Author: Vincent Osuwo

A factional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Simon Ekpa, has been detained in Finland together with four other people on suspicion of terror-related actions such as incitement to violence and terrorist financing.  According to local media Yle, Ekpa was remanded in detention by the Päijät-Häme District Court on charges of public incitement to perform a terrorist act. According to the journal, the Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrests in a statement on Thursday, adding that the other individuals were seized for allegedly financing terrorist activities. “The detention demands are related to a preliminary investigation in which a…

Prof. Bernard Odoh, the fired Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State, criticised on Thursday the manner in which he was ousted as the institution’s VC, claiming that it did not follow due process.  Odoh’s issues stem from his dismissal and that of the institution’s governing council over his alleged “illegal” appointment. In a statement made on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, declared that the Federal Government needs to intervene to address rising tensions. “The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an…

The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the death of Sunday Abidoye, 51, whose lifeless body was discovered in a room at the Creestar Hotel in GRA, Sagamu, on Wednesday.  SP Omolola Odutola, the command’s spokeswoman, confirmed this in a statement to journalists on Thursday. Odutola added that the hotel’s Chief Security Officer, Mr. Oluwole, reported the event involving the finding of a deceased customer to police. She stated that after receiving the report, a team of investigators arrived at the spot and discovered the deceased’s body already inside a car outside the hotel, ready to be transferred to the…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) says it has commenced sales of its latest crude oil grade, the Utapate crude oil blend, to international refiners, six months after it began exploration. It stated that the breakthrough provides a significant boost to Nigeria’s crude oil output, revenue generation, and economic growth initiatives. According to a statement issued by Olufemi Soneye, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, on Wednesday in Abuja, the new product was introduced before a crowded audience of European crude oil marketers at the ongoing Argus European Crude Conference in London, England. It should be noted that in July…

The President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has begun deploying consular officers to diplomatic missions worldwide before the anticipated release of the list of ambassadors. This decision comes 14 months after 83 ambassadors were recalled in September 2023. Following Tinubu’s inauguration, a rethink of foreign policy resulted in the recall of 83 ambassadors, both career and non-career, in September 2023, but successors have yet to be appointed. The envoys were instructed to return to Nigeria by October 31, 2023, indicating a shift in diplomatic strategy and the government’s desire to realign its overseas activities to better serve national interests. The Minister…

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has resumed the acquisition of crude oil from the United States as part of its ongoing efforts to increase oil production and refinery capacity.  The new purchase comes after a three-month sabbatical from acquiring crude from foreign countries, with the focus being on domestic supply. According to Bloomberg on Wednesday, the cargo carrying two million barrels of WTI Midland crude from Chevron Corp. will be delivered to the refinery next month. The recent event may indicate that the Federal Government’s naira-for-crude scheme has stopped or that the refinery is not receiving enough crude supply from Nigerian…

The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria has praised President Bola Tinubu for dismissing the Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Bernard Udoh, and the Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Nwokike.  The association, which has been on strike since Monday over Udoh’s nomination, said it will not end the seven-day warning strike until the National Executive Council meets on Friday. The National President of MDCAN, Prof. Muhammad Muhammad, stated that the decisions reached at the NEC meeting on Friday would define the association’s future course of action. He said, “We are excited that one of our demands has been met.…

Musiliu ‘MC Oluomo’ Akinsanya took office as National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, just days after his presidency was declared null and void by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.  This is the first time MC Oluomo has openly proclaimed his intention to take office since the appeal court reaffirmed Ibikunle Baruwa’s status as the legal NURTW president. MC Oluomo, who was elected unopposed at the union’s zonal secretariat in Osogbo, had his victory overturned by a three-member appellate court. The panel, which included Justices Hamma Akawu Barka, Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba, and Asmau Ojuolape Akanbi, confirmed…

US President Joe Biden has agreed to provide Ukraine with anti-personnel land mines, according to a US army official.  The move is seen as an attempt to impede Russian forces, who have been slowly pushing in Ukraine’s east for months. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the mines would be shipped soon and that Washington expected them to be used on Ukrainian territory. The official further stated that Ukraine has agreed to not employing the mines in densely populated regions. Separately, the US State Department said it would close its embassy in Kyiv after it “received…

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky told Fox News late Tuesday that if Washington, Ukraine’s biggest military sponsor, withdrew funds, the country would lose the war.  The Ukrainian leader stated that it would be “very dangerous if we lose unity in Europe, and what is most important is unity between Ukraine and the United States.”. US President-elect Donald Trump ran on the promise of ending US involvement in conflicts and instead using public funds to improve Americans’ lives. He has stated that he will end the war between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours but has not specified how. “If they will…