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The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission on Tuesday arraigned a woman for allegedly using a forged university certificate and exemption letter from the National Youth Service Corps to secure a job with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. Oden Akpama worked for five years with the ministry, earning around N2.84m in salary before she was caught. A statement by spokeswoman for the ICPC, Rasheedat Okoduwa, said Akpama was arraigned before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Kwali, Abuja, presided by Justice Anna Akobi on nine counts bordering on making false statements and forgery. The statement said, “Counsel for the ICPC, Kioba Anabraba, told the court that Akpama sometime in 2013 allegedly made a false statement to the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, in which she claimed to have obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Calabar in 2011 and a national youth service exemption letter from the NYSC in 2012,...

Today May 29, 2019, has our democracy marked 20 uninterrupted years, twelve new governors take the oath of office for the first time today, while 17 others wona  second term in the March 9 elections. The results of the election indicates that only the two most popular political party, APC and PDP produced governors out of the over 90 political parties that fielded candidates. The first term governors include: Bello Mutawalle (PDP, Zamfara)   Although he came second in the March governorship election in Zamfara, Bello Matawalle has been a key political player both at the federal and state levels for several years.  The 49-year-old Peoples Democratic Party candidate has been in the political space for at least 20 years, serving as commissioner and member of the House of Representatives.. The March 9 governorship election was his first shot at becoming a governor. He lost out after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) permitted the All Progres...

Here comes the New Governor of Lagos state as Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been sworn in for his first term of four years!

The Ogun State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress on Monday said it had handed over the outgoing Governor of the state, Ibikunle Amosun, to the judgment of God and his conscience. The union urged the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, to be ready to inherit the debt incurred by his predecessor. Addressing newsmen at the NLC secretariat in Abeokuta, the state Chairman, Emmanuel Bankole, said, “This is to state in clear terms the magnitude of indebtedness of outgoing administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun to the public servants in the state and also to correct erroneous impression and falsehood being peddled around that the outgoing government is not owing public servants in the state.

The management of Smith Medical Centre has said that a Senior Secondary School 3 pupil of the Jubril Martins Memorial Grammar School, Iponri, Lagos, Rafiu Adagun, was brought in dead to the facility. Rafiu, who was heading home after writing his West African Senior School Certificate Examination on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, was allegedly accosted and beaten to death by the school gardener, Femi Aderonmu. According to the Medical Director, Smith Medical Centre, Dr Waheed Smith, Rafiu was already dead when he was brought to the hospital by the school housemaster and clinic nurse.

The outgoing Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, on Monday said he would be handing over N42.5bn to his successor, Emeka Ihedioha. He said he decided to keep the money for the incoming governor so that there would not be excuses in carrying out government’s activities. Okorocha spoke while inaugurating 11 new permanent secretaries, including the new Accountant-General and Permanent Secretary, Donald Igbo; and the new Head of Service, Mrs Ngozi Eluma. He said N8.1bn was meant for the payment of salaries and capital projects, while N5.2bn was for pension arrears. He added that N7.6bn was meant for the renovation of schools, while N21.6bn was for rural roads. The governor asked the new permanent secretaries to reposition the state civil service and shun corruption.

President Muhammadu Buhari has just taken the oath of office as Nigeria’s president for his second term of four years.  The event took place at Eagle square Abuj, with so many dignitaries in attendance.

National Assembly Joint Committee has raised concern over Federal Inland Revenue Service’s 2019 projected estimate of non-oil revenue tax collection of N146.54 billion. The Co-chairman of the committee, Sen. John Enoh and other members of the committee raised the concern at FIRS’s budget defence in Abuja on Monday. The committee sought to know why the 2018 approved estimate was N153.85 while the 2019 projected cost stood at N146.54 amounting to 4.75 per cent decrease. On personnel cost, the committee asked why the service was proposing 14.6 per cent increase in the number of staff from 7, 854 in 2018 to 9000 staff in 2019. It equally demanded an explanation for the “proposed N160 million meant to sew drivers’ uniforms, N825 million for refreshment and security vote of N250 million” among others.

