Author: Farouk Abbas

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the reappointment of Abdul Mutallab Muktar as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL). This was disclosed in a statement by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngalale on Tuesday. Mukhtar was initially appointed by Former President Buhari as MD in January 2023. Muktar served as the Senior Special Assistant to former President Buhari in the Office of the Chief of Staff working as part of the team of Professionals overseeing the implementation of some of the main objectives of the administration including the development of strategic national infrastructure…

THE House of Representatives on Tuesday alleged that the female suicide bombers responsible for the killing of scores in Borno State on Saturday were imported. The lawmaker said this in a resolution after considering a motion of urgent national importance by Ahmed Jaha. While condemning the attack, Jaha stated that findings showed that bombers were “recruited, brainwashed, and imported from outside the state” to carry out the suicide act in Gwoza. The attack had claimed over 30 lives. He further argued that the bombings underscored the ongoing threat of terrorism in the country. The lawmaker informed the house that more…

THE Nigeria Customs Service said its operatives intercepted nine containers carrying offensive items including arms, ammunition, Illicit drugs and second-hand clothes worth N13.9 billion. The Comptroller-General, NCS, Adewale Adeniyi disclosed this on Monday while addressing journalists in Onne Port, Rivers State. Adeniyi said one of the containers which originated from Turkey, based on the number of risk factors associated with the importation, became a subject of interest to the service. Giving details of the container, the CG said, “We have followed its sail across continents and we’ve benefitted immensely from credible information through our collaboration with intelligence communities both at…

THE Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday listened to the evidence of the 13th prosecution witness in the trial of the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, for an alleged N6.9bn fraud and money laundering. The witness, a former operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abubakar Madaki, told Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke that Fayose, did not personally make any of the financial transactions relevant to the charge before the court. Fayose and his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, are being prosecuted by the EFCC, before the court, on an 11 counts. At the last date of…

THE Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, on Sunday, disclosed that 25 cases of severe gastroenteritis confirmed to be caused by cholera were reported at Kirikiri Medium Security Prison. The development was against the claim by the Nigerian Correctional Service on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, that the custodial centres nationwide were free of cholera. The NCoS spokesman, Abubakar Umar, speaking with this newspaper, had stated that the routine hygienic measures put in place in the correctional centres had helped to keep cholera out. However, in a statement on Sunday, signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State…

POLICE authorities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have ordered a clampdown on vehicles without number plates. In a Saturday statement, the FCT Police Command spokesperson Josephine Adeh said the move is part of efforts to curb crime in the area. “The FCT Police Command has observed with serious concern the manner in which motorists drive around the territory with single or no number plates and car dealers beyond the stipulated time, which is 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. Section 25 (5) of the Federal Capital Territory Road Transport Regulation Act, 2005,” the statement read. “It is no news that…

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has faulted the comments credited to governors that states should determine their minimum wage in their domains. “This notion is not only dictatorial but also undermines the very essence as well as the model adopted for creating a national minimum wage in Nigeria,” the NLC said in a Friday statement by its Head of Information and Public Affairs Benson Upah. Labour unions, the government, and the private sector have been locked in negotiations over a new minimum wage for months. The tripartite committee on the new minimum wage had proposed N62,000 as a new minimum…

A DEVASTATING fire outbreak has struck the Karu Market in the Federal Capital Territory, leaving a trail of destruction and loss. As of the time of filing this report, goods and properties worth millions of naira have been reduced to ashes, leaving traders and shoppers in a state of despair. The FCT Fire Service, with a station in Karu Market, responded to the incident, however, faced challenges in accessing the scene due to the large crowd of people flocking to the area. Despite the challenges, soldiers were on ground to maintain order and ensure the safety of everyone involved. Preliminary…

MALAM Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, hosted Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, at his Abuja residence, on Thursday. El-Rufai hosted the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) Presidential Candidate, a few days after visiting former President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State. Although an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, El-Rufai has been relating with opposition figures lately. In March, he visited national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abuja, damning the consequence. The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was on his way to securing a ministerial appointment in the government of President Bola Tinubu but…

THERE is currently disquiet among the junior officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service over the failure of the authorities to provide them with the service’s new uniform free as they did for their senior colleagues. The affected officers have also raised the alarm over the decision of the authorities to make the wearing of the new uniform a condition for them to take part in a promotion examination scheduled for between Monday, July 1, 2024, and Saturday, July 6, 2024. Some of the affected personnel who spoke with this newspaper on Thursday noted that in uniformed organisations, the rank and…

