Author: TheScrutinyNG

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, on Friday, paid tribute to his late wife and First Lady, Patience, during her funeral service held in Ikot Ekpene Udo, Nsit-Ubium Local Government Area of the state. The governor described his late wife as his anchor and vowed never to forget her or refer to her in the past tense, promising to keep her memory alive in his heart. “You were my anchor, the one who could tell me what was right and what was wrong. With your death, part of me is gone, but I will cherish the memories we shared…

Investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, has reportedly been arrested and detained by the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The arrest, which took place three days ago, was confirmed by the Foundation For Investigative Journalism (FIJ) on its official page on Friday morning. It was gathered that Soyombo’s detention may be linked to his work exposing corruption and smugglers aided by Nigerian Customs Services. The FIJ has called for his immediate release and raised the alarm over the increasing threats to press freedom in the country. Soyombo, known for his investigative reporting on high-profile issues such…

The Appeal Court, Lagos Division, on Friday nullified the conviction of Dr Olufemi Olaleye, the Medical Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, who had been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for raping his wife’s niece. The court discharged and acquitted Olaleye after finding the judgement of the trial court to be faulty. PUNCH reports that the appellate court held that “the prosecution’s case was bereft of any credible evidence that she was a child. Credible and reasonable doubt was created in the prosecution’s case.” “It is on record that the trial court concluded on the age of the victim…

In a move to fortify the security architecture of Edo State, the state government has lifted the suspension imposed on the Edo State Security Corps in September 2024. A press statement by Mr. Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, said the decision made by the governor, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, marks a comprehensive shift in the state’s quest for enhanced safety and security. The suspension, which was initiated by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ahead of the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election, was based on the constitutional stipulation that election security is the sole responsibility…

Nigerian quartet of Ademola Lookman, William Troost-Ekong, Paul Onuachu and Asisat Oshoala have gotten nominations for the 2024 FIFA Best Awards. Their nominations in different categories of the prestigious award are not unconnected with their outstanding performances in the outgoing year. The football body released the list of the nominees on Friday morning and the Nigerian stars made the list. Expectedly, Lookman made the list for the team of the year alongside Ekong. Southampton attacker Onuachu was nominated for the Puskas award while Oshoala will compete for honour in the Marta’s award. The winner of the FIFA Fan Award will…

Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, has admitted pleading guilty to a criminal offence relating to a police investigation over a mobile phone she claimed was stolen. Subsequently, she has resigned her position. She has admitted that, a decade ago, she told police she had lost her work mobile phone in a mugging, but later found it had not been taken. She was given a conditional discharge in 2013, before she became an MP. Haigh is the first resignation from Sir Keir Starmer’s government and the 37-year-old said her appointment as the “youngest ever” female Cabinet member “remains one of the proudest…

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, on Thursday, received the first set of repentant bandits in Birnin-Gwari and reopened the cattle market, which had been closed for about 10 years due to insecurity in the area. The development is a major breakthrough in the state government’s efforts to address the security challenges that have plagued the state for years. PUNCH reports that the Kaduna State Government has been working tirelessly to engage stakeholders and build trust among the various communities in the state. According to the governor, his administration has established the Peace Dialogue Group in collaboration with some Federal…

Two police officers, Yusuf AbdulKarim Bature and Musa Philip, and an immigration officer, Nasiru Mohammed, have been jailed seven years each for employment fraud to the tune of N1,640,000. Justice Justice T.G. Ringin of the Federal High Court sitting in Gombe convicted and sentenced the officers after the accused pleaded guilty to the charges. Bature and Philip were arraigned on two count – charge of obtaining by false pretences and intent to defraud while Mohammed was arraigned on one- count charge of obtaining by false pretences by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Count…

Senator Ali Ndume has said that the haste at which the upper legislative chamber passed the Tax Reform Bill was very suspicious, thus maintaining his opposition to it. The tax reform bills which passed for second reading at the Senate on Thursday have raised a lot of controversies since it was sent to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, and Ndume has been one of the people who have mounted the strongest opposition against the bills. The National Economic Council also advised President Tinubu to withdraw the bills, but the President said he preferred that they go through the…

The Federal Government has called for private sector partnership in order to address the problems of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country. Vice President Kashim Shettima stressed this, saying the Sub-Saharan region of Africa is right at the epicentre of the conundrum. He spoke in Lagos at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) 2024 Africa Roundtable on Private Sector Solutions to Internal Displacement, titled ‘Bridging Futures: Converging for Solutions’. Vice President Shettima, represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Dr Tope Fasua, said, “This is unacceptable, as 35 million women, men, girls and boys…