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Showing posts from November 14, 2024

INDIAN BILLIONAIRE GAUTAM ADANI CHARGED IN U. S. FOR ALLEGED BRIBERY, FRAUD. (PHOTO).

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  Indian billionaire Gautam Adani charged in US for alleged bribery, fraud Gautam Adani, the chair of Indian conglomerate Adani Group and one of the world’s richest people, whose business empire extends from ports and airports to renewable energy,has been indicted in New York over an alleged multibillion-dollar fraud scheme, United States prosecutors have said. The authorities on Wednesday charged Adani and two other executives at Adani Green Energy, his nephew Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain, with agreeing between 2020 and 2024 to pay more than $250m in bribes to Indian government officials to obtain solar energy supply contracts expected to yield $2bn in profits. Prosecutors said the renewable energy company also raised more than $3bn in loans and bonds during this period based on false and misleading statements. Shares of Adani Enterprises, the group's flagship firm, closed down 22% on Thursday. Other group firms also closed in the red. Adani Green Energy, which is the firm at the c

MISS SOUTH AFRICA 'MIA LE ROUX' HAS SHOCKINGLY WITHDRAWN FROM THE MISS UNIVERSE COMPETITION.(PHOTOS).

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Miss South Africa🇿🇦 Mia Le Roux, has shockingly withdrawn from the Miss Universe Competition. The Miss South Africa organisation announced on Friday that Miss SA 2024, Mia Le Roux, has withdrawn from the Miss Universe competition. According to the organisation, Le Roux withdrew due to health concerns. Meanwhile, support for Nigeria's Chidinma Adetshina as the candidate fit for the Miss Universe crown intensifies.🇳🇬. ACCORDING TO ANOTHER SOURCE:  Miss South Africa, Mia le Roux withdraws from Miss Universe pageant over health Reigning Miss South Africa; Mia Le Roux withdraws from the 2024 Miss Universe pageant stating health concerns. Mia Le Roux is thankful to South Africans for the support she received during her time at the Miss Universe pageant. Statement from the Miss South Africa Organisation It is with deep regret that we share the news that Mia Le Roux, Miss South Africa 2024, has had to withdraw from the Miss Universe competition due to health concerns. Mia Le Roux expr

LOKOJA UNIVERSITY FIRES FOUR LECTURES OVER SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND EXAM MISCONDUCT. (PHOTO).

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 Lokoja University Fires Four Lecturers Over Sexual Harassment and Exam Misconduct The Governing Council of the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State, has approved the dismissal of four lecturers over allegations of sexual harassment and examination misconduct.  The decision was made during the council's second meeting, chaired by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, which was recently held in Lokoja. The council praised the university's management for following due process in investigating the allegations. Reaffirming its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy towards unethical behavior, the council made it clear that misconduct of any kind will not be tolerated at the institution. It also instructed the university to expedite the resolution of other pending cases, particularly one in the Faculty of Science that has recently attracted media attention. The council urged staff and faculty members to uphold high ethical standards and encouraged students to report any incidents of harassmen

AKWA IBOM FACES BLACKOUT AMID DISPUTE BETWEEN IBOM POWER AND GAS SUPPLIER. (PHOTO).

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 Akwa Ibom Faces Blackout Amid Dispute Between Ibom Power and Gas Supplier Akwa Ibom State is currently experiencing a widespread blackout due to an unresolved dispute between Ibom Power Company (IPC) and Savannah Energy, the supplier of gas to the state-owned power plant. While power outages caused by the collapse of the national grid have affected other regions, Ibom Power had previously kept the state operating on "Island Mode," unaffected by grid failures. However, the company confirmed on Thursday that the ongoing outage, which began on Wednesday, was the result of a disruption in gas supply. Meyen Etukudo, Managing Director of Ibom Power, stated that Savannah Energy had halted gas deliveries to the plant due to a payment dispute. This loss of gas supply coincided with a fault on the 132kV Itu-Aba Transmission Line, which carries power from the national grid to Akwa Ibom, exacerbating the power crisis. While the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is working to fix the

OGUN GOVT REJECTS IPMAN'S CLAIMS OF HARASSMENT BY FUEL FRAUD TASK FORCE. (PHOTO).

