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 STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE  PRESIDENT TINUBU CALLS FOR SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS ON GUINEA, MALI, NIGER, AND BURKINA FASO President Bola Tinubu has called for the suspension of economic sanctions imposed on Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea by ECOWAS. Speaking at the Extra-ordinary Summit of ECOWAS in Abuja on Saturday, President Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the organization, stated that: “Everything we did was in hopes of persuading our brothers that there existed a better path, a path that would lead to genuine improvement of their people’s welfare through democratic good governance. And this was a path each of our nations had solemnly agreed with one another pursuant to formal regional treaty and protocol. “However, the sanctions that we contemplated might help lead our brothers to the negotiating table have become a harsh stumbling block. In my mind and heart, that which is hurtful yet ineffective serves no good purpose...

 Funke Akindele continues to break records as A Tr!be Called Judah grosses N1.4billion Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele has no doubt set a huge milestone that it would be had for any Nigerian filmmaker to break. The movie star and filmmaker, who made history last month, as the first Nigerian filmmaker to gross over a billion at cinemas, hasn’t held back on her record-breaking achievement In a new update, A Tr!be Called Judah has grossed over N1.4 billion over the past few months. The movie has no doubt become the favorite of many both at home and abroad. Sharing the good news, Film One, expressed gratitude to Nigerians and West Africans for making the movie Number One.

 “I’ve had an excruciating pain in my neck” Actress Damilola Adegbite on why she has to wear a neck brace Nollywood actress Damilola Adegbite took to Instagram to share the reason why she is currently wearing a neck brace. In a well detailed caption, she wrote, “This is me post physiotherapy & Harassed and in some pain For over a year, I’ve had an excruciating pain in my neck, literally. When the pain hits, I’m unable to function for days. I have been on the strongest of pain killers for too long. They numb the pain for a bit and it’s back to business as usual. And of course with neck pain, comes migraines. It has been hell. I started physiotherapy over a week ago and I have noticed the pain is less. I have only taken a pain killer once since then. If you know me well, this is a big deal! I am not supposed to lift weights for at least 3 months or do any kind of strenuous activities. This part is so hard for me but I’m determined to do anything to get rid of the pain. In the mea...

 EFCC Arraigns Two for Alleged N35m Fraud in Enugu   The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  has arraigned the duo of Mokawo Ahmed Yakubu and Chibuzor Okpara before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N35,000,000.00 (Thirty-Five Million Naira).    One of the counts reads; “That you, Mokawo Ahmed Yakubu, Chibuzor Okpara and Obinna Magnus Amadi (At large) on 3rd November, 2022 in Owerri, Imo State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud, induced one Alhaji Tukur Yuguda to deliver to you the sum of N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) under the pretence that you will supply to him (Alhaji Tulur Yuguda) five pieces of Howo Truck, Two Howo single head and other accessories which pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committ...

 Court of Appeal Upholds Jail Terms of Yobe Auditor General The Gombe Division of the Court of Appeal, on Thursday, February 22, 2024 upheld the conviction of Alhaji Idris Yahaya, Auditor General for Local Government, Yobe State. He was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment on Monday, March 13, 2023 by Justice Muhammad Lawu Lawan of the Yobe State High Court, after being prosecuted by the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one count of criminal misappropriation   to the tune of Nineteen Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira (N19, 900,000.00). Yahaya received funds from the Office of the Auditor General for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Yobe State, for the purchase of an official vehicle, a 2015 Toyota Corolla, and diverted part of the money to his personal use. The  lone count reads: ''That you, Yahaya Lawal Idris, being the Auditor General for Local Government, Yobe State, between the 20th to 21st ...

 Georgia mother arrested in the drowning death of her 1-year-old who fell into a hole filled with water while her mom was grilling. 34-year-old Alisha Stevens was arrested on Monday and charged with second degree murder in the drowning death of her 1-year-old daughter. According to authorities, the Burke County Sheriff's office responded to the call of an unresponsive child at around 12:45 p.m. on Monday. Once on scene, they found someone attempting CPR on a small child. First responders immediately took over and transported the child to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. An Investigation into the death revealed that Alisha whom is the mother of 5 children had left the child unattended during a cookout. The child had fallen into an approximately 4 ft deep hole that had been dug at some point and had filled with water. Officials determined Alisha had been grilling while letting her daughter run around their property unsupervised. Alisha noticed the child missing and wen...

