Author: Farouk Abbas

THE Federal Government has donated 20 trucks of rice to the 36 state governors and the federal capital territory for onward distribution to Nigerians. Addressing state House Reporters after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the rice is for the most vulnerable Nigerians. He also said the Tinubu administration is committed to making sure that Nigerians have food on their table. Nigerians have been complaining about hardship amid rising inflation.

THE National Universities Commission (NUC) has given full accreditation for all the take-off academic programmes of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Kogi State. A statement signed by the Registrar of CUSTECH, Olufunke Hudson, said the full accreditation status highlights the university’s dedication to upholding excellence. According to the statement, the accredited programmes include “ Biochemistry, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics. Others are Computer Science, Cyber Security, Software Engineering and Information Technology.” Reacting to the development, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdulrahman Salawu, expressed delight over the feat. “We are delighted to have obtained full accreditation…

OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered parcels of cocaine hidden in the soles of shoes bound for Europe. Disclosing this in a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, shared videos of the seized contraband on X on Sunday, saying tramadol pills were found concealed in custard containers in a separate discovery. He warned travellers to be cautious when accepting luggage or items from others to deliver, as they may be unaware of the contents. “First video reveals moment #ndlea_nigeria officers discovered parcels of cocaine in soles of shoes going to Europe while the second one shows…

JUSTICE Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba of the Federal High Court Lagos has ordered former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, to disclose the details of the agreement between the Federal Government and X, formerly Twitter. The judgement, considered a landmark verdict, was delivered in May 2024 following a Freedom of Information suit brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The certified true copy of the judgment was obtained last Friday. SERAP’s Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare revealed in a statement on Sunday that the order was to assess whether the agreement complies with the exercise of Nigerians’ human rights…

A FIRE outbreak suspected to have been set by yet-to-be-identified persons has reportedly destroyed a palace at the Gidan Rumfa where the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, is occupying. The incident, according to sources from the palace, said it happened Friday night, around 11pm. The source said one of the palaces located at Kofar Kudu where the Emir sits every Monday for court was seriously affected. “It was the palace at Kofar Kudu. You know the palace has an entrance from inside while the main entrance is from the front (outside). The key was forced open and what was…

ANALYSIS of data on the admissions conducted for the 2022/2023 admission session in Nigerian universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions of learning revealed that 88 institutions conducted admissions outside of the Central Admissions Processing System popularly referred to as CAPS. According to JAMB, admissions conducted outside CAPS are illegal, null and void. JAMB had in 2017 introduced the Central Admissions Processing System where all tertiary institutions upload the admission status of candidates offered admission in the institutions. CAPS has centralised and automated admission processes between candidates and their chosen tertiary institutions. In 2020, JAMB warned institutions to stop offering admissions…

JUSTICE James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja has granted the former minister of power, Saleh Mamman, bail to the tune of ₦10bn and two sureties in like sum. Mamman was arraigned on 12 counts bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering and possession and use of known proceeds of criminal conduct. While ruling on a bail application by the defendant, Justice Omotosho held that the sureties must own properties in Abuja with a minimum value rate of ₦750m. The court also held that sureties must submit certified land documents to the court with a three-year tax levy. It…

A FEDERAL high court in Abuja has remanded 8 Chinese nationals and a Nigerian to Kuje Prison in Abuja. The federal government had arraigned them for illegal mining activities in Lokpaukwu community, Umuchieze, within Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State. In a statement, Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the suspects, including eight Chinese nationals and one Nigerian were apprehended by the Mining Marshals, an elite security outfit crafted from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The defendants are Shen Yongchan, Mo Baixian, Xiao Bin, Huang Xu…

THE Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the election of Usman Ododo as the Governor of Kogi State. A three-man panel of the appellate court affirmed the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which affirmed the victory of Ododo as the duly elected governor of Kogi State in the November 11, 2023 governorship election after dismissing the appeal filed by the Social Democratic Party’s candidate, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka. The Appellate Court, while resolving all four grounds of appeal against the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate, Murtala Ajaka, held that the petitioners failed to prove all…

A FORMER Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman will be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, July 11, 2024. Mamman, who was a minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2019 to 2021, was sacked by Buhari alongside the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, in September 2021. Mamman was arrested by EFCC operatives in May 2023. He would be arraigned before Justice James Omotoso on 12 counts bordering on money laundering offences to the tune of N33bn. According to the charge sheet sighted by News Point Nigeria,…

