Author: TheScrutinyNG

Max Air flight carrying Borno Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur, and over 100 passengers caught fire shortly after takeoff from Maiduguri International Airport. The incident, reported around 7 p.m. local time, was caused by a suspected bird strike, which ignited one of the plane’s engines. According to a Max Air staff member, the aircraft made a safe emergency landing back at the airport. In response, Max Air dispatched another plane from Kano to transport stranded passengers to Abuja, while some passengers retrieved their luggage and returned home. The damaged aircraft remains grounded at the Maiduguri airport, undergoing repairs as…

The Federal Government will embark on measures towards halting the incessant harassment of travellers by government agencies at the nation’s airports. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, revealed this, saying he has approved measures by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to ensure such harassments are arrested. In a post on X on Thursday, Keyamo announced the launch of ‘Operation Air Clean,’ an initiative aimed at eliminating corrupt practices and enhancing service delivery, among others, following a surge in passenger complaints at airports. Among the reforms for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) is the dissolution…

The Nigeria Police Force has disclosed how four officers attached to Zone 7 Headquarters declared only N31.7 million despite recovering N79.4 million from a man unlawfully arrested at Lagos Airport. The Force, in a statement on Wednesday by its spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the clarification was necessary against the backdrop of social allegations against the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, accusing him of shielding a cartel accused of smuggling suspicious new banknotes from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Adejobi said the officers attempted to steal N43,160,000 from the cash recovered from an employee of a company who had…

The opposition against the proposed Tax Reform Bills may have swelled as the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) joined public spirited organisations in warning of grave consequences it may have on Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). The teachers union said if the bills sail through the National Assembly, the sources of funding for TETFund might become impeded, thereby stifling the tertiary education in the country. In a statement issued in Abuja, COEASU president, Dr. Smart Olugbeko, criticised aspects of the proposed tax administration reforms, which he said threatened to cut off TETFund’s critical funding sources. Dr. Olugbeko described…

In order to deepen greener energy, the Federal Government has increased the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres to 158 in 2024, showing an increase of more than 2,000 percent. Programme Director and Chief Executive of the Presidential Committee on Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (Pi-CNG), Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi, disclosed this during a panel discussion themed From Policy to Practice: Strengthening Domestication for Economic Development at the 13th Practical Nigerian Content Forum in Bayelsa state. According to him, Pi-CNG plans to increase the number of conversion centres to 1,000 more to meet the increasing needs of CNG stakeholders. He said: “The…

Human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, has said the Nigeria Police Force and the judiciary remained weapons of oppression available to the highest bidder. Yesufu was speaking on the heels of the arrest and detention of human rights lawyer and activist, Dr Dele Farotimi, who was arrested at his office in Lagos and taking to Ekiti State over alleged defamation of Afe Babalola in his book, ‘The Nigeria And Its Criminal Justice System’. Taking to her X handle, Yesufu said the two government arms should understand that when Nigerians are oppressed, they are also oppressed. She said; “Nigeria Police Force and…

By Olawale Olaleye Everyone has been condemning the recent arrest of activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, with punches continuously landing on the police force being the enforcer of the arrest order. Unfortunately, the sweeping pretence is noteworthy. No one has pointedly called out the man alleged to have used his influence, position, age, and perhaps money to bring this opprobrium on the police. A few weeks ago, a certain federal lawmaker, who could not tell whether he was a senator or House of Representatives member, publicly assaulted a cab driver and openly threatened to make him disappear. He even said…

The Obidient Movement has joined millions of Nigerians in condemning the arrest and detention of human rights lawyer and activist, Dr Dele Farotimi. In a press statement signed by Dr Yunusa Tanko, the national coordinator of the movement, it said the arrest was shocking, noting that this is particularly coming from a government that has inflicted pains on Nigerians through poor leadership and mismanagement of resources. The movement said they would trigger their rights to protest to occupy the country if Farotimi is not freed. The press statement read; “We, the Obidient Movement crusaders, express our deepest concern and shock…

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has assured traditional rulers in the State of his commitment to work closely with them to tackle insecurity and other challenges at the grassroots. The Governor gave the assurance when he received traditional rulers from Edo North. Governor Okpebholo who thanked the traditional rulers for the visit, said it was a step in the right direction, as they are veritable instruments for maintaining internal security. He disclosed his administration’s respect for traditional institutions, recalling how just a few days ago, he restored the statutory rights of the Oba of Benin. He said: “I congratulate…

Dele Farotimi, activist and human rights lawyer, has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state capital. Farotimi who was arrested in Lagos on Tuesday by operatives of the Ekiti State Police command was brought to the court at about 10:25 am Wednesday. According to. Tribune corrspondent, who is in Ado Ekiti, the activist lawyer is being prosecuted on a 16-court charge of defamation of character against a legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola. He was accused of having maligned and defamed the character of Afe Babalola in his recently published book…