Author: Soffiyyah Olamide

By Abimbola Ogunnaike As a result hunger crisis prevailing in the country, hoodlums on Thursday, 22 February, 2024, hijacked trailers loaded with foodstuff in the Suleja Area of Niger State. According to the report of Daily Trust Online, soldiers had to open fire on the hoodlums to stop them from hijacking other trailers loaded with food items. The medium quoted an eyewitness it identified as Alhassan Abdullahi, saying that that many trailers coming from Abuja and heading for Kaduna were blocked by the hoodlums who burnt tyres on the road. The eyewitness added that many bags of food stuffs, especially…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike In efforts to prevent crime and criminality, the Lagos State and Ogun State Police Commands have kick-started a joint patrol on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, made this disclosure in a post on his X handle on Thursday, 22 February, 2024, adding that the joint patrols will cover Kara Bridge to Sagamu Interchange. The Lagos Police image- maker, who urged motorists not to panic at the sight of increased police patrols on the travel route, wrote, “As part of efforts to enhance security on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Lagos State Police Command and…

In its 10th year of dedicating and promoting girl-child education and empowering women and young girls in critical thinking and leadership skills in secondary schools across Africa, African Women Foundation for Nation Building, WINBAFRICA, is set for this year’s edition with the theme, Bridging the Gab: Celebrating a decade of Nation Building” on Monday, February 26, 2024 at the Alliance Francaise, Mike Adenuga center, Ikoyi, Lagos – Nigeria. A non-governmental organization, WINBAFRICA projects, and interventions include Education First Series, Project Sapphire, Orphanage Challenge, Project Back–to–School, WINBAFRICA Monthly Round Table, WINBAFRICA Food Bank, and the Production of a Monthly Newsletter. This…

MTN Nigeria, in alignment with our core belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern, connected life, has successfully integrated OpenAI on the MTN Zigi Chatbot. This heralds a groundbreaking standard for artificial intelligence-driven customer service in Africa. In partnership with Microsoft and Chatbot service delivery provider, Superbo, the MTN Zigi Chatbot, powered by (mirroring) ChatGPT version 3.5, is currently operational and actively serving customers. The successful integration of OpenAI onto the MTN Zigi Chatbot has ushered in an era of enhanced customer experiences where customers can now benefit from swift responses, accurate information, and a seamlessly interactive experience,…

Unknown gunmen have shot dead a police Inspector and injured others attached to the Rivers State Police Command in Port Harcourt, during an ambush, reports thegazellenews.com Swift response by the police team also led to the death of one of the gunmen while others escaped with injuries. A statement by the spokesperson for the command, Superintendent of Police Grace Iringe-Koko, stated that the incident occured on Wednesday, 21 February, 2024 in the Rivers State capital. Thegazellenews.com learnt that at about 9.45pm on Wednesday, 21 February, 2024, the unidentified men in a tinted carton-coloured Sienna bus ambushed and attacked the policemen attached…

It was a surprise and sudden operation yielding serious of arrests and discoveries. The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun set up a Special Task Force to tackle the dollar crisis. The team also has membership from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Custom Service and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps in each state of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). At about 11am on Wednesday, 21 February, 2024, the team moved into action simultaneously throughout the state of the Federation and a number of the BDC operators were arrested across the federation.…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has confirmed the interception of 45 trucks conveying maize to neighbouring countries. Shettima, who disclosed the development during a conference on Public Wealth Management on Tuesday, 20 February, 2024 in Abuja, said: “Just three nights ago, 45 trucks of maize were caught being transported to neighbouring countries. Just in that Ilela axis, there are 32 illegal smuggling routes”. According to him, after the interception, the price of maize, which was the major grain being transported, came down by N10,000, falling from N60,000 to N50,000. The VP alleged that some people are hell-bent on…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A 30-year-old tailor, Peter Emmanuel, was on Tuesday, 20 February, 2024 arraigned by Police in Lagos before a Tinubu Chief Magistrates’ Court presided over by Chief Mr A.A. Paul for allegedly stealing three cell phones, valued at N320,000. Emmanuel, who resides at Bar Beach Police Barracks, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing, to which he, however, pleaded not guilty. Earlier, the Prosecutor, Inspector Samuel Ishola, told the court that the defendant committed the offences, with two other persons still at large, on 28 January, 2024 at Shop 8, Bar Beach Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos. According…

Operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested one Captain Nuhu Haruna for an alleged criminal breach of trust to the tune of N1.020 billion. The suspect was arrested when a petitioner alleged that sometime in December 2023, he was introduced to the suspect for the purpose of a foreign exchange transaction involving N1.020 million. He allegedly paid the money into the suspect’s account to offer him its dollar equivalent. He explained that the suspect furnished him with evidence of payments made which turned out to be false as he never received the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A Kano State Sharia Court presided over by Khadi Yusuf-Ahmedon Tuesday, 20 February, 2024, ordered Tiktoker, Murja Kunya, to be taken to a government hospital for a mental evaluation, saying due to suspected drug influence Recall that the defendant is standing trial on a three-count charge of inciting public disturbance, belonging to a criminal gang, and criminal intimidation. Recall that Kunya in one of her videos on TikTok, which went viral, claimed she is the “leader of all prostitutes in the city.” While delivering the ruling, Justice Yusuf-Ahmad, ordered that the defendant be taken to a public hospital…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Famous Nigerian Music Superstar and Grammy Award winner, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly addressed  as Burna boy, has opened up at last why  he is still single. The self-acclaimed African Giant, who stated this in a viral video, said that Nigerians found out that he has not found the proper spouse and is still single. “He is trusting God to bring him a wife who makes sense,” the singer said, adding he hated it when women tried to use lies and false agenda just to be with him. “If God say make I marry, I will marry. Na God dey do all, me…

