Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

Libyan authorities have arrested six Nigerians in Tripoli, the country’s capital for alleged drug trafficking after they were found with significant quantities of cocaine intended for distribution . The arrest was made by Libya’s Stability Support Agency’s Department of Investigation, which handed over the seized narcotics to Libyan authorities for further examination. Their arrest was disclosed by Migrant Rescue Watch, a humanitarian organization, in a statement. The suspects, consisting of one male and five females, have been referred to public prosecution for legal proceedings. “Stability Support Agency—Department of Investigation dismantled a drug trafficking gang in Tripoli and arrested 6 migrants…

Former Managing Director of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria(AMCON), Ahmed Kuru, was absent in court on Monday,2 December, 2024 where he was to be arraigned on six-count charges, including stealing property worth N4.9 billion belonging to Arik Air and abuse of office. Kuru, alongside current MD of Arik Air, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, the receiver manager of Arik, Kamilu Omokide, the Union Bank plc, and a company, Super Bravo Limited, were to be arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The complainants in the matter are the…

The Osun State Government has condoled the family of Tijani Kabiru and the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, over the loss of its personnel, SC Tijani Kabiru. The state government also added that it is saddened by the unfortunate loss of Tijani, his wife and three children, in an inferno that occurred at his house in Ede, Osun State. Recall that the inferno which occurred in the early hours of Monday, 2 December, 2024 had claimed the lives of Tijani, his wife and three of his children who were sleeping in the house with one lone survivor, his thirteen-year-old son. The source…

Civil society organization has disclosed that at least 2,000 sexual and other Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases have been recorded in Nigeria in the last ten years. An official of a Civil society organisation, Ophelia Adeleye, made this disclosure in Calabar, Cross Rivers State capital as the 16-day activism on GBV continues. Adeleye, the communication officer of Stand Up Against Rape, spoke on the sidelines of a women’s event to advocate for greater inclusion of women in politics and a reduction in GBV. “There have been more than 2,000 GBV cases across the states in Nigeria in which we have intervened.…

Following the controversy trailing President Bola Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills before the two Chambers of the National Assembly, the 36 State Governors, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, his Deputy and other stakeholders in the tax industry may have thrown their weight behind the bills, saying the time for it is now. The support for the controversial came from the submission of the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule who spoke on behalf of 36 State Governors during a Town Hall conversation on the bills aired by Channels Television. At the three-hour town hall conversation on the…

The presentation of the Ogun State 2025 Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly by the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, earlier fixed for last week Friday, will now be held tomorrow, Wednesday, 4 December, 2024. The Clerk/Head of Legislative Service, Sakiru Adebakin made this disclosure in statement made available to media houses on Tuesday, 3 December, 2024. According to the statement, the budget presentation, which would be the second in the Governor’s second term, would be a twin celebration, as he would take advantage of his visit to commission the newly redesigned Assembly Complex. The redesigning process saw the…

A late night inferno has gutted some parts of popular Bayan Tasha market in Damaturu, destroying shops and goods worth millions of Naira. The cause of the fire outbreak was yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing this report It was gathered that the fire was controlled through the combined efforts of fire fighters, as well as that of good samaritans. As of the time of filing this report, no life was reported to have been lost, but unquantifiable goods and other belongings were destroyed. One of the residents of Damaturu, Mustapha Mohammed Gujba took to his…

Nigeria’s Afrobeats sensation, Rotimi, has revealed why he left American rapper, 50 Cent’s record label, G-Unit. Rotimi, who disclosed that he exited the label because the boss didn’t understand his style of music, added that afrobeats wasn’t mainstream in the Western world at the time he was signed to G-Unit. The singer, who made this disclosure while speaking in a recent interview with Adesope Live, Rotimi said, “I was signed to G-Unit, but then in 2017/2018, Afrobeats was not mainstream in the United States. Davido and Wizkid had records that were gaining traction in Boston, New York, but it wasn’t…

Rave of the moment and Nigerian singer, Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has made history by becoming the first African artiste to perform at the British Fashion Awards. Wizkid closed the 2024 British Fashion Awards ceremony with a captivating performance of his hit song, ‘Troubled Mind.’ The event, which was held at London’s most iconic venue, Royal Albert Hall, was attended by A$AP Rocky, Rihanna, Dave Chappelle, Tems and other celebrities.

Fenerbahce manager, Jose Mourinho, has showered praise on Nigerian striker David Okereke following his record -breaking feat for Gaziantep. Okereke was on target in Gaziantep’s 3-1 loss to Mourinho’s Fenerbahce at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Monday night, 2 December, 2024. The visitors took the lead after three minutes through Oguz Aydin. Okereke equalised for Gaziantep just before the break. Rodrigo Becao and Edin Dzeko scored two late goals to hand Fenerbahce maximum points in the game. “I congratulate David Okereke. He is the first player to score against all three teams that I managed. “He scored against my teams…

