Author: Festus Adeloye

Oscar-winning US actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In a career that spanned more than six decades, he received two Academy Awards, two Baftas, four Golden Globes and a Screen Actors Guild Award. A statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff in New Mexico said: “We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail. “This is an active investigation – however, at this time we do not believe that foul play was a factor.”…

Former Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has said the palace coup staged by the late General Sani Abacha which ended the Interim National Government headed by the late Ernest Shonekan did not come to him as a surprise. Speaking in an interview with Trust TV, IBB who launched his autobiography titled ‘A Journey In Service’ last week said even though he had left the military, he was aware of happenings within the corridors of power When asked the question ‘Did the Abacha Coup Surprise You? IBB replied ‘No, it never did. I knew it (coup) will come because even…

A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has upheld the expulsion of the National Vice Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) South-East, Chief Ali Odefa, from the party. Odefa was suspended by the party’s executive committee in his Oguduokwor Ward, Onicha Local Government Area, on October 4, 2024, over alleged anti-party activities. However, he dismissed the suspension as ineffective and continued functioning as PDP’s South-East leader. In response, the ward’s executive committee expelled him after he reportedly failed to appear before a disciplinary panel. The committee then sought judicial affirmation of his expulsion. Delivering judgment on Wednesday…

Iran on Wednesday condemned a new round of US sanctions as a “clear sign of hostility” after Washington blacklisted more than 30 people and vessels linked to its oil trade. Washington announced the measures on Monday, targeting the head of the national oil company and others accused of brokering oil sales. It was the second wave of sanctions in less than a month since US President Donald Trump reinstated his “maximum pressure” policy on Tehran. The sanctions were a “clear sign of the hostility of American policymakers towards the welfare, development, and happiness of the great people of Iran”, said…

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has dismissed the suspension of Senator Kawu Sumaila (NNPP-Kano) and three federal lawmakers as null and void, insisting that the move lacks legitimacy. On Monday, the Kano State chapter of the NNPP suspended Senator Sumaila, who represents Kano South District, along with three members of the House of Representatives—Rep. Ali Gini, Rep. Sani Rogo, and Rep. Kabiru Rurum. The party’s Kano chairman, Hashimu Dungurawa, told journalists that the four lawmakers were suspended for alleged anti-party activities. However, in a swift response on Tuesday, NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Oginni Olaposi, dismissed the action as baseless and politically motivated. “The purported suspension was…

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has summoned MultiChoice Nigeria, the operator of DStv and GOtv, to explain its planned subscription price increase, set to take effect on March 1, 2025. In a statement on Tuesday, FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, said the regulator had ordered MultiChoice’s Chief Executive Officer to appear at its headquarters on February 27 for an investigative hearing. The summons comes after the pay-TV announced on Monday a 21 per cent increase in the subscription fee for its DStv Compact package, raising the price from N15,700 to N19,000 among other adjustments in price.…

An All Progressives Congress chieftain, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called on the Federal Government to release monthly allocations to the court-reinstated APC-elected local government chairmen in Osun State. Oyintiloye made this appeal in a statement issued on Tuesday after addressing newsmen in Osogbo, the state capital. While making the appeal, he insisted that the state government would, at the appropriate time, be held accountable for the funds spent on the recently conducted local government election, noting that it is a waste of taxpayers’ money. “I want to appeal to the Federal Government to start releasing the monthly allocation to the APC-reinstated…

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on his assumption of office, charging him to prioritise the interests of Ondo people. Aiyedatiwa, who succeeded former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, was sworn in on Monday in Akure, the Ondo State capital. Tinubu in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga asked the governor to build upon the legacy of his predecessor. “I congratulate you on your successful inauguration today for a new term of office after an outstanding run in the last governorship election in Ondo State. “You have the rare privilege to succeed your illustrious predecessor, who worked…

Popular Nigerian hip-hop and Afrobeats artist, Tochukwu Gbubemi Ojogwu, known professionally as Odumodublvck, has survived a terrifying car accident after his luxury vehicle was crushed by a trailer on a highway. The rapper confirmed the incident through a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday morning, where he shared shocking images of his wrecked car and a photo of himself in a hospital bed receiving medical attention. Despite the severity of the accident, Odumodublvck maintained his characteristic confidence and resilience in his posts. He wrote: “THE MACHINE MUST ARRIVE IN 1 PIECE. IT IS A MUST. THE MACHINE…

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated that it is incorrect for Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to label former military President Ibrahim Babangida as Tinubu’s tormentor. During the public presentation of Babangida’s autobiography, “A Journey in Service”, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja last week, Osinbajo who was the book reviewer, recalled how Tinubu, then a senator, resisted the dissolution of the senate by the military government, following the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. He jocularly said that Tinubu who was then tormented by the military including Babangida…