Author: Chima Onyido

The Labour Party has hailed the judgment of National Assembly Election Petition Tribunals in Lagos that upheld elections of Mr Okey-Joe Onuakalusi and Mr Wande George of Oshodi-Isolo II and Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituencies, respectively. The party’s Publicity Secretary, Mrs Olubunmi Odesanya, made this known in a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday. Odesanya said the party also received with rude shock the judgements delivered by the National and State Assembly Petition petition Tribunal where member for Ojo Federal Constituency was sacked. She added that the plea of its Lagos Central Senatorial Candidate’s were thrown out based on matters they feel…

The House of Representatives ad hoc committee set up to investigate crude oil theft and loss of revenue from gas has vowed to unveil identities of those behind oil theft in the country. Rep. Kabiru Rurum, chairman of the committee said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) ahead of its investigative hearing slated for September 7. He said the oil sector remained the major source of revenue for the country, adding that it was determined that the investigation would not be like the previous ones. According to him, oil and gas are the major areas where…

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Wednesday said the fire incident that occurred early on Wednesday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos was successfully brought under control. This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection in Abuja. “At approximately 0723 hours this morning, a suspected electrical spark at the baggage hall ceiling caused the smoke incident that was reported at Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, located in Ikeja, Lagos. “The source of the smoke was identified as burning lithium inverter battery installation at…

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has started delivering of judgment in the case brought before it by Peter Obi and the Labour Party, challenging the outcome of the presidential election, which saw President Bola Tinubu emerge victorious. Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, and his party, the Labour Party (LP), lodged this petition against President Tinubu’s win in the February 25, 2023, presidential election. Justice Abba Mohammed, a member of the tribunal’s five-member panel, is currently reading the lead judgment. His initial focus has been on addressing preliminary motions challenging the competence of certain aspects of the petition.…

Lagos State Police personnel resorted to tear gas to disperse protesting University of Lagos (UNILAG) students demonstrating against a 400 percent increase in their tuition fees, as reported by Tribune Online. The university’s management had announced a significant hike in student fees several weeks ago, a move that drew swift and sustained discontent from the student body. In a recent update, students bearing placards with various messages gathered at the Unilag junction to voice their opposition to the fee increment. Videos circulating on social media, including one shared by @jiggyboy41 on X (formerly Twitter), captured the moment when Nigerian police…

The Presidential Election Petitions Court has ruled that it lacks the jurisdiction to hear the petition filed by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) challenging the eligibility of President Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, therefore dismissed suit seeking disqualification of Tinubu and Shettima. In the lead judgment delivered on Wednesday, Justice Haruna Tsammani stated that the issues presented before the tribunal pertain to pre-election matters that should have been addressed in a high court, adding that the 180-day timeframe for resolving the matter had elapsed. “In Alhassan and others versus Ishaku and others, it was held that an election tribunal has…

UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed has encouraged all delegates of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to stay optimistic and work together to get the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track. Mohammed made the call at the opening of 78th session of UNGA on Tuesday in New York. “Let us forge the solutions that all people expect and make progress towards a better, more peaceful and prosperous future, and a healthier planet.” The deputy secretary-general emphasised that the General Assembly represented “our common humanity” and “our shared commitment” to peace, sustainable development and human rights.…

President Bola Tinubu has started a meeting with an investor in India as part of his official visit to the country ahead of the G20 Summit on Saturday and Sunday. A statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Tuesday in Abuja, said the president entered the meeting immediately on arrival after a 15 hours long intercontinental journey. The president met with Mr Prakash Hinduja, Chairman and CEO of the Hinduja Group of Companies, a conglomerate with a total asset portfolio exceeding 100 billion U.S. Dollars. The president received the industrialist within 90…

The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has debunked the notion that it conspired with management staff in recent job racketeering in colleges of education being probed by the National Assembly. The President of the union, Dr Smart Olugbeko, disclosed this on the sideline of its leadership training workshop in Abuja on Tuesday. The workshop was in collaboration with the Committee of Provosts in Nigeria, with the theme: “Leadership Skills Development for Effective Industrial Relations in the College of Education System”. Olugbeko said the union had been at the forefront of confronting impunity going on with the issues of…

President Bola Tinubu has arrived New Delhi, India, for a six-day official visit, to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit and other engagements. Tinubu was accompanied on the trip by top government officials, including ministers and Presidential aides. According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the president is expected to participate in the G20 Summit, which is scheduled to hold between September 9 and 10 On the sidelines of the submit, Tinubu will have high-level meetings with other world leaders and business executives as well as meet the Nigerian community in India. Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on…

