Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

A former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, on Wednesday, pleaded with Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja to give him more time to conclude the refund of the public funds allegedly looted by him and his co-defendant. Nwabuoku and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke, are facing 11 counts of money laundering to the tune of N1.6bn. They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The defendants were accused of committing to the act while Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.…

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has announced its support for a service project by the Rotary Club of Lagos, District 9112, to empower over 200 widows through micro-credit and skills acquisition. This initiative underscores FCMB’s commitment to promoting women’s empowerment and financial inclusion. The announcement was made during the installation ceremony of Adetunji Lamidi as the 64th president of the Rotary Club of Lagos. The event in Lagos, highlighted the club’s ongoing efforts to expand its community impact. “Our goals for the year are audacious, yet achievable,” said Lamidi. “We plan to commission a secondary school in Iboku Aro village,…

The Federal Government, yesterday, sealed a sand dredging and mining company, operating in Ilate-Etido Community in Obafemi/Owode local government area of Ogun State over illegal mining activities. The company, operating under the name of Ojibas Nigeria Limited and owned by a businessman from Osun State, was sealed, on Tuesday, by officers from the Mining Inspectorate Department, Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals and Development, Oke Mosan in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Vanguard reliably gathered that the operating license of the mining company dredging sand in the community had been revoked by the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office, Abuja, since August 12, 2022. It…

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says herders and traders can soon move their cows from northern Nigeria to the country’s southern region using rail services. NRC Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria, disclosed this on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief breakfast show on Wednesday, hours after President Bola Tinubu announced the creation of a new ministry for livestock development. He said the movement of cows and other goods would resume with the Warri-Itakpe route. The NRC, famous for passenger traffic, had in 2017 suspended the movement of cattle by train following technical hitches. However, Okhiria said in a matter of one or…

A drug baron on the wanted list of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, identified as Joachin Mbonu, has been arrested. Mbonu was arrested by operatives of the NDLEA in his village mansion in Imo State on July 5. A statement on Tuesday by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said Mbonu was arrested along with his associate. He stated that Mbonu belongs to a drug cartel behind the production of methamphetamine. Babafemi said, “A major drug cartel behind the production and distribution of deadly psychoactive substance, methamphetamine, popularly called ‘Mkpuru mmiri’ has been taken down by operatives of the NDLEA…

The Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, on Wednesday, found the Federal Government guilty of violating the fundamental human rights of youths that participated in the October 2020, EndSARS protest. The court, in a unanimous decision by a three-man panel of Justices, held that there was merit in a suit that three participants in the protest- Obianuju Catherine Udeh, Perpetual Kamsi and Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka- lodged before it. Specifically, the court held that the Federal Republic of Nigeria, through its security agencies, violated Articles 1, 4, 6, 9, 10, and 11 of the African Charter…

Global music streaming platform, Spotify, has announced Nigerian music sensations, Ayra Starr and Tems, as the most streamed Nigerian artistes globally. Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub- Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu, announced this in Lagos on Wednesday. Okumu said that the top 30 artistes who had gained the biggest global numbers were revealed in Spotify’s music global impact list for 2024. She said that Rauw Alexandro and Ayra Starr’s Santa came top on the list, and Ayra Starr’s Comma emerged second while Tem’s Love Me Jeje, came third. Luciano and Omah Lay’s Another Vibe came fourth; 21 Savage, Burna Boy and…

The new leadership of the Police Service Commission has assumed duty at the Corporate Headquarters of the Commission in Jabi, Abuja with a commitment to drive a deliberate knowledge acquisition programme for the Staff called “The Arena of Knowledge”. The new Board of the Commission, recently appointed by the President, has DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd as Chairman, DIG Taiwo Lekanu rtd, Member and Chief Onyemuche Nnamani, Secretary. The new Chairman, Member and Secretary assumed duty on Thursday, July 4th, 2024. Earlier today, Wednesday, July 10th 2024, the new Board flagged off an innovative programme, the Arena of Knowledge, a weekly…

The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has ordered the reversal of all command promotions made by the former governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, over the past nine years. This directive, announced through a statement by the State Head of Service, Ngozi Obioma, is part of an effort to reform the state public service. The action aligns with the provisions of Public Service Rule 1. The governor’s directive, as outlined in a letter dated July 4, takes effect from July 1. The memo reads: “Sequel to the unwavering commitment of the present administration to reform the Abia Public Service in…

The troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested two Indigenous People of Biafra members identified as Ifeanyi Godwin and Uche Onuoha in Anambra State. The two suspects were intercepted inside a Sport Utility Viechle near Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area with two pump-action rifles and 41 cartridges among others. Onuoha and Godwin according to a post by the Nigerian Army on Wednesday on X, had been on the Nigeria Police wanted list since 2023. The Army said, “In Anambra State, troops on patrol successfully intercepted and arrested two suspected IPOB/ESN members identified as Ifeanyi Godwin and Uche Onuoha, in…