Author: Vincent Osuwo

The House of Representatives is investigating allegations that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, under its minister, diverted N1.5 billion meant for contractor payments.  The House Committee on Women Affairs launched the investigation in Abuja in response to contractor petitions regarding non-payment of contracts. The committee’s chairman, Rep. Kafilat Ogbara, stated that the ministry initiated new contracts not included in the 2023 budget. She went on to say that while owing contractors, the ministry issued new contracts in 15 states of the federation, which she said was not included in the 2023 budget. According to her, ”money for contractors has…

A woman was bitten by a shark while swimming at the beach. The victim and other beachgoers were petrified when a shark swam to the bank of the beach in South Padre Island, Texas, on Thursday, July 4, 2024. However, she was brutally bitten by the shark while scampering to safety. A now-viral video shows the moment the woman was rescued by other beachgoers as the shark swam off. Rescue operatives were quickly mobilised to attend to the victim who lay in the pool of her blood. The victim was consequently taken to the hospital.

Mauritania’s coastguards retrieved 89 migrants’ remains from a capsized boat in the Atlantic Ocean on Monday.  Nine individuals were rescued, including a five-year-old kid, but many more remain missing. According to survivors, the traditional fishing boat set sail last week from the Senegalese-Gambian border area, carrying 170 people. It capsized off Mauritania’s south-western coast. Mauritania is a major transit hub for migrants seeking to reach Europe from West Africa, with thousands of boats leaving the nation each year. The most popular destination on the treacherous voyage is Spain’s Canary Islands. According to the Spanish government, approximately 40,000 people arrived last…

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended 10 private jet operations for failing to begin the recertification process. Mr. Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, issued a statement on Friday in Abuja. According to the agency, Part 18.3.4 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 prohibits holders of a Permit for Non-Commercial Flights from using their aircraft to carry passengers, freight, or mail for hire or reward. “As a result of flagrant disregard for this rule, the NCAA had earlier directed all holders of PNCF to undergo re-evaluation, which should have been concluded by April 19,…

A 43-year-old man called Silas Ossai is currently on the run after reportedly severely beating his son.  The event occurred last Wednesday, when Ossai learned his son had dined at a neighbour’s house. Infuriated by the development, he shut his kid inside and brutally flogged him, instructing him not to make a sound. An eyewitness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “After inflicting multiple injuries on the boy and beating him to a state of stupor, he locked him indoors for three days, preventing him from going to school. “It was only on the third day that another…

Benue State has reported four confirmed deaths and 16 suspected cases of cholera.  Dr. Henry Ijabo, the state epidemiologist, told journalists in Makurdi that the cholera cases were recorded in 2024. According to him, the 16 suspected cholera cases were reported in the state’s local government areas of Agatu, Ado, and Otukpo. He stated that the four deaths were documented while the inquiry was ongoing and that the entire number of fatalities had yet to be confirmed. He said, “They are not confirmed yet. The four died while we were still investigating. We had one suspected case in Agatu LGA…

A 19-year-old pregnant girl who was about to commit suicide was saved by police officers from the Ikorodu Area Command, Lagos State. The girl, who is claimed to be eight months pregnant, called one of her close friends to express her dissatisfaction with life after being abandoned by the boy who impregnated her. Worse, she was said to have voiced concern that the woman she worked for as a Point of Sale (POS) operator in the Ikorodu region was threatening to arrest her after she was scammed out of N100,000 by a customer. It was discovered that when the Police…

The President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government yesterday defended the SAMOA Agreement, saying it was signed in the interest of Nigeria. Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, who clarified a statement in Abuja, said, “On June 28, 2024, Nigeria signed the Samoa Agreement at the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States, OACPS, secretariat in Brussels, Belgium. “The partnership agreement is between the EU and its member states on the one hand and the members of the OACPS on the other. “Negotiations on the agreement started in 2018 on the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly.…

The Federal High Court sitting in Kano, on Thursday, issued a 48-hour deadline to two Kano judges, Justice Lawan Adamu and Justice Zuwaira Yusuf, to resign from state-appointed judicial commissions of investigation.  Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf nominated the two judges to serve as chairs of the two commissions of investigation into the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. Justice Adamu is the chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry for the Recovery of Misappropriated Public Properties and Assets, while Justice Yusuf chairs the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Political Violence and Missing Persons. Justice Simon Amobeda issued the decision…

Lionel Messi relied on his Argentine teammates to save him, and the world champions delivered for their all-time captain.  Messi missed a penalty kick in a shootout, but Argentina defeated Ecuador 1-1 (4-2 on penalty kicks) in their Copa America quarterfinal encounter Thursday night in front of 69,456 fans at NRG Stadium in Houston to progress to the semifinal. Messi went up with the ball in his palm and lined up Argentina’s first kick, setting the tone and he missed it. His chip shot down the middle was perfect, but it tipped the crossbar and sailed over the goal. Messi…