Author: Vincent Osuwo

The federal government has released a sum of N90 billion to subsidise the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Daily Trust reports. According to reports, this was revealed to the Daily Trust by a source within the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). The source, who reportedly spoke on the condition of anonymity, noted that without this intervention, each of the intending pilgrims would have been requested to add at least N3.5 million to the initial fare, which was pegged at N4.9 million. A top official at the Presidency also confirmed that the federal government “actually provided…

The Delta State Police Command has turned over HRM Clement Ikolo Oghenerukevwe, the traditional ruler of Ewu Kingdom in Delta State’s Ughelli South Local Government Area, to the Army in Asaba in furtherance of the investigation of the Okuama massacre. He surrendered himself on Thursday after the Defence Headquarters declared him sought for the deaths of 17 troops in Okuama, Delta State. The monarch was declared wanted, along with Ewu Kingdom’s president general, Prof. Ekpekpo Arthur, a militant leader named Amagbein, and six others. The Nigeria Defence Headquarters declared the eight people wanted in connection with the gruesome murder of…

Abosede, the mother of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad, has said that her son never told her anything bad about his wife, Olawunmi. In an interview with Saturday Beats, Abosede stated that her late son never complained about his wife to her. She explained, “My son never said anything negative about her to me. I grew closer to my son in the months leading up to his death, and he never said anything unpleasant about her to me.” She further stated that Mohbad never told her that he suspected Wunmi of cheating on him. The late singer’s mother…

Pope Francis abruptly pulled out of Friday’s Way of the Cross ceremony, citing a desire to “preserve his health” ahead of major Easter celebrations this weekend, according to the Vatican. The 87-year-old’s armchair had been placed on the hill overlooking the Colosseum in Rome, but it was removed since the announcement came just seconds before the Good Friday ritual. “To preserve his health ahead of tomorrow’s vigil and the Easter Sunday mass, Pope Francis will this evening follow the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum from the Santa Marta Residence,” the Vatican said in a statement. The pope did…

Joseph Aloba, father of the late musician Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly called Mohbad, has denied plotting the escape of Owodunni Ibrahim, alias Primeboy, following the singer’s death. Aloba, in response to an interview with the deceased’s mother, Bosede Adeyemo, stated that he had never met Primeboy after the tragedy occurred. In the interview, Adeyemo alleged that her ex-husband told Primeboy, Mohbad’s childhood buddy, to flee to avoid arrest and being implicated in the late singer’s death. Mohbad’s father, however, stated in a statement released on Friday by his lawyer, Monisola Odumosu, that the only time he had met Primeboy was during…

The Senate may recall Senator Abdul Ningi from his three-month ban. Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, made this statement while answering questions from reporters after returning from the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. Ningi was suspended for three months following a three-hour debate over his interview, in which he claimed that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the fiscal year 2024 is N25 trillion, while the one executed by the Presidency is N28.7 trillion. Akpabio spoke only 24 hours after Ningi’s lawyer, Femi Falana SAN, sent a letter on Thursday giving Akpabio seven days to recall…

The Ogun State Police Command announced on Friday that Oladapo Seyifunmi, one of two worshippers kidnapped at the Celestial Church of Christ, Oriyarin Parish, Mowe in the state’s Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area, has been released. SP Omolola Odutola, the state police command’s spokesperson, confirmed this in a Facebook post. Odutola wrote, “We are pleased to inform members of the public that one Oladapo Oluwaseyifunmi, Shepherd of the Celestial Church kidnapped, has been rescued through the relentless combing of the forest by policemen, hunters, VGN, and Amotekun. He has been reunited with his family.” Seyifunmi and Oluboboye Abiola were reportedly kidnapped…

The Ogun Police Command arrested Gadafi Bala, 24, on Thursday for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl in Ogija, Ogun State. According to the force, the division police officer went to the victim after receiving the report and issued a medical report that supported the claims. On Friday, March 29, the force Public Relations Officer, Eleweran Abeokuta, Omolola Odutola, published a statement on the X account of the Ogun Police Command. The statement reads: “A report was received from Ifesowapo Otitoloju CDA in Ilara Ogijo that a 14-year-old female student, a JSS 1 student of Aderegun Community High School, OGIJO, was…

American broadcasting giant CNN has been urged to conduct a laboratory test of Erisco Foods’ tomato paste.  The call was made by Nigerians demanding the broadcasting company help investigate the alleged detrimental health effects of the product on its consumers. This comes on the heels of the continuous detention of Mrs. Chioma Okoli by the police over her review of Erico Foods’ tomato paste. Chioma Okoli, on September 17, 2023, made a post on her Facebook page, highlighting the high sugar content in the tomato mix and inviting her followers who might have used the same product to share their…

Operatives from the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps have arrested 63 people in various areas for crossing the motorway without using pedestrian bridges and street dealing.  Tokunbo Wahab, the state commissioner for environment and water resources, confirmed this in a tweet on his X handle on Friday. The caption reads, “63 persons were arrested yesterday by the officials of Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESCOfficial) at different locations in the state for crossing the highway without using the pedestrian bridge and street trading. “Some of these locations are Oshodi Oke, Ile Epo, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Ajah, etc. They have been…