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Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have abducted a High Court Judge, Justice Haruna Mshelia together with his wife, driver and orderly along Biu to Maiduguri road In Borno State. The judge was abducted on Monday, while he was travelling in his vehicle, accompanied by his driver, a security escort and his wife, a source familiar with the region, Zagazola Makama, said. "As they approached a curve in the road between Burutai and Buni-Gari, a group of armed men emerged from the bushes, their weapons blazing and barricaded the road. "The judge's vehicle screeched to a halt, then attempted to maneuver its way to escape. In the chaos that ensued, Justice Mshelia’s vehicle was stopped by another team of insurgents," he said. The terrorists took them hostage and later whisked them into th...

By Diana Omueze Hope Everyday Foundation, an NGO, says it is seeking partnership with Emzor Pharmaceuticals and other pharmaceutical companies to provide medical aid to underprivileged Nigerians. Dr Nkechi Akinwale, Executive Director of the foundation said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja. Akinwale who spoke shortly after official inauguration of her NGO, said that the foundation is planning to hold a medical outreach to some hard to reach communities within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. “Today is actually the official inauguration of the foundation, however we have been carrying out medical outreaches since the foundation was founded in March 24. “Hope Everyday foundation was founded out of the passion and the desire t...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two former staff of Union Bank in Makurdi over alleged stealing of N4,199,500 belonging to a deceased customer of the bank. Its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja. According to him, the suspects, Idah Ogoh and Agbo Okwute were arrested on Friday in Makurdi, Benue state. “Their arrest followed a petition against them by the bank for fraudulent debits on a deceased customer, Emmanuel Azer Agenna’s account. “Their dealings were uncovered when the family of the deceased approached the bank for the balance on the account of the deceased for probate processing. “The family disputed the balance given to them by the bank and subsequently sent a complaint to the bank regarding una...

The Nigerian Army, on Friday, destroyed about 14 illegal oil bunkering vessels arrested with stolen crude oil in the oil-bearing Asa Community of Abia. Army operatives set the vessels ablaze, including eight large Cotonou boats, at Isimmiri Waterside in Ukwa West Local Government Area. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, who led the operation, told journalists that six suspects were arrested in connection with the illegal oil bunkering. Mr Dada, who was accompanied by the Commander, 14 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ohafia, Brig.-Gen. Olusola Diya, said that the suspects had been handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for further investigations and prosecution. He said that the army was at the creek in respect of carrying out ...

The Forum of Chief Executive Officers of State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies and Commissions has condemned the infiltration of Mina by illegal migrants (Takarai) during the period of the core hajj rituals. The forum’s chairman, Idris Al-Makura, made the condemnation while briefing journalists on the outcome of the just-concluded 2024 Hajj rituals on Saturday in Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Mina, also known as Muna and commonly known as the “City of the Tents,” is a valley located eight kilometres southeast of Mecca. Mr Al-Makura, chairman of the Nasarawa State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, said the infiltration of Mina by the illegal migrants constitutes a nuisance to the environment. He, therefore, called on Saudi Arabia’s government to tighten its hole in the Mina ent...

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun has issued three executive orders, an official said on Saturday in Abeokuta. Two of the three orders are establishing two new agencies, while the third restrains traditional rulers from signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on land in the state. Mr Abiodun’s media aide Kayode Akinmade, in a statement, listed the agencies as the Ogun State Mineral Resources Development Agency and Ogun State Landscaping and Recreation Agency. “In addition to the establishment of these two agencies, the third executive order restrains traditional rulers from entering into any form of agreement or MoU concerning mining activities or any other land matters in their domain,” he said. Mr Akinmade said the Mineral Resources Development Agency would establish a worki...

The Africa Business Ventures and Investment Group, says it will assist Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and others access funding to address climate change and infrastructure deficit in Africa.The Chairman of the Board, Mr Moses Owharo made this known at the inaugural Washington DC edition of the African Infrastructure, Climate Change and Investment Summit (AICIS) and Exhibition held via zoom, on Friday.The Summit with the theme “Fastening Collaboration with United States of America in Fostering Climate Resilient, Economic and Infrastructure, and Industrialisation in Africa” was organised by the Group.Those in collaboration with the Group include Office of Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), and the private sector.Owharo, who is a...

By Joan Nwagwu Akwanga (Nasarawa State), The International Labour Organisation has urged journalists to create awareness to combat the menace of child labour in the country. Dr Vanessa Phala, ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone, said this at a three-day Communication Training Workshop for Media Practitioners on the elimination of child labour on Friday in Akwanga, Nasarawa State. The training was organised by ILO, funded by the U.S. Department of Labour through the Action against Child Labour in Agriculture in West Africa (ACLAWA) project, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Phala, represented by Dr Agatha Kolawole, Project Coordinator of ILO’s ACLAWA, said child labour had cast a long shadow across Nigerian communities, particularly within the agri...

Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore has condemned what can be regarded as selective justice in Nigeria. According to what he posted on his verified Facebook page, "death penalty is usually for petty thieves in Nigeria." He accused two former governors if Ekiti state of stealing billions from the state’s coffers and yet they are freemen. "Unbelievable! Two former governors of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose and Kayode Fayemi, stole billions of naira from Ekiti state's coffers." "Ayodele Fayose is undergoing trial for ₦6.9 billion fraud and money laundering, but I could bet he won't get a jail term, let alone the death penalty." "Fayemi even got a court order to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from probing him, but the Nigerian justice system is to hang two pe...

