Author: Adetutu Audu

President Tinubu departed Abuja Monday, 19 August, 2024, for Paris, using the new Airbus A330, which replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) bought under the Presidency of President Olusegun Obasanjo. This was made known via a press statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy released in Abuja on Monday, 19 August, 2024. “The new plane, bought far below the market price, saves Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly,” the statement said. The statement explained further that, “the recommendation to replace the B737-700 (BBJ) followed an investigative hearing by Nigeria’s…

A chieftain of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister Abayomi Tijani is dead, thegazellenews.com reports. This medium learnt that the late lawyer died late Friday, 16 August, 2024. Thegazellenews.com learnt further that the late politician was sick for a brief period but has regained full fitness. “He was sick but has gotten over it, so it was a shocking surprise for me when I learnt of his death yesterday (Friday). I’m still in shock,” a very close friend and associate of the late lawyer told thegazellenews.com on Saturday, 17 August, 2024. A lawyer, an avowed…

Today would have been Herbert’s 58th birthday, and we would have shared a laugh together. The pain of his loss is still so raw, but today, I choose to remember the man who was more than a brother and friend to me. Herbert’s wisdom, vision, and unwavering belief in Nigeria remain etched in our hearts. We miss you deeply, my brother. He was not just a leader; he was a beacon of hope and a visionary inspiring many. We honor his legacy of progress, integrity, and love for our country. As we remember Herbert today, let us celebrate the incredible…

A 22-year-old content creator, Munachimso Brian Nwana, has achieved the world record for the most fast food restaurants visited in 24 hours. Brian visited 150 different establishments, smashing the previous record of 100, which was set last year by American YouTuber Airrack. Before that, the record had belonged to TikTok stars: Nick DiGiovanni and the late Lynn “Lynja” Davis. No forms of private transport can be used while attempting this record, and due to the city’s limited public transportation infrastructure, Brian completed his entire route on foot. He walked over 25 km beginning in the residential district of Gwarinpa and finishing in the…

Former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili, has said that the House of Representatives should get ready to prosecute her whenever they pass their ‘obnoxious’ Counter Subversion Bill. There are reports that the Lower Chamber has introduced the Counter Subversion Bill 2024, which aims to impose stringent penalties on Nigerians who fail to recite the national anthem. According to the proposed legislation, anyone found guilty of refusing to recite the national anthem shall be fined N5 million, face a 10-year prison sentence, or both. The bill also proposes that anyone who destroys a national symbol or a place of worship shall be…

Pastor Kayode Pitan has been appointed as the new pastor of the City of David Parish, Lagos of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. He takes over from Pastor Charles Kpandei, who has been serving as the interim pastor since the suspension of Pastor Idowu Iluyomade. Pitan’s appointment followed the suspension of Iluyomade due to certain allegations. Kpandei has been leading the parish since June, following Iluyomade’s suspension, but Pitan has now been officially designated as the incumbent pastor of the City of David. The decision was said to have taken by the governing council of the church during the…

The United Kingdom has recorded a significant drop in visa applications following the introduction of stricter immigration policies in December 2023 to restrict international students from bringing their dependents. Official figures released by the Home Office at the weekend showed that the number of visa applications fell from 141,000 to 91,000, a stunning drop, translating to over 30 per cent. The new law restricts international students from bringing dependants unless they were enrolled in postgraduate research courses or government-funded scholarship programmes. The changes were part of the government’s efforts to curb immigration, which reached a record high of 1.22 million…

Susan Wojcicki, a Silicon Valley visionary who helped shape Google and YouTube, died Friday after a two-year battle with non-small cell lung cancer, according to her husband. She was 56. “Susan was not just my best friend and partner in life, but a brilliant mind, a loving mother, and a dear friend to many,” her husband, Dennis Troper, wrote in a Facebook post. “Her impact on our family and the world was immeasurable.” Wojcicki, born in Santa Clara, Calif., grew up on Stanford University’s campus, where her father was a physicist. There, she developed a passion for innovation and making…

The terrifying videos were not from Hollywood movies but scenes from Northern Nigeria during the #EndBadGovernance protest. The so-called protesters invaded a Government House, vandalised public facilities, looted an ICT training centre, carted away a Police station signpost, invaded banks, destroyed a mosque, hijacked a Personnel Armour Carrier, flew foreign flags, sought foreign intervention, and chanted “Yara Me Kuke so; Wiwi Mukeso!” in Hausa. The latter means, “Children, what do you want? Cannabis (marijuana) is what we want!” The ‘protest’ in the North is akin to a coup targeted at Arewa leaders. As a Northerner, I feel ashamed to be…

Barring any last-minute change, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun of the Supreme Court is set to emerge as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). If she assumes the office, Kekere-Ekun would become the second female justice in Nigeria to hold the exalted position after Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, who was CJN between July 2012 and November 2014, spending 28 months in office. The current occupant of the office, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who assumed office on June 27, 2022, will formally bow out on Thursday, August 22, 2024, after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years. As the most senior justice of…