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 Ogun Government Rejects IPMAN's Claims of Harassment by Fuel Fraud Task Force The Ogun State Government has denied allegations of harassment and intimidation made by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) against the state’s newly established petroleum industry task force. The task force was set up to address issues like fuel meter tampering and other malpractices within the sector.  State Commissioner for Transportation, Olugbenga Dairo, responded to IPMAN’s accusations, clarifying that the task force's aim is to regulate and promote fair practices, particularly in light of growing public concerns over fuel pricing and transportation costs.  Dairo revealed that the task force had uncovered significant irregularities at several filling stations, such as discrepancies in fuel dispenser readings leading to financial losses for consumers. Examples included shortages of up to 1 litre per 10 litres of fuel at various stations. He urged IPMAN members to c

NIGER ASSEMBLY CALLS FOR SECURITY CAMP AT WAYAM TO COMBAT BANDITRY AND KIDNAPPING. (PHOTO).

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  Niger Assembly Calls for Security Camp at Wayam to Combat Banditry and Kidnapping The Niger State House of Assembly has urgently called for the establishment of a security camp at Wayam in Rafi Local Government Area to curb the rising threats of banditry and kidnapping in the region.  The Assembly also urged the Federal Government to deploy security personnel to operate the camp once constructed. The motion was presented by Zubairu Ismaila, the representative for Rafi Constituency, who highlighted the recent increase in attacks on local communities, including a deadly raid on Wayam on November 5, 2024, that left seven dead, several injured, and 21 people abducted. Ismaila stressed that without the establishment of the security camp, residents would remain vulnerable to further attacks. The motion was unanimously adopted by the Assembly after deliberations.

NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE POSTPONES GALA/AWARD NIGHT IN HONOR OF THE LATE CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF . (PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE.

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 PRESS RELEASE  NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE POSTPONES GALA/AWARD NIGHT IN HONOR OF THE LATE CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF  1. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) wishes to announce the postponement of its Gala and Award Night, initially scheduled for Friday, November 15, 2024, in Abuja. This decision is taken to allow Nigeria Customs Service identify with the mood of the Nation in mourning the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, whose legacy of service to our nation remains in our hearts. 2. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, conveyed deep condolences to the family of the late Lt. Gen. Lagbaja, as well as to his colleagues and the entire Nigerian Armed Forces. “Lt. Gen. Lagbaja was a leader of immense dedication and sacrifice. His contributions to Nigeria’s security and inter-agency cooperation are immeasurable,” said CGC Adeniyi. “We stand with the Nigerian Army, his family, and all Nigerians in honouring his memory and service.” 3. The Nigeria Customs Se

OGUN STATE DECLARES WORK-FREE DAY FOR LG ELECTIONS. (PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE.

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 Ogun State Declares Work-Free Day for Local Government Elections The Bureau of Service Matters, Office of the Head of Service, has announced that the Ogun State Government has approved Friday, November 15, 2024, as a work-free day for civil and public servants. This directive, approved by His Excellency, Governor Dapo Abiodun, is intended to give workers the opportunity to travel to their respective local government areas to participate in the local government elections scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2024. The elections, organized by the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), will see the election of chairpersons for Ogun State’s twenty local government areas and councillors for its 236 wards. This initiative underscores the administration’s dedication to fostering inclusiveness and participatory democracy. Permanent Secretaries and heads of government agencies have been advised to ensure compliance with this directive.

MYSTERY SURROUNDS THE DEATH OF A 24-YEAR-OLD ILLINOIS LINEMAN WHO WAS ATTEMPTING TO RETURN HOME, BUT FLED THE AIRPORT MOMENTS BEFORE HIS FLIGHT. (PHOTO).

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 Mystery surrounds the death of a 24-year-old Illinois lineman who was attempting to return home, but fled the airport moments before his flight. 24-year-old John Combs was working as a lineman in Savannah, GA when things seemed to begin to spiral. While in Georgia, John called home from the hospital and told his father he was having problems "putting his thoughts together". This was not at all normal. John was an outgoing young man his dad described as "not ever sounding scared in any situation".  However, John did seem very scared and isolated when he made that call. John made a plan with his family to leave Georgia and fly back home to Rochelle, Illinois.  John booked his flight for October 4th and arrived at the Atlanta Airport. Once there, he checked his orange tool bag. The bag would make it home, however John would not.  Witnesses who were scheduled for the same flight say moments before they were scheduled to board John stood up and made a cryptic statement.

AN 18-YEAR-OLD ARIZONA MAN CALLED POLICE TO REPORT HIS MOTHER HAF BEEN KIDNAPPED, THE TRUTH WAS FAR MORE HORRIFIC. (PHOTO).

