Author: Good Evening Nigeria

The defence’s application, a further affidavit in response to the opposition of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the initial bail application filed before the court, could not be heard because the EFCC’s counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, prayed for an adjournment to properly respond to it. The hearing of the bail application of Binance Holdings Limited and one of its Executives, Tigran Gambaryan, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja was on Thursday stalled. This followed a fresh application filed by the counsel for the second defendant, Mark Mordi (SAN), a statement the EFCC…

Kenya’s defence chief and nine other top brass died on Thursday in a military helicopter crash in a remote area of the country, President William Ruto said. “Today at 2:20 pm, our nation suffered a tragic air accident… I am deeply saddened to announce the passing of General Francis Omondi Ogolla,” Ruto told reporters. The president, who had convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council after news of the accident emerged, said nine other “gallant military personnel” on board were also killed while two survived. He said the Kenya Air Force has dispatched an air investigation team…

The Federal Government has written at least 31 governors informing them of the impending flooding in their states between April and November this year. The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook for the country. At the event, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, an agency of the Federal Government, disclosed that a total of 148 local government areas in Lagos, Kano, Delta, and 28 other states had been categorised as high flood-risk areas. Also, in preparation for the impending flood, various state…

The federal government through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has commenced the disbursement of the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme to verified applicants. The disbursement is coming barely two months after the agreement for the loan was sealed between the federal government and the Bank of Industry. In a progress report posted on the trade minister’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, Doris Aniete stated that an unspecified number of beneficiaries have received their grants, adding that by Friday, April 19, another significant disbursement will be made to a substantial number of verified applicants. She said, “We…

Things have fallen apart in the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) House of Representatives caucus, which is currently involved in a heated debate over the party’s next National Executive Council meeting. According to sources in the meeting, the caucus is divided, with a side loyal to the FCT Minister wanting the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun, to continue as chairman. According to reports, Damagun is Wike’s man. He has been accused of not doing anything about the FCT minister’s alleged anti-party conduct due of their political relationship. Neither Wike nor Damagun has denied the accusation. It was however observed that…

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the permit of three private jet operators for engaging in commercial flights. The Acting Director General of the NCAA, Chris Najomo, announced the suspension of the three private operators in a riot act read to all airlines on Tuesday. The NCAA boss said the Minister Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, gave marching orders for the cessation of the use of private jets for commercial purposes in 2023 but the operators continued in such act. “Subsequently, in March 2024, the NCAA had issued a stern warning to holders of the permit…

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has re-scheduled the 2024 National Common Entrance Examination into Federal Unity Colleges and the Entrance Examination into Federal Government Academy, Suleja, Niger State. In a statement on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Council, Azeez Sani, said the common entrance examination earlier scheduled to hold on April, 20 2024, would now hold on June, 1 2024. “Also, the Entrance Examination for Gifted and Talented Children into Federal Government Academy, Suleja earlier Scheduled to hold on 4th May, 2024 will now hold on 25th May, 2024. “The rescheduling of the two examinations was due to low…

On Monday, April 15, shortly after 7 p.m., a notable Orthodox Bishop was stabbed while preaching at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, west of Sydney. Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was at the altar during mass when a knifeman approached him and repeatedly stabbed him in the neck and shoulder. Church members screamed in terror as the knifeman carried out the attack, which was viewed by those watching via live stream. Members quickly rushed to the altar to hold back the attacker and some members were attacked in the process. The bishop was later pictured being taken to…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said on Sunday that it was not recruiting new staff. The agency also cautioned members of the public against being duped, according to Femi Babafemi, its director, Media and Advocacy. Mr Babafemi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the agency was aware of a publication announcing that it was recruiting. “While we are taking necessary measures to unravel the people behind the publication, members of the public are advised to avoid being scammed. “The agency will like to emphasise that no recruitment is currently taking place. “In due…

The administration of US President Joe Biden has reacted to an Iranian drone attack against Israel by vowing steadfast support for West Jerusalem. “President Biden has been clear: Our support for Israel’s security is ironclad,” US National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said on Saturday in a White House statement. “The United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defence against these threats from Iran.” The statement was issued shortly after Iran launched a swarm of suicide drones against Israel on Saturday night, in apparent retaliation for a missile strike that killed seven military officers…

A police inspector (name withheld) has reportedly committed suicide in Maiduguri, Borno State capital. The late officer was attached to the Gwange division of the Borno Police Command. Community sources told Daily Trust that the inspector was looking healthy when he was last seen three days ago. It is unclear why the policeman took the action. His neighbours at Layin Bayan, Wulari Jerusalem area of Maiduguri raised the alarm on Saturday morning when they noticed his door was locked from behind and a strange odour was emanating from there. The matter was immediately reported to the Metro division of…

