Author: Farouk Abbas

Discard Inducement Insinuation As Unfounded ‘We Want To Bring Her Back Too Learn Purposeful Representation EBIRA indigenes have condemned, in strong terms, insinuations that the recall process against the lawmaker representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was not endorsed by the majority of the electorate in the area. The indigenes, from across the five local governments of Kogi Central, said they had resolved to bring the embattled Senator back home, adding that the embarassment she had caused the senatorial district had, unfortunately, taken an “international dimension.” This stand was taken in a statement on Thursday, jointly…

THE 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has announced the formation of a Coalition of Opposition Political Parties to oust President Bola Tinubu in 2027. The former Vice President confirmed this while responding to a question on behalf of the opposition leaders at an ongoing press conference at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. He said, “Yes, this is the birth of the coalition of opposition ahead of 2027.” THE Coalition led by Atiku also had former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachair Lawal, Peter Obi and some…

POLICE authorities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) say six persons have died and fourteen cars burnt following an explosion at the Karu Bridge in the nation’s capital.  The incident on Wednesday along the Abuja-Nyanya-Keffi sent panic among residents of the nation’s capital. But in a statement hours after the incident, the spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, said the accident involved a trailer that lost control and crashed into a stationary vehicle trapped in traffic.  “The impact engulfed fourteen vehicles in a raging inferno. Panic and chaos followed as bystanders and motorists scrambled for safety. Emergency responders rushed…

JUSTICE Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the preliminary objection of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), challenging the competence of the ₦100 billion import license suit instituted by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals. In a ruling, Justice Ekwo held that the NNPCL failed to file a counter affidavit against Dangote Refinery’s suit but rather filed a preliminary objection, contrary to relevant laws guiding court proceedings. The judge added that where the issue of jurisdiction is raised, the court can address it at the time of judgement. He faulted the NNPCL for flouting…

FORMER Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has accused his successor, Senator Uba Sani, of diverting local government (LG) funds to purchase properties in Seychelles, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. El-Rufai, who recently defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), made the allegations in an interview with Freedom Radio Kaduna, yesterday. He claimed that Sani converted local government allocations into dollars to acquire the foreign properties. He said that this was a departure from what transpired during his tenure when he did not interfere with local government funds. “When I was governor,…

– Says, Not All Nigerians Can Be Bullied, Blackmailed FORMER Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has dismissed as deliberate mischief, claims by the Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, that his cement factory was demolished twice during the Amosun Administration. In a statement, titled, “Re-Government Demolished My Cement Factory Twice”, signed by Lanre Akinwale, for Senator Ibikunle Amosun Media Office, the former Governor challenged Dangote to “avail the public of the requisite approvals for the construction of the structures he alleged were demolished.” Amosun noted that his government believed that there could not be two governments in…

FORMER Vice President Namadi Sambo has clarified that Umar Sani is no longer his spokesman and that any public opinions expressed by him are strictly personal. In a statement signed by his Personal Aide, Yinka Ibrahim, Sambo noted that Sani, also known as Dekat, has recently been vocal about his political views. However, he emphasized that some media reports have mistakenly attributed those opinions to him. The statement urged media organizations to take note that Sani is no longer authorised to speak on behalf of the former Vice President. “It has come to our attention that recent media reports have…

AS Nigeria continues regional consultations on the 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR), the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, OFR, has emphasised the need for stakeholders to intensify efforts towards the achievement of the SDGs by 2030. She stated this in her Keynote Address, delivered on her behalf by Dr Bala Yunusa, mni, Senior Technical Adviser, at the North-East Regional Consultation in Gombe as part of Nigeria’s VNR preparation for the High-Level Political Forum in New York in July 2025. The SSAP-SDGs noted that world leaders established the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable…

THE Federal Government on Saturday explained why it awarded the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project to Hitech Construction Company Ltd. The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, made the explanation during an inspection tour of the highway project in Lagos. Recall that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had described the N15.6tn Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project as wasteful and corrupt. He equally slammed the President Bola Tinubu administration for spending N21bn on a new official residence for Vice President Kashim Shettima, calling it a misplaced priority and conduit designed to embezzle public funds. The ex-leader disclosed this in chapter six of his new…

THE All Progressives Congress has commended former President Muhammadu Buhari for reaffirming his commitment to the ruling party, describing his stance as a demonstration of integrity and party loyalty. In a statement on Saturday by the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party applauded the former President for swiftly disassociating himself from individuals attempting to link him with “nonplussed political choices.” The statement read in part, “The All Progressives Congress greets and commends former President Muhammadu Buhari for his solid reaffirmation of loyalty to our great party. In a statement of Thursday, March 13, 2025, the former President stated,…

