Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees go under the microscope in a frenzied week on Capitol Hill starting Tuesday, as US senators hold confirmation hearings that could make or break their political careers. Thirteen nominees will be grilled before 11 committees, and while many will sail through, others face controversies ranging from alleged sexual assault and heavy drinking to their relationships with dictators and vaccine skepticism. The Trump picks have been in stringent preparations, taking part in mock hearings and coaching on how to negotiate tough questions while still maintaining unswerving loyalty to the president-elect. “This time, people view the nominees as…

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has presented the staff and instrument of office to the new Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade. The Governor presented the staff of office to the new Monarch during a brief eventat the Exco Chambers of the Governor’s office, Secretariat Agodi Ibadan on Monday. Among those at the event were Deputy Governor Bayo-Lawal; former Oyo Speaker Senator Monsurat Sunmonu;  some High Chiefs from Oyo Town and religious leaders. The Awise Awo Agbaye, Prof. Wande Abimbola, the revered Ifa Custodian, who performed Ifa divination for the selection of the new Alaafin, was also among the…

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on Friday announced it has introduced the Non-Resident Nigerian Ordinary Account (NRNOA) and Non-Resident Nigerian Investment Account (NRNIA) for Nigerians in diaspora. CBN disclosed this in a circular to all authorized dealer banks and the general public noting that NRNOA will enable Non-Resident Nigerians (NRNs) remit their foreign earnings to Nigeria and manage funds in both foreign and local currencies. The apex bank also said that the NRNIA will enable NRNS to invest in assets in Nigeria in either foreign currency or local currency (Naira). The circular signed by Ag. Director, Trade and Exchange…

President Bola Tinubu has expressed sorrow over the death of Alhaja Monsurat Bankole, mother of a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Oladimeji Bankole. The Iya Adinni of Egbaland passed away on Thursday at the age of 78 after a brief illness. In a statement issued by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Friday, the President extended condolences to the Bankole family and the people of Ogun State. He described the deceased as a woman of great virtue who dedicated her life to community development and lived by the tenets of her Islamic faith. “Alhaja…

Osun State monarch, Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has congratulated the Alaafin-elect, Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade, and the people of Oyo Kingdom on the historic ascension to the revered throne. Describing the emergence of Owoade as divinely ordained, the Oluwo commended Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for making what he termed a “courageous decision” in selecting an “exposed prince” to occupy the stool of the Alaafin. In a Friday statement released by his press secretary, Alli Ibraheem, Oluwo praised Makinde for modernising the Yoruba traditional institution. “I congratulate Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, the Alaafin-elect, on his ascension to…

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, is set to honour the President of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Sharif Al-Hussain with honorary degrees. This decision followed the consideration and endorsement of the recommendation by the Honorary Degrees Committee at the University’s 544th (Special) Senate meeting held on Tuesday, 7 January 2025. The Governing Council subsequently approved it at its 207th meeting on Wednesday, 8 January 2025. The prestigious awards will be conferred upon the two distinguished individuals during the university’s 44th Convocation Ceremony, scheduled for 25 January 2025. Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a globally renowned finance…

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, has dissolved his cabinet, stating that his administration requires fresh energy. He made this announcement on Friday during a valedictory session at the Executive Council chamber in Uyo, the state capital. The governor clarified that none of the commissioners had underperformed but that he needed to bring in new individuals to join his administration. Eno stressed that while all the commissioners had delivered on their responsibilities, they would be replaced to bring in a new set of professionals. “For me, if changes were based on non-performance, none of the commissioners would be…

Uganda’s army chief and son of President Yoweri Museveni, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, announced he was quitting X on Friday after a string of controversial posts including threatening to behead an opposition leader and invade neighbouring countries. Seen as the likely successor to his 80-year-old father, Kainerugaba built up more than a million followers on X, formerly Twitter, thanks to his notorious posts. Just this week, Kainerugaba, 50, said it was only the presence of his father that prevented him from murdering musician-turned-opposition leader Bobi Wine. “If Mzee was not there, I would cut off his head today,” Kainerugaba posted, using an…

The Benue State Government has ordered three former vice chairmen of Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi to refund N2.4 billion into the government coffers. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula, disclosed in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday in Makurdi. The statement said that the order was necessitated by the white paper report on the forensic audit investigation into the club’s affairs between January 2020 and September 2024. NAN reports that Governor Hyacinth Alia had on October 7, 2024, inaugurated a Forensic Audit Investigation Committee led by Donatus San-Chir-Igba to examine the funds of…

The victims who died in a stampede that occurred during a Christmas rice distribution in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, have been buried. No fewer than 21 people, mostly women and children reportedly lost their lives during the tragic incident that occurred on December 21, 2024, during the palliative distribution being donated by a notable member of the community, Chief Ernest Azudialu Obiejesi, through his foundation, Obijackson Foundation. The inter-denominational burial service for the victims held at St. Mary’s Field, Okija, on Friday, had families of the victims, survivors, community members, and other notable personalities of the…