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 An 18-year-old Arizona man called police to report his mother had been kidnapped.  The truth was far more horrific.  Pinal County, Arizona deputies were called to a field on Skyline drive after a citizen made a grisly discovery. Once on scene, deputies found the body of 38-year-old Mary Collier. They also found a broken kitchen knife nearby that had obviously been used to take Mary's life. Only 7 minutes after the initial 911 call 18-year-old Alan Ashcroft made a chilling 911 call from his home. In the call he told Police his mother had gone for a walk and "something really bad had occurred". He went on to explain unknown people had kidnapped his mother while walking. Dispatchers asked to speak to someone else in the home and Alan's brother got on the line. He said that Alan and his mother had gone for a walk but only a bloody Alan had returned. It didn't take long for deputies to consider Alan a suspect and they descended on his home to take him in for questioni

NNPCL SEALS 10-YEAR GAS SUPPLY DEAL WITH DANGOTE REFINERY. (PHOTO).

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 NNPCL Seals 10-Year Gas Supply Deal With Dangote Refinery The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced that subsidiary, the NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML), has successfully executed a Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) with Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the NNPLC, Olufemi Soneye, on Wednesday. He said the agreement, signed by the Managing Director, NGML, Barr. Justin Ezeala and the President/CEO of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote on Tuesday at the Corporate Head Office of Dangote in Falomo, Lagos State, outlines the supply of natural gas for power generation and feedstock at the Dangote Refinery, in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State. This major milestone, according to Soneye, is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy of utilizing Nigeria’s abundant gas resources towards revamping the nation’s industrial growth and kickstarting its economic pr

OKOWA MAKES FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE AFTER EFCC'S ARREST. (PHOTO).

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 Okowa makes first public appearance after EFCC’s arrest Former governor Ifeanyi Okowa made his first public appearance as he joined Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori at a service of songs held in honour of Mrs. Victoria Ossai Obielum, mother of renowned politician Godwill Obielum. Okowa was arrested on Monday, 4th November 2024, over an alleged N1.3 trillion fraud but was released on Friday after his passport was seized. Also attending the well-attended event were the Delta State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Solomon Arenyenka, members of the party’s state executive committee, political dignitaries, and top serving and retired security officers, among others. The service of songs took place on Wednesday at Obielum’s residence in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

FG TO DIGITISE 774 LG HEADQUARTERS BY 2027.(PHOTO).

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 FG to digitise 774 LG headquarters by 2027 The Federal Government has announced that it will complete the digitisation of the 774 Local Government headquarters across the 36 states by 2027. The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Thursday at a stakeholders’ retreat on Project 774 Connectivity in Abuja. Tijani explained that the project would be executed in collaboration with other agencies under the ministry’s purview. He stated that the government aimed to digitalise all the remaining LGAs in the country by 2027.

SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET: KADUNA ASSEMBLY APPROVES N207.2 BILLION FOR KAFUNA'S DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. (PHOTO).

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 Supplementary Budget: Kaduna Assembly Approves N207.2 Billion For Kaduna's Development Projects The Kaduna State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, approved N207.2 billion supplementary budget for the 2024 fiscal year. The legislation followed the adoption of a report by Yunusa Shehu, Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation and Implementation. He said the legislators approved the third supplementary budget for 2024, to enable the government to continued executing viable projects in the state. The chairman said it would also facilitate payment of the new National Minimum Wage to workers by the end of November. Earlier, a bill to establish the College of Agricultural Technology, Samaru Kataf and another bill seeking provision for women representation in public and private offices passed second reading, respectively. The Speaker, Yusuf Dahiru referred the bills to the appropriate committees, and directed them to submit their reports to the house on Nov. 19.  More photos below. 

ONDO ELECTIONS: DIG ELECTION ADDRESSES MEDIA, OFFICERS, REVIEWS STRATEGIES FOR SMOOTH POLLS.(PHOTOS). #PRESS RELEASE

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 PRESS RELEASE ONDO ELECTIONS: DIG ELECTION ADDRESSES MEDIA, OFFICERS, REVIEWS STRATEGIES FOR SMOOTH POLLS. Harps on Intelligence Gathering, firmness. The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Ondo State Elections, DIG Sylvester Abiodun Alabi, fdc, held a press briefing today, 14th November 2024, at the Ondo State Police Command Headquarters, Akure, where he addressed officers deployed for the election duty and the members of the press, emphasizing the readiness of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies on the forthcoming 2024 Ondo State Gubernatorial Elections. The DIG during his address mentioned that the Force had begun effective deployments of personnel across all 18 Local Government Areas, 203 Wards, and 3,933 Polling Units in the state, assuring the presence of at least four (4) Police Officers in collaboration with officers representing other election security agency, at each polling unit, to ensure a smooth poll. In a bid to emplace proactive measure

ALAYE EXPLAINS WITHDRAWAL OF PLANNED PROTEST AGAINST NDDC BOARD. (PHOTO).

