Author: Amina Mohammed

The National Assembly has raised the revenue target for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) following revelations by Executive Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, that it had surpassed its 2024 revenue collection target, exceeding the ₦19.4 trillion target set in the 2024 Appropriation Act. During a presentation on Wednesday by the FIRS boss on the agency’s performance and future projections, the National Assembly’s joint Committee on Finance proposed a ₦ 25 trillion revenue target for FIRS in the 2025 fiscal year. Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi, lauded the agency’s performance as “unprecedented, encouraging…

Gunshots disrupted the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which began hearing on Wednesday in Benin City, the state capital.  Hoodlums were also reportedly seen outside the turbo-charged venue of the tribunal where gunshots rent the air, leaving people to scamper for safety. The tribunal had commenced hearing on the petitions challenging the September 21, 2024, Edo governorship election where Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared as the winner. The main challenger at the tribunal is Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The electoral umpire INEC had declared Okpebholo winner of the poll with…

The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved the dissolution of the State Executive Council, with immediate effect. This was revealed on Wednesday in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan. According to the statement, the governor, however, exempted two members of the cabinet from the dissolution “due to the critical nature of their duties”. The retained commissioners are the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Omowunmi Isaac. “All the affected cabinet members are to hand over all government properties in their care to…

Nigerian singer Darlington Achakpo, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has reportedly been arraigned in court and granted bail. One of his lawyers, Deji Adeyanju, shared the update on X.com on Wednesday. Adeyanju stated, “Police finally arraigns Speed Darlington in court. Bail application moved and granted. We are trying to perfect same.” The singer’s legal team had previously raised concerns over his prolonged detention. His counsel, Rosemary E. Hamza, from the Chambers of Deji Adeyanju & Partners, emphasised that a court order issued by Justice M.S. Liman on December 23, 2024, directed the police to either charge him within 48 hours…

Mrs Abosede Aloba, the mother of the late singer Ilerioluwa, popularly known as Mohbad, and actor Yomi Fabiyi have clashed over the cause of the singer’s death. Fabiyi, at a World Press Conference held on Wednesday at Radisson Blu in Ikeja, Lagos State, to demand justice for Mohbad, accused the late singer’s brother, Adura Aloba, of messaging him on Instagram, claiming to know the root cause of his brother’s death. In response, Aloba denied the claim, stating that Adura wouldn’t have known the cause of Mohbad’s death and should remain silent. The visibly angry mother pointed her finger at Fabiyi…

Former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro has narrated how a non-existent court order prevented him from contesting in the just concluded Ohanaeze Ndigbo election in Enugu. Mike Okiro an aspirant for the post of President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt explained that the false court order was said to have been issued at the Enugu High Court. He said the non-existent court order peddled in some sections of the media was what the Election Screening Committee relied on to bar him from screening and subsequent non-participation. According to the former IGP ” In the evening…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission said it has arraigned the Director of Administration and Supplies at the National Boundary Commission, Aishatu Abdullahi and the Assistant Chief Accountant, Ghaji Rahila, over allegations of forgery and abuse of office. In a five-count charge, ICPC accused the defendants of conspiring to allow the first defendant, Ghaji Rahila, to participate in the senior promotion exercise and secure her confirmation to the rank of Chief Accountant (Level 14) at the National Boundary Commission, while simultaneously being employed by Galaxy Backbone Limited. A statement on Wednesday by the ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare,…

The bodies of 60 illegal miners have been removed over two days from a disused gold shaft in South Africa, police said Wednesday. “On day two of operations, a total of 106 alive illegal miners were retrieved and arrested for illegal mining. Fifty-one were certified dead,” police said in a statement. Nine bodies had been removed the previous day. AFP

The Nigerian Senate has written an emotional tribute in remembrance of soldiers killed in the line of duty as the world marks the Armed Forces Remembrance Day on the 15th of January. A statement signed by the Chairman Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua on Wednesday, described the military’s sacrifices for the defense of the country as selfless. He wrote “On behalf of the Senate Committee on Nigerian Army, I wish to pay tribute to our fallen heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our great nation. “I wish to also commend our serving officers and…

In a clear message of zero tolerance for cash flow disruptions, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has sanctioned Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) for failing to make Naira notes available through automated teller machines (ATMs), during the yuletide season. Each bank was fined ₦150 million for non-compliance, in line with the CBN’s cash distribution guidelines, following spot checks on their branches. The enforcement action follows repeated warnings from the CBN to financial institutions to guarantee seamless cash availability, particularly during periods of high demand. The affected banks include Fidelity Bank Plc, First Bank Plc, Keystone Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc,…