Author: Vincent Osuwo

Governor Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, said his administration has institutionalized a merit-based system in Oyo State, revealing that more institutions would be created before the end of his tenure to make the state greater. Makinde stated this at a symposium organized as part of the activities marking the fiftieth anniversary of the state, held at the International Conference Center, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Makinde equally added that preparations were underway to put together another roadmap which would ensure the continued development of the state beyond 2027. Governor Makinde said, “We’ve been talking about strong institutions. We don’t want strong individuals…

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted Yahaya Bello, a former governor of Kogi State, permission to travel to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 lesser Hajj. On Thursday, Justice Emeka Nwite granted the temporary release of Bello’s foreign passport, which had been in court custody, so that he could participate in the religious activity. Bello is now on trial for suspected theft of funds in a case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The EFCC is prosecuting the former governor for alleged money laundering totaling N80.2 billion, which Bello rejected when he was arraigned.…

Justice M.S. Abubakar of the Federal High Court in Makurdi, Benue State, has ordered the remand of Dr. Terso Loko, former Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, over an alleged N1.1 billion fraud. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charged Loko and ten individuals on Wednesday with 30 counts of illegal theft of public funds and money laundering. Others charged with him are Kuleve Kelvin Terlumun, Serki Mtomga Manasseh, Ugbede Denen Ronald, Tatyough Thaddeus, Angwa Dominic Terhember, Uwua Benjamin Igbawua, Adese Asom, Orkuma Emmanuel Nyiusta, Owoicho Odeh, and Mhir Iyenge. The former head of the electoral commission was…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a Deputy Director of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC, Yusuf Mustapha, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja over alleged forgery. Mustapha was brought before Justice S.U. Bature on three counts of forgery, fraudulent presentation of counterfeit papers, and giving false statements to ICPC investigators. According to ICPC spokesman John Odey’s statement on Thursday, investigations revealed irregularities in the defendant’s academic certificate. He said Mustapha claimed to have graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna State, in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science…

The Lagos State Police Command has disputed that its officers shot at citizens protesting the demolition of their homes, saying that no shots were fired during Wednesday’s demonstration. Protesters from Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode-Onirin, and Oko Baba marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly, demanding suitable relocation plans, compensation, and justice for citizens who were allegedly killed during previous demolition efforts. Protesters carried signs with messages such as “A megacity cannot be built on the bones and blood of the poor” and “Justice for Owode-Onirin traders,” demanding compensation, relocation plans, and justice for previous demolitions. Chronicle NG gathered  that tensions escalated at…

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has led the deployment of security personnel at the Onitsha Main Market to enforce the one-week closure imposed by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo. Soludo has ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week after traders failed to heed the state government’s direction to disregard the Monday sit-at-home order. The governor issued the decision on Monday during an on-site visit to the market with some of his advisers and other government officials. As a result of the directive, security agencies surrounded the market on Tuesday, with…

British prosecutors told a London court on Wednesday that former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, spent more than £2 million (N4 billion) at Harrods, allegedly with funds provided by oil executives who benefited from lucrative contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. The prosecution claimed that founders of energy firms who received significant NNPC contracts also financed the upkeep of Alison-Madueke’s residence in the UK and paid her household staff’s salaries. The court was informed that the payments covered salaries for a housekeeper, nanny, gardener, and window cleaner at the ex-minister’s home. Prosecutors claim that the benefits…

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed a series of sanctions on the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football and the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football, as well as several players and officials, following incidents during the 2025 African Cup of Nations final. In a statement published on its website on Wednesday night, CAF said the sanctions were handed down for violations of the CAF Disciplinary Code, including breaches of the principles of fair play, loyalty, and integrity, during and after the final match. As part of the decision against Senegal, CAF suspended Senegalese national team head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw…

A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has scheduled ten new hearing dates to wrap up the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele, who is facing charges associated with the naira redesign, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Justice Maryann Anenih, the trial judge, set the dates on Wednesday after an agreement was reached between the EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), and Emefiele’s attorney, Olalekan Ojo (SAN). The court stated that the trial, which began in 2024, would conclude on the following hearing dates: February 3 and 10; April 1 and 2;…

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Obi Aguocha, has warned Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, against attempts to end the Monday sit-at-home directive, cautioning that this action might worsen insecurity throughout the South-East. Aguocha, representing the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia State, stated that the attempts by him and other stakeholders to stabilize the region were slowly producing results prior to what he referred to as the recent intervention by Gov. Soludo. “Gov. Soludo, unfortunately, has unleashed terror on an army of silent agitators who, for so long, had helped…