Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser, said on Wednesday that the government has resumed mass trials of terrorism suspects in the country. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), stated in December 2023 that the Federal Government secured 366 convictions in the trial of Boko Haram terrorists conducted in 2017. In addition, he said 896 suspects were discharged for lack of evidence, while 61 other cases were adjourned for further hearing. In December 2023, the FG also secured the conviction of four Boko Haram financiers. In a statement on Wednesday…

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, on Wednesday, met with ministers on the proposed nationwide protest against economic hardship by Nigerian youths. The meeting was convened behind closed doors and has all the over 40 ministers in the President’s cabinet in attendance. Some of the Minister spotted are Nyesom Wike (FCT), Yusuf Tuggar (Foreign Affairs), Zephaniah Jisalo (Special Duties), Tahir Mamman (Education), and Abubakar Bagudu (Budget and Planning). Others are Wale Edun (Finance), Mohammed Idris (Information), Bello Matawalle (Defence), David Umahi (Works), and the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, amongst others. Meanwhile, President Bola…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said employers are now mandated to pay their staff a minimum wage of N70,000. He emphasised that even small-scale employers, including those in informal sectors like domestic work and tailoring must adhere to the minimum wage when hiring additional help. Akpabio said this while passing the new minimum wage bill into law on the floor of the senate. He said: “If you’re a tailor and you employ additional hands, you can’t pay the person below N70,000. If you have a housemaid, you cannot pay them below N70,000. If you hire a driver or a gateman,…

The All Progressives Congress (APC), has lashed out at politician and former presidential candidate of the Labour Party for the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, over his consistent criticisms of its economic policies which had recently resulted in a rise in the cost of living across the country. On Monday, Obi called for quick action in resolving the current economic crisis in the country. In the post, he highlighted the contrast between Nigeria’s economic performance in the early years of its return to democracy and its current state. He wrote, “When Nigeria returned to democratic governance in 1999, it maintained…

Two persons have allegedly been killed as tussle over monarchy in Araromi-Owu, Ayedaade local government area of Osun State escalated into crisis in the community. It was gathered that the situation has been developing since last week before it eventually snowballed into full blown crisis on Tuesday with razing of cars by aggrieved party in the tussle. A resident in the community, Ismail Olaoye, also disclosed that mercenaries hired by the aggrieved party set burn fire on access road into the town to prevent security operatives from entering. It was also gathered that some hoodlums waylaid a batch of security…

Troops of 6 brigade Nigeria Army – Sector 3 operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) in conjunction with other security agencies have apprehended 10 kidnap suspects in multiple operations across Taraba state. This is according to a press statement by Captain Oni Olubodunde, acting assistant director, 6 brigade Army public relations. Captain Olubodunde stated that the operations were conducted with precision and professionalism, after a tip-off from a credible source. According to him these military actions took place in the early hours on Monday, at Galeri and Kwondo Villages of Ardo-Kola and Bali Local Government Areas. The captain asserted that the swift…

The United Kingdom Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, faces his first House of Commons grilling on Wednesday after suspending seven of his own Labour MPs for rebelling over a controversial welfare policy. Starmer suspended the Labour rebels late Tuesday after they backed a motion demanding the removal of the contentious two-child limit on benefits introduced by the previous Conservative government. Their votes supporting ending the cap — introduced in 2015 and which restricts payments to the first two children born to most families — is an early test of Starmer’s authority. The new UK leader has warned there is “no silver…

Justices R.M Aikawa and Darius Khobo of the Federal High Court and State High Court respectively, sitting in Kaduna have convicted and sentenced the quartet of Anthony Chukwu (a.k.a Carmelita Luna), Madaki Shamun Ismail (a.k.a Will Beal), Samson Aliyu (a.k.a John Dunwell) and Christopher Israel (a.k.a Bernie Dallas) to various jail terms for internet fraud. They were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on one-count separate charges, bordering on impersonation, obtaining by false pretence and money laundering. Chukwu’s charge reads: “That you, Anthony Chukwu (a.k.a Carmelita Luna) ”M”, sometime in December 2023,…

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, has announced a 12.7% reduction in allowances for foreign scholars currently stranded in countries such as Russia, Morocco, and Algeria. The decision is attributed to ongoing economic challenges. Previously, Nigerian students studying in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and other countries under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship have expressed concerns over unpaid stipends for the past eight months. The BEA scholarship facilitates educational exchange between Nigeria and its partner countries, and the Federal Scholarship Board oversees this program under the Ministry of Education. A memo signed by the Director…

US President Joe Biden will give what could be his final Oval Office speech Wednesday to explain why he dropped out of November’s election and deny that he will spend six months as a lame duck. With the world’s eyes already on a looming clash between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, Biden will insist in his address to the nation that he still has work to do despite his historic decision to bow out. The 81-year-old Democrat said on X he would discuss “what lies ahead, and how I will finish the job for the American people” in…