The German Development Agency (GIZ) on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). Mrs Oladoyin Olawoye, Head Component Entrepreneurship Ecosystem, GIZ-SEDIN programme, who made this known on Thursday in Abuja said the memorandum was to formalise cooperation and strengthen Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) development in Nigeria. Olawoye said that the MoU was also to formalise the existing cooperation between the agencies. According to her, the MoU will aid GIZ to ensure continued support for MSMEs, especially in the area of innovation, digitalisation and access to new markets places such as e-commerce market. “The GIZ-SIDEN programme is the sustainable and inclusive economic develo...

By Joan Nwagwu The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions(NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities(SSANU), has given the Federal Government two weeks ultimatum to pay their four months withheld salaries. The unions under the Joint Action Committee(JAC), stated this in a letter addressed to the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman on Thursday in Abuja. The letter titled, “Re-Four months withheld salaries: Demand for immediate payment,” was signed by NASU General Secretary, Mr Peters Adeyemi and SSANU President, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim. According to the letter, the Honourable Minister would recall that the JAC of NASU and SSANU embarked on a one week warning strike between March 18th, 2024 and March 24th 2024. “This is to ...

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said at least four vessels will discharge various products at Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos. On Thursday, the NPA disclosed this in its Shipping Position, the organisation’s daily publication. The four vessels will discharge crude oil, bulk urea and fuel oil. NPA said that six more vessels were expected to berth at various ports in Lagos. It also said that two of the expected vessels would berth with containers of different goods. “The remaining expected vessels will berth with diesel, bulk gas, fuel oil, and cargo. Two vessels are waiting to berth with wet cargo and general cargo at two ports in Lagos,” the report said.NAN

On Thursday, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court adjourned an amended money-laundering charge preferred against Ali Bello and his co-defendant, Daudu Sulaiman, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission until July 15. On Thursday, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court adjourned an amended money-laundering charge preferred against Ali Bello and his co-defendant, Daudu Sulaiman, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission until July 15. Justice James Omotosho adjourned the matter for trial continuation after the defence counsel cross-examined the EFCC’s witness, Olom Otane Egoro, an Access Bank employee. Some weeks ago, EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo presented Mr Egoro from the bank’s compliance unit as the EFCC’s sixth prosecution witness (PW6). The banker...

The Akure Division of the Ondo High Court on Thursday nullified the 33 Local Government Development Areas (LCDAs) created by then-Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. Delivering judgment, Justice A.O Adebusuoye described the LCDAs as inchoate and not lawfully created. The court held that it was illegal for a governor to sign a law outside the state. The court added that the Local Government Creation Law 2023, signed by Mr Akeredolu in Ibadan, outside the state, was unconstitutional, illegal, and null and void. Mr Akeredolu had, on September 9, 2023, assented to the bill creating 33 LCDAs. The bill for the creation of the LCDAs was presented to the then-governor by the speaker of the House of Assembly, Oladiji Olamide, during a ceremony at the governor’s residence in Ibadan.NAN

The Jos Magistrates’ Court, on Wednesday, sentenced a 24-year-old tricycle rider, Benjamin Bulus to one year in prison for smoking marijuana and assaulting a policeman. The magistrate, Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to the two-count charge of assault and possession of marijuana. Mr Bokkos, who sentenced Bulus to one year jail term on each of the two-count, said that the sentence was to run concurrently. The magistrate said that the sentence on the first count of assault was without an option of fine while Mr Bulus was given an option of N20,000 fine on the second count. Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Ibrahim Gokwat told the court that the case was reported at the Laranto Police station Jos by Mathias Chung, on May 25. Mr Gok...

An Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court, Isabo division, on Wednesday, remanded a 25-year-old woman for allegedly causing grievous harm to a 12-year-old girl by inserting a piece of burning firewood into her private part. The defendant, who resides at No. 6 Isewo Dotin in Obada-Oko area in Abeokuta, is facing a one-count charge of causing grievous harm. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge and begged for the court’s forgiveness. The magistrate, B.V. William, ordered her remand in a correctional facility and asked the prosecution to duplicate and send the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice. Ms William adjourned the case until June 26 for mention. Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Lawrence Olu-Balogun, told the court that the defendants committed th...

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Wednesday indicated his interest in exploring an out-of-court settlement in his terrorism trial. Mr Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, told Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court upon resumed trial. Mr Ejimakor told the court that he had discussed the matter with the lawyer of the attorney general of the federation, Adegboyega Awomolo, on the last adjourned date. However, Mr Awomolo said that although Mr Ejimakor had discussed the issue, he had told him to approach the AGF, who could initiate the idea. “I have not been instructed or authorised to do so,” said Mr Awomolo, When the matter was called earlier, Mr Awomolo informed the court that it was scheduled for tri...

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde has approved the appointment of Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin as the 43rd Olubadan of lbadanland. The Governor gave the approval in a memo dated June 14, 2024, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 19 (Cap 28) Law of Oyo State 2000 as amended. According to a statement by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Olusegun Olayiwola, the approval is a culmination of a series of processes stipulated by the extant laws of the state regarding ascension to royal thrones. The statement added that the Governor congratulated the new Olubadan, praying that his tenure will birth greater developments in Ibadanland and Oyo State as a whole.