Author: Olukayode Oke

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has warned that his administration would seal any bank that continues to withhold the State’s funds. The State government advised banks that have continued to place Post No Debit, PND, on Abia State accounts to immediately resume financial transactions with the State or have their branches sealed in the State. In a statement signed by Barr Chris Ezem, the Secretary to the State government, Governor Ikpeazu said an Abuja High Court which earlier froze Abia State accounts, had also vacated the same order. It added that banks have no reason to disobey the Abuja High…

The Federal Government says it will increase excise tax on tobacco products from 30 per cent ad-valorem to 50 per cent as part of measures to control tobacco smoking in the country. Dr Mangai Malau, Head, Tobacco Control Unit, non-communicable Disease Division, Federal Ministry of Health, disclosed this on Tuesday, at the National Tobacco Control Budget Advocates Meeting in Abuja. Malau presented a paper titled “Overview of Tobacco Control Funding/Budgeting in Nigeria: Why Tobacco Control Budgeting and Funding?” He said that presently, the Federal Government imposed a 30 per cent tax on tobacco products but its target was to increase…

Chelsea’s hopes of salvaging success from a season of abject mediocrity were ended ruthlessly by Real Madrid as the holders advanced into the Champions League semi-final at Stamford Bridge. The Blues were always battling against the odds to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg in the Bernabeu and their cause was not helped by a familiar failing as a battling performance was undermined by missing a succession of clear chances. N’Golo Kante missed a glorious first-half opening while Marc Cucurella was blocked by former Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois when he looked certain to reduce Real’s advantage. The Spanish…

AC Milan reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since winning the competition in 2007 as they saw off Serie A rivals Napoli in an incident-packed game. Milan could face Inter Milan in the last four, with their city rivals going into Wednesday’s second leg with Benfica holding a 2-0 lead. Serie A champions-elect Napoli dominated early on – but Milan won a penalty with one of their first attacks, although Olivier Giroud’s spot-kick was saved by Alex Meret. The veteran Frenchman got the opening goal, though, when he tapped in following a sensational 70-yard run by Rafael…

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has congratulated Governor Ahmadu Fintiri on his emergence as the winner of the Adamawa State governorship election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Fintiri as the winner of the Adamawa governorship election. The Returning Officer, Muhammed Melee, declared Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner after polling 430,861 votes to defeat his major counterpart, Aisha Dalhiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled 398,788. The INEC reopened the collation centre for the supplementary election results on Tuesday after the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Ari, declared Binani the winner of the election, which led…

The Lagos State Parks and Garages Management Committee led by Musiliu Akinsanya popularly known as MC Oluomo has been sacked by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN). The court in a ruling on Tuesday by Justice Maureen Esowe held that the setting up of a parks and management committee by the Lagos State government is illegal. The court in its ruling also barred the state government from further interfering in the operations of the union’s exco. It also ordered the reinstatement of the operations of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Lagos State. According to Justice Esowe, the state government and the…

The Federal Government is set to pay state governments the backlog of stamp duties being owed them. Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State stated this in a letter made available to the Ogun State House of Assembly. Abiodun is seeking the lawmakers’ approval for and payment of the consultancy fee, which will be deducted at source. In the letter read at plenary on Tuesday by the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, Abiodun disclosed that “the 36 States of the Federation filed a case in the Supreme Court seeking amongst other reliefs, the refund of all monies collected as stamp duties to State…

Nigerian music superstar, Peter Okoye of the Psquare group has arrived the city of Naples in Italy ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League clash between Napoli and AC Milan. The singer will be watching live from the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona in a show of support for his friend, Victor Osimhen, who is billed to make a return from injury against the Milan side. Mr. P, as he is fondly called, announced his presence in the city via his Twitter account on Tuesday. “Reporting LIVE from Napoli to support my G @victorosimhen9 #NapoliVsAcMilan 🤞🏾👌🏾,” Okoye wrote on his Twitter handle,…

Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has won his second term. Collation of Officer of the State, Prof Mohammed Mele announced Fintiri winner after he defeated Aishatu Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Aishatu, popularly known as Binani, was earlier illegally announced winner by the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC. Breakdown of the final figures below: AA = 643ADC = 3024ADP = 2174APC = 396,788APGA = 892APM = 606APP = 286LP=2732NNPP= 4852NRM =1272PDP =430,861PRP= 1188SDP= 6870YPP =1431ZLP =200

BARRING further unforeseen circumstances, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will announce the results of the controversial and dramatic Adamawa State governorship election, on Thursday. The INEC will between Tuesday and Wednesday meet as a “Commission” on the matter, National Commissioner and Chairman of information and Voter Education Committee, Dr Festus Okoye, said. The Commission had on Monday suspended its Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr. Hudu Yunusa-Ari for usurping the powers of the Chief Returning Officer and unilaterally returning the All Progressives Congress, APC, Candidate, Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani, as duly elected when collation had not been concluded sparking…

Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota both scored twice as Liverpool claimed a first league win in five games by inflicting a second successive home hammering on Leeds, who remain mired deep in the relegation battle. The Reds had not won since putting seven unanswered goals past Manchester United at the start of March, but after a slow start they ruthlessly dismantled hapless Leeds. The home side claimed Trent Alexander-Arnold used an arm to control the ball but he then drove forward to set up Cody Gakpo for the opener before Salah fired in from an angle to put the visitors…

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has suspended its Resident Electoral Commissioner REC in Adamawa, Hudu Yunusa Ari. The action followed the REC’s controversial pronouncement on Sunday after the supplementary election. Although only Returning Officers have the responsibility of announcing results, Ari declared the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Aisha Dahiru Binani, the winner. The development sparked outrage in the state and across the country, with Governor Ahmadu Fintiri accusing the REC of working for a gang. On Monday, the national headquarters of the electoral umpire ordered Ari to stay away from the commission’s office in Yola, the state capital. A…