  National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday faulted Friday’s ruling of the Supreme Court which sacked all candidates elected on APC ‘s platform during the last general elections.  This came as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, presented the Certificate of Return, CoR, to the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mohammed Mattawale, as governor-elect of Zamfara State. Oshiomhole while fielding questions from journalists at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja after a meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party described the judgment as undemocratic.

A Political Activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari and his party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) – not to celebrate “a stolen mandate.”  Frank in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, said that majority of real voters never gave their mandate to the APC’s presidential candidate during the last election, adding that “until the Supreme Court decides the true winner between Buhari and the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the inauguration of Buhari for a second term in office remains illegal. ” According to the political activist, May 29 would have been a day of joy but Nigerians are mourning because of a government that has forced herself on them, “however we remain hopeful that the judiciary would restore our stolen mandate.” While assessing the last four years of the APC’s gover...

Ikeja Electric Plc (IE), one of the major electricity distribution companies in Nigeria, says any form of assault on its staff is a criminal offense punishable by the extant laws of the land. The company, reacting to viral videos showing attacks on its staff, restated its commitment of the company to the safety of its staff across its network area. Felix Ofulue, the head of corporate communications, gave the assurance via a statement issued in Lagos on Monday. He said the company was aware of the wave of malicious attacks on its staff by some customers and cautioned that the management will not allow unwarranted attack of its staff. “In line with the company’s obligation to provide service under a conducive atmosphere to our customers, we will continue to escalate such matters to law enforcement agencies”, Ofulue said. He disclosed that some of the attackers in the past cases had been sentenced to prison by court, while urging aggrieved customers to remain mindful of these ...

Electricity consumers in Delta have charged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to enforce the “No Meter, No Billing” rule in the country. The consumers made the demand on Friday at a one-day NERC Electricity Consumers Public Consultation on the theme, ” Capping of Estimated Billing and Distribution Franchising” in Asaba. Some of the consumers, Mr John Uche, Mr Larry Olise, Mr Sam Obidi, Mrs Ngozi Obi among others described the services of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in the state as deplorable and reaping off the consumers through estimated billings.

Veteran actor, Tola Oladokun, better known as Ika Lomo Ejo, has opened up on why she would never be caught playing a romantic role in any movie. In an interview with Saturday Beats, she said her husband disliked seeing her in a bedroom scene with a man. “When I started building my career in the movie industry; even though, my husband didn’t want me to take many scenes, my boss always insisted that I should. But when it got to a point, some people began to spread rumours about me. They told my husband that actors always sleep with each other on set. “Due to these speculations, he gave me very strict rules to abide by anytime I had to go on set. At some point, he said I had to choose between my career and my home. I chose my home for peace to reign but I still acted in a few films only because I abided by all the rules he set for the sake of peace,” she said.

The Ogun Command of Federal Road Safety Corps said the loss of lives was averted on Saturday after a tanker loaded with petrol collided with a truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. In a statement in Ota on Saturday, Corps’ Route Commander, Florence Okpe, said the accident which occurred at about 2:51 a.m, involved four persons with two injured and no death recorded. “A tanker with registration number LND-437 XC conveying PMS collided with a truck marked LRN-981 ZA around the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s youth centre gate, Mowe, on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, blocking the entire carriageway into Lagos. “The tanker has spilled its contents on the expressway and both trucks blocked the entire access road.

Operatives of Benue state Police Command have uncovered another firearms manufacturing site at Ikache village in Oju local government area of the state, recovering locally fabricated fire arms at different levels of completion while the alleged arms manufacturer, 37 year old father of five, Orohu Akodi was also appended. This is coming about two months after troops of the military spike operation in the state code named ‘Operation Whirl Stroke’ uncovered a similar plant in Logo local government area of the state. Parading the arms manufacturer yesterday in Makurdi alongside 18 other robbery and kidnap suspects arrested with over 30 different caliber of firearms and live ammunitions in various parts of the state, the Police Commissioner Mr. Garba Mukaddas said the suspect was arrested following a tip off.

