Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, is set to be arraigned at the Ikeja State High Court in Lagos on Monday, April 8, 2024, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Emefiele, along with his co-defendant Henry Isioma Omole, faces 26 counts of alleged abuse of office relating to the allocation of billions of United States dollars. The charges, filed by Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) on April 3, 2024, accuse Emefiele of directing arbitrary allocations of foreign exchange without bids, totaling $2.1 billion between 2022 and 2023. The EFCC alleges Emefiele directed similar actions totaling hundreds of millions…
Author: Editor Francis
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Friday that he plans to unveil a robotaxi this summer, signalling the company’s continued push into self-driving technology despite recent safety concerns. Musk revealed that the “Tesla Robotaxi unveil” is set for August 8, though specifics were not provided. Tesla’s stock saw a surge of over three percent in after-market trading following Musk’s announcement, a welcome rebound after a day of decline. The unveiling aligns with Musk’s longstanding assertions regarding Tesla’s advancements in autonomous driving capabilities. Musk has previously touted Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system as surpassing human capabilities, envisioning a future where human-driven…
In a recent interview with Channels Television, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, cautioned against the possibility of some state governors utilising state police as a tool for oppression. Falana emphasised the necessity for robust legal safeguards to prevent governors from leveraging police apparatus to intimidate or suppress political opponents. Highlighting the current landscape of policing in the nation, Falana noted the decentralisation already present in residential areas and communities, where private security outfits, armed with various weapons, safeguard inhabitants. He stressed the importance of clearly delineating the jurisdiction of state police to avoid inter-rivalry and conflicts among security…
Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, is gearing up to take legal action against President Bola Tinubu, as reported by Saturday Vanguard. The impending legal battle stems from allegations levied against El-Rufai, labelling him a security risk and rendering him unfit for ministerial office under the Tinubu administration. El-Rufai aims to clear his name both in the courts and in the court of public opinion, where his reputation has been tarnished. Recent events have seen El-Rufai actively engaging with political stakeholders, particularly in Northern Nigeria, and aligning himself with opposition figures. This shift follows what his allies and adversaries…
Following the depreciation of the Nigerian currency (Naira) in the past few months, further setbacks have hit the West African market region’s local currency as trans-border traders have started rejecting the currency. Vanguard findings made available to GOVIMA across the Seme border show that the traders on both sides are now preferring either the CFA or the domestic currency of the non-francophone countries. Hitherto, Naira ruled the sub-region as the dominant currency accepted as a medium of exchange by traders across the borders due to the high volume of trade between those countries and Nigeria. The Nigerian currency traded in…
In the currency markets, the naira showed resilience on Friday, marking an upward trend against the US dollar. The parallel market witnessed a positive shift as the naira appreciated to N1,245 per dollar, a slight improvement from N1,250 recorded on Thursday. Likewise, in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), the naira strengthened to N1,251.05 per dollar, according to data from FMDQ. This marked a notable decrease from the previous day’s rate of N1,255.07 per dollar, indicating a positive shift of N4.02 for the local currency. Market dynamics showcased an intraday high of N1,281 per dollar and a low of N1,220…
China is ramping up use of AI-generated content and fake social media accounts to inflame division in the United States and elsewhere, according to the latest report from Microsoft’s threat center. Beijing has “doubled down” on targets and increased the sophistication of its influence operations, Microsoft threat analysis centre general manager Clint Watts said in a report released late Thursday. “China is using fake social media accounts to poll voters on what divides them most to sow division and possibly influence the outcome of the US presidential election in its favour,” Watts said in the report. “China has also increased…
Former President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ali Chiroma, who passed away at the age of 92 at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital after a brief illness, has been hailed by his successor, Comrade Joe Ajaero, for his sacrifices in advancing Nigeria. Speaking at the 3rd day prayers for Chiroma in Maiduguri, Ajaero praised Chiroma’s leadership during turbulent times, particularly under military regimes where the NLC faced significant challenges. He emphasised Chiroma’s courage and intellectual vigour in navigating these difficult periods. Ajaero vowed to draw inspiration from Chiroma’s leadership style and that of other past leaders to…
In a move reflecting a broader shift in policy, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) recently sanctioned a tariff hike for customers classified under the Band A category. Following swiftly in its wake, the Federal Government has now hinted at a comparable measure set to extend to other customer segments. During a press briefing held in Abuja on Friday, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, outlined the recent tariff adjustment as a pivotal step in the gradual elimination of electricity subsidies across the nation. Emphasising the government’s intent to foster investment in the power sector, Adelabu elaborated on plans to eradicate…
President Bola Tinubu expressed gratitude to Mr. Jim Obazee, the Central Bank Investigator, for his service, marking the formal conclusion of the months-long investigation. In an official statement released on Friday by Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Tinubu acknowledged the closure of the investigation following the submission of a final comprehensive report and the dismantling of all operational structures involved. The investigation concluded on March 31, 2024. Tinubu emphasised that, with the conclusion of the investigation, relevant law enforcement and regulatory agencies have commenced follow-up actions. He commended Obazee for his dedication and professionalism throughout…
Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos has deferred the judgment of the notorious cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, famously known as Bobrisky, until April 9, 2024. The ruling comes after Bobrisky pleaded guilty to the charge of abusing the Nigerian currency. Furthermore, the judge has issued a directive for Bobrisky to be returned to the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending the impending judgement. Bobrisky’s fate now rests in the hands of the court as the nation awaits the final verdict on this high-profile case. Stay tuned for further updates.
When it comes to popular slang terms, there’s no denying that TV and film phrases are baked into our culture. Our habit of incorporating fictional terms into real life can be traced back decades—take the term “gaslighting,” for example, which originated in Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 play, “Gas Light,” and spawned a 1940 film by Thorold Dickinson and a 1944 film by George Cukor. Some Hollywood-spawned terms have become so ubiquitous, you might not even realise they were born in writers’ rooms, like “regift” or “friend zone.” Stacker writes about how quotes from older movies and shows have received a boost…