Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Florence Nwaeke, wife of a former Head of Service in Rivers State, George Nwaeke, has suggested that her husband was under duress during the interview in which he made allegations against suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara. She was seen on a trending video calling for help over the whereabouts of her husband following his resignation. Florence said she was afraid of the safety of her husband complaining that she could not reach him on phone. She said someone asked him to come to Abuja and that she later saw her husband granting the interview. She said: “When he got to Abuja, he…

Suspended Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has denied the  allegations levelled against him by the immediate past Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke. The Governor in a counter statement said: “Ordinarily, I would not have responded to his claims, but to correct the erroneous impression such allegations may create in the minds of the people, and the disaffection it is bound to cause in the state and the country. “First, on the claim that he was aware of my discussions and plans to support Bala Mohammed’s alleged 2027 presidential bid, it is laughable that Dr. Nwaeke would be part of any high level…

The Kano State Police Command has banned all Sallah Durbar celebrations ahead of the 2025 Eid-el-Fitr festivities, citing security concerns and the need to prevent potential unrest.  The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, announced the decision on Friday while addressing journalists at the Bompai Police Headquarters in Kano. He stated that intelligence reports revealed plans by certain groups to use the Durbar to create instability. “In pursuit of a safe and secure celebration, and to maintain peace and public order, the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, has assessed the rising tensions and uncertainties surrounding the Durbar activities,”…

The Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has condemned the mob attack and killing of travelers in the state who were accused of kidnapping. The victims, who were reportedly hunters traveling for Sallah, were intercepted by a mob in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area. The mob, after finding dane guns used by hunters in the victims’ vehicle, concluded they were kidnappers and set them ablaze. A viral video of the incident showed the victims surrounded by youths before being burned alive. The governor described the act as barbaric and vowed that those responsible would be held accountable. Speaking…

The Delta State Government has directed the immediate withdrawal of the query issued to a student of the School of Nursing Sciences, Agbor, Osato Edobor, over her involvement in a viral social media video during the recent visit of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu. In a statement on Friday via X, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, confirmed the withdrawal of the disciplinary query, stressing that the government is committed to upholding the rights of students in health-related programmes and ensuring a conducive learning environment. “The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, has directed the immediate withdrawal of the query…

A Spanish appeals court overturned Friday former Brazil international footballer Dani Alves’ rape conviction, arguing his trial was marked by “shortcomings” and “inaccuracies”. Alves was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail in February last year for raping a young woman in the VIP bathroom of a Barcelona nightclub on December 31, 2022. The 41-year-old, who won the Champions League three-times with Barcelona, was released from jail last March pending his appeal after he posted the one million euros ($1.1million) bail set by the court. The appeals court said its four judges had “unanimously” accepted the player’s appeal and “annulled” his conviction,.…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has appointed Heirs Holdings Founder and Group Chair, Tony Elumelu, to its Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth, convened by IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva. His appointment was disclosed in a statement on Friday. The Advisory Council of the IMF comprises global business leaders, policymakers, and academics, dedicated to identifying and addressing regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship. Its mandate is to recommend policies that enhance resource allocation, stimulate innovation, and catalyse sustainable private sector-led economic growth. “Elumelu, Africa’s leading advocate of entrepreneurship and whose Foundation has funded, mentored and trained over 25,000 African entrepreneurs since 2015,…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared businesswoman and socialite Aisha Achimugu wanted. The agency’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, made this known in a circular released via the EFCC’s X handle on Friday. According to the EFCC, Achimugu is wanted by the agency in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering. The circular reads, “The public is hereby notified that Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering. “Achimugu, 51, is an indigene of Ofu Local Government Area of…

The Defence Headquarters says the incident involving some soldiers at the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company some weeks back is under review, vowing to sanction anyone found culpable. A viral video some weeks back showed some armed men in military uniform storming the headquarters of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company at Ikeja, Lagos State, with some staff of the company seen running for safety. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Friday, Chief of Defence Civil Military Relations, Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole, acknowledged that there are some underlining issues that caused the incident, but said that what was seen in…

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has denied some media reports which claimed that he received campaign funds from the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for the 2023 election. Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, described the reports that he received money from Sanwo-Olu, who is a key member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as a “is a blatant lie from the pit of hell.” “We at Atiku Media Office have taken note of reports in a section of the media that the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu @jidesanwoolu through Ms…