Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

Things are looking up for good for the famous Nigerian Afrobeat musician, Wizkid as he has been nominated in seven categories in the Africa Arts Entertainments Awards (AAEA). The awards are meant to recognise and celebrate the achievements of music artistes across the African continent. The singere is competing in several categories, including AAEA Best Continental Male Artiste and AAEA Continental Artiste of the Year. He was also nominated for Continental Album/EP of the Year for his project ‘S2’, along with honors for his collaborations and singles, Best Continental Intl Feature for ‘Work Me Out’, Best Continental Afro RnB Hit…

The Federal Government has said there is no truth in the report that it was set to commence recruitment into the Fire and Immigration Services, insisting there is no such plan until September. Debunking the reports in online publications claiming that there was ongoing plan by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board to begin a recruitment exercise into the Nigeria Immigration Service and Federal Fire Service, the Secretary to the Board, Ja’afaru Ahmed, in a statement on Monday, urged Nigerians to ignore them. The statement read: “The attention of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services…

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Sunday, said the state government was working with the construction giant, Julius Berger, to redesign and remodel the Effurun roundabout for the purpose of providing cloverleaf and road expansion in the busy corridor. Governor Oborevwori disclosed this to newsmen shortly after inspecting the flyover under construction at PTI junction in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state. The Governor, who said he was impressed with the job done so far on the projects, expressed optimism that Julius Berger would deliver the job on schedule. On the road expansion, Oborevwori said both parties were…

The Ogun State Government has awarded scholarships to nine students who performed creditably well in an essay competition to mark the 90th birthday celebration of the Noble Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka. Speaking at the 2024 edition of the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Programme held at Prof. Soyinka’s ARI residence, Ijegba, Abeokuta, on Monday, Governor Dapo Abiodun, said they would also be given laptop each for their efforts. The gesture Governor Abiodun emphasized is to encourage the beneficiaries to keep writing as well as motivate other students to participate in the next edition of the competition. While describing the Noble…

An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court presided over by Chief Magistrate, E.Kubeinje, on Monday, 15 July, 2024 remanded a 43-year-old boarding school housemaster, Adema Ogunbiyi in Kirikiri custodial facility for allegedly a 12-year-old boy. Magistrate Kubeinje, ordered that Ogunbiyi be kept at the facility pending advice from the state Director of Public Prosecutions. The court did not take the plea of Ogunbiyi. Kubeinje, however, adjourned the case until 24 July 24, for further hearing. The Prosecutor, Insp John Iberedem had earlier informed the court that the suspect committed the offence sometime on June 18 between the hours of 10:00pm and 11:30pm. Iberedem…

The National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), otherwise known as the Ombudsman, has received a formal complaint from the Federal Government against the Daily Trust newspaper. The complaint alleged that the newspaper published an article on July 4, 2024 “containing false and misleading information that severely threatens national security”. Eluem Emeka Izeze, chairman and Feyi Smith, Interim Secretary, for Ombudsman, in a press statement issued and routed through Media Right Agenda, disclosed that the complaint dated July 8, 2024, and signed by Dr. Ngozi Onwudiwe, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, on behalf of Information Minister,…

The Chairman of Dangote Group and owner of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote has said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, no longer owns a 20 per cent stake in Dangote Refinery. Dangote made this disclosure  in Lagos this during a press briefing at the refinery on Sunday, 14 July, 2024 The African richest man noted that the Nigerian oil company now owns only 7.2 per cent of the refinery due to the NNPC’s failure to pay the balance of their share, which was due last month in June. According to Dangote,  while NNPCL had promised to provide the funds, it…

International Relations and Affairs Alliance( IRAA), a coalition of international relations practitioners has lampooned a faceless group, who is out in arms with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar over delay in appointment of ambassadors, for a lack of zero knowledge about diplomatic processes. A statement by the Coalition of Civil Society Groups and signed by Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta had erroneously pointed accusing fingers at Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar for recalling ambassadors and not appointing new ones. The Lagos based coalition led by Mrs. Adewusi Bakare, in a statement on Monday, 15 July, 2024, said Ude-Umanta should note that…

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSDC) Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad has arrested three suspects for vandalism of oil pipeline, oil theft and illegal dealings in petroleum products at Umuodo, Umuajuloke Community in Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State. The CG’s SIS Commander, DC Apollo Dandaura during a briefing on Monday, said the the arrest was made possible through sustained Intelligence that an illegal oil refinery was cited at the crime scene, which made his command to sweep the area, leading to discovery of a large quantity of illegally refined petroleum products suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil…

Argentina football legend and captain, Lionel Messi, has made history by becoming the player with the most trophies in football history. Messi played for 60 minutes as his country beat Colombia 1-0 in the final of the 2024 Copa America. This is the 45th piece of silverware the 37-year-old has won in his career. Messi breaks the record that was initially held by ex-Barcelona teammate Dani Alves (44). Messi won 35 of his club career titles at Barcelona and six trophies with Argentina, including Copa America 2021 and Copa America 2024. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also won the Olympic…

