Author: Abimbola Daniels

NIGERIAN  superstar singer Ayodeji Balogun popularly known as Wizkid has lost his mother. Wizkid’s mum, Mrs Jane Dolapo Balogun, died at around 1.30 am, Friday. Confirming the incident to this newspaper, Sunday Aare, Wizkid’s longtime manager said Mrs Balogun died in the early hours of Friday. “Yes, she died this morning, at about 1.30 am,” Aare said. The late Balogun is the mother to two other children, Yetunde Balogun and Lade Balogun.

THE National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has directed the Aviation Security (AVSEC) and logistics sub-sector to commence an immediate strike from today, Wednesday August 16th, 2023 over their N30,000 monthly pay. The union made this known in a circular obtained by our reporter and addressed to the Director-General Civil Aviation (DGCA); Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Commissioner of Police, Airports Command, the Airport Commandant, Director, Department of State Security (DSS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos Command. It added that the withdrawal of services was inevitable. The circular, which was signed by the General Secretary,…

THE Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted an interim order restraining FBN Holdings Plc from holding its Annual General Meeting (AGM) fixed for Tuesday, August 15, 2023, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed before it by three aggrieved shareholders of First Bank. Justice Nicholas Oweibo gave the order after hearing an ex parte application moved by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Muiz Banire who led Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kunle Adegoke and Seun Onabowu, to represent the three shareholders/ petitioners before the court. The shareholders/petitioners are Olojede Adewole Solomon, Adebayo Oluwafemi Abayomi, and Ogundiran…

A FORMER president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has expressed worry over the pervasive corruption in Nigeria’s electoral system. He, however, called for an urgent need for Christians to engage in politics to drive positive change. The former president made the call while delivering a speech during the 57th Annual Convention and 67th Anniversary of The Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT) held at the Gospel City, Ogunmakin, Ogun State. Speaking on the theme ‘The Roles of the Church in Nation Building at a Time Like This,’ Chief Olusegun Obasanjo congratulated the church for successfully hosting the convention and urged Christians to stand…

THE suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele has asked a Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos to stop the Federal Government from further prosecuting him on the charge of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunitions or on any other charge for that matter. News Point Nigeria reports that Emefiele is also seeking an order of the court discharging him of all offenses prosecuted by the Government who is in “brazen disobedience” of the subsisting orders of the court granting him bail on July 25, 2023. Emefiele also asked for a further order prohibiting the FG from…

THE Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 10-year-old girl for being in possession of hard drugs. The girl who was intercepted in the Agege area of the state claimed she had been a drug courier for her aunt in the last two months. She narrated how she carried the drug daily from home to the shop to evade arrest by security operatives. More details shortly…

CANDIDATES from eight states owing the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, for various services rendered will not get their 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, results. WAEC revealed this to journalists on Monday at the Press Briefing Hall, WAEC National Office, Yaba. The body lamented that the inability to pay for services rendered was posing a great challenge in the activities of the examination body. Responding to a question on the states owing WAEC, the National Officer of WAEC, Mr. Patrick Areghan, noted that “About eight states are owing WAEC. We won’t mention them all as some are…

THE Federal High Court in Lagos has granted leave to the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to serve on the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Yusuf Magaji Bichi, the court’s ruling admitting him to bail. Justice Nicholas Oweibo specifically granted Emefiele permission to publish the bail ruling, delivered on July 25, in three national newspapers circulating within the court’s jurisdiction. The court held that the publication through substituted means would be deemed as good and proper service on the prosecutor. Channels Television’s Judiciary Correspondent, Shola Soyele, gathered that the move is…

A HELICOPTER crash has occurred in Ikeja, specifically at Oba Akran road in Lagos, Tuesday afternoon, News Point Nigeria gathered. Two persons were rescued alive. Two foreigners and two Nigerian men involved in the accident were all rescued alive, according to NEMA official. The incident happened near the AP filling station, by UBA branch causing chaos in the area. The helicopter, which had been spotted flying around Ikeja under bridge, suddenly crashed and burst into flames.  The reasons behind the crash have not been determined as of the time of filling this report.  Authorities are said to be investigating the…

LAGOS State Government says it has confiscated, burnt and buried six animals infected with Anthrax disease to prevent its spread. Disclosing this in a press statement on Sunday, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Olutokunbo Emokpae, said the cases were discovered during surveillance of animals on Lagos Island and Agege. According to her, no case of human infection has either been identified or reported since the discovery of Anthrax disease in Lagos. She said that human and animal surveillance activities have been stepped up, adding that free vaccination activities and monitoring have also been intensified. The Permanent…