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has commenced the 10th season of its popular “Millionaire Promo,” a campaign designed to reward and empower customers across Nigeria. During the nationwide promotion, 20 customers will win N1 million each, while hundreds more will receive cash prizes ranging from ₦20,000 to ₦100,000. The promotion runs until September 2025, with thousands of customers expected to benefit. In the last season, FCMB awarded 2,310 customers cash prizes and 14,780 consolation prizes, totalling 17,080 winners. The Promo remains inclusive. It is open to new and existing savings account holders, with scheduled draws nationwide to ensure widespread participation…

Tragedy occurred in Olowopoku area of Ede, Osun State in the morning of Monday, 2 December, 2024 as fire incident killed six family members. The victims, it was gathered, were identified as a Customs officer, Tijani Kabiru, attached to the Oyo/Osun Command, his wife, and four children. The fire reportedly started around 2 am at the family’s residence in the Olowopoku area of Ede in the state. It was gathered that Kabiru, who was in his late 40s, was asleep alongside his wife and five children when the fire, believed to have originated from the solar panel installed on the roof…

After the country returned to the international market, Nigeria’s Eurobond achieved a milestone on Monday, 2 December, 2024 raising $2.2 billion. This comes as the country recorded a $9 billion oversubscription of its Eurobond. The bond issuance, which commenced on Monday, 2 December, 2024 under the Global Medium Term Note Programme, had a target issuance of $1.7 billion; however, it was oversubscribed. The federal government aims to use the Eurobond to take care of the country’s fiscal deficit. The federal government sold $700 million worth of the 6.5-year Eurobond maturing in 2031 at a coupon rate of 9.625 percent and…

The Edo State chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have engaged in war of words over the first flyover construction in the state. Thegazellenews,com recalls that the state governor, Monday Okpebholo, had last month flagged off the construction of the bridge at Ramat Park in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state. Recall that at a press briefing on 26 November, 2024, the chairman of the Edo State caretaker committee of PDP, Dr Anthony Aziegbemi, had alleged that the award of contract for the project violated all standard procurement procedures. According to him:…

The Ondo State Deputy governor-elect, Olayide Adelami, under the platform of Progressives Congress (APC) is presently in a happy mood as the Division of the Federal High Court in Ondo State on Monday, 2 December, 2024 dismissed a lawsuit seeking his the disqualification in the just concluded gubernatorial poll in the state. Agboola Ajayi, the candidate from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had approached the court to contest the qualification of Adelami. Ajayi, who finished as the second runner-up in the election, argued that there were inconsistencies in the names submitted by Mr. Adelami to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)…

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Tajuddeen Abbas has stated that lack of autonomy, corruption, inadequate funding, among others constitute significant challenges to the effectiveness of local governments. Abass stated this in an opening remark at the ‘National Dialogue on Local Government and Constitution Amendment’ in Abuja on Monday, 1 December, 2024. “Sadly, in spite of the noble intentions of the drafters of our constitution in instituting the local government system, it is evident that there are significant challenges that hinder their effectiveness. Issues such as inadequate funding, lack of autonomy, insufficient capacity, usurpation of its functions by other…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has vowed that the National Assembly under his stewardship will continue to create an enabling environment for investment in sustainable energy projects. Akpabio made the vow at the 8th edition of the Energy Summit organised by Solewant Group of companies in Rivers State, with the theme, “Pioneering Technology and Innovation for Transition to Sustainable Energy Development In Africa”. The Senate President, represented by the Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Osita Ngwu, said the National Assembly will do everything within its power to support local entrepreneurs driving technological advancements. “Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its history…

The kidnappers of four children, including a toddler, in Kaduna have reduced the ransom from N300 million to N25 million. Recall that the children went missing while their father was out last Tuesday night to visit his wife, who was taking care of their sick twins admitted to a nearby hospital. The victims were kidnapped from their parents home in Keke A, Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) under Kaduna Millennium City and have been in the kidnappers’ den since. The abductors later contacted the victims’ father, Adamu Yunusa, and demanded N300 million ransom, threatening to kill the children if the…

Super Eagles caretaker coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has invited 30 players for the team’s 2025 African Nations Championship, CHAN qualifier against the Black Galaxies of Ghana. The CHAN is reserved exclusively for footballers plying their trade with clubs in their country’s domestic Leagues Kano Pillars’ evergreen midfielder, Rabiu Ali, who has scored eight goals this season, is among the players called, alongside Remo Stars’ goalkeeper Kayode Bankole, Rivers United defender Steven Mayo, and Abia Warriors’ exciting forward Sunday Megwo. Experienced striker, Sikiru Alimi, Nasarawa United defender Victor Collins and in-form Kwara United midfielder, Emmanuel Ogbole are also named in the squad.…

The management of the Port Harcourt refinery has said that the plant commenced full-scale operation after successful rehabilitation. The company’s Managing Director, Ibrahim Onoja, made this disclosure to newsmen th after a facility tour of the refinery on the night of Sunday, 1 December, 2024. According to him, the refinery had undergone extensive upgrades, stating that most of the equipment, including pump installation and cables, were replaced. Onoja also added that the refinery has commenced truckout of petroleum products, including premium motor spirit, kerosene, and diesel. “The refining plant has undergone extensive upgrades to enhance efficiency and reliability, which has…