Author: Vincent Osuwo

Lt. Changfe Maigari has made history as the first female pilot in the Nigerian Navy since its inception in 1964. Maigari, married with a daughter, hails from the Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State but was born in Kaduna. Her adventure began in 2016 with her graduation from the Nigerian Defence Academy and commissioning as a sub lieutenant. She later served on the Nigerian Navy ship Unity. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Maigari received the ‘Pilot Wing’ award during the 2024 NN Ceremonial Sunset on Friday at the Naval Training Command Headquarters (HQ NAVTRAC) in Ebube-Eleme,…

President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named Francois Bayrou as prime minister, handing him the uphill task of hauling France out of months of political crisis. Bayrou, 73, is the leader of the MoDem group, which is affiliated with Macron’s party. He was chosen nine days after Michel Barnier’s administration was expelled by parliament in a historic no-confidence vote over an austerity budget. “The President of the Republic has appointed Mr. Francois Bayrou as prime minister and tasked him with forming a government,” the French presidency said in a statement, giving no more details. Bayrou is Macron’s sixth prime minister, following…

The law firm of Afe Babalola has petitioned the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee to remove lawyer and human rights campaigner Dele Farotimi from the list of Nigerian legal practitioners.  The petition claimed that Farotimi breached certain articles of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Lawyers. Ola Faro, a partner at the business, signed the 90-page petition, which is dated December 6, 2024. According to Channels, Faro was also mentioned in Farotimi’s book “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.” The petition was titled “Petition against Tomilola Titus Farotimi (also known as Dele Farotimi esq), a Nigerian lawyer called to the Nigerian…

Police in Benue State have detained Dr. Ichor Tersagh, a lecturer at Makurdi’s Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University of Agriculture, for allegedly masterminding the kidnapping of his colleague’s wife, Mrs. Susan Anyagh.  Her spouse, Paul Anyagh, is the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities chapter at JOSTUM. It was said that the woman was attacked and kidnapped by some persons on Otukpo Road in Makurdi last Saturday. The suspected kidnappers allegedly collected N1.3 million from her car, beat her to a coma, and abandoned her on a woodland walk. Catherine Anene, the state command spokesperson, verified the incident and…

South Korea’s opposition leader warned his ruling party colleagues on Friday that “history will remember” if they do not support President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment, with just over 24 hours until the vote to remove him from office.  Yoon’s brief installation of South Korea’s first martial law in over four decades sent the country’s vibrant and combative democracy into some of its most serious political upheaval in years. An attempt to remove him from office last Saturday failed because MPs from the ruling People Power Party boycotted the impeachment resolution. However, following a week of backdoor politicking and an ongoing…

The Board of the World Bank Group is expected to meet and decide on approving a $500m loan to Nigeria today (Friday) to boost rural access and agricultural marketing in the oil-rich country. According to information obtained from the Washington-based institution on Thursday, the loan is intended for the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project—Scale Up. It is intended to bridge the gap between rural settlements and the larger economy, allowing for more efficient access to agricultural markets, schools, and hospitals while also boosting social cohesiveness among rural residents. The World Bank is scheduled to approve the $500 million loan…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has announced that President Bola Tinubu will present the 2025 budget next Tuesday.  The Senate President made this known announcement during plenary on Thursday. He said, “The president has made his intention known to the National Assembly to present the 2025 budget to the joint Assembly of the National Assembly on the 17th of December, 2024.” Akpabio indicated that Tinubu’s budget presentation would take place in the House of Representatives Chamber. He also informed the members that plenary will begin at 10:30 a.m., allowing senators to gather in the Red Chamber before proceeding to the House…

The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has scheduled January 7, 2025, as the hearing date for former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele’s challenge to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud accusations against him.  Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are facing 26 charges brought by the EFCC before Justice Rahman Oshodi. At Thursday’s hearing, Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), claimed that the court lacked geographical jurisdiction to hear the issue in Lagos. He claimed that the alleged offences, including abuse of office, occurred beyond the jurisdiction of the Ikeja Special…

Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has ordered a massive rearrangement of the state executive council as part of his administration’s realistic political realignment.  Yusuf announced in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa, on Thursday that the first significant reshuffle of his cabinet will take place immediately. According to the statement, Yusuf emphasised that the long-awaited decision had finally been made to allow for optimal performance, which will result in more democratic dividends for the good people of Kano State. Those affected by the dramatic shake-up include the Chief of Staff, Shehu Sagagi, whose job has been abolished,…

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has confirmed his commitment to installing the newly appointed District Head of Bichi, Munir Sanusi, and his assumption of office in the Bichi palace.  Speaking on Wednesday during a solidarity visit by a Bichi group, Emir Sanusi emphasised that despite recent interruptions, the installation would go forward as planned. It should be noted that last Friday, heavy security forces, including police and Department of State Services (DSS) personnel, reportedly blocked the Kofar Kudu Emir’s palace to prevent Emir Sanusi from accompanying the new Wambai of Kano and District Head of Bichi to his…