Author: Safiu Kehinde

Safiu Kehinde Suspected Bandits who killed Emir of Gobir, Isa Bawa, has released his son after collecting N60 million ransom. The late Sokoto Monarch’s son, Surajo Isa, confirmed the release of his brother who was abducted alongside father last month. According to Surajo, the bandits demanded and received a ransom of ₦60 million along with five motorcycles before releasing his brother. “He came back from the bandits’ den around 8:30 pm,” Surajo said. Meanwhile, the released son of the deceased monarch, disclosed that his father was buried in the forest by the bandits after his death. The District Head’s murder…

Agency Report Justice Sylvanus Oriji of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has adjourned hearing in the FCT minister ‘s motion on the restriction order on participants of the hunger protest until Sept. 4. The adjournment came after counsel to the FCT minister (claimant), Moses Ebute, SAN told the court that he served the motion on notice on the respondents. The counsel to 1st to 4th respondents, Dr S.M Oyeghe did not oppose but asked for the motion to be served on them in the court. The other respondents were not present in court nor legally represented. Justice Oriji,…

Agency Report Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, says the 2025 budget for State House agencies will be based on needs assessment. He said this was to ensure that funding allocated to agencies were based on actual requirements. Gbajabiamila spoke to the newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, following a one-day fact finding tour of some government agencies under the supervision of the State House. “In any country in the world, resources are limited. For us it is about prioritising. Where are we so far? What have the agencies done? “How have they measured up to their mandates…

Toheeb Olalere Sequel to the death of the Emir of Gobir, Isa Bawa, former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Federal Government of its failure in addressing the spate of insecurity in the country. In a condolence message to the deceased family posted on his X handle today, Atiku said the FG’s lack of concern and poor security strategies has amounted to an increase in distressing events such as the death of the Emir at kidnappers’ den. “The heinous act of violence perpetrated by bandits resulting in the untimely demise of such a revered leader is a stark…

Agency Report In 2018, India’s top court legalised gay sex in a landmark ruling – but the country still doesn’t allow transgender people and gay and bisexual men to donate blood. People from the LGBT community say the decades-old ban is “discriminatory” and have gone to court to challenge it. When Vyjayanti Vasanta Mogli’s mother was on her deathbed battling advanced Parkinson’s, she needed regular blood transfusions. But Ms Mogli, a trans woman based in the southern city of Hyderabad, couldn’t donate blood despite being her mother’s sole caregiver. “I had to keep posting [requests for blood donors] on WhatsApp…

Agency Report Thousands in Indonesia have gathered to protest against their government’s attempts to reverse a constitutional court ruling that would open up elections to their rivals from smaller parties. Demonstrators have gathered outside parliament in the capital Jakarta, as well as other major cities such as Padang, Bandung and Yogyakarta. On Wednesday, Indonesia’s top court ruled that parties would not need a minimum 20% of representation in their regional assemblies in order to field a candidate. Yet within 24 hours, parliament tabled an emergency motion to reverse these changes – a move which has sparked widespread condemnation and fears…

Safiu Kehinde The Federal Government has revealed that nearly 4.4 million children in the Northeast and Northwest are Malnourished. This was disclosed by the Director of Nutrition Department in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ladidi Bako-Aiyebusi, while speaking at a five days meeting with nutrition experts and stakeholders in Keffi local government area of Nasarawa state yesterday. The statistics, according to Ladidi, was contained in a 2021 survey by the National Food Consumption and Micronutrient. Ladidi traced the cause of the situation to inadequate access to food, poor food consumption, improper feeding and caring amongst others. “…the…

Agency Report The Police in Katsina State have arrested one Halilu Yusuf, 21, for allegedly kidnapping a six-year-old boy. The police spokesman, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Katsina. He said: “On Aug. 17, at about 2pm, based on credible intelligence, the command succeeded in arresting Halilu Yusuf, 21, of Gezawa, via Shinkafi village, in connection with a suspected case of kidnapping a six-year-old.” He said that the suspect lured and kidnapped the victim from Kofar-Sauri quarters, who happens to be the son of his mentor and demanded a N2 million ransom from the father.…

Agency Report President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday condemned the tragic circumstances leading to the passing of Alhaji Isa Bawa, the District Head of Gatawa District, Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Sokoto State. In a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, his spokesman, the president described the attack on Bawa as deeply disturbing and a heinous act that would not go without a decisive response. The president extended his condolences to the bereaved family, the Gobir Emirate and Sokoto State Government. He prayed for the repose of the soul of the traditional ruler and comfort to his family at this difficult time.…

Safiu Kehinde Federal Government has slammed Fidelity Bank with N555.8 million over alleged data breaches. This was made known by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) at the Nigeria Data Protection (NDP) Act General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID) validation workshop in Abuja yesterday. As disclosed by the National Commissioner of NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, Fidelity Bank defaulted the NDP Act which was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu last year in an effort to enforce compliance of data protection on organizations by way of fines and other means. Following the conclusion of Investigation, which began in April last…