Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released a former Minister of State for Power, Olu Agunloye, on bail one week after he was detained. EFCC Spokesman, Dele Oyewale, told Channels Television that Agunloye was released on Wednesday. The EFCC weeks ago declared Agulonye wanted over an alleged $6 billion fraud related to the controversial Mambilla hydropower project. The anti-graft agency had urged anyone “with useful information as to his whereabouts” to contact the agency. The EFCC had in September questioned the former minister over the same issue. Agunloye was a minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government (1999-2003). He has been…

The Nigerian Catholic Bishops Conference has declared that same-sex unions will not be approved by the Catholic churches in the nation. The bishops declared that it is against national law, church doctrine, and divine law to approve of same-sex unions. They announced this in a statement signed on Wednesday by the conference secretary, Donayus Ogun and the conference president Lucius Ugirji. They said, “The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria assures the entire People of God that the teaching of the Catholic Church on marriage remains the same. There is, therefore, no possibility in the teaching of the Church of blessing…

The Federal Government has appointed 46 new Directors for agencies under the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development. This is coming a week after the Federal Government sacked Chief Executives of Aviation agencies followed by directors in the ministry. A statement from the ministry said, “In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, CON, FCIArb. (U.K), has released the list of newly appointed Directors of the Agencies under the Ministry as follows: NIGERIAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY (NIMET): 1 PROF VINCENT EZIKORNWOR WELI DIRECTOR, WEATHER SERVICES…

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the appeal by the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State, Sadique Abubakar, against the election of Governor Bala Mohammed. Abubakar approached the apex court after the Appeal Court, Abuja Division, upheld the victory of Governor Mohammed in the governorship election held on March 18. Sadeeq Abubakar and his party are demanding that the Apex Court set aside the recent judgement by the Appeal Court, which upheld the election of Bala Mohammed, and declare him the winner of the election. While presenting his brief during the Court’s sitting, Leading Counsel…

A London court has refused to grant an application by Process & Industrial Development (P&ID) seeking to appeal the judgement halting the enforcement of its $11 billion award against Nigeria. In a judgment on Thursday, the presiding judge, Robin Knowles, ruled that the award against Nigeria should be thrown out immediately. On October 23, Knowles halted the enforcement of the award by upholding Nigeria’s prayer that it was obtained by fraud and in violation of section 68 of the English Arbitration Act 1996. The judge found that P&ID had paid bribes to Nigerian officials involved in drafting the gas supply…

The Federal Government has reopened the Third Mainland Bridge, one month after its closure for maintenance work. “We are pleased to announce that parts of the Third Mainland Bridge which were closed last month will reopen today 21st December, 2023 by 6 pm,” the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi said in a statement today. “Following essential maintenance, the entire bridge is now fully accessible to the public, ensuring smoother connectivity and safe commuting,” the commissioner added. He commended Nigerians for their “patience during the temporary closure,” adding that the government understood the inconvenience the closure may have caused.…

The Port Harcourt Refinery, with a combined capacity of 210,000 barrels per day, is set to come on board as it begins operations today. “Yes, the refinery is set, we will visit the the refinery site today to kickstart it’s operation,” an official of the ministry of petroleum told Businessday. The $1.5 billion rehabilitation project was launched by the Buhari administration in 2019, to restore the aging refinery to its nameplate capacity of 210,000 barrels per day (bpd). The project seen as a critical step towards boosting Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity and reducing its dependence on imported petroleum products. Mele…

The Senate, yesterday, screened the 11 newly appointed justices of the Supreme Court behind closed doors. The lucky justices included Haruna Tsammani (Northeast), who chaired the Presidential Election Petition Court; Moore Adumein (South-South), Jummai Sankey (North-central), Chidiebere Uwa (South-east) and Chioma Nwosu-Iheme (South-east). Others were Justice Obande Ogbuinya (South-east); Justice Stephen Adah(North-central); Justice Habeeb Abiru (South-west); Justice Jamilu Tukur (Northwest); Justice Abubakar Umar (Northwest), and Justice Mohammed Idris (North-central). Currently, the Supreme Court operates with only 10 justices, falling short of the statutory requirement of 21 judges. But, if confirmed, it would mark the first time in history that the…

President Bola Tinubu has written the Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, to submit a progress report on the agreements related to the electricity sector, signed during the recently concluded United Nations Climate Conference (COP 28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). In a letter seen by thisday yesterday, the president gave the power minister a two-week period within which to prepare and submit the document. The deadline expires today (Thursday), counting from the December 7 date when the minister acknowledged receipt of the official communication. Aside other deals, President Bola Tinubu and the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz had presided…

The General Superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi, on Wednesday, said same-sex marriage is at variance with the command of Jesus Christ to Christians. He spoke at the Deeper Life International Conference Centre, KM 48 Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, during the opening ceremony of a joint event of the Global Crusade with Kumuyi and the 2023 National December Retreat  tagged: “Emmanuel.” On Tuesday Pope Francis granted permission for priests to bestow blessings upon same-sex marriage couples. But Kumuyi in his address, asserted that the command of Christ Jesus was for a man to get married to a woman. He…

Following the suspension of the Holy Pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan by both the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) and the Lagos State Government in October this year, the State Government has commenced the sales of forms for the 2023/2024 Pilgrimage Exercise to the Holy Land of Rome and Greece. The suspension of the Holy Pilgrimage exercise was a result of the security situation in Israel that had claimed several lives. According to the Executive Secretary of Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board (LSCPWB), Mrs.  Yetunde Florence Gbafe the suspension of the pilgrimage exercise then was in line with the…

Mrs Uju Ohanenye, the Minister of Women Affairs, has denied an advocacy attributed to her on “Morning Show” segment of a national television exempting women from paying tax. This is contained in a statement signed by Ohaeri Joseph, her Special Assistant on Media in Abuja on Wednesday. “The attention of the Ministry has been drawn to some false reports on ‘Morning Show’ segment of the Arise TV insinuating that the Minister advocated for women not to pay tax in the Nigeria. “We wish to state categorically clear that the Minister did not canvass for women not to pay tax. “Because…