NIGERIAN NOTCH

The President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio has pledged the full cooperation and support of the National Assembly for better policing of Nigeria. Akpabio made the pledge at the maiden edition of the Nigeria Police Awards and Commendations Ceremony which held on Monday evening in Abuja. Akpabio told the audience which included Vice President Kashim Shettima that "as the leader of the National Assembly, I pledge our full cooperation and support for the better policing of Nigeria. "We recognise the importance of a well-equipped and motivated police force in ensuring the security and well-being of our citizens. "We will continue to work tirelessly to provide the necessary legislative framework and resources to enable the police to carry out their duties effectively." The Senate President commended the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and the entire leadership of the Nigeria Police Force for organising the event and urged them to use the o

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has said private jet operators unlicensed to operate commercial services are causing the Federal Government a huge loss of revenue. Keyamo, who described the practice as economic sabotage, also warned private aircraft operators unlicensed to fly commercially to desist from the act, saying he is coming for them. The minister gave the warning on Newsnight, a Channels TV programme, further arguing that in terms of passengers’ safety, their regulation is low. His words: “Almost all these private jets are operating commercially resulting in a huge loss of revenue for federal government because the licence to fly a private aircraft privately and the one to fly it commercially is so much. “When it is commercial, the money paid to federal government is so much. So, people now take licenses from us to say I have just bought a private jet and I want to be using it for my business or to fly my friends and family, and we giv

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has adjourned the trial of Chairman of Ibeto Energy Development Company, Chief Cletus Ibeto, who was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged N4.8 billion fraud, till May 27, 2024. The judge, Justice Oyindamola Ogala fixed the new date for hearing in the case, due to the defendant’s counsel, Adebayo Oshodi, prayer to move an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the charge. However, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacob opposed the application on the ground that the defendant had filed an appeal on same issue before the Court of Appeal and the appellate was yet to decide on it. Jacob insisted that court could not entertain the application because the defendant has not submitted himself for trial. The prosecutor also informed the court that the defendant in his move for out of court settlement, had repaid the commission a total sum of N2 billion in instalments. After listenin

This year's mothering sunday celebration in the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka will be remembered in diverse forms especially for the family of Mrs Alice Odo of Nkporogwu Ukehe Igbo Etiti LGA of Enugu state, as she bagged the Ezinne title to the glory of God, at Saint Christopher’s Parrish, Ukehe. Mrs Alice Odo, is the mother of Rt Hon. Chidera Odo, Ezeomeogo 1, MD Colliery Guest House Enugu. In the homily to celebrate the high mass for the day, Rev Fr Solomon Onuh who presided over the church service, said that a mother’s love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.” Continuing , he said that a mother’s love is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking. It never fails or falters. He called on mother's all over the world to always look inwards and care for their children as they are the bedrock of civilization.  Ezinne Alice Odo, the celebrant while speaking to newsmen, thanked God for life and the joy of being honored with the Ez

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has been suspended by members of his ward, the Ganduje Ward in the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.  The Executive Council of Ganduje Ward led by Haruna Gwanjo disclosed this during a press briefing in Kano on Monday. Gwanjo said that the former governor has to clear his name of corruption allegations regarding his long-standing dollar case. A viral video had captured Ganduje allegedly receiving bundles of dollar notes as a bribe from a man said to be a contractor and stuffing them in the pockets of his flowing gown. The video, which garnered widespread attention in 2017, has been the subject of intense scrutiny. Ganduje had denied the content of the video when it first surfaced and maintained his innocence but years after, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP)’s administration of Governor Abba Yusuf revisited the case, vowing the prosecute the ex-governor. The Kano High Court

BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  The Federal Cooperative College Oji River Enugu State has formally admitted her new students into the institution.  The 26th matriculation ceremony which was held at the college matriculation arena at the weekend, was an opportunity for the new students to listen to scholarly advise from the Provost of the college Dr. Obodagu Tonica Owan, the chairperson of the occasion, Dr. Nkechi Ojiagu, fellow of Institute of Cooperative Professionals of Nigeria and Head of Department of Cooperative Economics and Management Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, the Guest Lecturer Prof. Andrew Chikodi Iheanacho of the University of Agriculture Makurdi, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Prof. Garba Hamidu Sharubutu and a host of other academic giants who took turns to remind the new students of the dire need to take advantage of the vast opportunities at the Federal Cooperative College Oji River to build themselves into wealth creat

  The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) today informed it's customers of a total system collapse. In a press release made available by Emeka Ezeh, Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC said that the organization "wishes to inform her esteemed customers of a total system collapse which occurred at 2:41am today, 15th April, 2024." "This resulted in the loss of supply to all our interface TCN stations. Consequently, we were unable to provide service to our customers in Abia, Anambra,  Ebonyi,  Enugu, and Imo States." He said that the situation is gradually being resolved as they received supply at Awada TCN station, Onitsha, at 7:30am. "We are in constant communication with the relevant authorities awaiting full restoration of supply by the National Control Centre, NCC, Oshogbo." 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has faulted suspended Humanitarian Minister, Betta Edu, her predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, and the Coordinator of the National Social Insurance Programmes Agency, Halima Shehu, while revealing that a combined total of N32.7bn and $445,000 has been recovered so far from ministry. The commission made the development known on Sunday via its official X handle in response to rumours concerning the progress of its mobile investigations into the alleged financial misappropriation in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. The statement signed by the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, read, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has noticed the rising tide of commentaries, opinions, assumptions and insinuations concerning its progressive investigations into the alleged financial misappropriation in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social De

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it is investigating several celebrities suspected of involvement in Naira abuse. This is according to a statement released by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale on Sunday. Oyewale disclosed that the commission has summoned several celebrities for questioning, and they have provided valuable information during the interrogation process. The EFCC emphasized its awareness of viral videos circulating online, depicting individuals engaging in acts of naira abuse. The anti-graft agency commended the public for their vigilance in protecting the sanctity of the national currency, signaling a collective effort in combating financial misconduct. “On the issue of the works of the commission against Naira abuse, dollarization of the economy, and the enforcement of all extant laws relating to them, the EFCC appreciates the avalanche of public awakening, support, and involvement demonstrated so far,” the statement reads in part. “Incre

Organised Labour has demanded N615,000 as the new minimum wage for workers to cope with the many economic realities and high cost of living in Nigeria. The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) confirmed the development to Channels Television on Sunday. The new wage of N615,000 monthly was reached after consultations between the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). [ The labour unions said the current minimum wage of N30,000 can no longer cater for the wellbeing of an average Nigerian worker, lamenting that not all governors are paying the current wage award which will expire by April, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Act is to be reviewed every five years to meet up with contemporary economic demands of workers. The NLC and the TUC have at various times called on the administration of President Bola Tinubu to hasten the upward review of wage awards. Earlier in January, the Federal Government inau