Author: Vincent Osuwo

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has promised the commitment of the House under his leadership to use legislative instruments to promote gender equality and safeguard press freedom. This comes as he warns that no nation can flourish on fake news or misinformation. The Speaker made the vow on Tuesday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Week and Award Ceremony, which was held in Abuja, the capital. The Speaker, represented by Akwa Ibom member Patrick Umoh, praised the media for holding all tiers of government accountable and deepening democracy via public enlightenment and education. According to…

The Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s N12.3 billion fraud charge against Honeywell Group Chairman Dr Oba Otudeko and three others after the anti-graft agency formally withdrew the case on Wednesday. The EFCC had charged Otudeko, former First Bank Managing Director Olabisi Onasanya, former Honeywell board member Soji Akintayo, and Anchorage Leisure Limited with 13 counts (Suit No. FHC/L/20C/2025). The defendants were accused of conspiring to fraudulently obtain N12.3 billion from First Bank of Nigeria in the name of credit facilities for V-TECH Dynamic Links Ltd. and Stallion Nigeria Ltd. At Wednesday’s sessions,…

The US has issued a fresh travel advisory to its citizens, warning against travel to Nigeria over the unavailability of healthcare services and the increasing rate of kidnapping, terrorism, and armed gangs, among other crimes. The travel recommendation published as part of the United States’ security review serves as a reference for travellers planning journeys to Africa, with some countries designated as high-risk areas. In addition to Nigeria, the US issued a global travel alert warning for 11 other African countries: Somalia, Libya, Burkina Faso, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Burundi, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, and Chad. The recommendation…

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated that Canada “will not accept a bad deal” solely to obtain a trade agreement with the United States, as a deadline of August 1 looms before US President Donald Trump begins imposing new tariffs. “Our objective is not to reach a deal at any cost,” Carney told reporters in Ontario. “We are pursuing a deal that will be in the best interest of Canadians.” If no agreement is reached by the deadline, US importers purchasing goods from Canada will be subject to a 35% tariff. The neighbours are among each other’s largest trading…

Adamu Garba, a senior member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and past presidential candidate, has expressed concern over the widening disparity between the facts on the ground and the stories being provided to President Bola Tinubu by people around him. Garba, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, warned that sycophants in power are deceiving Tinubu  by painting a false picture of stability in both the country and the ruling party. “There is a lot of sycophancy around the president,” Garba said. “People are telling him that things are okay – things are not okay.” The outspoken APC…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a warning against threats to opposition leaders, claiming that any danger to the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is a threat to all opposition politicians. Atiku’s admonition comes amid a building controversy over Obi’s recent visit to Edo State, which Governor Monday Okpebholo argues must adhere to normal security clearance procedures. During the inauguration of the New Edo Line Transport Company in Benin on Tuesday, Okpebholo reiterated his earlier position that Obi should inform the state government of his visits, citing security concerns rather than intimidation. Okpebholo had urged Obi on…

The All Igbo Youth Forum has threatened that Igbo youths will boycott the 2027 general elections unless Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is released. Chief Chinedu Obilor, the Forum’s National President, made the threat during a news briefing at the Secretariat of the Abia Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Umuahia on Tuesday. Obilor stated that the organisation postponed its planned protest against Kanu’s extended incarceration following a talk with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Benjamin Kalu. He stated that Kalu promised the gathering that conversations with…

Judith Amaechi, the wife of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, has denied receiving N4 billion per month from the Niger Delta Development Commission, as reported by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike. Mrs Amaechi, through her media aide, Dr Dike Bekwele, issued a statement on Tuesday challenging Wike to make public his version of the forensic audit report on the NDDC, in which either she or her non-governmental organisation, Empowerment Support Initiative, ESI, was charged. In an interview with Channels Television, Wike claimed that Mrs Amaechi received N4 billion per month from the interventionist agency through her non-governmental organisation.…

The wife of former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, Mrs Judith Amaechi, has denied receiving 4 billion per month from the Niger Delta Development Commission, as claimed by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike. Wike made the claim during a live television interview, claiming that the funds were being transferred to ESI as part of a long-standing agreement with the NDDC. He also stated that the organisation could have been implicated in the NDDC forensic audit report, which has yet to be made public. Reacting to the allegation in a statement on Tuesday made available to Chronicle NG…

Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been issued a two-month suspension after being found guilty of illegal betting by Italian football authorities. According to Football Italia on Tuesday, the Nigerian international, who presently plays for Serie A club Udinese, evaded a potentially career-ending four-year penalty for sporting fraud. The dispute arose from a Serie A match between Udinese and Lazio on March 11, 2024. Okoye drew a yellow card in the 64th minute for time-wasting, with his team leading 2-1. Authorities reported the incident after noticing an increase in strange betting patterns, notably wagers expecting a yellow card for Okoye.…