Author: Festus Adeloye

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu on Monday assured Nigerians of the Federal government’s resolve to utilise the proposed N6.2 trillion additional budgetary expenditure aimed at stimulating the economy through the implementation of various infrastructural projects including road, rail, water, irrigation and dam projects in the 2024 fiscal year. Bagudu disclosed this while addressing the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation chaired by Hon. Abubakar Bichi. Responding to the inquiries, the Minister noted that various efforts are being made to address issues bothering on security of lives across the country. According to him, some of the…

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Monday, declined to nullify the primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the impending governorship election in Edo State. The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-man panel of Justice, dismissed an appeal that was filed by the embattled Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, who was earlier impeached from office but recently reinstated by the court. While dismissing the appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CV/642/2024, for want of merit, the Justice, A. M Lamido-led panel said it found no reason to set aside…

Former Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton has been charged with sending malicious online communications. The charge is believed to relate to comments Barton made while criticising football pundit Eni Aluko during her commentary on an FA Cup match broadcast by the BBC in January. Barton will appear before Warrington Magistrates’ Court next week after the Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charge. “A man from Widnes has been summoned to court to face charges of malicious communications,” a Cheshire Police statement said on Monday. “Following an investigation by Cheshire Police, the Crown Prosecution Service has since authorised the charges…

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…