Author: The Gazelle News

Four days after the quartet of British Airways, Rwandair, Emirates and Qatar Airlines diverted their flights from the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos to Kotoka International Airport, in Accra, Ghana, about 1500 Nigerian passengers are yet to be airlifted back to the country. The passengers, who are already stranded are uncertain as to when they will finally depart Ghana for Nigeria. PRNigeria gathered that despite making assurances, the affected airlines, are yet to airlift their stranded passengers, citing poor visibility caused by harmattan around airspaces in Lagos. It was also learnt that British Airways have already concluded plans…

•By Dare Ojelade, Lagos It was ‘raining’ projects in Bariga Local Council on Friday, 14 February, 2020 as Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, commissioned many projects in the Council area, The Gazelle News.com reports. The Gazelle News.com can confirmed that the Governor inaugurated 11 road projects, a state of the art health care centre and fully furnished three blocks of classrooms. The Gazelle News.com reports further that the projects were completed by the Chairman of Bariga LCDA, Hon Kolade Alabi. The Gazelle News.com also reports that Governor Sanwo-Olu’s intervention accelerated the completion of the 1.6-kilometre long road projects, two…

•By Ademola Olamide, Ilorin Kwara State Government has collected a total of N300 million from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of the state’s looted fund by administrations in the state, The Gazelle News.com can report.  The state Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, The Gazelle News.com learnt, revealed this on Friday, 14 February, 2020 in Ilorin.  Governor AbdulRazaq was speaking during an anti-corruption walk organised by the EFCC in conjunction with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).  The Gazelle News.com also gathered that the Governor confirmed that the fund came in two instalments. “We had earlier collected N100 million…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday February 14, 2020 re-arraigned Faisal Maina, son of the former Chairman Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Abdulahi Maina, before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja on amended three-count charge. The EFCC is prosecuting the younger Maina for money laundering and false declaration of asset. While the matter today was for further examination of second prosecution witness (PW2), the prosecution team, led by M.S. Abubakar, relying on Section 216 (1) of Administrative Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), tendered the amended three-count charge against the defendant. However, counsel to the defendant,…

APC’s David Lyon has reacted to the Thursday, February 13th ruling by the Supreme court annulling his election as the governor-elect of Bayelsa state and instatement of PDP’s Duoye Diri as the new governor-elect of the state. Addressing a press conference in the state this morning, Lyon described the judgement as a ”procured judgement”. He urged his supporters to remain calm. Represented by the member representing Southern Ijaw federal constituency, Preye Oseke, the sacked APC governor-elect said: “We are in shock. We as a party and as people of Bayelsa are rejecting the judgement completely. It is a procured judgement.…

Alhaji, a play by Nollywood veteran, Bimbo Manuel, will make its debut in March. It is a story about sexually active and polygamous Alhaji, who finds that he cannot perform anymore. Out of shame and fear of losing his wives, he is forced to keep it a secret. He is however caught in a web of intrigue that threatens his home. The play discusses a serious matter affecting marriages and relationships and features top Nollywood actors such as Hilda Dokubo, Monalisa Chinda Coker amongst others. It will show every Sunday in March at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos. Tickets are…

…as Uche, Sylvia, Jerry and Presh Talker join quest to find ‘Ultimate Love’ It was a Valentine surprise over at the Love Pad as four new Love Guests made their grand entrance Thursday afternoon bringing the total number of Love Guests to 20! The new Love Guests: Uche, Jerry, Presh Talker and Sylvia have joined the competition making it even stiffer for the initial Love Guests and may alter certain relationships being formed in the Love Pad. 28-year-old Uche is an Economist who believes that love takes time. An important component for Uche in a relationship is that both parties…

•By Ademola Akanni, Abuja The Federal Government is committed to an improved Federal Fire Service which will ensure optimum service delivery to the populace. This assurance, The Gazelle News.com can report, was given by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in Abuja on Thursday, 13 February, 2020. The Gazelle News.com can confirmed that the Minster gave the assurance at the passing out parade of the 5th Regular Cadets at the National Fire Academy, Sheda, Abuja. Aregbesola also commissioned six new modern firefighting trucks recently procured by the Fire Service, The Gazelle News.com can report. According to the Minster, in…

•By Adeyemi Olanrewaju, Akure The First Lady of Ondo State, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has definitely not forgotten her roots. For those who are not aware, The Gazelle News.com can report that the wife of the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, is a native of Emeabiam, a community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State. The Gazelle News.com can report that Betty has not forgotten her roots despite her marriage to a Yoruba man. She has been involved in humanitarian services not only to the people of Ondo State where her husband is the number one citizen, she…

