Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani

THE Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has commended Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for declaring null and void some provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, authorising the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to impose fines on broadcast stations for alleged breaches of the Code. In a similar attack on the independent press, the NGE has strongly criticised the reported invasion of ABN TV by a team of the Nigeria Police Force to arrest a guest during a Live-Programme in Umuahia, Abia State, recently. Delivering judgment in a suit instituted by a pro-media rights group, the Media Rights…

ABDULSAMAD Rabiu, the Nigerian billionaire and CEO/Chairman of BUA Group, has surpassed Mike Adenuga to claim the position of the second-richest person in Nigeria. This shift in rankings is attributed to the significant surge in Rabiu’s fortune, now estimated at $7.2 billion, according to Forbes’ list of global billionaires, where he ranks 343rd. The remarkable increase in Rabiu’s net worth, with an addition of nearly $1.9 billion in the past week, is primarily associated with the valuation of BUA Foods. BUA Foods’ shares witnessed substantial growth, soaring over 10% from N40 ($0.0968) to N44 ($0.1065) in early January 2024, contributing…

THE Federal Government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals, is waiting for the outcome of the forensic investigation ordered to ascertain the actual cause of the tragic explosion that rocked Ibadan, Oyo State capital last week. President Bola Tinubu, it would be recalled, placed a telephone call to Oyo State Governor, immediately after the tragic incident, in the presence of the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Dele Alake to commiserate with  Governor Seyi Makinde, victims, and the good people of Oyo state. Thereafter, the Minister issued a statement of condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, and…

THE four remaining siblings of late Nabeeha Al-Kadriyah have regained freedom, this newspaper can report. The sisters were abducted alongside their father early January. Their abductors had given a deadline for the payment of ransom, and failure of the family to meet their demand led to the killing of Nabeeha. After killing the victim, the bandits raised the ransom from N60 million to N100 million, threatening to kill the remaining sisters. But as of the time of filing this report (6:30 am on Sunday), the girls had regained freedom and arrived their Abuja residence where they were abducted. This newspaper…

KIDNAPPERS who attacked the Nigerian Army estate in Kurudu, Abuja, have demanded a ransom of over N30 million for the release of Barrister Cyril Adikwu’s wife and two of his in-laws. This newspaper reports that the abduction took place on Thursday around 10:00 pm. Adikwu, who managed to escape during the invasion at his residence on the estate, revealed that he is in direct communication with the kidnappers, who have set a specific timeframe for the payment of the ransom. Recounting how it happened, Adikwu said, “It all happened on Thursday at about 10:00 pm when a vehicle containing those…

FEMI Adesina, a former Special Adviser to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, has revealed how a presidential jet nearly turned over during a trip he embarked on with former President Muhammadu Buhari. The former presidential aide stated this in his new book titled ‘Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023),’ launched in Abuja on Tuesday. According to him, the turbulence was so severe that when the plane finally landed in Malta, a deeply terrified Buhari queried the captain, “What kind of landing is this?” The captain later apologised to the President and his terrified passengers. Adesina…

THE World Bank has estimated that improved access to internet coverage over three years led to a seven per cent reduction in extreme poverty in Nigeria and Tanzania. This was disclosed in a new brief titled, “Digital transformation drives development in Africa,” noting that the exposure has also led to an increase of 8 per cent in labour force participation and wage employment. The World Bank said, “In 2023, a World Bank flagship report found that in Nigeria and Tanzania, extreme poverty declined by about seven per cent after three or more years of exposure to internet coverage, while labour…

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Friday, said arrests have been made of some persons in connection with feeding bandits with information in the area. The minister disclosed this during a town hall meeting with the Gwagwalada area council chairman, traditional rulers, security operatives, and residents of Gwagwalada area council in Gwagwalada, Abuja. Though he didn’t state the number of persons arrested or where the arrest was made, he assured residents of the Gwagwalada area not to panic as there will be improvement in the security situation in the FCT in the coming days. Responding to…

A FORMER Central Bank (CBN) Governor Mister Godwin Emefiele on Friday pleaded not guilty to the twenty-count amended charge levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).  The charges against Mr Emefiele now include alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, procurement fraud, and alleged conspiracy to commit felony. The former CBN Governor, who is on bail, was granted leave by Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court to travel out of the FCT but not the country. Counsel for the Prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo, did not object to his continued bail.…

THE Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Isah Ashiru, challenging the election of Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State. The apex court also affirmed the judgments of the lower courts i.e. the tribunal and the court of appeal, which affirmed Uba’s win in the March 2023 governorship election. The judgment is unanimous and no cost is awarded. About two months ago, the appeal court affirmed Uba’s win in the governorship election, dismissing Ashiru’s challenge. According to a three-man panel of the appellate court, it held that the tribunal acted in error…

