Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

The arraignment of Mr Saleh Mamman, former Minister of Power under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, was, on Thursday, 11 July, 2024 failed to hold after he collapsed outside the courtroom of the Federal High Court, Abuja presided over by Justice James Omotosho. Mamman, whose plea was fixed for the morning of Thursday, 11 July, 2024 collapsed before the case was called. The former Minister’s counsel, Femi Ate, SAN, told Justice Omotosho shortly when the matter was called for Mamman to take his plea. Upon resumed hearing, the ex-minister walked into the courtroom and stepped into the dock with part of his…

The Federal Government has announced a N1 million bounty on one Magnus Okpalannadi, who allegedly defiled his three-year-old daughter. The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, announced this through a statement issued on Wednesday, 10 July, 2024 by the ministry spokesperson, Grace Njoku. The Minister stated that she received a report that 62-year-old Okpalannadi, a resident of Onitsha, Anambra State, was alleged to have been sexually molesting his under-aged daughter. The suspect, however, disappeared before he could be apprehended. Kennedy-Ohanenye, who pledged the government’s resolve to protect the rights of every Nigerian child, also reiterated the government’s commitment to creating…

The Federal Government has intensified the fight against antimicrobial resistance, which is estimated to lead to a global US$ 1 trillion additional healthcare costs by 2050, and US$ 1 trillion to US$ 3.4 trillion gross domestic product (GDP) losses per year by 2030, with the launch of the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Policy for Environment Sector on Thursday, 11 July, 2024. Speaking at the Launch in Abuja, the Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako noted that a lot still needs to be done for the environment sector to come up to speed and be at par with other…

Two teenage sisters of Nigerian origin drowned while swimming at a beach in the United States of America, reports thegazellenews.com The incident, thegazellenews.com learnt, occurred on Friday, 5 July, 2024 while the two sisters were swimming at New York’s Coney Island Beach in Brooklyn. Aisha Mohammed, 18, and Zainab Mohammed, 17, both originally from Nigeria but now living in the Bronx, were reported missing on Friday night, July 5, in the area of Stillwell Avenue and Boardwalk West after they were seen entering the water and disappearing from view, the NYPD said. Police said at around 8 p.m. Friday, 5…

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Federal Ministry of Power have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to secure the Government of Nigeria’s commitment to electricity sector reforms, market transparency, liquidity, and expanding Nigerians’ access to sustainable, reliable, and affordable power, reports thegazellenews.com. The MoU was signed on Wednesday, 10 July, 2024 in Abuja. The MOU signed by USAID/Nigeria Mission Director Melissa Jones and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Power Mahmuda Mamman, will support the effective implementation of a N115.2 billion U.S. government grant-funded technical assistance programme intended to support power sector development and reforms in Nigeria.…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice, has affirmed that the Togolese Republic violated the right to work of Abiguime Maguiliwè and 52 Others. The Applicants have claimed that the Republic of Togo violated their right to work, freedom of association, and right not to be subject to arbitrary detention. Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves, the judge Rapporteur who delivered the judgment, said that the Court dismissed the allegations regarding the right to freedom of association. The Court also declared no violation of the right to strike and the right not to be arbitrarily detained. However,…

The Community Court of Justice,( ECOWAS), has ruled that Nigeria violated the human rights of Obianuju Catherine Udeh and two others. The Court found Nigeria in breach of Articles 1, 4, 6, 9, 10, and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, specifically pertaining to the right to life, security of person, freedom of expression, assembly and association, prohibition of torture, duty of the state to investigate, and the right to effective remedy. The Applicants, Obianuju Catherine Udeh, Perpetual Kamsi and Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka alleged that these violations have occurred during the peaceful protests at the Lekki Toll…

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has apprehended a lady identified as Precious Yusuf who attempted to smuggle substances suspected to be psychoactive drugs into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje In statement issued on Wednesday, 10 July, 20234 by the Public Relations Officer, FCT Command of NCoS, Adamu Duza, a Deputy Superintendent of Corrections, said the incident occurred on Tuesday,9 July, 2024 when the said lady came in the guise of a visitor to one of the inmates. He added that during the usual routine search by personnel on duty, items suspected to be cannabis sativa as well as other…

This is indeed good news for the third tier government, the local government in Nigeria as the Supreme Court has ordered all state governors to henceforth steer clear of the funds meant for the 774 local government areas of the country. The Apex Court on Thursday, 11 July, 2024 ruled that the control of local government areas funds by states is unconstitutional. In the suit, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, sought full autonomy and direct fund allocation to the 774 local governments in the country. Fagbemi prayed the Supreme Court to invoke sections 1,…

The President of the Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT), Alhaji Ayodeji AbdulWahid AbdulRauf, has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Britain’s newly elected Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. ]In his congratulatory message, Alhaji AbdulRauf emphasized the importance of fostering collaboration between NASFAT and the UK government to promote religious tolerance, social impact projects, and leadership training opportunities across NASFAT locations in the UK. Alhaji AbdulRauf highlighted the significant presence of NASFAT in various UK cities, including Dartford, Millwall, Thamesmead, Woolwich, Barking & Dagenham, Grays Thurrock, Milton Keynes, Manchester, and Newcastle. He expressed NASFAT’s readiness to work closely with the new administration to enhance community…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike In an effort to enhance human resource management, particularly on staff motivation and welfare, for efficiency and effectiveness in the achievement of organizational goals, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has approved the promotion of 5,042 personnel. The promotional exercise saw two senior officers elevated to the rank of Deputy Commander General of Narcotics, DCGN; 22 as Assistant Commander General of Narcotics, ACGN, and 66 as Commander of Narcotics, CN. The promotion followed weeks of examination and interviews conducted for qualified candidates. The NDLEA’s Director of Media…

