Author: Alade Adisa

United States President, Joe Biden has granted clemency to 37 of the 40 federal inmates facing death sentences, commuting their sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The three inmates who didn’t receive clemency are the convicted murderer in the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, the gunman at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, and the surviving Boston Marathon bomber. The announcement is sure to spark partisan debate, even though presidential commutation and pardon power are broad, constitutionally enshrined and irreversible. The Justice Department instituted a moratorium on executions in 2021 so it could review policies and procedures.…

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede has expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for demonstrating stronger political will in favour of anti-graft efforts of the Commission. Olukoyede stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, while congratulating Christians as they mark the birth of Jesus Christ in a statement issued on his behalf by Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency. The EFCC boss pointed out in the statement that the achievements of the EFCC in the last one and half years were direct outcomes of Tinubu’s courageous and inspirational leadership. “Nigerians can see…

Alhaji Lambo Ilela, a 75-year-old cleric has been arrested by a local community watch group in Zamfara State for allegedly providing spiritual backing to bandits operating in Zamfara and Katsina states. The cleric reportedly confessed to offering spiritual services to bandits for nearly six years during interrogation. He disclosed that his clientele initially consisted of nine gang leaders, including a notorious bandit leader, Sani Gurugu, who commands multiple gangs terrorising communities in Safana. Ilela further admitted to receiving a payment of N1.3 million from Gurugu in exchange for his spiritual services, which he claimed were meant to enhance the bandits’…

The Ogun State House of Assembly has approved the 2025 Appropriation Bill, amounting to N1,054,542,020,147, which had been presented by the state governor, Dapo Abiodun 20 days prior. The approval included minor adjustments to recurrent expenditures across 21 agencies, as well as slight modifications to the capital expenditures of five agencies and the revenue targets for two agencies. The passage followed the presentation of the report by the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, chaired by Hon. Musefiu Lamidi, who moved the motion for its adoption. His motion was seconded by Hon. Wahab Haruna and supported unanimously by the House…

President Bola Tinubu has extended warm Christmas greetings to Nigerians, urging them to embrace the spirit of love, peace, and unity embodied in the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth. In his heartfelt message, the president called on citizens to find solace in faith and renew their commitment to building a prosperous Nigeria. Tinubu reflected on the profound meaning of Christmas, describing it as a reminder of divine prophecy fulfilled and the triumph of light over darkness. “Christmas symbolises hope, love, and unity, resonating deeply with people of all faiths,” he said, emphasising the significance of the season in inspiring collective…

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has initiated enforcement action against five airlines (two international and three domestic operators) for various violations of Part 19 of the NCAA regulations. The violations include the non-payment of refunds within the stipulated time frame, non-responsiveness to the NCAA’s directives, missing luggage, manhandled luggage, short-landed baggage, delayed and cancelled flights, amongst others. A spokesman for NCAA, Michael Achimugu, disclosed this to journalists at the corporate headquarters of the Authority in Abuja on Tuesday. He said that although airlines are not always responsible for flight disruptions, NCAA regulations stipulate actions that airlines must take during…

The body responsible for sanctioning errant lawyers and maintain sanity and discipline among lawyers, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, (LPDC), has adduced reasons why it cannot revoke the licence that allows the embattled, controversial author and activist, Dele Farotimi, to practice law in Nigeria. The legal body held that it lacked the requisite jurisdiction to delve into issues relating to the allegation of criminal defamation and professional misconduct, which were brought against Farotimi by the law firm of Chief Afe Babalola, Emmanuel Chambers. The law firm had, in its petition, urged the LPDC to debar Farotimi by removing his name…

78-year-old former president of the United States, Bill Clinton was discharged from the hospital early Tuesday, his office said, a day after he was admitted with a fever in the latest in a series of health scares for the veteran Democrat. His deputy chief of staff, Angel Urena said on social media platform X, “President Clinton was discharged earlier today after being treated for the flu. “He and his family are deeply grateful for the exceptional care provided by the team at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and are touched by the kind messages and well wishes he received.” Clinton was…

Legal luminary, and founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has been honoured with the 2024 Best Nigerian Patriot Award. ABUAD’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Tunde Olofintila, announced over the weekend that the recognition, conferred by the Association of United Nations Ambassadors for Peace, was communicated in a letter dated December 11, 2024. This prestigious award comes amid controversy surrounding alleged defamation of the esteemed nonagenarian by human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System. The letter co-signed on behalf of the association by the Ambassadors – Chairman,…

The Federal Government has warned Nigerians and politicians against politicising and linking stampedes that occurred during food distributions in Oyo, Anambra and Abuja to President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms. Making the call, the minister Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement signed by his media Senior Special Assistant, Rabiu Ibrahim on Monday, said the tragedies underscored the importance of ensuring proper crowd management during such charitable activities, especially in the festive season. The minister, however, sympathised with the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic incidents which claimed over 70 lives, including about…