Author: Soffiyyah Olamide

President Bola Tinubu has stated that bilateral partnerships must be mutually beneficial, transformative, and must translate into real gains for ordinary citizens. Speaking at the Nigeria-Netherlands Business and Investment Forum in The Hague, on Thursday, 25 April, 2024, President Tinubu emphasized the pivotal role of stronger ties between Nigeria and the Netherlands, saying both countries must explore more creative channels of collaboration, whether it is through partnerships, joint ventures, or strategic alliances in order to build bridges that connect markets and facilitate the flow of goods, services, ideas and peoples. He said his administration is enhancing the business environment in…

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has appointed Mr. Tunde Onakoya, the National Master of Chess and the current Guinness World Record Holder for the longest Chess Marathon in history, the Sports Ambassador of the State. Governor Abiodun, who made this known on Thursday, 25 April, 2024, when he received Mr. Onakoya in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, also announced the commencement of the State Chess Competition to be held in all parts of the state in honour of Mr. Onakoya. Abiodun, who was impressed with the achievement of the National Chess Master at the global stage, said this could…

The Second Prosecution Witness, 2PW, Hamza Abdullahi in the trial-within-trial of former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Bafarawa and four others, on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, told Justice Y. Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, that a sum of N4.633billion was traced to the account of Dalhatu Investment Limited where Bafarawa’s son, Sagir Attahiru Bafarawa and one other, simply identified as Nasir, were directors, with the former being the sole signatory to the company’s bank account. Abdullahi stated that in 2015, he was the second-in-command of Special Task Force, Fraud Investigation on Arms, Defence Equipment Procurement in the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, on the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Senator who represented Enugu North Senatorial District and former Senate Committee Chairman on Information and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze is dead. It was gathered that Eze who was in the National Assembly between 2007 and 2015 died on Thursday, 25 April, 2024 in an Abuja hospital at the age of 66 after suffering from an undisclosed illness. For the 8 years he spent in the Senate, Eze was a member of the Constitution Drafting and Amendment Committee that made some novel changes to Nigeria’s 1999 constitution. After his reelection to the Senate in 2011, he was…

The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, April 22, 2024 arraigned two Chinese: Duan Ya Hong and Xiao Yi alongside their company, Ebuy Concept Limited before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin over alleged illegal mining activities. Specifically, the defendants were arraigned on one-count bordering on possession of solid minerals without licence and non-payment of royalties to the Federal Government as required by law. The charge reads: “That you, Ebuy Trading Worldwide Nig.LTD, Duan Ya Hong, Xiao Yi sometime in the Month of February 2024 at Banni, in Kaiama Local Government Area…

Operatives of the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested seven suspected internet fraudsters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. They were arrested following actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in internet-related offences. Items recovered from them include different brands of mobile devices, laptops, two cars and several incriminating documents in their possession. They will soon be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Prosecution Witness Eight, (PW8), Hamma Adama Bello in the trial of former Head of Service (HoS), Winifred Oyo-Ita on Thursday, 25 April, 2024 narrated before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, how the defendant and her subordinates allegedly diverted public funds into their private companies. Oyo-Ita, the first defendant is facing criminal prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside her special assistants: Ugbong Okon Effiok, seventh defendant; Garba Umar, fourth defendant; and six companies: Frontline Ace Global Services Limited, Asanaya Projects Limited, Slopes International Limited, U and U Global Services Ltd, Prince Mega Logistics Ltd and Good Deal Investments on 18-count charges bordering on misappropriation, official corruption, money laundering and criminal diversion of…

A Federal High sitting in Apo, Abuja has ordered the arrest of former Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Professor Ladi Aisha Hamalai for her failure to appear in the corruption case preferred against her by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The Court presided over by Hon. Justice C. O. Oba issued the bench warrant on Monday, 22nd of April, 2024 for the arrest of the Professor following her repeated failure to show up in the court. The ICPC Counsel had informed the court that this is the fourth consecutive…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Tanzanian Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa on Thursday, 25 April, 2024 disclosed that at least 155 people have died as torrential rains linked to El Nino triggered flooding and landslides. Tanzania and other countries in East Africa – a region highly vulnerable to climate change – have been pounded by heavier than usual rainfall during the current rainy season, with dozens of deaths also reported in Kenya. According to Majaliwa, more than 51,000 households and 200,000 people have been affected by the rains, with 155 fatalities and 236 people injured. “The heavy El Nino rains, accompanied by strong…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A four-year-old boy, Miguel Ovoke, a pupil of BrickHall Schools in Abuja, has died under controversial circumstances. According to Punch online medium, the pupil died during the school’s feeding hours, but was rushed from his school located in Cadastral Zone B11, Kaura in Abuja on Wednesday, 24 April, 2024, to Excel Specialist Hospital, in the nation’s capital. The death certificate dated Wednesday, 24 April, 2024, issued by Excel Specialist Hospital, Abuja, revealed that the four-year-old boy passed away, after he was brought in by his teachers around 11 am in an unconscious state. Ovoke was taken to…