THE Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by Mister Aminu Bande of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to challenge the election victory of Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State. In its verdict on Friday, the panel of justices unanimously held that the appeal lacked merit and no cost was awarded. More details shortly…

THE Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the appeal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate David Umbugadu against the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State. The panel of justices in a unanimous decision dismissed it for lack of merit and no cost was awarded. On October 2, the Election Petition Tribunal in Lafia nullified Governor Sule’s victory and declared David Ombugadu as the winner of the poll. Consequently, Governors Sule and the All Progressives Congress (APC) sought to overturn the verdict by appealing the judgment of the tribunal The court of appeal in its judgment on November…

ABUJA Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC), on Thursday, consolidated its lead in the provision of integrated power solutions with the signing of a tripartite agreement with Daybreak Power Solutions Limited (Daybreak Power)  and The Wood Factory Limited (Wood Factory), to pioneer the delivery of its first grid-connected and solar hybrid power solution for commercial and industrial customers in Nigeria. This comes on the heels of the first interconnected mini-grid power solution for communities in Nigeria launched by AEDC and its strategic partners in Toto, Nasarawa State, in November 2023.      Under this historic agreement, AEDC will provide 18 hours of reliable…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has approached the Court of Appeal to set aside a no-case ruling granted a former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu; and former Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Niger State, Tanko Beji; by Justice Abdullahi Mukailu of the Niger State High Court sitting in Minna, on December 7, 2023. The Commission had filed a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, abetment and criminal breach of trust before Justice Aliyu Mayaki( now retired) against Aliyu, Beji and a former Commissioner for Environment and Chief of Staff to Aliyu, Umar Nasko. The matter was later reassigned…

THERE was a heated gunfire exchange, on Thursday, as the police rescued Segun Akinyemi, an Abuja resident, who was kidnapped just as he was driving out of his house. The kidnappers were taking Akinyemi from Abuja to Kano State when the police swooped on them, according to Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, ASP Mansir Hassan. He said on January 18, 2024, operatives attached to Kawo Divisional Headquarters, Kaduna, received a distress call of a kidnapping incident from Abuja. He said they were alerted that the culprits and their victim were transiting through Kaduna. “The Operatives, at about 0010 hours,…

THE Federal Government has again amended the charges against the a former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele. The new charges include forgery, conferring of corrupt advantage, and criminal breach of trust among others. The latest development comes two months after Emefiele’s initial arraignment on six counts related to procurement irregularities in awarding a contract to April 1616 Investment Limited. In August 2023, the anti-graft agency brought charges against Emefiele, Sa’adatu Yaro, and the company for violating the Procurement Act during the purchase of vehicles. The EFCC initially amended the charges in November, dropping the co-defendants and reducing the…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu is set to issue an executive order aimed at reducing pharmaceutical prices and ensuring that essential medicines are more affordable for the citizens. Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health, made this disclosure to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by the President at the Presidential Villa. Pate highlighted that the surge in drug costs has made life-saving commodities inaccessible to many Nigerians, prompting the need for regulatory measures. He emphasized that the executive order intends to support the growth of local drug manufacturers and enforce fair pricing of essential medicines. This…

THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) has ordered that a thorough investigation be carried out into an explosion that rocked Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday. The Council gave the directive at its first meeting in the year 2024 chaired by President Bola Tinubu. Briefing State House correspondents shortly after the meeting, the Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru, said FEC also set up a committee to look into the issues of environmental degradation and deforestation. He noted that the activities of illegal miners pose a huge challenge to Nigeria, hence the committee to come up with a roadmap for tackling the menace.…

THE Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Sai’du Umar, challenging the election of Ahmad Aliyu as governor of Sokoto State. A five-member panel of justices, headed by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun adjourned till a date to be made known to parties after hearing the appeal. Last year, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Aliyu, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the March 18 governorship election. Aliyu polled a total of 453,661 votes to defeat his closest rival and PDP candidate, who polled 404,632…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has interrogated the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, over an alleged link to a N585.2m payment involving the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Betta Edu. The AGF was quizzed by EFCC interrogators at the anti-graft agency’s headquarters, Jabi, Abuja on Tuesday. Details of the interrogation obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday revealed that Madein was grilled for over six hours, and was released with no condition in the evening. An impeccable anti-graft source, who confirmed the development to our correspondent, revealed that she was queried over the payment of N585.2m of…