Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

Troops of operation Fansan Yamma have destroyed 22 camps of Lakurawa and killed several of them in Sokoto State, just as they also recovered weapons and ammunition during the operations. The acting General Commanding Officer, 8 Division and Commander Sector 2, Operation FASAN YAMMA, Brigadier General Ibikunle Ajose, made this disclosure while addressing the Special Brigade deployed to crush Lakurawa in Sokoto and Kebbi states by the Chief of Defence Staff on Friday, 13 December, 2024. “Prior to the deployment of the Brigade, troops of 8 Division under the auspices of Operation FANSAN YAMMA had begun precursor and shaping operations into…

Ogun State First lady, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, has stated that the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law is already yielding results in the state. According to her, the law has given survivors of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) a voice, empowered communities to stand against perpetrators, and ensured that offenders face the full weight of the law. Mrs Abiodun spoke while inaugurating a new Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) an Ogun State Government initiative through the Ogun state Economic Transformation Project sponsored by the World Bank in Ijebu-Ode. The governor’s wife said most cases of sexual assault on survivors were perpetrated…

The Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Oododo, has approved the payment of December salaries for the state civil servants and pensioners. The state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, 14 December, 2024, said “the payment of December Salary on the 14th of December is to enable civil servants plan and enjoy their Christmas and New Year holidays after working so hard throughout the year.” Fanwo added that, “with this gracious approval by Governor Usman Ododo, civil servants who would want to travel for their holidays could also plan ahead without having to wait for salaries…

Corporal Juliet Chukwu of the Nigeria Police Force has made the country proud by winning the Bantamweight Championship title at the prestigious Extreme Fighting Championship in Johannesburg, South Africa. The championship, which featured top fighters from around the world, saw Chukwu deliver a stunning performance, showcasing exceptional skill, discipline, and determination. The Force Public relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the development through a statement issued on Friday, 14 December, 2024, said the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, congratulated Chukwu on her achievement, describing it as a reflection of the Force’s commitment to excellence not only in policing but also in sports. “This…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Friday, 13 December, 2024 announced that it will slam a fine of N150 million per branch on Deposit Money Banks found guilty of facilitating the illegal flow of mint naira notes to currency hawkers and unscrupulous agents. The Apex Bank made this disclosure s in a circular issued on Friday, 13 December, 2024, signed by the Acting Director of the Currency Operations Department, Mohammed Olayemi. According to the statement, the CBN is concerned about the increasing prevalence of mint naira notes being traded by hawkers, a practice the bank described as impeding efficient and effective…

Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command on Saturday, 14 December, 2024 arrested a truck driver, Olalere Timileyin and his motor boy at Obada Oko, Abeokuta, the state capital, over the death of a man said to have been assaulted for allegedly stealing a tarpaulin. The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, spokesperson for the state police command, SP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the arrest of the duo in a statement made available to journalists on Saturday, 14 December, 2024. According to Odutola , one Alao Fadipe of Iyana Ikereku at about 3 am on Friday, 13 December, 2024 reported to the police…

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abdullahi Ganduje, has said the party’s target is to capture Rivers State in 2027. Ganduje stated this while inaugurating the newly elected executive committee of the party in the state, led by Chief Tony Okocha in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Saturday, 14 December, 2024. According to him, though the South-South geo-political zone is largely controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party, the APC is making inroads in the zone, with Cross River and Edo states already taken by the ruling party. While congratulating the newly elected state executive members, Ganduje said,…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commented on a report being circulated on social media about the purported death of Mahmood Yakubu, its National Chairman, thegazellenews.com reports. The Commission, through a statement signed by Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, described the report as fake news. Recall that reports claiming that Yakubu died in a London hospital have been making the rounds in the social media. The story first appeared on Monday, 9 December, 2024. “We hereby appeal to the public to disregard the rumour. Prof. Yakubu is alive, hale and hearty. In fact, he has…

The Kano State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured the conviction of 12 drug peddlers in the state. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Sadiq Maigatari, who made this disclosure in a statement issued on Saturday, 14 December, 2024 in Kano said the conviction was a significant milestone in the agency’s relentless fight against drug-related offenses under the leadership of the state Commander, Abubakar Ahmad. Maigatari added that the agency secured multiple convictions in one day, demonstrating its unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law and maintaining a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption. According to him,…

A 60-year-old air conditioning and refrigerator repairer, simply named Najeem, has been reported dead while working at a residence in Ifo local government area of Ogun State. Najeem, who was climbing a ladder, lost his balance, fell and smashed his head on the concrete floor. Confirming the said incident to an online medium on Saturday,14 December, 2024 the Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer,  Omolola Odutola, said the A/C repairer, who came from Lagos, bled profusely and died immediately. According to Odutola, the occupant of the house, Abraham Popoola, had reported the incident to the command at about 9 pm…

