Author: Safiu Kehinde

Safiu Kehinde The Court of Appeal in Abuja has, on Tuesday, declared the impeachment of Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, as void and illegal. The judge, who presided over the lawsuit, labelled the impeachment as unconstitutional while affirming Shaibu’s status as the deputy governor of the state. According to reports, the judge held that the said impeachment was in gross violation of sections 188 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution. This comes as another heavy knock on Obaseki who has been in loggerhead with Shaibu ever since the latter’s declaration of interest in the governorship election. Shaibu was impeached…

Safiu Kehinde A 40 year-old Nigerian man, identified as Yomi Jones Olayeye, has been arrested in the United States over alleged theft of $10 million unemployment benefits. This was disclosed in statement issued from the United States Attorney’s Office. According to the statement, Olayeye was arrested upon arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City on charges that he, and others, conspired to fraudulently obtain at least $10 million in COVID-19 unemployment benefits. He was charged with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Olayeye reportedly…

Says It’s Opportunity to End Falsehood Against Him Safiu Kehinde Peoples Democratic Party’ Board of Trustees has, yesterday, paid solidarity visit to Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara. This was disclosed in a post on Fubara’s X handle where he stressed to have hosted the party’s BoT at the Port Harcourt Government House. This is coming amid controversies surrounding Fubara’s possible defection from the PDP. Fubara, however, assured the BoTs, led by Adolphus Wabara, of his loyalty to PDP while labelling his defection claims as falsehoods. “Today, I hosted the PDP BoT, led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, at the Government House…

Toheeb Olalere The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has inaugurated a 10-member Inter-Ministerial Committee to enforce the Supreme Court’s judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments in Nigeria. The committee aims to ensure that local governments operate independently without state government interference. The committee comprises representatives from various ministries and organizations, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as Chairman, Minister of Finance, Attorney General of the Federation, and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, among others. The move aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to implement the constitutional provisions recognizing…

Agency Report The Speaker, Gombe State House Assembly, Mr Abubakar Luggerewo, says they are committed to the speedy passage of a bill that will boost the welfare and protection of the People Living with Disabilities (PWDs). The News Agency of Nigeria (N AN) reports that it is the State Disability Protection Law and Establishment of State Disability Commission Bill. Luggerewo made the pledge at the one-day committee retreat to harness public hearing inputs on the proposed law on Tuesday in Bauchi. He said that the assembly had prioritised the Bill for the Gombe State Disability Protection Law and establishment of…

Safiu Kehinde Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested five persons, including, notable government officials in connection to alleged multi-billion Naira drug supply scam Among the arrested persons was Alhaji Mohammed Kabawa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. Also arrested by the commission was the chairman of the state branch of Association for Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Alhaji Abdullahi Bashir, who is also the Chairman Tauroni Local Government Area (LGA). In the same vein, the anti-graft agency arrested the Managing Director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals, Garba Kwankwaso, the nephew of the NNPP National Leader, Sen.…

Agency Report The State Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Rivers, Mr George Mfongang, has raised concern over the alarming rate of migration of young Nigerian graduates abroad in search of greener pasture. He spoke when he received the Rivers State Commander of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mrs Nwamaka Ikediashi, in his office in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. Mfongang, who described Nigeria as “a great country with great potentials” for her graduate youths, called on leaders and citizens to be patriotic, disciplined, honest and selfless in all they do to make Nigeria better.…

Agency Report The Rivers Government said it has detected two cases of the deadly Mpox infection in the state. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, confirmed the development at a news conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. Oreh said the state had already put its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre on high alert to respond to further emergencies. “Recently, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control stated that there are 39 confirmed cases of mpox across the country. “Out of this number, Rivers State has two confirmed cases of Mpox. “We have deployed our medical teams to respond to all…

Safiu Kehinde Enugu State government has vowed to demolsih houses used for Kidnapping across the state. This was disclosed in a statement issued yesterday by the Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Peter Mbah on External Relations, Mr Uche Anichukwu. According to the statement, Anichukwu said the list of marked kidnappers den has been compiled and will soon be demolished. ““He said that after due diligence, the government had compiled the list of property used for kidnapping purposes in the state, “There is no hiding place for criminal elements in Enugu State. “They either repent, leave town or meet their waterloo,…

Safiu Kehinde The African Regional Organization of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has condemned the allegations filed against Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero, by the Nigerian Police Force. This was contained in a statement issued by the Union’s General Secretary, Akhator Joel, earlier today. According to the statement, the allegations are blatant misuse of state power against the trade union leaders. ITUC-Africa stressed that it contravened several international and national legal instruments designed to protect workers’ rights and freedom. As highlighted in the statement, the Nigerian Police Force’s allegations and invitation of Joe Ajaero to their custody for…