Seven months after he was released from prison custody in Port Harcourt, Rivers State over kidnapping, Sorbari Apollolos has found his way back to the place for the same offence.  Popularly known as Blackie among his gang members, Apollolos was recently arrested by the police for kidnapping a 67-year-old businesswoman identified only as Obianuju. Apollolos and three other suspects, Daniel Johngbo, Harridon Barryira and Lebara Tobia, were apprehended at several locations in the state. City Round learnt that Obianuju was returning home from a church in a Toyota Sienna on February 7, 2019, when the gun-wielding kidnappers ambushed her some metres away from her Rumuobiakani residence. The suspects, some of whom were reportedly dressed in military camouflage, whisked the woman away in her vehicle. They allegedly held her hostage in a forest for six days and collected millions of naira in ransom before she was released.

A commercial motorcyclist, his wife and stepson were yesterday, found dead in their one room apartment located at Obafemi Eruja Street, Aga/Gbasemo area of Ikorodu in Lagos State. Residents claimed they woke up only to be greeted by the sad news but the Nigeria Police from Ikorodu Division are currently investigating the death. The couple was last seen at about 8pm before they went to bed with their three children but only their first two children ages 13 and 11 are alive while the last born and their parents were found dead. Although nobody could explain the circumstances leading to the death but residents claimed that the couple had been engaged in internal crisis over the paternity of their last born aged seven. Eye witnesses’ account claimed the Okada rider popularly called ‘’Baba Efe” and his wife were last seen at about 9pm on Thursday before they all went to bed but a loud music coupled with argument were later heard from their room but nobody cared to intervene.

An Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Friday ordered the remand of one Femi Aderounmu in prison for allegedly beating a teenager to death. Aderounmu, 29, who resides at No. 1, Moshalasi St., Iponri, Lagos is facing a charge of murder. His plea was not taken. The Magistrate, Mr Tolu Agbona, remanded the defendant in Ikoyi Prisons and ordered that the case file should be sent to the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions for advice. Agbona adjourned the case until June 26. Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. D. Raphel, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 15 at 4.00 p.m. at No. 1, Africa Road, Iponri. 

A Badagry Customary Court sitting at the City’s Town Hall on Friday dissolved a 14-year-old marriage on the grounds of irresponsibility and fetish acts by the husband .Its president, Mr Shakirudeen Adekola, dissolved the marriage between Monsurat Jinadu, 35, and Ganiyu 40, following a petition by Monsurat, saying that Ganiyu was irresponsible and fetish.  He ordered that the dissolution should take effect from May 24, having observed that the marriage had irretrievably broken down.“The marriage between the petitioner, Monsurat, and the respondent, Ganiyu is hereby dissolved from today May 24.“They shall no longer be recognised as husband and wife and they shall be independent of one another. “The respondent shall be responsible for the upkeep of the children, including their education and health bill, and shall pay N5,000 monthly on each of the two children from the wedlock.

President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged wealthy individuals in the country to develop more confidence in the nation’s economy by massively investing in Nigeria’s critical sectors in order to boost job and wealth creation. The president gave the challenge when he hosted members of the business community and leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Iftar (breaking of the Ramadan fast) at the State House, Abuja, on Friday.

The Federal Government has launched a probe into how a former Central Bank Governor connived with two serving ministers in the present administration to rip off no fewer than 65,000 Nigerians through official manipulation and transfer of their shares to foreign entities for pecuniary reasons. The probe was triggered by a strong petition filed by shareholders, whose shares were inexplicably reduced by the key government agencies and officials and awarded to the foreign entities apparently fronting for them. Before now, allegations against serving ministers and top government officials were hardly investigated by the anti-graft agencies. This tended to give credence to allegations that President Buhari’s anti-graft war was targeted at only the opposition. The latest development, our sources said, could prove critics wrong. The government swung into action immediately after the petition was received and acknowledged by the Public Prosecution Department of the OHAGF on April 3, 2019....

The issue of who becomes the next speaker of Osun State House of Assembly is now in the front burner in the state and is generating debate among members of the public and the All Progressives Congress, APC, that has the majority in the coming assembly.  The speakership position will likely go to one of the three members that are returning to the assembly: Olatunji Babatunde ‘Lekan (Ife North constituency), Timothy Owoeye (Ilesha East constituency) and Babatunde Festus Komolafe (Atakunmosa East/West constituency) are returning out of the 23 APC members. The Peoples Democratic Party has three members. From all indications, it is, however, very clear that Ife/Ijesa which is in Osun East Senatorial district will produce the next speaker because the incumbent governor is from Osun Central and his vice hails from the West. The battle for the position is mainly between Owoeye and Olatunji. The APC, being the party with the majority, has a fourth timer who is the most senior an...

