Author: Soffiyyah Olamide

By Wale Adedayo The average State Government in Southern Nigeria is not seriously interested in Agriculture. But up North, the commitment is real. And, it did not start yesterday. It predated the current civilian administration in the Country. In Northern Nigeria, given the nature of the environment, they do not joke with irrigation for their farmlands. Meanwhile, you hardly see large expanse of land without agricultural activities going on there, unlike in the South. If a civil war had broken out earlier, the major fear of some of us, was Food Security. Almost all of Southern Nigeria depend on food…

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cultural heritage preservation project in Adamawa State has been signed by the Nigerian and United States governments. This is as the US government on Thursday, 15 February, 2024, said it has successfully repatriated a total of 63 Benin Bronzes since 2022. The MoU project involves the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, American University of Nigeria, Yola, Adamawa and International Council on Monuments and Sites-Nigeria and the United States of America under the implementation of Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation grant. The U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation,…

The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Ajayi Oluwabukola Temitope before an Oyo State High Court for allegedly obtaining N58.458 million by false pretence from her victims. She was arraigned on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, before the court presided over by Justice Kamorudeen Babatunde Olawoyin, on a four count-charge of obtaining by false pretence, an offence that contravenes Section 419 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000. One of the count charges reads: “That you, Ajayi Oluwabukola Temitope ‘F’ on or about 9th April, 2021, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction…

By Olumyiwa Adejobi The development of a nation in all areas is linked, and could be directly proportional to its security architecture and dynamism. In many areas, and by many scholars, security has not only been seen or perceived as absence of war but also the general well-being of the citizenry of that Nation, which encompasses the principles and concept of ‘The New Security Agenda.’ The components of the new security agenda include human security, environmental security, economic security, and political security, each of which is interconnected and collectively contributes to a country’s overall resilience and stability. In the global…

Justice A.A Isiaka of the Kaduna State High court, Kaduna has convicted and sentenced three persons into various jail terms for internet- related fraud. The convicts are, Ogochukwu Mitchel Emmanuel Ijeh, Mohammed Kabir Bello and Sunday Simon (a.k.a Ryan Eggold). They were jailed after pleading guilty to one-count separate charges upon their arraignment by the Kaduna State Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The charge against ijeh reads: “that you, Ogochukwu Mitchel Emmanuel Ijeh ( a.k.a Dave Brandon) Male, sometimes in July, 2023 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court falsely presented yourself as…

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has announced a six-month extension of the payment of N25,000 and N15,000 wage award to civil servants and pensioners in the state. The Governor, who made the announcement at the commissioning of the 12.5 kilometres Challenge-Odo Ona Elewe-Apata Road, said the extension became important to allow the Federal Government conclude negotiations with the labour unions on a minimum wage. Recall that Governor Makinde introduced the wage award in October 2023 to mitigate the economic hardship being faced by civil servants and pensioners in the aftermath of the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Attackers suspected to be kidnappers have shot dead a middle-aged man named Sule Gwamnati, just as they also went away with his wife, Blessing. The assailants stormed Gwamnati’s family house in the early hours of Friday, 16 February, 2024 in the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. It was learnt that Gwamnati, who was immediately rushed to a hospital in Jos after he was shot, died a few hours after arrival. A relative of the wife, Luther Dafwang, confirmed the incident in a distress message he sent to members of the Assemblies of God Church in Jos on Friday. The…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday put smiles on the faces of pensioners in the State by presenting N3.1billion to 1,013 highly dedicated retirees who had shown great commitment to the service of the people of the State. He said the payment of N3.1billion to retirees, alongside their monthly contributions which have already been remitted into their respective Retirement Savings Accounts with the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), is a testament to the unwavering commitment of his administration to the welfare and well-being of retirees. Governor Sanwo-Olu, who spoke during the 103rd Batch Retirement Bond Certificate Presentation Ceremony held…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC), caucus in the House of Representatives, has called on President Bola Tinubu to call the state Governor Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to order over his animosity towards the late Akeredolu and against the party’s growth in the state. The lawmakers, who stated this in an open letter to Tinubu, also alleged that Aiyedatiwa has great hatred for his yet-to-be-buried late predecessor and principal, Rotimi Akeredolu. They explained that there is urgent need for Tinubu to intervene quickly so that it may not affect the party’s chances in the forthcoming 2024 governorship…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Famous Nigerian crossdresser and media personality, Denrele Edun, has opened that he is currently battling with stroke. Denrele disclosed that he suffered a stroke that affected half of his face. In a now viral interview with Channels TV, Denrele, while speaking about the most challenging chapter of his life, explained that he was very sick at the time because he had a stroke. Recounting his ordeal, he stated that the stroke left his left eye closed and caused a noticeable shift in his facial features, leading him to cover the affected side with his hairstyles. ”I had…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike One of the aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday, 17 February, 2024, governorship primary election of the party in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has quit the race. Ize-Iyamu said he had to sacrifice his ambition for the peace and unity of the party desperately requires at both state and national levels. He admitted that his decision to quit the race is painful, saying that he arrived after an exhaustive consultation with my family, friends, political associates, and supporters Eze-iyamu appealed the people of the state to accept his decision which, according to him, is very personal,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike As a result of the economic hardship in the country, the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has declared a two-day nationwide mass protest for February 27 and 28. The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, disclosed this on Friday, 16 February, 2024 during a press conference at the Labour House in Abuja. Ajaero explained that the decision to go on a protest was taken after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum earlier issued to the federal government over the nationwide hardship. Last week, both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) issued a two-week…

