Author: The Gazelle News

NAME: Shitan Catherine Bukola AGE: 23yrs STATE OF ORIGIN: Ondo State HOBBIES: Reading novels, Cooking and Listening to music FAVOURITE FOOD: Pounded Yam with Egusi Soup FAVOURITE COLOUR: White OCCUPATION: Modelling EDUCATION: Final year student of Obafemi Awolowo University, studying Kinesiology, Physical and Health Education NICKNAME: Skinny Chinks ASPIRATION: My goal is to be the one of the top models in the world and an inspiration to young children. CROWNS: Ambassador Face of Mainland West; Miss Hotlegs Nigeria 2019.

First Bank of Nigeria Limited is taking steps to ensure that women and women-led businesses are empowered. The bank has, through its FirstGem; FirstMonie and First Women Network empowered and brought several unbanked women into the financial system. This it proved during this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration, writes COLLINS NWEZE. Empowering women through improved access to finance and social support are crucial in achieving the desired growth for the economy. This is the belief of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, even as it maintained that investing in women’s economic empowerment sets a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication…

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has dissociated himself from disparaging statements being circulated online against some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South geopolitical zone which were mischievously credited to him. Specifically, the Deputy President of the Senate attributed the statements to the handiwork of fifth columnists and agents of destabilization masquerading as his supporters. According to him, such disparaging remarks borne out of sterile imaginings of mischief-makers against stalwarts of the party from the South-South zone or any part of the Federation can never emanate from him. Senator Omo-Agege who also doubles…

Pipeline explosion has rocked the Abule Ado area of Festac Town in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, The Gazelle News.com can report. According to a report monitored on Channels Television, a tipper offloading sand caught fire and the fire spread to a nearby pipeline which triggered the explosion. The Director General of the Lagos State Environmental Management Authority (LASEMA), Dr Femi Oke-Osanyitolu who confirmed the incident stated that the pipeline had earlier been vandalised by unknown people. Many houses have been destroyed by the fire incident and many buildings are on fire as the fire is spreading…

By Wale Adedayo Progressive thinking and development, which are the foundations of a better tomorrow, often face the worst of criticisms from those bent on maintaining the status quo, mainly the elites of society. They want their privileged positions maintained, while the downtrodden continue a life of squalor. Of course, progressive thinkers are usually few. Fewer still are the thinkers, who put their beliefs into deeds, with many progressives being scared of what the elites would do to them in the public space and a few of such progressive thinkers joining the elites after getting to the ‘top’. But there…

By Sanni Taofeek, Lagos Yoruba social cultural cum self determination  group,the Coalition of Oodua Self-determination Groups (COSEG) has for the reaffirmed that its Secretary, Razaq Olokooba remains suspended since last year and he is not acting on behalf of the organizational, The Gazelle News.com reports. The organisation, The Gazelle News.com reports further, also urged members of the public not to engage in any dealings with him on behalf of the organization. This warning and reaffirmation was made by the Chairman and the Publicity Secretary of the organization, Comrades Ifedayo Ogunlana and Dele Daramola respectively through a statement released in Lagos.…

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of The State of Osun on Friday, 13 March, 2020 signed into law the state Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps Establishment Bill. The bill was transmitted to the governor by the Speaker of the State Assembly, Timothy Owoeye,  on Thursday evening. The House had on March 3, 2020 passed the bill into law after a public hearing to seek stakeholders’ contributions and suggestions on the bill. Oyetola while signing the Bill at the Executive Council Lounge, Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, disclosed that the law signifies a declaration of war on criminals in the state and its…

The Senate on Thursday, 12 March, 2020 commenced amendment to the Federal Capital Territory Customary Court Act, 2007, to expand the jurisdiction of customary courts in the FCT to include criminal trials. According to the sponsor of the piece of legislation under consideration, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC – Ekiti Central), the bill proposes amendments to Sections 2,14,48,49 and 50 of the Principal Act to alter the Quorum of the Court, provide for criminal jurisdiction of the court, and right of appeal to aggrieved persons to appeal to the FCT High Court in the case of criminal matters. Explaining the…

With a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.93 on a scale of 4.0, Ms Nkechi Alexandra Kingsley – the overall best graduating student of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) – gets an automatic employment offer to work in the school. Thanks to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who also offered the valedictorian a cash grant to hone her entrepreneurial skill. Ms Kingsley, who finished from the Department of Chemical Engineering, was the cynosure of all eyes when she stepped out to receive the prizes from the Governor at the 27th convocation of the polytechnic held on Thursday at the Ikorodu campus.…

Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos has adjourned until April 23, 2020 for further hearing in the alleged N450m fraud charge involving Mohammed Dele Belgore, SAN, and a former Minister for National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman. The defendants are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for a five-count charge of conspiracy and possession of proceeds of crime to the tune of N450m. At the last adjourned sitting on March 11, 2020, the Judge had fixed March 12, 2020 for ruling on the admissibility of the Closed- circuit Television, CCTV, footage…

