Author: Festus Adeloye

The Oyo State Government has officially withdrawn criminal charges against Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife; Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, owner of Agidigbo FM; and Abdullahi Fasasi, principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan. These individuals were initially charged following the tragic stampede that occurred in December 2024 during a children’s festive party, which claimed the lives of at least 35 children. Following the court proceedings on Thursday, a video emerged showing the defendants visibly relieved, exchanging pleasantries, and smiling—an indication of their elation at being released from the charges. The State’s Attorney General, Abiodun Aikomo, confirmed…

The House of Representatives has approved the request of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a state of emergency in Rivers State with an amendment.  The House resolved while the emergency lasted; it can be reviewed at any time without necessarily waiting for the six months prescribed in the proclamation. Minority Whip of the House, Ali Isa JC, moved the amendment to the request that when there are signs of resolution of the crisis, the President should review the emergency rule in the State. A total of 243 lawmakers attended the plenary session where the resolution was passed on Thursday.

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State. In a Wednesday statement, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) chieftain said the reasons adduced for the suspension do not hold water. El-Rufai’s statement comes following the president’s Tuesday declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of Fubara, deputy governor Ngozi Odu and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. El-Rufai said, “There are things that are so clearly wrong that the justifications summoned in their defence fall flat. “The decision of Mr. President to…

The FCT Fire Service (FFS) has revealed that a brake failure by a truck conveying Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) canisters led to Wednesday’s Abuja-Keffi expressway explosions. The FFS Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Mohammad, confirmed this in an interview with the Newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja. Mohammad said that the truck which was headed towards the Nyanya axis from AYA, lost control and in the process rammed into several vehicles along the route. “And as a result of the impact on the vehicles and the impact of its own CNG-loaded containers, they started flying out of the truck and anywhere it…

A Federal Government’s visitation panel on prisons has said the conditions of the correctional centres and their inmates are appalling and unbearable. The panel, headed by a former Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Olawale Fapohunda (SAN), found that most inmates are languishing in prisons due to lack of legal representation and the inability of the Legal Aid Council (LAC) to cope with the huge number of cases it is handling. The findings are contained in the report the panel submitted yesterday in Abuja to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). Fapohunda…

Former presidential spokesperson Doyin Okupe will be laid to rest in his hometown, Iperu-Remo, Ogun State, on March 28, 2025. According to an official announcement, his burial rites will commence on Saturday, March 22, with a commendation service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David, Abuja. On Thursday, March 27, a Service of Songs and a Day of Tributes will take place at Trinity House, Water Corporation Drive, Victoria Island, Lagos, at 11 a.m. Later that day, a wake will be held at Agbonmagbe Castle, Sagamu-Iperu Road, Ogun State, at 4 p.m. Okupe’s lying-in-state is scheduled for…

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has made clarification on its withdrawal of the land title of the Peoples Democratic Party’s secretariat located at Abuja central area, stating that the PDP owes it over N7 million for non-payment of ground rent from 2006 till date. The FCTA Director of Lands, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, made the disclosure while briefing journalists shortly after the administration’s executive council meeting chaired by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday. Nwankwoeze futher stated that while the PDP headquarters at Wadata Plaza does not belong to the political party, the owner of the property also owes the administration…

The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria have strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as an attack on democracy. In a joint statement on Wednesday, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo, faulted the move as “hasty and unconstitutional,” arguing that it violated Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution. The statement read, “This reckless move should deeply concern every governor and citizen who believes in the rule of law. “No democratic society can thrive where elected leaders are arbitrarily removed at the whims…

President Bola Tinubu has sworn- in the sole administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.), into office. Tinubu swore Ibas into office at about 03:00 pm at the State House, Abuja. The brief ceremony was witnessed by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the Principal Secretary to the President, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola. Ibas arrived at the Presidential Villa at about 12:48 pm (local time). READ ALSO: Rivers Sole Administrator Ibok-ete Ibas Arrives State House On Tuesday night, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State,…

The House of Representatives on Wednesday ended plenary without any mention of the state of emergency in Rivers State. President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the protracted political crisis in the oil rich South-South state. Many expected the emergency rule declaration to be part of deliberations at the green chamber on Wednesday, but the lawmakers ended plenary without raising the issue. READ ALSO: Senate Delays Approval Of Rivers State Of Emergency Motion Until 3 PM Before start of plenary on the day, however, two female members of the House engaged in a heated…