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) condemns, in very strong terms, the serial attacks on journalists covering the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest, describing the act as undemocratic and repressive. GOCOP notes that journalists are partners in national development as well as critical stakeholders in the advancement of democracy and civil liberties and therefore deserve to be protected, and not suppressed as the security agents tried to do during the protest. The body of online publishers specifically calls on relevant authorities in Nigeria, especially security agencies, to see journalists as partners and voices of the voiceless rather than treat them as…

Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN) won the coveted Best Exhibitor award at the 2024 Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) held in Lagos August 5 – 7, in addition to seven trophies won by employees. The Shell exhibition combined educative posters with learning sessions for engineering students as well as free medical services where hundreds of conference participants received check-up and drugs. SPE International President Terry Palisch, and Chairman of the Nigeria Council Salahudeen Tahir who jointly presented the award described Shell as a leading light in the oil and gas industry, providing…

A former member of the House of Representatives, Wole Diya is dead reports thegazellenews.com. Diya, a two-term representative of Somolu Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber, thegazellenews.com learnt, died early Friday, 9 August, 2024. Diya, a younger brother to former Chief of Defence Staff, Late General Oladipo Diya, was also a two-term member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Somolu State Constituency I. The younger Diya, in his early 60s died a few days to his birthday which is expected to come up on Tuesday, 20 August, 2024.

Three domestic staff are currently telling the police all they know about the gruesome murder of Aribemchukw FCu, daughter of Soboma and Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia. She had been found dead under suspicious circumstancesoutside the gate of their Parkview, Lagos home on Wednesday, 31 July, 2024. Gathered that some newly employed domestic staff, who had been with the family for less than a month, are suspected to have staged the scene to make it appear as though Aribemchukwu was outside the house when the incident occurred. Evidence suggests an attempt to clean up blood inside the house and within the compound,…

Pavel Durov, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Telegram Messenger app, has narrated how he had 100 biological children around the world despite being unmarried. The 39-year-old entrepreneur made this known through his popular channel on Monday evening, 29 July, 2024. He said his preference is to remain single and alone. However, he disclosed that 15 years ago, his friend approached him to donate his sperm in a clinic, which he agreed to. This resulted in him helping over 12 families all over the world have kids. He described his sperm as “high-quality donor material”. He said, “I was just…

Late Onyeka Onwenu has given instructions on she should be buried two years ahead of her death, reports thegazellenews.com This medium learnt that the instructions were given during her 70th birthday in January 2022. According to the reports, she instructed her family members to bury her “quickly, quietly, and privately” when she eventually breathed her last. According to her: “I have told my family how I want to be buried. Do it quickly, quietly, and privately. Celebrate me with prayers, lunch or dinner afterward. Share some jokes about me and laugh. Mourn, but not excessively. Make merriment and then go…

Onyeka Onwenu, known as the ‘Elegant Stallion,’ has passed away. The iconic “One Love” singer collapsed and died at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after performing at a private event. She was aged 72. Sources close to the family reveal that Onwenu was attending a friend’s birthday party when she took to the stage. After her performance, she returned to her seat and suddenly collapsed. Emergency services swiftly transported her to the hospital in Victoria Island, where she was later pronounced dead. The cause of death remains unconfirmed. A family source speaking anonymouslystated: “It is very sad. Onyeka Onwenu just…

The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has debunked some online reports linking the ongoing subscriber line barring exercise, with the planned national protest. The group in a statement signed by its Chairman, Engr Gbenga Adebayo; and Secretary, Gbolahan Awosanya said there is no connection between the two. According to the statement, the ongoing harmonisation of the NIN/SIM link registration which deadline has earlier been set for 31st July, 2024, is responsible. The statement therefore gave full details of how subscribers with blocked lines can have their lines unbarred. “The fact of the matter is that the harmonization…

Nigerian Senator from Anambra South and All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, is dead. It was gathered that Ubah died in a hotel in London, the United Kingdom, early Saturday, 27 July, 2024. He had left for London two days ago. His death was also confirmed on a group chat of senators who had started to pour in tributes. Senator Ubah was elected on the platform of the Young People’s Party (YPP) but later defected to the APC.

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has died. His passing was confirmed in a statement on Thursday, 25 July, 2024, by Jide Iwuanyanwu, son of the late Chief Emmanuel. According to the statement, the 82-year-old Iwuanyanwu died on Thursday, 25 July, 2024, after a brief illness. “The Iwuanyanwu family of Umuohii Atta, in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State announces the demise of our patriarch, Engr Chief Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu-Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo,” the statement read. “Chief Iwuanyanwu died on Thursday July 25, 2024 after a brief illness. He was aged 82. Chief Iwuanyanwu before his death was…