The ongoing trial of Emmanuella Eteta Ita, Head of Stakeholders Unit of the Federal Inland Revenue Services, FIRS and her Surestart School Limited was stalled on Monday, February 19, 2024 due to the absence of defence counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN. Ita and Surestart School Limited are standing trial before Justice F. Giwa Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a 25-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation, diversion, criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of N2 billion. At Monday`s resumed sitting, the prosecution geared to continue with the cross-examination of prosecution witnesses when the court was informed of the absence of Erokoro. His absence was linked to the burial of the former governor of Ondo…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Federal Government has vowed to give more attention to fixing roads and seek some remedies on the cost of gas and import duties to bring down the rising cost price of cement nationwide. This is part of the communiqué issued during a meeting between the government and the major cement manufacturers on Monday, 19 February, 2024, in Abuja. The Minister of Works Senator David Umahi; and his counterpart in the Ministry of Trade and Investment, Mrs Doris Uzoka-Anite; and the three major cement manufacturers – Dangote Plc, BUA Plc and Lafarge Plc signed the communiqué. According to…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Famous Nigerian Afrobeats star, David Adeleke, popularly addressed Davido, has announced plans to donate the sum of N300 million to orphanages across Nigeria. Davido said he would make the donation through his foundation, The David Adeleke Foundation, as his yearly contribution to the nation. The singer, who made the announcement via his X handle on Tuesday, 20 February, 2024, promised to reveal details of the disbursement on Wednesday, 21 February, 2024. “I and my foundation pledge the sum of 300 million Naira to orphanages around Nigeria… as my yearly contribution to the Nation. details of disbursement tomorrow.”…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Two truck drivers- Ibrahim Aliyu and Ibrahim Umar, have been sentenced to six months jail term each, for stealing 180 litres of diesel and the cash sum of N250,000. An Area Court in Jos, presided over by Shawomi Bokkos handed down the jailed sentence on the duo on Tuesday, 20 February, 2024 after they pleaded guilty to the offence and begged the court for leniency. Bokkos, who also gave the convicts an option of N30,000 fine each equally ordered them to pay a compensation of N50,000 each or serve six months in default. The police prosecutor, Inspector Labaran…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Head on- collision between a truck without registration number and a bus marked SMK 808 YD has claimed nine lives, while seven others were injured in an accident at Kere bridge, Ewekoro Local Government on the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway. The spokesperson of the Ogun State Command of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Florence Okpe, confirmed the incident in a statement issued to newsmen in Abeokuta, Ogun .State capital on Tuesday, 20 February, 2024 According to Okpe, the incident which occurred at 8:00am, was caused by excessive speed, route violation which led to the head-on collision between the vehicles. Okpe explained that…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Federal Government has drummed it into the ears of cement and building materials manufacturers in Nigeria that it will have no option than to open the borders to enable cement importation if they refuse to reduce the price of the commodity in the country. The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, stated this on Tuesday, 20 February, 2024 at an emergency meeting in Abuja with the cement and building materials members. Dangiwa, who issued the threat, said key input materials for cement production such as limestone, clay, silica sand, and gypsum, sourced within the nation’s borders, should not…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Ms. Hafsat Abubakar Bakari to serve as the Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), pending her confirmation by the Senate. Ms. Bakari is a lawyer and financial intelligence expert with years of experience in anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and counter-proliferation financing (AML/CFT/CPF). Before her appointment as the Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, she served as Deputy Director at the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, and was at different times the Head of the General Services Unit; Head of the Strategy and Reorientation Unit, and Head of the Board…

President Bola Tinubu has directed immediate settlement of outstanding electricity bill due to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company. The President’s directive follows the reconciliation of accounts between the State House Management and AEDC. Contrary to the AEDC’s initial claim of N923million debt in paid advertorial in newspapers, the State House outstanding bill is N342, 352, 217.46, according to a letter by the management of AEDC to the State House Permanent Secretary dated February 14, 2024. Having reconciled the position to the satisfaction of both parties, the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has given assurance that…

Classy Nigerian gospel singer, Eben (full name, Emmanuel Benjamin) along a coterie of top music stars will headline a loaded programme of activities lined up for a special vigil which holds at the Grace Nation Global Church a.k.a Liberation City this Friday in Lagos. The programme titled ‘Night of Exodus’, the second of such in the new year, will see the popular praise artiste entertain worshippers in an event with the theme, ‘Night Of The Spirit’. Also to feature in the one-night spiritual extravaganza is the captivating Gozie Okeke who will be backed by a strong in-house collection of artistes,…