The Supreme Court on Thursday nullified the election of Bayelsa State governor-elect, David Lyon, and his running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, who were already preparing to be inaugurated on Friday (tomorrow). A five-man panel of the apex court, led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to the All Progressives Congress’ candidates who had been declared winners of the November 16, 2019 governorship election in the state. The apex court ordered INEC to issue fresh certificates to the candidates of the party with the next highest votes and with the required…

The Committee on Citizen Data Management and Harmonization inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that it would enhance speedy harmonization of Nigeria’s numerous citizen identification data held by different government Ministries, Departments and Agencies with a view to ensuring a single database owned and managed by the Federal Government. The Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Committee, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in his inaugural speech at the meeting held in his Office in Abuja on Wednesday, 12 February, 2020,  stated that President Muhammadu Buhari Government is committed to the global fight against terrorism and as such would leave no…

The All Progressives Congress, APC has inaugurated a 12-man National Reconciliation Committee to heal the wounds of the aftermath of 2019 general elections. The National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole inaugurated the committee at the party office in Abuja. Chief Bisi Akande, one of the founding fathers of the party is to serve as the Chairman, the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase is the Vice Chairman while Mr. John Enoh is the Secretary. Other members of the Committee are: Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, Senate Leader,…

A 20-man Steering Committee has been inaugurated for the Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, KSADP. The Project is a $95 million project funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Life and Livelihoods Fund (LLF). It focuses on improving crop production and enhancing livestock productivity in the state, even as its overall objective is to contribute to reducing poverty and strengthening food and food security. In a message to the inauguration, the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna explained “that the project emphasizes enhancement of agricultural production, productivity and competitiveness of both crop and livestock, with expected…

An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday, 12 February, 2020, adjourned till 21st February, 2020 the suit filed by the State Government in which it is seeking to restrain the sacked council chairmen from forcefully taking over the council secretariats in the state. The sacked Council Chairmen under the aegis of Association of Local Government of Nigeria(ALGON) had sought to take control of the council secretariats by relying on a letter written by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and another by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, urging them to put effect to a judgement of the Supreme Court on…

The Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) has described the appointment of Alhaji Zikrullah Olakunle Hassan as the new Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) as apt. In a congratulatory message to the new Chairman which was signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun and Tajudeen Adebanjo, National President and National Secretary respectively, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing a Muslim from the South West, to head the Commission. The apex Muslim body for Media Practitioners in the country said that Hassan’s appointment by Mr President is a demonstration of our believe in Mr President’s detribalised nature. “We have no…

Valentines Day is here, and in the spirit of the season, here is an old essay I wrote in 2017.  I received an email from a young man who claimed I was always championing the cause of women, and he wanted to know, ‘What advice do you have for men? I am getting married soon and I don’t want to get into trouble. How can I be a good husband?’. In response to his question I wrote a Loud Whispers article called ‘How to be a good husband: Ten suggestions’.  I do not like giving relationship advice to either my…

The Senate on Wednesday, 12 February, 2020, held a valedictory session to honour late Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu, who until his death represented Imo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly on the platform of the All Progressive Congress. The Session which started at 11:00am and ended 2:35pm, had Senators eulogizing and reliving individual experiences and last moments with the deceased lawmaker who died on December 18, 2019. The Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (APC – Kebbi North), who opened the floor for valedictory speeches described the lawmaker as an icon who had an active and impactful political life. “Late Senator Benjamin…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has vowed to apprehend the promoter of a report in the social media, claiming its Port Harcourt holding facility is overcrowded and alleging mistreatment of detainees. Head of the Port Harcourt Zonal office, Usman Imam speaking at a media briefing today, February 12, 2020, dismissed the report as fake news. According to him, “the picture of detainees crammed into an open air cell purported to belong to the EFCC Zonal office in Port Harcourt is fake. The images are strange to us”.  He further stated that the Commission, “do not have an open…

Justice Okon Abang of Federal High Court, Abuja has adjourned the trial of Gabriel Suswam, a former Benue State governor until February 25, 2020. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting Suswam and the Commissioner for Finance in his administration, Omadachi Okolobia on money laundering charges to the tune of N3.1billion. They are alleged to have conspired to launder money, belonging to the state government through the engagement of Abubakar Umar, a bureau de change operator and owner of Fanffash Resources. At the resumed hearing on February 12, 2020, Umar, the fourth prosecution witness, PW4, under cross-examination by Paul…

The Mayegun of Yorubaland, Dr. Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, has commiserated with the family of Dr Victor Olaiya, the iconic highlife musician, who died earlier today at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi-Araba. He was 89. In a statement released by the media office of the Mayegun, he said, “Indeed, Sir Victor Olaiya’s death, though at the advanced age of 89, is a profound loss to the Yoruba race and global music industry; we are nonetheless comforted by the fact that he used his talent to bless humanity in general.” The Mayegun of Yorubaland. stated that though the highlife music…