 The Extremely Tragic and Cold Case of The Murder of Shirley Huskey In memory of Shirley Huskey,  aged 25, of Monroe County, Illinois.  During a stormy night on June 22nd, 1977, Dan Huskey had finished his coal mining job and arrived home at 1:30 a.m. on Ames Road near Red Bud in Monroe County.  Dan entered his bedroom expecting to see his wife, Shirley, asleep in their bed.  Shirley was not in bed. Dan went into the bathroom and saw the window was wide open, with the floor below being soaked from the stormy night. Bugs were swarming the bathroom light. Dan was very concerned.  Dan checked the children's room expecting Shirley to possibly be in there. She was not in there but her children were peacefully sleeping in their beds. Dan was scared now. Shirley was absolutely nowhere in the house.   He went out to his backyard which he described as "very dark, misty and the ground being very wet." Dan then went into the garage and searched for Shirley. ...

 British Envoy Lauds Ogun On Industrialisation Drive The British High Commission in Nigeria has lauded the Ogun State government on its aggressive industrial revolution drive, thereby making the state a haven for businesses in the country. Giving the commendation on Friday was the Deputy British High Commissioner, Mr. Jonny Baxter when he led a team from the British High Commission, Lagos, to the Office of the Deputy Governor, Engr. (Mrs.) Noimot Salako-Oyedele. Baxter noted that the huge industrial presence across the Gateway State was a testament to the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration’s commitment towards ensuring the state remains the industrial capital of Nigeria, expressing the Commission's willingness to identify with it for improved economic and trade relations. While describing Ogun as pivotal to Nigeria's industrial base, given the various economic opportunities that abound in the state, the British Envoy said his government was willing to collaborate with the...

 Zimbabwe receives first free grain shipment from Russia President Emmerson Mnangagwa would decide what to do with the grain, said deputy agriculture minister. Zimbabwe's agriculture ministry on Friday inspected the first batch of grain sent by Russia. Last year, President Vladimir Putin offered free grain to six African countries during a summit in Saint Petersburg, days after withdrawing from a deal under which Ukrainian grain exports were allowed to pass through the Black Sea to reach global markets. In addition to Zimbabwe, Putin pledged grain to Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, Eritrea and Burkina Faso. The summit was scrutinised as a test of Putin's support in the continent after his Ukraine invasion.

 FG To Distribute N25K Monthly Across 15m Households The Federal Government is set to distribute N25,000 monthly across 15 million households nationwide as part of measures to minimise the level of economic hardship faced by Nigerians. Since coming to office last year, President Bola Tinubu ended fuel subsidies and currency controls, leading to a tripling of petrol prices and a spike in living costs as the naira slid against the dollar. The policies of the current administration has subjected many Nigerians to suffer an economic crisis with soaring inflation, leaving many people struggling to afford food. Many citizens have taken to the streets to register their displeasure with Tinubu’s style of leadership. Speaking during an exclusive interview on Channels Television, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said the Federal Government is working to alleviate the hardship, especially for the poor and vulnerable. “But I think the important thing...

 Why 2023 Presidential Election Results Failed To Upload On IReV – INEC The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finally opened up formally on the failure to upload results on the viewing portal which remains one of the most controversial aspects of the 2023 presidential election. Despite the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) working well on election day, uploading the presidential election results to the INEC result viewing portal (IREV) failed. The IReV failure among other issues made opposition parties and some domestic as well as international election observers question the credibility of the polls. But months after the exercise, the electoral body has now explained why uploading of results of the presidential election failed. The explanation is contained in parts of the official report of the 2023 elections, released by INEC on Friday ahead of the first anniversary of the election. According to INEC, while the results for the House of Representatives a...

 ASUU To ‘Wrestle’ FG Over Hardship As Nigerians groan over the economic hardship in the country following reforms embarked upon by the President Bola Tinubu administration, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has vowed to fight the Federal Government. ASUU acting Zonal Coordinator (Bauchi Branch), Prof Nanmwa Voncir, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists at the union’s secretariat in Jos, the Plateau State capital. Since coming to office last year, President Tinubu ended fuel subsidies and currency controls, leading to a tripling of petrol prices and a spike in living costs as the naira slid against the dollar. Many citizens have taken to the streets to register their displeasure with Tinubu’s style of leadership despite the president’s calls for patience. However, during a press conference, Voncir deplored the conditions of service in the nation’s tertiary institutions as well as the sufferings the masses were subjected to. “We will never run away from c...

 Artistes like me pushed music industry to current level, says African China A  reggae and dancehall artiste, Chinagorom Onuoha, popularly known as African China, has said that he and his fellow artistes who held sway in the early 2000s ‘pushed’ the music industry to where it is now. Speaking in an interview with Saturday Beats, China said, “Collaboration is something we cannot rule out in the industry. But, things have changed, and I understand. However, I don’t like the fact that when younger artistes see the people that laid the foundation (of the industry), they don’t respect them. “They don’t know what we went through. These days, it is easier to stream one’s songs on digital music platforms. Before, those sites were not accessible to Nigerians. Back then, we would go to cyber cafes to do things like that. “Then, people were not paying attention. We were just trying to make them love Nigerian music. In those days, we were competing with mega American artistes such as 2pac...