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 Alaye Explains Withdrawal of Planned Protest Against NDDC Board Dr. Alaye Theophilus, the factional President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), has explained that the decision to cancel a planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was due to the timely intervention of influential regional leaders. The protest, initially scheduled for Thursday, November 14, 2024, aimed to express dissatisfaction with the NDDC’s management, which the group accused of selective and inadequate performance in its activities. In a statement issued in Port Harcourt, Theophilus revealed that the intervention of key figures such as Pa Edwin Clark, Ambassador Godknows Igali, Alhaji Asari Mujahid Dokubo, HRM King Ateke Michael Tom, the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), and other respected stakeholders led to the cancellation of the protest. Theophilus cited their advice to avoid escalating tensions in the region, particularly in light of recent violence in Abuloma and the

ZAMFARA GOVT SAYS IT'S UNCLEAR HOW MANY CIVIL SERVANTS ARE IN THE STARE AMID GHOST WORKER CRISIS. (PHOTO).

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 Zamfara Government Says It’s Unclear How Many Civil Servants Are in the State Amid Ghost Worker Crisis The Zamfara State government has expressed concern over the growing issue of ghost workers within the state’s civil service, describing the situation as both troubling and perplexing.  During a press briefing in Gusau, the State Head of Service (HoS), Barrister Ahmad Liman, revealed that the exact number of civil servants in the state remains unknown due to the prevalence of ghost workers. Liman noted that the problem is particularly rampant in the health and education sectors, with a verification exercise currently underway. He cited an example where, in one hospital, 22 employees were listed as receiving salaries, but the verification revealed that only two were legitimate workers. The ongoing verification process is expected to conclude by the end of November 2024, after which a committee will be set up to review salaries. As the Chairman of the Steering Committee overseeing the v

GWR RECOGNIZES NIGERIA'S FOLA DAVID FOR CREATING THE LARGEST DRAWING. (PHOTO).

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 Guinness World Records Recognizes Nigeria’s Fola David for Creating the Largest Drawing Fola David-Tolaram, a Nigerian doctor and artist, has earned a Guinness World Record for creating the world’s largest drawing by an individual. His remarkable artwork, measuring 1,004.7 m² (10,814.5 ft²), was completed at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos and celebrates the rich cultural diversity of Nigeria. The 31-year-old artist, who has been practicing art professionally for a decade, described the piece, titled "The Unity of Diversity", as "a map of Nigeria showing the various cultures." He explained that the aim was to capture the nation's multicultural identity and offer a platform to celebrate its diverse traditions. David-Tolaram’s creation process began with assembling a massive 1,360 m² canvas, which took two days. Using waterproof markers, he worked on the project over six days, overcoming challenges and adapting his approach as he progressed. The work drew a l

"I MET A DEAD BAT ON MY BED"- GOV. OKPEBHOLO RECOUNTS HOW HE WON EDO GUBER POLL. (PHOTO).

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  ‘I met a dead bat on my bed’ — Okpebholo recounts how he won Edo guber poll Monday Okpebholo says he battled principalities and powers on his way to becoming governor of Edo.  Okpebholo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner of the September 21 governorship election. He polled 291,667 votes to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who garnered 247,274 votes. Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) came third with 22,763 votes. Okpebholo took his oath of office on Tuesday in Benin City. In a statement issued on Thursday by Fred Itua, his chief press secretary, Okpebholo attributed his electoral conquest to the grace of God, constant prayers, and the support of the people. The governor spoke at his post-swearing-in thanksgiving service in Benin. Okpebholo said he “found a dead bat on his bed” hours before the electoral umpire called the election for him — without “prior spiritual consultations or help from native doctors”. “I want to

UPDATE: RESOLUTE CEO STILL HELD IN MALI, DIPLOMATIC SOURCES SAYS, AS SHARES SUSPENDED. (PHOTO).