A TWO-MONTH-OLD baby (name withheld) has been reportedly stolen from the mother during a school graduation ceremony in Ilọrin, Kwara State capital. Sources told our correspondent that the incident occurred around 3:00 pm on Saturday during the event held at the school premises located at Deeper Life area, Sawmill, Ilọrin. The mother of the missing child identified as Sekina but popularly known as Iya Mujidat said that her baby was stolen by a lady who accompanied her to the graduation ceremony of one of her children. She described the suspect as a ‘tall fair complexion woman dressed in a purple…

GOVERNOR Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has sent his list of cabinet nominees to the Lagos State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation. A statement by the Lagos State Government said the list, which contains 39 names, is a mixture of politicians and technocrats. Some members of the immediate past cabinet such as the ex-Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso; his Budget and Economic Planning counterpart, Mr. Sam Egube; ex-Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; ex-Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyooye and his Education counterpart, Tokunbo Wahab among others made the…

THE Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has instituted an annual memorial lecture in honour of its pioneer President and former Governor of Lagos State, late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, with the maiden edition taking place in Lagos on August 7, 2023. In a press statement issued in Lagos on Thursday, and signed by its President, Eze Anaba and the General Secretary, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the professional body of editors in Nigeria, said that its decision was informed by a deliberate programme to nurture a culture of appreciation. ‘’As part of nurturing a culture of appreciation, the NGE is instituting an Annual…

OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have allegedly shot dead two innocent residents including one Gafar Yusuf, in the Idioro area of Mushin, Lagos State. This newspaper gathered that the NDLEA operatives stormed the community around 10pm on Wednesday to raid a drug den when they started shooting sporadically in a bid to achieve their aim. While engaging in the act, it was learnt that stray bullets from the operatives, shooting sporadically to scare hoodlums attempting to scuttle their plan in the community, killed the victims. A resident, who gave his name simply as Olasunkanmi, while lamenting over…

THE Lagos State Government has responded to a leaked memo revealing its approval of N61,285,000 for the mass burial of 103 persons identified as 2020 EndSARS victims, maintaining that the victims to be buried are not from the controversial Lekki Tollgate shooting. The memo, dated July 19, 2023, capturing steps for the processing of funds after approval by the governor, surfaced on social media Sunday morning, sparking outrage. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, confirmed the letter in a statement on Sunday evening, but insisted that details were being misconstrued and mischief makers were at work. The…

A LEAKED memo addressed to the Lagos State Ministry of Health indicating that the State Government approved N61,285,000 for the mass burial of 103 persons identified as 2020 EndSARS victims has gone viral on social media, sparking outrage. The memo dated July 19, 2023, captures steps for the processing of funds after approval by the governor. Earlier, a Ministerial Tenders’ Board Meeting reportedly sat over the recommendations of the Procurement Planning Committee, after which no objections were raised to the award of the mass burial contract to a funeral service provider. The five-paragraph leaked memo also directs that relevant taxes…

TWO children lost their lives when a building collapsed on Ajao Street in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State. The incident happened on Saturday morning, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said. “The children aged nine and seven were trapped when the fence from the neighbouring house fell on their building during the day’s heavy downpour,” NEMA Coordinator in the South-West, Ibrahim Farinloye, said in a statement. The Agency said distressed calls weren’t properly channeled to save the lives of the children. NEMA sympathised with the parents of the deceased and prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear…

THE National Association of Nigerian Students has condemned the planned increment of school fees by tertiary institutions in the country. In a statement signed by the National PRO, Giwa Temitope and released on Saturday, NANS declared that the government’s action is “insensitive” and “embarrassing”. The association also stressed that the government has what it takes to fund education and make it accessible, noting that the introduction of the student loan scheme is a sham and a bait to make Nigerians accept fee increments. The association stated that there is no justification for an increase in school fees across tertiary institutions…

AVANTI Communications (“Avanti”) has been named the market-leading high-throughput satellite capacity partner in sub-Saharan Africa for the second year running. The results, from the 20th edition of the NSR Satellite Capacity Supply & Demand Analysis reports that Avanti’s market share is now more than two times that of its nearest competitor. NSR’s annual report is one of the satellite industry’s most trusted and comprehensive sources for satellite capacity analysis, offering insight into key market developments and dynamics. Avanti has made a significant commitment to Africa. The company has ambitions to accelerate growth across the region through local partnerships and the…

SEVEN children were rescued from an orphanage home engulfed by a domestic fire on Sunday afternoon. The children, all male, were rescued from a one-storey building housing their orphanage located on Wole Madariola Street in the Aguda area of Lagos State. The fire reportedly started when an air conditioning unit in the house experienced power surge. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said the seven male children with age range between one and seven were successfully rescued. No injuries or casualties were recorded in the incident, the emergency response agency said in a statement by its spokesperson, Nosa Okunbor.…