Author: Khadijah Olowode

Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, on Wednesday, March 7, 2024, convicted and sentenced Alhaji Kyari Mohammed, managing director, Kyari and Sons Company Nigeria Limited, to one year imprisonment Mohammed was first arraigned on June 21, 2021 by the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on two – charges bordering on conspiracy and criminal misappropriation to the tune of N99.750 million. At the resumed hearing of the matter, Justice Fadawu recused himself and returned the case file to Borno State Chief Judge for reassignment…

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has sent a message of congratulations to the Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Association of Professional Women Engineers (APWEN), Engineer Atinuke Wuraola Owolabi, reports thegazellenews.com Engineer Owolabi will be inaugurated as the 10th Chairman of the Association on Friday, 8 March, 2024 at the prestigious Sheraton Hotel in Lagos. In a letter of congratulations dated, Thursday, 22 February, 2024, Princess Orelope-Adefulire stated that Engineer Owolabi’s election to lead the prestigious body was as a result of her outstanding qualities, unwavering dedication and contributions…

In a ceremony filled with optimism and promise, the Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) sworn in the new executive, legislative and judiciary bodies of the college Student’s Union Body for the 2023/2024 academic session. The inauguration ceremony which was held at the Yusuf Grillo Auditorium event, marked a significant moment for both the institution and its student body, as a new era of leadership and service was ushered in. The Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Arc. Lawal, in his welcome address urged the students to think critically and act responsibly. He emphasized the importance of embracing diversity and fostering a…

Former member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Toyin Isiak Suarau has lost his mother-in-law, reports thegazellenews.com Alhaja Mujidat Mojisola Sanni died on Saturday, 2 March, 2024 in Lagos and has since been buried on Sunday, 3 March, 2024 in accordance with Islamic rites. She was aged 91. She was reported to have died of age-induced illness. The late Alhaja Sanni was the mother of the Treasurer of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Mrs Deborah Oluwatoyin Sanni, wife of Honourable Suarau who was also former Commissioner for Agriculture in Lagos State as well as being former Chairman of…

Simon Faleye, Personal Assistant to the late Group Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, has recounted how he missed being on the helicopter that killed his boss, wife, son and business associate, Abimbola Ogunbanjo. Faleye spoke while mourning and eulogising Wigwe at the Night of Tributes on Wednesday night, 6 March, 2024. According to him, he said he was supposed to fly in the chopper but later decided to accompany their luggage by road since the chopper could not carry it. He said he got the nod of Wigwe who applauded the idea as a brilliant…

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has called on Audit Executives in banks across the country to be more vigilant and assertive in tackling financial crimes in the banking sector. He gave the charge in Abuja on Monday, March 4, 2024 at the 2024 Annual retreat of the Association of Chief Audit Executives of Banks in Nigeria, ACAEBI. The EFCC’s boss frowned at the raft of fraudulent activities associated with the local banking industry and charged bank auditors to do more in sanitizing and strengthening the financial sector and growing the economy. The EFCC boss who spoke…

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday, February 4, slated the hearing of a motion brought by a former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, challenging the jurisdiction of his court to hear the N4 billion money laundering charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for March 7, 2024. At Monday’s proceedings, defence counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, filed a motion urging Justice Ekwo to quash the charges against his client “for lack of jurisdiction to hear the matter and that no prima facie case has been established against the defendant.” EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, however, informed the court that he needed adequate time to study and respond to the motion, explaining…

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on its focused sting operations against currency speculators and street hawkers operating illegal foreign exchange markets across the country. He gave the commendation on Friday, March 1, 2024 while receiving the Acting Ibadan Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Halima Mustafa Rufa’u who paid him a courtesy visit in his palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State. According to him, “the EFCC promptly swung into action and for the mere fact that the EFCC acted , the dollar came…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Federal Government has disclosed that it will this week commence the distribution of 42,000 metric tons of grains across the 36 states of the federation, as approved by President Bola Tinubu. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who made this disclosure in a post on his X handle on Monday, 4 March, 2024 said the Ministry is working with the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and the Department of State Service, DSS, to ensure the grains get to the right people in the right packages and quantities. According to the Minister, 58,500 metric…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Ahead of the Ondo State governorship election, the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has released its schedule of activities for the poll. Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) had set November 16, 2024, as the scheduled date for the Ondo State Governorship election. The schedule, signed by the PDP National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, was displayed on Monday, 4 March, 2024 on a notice board at the party’s national headquarters, Wadata Plaza, in Abuja. According to the timetable, the party’s congress where its governorship candidate will emerge will be held on Thursday, 25…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The main opposition party in Benue State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the State Governor, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to account for how he expended N44 billion in special intervention grants received from the Federal Government between August 2023 to 2024. The opposition party in the state, through its State Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom, made the call while reacting to the submission of the leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, Senator Tilley Gyado, that N44 billion in the form of intervention funds were accrued to the state in the past…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association(NECA) has disclosed the main reason why it rejected the Federal Government expatriate employment levy. According to NECA, the Ministry of Interior’s expatriate employment levy will deter investment in the country, just as it also faulted the levy, saying there would be a need for certain regulations to be put in place before such tax could be imposed. The association, in a statement issued on Sunday,3 March, 2024, said that following the launch of the Expatriate Employment Handbook, an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Interior, purportedly aimed at enhancing skills transfer in Nigeria,…

