Author: Olóyè Gbenga

Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has proposed changes to its blue checkmark system for “verified” accounts, a European Commission spokesperson confirmed on Friday, following a €120 million ($138 million) fine imposed on the company. The European Union had levied the fine in December for breaches of its digital regulations, including the platform’s allegedly “deceptive design” of the verification checkmark. “X has submitted remedies in relation to its blue checkmark. The commission will now carefully assess the proposed remedies,” said Thomas Regnier. He did not provide specifics on the remedies X proposed. Regnier noted that X risked ongoing financial penalties…

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, on Thursday paid glowing tribute to his predecessor, Kayode Egbetokun, during a pulling-out ceremony at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, marking the retirement of the former police chief after decades of service. Disu recounted their early professional relationship while serving under Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State. Egbetokun had served as Chief Security Officer to the governor, while Disu was his Aide-de-Camp. “A defining chapter in his professional life was his service in Lagos State Government House, where he served as Chief Security Officer to the Governor of Lagos…

Fabian Hürzeler, the manager of Brighton & Hove Albion, has expressed admiration for Arsenal, stating that if the Gunners win the Premier League this season, they will fully deserve the title. According to a post by football journalist Fabrizio Romano on X on Friday, Hürzeler said, “I will be the first one to congratulate Arsenal when they win the Premier League, because if they win it, they will definitely deserve it.” The comments come after a period of debate surrounding his previous remarks, which Hürzeler claimed were taken out of context. “There were things that made me emotional, I am…

A Nollywood actor-turned politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of allegedly targeting former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai following his reported association with the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Okonkwo made the claim on Friday while speaking during The Morning Brief, a current affairs programme on Channels Television. The former spokesman for the Labour Party presidential campaign council expressed concern over the alleged detention of El-Rufai, arguing that the Federal Government does not have the legal authority to detain any individual beyond 48 hours without granting bail. According to him, the treatment of the former Kaduna governor could…

The Obidient Movement has criticised recent comments made by former senator Dino Melaye concerning the presidential ambition of Peter Obi, describing the remarks as a misinterpretation of Nigeria’s political reality. In a statement issued on Friday, the movement acknowledged Melaye’s earlier description of Obi as a “fantastic Nigerian” and a “great man,” but strongly rejected his claim that the former Anambra State governor lacks the capacity to unite the country. According to the group, the assertion that Obi “lacks the ability to unify Nigeria” and that “this is not his time” fails to recognise the growing support among Nigerians for…

The Leader of the Nigerian Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, has stated that the seat of Abia South senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe, should be declared vacant if he is no longer a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Bamidele made the remark on Thursday during plenary at the Nigerian Senate while reacting to the defection of Abaribe and eight other senators to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Earlier reports indicated that at least nine senators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and APGA had defected to the ADC, marking a significant shift in the composition of political parties…

The Federal Government (FG) has approved N2 billion each as take-off grants for the newly established Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal Polytechnic in Abuja and the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe in Lagos State to support their early administrative and academic operations. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Thursday during the inauguration of key officials appointed to lead the institutions. Among those inaugurated were Nosiru Onibon, who will serve as the pioneer Rector of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal Polytechnic, and Adeola Oshikoya, appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe. Also…

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed 1 April for the fresh arraignment of former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, over an alleged N1.3 billion corruption case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The new date was set on Friday by Peter Odo Lifu after Lamido and his two sons, Aminu Lamido and Mustapha Lamido, failed to appear in court to take their plea. The former governor and his sons are accused of conspiring to defraud the state through the award of fictitious contracts. They are expected to be arraigned together when the matter…

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has granted another extension for its Student Loan Application Portal to accommodate institutions that requested additional time for the 2025/2026 academic session. The announcement was made on Thursday in a statement signed by NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi. According to the statement, the extension applies only to institutions that submitted formal requests, allowing eligible students extra time to complete their applications. “The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has approved an extension of its Student Loan Application Portal for institutions that have formally requested additional time for the 2025/2026 academic session,” the statement read.…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a stark warning over the humanitarian toll of the ongoing military offensive by the United States and Israel against Iran, revealing that more than 1,800 people have been killed and over 12,500 injured in less than two weeks. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the immense strain on health systems across the Middle East, warning that hospitals and clinics are on the verge of collapse. In a statement shared on his X account on Wednesday, he said the situation “represents an unprecedented humanitarian emergency that demands urgent attention.” The conflict escalated sharply on…