Author: Temidayo Akinsuyi

Prince Kassim Afegbua is the Director of Media, Edo APC Campaign Organisation. In this interview with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI, he speaks on allegations that the party’s governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo has shunned several invitations to grant interview on Arise Television. He also shares his thoughts on developments in Edo state ahead of the September 21 governorship election. Excerpts: There are talks on social media that your candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo has refused several invitation by Arise Television for an interview while the governorship candidate of the PDP, Asue Ighodalo appeared on the TV station on Monday. What is your reaction to…

The Edo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday said 80 percent of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s family members have endorsed its candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo ahead of the September 21 governorship candidate in the state. Speaking in an interview with TheScrutiny, Prince Kassim Afegbua, Director of Media, Edo APC Campaign Organisation said Obaseki’s family members publicly distanced themselves from the governor and declared their support for Okpebholo at the APC rally in Oredo local government. “Let them continue to blackmail Okpebholo. Here is a man who has had engagements with several stakeholders in Edo, including lecturers of…

The State Security Service has detained a Nigerian journalist, Adejuwon Soyinka, who is the West African Regional Editor of the Conversation Africa, TheScrutiny learnt on Sunday. Mr Soyinka, a former pioneer editor of the BBC Pidgin Service, was detained by SSS operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at about 5.40 a.m. on Sunday upon his arrival from the United Kingdom via a Virgin Atlantic flight. As of the time of this report, no reason has been given for his detention by the security agency. When contacted over the matter, the spokesperson for the SSS, Peter Afunanya, said, “I…

Pavel Durov, the Russian-French billionaire founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested at Bourget airport outside Paris on Saturday evening, TF1 TV and BFM TV said, citing unidentified sources. Durov was travelling aboard his private jet, TF1 said on its website, adding he had been targeted by an arrest warrant in France as part of a preliminary police investigation. TF1 and BFM both said the investigation was focused on a lack of moderators on Telegram, and that police considered that this situation allowed criminal activity to go on undeterred on the messaging app.

The Director General of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar, is said to have submitted his resignation letter to President Tinubu. According to the Nigerian Television Authority, Abubakar submitted the letter to the President on Saturday. As of the time of filing this report, the reason for his resignation is not yet known. The Presidency has yet to issue an official statement on the development.

The Nigeria Police Force on Saturday confirmed the release of 20 medical students who were abducted along the Otukpo/Otukpa/Enugu Road. The students, who are from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos were travelling to Enugu for the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students’ annual convention when they were snatched by bandits. Their abduction generated massive outcry, which made the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, order the deployment of tactical operatives and assets, including helicopters, drones, and tactical vehicles, to ensure the swift rescue of the kidnapped students. Also, additional detectives were sent to Benue State to…

The Governors’ Forum of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned  President Bola Tinubu’s ppronouncements, which they claimed is aimed at compromising the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State. They also frowned at the intimidation of PDP supporters by the Nigeria Police. The governors condemned the Federal Government’s handling of the last nationwide protest tagged #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria, which led to the loss of lives and the destruction of valuables worth billions of Naira. The Forum rose from its 4th session in Jalingo, Taraba State, on Friday, demanding transparency in revenue allocation to the states. The Governors expressed concern…

A man who faked cancer and spent more than £3,000 in donations has been sentenced in Londonderry. Stephen Patrick Doherty, 29, from Lisnafin Park in Strabane, admitted one charge of fraud by false representation on dates between 7 January 2022 and 20 June 2023. Londonderry Magistrates’ Court was told that Doherty had told police he had committed fraud by claiming to have three different cancers. Doherty told the court a GoFundMe page set up on his behalf had raised £3,280 which he spent on a dog and travelling to watch Liverpool FC. The fundraising page, Doherty said, had been set…

Investigative journalist, David Hundeyin has confirmed that whistleblower, PIDOM NIGERIA who had earlier been declared missing is currently in police detention in Abuja. In a post on his X handle, Hundeyin’s update reads “After coming under immense pressure from the Nigerian public and an intervention involving @Mazi_OJD, @YeleSowore, @adeyanjudeji, @Adebayo_Ralph and myself, @PoliceNG has confirmed that @PIDOMNIGERIA is alive and well in detention at FCID Abuja. A member of our intervention team on the ground in Abuja physically laid eyes on him a few minutes ago and she confirmed that he is alive and well. According to the Police, he…

 The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has  congratulated the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri over the judgment of the Supreme Court, which today affirmed his victory in the November 11, 2023 governorship election in the State. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party says “The verdict of the Supreme Court is another victory for Democracy, Rule of Law and the expressed Will of the people of Bayelsa State in their quest for good governance and development on the platform of the PDP”. “Governor Diri’s re-election by the overwhelming majority of the people of Bayelsa…