Author: Amina Mohammed

A high court in Kano State has issued a permanent order restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from withholding funds allocated to the 44 local government areas (LGAs) of the state. The ruling, delivered by Justice Ibrahim Musa-Muhammad, came after an ex parte motion filed on November 1 by the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ibrahim Muhammed, and five others. The motion sought to prevent the respondents from withholding or delaying allocations essential for local governance. Among the respondents were the accountant-general of the federation (AGF), the CBN, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the…

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has mourned Pan Niger Delta Forum leader, Edwin Clark, describing him as an iconic statesman. Buhari made this disclosure in a condolence statement on Tuesday. According to him, the death of Clark had caused deep sorrow in his heart and that of many in the country. In the statement, Buhari said, “Late Chief Edwin Clark was a leader dedicated to reforms whose commitment to the development of his community and the nation would always be remembered. His death caused deep sorrow in his heart, and that of many, and his departure was a loss for the…

The House of Representatives has called on the relevant Federal Government agencies to implement tough measures against homicidal and femicidal acts in Nigeria. The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion during Tuesday’s plenary, moved by Rivers lawmaker, Awaji-Inombek Abiante and three others. Drumming support for the motion, Abiante noted that the right to life is a fundamental human right guaranteed by the Constitution, while homicide cases, including murder, manslaughter, and other violent crimes leading to the termination of life, have been on the rise across the country, provoking public demand for justice. He said, “Fernicide, which…

A Russian court sentenced a man to 13 years in jail on treason charges for reaching out to a recruiter for the Ukrainian army, the FSB security service said Tuesday. Moscow has jailed dozens of Russians for allegedly collaborating with or supporting Kyiv’s military since Russia launched its full-scale military offensive in February 2022. The FSB said a man named Artem Konstantinov, born in 2000, contacted the Ukrainian army on the Telegram messaging app “and expressed his willingness to participate in combat actions on the territory of Ukraine against the Russian armed forces”. A court in the Arctic region of…

The Central Bank of Nigeria has ordered bank directors with non-performing insider-related loans to step down immediately. Insider loans refer to loans granted by a bank to its own executives, directors, employees, major shareholders, or related parties. The directive was issued in a circular signed by the Acting Director of Banking Supervision, Adetona Adedeji, on Monday. According to the CBN, the decision aims to strengthen corporate governance and improve risk management in the banking sector. To minimise financial risks, the apex bank instructed banks to take action by recovering debts through collateral enforcement and seizing the shareholdings of affected directors.…

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, has canvassed stronger economic ties with the Middle East and the Nigerian diaspora community in the region. Speaking during a meeting with Talal Al-Humond, the Assistant Governor for Monetary Affairs, Saudi Arabia Central Bank – SAMA, on the sideline of the just-concluded inaugural Conference on Emerging Markets Economies organised by the Ministry of Finance, Saudi Arabia, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Regional Office in Riyadh, Cardoso said there were lessons to be learned from Saudi Arabia in terms of infrastructural development and tourism. According to him, Saudi Arabia’s…

A military airstrike targeting bandits mistakenly claimed the lives of six persons at Yauni Community of Zakka Ward in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State. This tragic incident, however, left the community in great shock and pandemonium. Security sources told Newsmen on Monday that those killed were mostly single family members, comprising three children, a man, and two women. The incident, which occurred in the aftermath of Saturday’s Local Government Elections, occurred after security operatives attempted to thwart an attack planned by bandits against voters in Zakka village. Eyewitness recalled that security forces, comprising the police and members of…

The United States has commenced deportation proceedings for Nigerian nationals, with 85 individuals set to arrive in Lagos, while 116 others remain in detention. The Federal Government, through the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has expressed concerns over the process, calling for a more humane approach. Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in a statement signed by her media aide, Magnus Eze, on Sunday, disclosed that “with about 201 Nigerians currently detained in US immigration centres and about 85 cleared for deportation,” the government is advocating for adherence to internationally prescribed guidelines. Similarly, she reiterated the government’s stance in a post…

Prince Lukman Gbadegesin, one of the contenders for the Alaafin of Oyo stool, has filed a lawsuit at the Oyo State High Court challenging the appointment of Prince Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin. The suit, filed on February 12, demands the reversal of Owoade’s appointment, arguing that it violates the Chiefs Law of Oyo State, 2000, and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961. Gbadegesin is also seeking an injunction to prevent Owoade from assuming the throne or performing any royal duties. Gbadegesin’s suit lists Governor Seyi Makinde, the Attorney General of Oyo State, and 11 others as defendants,…

Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie, has revealed that she gave birth to twin boys in 2024, adding to her family, including her nine-year-old daughter. In a recent interview with The Guardian’s Charlotte Edwardes, Adichie spoke about the intense curiosity surrounding her life, the profound losses she has experienced, and the challenges of balancing motherhood with her writing career. Adichie, who has kept the details of her private life under wraps, revealed that she was always cautious about revealing too much, particularly when it came to her family. “I want to protect my children,” she explained. “I’m OK with having them mentioned,…