Gunmen suspected to be pirates on Thursday, 6 February, 2025 abducted at least 13 passengers out 20 travelling along Bonny-Okrika waterways in Rivers State . Also, the Bonny Local Government Council had earlier announced that it rescued a total of nine passengers while effort to rescue the 13 passengers on the hijacked boat is ongoing. Chairman of LG council, Anengi Claude-Wilcox, who confirmed the development, said leaders in the area are working with security agencies to rescue the passengers. The council boss also stated that the boat driver allegedly passed through kilometre 10, which is a prohibited channel for commercial purposes. Claude-Wilcox said…
Author: Abimbola Ogunaike
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken a step towards improving the country’s electoral process.According to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, 774 alleged electoral offenders from the 2023 general elections are currently facing prosecution across the country.Speaking at the first quarterly meeting with media executives on Friday, 7 February, 2025, Yakubu revealed that the prosecutions are being conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). However, he expressed concerns over delays in the process due to the absence of an electoral offences tribunal and a defined time frame for such cases.Yakubu noted that regular courts, burdened with multiple…
The House of Representatives has clarified recent reports suggesting it is planning to create 31 new states, noting that the reports are misleading and do not reflect the official stance of the House. A statement issued by the House of Representatives via its spokesman on Thursday, 6 February, 2025 stated that during Thursday’s plenary session, the Deputy Speaker, who also serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review (HCCR), stated that the House had only received 31 proposals from private individuals and groups seeking the creation of new states.He emphasized that these proposals do not mean the House…
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has issued guidelines for the sale of foreign exchange (FX) to Bureaux De Change, BDC, operators. The modalities are outlined in a statement issued by the Trade and Exchange Department of the CBN on Wednesday, 5 February, 2025. The Apex Bank stated that this is in response to its earlier authorization granting temporary access to existing BDCs to the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) for the purchase of FX from authorized dealers. The CBN noted that authorized dealers are only allowed to sell foreign exchange cash to BDCs, subject to a maximum of USD…
Veteran Nollywood actor, Nkem Owoh, popularly addressed as Osuofia, marked his 70th birthday on Friday,7 February, 2025 b taking to social media to express gratitude for the milestone. Owoh, posting on his Instagram page (@osuofia_nkemowoh), wrote: “Chi efogo, and it is my 70th birthday. What else can I say? To God be all the glory. Special thanks to you all for being part of this journey. I love you all.” Several Nollywood stars and entertainment figures flooded the comment section with well wishes: Uche Elendu: “Happy birthday, my John Bull… 70 looks amazing on you, uncle.” Susan Peters: “Happy birthday.”…
Gunmen on Thursday, 6 February, 2025 invaded a Mosque in Bushe community, Sabon Birni local government area of Sokoto State and whisked away the chief Imam and nine others to unknown destination, the gazellenews.com reports. It was gathered that gunmen stormed the mosque at dawn while worshippers were performing their early morning Subhi prayer. Sokoto Police Command Public relations Officer, DSP Ahmed Rufai, confirmed the incident on Friday, 7 February, 2025, saying, “the command in collaboration with other security agencies are working to ensure the immediate release of all the victims.” Rufail said he confirmed the incident from the DPO of the…
Controversial Nigerian singer, Portable, is reportedly on the run as the Ogun State Government arraigned nine of his associates for assaulting officials.. The singer’s proteges were arraigned on Thursday, 6 February, 2025 before an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court presided over by Justice O.M. Somefun The Ogun State Police Command accused the suspects of assaulting government officials from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. The suspects, identified as: Oluwaseun Ayenuwa, 19; Precious Ohiegebo, 19; Oluwapelumi Adeosun, 20; Gospel Kanu, 20; Nurudeen Warris, 21; Adetola Alashe, 25; Fatimo Muhammed, 26; Ifeoluwa Babatunde, 27; and Samuel Adeleke, 28, were arraigned on a five-count…
Lagos State Government said it has earmarked N1.052 trillion in its 2025 budget for infrastructural sustainability, in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s plan to complete ongoing projects in different parts of the State. This was disclosed by Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Ope George, while announcing the breakdown of the year 2025 budget in the different sectors during the ministry’s Budget Analysis press conference held at Alausa, Ikeja on Friday. George addressed the press in the company of his colleagues: Mr Gbenga Omotoso, Information and Strategy; Mr Abayomi Oluyomi, Finance; Prof. Akin Abayomi, Health; Mr…
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda; wife of Lagos Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat; and former Governor Babatunde Fashola on Friday, 7 February, 2025, attended the funeral service of former Lagos State Head of Service and member of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Dr. Akinsanya Sunny Ajose. Other dignitaries at the funeral were: former Deputy Governors: Senator Oluranti Adebule and Princess Sarah Sosan; wife of first civilian Governor of Lagos, Alhaja Abimbola Jakande; members of the House of Representatives and Lagos Assembly; religious,…
Former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki (SAN), has been arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Zone Two, Abuja, presided over by Magistrate Abubakar Jega over allegations of false marriage, adultery, and criminal intimidation. Turaki, who appeared before Magistrate Jega on Thursday, 6 February, 2025 pleaded not guilty to the allegations when the First Information Report (FIR) was read to him in the dock. According to the FIR, Turaki is accused of “deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage, adultery by a man, and criminal intimidation,” offences which are contrary to Sections 383, 387, and 389 of…