Former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza al-Mustapha, (rtd), has reaffirmed their commitment to getting the North back on track, and to get it totally unified. Speaking to newsmen at the sidelines of an event in memory of Sardauna Ahmadu Bello, the Premier of Northern Nigeria in Kaduna, the former CSO said it would be wrong for them to sit idly and watch the North decay. According to al-Mustapha, in order to bring back the North on the path of…
Read MoreAuthor: Aminu Imam
NGF back Tax Reform Bills, proposes 50:30:20 VAT ratio
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, (NGF), has finally supported the proposed tax reform Bills of the Bola Tinubu-led administration currently under consideration at the 10th National Assembly. The NGF also unanimously rejected an increase in the Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate, while proposing a revised sharing formula for distribution . According to a communiqué issued yesterday, after 2-day sub-national consultation meeting between the governors and the Presidential Tax Reform Committee, led by Taiwo Oyedele, in Abuja. NGF Chairman and Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq disclosed that the Forum endorsed a revised VAT-sharing…
Read MoreInsecurity: “FG drifting into realm of mis-governance” – CNG
The Coalition of Northern Groups, (CNG), says it is deeply saddened by the recent incidents that have “once again brought sorrow and grief to our communities in Northern Nigeria”. In a statement issued by the CNG’s spokesman, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, extended its condolences to the peoples and governments of Borno and Zamfara States over the loss of lives in two events. Charanchi said in Borno State, the heinous killing of 40 farmers by suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Kukawa local government area,…
Read More₦12.3bn alleged fraud: EFCC to arraign Oba Otudeko, ex-First Bank MD, Onasanya on Monday
The Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed Monday, January 20, 2025, for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), to arraign the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Chief Oba Otudeko and a former First Bank MD, Stephen Olabisi Onasanya, for allegedly looting ₦12.3billion from First Bank. Otudeko – former Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Holdings – and Onasanya are to be arraigned alongside a former Board member of Honeywell, Soji Akintayo and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Ltd. connected to Otudeko. According to the EFCC, the four committed the…
Read MorePope Francis sustains forearm injury after fall
The Vatican announced yesterday that Pope Francis injured his right forearm after falling at his residence, but confirmed that there were no fractures. The statement read: “This morning, following a fall at the Santa Marta residence, Pope Francis sustained a contusion on his right forearm, without fractures. As a precaution, the arm was immobilised”. The 88-year-old pontiff, who has led the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church since 2013, often relies on a cane or wheelchair due to knee and back pain. In recent years, Pope Francis has faced several health challenges,…
Read More‘Ɗangote Refinery production pushing EU refineries out of business’ – OPEC
The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, (OPEC), says the Ɗangote Refinery is affecting European markets, noting that importation of petroleum products in Nigerian has dropped reasonably. OPEC, in a report issued on Wednesday, disclosed that in the last quarter of 2024, “imports also declined, particularly oil product imports, improving the outlook for the external sector”. Recall that in September last year, Ɗangote Refinery, a $20 billion project spearheaded by billionaire Aliko Ɗangote, officially begun petrol production, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s energy sector. Announcing the feat, Ɗangote said: “This…
Read MoreHardship: “Tinubu had no manifesto, just a sense of entitlement” – Apostle Suleman
Senior Pastor of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman, has attributed the current economic hardship in the country to the unpreparedness of President Bola Tinubu for governance, noting that the President only came with a sense of entitlement. The clergy, who made this assertion during Tuesday and Wednesday’s 2-day “Recovery Conference 2025” in Bauchi State, blamed Nigerians for poor electoral choices in the 2023 general election, noting that they partly deserve what they are getting under the Tinubu administration. Suleman had, ahead of the event, paid a courtesy visit to…
Read MoreKaduna: Court denies el-Rufa’i’s ex-aide, Jimi Lawal bail in money-laundering case
A Kaduna State High Court has denied bail to Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu, the former Chief of Staff to Nasir el-Rufa’i, the immediate-past governor of the State, in a money-laundering case filed against him. The court delivered its ruling yesterday, refusing the bail application principally on the grounds that a formal charge had been filed at the Kaduna State High Court II against Sa’idu. According to the Kaduna State Director of Public Prosecution, Samson Irimiya, “The bail application ruling was delivered refusing the bail application principally on the grounds that since…
Read MoreEmir Sanusi criticises Tinubu govt., refuses to offer support
…Says it lacks credible people Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of lacking credible individuals to effectively communicate its policies. Speaking at the ‘2025 Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture’ in Lagos, Sanusi, a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, said his decision stems from the government’s failure to behave like friends, despite their relationship. According to Sanusi, while he has the expertise to analyse Nigeria’s economic challenges, he prefers to remain silent, leaving the administration to explain its decisions to Nigerians. “I…
Read MoreTerrorism financing: Police makes landmark arrests in Kano, Nasarawa
…As IGP establishes anti-money laundering units The Inspector-General of Police, (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has established the Police Anti-Money Laundering units of the Nigeria Police, appointing a renowned financial expert, CP Hyacinth Azuka Edozie, with officers of the rank of Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) to lead the units in all State Criminal Investigation Departments (SCIDs) across the country. According to a press statement issued yesterday by the Police Commands Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, “This initiative is a strategic move to strengthen the Police’s role in national security,…
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