Author: Chima Onyido

Joseph Aloba, the father of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has insisted that a paternity test is an essential requirement to ascertain his grandson’s true lineage. Aloba’s statement comes amid an ongoing debate regarding the need for a DNA test in the investigation into Mohbad’s death. He expressed his willingness to provide consent for the DNA test and is open to designating a representative if he cannot be present during the procedure. The late singer’s father said this in a fresh video making the rounds on social media. He insisted that the test should be conducted…

The Senate has officially approved the nominations of Ola Olukoyede as the Chairman, Mohammed Hamajoda as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Chamber also confirmed Halima Shehu as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA). READ ALSO: EFCC Chairman Nominee Addresses Senate, Calls for United Efforts in Combating Corruption The Senate has officially approved the nominations of Ola Olukoyede as the Chairman, Mohammed Hamajoda as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Halima Shehu as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Social Investment…

Olu Olukoyede, the nominee for the position of chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) appointed by President Bola Tinubu, has stressed the importance of collective responsibility in the battle against corruption in Nigeria. Olukoyede conveyed this message while presenting himself for screening before the senators during a session with the Committee of the Whole in Abuja. He lamented that any time a suspected is being prosecuted by the agency, all his friends and relatives automatically declare the EFCC as an adversary. READ ALSO: Katsina Governor’s Aide Dies in Auto Crash He said: “If tomorrow the EFCC moves to…

No fewer than 178,864 pre-paid meters were installed in the Q2 of 2023, representing an increase of 3,586 against the 175,281 installed in 1Q of the same year. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) made this known in its Q2, 2023 report pasted on its website on Wednesday. The commission said a total of 168,397 meters were installed under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework while 9,302 meters were installed under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) framework. It said that the vendor and Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) financed framework recorded 1,143 and 22 meter installations respectively. READ ALSO: FG…

Mrs Modupe Maduba, an Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer, told an FCT High Court in Kubwa that a 35-year-old man, Onyebuchi Ezema defiled his four -year-old daughter. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP), charged Ezema, who resides in Zone 9, Lugbe AirPort Road, Abuja with assault, to which he pleaded not guilty. Maduba of the NAPTIP said this while being cross examined by the defence counsel, Opeyemi Adeyemi at the resumed trial of Onyebuchi Ezema. During cross-examination, Adeyemi asked Maduba the time, date and place the defendant committed the said offence. READ ALSO: Senator Lola…

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Oluseye Odunmbaku has tragically died in his sleep at his residence in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. ACP Odunmbaku held the crucial role of heading the Department of Operations within the police force. His death was confirmed by the state Police spokesman, CSP Asinim Butswat, but details surrounding the circumstances of his passing remain undisclosed. READ ALSO: INEC records 1, 000 pre-election litigations in 2023 poll The State Police Command expressed regret at the loss and noted ACP Odunmbaku’s position within the force until his passing.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has granted approval for the use of a single dose of the Gardasil vaccine in the treatment of cervical cancer in Nigeria. The development aims to combat the rising cases of cervical cancer in the country. Consequently, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) will initiate the off-label use of the quadrivalent Gardasil vaccine as a single dose schedule as part of routine immunization. The implementation is scheduled to commence in the last quarter of 2023. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made this announcement during a…

The Nigerian Senate Tuesday, postponed the consideration of a motion calling for the reopening of the borders between Nigeria and Niger. The Nigerian government had shut down all land borders with Niger Republic in August as part of sanctions against the military junta that ousted Niger President Mohamed Bazoum. During Tuesday’s plenary, Senator Suleiman Kawu Sumaila (NNPP, Kano) highlighted the adverse impact of the border closure on economic activities in various border towns in states such as Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, and Borno. He argued that the closure contradicts the constitutional provisions that guarantee the security and welfare…

The Labour Party (LP) has expressed its concern over the intention of the 360 members of the House of Assembly to be presented with vehicles estimated at around N160 million each. The party criticized what it described as a lack of sensitivity exhibited by both the executive and legislative arms under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) administration. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, said it is saddening that with deepening poverty among Nigerians, the administration had decided to increase its appetite for a life of opulence…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has strongly condemned an apparent attack on a hospital in northern Gaza on Tuesday that has reportedly left many hundreds of people killed and injured. An Israeli airstrike struck al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, international media reported, citing the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled enclave. The details have yet to be verified and Israeli authorities have not released any statement on the alleged strike. Patients and displaced civilians were reportedly seeking shelter at the hospital, following Israel’s order to evacuate to the south in advance of what is expected to be a ground assault.…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has condemned the attack on Al Ahli Arab Hospital in the north of the Gaza Strip. WHO said in a statement released on Tuesday that the attack reported large scale casualties. “The hospital was operational, with patients, health and care givers, and internally displaced people sheltering there. “Early reports indicate hundreds of fatalities and injuries,” it said. According to the statement, the hospital is one of 20 in the north of the Gaza Strip facing evacuation orders from the Israeli military. It said that the order for evacuation had been impossible to carry out given…