THE Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has ordered the arrest of two officers of the Commission allegedly involved in the manhandling of a female staff of Regional Hotel, Ojo, Lagos. In a video trending online, the EFCC officials who dressed in mufti were seen badging into one of the rooms of the hotel. An unidentified lady said to be a worker at the hotel was seen trying to open the door from inside when the men opened it forcefully. One of them was seen slapping the lady reportedly before he ordered her…

AS Kano emirate tussle lingers, traditional and official flag has been hoisted at the Nassarawa mini palace where the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero currently occupies. This newspaper reports that the flag stands as a symbol of authority and signifies the presence of an emir once raised. It is often raised every day by 6am and taken down by 6pm and remains down when the emir is officially outside the palace or travels. It was observed that the flag was set for hoisting on Wednesday morning when the iron rod was installed but the flag was brought later…

THE immediate past governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, has asked the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, to transfer his trial in alleged money laundering to Lokoja. Bello said that he preferred to be arraigned in Lokoja, being the place the alleged money laundering offence was committed. At a resumed sitting on Thursday, Bello, represented by his counsel, Adeola Adedipe SAN, informed Justice Emeka Nwite that a letter requesting for the transfer of the trial had already been delivered to the Chief Judge for his administrative decision. Specifically, Adedipe said the request for Lokoja was…

THE Kano State-owned ARTV, a foremost broadcast television station is set to become a force to reckon with in the broadcast industry. This was made known by the Acting Managing Director, Hajiya Hauwa Isa Ibrahim. She stated this, during the presentation of new equipments and modern tools  to the station’s engineering department, today in Kano. Hajiya Hauwa told of how in the past, the station was q pride of the state and the entire northern region, especially in the area of broadcasting, entertainment, news and preservation of Kano’s rich treasures and culture. She said, ” the equipments and tools you…

THE Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring a safe environment for journalists, highlighting that a free press is essential for a thriving democracy. Idris stated this during Wednesday’s book presentation of ‘Writing for Media and Monetising It’ authored by the Senior Vice Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Leadership Media Group, Azu Ishiekwene, in Abuja. In his keynote address, Idris stressed the importance of responsible journalism, urging media practitioners to balance their freedom with a sense of duty, ethics, and patriotism. “As we celebrate this milestone, it is also important to reaffirm the…

THE House of Representatives Commitee on Public Assets on Tuesday asked security agencies to immediately arrest an alleged unlicensed auctioneer and Director of Quality Control of the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) over the sale of two helicopters for $1.2 million. The committee called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to take over the investigation of the alleged indiscriminate sale of two of NCAT’s helicopters. The resolution of the Committee on Public Assets came after about five hours of interaction with the management of the College and other relevant bodies. The Chairman of the Commitee, Ademorin Kuye,…

THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command has paraded a Point of Sale (PoS) operator, Sunday Musa, also known as Dan Gwari, who allegedly specialises in supplying sex workers to bandits in their camp, as well as distributing money to their families in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Benneth Igweh, the commissioner of police in the FCT, who disclosed this while parading the suspect at the command in Abuja on Tuesday, said he was arrested during a coordinated clearance operation by operatives of the anti-kidnap unit of the command at Kagarko. He said the suspect was also the…

GOVERNORS of the 36 states of the federation have resolved to meet on Wednesday to resolve issues regarding the proposed new minimum wage. Recall that the governors had rejected the N62,000 proposed by the federal government, explaining that some states would have to borrow to pay salaries if the amount is implemented. However, the organised labour is still insisting on N250,000 wage. This newspaper reports that the governors’ decision to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday followed the stepping down of the memo on minimum wage by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Tuesday. The Minister of Information and National…

MEMBERS of the organised labour comprising both the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, have convened an emergency meeting over the decision of the Federal Executive Council to step down the memo on the minimum wage. The meeting, according to a top official at the NLC headquarters, will be held at Labour House at 10:00am on Wednesday. Thung Khe Pass, White Stone Slope, Hoa Binh, Flycam – Nếm TV The official said it is meant for discussion on the decision of FEC to step down the memo on minimum wage. Daily Trust had earlier reported that the Minister…

THE Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture to the Federal Government, of the sum of $1.4 million, linked to a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele. Justice Ayokunle Faji gave the order after hearing an application filed and argued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This order is coming a few days after another judge of the same court, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, ordered the final forfeiture of over N12.18bn in money and properties linked to the same Emefiele. At Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel to the EFCC, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, urged Justice Faji…