Author: Soffiyyah Olamide

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a professional make-up artist, Margret Itodo and three other culprits for organising and faking the kidnap of one of them. The other culprits have been identified as Agnes Ogbeh, Esther Anyanwu, and Anthony Chinakwe. It was reported that the group faked the kidnap of Agnes Ogbeh. The spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin said that on Tuesday, 19 March, 2024, Agnes Ogbeh, a resident of Akure, Ondo State, had travelled to Lagos and was reportedly kidnapped while in Lagos. Hundeyin made this disclosure in…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Barely six months after his return to the highlife music scene, music icon, Godwin Opara popularly addressed as Kabaka, who broke a two-decade silence with the release of his acclaimed “Abialam” album in September 2023, is dead. He was aged 77. Derda Promotions, the management team, confirmed the death of the music icon, who spearheaded and transformed the realm of highlife music on Thursday, 21 March, 2024. The Chief Operating Officer of Derda Promotions, Amarachi Anyanwu, made this disclosure in a statement released on Friday, 22 March, 2024. The statement read, “Derda Promotions is deeply saddened to…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Tinubu on Friday, March, 2024 called Nigerians to patronise made-in-Nigeria products and services to sustain the recent gains of the naira in the foreign exchange market. Tinubu, who said the recent appreciation of the value of the naira against the dollar does not spell Uhuru yet, called for more collaboration from citizens. Tinubu urged Nigerians to blow the whistle on persons seen engaging in practices that undermine the local currency. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, made this disclosure to newsmen when he delivered Tinubu’s message at a State House…

The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nanna Nandap, has approved the appointment of Kenneth Tyoapine Udo, a Deputy Comptroller of Immigration (DCI), as the new Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO). He succeeds Adedotun Aridegbe who has since been promoted to the rank of Comptroller of Immigration Service and presently serves as the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the CGI. A native of Konshisha LGA in Benue State, DCI Udo holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from the University of Abuja. His professional development includes completion of various courses within and outside the country, including the 30th…

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared that 700 street traders displaced by the Agodi Gate Junction Improvement Works will be given free stalls in the new market built in the area as part of the project. The Governor stated this on Friday, 22 March, 2024, at the commissioning of the Idi Ape, Civic Centre, Agodi Gate Junction Improvement Projects, noting that the projects will reduce the number of man-hours spent by residents commuting roads in the city. He added that the project would also ease traffic flow and contribute to boosting commercial activities in the axis, just as it…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, has claimed that the national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has been indicted by a police report. Wabba, who stated this during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, added that Abure was hiding from the police to evade prosecution. Recall that the crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) worsened on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024 as members of NLC picketed the national headquarters of the party in Abuja. The former labour boss in the interview said the report indicting Abure was submitted to him…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has re-stated its commitment to assist the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies operating in the Niger Delta region, assuring them of the Commission’s continuous support and collaboration to ensure sustainable peace.   The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, stated this during a courtesy visit by the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sahid Akinwande and the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, Pathfinder, Commodore Desmond Igbo, at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt. The NDDC Chief Executive Officer stressed the need for collaboration to ensure that the Niger Delta region remained peaceful,…

Three students of Abia State University (ABSU) have been confirmed dead when the vehicle they were travelling in was involved in a ghastly accident, reports thegazellenews.com The three students, all reading Medicine and Surgery, were returning from their induction ceremony when the incident occured. The accident occured along Okigwe-Umuahia road on Thursday, 21 March, 2024. This medium learnt that the driver of the car lost control which resulted in the car somersaulting three times leaving the three students dying instantly.

