Author: David Akonuche

IN recent years, Africa’s investment climate has seen significant fluctuations, with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) declining amid widespread economic uncertainties. Nigeria, as the continent’s second-largest economy, hasn’t been immune to these challenges. Issues such as economic instability, currency volatility, and rising operational costs—compounded by increasing inflation—have made doing business in Nigeria increasingly difficult. As a result, more than 20 companies have shut down and relocated their investments to other markets between 2020 and 2024. This exodus has not only affected the business landscape but has also led to substantial job losses, further aggravating the already dire youth unemployment situation in…

NIGERIA’s Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) says the Allied Air Boeing 737-400 Freighter that crash-landed at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on December 11, 2024 was scheduled to collect cargo for the Central Bank of Nigeria. The bureau stated this in a preliminary report released on Saturday, about two months after it commenced an investigation into the incident. “On 11 December 2024, a Boeing 737-400F aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-JRT, operated by Allied Air Limited was on a positioning flight to pick up cargo for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),” the report reads. According to the report, the aircraft…

THE Court of Appeal Abuja has affirmed the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organization. In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel led by Justice Hamma Barka, the appellate court affirmed the judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which outlawed the IPOB. The court held that it found no reason to set-aside the order the Federal Government got against the group. According to the court, the FG acted lawfully by proscribing the organization whose activities threatened the nation’s security and continued existence. It resolved all the issues against the IPOB and dismissed…

A FORMER Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has declared that Nigerian politicians are in power to steal, kill, and retain power. Amaechi made this remark at the National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria held earlier this week, aimed at discussing pathways to good governance and political integrity in Nigeria. While speaking at the event, Amaechi said, “All we hear here is typical Nigeria, and you’re clapping. That’s why politicians get away with anything. They get away with murder because you have a short memory. None of you here can defend the votes. You have complained; Nigerians have been clapping…

THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has shut down the infamous Cemetery Market in Aba, Abia State, for the second time in two years. The agency said it uncovered and confiscated fake and substandard food and beverages worth over ₦5 billion in its latest operation tagged Operation Clean Up Aba. Described as a hub for Africa’s largest counterfeit wine and beverage cartel, Cemetery Market has been notorious for producing fake alcoholic drinks, carbonated beverages, and food products. NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement she signed on Tuesday, described the raid as “the most decisive…

NIGERIANS and other African illegal immigrants in the United States may be the next target for deportation by the American government this newspaper gathered. The fear of deportation has gripped many Nigerians who are illegally staying in the US, following President Donald Trump’s declaration of war against illegal immigration Trump on his inauguration day as the 47th President of the US signed a series of executive orders aimed at hardening immigration policies, including the stoppage of citizenship by birth for children of illegal immigrants. Trump has signed orders to declare a national emergency at the Mexico-US southern border, stating the…

AN unconfirmed number of persons died in a fuel tanker explosion at Ugwu Onyeama, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, a few kilometres from the Enugu metropolis, on Saturday. However, although some reports put the casualties figure at over 20, we have not been able to verify it, and none of the emergency responders have made a statement. The explosion was said to have occurred around 12:30pm, when a tanker laden with petrol exploded on the very busy road. According to eyewitnesses, the effects of the explosion were very devastating, as it destroyed many nearby vehicles, besides killing many…

THERE was pandemonium at the Ekeki Police Division in Yenagoa as a violent confrontation ensued between the men of the Nigeria Police and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Thursday. This newspaper gathered that some NDLEA operatives were in the area to arrest a woman suspected to be a drug peddler and had even made an entry in the police records before carrying out their assignment. However, just as they were going about their operation, the policemen from the Ekeki Police Division obstructed the NDLEA operatives and it resulted in an altercation. In the resulting confrontation, several shots were…

AN accident claimed the life of a female prospective corps member who was going to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp at Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The deceased was among a group of 12 prospective corps members in a 14-seater bus involved in the accident. The female corps member, whose name could not be ascertained at the time of filling this report, was said to have died from injuries sustained while her colleagues and other passengers sustained various degrees of injuries. A source said the corps members boarded the bus in Enugu heading to…

BEATRICE Ekweremadu, wife of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, has been released from a United Kingdom’s prison and has subsequently returned to Nigeria. This newspaper reports that a reliable source confirmed her return on Wednesday, marking the end of her six-year prison sentence for her involvement in a puzzling organ harvesting case. Recall that Beatrice, her husband Ekweremadu, and medical doctor Obinna Obeta were convicted in the United Kingdom last year for conspiring to exploit a young Nigerian boy for organ harvesting. The boy, who had been hawking in Lagos, was allegedly lured to the UK under false pretences…

