Author: Abimbola Daniels

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have intercepted a shipment of cannabis, also known as Loud concealed in a duvet and destined for the United Kingdom. NDLEA disclosed this in a statement on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi. He said the consignment was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, saying two suspects – Adakole Sunday and Austin Balogun – linked to the consignment, were immediately arrested following the discovery by NDLEA officers. “Six parcels of the psychoactive substance with a gross weight of 3.50 kilograms…

ACCORDING to the Center for Immigration Studies, Nigeria ranks fourth globally in the practice of birth tourism among other countries like China, Taiwan, Korea, Turkey, Russia, Brazil, and Mexico with an estimated 33,000 births annually occurring in the United States. Also, these birth tourists spent about $7,000 to $100,000 each to obtain citizenship by birth for their infant, based on data from the U.S. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. This practice often results in both parents migrating to the United States 21 years later, in a process that bypasses standard immigration numerical limits. Kaizen D. Asiedu(@thatsKAIZEN) on X…

ABIKE Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, has disclosed that more than 5000 Nigerians are presently stranded in the middle East country of Iraq. Dabiri-Erewa stated that the women were sent to Iraq as caregivers only to be stranded, as they get there to meet harsh realities She disclosed this in Lagos while addressing participants at the seminar on “Sensitisation and Advocacy Program for Promoting Diaspora Investment Potentials in South-West Nigeria” organised by NIDCOM in conjunction with G-Consulting International Services Limited. She told the participants selected from the Six South-West states that there are huge opportunities in Nigeria…

A NIGERIAN man based in the United Kingdom, James Akinwande, has replaced a pair of shoes and a wristwatch allegedly stolen from Kemi Badenoch’s brother by officers of the Nigeria Police Force. Badenoch, the leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, recently claimed in an interview that some NPF officers stole her brother’s belongings. She described the police officers’ behaviour as an abuse of power. “My experience with the police in Nigeria was very negative, and coming to the UK, my first experience with the police was very positive. The police in Nigeria would rob us. “I remember the police stealing…

IN line with his resolve to defend himself and clear his name, Dr. Bisi Onasanya through his lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, at a session at the Federal High Court Lagos on Monday, January 20, 2025, demanded the service of proof of evidence and summons. Onasanya, a chartered accountant and a former Group Managing Director of First Bank is defending himself against a controversial loan that allegedly occurred at First Bank 12 years ago. The retired banker is refuting the allegations alongside three others namely former Chairman of the bank, Chief Oba Otudeko, a former board member of Honeywell, Soji Akintayo,…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former Managing Director of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Ahmed Kuru and four others for allegedly defrauding Arik Airline of N76 billion and another $31.5 million. The other four defendants are a former Receiver Manager of Arik Airline Ltd, Kamilu Omokide (who is listed as the first defendant) Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Captain Roy Ilegbodu (listed as the third defendant), Union Bank Ltd (named as the fourth defendant) and a company, Super Bravo Ltd, which is named as the fifth defendant. Union Bank was charged with one…

A FORMER Group Managing Director of First Bank, Dr. Bisi Onasanya has dismissed allegations circulating on social media, suggesting his involvement in a purported commercial loan facility transaction controversy carried out 12 years ago at First Bank. In a statement released to the press over the weekend, Onasanya, who spoke through his Communication Advisor, Mr. Michael Oshunuyi described the claims as baseless and an attempt to tarnish the stellar reputation of the renowned retired banker and Chartered accountant. “Our attention has been drawn to allegations and charge sheet circulating on social media suggesting Dr. Bisi Onasanya’s involvement in a purported…

DANGOTE Petroleum Refinery has increased the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, citing rising global crude oil prices. In a statement released on Friday, the refinery announced that the new bulk purchase rate for customers buying between 2 million and 4.99 million litres is now N955 per litre. Bulk buyers purchasing 5 million litres or more will pay N950 per litre. The adjustment represents a 6.17% increase, equivalent to N55.5 per litre, compared to the discounted rate of N899.50 per litre offered during December 2024’s holiday period. The new pricing structure will take effect at 5:30…

THE Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr Adebowale Adedokun on Thursday, said the agency has so far, saved the the country the sum of N1.9trillion from contracts fraud over the years. Adedokun stated this in Abuja during his 2025 budget defence session before the Senate Committee on Public Procurement. He said that the agency, established 17 years ago, is a key stakeholder in the war against corruption in the country, particularly those that have to do with contracts awards, inflation and diversion. “BPP has within the last seventeen years been changing the landscape of public procurement in…

IN a clear message of zero tolerance for cash flow disruptions, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has sanctioned Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) for failing to make Naira notes available through automated teller machines (ATMs), during the yuletide season, News Point Nigeria gathered. Each bank was fined ₦150 million for non-compliance, in line with the CBN’s cash distribution guidelines, following spot checks on their branches. The enforcement action follows repeated warnings from the CBN to financial institutions to guarantee seamless cash availability, particularly during periods of high demand. The affected banks include Fidelity Bank Plc, First Bank Plc, Keystone Bank…

