The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Tuesday arraigned a former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court in Kaduna over alleged severance pay fraud and suspicious foreign currency deposits. El-Rufai was docked alongside his co-defendant, Joel Adoga, on 10 counts bordering on alleged violations of Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws. According to the ICPC, the charges involve alleged inflated severance payments amounting to N579.7 million as well as fraudulent dollar-denominated deposits totalling $817,900 allegedly received by the former governor. The commission accused the defendants of engaging in financial transactions that contravened existing anti-corruption and money…
Author: Newsdesk
The Labour Party (LP) has zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, effectively ruling out aspirants from Northern Nigeria from contesting for the position on its platform. The Chairman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Senator Nenadi Usman, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja after a consultative meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Usman said the decision was part of the party’s strategy to provide clarity for prospective aspirants ahead of the next general elections. She stated, “We have one certain decision that we have taken. That is to say that we will certainly not field any aspirant from…
Airtel Africa has announced a major milestone in its collaboration with SpaceX, following the successful testing of data and messaging services with Starlink Mobile. The test demonstrates the potential of satellite-powered connectivity to extend mobile coverage to areas beyond the reach of traditional terrestrial networks. During the trial phase, users with 4G smartphones were able to seamlessly connect to Starlink’s constellation of 650 satellites in locations where conventional mobile signals were unavailable. This enabled access to light-data applications such as WhatsApp calling, Facebook Messenger, and financial transactions via the Airtel app, highlighting the practical use cases of the service in underserved and remote…
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday unveiled the draft 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, ahead of the 2027 general elections. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, did the unveiling at the consultative meeting with leaders of political parties on the review of INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties in Abuja. Amupitan said that the review became necessary following the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026. According to him, Nigeria cannot navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map. Amupitan called on political parties to take special note of Clause 40(4) & (5) of the draft regulation…
Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu has called on women in the state to exercise caution while handling cooking gas, stoves, and firewood in their daily activities. The governor gave the advice on Monday evening while commiserating with Mande Maigona of the Gidan Igwai area, whose house was gutted by fire last week, resulting in the death of one of his aides, Habibu. Aliyu reminded women that extra caution must always be observed when handling gas cylinders and other inflammable materials, which have often been responsible for fire outbreaks in many communities. He described the inferno that razed Mande Maigona’s house…
Alef Education, a UAE-based global leader in education technology, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AfricAI, a Nigeria-based company with a regional remit and presence across 18 African countries, to improve foundational education in Africa through a large-scale digital learning initiative. Under the MoU, Alef Education and AfricAI will launch ‘NextGen Learning Nigeria,’ a strategic initiative designed to deliver scalable, technology-enabled education solutions that enhance student learning outcomes while aligning with Nigeria’s national education priorities. Building on its successful deployment in Morocco, this collaboration represents a major step forward in Alef Education’s mission to redefine learning outcomes across Africa through its…
The Kano State Government has inaugurated a storm water drainage project in Ladanai Quarters, Nasarawa Local Government Area, to address persistent flooding challenges in the community. The Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr Dahiru Muhammad-Hashim, who inaugurated the project on Tuesday, in Kano, said the initiative was in line with Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf’s commitment to improving livelihoods of residents. Muhammad-Hashim said the project was executed in response to requests from the community, noting that it demonstrated the government’s inclusive approach to development. “This community has been experiencing flood-related issues, particularly during the rainy season, which affects residents socially and…
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on Tuesday declared a state of national energy emergency amid the Middle East conflict. The executive order signed by Marcos said the “resulting imminent danger” would pose a threat to the country’s energy supply. A committee has also been established to monitor the orderly supply and distribution of essential goods, including fuel, food, and medicines. The committee members were urged to ensure the continuity of critical public services, transportation, and healthcare infrastructure, as stated in the executive order.
The Anambra State Government, on Tuesday, marked the 2026 World Tuberculosis Day with the inauguration of tricycles to enhance mobile tuberculosis (TB) testing across the state. Speaking at the event in Awka, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Obiageli Uchebo, said the occasion was not merely ceremonial but a call to action against the disease. Uchebo described TB as a preventable, treatable and curable disease. She said that ending the disease requires collective efforts from government, communities and stakeholders. “The theme of the 2026 commemoration, ‘Yes! We Can End TB’, underscores the need for national governments to take ownership…
The Rolan Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has provided free eye care services and distributed 500 eyeglasses to vulnerable residents of Gwagwalada Area Council in the FCT. The outreach, which held on Tuesday, included free eye screening, distribution of eyeglasses and eye drops, as well as basic medical checks for beneficiaries aged 38 years and above. The intervention was carried out under the Abuja Vision Support Programme 2026 in collaboration with the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) and the National Optometry Association, FCT chapter. Mr Olorunnisola Sanni, State Coordinator of the foundation, said the initiative targeted poor and vulnerable persons at…