is still committed to his release of 52 products over a 52 week period, as promised. This week’s product he said, is, ‘Simi Rigi.’ Though different, but aligne with, the two previous products (Simi Rimi and Ijoko Rimi) which he has spoken about earlier. As it also involves taking advantage of your advantages. He indicated that the product under discussion was fabricated from materials that could be easily sourced in Nigeria and so was relatively inexpensive to make. It…

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has called on Muslim faithful to allow purity and godliness to go beyond Ramadan period. She gave this advice on Tuesday, 2 April, 2024, in the State House Banquet hall during Iftar (breaking of Ramadan fast) she organised for federal legislatures, former first ladies, governors wives and others. She urged the women to also support one another in order to get the nation fully back on track. She restated that the nation will be greater adding that citizens will be happy once there is love, peace and harmony. Senator Oluremi Tinubu noted…

The Oyo State Government has begun the third phase of the distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers in the state with the distribution of two bags of 50kg feeds and two bottles of disinfectant to 1,000 pig farmers. The phase will also witness the free vaccination of at least 120,000 cattle with anthrax vaccine and CBPP vaccine, while another 250,000 cattle, goat and sheep will also be vaccinated by the state government. The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said this in Ajaawa, Ogo Oluwa Local Government, on Wednesday, 3 April, 2024, during the flag-off of…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Tragedy occurred on Tuesday, 2 April, 2024 as a windstorm killed one person, injured several others and destroyed over 100 houses in Agbashi community in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The Vice-Chairman of the Doma council area, John Bako-Ari confirmed the sad incident the incident to newsmen on Wednesday,3 April, 2024. According to Bako-Ari, more than 100 houses were affected, including Agbashi Central Mosque, a primary school and several other public structures. “It’s true that the windstorm destroyed over 100 houses, including a mosque and a primary school. The incident happened yesterday (Tuesday) in the evening,” he…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, 3 April, 2024, signed the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2024, into law, just as he thanked the members of the National Assembly for their expeditious handling of the bill. The development follows reviews of the report of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Speaking after signing the bill at the Presidential Villa, the President said his administration is determined to ensure that education is given its pride of place and the attention necessary including skills development…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Popular gospel minister, Nathaniel Bassey, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, over allegations that he fathered Mercy Chinwo’s son. Bassey urged the IGP to investigate and prosecute four persons whom he accused of criminal defamation and cyberstalking. The singer submitted the petition on 1 April, 2024, through his lawyers, Peter Abraham, Uche Matthew, Gbenga Agunloye and Anthony Abia. Recall that last week, four social media users alleged that Bassey fathered the son of the popular gospel singer, an allegation that went viral on X. The lawyers, therefore, urged the police authorities to urgently treat the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have agreed to join forces against illegal mining, illegal oil bunkering and tax evasion in Enugu State. This collaboration was brokered on Thursday, 28 March, 2024 when the Commandant of the NSCDC in Enugu State, Commandant Otoibhi Ehi Cyprian paid a courtesy visit to the Enugu Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Aliyu Nuhu Naibi in his office. While receiving his guest, Naibi called for robust synergy between the EFCC and the NSCDC in tackling illegal mining, illegal…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, has ordered the detention of a Nigerian accused of being a member of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Emmanuel Osase, for 60 days. Ekwo, gave the order on Wednesday, 3 April, 2024 following a motion ex-parte filed by the Department of State Servicesmarked FHC/ABJ/CS/409/2024. At the proceedings, the applicant’s counsel, A. A Ugee, told the court that the matter was brought pursuant to Section 66(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022. He prayed the court for an order enabling the applicant…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), has said the decision of the federal government to increase electricity tariff by 300 percent was not only insensitive but demonstrated a blatant disregard for the plight of the citizens The acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Muhammed Ishaq stated this in a statement issued Wednesday, 3 April, 2024, Isshaq said the policy would result in the power companies raising prices of electricity from N68 to N200 per kilowatt-hour. The party said the drastic hike, coming on the heels of the removal of fuel subsidies and massive devaluation of the Naira, which…