Author: Festus Adeloye

Iran on Wednesday condemned a new round of US sanctions as a “clear sign of hostility” after Washington blacklisted more than 30 people and vessels linked to its oil trade. Washington announced the measures on Monday, targeting the head of the national oil company and others accused of brokering oil sales. It was the second wave of sanctions in less than a month since US President Donald Trump reinstated his “maximum pressure” policy on Tehran. The sanctions were a “clear sign of the hostility of American policymakers towards the welfare, development, and happiness of the great people of Iran”, said…

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has dismissed the suspension of Senator Kawu Sumaila (NNPP-Kano) and three federal lawmakers as null and void, insisting that the move lacks legitimacy. On Monday, the Kano State chapter of the NNPP suspended Senator Sumaila, who represents Kano South District, along with three members of the House of Representatives—Rep. Ali Gini, Rep. Sani Rogo, and Rep. Kabiru Rurum. The party’s Kano chairman, Hashimu Dungurawa, told journalists that the four lawmakers were suspended for alleged anti-party activities. However, in a swift response on Tuesday, NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Oginni Olaposi, dismissed the action as baseless and politically motivated. “The purported suspension was…

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has summoned MultiChoice Nigeria, the operator of DStv and GOtv, to explain its planned subscription price increase, set to take effect on March 1, 2025. In a statement on Tuesday, FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, said the regulator had ordered MultiChoice’s Chief Executive Officer to appear at its headquarters on February 27 for an investigative hearing. The summons comes after the pay-TV announced on Monday a 21 per cent increase in the subscription fee for its DStv Compact package, raising the price from N15,700 to N19,000 among other adjustments in price.…

An All Progressives Congress chieftain, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called on the Federal Government to release monthly allocations to the court-reinstated APC-elected local government chairmen in Osun State. Oyintiloye made this appeal in a statement issued on Tuesday after addressing newsmen in Osogbo, the state capital. While making the appeal, he insisted that the state government would, at the appropriate time, be held accountable for the funds spent on the recently conducted local government election, noting that it is a waste of taxpayers’ money. “I want to appeal to the Federal Government to start releasing the monthly allocation to the APC-reinstated…

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on his assumption of office, charging him to prioritise the interests of Ondo people. Aiyedatiwa, who succeeded former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, was sworn in on Monday in Akure, the Ondo State capital. Tinubu in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga asked the governor to build upon the legacy of his predecessor. “I congratulate you on your successful inauguration today for a new term of office after an outstanding run in the last governorship election in Ondo State. “You have the rare privilege to succeed your illustrious predecessor, who worked…

Popular Nigerian hip-hop and Afrobeats artist, Tochukwu Gbubemi Ojogwu, known professionally as Odumodublvck, has survived a terrifying car accident after his luxury vehicle was crushed by a trailer on a highway. The rapper confirmed the incident through a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday morning, where he shared shocking images of his wrecked car and a photo of himself in a hospital bed receiving medical attention. Despite the severity of the accident, Odumodublvck maintained his characteristic confidence and resilience in his posts. He wrote: “THE MACHINE MUST ARRIVE IN 1 PIECE. IT IS A MUST. THE MACHINE…

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated that it is incorrect for Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to label former military President Ibrahim Babangida as Tinubu’s tormentor. During the public presentation of Babangida’s autobiography, “A Journey in Service”, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja last week, Osinbajo who was the book reviewer, recalled how Tinubu, then a senator, resisted the dissolution of the senate by the military government, following the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. He jocularly said that Tinubu who was then tormented by the military including Babangida…

President Bola Tinubu on Monday felicitated with Dr Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication, on his 50th birthday. “President Tinubu lauds Bwala’s articulation of government policies to ensure the public understands the administration’s agenda,” Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesman, said in a statement. The president also commended Bwala for leveraging his expertise as a lawyer, political analyst and public affairs commentator in performing his duties with clarity and insight. “On this milestone birthday, I join family, friends, and colleagues in celebrating Bwala, whose insights on government policies and programmes continue strengthening the administration’s outreach efforts”. “May the years…

 Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, Taiwo Oyedele has urged state governments to target the wealthiest 10 per cent of the Nigerian population to widen their tax nets. He decried the focus by the state government on the poor majority for tax implementation instead of the high net-worth Nigerians. Speaking with reporters in Abuja at the weekend, Oyedele said: “Virtually, every state in Nigeria is chasing the bottom 90 percent to collect taxes. They are allowing the top 10 percent to have a field day.” He insisted that the issue of poor tax administration in the…

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda has finally agreed to step down from her position. A ranking lawmaker in the Assembly confirmed the development to TheScrutiny on Monday morning. According to him, Hon. Setonji David who represents Badagry Constituency 2 is expected to take over as the Speaker of the House. “It is true. She (Meranda) has agreed to step down. Setonji will be in charge for now” the lawmaker said in a terse text message to our correspondent. There has been mounting pressures on Meranda, who took over as Speaker following the removal of Mudashiru…