A 14-year-old minor (name withheld), who was allegedly defiled by a Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, testified against him on Tuesday before an Ikeja Special Offences Court. Baba Ijesha is facing a six-count charge of alleged defilement of a minor. The minor is the foster daughter of an actress and comedienne, Ms Damilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess. After the conclusion of the cross-examination of Princess by the Defence Counsel, Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in Lagos informed the court that the state would be presenting the minor as its second witness.…
Author: Editor
Justice Jude Okeke of an FCT High Court on Wednesday fixed August 6 to rule on the eligibility of EFCC witness to testify in the alleged N544.1 million fraud filed against a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal and six others. The EFCC charged Lawal alongside six others with alleged N544.1 million contract fraud. Also charged are the former SGF, his brother, Hamidu, who is a director of Rholavision Engineering Limited; an employee of the company, Sulaiman Abubakar and the Managing Director of Josmon Technologies Limited, Apeh John. The judge fixed July 6 after listening to…
The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has condemned the comparison by the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere of Sunday Adeyemo to Prophet Muhammad. Afenifere had compared Igboho’s current travail in Benin Republic to that of Prophet Muhammad in Madinah. However, in a statement by its director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola made available to ASHENEWS on Tuesday, MURIC described Afenifere’s comparison as sacrilegious, outrageous and audacious. While asking Afenifere to apologise, MURIC advised Afenifere to compare Igboho to any of the Yoruba heroes if they must idolise him. “Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has compared Sunday Adeyemo, a.k.a. Igboho, to Prophet Muhammad. This is totally…
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has announced ban on sales of forex to Bureau Du Change operators, citing illicit flows and graft in the parallel market as reasons. The bank’s governor, Godwin Emefiele in a live broadcast on Tuesday, said CBN will no longer process applications for BDC licenses in the country, explaining that weekly sales of forex would henceforth go directly to commercial banks. “We are concerned that BDCs have allowed themselves to be used for graft,” the bank boss said. Emefiele alleged that international bodies, including some embassies and donor agencies, were complicit in illegal forex transactions…
The Nigerian watchdogs, the indefatigable press reported elaborately the entertaining drama played by senators and members of the House of Representatives during the passage of the electoral reform bill. The passage was done on Thursday, July 15th, and Friday, July 16th, 2021 in the Senate, and House of Representatives, respectively. Earlier, the two hollow houses promised to pass the Bill three times, and thrice they failed but were eventually done in the most unexpected theatrical manner. Electronic transmission of election results was the bone of contention in the two houses. Senators voted to place the power of determining the practicability…
The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, has taken over major interests in NICON Insurance Limited and the Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation (NigeriaRe). Recall that AMCON in 2020 was granted power by the court to take over the two assets, which were part of properties seized from a Nigerian lawyer and businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim over N69.4 billion debt. Also a federal high court in Abuja held in February that AMCON concealed facts relating to the case to obtain an interim order on the assets, thereby setting aside the order granting AMCON permission to take. However, AMCON in a statement made available…
Sokoto state government has issued warning against impending flood in some towns and villages of some local government areas of the state. The Director General of the state Agricultural Development Project, SADP, Mr Abubakar Malami in a post on his Facebook page on Monday, said flood was likely to occur in the areas between July 23 and 27. “The following locations and their environs are likely to experience flood within the period of prediction: 23RD – 27TH July 2021. “The towns include Gada, Goronyo, Isa, Makira, Shagari, Silame, Sokoto, Wamakko,” Malami stated.
By Tina George, Minna The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Niger state has suspended its candidate for the 2019 governorship election, Umar Nasko from the party. Nasko’s suspension was announced on Tuesday by Magama local government party officials for allegedly indulging in anti party activities. His involvement in anti party activities was reported to have become pronounced at the just concluded bye-election for the vacant Magama/Rijau Federal constituency. A letter addressed to the state PDP alleged that Nasko supported the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, with funds and campaign vehicles at the detriment of his party. It…
By Abujah Racheal Nigeria has recorded 10 new cases of the Delta COVID-19 variant thus far, the Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu has disclosed. The Delta variant is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a variant of concern, given its increased transmissibility. The variant has so far been detected in over 90 countries. Ihekweazu, who was represented by Mrs Elsie Ilori, Director of Disease Surveillance Department, CDC while giving an update on the Nigeria’s COVID-19 situation, at the ministerial briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja on Monday, said that while progress had been made…
A coalition of over 125 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Monday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari not to ascent to the Electoral Amendment Bill unless sections 52(2), 65 and 88 were deleted from the amendment. The CSOs include the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, Campaign for Transformative Governance, Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action), among several others. One of the spokespersons of the group, Ms Vivian Bellonwu, Executive Director, Social Development integrated Centre, said at a news conference in Abuja that the call was imperative to guarantee credible future elections. She said…