Author: Damilola Olufemi

Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has revealed that Nigeria lost approximately $450 million to petroleum subsidy fraud under the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) between 2006 and 2012. In his new book, The Shadow of Loot & Losses: Uncovering Nigeria’s Petroleum Subsidy Fraud, Bawa chronicles the extensive corruption that plagued the subsidy regime. He was a central figure in the EFCC team that investigated the fraud before becoming the agency’s chairman in February 2021. He served in that role until June 2023, when he was suspended by President Bola Tinubu. “Our investigations revealed that,…

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has reacted to the deliberation of a single-term tenure for political office holders in Nigeria, proposing a five- or six-year term in place of the current two-term limit of four years each. Makinde, who is now in his second term, argued that a single, longer term would allow leaders to focus fully on governance without the distractions of re-election campaigns. The governor made these remarks on Friday at his Ikolaba residence in Ibadan while receiving Muslim leaders and political stakeholders after Eid-el-Kabir prayers. “I’ve spent six years in office, but when you think about it, 2020…

Cristiano Ronaldo has weighed in on the Ballon d’Or debate, suggesting that the prestigious award should go to a player who has helped their team win the UEFA Champions League. Speaking at a press conference in Munich ahead of the Nations League final between Portugal and Spain, the 40-year-old star emphasised the importance of team success in deciding individual honours. “In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a team that has won trophies. The Ballon d’Or winner should be in a team that has won the Champions League,” Ronaldo told reporters on Saturday. The Ballon d’Or, presented by…

The Super Eagles of Nigeria played out a 1-1 draw with Russia in a spirited international friendly at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Russia went ahead in the first half after a defensive miscue saw Nigerian centre-back Semi Ajayi inadvertently score an own goal. Russia hosted the Super Eagles on Friday evening, marking the first senior-level encounter between the two countries. Though a friendly on paper, the match shaped up to be a high-stakes encounter for both sides, navigating very different footballing landscapes. Despite the early blow, the opening half remained tightly contested, with both sides creating chances in an…

Organisers of the yearly popular Ojude Oba Festival have expressed that no fewer than 100 million people are expected to participate in the 2025 edition of the event. The Coordinator of the Ojude Oba Festival Committee, Dr Fassy Yusuf, the festival was scheduled to be held on Sunday, in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state, in honour of the Awujale of Ijebuland. He noted that the festival, which has been on for over 100 years, “is expected to draw Ijebu sons and daughters from across the world, along with tourists and dignitaries eager to witness the vibrant celebration of culture, fashion, and tradition…

The relationship between former allies Donald Trump and Elon Musk unravelled spectacularly on Thursday, playing out hour by hour across social media and the White House. What began as subtle criticism quickly spiralled into a full-blown public feud, with barbed comments and sharp accusations flying back and forth. “We had a great relationship…” – Trump Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office, Trump acknowledged the rift: “Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore. I was surprised.” His comments came in response to Musk’s earlier attack on Trump’s flagship tax and spending legislation,…

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on four judges from the International Criminal Court (ICC), intensifying a diplomatic clash over recent decisions by the tribunal targeting US and Israeli officials, according to AFP. The sanctions are a direct response to the ICC’s arrest warrant issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its ongoing investigation into alleged war crimes committed by US forces in Afghanistan. The punitive measures include travel bans and the freezing of any US-based assets belonging to the judges. “The United States will take whatever actions we deem necessary to protect our sovereignty, that of Israel,…

The number of journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023 has reached 225, according to a statement released by the media office of the Gaza government on Wednesday. The statement confirmed that four more journalists had recently lost their lives, pushing the overall toll higher. “Since the beginning of the war of extermination against the Palestinian population, the number of killed journalists has increased to 225 after the deaths of four more journalists,” the statement read. Gaza Strip It went on to urge global media bodies to take action: “We call on the International Federation of Journalists, the Palestinian Journalists…

Janet Olufunke Damiro, a 71-year-old Nigerian woman who worked as a cleaner at the London School of Economics (LSE), has been dismissed from her job after being accused of stealing a gold bracelet. The incident, first reported by Metro UK, has sparked outcry from her colleagues and supporters. Damiro, who migrated to the UK in 1971 and had worked at LSE for over 13 years, said she found the bracelet during her shift and placed it in her purse, intending to return it later. She eventually returned the item three days later when asked about it by management. Despite this,…

Russia is set to host Nigeria on Friday evening at the historic Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, marking the first senior-level encounter between the two countries. Though a friendly on paper, the match is shaping up to be a high-stakes encounter for both sides, navigating very different footballing landscapes. For Russia, the fixture serves as part of their ongoing efforts to stay active on the international scene amid a ban from official tournaments since 2022 due to the war in Ukraine. In place of competitive action, the Russian squad has focused on exhibition games, often against non-European opposition, to maintain sharpness.…