Author: Vincent Osuwo

Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, a former Minister of External Affairs, has criticised Kemi Badenoch, the leader of UK’s Conservative Party, for her recent denigration of Nigeria. Akinyemi, a former director general of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, criticised Badenoch for using the global stage to advance her political career. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Monday, Akinyemi said Badenoch will soon learn her lessons, adding that her stories about Nigeria are for political gains. He said, “How the daughter of a professor of UNILAG, her father, who was a medical doctor, a girl who went…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called on President Bola Tinubu on Monday to intervene to reclaim its Edo State secretariat from the state’s ruling All Progressives Congress. The PDP also pledged to continue its attempts to regain the contentious property at 59 Airport Road, Benin City, Edo State. In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, PDP National Deputy Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor slammed the ruling party’s tactics, calling them an assault on democracy. It was gathered last Thursday that the APC had seized and taken control of the building, which had previously served as its secretariat. The property has been…

The father of Timilehin Ajayi, the gospel singer arrested for killing a NYSC corps member, Salome Adaidu, has pleaded for the release of his son. Chronicle NG reports that Ajayi was found in possession of the severed head of Salome Adaidu in a polythene bag and has been remanded by a Nasarawa State High Court. The incident occurred in Agwan Sarki, Orozo, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State. While Salome’s family continues to grieve, Ajayi’s father is pleading for his release. He made the request during an interview with Channels Television. “I want the government to help me so that the matter…

President Bola Tinubu has named Princess Zahrah Audu as the new Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, (PEBEC) in an effort to attract foreign investment and improve Nigeria’s economic climate. This was revealed in a memo signed by George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and released to journalists in Abuja on Monday. Before her nomination, Audu, an entrepreneur and technology expert, served as the president’s technical adviser on foreign direct investment. She succeeded Jumoke Oduwole, who was appointed Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment in a recent government change. The statement partly read, “In a…

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump following his inauguration, and expressed hope for renewed engagement between Moscow and Washington. During a rare Monday meeting of Russia’s Security Council—televised across state media—Putin emphasised his willingness to discuss major global issues, including the conflict in Ukraine and nuclear arms control. “We see the statements by the newly elected president of the United States and members of his team about the desire to restore direct contacts with Russia,” Putin remarked. He also applauded Trump’s pledge to prevent world conflict, saying, “We also hear his statement about the need to do…

The World Bank Group has debarred two Nigerian companies for 30 months for engaging in fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices linked to the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria. The apex bank, in a statement on Monday, mentioned that its investigation uncovered significant violations of its anticorruption framework during a 2018 procurement process. The companies, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, and their Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Norman Bwuruk Didam, were axed by the bank for their alleged involvement in corrupt practices. The companies and Mr. Didam were found to have misrepresented conflicts of interest in bid…

French Prime Minister François Bayrou warned on Monday that if France and Europe do not oppose US President-elect Donald Trump’s ideas before his inauguration, they would be dominated, crushed, and excluded. “If we do nothing, then our fate will be simple: we will be dominated, we will be crushed, we will be marginalised. It is up to us, the French and Europeans, as it is impossible without Europe,” he added. Bayrou added that Trump’s inauguration pushes Europe to face its duties. He also mentioned “the power of China” as a crucial aspect in world geopolitics. Prior to Trump’s second-term win,…

The death toll from Saturday’s petrol tanker explosion in Niger state has risen to 98, with 69 injured and 20 shops burnt to the ground. The death toll as of Sunday was 86, with 55 injured, even as there was concern that many of the injured victims may not survive, given the grave nature of their injury. The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, made the latest figure available in a statement on Monday. He said, “More deaths have been recorded from the fire incident. The latest figure is now 98 deaths, 69 injured, and…

A court in India has sentenced a man to life in jail for the rape and murder of a junior doctor, in a case that caused countrywide outrage and demonstrations. The judge dismissed calls for the death penalty but said Sanjoy Roy, a hospital volunteer convicted over the weekend, would spend the rest of his life in jail. Roy has maintained his innocence and is expected to appeal the conviction to a higher court. The victim’s relatives stated they wanted him to be hanged and were “shocked” by his sentencing. “We will continue our fight and won’t let investigations stop……

Senator Shehu Sani has advised African countries not to anticipate much from the administration of President Donald Trump as he takes office as the 47th President of the United States. In a tweet on Monday, January 20, 2024, Sani stated that his presidency would provide a significant challenge to the world. The ex-lawmaker argued that America’s connections with the rest of the world would be jeopardised because Trump would want to reset everything, including the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN), and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). These alterations, according to Sani, would cause discomfort. He went on…