Author: Soffiyyah Olamide

By Tunde Akanni PhD In perfect confirmation of the Islamic perception of indecent people who lack shame and are always ready to act out their recklessness, the propagandists are again at work. They wanted to skew the information about the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, such that the leadership that is just berthing is bedeviled? In what worse manner could the immediacy and virality of online information be optimally exploited for deceit and ironically for matters relating to the deen of Islam? The alleged sleaze, so saddening, of the immediate past NAHCON leadership was rather too humongous and too…

The four bloggers standing trial for the alleged blackmailing of Guaranty Trust Holding Company and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje, have been denied bail because one of them, Precious Eze, was accused of being a serial offender. Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos who denied them bail, ordered an accelerated trial of the four bloggers. Apart from Eze, others dragged before Justice Faji by the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force are: Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami. They are facing a 10 count amended charge for allegedly publishing false information…

Ahead of October 24, 2024, when Nigerians hoped that the Kogi State former Governor, Yahaya Bello, would appear before the court over corruption allegations, there are indications that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may be going after some aides who served under the administration between 2016 and 2024. The aim behind the planned investigations and possibly arrest, as gathered, was to aid the anti-graft agency’s moves to file more charges against the former governor on his eight years tenure in the state. These former aides including those serving under the current administration in the state, were said to…

By Bola BOLAWOLE The face-off between the anti-corruption agency – the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) – and the immediate past civilian governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello, is a sad reminder of how weak and easily manipulated institutions are here. It also showcases the crawling stage of our democratic governance. The ongoing Fourth Republic is the longest stretch of civilian rule we have had since our flag Independence from the British colonial predators on October 1, 1960; which 64th anniversary was marked yesterday. The creation of the EFCC and its sister-organisation, the Independent Corrupt Practices (and related…

President Bola Tinubu has expressed relief at the news of the strings of successful operations against security threats in the north-west by troops of the Nigerian military. The President expressed this via a statement on Saturday, 14 September, 2024 by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Tinubu stated that the success of the operations gives further assurance that the nation’s security operatives are up to the task of ensuring the peace and security of the nation. Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, on Thursday, 12 September, 2024, neutralised a wanted bandit leader, Halilu Sububu, who had been unleashing…

Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc has released its Audited Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements for the period ended June 30, 2024, to the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) and London Stock Exchange (LSE). The Group reported profit before tax of ₦1.004 trillion, becoming the first Nigerian financial institution to cross the ₦1 trillion mark in profit. This milestone figure represents an increase of 206.6% over ₦327.4 billion recorded in the corresponding period ended June 2023. The Group’s loan book (net) Increased by 25.5% from ₦2.48 trillion recorded as at December 2023 to ₦3.11 trillion in June 2024, while deposit liabilities grew…

Ogun State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has sympathized with his Borno State counterpart, Prof. Babagana Zulum and the people of the state over the incident of flood that recently ravaged Maiduguri, the state capital. The Governor, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, said the ravaging flood has caused a serious humanitarian crisis in the state, which requires urgent support from all Nigerians. He said while natural disasters of that nature were inevitable, a prompt response like that of the government of Borno and the…

Transport union leaders in Ogun State have promised to collaborate with the state government in its efforts to minimize the rise in transportation fares as a result of the recent increase in pump prices of fuel. The promise was the outcome of a meeting between the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and the union leaders on Monday regarding the need to be humane with transport fares in the state. The Chairman of the Ogun State Park Management Scheme (OGSPAM), Alhaji Akeem Bodunrin, while speaking to newsmen at the Panseke Motor Park in Abeokuta South Local Government, stated that they…

The Jigawa State Police Command has confirmed that at least three people have died following the collapse of a building in Kofar Bai Quarters, Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of the state. The Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Lawan Adam, confirmed the incident in a statement issuesd on Tuesday, 10 September, 2024. “On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at approximately 00:05hrs, Ahmad Isah of Kofar Bai Quarters, Birnin Kudu LGA reported to the Birnin Kudu Division that on September 9, 2024, at around 23:50hrs, a room in his residential house collapsed. “Upon receiving the tragic report, a team of police officers was…

Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has confirmed that floods that ravaged communities across the state, especially Fune local government area have killed at least four people and injuring forty-three others. SEMA, which revealed this in the latest flood update released on Tuesday, 10 September, 2024, added that 1, 978 households and an estimated 7,639 individuals from different communities and villages across the 13 wards of Fune LGA were severely affected by the disaster. “The incidents led to the destruction of about 1,215 houses and injury to about 43 persons with 4 deaths recorded. “Worse cases were from Jajere, Ngelzarma, Bindigi, Ngelshengele,…

Kaduna State Police Command on Tuesday, 10 September, 2024 arraigned a retired Upper Sharia Court judge, Mahmud Shehu, before a Magistrates’ Court, in Zaria, Kaduna, presided over by Magistrate, Lukman Sidi, for allegedly assaulting a visually impaired housewife. The prosecutor, Insp. Adamu Abubakar, told the court on Tuesday in Zaria that the defendant was charged with trespass and assault. Offence, he said, is contrary to sections 327, 237 and 239 of Penal Code Law of Kaduna State 2017. Abubakar told the court that on September 6, Garba Adda’u of Gonar Ganye, Tudun-Jukun Zaria made a criminal complain at the Tudun Wada Divisional Police…

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that the Borno State government has opened various camps to accommodate thousands of people currently stranded on the streets of Maiduguri due to flooding. NEMA’s Zonal Acting Coordinator for the North East Zone, Surajo Garba, who made this disclosure during an interview with Daily Trust on Tuesday, 10 September, 2024, attributed the incident to torrential rainfall and collapse of Alao Dam. Garba warned residents of riverine areas to vacate their homes immediately, just as he also added that efforts were underway to support the affected communities. “Thousands of people are stranded and…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expresses deep concern about the flooding in parts of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. The worst flood in decades has displaced thousands of residents and affected facilities such as the Post office, museum and the Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. In a statement issued on Tuesday,10 September, 2024, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said President Tinubu has ordered the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately deploy its resources to assist victims. The President also called for the immediate evacuation of those worst affected by the disaster. Part of the statement said:…

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has visited camps where victims of Monday’s devastating flood in Maiduguri were camped. According to statement by the Press Unit of Borno State Government House, in all the places he visited on Tuesday, 10 September, 2024, Zulum sympathised with the victims and assured them of proper care until the water receded and people returned to their houses. He said: “I am disturbed by the calamity that befell us on Monday, resulting from the increased volume. We are doing everything possible to provide relief to our people. “We will provide all the necessary relief support to…

The Director General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mrs Zubaida Umar has activated the deployment of additional search and rescue personnel and facilities to strengthen the on-going rescue of Maiduguri residents that are trapped in their homes by the devastating flood disaster in the city. A statement on Wednesday by Manzo Ezekiel of the Press Unit of the agency, said in addition to the search and rescue operation, the agency through a rapid assessment of the situation has warned against likelihood of water borne epidemic that may result from flood contamination of households water, and in view of this, the…

The Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom opened its conference today in London, with its leader making false claims about human rights abuses and violations in Nigeria. The Nigerian government was wrongly and falsely accused of rights abuse because the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, was stopped from travelling abroad after he snubbed the invitation of a law enforcement agency conducting an ongoing investigation. Ajaero, who probably considers himself above the law, was slated to speak at the same conference where the UK TUC leader attacked Nigeria. His actions, however, have serious consequences, as no one is above the law…

By Temitope Ajayi Those who think they are taking a dig at the President have been gloating. Their usual refrain is that the man they said built Lagos should build Nigeria for them to see. As Governor of Lagos, the President reformed governance and set the state on the path of irreversible progress. President Tinubu has never claimed he did it alone or discounted the contributions of others who led the state before him. Some of the landmark projects he started are still standing, and the plans and vision he articulated are still being implemented till today. We talk about…

By Dada Olusegun President Bola Tinubu on Friday rounded off his official visit to China with his trip to the world’s 2nd largest economy ending with very significant and mouthwatering gains for Nigeria. It was obvious that the President was looking forward to a trip heavy on deals that would impact on Nigeria’s quest to improve our infrastructure, agriculture, power, solid minerals etc judging by the public officials in his official entourage. From the Finance Minister/Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Minister of Trade and Investment, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Minister of Power, FCT Minister, Minister of Defence, Minister…