Author: Festus Adeloye

Operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) of the Nigerian police are currently interrogating the Lead Pastor of Harvesters International Christian Center (HICC), Bolaji Idowu, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Pastor Idowu, also known for hosting the “Next-Level Prayer Conference,” was arrested by the police and is under investigation for alleged involvement in real estate fraud and money laundering. “Pastor Bolaji Idowu, has been arrested by the police, and he is being grilled in Abuja over real estate fraud and money laundering,” a top police source revealed. “He is at the FCID Abuja as we speak,” another source…

The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has announced the suspension of its ongoing strike over the non-payment of the N72,000 minimum wage to workers in the state. The strike was called off for seven days to provide the state government time to revisit its payment template, which had been rejected by the union due to inconsistencies. Ayuba Suleiman, the Chairman of the NLC in Kaduna, made the announcement during a press briefing in the state capital on Tuesday. The decision to suspend the strike came after a meeting with government representatives late on Monday night. “We…

The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede for appointment as Chief of Army Staff. The confirmation today followed the consideration of reports by the Chairman of the sense committee on Army, Sen. Yar’ adua, Abdulaziz Musa (Katsina Central). The committee’s recommendations were unanimously adopted by the upper chamber. Lieutenant General Oluyede was appointed to act as the Chief of Army Staff following the illness and subsequent death of Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.

President Bola Tinubu was warmly welcomed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday at Tuynhuys in Cape Town, Western Cape, for the 11th Session of the Bi-National Commission between Nigeria and South Africa. Tinubu had departed France on Monday for Cape Town to co-chair the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission alongside President Ramaphosa. The session, scheduled for Tuesday, December 3, follows a ministerial meeting held on December 2, 2024, at the South African Parliament Building in Cape Town. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, in a statement released on Sunday, said that Tinubu and Ramaphosa would engage in…

The National Pension Commission has lifted the suspension it placed on Pension Fund Administrators regarding investments in commercial papers. According to a circular issued by PENCOM on Tuesday, the suspension was lifted following draft rules on the activities by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Head, Investment Supervision Department, PENCOM, Abdulqadir Dahiru, who signed the circular, said, “The commission has noted that the Securities and Exchange Commission has developed draft rules and an amendment to rule 8 (Exemptions) to regulate the issuance of Commercial Papers by its regulated entities. “Accordingly, the SEC is addressing the commission’s concern about the role…

The House of Representatives has resolved to establish an ad-hoc committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the mass retirement of 1,000 staff members from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The committee will also probe the N50 billion earmarked for the settlement of the disengaged employees. This resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Mr. Kama Nkemkama, the representative for Ohaozara/Oncha/Ivo Federal Constituency in Ebonyi State. In his motion, Nkemkama stated, “The House is concerned about the sudden mass retirement of over 1,000 staff, including directors and senior management.” He further added that the situation…

Former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dr. Joseph Haruna Kigbu, was abducted yesterday evening by suspected bandits while traveling to Jos. The attack, which occurred around 6:00 p.m., took place between Nunku in Akwanga Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, and Gwantu in Sanga Local Government Area, Kaduna State. In a gun battle, the assailants fatally shot the police escort assigned to Dr. Kigbu, who attempted to resist the abduction. Eyewitnesses reported that the bandits fired sporadically, causing panic among motorists in the area. Local villagers confirmed the incident, adding that the location has been a hotspot for criminal…

Georgia’s health ministry said on Tuesday that 26 people, mostly protesters, were injured in the latest night of anti-government protest in the Caucasus country. Georgia has been locked in a political crisis since its contested October election, with tens of thousands of pro-EU protesters taking to the streets in recent days against the governing Georgian Dream party. Monday saw the fifth day of consecutive mass protests in Tbilisi following Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s announcement last week that the government would shelve talks on EU accession until 2028. The ministry said “26 individuals, including 23 protesters and three representatives of the…

Newly-appointed manager Ruud van Nistelrooy is aiming to bring a sense of positivity to Leicester City and quickly make an impression on the Premier League club’s players, as he looks to ensure that they remain in the English top flight. The former Manchester United striker was appointed on Friday to replace Steve Cooper and will need to hit the ground running, with the 16th -placed club hovering just point above the relegation zone after three straight league defeats. Asked if the players needed to be picked up, Van Nistelrooy told reporters: “That is what needed to be done. Sunday was…

US President Joe Biden is in Angola on Tuesday for the first and only visit to sub-Saharan Africa of his presidency, which is focused on a major infrastructure project that is a counterpoint to China’s investments. Biden arrived in the oil-rich Portuguese-speaking country late Monday for a two-day visit centred on a multinational project to rehabilitate a railway line ferrying minerals from inland countries to the Angolan port of Lobito for export. In anticipation of his trip, the Angolan government declared December 3 and 4 public holidays and deployed heavy security across the capital Luanda, a city of around 9.5…