Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Data from the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) has revealed that over 65 million Nigerians actively engage in betting, spending $975m daily on online betting. Executive secretary of NLTF, Bello Maigari, made this known yesterday at the second edition of the biennial national gaming conference held in Lagos. He said Nigerians spend billions of dollars on betting each year, despite economic hardship. “Currently, there are over 65 million Nigerians actively engaging in this activity, spending $15 on average everyday. It is on record, each day, 14 million bet takes and payments are made online in our country. “It is expected…

President Bola Tinubu has intervened in the crisis rocking the executive and the legislature in Rivers. Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State stated this while briefing State House correspondents after a closed-door session with Tinubu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday. “We had a closed session where very serious national issues were discussed that has serious security implications. That is the problem emerging in Rivers. “The president in his usual leadership position intervened and then it will appear that there will be peace in that respect. “He has showed that he is a president for everybody – a president for…

The National Police Service Council has confirmed the former acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as the substantive IGP and Head of the Nigeria Police Force. Briefing State House correspondents after the Council Meeting, the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam, announced the confirmation of Kayode Egbetokun as the substantive Inspector General of Police. Geidam also said members endorsed President Tinubu’s proposal on the confirmation of Egbetokun, following his pedigree and experiences on the job. He said Egbetokun’s confirmation follows his satisfactory discharge of duties in the past three months since his appointment on June 20. Geidam further said…

The Federal Government has reinstated its position that only a two-state solution will end the Israeli-Palestinian age-long conflict. Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, disclosed this while speaking with the press after a meeting with the Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdallah Abu Shawesh, on Tuesday evening. He said Nigeria believes both parties have a right to an independent state. The Minister lamented that innocent civilians were being killed in the conflict, calling on both parties to stop hostilities. “I reiterated to him [Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria] Nigeria’s position which is for a two-state solution and we are totally…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied a report suggesting that it plans to redenominate the country’s legal tender, the Naira, with effect from January 2024. The rebuttal followed the wide circulation of a text message suggesting that the Bank plans to redenominate the Naira. In a release signed by the Director of Corporate Communication, Dr Isa AbdulMumin, the Apex bank said: “We are concerned that this narrative, which we had refuted before now, appears to be gaining traction with several debates on the implication of such a policy for the Nigerian economy. “We wish to reiterate that the…

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reversed the nullification of the candidacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November governorship election, Chief Timipre Sylva, thus clearing the coast for his participation in less than 12 days to the poll. The appellate court in a judgment delivered on Tuesday held that Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court was wrong in ordering the sack of Sylva as a candidate of the APC in the November 11, governorship election in Bayelsa State. According to the judgment, the trial court erred by assuming jurisdiction in the matter on grounds…

Vinícius Júnior has extended his contract at Real Madrid until June 2027, the LaLiga club announced on Tuesday. The Brazil forward, 23, joined Madrid in July 2018 and has established himself as one of the club’s most important players. “Real Madrid CF and Viní Jr. have agreed the extension of the player’s contract, who will remain at the club until June 30, 2027,” Madrid said in a statement. “Viní Jr. arrived at Real Madrid in July 2018, aged just 18 years old, and made his debut for Real Madrid Castilla on August 26. In his six seasons wearing the first team shirt he has played…

Saudi Arabia is set to host the men’s 2034 World Cup after Australia decided against bidding to stage the tournament. Football Australia confirmed its decision only hours before Fifa’s deadline for declarations of interest on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia is the only other nation to bid. “We have reached the conclusion not to do so for the 2034 competition,” read a statement from Football Australia. Australia’s governing body says it intends to focus its efforts on hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2026 and the Club World Cup in 2029. The 2026 World Cup will take place in the US,…

Dr. Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has alerted Nigerians on the existence of portal designed by undesirable elements to defraud Nigerians. ”The said portal is fake, created by undesirable elements with the sole intention of defrauding unsuspecting members of the public. ”There will never be a portal from either the ministry, departments and agencies of government or its partners to apply in order to access funds from the humanitarian and poverty alleviation trust fund. ”The general public is, therefore, advised to discountenance the link being circulated,” the minster said.

Abdulazeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, and prominent Lagos socialite, Samson Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, have taken legal action against their prolonged detention by the Police. In the suit, the Police and Chief Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun, who ordered their remand for 21 days, have been named as defendants. Naira Marley and Sam Larry are each seeking ₦20 million in damages from the defendants. Their lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), filed the suit, urging the court to declare their continued detention at the Homicide Section of the Lagos State Police Command a violation of their rights. The deponents in the affidavits attached…

Governor Simi Fubara of Rivers State and Nyesom Wike, his predecessor, are currently at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The duo, who reportedly fell out less than six months after succession, have been in the news since the reported move of the Rivers House of Assembly to impeach the governor. Fubara had stormed the assembly while some lawmakers said loyal to Wike were said to be planning his removal. More to come…

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has affirmed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan as the rightful winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial Election. The Appellate Court in a ruling on Tuesday, affirmed the ruling of the Tribunal which declared Akpoti as the winner of the February 2023 election. In declaring Akpoti as the winner, the court dismissed the appeal filed by Abubakar Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for lacking in merit. Earlier in September, the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lokoja had nullified the victory of Ohere as the winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial Election. The…