 I remain grateful to be in position to help – Davido Music star David Adeleke popularly known as Davido has expressed gratitude to God for putting him in position to lift others as he announced making another donation of N300 million through his foundation, the David Adeleke Foundation, DAF, to orphanages across the country. This, the singer said, is part of his annual contribution to support the welfare of Nigerian children. Davido made this known in a press statement he posted on his Instagram Thursday evening. According to the statement, the total number of eligible children is 13,936, with 1,688 deemed eligible to benefit from the funds. It further stated that the allocation is set to benefit a total of 427 eligible orphanage homes , with a total amount of N300 million to be disbursed, translating to an average of N19.733 per eligible child. The statement reads in part: “We are pleased to announce that the Davido Adeleke Foundation, DAF, has committed to an additional donation...

 NSCDC arrests ten suspected illegal miners in Abia The Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested ten (10) suspects for their alleged involvement in illegal mining activities at different mining sites in Umuahia, the Abia State capital. The suspects were arrested Friday at about 12:15 pm. Parading the suspects in Umuahia, the State Commandant Usman Ishaq Alfadarai, said the arrest was made in strict compliance to the directives of the Commandant General of NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to end the activities of illegal miners in all mining sites across the country.  According to Commandant Alfadarai, “the activities of the illegal miners constitute serious economic sabotage to our nation and must not be allowed to continue.  “Beyond the negative consequences of their activities on the nation’s economy, the adverse effects on the environment and residents raise even greater concerns and we are poised to collaborate with relevant stakehold...

Alleged N1.3bn Fraud: Court Adjourns Trial of Ex-Cop, Firm, Three Others till Apr 18 Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has adjourned the N1.3 billion fraud trial of one Okpalugo Ifeoma, a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police; Olumide Odumosu; Helen Nwafor, and Sule Yusuf Tegina, till Thursday, April 18, 2024. They are standing trial alongside two companies, Olu Osmond Nigeria Limited (a firm linked to Odumosu) and Jemmy Yus Investment Nigeria Limited, on 14- count cgarges bordering on conspiracy to steal, and stealing to the tune of  N1,301,334,108.00 (One Billion, Three Hundred and One Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-four Thousand, One Hundred and Eight Naira). They are alleged to have diverted the said sum belonging to the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, to their personal use. Count one reads: "That you, Ogbadu Joseph (now at large), Hassan Paiko Muhammed (now at large), Sule Yusuf Tegina,  Olumide Odumosu, Helen Nwafor, Okpalugo...

 EFCC Arrests 19 for Suspected Internet Fraud, Two for Currency Racketeering in Ibadan Operatives of Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested nineteen suspected internet fraudsters in Ibadan, Oyo State. Nine out of the suspects were arrested on February 22, 2024, at Olorunda area of Akobo, Ibadan. The rest were picked up at Olude, Wire and Cable areas of Ibadan on February 21, 2024. The suspected internet fraudsters were arrested following series of actionable intelligence gathered and worked upon by the operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC on their internet related fraudulent activities. Items recovered from the suspects include two houses, seven cars, five laptops, twenty-nine (29) mobile phones, one television set and other incriminating documents. In another development,  two suspected currency racketeers  have also been at Agodi-gate area of Ibadan, Oyo State. The suspects were arrested in a sting operati...

 N10bn Money Laundering: Court Upholds EFCC's Amended Charges Against Ex-Gov Bello's Nephew, Other Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on February 23, 2024 overruled a motion on notice filed by Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman urging the court to strike out the 17- count amended  charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on the ground  that the charge lacked merit and invalid. The court held that the 17-count amended charges filed on February 5, 2024 are valid as the prosecution is entitled to amend its charges provided it is done before judgment day. The motion on notice by the defence which was filed on February 22, 2024 by counsel to the second defendant, Nureini Jimoh,  objected to the admittance of the amended charges stating that it amounted to an abuse of court processes. Also, the motion  questioned the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to try the matter and therefore sought that th...

 Muslims Traders Urged To Avoid Hoarding Food Muslim traders have been urged to avoid the habit of hoarding food items and other goods to sell at exorbitant price . The Chief Imam of Isa -Elelu Mosque, Imam Abubakar Ali-Kamal made the call in his Juma'at sermon in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital. He said such attitude is not godly and that  the perpetrators would be punished in the hereafter. Imam Ali -Kamal also advised Muslims against reducing the  quantity of items before selling to prospective buyers. He advised traders to join hands with government to reduce the  hardship being experienced in the country. The Cleric urged Muslims  to fear Allah and remember the day of judgement, adding that those who do bad would be punished  for their wrong deeds.

