Author: Amina Mohammed

Adams Oshiomhole, a former national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that retired military generals are allegedly behind illegal mining activities in Nigeria.  Oshiomhole, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior,  made the assertion during the submission of the 2025 budget report by Senator Sampson Ekong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, before the Senate Committee on Appropriations. He expressed concerns that the illegal mining activities, driven by powerful figures, pose a significant threat to Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy. “The ongoing illegal mining across the country is being…

The National Identity Management Commission has said that the new National Identification Number card will support government-to-people services and offer multiple functionalities to improve access to government interventions. Speaking on the initiative during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Dr Peter Iwegbu, Director of Card Management Services at NIMC, said the card is designed to ensure the effective delivery of government services, particularly to vulnerable Nigerians. He noted that the card would address challenges in identifying beneficiaries of government interventions, providing a secure and verifiable platform for accessing such services. He stated, “The second programme is addressing the need…

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command arrested two additional suspects on Friday in connection to the abduction of Mrs. Folasade Odumosu, the wife of retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu. The suspects, 27-year-old Agbojule Smart and 30-year-old Keleke Michael, were apprehended by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Special Squad. This was confirmed in a statement issued at the Force Headquarters in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi. According to the Nigeria Police Force, via its official social media handle, “In response to the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D.,…

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he was ready for talks with US counterpart Donald Trump on the Ukraine conflict, fuelling expectations of contact between the two world leaders. “As for the issue of negotiations… we have always said, and I want to emphasise this once again, that we are ready for these negotiations on Ukrainian issues,” Putin told a reporter from Russian state TV Putin added that the 2022 “crisis in Ukraine” — a reference to Moscow’s full-scale military offensive — might have been averted had Donald Trump been US president at the time. “I cannot but agree with…

A United Airlines flight, a Boeing 787-8 traveling from Lagos to Washington Dulles International Airport, declared an emergency on Thursday and made an air return to Lagos. The aircraft, identified with registration number N27903, is over 13 years old and belongs to the US carrier United Airlines. It was carrying 245 passengers, eight flight attendants, and three pilots at the time of the incident. The flight crew maintained the emergency transponder code 7700, signaling distress, until the aircraft landed safely back in Lagos. Reports from passengers indicated that some sustained minor injuries during the turbulent return. Images and videos shared…

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr Ikye Orikpo as the new chairman of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital. The Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Friday. He said the new appointee, who hails from Delta State, joins the new board chairpersons announced earlier. The presidential spokesman also clarified a few things about the list of earlier appointed Board chairmen. “Hon. Duro Meseko from Kogi state is the chairman of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute. What appears to be a duplication has been corrected,” the statement read. “Also,…

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal High Court, FCT sitting in Apo, Abuja on Thursday, granted the prayers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to amend charges brought against a former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye and make him take his plea. Agunloye is standing trial by the  EFCC on seven-count charges bordering on official corruption and fraudulent award of the Mambilla Power Project contract to the tune of $6 billion. Earlier on July 1 2024, Prosecution Counsel, Abba Mohammed S(AN) drew the attention of the court to the amended charge, urging the court to accept same and cause the defendant to take…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Friday, withdrew the arrest warrant issued against Ezekiel Thankgod, the former manager of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, accused of alleged $345,000 fraud. Justice Alexander Owoeye had, on 16 January 2025, issued a bench warrant for the music producer’s arrest following an ex parte application by the EFCC seeking to compel his appearance in court to face criminal charges. However, during Friday’s proceedings, the EFCC’s lawyer, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari, applied to withdraw the arrest warrant. Buhari explained that since the charges had already been served on Thankgod’s lawyer, Monday Ubani, SAN, in open court,…

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court  Abuja has proscribed the Lakurawa sect, classifying it as a terrorist organisation. The prescription order followed an ex-parte application filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). In a ruling, Justice Omotosho, equally proscribed similar groups operating in Nigeria, especially in the North West and North Central regions of the country. “It is hereby ordered as follows: That an order is hereby made declaring the activities of the Lakurawa Sect and other similar groups In any part of Nigeria, especially in the North West and North…

President Bola Tinubu has appointed the Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje as the board chairman of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria. Also appointed is the APC National Secretary, Senator Bashiru Ajibola as the board chairman of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC). The Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, announced the appointment in a statement on Friday. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed board chairpersons for 42 federal organisations and a secretary to the board of the Civil Defence, Immigration, and Prisons Services,” the statement read. “The President has also…