Author: Soffiyyah Olamide

Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni has assured that his administration would strengthen accountability and transparency in governance for effective service delivery and to get value for money. The Governor made the promise on Saturday while responding to the first position clinched by Yobe state in the 2023 sub-national Audit Efficacy index report on accountability and transparency in public funds. He said: “The state government, through the Fiscal Responsibility Board, instituted reforms in public finance which has translated into worthy investments, accountability and transparency in government transactions. “I am glad to say that our audit department and institutions like…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Holders Nigeria will face Uganda in the semi-finals of the women’s event at the African Games 2023 at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday 19 March, 2024 The Falconets finished top of Group B with six points. Uganda on the other hand finished second in Group B with five points from three games. The Falconets have scored six goals in the competition without conceding. The encounter will be held at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday. Hosts Ghana will face Senegal in the other semi-finals the same day. With a place in the final at stake, both…

A 20-year-old hair stylist, Josephine Odunu and a dispatch rider, Edesemi Ikporo, 30, have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for selling and distributing illicit drug-laced chin-chin to school students and at social parties in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state. NDLEA officers on patrol around Opolo area of Yenagoa had on Sunday, 10 March, 2024 intercepted the motorcycle dispatch rider, Edesemi and recovered 200grams of chin-chin produced with cannabis sativa, which he was on a mission to deliver to a buyer. A swift follow up operation led to the arrest of the hairdresser, Josephine, who distributes the…

Lagos State Government and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) have promised to synergise and collaborate to provide affordable housing for Lagos residents and Nigerians in the diaspora. The promise was made on Saturday, 16 March, 2024, by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Housing Authority, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, during a courtesy visit by management of FHA to the Governor at the Lagos House, Marina. Governor Sanwo-Olu said the vision of the Federal Housing Authority is in line with the objective of the Lagos State Government to provide housing needs for…

On Saturday morning, the Nigerian people and I woke up to the dreadful news of the unprovoked killing of our brave military personnel during a rescue mission to Okuoma Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State. The incident occurred on Thursday 14 March, 2024 when our troops, responding to a crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State were ambushed. A Commanding Officer, two Majors, one Captain and twelve soldiers sadly lost their lives. One civilian was also killed. As the Commander-in-Chief, I join all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces to…

By Kunle Rasheed There is no iota of doubt that the outburst of Ayankunle Ayanlowo the ex-talking drummer of Fuji Czar, K1 De Ultimate is generating the usual buzz on social media with many in that frenzy, taking sides without allowing a thought on what the other side may look like. It is understandable that many are swayed by emotions based on what the drummer said about his former boss. This has instantly turned them to internet judges and justices without them looking beyond the surface of his claims. Although, K1 has decided not to “wrestle with the pig” by…

President Bola Tinubu has called on state governors to set aside political differences and collaborate with the federal government to build the nation. Speaking during the breaking of Ramadan fast with governors at the State House in Abuja, on Thursday, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of transitioning from politics to governance, noting the need for unity and cooperation among all stakeholders. ”Since we recognize the need to build our nation together, the time for politics is over. It is now time for governance. ”We are of the same family and parents; living in the same house, but sleeping in different…

Spokesman to the Senate, Senator Yemi Adaramodu has berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for calling for the resignation of Senator Godswill Akpabio over the unfounded claim of N3.7 trillion budget padding allegations by the suspended Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Abdul Ningi. Adaramodu in a reaction on Thursday, 14 March, 2024, as Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, declared that “The PDP has elevated chicanery to statecraft and fatally failed in their sordid attempt to hoodwink the unsuspecting public, on the ineffectual but spurious allegations of budget padding. The party’s ludicrous call for the resignation of…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Tinubu has approved the conversion of the Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy, Enugu, to a full-fledged University of Allied Health Sciences. Special adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, made this disclosure, saying the development was part of his dedicated efforts to build robust human resources for the health and social welfare sectors. The statement clarified that the Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy in Enugu will now be known as the Federal University of Allied Health Sciences, Enugu, and will be domiciled under the Federal Ministry of Health…

The Supreme Court of Nigeria, Abuja has reserved judgment till June 7, 2024 the final forfeiture suit of N1,222,384,857.84 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Twenty Two Million, Three Hundred and Eighty Four Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty Seven Naira, Eighty Four Kobo) brought before it by Melrose General Services Limited. The appellant is challenging the judgment of the Court of Appeal ordering the forfeiture of the money to the Federal Government of Nigeria, being proceeds of an unlawful activity in the Paris Club fund involving Melrose General Services Limited. At the resumed session of the court on Thursday, March 14,…

