Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

A divided US Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a bid by President Donald Trump to freeze some $2 billion in foreign aid payments. The court, in its first significant ruling on a legal challenge to Trump, voted 5-4 to uphold a lower court ruling requiring the administration to make payments on contracts which have already been completed. AFP

The Rivers State Government has officially handed over an AW139 helicopter to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to enhance security operations in the Niger Delta region. The aircraft, which had been grounded since 2020, is expected to bolster tactical airlift, search and rescue missions, and the protection of oil facilities in the state. During the handover ceremony at the Airforce Base in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, described the move as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to safeguarding the state and Niger Delta at large. He noted that as a member of the Governors’ Forum Committee on…

To fill existing vacancies in the Federal Civil Service, President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Adeladan Olarinre and Mukhtar Muhammed as new permanent secretaries.` Director of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Eno Olotu revealed this in a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday. Olarinre will represent Oyo State, while Muhammed will serve as the representative for the North-West geopolitical zone. Olotu emphasised that the appointments followed a rigorous and transparent selection process aligned with the administration’s commitment to meritocracy, excellence, and competence in the civil service. “The…

The senator representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Wednesday arrived at the Senate Chamber today with her husband as plenary resumed after a one-week recess. In a brief but affectionate moment, her husband gave her a kiss before she proceeded into the chamber to take her seat. The Kogi State senator took her place in her newly assigned seat, which has been at the center of an ongoing controversy. The dispute over the seat has sparked tensions within the Senate as she accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment. The Senate President has rejected the allegation and…

The Rivers State Government says it is yet to receive the resolutions of the State House of Assembly regarding the Supreme Court’s judgment delivered on February 28, 2025. On Monday, the Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led assembly had during its sitting issued Governor Siminalayi Fubara a 48-hour ultimatum to present the 2025 budget of the State before it. In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, the government clarified that as of close of work on March 4, neither the governor’s office, the deputy Governor, nor the…

President Bola Tinubu has described former President Olusegun Obasanjo on his 88th birthday as “controversial” while eulogising the latter’s contributions to nation-building. Tinubu in a statement signed on Wednesday, also described the former statesman as an “extraordinary leader ” whose contributions to Nigeria’s development remain indelible. According to Tinubu, Obasanjo’s regular interventions in national affairs, although sometimes controversial, have helped shape public policies and put leaders in check. “Sometimes controversial, former President Obasanjo’s regular interventions in national affairs have helped shape public policies and acted as a check on leadership. “At 88, the former president is still gaining strength. I pray…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the French government are set to strengthen their cooperation in tackling financial crimes. The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by Lieutenant General Regis Colombet, Director of Security and Defence Cooperation at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, to the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja. Colombet highlighted France’s extensive experience in establishing specialized academic and training centres, citing the Cyber School in Dakar, Senegal, and an Academy in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, dedicated to counterterrorism training. He said the collaboration will be particularly in the areas of asset tracking, cybercrime investigation,…

The US economy is set to experience some “disturbance” from tariffs, President Donald Trump said Tuesday, as trade tensions flare after he imposed sweeping levies on Mexico, Canada and China. Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress came after he pushed forth with tariff hikes on the three countries over illegal immigration and drug trafficking. This drew a sharp rebuke from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and retaliatory levies. China responded too with countermeasures, while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum similarly promised pushback. “Tariffs are not just about protecting American jobs. They’re about protecting the soul of our country,” Trump…

Football pundit, Jamie Carragher, has addressed criticism over his previous comments regarding the Africa Cup of Nations, which many perceived as dismissive. The former Liverpool defender came under fire after suggesting that Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or were slim because he was not competing in a “major tournament,” referring to AFCON. Speaking on a broadcast show after Tuesday’s Champions League, Carragher acknowledged that his choice of words was poorly phrased. “What I would never want to be described as, as a pundit, would be ignorant or disrespectful. That was never my aim, whether that’s to a player,…

Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has claimed that if not for the “Peter Obi effect,” he would have emerged victorious over Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the 2023 Lagos State governorship election. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday, the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate argued that the unexpected surge of support for the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos shifted the political landscape, making it difficult for the PDP to compete effectively. “The 2023 election came with this tsunami that nobody ever expected, and it was there for everybody to see,” Jandor said. He explained that after…