Author: Omolemi Eboisetale

The Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, granted bail to Olalekan Oyeyemi, an associate of Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is facing charges of terrorism and unlawful killing. The court’s ruling, delivered by Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, came after a formal bail application filed by Oyeyemi’s counsel, Edmund Biriomoni. Oyeyemi, also known as ‘Emir’, was arraigned on eleven counts, including conspiracy, terrorism, unlawful killing, and arson, among others. He had previously pleaded not guilty and was remanded in the Ife Correctional Facility pending trial. During Tuesday’s hearing, the court set Oyeyemi’s bail at N50 million, requiring two sureties to provide the…

The air component of Operation Hadarin Kai (OPHK) has executed a precision airstrike on the hideouts of ISWAP terrorists, killing over 30 of their fighters within Kolleram village along the shores of Lake Chad. In a statement signed by the Director, Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday in Abuja, AVM Edward Gabkwet, said the airstrikes conducted on April 13 were a decisive blow against terrorism in the North-East. He said the operation yielded significant success as the battle damage assessment post-strike conducted revealed the neutralisation of over 30 terrorists. Gabkwet said that among those neutralised were some…

Several Western nations are calling on Israel to exercise restraint and avoid escalating conflict in the wake of Iran’s recent attack on the country.  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened Israel’s war cabinet for the second time in less than 24 hours to discuss the response to Iran’s missile and drone assault over the weekend. Israel’s army chief, General Herzi Halevi, assured troops that Israel would respond to the attack, stating that any incursion into Israeli territory would not go unanswered. The Iranian attack, which targeted Israel with over 300 drones and missiles, was purportedly in retaliation for an earlier April…

President Bola Tinubu has declared April 7 as National Police Day. Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, made this known on Monday night during the maiden edition of the Nigeria Police Awards and Commendations ceremony held in the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. He identified a complete overhaul of institutional mentality and memory of police officers as fundamental to his administration’s ongoing bid to transform the force into a modern, professional, and accountable institution. He said that his administration had initiated wide-ranging reforms to revitalise the nation’s force since assuming office in 2023. He, therefore, stressed the need to engage men…

On the first day of the highly anticipated Trump hush money trial in New York City, proceedings kicked off with jury selection amidst a flurry of dismissals and legal wrangling. Former President Donald Trump faces felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, marking a historic moment as the first former U.S. president to stand trial on criminal charges. The day’s events unfolded with notable developments, including the dismissal of dozens of potential jurors, some citing scheduling conflicts, such as a conflict with a child’s wedding or other personal engagements. The jury selection…

The federal government has stated its plan to position Nigeria as a leading player in the global stage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) development and regulation.  The Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, stated this during the opening ceremony of a four-day workshop titled “Developing the High-Level Strategy and Implementation Plan for a National AI Strategy for Nigeria” held in Abuja. Dr. Tijani emphasized the need for Nigeria to actively participate in shaping the development and regulation of AI, considering the imminent global convergence on AI deployment strategies by major world powers. He stated the transformative potential…

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, convened an urgent security council meeting in Lafia, the state’s capital. The meeting, held on Monday, aimed to address the recent surge in kidnappings and the alarming activities of ethnic militia groups across various local government areas. Governor Sule expressed deep concern over the escalating security issues, particularly kidnappings, and the activities of groups like the Bassa militia. He highlighted areas such as Keffi, Doma, Lafia, Awe, Obi, Keana, Karu, and Nasarawa as hotspots for such criminal activities. He stated the need to tackle disputes between communities, citing a recent incident in the Udege area.…

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is preparing for a contentious debate in the House of Commons as lawmakers return from Easter recess, with the Rwanda deportation bill taking precedence. The legislation, aimed at reviving the stalled deportation scheme to Rwanda, faces scrutiny after encountering setbacks and opposition from various quarters. The bill, officially titled the Safety of Rwanda Bill, seeks to enable the government’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Kigali, Rwanda. This initiative, originally proposed two years ago by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has been marred by legal challenges, including a Supreme Court ruling deeming the scheme unlawful. Despite…

Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)­ is set to travel to Paris and Geneva, to lead an important humanitarian assistance efforts in crisis-stricken regions. From April 15-16, Deputy Administrator Coleman will spearhead the U.S. government delegation’s engagements, stating the unwavering commitment of the United States to provide crucial humanitarian aid and fostering closer collaboration with other donors and regional stakeholders. In Paris, on April 15, Deputy Administrator Coleman will participate in the International Humanitarian Conference on Sudan, co-hosted by France, Germany, and the European Commission. The conference will serve as a platform to…

Donald Trump goes to court Monday as the first US ex-president ever to be criminally prosecuted, a seismic moment for the United States as the presumptive Republican nominee campaigns to re-take the White House. The scandal-plagued 77-year-old is accused of falsifying business records in a scheme to cover up an alleged sexual encounter with adult film actress Stormy Daniels to shield his 2016 election campaign from adverse publicity. The so-called hush money affair is only one of four criminal cases hanging over Trump and some legal observers suggest it is the least serious. But the real prospect of…

The Nigerian stock market witnessed a downturn, losing N633 billion in market capitalization as investors reacted to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) proposed recapitalization plan for banks.  Investors were prompted to take profits, leading to a 1.1 per cent decrease in the market capitalization of listed equities. The benchmark All Share Index (ASI) of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) also declined by 1.1 per cent to 102,314.56 basis points, driven by notable losses in key banking stocks such as Guaranty Trust Company (GTCo) Plc, FBN Holdings Plc, and Zenith Bank Plc. Month-to-Date (MtD) and Year-to-Date (YtD)…

The Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) has urged President Bola Tinubu to halt the proposed issuance of a new National Identity Card, citing concerns over its potential misuse of public funds and lack of a comprehensive national strategy. In a statement released by HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the organization criticized the planned exercise as detrimental to the commonwealth of Nigerians. They emphasized the need for beneficial public policies governing the issuance of such a crucial document. The controversy surrounding the new National ID arose following an announcement by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) regarding its collaboration with the…