Author: Olukayode Oke

A former Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has reacted to the confession of Anambra State student, Mmesoma Ejikeme, of forging her 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results. Naija News earlier reported that the eight-member panel set up by Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State to investigate the controversies surrounding the results claimed by Mmesoma had indicted the student. Headed by Professsor Nkemdili Nnonyelu, the committee confirmed Mmesoma forged the score of 362 as earlier claimed by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). According to the report submitted to the governor, Mmesoma confirmed she single-handedly forged the result before approaching a cyber cafe for printing.…

New Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has assured fans that the team will have a squad capable of delivering trophies. Recall that Pochettino was introduced as new manager on Thursday after several weeks of major player departures. In a chat with the Club’s Official Website, he stated that the most important thing is to get a balanced squad. Pochettino said: “I’m not thinking about how many challenges or the most difficult one. The most important thing is to get a balanced squad. “The plan was to reduce the numbers of players and then create a good dynamic on the training ground.…

President Bola Tinubu is considering halting the De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration Programme for repentant Boko Haram insurgents due to its immense financial burden. The Nigerian government is considering shifting its focus from this costly amnesty program towards fortifying military operations in the Northeast to expedite the end of the insurgency. Amidst these considerations, plans are in place to transfer another 1,000 insurgents from a detention facility in Kainji, Niger State, to a rehabilitation centre in Gombe State. Previous Chief of Defence Staff, General Godwin Irabor, revealed in January that over 83,000 insurgents had surrendered to the Nigerian Army through the Operation…

The panel set up by the Anambra State Government to look into the controversy surrounding the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, result of Miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, has released its report. In the report, the panel indicted the 19-old girl, stating that she forged her result, unaided. The panel consisting of professors and ICT experts recommended: “That Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma tenders an unreserved written apology to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the School (Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Uruagu Nnewi) and the Anambra State Government.” The report added: “This should be done immediately. EJikeme Joy Mmesoma should undergo…

Kefas Agbu, governor of Taraba, has declared free education in all government primary and secondary schools in the state. Kefas, who spoke while on an assessment tour of primary and secondary schools in Wukari, his home town, said the policy takes effect from the next academic session. The governor said the decision will help to cushion the effects of the removal of the petrol subsidy. The governor added that his administration would immediately embark on a massive renovation of most of the schools to enable them to meet the demands of modern-day education. The governor had earlier declared a state…

Rev John Joseph Hayab, Kaduna State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has blamed the rise in banditry on a lack of unity in the country. Speaking at a one-day roundtable on religion and politics in Kaduna on Friday, the cleric accused politicians of fomenting division in society by poisoning the minds of peace-loving people with bigotry. “I vividly recalled that things were not like this before. There is the need to recover our Kaduna State, where everyone cares for the other irrespective of any difference,” he said. The CAN chairman enjoined the citizens of the state to…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will leave Abuja for Guinea-Bissau on Saturday, July 8, to attend the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), taking place in Bissau, the capital of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau. According to Presidential spokesman Dele Alake, the summit, scheduled for Sunday, July 9, will address several important regional topics. These include a report from the 50th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council (MSC) concerning security challenges within member nations; a report from the 90th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers…

Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, is set to return back to the country, his lawyer, Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi, has revealed. Igboho escaped from the country in 2021 after operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, raided his residence in Ibadan, an operation the security agency confirmed led to the death of two persons and the arrest of about 13 others. The DSS, through its spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said it carried out the raid after intelligence reports revealed that Igboho allegedly stockpiled weapons in his house. It, thereafter, launched a manhunt for Igboho who…

Uefa says Aston Villa, Brighton and AC Milan can take part in European competitions this season after they made “significant changes” to comply with multi-club ownership rules. Villa’s owners have a stake in Vitoria Guimaraes and Brighton owner Tony Bloom is involved with Union Saint-Gilloise. Milan and Toulouse are majorly owned by RedBird Capital Partners. Uefa made it’s decision after investigating a “potential conflict with the multi-club ownership rule”. Brighton will be in the Europa League, while Union Saint-Gilloise are in the play-offs for the same competition. Villa have qualified for the Europa Conference League, while Vitoria Guimaraes are in the…

Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, has revealed he is happy to partner with Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, his Vice Presidential running mate in the last election, insisting the collaboration could see youths take back their country to build the New Nigeria of their dreams. Obi made the assertions in a congratulatory message to Baba-Ahmed, who marked his birthday on Friday. The former Anambra State governor said he joined millions of Nigerians to celebrate his colleague’s immeasurable contributions to the country. In a statement via his verified Twitter handle on Friday, Obi said his Vice Presidential candidate’s passionate drive…

A total of 313 Students have been withdrawn from Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja. The Head of Public Relations and Protocol Unit of the institution, Uredo Omale disclosed this in a statement on Friday. Uredo said the students were withdrawn from the institution for poor academic performance. According to her, the withdrawal followed the consideration of the report of the Academic Board Central Result Verification Committee at the meeting of the Board held at the Polytechnic main Campus, Lokoja. The statement further stated the Chairman of the Board who doubles as the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Salisu Ogbo Usman, disclosed…

Governor Ademola Adeleke nominates two ex-commissioners that served under former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, alongside 23 others, sends their names to the Osun State House of Assembly. The Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Adewale Egbedun, read out the names as contained in the letter sent to the lawmakers by Governor Ademola Adeleke at the plenary on Friday. The two members of Aregbesola’s cabinet that made the list are Mr. Kolapo Alimi, who served as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Mr. Biyi Odunlade, who was Special Adviser and later Commissioner for Sports. Others nominated by Adeleke…