Author: Amina Mohammed

A few hours after police took down nine notorious kidnappers in Lagos, it was revealed that a popular Nollywood actor and producer based in Port Harcourt, identified as Ode, was among those killed. Despite skepticism, it has been confirmed that the actor was one of the kidnappers shot by the Commissioner of Police Special Squad in the Ladipo area of Lagos. Detectives are conducting extensive investigations to identify the nine kidnappers encountered at the Ladipo auto spare parts market, where they attempted to abduct a wealthy businessman. During the investigation, police recovered four mobile phones and other personal items from…

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to hold state governors, their deputies and others to account over cases of electoral violence, bribery, vote-buying, and conspiracy during the 2023 general elections.‏ According to a statement issued by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Sunday, the court ordered INEC to ensure “the appointment of independent counsel to investigate cases of electoral violence and other electoral offences against state governors and their deputies during the 2023 general elections.” The court also ordered INEC to “to promptly, thoroughly and effectively investigate…

Operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) have reportedly killed one of the kidnappers of the mother of famous Hausa singer, Dauda Rarara. After a sustained gun duel with the heavily armed kidnappers, one was shot dead while the other was apprehended. The names of the kidnappers were given as Hamisu and Bature. The former was killed while Bature is being treated of the gunshot wounds he sustained. Sources said the operatives at the weekend stormed the Makarfi deep forest in Kaduna State and engaged the bandits in their enclave when they were busy sharing the ransom cash paid…

The media team of Peter Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections says the presidency is plotting to cage him. A statement signed by Yunusa Tanko, the spokesman says linking Obi to the planned nationwide protest is a ploy by the presidency to arrest him over the planned nationwide protest. The full statement reads “The attention of the Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR has been drawn to the wild, wicked and baseless allegations by one of the Spokespersons in the Presidency, Bayo Onanuga accusing the Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi of being…

Reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, on Saturday, officially rejoined the All Progressives Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party. The deputy governor, who returned to the APC in Benin, the state capital, alongside prominent members of the Dan Orbih-led Legacy Group of the PDP, said he was back to add value to the party. He said, “On behalf of the Legacy Group, I announce our movement to the APC. We have come to add value to the party. “It is time to take back our state. We will not talk too much because action will speak for us.…

French authorities have recalled Olympics-branded water bottles for children containing excessive levels of endocrine disruptor Bisphenol A, a week ahead of the Paris Games’ opening. The reusable bottles made by the Vilac company have “levels of Bisphenol A not in line with regulations” on products designed for contact with foods, government website Rappel Conso (Consumer Recall) said Friday. The white-coloured flasks with beige, blue or red tops are branded with the Olympic rings, the Paris 2024 mascot or the Olympic flame. People who have bought them should return them to the place of purchase, authorities said. The bottles were sold…

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has directed the immediate promotion of teachers under the employment of the government in all the senior secondary schools in the state. Governor Fubara gave the directive while inaugurating the Chairmen and four members each, for the Senior Secondary Schools and Universal Basic Education Boards at the government house in Port Harcourt on Friday. He said the promotion exercise in the senior cadre in public schools was suspended because the section was previously headed by an Acting Director whom he felt should not be given the responsibility to handle such a delicate task. The…

The leadership of the House of Representatives, led by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, has visited the $ 20 billion Dangote Petroleum refinery in Lagos State. The lawmakers arrived at the refinery located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos around 11 am on Saturday and were received by the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, and top executives of the company. The lawmakers are expected to take a tour of the 650,000 barrels per day refinery during the visit and have a conversation about the plan to start the supply of petrol next month. The visit marks the…

Kano State government has approved the release of over N29 billion for various capital projects to improve social and physical development in the state. The approvals were issued at the State Executive Council Meeting presided over by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf at the Council Chambers, Government House, Kano. A statement by the spokesman to the governor, Sanusi Bature, said the resolutions of the state executive council meeting covered interventions on agriculture, roads and payment of backlog allowances among others. According to him, the council approved the release of N7.8 billion for continuation of the 5-kilometre dualised road projects across the…

The National Bureau of Statistics has affirmed that there was a prevalence of vote-buying and selling during the 2023 general elections. According to the NBS in its report titled, ’Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and trends third survey on corruption as experienced by the population’, the elections recorded 22% of vote buying, which is five per cent higher than the 2019 general elections with 17%. The agency disclosed in the report released on July 11 that 22 per cent of Nigerian citizens reported that they were personally offered money in exchange of a vote before or during the 2023 general election,…