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..in altercation with the officers of the correctional service A dramatic altercation occurred at the Federal High Court in Lagos between operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and officials of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) over the custody of the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele. Emefiele had been arraigned by the Federal Ministry of Justice on charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. He pleaded "not guilty" and was subsequently granted bail in the sum of N20m, with one surety. As Emefiele's legal team worked towards satisfying the bail conditions, a heated dispute ensued between the hooded DSS operatives and the NCS within the court premises regarding who should take custody of the embattled CBN governor. ...

Residents of Enugu and civil society organisations have protested the weekly sit-at-home“ order by the Simon Ekpa faction of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The protesters, who converged on the popular Michael Okpara Square as early as 8:00 a.m., moved through the Presidential Road, Ogui Road, Ogbete Main Market, Okpara Avenue, Garden Avenue, New Haven, Bisala Road and back to Okpara Square. They carried banners and placards with inscriptions saying, ”Enough Is Enough,” “Say No To Sit-At-Home in Enugu,” “Allow The Poor to Breathe,” “Our Mumu Don Do,” “Enugu People Must Be Freed from The Shackles of Those Who Want to Hold Them Down,” among others. Onyinye Mammah, the executive director of the Heroine Women Foundation, said they decided to take the bold initiativ...

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has granted bail to Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in the sum of N20 million. In a ruling on Tuesday, Nicholas Oweibo, the presiding judge, said the charges against Emefiele were bailable.The bail was granted with one surety. The court rejected the government’s claim that it had not received a copy of the bail application filed by Emefiele in his alleged gun possession trial. Justice Oweibo had held that there was evidence that the government was served. The bail application was filed by Emefiele’s lawyers led by Joseph Dauda, SAN. Dauda had prayed the court to hear the banker’s application seeking bail on self-recognition, noting that his client had fulfilled all the conditions neces...

The suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday morning. The bail was set at N20m, with one surety in the same amount. This decision comes after the court rejected the Federal Government's claim that Emefiele was a flight risk, ruling that there was no evidence to support this assertion. The former CBN Governor was suspended by President Bola Tinubu on June 9, 2023, and was subsequently held in custody by the Department of State Services (DSS). After legal challenges by Emefiele's counsel, the DSS announced on July 13, 2023, that he had been charged to court. Emefiele pleaded "not guilty" to charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. His lawyer requested bail on...

In a bid to quicken the pace of governance in Kaduna State and deliver on his campaign promises, His Excellency,Senator Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State has approved the following appointments: Mohammad Sada Jalal - Director General, Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS) Jerry Adams - Acting Executive Chairman, Kaduna Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS). Adams will act as the Executive Chairman pending the appointment of a substantive Executive Chairman. Adamu Magaji - Director General, Kaduna State Facility Management Agency(KADFAMA) Adamu Samaila - Special Adviser, Labour Matters Amina Sani Bello - SeniorSpecial Assistant, Student Matters Salisu Ibrahim Garba - Senior Special Assistant, Political Matters Larai Sylvia Ishaku - Senior Special Assistant, Soci...

By Gami Tadanyigbe The CEO Emovworho logistics limited, Comrade Austin Obule Emovworho, has called on President Bola Tinubu, to implement a Free Trade Zone within the African sub-regions for the socio-economic development of the region. Emovworho, who made the call in a press statement issued in Abuja, said by such doing it would allow access to regional and global markets for the development of African Countries. He said he was optimistic that President Tinubu’s new role as ECOWAS Chairman would foster improved regional integration, cooperation, border security, and coordinated monetary affairs. The CEO emphasized the importance of collaboration among all African Nation States to achieve shared objectives of enhancing border security and promoting regional integration. He ...

The Zone 2 Police Command has arrested a 50-year-old Beninoir father, Pome Banda, and three others who allegedly lured a nine-year-old boy from the Benin Republic for money ritual. The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Ari Mohammed, disclosed this to journalists in Lagos. Mohammed said in the process of their plans, Zone 2 Criminal Investigation Department got information about them, and the police acted as the herbalist who wanted to help them to use the boy for a money ritual. He said the operatives started discussing with the boy’s father, his brother living in Nigeria, one Benjamin Balobi, and two Nigerians – Segun Shile and Ige Koshelu. The AIG said Mr Banda left Ajah Jakatome, his hometown in the Benin Republic and came to Nigeria on May 30, 2023, with his son...

The Swedish foreign minister, Tobias Billstrom, expressed regret over the recent attack on the Quran in Stockholm, local media reported. During a phone call with his Lebanese counterpart, Abdallah Bou Habib, Mr Billstrom expressed Sweden’s regret over the desecration of the Quran and its insult to Islamic beliefs and symbols. Mr Bou Habib welcomed the position and encouraged Sweden to take additional “practical” steps to reduce feelings of growing hatred and Islamophobia. On Thursday, an Iraqi refugee who burned a copy of the Quran in June stomped on the holy book during a demonstration in the Swedish capital.

By Victor Okoye No fewer than 200 players, including over 400 enthusiasts and spectators are expected to participate in a Chess and Scrabble fiesta in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the week-long tournament organised by BeeCass Chess Club, is expected to run from Aug. 21 to Aug. 26 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. Cassandra Otobong, Co-founder of BeeCass Chess Club/Foundation, Abuja told NAN on Monday that the Nigeria Chess Federation and the Chess Players’ Association of Nigeria were in support of the tournament. “This is why we are using the National Stadium as our venue because of the large number of participants expected to attend the event. “Chess is not just for the players but for everyone to come and participate and enjoy the game...

