Author: Festus Adeloye

The Joint Committee of the House of Representatives carrying out a forensic investigation into the challenges affecting the downstream and midstream petroleum sectors has commenced a probe into allegations of importation of contaminated Premium Motor Spirit, also known as fuel, into the country. The committee’s Chairman, Ikenga Ugochinyere disclosed this at the formal inauguration of the panel in Abuja on Monday. The investigative panel will also look into allegations of the non-availability of crude oil to domestic refineries, disruption in distribution and favouritism in the pro forma invoice regime, among others. Briefing newsmen at the event, Ugochinyere said, “The committee…

A former INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini, has said the former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, Colonel David Imuse (retd.), is deploying tricks to frustrate the ongoing libel he instituted against him. Igini dragged Imuse before the Edo State High Court over alleged libellous publications authored against him during the 2020 governorship election in the state and demanded N5 billion in damages. Speaking in Benin on Monday, Igini expressed displeasure over the long period the case had dragged on, adding that, counsel to the 1st defendant (Imuse) was deliberately using antics…

A gunman opened fire in a nursing home in Croatia on Monday, killing at least five people, according to officials and state media, in a rare instance of gun violence in the Balkan country. State broadcaster HRT said an unidentified gunman entered a nursing home in Daruvar — some 130 kilometres (80 miles) east of Zagreb — and began shooting. At least five were killed and several others wounded during the incident, HRT said. Police said they were informed of the incident at 10:10 am local time (0810 GMT), and confirmed the suspect had entered the nursing home and used a…

Israeli athletes are welcome at the Paris Olympics, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said Monday, after a hard-left member of the French parliament sparked outrage by urging them to stay away. “The Israeli delegation is welcome in France,” Sejourne said in Brussels ahead of talks with his Israeli counterpart, adding that the call by France Unbowed (LFI) lawmaker Thomas Portes for the country’s exclusion had been “irresponsible and dangerous”. “We will ensure the security of the delegation,” Sejourne added. Portes drew ire from French Jewish groups and both political opponents and allies for saying Israeli athletes were “not welcome” and…

Ex-Real Madrid and Bayern Munich player James Rodriguez is set to become a free agent by mutually terminating his contract with São Paulo. This move comes on the heels of an impressive Copa América performance, where the Colombian star demonstrated that his competitive fire is still very much alive. Rodriguez’s standout performances in the tournament helped Colombia secure a second-place finish, and he set a new Copa America record with six assists, earning him the award for the best player of the tournament. After shining with Colombia, Rodriguez appears ready to try his luck once more in European football. Journalist…

The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, has issued a 24-hour abatement notice to the executives of the Alamutu Plantain Market in the Idi-Oro area of Mushin, due to poor sanitary conditions and indiscriminate waste disposal. This notice followed an inspection on Sunday, led by Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment and Water Resources, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu. The inspection is part of the ongoing weekly environmental sensitization, enlightenment, and cleaning exercise. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu initiated the monthly environmental sanitation awareness and sensitization program on Lagos Island last weekend, with plans to replicate it…

The House of Representatives has expressed readiness to investigate allegations that products being produced at the Dangote Refinery are inferior to imported ones, and will also test the refinery’s products as part of its investigation. This was revealed by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, during a visit to the Dangote Refinery on Saturday. A statement later sent in by the Dangote Group’s media team on Sunday, said the speaker had expressed concern over the controversy surrounding the quality of imported refined products into Nigeria, and stated that the Green Chamber would establish a committee to…

A Max Air aircraft carrying 119 passengers and six crew members experienced a serious issue when its rear gear tyres burst. The first set of tyres burst during takeoff, and while attempting to taxi off the runway, the remaining two tyres also burst, leaving the aircraft disabled. This information was shared in a statement by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Bimbo Oladeji, at 11:22 pm on Sunday. Despite the tyre bursts, no injuries or fatalities were reported. The statement read: “This evening, Max Air’s flight NGL1649, a Boeing 737 with…

Joe Biden was “not fit to run” and “is certainly not fit to serve” as president, his Republican rival Donald Trump said Sunday, after the US leader said he was dropping out of the White House race. “Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve — And never was! … We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump posted on his Truth Social network shortly after Biden’s announcement.

A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd) has described his time in office as a “very difficult period”. According to him, Boko Haram terrorists were on a rampage, making it a volatile, uncertain, and complex period. Buratai who was the COAS between July 2015 and January 2021 also said there was opposition and mischief within the sociopolitical and geographical environment in the North East when he became the Army Chief. A statement on Sunday by his Media Assistant, Ibrahim Danfulani, said Bruatai stated this while appreciating members of the 29th Regular Combatant Course of the Nigerian…