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The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed three separate appeals brought before it by some governorship candidates seeking nullification of the election of Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno on account of alleged certificate forgery. The petitions of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Young Progressive Party (YPP) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) were all dismissed by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji. The petitions by the APC and its governorship candidate, Akanimo Udofia, YPP and its gubernatorial candidate, Akpan Bassey as well as NNPP and its governorship candidate, John Udoedehe, were thrown out by Mr Abba-Aji upon their withdrawals. The lead counsel to the respective parties withdrew their separate appeals following hints from the court’s panel of justices that they had no merit. Counse...

A resident of Ngo Town in Rivers State, Promise Festus, on Thursday appealed for assistance after he lost five of his children in Tuesday’s boat accident in the state. The commercial boat, which he drove, capsized in the Andoni-Bonny waterway, resulting in the drowning of at least 11 of its passengers. Mr Festus was returning his children to Ngo Town from his village after the Christmas and New Year celebrations when tragedy struck. We went to celebrate Christmas with my people, and on my way back with my family, I decided to carry people in my boat because they had no means of travelling. Unfortunately, the boat capsized and there was no rescue in sight. Eleven persons, including my sons and daughters, lost their lives in the process,’’ he said. A visibly-devastated, Mr Festus...

In conformity with plans to restructure and reposition critical agencies of the federal government towards protecting the rights of Nigerian consumers and providing a strong basis for enhanced contributions to the nation’s economy by key growth-enabling institutions, President Bola Tinubu has dismissed the following chief executive officers: (1) Mr. Babatunde Irukera — EVC/CEO, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) (2) Mr. Alexander Ayoola Okoh — Director-General/CEO, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) The two dismissed chief executives are directed to hand over to the next most senior officer in their respective agencies, pending the appointment of new chief executive officers. By this directive of the President, their removal from office takes immedia...

After finally honouring the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Sadiya Umar Farouq, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has been detained for questioning over allegations of corruption in the handling of N37.1 billion social intervention funds during her tenure. Mrs Umar-Farouq who arrived at the headquarters of the commission in Abuja in honour of an earlier invitation over the pending case on Monday morning. She posted via her X handle at 10.17 a.m. on Monday that she had just arrived at the commission’s office. “I have, at my behest, arrived at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to honour the invitation by the anti-graft agency to offer clarifications in respe...

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect. This was contained in a press release by Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity. "In line with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu suspends the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect." 'The President further directs the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving t...

Tinubu’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu approved funds for flight tickets and airport taxis for the ministry’s staff to Kogi even when the State has no airport. The approval is contained in a leaked internal memo dated November 6, 2023, and seen by our correspondent. The memo issued by the national programme manager, requesting the total sum of N72,374,500, was titled: ‘The Disbursement Under the 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups Programmes in Kogi State, 2023’, and was approved by the minister. In the memo, the sum is appropriated for the minister’s “advanced team” to travel by air for an “event” in Kogi. Each of the minister’s “advanced team” members, including aides, received the sum of N200,000 for flight tickets, N20,000 for airport taxi...

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Osun State command, arrested 252 illicit drug suspects from January 2023 to December 2023. In a statement on Saturday in Osogbo, the NDLEA Commander in the state, Chidi Nnadi, said that the suspects comprised 214 males and 38 females. He said that the command secured the conviction of 57 suspects, whose sentencing ranged from three months imprisonment to five years imprisonment. According to the commander, 47 cases are pending in court. He said that the command seized illicit drugs weighing 1,909.69kg during the period. “Within the same period, the drug supply reduction efforts led to the discovery and destruction of 9.5 hectares of cannabis farms ( 23.759 tonnes of cannabis sativa) at Ifedayo and Oriade local government area...

EFAs controversies rage on the scandal at the National Social Investment Programme Agency, NSIPA, the Arewa Integrity Group has described as diversionary any attempt to rope the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu in the scandal. The group also argued that the motive behind the campaign of calumny against the Minister was meant to distract the investigation into the agency. The Convener of the group, Alhaji Ibrahim Sambo, at a press conference in Kano on Saturday lauded the minister for not compromising her integrity by refusing to aid the wrongful conduct in NSPIA. Sambo also hailed the removal of Ms Halima Shehu, the former National Coordinator of the agency over the diversion of N44.8 billion into private accounts, and insisted that it would n...

The body of the late former Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has arrived in Nigeria from Germany. According to a post on the X handle of the late governor’s spokesperson, Richard Olatunde, the plane conveying the body arrived at about 3:39 p.m. on Friday, January 5, 2024. The late Governor’s remains were brought into the country from Germany, where he passed away. The body was received by his wife, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, his children, and siblings led by Prof. Wole Akeredolu, the immediate younger brother. The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbi Talabi; and representative of Osun State Gov...

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) reeled out recommendations to improve the real sector’s performance in 2024. MAN’s director-general, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, advised the federal government via a statement in Lagos. He urged the government to use savings from fuel subsidy removal to deploy a bouquet of production-focused policies backed with more structural measures to combat inflationary pressures from insecurity, energy and transport costs. Mr Ajayi-Kadir also called for overhauling the power sector and incentivising investment in renewables to boost electricity generation and promote energy-cost efficiency. He encouraged sub-national governments and private investors to leverage the opportunities provided by the Electricity Act 2023 to improve energy security in Nige...