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has charged Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, across the country to be more committed to the fight against corruption, describing them as critical stakeholders in the anti-graft war. He gave the charge in Lagos on Thursday, March 14, 202 in an interactive meeting with the management and members of the Eagle Crime Awareness & Prevention Initiative, ECAPI. The EFCC’s boss, who spoke through the Lagos Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Michael Wetcas emphasized the need for stronger collaboration with every stakeholder in…

Operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 57 suspected internet fraudsters in Benin City. The suspects were arrested on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at different locations in Benin City following actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in internet-related offences. Items recovered from them include 12 exotic cars – four Mercedes-Benz GLK, two Mercedes Benz C300, one Mercedes-Benz 350, four Lexus ES350, one Lexus RX330, laptops and phones They would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has pledged to work in synergy with the Voice of Nigeria (VON) to expand anti-corruption sensitisation to every ‘nook and cranny’ in Nigeria. He made this known when the Director-General of VON, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace led a team of the organisation’s management staff to ICPC headquarters on a courtesy visit. Welcoming the visiting party, Dr. Aliyu stressed that public enlightenment was a core pillar of the ‘preventive mandate’ of the Commission. He further mentioned that he had long held a desire…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Two days after the resignation of Senator Abdul Ningi, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker from Bauchi Central Senatorial District as Chairman of Northern Senators’ Forum (NSF), Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua of the All Progressives Congress (APC), lawmaker representing Katsina Central Senatorial District, was appointed new Chairman of the Forum on Thursday, 14 March, 2024. Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio read the letter announcing Yar’Adua as the new Chairman of the Forum at the plenary session on Thursday, 14 March, 2024. Senator Tahir Mungono from Borno North Senatorial District was also named spokesperson of the Forum. He replaced Senator Sumaila…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, March 14, 2024 dragged former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja for alleged N84billion money laundering offences, alongside his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalam Hudu. The EFCC is prosecuting the quartet on an amended 17-count charge of money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of fund to tune of N84.062 billion. To make way for Yahaya Bello’s inclusion in the trial, prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court of an application before it for the amendment of the charges against the defendants, dated February 5, 2024, and filed the same day. He then prayed that the…

The Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari, has informed that the Port Harcourt refinery is scheduled to begin operations within the next two weeks. During his appearance before the Senate ad-hoc committee that was investigating the Nigerian Refineries’ Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) Projects, Kyari stated that more than 450,000 barrels of oil were stored at the Port Harcourt refinery. He said, “We are serving this country with honour and dignity. And we will make sure that the promises we make on the rehabilitation of this refineries will take place. “We did a mechanical completion of the…

The Supreme Court has set aside an earlier ruling of the Court of Appeal, which set aside the inspection Order granted the Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) by the Governorship election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja. The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had, on November 25, 2023, granted an Exparte Order, allowing the Social Democratic Party and its candidate in the 11th November, 2023 Governorship election to carry out forensic examination of all the Bimordal Voters Accreditation system (BVAS) used in the Governorship election, among other sundry reliefs. A three-man panel of justices of the Court of Appeal, led…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Temitope Ilori to serve as the Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) for an initial term of four years. Dr Ilori is the daughter of former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande and served as the Commissioner for Health in the first term of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola as Governor of Osun State. Dr. Ilori is a senior lecturer in the Department of Community Medicine at the University of Ibadan, and a consultant family physician at the University College Hospital,…

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, 14 March, 2024, announced the passage unto glory of the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr. Mohood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II. The Governor made this announcement in a statement on Thursday night, stating that Olubadan Balogun, joined his ancestors late Thursday evening at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. Governor Makinde described Oba Dr. Balogun as an epitome of royal excellence and a great achiever, who made great marks on Ibadanland in just a little over two years of his reign. He expressed his condolences to the Olubadan-in-Council, the…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sympathized with the family of the Administrator of Kaduna Capital Territory in the 1960s, Alhaji Abbas Dabo Sambo, whom he described as living a life “defined by service and dedication to nation building”. The President also condoled with all the leaders in the northern part of the country and other zones, who were mentored by the Administrator of the former capital of the Northern Region, with the strong values of integrity and diligence. Tinubu acknowledged the deep sense of patriotism Alhaji Sambo brought into the service of the fatherland, from an early age until his…