The House of Representatives has called on Aliko Dangote, owner of Dangote Refinery, to reveal the price at which he sells petroleum products to NNPC Limited and other major marketers. In addition, the lawmakers have requested NNPC Limited to disclose the payments being made to the refinery for crude oil supplies. This resolution followed a motion raised by Oboku Oforji during Thursday’s plenary session. Reports indicate an ongoing dispute between NNPC Limited and Dangote Refinery over the cost per litre of petrol supplied from the refinery. NNPC claims to be purchasing petrol at N898 per litre, a figure disputed by…
Author: Editor Francis
A high court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Thursday sentenced five men charged with the Offa bank robbery incident to death by hanging. The court convicted Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye and Adeola Abraham. Delivering judgment, Justice Haleema Saliman held that the five defendants were found guilty of conspiracy, armed robbery, culpable homicide and illegal possession of firearms. Saliman said that the defendants caused the death of people, including police officers and civilians during the armed robbery in Offa, on April, 2018, which is punishable by death. Earlier, the lead prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacob (SAN) said…
The United Nations Children’s Fund has said the first 1,000 days of a child’s life is critical to physical development and brain growth The Nutrition Officer, UNICEF Field Office Kano, Abigail Nyam, stated this in Zaria, on Thursday, during a media dialogue on children’s advocacy priorities. The dialogue was for news and programmes managers of radio and television stations in Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states. Ms Nyam said that a woman’s nutrition during pregnancy, breastfeeding as well as baby’s nurturing care in the first two years was extremely important for a healthy future. She further said that maternal and child…
The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board has suspended two senior officers at the Kirikiri Medium Custodial Centre in Lagos following allegations that Nigerian crossdresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, did not serve his sentence in the facility after being convicted for abusing the naira. According to a memo issued on Thursday and signed by the board’s secretary, Ja’afaru Ahmed, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) Michael Anugwa and DCC Sikiru Adekunle, both in charge of the Kirikiri Medium Custodial Centre, have been suspended pending further investigation. The suspension follows a voice note shared by social critic Martins…
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has refuted claims that Nigeria lost $49.8 billion during his tenure, as stated by the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, in his new book. Jonathan addressed the issue on Thursday in Abuja at the launch of the book, Public Policy and Agent Interests: Perspectives from The Emerging World*, edited by former Minister of Finance, Shamsuddeen Usman. Speaking at the event, Jonathan clarified that it was impossible for the country to lose such a substantial amount and still manage to pay salaries. He disagreed with Sanusi’s assertion, which claimed that he was removed from his…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed new charges against former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, accusing him of involvement in a N110 billion fraud. This comes as an escalation of previous charges, where Bello and several associates were accused of laundering N80.2 billion. The latest set of 16 charges, dated September 25, 2024, lists Yahaya Bello, Umar Oricha, and Abdulsalami Hudu as defendants. The EFCC alleges that they committed criminal breach of trust with funds entrusted to them from the Kogi State treasury, increasing the alleged money laundering total to N110.4 billion. The charges indicate that Bello,…
U.S. First Lady, Jill Biden, hosted a farewell luncheon for First Ladies from around the world, including Nigeria’s Oluremi Tinubu, on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. The event, held on Wednesday, marked Jill Biden’s final gathering as First Lady of the United States. Reflecting on the relationships built during her time in office, Jill Biden expressed gratitude for the continued partnership of the global leaders’ spouses in promoting peace and development worldwide. She assured the attendees that their relationships would continue beyond her tenure, which ends in January 2025. “I appreciate you…
The Nigerian government has announced plans to introduce additional taxes on individuals and businesses as part of its Economic Stabilisation Bills, which were approved by the Federal Executive Council on Monday. This development was disclosed by the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, in a statement on his official X account. The initiative, titled “Tax Identification Consolidation and Collaboration (TICC),” is aimed at expanding Nigeria’s tax base and increasing revenue. According to Oyedele, the plan is part of 15 different tax, fiscal, and establishment laws designed to ensure economic stability and promote sustained,…
The Federal Government has approved an increase in the monthly allowance for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to N77,000, effective from July 2024. This adjustment follows the enactment of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024. Caroline Embu, Acting Director of Information and Public Relations for the NYSC, announced the development in a statement. The increase was confirmed in a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, dated September 25, 2024, and signed by its chairman, Ekpo Nta. The increase comes after NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Y.D. Ahmed, visited the Commission to advocate for a more…
Nigerian rapper and activist Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, has confirmed his contact with controversial social media personality Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, regarding the legal issues Bobrisky faced earlier this year. However, Falz firmly denied any involvement in assisting Bobrisky financially or influencing his legal case. Falz’s clarification came on Wednesday after his legal team, Falana & Falana Chambers, issued a letter to Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, demanding the retraction of defamatory statements made against Falz. The statements, posted on social media, suggested that Falz conspired with Bobrisky to “pervert the course of justice” by…
The Federal Government has launched a comprehensive investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). This follows claims that popular crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, did not serve his jail term in a correctional facility after his sentencing earlier this year. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, gave the directive in a statement issued on Wednesday by his media aide, Babatunde Alao. The decision comes after reports surfaced, alleging that Bobrisky, instead of serving his time in prison, spent his sentence in a rented apartment near the correctional centre. The claims were brought…
The Senate has commenced the screening of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun for confirmation as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). Kekere-Ekun, who has been serving as the Acting CJN since August, following the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, appeared before the Senate on Wednesday, accompanied by justices from various courts and members of her family. This development comes just 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu sent a formal request to the Senate, urging them to screen and confirm Kekere-Ekun as the substantive CJN. In a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu stated, “I have the honour to forward…