Author: Festus Adeloye

There has been tension in Bori, the traditional headquarters of Ogoni land on Saturday, as a planned congress to begin talks on the planned oil exploration resumption in the area ended abruptly. Recall that President Bola Tinubu at a meeting with some Ogoni leaders in Abuja over a fortnight ago had urged them to return home to get the input of their people on the planned oil resumption in the area and come back to him. The meeting scheduled to be held at the Peace and Freedom Centre in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State saw an unexpected…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Saturday, has said it has secured the conviction of a medical doctor, Dr Geraldine Orok, for N127m fraud. A statement by the anti-graft agency, on its X handle on Saturday, said a Federal High Court, sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, presided over by Justice Rosemary Oghogho-rie convicted and sentenced Ita to seven years imprisonment. Ita was prosecuted by the Uyo Directorate of the EFCC on a 12-count charge, bordering on forgery and diversion of funds to the tune of N127m. One of the charges reads: “That you, Dr Geraldine Orok Ita…

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, founder of Christ Embassy, has broken silence on why several gospel musicians left his church.  According to Oyakhilome, the musicians had become too focused on worldly gain and fame, rather than serving God. Oyakhilome claimed that the church had lost its way, with music becoming too worldly and self-centered. He stated that the musicians would lead praise and worship but would leave during prayer sessions. He also alleged that they charged for their services and became more interested in making money than serving God. Oyakhilome said that he initially celebrated the musicians, but when he realised the direction they…

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on Friday, said the government would engage stakeholders over the proposed 12-year basic education model. Alausa made this known during a press briefing in Abuja. Alausa had during the Extraordinary National Council on Education Meeting in Abuja on Thursday, presented a proposal that aims to transition to 12 years of compulsory education within the existing 6-3-3 system. However, he said at the briefing that the proposal was for discussion, and not an immediate policy shift. A major feature of the proposal, according to Alausa, was the removal of the examination barrier between JSS…

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former Governor Babatunde Fashola, and the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, on Friday, honored the late Akinsanya Ajose, a former Lagos State Head of Service. Ajose, a native of Badagry Local Government Area and a former member of the Governance Advisory Council, passed away on January 16, 2025, at the age of 78. The funeral service, held at the LTV 8 Ground, Blue Roof Pavilion in Agidingbi, Ikeja, was attended by several dignitaries, including the governor’s wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; the wife of the Deputy Governor, Oluremi Hamzat; and the…

A Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kogi State, Adam Imam Yusuf, has been arrested over the alleged diversion of more than ₦3 billion. Yusuf was arrested by officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). ICPC disclosed this in a statement on its website, without indicating when he was nabbed. “Yusuf, who was at large until now, was taken into custody from his Gwagwalada, Abuja residence and is set to face prosecution,” the statement read. He was accused of conniving with a Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has claimed that Nigeria is experiencing a rise in reverse medical tourism, with patients from the United States and other countries seeking kidney transplants in the country due to affordability and high-quality medical expertise. Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Nigerian Association of Nephrology at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, ahead of the association’s 37th Scientific Conference, Shettima cited the growing reputation of Nigerian hospitals in providing world-class kidney care. “There is reverse medical tourism these days fundamentally because of the level of care at some of our hospitals,” he said. “Recently, 13 patients from the…

The presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 polls, Peter Obi, on Friday called for greater transparency and accountability as a result of the recent increase in the Budget of Restoration to ₦54 trillion due to reported revenue growth. Obi made the call in a statement on X, noting that while the sources of revenue were detailed, there was no corresponding breakdown of expenditures to justify the budget increase. The LP chieftain stressed the need for Nigerians to be informed on how public funds are allocated and spent. “For transparency and accountability sake, Nigerians need to know how the…

The Federal Executive Council has approved the concession of the Kashimbila Integrated Cargo/Agro-Allied Airport in Taraba state under a Public Private Partnership arrangement. Approved under the regulatory guidance of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, the project cuts across agriculture, water resources, and aviation sectors. A statement issued on Friday by the Acting Head of Media and Publicity, Ifeanyi Nwoko, said the project features the upgrade of an airstrip in Kashimbilla to a Cargo/Agro-Allied Airport. It also has a combination of over 3,000 hectares of farmland, fish farming facilities and a ranch for livestock farming. Giving insights into the project, the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Thursday, arraigned nine Chinese nationals and a company, Genting International Co. Ltd., over allegations of cyber terrorism and internet fraud. The defendants, who were arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The defendants were Su Dong Fu, Zheng Xian Tao, Wang Shi Long, Pan Cai Qi, Ting Liao, Fan Jia, Feng Li Cani, Lu Yong Yao and Yang Chen Cheng. According to the EFCC, the accused are members of the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on…