Author: Vincent Osuwo

Less than a month after it appeared to begin manufacturing, the Port Harcourt refinery has ceased operations. Our correspondent, who visited the refinery on Thursday, December 19, 2024, noted that the lifting of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) had ceased. It was gathered that petrol lifting ceased at the refinery last Friday, December 13, because the new Port Harcourt refinery’s 18-arm loading bay was empty. However, around 18 vehicles littered the stretch of busy road going to the refinery, and nine trucks were visible inside the parking lot, but the loading dock was vacant. The refinery, which is often a hive…

A High Court in Benin, Edo State, on Friday reinstated the suspended chairmen and vice chairmen of the state’s 18 local government councils.  The court, presided over by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba, granted the order in action No. B/307/OS/24 submitted by the affected chairmen and vice chairmen. The order further barred the defendants, including Governor Monday Okpebholo and the Edo government, from acting on the state House of Assembly’s motion to suspend the claimants. The court directed that the status quo ante bellum as of December 12 be maintained pending the hearing and decision on the motion on notice filed on…

Two men were detained in Zambia on charges of being “witchdoctors” tasked with attempting to bewitch the president.  The police stated they had arrested Jasten Mabulesse Candunde and Leonard Phiri in Lusaka. “Their purported mission was to use charms to harm” President Hakainde Hichilema, according to the police statement issued on Friday. Many individuals in the southern African country believe in and dread witches. The police stated Mr. Candunde and Mr. Phiri were hired by Nelson Banda, MP Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda’s younger brother. The MP was reportedly arrested last month in nearby Zimbabwe on robbery allegations, which he denies,…

The Nigeria Customs Service Board has approved the promotions of 4,291 senior officials, as well as the confirmation of one Deputy Comptroller-General and seven Assistant Comptroller-Generals.  The National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, announced in a news statement on Friday that the board made this decision during its 61st regular meeting last week, which was led by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun. Maiwada noted that the promotions fill vacancies caused by the retirement of some management team members from various geopolitical zones around the Federation. He said that the…

Former Governor of Kogi State Yahaya Bello has been released from Kuje Custodial Centre after meeting the bail conditions set by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja. This was revealed by the spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, FCT Command, Adamu Duza, on Friday evening. Duza said, “Yahaya Bello has been released after meeting the bail conditions. He was released this evening (Friday).” “The Controller of NCoS FCT, Ajibogun Olatubosun, was on the ground to ensure his smooth release and that all protocols were observed.” Bello, along with Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, was granted bail of…

The Nigeria Police Force’s Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has described “cyber-cursing” as a punishable offence.  Adejobi stated in a Friday post on X.com that targeting someone with harsh and abusive language online goes beyond the realm of free expression or criticism. He wrote, “Raining direct curses on someone online is cyberbullying, not expression of freedom or criticism. “And cyberbullying, which is even different from defamation, is a criminal offence and punishable. Be guided.” Lagos, IGP strengthen police welfare, security with major projects Reacting to Adejobi’s post on X, Felix Abayomi, tweeting as #felabayomi, wrote, “When does raining curses become…

The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has berated the Nigerian legal system for what he described as “harsh inequalities” in the administration of justice. Obi’s words came after a contentious theft case involving Segun Olowookere, who was condemned to death for stealing a chicken in Osun State. Olowookere and his accomplice, Morakinyo Sunday, were arrested in 2010 at the age of 17 for breaking into the homes of a police officer and another individual. After years of legal proceedings, Justice Jide Falola of the Osun State High Court condemned the couple to death by hanging…

A High Court in Delta State’s Akwukwu-Igbo Oshimili North Local Government Area has condemned Obinna Eze to death for the murder of Chimaobi Igwe, a six-month-old boy.  On Thursday, Justice Marcel Okoh presided over a court that convicted and sentenced Obinna Eze to death by hanging. The defendant was charged before the court on a three-count accusation of attempted murder, murder, and causing grievous bodily harm, which are punishable under sections 320, 319, and 335 of Delta State’s Criminal Code Laws. Mr. Omamuzo Erebe, the State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, headed the prosecution together with…

The President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has announced a 50 percent slash in interstate transport fares for the Yuletide season to reduce travel expenses for Nigerians travelling to celebrate Christmas and New Year. This was announced in a statement on Thursday by Olujimi Oyetomi, the Director of Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Transportation. “To commence the 2024 Yuletide road transportation, passengers will board buses to their destinations for only 50% of fares, as declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement read. The initiative, announced by Tinubu, is part of a broader effort to provide transportation palliatives for Nigerians…

No fewer than three persons were killed on Thursday in the Bassa community of the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State following multiple bomb explosions. According to residents, the first explosion occurred as three siblings, Mali, Nehemiah, and Jona, aged 20, 15, and 14, were riding a motorcycle. The second one exploded when a motorcycle carrying rescuers stomped on it, killing one of the rescuers, Dauda Haruna. Chronicle NG gathered that a child killed in the first incident has been buried according to Islamic rites, while the four injured children are receiving treatment at the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna.…