The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone B, South-South, has called on the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Service (DSS) to arrest and prosecute the association’s factional leader, Lucky Emonefe, on charges of impersonation and attempted fraud. This call was made during a press conference in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, by the Zonal Secretary, Comrade Nathaniel Archibong. Archibong, alongside other NANS leaders from the zone, alleged that Emonefe has been impersonating the president of NANS and attempting to defraud the Akwa Ibom State government of N13 billion. The accusations stem from a two-page letter…
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
The Democratic Republic of Congo unveiled a new government on Wednesday, ending more than five months of deadlock following President Felix Tshisekedi’s re-election. The announcement came less than two weeks after the country’s military said it had thwarted a coup attempt that saw armed men attack a minister’s home before entering the Palais de la Nation that houses Tshisekedi’s offices in the capital Kinshasa. It also came at a time of renewed fighting in eastern DRC, where the Congolese army is trying to regain territory seized by Rwanda-backed M23 (March 23 Movement) rebels. Announced around 02:00 am local time (0100…
Equities fell Wednesday on lingering worries about the outlook for US interest rates, while oil prices extended their gains after an attack on a ship in the Red Sea stoked fresh worries about supplies from the Middle East. With crucial inflation data out of the United States due at the end of the week, investors are largely playing a waiting game, with many inclined to sell after a recent run-up. Asian investors shifted nervously Wednesday and markets fell across the region, with Hong Kong leading the losses owing to heavy selling in Chinese tech firms. Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Mumbai,…
As the highly anticipated conclusion of former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial looms, the nation finds itself on the edge of its seat, awaiting the verdict that could reshape political landscapes and public perception. After more than a month of proceedings in a New York City courtroom, where Trump stands accused of falsifying business documents to cover up hush money payments, the trial has reached its climax. With both prosecution and defense having presented their cases, the fate of Trump now rests in the hands of 12 New Yorkers tasked with making an historic decision. The options before the jury…
An Israeli airstrike targeted a tent camp in Rafah, Gaza, resulting in the deaths of dozens of civilians. The strike, which hit an area where displaced Palestinians were seeking shelter, sparked a fire that swept through the camp, leaving behind scenes of horror and tragedy. Local officials reported that at least 45 people, mostly women and children, lost their lives in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood, with fears that the death toll could rise as more casualties are discovered amidst the flames. Images and videos shared on social media depicted the chaos and anguish as residents scrambled to escape the inferno,…
Severe storms wreaked havoc across multiple states over the Memorial Day weekend, leaving at least 22 people dead and a trail of destruction in their wake. The aftermath of the holiday weekend saw devastating tornadoes and storms sweep through Arkansas, Texas, Kentucky, and Oklahoma, claiming lives and causing widespread damage to homes and infrastructure. Tragically, the toll includes casualties ranging from adults to children, as well as significant losses in property and livestock. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott confirmed seven fatalities, including two children, following tornadoes and severe weather that battered northern parts of the state. The destruction left behind…
Germany has extolled President Bola Tinubu’s leadership role as Chairman, Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), particularly his disposition against unconstitutional change of government by military coups. German Ambassador to Nigeria Annett Gunther disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. She was speaking against the background of the one year anniversary of Tinubu’s leadership since May 29, 2023 when he assumed office as Nigeria’s president. A coup d’etat was launched in the Republic of Niger on July 26, 2023, coming only a few…
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has discovered 122 illegal oil refining sites within the past week across the Niger Delta region, intensifying its fight against oil theft and vandalism. In a recent documentary released by the NNPCL, the company detailed the extensive efforts made to tackle the rampant issue. Among the discoveries were 65 illegal pipeline connections, which were promptly removed in Rivers State and other parts of the oil-rich Niger Delta. One of the major busts involved a filling station in Grey Creek, Akwa Ibom State, which was sealed for selling illegally refined fuel to motorists. The…
In a high-stakes trial, Donald Trump’s attorneys made their final plea to the jury on Tuesday, urging them to disregard key witness Michael Cohen’s testimony. The former president faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made during his 2016 presidential campaign. Prosecutors argue that Trump orchestrated a scheme to conceal damaging information, while Trump’s defense team claims the payments were legitimate legal expenses. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass emphasized the “overwhelming” evidence against Trump and urged the jury to “focus on the facts” and hold Trump accountable. He highlighted Trump’s own acknowledgment of reimbursement payments and argued…
The amount of currency outside banks (CoB) in Nigeria experienced a drop of N27.5 billion (0.55%) month-on-month (MoM), falling to N3.6 trillion in April from N3.627 trillion in March 2024. This decline marks the first decrease in CoB this year, following a steady rise since January 2024, as reported by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Despite this reduction, currency-in-circulation (CIC) increased by 1.5% MoM, reaching N3.92 trillion in April from N3.86 trillion in March. The decline in CoB highlights ongoing issues surrounding the availability of cash in banks, with customers and Point of Sale (PoS) operators lamenting limited cash…
The Federal Government has commenced the free distribution of gas cylinders, aiming to transition at least one million homes to clean cooking gas by 2030. This initiative, part of the ‘Decade of Gas’ program, was inaugurated yesterday in the Apo Resettlement area of Abuja. The launch event saw the distribution of 1,000 gas cylinders, each filled with 3kg of gas, to women from the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory. This marks the beginning of the government’s plan to distribute approximately 250,000 cylinders annually, focusing on rural communities nationwide. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo,…
UNICEF on Wednesday condemned a “distressing” 70 percent rise in grave violence against children in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, countries plagued by jihadists and other armed groups. The three Sahel states are all under military rule after experiencing coups since 2020, with civilians caught in a spiral of clashes between jihadists, community militias, bandits, regular armies and their auxiliaries. Mali is also facing a separatist insurrection. “In the last three months of 2023, grave violations against children in the central Sahel increased by more than 70 percent compared with the previous three months,” said Gilles Fagninou, UNICEF Regional Director…