Author: Vincent Osuwo

President Bola Tinubu has granted presidential pardons and clemency to 175 people, including the late environmental campaigner Ken Saro-Wiwa, nationalist Herbert Macaulay, Major General Mamman Vatsa, and Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death for killing her husband. According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the decision was made in response to recommendations from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). The list, which was released on Saturday, is divided into…

Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, has been granted a presidential pardon by President Bola Tinubu after spending six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre. According to a statement released on Saturday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said, “Her family pleaded for her release, arguing that it was in the best interest of her two children. The plea was also anchored on her good conduct in jail, her remorse, and her embracement of a new…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed Deposit Money Banks and other financial institutions to refund customers for failed Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transactions within 48 hours, in a sweeping reform aimed at protecting consumers and restoring confidence in the banking system. The directive is contained in a draft guideline issued by the apex bank on Saturday, titled “Exposure of the Draft Guidelines on the Operations of Automated Teller Machines in Nigeria.” The document, signed by Musa I. Jimoh, Director of the Payment System Policy Department, was distributed to banks, payment service providers, card schemes, and independent ATM deployers,…

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has responded to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s recent statements criticizing the cost per kilometer of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, claiming that the governor misunderstood the technical aspects of road construction and cost evaluation. Speaking on Saturday during an inspection tour of the Keffi Bridge and the Nasarawa-Toto Road projects with the state governor, Abdullahi Sule, Umahi stated that the cost of the highway had been carefully calculated in accordance with global engineering standards and should not be reduced to “political soundbites.” Makinde had questioned the minister’s estimated cost per kilometer for the Lagos-Calabar…

An American woman has suggested that individuals living with incurable sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as HIV or herpes, should be listed in a national database similar to that of sex offenders. In a viral video shared by Onsite on Instagram on Saturday, the woman questioned why people diagnosed with incurable sexually transmitted diseases like HIV or herpes are not automatically registered in a public system that allows others to verify their health status before engaging in romantic or sexual relationships. She said, “If you’ve been to the doctor and you’ve tested positive for HIV, AIDS, or herpes or an…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio stated that the National Assembly will not be held hostage by “disruptive instincts” of its members, insisting the upper chamber must uphold discipline and respect for its rules to preserve the sanctity of Nigerian democracy. Akpabio made the remark in a statement sent by his media adviser, Eseme Eyiboh, on Saturday, headed “The Trials and Triumphs of a Resilient Nigeria’s 10th Senate.” He stated that the legislature’s insistence on following its norms was not to silence criticism but to maintain order and the sanctity of democratic institutions. Akpabio said, “The Senate cannot and will not be…

The Super Eagles’ qualifying from Group C of the FIFA World Cup African qualifiers will go all the way to the final day, after another tense round of matchups on Friday left three teams in contention. With one match remaining, the Republic of Benin leads the standings with 17 points, two ahead of South Africa (15 points) and three ahead of Nigeria. The last round on Tuesday will determine who receives the solitary automatic ticket to the 2026 World Cup. In Durban, Zimbabwe and South Africa drew 0-0, a blow for Bafana Bafana, who had hoped to qualify early. Nigeria…

Arise News has announced that its late anchor, journalist, and producer, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, who was killed in a horrific armed robbery on September 29, 2025, will be laid to rest on Saturday, October 18, 2025. In a video posted on Saturday, the network announced that an “evening of tributes will be held on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at the THISDAY Dome, Central Business District, Abuja.” “This will be followed by a service of songs on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at the Corpus Christi Cathedral, Kaduna Street, Port Harcourt.” According to ARISE News, “Her interment in Anambra State on Saturday,…

The Labour Party has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to give up his 2027 presidential ambition for the interest of Nigerians. The party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, made the call during an interview with The Punch. The party urged Atiku to prove his love for Nigeria by supporting the candidacy of Peter Obi in the 2027 general election. According to Akeni, Atiku should “prove his love for the country by doing the right thing and giving Peter Obi a chance in 2027.” According to him, “Let Atiku think of what is best for his epitaph. Would…

The Labour Party has refuted reports that its potential 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, may step down for any political coalition or rival challenger, claiming that such a move would violate the dream of millions of Nigerians seeking change. In response to continuing debates over potential opposition alliances ahead of the 2019 general election, the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, stated that pulling the former Anambra State governor from the race “is to take away 90 percent of Nigerians’ hope for redemption and a new beginning.” Akeni stated this in an interview with The PUNCH. “Forcing Peter Obi…