Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

The United Kingdom Government has hosted a multi-stakeholder meeting in Abuja to discuss how its Serious & Organised Crime (SOC) Prevent Programme is making significant strides in deterring vulnerable young people from joining Organised Crime Groups in Nigeria. Launched as a three-year pilot in December 2021, the programme is designed to disrupt Nigerian Organised Crime Groups by redirecting at-risk youth towards positive alternatives in Bayelsa, Edo, Zamfara and Lagos states. In select local governments of these states, the SOC Prevent Programme has established robust structures and delivered various interventions, including Back-to-School Initiatives, Digital Skills Acquisition, Dance and Drama Workshops and…

Stiffer measures to cut raw mineral exports and boost value addition topped talks among African ministers of mining at the Ministerial Roundtable held yesterday to flag off the annual Africa Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) in Abuja. The measures include an upward review of licence fees, royalties and charges, support for indigenous miners, and value addition as a condition for licences. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, who chairs the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), urged member-countries to ensure control of their mineral resources, leveraging the global shift to green energy to maximize the benefits…

Abdullahi Hurso Bashir, a former councilor from Marte Local Government Area in Borno State, has shared his harrowing tale of survival and resilience in the face of Boko Haram’s insurgency. Bashir’s life was forever changed when his community was attacked in 2014, forcing him to flee and become an internally displaced person (IDP). This was disclosed in a statement yesterday by Ahmed Mustapha, the spokesperson of The Truth Alliance, which is a a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) dedicated to exposing the evil agenda and countering the narratives of Boko Haram terrorists and splinter groups like the Islamic State…

The United Kingdom has appointed Mr. Mark Smithson the Country Director for the UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in Nigeria. He takes over from Chim Chalemera who recently concluded a three-year posting in that role. Smithson is an experienced civil servant having undertaken a wide variety of roles both in the UK and overseas. In this new role, he will lead on the UK-Nigeria’s trade and investment relations to deliver an increased high value inward investment and greater exports into the UK and Nigeria as well as support market access and trade policy priorities. To mark his arrival…

The Chinese government has commenced preparation towards hosting this year’s Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, the Charge d’Affaires of Chinese Embassy, Zhang Yi has disclosed Speaking at the Capacity Building Workshop for Diplomatic Correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday with the theme: “Enhancing Diplomatic Reporting in Nigeria”, the envoy said Nigeria has become China’s biggest contractor market and third largest trading partner and major investment destination in Africa He said: “We are making full preparations for the approaching summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) which will be held from September 4 to 6. “We hope this summit will…

Plans are underway to further strengthen areas of partnership and collaboration between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This way revealed during the visit of the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa to the Embassy of UAE in Abuja following the removal of the visa ban by placed on Nigeria by the Arab country. Dabiri-Erewa who was received by the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, stated that NiDCOM intends to engage and sensitize Nigerians in the UAE to be good ambassadors of their country of stay and country of origin, to excel in whatever…

Tragedy occurred in the Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as couple- Alhaji Musa Baba and his wife, Fatima Baba, were fatally knocked down by a car while on their way to the farm on a motorcycle. A witness report stated that the accident occurred around 3 pm near the Abaji General Hospital junction. According to the witness, a Mercedes Benz, traveling from the Gwagwalada axis, ran over the couple. “The man died on the spot while his wife gave up at the hospital where she was rushed to,” the source said. The witness said that officials…

By Walter Duru, Ph.D The digital age has reshaped how we consume and disseminate information, with online media playing a crucial role in shaping public perception and opinion. Recognizing this, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), with support from the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project, recently organized a two-day roundtable with online newspaper publishers in Nigeria. The Roundtable, held in two batches, at Lagos and Abuja, respectively, provided participants the opportunity to understand and appreciate the activities, strategy, approach, achievements, and challenges of NIMC. It was the first of its kind, since the establishment of the commission. This…

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has paid a condolence visit to the Saraki family ahead of the funeral of their Mother, Mrs Florence Morenike Saraki in Lagos. While condoling with the children she noted that her visit which has the permission of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a way of letting the family know that the Tinubus love them. “We are one family. You know that politics aside, Mr President will always look out for you “Mama lived a good life. I know it hurts so much but we thank God for the good life she lived,”…

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said chop owners at the Oba Lipede International Market, Kuto, Abeokuta, who lost valuables during Saturday night’s inferno would be supported by the state government. Governor Abiodun gave the assurance when he toured the market to ascertain the level of destruction caused by the fire incident. He said that enumeration would be carried out to determine the loses incurred by shop owners at the market so as to immediately provide succour to those affected and ensure that they can quickly come back on their feet. He commended the state fire service for their…

