Author: Editor

THE Management of Maryam Abacha American University of Niger (MAAUN), Maradi, has condoled with the husband and parents of a former student of the University, Mrs Rose Busari,who passed away on Saturday, 11th February 2023, at Referral Hospital, Maradi after a protracted illness. The deceased was the wife of Pastor Terra Busari, a Missionary Pastor with the Assemblies of God Mission, Niger Republic, Maradi Region. The condolence message was contained in a statement by the President of MAAUN Maradi, Prof. Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Kano on Wednesday. The Management of MAAUN…

THE Delta State Police Command has said at least two banks were burnt in the violent protest that broke out in the state over naira scarcity. aily Trust had reported how protesters took to the streets over the inability to access cash. Commenting n the protests, image maker of the police in Delta, DSP Bright Edafe, disclosed that no fewer than nine persons were arrested in connection with the setting ablaze of two commercial banks in Udu Local Government Area of the state. He made this known via his official Twitter handle. According to him, “In Udu Local Government Area…

KARIM Adeyemi scored a brilliant solo goal to condemn Chelsea to defeat in their Champions League last-16 first-leg tie at Borussia Dortmund. The Premier League side rued missed chances as Joao Felix shot over from a good position and then hit the crossbar in the first half. Reece James also forced two fine saves out of Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel in the second half as the visitors grew in confidence against the hosts, who were themselves struggling to create many chances. But Chelsea were undone on the counter midway through the second period when Adeyemi broke from inside his own…

THE Federal High Court in Lagos has granted bail to an actress, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, who was arraigned before the court on Monday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly spraying new naira notes at a party. Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke who admitted the actress to bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety in like sum also ruled that the surety must be a public servant in the service of the Federation or the Lagos State Government not below the rank of Grade Level 12, or a holder of a genuine statutory certificate of occupancy of…

MANCHESTER City returned to the top of the Premier League for the first time since November as they leapfrogged leaders Arsenal with a vital victory at Emirates Stadium. The reigning champions turned on the power in the second half in the biggest game of the domestic season as Arsenal paid a heavy price for individual errors. Takehiro Tomiyasu’s poor backpass allowed Kevin de Bruyne to loft a finish over Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale after 24 minutes but Arsenal deservedly drew level three minutes before half-time, Bukayo Saka scoring from the spot after City goalkeeper Ederson fouled Eddie Nketiah. City, lacking…

AMID global concerns over energy security and a regional resolve on collaboration to deepen local content, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, has proposed strategies that would break down barriers and promote cross-border collaboration amongst governments and businesses. He made the suggestions in a presentation he made at the opening of the 7th SAIPEC Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference in Lagos on Tuesday, hinting on the need for peer review mechanisms, and sharing of experiences and ideas on industry sustainability and growth. The event provided a platform for the NCDMB…

A FEMALE Kenyan senator who was asked to leave parliament because of an apparent blood stain on her trousers has told the BBC she was proud to stand up against “period shame”. Gloria Orwoba said she had noticed the stain before entering the building. “Since I am always advocating against period shame, I thought I should go ahead and walk the talk,” she said. Some MPs, including another female senator, criticised her, saying she was being disrespectful. During Tuesday’s plenary session, Sen Tabitha Mutinda asked the speaker to rule on whether Ms Orwoba had adhered to the house’s dress code,…

AT least 73 migrants are missing and presumed dead after their boat sank off the Libyan coast, according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM). Only seven people survived Tuesday’s shipwreck but are in “extremely dire conditions” in hospital. So far 11 bodies have been recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent and police. The boat was heading to Europe on a route the IOM has called “the world’s deadliest migratory sea crossing”. More than 130 people have already died this year making the dangerous journey over the Mediterranean Sea. The IOM added that more than 1,450 deaths were recorded…

THE United States will work to maintain lines of communication with China despite a rift over an alleged surveillance balloon, a top US diplomat said Wednesday. The United States and China have “never stopped communicating and trying to understand each other” despite the cancellation this month of a visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said his deputy, Wendy Sherman. “We have, we are and we will maintain open lines of communication with the PRC so we can responsibly manage the competition between our countries,” Sherman said, using the acronym of the People’s Republic of China. “We do not see…

WORLD Bank chief David Malpass announced Wednesday he would step down by the end of June from his position heading the development lender. “After a good deal of thought, I’ve decided to pursue new challenges,” the 66-year-old was quoted as saying in a statement from the bank, having informed its board of his decision. “This is an opportunity for a smooth leadership transition as the Bank Group works to meet increasing global challenges,” Malpass added. His tenure at the World Bank, spanning four years, saw the group face global crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of…