The French champions have given the Saudi club permission to speak to Mbappe after putting him up for sale and leaving him out of their squad for the pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea, having made it clear they only want to include players who are committed to the club. Al Hilal's record-breaking offer is not the only one PSG have received. They have been approached with a mix of offers for Mbappe, including cash plus players, but Al Hilal have shown their intention by tabling the world-record bid. Paris Saint-Germain believe at least five clubs are interested in signing Mbappe, with Tottenham among them. There is said to already be a "hot market" for the France captain with the interested clubs including Chelsea, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Barcelona. PSG wi...

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara has approved a slew of multi-billion naira palliatives to different sectors and demographics of the state to cushion the effects of the recent removal of fuel subsidy. Rafiu Ajakaye, the chief press secretary to Mr Abdulrazaq, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the development in Ilorin. Mr Ajakaye said that on top of the palliatives is cash support of N10,000 for every public sector worker in the state, which begins in July ending and lasts until a new minimum wage is introduced. “This will enable workers to cope with the economic shocks created by the subsidy removal,” he said. He said the governor directed the civil service to maintain three-day work weekly, following the advisory by the National Economic Council ...

Senior UN officials on Sunday condemned the deadly Russian missile strikes in the Ukraine city of Odesa, which damaged several historic buildings. Over the past week, Russia has carried out aerial attacks on Odesa and two other port cities, Chornomorsk and Mykolaiv, since terminating the landmark Black Sea Initiative on grain and fertiliser exports. International media reported that at least one person was killed and more than 20 wounded in Sunday’s attack. The attack also damaged significant cultural sites in Odesa, including the Transfiguration Cathedral, the first and foremost Orthodox church in the city. The cathedral was founded in 1794 and is located in the Historic Centre of Odesa. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in January and maintained by the UN Educat...

Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde has announced Mrs Olanike Kudirat Adeyemo, a Professor at the Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ibadan, as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) designate. The announcement was contained in a letter signed by the state governor. Professor Adeyemo, who served as the Head of the Oyo State COVID-19 Decontamination and Containment team of the Oyo State COVID-19 Taskforce, was born on July 17, 1970. She bagged the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), Master’s degree in Veterinary Public Health (MVPH) and Ph.D. Veterinary Public Health, in 1994, 1998 and 2005 respectively from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Professor Adeyemo, who is a COMSTECH Distinguished scholar and the Pioneer Deputy Vice-...

The Youth Model African Union has announced that its 3rd Extraordinary Summit will hold in African most populous black nation Nigeria and largest city and economic hub in Africa, Lagos. The organizers of the summit spearheaded by Mr. Igweshi Augustine told news men that the summit will bring together young people across Africa on a simulated design of African Union to improve the knowledge of young people on the processes and practices of the African Union while strengthening their capacity for disruptive thinking and brainstorming solutions to Africa’s most pressing challenges as well as designing policy responses to these challenges through a simulated design of the African Union. Igweshi also stated that Youth Model African Union 3rd Extraordinary Summit will equips young people ...

The Federal Ministry of Education said that the new school fees regime for unity colleges was reviewed by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. This is contained in some documents obtained from the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja on Sunday. The documents revealed that the new school fees regime was approved by the immediate past Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, under President Muhammadu Buhari. A source from the ministry who preferred anonymity said in Abuja on Sunday that the fees were reviewed across board and not only for JSS 1 students The source said that uniform was added because of adulterated uniforms procured by parents for their children. He said this was done to ensure uniformity in dressing. He said that tuition fees in government u...

Controversy surrounding the number of people that were killed at Toll-gate during the #ENDSARS protest has not been laid to rest as a leaked Memo Shows Lagos Govt Approved N61m For Mass Burial Of 103 ENDSARS VictimsSince the protest in 2020, both the Lagos Government and the Federal Government have consistently denied any mass killing during the EndSARS protests.A leaked memo addressed to the Lagos State Ministry of Health indicating that the State Government approved N61,285,000 for the mass burial of 103 persons identified as 2020 EndSARS victims has gone viral on social media, sparking outrage.The memo dated July 19, 2023, captures steps for the processing of funds after approval by the governor.Earlier, a Ministerial Tenders’ Board Meeting reportedly sat over the recommendations of th...

Suspected bandits invaded the residential home of the former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, and left three security guards fatally injured. The bandits, in sporadic shooting, forced their way into Maku’s Ola residential house in Akwanga at about 7:50 pm on Saturday. According to one of the security guards who was brutally injured, the attackers came speaking in Hausa, banging on the entry gate to Maku’s residential home and started shooting when they were refused entry. “They came in a mob and ordered me to open the entrance gate. When I resisted because I did not know who they are, they started shooting and jumped the fences into the compound,” the injured security guard said. When contacted, Mr Labaran Maku said it was the third time in one month his residence wo...

Stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to invest massively on renewable energy and take quick action on climate change in the country. They made the call at an awareness march to commemorate the 2023 Climate Emergency Day, in Abuja. Mr David Terungwa, Executive Director, Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation, said devastating effects await countries who do not take immediate action on climate change. He said that it was important for budgetary provisions for key ministries, be improved to tackle the impact of global warming on our health, food systems, among others. "Everywhere in the world today, this day is being marked, we need climate action, Nigeria cannot be an exemption. "We are all aware of the impact and effect of climate change...

The African Economic Merrit Award (AEMA) has called on the Federal and State Governments to invest adequately in Entrepreneurship to enable youths become self reliant and for economic development of the country. The President/Founder of AEMA, Mc Eva Temofe, made the call during the 2nd AEMA Inspire University Tour, Seminar and Two million naira students Grant at the University of Abuja. Temofe said if the government had done enough on entrepreneurship, the high rate of unemployment and youth restiveness wouldn’t have been high the way it was in the country. According to him, it was high time to have a reduction rate on unemployment by investing in entrepreneurship for the development of the country. “I would say the government has not done enough to support the Nigerian Youth,...