Author: Safiu Kehinde

Agency Report The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun says Nigeria has no immediate plans to approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial assistance. Edun made this known at the African Finance Ministers’ briefing, during the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings, on Thursday in Washington. He said that the reliance on ongoing domestic economic reforms was working. The minister said that Nigeria’s reforms over two years had restored policy credibility and strengthened resilience against global economic shocks affecting many African economies. He said that the country had prioritised market-based adjustments, avoiding administrative controls, particularly in foreign exchange and petroleum pricing mechanisms.…

Safiu Kehinde The MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has temporarily halted its airtime and data lending service, “Xtratime”, following new regulations introduced by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). This was disclosed in a corporate filing to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) by the company on Thursday. In the disclosure signed by its Company Secretary, Uto Ukpanah, MTN said the suspension was necessitated by the FCCPC’s Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025, which established a new compliance and licensing framework for providers of digital credit services. The telecom operator explained that Xtratime enabled eligible prepaid subscribers…

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger has died at the age of 48 after his car was struck by a train. Police said the incident happened at about 08:20 local time (07:20 BST) at a level crossing near Salzburg. Manninger made 64 appearances for Arsenal between 1997 and 2002, winning the Premier League and FA Cup. He won 33 caps for Austria and was part of the squad that featured at Euro 2008 in his home country. “Alexander Manninger was an outstanding ambassador for Austrian football, both on and off the pitch,” said Austrian Football Association sporting director Peter Schottel. “His…

Trolls Atiku with Privatisation Policy Safiu Kehinde President Bola Tinubu has taken a jab at the David Mark-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as he made mockery of the opposition party’s National Convention. Tinubu labelled the convention as a street convention while addressing members of the Renewed Hope Ambassador during an engagement on Thursday. The President, who expressed readiness for the 2027 election while appreciating the group for their support, accused the ADC of violating court’s order by proceeding with the convention. “I’m grateful to all of you. This is an opportunity of lifetime to break the shackle…

Safiu Kehinde Suspected bandits have abducted 14 passengers, including candidates of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Benue state. The passengers, travelling in a Benue Links Nigeria Limited bus, were reportedly abducted along the Makurdi–Otukpo road on Wednesday night. According to a post shared on X on Thursday, an eyewitness disclosed that the bus, carrying about 18 passengers, was intercepted near Otukpo around 8 p.m. by the suspected bandits. The passengers, who were said to be mainly young people travelling to Otukpo to sit for the JAMB examination scheduled for Thursday, who marched into the bush by their…

Safiu Kehinde The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the arrest of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Faruoq and a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, over alleged $1.3 million and N746.6 million fraud. Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, the presiding judge, issued the warrant of their arrest on Thursday. As disclosed in a statement issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Farouq and Alkali were scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday before the court. They however failed to appear with only the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, present…

Safiu Kehinde A Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has on Thursday ordered the remand a 43-year-old man, Joseph Ayodeji, at the Correctional Centre over alleged defilement of his 12-year-old daughter. Ayodeji was alleged to have committed the offence on the 2nd of April at Ipao-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area of the state. According to the prosecutor, Insp. Sodiq Adeniyi, the defendant, who was living alone with his daughter, defiled her while she was preparing for school. Adeniyi disclosed the court that the girl’s teacher had noticed her countenance and asked what was wrong. The minor eventually opened up…

Agency Report The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday adjourned the alleged N33. 8 billion money laundering case filed against former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, until April 23 for adoption of final written addresses. The matter, which was fixed for parties to adopt their written addresses today before Justice James Omotosho, could not proceed due to the inability of the defence to file their process. When the case was called for hearing, Femi Atteh (SAN) who appeared for Mamman, informed the court that he had a motion, seeking an extension of time to file their written address. He…

Safiu Kehinde Catholic Pontiff, Pope Leo, has slammed world leaders allegedly manipulating religion to incite wars for their personal gain. The renowned clergyman who is currently in Cameroon for his first tour across Africa expressed his displeasure with the world leaders in a post shared on his official X handle on Thursday. “Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.” The post read. While no direct reference was made by Pope Leo, the statement is coming days after a…

Safiu Kehinde The Federal Government is set to reintegrate 744 repentant terrorists and victims of violent extremism back to the society following their graduation from the FG’s De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Camp under Operation Safe Corridor. The repentant terrorists graduated from the camp in Gombe on Thursday. In a breakdown of the 744 repentant terrorists, two reportedly hailed from Abia State, 10 from Adamawa State, one from Akwa Ibom State, two from Anambra State, three from Ebonyi State, and one from Enugu State. Meanwhile, 597 hailed from Borno State, 12 from Bauchi State, 15 from Kano State, three from Katsina…