Author: David Great

An ECOWAS court on Thursday dismissed a case by Niger’s military junta that sought to lift a raft of sanctions imposed by the regional ECOWAS bloc on the country after a July coup. Soldiers from the Nigerien presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 and went on to set up what they called a transitional government, one of a series of recent coups in West Africa’s Sahel region. That transitional government had told the Abuja-based ECOWAS Community Court of Justice that the sanctions, which included border closures by Niger’s neighbours and a cut in power supplies by Nigeria,…

A huge blast at an explosives depot in Seychelles on Thursday injured 66 people and brought down buildings, prompting the country’s “shocked” president to declare a state of emergency. The archipelago — famous for its idyllic white beaches and high-end tourism — is also grappling with flooding and landslides due to heavy rainfall which have claimed two lives, President Wavel Ramkalawan said, ordering citizens to stay at home. The blast happened in the Providence industrial area in Mahe, the largest island in the Indian Ocean nation of Seychelles, causing huge damage at the site and to surrounding areas, the presidency…

Nigeria’s duo of Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala have been shortlisted in the final three-man list for the men and women categories of the CAF Player of the Year awards, respectively. Osimhen who finished as the top scorer in the 2022/2023 Italian Serie A season, will battle Liverpool and Egypt winger Mohammed Salah, Morocco’s star and World Cup semi-finalist, Achraf Hakimi, and Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez for the top gong. Chronicle NG reported on Monday night that Osimhen was named the Italian Footballers’ Association Footballer of the Year for his outstanding performance with the Neapolitans last season. Osimhen was also instrumental in…

Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Yemi Cardoso, has approved the reviewed “service charter’’ of the apex bank. The service charter is a requirement of the Business Facilitation Act 2022 for driving the ease of doing business in Nigeria. It compels the CBN to fully comply with the directives of SERVICOM on improving customer service delivery. The CBN stated on Thursday in Abuja that the charter outlined the working relationship between the bank and its external customers. “The document clearly outlines the bank’s mandates, vision, mission, and core values. It contains the list of services offered by the bank…

In global economic dynamics, few countries exemplify the intricate connection between natural resource exports and financial stability. Nigeria is one of them. As one of Africa’s largest oil producers, Nigeria’s economic health is tied to the whims of the global oil market. The recent fluctuations in oil prices have cast both shadows and light on Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves, a key indicator of economic resilience. In that respect, Nigerian investors involved in forex trading and other economic activities tied to the oil market are currently dealing with the fluidity of the local economy. A Quick Economic Background The dependence of…

Israeli troops battled Hamas militants Thursday in the heart of southern Gaza’s main city where a suspected mastermind of the October 7 attacks is believed to be hiding, while pressing their offensive across the besieged territory. Breaking through Hamas’s defences of Gaza’s second largest city, Israeli troops, tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and bulldozers rolled into Khan Yunis, forcing already displaced civilians to flee again, witnesses said. Hamas said late Wednesday on Telegram that its fighters were engaged in fierce battles against Israeli troops “on all axes of the incursion into the Gaza Strip,” as it claimed they destroyed two dozen…

The police command in Ogun says it has arrested two persons, Akeem Usman and Niyi Ifadowo, for allegedly killing 18-year-old 100-level Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) student Quadri Salami for rituals. SP Omolola Odutola, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), disclosed this in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Wednesday. Ms Odutola stated that Mr Salami’s father, on November 14, reported at Kemta Police station, Abeokuta, that his son had been missing since November 8. She quoted the father as saying he had not set his eyes on his son and all efforts to locate him proved abortive. The PPRO…

The Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has denied stories making the rounds on social media that a substantial amount was allocated for the renovation of his residence in the 2024 Appropriation Bill. In a post via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Gbajabiamila said there was no provision in the 2024 Appropriation Bill for the renovation of his residence, adding that he lives in his private apartment. “I have seen social media commentary regarding the 2024 Appropriation Bill, particularly the provisions under the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President. Owing to the erroneous…

The Tinubu administration has set aside N9.5 billion for the procurement of bulletproof vehicle tyres, SUVs, operating vehicles, and plain automobiles for the State House, as well as the development of an office complex for Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants. N2 billion was set aside for the replacement of SUV vehicles, N4 billion for the purchase of State House operating vehicles, N351 million for the purchase of tyres for bulletproof vehicles, plain cars, jeeps, and ambulances, and N3.5 billion for the construction of SA and SSA office complexes. The Budget Office of the Federation released the 2024 Appropriation Bill…

The Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court Lagos, on Wednesday, ordered the remand of a 41-year-old man, Odumashe Oluwaseyi, for impersonating an Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) staffer and defrauding three persons of N595,000. The magistrate, A.R. Onilogbo, remanded Mr. Oluwaseyi after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretence. The magistrate, who ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kirikiri Prison custody, adjourned the case till December 21 for facts and sentencing. Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Sanni Ahmed, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between September and November in the Offin area…