Canadian oil and gas company Sintana Energy has signed a definitive agreement with Namibian firm Crown Energy for the acquisition of 67% of the issued and outstanding shares of Giraffe Energy Investments – owner of a 33% share in PEL 79 in Namibia’s Orange Basin. An 8% interest in Giraffe’s common equity is also set to be contributed towards a community trust, with the contribution facilitated by the Knowledge Katti Foundation.Representing the voice of the African energy sector, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) is encouraged to see yet another transaction within Namibia’s Orange Basin, and believes this to be a…

In support of President Biden’s Digital Transformation with Africa Initiative and building on the U.S. Department of Commerce-wide Africa strategy, NBA Africa, on Wednesday, 24 April, 2024, announced the launch of “Triple-Double: NBA Africa Startup Accelerator,” a startup accelerator based on the continent focused on early-stage African startup companies.Triple-Double: NBA Africa Startup Accelerator will support Africa’s tech ecosystem and the next generation of African tech entrepreneurs by providing them with access to mentorship and capital that will help drive growth in the sports and creative industries.Operated by ALX Ventures, a leading technology incubator that provides the continent’s tech leaders with…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike In the early hours of Thursday, 25 April, 2024, the E54 Bridge of Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal One suffered a fire outbreak. Smoke was detected billowing from the E54 Bridge, leading electrical engineers to immediately cut off power to the airport’s E Wing. The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Federal Airports Authority, FAAN, Mrs Obiageli Orah, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday, 25 April, 2024. According to Director, the fire was brought under control at 06:41 am, all flight operations in Terminal 1 of MMA have been diverted to the D…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike At least119 inmates have escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Suleja, in Niger State after a rainstorm wreaked havoc on a part of the facility late on Wednesday, 24 April, 2024  The Deputy Superintendent of Corrections Command Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, AS Duza, confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday, 25 April, 2024, “A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on the night of Wednesday, 24 April 2024 has wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Suleja, Niger State, as well as surrounding buildings, destroying a part of the custodial facility, including…

Energy Invest: Namibia 2023 – the official investment report on Namibia’s oil, natural gas, power, mining and renewable energy sectors – was relaunched at the Namibian International Energy Conference on Wednesday, in the presence of Namibia’s leading energy authorities, regulators and companies. Endorsed by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and produced by Energy Capital & Power (ECP), the publication serves as the official publication on Namibia’s burgeoning energy sector, tracking its evolution into one of the most dynamic energy hotspots globally. Since the launch of the report at African Energy Week last October, Namibia has produced two more offshore discoveries…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Definitely this is not the best of times for the embattled National Chairman of All progressive Congress (APC) Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, as scores of demonstrators on Thursday, 25 April 2024, stormed the national secretariat of the party in Abuja to demand his resignation from office. The latest development followed his recent suspension by a faction of his ward executives and the alleged bribery allegation levelled against him by the Kano State government. Chanting solidarity songs and displaying several banners that read, “Ganduje must resign” and “Return the APC chairmanship to North Central,” the protesters appealed to President Bola Tinubu…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A mother and her child and one other person were reportedly electrocuted at Mowe Market in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. The incident, it was gathered happened on Monday, 22 April, 2024 following the restoration of power after Sunday, 21 April, 2024, downpour. The Chairman of the Local Government, Ambassador Adesina Ogunsola, during his visit to the market on Wednesday, 24 April, 2024, gave a seven-day notice to all the traders with shops and stalls under the high-tension powerline to vacate to forestall the recurrence of the tragic incident. An eyewitness said that the electric shock…

Africa Investment Advisor for Lusophone Africa and Pan-African Transactions at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Jacob Flewelling is set to engage financiers and government delegates in investment advisory and business development during this year’s Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2024 conference and exhibition. In collaboration with the private sector, the DFC has invested more than $10 billion across sub-Saharan Africa. During the event – taking place October 2-3 in Luanda under the theme Driving Exploration and Development Towards Increased Production in Angola – Flewelling is expected to provide insight into the DFC’s project pipeline. AOG is the largest oil and…

The ECOWAS Court of Justice (CCJ) and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) have pledged to strengthen jurisprudence on the continent through regular peer review mechanisms. The two judicial institutions made this known during a peer review meeting of their officials when a delegation from the AfCHPR headquarters in Tanzania visited the CCJ headquarters on Monday, 22 April, 2024, in Abuja. The CCJ Chief Registrar, Dr Yaouza Ouro-Sama, who welcomed the delegation on behalf of the court’s President, Justice Edward Asante, said the meeting was crucial and an opportunity for sharing experiences between both sides. Ousa while…

In furtherance of efforts to sanitise the mining sector, the federal government has revoked 924 dormant licenses spanning exploration, mining, small-scale mining, and quarrying Licenses Making the announcement on Wednesday, 24 April, 2024, at a press conference, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake declared that in line with constitutional provisions, adequate notice was given to all concerned parties through the official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, No. 227, which was published on December 27, 2023. “The notice gave all concerned parties 30 days to regularise their status, including clarifications on what caused the license to…