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 Resolute CEO still held in Mali, diplomatic sources say, as shares suspended Resolute Mining, opens new tab CEO Terence Holohan and two other employees of the Australian company were still being detained in Mali on Thursday, two diplomatic sources there told Reuters. Resolute said on Sunday that Holohan and the two other employees had been temporarily detained by government officials in the military-led West African country. It has not provided any further update on the situation. The executives were in Mali's capital Bamako to hold discussions with mining and tax authorities regarding general activities related to the company's business practices. Resolute's shares fell as much as 8.1% to A$0.395 on Thursday, their lowest level since late March, after Bloomberg reported that the Malian military junta was seeking at least $161 million from the company to settle a dispute mainly concerning alleged back taxes. Trading in Resolute shares was halted on the Australian Stock Exc

BOBBY BENSON'S ELDEST SON 'TONY BENSON' HAS SADLY PASSED AWAY. (PHOTOS). #RIP

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 Veteran actor Patrick Doyle shared this photo above on his social media with the caption "It is with a generous tinge of regret that I announce the passing of a great family friend and artistic collaborator of my older siblings, Tony Benson. The eldest son of the late great Bobby Benson and 1 of Nigeria's most accomplished keyboardists". One more photo below. 

UPDATE: FINAL JOURNEY OF LATE COAS LAGBAJA AS HIS REMAINS ARE FLOWN TO ABUJA. (PHOTO).

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 Photos: Final Journey of Late COAS Lagbaja as His Remains are Flown to Abuja A solemn scene unfolded at the Air Force wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, this morning as the remains of the late former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, were prepared for transport to Abuja. The casket was brought from the morgue at around 9:25 a.m. for the final leg of the journey. Among those present to honor the late General were Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, traditional white cap chiefs from the Oba of Lagos palace, senior military officers, police, and paramilitary personnel. Members of the Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA) and retired generals also paid their respects. The atmosphere was marked by a poignant tribute as the Army band played the national anthem. Pallbearers, comprising senior military officers from both the Army and Navy, stood by the casket, draped in the Nigerian national flag, as the funeral procession began.  As the procession made

EDO GOV. OKPEBHOLO ORDERS FREEZE OF ALL STATE BANK ACCOUNTS. (PHOTO).

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 Edo Governor Okpebholo Orders Freeze of All State Bank Accounts Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has ordered the immediate freezing of all state government bank accounts, effective Thursday. In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor emphasized that the freeze would remain in place until further notice.  Governor Okpebholo directed commercial banks, ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to adhere to the order without delay, warning of severe consequences for non-compliance. The statement read: “All state accounts with commercial banks are now frozen. Banks must ensure no withdrawals are made from government accounts until further notice. Heads of MDAs are required to enforce full compliance immediately.” The governor also stated that after conducting necessary investigations and reconciliations, appropriate actions would be taken.  Additionally, Governor Okpebholo instructed that the Ministry of Roads and Bridges be renamed to its previou

PASSENGER ALARMED AS AIR PEACE FLIGHT MAKES EMERGENCY STOP IN ABUJA. (PHOTO).

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 Passengers Alarmed as Air Peace Flight Makes Emergency Stop in Abuja An Air Peace flight traveling from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja to Lagos made an emergency stop early Thursday morning after suspected technical issues. The incident, which occurred during taxiing just before takeoff, caused panic among passengers, many of whom shared their concerns on social media. One of the passengers, prominent human rights lawyer Inihebe Effiong, described the situation on his X (formerly Twitter) account, saying the flight, scheduled for 6:30 AM, was “forcefully” halted during taxiing. He reported that passengers were startled, and some screamed in fear as the plane came to an unexpected stop. Effiong further mentioned that the flight's captain attributed the issue to a bird strike, raising questions about the effectiveness of the bird detection equipment at Abuja’s airport. The lawyer expressed relief that the incident occurred before takeoff, noting that it would have bee

UGANDA: TIKTOKER CONVICTED FOR INSULTING PRESIDENT MUSEVENI. (PHOTO).

