Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

FAAN Signs MoU With Plateau Government To Upgrade Yakubu Gowon Airport. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Plateau State Government to upgrade the Yakubu Gowon Airport in Jos, a move aimed at boosting aviation and economic growth in the region. The agreement, finalised on Thursday, marks a significant step towards modernising the facility. FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, hailed the partnership as a milestone during the signing ceremony in Jos. “This collaboration will transform Yakubu Gowon Airport into a modern hub, enhancing safety, passenger comfort, and capacity to…

Netherlands To Hand Over 119 Looted Benin Bronzes To Nigeria On June 21. The Netherlands will return 119 looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria on 21 June 2025, a historic move to address colonial-era injustices and restore cultural heritage. The artefacts, plundered during the 1897 British punitive expedition against the Benin Kingdom, have been held in Dutch museums and private collections for over a century. Dutch authorities announced the decision on Thursday, following years of negotiations and growing global calls for the restitution of looted treasures. “Returning these bronzes is a moral and historical duty. We acknowledge the wrongs…

Russia Denies Allegations Of Kidnapping 20,000 Ukrainian Children. Moscow has firmly denied accusations that it kidnapped 20,000 Ukrainian children, labelling the claims as “fabricated propaganda” orchestrated by the Kyiv government. The allegation, which has stirred international controversy, has been a point of contention amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova addressed the claims, asserting, “As we can see, there are no 20,000 supposedly abducted children — as the Kyiv regime previously claimed.” She described the accusation as “a lie on the level of Bucha,” referring to earlier disputed claims about Russian actions…

Football’s Lawmakers Approve Penalty Retakes After Madrid Controversy. Football’s governing body, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), has officially amended a key rule following the controversial disallowance of Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez’s penalty during a Champions League shootout against Real Madrid earlier this year. The decision, which sparked widespread debate, has prompted a significant change to the laws of the game, ensuring fairer outcomes in future matches. The incident occurred in March during a tense Champions League encounter, where Álvarez’s penalty was disallowed after he accidentally touched the ball twice while taking the shot. Under the previous rules,…

Amaechi Refuses To ‘Engage In Childish Insults’ In Response To Wike’s Remarks. Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has firmly rebuffed recent comments made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, declaring that he will not “stoop to the level of a child” by trading insults. In a candid interview with Arise Television on Tuesday, Amaechi addressed Wike’s recent criticisms, emphasising their past professional relationship. “I was once his boss, whether he likes it or not. I hired him. I could have said no,” Amaechi stated, recalling Wike’s tenure as his…

Premier League Confirms 2025/26 Season Start Date, Fixtures To Be Unveiled On 18 June. The Premier League has officially announced key dates for the 2025/26 season, setting the stage for another thrilling chapter of top-flight English football. The campaign will kick off on the weekend of 16 and 17 August 2025, with all 380 matches scheduled to be revealed at 09:00 BST on Wednesday, 18 June 2025. Football enthusiasts across the nation can mark their calendars for the fixture release, which will be published on the Premier League’s official website, premierleague.com, and via its app. The announcement will provide…

DSS Seeks Court Order To Restrain Patrick Utomi From Staging Shadow Government Rallies. The Department of State Services (DSS) has urgently requested the Federal High Court in Abuja to issue an injunction preventing Professor Patrick Utomi, a former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), from organising rallies, road shows, or public engagements related to his proposed “shadow government” in Nigeria. In a fresh application filed on Wednesday, 4 June 2025, the DSS, through its legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Akinlolu Kehinde, expressed concerns over intelligence reports suggesting that Utomi, currently abroad, plans…

No One Above The Law On Tax Payment In Abuja, Says Wike. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning to residents and property owners in Abuja, declaring that no one is above the law when it comes to tax payment. Speaking on Thursday, the former Rivers State governor reiterated his commitment to enforcing compliance with tax obligations, dismissing the notion of “untouchables” in the capital city as a myth. In a bold statement, Wike emphasised that all residents, regardless of status, must fulfil their tax duties, asserting, “Heaven will not fall”…

Oborevwori Calls For Calm Amid Contentious INEC Ward Delineation In Warri. Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has urged residents of Warri Federal Constituency to remain calm and exercise restraint amid rising tensions over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recent ward delineation exercise. The governor’s plea comes in the wake of heated debates and protests sparked by the controversial reorganisation of electoral wards in Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South-West Local Government Areas, a process ordered by a Supreme Court judgement on 2 December 2022. Speaking through a statement released by his office, Governor Oborevwori appealed…

Abuja Indigenes Reject FCT Relocation Plans, Demand Inclusive Integration. Indigenous communities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have strongly opposed the long-standing relocation policy of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), labelling it a violation of their fundamental human rights and a breach of the rule of law. Instead, they are calling for an inclusive urban renewal and integration strategy that promotes acceptance, ensures comfort, and provides humane and equitable alternatives for all residents. The stance was passionately articulated during a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Area Councils and Ancillary Matters at the National…

High Courts Summon Senate President Akpabio And Deputy Chief Whip Nwaebonyi Over Allegations By Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Two High Courts in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have issued summons to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Chief Whip Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, following allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and breaches of fundamental rights brought by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the representative for Kogi Central. Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi, presiding over suit FCT/HC/CV/754/2025 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, granted leave for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to serve the writ of summons, statement of claim, and related court documents on Senator Akpabio, both…

Trump Imposes Travel Ban On 12 Countries, Adds Restrictions For Seven More. Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump has enacted a sweeping travel ban, prohibiting entry to the United States from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Haiti, and Iran, in a move he claims will “protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors.” The proclamation, announced on Wednesday, also imposes partial travel restrictions on nationals from seven additional countries, such as Cuba and Venezuela. The measures are set to take effect on 9 June 2025. Speaking at the White House, Trump declared, “We don’t want them,” referencing a recent attack in Colorado…