First Lady Jill Biden has tested positive for COVID-19, as confirmed by the White House on Monday. This development comes just days before President Joe Biden, who tested negative for the virus, is set to travel to a Group of 20 (G20) summit in India. Mrs. Biden, 72 years old, who reportedly experienced mild symptoms, had her previous bout with COVID-19 occurred in August last year. Also, President Biden, now 80 years old, last tested positive for the virus in July 2022. Elizabeth Alexander, the First Lady’s communications director, stated, “This evening, the First Lady tested positive for COVID-19. She…

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has set up an eight-member committee to drive education roadmap in the country. Mamman, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja on Tuesday, said the committee had four weeks timeframe to come up with plans that would help transform the sector. He said there was need to kickstart the national assignment as ministers on a clearly defined path, to craft a turn around in the fortunes of the country. READ ALSO: Borno Govt raises concern over proliferation of lottery houses While saying that the event marked a pivotal moment in the nation’s pursuit of…

The Management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo, has announced the indefinite suspension of academic activities with immediate effect. This is contained in a statement issued by the institution’s Head, Corporate Affairs, Otunba Mike Aladenika, and made to newsmen on Tuesday in Benin. Aladenika said the suspension of activities was announced in a memo signed by the school’s Acting Registrar, Mr Ambrose Odiase. “The suspension of academic activities became necessary following an emergency meeting of the university’s Senate in Ekpoma on Monday to appraise the continued protest by students running into days. READ ALSO: Nigeria’s cinema generates N603m from ticket…

The Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN) says it generated N603 million from tickets sold across the country in August. Its National Chairman, Mr Opeyemi Ajayi, disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos, saying patronage at the cinemas in August was quite encouraging. According to Ajayi, 212, 192 viewers were admitted into the cinemas within the perioid under review. He said there was a sporadic improvement in sales and visitors patronage in August as against figures recorded in July. “August was quite a beautiful month, we showcased beautiful movies like: Akuddaya, Meg 2, Teenage Mutant Minja, A Bag of Trouble, Blue…

The National/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin, has upheld the victory of Sen. Adams Oshiomhole in the Feb. 25 Edo North Senatorial District election declared by INEC. The tribunal also upheld the election of Rep Ihonvbere Julius of the APC, representing Owan Federal Constituency. The three-man tribunal, led by Justice O.A. Chuioke, dismissed the petition filed by a former Senator, Francis Alimikhena, of the PDP for lack of merit. Alimikhena, through his counsel, Mr Rasak Isenalume, had petitioned against the former governor of the state, Sen Oshiomhole, alongside INEC and APC, in the suit NO: EPT/ED/SEN/02/2023. The 1st…

The Naira depreciated against the dollar on Monday as it exchanged at N747.87 at the Investors and Exporters window. The Naira dropped by 1.01 per cent compared to the N740.38 it exchanged for the dollar after the close of business on September 1. The open indicative rate closed at N772.06 to the dollar on Monday. A spot exchange rate of N799.90 to the dollar was the highest rate recorded within the day’s trading before it settled at N747.87. READ ALSO: Shettima advises political aides to promote integrity of Tinubu administration The Naira sold for as low as N730 to the…

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Monday in Abuja, advised political aides to avoid any actions that could tarnish the reputation of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Shettima made the call at the opening of the retreat and sensitisation programme for political aides and senior civil servants on administrative procedure and governance in the public sector. The retreat is being organised by the State House in conjunction with Direct Knowledge Consult L.td., from Sept. 4 to Sept. 22, at the Army Resource Centre. He said “It is essential to exercise discretion in both your public and private lives and to avoid…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has expressed dissatisfaction with the N85 billion contract for the provision of infrastructure for the Wasa Affordable Housing project in Wasa District, Abuja. Wike expressed the displeasure when he led the Minister of State for FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud and other government officials to the road construction site for the housing estate on Monday. Earlier, Mr Olusegun Olusan, acting Coordinator, Satellite Town Development Department, explained that the contract for the provision of the infrastructure was awarded in 2014 at N26 billion but revised to N85 billion in 2018. Olusade…

Residents of Amawbia in Awka South local government area of Anambra awoke to a sore sight on Monday morning, discovering that a man had been electrocuted to death at a local transformer. According to information gathered by Nigerian Tribune, the victim, who remains unidentified, was part of a gang attempting to vandalize electrical wire installations at a transformer situated in front of a hotel in Amawbia. The gang had taken advantage of a recent five-day power outage that affected major cities in Anambra. READ ALSO: Lagos gov submits second list of commissioner nominees to assembly However, tragedy struck when one…

Yet-to-be-identified hoodlums, suspected to be cultists, brutally stabbed and butchered a man to death on Sunday. The victim, described as “mentally challenged,” met a gruesome end while seated at his usual spot in Dike Park, near Zik Avenue, when the assailants launched their deadly attack. Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the assailants opened fire on the man, but the bullets failed to penetrate. Subsequently, they resorted to using various sharp objects to stab and dismember parts of his body. Stones were also used in the attack, ultimately leading to his tragic death. The motive behind this gruesome act remains…