– Promo Makes 60 Millionaires, Gifts N200m. AFRICA’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has distributed over N41.8m in prizes to over 100 lucky customers in its just concluded UBA Legacy Promo series. The promo which began last year, was specially designed by the bank to celebrate UBA’s rich legacy spanning over 75 years, as well as its long-standing commitment towards rewarding its loyal customers in a grand style. The campaign, which was opened to several categories of Account holders including Bumper Account holders, Savings account, Kiddies & Teens Account holders as well as Nextgen account holders, also…

LAGOS lawmakers have impeached Mudasiru Obasa as Speaker. News Point Nigeria reports that he was impeached on Monday during plenary. Obasa was accused of multiple statutory and financial infractions. He was subsequently replaced by his deputy Mojisola Meranda. Mrs Meranda, who represents Apapa Constituency 1, was also a former chief whip of the house. Mojeed Fatai is now the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Obsaa has been engulfed in a series of controversial circumstances in terms of financial dealings. The removal comes barely a month after Obasa was accused of allegedly spending N17 billion to fix…

WITH less than 15 months to recapitalisation deadline, banks have stepped up preliminary consultations on the prospect of business combinations. The ongoing recapitalisation is heading down to more competitive capital raising ahead of the March 31, 2026 deadline. As of the last count, only three banks have met the new capital requirements stipulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Investment banking sources yesterday said there have been “more talks around mergers and acquisitions” as banks consider alternative options to fresh capital raising. They said while the banks are expected to flood the market with offers, many of them have…

FORMER president Olusegun Obasanjo has paid tribute to the late American President Jimmy Carter, recalling how the former US leader visited Nigeria to plead for his release during the reign of military junta leader Sani Abacha. Obasanjo spoke on Sunday at a memorial service in honour of Carter who died at 100. “President Carter was one of my foreign friends who stuck their necks out to save my life and to seek my release from prison. On President Carter’s visit to Nigeria, he got Abacha to agree to take me from detention to house arrest on my farm,” Obasanjo said…

THE Police Command in Lagos State says the 45-year-old teacher, Stella Nwadigo, who allegedly abused a three-year-old pupil of Christ-Mitots School in Ikorodu area of the state is already in its custody. The Command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a post he shared on his X handle @benHundeyin on Wednesday. “The teacher is currently in our custody, while investigation is ongoing,” he said. It could be recalled in a two-minute video, which went viral on Wednesday morning, that a teacher was seen subjecting the boy to rounds of slaps over his inability to write numerical figures. The teacher…

JUSTICE Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Special Offences Court has dismissed an application of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, challenging the jurisdiction of the court on charges of abuse of office to the tune of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion. Justice Oshodi, in his ruling yesterday, held that the court has jurisdiction to try Emefiele on the charge. The court, however, agreed with lawyers to Emefiele, that counts 1 to 4 of the charge are unconstitutional, as they are not based on any existing laws in Nigeria. On April 8, 2024, the EFCC…

AFRICA’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has cemented its position as a leading customer-centric institution, emerging among the Top 5 banks, in various survey’s segmentation, in the recently released KPMG 2024 West Africa Banking Industry Customer Experience Survey. The survey showed that the bank earned an impressive second place in SME Banking as well as a third place in Retail Banking, marking a significant leap in rankings that highlights UBA’s transformation under its Customer First (C1st) philosophy. UBA  has also cemented its position as a leading customer-centric institution, emerging among the Top 5 banks, in various survey’s…

THE Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday, granted bail to Olamide Thomas, the woman accused of threatening President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, of ₦10 million and one surety in like sum. Thomas was arrested and arraigned on December 20 on three counts for allegedly threatening Seyi Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and the Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, through a viral social media post. The charges, filed by police counsel A.A. Egwu in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/636/2024, listed Thomas as the sole defendant. In count one, Thomas was accused of knowingly transmitting a video on…

THE Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s leading champion of entrepreneurship, is pleased to announce that applications for its 2025 Entrepreneurship Programmes are now open. Aspiring and existing entrepreneurs from across Africa are invited to apply for a chance to receive world-class training, expert mentoring, and non-refundable seed capital funding to scale their businesses. Programmes Open for Application: 1. Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF)Entrepreneurship Programme: the flagship TEF Entrepreneurship Programme is open to all entrepreneurs across Africa with innovative business ideas or existing businesses not older than five years. This year, there is a special emphasis on businesses leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI)…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has said he is focused on creating a Nigeria that works for everyone. Tinubu who is currently in Lagos for the Christmas and New Year festives gave the assurance when he paid a visit to Lagos Island on Friday. He assured that his administration is people-centric. “I appreciate your support, which further fuels my determination to create a brighter future for a Nigeria that works for everyone—one we will all be proud to call our country.” He asked the masses to cooperate with him in creating a better country. “We must work and pray together for a…