The Kano State Government has filed a fresh fraud charge against the immediate past governor of the state, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, his Commissioner for Local Government, Murtala Garo, and two others. According to the charge sheet, Garo, Lamin Sani and Muhammad Takai were charged with criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, making false statements or return and criminal misappropriation. The state accused them of mismanaging the 44 Local Government’s statutory allocations remitted to the State Joint Local Governments account from the Federation account. They were also accused of criminally diverting N57.4billion through several personal accounts of Local Government’s Cashiers and…
Author: Editor Francis
The African continent is poised to declare a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security as the Mpox (Monkeypox) outbreak continues to spread across many countries. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control, said this during a webinar on Thursday on the Mpox outbreak situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African countries. The News Agency of Nigeria, reports that Mpox is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It is similar to smallpox, though generally less severe. Mpox is characterised by symptoms such as fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. The disease…
The Puebla International Literature Festival has announced its decision to rescind South Africa’s designation as the Country-in-Focus for this year’s event. The decision, which also includes the withdrawal of invitations extended to South African guests, comes in response to recent developments in South Africa that have sparked concern within the African community. In a statement issued by the Festival Director, Ikenna Okeh, the organisers expressed their deep regret over the events unfolding in South Africa, which they described as contributing to a “climate of mob rule.” The statement specifically referenced the victimisation of Chidimma Adetshina, her family, and other members…
The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) has announced administrative charges for candidates participating in the upcoming local government elections scheduled for November 16, 2024. Each chairmanship candidate presented by political parties will be required to pay N250,000, while male councillorship candidates will be charged N150,000. Female councillorship candidates, however, will pay a reduced fee of N100,000, a move aimed at encouraging greater female participation in politics. The announcement was made by OGSIEC Chairman, Mr. Babatunde Osibodu, during a stakeholders’ meeting at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Kuto, Abeokuta. Mr. Osibodu, who was represented by Mr. Olatunji Akoni, a…
Chidinma Vanessa Adetshina, a South African pageant contestant born to a Nigerian father, has withdrawn from the Miss South Africa 2024 competition following intense scrutiny and preliminary investigations by the Department of Home Affairs. The investigation revealed potential fraud and identity theft concerning her citizenship. The Department of Home Affairs launched an inquiry into Adetshina’s citizenship after a wave of controversy erupted online, leading to widespread speculation and debate. According to a media release circulating on social media, the investigation has cast a shadow over her eligibility. In a heartfelt statement, Adetshina expressed gratitude for the support she received throughout…
The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has responded to a viral video showing a Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) officer soliciting money from a passenger at the airport. In a statement released on Wednesday, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of FAAN, condemned the behavior as completely unacceptable. The video, which has been widely shared, shows an unidentified NIS officer persistently begging a tourist for money at the International Airport, even suggesting card payment. This incident has sparked public outrage, with many Nigerians viewing it as a symptom of deeper issues within the country’s values and a…
The Kebbi State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has officially withdrawn from the upcoming local government council elections, scheduled for August 31. The announcement was made by the party’s state chairman, Alhaji Bello Usman-Suru, during a press briefing on Wednesday. Usman-Suru outlined several key reasons for the party’s decision, citing a lack of confidence in the impartiality of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIECOM). He accused the commission’s chairman and commissioners of being card-carrying members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party in Kebbi State. “Organising free, fair, and credible elections will be a mirage under…
Amidst widespread allegations of economic sabotage within Nigeria’s petroleum industry, the Senate has raised concerns regarding the $1.5 billion approved in 2021 for the turn-around maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery, which has yet to yield significant results. The Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating the alleged sabotage, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, addressed these issues during a session with industry stakeholders at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja. The session saw attendance from key figures, including Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Mr. Wale Edun, NNPCL Group Managing Director Malam Melee Kyari,…
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has agreed to participate in a televised public hearing in the Senate. This decision comes in response to a series of allegations accusing the state-owned oil company of sabotaging the nation’s oil sector. Supporting Kyari’s call for transparency, Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), endorsed the idea of broadcasting the hearing live. Ahmed emphasised the importance of allowing Nigerians to witness the proceedings and understand the realities of the situation. Speaking at the National Assembly…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has leveled accusations against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, claiming he has withheld 20 trucks of rice palliatives sent by the federal government. The federal government recently announced a palliative measure of 20 trucks, each carrying 25 bags of rice, for each state and the nation’s capital to mitigate the rising cost of living. In a statement issued on Wednesday, PDP spokesperson Leye Igbabo alleged that Governor Aiyedatiwa has not distributed the palliatives weeks after receiving them. The PDP further accused the governor of planning to repackage and rebrand the rice for distribution to…
The Department of State Service (DSS) is currently investigating seven Polish nationals arrested in connection with the violent #EndBadGovernance protests in Kano. This was revealed by the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, during a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and members of the Diplomatic Corps on Wednesday. Addressing questions, Afunanya explained that the Polish nationals were detained due to the display of foreign flags during the protests in the North-West. He assured that their arrest was not a targeted action against Polish nationals, but part of an ongoing investigation. The meeting, which was attended by Minister of…
The troops of the Nigerian Army have captured two suspected Boko Haram terrorists commanders, apprehended two logistic suppliers and collaborators while 50 terrorists and their families surrendered in the North-East. The army, in a post on its official X handle on Tuesday, said the troops also rescued kidnap victims from various locations and recovered looted items from hoodlums posing as protesters. It said the troops had on Aug. 4, while acting on credible intelligence, apprehended the two terrorists’ commanders, who infiltrated the Damasak Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno. According to the post, the…