DANGOTE Petroleum Refinery on Friday reduced the loading coast of its petrol from N825 per litre to N815 per litre, further intensifying the pricing war in the downstream sector. Report has it that marketers are taking advantage of the N10 reduction by sourcing petrol directly from the refinery instead of relying on depot owners who may be forced to embark on a downward adjustment of their price. This newspaper learnt that the landing cost of imported petrol is N774.72 per litre. The cost, which factors in various expenses, including shipping, import duties, and exchange rates, prompted retail marketers to opt…

SEVERAL inmates are said to be dying in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) due to poor feeding and high levels of food racketeering in the detection facilities. Secretary of the Independent Investigative Independent Investigative Panel on the Alleged Corruption, Abuse of Power, Torture, Cruel, Inhumane and Degrading Treatment of Inmates Against the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Dr. Uju Agomoh, said prisoners were starving because “in all of the facilities we went to during our inspection visit as a panel, during the last week of February (2024), there was none we saw food up to the approved weekly…

AHEAD of the 2027 general polls, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has declared support for Peter Obi of the Labour Party. Mohammed who received the 2023 LP presidential candidate at the Government House on Thursday said he was ready to work with Obi. The closed-door meeting, which lasted for more than one hour at the Ramat House in Bauchi, was followed by a press briefing. However, neither parties clarified whether the meeting would lead to a potential political alliance. “As a person, I am ready to work with Peter Obi and make sure we come together, close ranks, and bring…

THE Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate posting of Seven Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) to various strategic offices and the posting of eighteen Commissioners of Police (CPs) due for AIG ranks, pending approval from the Police Service Commission (PSC) to AIG offices nationwide. A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the comprehensive redeployment of senior officers is geared at effectively repositioning the force with a view to discharging its duties as expected. The newly posted AIGs include; AIG Margaret Ochalla, now heading AIG FCID Annex, Lagos; AIG Abayomi Peter Oladipo, assigned…

JUSTICE James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to stop the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) from arresting and prosecuting Call Girls (Commercial Sex Workers – CSWs) in Abuja. Delivering judgement, Justice Omotosho, held that the application of the plaintiff was incompetent under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009. Justice Omotosho held that even if it was competent, the reliefs sought were not grantable and thus, the suit was hereby dismissed for lack of merit. The plaintiff, under the auspices of the Incorporated Trustee of Lawyers…

THE Nigerian Correctional Service, on Wednesday, said that the number of prisoners on death row had risen from 3,590 in September 2024 to 3,688 in March 2025. This represents a 2.73 per cent increase or addition of 98 prisoners within six months. The Acting Controller-General of NCoS, Mr Sylvester Nwakuche, gave the figure when he appeared for screening before the Senate Committee on Interior, chaired by Sen. Adams Oshiomhole. The NCoS also sought strategic collaboration with the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services; Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to speed up…

THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has achieved a significant breakthrough in its ongoing battle against criminal elements, as officers successfully neutralized a notorious kidnapper, Dogo Saleh. FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, announced the development in a statement on Wednesday, assuring residents that the command remains committed to eliminating threats to public safety in the FCT and neighboring states. According to the statement: “In a well-coordinated intelligence-led operation, FCT Police operatives neutralised a notorious bandit, Salisu Mohammed, alias “Dogo Saleh,” following an intense counter-kidnapping operation aimed at dismantling a syndicate responsible for violent crimes along the…

THE Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed appeals filed by the Rivers State Attorney General and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, effectively paving the way for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the tenure of former Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili. In a ruling delivered on Monday, March 10, 2025, a five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice John Okoro, upheld the leave granted by the Court of Appeal to the EFCC, allowing the anti-graft agency to challenge a long-standing perpetual injunction that had barred it from probing Odili’s administration. Odili, who…

THE House of Representatives has ordered a total shutdown of adult (pornography) websites nationwide. The lawmakers directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to enforce the immediate shutdown of the websites in the country. The Green Chamber gave the directive during plenary on Tuesday. The lawmakers charged all internet providers must block access under the new directive. Hon. Dalhatu Tafoki sponsored the motion, calling it a step to “protect societal values.” He said, “I would like to move a motion for the need to block internet websites hosting pornographic content and sanction the internet service providers responsible for the posting. The…

THE House of Representatives on Tuesday directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to immediately suspend the implementation of increased ATM transaction charges and the removal of free ATM withdrawals for customers using other banks’ ATMs, as outlined in a recent circular by the apex bank. Adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Marcus Onobun (PDP, Edo), the House called for the suspension of the policy pending proper engagement with relevant House committees. While presenting the motion, Onobun noted that the CBN recently issued a circular revising ATM transaction fees under Section 10.7 of the CBN Guide to…