Author: TheScrutinyNG

Lawyer to the EFCC, which is currently prosecuting former Governor Yahaya Bello off Kogi State, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), opposed a bail sought for the former governor by his lawyer, Joseph Daudu, saying the bail condition for the former governor expired since October. Recall that the former governor and his co-defendants on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The former governor, who is the 1st defendant, denied the allegations before Justice Maryann Anenih of Abuja High Court as the court registrar reeled out the counts. After taking their…

Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State, has appeared at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Wednesday over fraud allegations amounting to N110 billion. Bello, who was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in April 2024, presented himself to the EFCC on Tuesday and was brought to face charges of criminal breach of trust and other related offences. Recall that upon presenting himself to the anti-graft agency at its office in Abuja on Tuesday, Yahaya Bello was taken into custody for his appearance in Court on Wednesday (today). The case, marked FCT/HC/CR/778/24, involves…

Billboard has officially named American singer Beyoncé as the greatest pop star of the 21st century, a recognition of her extraordinary contributions to the music industry and beyond. With a historic 99 Grammy nominations and the most Grammy wins of all time, Beyoncé’s influence on music and pop culture remains unmatched. Her groundbreaking albums, including Dangerously in Love, B’Day, Beyoncé, Lemonade, and Renaissance, have produced countless chart-topping hits. Beyond music, Beyoncé has left an indelible mark on business and entertainment, cementing her status as a global powerhouse. Sharing the top 10 list with icons like Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Drake, and Lady Gaga,…

A ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah began on Wednesday after United States President Joe Biden announced that both sides accepted an agreement brokered by America and France. This is as gunfire could be heard across Beirut after the ceasefire took effect. Although it was not immediately clear if the shooting was celebratory, as gunfire had also been used to alert residents who may have missed evacuation warnings issued by Israel’s military. Streams of cars carrying people displaced from southern Lebanon by Israeli strikes in recent months began heading back to the area after the ceasefire, according to Reuters.…

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has revealed that petrol from the recently reopened Port Harcourt Refinery is ₦75 per litre more expensive than the product supplied by the Dangote Refinery. This disclosure was made by PETROAN’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Joseph Obele, during the official reopening of the refinery, which resumed operations on Tuesday with a daily production capacity of 60,000 barrels. Dr. Obele, a former chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) at the Port Harcourt Depot, commended the federal government for revamping the refinery but expressed concern about the pricing…

Inter Miami have appointed former Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano as their new head coach, the Major League Soccer club  has announced. Mascherano, who will coach his former Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi at the club, replaces Gerardo Martino who stood down last week due to ‘personal reasons’. The 40-year-old has most recently worked as coach of the Argentine Under-20 and the Olympic team which competed in the Paris Olympics. He made 203 appearances for Barcelona and as well as playing alongside Messi, he was a team-mate of current Inter Miami players Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez. In his job with…

President Bola Tinubu has said he shared many special moments with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar when the latter was still a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Tinubu described Atiku as a founding APC member, saying they were united in the mission to build a better future for Nigerians. The president stated in a statement commemorating Atiku on the occasion of his 78th birthday. The former vice president and PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election has been an active player in Nigeria’s democratic process since the return to civilian rule in 1999. Tinubu and Atiku had…

The Edozie Njoku-led All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) over a judgement delivered by Justice J.K Omotosho on the leadership crisis rocking the party. Founder and chairman of Board of Trustees (BOT) of the party, Chief Chekwas Okorie, disclosed this at a press briefing in Enugu. Okorie noted that Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja delivered a verdict on the leadership tussle in the party on November 20, 2024 when a similar case was still pending at the Supreme Court. He added that in the judgement, the Justice ordered the Independent National…

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Tuesday, revealed how it used its ‘Operation Hot Wheels’ to recover and returned 21 luxury vehicles worth over N1.8 billion to Canada after they were stolen and smuggled into Nigeria by a criminal syndicate. This was revealed by Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of Customs, in Lagos where he reiterated the seriousness of the growing trade in stolen vehicles and its impact on Nigeria’s economy and security. According to Adeniyi, Nigeria has become a significant hub for stolen vehicles in West Africa, with syndicates exploiting the country’s ports and borders to traffic vehicles…

Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on state governments yet to implement the new minimum wage and its consequential adjustments to do so to avoid industrial action in the states. Mr Festus Osifo, President of the TUC, made the call while addressing newsmen at the end of its National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday in Abuja. Osifo said that NEC in session had raised concerns about the slow pace of implementation in some states, and also on issues that were affecting workers and the downtrodden Nigerians. According to him, some states have made progress with the implementation of the minimum…