Author: Lekan Adeyeye

THE Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has paid homage to the newly crowned Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, at his palace in Oyo Town. The minister, who was accompanied by her Special Assistant on Sub-national Development and Engagement, Abiola Abdulkareem Jagunlabi, affirmed the Federal Government’s steadfast support for traditional institutions as vital custodians of Nigeria’s cultural identity and national pride. She, however, congratulated Oba Owoade on his ascension to the revered throne, highlighting the historical significance of the Alaafin stool as one of the most enduring symbols of Yoruba civilisation and leadership. Musawa…

THE Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) in Ekiti State, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, has been suspended following allegations of sexual harassment brought against him by a senior female university official, Engr. Folasade Adebayo. The suspension, which takes effect immediately, followed the intervention of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who reportedly expressed strong dissatisfaction with the initial recommendation of the university’s Governing Council Committee exonerating Prof. Fasina. Sources disclosed that the committee had advised that Engr. Adebayo apologise to the popular Vice-Chancellor, allegedly ignoring her claims of sexual misconduct. “The minister was very angry with the decision…

AMIDST ongoing controversy trailing talks of mergers and coalitions ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum says the party is not prepared to join any coalition or merger. The resolution was made in a communique issued at the end of the Forum’s meeting held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, on Monday. After the meeting which lasted about six hours behind closed doors, the Chairman of the Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who read the communique clarified that rather, the PDP remains open to welcoming individuals, parties, and groups committed to rescuing…

A TRAGIC turn has followed Friday’s explosion at a CCTV equipment store on Kodesho Street in Ikeja, Lagos, as one of the five injured victims has now been confirmed dead. The explosion, which erupted shortly after 6:30 p.m. along the busy corridor that links up Computer Village, one of West Africa’s largest tech markets, sent shockwaves through the commercial community, with traders and commuters scrambling for safety as smoke and panic filled the air. Now, barely 48 hours later, one of the victims has died from critical injuries sustained in the blast. A fellow shop owner who requested anonymity due…

BARELY 24 hours after a market fire destroyed goods and property worth millions of naira in Ibadan, the Oyo state Capital, another fire disaster has been recorded. This time, a petrol tanker exploded at the Tollgate end of the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway of the state capital leaving the destruction of property worth millions of naira in its wake. The explosion reportedly started around 3 pm along Lead City University Road with business owners and car owners within the vicinity suffering huge losses. The Manager of Oyo State Fire Service, Akinyinka Akinyemi, who confirmed the incident noted that the combined efforts of…

THE Lagos State Police Command has discovered a baby factory in the Ijegun area of the state and rescued 10 people. Three suspects were also arrested. The spokesperson for the command, Benjamin Hundeyin, shared this with reporters on Monday. Hundeyin said the illegal activity was exposed after the police received a tip-off last Saturday. He said officers quickly went to the location and arrested the main suspect, Mariam Vincent, aged 35, along with two others – Orie Ruth, 23, and Ujunwa Ifeanyi, 18. During the operation, the police found and rescued several victims, including three children aged seven, five, and…

THE African Digital Economy & Inclusivity Conference (AFDEIC 2025) has been announced and is set to be held in Abuja, Nigeria, from August 12 to 14, 2025. The event is expected to bring together government officials, policymakers, business leaders, tech innovators, academics, and development partners to discuss Africa’s digital economy and the role of artificial intelligence in fostering inclusive growth. Organisers, in a statement on Sunday, said the conference, themed: “AI and Africa’s Digital Economy: Leaving No One Behind”, would focus on financial inclusion, digital infrastructure expansion, AI adoption, data governance, and cybersecurity. They said discussions would explore strategies to…

A FORMER Oyo State Governor, Victor Olunloyo, is dead. He died at the age of 90. The family announced the death in a statement on Sunday. According to a message sent by his wife, Mrs Ronke Olunloyo, the former governor died at a private hospital in Ibadan after a brief illness. Before his death, preparations were in top gear for his 90th birthday celebration coming up later in the month of April. Her message reads, “With a heavy heart but gratitude to the Almighty, we announce the passing into glory of Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo, former governor of Oyo State,…

OBA Abimbola Owoade has been crowned the 46th Alaafin of Oyo. Owoade succeeds the 45th Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who died on April 22, 2022, at the age of 83. The staff of office had earlier been presented to the new king by the Oyo state Governor, Seyi Makinde, in January. He completed the compulsory 21-day traditional rites known as Oro Ipebi last Saturday, March 29. The coronation event took place today (Saturday) at Oliveth Baptist High School in Oyo, where Governor Seyi Makinde led a host of dignitaries, including notable Nigerians. Dignitaries present at the coronation included…

FOLLOWING recent launch of former military President, Ibrahim Babangida’s autobiography, the family of Newswatch magazine’s co-founder, Dele Giwa, has urged journalists to tell the right narratives. Recall precisely February 20, 2025, Babangida launched his autobiography in Abuja, titled, ‘A journey in service.’ In chapter 10 of the book, titled, “The challenges of leadership,” Babangida exonerated his administration’s involvement in Giwa’s murder, saying the insinuation that the parcel bomb might have come from the headquarters of the administration was cheap and foolish. He queried, “Why would an officially-planned high-level assassination carry an apparent forwarding address of the killer? Why would a…

