Author: Festus Adeloye

Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter trial over the fatal 2021 shooting on the set of a Western movie begins Tuesday, with the selection of a jury who must decide if a “Rust” crew member’s death was his fault. The Hollywood A-lister was pointing a prop gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a scene rehearsal when it fired a live round, killing her and wounding the movie’s director. Baldwin, 66, says he did not know the gun was loaded and did not pull the trigger. Prosecutors say he acted recklessly on set and has repeatedly changed his story since the tragic events of…

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday in Abuja asked the National Assembly to work with the tripartite committee on the new minimum wage to establish mechanisms for regular and systematic review of wage levels to ensure they keep pace with inflation and cost of living. President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, made the call in a goodwill message delivered at the national retreat on “Labour reforms and the quest for a living wage in Nigeria: A focus on legislative interventions”, organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, in Abuja. Ajaero urged the lawmakers to “review and update…

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State on Monday said he’s not an ungrateful or bad person, despite claims against him in certain quarters. Fubara said he appreciates all those who have been instrumental to him, adding that gratitude has compelled him not to throw caution to the wind in handling the current political crisis bedevilling the state. He spoke while hosting stakeholders of Ikwerre ethnic nationality at the state’s Government House in Port Harcourt. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara said it would have been difficult for him to hide it if he were ungrateful.…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a notice of appeal to challenge the ruling of Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court which acquitted Abiodun Agbele, an associate of the former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, and three others, in the ₦1.2bn money laundering charge brought against them by the commission. Agbele and 3 companies linked to him and Fayose, namely Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, De Privateer Limited, and Spotless Investment Limited were listed as the first to fourth respondents in the appeal. The ₦1.2bn is said to be part of the sum of ₦4.7 billion belonging…

The Chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, Dr. Joseph Aremo, on Monday, announced that the local government election in the state has been postponed indefinitely. Prior to the latest postponement, the commission had earlier scheduled to hold the council poll on Saturday, July 13, 2024. The chairman, who announced the development while addressing stakeholders from various political parties in the state, said the decision was based on the fact that no single political party complied with the guidelines of the proposed election despite all guidelines for the election being issued on time. He said, “Ours is to conduct…

Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Ondo state, crisis is brewing in the People’s Democratic Party over the Constitution of campaign council for the governorship candidate, Hon Agboola Ajayi. The state chapter of the party has swiftly disowned the campaign council announced by the governorship candidate. A statement by the spokesperson for the governorship candidate, Sam Ogunmusi, announced the appointment of Dr Eddy Olafeso, as the Chairman of its Campaign Council. Ogunmusi in the statement issued in Akure, said that other appointments, include Clement Faboyede, Director General (DG)Campaign Council , Barr. John Ola Mafo, Director General (Special Duties)…

The Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal, on Monday, dismissed two appeals filed by former elected local government chairmen in Rivers State, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, seeking the elongation of their tenure in office. This is as two factions of the Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, held separate sittings at different locations in Port Harcourt, with pro-Wike lawmakers giving a seven-day ultimatum to the governor to represent the State’s 2024 budget proposal for consideration. The Appellate Court, during…

A fresh court order surfaced on Monday, July 8, restraining the Chief Judge of Rivers State and the Clerk, of Rivers State House of Assembly from having any dealing with the 27 lawmakers led by Martins Amaewhule. The ex-parte order for interim injunction dated July 8 was issued by the High Court of Rivers State presided over by Justice D. Jumbo Stephens. It originated from suit No PHC/2177/CS/2024 filed by the Attorney-General of Rivers State and the state Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara. It listed the first set of defendants as Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers and Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo,…

A military court in DR Congo’s volatile east sentenced 22 soldiers to death on Monday for “fleeing the enemy” during fighting with M23 rebels, a lawyer told AFP. Sixteen soldiers were handed death sentences in one case in the North Kivu province, and six others in a separate case, just days after 25 soldiers received a similar judgement. The latest sentences were handed down as M23 rebels, which Kinshasha accuses Rwanda of backing, last week seized new terrain on the northern front of the conflict that has been ongoing for two-and-a-half years in the North Kivu province. A military court…

The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, has confirmed Emmanuel Frank-Fubara as a commissioner nominee. The confirmation came after the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, requested the Assembly to screen and ratify the nominee. At the plenary session on Monday, the Speaker read the governor’s correspondence, leading to Frank-Fubara’s confirmation. The Assembly scrutinised the nominee’s credentials and qualifications before ultimately approving his appointment. During his screening, Frank-Fubara affirmed that his experience serving on various committees in the state has equipped him to excel in any portfolio assigned to him. He pledged to perform his duties with utmost dedication…