Author: Vincent Osuwo

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) interrogated Chris Ngige, former Minister of Labour and Employment, about contract irregularities and employment racketeering at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund during his tenure.  The ICPC had previously summoned several top NSITF officials for interrogation about an N47 million gratuity paid to the immediate past Managing Director, Mrs. Maureen Allagoa, while she was still in service. However, it was reported that the former minister spent more than five hours with ICPC investigators on Wednesday, answering detailed questions concerning the granting of certain contracts. Sources who were familiar with the…

No fewer than 17 children died after a fire ripped through their primary school dormitory overnight in central Kenya, police said Friday. The fire started out after midnight at Nyeri County’s Hillside Endarasha Academy, according to authorities, and engulfed rooms where students were resting. The primary school serves approximately 800 students, children aged five to twelve. “There are 17 fatalities from this incident, and there are also others who were taken to the hospital with serious injuries,” national police spokesperson Resila Onyango told AFP. “The bodies recovered at the scene were burnt beyond recognition,” she said. House fire kills two…

The CEO of Tesla and Space X, Elon Musk, has raised concerns over fears that the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, would destroy the right to free speech if elected as president. Musk raised the concerns while reacting to a 2019 clip of Harris vowing to use the Department of Justice, DOJ, and law enforcement agencies to “hold social media platforms responsible” for “misinformation” as part of the “fight against this threat to our democracy.” Harris, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, during a speech at a conference hosted by The Association For The Advancement of…

The Federal Government has stated that only customers with National Identification Numbers will benefit as it begins selling 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice to Nigerians at a reduced rate of N40,000 per 50 kg bag.  President Bola Tinubu, represented by Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari, indicated at Thursday’s flag-off event that the rice intervention will be offered exclusively on a “one person, one bag” basis. Kyari added that the 50kg bags of rice, priced at ₦40,000, are part of the Federal Government’s initiative to supply discounted milled rice to ease the present food crisis in Nigeria.…

The anticipated second grilling of Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero by the police did not take place on Thursday because Ajaero and the NLC Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, who was also invited, did not appear at the police headquarters in Abuja.  Our correspondent, who was at the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja, where the labour leaders were scheduled to appear for interrogation, saw neither Ajaero nor Ugboaja. However, a person acquainted with the case stated that the NLC officials had informed investigators that they would be unavailable for Thursday. “They did not show up. I am aware they have…

The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education has said that the recent decision by the Federal Government to peg the minimum age for candidates sitting for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination may have come to stay. Prof. Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education, indicated in July that beginning in 2025, no applicant under the age of 18 will be allowed to sit for the SSSCE, and such students will be unable to get admission to higher education institutions. The announcement sparked significant controversy among parents and education groups. In an exclusive interview with The Punch on Thursday, Mark Useni,…

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is deeply saddened and outraged by the brutal assassination of one of her members, Lucky Nonso Emeh Esq. of the Aba Branch, who was tragically murdered by yet-to-be-identified gunmen on Monday, 2nd September 2024, at his residence in Aba, Abia State. This gruesome act, according to the Association, is not only an assault on the legal profession but also an affront to justice, the rule of law, and the sanctity of human life. The NBA strongly condemns in a statement on Thursday, condemned “this hopeless killing and calls on security agencies to investigate this heinous…

The Delta State Police Command has arrested six suspected kidnappers and recovered over N2.3 million in ransom money paid by their victims.  CP Abaniwanda Olufemi, Delta State’s Commissioner of Police, revealed this on Thursday while paraded 16 individuals accused of various offences. Olufemi stated that the command, under his direction, has made substantial progress during the review period, with plans to improve police presence and target dark spots and criminal hideouts across the 25 local government areas. “Acting on credible intelligence, operatives from the Ebrumede Division, while on patrol, intercepted a tricycle carrying six passengers. “Upon sighting the police, the…

The Lagos State Police Command stated on Thursday that the Nigerian Army has handed over Adeleye Ayomide, 23, who was accused of killing Idowu Christianah, a 300-level student at the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, Ogun State.  Benjamin Hundeyin, the command’s public relations officer, acknowledged this in a statement posted on his X handle. “23-year-old Ayomide Adeleye has been handed over to #LagosPoliceNG by 9 Brigade #HQNigerianArmy. The handover took place today, September 5, 2024, at about 1400 hrs. Investigation is ongoing,” he wrote. #JusticeForChristianah: Nigerians demand justice as serial killer Adeleye Ayomide kills 300L FUNAAB student The spokesperson,…

At least two people have died, while several others were rescued from the ruins of a two-story building that collapsed in the Nomansland region of Sabon Gari, Fagge Local Government Area, Kano state, on Thursday. The incident was reported to have occurred at 2 a.m. on Thursday, following several hours of downpours that triggered flooding due to an overflow of a local river. In a phone call, Saminu Abdullahi, Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, confirmed the collapse of the building and stated that two survivors were recovered. “Two persons have been rescued by our personnel while…