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 Uganda: TikToker Convicted for Insulting President Museveni A 21-year-old TikToker, Emmanuel Nabugodi, has been convicted by a court in Uganda for posting a video on TikTok in which he called for the public flogging of President Yoweri Museveni. Nabugodi, who created a mock trial of the president, pleaded guilty to charges of spreading hate speech and faces a potential seven-year prison sentence.  During his court appearance on Wednesday, Nabugodi was remanded to Kigo Maximum Security Prison near Kampala, where he will remain until his sentencing on November 18. Prosecutors have recommended the maximum sentence of seven years. This conviction makes Nabugodi the fourth individual in recent days to face charges for insulting the president and his family. The case is part of a broader trend of growing repression of dissent in Uganda, where critics of Museveni’s long rule, which began in 1986, have faced arrests and harsh penalties. Other recent cases include a 21-year-old TikToker senten

APPEAL COURT DISQUALIFIES ONDO LABOUR PARTY GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE, EBISENI. (PHOTO).

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 Appeal Court Disqualifies Ondo Labour Party Governorship Candidate, Ebiseni The Court of Appeal in Abuja has disqualified Olusola Ebiseni as the Labour Party’s candidate for the upcoming Ondo state governorship election. The court’s decision, delivered on Wednesday, November 13, was the result of an appeal challenging Ebiseni’s nomination by some members of the party.  Ebiseni, who is also the secretary-general of the Afenifere group, has been involved in a candidacy dispute with Ayodele Olorunfemi, a unionist. The ruling was issued by a three-member panel, led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko.

MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES VOW TO RESOLVE IRRITATION ISSUES HINDERING SUGAR PRODUCTION. (PHOTO).

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 Minister of Water Resources Vows to Resolve Irrigation Issues Hindering Sugar Production The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Joseph Utsev, has pledged to address the ongoing irrigation challenges affecting sugar production across Nigeria. During a meeting with the Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Kamar Bakrin, in Abuja, Utsev affirmed his ministry's commitment to supporting the NSDC's goal of achieving self-sufficiency in sugar production. Bakrin raised concerns about the critical water access issues faced by sugar estates, which rely on consistent irrigation for sugarcane cultivation. He emphasized that sugarcane requires between 1,500 and 2,500mm of water throughout its 12-18 month growth cycle, and without reliable irrigation, both yield and quality suffer, leading to lower sugar output. One key request from Bakrin was the approval for a 20-kilometre canal system to transport water from River Hadejia to the Great Northern Nige

WHO WARNS AFRICA'S DIABETES CASE COULD REACH 54 MILLION BY 2045.(PHOTO).

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 WHO Warns Africa's Diabetes Cases Could Reach 54 Million by 2045 The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the number of people living with diabetes in Africa could soar to 54 million by 2045, representing the highest projected increase globally if urgent measures are not taken. Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, made this statement on Thursday in commemoration of World Diabetes Day 2024, which was themed “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps.” Currently, over 24 million adults in the WHO African Region are living with diabetes, with half of them undiagnosed. Dr. Moeti attributed the rising prevalence of the disease to factors like urbanization, poor diets, and a lack of physical activity. Without immediate intervention, the number of people affected is expected to nearly double by 2045, creating significant health and economic burdens due to the high cost of managing the condition. Diabetes, a chronic condition that leads to uncontrolled blood sugar lev

AFRICA CDC APPROVES FIRST LOCALLY MADE MPOX TEST FROM MOROCCO. (PHOTO).

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 Africa CDC Approves First Locally Made Mpox Test from Morocco The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has officially endorsed Morocco's first locally produced mpox test, marking a significant achievement in the fight against the virus across the continent. The test, a real-time PCR diagnostic tool, can rapidly detect mpox DNA in blood, saliva, or tissue samples.  This endorsement, announced on Thursday, follows the Africa CDC's declaration of the mpox outbreak as a public health emergency three months ago. The approval highlights the test's reliability and effectiveness in detecting the virus, underscoring the African Union's ongoing efforts to enhance the self-sufficiency of public health systems on the continent. The World Health Organization (WHO) had previously approved the Alinity m MPXV assay, another mpox diagnostic test, which detects the virus from lesion swabs. Since the beginning of the year, more than 50,000 cases of mpox and arou

POWER DISCONNECTION HITS UCH: PATIENTS AND RELATIVES STRUGGLE AS ELECTRICITY SUPPLY IS CUT OFF AGAIN. (PHOTO).