The Board of Directors of KAFTAN Television has confirmed the immediate past Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Ogun State, Abdulwaheed Odusile, as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective Monday, 11 March, 2024. In a statement signed by the company’s Human Resources Manager, Oluwajuwonlo Janet Akinwale, the Board of Directors gives the new CEO full autonomy to set up a new management team and re-organise the company in a way that satisfies professional needs. The statement reads: “The Board of Directors of KAFTAN TV proudly announces the appointment of Mr. Abdulwaheed Odusile as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). …

The United States government, in partnership with the Global Shea Alliance (GSA), the non-profit industry association with a mission to promote sustainability, quality practices and standards for shea in food and cosmetics, held its annual conference in Abuja. According to a statement on Tuesday by the United States Embassy in Nigeria, this year’s theme ‘Bridging the Gap’ is centered on closing the divide between the visionary goals of the shea industry and the urgent need for practical action. Nigeria boasts the largest population of shea trees and shea collectors, positioning the country as a potential hub for production, processing, and…

The Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries and Heads of the Civil Service of the Federation on Tuesday, 5 March, 2024, emphasized the need for their wealth of experience and expertise to be brought to bear for the growth of public service in the country. The council spoke at the CORFEPS week in Abuja with the theme: ‘Reflections on Nigeria’s Public Service: Way forward for good governance.’ The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babagana Kingibe, decried that once a permanent secretary retires, he or she does not want to be seen which he described as a loss…

By Niyi Akinsiju To understand the nation’s current economic milieu, we have to go back to June 15, 2016. Nigeria’s central bank, on that day, announced it would abandon its currency’s dollar peg in preference for a free float of the Naira in an effort to alleviate the chronic foreign currency shortages choking growth in Africa’s biggest economy. Under one week after the announcement, the Naira slumped from the pegged rate of N197/$ to N287/$. Three months down the road, in August 2016, the rate had fallen by an aggregate 61 percent to the dollar. Expectedly, there was bedlam in…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Tinubu has promised to effect the immediate review of the pension and severance packages of retired police officers to reflect the enormity of their contributions and commitment to the country. Tinubu also disclosed that his administration will begin processes to issue an Executive Order to set aside a day between March 5 and April 1, to be officially regarded as National Police and Veterans’ Day in the country. Tinubu made the promised during his address at the official launch of the Police Veterans’ Foundation, at the headquarters of the Police Service Commission in Abuja, on…

Transcorp Power Plc, a power subsidiary of Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Group), has listed its shares via introduction on the Main Board of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), adding more than N1.8 trillion to the market capitalization of NGX and further boosting liquidity in the Nigerian capital market. The listing was celebrated on Monday, 4 March, 2024, with a Closing Gong ceremony and a “Facts Behind the Listing” presentation. Transcorp Power gained 10% on the first day of trading, to close at N264 per share, up from the listing price of N240 per share. The listing of Transcorp Power is further…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Benue State Government on Tuesday, 5 March, 2024, confirmed that the death toll from Lassa fever outbreak in nine local government areas of the state has jumped to 13 amid efforts to stem the tide. Recall that at the weekend at least nine people were confirmed dead following the outbreak of Lassa fever in parts of the state. However, four more deaths have been recorded in the past two days, bringing the total to 13. The state Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Yanmar Ortese, made the disclosure at a press conference in Makurdi, the state…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A 25-year-old man named Babuga Lede, has been ordered by an Ekiti State Magistrate Court presided over by Olubunmi to be remanded in the correctional centre for allegedly killing two traditional rulers in the state. The traditional rulers, the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin and the Olumojo of Imojo Ekiti, Oba Samuel Olusola, were killed by the gunmen who accosted them; while the Alara of Ara (Ikole), Oba Sunday Fatoba, escaped being killed during the attack along Oke Ako – Irele Road on January 29. While arraigning the suspect on Tuesday, 5 March, 2024,…