Author: Friday Omosola

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday advanced its case against former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, in a trial-within-trial before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over the admissibility of the defendant’s extra-judicial statements. Mamman, who is being prosecuted in connection with alleged corruption in the Mambilla Power Project, is facing a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering amounting to N33.8 billion. At Thursday’s hearing, EFCC investigator Abubakar Muhammed Kwaido, led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, insisted that Mamman’s statements to the Commission were made voluntarily and without coercion. “At…

The Labour Party (LP) has raised the alarm over what it described as an illegal governorship primary being conducted in Anambra State by some ‘disgruntled members’ of the party. Obiora Ifoh, the party’s National Publicity Secretary warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the public to disregard the exercise. The party reaffirmed that it already concluded its governorship primary in line with electoral guidelines and had submitted the name of its duly elected candidate to INEC. “For the avoidance of doubt, the Labour Party has since concluded its governorship primaries in Anambra State, and the name of the successful…

Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has emphasised that young Africans require meaningful financial support to realise their potential—not tokenistic handouts masquerading as empowerment. Speaking in an interview aired on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’, Adesina described Africa’s youthful population as a valuable demographic dividend that must be converted into tangible economic growth through strategic investment in education, skills, and enterprise. Touching on the growing trend of emigration, popularly referred to in Nigeria as ‘Japa’, the former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture expressed concern over the scale of youth migration. “The ‘Japa’ wave is a massive loss to Africa,”…

The Labour Party (LP) leadership has condemned a meeting convened by former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti. The party, in a statement by its National Secretary, Farouk Ibrahim, described the meeting as an ‘illegal’ National Executive Council (NEC) gathering aimed at hijacking the party’s structure. LP alleged that Obi and Otti led a group of ‘party outlaws’ to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja, in a bid to pressure the electoral body into taking unconstitutional actions against the current LP leadership. “Their actions today reveal a desperate attempt to hijack the party’s…

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed his administration’s steadfast support for the growing bilateral relationship between Belgium and Nigeria. He highlighted Lagos’ pivotal role in advancing international partnerships. The governor made the commitment during a reception hosted by the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Pieter Leenknegt, in collaboration with the CBL-ACP Chamber of Commerce. The event was held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of Lagos State, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, emphasised Lagos’s strategic importance as Nigeria’s commercial hub. He reiterated that Lagos continues to be a…

The Labour Party convened a high-level National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, amidst ongoing tensions surrounding the party’s leadership crisis. The gathering, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, was presided over by former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, who currently chairs the party’s Caretaker Committee. Among the notable figures present were the party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed, and the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti. Also in attendance were several serving lawmakers from the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the party’s governorship candidates for Edo and Imo…

Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC). He accused the party of being devoid of genuine political organisation and dominated by a single individual’s influence. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Wednesday, the elder statesman questioned the sustainability of the ruling party’s model, especially with growing talks around the possible emergence of a third force like the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ahead of the 2027 elections. “In truth, the APC doesn’t operate as a structured political party—it revolves entirely around one person,” he…

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Sweden in the areas of information technology, cybersecurity, and infrastructure development for the benefit of Lagos residents. The governor made this known yesterday during a courtesy visit by Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Alice Désirée of Sweden and Duchess of Västergötland, to the Lagos House, Marina. Governor Sanwo-Olu was represented at the event by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat. Highlighting Lagos as the heartbeat of Nigeria and a significant player on the African continent, the governor expressed optimism that the Crown Princess’s engagement with the Lagos…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has launched the construction of Phase 1 of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Kaduna State. During the launch yesterday, he described the initiative as a “presidential priority project” aimed at transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector and generating sustainable employment nationwide. Performing the groundbreaking ceremony at Daki-Takwas, along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway in Chikun Local Government Area, Shettima highlighted the project’s potential to tackle longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain — including poor infrastructure, limited market access, and minimal value addition. “This is more than laying bricks and mortar,” Shettima said. “It’s about empowering our farmers,…

The Labour Party (LP) has condemned what it described as a ‘threat to attack’ its offices nationwide, allegedly issued by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero. In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party accused Ajaero of blackmailing both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies. The party noted that while it would have ordinarily ignored such a threat, it felt compelled to respond to reassure its members of its resolve to uphold the rule of law and resist any form of ‘rascality and intimidation.’ “We see the…