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 Power Disconnection Hits UCH: Patients and Relatives Struggle as Electricity Supply is Cut Off Again Patients and their families at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan are enduring severe hardship following the latest power disconnection by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). This marks the second time this year the hospital has faced a power cut, with the latest disruption occurring on October 26, 2024, due to an outstanding debt. Previously, UCH’s power supply was cut off in March 2024 over a N495 million debt, but it was restored after intervention from prominent Ibadan indigenes and stakeholders. Despite an agreement to settle the debt in installments, IBEDC claims that UCH has failed to honor its commitment, resulting in the new disconnection. As a result, critical services at the hospital, including surgeries, laboratory tests, and water supply, have been halted. Staff members revealed that the hospital owes over N200 million in accumulated bills. Ma

LAGOS DINNER FOR CJN: SENIOR LAWYERS DEFEND JUSTICE KEKERE-EKUN'S ATTENDANCE AMID CRITICISM. (PHOTO).

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 Lagos Dinner for CJN: Senior Lawyers Defend Justice Kekere-Ekun’s Attendance Amid Criticism Senior Nigerian lawyers have defended Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun’s participation in a Lagos State Government dinner honoring her contributions to the legal system, amid controversy over her engagement with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, a litigant before the Supreme Court. Legal experts, including Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, and Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN, argued that attending state functions does not undermine judicial independence and is a positive reflection of the judiciary's role in a functioning democracy.

PRIVATE VEHICLES WILL BE PROFILED, REPAINTED BY JANUARY TO CURB 'ONE CHANCE'- WIKE. (PHOTO).

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 Private vehicles will be profiled, repainted by January to curb 'one chance' - Wike The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike has disclosed that by January private people in Abuja won't be allowed to run taxis without profiling and without using the Abuja colour to reduced the level of 'one chance'. He explained that at bus and taxi terminals, they know the vehicle citizens board and the driver but if you choose to travel on your own, taking risks on the road, that's your personal responsibility. This was disclosed via a media chat the Minister had in Abuja on Wednesday, November 13. Wike said: "First of all, let us appreciate that what we're doing in terms of using bus terminals is okay, and then how would you run it in terms of sustainability  "Now what we have agreed, government can not only depend on private sectors in terms of transportation, "While we allow the private sector to participate, government will on it's

ALLEGED N101. 4BILLION FRAUD: COURY ORDERS SERVICE OF HEARING NOTICE ON YAHAYA BELLO. (PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE.

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 Alleged N101.4 Billion Fraud: Court Orders Service of Hearing Notice on Yahaya Bello   Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Maitama, has directed that a hearing notice be served on Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State, at his residence and on the court’s notice board. This follows his repeated failure to appear in court for arraignment on charges of fraud involving N101.4 billion.   In a ruling on Thursday, November 14, 2024, Justice Anenih instructed that the hearing notice be pasted at Bello’s residence at No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, and displayed on the court’s notice board. The court issued this order as the public summons requiring Bello’s appearance is set to expire on November 17, 2024, allowing him a few remaining days to comply.   The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC requested an adjournment to allow Bello more time to respond to the public summons, which provides a 30-day period for his appearance. Acc

EFCC ARRESTS MAN FOR ALLEGED CURRENCY RACKETEERING IN ENUGU. (PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE.

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 EFCC Arrests Man for Alleged Currency Racketeering in Enugu   Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have arrested one Hussaini Ibrahim in connection with alleged currency racketeering of N460, 000. 00 (Four Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira). Ibrahim was arrested by the Special Task Force of the Commission, Enugu Zonal Directorate on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, following intelligence received by the Commission linking him with suspected currency racketeering. The suspect was arrested around Emenite area of Enugu metropolis with N200 (Two Hundred Naira) denomination totaling N460, 000. 00. He will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

NIGERIAN RAILWAY CORPORATION EXPANDS ABUJA-KADUNA TRAIN SERVICES TO SIX DAILY TRIPS ON WEEKDAYS. (PHOTO).

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 Nigerian Railway Corporation Expands Abuja-Kaduna Train Services To Six Daily Trips On Weekdays  The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced an increase in its Abuja-Kaduna train services from four to six trips daily, running from Monday to Friday. This expansion is aimed at meeting the growing demand for train services on the route. The acting Managing Director of the NRC, Mr. Ben Iloanusi, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lagos, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The statement, signed by Mr. Yakub Mohmood, Deputy Director of Public Relations at the NRC, highlighted the corporation’s commitment to improving customer satisfaction and addressing complaints of ticket racketeering. “The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has increased the number of train services from four to six services from Monday to Friday on its Abuja-Kaduna route.  “The acting Managing Director of the Corporation, Mr Ben Iloanusi, confirmed this in a statement o