Dele Farotimi, the human rights lawyer accused of defamation by senior lawyer Afe Babalola, has been released from prison in Ekiti. Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), announced this in a post on his official X handle on Tuesday. ALSO READ [OPINION] Afe Babalola and Dele Farotimi: On Justice, a Just Society and the Nigerian State “I am pleased to report that Dele Farotimi is no longer being held at the prison yards in Ekiti State and is now returning home to Lagos,” Sowore wrote.
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
Legal practitioner and former Labour Party chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has attributed the recent stampedes during food distribution events in Nigeria to widespread hunger and desperation. Over the weekend, tragic incidents in Anambra State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) claimed numerous lives and left several others injured, casting a pall of mourning across the nation. While President Bola Tinubu and others blamed the stampedes on poor organization and indiscipline, Okonkwo argued that the root cause is the acute hunger Nigerians are experiencing. Speaking during Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, he said: “This president shifted all the responsibility to…
Former Minister of Communications, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd), has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of his close friend and colleague, Major General Godwin Osagie Abbe (Rtd), a former Military Governor of Akwa Ibom and Rivers States. This is contained in a statement by the Media Office of Maj-Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd), a former Minister of Communications, Member Provisional Ruling Council (PRC), and GOC 3 Division Nigerian Army. General Abbe, who also served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division Nigerian Army, Minister of the Interior, and Minister of Defence, died on Saturday, December 21, 2024, in Abuja…
The Sokoto State Government has flagged off the distribution of 69,630 bags of fertilizers and various seeds to farmers for the 2024 dry season, reiterating its commitment to ensuring food security and economic growth. Speaking at the distribution event, Governor Ahmed Aliyu emphasized the government’s dedication to empowering farmers, including women and youths, through the provision of free agricultural inputs. “The sole aim is to ensure a bumper harvest and promote food security by the special grace of Allah,” he stated. The inputs being distributed include 69,630 bags of fertilizers, which will be shared equally among the state’s 23 local…
The Society of Digital Newspaper Owners of Nigeria (SDNON) recently held an end-of-year gathering to celebrate the achievements of its outgoing Executive Council, led by Otunba Femi Davies, and to usher in the new administration under President Adeniyi Ifetayo. The event, which attracted a broad spectrum of digital media stakeholders, highlighted the accomplishments of the 2022-2024 administration while unveiling the new leadership’s vision for the organization’s future. In his address, the newly inaugurated SDNON President, Adeniyi Ifetayo, commended the outgoing administration for laying a solid foundation for growth and pledged to build on their successes. He outlined his administration’s commitment…
The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s worsening hunger crisis, attributing the dire situation to poor governance and inadequate responses to escalating poverty. Rafsanjani’s statement follows a series of tragic stampedes at food distribution events across the country, which claimed dozens of lives. He described these incidents as heartbreaking evidence of the severe hardship Nigerians face daily. “This is a clear indication that Nigerians are enduring very difficult times under this administration,” Rafsanjani said. “The government appears detached from the realities on the ground and has failed…
Climate change, unplanned urbanization, sprawling cities, and the El Niño effect have combined to make 2024 a “historic” year for dengue transmission in the Americas. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the primary vector for dengue, found increased opportunities to breed, driving cases to a record 12.7 million in the WHO’s Americas Region—nearly triple the 2023 figures. This surge translated to roughly 21,000 severe cases and over 7,700 deaths, with more than one-third of the severe cases affecting children. Countries such as Guatemala reported alarming child mortality rates, with 70% of dengue-related deaths occurring in children. Brazil bore the brunt of the outbreak,…
The Dangote Group has addressed recent claims attributed to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) regarding its involvement in the financing of the Dangote Refinery. In a statement released by Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, the company refuted the narrative that a $1 billion loan backed by NNPCL’s crude oil was pivotal to supporting the refinery during liquidity challenges. Chiejina clarified that the $1 billion loan mentioned in the reports constitutes only about 5% of the total investment in building the Dangote Refinery. The partnership with NNPCL, he explained, was formed based on the latter’s strategic…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday presented Nigeria’s 2025 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly. This marks Tinubu’s second full budget since taking office in May 2023, showcasing his administration’s priorities for the upcoming year. Tagged the ‘Restoration Budget: Security, Peace and Building Prosperity’, the bill was approved by the Federal Executive Council on Tuesday. It projects N34.8 trillion in revenue and a total expenditure of N47.90 trillion, leaving a projected deficit of N13.13 trillion, equivalent to 3.89% of Nigeria’s GDP. Debt servicing alone accounts for N15.81 trillion of the spending plan, underlining the country’s fiscal challenges. The budget is based…
The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Professor Adenike Oladiji, has cautioned newly admitted students for the 2024/2025 academic session on the use of social media and the internet, and against engaging in anti-social and deviant behaviours that could jeopardize their educational journey. She delivered this message during the opening of the orientation program for the fresh students on Monday, December 16, 2024. Highlighting specific no-go areas, Professor Oladiji warned against indecent dressing, violent conduct (such as fighting and vandalism), disrespect towards university staff, and examination malpractices. She emphasized the severe repercussions of impersonation, stating that…