Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Iranian Authorities Continue Efforts To Identify Victims Of Deadly Port Explosion. Iranian officials are working to identify 22 of the 70 victims confirmed dead following last week’s deadly explosion at the Shahid Rajaee port, according to the provincial governor speaking to state news agency IRNA on Monday. The blast, which left nearly 1,200 people injured, has shocked the nation and prompted a swift governmental response. Around 120 individuals remain hospitalised, state media reported. Located in southern Iran along the Strait of Hormuz, the Shahid Rajaee port is a critical hub, handling 85 percent of the country’s shipping container traffic…

Cardinal Becciu Steps Aside From Papal Conclave Amid Ongoing Controversy. Cardinal Angelo Becciu, a once-powerful figure within the Vatican, has confirmed he will not participate in the upcoming papal conclave on 7 May, citing the “will of Pope Francis” and the greater good of the Church. The 76-year-old Italian prelate, who was convicted of fraud and embezzlement by a Vatican tribunal in 2023, stated through his lawyer on Tuesday that he would not enter the Sistine Chapel to cast a vote for the next pope. Despite continuing to maintain his innocence and appealing the conviction, Cardinal Becciu said he…

Respected Nigerian Islamic Scholar Sheikh Abdul Rasheed Hadiyatullah Passes Away. The Nigerian Muslim community is mourning the loss of Sheikh Abdul Rasheed Hadiyatullah, the esteemed President of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), who passed away on Monday, 28 April 2025. The announcement was made by Sheikh Daood Imran Molaasan, the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, in a heartfelt statement issued that evening. Sheikh Hadiyatullah, a revered scholar and jurist, was born on 13 October 1944 in Iwo, a town in Osun State renowned for its rich Islamic heritage. His early education began at Anwaru Islam School in…

INEC Proposes Major Electoral Reforms Ahead Of 2027 Nigerian Elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled ambitious proposals to reform Nigeria’s electoral framework in preparation for the 2027 general elections, aiming to enhance transparency, efficiency, and credibility in the democratic process. Among the key changes, INEC is advocating for amendments to strip the President of the authority to appoint Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), who oversee INEC operations at the state level. Instead, the commission seeks to empower itself to appoint these officials, re-designating them as State Directors of Elections. This proposal involves amending Section 14 (3) Paragraph…

Oyo State Police Debunk False Boko Haram Invasion Video. The Oyo State Police Command has dismissed a viral video claiming a Boko Haram invasion of Oyo Town as misleading and outdated, urging residents to remain calm and vigilant. In a statement issued by Police Public Relations Officer CSP Osifeso Adewale on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, the command clarified that the video, which allegedly shows trucks carrying motorcycles and weapons along the Ibadan Express Road, is recycled footage from 2022. The police described the circulation of the clip as a deliberate attempt by “mischief makers” to spread falsehoods…

King Sunny Ade Safe And Sound, Family Dismisses Kidnapping Rumours Sparked By Daughter’s Claims. The family of legendary Juju musician Sunday Adegeye, popularly known as King Sunny Ade (KSA), has firmly dismissed rumours of his alleged kidnapping, confirming that the 78-year-old music icon is “safe and sound.” The statement follows a wave of concern triggered by claims from his daughter, Damilola Adeniyi-Adegeye, who alleged on social media that her father had been abducted by his manager and stepbrother, Dayo Adegeye, and other associates. The kidnapping rumours originated on Monday, 28 April 2025, when Damilola, based in the United Kingdom, posted…

Champions League Semi-Final Preview And Predictions: Arsenal v Paris Saint-Germain. Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are set to clash this evening (20:00 BST 8:00 PM WAT) in a highly anticipated first-leg semi-final tie in the UEFA Champions League, with both clubs eyeing a place in the final. For Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, this season’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. With just one defeat—against Inter Milan—in the entire campaign, the Gunners have showcased tactical maturity and impressive consistency. Their route to the semis has included a commanding 9-3 aggregate win over PSV Eindhoven and a 5-1 dismantling of Real Madrid…

Dr Jumoke Oduwole Commends NGX Leadership For Bolstering Nigeria’s Capital Market Growth. The Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, MFR, has lauded the leadership of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) for its pivotal role in fortifying Nigeria’s capital markets. Speaking at a Closing Gong Ceremony, the Minister praised the NGX for its unwavering commitment to fostering economic growth and investment opportunities. Dr Oduwole acknowledged the contributions of the NGX Chairman, CEO, Board of Directors, and key industry stakeholders, including the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) and the Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON).…

Power Restored Across Most Of Spain And Portugal After Major Blackout. Spain’s national power company, Red Eléctrica, has announced the near-complete restoration of electricity across Peninsular Spain, following a significant outage that disrupted critical infrastructure including airports, train services, and traffic systems. By 6 a.m. local time on Tuesday, Red Eléctrica confirmed that 99 percent of electricity demand had been met and that all substations on the national grid were back in operation—almost 18 hours after the blackout began on Monday. The outage, which extended into neighbouring Portugal, left tens of millions of residents without power across the…

Lagos Signs Landmark MoU To Boost Water Infrastructure. The Lagos State Government has taken a major step towards improving access to clean water with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday with international consortium firms, Belstar and ENKA, for the rehabilitation and expansion of water supply works across the state. The signing ceremony, held at the Alausa Secretariat, was presided over by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab. He stated that the collaboration is a strategic move to tackle longstanding water infrastructure challenges in the state. According to Wahab, the…

Court Orders Aisha Achimugu To Appear Before EFCC Over N8.7 Billion Oil Block Investigation. Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered businesswoman Aisha Achimugu to present herself before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged financial crimes. The judge further directed that Achimugu must also appear before the court on Wednesday, 30 April 2025. The ruling was delivered on Monday, 28 April 2025, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/626/2025, which was filed by Achimugu against several Nigerian law enforcement agencies, including the…

Ohanaeze Faction Urges Tinubu To Embrace Peace Dialogue With Pro-Biafra Agitators. A faction of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to embrace a peace initiative extended by non-violent pro-Biafra agitators, calling for meaningful dialogue to resolve long-standing issues in the South-East. In a statement released in Abakaliki on Sunday, Deputy National President of the Ohanaeze faction, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, urged the President to consider the merits of engaging in peaceful discussions with groups previously associated with Biafra agitation, particularly in light of recent developments. Isiguzoro referenced the recent book, *A Journey in…