 Senegal President Agrees To Step Down in April  Senegalese President Macky Sall has said he will step down in office when his term comes to an end in April  but he did not announce an election date. He made this known in a televised interview that his decision on a date would be part of political talks with all sides to start on Monday. His recent decision to delay the vote, originally scheduled for Sunday, to mid-December sparked deadly protests. His decree was ruled unconstitutional by the country's top court last week. Many feared the postponement would lead to President Sall's remaining leader of the country indefinitely in a region plagued by coups and military governments. President Sall said he was prepared to release the popular opposition politician, Ousmane Sonko, from prison. His arrest sparked nationwide protests last year. Dozens of the president's opponents have already been set free since Senegal's Constitutional Council ruled that his decision to postpo...

 Kano State : FG Orders Relocation Of Sealed Medicine Stores  The Federal government has urged  owners of 1,321 medicine stores sealed in Kano, to  relocate to Coordinated Wholesale Centre at Dangwauro to ensure proper monitoring geared at safeguarding the country. Coordinating Minister of Health , Dr Muhammad Ali-Pate, made the disclosure while briefing Newsmen shortly after inspecting the Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) along Zaria Road, Dangwauro Kano. He said the purpose of the visit was to assess the level of preparedness of the Centre to in enhancing safety in the drug distribution system geared. Dr Mohammad Ali Pate noted that the present administration was committed towards ensuring a coherent system of distribution of drugs for public consumption.                                        "I am here at CWC to see the direction taken by NAFDAC and PCN to improv...

 Borno State: 100,000 Families To Benefit From Food Palliatives The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has approved the distribution of food palliatives to over 100,000 vulnerable families to cushion the impact food inflation.  Governor Zulum gave the approval during a meeting with traditional rulers, elders, community leaders and other stakeholders at Government House,  Maiduguri . According to him, the beneficiaries would be selected from the twenty seven wards of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere Local Government Area. Zulum reiterated his administration's commitment to ensuring the welfare of Borno citizens, particularly to families struggling to access basic necessities of life, in the face of rising food prices and economic challenges.                          “I have approved the distribution of palliative to 100,000 families in MMC and Jere Local Government Area to ease the hardship fac...

 Scientists Discovers 240 Million Year Old Fossil In China  A team of international scientists have discovered 240-million-year-old fossils from the Triassic period found in the Guizhou Province of southern China.  The 16-foot-long aquatic reptile, called Dinocephalosaurus orientalis, has 32 separate neck vertebrae – an extremely long neck with a snake like shape according to the National Museums of Scotland. . Dinocephalosaurus orientalis was first identified in 2003 when its skull was found, but this more complete fossil discovery has "allowed scientists to depict the bizarre long-necked creature in full for the very first time."  "It is yet one more example of the weird and wonderful world of the Triassic that continues to baffle palaeontologists. We are certain that it will capture imaginations across the globe due to its striking appearance, reminiscent of the long and snake-like, mythical Chinese Dragon," said Nick Fraser, keeper of Natural Sciences at Nationa...

 Buhari, not Tinubu responsible for rot in Nigeria, says Igboho Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Igboho, has described as incorrect, the assertion made by some Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu is responsible for the rot in the country. Tinubu, who was sworn in on May 29, 2023, announced the removal of the subsidy during his first address, a decision that increased the cost of petrol and economic inflation. This is against the backdrop that the Buhari-led government did not make provisions for petroleum subsidies in the 2023 budget. Speaking during a visit to the palace of the monarch of Igboho town in Oyo State on Friday, Adeyemo said, “Some people believe it is Tinubu that spoils the country; it is not Tinubu. When Buhari was in government, I was shouting for us (Yoruba) to be united and free ourselves from slavery, saying that Buhari did not have anything to offer us. “Let’s free ourselves and divide Nigeria. Some people were saying it is what he wil...

 ‘Medicine After Death’, Obi Blasts INEC Over 2023 Election Report Presidential Candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of deceiving Nigerians with report of the poll released earlier on Friday. In the 526-page report of the 2023 elections, formally released ahead of the first anniversary of the election, INEC explained why the IREV failed to upload the presidential results despite the seamless working of the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS). The commission attributed the challenge to technical glitches, which was, however resolved and that this did not in any way affect the credibility of the elections. Obi, who spoke to Daily Trust through Dr Yunusa Tanko, the Chief Spokesperson, Obi-Datti Campaign Committee, described the report as medicine after death. “I think the INEC report is medicine after death. The truth about it is that if I didn’t mean that INEC actually deal with this issue a...