Author: The Gazelle News

By Femi Ogbonnikan The residents of the Alagbole-Ajuwon and Akute axis in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State are pained and angry. So also are their counterparts along the Agbara-Lusada-Atan corridor in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area. They are all aggrieved over the reckless abandonment of their roads. The immediate past administration of Senator Ibikunle Abiodun did. He did it with impunity and a lack of empathy for the suffering of the common people. It is not unusual for a government to leave behind an uncompleted project in the face of dwindling resources. Just like life itself, the unexpected can…

Mild drama occurred on Wednesday, 17 July, 2024 at the planned arraignment of Yahaya Bello, former Governor of Kogi State on alleged N82 billion fraud charges as two senior advocates engaged in a war of words during the proceedings. The two lawyers are: Abdulwahab Mohammed, standing for Bello, SAN, and Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, standing for the Federal Government, thegazellenews reports Thegazellenews.com learnt that trouble started when Mohammed announced his appearance for the former Governor and left out his colleague, Adeola Adedipe, SAN. However, the Federal Government counsel opposed the exclusion on the grounds that Adedipe should be included in the proceedings…

The National Working Committee, NWC of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) has sacked Senator Ali Ndume, APC, Borno South as Senate Chief Whip and replaced him with with Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, APC, Borno North. The party had written to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio seeking the removal of Senator Ndume over his utterances against the APC led Federal Government. The letter from the APC, was signed by National Chairman, Alhaji Umar Ganduje; and the National Secretary, Senator Suŕajueen Basiru respectively to Akpabio, the party said that Ndume’s complaints about President Bola Tinubu are unbecoming and his utterances are…

This is indeed good news for the embattled Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr. Philip Shaibu as Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, 17 July, 2024 returned him to office. The court, in the judgment that was delivered by Justice James Omotosho, declared his purported impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly as illegal, unconstitutional, null, and void. According to the court, the said impeachment was in gross violation of the provisions of both sections 188 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. Aside from restoring him to office as the Deputy Governor, the court held that all his…

An ugly fight has broken out on X between Sam Omatseye, ace columnist and the children of ex-Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai. El-Rufai’s son, Bello, a serving federal lawmaker and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Banking Regulations drew the first blood when he slammed Omatseye last week with a post describing the veteran columnist as a houseboy over an article he did against his father. Bello said: “I left the office early to see him (his father) off at the airport. I just told him a lot of you do love him and have been supportive. I shared…

Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (FMH&UD), Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), as well as the World Bank, have sought partnership with the Ogun State Estate Surveyors and Valuers to deliver harmonised compensation rates for Nigerians, in a bid to develop acceptable compensation plans for crops and economic trees. The National Coordinator, RAAMP, Engr. Bodinga Aminu, who made this known during a courtesy visit to the Bureau of Lands and Survey in Abeokuta, informed that RAAMP had the mandate to build rural access roads which would be financed by the World Bank while…

Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has stressed the importance of an effective and professional workforce duly equipped with skills and well-motivated by sustainable wages to drive the Commission’s efforts to deliver on its mandate. Ogbuku stated this during a two-day workshop on Wage Administration, Policies Implementation and Revenue generation in Public Agencies, organised for executive management, Directors, salary related desk officers and staff union executives of the Niger Delta Development Commission in Port Harcourt. The NDDC boss who noted that an effective work behavior could only be achieved through motivation of staff that…

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed an application to vacate a final forfeiture order granted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in a Ninety-Six-million-naira contract fraud. The ruling was predicated on an application dated and filed on 15th February 2024 asking the court to set aside the interim and final forfeiture orders granted to the ICPC to freeze certain bank accounts believed to have been used to receive the sum of N96 million for contracts that were never executed. In a case involving former Surveyor-General of the Federation (SGF), Ebisintei Bietoru Awudu,…

The Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) has described the position of Senate Whip, Senator Ali Ndume on President Bola Tinubu and his administration as a self-serving blackmail to whip up public sentiment. Ndume had recently described the administration as a kakistocracy but the policy analysis group said the Senate Whip’s comment was not fact-based. In a policy statement signed by its Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju, the policy analysis group argued that policies and programmes introduced by the government since assuming office have been well thoughtout contrary to what Ndume had been saying in the media. The statement reads in part:…

By Bayo Onanuga The Supreme Court judgement on July 11, granting financial autonomy to the 774 local councils and recognising them as the third tier of Nigeria’s governance architecture, was truly historic. It was perhaps the most remarkable judgement ever delivered by the apex court in recent times, as it used its power to interpret the law to give a different meaning to Section 162 of the Constitution. Since 1999, governors have used this section to withhold and tamper with the funds federally allocated to the councils, using a joint account that has proven to be a honeypot of abuse. …

