Author: Vincent Osuwo

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has denied widespread social media rumors alleging that he is responsible for the pregnancy of reality TV star, Nengi Hampson. The speculation, which made the rounds online, claimed that Nengi had given birth to the governor’s child, with some reports even suggesting he has four wives. On Monday, social media was agog with reports that the 27-year-old former Big Brother Naija star was expecting a child with the governor, who appointed her as Senior Special Assistant on Girl Child Development in 2020. Reacting to the claims on his Facebook page on Tuesday, the governor’s chief…

The House of Representatives on Tuesday directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani to suspend the tariff increase, arguing that Nigerians cannot afford higher telecom costs amid rising inflation and the removal of fuel subsidies. Nigerian telecommunications operators have started implementing the long-awaited 50 percent tariff hike following regulatory approval from the NCC as lawmakers moved to stop the rollout, citing economic hardship. The pricing hike, which had been approved by the NCC, was set to take effect nationally on Monday. While MTN, the country’s largest telecommunications provider, had…

The Senate Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday questioned Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun over 178,459 missing guns and claims of N1.1 billion in contract splitting within the Nigeria Police Force. During his presence, Egbetokun apologized for failing to fulfill earlier invitations, claiming that his office’s demands prohibited him from attending. To ensure compliance in future engagements, Egbetokun designated Assistant Inspector General of Police Abdul Sulaiman, in charge of Police Accounts, as his official representative before the committee. Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) accepted his apology on behalf of the committee, emphasizing that the IGP’s appearance reaffirmed the principle…

Former Kaduna Central senator Shehu Sani has condemned the continuous detention of Maxi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. Sani, in a statement on X on Tuesday, berated the indefinite adjournment of the IPOB leader. Chronicle NG reports that the trial of Kanu has been adjourned indefinitely by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The ruling, made on Monday, comes after Kanu insisted that Nyako cannot sit over his case, citing her earlier recusal. Chronicle NG had earlier reported that Kanu had been ordered to appear for a hearing on Monday, February…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday announced Ned Nwoko, Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, as the new Chairman of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee reviewing turnaround maintenance at the country’s refineries. Nwoko succeeded Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who died on July 27, 2024, in London, United Kingdom. Recall that the ad-hoc committee was constituted by the Akpabio-led Senate on October 24, 2023, in response to complaints about cash spent on refinery upkeep while the nation’s refining capacity remained stable. The committee was tasked with investigating turnaround maintenance at Federal Government-owned refineries, including assessing all contracts awarded for their rehabilitation. Late Ubah,…

Prince Akinfemiwa Akinruntan, son of the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Fredrick Enitiolorunda Akinruntan, has refuted reports making the rounds about his death, assuring the public that he is alive and in good health. Akinruntan, the GMD of Obat Group, in a statement on Tuesday, made this clarification in response to rumours that the monarch, who is also the founder of Obat Oil, has passed on. Earlier, some news outlets (not this publication) reported that it could not confirm his death amid growing anxiety in the Ondo community over reports of the monarch’s demise. The report that the 75-year-old monarch…

Chaos erupted at the Faculty of Arts, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, after a yet-to-be-identified female student attacked and bit a lecturer during a heated altercation. The incident, which occurred on campus, started from an argument after the lecturer, identified as Dr. Chukwudi Michael, interrupted the student while she was recording a dance video in the faculty corridor. Eyewitnesses stated that she was dancing while someone filmed her when Michael attempted to pass by. “The lecturer tapped her on the shoulder and said, ‘Excuse me,’ as he passed behind her. However, she became visibly upset and exclaimed, ‘Can you imagine how…

Nigerians have condemned the rehabilitation of no fewer than 800 ex-Boko Haram terrorists by the Federal Government. Chronicle NG reports that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has revealed that 800 former Boko Haram fighters who surrendered to the military are currently undergoing deradicalization for further reintegration into society. The Chief of Defence Operations, Maj.-Gen. Emeka Onumajuru, made this known on Channels TV on Monday. According to him, one year is enough time to reorient and reintegrate the ex-terrorists into the larger society. He said, though, that about 129,000 Boko Haram fighters have been arrested so far, and only 800 former fighters…

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has issued a directive that henceforth, “no operative should be seen carrying assault arms (rifles) while dressed in civilian attire (mufti).” Egbetokun also issued a stern warning to all officers regarding serious breaches of human rights, emphasising the duty of the Force to uphold these rights. Egbetokun, who received numerous accusations about human rights abuses through the Force’s complaint channels, expressed disapproval of such actions yesterday in a virtual meeting he called with strategic police managers. According to a statement released yesterday by ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, the meeting…

US President Donald Trump has pardoned former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat who served eight years in prison over corruption charges before it was cut short by Trump during his first term. On multiple counts of corruption allegations, including extortion using state funds for a children’s hospital and attempting to sell Barack Obama’s vacant US Senate seat in 2008, Blagojevich, now 68, was given a 14-year jail sentence. After being ousted from office in 2009, the former governor started serving his prison term in 2012. Blagojevich participated in Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice” reality TV show before his spectacular demise, where…