Osun State Police Command has confirmed that at least two persons were rescued in the building that collapsed in the Sabo area of Osogbo, the state capital. The Command Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, who confirmed the development through a statement issued on Monday, 15 July, 2024, disclosed that during rescue operations mounted by security agencies, it was discovered that only two persons were trapped under the rubble of the one-storey building. Recall that a one-storey building collapsed on the morning of Sunday, 14 July, 2024, around the Sabo area of Osogbo. Governor Ademola Adeleke had in a reaction through…

Bandits have imposed about N200m levies on10 communities in Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State, Daily Trust reports. The news medium gathered that most of the affected villages were located along Kaura Namoda-Moriki town in Zurmi Local Government Area. The affected villages and the levies are: Yan Dolen Kaura: N15 million; Gidan Zagi: N15 million; Kanwa Million: N20 million; Kaiwa Lamba: N26 million; Gidan Dan Zara: N22 million; Jinkirawa: N16 million; Dumfawa: N16 million; Ruguje: N7 million; Babani: N3 million and Gidan Duwa: N4 million. The residents of the villages said they are under pressure to raise these funds within a…

The Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, has announced August 2024 as the new date to roll out fuel supply in the Nigerian market. Dangote, who made this disclosure on Sunday, 15 July, 2024 while speaking to newsmen, added that it has resolved its crude oil supply issues with the help of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL and the Nigerian Federal Government. He stressed that the crude supply challenge was resolved last week after the Federal Government intervened. The journalists were on a guided tour of the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery, which is located at Lekki Free Trade Zone in…

The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Kayode Egbetokun has ordered an immediate suspension of the July 29 plan to commence the enforcement of the e-Central Motor Registry (e-CMR), thegazellenews.com reports. The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi , who confirmed the development in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, 15 June, 2024 in Abuja, said the suspension was to give ample opportunity for mass enlightenment and education of the public on the process, benefits and effectiveness of e-CMR. The police spokesman added that I-G had urged police officers to desist from requesting for e-CMR certificates. According to him, officers…

Rising from their strategic meeting over the weekend, the leadership of Nigeria’s most sophisticated political movement, The Mandate Movement (TMM), has reiterated their tested, long standing resolution to be a resource and think-tank team for good governance, articulation of developmental ideas and promotion of people centered initiatives. The Apex Leadership of TMM reviewed the current political issues and socio-economic situation in the country and came up with different resolutions aimed at supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Movement commended the President of on the bold initiatives of his administration, some of which are: (I) continuous engagement of the Leadership of…

Lautaro Martinez, Inter Milan FC striker, scored an extra-time winner as Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 to win a record 16th Copa America title at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, 14 July, 2024. A game of few chances, which had been marred by security and crowd issues, forcing a 82-minute delay, was decided by a quality finish from substitute Martinez – who finished as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals. The win was the third straight major tournament title for Argentine following their 2021 Copa victory and their triumph in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. There were tears before…

Friday, 2 August, 2024 has been fixed for the premiere of the movie, ‘Okikiola The Fisherman’ produced by journalist, Adeola Agoro. Sen. Ademola Adeleke, the Governor of Osun State is being honoured with the premiere of the movie for his support during the challenging stages of post-production. “When his attention was drawn to this this culturally and sensibly significant movie, Okikiola The Fisherman, Gov. Adeleke came on as a champion of the arts and culture and the movie industry by supporting it. As a way of thanking him and the Government of Osun State for the way they have contributed…

Prosecutors In Romania on Sunday, 14 July, 2024 charged famous US rapper Wiz Khalifa with illegal drug possession after performing at a seaside festival in the country, where he allegedly consumed cannabis on stage. According to the prosecutors, the hip-hop music sensation was headlining at the “Beach, Please!” festival in the Romanian village of Costinesti on the shore of the Black Sea, when he got caught with the drug early Sunday, prosecutors say. Cannabis is considered a “risk drug” in Romania, and possession is punishable by up to ten years in prison. Videos posted on social media show the rapper being…

An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) simply identified as Owolabi, is presently cooling off in one of the cells of the Lagos police command for allegedly defiling a 17-year old girl in the Ojota area of the state, thegazellenews.com reports. The officer is alleged to have had carnal knowledge of the girl in his office at Ojota Police Station. His arrest followed a referral letter dated 1 July, 2024, and addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency. Based on the referral letter, the Commissioner of Police ordered for immediate investigation…

The Managing Director of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, was on Thursday night, 11 July, 2024, recognised for his “Invaluable contributions to the Nigerian energy sector and his service to humanity.” Osagie received the Award for Exemplary Leadership and Service to Humanity from a Lagos-based NGO, Heritage for Life Foundation, at a ceremony held in Lagos. A Director of the Foundation, and former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Tunde Lemo, handed out the award which he said was instituted to promote “moral qualities and attitudes pivotal to the growth…