Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The cases challenging the defection of the 25 State lawmakers in Rivers State from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC, have been transferred. The case was transferred from Federal High Court 4, Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice Steven Dalyop Pam, to court two controlled by Justice E. O. Obele. However, there was confusion yesterday among journalists covering the court proceedings and some of the lawyers in the matter as they got to the court, Friday morning, to discover that the cases have been transferred to a different court. The lawyers and journalists who were…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it will be difficult for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to win the forthcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states. The party’s acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, said this while inaugurating the PDP National Campaign Councils for Edo and Ondo governorship elections on Thursday in Abuja. Damagum said that the manner in which the candidates emerged in the two states was an indication that the party would be victorious in the elections. He expressed the party’s confidence to win Edo and Ondo elections, saying it would not allow itself to be robbed of…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the National Construction and Household Support Programme during the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday in Abuja. According to a statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, the programme is aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, strengthening the economy, and providing immediate economic relief for Nigerian households. Ngelale added that the programme, which was supported by the NEC, includes financial allocations and infrastructure projects across all geo-political zones in the country. He added that a key component of the programme is the approval of the N50,000 uplift grant to be distributed to 100,000 families per…

Donald Trump accused Joe Biden on Thursday of doing a “poor job” on the US economy and of presiding over a disastrous rise in inflation — reflecting how rising prices and the cost of living have become key issues ahead of November’s presidential election. “He has not done a good job. He’s done a poor job,” Trump said during CNN’s head-to-head debate with Biden in Atlanta, Georgia. “And inflation is killing our country. It is absolutely killing us. “I gave him a country with essentially no inflation. It was perfect. It was so good, all he had to do is…

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday invited 22 Russian and 17 Belarusian athletes to compete at the Paris Olympics as neutrals even though some have already decided against taking part. A second list of names authorised to compete in the July 26-August 11 showpiece included competitors from tennis, shooting and rowing. The first list, which was published on June 15, was limited to four disciplines — wrestling, weightlifting, cycling and trampoline. That also included the first refusals including Russian cyclist Aleksandr Vlasov and five Belarusians. Eighteen athletes have, however, already confirmed their presence – three cyclists, three trampoline specialists,…

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has directed the arrest of two EFCC officers accused of reportedly manhandling a female staff member at Regional Hotel in Ojo, Lagos. In a viral video online, EFCC officials dressed in plain clothes were observed forcefully entering one of the hotel rooms. https://youtu.be/oLFZpKeEPbo In his statement, Oyewale said the incident happened during an early morning sting operation. He said the operation led to the arrest of a sizable number of suspects who were still being profiled. It reads: “The EFCC’s boss has also ordered detailed investigations…

Controversial critic Verydarkman has responded to Obi Cubana’s call for blogs to stop posting content that shows youths disrespecting elders. Verydarkman accused Obi Cubana of being uncomfortable with his criticisms because they expose the wrongdoing of people like him. He criticised Obi Cubana for spending money on lavish things while failing to speak out on important issues affecting the youth. Verydarkman stated that in his region, people don’t worship money, and he questioned Obi Cubana’s priorities, suggesting that he should focus on supporting the youth rather than trying to silence critics like himself. He said: “The only reason why you…

President Tinubu has forwarded the names of three nominees for consideration and confirmation for appointment as Chairman, Secretary and member of the Police Service Commission (PSC). The names were submitted to the Senate at the resumption of a new legislative session on Thursday. The nominees are; Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Hashim Argungu (Chairman), Chief Onyema Uche (Secretary) and Retired DIG Taiwo Lakanu (member) of the PSC respectively. Tinubu had sacked retired Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, as the chairman of the commission earlier this month. This is as the PSC battles the Inspector-General of the Nigerian…

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has ordered the promotion of Second Lieutenant Oluchukwu Owowoh to the substantive rank of Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army. The Nigerian Defence Academy disclosed this in a statement on X.com on Wednesday. The statement by the NDA on Wednesday partly read, “Speaking during the decoration ceremony that took place today, June 26, 2024, at the Nigerian Defence Academy Officer’s Mess and Golf Club, the NDA Commandant, Major General JO Ochai, extolled the track record of excellence of Lt. Owowoh as a cadet, which accorded her the rare privilege of becoming the…

Rivers state governor, Siminialayi Fubara has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has failed the state. The governor said that Rivers was currently relying on a mass movement based on truth and consistency instead of party politics. The governor spoke while receiving a delegation from the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, led by Senator Orji Uzo Kalu, at Government House in Port Harcourt. He said the state would no longer be held back by party affiliation, but would instead stand firm on its own soil to defend democracy. Fubara said: “In our state today we are no longer…