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared that his government will not allow the people of the state to suffer from the fallout of the Supreme Court judgment, which granted financial autonomy to local governments in the country. The Governor maintained that the judgment has created a constitutional lacuna that will throw up different challenges at the local government level, saying that though he is not opposed to transparency in the councils, the Supreme Court judgment “is not a silver bullet that will wash away” Nigeria’s problems. Governor Makinde stated this on Monday, 15 July, 2024, during an Advisory/Consultative Committee…

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday paid snap visits to inspect projects and touch base with community folks in Asa local government of Kwara State. The visits took him to the under-renovation Afon General Hospital, Afon Waterworks, under-renovation Primary Health Center (PHC), and Eiyenkorin Afon Offa Odo Otin Road. Speaking at the residence of Daudu Afon Alhaji Hanafi Kola Balogun at Afon, the Governor said the administration continues to deploy resources to strengthen existing infrastructure and build new ones for the good of the people. He told the Daudu that the visit was to enable him to touch base with the…

In a significant move aimed at promoting the culture of Integrity and accountability in Osun State, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) entered into an alliance with Osun State Government through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by both parties. The MOU was signed by the Chairman of ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN and the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke at the Government House in Osogbo and was witnessed by top state functionaries and top officials of ICPC The Chairman of ICPC, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu SAN, who was warmly…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said on Monday, 15 July, 2024 that his administration will deepen its relationship with the Indian government culturally, economically, and medically for knowledge sharing and human capacity building. Governor Sanwo-Olu, who commended the Indian companies in Nigeria for being the second largest employer of labour after the Federal Government, said his administration will continue to improve the Ease of Doing Business and provide a safe and secure environment for businesses to thrive in Lagos State. Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke during a courtesy visit by the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, Mr. Balasub Ramanian, at the…

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun on Saturday felicitated the Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of ThisDay Media Group and Arise News Channel, Chief Nduka Obaigbena on his birthday, describing him as a colossus in the media industry. Chief Obaigbena, the Duke of Owa Kingdom, clocks 65 years on Saturday, 13 July, 2024. Prince Abiodun, in his congratulatory message praised the remarkable contribution of the business mogul to the media industry, noting that since started his journey with ThisWeek, years ago, he has left an indelible mark on the Nigerian press landscape. “As a visionary leader, he has demonstrated unwavering commitment to…

A fire outbreak suspected to have been set by yet-to-be-identified persons has reportedly destroyed a palace at the Gidan Rumfa where the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, is occupying. The incident, according to sources from the palace, said it happened Friday night, 12 July, 2024, around 11pm. The source said one of the palaces located at Kofar Kudu where the Emir sits every Monday for court was seriously affected. “It was the palace at Kofar Kudu. You know the palace has an entrance from inside while the main entrance is from the front (outside). The key was forced open…

The Chairman of Odiolowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area, Honourable Razaq Olusola Ajala has been appointed the Director of Media and Publicity by the Justice Forum (JF), the foremost political group within the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), reports thegazellenews.com The appointment of the young but experienced grassroots politician was announced during the executive council meeting of the group which took place on Friday, 12 July, 2024. Apart from Ajala, council Chairmen such as: the Chairman of Conference 57 and chairman of Bariga LCDA, Kolade Alabi, Deputy State Coordinator; Somolu LG boss, Salawu ‘Dullar’, Financial Secretary; and…

Former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs Mojisola Alli-Macaulay has been appointed the Executive Director, Operations, of the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reports thegazellenews.com. The news of Alli-Macaulay, popularly called ‘Mama Amuwo’ was announced on Saturday, 13 July, 2024 via statement released by rhe Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale. Thegazellenews.com reports that Mrs Alli-Macaulay represented Amuwo-Odofin State Constituency I in the Assembly between 2019 and 2023 where she served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Women’s Affairs, Poverty Alleviation and Job Creation.…

The latest outburst in the media by the Senator representing Borno South, and Chief Whip of the 10th Senate, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been “caged” and unaware of existential challenges in the country is as haughty as it is unnecessary. As a Senator of the Federal Republic, Ndume has platform of the National Assembly to raise and address matters that he may consider to be in the national interest. He also has access to the entire machinery of the federal government of Nigeria. Senator Ndume did not explain the use to which he…

President Bola Tinubu appointed Mr. Tosin Adeyanju as the new Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, made this disclosure in a statement issued on Saturday, 13 July, 2024 titled ‘President Tinubu appoints new Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund.’ Adeyanju succeeds Bello Maigari, who former President Muhammadu Buhari reappointed in March 2023. The President described Adeyanju as “an accomplished administrator, and good governance advocate.” Tinubu said he expected the new Chief Executive Officer to “ensure transparency and efficiency in the operations of the agency…