Justice M.L. Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on March12, 2020 admitted Chukwuebuka Washington Dikeocha, the blogger behind “Fake EFCC” cell tweet to bail in the sum of N1million. Dikeocha was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Port Harcourt’s zonal office on March10, 2020 on a two-count charge, to which he pleaded “not guilty”. The court consequently adjourned untill March 12, 2020 for consideration of the defendant’s bail application. At the resumed sitting, defence counsel, C.C. Achunelo told the court that the matter was for hearing of the defendant’s bail application. He said: “We have before the court an11-paragraph affidavit and motion on…

By Dare Ojelade, Lagos A former Commander of Joint Military Commander, Retired Major General Emmanuel Atewe spent N170.350 million to purchase 30,000 units of shares from MTN Links between 2014 and 2015, The Gazelle News.com has learnt. A prosecution witness, Howard Edafe, The Gazelle News.com learnt further, made this disclosure at the ongoing N8.5billion fraud case involving Atewe on March 12, 2020 told Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. Atewe is standing trial alongside Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Kime Enzogu and Josephine Otuaga on a…

The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, once again warns unscrupulous persons and impostors dropping his name to extort unsuspecting members of the public, to desist, or be ready to face the full wrath of the law. For the umpteenth time, the EFCC also reiterates its warning to members of the public, to restrain and refrain from dealing with such conmen, who present themselves to wield strong influence and connection with Mr. Magu, and so claim to be able to secure a soft landing for them in matters being investigated by the Commission.…

The Secretary of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Lanre Ogunyemi has expressed strong reservations on the current crisis in the state House of Assembly. Ogunyemi, a two-term former member of the House decried the turn of events in the House noting that the party leadership should have been consulted before action taken on Monday, 9 March, against four members of the House. It would be recalled that on Monday, the House members removed two Principal Officers: Hon Olumuyiwa Jimoh, Apapa 2, Deputy Majority Leader; and Hon Rotimi Abiru, Somolu 2, Chief Whip while two…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office, on March 12, 2020, arrested 48 suspected internet fraudsters in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The suspects, many of whom claimed to be undergraduates, range between the ages of 18 and 28 years. They were apprehended at locations around Alabata area of the ancient town, following actionable intelligence on their alleged involvement in internet-related crimes. Among the suspects are: Anwinilomo Tomisin, Ayeni Ifedapo, Melojuekun Oluwatobi, Adeyemo Stephen, Gideon Achuka, David Mulero, Owolabi Abraham, Toheeb Olabanji, Teslim Kasali, Jide Abiodun Emmanuel, Alli Emmanuel Oluwaseun, Adeniyi Sultan, Ejiro Daniel, Chima Emmanuel, Adejare…

By Dare Ojelade, Lagos Winners have emerged in the First Academic Quiz Competition organised by the Association of Commercial Subject Teachers of Nigeria (ASCTON). In the junior category, District 5 emerged winners going home with a cash prize of N30,000; District 4 came second and won a cash prize of N20,000; while District 1 which came third won a cash prize of N10,000. In the senior category, District 6 won the first position alongside with the N30,000 cash prize attached to it; District 1 was the first runners-up winning cash prize of N20,000; while District 2 won the second…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent “an urgent complaint to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention over the arbitrary detention and degrading treatment of deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi (II), [Sanusi Lamido Sanusi].” SERAP said: “The arrest and continued detention of Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is an egregious violation of his human rights. The Nigerian and Kano State authorities have violated the following rights under the Nigerian Constitution, 1999 (as amended) and international law in continuing to detain Emir Sanusi: the right to be free from arbitrary detention; the right to freedom of movement; and…

The Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola has reiterated the administration’s determination to ensure adequate provision of portable water supply to every household in the State. He said the state would continue to do the needful in the provision of basic social amenities for the citizens, adding that the government was committed to ensuring free flow pipe borne water in the state. Governor Oyetola stated this while inaugurating a 8-man Project Monitoring Committee on the ongoing construction of Ilesa water project, at the State Ministry of Water Resources and Energy, Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo. The Ilesa water project is jointly funded…

A Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, has refused to set aside the order of interim forfeiture of some properties linked to Shamsudeen Bala, son of the Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for money laundering offence. Shamsudeen is facing trial before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of a Federal High Court, Abuja on an amended 14-count charge. He is standing trial alongside Bird Trust Agro Allied Limited, Diakin Telecommunications Ltd and Bal-Vac Mining Nigeria Ltd. In the course of the trial, the EFCC had on October…

The Vice-Chancellor of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Professor Michael Olufisayo Ologunde, has reiterated the stance of Management to abuse of drugs among the students of the Institution. He spoke in his office yesterday while playing host to visiting new Oyo State Commander of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Barrister Josephine Obi. Explaining the efforts of the University leadership to his Visitor, he said “we are bothered by the harms already done by drugs to the future of our youths and we have therefore decided to carry on with our zero tolerance stance. “For us here,…