Author: Safiu Kehinde
Safiu Kehinde is a Graduate of Mass Communications. He is passionate about accurate reporting and interested in investigating socio-political issues.
Agency Report The Benue State House of Assembly presided over by its Speaker, Hyacinth Dajoh, has summoned the Commissioner for Finance to appear before the lawmakers on Tuesday. The commissioner, who is to appear alongside the ministry’s permanent secretary, is to explain why the accounts of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) were still frozen. The lawmakers took the decision sequel to a motion of urgent public importance moved by the Deputy Minority Whip, Mr Blessed Onah (PDP/Oju State Constituency) during Wednesday plenary. Onah told his colleagues that on March 21, 2024, the House unanimously passed four resolutions calling on Gov.…
Safiu Kehinde A coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have charged Nigerian lawmakers to ensure that the proposed Bills to review the National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA), 2015 close regulatory gaps, protect public health, and align with global best practices. Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) made this charge on Wednesday at a news conference on the Proposed Legislative Bills to review the NTCA, 2015 in Abuja. According to reports, the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services had on Friday held a public hearing to discuss two…
Agency Report A bill for an Act to establish the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Satellite Towns Development Commission has, on Wednesday, scaled second reading in the Senate. This followed the presentation of the lead debate on the general principles of the bill by the sponsor, Sen. Aliyu Wadada (SDP-Nasarawa) at plenary. The bill is tagged: “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Satellite Towns Development Commission and for other related matters 2024. Leading the debate, Wadada said the bill was read for the first reading on Tuesday, Oct. 22. He said…
Safiu Kehinde The Nigeria Police Force has reaffirmed the dismissal of former Edo state Police Inspector, Edith Uduma, for her act of gross over her misconduct and complicity surrounding the alleged rape of a 17-year-old female suspect by her male colleague identified as Abraham Uzuobo. Reacting to her recent claim of being innocent, the Force dismissed the claim, insisting that Uduma had allegedly indulged in blackmailing Uzuobo with the recorded video of the incident rather than reporting him to the appropriate disciplinary body. This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi. Recounting the…
Safiu Kehinde Legal Counsel to Nigerian music artist, Darlington Achakpo, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has explained reason behind the re-arrest of the artist in Owerri. As contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Stan Aleike and Law Capitol legal firm, Speed Darlington was rearrested for allegedly jumping bail. NPO earlier reported that the music artist was picked up the police after a performance in Owerri, Imo state. His legal counsel, in the statement, explained that Darlington, who was granted bail on the 8th of October 2024 following his initial arrest over troll with Burna Boy, was given a…
Agency Report A former Director-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Idi Farouk, has called for adequate funding and engagement of the agency to drive the processes for development and a better Nigeria. Farouk, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, said that for government at any level to succeed, it must work with NOA, which had its presence in all the states and local governments in the country. He described the agency as critical in the enlightenment of the people, especially on government policies and programmes, and as a feedback mechanism to…
Safiu Kehinde A 29-year-old man, Ismail Shuab, has been sentenced to five years in prison by a special cultism court in Abeokuta for unlawfully being in possession of a locally made pistol. Shaub, who resides at Oko-Oba Igboora in Oyo state was sentenced on a count charge of unlawful possession of firearms. The Magistrates, Mr O.L Oke, in his judgement, said that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, adding that the defendant was guilty as charged. Oke also held that the evidence presented by the prosecution were tenable, therefore, convicting Shuab to spend five years in Nigeria…
Australia moved closer on Wednesday to banning social media for children under 16 after the parliament’s lower house passed a bill even as Alphabet’s Google and Facebook-owner Meta, opens new tab pressed the government to delay the legislation. Marking some of the toughest social media controls in the world, Australia’s House of Representatives passed the bill 102 votes to 13 after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left Labor government secured bipartisan support for the ban. The Senate is expected to debate the bill later on Wednesday, with the government keen to ensure it is passed by the end of the parliamentary…
Safiu Kehinde An Abuja Federal High Court has remanded former Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, while adjourning his alleged N110 billion money laundering case till 10th of December 2024. Yahaya, who was placed on a 16 count charges, appeared before Justice Maryann Anenih on Tuesday. The judge fixed the date after taking arguments for and against the bail request by Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Bodunde Dauda, SAN and the Prosecution’s Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN. She, however ruled out the bail application, ordering that the ex-Kogi governor be remanded pending the hearing of his case at the adjounred date. NPO reports that…
Safiu Kehinde Edo state governor, Monday Okpebholo, has accused his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, of scamming Edo people with the commissioning of uncompleted Stella Obasanjo Hospital. The governor disclosed this while inspecting facilities at the Hospital on Tuesday evening, alongside the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa; and the Commissioner for Health, Dr Cyril Adams Oshiomhole. He alleged that construction at the facility is still ongoing, and equipment is yet to be procured by the last administration before it was hurriedly commissioned. Okpebholo, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, pledged to immediately correct the structural defects…