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Abuja Zonal Command, on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, arrested 26 suspected internet fraudsters. They were arrested at Kurudu, Jahi, Kubwa, and Gwarimpa areas of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja following credible information on their suspected involvement in internet-related offences. Items recovered from the suspects include a Toyota Tacoma, a CLS Mercedes 450 and three Lexus cars, in addition to 40 phones and seven laptops. They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Operatives of the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested a banker, Soberechukwu Inya Ewa and a Point of Sales (POS), cashier, Azubuike Mamwu Obasi for allegedly selling new naira notes to customers for commercial purposes. The suspects were arrested in the early hours of Friday, February 15, 2024, at Ecobank, Rumuobiakani and Maddox Night Club, new Government Reservation Area, GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Preliminary investigation showed that Ewa, a banker, allegedly specialises in selling new naira notes of different denominations to POS cashiers for commercial purposes while Obasi was caught engaging…

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has called on members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) to resist being used as accomplices by illegal miners across the country. He gave the charge in Ilorin, Kwara State on Thursday, 15 February, 2024 at a meeting with the executive members of the two transport unions at the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC. Olukoyede, who spoke through the Ilorin Zonal Commander, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Mchael Nzekwe noted that the meeting became necessary in order to sensitise members of the unions against fouling…

Two players with ties to Nigeria are among seven players with ties to Africa will represent the continent in Indianapolis when the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend gets underway this weekend on ESPN and Canal+ in Africa. The five others have two with ties to Democratic Republic of Congo; and one each having ties to Mali, Senegal and Central Africa Republic. The NBA All-Star Game returns to the East vs. West format and will see Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greek); ties to Nigeria) captain the East in his eighth All-Star appearance, with LeBron James leading the West in his record-breaking 20th NBA All-Star…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo has ordered the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF) to re-open investigation and prosecution of those who murdered the founder of Newswatch Magazine, Dele Giwa, in 1986. Dele Giwa was murdered on October 19, 1986 in his Lagos office through a letter bomb. Delivering judgment on Friday, 16 February, 2024 in a suit against the AGF, Justice Ekwo held the Chief Law Officer of the Federation is under obligation to prosecute and penalize killers of media practitioners in the country.…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Three days after the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, placed a N20 million bounty on the most wanted suspected kidnapper Dahiru Adamu and one Abu Ibrahim, the FCT Police Command has confirmed the arrest of the former. The two terrorists are said to be causing mayhem in the nation’s capital, kidnapping and killing unsuspecting citizens. The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the arrest of Adamu on Friday,16 February, 2024. According to Adeh, the suspect was arrested when operatives of the Command raided two kidnappers’ camps bordering Nasarawa and the FCT, via…

Tuesday, 6 February, 2024 was yet another glorious day for the Olu Araromi Eleranigbe monarch, Oba (Dr) Abdulhammed Adejoro Ajijola as he was presented with an award of recognition by the Lagos State branch of the Estate Rent & Commission Agents Association of Nigeria (ERCAAN). The award was presented by the association chairman, Hon. Bisi Ogunneye at a modest but colourful ceremony held at the monarch’s residence in Ogudu GRA, Lagos. Hon. Ogunneye noted that Oba Ajijola was being recognized for his diligence, commitment and contributions to the growth and development of Araromi kingdom. Indeed, the monarch has been the…