By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Kogi State House of Assembly has confirmed 11 new appointees of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo. The lawmakers confirmed the new appointees during plenary on Thursday, 28 March, 2024. Those confirmed are Christopher Ayo Olubunmi, Executive Chairman, Kogi State Christian Pilgrims Commission; Steven Joseph, Permanent Member I; Barnabas Oyibo, Permanent Member II; and Himmikaye Joe-Dare Babajide, Permanent Member III. The Assembly also approved the appointment of Sheikh Luqman Imam Abdullahi, as Executive Chairman, Kogi State Hajj Commission; Hon. Sarikiv Abdullahi Abdulkadir, Permanent Member I; Mohammed Yahaya Abubilat, Permanent Member II; and Haruna Dauda Okuku, Permanent Member III.…
Author: Olamide Obayemi
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC on Monday, 25 March, 2024 arraigned Sufiyanu Yahaya and Mudassir Rabiu Idris before Justice Ibrahim Musa Karaye of the Kano State High Court on one- count separate charges bordering on misappropriation of funds to the tune of N20.500 million. While Yahaya allegedly misappropriated a sum of N11.500 million belonging to a petitioner meant for the supply of rice, Idris allegedly misappropriated the sum of N9 million belonging to a petitioner meant for the purchase of 360 pieces of solar panels. The charge against Yahaya reads: ‘’That you Safiyanu Yahaya sometime in September 2022…
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has advocated for a renewed commitment, especially at the state level, to the fight against Tuberculosis in Nigeria. She spoke during her investiture as the Global and National Stop TB Champion at the State House, Abuja. Senator Tinubu applauded the role of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in raising awareness which has led to a significant improvement in finding and treatment of the disease. “Let me acknowledge the efforts of all stakeholders at the national, regional, and global levels towards addressing the TB epidemic, following the adoption of the…
By Abimbola Ogunnaike Numerical strength of the Labour Party in the Enugu State House of Assembly suffered a major blow as six members of the party defected to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. The lawmakers attributed their defections to the “existence of irreconcilable division, an ongoing crisis within the Labour Party at the national level, and across all the state chapters”. The defected lawmakers are: Ejike Eze, Igbo-Eze North 1; Johnson Ugwu, Enugu North; Princess Ugwu, Enugu South Rural; Pius Ezeugwu, Nsukka West; Amuka Williams, Igbo-Etiti East; and Osita Eze Oji River. Their defection was announced…
“With an estimated reserve of 42 billion barrels of Bitumen and the second largest deposit in the world, Nigeria has no business importing Bitumen, we should be a major net exporter to the rest of the world and we have no choice but to make this a reality” The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, with those words, charged 18 winners of the first round of Bitumen blocks bidding process to roll up their sleeves and work hard to develop Nigeria’s Bitumen deposits. Speaking during a meeting with the concessionaires, Alake urged them to live up to expectations…
By Abimbola Ogunnaike The detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, has accused the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission of violating his fundamental human rights. Gambaryan, in an originating motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/356/24 before an Abuja High Court presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, on Thursday, 28 March, 2024, sought a declaration that his detention and seizure of his international travel passport, contravened Section 35 (1) and (4) of 1999 Constitution. He urged the court to order the NSA and the EFCC to release him from their custody and return his international travel passport with immediate effect. Gambaryan also…
A High Court in Enugu has ruled in favour of Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the widow of Biafra leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, in a lawsuit brought by Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu. Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu had claimed to be the first son of the late Dim Ojukwu and sought to be declared as such by the court. He also sought to prevent Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu from interfering with the administration of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu’s estate and declared that the late Ojukwu died without a will. Furthermore, he claimed entitlement to the late Ojukwu’s estate. The court’s decision comes after…
By Abimbola Ogunnaike The abducted Editor of FirstNews Newspaper, Segun Olatunji, on Thursday, 28 March, 2024, recounted his ordeal at the hands of the military personnel who abducted him from his Lagos home and flew him to Abuja blindfolded as well as spent three days in cell with hands tied. Military authorities had earlier on Thursday, 28 March, 2024 yielded to pressure and released Olatunji, who was abducted from his home in Lagos State on Friday, 15 March, 2024. The PUNCH confirmed that he was released to some media stakeholders, including Yomi Odunuga of The Nation newspaper and Iyobosa Uwugiaren…
Dear President Tinubu Let me start this open letter with commendation on your continuing laudable efforts towards revitalizing the Nigerian economy. Your Excellency, there is no gainsaying the facts that your administration’s commitment to agricultural development, infrastructure revitalization, and economic diversification is truly commendable. The recent increase in funding for agriculture and agricultural loans and grants is a testament to your dedication to empowering Nigerian farmers and stimulating economic growth. As a deaf farmer myself, I am heartened by your efforts and believe that inclusive policies and initiatives will further enhance the impact of these measures, fostering a more equitable…
By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Federal Inland Revenue Service has said that the Federal Government is targeting a Value Added Tax of N5 trillion in 2024 while also putting mechanisms in place to close identified tax gaps. It also said that the FG was ready to align with the Economic Community of West Africa State’s directive on tax reform. The Chairman of the FIRS, Zacch Adedeji, made this disclosure at a press conference organised by the Support Programme for Tax Transactions in West Africa, a programme supported by the European Union and ECOWAS in Abuja on Thursday, 28 March, 2024. The…