Author: Safiu Kehinde

Safiu Kehinde The International Criminal Court (ICC) Judges have issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander, Mohammed Deif, over alleged war crimes. ICC called for the trio’s arrest after its pre-trial chamber dismissed Israel’s objections to its jurisdiction and approved the arrest warrants. In their ruling, judges held that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe that Netanyahu, Gallant, and Deif bear “criminal responsibility” for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflict between Israel and Hamas. However, both Israel and Hamas have rejected the accusations with Israeli…

Safiu Kehinde Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has arrived at the Chambers of the State House of Assembly for the presentaion of the 2025 Budget. The Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, announced this in a post on his X handle on Thursday. As contained in the post, the Lagos 2025 budget is titled ‘Budget of Sustainability’. “Arrival of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Chambers of the Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA) for the presentation of the Year 2025 Budget Estimates proposal. “It is christened “Budget of Sustainability”!” Akosile wrote. Accprding to the state’s…

Agency Report Senate on Thursday at plenary approved the new external borrowing plan request of $2.2billion dollars presented for consideration by President Bola Tinubu. The approval followed adoption of report of Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts. The report was presented by the Chairman of the Committee Sen. Aliyu Wammako (APC -Sokoto). President Bola Tinubu had on Tuesday, Nov 19, in separate letters to both chambers of the National Assembly, requested for approval of $2.2 billion dollars external borrowing plan to part fund the N9.7trillion deficit in the 2024 budget. Senate upon receipt of the request, mandated its committee…

Safiu Kehinde Few hours after his arrest, the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland has ordered the remand of self-acclaimed Biafran Prime Minister, Simon Ekpa, over suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent. The court made the decision on Thursday after the Central Criminal Police arraigned him for his role in terror plaguing Nigeria’s southeast region, local newspaper Helsingin Sanomat reports. The Police crime commissioner and head of the investigation, Otto Hiltunen, said Ekpa was suspected to be promoting violence against civilians in Southeastern Nigeria from his base at Finland, citing his activities on social media amongst others.…

Safiu Kehinde Convicted kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (Evans) may have to consider being represented by the Lagos State Office of Public Defender (OPD) due to the absence of his counsel on several adjourned dates for the hearing of his kidnapping charges on the 30th of January 2025. Justice Adenike Cokers of Ikeja High Court, on Thursday asked the prosecution to ensure the presence of OPD at the next proceeding, if Evans’ counsel did not show up. “Tell your lawyer, Jan. 30, 2025, is for your re-arraignment and the prosecution should ensure that the office of public defender is on ground. “OPD can…

Agency Report The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has described as ‘cheap blackmail’ the allegations by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) that the Nigerian Navy was frustrating the fight against crude oil theft. The Chairman of TSSNL, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, made the allegation while hosting the National Leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Monday. Reacting to the allegation while briefing newsmen on the operations of the military on Thursday in Abuja, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba said the allegation was laughable. He said that the military always seek cooperation of all stakeholders in the on-going…

Safiu Kehinde President Bola Tinubu has mourned former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Zakari Ibrahim following his death earlier this week. The President expressed his condolences in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday. Tinubu, as contained in the statement, commiserated with the people of Katsina, the state government, and the Emirate Council where he held the title of Talba. While praying for the late 81-year-old NIA DG who also served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Tinubu urged his family immortalize him by embodying the virtues he stood…

A piece of art that is little more than a banana duct-taped to a wall sold at auction for $6.2 million on Wednesday to cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun, Sotheby’s said, furthering the universal conversation about what constitutes art. “Comedian,” by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, first rocked the art world upon its debut at Miami’s Art Basel in 2019, drawing such large crowds that the exhibit had to be taken down for public safety and to protect other works on display. At Sotheby’s in New York on Wednesday, it went from a starting price of $800,000 to $5.2 million when the…

Faults President’s Directive Safiu Kehinde Embattled Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, has claimed that calls for his removal were borne out of ethnic bigotry as he faults President Bola Tinubu’s directive over the case. Odoh made the claim while speaking in an interview with Arise News on Thursday. He said calls for his removal were propelled by some individuals who are not pleased with his Ebonyi state origin, consdering the fact that the institution is situated in Anambra state. “Some people feel that I am not qualified because I come from Ebonyi State, “It’s all…

Safiu Kehinde Self-acclaimed Biafran Prime Minister, Simon Ekpa has been arrested alongside four others over alleged sponsor of terrorism and civil unrest in Southeast Nigeria. This was confirmed in a statement issued by the Central Criminal Police in Finland. As contained in the statement, Ekpa was alleged to be promoting terrorist activities and public incitement to commit crimes in Nigeria. “The detention demands are related to the preliminary investigation, in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian background, born in the 1980s, is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.” “The police suspect that the man has…