Author: David Great

The Federal Executive Council (FEC), on Monday, said it plans to present a N26.01 trillion budget to the National Assembly for 2024 fiscal year. This is according to Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Planning, who said following the Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu. According to him, the FEC set the price of crude oil at $73.96, the exchange rate at $700, and oil production at 1.78 million barrels per day. “The assumptions include the oil price benchmark, which I said for 2024, we are assuming $73.96, oil production of 1.7 8 million barrels a day at…

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on October 13, 2023, arraigned Michael Anan Onimisi before Justice R.M Aikawa of the Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna for developing a software code named: “Bee-Leaf” and “Real-Eve” to defraud First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB), the sum of N17, 785,010.75 (Seventeen Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand, Ten Naira and Seventy Five Kobo only). Onimisi was accused of developing the software to hack into the security measures of FCMB, in order to defraud it. He was arraigned on six- count charges bordering on internet fraud…

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time since the deadly Hamas attack, and briefed him on several talks with leaders from the region and Palestinian Authority. “The Prime Minister was in particular informed of the essential points of telephone correspondences that took place today with the leaders of Palestine, Egypt, Iran and Syria,” the Kremlin said in a statement. According to Moscow, the discussion focused on “the crisis situation resulting from the brutal escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”. Putin expressed “his sincere condolences to the families and friends of the deceased…

The Super Eagles overcame Mozambique 3-2 on Monday, the Nigerian team’s first friendly victory under portuguese manager Jose Peseiro Mozambique took the lead seven minutes into the game through Geny Catamo, creating new concerns that Nigeria’s winless streak in friendly games may continue. Terem Moffi of OGC Nice struck from close range 13 minutes later to restore parity for the Super Eagles at the Estádio Municipal de Albufeira in Albufeira, Portugal. It was no surprise that Nigeria seized the lead, as they continued to command the majority of the play. At the half-hour mark, Brentford’s Frank Onyeka pounced on a…

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested Chike Nosa Agada, an unlicensed foreign exchange dealer, for an alleged N2billion fraud. Agada, a 37-year old native of Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, was declared wanted by the Commission on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, for obtaining money by false pretence and stealing by conversion to the tune of N2 billion. He was arrested at a residence in the Bourdillon, Ikoyi area of Lagos, on Monday, October 16, 2023 during a sting operation by operatives of the Commission, following credible intelligence linking him to…

Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez will be able to face rivals Barcelona in the Clasico on October 28 in La Liga after his suspension for a red card was reduced to two games. The Spanish football federation’s appeal committee cut Nacho’s ban from three matches down to two after he was sent off against Girona for an ugly foul on winger Portu. La Liga leaders Real Madrid were 3-0 up against Girona when Nacho was dismissed in stoppage time for his high tackle, with Portu taken off on a stretcher. The defender apologised to Portu for his foul, which Girona…

The Delta Police Command paraded three suspected kidnappers and retrieved four AK-47 firearms on Monday. DSP Bright Edafe, the command’s Public Relations Officer, while parading the suspects at the police headquarters in Asaba said that abduction is a serious offence in the state. “You will recall that a few days ago, the Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, personally briefed you on the summary of the Command’s activities and achievements from July 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023,” he stated. He said, “You will recall that a few days ago, the Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, personally briefed you on the…

Israel on Monday described Hamas as “a genocidal terrorist organization” and it vowed to eliminate the group as it continues its onslaught on the group. In a post by the Israel Defense Forces on X, formerly Twitter, the military published a list of the group’s eliminated leaders and promised to take out the group in its entirety. “Hamas is a genocidal terrorist organization. We will eliminate Hamas,” the Israel Defense Forces posted. The list of key operatives eliminated by IDF are Ali Qadi, Commander of Hamas Nukhba Jabalya Assult Company; Muetaz Eid, Commander of the Hamas Southern District of National…

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to call Israeli and Arab leaders on Monday, his adviser said, amid Russian fears Israel’s Gaza offensive could trigger wider conflict in the region. Russia has repeatedly called for talks on ending the conflict, which has strained relations with long-time partner Israel and complicated ties with Iran, which backs militant group Hamas. “The president has already spoken to the president of Syria and the president of Iran,” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. “During the day there will be more phone calls with the presidents of Egypt…

West African regional bloc ECOWAS this weekend warned candidates in Liberia’s recent elections against any premature declarations of victory and said it would crack down on instigators of violence. Liberians voted on October 10 on whether to re-elect football legend George Weah, the favourite to win, for a second term as president, as well as choosing their new parliament. ECOWAS and the African Union (AU) congratulated the government and the election commission for the organisation of a peaceful vote, marked by enthusiasm and a high participation rate. The vote was the first to be held since the United Nations ended…