Author: Festus Adeloye

House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas has withdrawn an electoral reform Bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act to provide for a minimum of six years imprisonment against citizens who refuse to vote during general elections. The Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdillahi Krishi, announced in a statement that the Bill was withdrawn following extensive consultations with stakeholders. The Bill, which Abbas co-sponsored with Daniel Asama Ago, passed the second reading on May 20 and has attracted public outcry from across the country. The statement said: “From the outset, the Bill was introduced with the best…

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has strongly condemned what it described as an unwarranted and embarrassing invasion of its offices in Abuja on Monday by officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over an alleged ground rent default. Shortly after sealing its premises, the FIRS Chairman, Dr Zach Adedeji, went to the presidential Villa to meet with President Bola Tinubu. Details of their encounter were not disclosed at press time. However, earlier at a press conference held at the FIRS headquarters in Abuja, senior officials of the agency, including the Director of Facility Management, Mr. Tyofa Abeghe; Special Adviser…

Tobi Amusan won the women’s 100-meter hurdles race at the Diamond League meet in Rabat, Morocco. The 28-year-old ran a season-best 12.24 seconds to finish ahead of the pack and create a new meeting record, smashing McNeal Brianna’s previous performance of 12.51 seconds. The win marks Amusan’s first big victory of the 2025 season. She began her campaign in May by finishing fourth at both the Xiamen and Shanghai Diamond League meets. In March, she won the Velocity Fest 16 in Jamaica, despite competing against an inferior hurdler field. The latest victory opens a clean chapter for Amusan, following the…

Nollywood actor Godwin Nnadiekwe has been hospitalised with internal bleeding following an unexpected kick to his chest by fellow actor Zubby Michael on set. Nnadiekwe’s management released an official statement on Saturday evening announcing that the actor was admitted to the hospital after the unintended incident. “We regret to inform you that Actor Godwin Nnadiekwe was rushed to the hospital this evening. He is undergoing treatment for internal bleeding following an incident involving a kick on the chest during filming with his colleague Zubby Michael. “We are committed to providing the best possible care and will ensure timely updates are…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji and his Lagos State counterpart, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Saturday hailed the Chairman, Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Lagos State, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, as a true democrat and a nation builder who deserved to be celebrated. The President and the two governors gave the commendation in Ado- Ekiti during Prince Olusi’s installation as Atobatele of Ado-Ekiti by HRM Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, at the Ewi’s palace, Ado- Ekiti. Speaking at the colourful ceremony, President Tinubu, who was represented by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, described Prince Olusi as a “true democrat”…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the release of the results of the recently conducted 2025 UTME re-sit examination for candidates at centres impacted by the unfortunate incident. In a statement on Sunday, JAMB spokesman Dr Fabian Benjamin noted that of the 336,845 candidates who were eventually scheduled, after isolated good sessions of the affected centres were excluded and their previously unverified candidates were added, 21,082 were absent. Despite the ongoing enquiries, performance analysis remains consistent (between 11% in 2013 and 34% in 2016) with results from the past twelve years. JAMB asked candidates who participated in…

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, has confirmed his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election under the LP, describing it as possibly his final bid for Nigeria’s presidency. In a video message shared on LP WhatsApp platforms, Obi addressed young supporters, reaffirming his commitment to the party amid speculation about an opposition coalition involving figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, potentially on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform. “I will still continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party,” Obi stated, dispelling…

Arsenal have won the Women’s Champions League for the second time, beating Barcelona 1-0 in the final in Lisbon. Substitute Stina Blackstenius scored the game’s only goal in the 75th minute after a brilliant pass from England’s Beth Mead. Defending champions Barcelona had dominated the game up to that point, both in possession and shots on goal. Arsenal had nearly taken the lead in the 21st minute of the game, when Barcelona’s Irene Paredes turned Frida Maanum’s cross into her net. But the midfielder had gone slightly too early, and VAR ruled for offside. The score remained 0-0 until the…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), yesterday, announced that the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) will undergo a planned maintenance shutdown. The refinery was brought back on stream in December 2024 after five years of being inactive. A statement by NNPC Ltd’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, said the scheduled maintenance and sustainability assessment will commence on May 24, 2025. “We are working closely with all relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to ensure the maintenance and assessment activities are carried out efficiently and transparently. “NNPC Ltd remains steadfast in its…

The federal government has disclosed its intention to sell the 753 housing units confiscated from former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to Nigerians. The announcement was made in a statement by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, when the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, inspected the ceased housing estate. Dangiwa revealed that the ministry would immediately commence its technical assessments by conducting integrity tests on the buildings. After evaluation, the houses would be completed and made available for sale to Nigerians through the Renewed Hope Portal, which is already operational. Dangiwa also harped…