Yammawar Kafawa, a UNICEF certified Open Defecation Free (ODF) community in Kano State has made open defecation a crime punishable by monetary fines on any member of the community found indulging in the act.  Rabiu Usman, the village head, disclosed this to newsmen during a visit to the community, organised by UNICEF in collaboration with European Union and Federal Ministry of Information and Culture. Journalists gathered that the visit was part of activities to promote the ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the toilet’ campaign. Usman who appreciated UNICEF for their intervention and rigorous sensitization on the need to embrace Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) practices, said the community members had embraced the habit of using the toilet and washing their hands after use. He explained that the imposition of a fine on anybody found defecating openly was to ensure that the community’s resolve to totally end open defecation was not compromised. “We have stipulated a fine of three th...

A member of a suspected gang of kidnappers in the Kpakungu community in the Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State has confessed to the abduction of one Halima Ibrahim on May 11, 2019. The suspect, Mohammed, 25, was said to have kidnapped his victim and held her in captivity for over two weeks while demanding N150,000 ransom before her release. Yakubu confessed to Northern City News on Thursday that he kidnapped Halima with the intent of extorting money from her would-be husband, who also resides in the same area.

The Supreme Court has held that the All Progressive Congress, APC, did not have any valid candidate in all the elections that held in Zamfara State. The apex court, in a unanimous judgment that was delivered by a five-man panel of Justices led by the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, held that the ruling party did not conduct valid primary elections to nominate candidates for any elective position in the state. It maintained that the Sokoto Division of the Court of Appeal was right when it held that the APC did not file any eligible candidate in the 2019 general election in Zamfara State. Consequently, the apex court, in its lead verdict that was prepared and delivered by Justice Paul Galinje, dismissed an appeal the APC lodged to challenge the appellate court’s judgement.

Concerned by the power outage in the Southern Senatorial district of Ondo State for over ten years, a Senator- Elect, Nicholas Towofomo has asked the Federal Government to review the contract of the Electricity Distribution Companies in the country over their inability to supply power to several communities in the country. The Senator-elect, who led a delegation to the Omotosho Power Plant said: “The Federal Government should revoke their contracts, involve more companies in the distribution or decentralise the power sector.” It should be noted that residents of Ondo South Senatorial District area of the state had staged a protest over the power outage in the area. Communities affected include Okitipupa, Odigbo, Irele and Ilaje/Ede Odo Local Government Areas.

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said he respects the Judiciary and is willing to abide by its decisions at all times. Speaking at an Iftar dinner with the representatives of the third arm of the government, the Judiciary, at his official residence, President Buhari said he believed that the judiciary should be independent and recalled how he submitted himself to the adjudication of the courts three times on his way to becoming President without any fuss because “I respect the institution. I have come before you three times before I got here on the fourth run for the office. Your word is the last word on any given issue.”

The Nigerian Governors Forum has elected Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state as the new chairman of the forum. NGF also elected his Sokoto state counterpart, Aminu Tambuwal as the Deputy Chairman. Fayemi’s election was a unanimous one as he emerged as a consensus choice. He was nominated by Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna state and seconded by Delta state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.   The governors also said they will be meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss the country’s security situation.

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, told the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja that he was not aware that biological son of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, Aliyu Haidar Abubakar, campaigned for his re-election. Buhari, said he only got to know that Abubakar was his supporter, after he read a copy of the motion the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, filed to disqualify Justice Bulkachuwa from presiding over the five-man panel tribunal that is hearing petitions challenging the declaration that he won the February 23 presidential election. President Buhari, who is the 2nd Respondent in Atiku’s petition marked CA/PEPT/02/19, said his attention was further drawn to exhibits that contained newspaper cuttings, indicating that Justice Bulkachuwa’s son canvassed for votes in his favour.