THE Supreme Court will deliver judgment on the suit seeking full autonomy for the 774 local governments in the country on Thursday, July 11. The notices on the development have being sent to all the lawyers in the suit. The Federal Government instituted the suit against all the 36 states of the federation. In the suit filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, the Federal Government is also asking for an order preventing the governors from arbitrarily dissolving democratically elected councils. The Federal Government also requested the apex court to authorise the direct transfer of funds from the…

THE Peoples Democratic Party National Working Committee has suspended its National Vice Chairman (South-South), Dan Orbih, for his alleged involvement in sabotaging the party’s efforts in Edo State. The PDP Edo State Chapter has been dealing with internal conflicts since the governorship primary election on February 22, 2024, which resulted in Asue Ighodalo becoming the governorship candidate. As a result, dissatisfied party members took the party to court. Last week, Justice Inyang Ekwo, invalidated the primary in a judgment for case FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024, which contested the exclusion of 378 delegates. On Wednesday, the PDP appealed the judgment. In a statement released…

THE House of Representatives’ Joint Committee on the arbitrary increase in the price of cement, on Tuesday, threatened to arrest the management of Dangote Cement if it fails to appear at its next hearing. Recall that the legislative chamber had on May 7, 2024, issued a 14-day ultimatum to cement manufacturers to appear before its joint committee and make their submissions on the arbitrary increment of cement prices in Nigeria. The Chairman, House Committee on Solid Minerals, Jonathan Gbefwi, gave the summon at a public hearing to investigate the arbitrary increase in the price of cement in Nigeria by cement…

MEMBERS of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), on Tuesday, staged nationwide protests within campuses of public universities to demand the immediate release of their withheld salaries. Protesting members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) have gathered at the entrance of the University of Abuja to demand the release of their withheld salaries. One of our correspondents observed placard-carrying non-academic staff members at the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna State. The aggrieved workers had several…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a notice of appeal to challenge the ruling of Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court which acquitted Abiodun Agbele, an associate of the former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, and three others, in the ₦1.2bn money laundering charge brought against them by the commission. Agbele and 3 companies linked to him and Fayose, namely Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, De Privateer Limited, and Spotless Investment Limited were listed as the first to fourth respondents in the appeal. The ₦1.2bn is said to be part of the sum of ₦4.7 billion belonging…

Says Defendant Has Pending Appeal Bordering On Jurisdiction Before Appeal Court THE Chief Judge of the Federal High Court has directed that the request by a former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, for the transfer of the alleged money laundering case instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to Kogi State be presented in open court. In a letter addressed to Abdulwahab Muhammed, SAN and Musa Yakubu, SAN, the Chief Judge drew the attention of the former governor’s counsels to a pending appeal in the case: Yahaya Adoza Bello Vs FRN wherein the defendant had sought…

GOMBE State Governor,  Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has again visited the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, in his office in Abuja. This latest meeting follows several prior discussions between the Governor and the Works Minister, as part of Inuwa Yahaya’s persistent efforts to get the Federal Government address the pressing road infrastructure challenges facing Gombe and its neighboring states, especially on key routes such as Gombe-Bauchi, Gombe-Dukku-Darazo, Gombe-Biu, and Gombe-Bajoga-Potiskum. These roads, as always emphasized by the Governor, are vital for the economic and social well-being of the people, and their improvement is crucial for regional development and national…

THE Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has listed state-owned schools eligible for the student loan scheme. In a Sunday statement, NELFUND said students from the 36 schools can now submit their applications for the student loan fund on its portal. “The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is pleased to announce that students enrolled in the following 36 state-owned tertiary institutions can now apply for student loans effective today, 7th July 2024,” NELFUND’s statement read. “The management of these institutions has successfully submitted their student data to the NELFUND Student Verification System (SVS). We urge all other state-owned tertiary institutions to…

THE Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) have directed their members across the country to mobilise for a nationwide protest. This follows the recent breakdown of dialogue between the Ministers of Education and Labour, and the Joint Action Committee of the two bodies. In a circular directed to all branch chairmen of the two unions and made available to the media in Abuja on Sunday, the unions said the protest will commence on 9th July, 2024, across the state chapters of the federation, and a national protest in Abuja…

THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, will on Wednesday, July 10, swear in the twelve newly appointed Judges of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. A statement by the Director of Press and Information of the Supreme Court, Dr. Festus Akande, said the swearing-in ceremony would hold at the Main Courtroom of the Supreme Court of Nigeria by 10:00am. The new judges to be sworn in are: Justice Buetnaan Mandy Bassi from Plateau State, Justice Ademuyiwa Olakunle Oyeyipo from Kwara State, Justice Bamodu Odunayo Olutomi from Lagos State, Justice Iheabunike Anumaenwe Godwin from Imo State, Justice…