A NEW report released by Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) has revealed inconsistencies in the electoral process during the 2024 governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, with discrepancies in vote counts and data released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The report sighted by News Point Nigeria, revealed discrepancies between the figures recorded on the INEC Election Result Viewing (IReV) portal and those officially declared at the state collation centres, showed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) gained 40,871 more votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost 10,680 votes. During the public presentation of the document titled “Ballot…

A LAGOS-BASED member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Ushie Uguamaye, could have her service year extended by 30 days with half pay following her criticism of the administration of President Bola Tinubu. This is according to the NYSC Bye Laws (Revised 2011). Recently, Uguamaye, known on TikTok as @talktoraye, shared a video in which she called out the Tinubu administration over the economic hardship Nigerians have faced since it was sworn in. In another TikTok video, the young lady claimed that she was threatened on the phone by an official of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for…

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has described the N15.6tn Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project as wasteful and corrupt. He equally slammed the President Bola Tinubu administration for spending N21bn on a new official residence for Vice President Kashim Shettima, calling it a misplaced priority and conduit designed to embezzle public funds. The ex-leader disclosed this in chapter six of his new book, ‘Nigeria: Past and Future’ where he painted the portrait and characters of chief executives at both the federal and state levels. The book was one of the two new books unveiled to mark Obasanjo’s 88th birthday last week. The Minister…

TWO remains of unidentified persons have been recovered following an explosion on Tuesday night that triggered an inferno on Otedola Bridge, Lagos. Four others sustained varying degrees of injuries, while four buildings and 15 vehicles were destroyed. This newspaper reported that the blast involved a 30-tonne DAF gas truck. Spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, made the disclosure at 10:30 p.m. He explained, “The accident was suspected to have occurred when the vehicle was trying to ascend the link road to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway by Otedola Bridge. Consequently, the vehicle somersaulted, spilled its entire contents on…

THE Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed the appeal filed by Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, against the candidacy of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressive Congress (APC). In the lead Judgement delivered by Justice Lawal Garba, the apex court dismissed Agboola Ajayi’s appeal on the ground that it was filed out of time and that he lacked the right to file the lawsuit being from another party. The court added that the matter is an internal affair of the defendant’s party. The apex court held that the appellants lacked the locus standi…

THE Osun State Government has formally petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the immediate past governor and current Minister of Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, over the alleged misappropriation of a $20m World Bank health grant. The government also accused Oyetola of money laundering, financial misconduct and violations of the Public Procurement Act in the disbursement of the grant meant for health sector improvements in the state. According to an acknowledged copy of the petition dated March 7, 2025, and obtained by our correspondent on Friday, Oyetola, during his tenure as governor, chaired a special Health Intervention Committee…

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo will make public presentation of his two new books as part of activities to commemorate his 88th birthday celebrations, which hit climax in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital on March 5. The books are: “Lest we forget: Slavery, Slave Trade, Emancipation and Reparation” and “Nigeria: Past and the Future.” A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi on Tuesday, hinted that the ceremony would also include a public lecture on slavery and colonisation. The Director General, Nigerian Institute for International Affairs, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae will deliver the lecture on “Echoes of the Past, Visions of…

JOURNALISTS were denied entry into the Lagos State House of Assembly complex on Monday morning as the House prepared to hold a plenary session. Our correspondent, along with a journalist from The Cable, was stopped by security operatives at the entrance around 11 a.m. When asked why the press was not allowed in, a policeman simply responded, “That’s the instruction. You cannot enter.” Several journalists remained outside the assembly complex, unable to gain access. Meanwhile, a heavy security presence—comprising policemen, civil defense officers, and Lagos State Neighbourhood Security Corps—was observed both inside and around the premises. All access roads to…

OGUN police have arrested an enraged father, Odukaye Kunle, who brutalised his five–year–old son, Boluwatife, in Otta area, Ogun State as the boy was ready to go to school This newspaper reports that a trending video, depicted Odukaye furiously using his right leg to brush the boy off his feet, apparently when the boy approached him in the morning to request money for snacks. The angry father, who was busy with phone, swept the unsuspecting boy’s feet of the ground, causing him to burst into a horrific shriek when he violently fell backward, hitting the back of his head hard…

LUCKY Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo, has commuted the sentences of 15 prisoners on death row. Aiyedatiwa, who begins his official tenure as governor on Monday, has been ‘acting governor’ since December 27, 2023, following the demise of Rotimi Akeredolu. A statement on Monday by Ebenezer Adeniyan, Aiyedatiwa’s chief press secretary, said the governor also pardoned 43 convicts and ordered the release of eight incarcerated inmates. “As part of this initiative, the Governor has ordered the outright release of 8 individuals who were previously incarcerated,” the statement reads. “Additionally, 15 condemned inmates who were sentenced to death by hanging have had…