Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

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…

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife Hafsat, and six others are expected to appear in court on Thursday over charges related to alleged bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds. This development comes after a notice of trial served on the respondents through substituted means by order of the court. A Kano State High Court granted the order on June 5, 2024, allowing the state to serve the seven respondents through substituted service, which was subsequently executed via advertisements in two national newspapers on June 6, 2024. The respondents in the case include Abdullahi…

A manhunt is underway on Wednesday following the deaths of three women after they were found seriously injured at a residence in Hertfordshire, southeastern England. Hertfordshire police were called to a property in the town of Bushey just before 7 p.m. BST (1800 GMT) on Tuesday, where they discovered the three women with severe injuries. All three succumbed to their injuries at the scene. The Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit has identified Kyle Clifford, 26, from Enfield, north London, as a person of interest in this case. Clifford is believed to be in either the Hertfordshire or north…

Plateau State has fixed October 9, 2024, for the conduct of local government elections. The Chairman of the state Independent Electoral Commission, Plangji Cishak, disclosed this on Wednesday during an ongoing meeting with leaders of political parties held at the commission’s headquarters in Jos, the state capital. Plangji said the council poll would be conducted across the 17 local government areas of the state, which are currently under the management of Transition Implementation Committee Chairmen.

France captain Kylian Mbappe said his side “didn’t do enough” in Tuesday’s 2-1 semi-final loss to Spain and admitted he was disappointed after underperforming at Euro 2024. “We didn’t do enough to get to the final,” Mbappe told reporters. “They (Spain) played better than us, they deserved to go to the final and we are going home.” Mbappe set up Randal Kolo Muani’s ninth-minute opener, but Spain hit back to take the lead with two strikes in four minutes midway through the first half. “I had the ambition of becoming European champion. I had the goal of having a good…