Author: Vincent Osuwo

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has increased the N25 million bounty on the killers of five soldiers at the Obikabia junction in Aba to N30 million.  Otti made the announcement on Friday during a visit to Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, by the state’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Hasan Abubakar. This comes just a week after the governor promised ₦25 million to anyone who would provide information leading to the arrest of the culprits. Chronicle NG reported on May 30, 2024, that five troops were slain at the Obikabia Junction in Aba by suspected members of…

Argentinian forward Lionel Messi has announced plans to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Messi, in an interview with Polloalvarezok, noted that his participation in the World Cup depends on his physical fitness. He mentioned that though he is coming to the brink of the end of his career as a player, the Inter Miami forward mentioned that “there’s still a lot of time left.” “It depends on how I feel, how I am physically, and being realistic with myself,” he said. “There’s still a lot of time left… in quotes, ‘a lot and a little,’ because it goes…

Four Indian medical students drowned while swimming in a river in northwest Russia, officials announced Friday.  The incident occurred Tuesday on the Volkhov River in Veliky Novgorod, according to the regional investigating committee. “The students were swimming in an area where bathing is banned,” it said. “Two of them started being carried away by the current, and two others jumped in to save them. After some time, all four went underwater”. According to the Indian consulate in Saint Petersburg, a fifth student “was saved,” and they are studying medicine at Veliky Novgorod University. It stated that their relatives had been…

The Nigeria Police Force dismissed charges on Thursday that it was conducting a witch hunt against journalists in order to suppress press freedom by enforcing the modified Cybercrime Act 2024.  The Force stated that journalists do not have immunity and that professionals are “criminally liable” if suspected of a crime. The country has experienced a series of crackdowns on journalists as the authorities execute the Cybercrime Act 2024. Segun Olatunji, the former editor of First News; Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism; Dayo Aiyetan, the Executive Director of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting; and Nurudeen…

ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, has cautioned drivers who abduct police officers and other law enforcement officers while on duty to stop doing so.  Adejobi added that, under no circumstances, this should be the norm. He also stated that drivers who would rather fight or drive away law enforcement officers who violate their vehicles are in serious violation and face harsh penalties. The PPRO stated that regardless of the circumstances, drivers must follow officers, whether they want to transport them to their stations or take control of their vehicles. He stated this on…

The autopsy report on the late musician Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad, identified a drug response as a likely cause of death.  According to The Cable, the autopsy and toxicology tests performed at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital pointed to a fatal anaphylactic shock or drug response as the potential cause of Mohbad’s death. Anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction with potentially fatal consequences. According to the article, the hospital collected samples of the late singer’s stomach contents, blood, bone marrow, liver, kidney, and lung for toxicology testing. The report claimed to have found residues of diphenhydramine,…

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, dismissed reports that the Federal Government was proposing a new minimum wage of N105,000.  The report came after President Bola Tinubu was briefed on the costs of adopting a new national minimum wage at the Presidential Villa last Thursday. The template was submitted to the President by Wale Edun, Minister of Finance, and Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and National Planning. When asked about the amount, Edun confirmed presenting the template to the President and stated that ‘there is no cause for fear’. Tinubu is understood to be studying…

Sen. George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, condemned the shutdown of the national grid during the suspended industrial action by organised labour.  He described the action as a treasonable felony, adding that there was nowhere in the world where organised labour had shut down a country’s national grid. On Monday, the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s workers union shut down the national grid to join the nationwide strike. The shutdown of the national grid resulted in a nationwide blackout. Speaking to the National Executive Council of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Abuja, the SGF declared that…

Some minority shareholders have requested an investigation of the management and board of the collapsed Heritage Bank.  The call was made during a chat with newsmen following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s revocation of Heritage bank’s license. In notifying the license revocation of Heritage Bank, the CBN stated that it was with immediate effect, saying, “This action has become necessary due to the bank’s breach of Section 12(1) of BOFIA, 2020. The board and management of the bank have not been able to improve the bank’s financial performance, a situation that constitutes a threat to financial stability. “This follows a…

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has stated that the state will try to guarantee that students at Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, fully benefit from the Federal Government’s student loan, which is administered by the Nigerian Educational Loan Fund.  Speaking at LASU’s 27th Convocation on Thursday, Sanwo-Olu stated that the Lagos State Government was committed to empowering students in state-owned higher institutions to reach their full potential during his administration. “We aim to foster a generation of innovative thinkers, problem-solvers, and great leaders who will drive sustainable development in Lagos State and beyond. “We will also, as the…