Author: Elizabeth Jenrola Oso

Chadians voted Sunday in a general election the government said was a key step towards ending military rule but the opposition has called for a boycott. According to the election management agency, ANGE, midday figures suggested that a turnout of just 38 per cent was needed to choose a new parliament, provincial assemblies, and local councils. Election officials in the upmarket district where the president’s family and ruling dignitaries live put voter apathy down to the “cold weather.”But opposition parties have urged Chad’s eight million voters to shun the election, the results of which they say had been decided in…

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has expressed his profound gratitude to the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, crediting him as the divine instrumentality through which he ascended to the esteemed position of governor in 2023. The governor spoke during an empowerment programme hosted by Honorable Nkemkanma Kama, the member representing Ohaoazara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, held at Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi on Monday. According to Governor Nwifuru, his ascension to the governorship was largely facilitated by the benevolent influence of Senator Umahi, whom he described as the catalyst that enabled him to…

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary forfeiture of $49,700 allegedly recovered from Dr. Nura Ali, the former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Sokoto State during the 2023 general elections. The ruling was delivered Monday by Justice Emeka Nwite following an ex-parte motion filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Osuobeni Akponimisingha, counsel to the ICPC, moved the motion, which was marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1846/2024. The motion, jointly filed by the ICPC and the Department of State Services (DSS), was dated December 20 and submitted on December…

The family of the late Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has expressed dissatisfaction with the naming of an uncompleted project after him by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, describing the gesture as “premature and insincere.” The family emphasized that true honour lies in completing the projects initiated by the late governor. In a statement issued by Babajide Akeredolu on behalf of the family, they commended the groundbreaking of the Judicial Complex, a project dear to the late governor, but criticized the politics surrounding it. The family described the decision to name the project after the late governor before its completion as premature.…

The Church of the Brethren in Nigeria in Adamawa State has been thrown into a deep mourning with the abduction of two of its pastors by suspected kidnappers on Sunday. The Church, popularly known as Ekklesiyar Ya’Uwa A Nigeria (EYN), has congregations across the North-East region, with its headquarters in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The abducted pastors, Rev. James Kwayang and Rev. Ishaku Chiwar, were serving at the Local Council Church (LCC) branch in Mbila-Malibu, Fufore Local Government Area, where they were abducted around 11 p.m. on Sunday. Spokesman for the Adamawa State Police Command, Suleiman Nguroje,…

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…