Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned a former Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, and four others, at the Abia State High Court for allegedly misappropriating about ₦47bn. Apart from the former governor, the other four defendants are his son, Engineer Chinedum Orji; a former Commissioner of Finance for Abia State Dr. Philip Nto; a government contractor Obioma King; and a former Director of Finance for Abia State, Romas Madu. They were all arraigned before the Chief Judge, Justice Lilian Abai on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy to steal and convert billions of naira meant…

Oando Plc has been selected as the preferred bidder for the lease of the Guaracara Refinery in Trinidad and Tobago. According to local media reports, Oando defeated Trinidad’s CRO Consortium and INCA Energy, an American company to win the lease of the refinery. The country’s Minister of Energy, Stuart Young, announced that the decision was primarily based on Oando’s strong financial track record, highlighting its $1.5bn acquisition of ConocoPhillips’ assets in Nigeria in 2014. Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, Young said Cabinet had taken “considerable time” discussing the decision. “We had robust conversations and interrogations,” he said, emphasising…

President Bola Tinubu has said that his administration is open to learning and not ashamed of copying what is working in other climes. The President spoke at a meeting with an Airtel delegation led by Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal at the State House in Abuja on Thursday. According to him, the telecoms sector’s regulatory framework and operations would be reviewed to reflect global best practices, with a greater focus on protecting infrastructure. “I am grateful for your openness, readiness, and confidence, which moved us very close to the Prime Minister of India. When he was here, we discussed things at…

The Supreme Court has barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation and other agencies from releasing funds to the government of rivers state until it purges itself of what the court describes as flagrant disobedience to court orders. In a one hour, thirty-six-minute judgement delivered by justice Emmanuel Akomaye, the five-man panel of the court unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Martin Amaewhule as the Speaker. In dismissing Governor Fubara’s appeal, the court ordered Martin Amaewhule to resume sitting immediately…

The Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has ordered that all members of the Lagos House of Assembly be joined as parties in the suit filed by Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. Justice Yetunde Pinheiro has also adjourned till March 7 to hear all pending applications in the matter. Hon Obasa had approached the court to challenge his removal by at least 36 of his colleagues on January 13, 2025. In the application dated February 12, 2025, and filed by his lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Afolabi Fashanu, the claimant stated cthat he was removed from his position on January 13,…

The Ogun State Police Command has launched a manhunt for a man caught on camera kicking a young boy in a disturbing viral video that has sparked outrage online. The video, shared by a Facebook user, Adelere Rasaki, was posted on Thursday with a plea for help in identifying the man. In the video, the man kicked the boy who was standing before him with such force that the child fell, hitting his head on the ground and bursting into a loud cry. Rasaki’s caption read, “This man, Odukaye Kunle, by name is not supposed to be living among the sane. Please…

Nigerian football legend, Jay-Jay Okocha, has criticised former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher over his remarks regarding the Africa Cup of Nations, suggesting that the Englishman does not appreciate African football. Okocha, speaking in an interview circulating X on Friday, said, “There are some players that will say something, you just overlook it. If you look at their career, if you look at the type of football that they played, you can understand. I mean, you wouldn’t want your son to be like Carragher. So, he can never appreciate African football or the talents that come from Africa.” His comments follow…

Olusola Oladoja, a student of the University of Jos, has been elected as the new President of the National Association of Nigerian Students. Oladoja emerged victorious in the election conducted during the NANS national convention, which began on Sunday with the arrival of delegates, a stakeholders’ meeting, and candidate screening. The process culminated in voting that extended into late Wednesday. Speaking at a world press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Oladoja, flanked by other newly elected executive officers, pledged to resist arbitrary tuition hikes in tertiary institutions across the country. He also reaffirmed his commitment to building on the legacies…

The ousted Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has stated that he has resumed his position as the parliament leader. Obasa stated this on Thursday after returning to parliament with police and State Security Service details for the first time since he was removed on January 13. “I’ve resumed, and I remain the Speaker of the Assembly,” Obasa said.

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, says the proposed Nigeria Revenue Service Bill in the National Assembly threatens the existence of his agency. He made his position known during the public hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance on Wednesday. The Customs boss in his submission raised some jurisdictional conflicting issues on the proposed Nigeria Revenue Service Bill. He said, “The Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill 2024 Section 1 provides a legal framework for the administration of taxes and revenue under any law where Section 42 defines tax. So, this particular section subsumes…