Author: Alade Adisa

In a bid to boost local refining capacity, reduce the import of refined petroleum products, and curb pressure on foreign exchange supply, the Federal Government has placed an immediate freeze on the export of crude oil meant to meet the needs of domestic refineries in the country. Before now, about 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day meant for domestic refining have been finding their way to the international market as producers and traders shortchange the policy for quick foreign exchange proceeds. Acting through the upstream sector regulator, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the government warned that it…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, arraigned 29 Chinese, 10 Filipinos, one Malaysian, one Indonesian and one Pakistani before separate Federal High Courts sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. The suspects were arraigned on charges bordering on alleged cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, impersonation, possession of documents containing false pretence, and identity theft, among others. They were arraigned alongside a company, Genting International Co. Ltd., before Justices Ayokunle Faji ; D.I. Dipeolu; Alexander Owoeye and C.J. Aneke, respectively. The defendants are members of the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 19, 2024, in Lagos during…

The disconnection threats hanging over some Nigerian banks for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) debt totalling N160 billion have been lifted as they (banks) make significant progress in repaying their outstanding debts to telecom operators. The banks, by their timely action, avoided service disconnection threats by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) which could have resulted in a potential disruption and ultimately impact millions of users negatively. The banks, which faced disconnection risk over the N160 billion debt have cleared their liabilities significantly, ensuring continued access to the USSD platform, which is vital for customers without internet access. The nine banks…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its proposed protests against the recent 50 percent increase in telecom tariffs by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), citing the need for further engagement with government. President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero disclosed the decision after a meeting between the union and government officials at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in Abuja on Monday. NEW DAILY PRIME reported that organised labour had fixed the planned nationwide demonstrations over the telecom tariffs hike to commence today (Tuesday) in a bid to force down the huge hike. However, following…

Teenager arrested after Harvey Willgoose stabbed at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield on Monday A 15-year-old boy has died after a stabbing at a school in Sheffield. Harvey Willgoose was stabbed at All Saints Catholic High School on Granville Road on Monday and taken to hospital, but died of his injuries. South Yorkshire Police said a 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder. The force received a report of the stabbing at 12.17pm, and officers and emergency services attended the school. Speaking outside the force’s headquarters, Asst Chief Constable Lindsey Butterfield said: “It is with great…

Marcus Rashford has joined Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United until the end of the season. Sky Sports News understands Villa will cover at least 75 per cent of Rashford’s wages and this could go up to 90 per cent depending on his and the team’s performance. “I would like to thank Manchester United and Aston Villa for making this loan deal happen,” Rashford said. “I was lucky to have a few clubs approach me but Aston Villa was an easy decision – I really admire the way that Aston Villa have been playing this season, and the manager’s…

A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja, the State capital, has sacked the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ahmed Muhammed Tijani Anaje from the royal stool. Justice Salisu Umar, in his ruling on Monday, made an order barring Anaje from parading himself as the paramount traditional ruler of Ebiraland. The suit marked HCO/05C/2024, was filed by Dr. Barnabas Adeku Ojiah and two others against the Governor of Kogi State. Reports have it that despite the fact that Anaje was the least qualified among the contestants as it was not his family’s turn, he was appointed as Ohinoyi of Ebiraland by…

The three New Year’s Day killers of Mr. Kehinde Fatinoye, his wife, Bukola, and their only son, Oreoluwa were on Monday sentenced to death by hanging for the brutal murders. Justice Basirat Adebowale of an Abeokuta High Court, Ogun State, found the trio guilty of nine counts, ruling that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. The convicts — Lekan Adekanbi, the family’s former driver, along with Ahmed Odetola and Waheed Adeniyi—committed the crime on January 1, 2023. They were first arraigned in February 2024 alongside six others, including Adekanbi’s wife, Temitope Fadairo, and his mother, Adenike Adekanbi.…

Tech billionaire, Elon Musk, with the backing of President Donald Trump, on Monday shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) tasked with humanitarian relief overseas after the two men adjudged the organization to be ‘beyond repair.’ Musk, the head of Trump’s government efficiency initiative, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) reviewed the government agency with Trump’s go-ahead and decided to shut down USAID and its Washington, D.C. offices. Mail Online reports that staff were shocked when they woke up Monday morning to emails instructing them to stay out of the agency’s D.C. headquarters. USAID staffers said they tracked 600…

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in newly appointed members of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the Federal Character Commission (FCC), and the National Population Commission (NPC). Before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Monday, the president also swore in eight former directors in the Federal Civil Service as Permanent Secretaries. 21 members of the RMAFC, along with one new member each for the FCC and the NPC, took their oaths of office at the Council Chamber shortly before the FEC meeting started. The newly appointed permanent secretaries from eight states passed a rigorous…