A 30-year old Pastor, Samuel Emeka has been arrested for allegedly abducting an 11-year old boy in Awkuzu, Oyi local government area of Anambra State. The suspect, a native of Awkuzu, was said to have kidnapped the boy, Ikechukwu Ozoekwe at Umoubi community in company of his colleague. The Nation gathered that the suspects had bundled their victim inside his vehicle boot and were on the run before they were apprehended. Confirming the arrest, the police spokesperson in the state, Haruna Mohammed said the suspect was nabbed together with his accomplice, Samuel Emeka.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has said the outgoing 8th House of Representatives exceeded the performance of all past legislatures since independence in 1960. He also stated that the House, under his leadership, cooperated with the executive arm of government and President Muhammadu Buhari by giving speedy consideration and passage to legislation and other requests forwarded by the president to fast-track implementation of the administration’s policies and plans. The speaker recalled that there had been occasions when the House passed executive bills within days. According to him, the bill to expedite Ease of Doing Business was one of those times the House rose to the occasion. What World Bank award on ease of doing business means to us — Shippers’ Council boss(Opens in a new browser tab) Dogara spoke in Abuja when he received the Euro Knowledge Award in recognition of his exemplary leadership. The award was conferred on him last month in the United Ki...

Donald Trump erupted in fury on Wednesday at unrelenting probes into his links to Russia, as the top Democrat in Congress accused the president of a “cover-up” that could be an impeachable offense. A livid Trump abruptly shut down a White House meeting with Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, announcing he could not deal with them on policy until “phony investigations” are brought to a close. The clash marked a dramatic escalation in Trump’s war of words with congressional opponents seeking to bring him to account for what they say is presidential wrongdoing. Trump’s ire was seemingly triggered by House Speaker Pelosi, his nemesis in Congress, who declared following an emergency meeting with lawmakers earlier Wednesday: “We believe that the president of the United States is engaged in a cover-up.” “I don’t do cover-ups,” Trump shot back at a hastily arranged Rose Garden press event moments after the aborted White House talks.

Some civil society organisations have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to find a replacement for Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), over the payment of $15 million to lawyers he engaged for the repatriation of $321 million Abacha Loot. Enrich Monfrini, a Swiss lawyer hired by the federal government since 1999 for the recovery of the loot, had already completed the job, and been paid his fee. In a series of interviews with journalists, Monfrini insisted that there was no need for the AGF to engage new lawyers. Rather than write directly to the Swiss authorities to seek the transfer of the funds to Nigeria, Malami, however, engaged Oladipo Okpeseyi and Tope Adebayo for the purpose, and despite the outcry, the lawyers were eventually paid secretly. At a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the coalition said the president who promised to fight corruption is losing the momentum. “We recall the shady deal involving the minister which led to the app...

The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation is currently enmeshed in a scandal after refusing to pay a whistle-blower (name withheld) his N1.8bn commission for exposing an account with $223m (N80.2bn). Several documents made available to our correspondent by a source in the AGF’s office, showed that the whistle-blower approached the AGF, Abubakar Malami (SAN), in June 2018 and informed him of an account named, ‘NNPC Brass LNG INV. Fund’ with number 1750027157 domiciled in Skye Bank (now Polaris Bank). The bank was said to have failed to remit the money to the Central Bank of Nigeria in contravention of the Treasury Single Account policy of the Federal Government. Bank documents showed that the account was opened with the sum of $328, 998, 818.24 on May 31, 2014, at the Asokoro branch of the bank According to statement of account obtained by The PUNCH, about $50m was transferred from the account to the account of the National Security Adviser domiciled in the account of the Ce...

Hisbah, the Sharia Law enforcement agency in Jigawa State, on Monday arrested 21 suspects allegedly committing immoral acts, while they also confiscated 111 bottles of beer from them. The Hisbah Commander in the state, Ibrahim Dahiru, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria in Dutse, said the suspects were arrested in Kazaure Local Government Area of the state. Dahiru said that operatives of the command carried out the raid in the early hours of Monday at the popular Gadar Kazaure joint.