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, has been queried by the House of Representatives for allegedly spending unrelated expenditures, including N45 million for a new year party, N20 million for sanitary pads. The Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs, Rep Kafilat Ogbara, led the interrogation of the Minister, over the non-payment of N1.5 billion to contractors in spite of the fund release in Abuja. According to Ogbara, the investigative hearing was aimed at uncovering the truth and not witch-hunting the Minister and the officials of the ministry. The committee also investigated the alleged diversion of funds meant for contractor’s…

Operatives of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested 80- yr- old man serial rapist named Pa. Stephen for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old pupil at Otuokpoti Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state. According to reports filed by some gender advocacy groups in the state, the man was fingered by indigenes of the community as a serial paedophile and sick with advanced piles and hernia. The gender advocacy groups, when alerted about the incident stormed the Otuokpoti community and ensured that the culprit was reported to the divisional police headquarters. The foster mother of the victim told newsmen…

In a significant move to enhance educational resources and promote free access to knowledge, the Yoruba Wikimedians User Group and Wikimedia User Group Nigeria have jointly donated educational audiovisual materials to Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba (AAUA). The donation is part of the group’s ongoing efforts to support education through high-quality, freely accessible audiovisual content. These materials are expected to serve as valuable teaching aids, enriching the learning experience for AAUA students. The materials were received on behalf of the university by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Professor Felix Akinwunmi; the Registrar of the University, Mr. Raphael Arajulu; and the Director of…

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has emphasized that bureaucratic bootleneck stalled the reconstruction of the Lagos-Sango-Abeokuta Expressway. Abiodun also assured that the Agbara-Lusada-Atan road currently under construction would be completed in September. Speaking in an interview after inspecting the 20-kilometer Agbara -Lusada-Atan road in the Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area on Wednesday, Governor Abiodun emphasized the importance of the roads not only to the economic wellbeing of the State, but that of the nation. While recalling the efforts by Ogun and Lagos state governments to take over and reconstruct the Lagos-Sango Abeokuta Expressway, Abiodun said he and his Lagos…

All things being equal, President Bola Tinubu will meet with the leaders of the Organised Labour on Thursday, 11 July, 2024. Tinubu will meet with labour leaders at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to further discuss the new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers. The meeting, said to be at the instance of the President, will have the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, in attendance, Channels Television reports. Recall that the federal government and organized labour have been at loggerheads over the implementation of a new minimum wage for workers. While labour is demanding N250,00, the…

Canadian music legend, Drake has lost the $300,000 bet he placed on his country to defeat Argentina in the Copa America semifinal Played in the early hours of Wednesday, 10 July, 2024. Drake was expecting an estimated payout of $2,880,000.00 if Canada had gone through but they lost 2-0 to the reigning world champions at New York’s MetLife Stadium on Tuesday night. Goals by mercurial Lionel Messi and Manchester City’s Julián Álvarez ensured that the South Americans sailed through to the final of the football showpiece.Earlier on the afternoon of Tuesday, 9July, 2024, while sharing his bet slip on Instagram,…

The President of CONMEBOL, Alejandro Domínguez, has confirmed that Colombian pop star, Shakira will to perform at the 2024 Copa America final. Dominquez confirmed that the ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ crooner will perform during the halftime of the showpiece final at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Sunday, July 14.through a statement issued on Tuesday, 9 July, 2024. “Shakira is an extraordinary South American star who has dazzled the entire world. We are sure that her performance at the Copa América USA 2024 will enhance the message of healthy passion and unity through sport,” CONMEBOL boss said in the…

A 65-year-old cleric named Francis Ogu, was on Wednesday, 10 July, 2024 docked in the Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Offences Court in Awka, Anambra State capital for allegedly defiling his 10-year-old domestic worker. The police charged Ogu, who resides at Umuike village in Awka, with defilement. The Prosecution Counsel, Insp Chinyere Okechukwu, told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 27 at his residence. Okechukwu, who alleged that the accused sexually exploited the minor, said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 35(2) of the Child Right Law of Anambra State, 2004. The accused, however, pleaded…

By Mark Longyen Plateau State has been thrown into political panic mode following a subterranean move by Plateau South Senatorial District’s constituents to recall former Gov Simon Lalong, APC-Plateau South; from the Senate. Also penciled for recall by the aggrieved constituents are Lalong’s former Chief of Staff, John Dafaan, APC-Shendam, Quaan-Pan, Mikang; and Vincent Venman, APC-Langtang North/South Federal Constituencies. Impeccable sources disclosed that within the past week, over 500,000 constituents had already appended their signatures to initiate the recall of the trio from the National Assembly. It was learned that about a fortnight ago, the forms for the recall of…