On Friday, Justice Peter Lifu of the Abuja Federal High Court granted Chioma Okoli bail in the sum of N5 million and two sureties in the same amount. The judge stipulated that one surety must be either Okoli’s spouse or a blood relative with a verifiable source of income residing within the court’s jurisdiction. Both sureties are required to deposit a passport photograph each, and Okoli must submit her international passport if she has one. Okoli faces a two-count charge of cybercrime stemming from a Facebook post on September 17, 2023, where she criticized Erisco Foods Limited’s Nagiko Tomato Mix,…
Author: Editor Francis
The Oyo State House of Assembly has condemned the torture and murder of Akor Alexander Timileyin, a 200-level Mechanical Engineering student at Ajayi Crowther University, describing the act as barbaric and appalling. Lawmakers responded to a motion of urgent public importance presented by Chief Whip Hon. Gbenga Oyekola, representing the Atiba state constituency. The motion, titled “Urgent Need for Government Action Regarding the Torture and Murder of Alexander, a 200-level Engineering Student at Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo,” detailed the tragic incident. Alexander was reportedly subjected to severe physical abuse following an accusation of phone theft, which led to his death.…
Federal Government Disburses N3.8 Billion to Support Stranded Nigerian Scholars AbroaFederal Government Disburses N3.8 Billion to Support Stranded Nigerian Scholars Abroad The Federal Government has announced the disbursement of N3.8 billion to aid Nigerian scholars stranded abroad in recent years. This disclosure was made by Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), during a visit from the House of Representatives Committee on TETFund on Thursday. Echono revealed that the fund has provided financial support to 1,500 scholars, totaling N3.8 billion. Addressing concerns about delays in scholarship payments, he attributed these issues to recent increases in foreign…
In a crucial meeting with the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) at the State House, President Bola Tinubu declared the rising number of out-of-school children in Northern Nigeria unacceptable. Emphasising the importance of education in combating poverty, Tinubu stressed the need for collaborative efforts to enhance the education system. Commending National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu for improvements in national security, Tinubu urged state governments to prioritize local community needs, emphasizing accountability and effectiveness in local government administrations. He reiterated his commitment to high performance, stating he would not hesitate to dismiss any underperforming ministers. Tinubu highlighted the…
Irrigation farmers and vegetable traders in Bauchi State have attributed the rising prices of tomatoes and other vegetables to the recent hikes in fuel and fertiliser costs. This was disclosed on Thursday during an interaction with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which conducted a market survey involving traders, traders’ associations, and marketers to identify the factors behind the continuous increase in food prices in Bauchi. Alhaji Sani Abubakar, the chairman of the vegetable traders, highlighted the daily rise in prices of essential vegetables such as tomatoes, pepper, onions, and other greens. He emphasized that unless these underlying…
The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has strongly condemned the attack on a military checkpoint at Obikabia junction in Aba, Abia State, carried out by unknown gunmen enforcing a sit-at-home order on Thursday. According to information gathered , the attack, reportedly executed by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), resulted in the deaths of at least two soldiers. The streets in many parts of the Southeast were deserted following the sit-at-home directive issued by the secessionist group to commemorate 2024 Biafra Day. In a statement, COSEYL President General Goodluck Ibem described the murder of the military…
Minister of Works, David Umahi, has expressed disappointment over the behaviour of several political figures he assisted during the 2023 general election, stating that many now avoid him. In a candid conversation with newsmen, Umahi revealed that even National Assembly members, whom he helped ascend to power, are among those distancing themselves from him. Despite this, he remains undisturbed by their actions. Umahi highlighted that Chief Onyekachi Nwebonyi is the only one who openly acknowledges him as a mentor and benefactor. “The others fear that recognising me publicly might anger the state governor, my successor. However, the governor himself acknowledges…
The Nigerian government has strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza, emphasising the need to preserve the fundamental human rights of the vulnerable civilian population, particularly their right to life. In a statement signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria expressed its deep concern over the escalating violence in the Israel-Palestine conflict. “The government and people of Nigeria condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the onslaught on defenceless civilians currently being witnessed in Gaza. The latest deadly attacks on the Rafah Displacement Camps in Southern Gaza on Sunday, which killed about 45 people, mostly women…
The management of the National Medical Services (NMS) Laboratories in Pennsylvania has refuted claims made by the Lagos State Government that a toxicology test to determine the cause of death of Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, was conducted at their facility. NMS Labs’ response followed inquiries by PUNCH Metro, which sought to verify the circumstances surrounding the musician’s death. This investigation comes amidst public protests against a pathologist’s claim that an autopsy could not determine Mohbad’s cause of death due to the decomposition of his body. Previously, the counsel for the Lagos State Government, O. Akinde, had…
Chief Bisi Akande, the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), revealed that serious spiritual threats were posed to prevent Asiwaju Bola Tinubu from being inaugurated as Nigeria’s president. This revelation came during a one-day lecture organised by the Arewa Think Tank in Kaduna to celebrate the one-year achievements of President Tinubu’s administration. Chief Akande, chairing the event, stated, “The tension and threats generated in the country by the opposition to deny Tinubu the presidential victory in the election were not surprising.” He noted that opposition forces have historically aimed to undermine Nigeria’s unity since Chief Tony Enahoro…
The growth rate of Nigeria and other West African countries is projected to rise from an estimated 3.6 per cent in 2023 to 4.2 and 4.4 per cent in 2024/2025. The African Development Bank (AfDB) Vice-President and Chief Economist, Kevin Urama, said this at Thursday’s highlight of the African Economic Outlook 2024. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the report was inaugurated on the sidelines of the bank’s ongoing 2024 Annual Meetings in Nairobi, Kenya. The theme of the meeting is: ”Driving Africa’s Transformation: The Reform of the Global Financial Architecture. ” ”Growth is projected to pick up in…
Kimberly-Clark, the renowned producer of the popular diaper brand Huggies and various sanitary pads, is set to announce the closure of its production facility in Ikorodu, Nigeria, after investing $100 million in the country over several years. This decision marks another blow to Nigeria’s already struggling economy and workforce. An anonymous insider revealed to Nairametrics that Kimberly-Clark has been grappling with operating below capacity since late 2023, citing Nigeria’s challenging economic conditions as the primary reason. This closure is the second for the company in Nigeria; it previously halted operations in 2019 following a business review but resumed in 2022…