Author: Elizabeth Jenrola Oso

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State on Monday presented a 2025 budget proposal of N1.1 trillion to the state house of assembly led by Victor Oko-Jumbo. The governor presented the appropriation bill, tagged the “Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development,” to the four-member assembly at the assembly complex at approximately 9:00am. A breakdown of the budget shows that a total of N462,254,153,418 was allocated to recurrent expenditure and N678,088,433,692 for capital projects, bringing the total appropriation to N1,188,962,739,932. Fubara said during the budget presentation that the state has recorded “unprecedented investments and significant impact” in road infrastructure, healthcare, education, and…

The Department of State Service (DSS) has arrested a Kaduna-based activist and political commentator, Mahdi Shehu over claims of plans to establish a French military base in Northwest region of Nigeria. The arrest, which occurred over the weekend, followed allegations that Shehu shared a controversial viral video in which he claimed that plans were underway to establish a French military base in the North-West region of the country. Although Shehu deleted the video, it had already gained significant traction online, raising concerns about national security. Zagazola Makama, a security analyst and counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region said Shehu…

A federal appeal court on Monday upheld a $5-million verdict that E. Jean Carroll won against Donald Trump when a jury found the U.S. president-elect liable for sexually abusing and later defaming the former magazine columnist. A unanimous three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan rejected Trump’s argument that the trial judge should not have let jurors hear evidence about the Republican’s alleged past sexual misconduct, making the trial and verdict unfair. The court said that evidence, including Trump bragging about his sexual prowess on an “Access Hollywood” video that surfaced during the 2016 U.S.…

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, approved the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to freeze 24 bank accounts domiciled in different banks over allegations bordering on terrorism financing. Justice Emeka Nwite, who granted the application after the EFCC’s lawyer, Martha Babatunde, moved an ex-parte motion to the effect, gave the commission the go-ahead to freeze the accounts for 90 days pending the conclusion of investigation. The motion ex-parte, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1897/V/2024, was filed by Ekele Iheanacho, SAN. Iheanacho sought an order freezing the bank accounts stated in the schedule which accounts are owned by Lawrence…

‘Everybody Loves Jenifa,’ produced by Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele has grossed over N1 billion in the box office within three weeks, marking another remarkable milestone in her chosen career. Akindele revealed in a post on X.com on Monday, that ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa; has become the second Nollywood film to hit the N1 billion mark within the last 12 months, achieving a cumulative total of ₦1,034,091,220. The movie has also made history by becoming the fastest Nollywood title to reach the N1 billion threshold, doing so in just 19 days. The film has reportedly dominated the December box office, accounting for…

The United Kingdom (UK) government has announced a major update to its immigration rules, significantly raising salary thresholds for Skilled Worker visas. This adjustment was to ensure that only highly skilled and well-compensated workers are able to enter the UK job market, with some salary thresholds increasing by as much as 82%. Starting from January 1, 2025, the UK said it will implement the most significant salary increases for Skilled Worker visa applicants in recent years, raising the minimum salary from £26,200 to £38,700 for most applicants. This review will affect a wide range of industries, including technology, healthcare, and…

United States President, Joe Biden has declared January 9, 2025 as a national day of mourning for Jimmy Carter. Carter, the 39th US president, died on Sunday at 100. He was the first ex-US president to become a centenarian. Biden described Carter as an extraordinary leader, statesman, and humanitarian. “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us,” Biden said in a statement following Carter’s death. “He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of…

The Nigerian Army, in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, says it has destroyed 20,000 illegal refining sites and recovered 90,000 stolen petroleum products in the Niger Delta. The division’s assistant director of public relations, in a statement on Sunday, Jonah Danjuma, said the military also arrested several suspects. Danjuma said the raids were conducted in collaboration with other security agencies in Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Delta states. The statement reads, “Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security agencies, have sustained the onslaught against economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta region. “This effort led…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested six foreigners after intercepting two boats loaded with 1,960 kilogrammes of cannabis, popularly known as “Ghanaian Loud,” at Eleko Beach in Lekki, Lagos on Christmas Eve. The suspects, who brought the consignments from Ghana, were arrested during a midnight operation. Confirming the arrests in a statement on Sunday, the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the suspects include two Ghanaians, Godsway John (38) and Freedom Kelvin (33); and four Beninese, Chegoun Hounsou (23), Gadabor Nyameto (47), Adantg Sasa (34), and Ayao Kayivi (21).He added that the cannabis consignments were smuggled…

The Federal Government of Nigeria has commiserated with the government and people of South Korea following the tragic crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216. The tragic incident occurred on Sunday, December 29, 2024, when the Boeing 737-800, returning from Bangkok, Thailand, attempted to land at Muan International Airport in southern South Korea. The plane skidded off the runway and collided with a wall, resulting in a fiery explosion. Out of the 181 passengers and crew on board, 179 lost their lives, leaving only two survivors. This photo by the South Korean National Fire Agency shows the scene where a Jeju…