Famous Nigerian singer, Terry Apala, has credited his colleague, Wizkid, for the progress of his career. Apala, who made this disclosure during a recent interview with Pulse, said Wizkid changed his career by giving him a verse on the remix of his song ‘Apala Disco.’ According to him, Wizkid’s appearance on the song saved him millions of naira he would have spent on promotion. “It wasn’t my doing. Wizkid just decided to help me, seeing that I’ve been struggling in the music industry for long. He changed my entire career with just one verse. “It’s more like a shortcut. It’s…

Fire gutted the Caring Heart Market in Okitipupa, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, on the night of Thursday, 12 December, 2024, destroying goods worth millions of naira. Although the cause of the fire which started on the night of Thursday, 12 December, 2024 cannot yet be ascertained, it was gathered that the incident affected about 18 shops. No life was lost to the incident. Preliminary investigations suggest the possibility of a fault in the electric spark in one of the shops. A block of 18 locked-up shops, stocked with frozen foods including fish, turkey and chicken, were said…

The Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite on Friday, 13 December, 2024 granted the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum. This was after the former governor had pleaded not guilty to the 19-count charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) He is facing an alleged money laundering trial to the tune of N80bn but pleaded not guilty to all the charges. When the case was called for hearing on Friday, 13 December, 2024 Counsel for the EFCC,…

The trial of four bloggers: Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami, charged with alleged blackmail of Guaranty Trust Holding Company and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje, was on Thursday, 12 December, 2024, adjourned to January 13 and 14, 2025. They were dragged before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Lagos by the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force. They are facing a 10 count amended charge for allegedly publishing false information about GTCO and Agbaje through various social media platforms. They had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were denied…

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority(NMDPRA), has denied issuing a directive stopping gas supply to power generating companies, GenCos, thegazellenews.com reports. The NMDPRA, in a statement on Wednesday, 11 December, 2024 also denied ordering wholesale gas suppliers to stop further supply of gas to companies due to failure in payment obligations. It described reports making the rounds that it directed the stoppage of gas supply to GenCos over N2trn debt as false and completely unfounded. According to NMDPRA, the information shared at a recent stakeholders’ engagement held in Lagos between the Authority, the OPTS, IPPG and other stakeholders…

Dangote Refinery and Neptune Oil jointly announced the first-ever export of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, from Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest oil refinery, to Cameroon. The 650,000 barrels per day refinery disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday,11 December, 2024 According to Dangote Refinery, the feat is the result of a strategic collaboration between the two companies, underscoring their commitment to strengthening economic ties between Nigeria and Cameroon while meeting the region’s growing energy demands. Reacting, Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of the Dangote Group, noted that the export of PMS to Cameroon is a tangible demonstration of the group’s vision…

The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) has maintained its bullish trend on Wednesday, 11 December, 2024 as market capitalization gained N183 billion. This comes as the NGX market capitalization, which opened at N59.532 trillion, gained N184 billion, or 0.31 per cent, to close at N59.715 trillion. The All Share Index also added 0.31 per cent, or 303 points, to settle at 98,509.68, against 98,206.97 recorded on Tuesday. To this end, the Year-To-Date (YTD) return increased to 31.74 per cent. Gains in Aradel Holdings, Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Oando Plc, Nigerian Breweries and other equities drove the market performance…

The daughter of former Delta State governor, James Ibori, and representative of Ethiope Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, has described her defection from the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as the best decision of her political career. Ibori-Suenu, who accused the PDP of attempting to stifle her political aspirations also expressed gratitude to her supporters and APC leaders for their encouragement. “We will bury PDP in Ologbo River, the bridge between Delta and Edo States. I am already at home – APC is supreme. “The people in PDP wanted to kill my…

The Chairman of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mahmood Yakubu, on Thursday, 12 December, 2024 disclosed that the Commission has identified 142 recommendations on the electoral process. The recommendations relate to the general state of preparedness, voter management, voter education and public communication, political parties and candidate management, electoral operations and logistics management. They also concern election officials and personnel, partnership and collaboration, monitoring and supervision, election technology, voting and result management, election security, electoral offences and the electoral legal framework. Yakubu spoke at a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, in Abuja on Thursday, 12…

The Edo State Assets Verification Committee, set up by the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, disclosed that it has uncovered how the contract sum for a road project in the state was inflated from N8 billion to N16 billion by the immediate past government of Godwin Obaseki. Recall that the contract sum for the 17.5-kilometer road project was inflated thrice within a year. The Sub-committee on Physical Assets and Infrastructure of the Verification Committee discovered the inflation during an inspection of the reconstruction of the Benin-Abraka Road Phase 1C. The contract was awarded to Nsik Engineering Company Limited on 16 May,…