Author: NPO Admin I

Julian Assange has landed back home in his native Australia, after a plea deal allowed him to walk free from a London prison. There were emotional scenes at Canberra Airport, as the Wikileaks founder kissed his wife and hugged his father, his lawyers watching on, visibly moved. “Julian needs time to recover, to get used to freedom,” Stella Assange said at a news conference shortly after her husband arrived. For the past 14 years, Assange has been in a legal battle with US officials who accused him of leaking classified documents, which they say put lives in danger. The 52-year-old…

An original watercolour illustration has become the most valuable Harry Potter item ever sold – fetching $1.9m (£1.5m) at auction in the US. The artwork for the first edition of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone sold for more than three times the expected price. It was first auctioned in 2001, before the book series was complete, for £85,750 (about $108,000 at current exchange rates). “This is really the first visualization of Harry and the wizarding world,” said Kalika Sands from Sotheby’s auction house. The artwork had been expected to sell for between $400,000 and $600,000, which Sotheby’s…

Agency Report Malam Ali M. Ali, the Managing Director(MD) of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has said that quick countering of fake news by communication specialists would curtail its damage. He made this known in Abuja on Wednesday in a paper he presented at a roundtable organised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), and Development Specs Academy (DSA). The theme of the event was “Asymmetrical National Security Challenges, the Army and National Development”. Ali spoke on the topic “Professional News Management as Panacea for Infodemics, Misinformation and Fake news”. He declared that there was need for timely countering…

Agency Report Rivers governor Siminalayi Fubara has said that he was not fighting anybody. “I am, rather, defending the state against predators; I am protecting Rivers against those who feel that they own the life of others,” he said in Port Harcourt on Wednesday when the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, paid him a courtesy visit. Fubara stated that the failed attempt to detonate an explosive device at the Hotel Presidential, a five star hotel in Port Harcourt, was a deliberate ploy to strengthen the call for a state of emergency. “It is the handiwork of detractors who want to…

By Halimah Olamide Amidst growing worries over the spread of cholera in Lagos state, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has linked the outbreak to what he called “drop in sanitation at the community level.” The governor said the cholera crisis in the country would have spiralled out of control had the Lagos State Government not been proactive in controlling the spread of the water borne epidemic. The Governor spoke at the 2024 Lagos International Water Conference held at Eko Hotels and Suites in Victoria Island. The event with the theme: “Financing Water and Sanitation for a Greater Lagos”, was organised by Lagos…

By Kamil Opeyemi Days after the death of the mother of the former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, President Bola Tinubu has extended his condolences saying that the late Chief (Mrs) Florence Morenike Saraki lived a fulfilled life. A statement by the Special Adviser to the president on Media, Ajuri Ngelale, quoted the President as expressing grief over the death. The president described her “as a servant of her community, a servant of God, and a beloved guardian and mother to many.” “The President also commiserates with the entire Saraki family – Mama’s children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and everyone…

Agency Report The Police Command in Ekiti State has arrested 21 suspects in connection with the recent killings and other crimes in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that four persons including a commercial motorcycle ticket agent were recently killed by gunmen at different locations in Ado-Ekiti metropolis. The command’s spokesman, DSP Sunday Abutu, told newsmen on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti that the suspects were arrested following discreet investigation by the command. The spokesperson for the command disclosed that the suspects were arrested for alleged armed robbery and cultism. Abutu explained that the suspects were members of…

By Halimah Olamide “After thorough and detailed video graphic analysis conducted by the NPF Cybercrime Centre, it has been confirmed that the video in question was originally created and circulated on 28th May, 2018. The Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday described as misleading a trending video showing some terrorists claiming to be migrating from the Republic of Benin to Nigeria. The police said while the video is not new, it is believed that those circulating it have negative motives for the act. In a statement by the police spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, he said an analysis of the clip by…

By Halimah Olamide A former Chief Executive Officer of Konga, an e-commerce company Nick Imudia has committed suicide. Nick as fondly known, reportedly jumped off the balcony of his Lekki home Tuesday evening. He was said to have made a few calls to some people to give them instructions. Among those he called was his US based brother who it was learnt he told how to handle his wealth after his exit. After quitting Konga, Nick had delved into solar power distribution business with his d-light, a company he founded. The police is yet to give details about his death.…

By Halimah Olamide The House of Representatives on Wednesday formally responded to the death of the former Deputy Comptroller of Customs Andrew Essien. Essien slumped during session with the Public Account committee investigative hearing on the revenues and finances of the Nigeria Customs Services on Monday. He was subsequently rushed to the National Assembly clinic where he was pronounced dead. Describing Essien as a “dedicated and exemplary officer of the Nigeria Customs Service,” the lower chamber said he died “in active service during a convivial engagement with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), where he shared his expertise and insights with…