Popular Nigerian actor, Bolanle Ninalowo, has opened up about the trials and tribulations he has faced as a father. He identified several key coping mechanisms, including strength, patience, perseverance, wisdom, and, most importantly, God’s grace, in navigating the complexities of parenthood. Ninalowo expressed his commitment to turn his pain and struggles into motivation, weaving his goals and objectives into the very essence of his being. READ ALSO: Impeachment: Ganduje’s led APC NWC meet Ondo Lawmakers over Lucky Ayedatiwa He said he believed that the bigger picture of his children’s future is always more significant than the challenges of the present.…

The Federal Government has pledged to end continuous contamination of drinking water sources, as no fewer than 41 per cent of the country’s public water supply were contaminated with faeces. The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, said this at the launch of the Nigerian Roadmap for Water Quality Management and Guidelines for Rural Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Surveillance in Abuja on Tuesday. Utsev said the roadmap was an opportunity to change the poor narrative of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) indices in the country. According to him, the 2021 WASH Normal Outcome Routine Mapping 3 shows…

The Police in Lagos, on Tuesday, arraigned a 25-year-old man, Senusi Usman, for alleged attempted theft of government cables. Usman appeared before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court on a count charge. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty before Magistrate L K.J. Layeni. The prosecutor, Dr Simon Uche, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Oct. 3, at Abia Gate at the Trade Fair complex, Ojo. He alleged that the defendant unlawfully tampered with underground armoured cables at the complex in an attempt to steal them. READ ALSO: Reps to investigate utilisation of COVID-19 funds by MDAs Uche said…

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the utilisation of funds disbursed to government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for COVID-19 intervention. This followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Nyampa Zakari (APC-Adamawa) at plenary on Tuesday. Moving the motion, Zakari said that the COVID-19 outbreak was a major pandemic in 2019 that affected families, businesses and economies worldwide. He said that the pandemic resulted in loss of lives, jobs and economic opportunities for millions of homes in different parts of the world including Nigeria. READ ALSO: Senate Chief Whip storms out of plenary The lawmaker said that…

Chief Whip of Senate, Sen.Ali Ndume on Tuesday left the plenary, after President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio ruled him out of order. Ndume had raised a point of order citing Order 54 of Senate rule, saying that it was the responsibility of the Chief Whip to remind and guild Senate on procedure and processes of plenary. Ndume through the order attempted to draw the attention of the Senate President to matters relating to proceedings of Senate. READ ALSO: Kano CP: No criminal recruited into Police But President of Senate, shortly after listening to Ndume’s point of order said the section…

All Progressive Congress (APC) says great exploits are expected from the new Minister of Youth Development, Dr Jamila Ibrahim and the Minister of State for Youth, Mr Ayodele Olawande. Mr Dayo Israel, the National Youth Leader of APC, said this on Tuesday in Lagos in a congratulatory letter to the duo. “Let me begin by extending my most sincere congratulations to you on your nomination, confirmation and now swearing-in, as ministers to steer the ship of youth development for the Federal Government of Nigeria. “Our party and the nation are proud of you and anticipate great exploit from you. “You…

President Bola Tinubu is to commemorate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and launch of the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) for 15million households. The event, to be held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, would be attended by cabinet members, the diplomatic community as well as top government functionaries and political aides. The day is an international observance celebrated each year on Oct. 17 throughout the world. The observance of the day can be traced back to Oct. 17, 1987 when over 100,000 people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris, where the Universal…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced tracking of 111 constituency projects in Lagos. The Resident Anti-corruption Commission Coordinator in Lagos, Mr Kabir Elelu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday that the monitoring team commenced the exercise on Monday. According to him, the team will visit all the local government offices in Lagos State for the exercise. Elelu said that the tracking would focus on constituency projects, executive projects and captive funds. NAN reports that the commission says it will commence tracking of 1,932 constituency projects, valued at N500 billion…

Niger’s military regime has confirmed that six soldiers and 31 “terrorists” were killed during confrontations in a turbulent region known for insurgent activities associated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group. The clashes between the armed forces and what the defense ministry referred to as “terrorist elements” occurred in the western Tillaberi region, located near Burkina Faso, spanning from Sunday to Monday. According to AFP, eighteen soldiers were also injured, it added in a statement. Tillaberi is in the vast and unstable “three borders” region between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, where jihadist insurgents have carried out attacks for years.…