President Bola Tinubu has said that his administration is sustaining investments in digital technology to enhance the sustainability of small businesses, expand opportunities across sectors, and propel Nigeria to become the lodestar of information and communications technology in Africa. Speaking when he received a delegation from Meta Platforms Incorporated, led by Sir Nick Clegg, former UK Deputy Prime Minister and Meta’s President of Global Affairs, at the State House in Abuja on Thursday, 21 March, 2024, the President said Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in this age of technological advancements; hence, his administration is opening up channels of…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has called for concerted efforts and support for the military and other security agencies to ensure that peace reigns in the Niger Delta region for development to thrive. The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, made the appeal when he led a delegation from the Commission to pay a condolence visit to the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam at the 6 Division headquarters in Port Harcourt. Ogbuku, who was accompanied by the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye; the Executive Director, Projects, Sir…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has enjoined contractors executing its projects to return to their various sites and ensure that they meet the required standards for quality jobs before they can qualify for payment. Rivers State Representative on NDDC Board, Hon. Tony Okocha, who stated this during an interactive session with stakeholders and contractors at the Commission’s State Office in Port Harcourt, insisted that contractors that failed to meet the required specifications would not be paid for the projects. Okocha acknowledged the concerns of the contractors over delays in the payment for completed jobs, observed that the Commission might…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has explained why he exhumed his mother’s body for reburial. Recall that the ‘Zazu’ exponent recently exhumed his mother’s body and reburied her. Speaking in a viral video trending on X platform, Portable explained that he exhumed her body because the land where she was buried was sold. “I lost my mother at the age of 13. I exhumed her body and reburied her because they sold the land where she was initially buried,” the singer said, revealing that he wants to build a mansion at the place…

Abimbola Ogunnaike Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola, will now take home N1.1 million monthly basic salary and N4.3 million regular allowances as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu increased the remuneration of Judiciary officials. The development came after President Tinubu sent an Executive Bill to the National Assembly on Tuesday, 19 March, 2024, seeking an upward review of the salaries of judicial officers. The House of Representatives approved Tinubu’s request to increase the salaries and allowances of judicial officers. According to the bill, the CJN will earn N13.5 million in annual basic salary and N51.2 million in regular allowances, making…

The Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye has identified transparency, accountability, research, technology and innovation as key drivers of the ongoing transformation in the company.Ogunleye disclosed this while speaking during a Panel Session hosted by the NNPC Ltd at the ongoing 2024 CERAWeek Conference in Houston, the United States, on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024.Ogunleye, whose session addressed the theme, “Africa’s Energy Future: Access, Investment & Sustainability” said under the current leadership of Mr. Mele Kyari, the Company has institutionalized the use of modern technology to drive its operations, a development…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, 21 March, 2024, indicated interest in a mutually beneficial partnership between the Lagos State Government and Mastercard for technology, digitalization and innovation. The Governor said the development of backend infrastructure by the Lagos State Government will help Mastercard’s investment drive in the State. Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke when the Management of Mastercard led by its President for Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Dr. Dimitrios Dosis, paid him a courtesy visit at Lagos House, Marina. Sanwo-Olu said his administration is open, willing and eager to make technology a way of life, adding that…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti presided over by Justice Jubril Aladejana on Thursday, 21 March, 2024 sentenced a 28-year-old Ayodeji Alomoge to death by hanging for killing his wife’s lover. The convict was arraigned before the court in April 2023 on one count charge of murder. Delivering judgement, Justice Aladejana said: “To me, rivalry between men over the affection of a woman should not be grounds to justify provocation. “I consequently find the defendant guilty of the murder charge against him and therefore convicted as charged. “The judgement of this court upon you is that…

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, hailed the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba (Dr) Mohood Lekan Balogun, for bringing peace and stability to the Olubadan Chieftaincy System within the short period of his reign. He said the deceased monarch, who represented Oyo Central Senatorial District in the Senate between 1999 and 2003, played roles that ensured the traditional system did not fall apart. The governor maintained that though Oba Balogun’s death was painful to him, because they shared a relationship that transcended politics, his life should be celebrated for his contributions to the progress of Ibadanland, Oyo State and the traditional…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike with agency report Former Manchester City and Real Madrid footballer, Robinho, who faces a nine-year prison sentence in Brazil for rape on Thursday, 21 March, 2023 filed an appeal with the Supreme Court. Recall that Robinho, 40, was ordered on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024 to begin his jail time “immediately” in Brazil after he was sentenced in an Italian court for taking part in the 2013 gang rape of a woman at a Milan nightclub, when he played for AC Milan. His lawyers on Thursday, 21 March, 2024, requested that the Supreme Court postpone the sentencing decision,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Meta Platforms Incorporated has announced it will launch a revenue-sharing feature with Nigerian content creators on its Instagram platform in June 2024. Meta’s President of Global Affairs, Sir Nick Clegg, made this disclosure when he led delegations to visit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, 21 March, 2024. According to him, Meta is open to deepening business partnerships with Nigeria. “We have much to do with Nigeria to deepen partnerships,” he said in a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, spokesperson to President Tinubu. Clegg further lauded Tinubu for enabling the landing of the Meta-backed…