The governing council, management and staff of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) have congratulated Governor Lucky Aiyedetiwa on his recent inauguration. Mr Aiyedatiwa was acting governor when then-Governor Rotimi Akeredolu proceeded on medical leave. Mr Akeredolu died on December 27, 2023, leading to Mr Aiyedetiwa’s inauguration. In a statement issued by the university authorities on Friday, the vice chancellor of OAUSTECH, Temi Ologunorisa, also commiserated with Mr Aiyedatiwa over the death of the former governor. “It is with immense grief and a profound sense of loss (that) I express OAUSTECH’s heartfelt condolences to you at this critical time that history has thrust on you the leadership of our dear state. No doubt, this is a difficult time fo...

Community leaders in Iboje District of Oka-Akoko, Ondo State, have expressed concern over the sudden disappearance of one of their members, Ms Iyabo Elizabeth Asemoloye, arising from death threats against her and members of her family. Leader of the household, Chief Gabriel Asemolye, lodged the complaint in an interview with our correspondent. He revealed that the crisis in Iboje started in 2015 following the death of the last Asemo of Iboje, a High Chief, leaving succession dispute to the coveted throne between Asemoloye and Akinbola ruing houses. "The problem started when the selection process for who will be the new Asemo began and got boiled up to the extent that thugs were recruited to keep escalating prospective opponents. "Normally, the position should rotate between As...

Governor Dikko Radda has called for more support from residents to deliver a “resounding blow” to bandits and other criminals in Katsina. In his New Year message on Monday, the governor said the government was committed to overcoming the security and other challenges bedevilling Katsina. In a statement by his chief press secretary, Ibrahim Kaula-Mohammed, Radda urged residents of the state to unite and forge a stronger bond with a will to confront the challenges of the state headlong. Mr Radda thanked the people for the cooperation and support he received for establishing the Katsina Community Watch Corps, set up to tackle insecurity. Mr Radda assured that “the government, together with the people, will deal a resounding blow to the menace of insecurity.” He also outlined hi...

Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has assured Nigerians that 2024 would witness a renewed vigour in tackling poverty and humanitarian crises among the poor and vulnerable. Ms Edu, in a New Year message, urged the citizens not to despair because all vulnerable people would experience renewed hope in 2024. She also promised to commit all resources towards pulling the poor Nigerians from poverty in 2024 in line with President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda. This new year 2024 holds great promise for Nigeria’s economy under the great leadership of our President Bola Tinubu, who is committed to rejuvenation of the economy. “I do solemnly assure you that the economic rejuvenation of our country will positively rub off on the poor and vulnerable ...

Governor Umar Bago says several issues resulting in violent massacres of people in the North-Central “are just egocentric.” The Niger governor described the latest killings in Plateau as “a very unfortunate situation.” Mr Bago said, “It’s quite unfortunate, you know, Niger state and other states in North-Central have also been victims of this kind of carnage. But that of Plateau is very unfortunate. And we are hoping that it does not repeat itself. We’ll go and pay a condolence visit to commiserate with the people affected by this issue. Other issues are not issues for the camera. They are strategic issues that we must discuss. “But the most important is that we need to start discussion. When we start talking to each other as a people, we need to bring out people’s voices to be...

TThe Federal Government says it will expand efforts to ensure massive food supply to feed the nation in 2024. President Bola Tinubu said this in a nationwide New Year broadcast on Monday in Lagos. He said provision of land for the production of staple crops across the country would receive a boost in the year. According to him, this is part of the efforts by his administration to ensure that all citizens feel the direct impact of the government on their lives. "To ensure constant food supply, security and affordability, we will step up our plan to cultivate 500,000 hectares of farmlands across the country to grow maize, rice, wheat, millet and other staple crops. "We launched the dry season farming with 120,000 hectares of land in Jigawa State last November under our Nationa...

Dear Compatriots, It gives me immense joy to welcome each and everyone of you – young and old- to this brand new year 2024. We must lift up our hands to Almighty God, in gratitude, for his grace and benevolence to our country and our lives in the year 2023 that has just gone by. Though the past year was a very challenging one, it was eventful in so many ways. For our country, it was a transition year that saw a peaceful, orderly and successful transfer of power from one administration to another, marking yet another remarkable step in our 24 years of unbroken democracy. It was a year, you the gracious people of this blessed nation, entrusted your faith in me with a clear mandate to make our country better, to revamp our economy, restore security within our borders, revitalise our ...

A lawmaker, Fom Dalyop (LP-Barkin Ladi/Riyom), has called for a full-scale investigation into the recent attacks in Plateau communities. Recall that about 200 people were killed, many wounded and property destroyed on Christmas Eve when bandits invaded the communities. Mr Dalyop, who made the call in a statement on Saturday in Jos, said that full-scale investigation of the attacks in Plateau and other states would curtail further attacks on law-abiding Nigerians. He said the attacks attracted national and global condemnation from all well-meaning and peace-loving Nigerians. The lawmaker expressed sadness that the attacks came when the innocent victims were celebrating joy, peace, and love associated with Christmas. This, he said, further confirmed the wickedness in the heart...

A non-partisan group, Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thoughts has expressed concern over the presidential peace accord initiated to tackle brewing political crises in Rivers State. The group, led by Chief Sunnie Chukumele, made their opinion known while addressing journalists on Friday in Port Harcourt. In a resolution signed by 11 members of the body, the group identified some lopsidedness in the peace deal, alleging that it did not reflect the interest of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, nor the state. They also alleged that the peace move did not address the root cause of the crisis as they identified their misgivings, describing some of its clauses as unconstitutional. They identified their concerns to include current status of defected state House of Assembly lawmakers an...