Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

A former Minister of Power, who later served as Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, on Thursday, in Lokoja, stated that alleged “expenditure” of a phantom $16 billion on the power sector by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration never happened. Imoke, who was also Chairman of the Power Sector Technical Board under the Obasanjo administration, stated this as a matter of fact in his keynote at the 8th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), themed: “Nigeria: Tackling insecurity, power deficit, and transitioning to digital economy.” Admitting that the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), as it…

As Nigeria continue to grapple with several security challenges that directly impact on its economy and lives of citizens, Government at all levels have been called to provide profound security for students especially the females. Edutainment Communicator and Veteran Broadcaster, Ms Debrah Ogazuma made the call Thursday, 3 October, 2024, in Lokoja at the 8th Annual Conference of Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) with the theme: “Nigeria: Tackling Insecurity, Power Deficit, and Transitioning to Digital Economy.” According to her it has become obvious that since the capture of Chibok girls, the girl child education has been seriously threatened. Ogazuma,…

Justice W.I. Aziegbemhin of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City, has convicted and sentenced one Ofure Prince Akpolo to three years imprisonment for retention of proceeds of crime.The convict was prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission on September 24, 2024 on one-count charge bordering on retention of proceeds of crime.The charge against Akpolo reads: That you Ofure Prince Akpolo (m) on or about the the 3rd day of June. 2024 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did without lawful authority take possession of the sum of $22, 297.97 (Twenty-Two…

A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, presided over by Justices H. I. O. Oshomah and M. T. Segun-Bello has convicted and sentenced thirty-nine (39) internet fraudsters to different jail terms. The convicts were jailed after pleading guilty to a one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false presence, personation and possession of fraudulent documents upon arraignment by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The convicts include: Udeh Chimuanya John, Nnadi Raphael Ogomegbunam, Ani Mmesoma Emmanuel, Benjamin Obinna Ezema, Onoja Chukwuemeka Miracle, Frank Egesionu, Nze Uchenna Diviness Ikegwu Matthew Chukwuma, Ugwu Henry Izuchukwu,…

Actor and movie producer, Saheed Balogun, has lost his daughter, Ziinat Balogun. Announcing the sad news on Saturday, 5 October, 2024, the actor took to his verified Instagram page to post a picture of a candlelight surrounded by flowers and captured it with heartbroken emojis. His friends and colleagues in the movie industry have since taken to the post to offer condolences on the sad news. Also mourning the death, popular actress, Fathia Williams, who is a stepmother to the late Zinnat, posted on Instagram, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.” Zinnat was born to Saidi by his first wife,…

From Chuks Collins, Awka A yet-to-be identified gunmen, Friday, 4 October, 2024, stormed at Umunze, a major Anambra Community with Imo/Abia states and kidnapped the President-General of the Umunze Progressive Union in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Ezekiel Iheazor, and a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Nze Ike Okoli. The unfortunate incident according to eyewitness account took place at Nze Okoli’s residence in Lomu village during the Friday downpour heavily shooting sporadically into the air, in the early hours of the day. The hoodlums, apparently aided by the sporadic gunfire and the heavy rain succeeded…

From Chuks Collins, Awka A group under the aegis of Solution Marshals has concluded its one-day inspection and monitoring of some ongoing and completed projects in parts of Anambra State with commendation for the governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo. The leader and national Coordinator of the group Comrade Osita Obi while addressing journalists at the end of the tour, at the Okpoko General hospital, Ogbaru Council area of the State, near Onitsha canvassed for the re-election of Anambra State Gov Soludo, in the coming 2025 gubernatorial election, “as a reward for his remarkable achievement within the two years of his stay…

Through its women-focused proposition, SARA by Wema, Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to launch MOWA x SARA Accelerator Programme, an initiative aimed at empowering 500,000 women across Nigeria with vocational and business management skills. SARA by Wema is Wema Bank’s women-focused proposition established with the goal of promoting gender inclusion and equality by empowering women with tailored resources, opportunities and solutions essential to enable them thrive personally and professionally. Through SARA, Wema Bank continues to empower thousands of women across Nigeria…

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has said that the death of his wife will not halt the machinery of government. Speaking on Friday, 5 October, 2024 in Uyo, the state capital Eno said he was overwhelmed by the condolence messages and visits from across the country, noting that his focus on service to the people would not shift. He commended President Bola Tinubu for his personal call and the visit of his wife, Remi Tinubu, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and other national and state leaders, groups and individuals who commiserated with him on the death of his wife.…

The Borno State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Baba Gana, has confirmed 17 cases of cholera in the state and vaccinated 287,708 people against the disease. Gana, who declared the cholera outbreak in Maiduguri, the state capital on Friday,5 October, 2024, said no death has been recorded in the state so far. “We have 451 suspected cases discovered in Maiduguri, Jere, Konduga, Mafa and Monguno local government areas. “We took the samples to the National reference laboratory, out of which 17 were positive for cholera,” he said. According to the commissioner, the state had received 300,000 doses of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) from the…

The Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), has announced that the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS), for foreign exchange transactions in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) will commence on 1 December, 2024. The Director, Financial Markets Department (EFEMS) Omolara Duke, who made this disclosure in a statement, said that the new system was expected to enhance governance, transparency, and facilitate a market-driven exchange rate that will be accessible to the public. “This development is expected to reduce speculative activities, eliminate market distortions, and give the CBN improved oversight capabilities to effectively regulate the market. “Authorised dealers would subsequently conduct all…

As part measures to tackle youth unemployment across all the 774 local government areas of the country, the Federal Government has announced plan to create one million jobs. The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, made who made this disclosure on Friday, 5 October, 2024 in Abuja. According to Olawande, the federal government is determined to educate, inspire, and connect Nigerian youths to careers and opportunities in the insurance sector using the power of digital technology. The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to increasing youth participation in the insurance sector, to create jobs and enhance financial inclusion.

Famous veteran Nollywood actress, Binta Ayo Mogaji, has advised women above 35 years to get pregnant outside wedlock. The 60-year-old actress stated this during an interview on Oyinmomo TV. Sharing her thoughts on marriage, motherhood, and societal pressures, the actress, who welcomed her first child at age 40, encouraged single women over 35 to have children outside wedlock if they desire motherhood. Mogaji further emphasized the need for women to prioritize motherhood over societal expectations. “What I’m saying is, once you are 35 or older and you don’t have a husband, but there is someone in your life who is…

A Texas man named Garcia Glenn White, expressed deep remorse before his execution by lethal injection on Tuesday, 35 years after he murdered 16-year-old identical twins in Houston. 61-year-old White was executed at the Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville, becoming the sixth death row inmate put to death in the past two weeks. White had confessed to killing five people over a six-year period during the late 1980s and early 1990s, yet prosecutors only charged him for the murders of Annette and Bernette Edwards, the teenage sisters he killed back in 1989. White was pronounced dead at 6:56 p.m., according…

Controversial Nigerian clergyman, Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, popularly addressed as Odumeje, has made public how he got involved in armed robbery at the age of 14. Odumeje disclosed that he grew up on a dangerous street in the Onitsha area of Anambra State. The cleric made the disclosure while detailing his past and transformation from a life of crime to Christianity. In a viral video of him addressing his members, Odumeje said growing up on a tough street pushed him into a life of crime. He credited his transformation to his mother who introduced him to the path of salvation and guided…

Singer, Whizkid has confirmed he’s expecting baby number 3 with Jada Pollock, his third baby mama who doubles as his manager. Recall that Wizkid and Jada, who began dating in 2014, had their first child together, Zion, in 2017. In 2022, they welcomed another boy, AJ. Recently, rumours emerged that they are expecting their third child after Jada flaunted what looks like a baby bump on social media. Wizkid confirmed the pregnancy rumours during his recent rants on X. “Wizkid, your woman get belle but na you dey show the hormones,” an X user @EngrPopey wrote, alluding to the singer’s…

Gunmen on the night of Thursday, 3 October, 2024 shot dead Bako Bala, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Suru Local Government Area (LGA) of Kebbi State Zaidu Bala, Special Adviser on Television and Radio to Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, who confirmed the sad development on his Facebook post, said Bala was killed at his residence following an abduction attempt. “To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return. Alhaji Bako Bala has died — APC chairman of Suru local government,” the post reads. “He died after kidnappers abducted him and his family last night. They…

A High Court in Doma, headquarters of Doma Local Government Area in Nasarawa State presided over Justice Abdullahi Shams-Shammah, has extended its order restraining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from conducting its congresses in the state. The court initially issued the restraining order on 27 September, 2024, following a motion filed by 16 PDP members led by Senator Mohammed Ogoshi-Onawo (PDP, Nasarawa South). The plaintiffs brought the case against the PDP as the first respondent, Mr Francis Orogu, the PDP chairman in Nasarawa State, as the second respondent, and the State Working Committee as the third respondent. Justice Shams-Shammah extended…

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), in conjunction with the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA), have recovered six more bodies from the boat mishap incident in the state. The Director General of NSEMA, Abdullahi Arah, who confirmed the development, said the bodies were recovered between 6:00 pm on Thursday,3 October, 2024 and 9:00 am on Friday, 5 October, 2024. Arah stated that the recovery of 6 more bodies brought the total number of deaths to 42 on Friday morning. According to him, a search and rescue operation was ongoing to recover victims from the water. Thegazellenews.com had reported that…

MTN Nigeria, a leading ICT company, has partnered with Audiomack, a renowned music streaming platform, to introduce the Audiomack+ subscription program. This strategic collaboration provides MTN subscribers with seamless access to premium Audiomack content, uninterrupted streaming, offline downloads, and exclusive features through convenient mobile payment options. Audiomack+ offers three flexible subscription plans, enabling subscribers to discover emerging artists, underground music, and community-driven playlists. Music lovers can enjoy, Month Pass (N900/month): 30-day free trial + uninterrupted streaming, Week Pass (N400/week): Affordable weekly subscription and Day Pass (N100/day): Daily access to premium content. “This partnership with Audiomack reinforces our commitment to delivering…