Author: David Great

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly and thoroughly probe the alleged payment by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu of N585.2 million meant for disbursement to vulnerable people in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun states into a private account.” SERAP also urged him “to direct Mr Fagbemi and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly and thoroughly investigate whether the N585.2 million has been paid into any private account, and to…

Super Eagles players and coaches have officially honoured Victor Osimhen at the team’s Abu Dhabi camp after winning the men’s African Player of the Year (POTY) award. Osimhen became the first Nigerian after Nwankwo Kanu in 1999 to win the CAF POTY award as the best player on the continent in December. This was after he powered Napoli to their first Scudetto title in 33 years and topped the goalscorer chart during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign. However, since Osimhen’s triumph at the CAF award ceremony, the Super Eagles have not met as a team. Nigeria’s…

The Nigeria Police Force on Saturday said it had arrested 12 Gistlover syndicate, citing conspiracy, cyberstalking and threat to life. The police in a post on social media noted that the syndicate will be charged to court after investigation has been concluded. Chronicle NG reports that the social media blog is behind many exposé on Nigerian politicians and celebrities. In the post, the police said “That contrary to popular opinion, the Gistlover blog is not run by an individual but by a syndicate called Gistlover Family. Adding “That the suspects were arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation in a…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Osun State command, arrested 252 illicit drug suspects from January 2023 to December 2023. In a statement on Saturday in Osogbo, the NDLEA Commander in the state, Chidi Nnadi, said that the suspects comprised 214 males and 38 females. He said that the command secured the conviction of 57 suspects, whose sentencing ranged from three months imprisonment to five years imprisonment. According to the commander, 47 cases are pending in court. He said that the command seized illicit drugs weighing 1,909.69kg during the period. NDLEA seeks hunter’s collaboration in fighting drug abuse “Within…

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has lamented the exit of Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing (JSM) Company from Nigeria. Chronicle NG reports that the company (JSM), reputed to be the largest syringe manufacturing venture in Africa, stopped production many months ago, it finally announced the end of operations on December 31, 2023. “After careful consideration and a thorough evaluation of our current business situation, we regret to inform you that we must implement temporary measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of the company.” the company said in a memo sighted by Chronicle…

Arsenal have expressed an interest in signing AC Milan and England centre-back Fikayo Tomori, 26. (Football Transfers) Bayern Munich are in talks with Tottenham and England defender Eric Dier, 29, as one of several centre-back options. (Athletic – subscription required) Manchester United will pay the majority of Jadon Sancho’s wages if the 23-year-old England winger returns to Borussia Dortmund on loan. (i Sport) Juventus have pulled out of the race to sign 28-year-old Manchester City and England midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who is also wanted by Newcastle United. (Sun) West Ham are open to selling 27-year-old Morocco defender Nayef Aguerd this month, if manager David Moyes can secure a replacement before the transfer window closes. (Standard) Roma and AC…

Suspected insurgents in Nigeria killed 14 people in a rampage that began in a nightclub and proceeded into the surrounding neighbourhood in northeastern Yobe State, residents said on Friday, two months after another attack in the state killed 40 people. The Boko Haram and splinter Islamic West Africa Province have waged an insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast for more than one decade and continue to carry out sporadic attacks against civilians and the military. Ali Musa, a resident from the Kwari community in Yobe told Reuters by phone that the gunmen arrived around 1:00 a.m. (0000 GMT) at a nightclub and…

The Defence Headquarters says no fewer than 43 terrorists have been neutralised and 115 others arrested by troops in different operations in the last one week. The director, defence media operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja. Buba said the military remained focused on its campaign against insurgents and operations against other criminals across the country. According to him, troops are hunting terrorists in their hiding places and conducting targeted offensives to destroy them. He said that troops had neutralised several leaders of terrorist groups and their foot soldiers as well as degraded their…

The Lagos State House of Assembly approved Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s N2.267 trillion budget for 2024. The budget, which included 58% capital spending and 42% recurring expenditure, was passed unanimously by voice vote by members of the state assembly. On December 13, 2023, Governor Sanwo-Olu presented the House with a N2.246 trillion budget plan for 2024, stating that the state expected N1.251 trillion in domestically produced income and N596.629 billion in federal government contributions. Prior to its passage, Sa’ad Olumoh, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Budget and Finance, presented a committee report recommending that the Public Works Corporation, the Water…

President Joe Biden will seek to fire up his 2024 campaign Friday with a major speech warning that democracy is at risk from Donald Trump, three years after the deadly January 6 US Capitol attack. Either trailing or neck and neck with Trump in recent polls, the 81-year-old Democrat will frame his likely Republican rival as a threat to the nation in an address near the historic US independence war site of Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. A looming winter storm forced the speech to be brought forward a day from Saturday, the third anniversary of the Capitol assault by a…