Author: Alade Adisa

The Oyo State Government  has initiated a fresh suit against  Naomi Silekunola, the former queen of the Ooni of Ife; Oriyomi Hamzat, an Ibadan-based radio station owner; and Abdulahi Fasasi, the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan. These charges are linked to a stampede at a funfair on December 18, 2024, which resulted in the deaths of 35 children. The charge sheet, labeled I/05C/2025, was filed before the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan on Friday, January 10, 2025. The Oyo State Government is listed as the complainant, while Silekunola, Hamzat, and Fasasi are identified as the defendants. In…

A nurse in her 50s is in critical condition after being attacked by a member of the public at the Royal Oldham Hospital in Greater Manchester, Uk. The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Saturday in the hospital’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) department. A 37-year-old man was swiftly arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in police custody for questioning. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that the suspect used a sharp instrument, though it was not a knife, to carry out the attack. The force stated, “It’s believed that a member of the public attacked…

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has confirmed that he is not on good terms with President Bola Tinubu, citing disagreements over key policies. He also criticized the president for being stubborn and failing to listen to the concerns of the people, particularly regarding the ongoing tax reforms. The governor made these remarks during discussions National Chairman of the Ulama Council of JIBWIS, Fadilatu Ash-Sheikh Muhammad Sani Yahaya Jingir when the latter condoled with him over the passing of his stepmother, Hajja Aisha Mohammed at Ramat House, Government House, Bauchi. In a short Hausa video that has since gone viral…

An Italian journalist detained in Iran for three weeks was released Wednesday and is returning home, Italian officials said. Cecilia Sala was released following “intensive work on diplomatic and intelligence channels,” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office said. The journalist, who contributes to the daily newspaper Il Foglio and hosts the “Stories” podcast for media outlet Chora Media, had been in Iran on assignment and with a journalist visa when she was arrested in the capital, Tehran, on December 19. The state news outlet IRNA reported that Sala was being held after “violating the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”…

Taliban leaders in Afghanistan on Wednesday denied President-elect Donald Trump’s assertions that they have received billions of dollars in U.S. financial aid since regaining control of the country. Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy Taliban spokesperson, responded to Trump’s claims by asserting that the Kabul administration neither anticipates nor seeks any assistance from the United States. “In reality, the United States has not provided a single penny to the Islamic Emirate,” Fitrat stated, referring to Afghanistan’s official name under Taliban rule. “Instead, it has confiscated and frozen billions of dollars that rightfully belong to the people of Afghanistan.” The Taliban’s sharp response…

As Nigerians await the National Assembly’s passage of the proposed tax reform bills, chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has listed some of the potential benefits of the reforms. The tax bills, which include Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, are aimed at addressing the nation’s tax system’s gridlocks such as multiplicity of taxes, fragmentation of revenue administration, and issues with the excessive tax burden on most vulnerable citizens, including small businesses and low-income earners. The bills, when passed into law,…

The federal government has agreed to demands for tariff hikes in the telecommunication industry. This is expected in the coming weeks, as the government aims to address sustainability challenges in the telecom sector. This implies that prices of calls, data and SMS will go up for the average Nigerian. However, the hike will fall short of the 100 percent increase requested by service providers, with the government seeking to balance sector growth and protecting Nigerians from excessive financial burdens. Bosun Tijani, the minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, disclosed this during an industry stakeholder forum in Abuja on Wednesday.…

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has reappointed three of his former commissioners to serve as special advisers less than 48 hours after their dismissal. The appointments were announced on Tuesday in a statement issued by Mukhtar Gidado, the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity. The statement described the move as part of the governor’s strategy to ensure “effective leadership, inclusivity, and the attainment of his administration’s developmental goals.” The reappointed officials include:Abdulhameed Bununu, former Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, now Special Adviser on Multilateral Coordination and Regional Integration. Usman Danturaki, former Commissioner for Information and Communication,…

Some prominent politicians in the country, including Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, and Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former presidential candidate, have met with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) leadership in Abuja to strategize ahead of the 2027 general elections. The closed-door meeting, which took place at the SDP national secretariat, has sparked speculations about potential political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections. In attendance at the parley was People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s former spokesman, Otunba Segun Showunmi. -Although the specific agenda of the meeting was not disclosed, it is being described as part…

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau is likely to announce his resignation this week as he faces mounting dissent within his Liberal Party, The Globe and Mail reported Sunday. Citing three anonymous sources knowledgeable of internal party matters, The Globe said Trudeau’s announcement could come as early as Monday. The announcement would likely come before a national Liberal Party caucus on Wednesday, according to the Globe’s sources. It remained unclear if Trudeau would remain in an interim capacity while the party sought new leadership, the Globe reported. Trudeau’s popularity has waned in recent months, with his government narrowly surviving a series…