Author: Khadijah Olowode

Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested four brothers; Egbo Chukwuebuka, Egbo Favour Chibuike, Egbo Ifeanyi Francis and Egbo Victor for their alleged involvement in internet fraud. The siblings were arrested alongside thirty others which include: Great Eze, Ani Callistus, Ekpe Chigbo, Eze Eric, Nnaemeka Gabriel, George Tochukwu, Uche Divine, Chiamelie Ede, Enenta Ebube, Treasure Ugwueze Osinachi, Ejiakor John Chidiebere, Kingsley Dugwu Olisa and Ugwuanyi Bright Ekpere. Others include: Uzor Obi Godson, Tochukwu Nwankwo Firminus, Ebuka Ike Comas, Okwudili Mmoyekwe John, Samuel Ogbonna Otti, Agada Daniel Olema, Odoh Collins Nnabuike, Okeke…

The Federal Government, through the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, has approved the appointment of Dr. Emmanuel Jude Abiodun Akinwale as the new Acting Registrar of Yaba College of Technology in the absence of the Governing Council. The appointment took effect from Friday, 26 January, 2024. Dr. Akinwale will be in acting capacity until the substantive Registrar is appointed by the Federal Government. Until this appointment, he was the Head of Department, Council Affairs in the Registry Unit of the College. A catalogue of his achievements during his 43 years of service in the 77-year history of the College…

In a bid to address the persistent electricity issues plaguing Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), the Rector, Dr. Engr Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul, has established an Energy Research Group to revolutionize the institution’s energy infrastructure. The research group is also aimed at promoting sustainability and efficiency of evolved solutions which are to be propagated in solving electricity challenges in the country while also addressing power challenges on campus and beyond. The Rector, while speaking during the inauguration ceremony of the Group, emphasized the need for innovative approaches to tackle energy challenges at Yaba College of Technology. He highlighted the importance of…

President Bola Tinubu has saluted the Super Eagles of Nigeria for their tenacious performance in the final of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire. President Tinubu commended the team, the coach, the crew, and the entire management team for their hard work, assiduity, and sacrifice to come this far in the tournament, acknowledging the hurdles they consistently surpassed with steadily improving performance as they pulled through to the finals. The President urged Nigerians to be of good cheer, emphasizing that “we won a great victory in the hearts of Africa and the world by our grit,…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has assured the people of Ibeno Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State that work on the second phase of Iko-Atabrikang-Opolom-Iwuoachang Road, an extension from the 600-metre Ibeno Bridge, will be accelerated to ensure its completion.Speaking during the inspection of the road and bridge project, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, who was accompanied by the Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai, and other directors, said that it was necessary to assess the status of the project which had suffered some setbacks.The NDDC Chief Executive Officer said that the first phase, a 6-kilometre…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has given approval to Air Peace to commence international flights to and from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, USA. This latest development comes after Air Peace submitted a request to the ministry on January 12, 2024, seeking approval for flights to New York. In a letter dated February 9, 2024, the ministry, represented by director H.T. Ejibunu, conveyed the approval to Air Peace. The letter, referencing number FMA/ATMD/0186/S.5/X/696, highlighted that the approval aligns with the existing ‘Open Skies’ agreement between Nigeria and the United States. “I am…

The Ogun State Government will be hosting the 18th edition of the National Council on Transportation from Tuesday, 13 February, to Friday, 16 February, 2024. The meeting, to be hosted by Governor Dapo Abiodun, will have in attendance Commissioners in charge of Transportation in the 36 states and the FCT, their permanent secretaries, Transport Secretaries, Director of Planning Research and Statistics and other stakeholders. The Guest of Honour is the Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Alkali, The theme for this year’s edition is ‘Embracing Innovations and Technologies For Sustainable Transportation: Tackling The Energy Challenges’ The Ogun State Commissioner for Transportation,…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has tendered its evidence from the forensic investigation conducted on the phones of Professor Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, who is currently facing trial over an alleged sexual misconduct. At the resumed hearing on Monday, 12 February, 2024, an exhibit keeper and a forensic analyst from the ICPC appeared as the 3rd and 4th prosecution witnesses for the Commission. In his testimony, the PW4 explained the various analysis done on the phones of the first defendant saying his team was able to extract…

Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court, sitting in Maiduguri, on Monday, February 12, 2024, convicted and sentenced the trio of Aisha Alkali Wakil ( a.k.a Mama Boko Haram) Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Soyade to ten years imprisonment. The defendants were jailed upon being arraigned by the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, March 5, 2020 on a two count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N40 million. Count two of the charge reads: “That you Aisha Alkali Wakil, Tahiru Alhaji Saidu…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Labour Party is currently engulfed in a fresh crisis as the party’s National Treasurer, Mrs Oluchi Oparah, on Monday, 12 February, 2024, demanded that the National Chairman, Julius Abure, render an account of party funds over N3.5 billion being proceeds of sale of forms and sundry fundraisers for the 2023 general elections. Oparah, who made the demand on Monday, 12 February, 2024, at a press conference in Abuja, alleged that Abure prevented her from exercising her constitutionally assigned role of handling the party’s accounts. She also claimed that the Chairman has shunned all entreaties to open…

