Author: Festus Adeloye

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in court in Tel Aviv on Tuesday to testify for the first time in his corruption case. Netanyahu, who has repeatedly sought to delay his appearance in court, is the first sitting prime minister of Israel to face a criminal trial. He faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust in three separate cases. At Tuesday’s hearing, the Israeli premier is expected to take the witness stand for the first time, responding to the allegations and testimonies made against him, including from former close aides. Several people, including anti-Netanyahu protesters and his…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has accused Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, of disparaging Nigeria, her country of origin. Shettima made the remarks on Monday during the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue held at the State House in Abuja. Shettima said, “Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Labour or Conservative Party. We are proud of her despite her efforts at denigrating her nation of origin. He added, “She is entitled to her own opinions; she has even every right to remove the Kemi from her name but that does not underscore the fact that…

A real-life “Succession” battle for Rupert Murdoch’s media empire has ended with a Nevada court commissioner denying the billionaire’s bid to change a family trust and give control to his eldest son. The case pitted the 93-year-old against three of his children over who would gain the power to control News Corp and Fox News when he dies. It has been reported that Mr Murdoch wanted to amend a family trust created in 1999 to allow his son Lachlan to take control without “interference” from his siblings Prudence, Elisabeth and James. A Nevada commissioner ruled Mr Murdoch and Lachlan had…

Politician and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi has insisted that Nigerian leaders found guilty of corrupt practices must face tough sanctions, impressing the need for an end to economic wastage in the country. Obi insisted in a statement on Tuesday to mark the International Anti-Corruption Day. According to him, over the years, Nigeria has been burdened by corruption at all levels of government and across the different arms of government. He said the country is grappling with a very high debt profile, occasioned by the insatiable hunger for more loans by the government. He advised Nigerian leaders to…

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, under the leadership of Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has addressed over 1,000 petitions in the past five years, focusing on issues such as emergencies, stranded citizens, consular matters, trafficking, and deportations. These efforts were part of NiDCOM’s mandate, which includes fostering diaspora investments and strengthening the connection between Nigeria and its citizens abroad. Dabiri-Erewa disclosed this as the commission was established five years ago in 2019 by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja. The NiDCOM boss expressed gratitude for NiDCOM’s contributions and outlined future aspirations. She also acknowledged the challenges faced by the agency while emphasising the role…

The Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has mourned the death of a renowned Islamic scholar, Muhydeen Bello, saying that he received the news with shock and sadness. The Muslim community has been thrown into mourning following the passing of one of its most revered figures, Alhaji Muyideen Bello. Born in 1940 in Ibadan, Alhaji Bello was widely respected for his profound teachings and unwavering dedication to Islamic scholarship. His death was made known by another prominent Islamic scholar, Alfa Aribidesi of At-Tawdeeh Islamic Da’awah, on Friday morning. Corroborating the news of the demise, popular cleric and follower of the late…

The German government on Friday rejected Amnesty International’s accusation that Israel is committing “genocide” against Palestinians in its military campaign in Gaza. Asked for a response to Amnesty’s report, German foreign ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer told reporters: “The question of genocide presupposes a clear intention to eradicate an ethnic group. I still do not recognise any such clear intention and therefore I cannot share the conclusions of the report.” “We take the accusations in the report very seriously and are currently analysing them,” he said. “We have repeatedly urged the Israeli government to adjust its military operations in Gaza and…

A popular Muslim scholar and preacher, Muyideen Bello, has been confirmed dead. The prominent scholar, who over the years been an opinion moulder on governments’ policies, was said to have passed on Friday mourning. His demise which has sent shock wave across Muslim community in Nigeria was confirmed by his son, Basit Bello popularly known as Aponle Anobi in a post made on his official social media handle. He posted crying emoji with the picture of the Sheikh but no other details was provided.

The Police on Friday morning confirmed the attack on Wukari -Kente road allegedly involving the family of Governor Agbu Kefas on Thursday. Social media had on Thursday evening reported that gunmen attacked the mother and sister of Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, along Kente Road in Wukari Local Government Area. According to the report, the Chairman of Wukari Local Government, Dauda Samaila Agbu, had earlier disclosed that the Governor’s sister, Atsi Kefas, sustained gunshot injuries and was initially treated at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Wukari and before being flown to Abuja via helicopter for advanced medical care. But in…

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the release of funds for the payment of pension arrears, salary increases, and other entitlements owed to retired military personnel, following two days of peaceful protests at the Federal Ministry of Finance by military veterans. Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, announced the development on Friday, expressing gratitude to the President for his swift intervention. Matawalle commended Tinubu for ensuring the prompt payment of the three-month salary increase and the release of funds for the settlement of pension arrears and other owed entitlements to retired military personnel. In a statement issued by…