Author: Vincent Osuwo

A bus carrying schoolchildren returning from a trip skidded off the road in Uganda, killing 20 children and one adult, authorities said Friday. The East African country has a horrible road safety record, with numerous bus and truck accidents on poorly maintained routes. According to preliminary police investigations, the bus from King David Junior School in the capital, Kampala, drove off the road while returning from a school excursion to Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa District. “The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road, struck a large stone along the roadside, and overturned,” police said in…

US President Donald Trump has finalised a new rule limiting most foreign students and exchange visitors to a maximum stay of four years in the country unless they obtain an extension from the federal government. The long-standing “duration of status” policy, which permitted foreign students to stay in the US for the duration of their academic programmes as long as they met with visa requirements, is ending with the Department of Homeland Security’s new regulation. Students with F-1 visas and exchange visitors with J-1 visas will be subject to the limitation. The Department of Homeland Security expressed concern that some…

US President Donald Trump will attend Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, the White House said, saving his first appearance at the tournament for its grand finale. “His attendance will cap what has been the most watched, most secure, and most successful World Cup in American history,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing on Thursday. “This is a fitting conclusion to a tournament that showcased America’s ability to host the world on the grandest stage.” Trump will also attend a reception for football’s world governing body, FIFA, at Trump Tower in New York on Friday, Leavitt said.…

FIFA has selected Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić to supervise the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. The world football governing body announced the match officials on its official X handle on Friday. Vinčić will be accompanied by fellow Slovenians Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič as first and second assistant referees, respectively. Jordan’s Adham Makhadmeh has been chosen fourth official, with Mohammad Alkalaf serving as reserve assistant referee. The final will be played at the 80,663-capacity New York-New Jersey Stadium in the United States, with kickoff at 3:00 p.m. local time (EDT). Spain advanced to the final after…

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has filed a N15 billion defamation suit against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi in the High Court of the government capital territory in Abuja, alleging that he wanted a 48% kickback from a N27.3 billion takeoff grant granted for a government agency. Gbajabiamila is seeking N10 billion in general damages, N5 billion in aggravated damages, N200 million in litigation costs, and an order requiring Adeyemi to publish a complete retraction and apology in five national publications. He further asks the court to order the defendant to post an apology on all social media…

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has stated that its 2026 national officers and General Council of the Bar elections will proceed as scheduled on Saturday, July 18, despite the arrest and subsequent release of the managing director of its election service provider by the Department of State Services. After an emergency virtual meeting of its National Executive Council on Thursday, the group issued a statement announcing the decision. According to the NBA, the council overwhelmingly reiterated its support for constitutional governance, institutional independence, and the integrity of the organization’s democratic processes. “During the meeting, the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian…

Yoruba lawyers under the aegis of Egbe Amofin Oodua have called for the postponement of the Nigerian Bar Association’s national election by a minimum of seven days over claims that the extension would give room for proper voter sensitisation and ensure a more credible electoral process. During a press conference on Thursday at the Aare Afe Babalola Bar Centre in Iyaganku, Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, Chief Isiaka Olagunju, SAN, the chairman of the Governing Council of Egbe Amofin Oodua, revealed this information to reporters. According to Olagunju, the group was calling for the implementation of the National Identification Number,…

The Kogi State Government has reported the successful rescue of four people kidnapped during a recent attack on an unauthorised examination centre in Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area, in the state. Kingsley Fanwo, Commissioner for Information and Communications, stated this in a statement issued on Thursday, characterising the rescue as the result of a concerted security operation initiated by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo immediately following the event. According to the commissioner, Governor Ododo authorised the state security adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd), to arrange a joint rescue mission that included the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria…

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Thursday spoke over the death of Miss Mary Habila, a staff member who died at the minister’s residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State, insisting that he suspected no foul play and describing attempts to link him to the incident as “politics taken too far.” Umahi stated that the victim, whom he described as “like a daughter,” had worked closely with him for years and had a history of medical challenges for which he personally funded treatment. He also disclosed that his late aide complained of bleeding from her nose during a phone conversation with…

The Senate confirmed Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina as a non-career ambassadorial nominee on Thursday, despite resistance from some politicians and recent civil society protests. The confirmation came after the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Sani Bello (APC, Niger North), considered and adopted the report. Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South), the committee’s vice-chairman, delivered the report and asked the Senate to support Fasina’s candidature for appointment as a non-career ambassador/high commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He said, “That the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the confirmation…