Author: Editor Francis

On Monday, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the fundamental human rights lawsuit filed by Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, against the Federal Government. Kanu had sued the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Department of State Services (DSS), seeking N1 billion in damages for alleged violations of his rights. In the suit, marked FHC/CS/1633/2023, Kanu claimed that the DSS and its Director General violated his right to a fair hearing by allegedly preventing his lawyers from having unrestricted interactions with him while he was detained, which impacted his…

Read More

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced the destruction of several illegal oil refining sites in Rivers State and the elimination of numerous terrorists in Niger through recent coordinated air strikes. This information was released in a statement by Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Edward Gabkwet, the Director of Public Relations and Information, on Sunday in Abuja. AVM Gabkwet highlighted that as the activities of oil thieves and economic saboteurs become increasingly sophisticated, the NAF and other security agencies are continuously re-strategizing to stay ahead. He noted that oil thieves often find new methods to conceal their overhead tanks used for…

Read More

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has refuted claims regarding the arrest of Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as Verydarkman. In an official statement, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, clarified that Verydarkman was not arrested but was instead invited for questioning related to allegations of cyber stalking, cyber bullying, and defamation of character. “Contrary to the news making the rounds about the alleged arrest of Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as Verydarkman or VDM, the FCT police command wishes to clarify that Verydarkman was not arrested by the police but was only invited for questioning…

Read More

The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) has called on Organized Labour to promptly mobilize and declare a nationwide strike in response to ongoing disputes over the minimum wage and the recent increase in electricity tariffs. This call to action was made by the National Publicity Secretary of CDWR, Chinedu Bosah. In a statement, Bosah highlighted that the organized labour movement has been in a deadlock with the government and private sector over the issue of a new minimum wage for over three weeks. The impasse has persisted, with the government and private sector maintaining a stance on paying…

Read More

The Federal Government of Nigeria will not initiate any new capital projects in 2025, according to Minister of Works, David Umahi. During a town hall meeting with stakeholders in Calabar, Umahi emphasised the government’s focus on completing ongoing projects, particularly the coastal highway from Calabar to Lagos and the Calabar-Uyo road. “We will resist going into new projects in 2025,” Umahi stated. “We want to pay attention to the coastal highway from Calabar to Lagos. We also want to complete other federal highways, especially the Calabar-Uyo road.” Additionally, Umahi issued a stern seven-day ultimatum to Julius Berger, the contractor for…

Read More

The United Nations cultural agency has discovered five bombs hidden within the walls the historic al-Nouri Mosque in the city of Mosul in northern Iraq, a remnant of the Islamic State militant group’s rule over the area, UNESCO said in a statement Saturday (Jun. 29). Iraqi authorities have requested UNESCO to halt all reconstruction operations at al-Nouri mosque and evacuate the entire complex until the devices are disarmed. The mosque, famous for its 12th-century leaning minaret, was destroyed by IS in 2017 and has been a focal point of UNESCO’s restoration efforts since 2020. UNESCO said that five large-scale explosive…

Read More

 Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted a massive haul of 6,125 cartons of codeine syrup containing 1,050,000 bottles, valued at N7.35 billion in street worth. The seizure, made at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, on Saturday, June 29, 2024, is the third such interception in four weeks. According to a statement by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, the operation followed credible intelligence and meticulous tracking of the consignments from their departure port. A special operations unit of the NDLEA, in collaboration with the Port Harcourt Ports Command and other security agencies, including…

Read More

Obi Aguocha, the representative for the Ikwuano/Umuahia constituency in the National Assembly, has revealed that former President Mohammadu Buhari has assured him that he will not oppose a political resolution for the release of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Aguocha shared this update following a visit to Buhari’s residence in Daura, Katsina State, where he sought the former President’s intervention and support for a political resolution to Kanu’s continued detention and trial. During the visit, Aguocha apologized on behalf of his constituent, Nnamdi Kanu, for any previous missteps and emphasized the importance of promoting understanding and unity. “Former President Buhari welcomed…

Read More

Nigeria can significantly increase its revenue without imposing new taxes, according to Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee. In an interview on Channel Television’s “Politics Today” on Friday, Oyedele highlighted the potential of leveraging technology for better tax administration to close Nigeria’s estimated N20 trillion tax gap. Oyedele emphasised the extensive and comprehensive work his committee has undertaken, which includes consultations with governors, federal revenue services, and key sector stakeholders. He expressed optimism about generating more revenue without increasing taxes. “We have over 60 different taxes and levies but haven’t collected enough to adequately…

Read More

Former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, has called on Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to resolve their differences and focus on peace and governance. Addressing the ongoing political turmoil in Rivers State, Mrs. Jonathan emphasised the need for reconciliation and constructive leadership. She stated, “We at this point plead that the election has come and gone, and now is the time for governance.” As a known advocate for peace, Mrs. Jonathan urged all involved parties to recognise the importance of a stable environment for development. “I will like to…

Read More

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding consumers, promoting fair competition, and ensuring the safety of products available in the market. Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, Acting Executive Chairman of the FCCPC, made this assurance in an interview following a surveillance operation conducted by the commission at several steel companies in Lagos and Ogun states on Friday. Dr. Abdullahi revealed that intelligence and surveillance reports had flagged certain companies for engaging in anti-competitive behaviour. “This prompted us to visit three of these companies to scrutinise their operations, review their records, and analyse ten of their…

Read More

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged Nigerians to prevail on the federal government (FG) to grant its demands for better welfare and administrative conditions in public universities. The union made the request on Friday at a news conference held at the Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu. The zonal coordinator, ASUU Calabar zone, Happiness Uduk, said that the only way to avert the imminent nationwide strike was for the state and federal governments to meet the union’s demands. Ms Uduk said that the body had given a two-week ultimatum for its demands to be met, warning that failure…

Read More