A Dubai court has sentenced Abdulrahman Bashar, the owner of Rahamaniyya Group and Ultimate Oil & Gas, to one year in prison for financial misconduct related to his dealings with CI Energy Company, an oil and gas firm. This marks the second time in less than five years that Bashar has been sentenced to jail. In 2020, a UK court handed him a ten-month sentence for contempt in a separate commercial dispute. The Dubai court verdict According to court documents, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) court delivered its ruling on January 30, 2025. Despite being notified, Bashar, 48, failed to…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
That is the question. Perhaps we should first take a look at Lake Chad and Mai Mala Buni, the governor of Yobe State and current chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum. The Lake Chad Basin is an area of about 2,434,000 square kilometres (940,000 square miles), roughly 8 per cent of Africa. It includes parts of Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, and Niger and is fed by the Chari, Logone, and Yobe Rivers. There are around 30 million inhabitants and over 70 ethnic groups, with their primary sources of livelihood being farming, fishing, and animal husbandry. The lakeside is rich…
The Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji, has dismissed a suit seeking to compel the Lagos State Government to disclose details of the expenditure of $100 million received from billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote. The funds were reportedly paid by Dangote nine years ago for seven acres of land in Ibeju-Lekki, now home to Africa’s largest oil refinery. Court ruling and legal implications Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Faji ruled that the Lagos State Government could not be compelled to disclose the financial details as the law mandating such disclosure under the Freedom of Information…
The registration and screening exercise for orphans across Sokoto State’s 23 local government areas, sponsored by Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto North Senatorial District), has entered its second day. A team of officials conducting the crucial initiative has successfully completed the exercise in Wamakko Local Government Area, where orphans from both Wamakko and Kware LGAs were jointly registered, as directed by the former governor. Under the plan, each ward is to present 20 orphans for registration and screening in preparation for Senator Wamakko’s Special Sallah Package. The chairmen of Kware and Wamakko LGAs, Hon. Attahiru Ruggar Giwa and Hon. Ahmad…
Imam AbdulKadir Sholagberu, the Grand Sheikh of the Ilorin Emirate in Kwara state, has called for unity among Islamic scholars and preachers, emphasizing the need for rapprochement between different religious doctrines. Making the call in a thought-provoking sermon delivered at the National Mosque Abuja, he highlighted the importance of harmony in Islamic scholarship, warning against the dangers of sectarian disputes. Addressing worshippers, Sholagberu underscored the significance of unity, stating that division among scholars leads to confusion among believers, while lamenting the increasing disagreements on religious matters, particularly on the observance of Islamic rituals in months such as Rabi’ al-Awwal, Rabi’…
The Federal Government has clarified that the proposed extension to a 12-year compulsory education system will maintain the existing 6-3-3 structure, contrary to recent reports suggesting the elimination of Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS). In a statement released by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, on Friday in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, emphasized that there is no plan to replace JSS and SSS with a new 12-year uninterrupted basic education model. Dr. Alausa clarified that his recent presentation at the Extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) meeting on February…
The Middle Belt Journalists Forum (MBJF) has expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for signing into law the bill establishing the North Central Development Commission (NCDC). This landmark decision aims to address the longstanding challenges of underdevelopment in the North Central geopolitical zone. In a statement jointly signed by the National President and Secretary, Mark Mayah and Ladi Emmanuel, the MBJF also extended its appreciation to the executive governors of the North Central states and the National Assembly for their pivotal roles in bringing this initiative to fruition. The forum emphasized that the collaborative efforts of these stakeholders were…
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the abolition of Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) across the country, unveiling a new compulsory 12-year uninterrupted basic education model. This significant shift marks a departure from the traditional 6-3-3-4 education system, with the government replacing it with a 12-4 model, paving the way for children to seamlessly progress into higher education after completing their basic education. In addition to the basic education overhaul, the Nigerian Government has sought approval from the National Council on Education (NCE) to officially adopt 16 years as the minimum entry age requirement for…
The Concerned Muslims of Yorubaland has described as both “divisive rhetoric and misinformation”, the letter by Professor Banji Akintoye and Mr. Gani Adams, to the Sultan of Sokoto, which implied that Yoruba Muslims do not recognize the Sultan as their leader. The Convener and Secretary, Ustadh Musharafa Al-Khaqaq and Mr. Omololu Hakeem Adegesin, stated that “As Yoruba Muslims, we affirm our allegiance to the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, who is the spiritual leader of Muslims in Nigeria. His leadership transcends tribal lines, and his position as President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) remains sacrosanct.”…
In a strategic move to enhance climate resilience and agricultural productivity, the Kano State Government, through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, has disbursed $250,000 in community revolving funds, with $25,000 allocated to each of 10 beneficiary communities. The funds are earmarked for investments in climate-smart agriculture and value chain development, including production, processing, and packaging. The cheque presentation ceremony held on Thursday was addressed by Dr. Dahir Muhammad Hashim, the Kano ACReSAL Project Coordinator and Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change. He highlighted that the initiative aims to mitigate the impacts of climate change and enhance food…