Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

ICPC Launches Probe Into £159.6bn Unaccounted Student Loans In Nigeria. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has initiated a thorough investigation into alleged financial discrepancies involving £159.6 billion in unaccounted student loans under the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). The probe targets 51 tertiary institutions across Nigeria, accused of making unauthorised deductions from student loan disbursements. In a statement released on Thursday, ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare revealed that the institutions allegedly deducted between £3,500 and £30,000 from each student’s institutional fees, which were funded through the NELFUND scheme. These actions have raised concerns about exploitation…

Nigerian Workers Deserve Immediate Implementation Of New Minimum Wage, Says Advocate Tolu Bankole. Aare (Hon.) Tolu Bankole, a dedicated champion of justice and workers’ rights, has called for the urgent and full implementation of Nigeria’s new national minimum wage across all states and institutions yet to comply. The former Students’ Union President of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, made the impassioned plea as he joined the nation in celebrating Nigerian workers on Workers’ Day. In a heartfelt message marking the occasion, Bankole described Nigerian workers as “the mother of the nation,” lauding their competence, dedication, loyalty, and resilience…

Brazilian Oldest Nun; Sister Inah, Dies Aged 116. Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, has passed away at the remarkable age of 116, her family has confirmed. Born on 8 June 1908 in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, Sister Inah dedicated nearly a century of her life to faith, education, and service. She died peacefully at a Teresian Sisters’ residence in Porto Alegre, where she had spent her final years. According to her nephew, she had not been ill, but her body had simply “gradually stopped” functioning. Sister Inah joined a religious boarding school…

FA Bans Transgender Women From Women’s Football Following Supreme Court Ruling. Transgender women will no longer be permitted to play in women’s football in England from 1 June, the Football Association (FA) has confirmed, following a landmark Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman. On 11 April, the FA had introduced updated eligibility criteria for transgender women, allowing participation provided strict medical conditions were met. However, the Supreme Court’s 15 April judgement clarified that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. In light of this, the FA has reversed its earlier policy,…

UBTH Health Workers Mourn Colleague Killed In Hospital Premises. Medical and health workers at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) have been thrown into mourning following the tragic death of their colleague, Dr Alex Ogunniyi, who was fatally shot by suspected gunmen within the hospital premises last Friday. In response to the shocking incident, staff at the hospital held a peaceful protest and a solemn commendation service to honour the late physiotherapist. The workers called on authorities to take immediate steps to improve security within the hospital environment and prevent similar tragedies in the future. Speaking during…

In a clear departure from previous practice, the Federal Government is making a spirited move to enable states to receive hundreds of billions of naira, being a five-year backlog of Universal Basic Education (UBE) Fund. The backlog dated back to the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in 2020. Govima Gathered that the President, on his return from Paris last week, approved the plan by the Minister of Education, which included updated information of how the funds can transform basic education in each of the over 30 states expected to benefit from this new strategy. The new…

UK Resumes Visa Services In Enugu After Months-Long Closure. The United Kingdom has resumed visa application services in Enugu, Nigeria, several months after operations were suspended in the city. The visa application centre (VAC), previously managed by TLScontact, had been closed in November 2024 alongside the centre in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed the launch of the UK’s largest visa facility in Lagos, operated by VFS Global, which initially redirected all applicants to Lagos and Abuja. In an update on Wednesday, the British High Commission confirmed that visa services have resumed in Enugu. According to VFS Global, residents…

Nigerian Court Adjourns Binance Tax Evasion Case To May 12. A Nigerian judge has postponed the tax evasion case against Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, to 12 May 2025. The adjournment follows a request from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to serve court documents to Binance via email, citing the company’s offshore registration and lack of a physical office in Nigeria. The FIRS has filed a lawsuit seeking $79.5 billion in damages for alleged economic losses attributed to Binance’s operations in the country, along with $2 billion in back taxes. Authorities allege that Binance’s activities have contributed…

British High Commission Clarifies Status Of Alleged UK Soldier Arrested In Delta State. The British High Commission has denied claims that Micah Polo, a man arrested in Delta State for alleged illegal arms procurement, is a serving member of the UK military. A coalition of Niger Delta stakeholders and civil society organizations had petitioned the High Commission to investigate Polo, who was reportedly identified as a major in the British army. However, the High Commission stated that Polo is not a serving member of the UK Armed Forces. While he did serve in the UK Armed Forces Reserves, he…

Saudi Ministry Of Interior Announces Penalties For Hajj Permit Violators. The Saudi Ministry of Interior has announced strict penalties for individuals who attempt to perform Hajj without a permit, as well as those who facilitate such violations. The penalties, which will be enforced from Dhul-Qi’dah 1 to Dhul-Hijjah 14, aim to ensure that pilgrims adhere to the regulations governing the holy pilgrimage. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), individuals attempting to perform Hajj without a permit will face fines of up to SAR 20,000 (approximately $5,332 USD). Additionally, those who apply for a visit visa for individuals who…

Controversy Erupts Over Naval Operation At Rivers State Deputy Governor’s Residence. A dramatic turn of events has unfolded in Rivers State, where the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), has faced criticism for ordering naval personnel to the residence of suspended Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Odu. The operation, which took place in the early hours of April 25, saw the removal of three vehicles, sparking widespread condemnation. According to eyewitnesses, the naval officers carried out the operation in a commando-style raid, taking away two Toyota Hilux vehicles and one Toyota Hiace bus. However, the Senior Special Adviser on…

Court Of Appeal Upholds Conviction Of Professor Peter Ogban For Election Rigging In Favour Of Senator Akpabio. The Court of Appeal in Calabar has upheld the conviction of Professor Peter Ogban, a lecturer at the University of Calabar, for rigging a senatorial election in favour of Senator Godswill Akpabio. Ogban, a professor of Soil Science, was sentenced to three years in prison by a State High Court in Uyo in 2021 for announcing fake election results. The Court of Appeal not only affirmed Ogban’s conviction but also expressed dismay at his role as a university professor in the fraudulent…