POLICE in Lagos State have commenced an investigation into the death of Toyin Adeniji, one of the aides of prominent Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Chief Dapo Sarumi. Adeniji, 47, was reportedly shot dead by suspected cultists in the Agege area of the State. It was gathered that the deceased was at the front of his house at Oyewole Road, Agege when the gunmen invaded the area and shot him at close range. Seven other persons, who were outside of the PDP chieftain’s house in Agege narrowly escaped death as the gunmen shot sporadically. Policemen from Area ‘G’’ Ogba have cordoned…

ANOTHER round of violent protests broke out on Wednesday in several states across the country, including Oyo, Delta, and Edo, over the scarcity of the new N200, N500, N1,000 notes and rejection of the old naira bills. The protests turned violent in Ibadan, Oyo State and Udu, near Warri, the commercial hub of Delta State. Ibadan There were demonstrations in different parts of Ibadan, such as Mokola, resulting in a gridlock along Eleyele/Eruwa road. Cars were turned back at some point while some schoolchildren were forced to return home as a result of the protest. Commercial activities were grounded as…

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday morning, met with the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to senior presidency sources, the meeting, which was held at Buhari’s official residence, explains his 40-minute delay before arriving at the Council Chambers to chair this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting. Our source said, President Buhari arrived at the Council Chambers at around 10:40 am, about an hour after the usual time of 10:00 am. This comes four days after the APC held its campaign rally at Eagle Square, Abuja. Although the reasons for the…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, arrested one Salman Umar Hudu, a 38-year-old indigene of Kano, at a hotel in Abuja, for falsely representing himself as the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, and other officers of the commission. The suspect is said to have also obtained N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) from a person he convinced that he can ‘handle’ any matter with the EFCC. According to an EFCC statement on Wednesday,  the suspect has giving useful information and will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigation.

THE Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, on Tuesday in Abuja, alleged that persons under probe by the commission were orchestrating the call for his sack. Bawa said this at a news conference in reaction to what he termed as sponsored campaign of calumny against him by a Civil Society Organisation. The EFCC chairman, who spoke through the commission’s Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said he would not be distracted by the antics of the group. According to him, the group has through press conferences and street protests called for his sack over alleged disobedience of court orders. He…

MORE than 40,000 people have been killed in the Turkey-Syria earthquake, but hope persisted as a 77-year-old man was rescued from rubble in Turkey’s Adiyaman, some 212 hours after the quake. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has acknowledged problems in the initial response to the 7.8 magnitude quake that struck early on Feb. 6 but has said the situation is now under control. “We are facing one of the greatest natural disasters not only in our country but also in the history of humanity,” Erdogan said in a televised speech in Ankara. The search for survivors was about to end in…

HUNGARY’S economy entered recession in 2022 according to official data published Tuesday, as soaring energy prices drove inflation higher. Hungarian GDP shrank by 0.4 per cent in the last three months of 2022, after a fall of 0.7 per cent during the third quarter, said the national statistics office KSH. Hungary’s last technical recession — defined as at least two successive quarters of contraction — occurred in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic hit the economy. The latest recession comes as Hungary reels from soaring inflation which reached an EU-high of almost 26 percent in January, the highest in the central…

MIKEL Arteta will “only be satisfied” if his Arsenal side are given two points back for the VAR error that allowed Brentford’s equaliser to stand in Saturday’s Premier League match. Referees’ body PGMOL has apologised to Arsenal after “human error” was to blame for the incorrect VAR decision. VAR operator Lee Mason did not draw the guidelines to check for offside on Ivan Toney’s equaliser. “It wasn’t human error, it was not understanding your job,” said Arteta. “That’s not acceptable, I’m sorry. “It cost Arsenal two points that are not going to be restored so we are going to have…

PSG 0 vs Bayern Munich 1 KINGSLEY Coman repeated his 2020 Champions League final heroics as Bayern Munich beat Paris St-Germain in their last-16 first-leg tie. The Frenchman volleyed home the winner early in the second half in Paris. Coman also scored the only goal when Bayern overcame his former club PSG to win the trophy three years ago. Substitute Kylian Mbappe, back after injury, looked to have rescued a draw for the hosts, but his late effort was ruled out for offside in the build-up. Ligue 1 champions PSG have now lost their last three matches in all competitions.…

MANCHESTER City manager Pep Guardiola has apologised to Steven Gerrard for comments he made about the ex-Liverpool captain’s slip against Chelsea. Defending City over alleged financial rule breaches, Guardiola referenced Gerrard’s mishap when the Reds lost 2-0 to Chelsea late in the 2013-14 season. Liverpool went on to narrowly miss out on the Premier League title to City. “I apologise to Steven Gerrard for my unnecessary and stupid comments,” said Guardiola. “He knows how I admire him and his career and what he has done for this country I am living and training in.” The infamous slip by Gerrard, who…