Kenyan police have arrested one Jomaisi Khalisia, 33, who they have described as a “serial killer” suspected to have been behind the gruesome murder of nine women whose mutilated bodies were found in a disused quarry used as a rubbish dump. Police said Khalisa confessed to having killed 42 women since 2022, including his own wife. According to police,the suspect was arrested at a bar early on the morning of Monday,16 July, 20234 as he was watching the Euro final. There has been shock and outrage in Kenya since the first of the dismembered bodies were found on Friday at the Mukuru…

The detained Binance Holdings Limited’s executive, Tigran Gambaryan, was on Tuesday, 16 July, 2024 whisked into Federal High Court in Abuja in a wheelchair. Gambaryan, who was dressed in a black T-shirt with blue jeans trousers, is facing a money laundering charge alongside the cryptocurrency firm. When the matter was called, Gambaryan stood up from the wheelchair and walked slowly into the dock. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s lawyer, Ogechi Ujam, told the court that though the matter was scheduled for the continuation of trial, the commission’s lead counsel, Ekele Iheanacho was not in court. Ujam prayed the court…

Few days after he failed to win Euro 2024 in Germany, Gareth Southgate has resigned from his role as manager of the England national team. Recall that the Three Lions lost 2-1 against Spain in the final on the night of Sunday ,14 July, 2024. “As a proud Englishman, it has been the honour of my life to play for England and to manage England,” Southgate said on Tuesday, 16 July, 2024 after announcing his decision to quit the Three Lions. “It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all.But it’s time for change, and for…

A yet-to-be-identified six-man armed have brutally gang raped a pregnant woman identified as Margret to a state of coma while working on her farm. The incident , it was gathered occurred on Friday, 12 July, 2024 in Kadiri, Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, leaving residents in a state of outrage and palpable fear. Narrating her ordeal, Margaret said she was with her husband on the farm when the armed gang, suspected to be militia, appeared. Both tried to flee, but due to her condition, she was unable to escape and fell to the ground. The armed men then took turns raping…

This is indeed not the best of times for the embattled former Governor of Kano State and the current National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, as the state government has filed fresh charges against him at a Kano State High Court with Case No. K/143c/24. According to the charge sheet, Ganduje and his former Commissioner for Justice, Musa Lawan are 1st and 2nd Defendants, respectively. They are being accused among others of Criminal Conspiracy, contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97, Criminal Breach of Trust contrary to Section 311 and punishable under Section 315,…

Famous English singer Adele has announced that she’s taking a break from music to explore new creative pursuits. The ‘Hello’ singer, who has been living in the United States for the past two years, explained that she would be relocating to her home country when her residency expires in November She told fans not to expect new music from her, stressing that she wants a “big break.” “I don’t have plans for new music at all. I want a big break, and I think I want to do other creative things just for a little while,” Adele said in an…

The ancient town of Kuta was ago on Sunday, 14 July, 2024, as Olowu of Kuta, His Royal Majesty Oba Dr Hameed Adekunle Makama Oyelude, CON, Tegbosun III, received dignitaries across Nigeria to celebrate his 60th birthday anniversary. Prominent among the dignitaries were former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke; former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Chief of Army Staff, Gen TY Buratai rtd who also doubles as Balogun Agba Akin of Kuta; and the Executive Chairman of Federal Character Commission,  Dr Muheeba Dankaka. Traditional rulers at the ceremony include: Ooni of…

Ekene Adams, a member of the House of Representatives representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, Kaduna State, and Chairman House Committee on Sports, has passed on at age of 39. The lawmaker, it was learnt , died in the early hours of Tuesday, 16 July, 2024 although the cause of his death has not been ascertained at the time of filing this report. Different sports groups in the country have started mourning the exit of Adams. “My good friend and one of our frontline members of the NPFL Club Owners Association, Chairman House Committee on Sports, Hon Ekene Abubakar Adams is Dead,” Former…

The trial of Ali Bello and Dauda Sulaiman before Justice J. K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, continued on Monday, July 15, 2024, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presenting its seventh Prosecution Witness, PW7. The EFCC is prosecuting Ali Bello and Dauda Sulaiman on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering. The PW7, Aminu Rabiu, a businessman with Falala Construction and Interior Decoration Company, Abuja, who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court that he received money for the renovation of Ali Bello’s houses from various people in…

A Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Amina Aliyu, has ordered Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero to stop parading himself as the Emir of Kano.  Justice Aliyu, who gave the order on Monday, 15 July, 2024,  also barred four other deposed monarchs from parading themselves as Emirs of Bichi, Rano, Karaye and Gaya. The court also ordered that the five deposed emirs to return all moveable and immovable properties belonging to Kano state government. Recall that the judge had on 4 July, 2024 adjourned the matter to rule on application for extension of time, notice of preliminary objection, joinder application and application…