Operatives at the Kuje Medium Security Prison in Abuja have apprehended one Mr Clement Jacob of Deidei village in Abuja for attempting to smuggle substances suspected to be Indian hemp into the prison facility. Public Relations Officer of the Federal Capital Territory FCT Command of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Humphrey Chukwuedo in a statement made available to Vanguard yesterday said “the substance which was hidden in a sandal, was expected to be delivered to one Emeka Onyejikachi, an inmate of Kuje prison who is in custody for a case of possession of hard drugs”. Luck however ran out on Jacob when he exchanged his sandals with that of the inmate after his session of prison visit. “Inspector Hussain Ibrahim, the officer in charge of the visit area noticed the quick exchange of footwear and requested for another search after the visiting session was over.

Eucharia Anunobi who reached out to Nigerians who might be thinking suicide, to use her as a source of inspiration no matter what they are going through.  According to the veteran actress, after she lost her son in 2017, her friends deserted her but she moved on with God on her side.  Passing a message of hope to Nigerians who might be thinking suicide, Eucharia Anunobi who told them to use her as a source of inspiration, added that all will be well. 

Ahead of the inauguration of ninth assembly, the National Assembly management has released 20 stringent conditions for journalists and media houses’ accreditation.  In two separate letters addressed to the chairmen of Senate and House of Representatives Press Corps on Monday by the Director of Information, Agada Emmanuel, the requirements were categorised under permanent and temporary accreditation. According to the letters, this new accreditation guidelines shall come into effect from June 11, 2019. The prerequisites for the coverage of the activities of the National Assembly before the expiration of the present leadership was also aimed at reducing the number of journalists covering the legislative arm. One of the letters on requirements for permanent accreditation stipulates: ”Evidence of a certificate of incorporation of the media organisation and evidence of membership of professional bodies for media organisations.”

Chibawanye Ene, a Nigerian-born US-based doctor, has won the 2019 Ronald L. Bittner Award on brain tumor research. According to the Applied Radiation Oncology, a quarterly journal on cancer, Ene received the award at the 2019 American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) annual scientific meeting which held from April 13 to April 17 in San Diego, US. Ene, 37, hails from Akpugo in Nkanu west local government area of Enugu state. He won the award with his research work titled: “Anti-PD-L1 Immunotherapy Enhances Radiation-induced Abscopal Response in Glioblastoma”. Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord with symptoms ranging from headaches to personality changes, nausea, and incontinence.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has denied ownership of The First Technical University, Ibadan, saying it belongs to the state government wholly and not any individual, including himself. Ajimobi made the clarification on Monday, May 20 while receiving the state’s traditional rulers led by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi. The monarchs gathered, were on a courtesy visit to his (Ajimobi) office. Other traditional rulers during the visit were Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola; Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdul-Ganiy Salawudeen; Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola; and Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin. Ajimobi, while speaking used the occasion to avail the royal fathers of his administration’s achievements in education, agriculture, peace, security and infrastructure, among others in the last eight years.

Earlier yesterday, a video went viral of the embattled rapper, Naira Marley fueling speculation that he has been released but the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has since denied reports of his release as false. According to a report by the EFCC, the rapper’s release was staged by his friends. A top source in the EFCC revealed that the video was mere propaganda by friends of the musician who are desperate to launder his image. In the video circulating across social media, the rapper was spotted in a joyous mood with his fans and friends and could be seen making an entrance into a private vehicle, which made it seem like he had been released.

The French Agency for Development (AFD) says the 11 electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in Nigeria will need an investment of $10 billion to improve power supply in the next five years. AFD said it commissioned AF Mercados, a consultancy firm, to carry out an in-depth study of the challenges of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) with the support of the European Union (EU) with the aim of finding a way forward. The agency noted that the consulting firm worked with the DisCos and other stakeholders in the industry since mid-2017 while conducting the study. Presenting the report at a conference in Abuja on Monday, Jose Guerra, team leader at the consulting firm, said the study would help policymakers to make the right decisions in the electricity industry.

Former Vice President and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar has faulted claim that he is on the watch list of security agents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Atiku, in a letter by his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), attributed the claim to the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie. Atiku argued that the said claim was not only false, but it has also negatively impacted on his reputation both within and without the country. He demanded a retraction of the claim, payment of N500million in damages, failing which he threatened to sue and demand N2billion.