Author: Dave Oludare Oso

Former military president, retired General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has denied involvement in the death of veteran journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch magazine, Dele Giwa, expressing the hope that one day, the “truth” about the person(s) responsible for the October 19, 1986 assassination would be uncovered. Giwa, a fearless journalist and a vocal critic of Babangida’s military government was killed by a bomb sent in a parcel bearing the official seal of the president. The military government then headed by IBB, remains suspected to have been behind the murder of Giwa. But in his autobiography, “A Journey in Service,” launched…

Optimism in the Arab world that US President Donald Trump might bring a permanent end to the war in the Gaza Strip and, with it, stability to the tumultuous Middle East, soared as he was given a lion’s share of the credit for ushering in the current ceasefire. But that hope has faded quickly since Trump suggested a plan to force Gaza’s entire population out and to “take over” the decimated Palestinian territory to develop it as a vacation destination. Trump said the roughly 2.3 million Palestinians should be moved to Egypt and Jordan, apparently to make way for investors…

Luis Rubiales has been found guilty of sexually assaulting the footballer Jenni Hermoso after Spain’s victory at the Women’s World Cup final in 2023. But the court acquitted him and the three others accused of the charge of coercion in the case. A Spanish court on Thursday, February 20, convicted former football chief Luis Rubiales of sexual assault over the forced kiss he gave star forward Jenni Hermoso and fined him €10,800. But the court acquitted him and the three others accused of the charge of coercion in the case. Prosecutors had sought a prison term of two-and-a-half years for…

In a bid to sanitise and rid the Force of bad eggs, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has wielded the big stick, dismissing, demoting, and sanctioning several officers over various acts of misconduct, including murders and extortions. According to Sahara Reporters, this was disclosed in a ‘police wireless message’ dated January 23, 2025. According to the police document, at the forefront of the disciplinary measures, 19 officers have been dismissed and are set to face prosecution for various offences. Among them are ASP Ogunmuyiwa Saburi, ASP Idris Dan-Auta, CSP Pascal Ugocha, SP Yakubu Hankuri, DSP Mohammed S. Jahun, DSP Ayodele…

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday declined the Justice Department’s request to immediately reinstate President Donald Trump’s executive order limiting birthright citizenship, setting up a potential emergency application to the Supreme Court. Legal experts have said Trump’s order conflicted with the Fourteenth Amendment, which extends American citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil, by denying citizenship to future children born in the United States if their mothers were unlawfully present in the country and their fathers were not citizens or permanent residents. The Justice Department had asked the 9th Circuit to grant an…

President Bola Tinubu will lead a star-studded cast of Nigeria’s top leaders, which include former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Muhammadu Buhari, Yakubu Gowon, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Goodluck Jonathan to pay tributes to former military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) in Abuja on Thursday (today)..The occasion is a book launch by the man generally, but not fondly, referred as ‘Maradona’ at the Congress Hall of the TransCorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. A former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, in particular, made a courtesy visit to IBB on Wednesday, ahead of the former president’s book launch. The leading opposition figure took to social media…

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has highlighted the imperative of fostering greater ties with the United States (US) to strengthen the country in the areas of economic development, health and governance. The 36 state governors, under the auspices of the NGF spoke in a communique issued after its meeting in Abuja. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, who is NGF Chairman speaking on behalf of his colleagues, reaffirmed their commitment to working with state legislatures to promote governance reforms and ensure effective policy implementation at the subnational level. The communique stated, “The Forum engaged with the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria,…

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has reaffirmed that Justice Maurice Ikpambese remains the Chief Judge of Benue State, despite moves by the Benue State House of Assembly to remove him. In a statement on Wednesday, NJC spokesperson, Kemi Ogedengbe stated that the purported removal of Ikpambese cannot stand, as the council has not yet investigated or deliberated on the petition against him. Part of the statement read: “The attention of the NJC has been drawn to reports that the Benue State House of Assembly has passed a resolution recommending the removal of the Chief Judge. “Council wishes to reiterate that…

In a bid to quell the raging controversy generated by a US congressman regarding funding of terrorism, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has said there is no evidence that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding or funded Boko Haram or any terrorist group n Nigeria. Speaking after a meeting with the Nigeria Governors Forum in Abuja late Wednesday, the envoy assured that if any evidence is found that USAID funds Boko Haram or any terrorist group, the US government will work with the Nigerian government to investigate the matter. Mills said, “Let me…

…Claims it was timed to embarrass daughter Blue Ivy at ‘Mufasa’ premiere The lawsuit accusing Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs of repeatedly raping a minor in 2000 after the MTV VMAs was dismissed on Valentine’s Day, but the bitter relationship between the Jay-Z and attorney Tony Buzbee rages on. Filed four days before the Buzbee-represented Jane Doe “voluntarily dismissed with prejudice” her claims, Jay-Z (aka Shawn Carter) made a declaration in the docket of Los Angeles Superior Court ripping the Texas-based attorney. Rejecting Buzbee’s attempt to have the Roc Nation boss’ defamation and extortion suit essentially gutted, Jay-Z’s February 10…