Iran has launched drones at Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday night. It said the wave could take hours to reach Israel. The IDF, in a statement shared on its verified X handle, said :”Iran launched UAVs from within its territory toward Israel a short while ago. ” The IDF is on high alert and is constantly monitoring the operational situation. The IDF Aerial Defense Array is on high alert, along with IAF fighter jets and Israeli Navy vessels that are on a defense mission in Israeli air and naval space. The IDF is monitoring all…

Agro Rangers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, on Saturday, repelled an attack by suspected bandits on the Federal Government’s grain silo in the Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State. In a statement on Sunday, the spokesman for the NSCDC, Buhari Hamisu, said the bandits who carried the attack at about 1 a.m., wanted to destroy the silo and abduct its manager, Mr Lawal Shitu-Yar’adua. According to Hamisu, the Agro Rangers responded swiftly, engaging the bandits in a fierce gun duel for over two hours. “The valiant operatives overpowered the criminals, who scaled the rear fence…

In the intricate dance of governance, the appointment of key officials holds the power to shape destinies and professional service. However, when political expediency trumps competence, the consequences can be dire. This seems to be the case of many appointments for chief executive officers even for critical professional organisations in the Heath, media and educational sector in most states in Nigeria. This appointment of incompetence tenure, embodies a stark lesson in the perils of appointing leaders devoid of expertise and integrity. Handling the reins of authority with little regard for meritocracy, lead to character flaws that quickly come to…

The Federal Government is set to arraign Binance Holdings Limited and its two top officials, Tigran Gambaryan and the fleeing Nadeem Anjarwalla on allegations bordering on tax evasion. The company and its two executives are set for arraignment before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja. One of the defendants, Tigran Gambaryan, arrived at the court at 9:15 am on Thursday while his colleague, Anjarwalla was absent as he was said to be on the run. The Federal High Court is still observing its Easter vacation and the trial judge is not a vacation judge but the…

An early morning fire outbreak ravaged several shops at Owode Market in Offa, Kwara State on Tuesday. The inferno, an eyewitness accounts said left a devastating loss of property. Video footage obtained by our source captured the heart-wrenching moment as shop owners mourned their losses. According to one trader in the video, speculation arose regarding the cause of the fire, with some attributing it to cooking activities rather than electrical faults. The inferno, which affected at least five shops, was eventually brought under control by the combined efforts of personnel from the Federal Fire Service and Kwara State Fire…

The Federal Government, on Monday, announced a new price of natural gas for power generation companies. An agency of the Federal Government, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), unveiled the new domestic base price and wholesale prices of natural gas for 2024, jacking it up to $2.42 per metric million British thermal units, from the previous rate of $2.18mmbtu. Announced and signed by the Chief Executive, NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, it also pegged the cost of commercial gas at $2.92mmbtu, up from the previous cost of $2.5mmbtu. Ahmed said the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 assented to by…

The students were reportedly kidnapped from their hostels on Thursday night. While the police were silent on the place of abduction, they confirmed the unfortunate incident. The police spokesperson in the state, SP Irene Ugbe told Channels Television in a phone conversation that the command, alongside other security agencies, has been doing everything possible to ensure the safe release of the three students. The three students, according to a source from the school, are Ojang Precious Ebejin, a 200-level student of the Department of Medicine and Surgery; Ugwu Chukwuemeka, a 300-level student of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology;…

By Abdulmumin Giwa Senator Shehu Sani represented Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone between 2015 and 2019 under the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). Things fell apart between the Kaduna State Governor Nasiru Elrufai who could not get the support of the Senator to pursue his bid for huge loans from foreign financiers. Shehu Sani expressed disapproval of El-Rufai’s loan request, and his position was shared by Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North) and Danjuma La’ah (Kaduna South) as the records have it. His argument then was that another loan for Kaduna State would erode the economic viability of the state, which already…

By Professor Abdulkarim Garba In the realm of monetary policy, central banks worldwide employ various instruments to regulate the banking system, ensuring stability and efficiency. One of such instruments is the minimum capital base requirement, which serves as a cornerstone for financial soundness. Recently, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced a substantial increase in the minimum capital base requirement for banks to five hundred billion naira. This decision raises pertinent questions about its necessity, implications for the banking sector, and its broader impact on the Nigerian economy, particularly concerning financial inclusion and economic development. Understanding Minimum…