The First Prosecution Witness, PW1, in the ongoing trial of former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, Ogau Onyeka Michael, on Monday, 12 February, 2024 told Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Maitama, Abuja, how the ex-CBN boss approved the payment of $6,230,000 in cash for international election observers in the last 2023 general election. Michael made the revelation while testifying at the ongoing trial of Emefiele. The former CBN boss is standing trial before Justice Muazu on 20-count amended charges bordering on corrupt advantages, conspiracy, and criminal breach of trust, forgery…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Bayero, has called on the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to drum it into the ears of her husband, President Bola Tinubu, to address quickly address the issue of great hunger, starvation, and insecurity confronting the country The Emir made the plea when Tinubu’s wife visited him in Kano on Monday, 12 February, 2024, said: “Although we have several means of communicating to the government on our needs and requests, your way and means is the surest way to tell the President the actual happenings in the country.” The monarch, who spoke through an interpreter,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Gunmen suspected to be bandits on the evening of Sunday, 11 February, 2024 killed nine traders along Jibia/Batsari Road on Katsina State. According to residents, the traders were returning to their community from a local market in Jibia when they ran into the roadblock mounted by gunmen around 6pm. It was gathered that the traders were being conveyed in two vehicles which the gunmen also burnt. A local resident, who doesn’t wants his name mentioned, said, “The traders left the market early enough after their trading on Sunday only for them to run into the gunmen between 5pm…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), has joined investigation of the helicopter crash which killed Mr. Herbert Wigwe Group CEO of Access Holdings and five others in the United States, on Friday night, 9 February, 2024. The ill-fated Airbus Helicopter EC130B4 crash occurred on Friday, February 9, 2024, at about 10:08 PM. (Pacific Standard Time) near Interstate 15 in Halloran Springs, California. Former Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, Mr. Wigwe’s wife, Chizoba and son, Chizzy, also died in the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Despite the hardship Nigerians are facing since the removal of fuel subsidy in May 2023, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised President Bola Tinubu-led administration to completely phase out electricity subsidy in the country. According to its published ‘Post Financing Assessment (PFA)’ report, the IMF added that the federal government had overwhelmed itself, thus recommending that the total removal of both fuel and electricity subsidies must be implemented. The body made this recommendation as the mechanism for Nigeria to restore macroeconomic stability, coming as corroboration to what the government had said late last year that electricity…

Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested one Simon Bassey Idio for currency racketeering in Uyo. The 59-year old ‘Naira Trader’ was arrested on Friday February 9, 2024, at the Ibom Tropicana Mall , Udo Udoma way in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. His arrest came on the heels of intelligence and surveillance regarding his illegal cash dealings in local and foreign currencies within the state. He was caught selling N700, 000 new naira notes in two denominations: 12 bundles of N500 notes totaling N600, 000 and a bundle of N1000 notes…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A Federal Capital Terrritory (FCT),High Court presided over by Justice Yusuf Halilu on Monday, 12 February, 2024, adjourned the trial of 20 former leaders of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) charged with attempted murder. In the suit marked: CR/042/2023, the former union leaders, including a one-time National Chairman, Lucky Osesua, were charged with attempted murder, breach of peace and assault. Also charged are Dayyabu Garga, Humble Obinna, Akinolu Olabisi, Godwin Nwaka, Tiamiu Sikiru, Abdulmimin Shaibu and John Amajuoyi. Others are Zaira Aregbo, Patrick Erhivwor, Stephen Ogheneruemu, Gift…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A former Minister of Power and Steel, Dr Olu Agunloye, on Monday, 12 February, 2024, in Abuja told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), from prosecuting him in the alleged $6 billion fraud. Agunloye, who was put on trial by the anti-corruption agency on the alleged $6bn Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station fraud, is claiming that EFCC lacked the power to proceed with the trial. He predicated his opposition to trial by EFCC on various grounds in his motion on notice for preliminary objections. In the objection…

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji has called on the management of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti and other tertiary institutions in the state to justify recent increment in government subvention to them through tangible outcomes. The State University had its subvention increased from N260 million to N410 million monthly, while other state owned institutions also got different increments, in a move aimed at ameliorating the financial challenges confronting the institutions. Speaking at an event in Abuja, Sunday evening, 11 February, 2024, where he was honored as one of the Distinguished Alumni of Ekiti State University (EKSU), organized by the institution’s…

Former Presidential Aide, Laolu Akande has spoken in support of the legislative proposed idea of having all the national elections in one day, saying, it makes things easier for the electorate and could improve voter turnout. He, however wonders if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies are ready for the challenges. Akande, a veteran journalist spoke when featuring on Channels TV 10pm News Flagship Saturday night, February 10, 2024, where he featured as a news analyst and was asked about the possibility of the proposal and its modalities. He said, “I think that it is going…