Author: Festus Adeloye

Eight members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday announced their defection from their political parties to new ones. Six lawmakers from Delta State formally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), while two lawmakers from Enugu State left the Labour Party (LP) to join the PDP. Their defection letters were read on the floor of the House during the resumption of plenary. Leading the defectors from Delta State was Nicholas Mutu (Bomadi), the longest-serving member of the House and Leader of the Southern regional caucus. Mutu has represented his constituency under the PDP platform…

President of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has once again raised the alarm over the relentless opposition faced by his $20 billion oil refinery project in Lekki, Lagos and has blamed a powerful cartel entrenched in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Speaking at an investor forum in Lagos, Dangote said the cabal, comprising individuals who have profited immensely from Nigeria’s long-standing fuel subsidy regime, continues to wage a calculated campaign to frustrate the operations of the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery. “For a very, very long time, those that have made a lot of money from government-subsidised oil imports into…

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has officially completed his transfer to Real Madrid, bringing an end to his long-standing association with the Premier League club. This was disclosed in a post by veteran sports journalist, Fabrizo Romano on his official X page. He said, “Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, here we go!” Announcing his departure, the 26-year old defender said on social media, “This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life,” The England international rose through the ranks of Liverpool’s academy, making 352 appearances for the first team. During his time at Anfield, he won two Premier League titles…

Nigerians are not worse off today than they were in 1960, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga argued yesterday. He said there was no basis to compare todays Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to what it was at Independence 65 years ago. Onanuga was responding to a report ascribed to the President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, in which he claimed that Nigeria’s GDP per capita in 1960 was $1847 as against $824 today. According to the Onanuga, the country’s GDP was $4.2 billion in 1960 and per capita income for a population of 44.9…

Former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori on Sunday felicitated his daughter, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu on her 45th birthday. Erhiatake, a House of Representatives member who represents Ethiope Federal Constituency in the National Assembly was born on May 4 1980. In a statement he personally signed, Ibori described Erhiatake as a fearless and principled leader who has been walking in his footsteps politically. He further said without Erhiatake his political enemies who are working to assault his legacy would have succeeded. He wrote “Today 45 years ago, God almighty gave you to the family. I celebrate you with immense…

Paris Saint-Germain has suffered a big setback ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg match against Arsenal. This comes after the French Ligue 1 winners stated on Friday that their star attacker, Ousmane Dembele, suffered a hamstring injury during Tuesday’s Champions League victory against Arsenal. “Ousmane Dembele has strained his right hamstring,” a statement on PSG’s official website read. “His condition is progressing well. A further assessment will be carried out shortly.” PSG already have one foot in the Champions League final after emerging from the first leg with a narrow 1-0 victory against the Premier League North…

Prince Harry has lost a long-running legal battle challenging the United Kingdom’s government’s decision to downgrade the level of taxpayer-funded security he receives when visiting the country, a move that allows authorities to proceed with a more limited, “bespoke” arrangement for the Duke and his family. The Court of Appeal upheld an earlier High Court ruling that found the decision by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) which stripped Harry of automatic police protection following his 2020 departure from royal duties was lawful. Harry’s legal team had argued that the decision left the Duke,…

Justice Serifat Sonaike of the Lagos State High Court, sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) on Friday, convicted and sentenced Andrew Nice Ominikoron, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, to death by hanging for the murder of one of his passengers, Oluwabamise Ayanwole. The trial Judge gave the judgment on Friday. In March 2022, Ominikoron, 47, was charged by the Lagos State Government with four charges of suspected rape, conspiracy sexual assault, and murder. According to the charge, the murder occurred on February 26, 2022, about 7 p.m., along the Lekki-Ajah Conservation Motorway in Lagos. The prosecution said that Ominikoron…

Barring last-minute change of plans, Nigeria will host the International Qur’anic Recitation competition in August this year. The event, which will feature participants from about 20 countries, is spearheaded by a former member representing Bassa/Jos North federal constituency of Plateau State, Muhammad Adam Alkali A statement made available to journalists on Thursday said the event will kick off in Jos, Plateau State capital, with the finale slated to hold in Abuja. At a preparatory meeting, Alkali expressed his gratitude to the Centre for Islamic Studies, Usman Danfodio University Sokoto (UDUS) for what he described as robust support. He articulated the…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam. The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin. Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME. “We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious…