Author: David Great

Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court, Uyo has convicted and sentenced a notorious international fraudster, Scales Olatunji, to 235 years imprisonment for internet fraud and money laundering. Scales Olatunji was arraigned on July 2, 2019 on 45-count charges bordering on identity theft, money laundering and conspiracy. He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, thus setting the stage for his trial. One of the counts reads: “That you, Scales Olatunji Ishola “M”, Meraiyebu Charles “M”(at large), Gabriel Adeyemi Olugbenga “M”(at large), Ojomo Oluwatobi Ayodele “M”(at large) and Adekola Oluwatoyin “M”(at large), between January 2017 to October 2018, in Nigeria,…

The Senate, on Wednesday, adjourned plenary to enable it proceed on the Sallah break. The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, accordingly, announced July 19, 2022, as resumption date. The Senate, before embarking on the three weeks recess, forwarded President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for the confirmation of Mohammed Bello as Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission to the Committee on National Planning. It also passed the Federal Medical Centres (Establishment) Bill, 2022, after re-committal to the Committee of the Whole for consideration and passage. The Deputy Senate Leader, Ajayi Boroffice (APC, Ondo North), who sponsored the motion for re-committal,…

Romelu Lukaku has returned to Inter Milan on a season-long loan, just a year after leaving for Chelsea. Chelsea paid Inter a club-record £97.5m for Lukaku, 29, last summer but, before Christmas, he said he was “not happy” and hoped to rejoin the Italian side. Inter have agreed to pay a loan fee of about 8m euros (£6.9m) for Lukaku, who helped them win Serie A in 2020-21. The Belgium striker was not a regular starter for Chelsea last season but scored 15 goals in all competitions. It is understood Lukaku was willing to take a pay cut to seal…

The Senate, on Wednesday, screened and confirmed the seven ministerial nominees whose names were sent last week by President Muhammadu Buhari for confirmation as Minister-designates. The senate screening exercise which started at about 12 noon lasted till 4:37 p.m. Those screened and confirmed as minister-designates include Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh (Abia), Umana Okon Umana (Akwa-Ibom), and Ekumankama Joseph Nkama (Ebonyi). Others are Goodluck Nana Opiah (Imo), Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub (Kano), Ademola Adewole Adegoroye (Ondo), and Udi Odum (Rivers). While fielding questions from lawmakers, the first nominee, Ikechukwu Ikoh, said in tackling the issue of job creation, efforts must be made to…

Former Ekiti governor, Ayodele Fayose, has vowed to support a southern candidate in the 2023 presidential election, noting that, power should rotate. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in a series of tweets pointed that his party’s constitution makes provision for power change. Chronicle NG reports that the PDP shunned pressure for it to produce a southern candidate, instead former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar was elected as the party’s candidate. Abubakar, a Muslim Fulani from the north will succeed another Muslim Fulani, in President Muhammadu Buhari if he wins in 2023. EFCC rearraigns Fayose on amended charges Reacting…

Senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District, Ibrahim Shekarau, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress and joined the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). The lawmaker in a defection letter read during plenary by the Senate President Ahmad Lawan, informed the chamber that his decision to quit the ruling party was due to marginalization and lack of internal democracy in the Kano Chapter of the APC. The full text of the letter reads, “I kindly write to formally notify you of my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), and declaration for the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP). “My…

A prime beachfront resort seized from its black owners nearly 100 years ago has been returned to their descendants by officials in Los Angeles. Bruce’s Beach was purchased in 1912 to create a beach resort for black people at a time of racial segregation in southern California. Located in the desirable city of Manhattan Beach, it was forcibly taken by the local council in 1924. But on Tuesday, Los Angeles officials voted to return the land to the family. Willa and Charles Bruce bought the two lots of land for $1,225 in 1912. The beach is now worth an estimated…

The absence of a prosecution counsel, John Ijagbemi, in a Federal High Court on Wednesday stalled the re-arraignment of Ms Precious Chikwendu, the estranged wife of Femi Fani-Kayode. Chikwendu is the 2nd defendant in the 14-count amended charge that bordered on alleged threat to the lives of witnesses lined up in the alleged attempted murder charge against her and three others. Other defendants in the trial include Emmanuel Anakan, Prisca Chikwendu and Osakwe Azubuike as 1st, 3rd and 4th defendants respectively, while others are said to be at large. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four defendants…

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has disclosed that a delegation from its Committee on Foreign Affairs would depart Nigeria for London on July 1, 2022, to pay a visit to Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, who are both presently in detention over an allegation of organ harvesting. Lawan made this known on Wednesday, while giving details into the outcome of a closed session held by the upper chamber before the start of plenary proceedings. The closed door session which started about 10:57 a.m ended at 11:49 a.m. According to Lawan, the decision to wade into Ekweremadu’s arrest and detention…

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), has cancelled certificates of registration of Standard Alliance Insurance Plc, RIC – 091 and Niger Insurance Plc, RIC – 029 with effect from June 21. This was contained in a statement issued by Rasaaq Salami, Head, Corporate Communications and Market Development of NAICOM in Abuja on Tuesday. Salami said the Commission had appointed Sanya, Ogunkuade Esq of Plot 217, Upper Grace Plaza, Utako, Abuja as the liquidator for Niger Insurance Plc. Court dismisses bankruptcy suit against ex-Staco Insurance boss According to him, the Commission has also appointed Kehinde Aina, Esq, of Aina Blankson LP, 5/7,…