AN officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was tragically killed, and another seriously wounded, after suspected internet fraudsters, known as Yahoo Boys, opened fire on anti-graft operatives in Anambra on Friday. The operatives, dispatched from the EFCC’s Enugu zonal office, were on a mission to apprehend the suspects when the violent confrontation occurred. The ambush led to the immediate death of one officer, while another was critically injured and remains hospitalized. Authorities have detained a male suspect in connection with the attack, though his identity has not yet been disclosed. Details about whether the suspect has legal…

THE Court of Appeal Abuja has reiterated that Julius Abure remains the National Chairman of the Labour Party. A three-member panel of the appellate court in a judgement delivered by Justice Hamma Barka, held that its judgement of November 13, 2024, which recognises Abure as national chairman subsists and has not been set aside by any court. Justice Barka made the declaration while delivering judgment in two separate appeals filed by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman and the caretaker committee and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The appellate court in the two separate appeals held that it did not delve…

HONOURABLE Chidi Nwogu has extended congratulations to the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, on his second tenure’s first anniversary as governor of the state. In a statement, Honourable Chidi Nwogu said, it’s an established fact that the Uzodimma’s leadership has been characterised by patience, wisdom and a commitment to peace, which are key components in resolving conflicts and promoting unity in Imo state. “It’s a special pleasure to join you in celebration of this memorable day and to offer thanks to the Almighty God on your first anniversary of your second term in office, my brother, His Excellency, Governor…

FORMER Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro has narrated how a non-existent court order prevented him from contesting in the just concluded Ohanaeze Ndigbo election in Enugu. Mike Okiro an aspirant for the post of President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt explained that the false court order was said to have been issued at the Enugu High Court. He said the non-existent court order peddled in some sections of the media was what the Election Screening Committee relied on to bar him from screening and subsequent non-participation. According to the former IGP ” In the evening…

GOODS worth hundred of millions of naira were destroyed in a midnight fire outbreak at Ahịa Mgbede, situated opposite the New Motor Spare Parts Market in Nnewi, Anambra State. The inferno, which began in the early hours of Tuesday, left several shops in ruins, with goods and properties reduced to ashes. The tragic incident has plunged the affected business owners into agony and despair. Eyewitnesses said the fire raged for several minutes before firefighters arrived, while victims and sympathizers struggled to salvage what they could. One of the victims, identified simply as Uche, narrated the devastation saying “We arrived this…

THE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has completed the transfer of regulatory oversight to four states. The states are Enugu, Ekiti, Ondo, and Imo, which are now fully responsible for the regulation of their electricity markets. NERC made this known on its X handle on Monday, noting it has begun the transfer of regulatory oversight to 10 states as of 10th January 2025. NERC stated: “As of January 10, 2025, #NERC has commenced the transfer of regulatory oversight to 10 states. Once the transfers are complete, the states will be responsible for regulating their electricity markets. “The 10 states are:…

A MIDNIGHT bomb explosion occurred in Umuneke community, Mbieri in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. This newspaper learnt that the explosion, which occurred at a newly completed family house on Saturday night, reduced the house to rubble though no casualty was recorded. A source, Iyke Njoku, said, “The sound was massive as well as the bang. We waited a while and when we didn’t see any movement or hear screams, we decided to check, only to see the house in rubble. “When our neighbours from neighbouring villages called to ask us the cause of the sound, that…

THE Nigeria Police Force said a contractor has been arrested for perpetuating a ₦1.09 billion procurement fraud in Enugu State. This was disclosed by the NPF Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi in a statement late on Friday. Adejobi was responding to published reports that the Enugu State government’s account was hacked, and the sum of N1.09n bn was stolen by hackers. The NPF clarified that the money case was procurement fraud, not a cyber breach. The statement, however, added that the money had been recovered from the contractor after an arrest. Adejobi did not, however, mention the name of…

JUSTICE Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja has made an order of interim freezing and forfeiture of the sum of over ₦228.4 million linked to former Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, to the Federal Government on allegations of money laundering. Ruling on an ex-parte motion moved by the Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Fadila Yusuf, Justice Nwite also directed the Commission to make publication of the order on its website and Daily Trust Newspaper. According to Justice Nwite’s order, interested parties should show cause within 14 days of the publication of the order.…

THE presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has debunked rumours of him being arrest, describing it as “recurring fake news. Some social media posts had claimed that the former Anambra State governor was arrested in Abuja. But in a post on his X handle late on Wednesday, Obi said the claims are entirely false and stated that he is currently at his home in Onitsha, Anambra State. He recalled how similar “lies” had been circulated last September that the Department for Security Services (DSS) invaded his home while he was in Rwanda. The Labour…