Author: Chief Editor

A suit seeking the disqualification of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and his running mate, Mr. Audu Ganiyu, from the forthcoming election in the state, yesterday suffered a major setback following the withdrawal of trial judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo from the matter. Justice Taiwo’s withdrawal was predicated on a petition against him by the APC, wherein he was accused of bias and fraternising with Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council in the September 19 governorship election in Edo…

The Senate may cut short its annual vacation to hold an emergency session to discuss the last Wednesday’s hike in pump price of petrol from N145.00 to N151.60 per litre by the federal government, THISDAY has learnt. This is just as a ranking Senator, Obinna Ogba, emphasised that the recent increase in both fuel price and electricity tariff showed the level of insensitivity of the federal government to the people’s feelings. It was gathered yesterday that many senators had approached the leadership of the upper chamber of the National Assembly on the need for the Senate to take a decision…

Gbajabiamila seeks review of law on $1m business capital Nigeria and Ghana yesterday began talks to cement cracks in their bilateral relations owing to the diplomatic crisis between them arising from the alleged maltreatment of Nigerians in Ghana. Senior government officials from both countries have met in Abuja as part of ongoing efforts to resolve the diplomatic crisis. Also, House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has called on Ghanaian authorities to revisit the law that requires a capital base of $1 million for businesses by foreigners, saying as Africans, Ghana should encourage brotherliness. The spokesperson of the Ministry of…

Curfew now 12am to 4am Buhari extends PTF mandate till December 31 After a six-month closure as a precaution to curb the spread of COVID-19, the federal government yesterday approved the gradual reopening of educational institutions. It directed state governments and school administrators to start making preparations for the full reopening of schools and also reviewed the 10 pm -to-4am curfew to now start from 12 am to 4 am. President Muhammadu Buhari has also approved the extension of the six-month mandate of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF), due to expire on September 17 till December 31. The…

Kano State Judiciary says it has submitted certified copies of the Sharia Court judgment to the human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), to enable him to appeal the judgment that sentenced Yahaya Aminu to death by hanging for blasphemy. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the development came less than seven days to the expiration of the 30-day grace the court granted the convict to appeal the judgment. Spokesman of the Judiciary, Mr. Babajibo Ibrahim, spoke with NAN on Thursday in Kano about the development. Ibrahim said that certified copies of the judgment were presented to the Falana’s representative on Wednesday…

Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation, shouldn’t evade the question asked by Daily Trust newspaper reporter, Eyo Charles, who wanted to know who is paying for the nationwide “ward round” he is making, inspecting projects carried out by some state governments. Charles explained, “I obliged the invitation (to FFK’s press conference)… so that it would afford me the opportunity to hear… why the former minister said if the national (Peoples Democratic Party) secretariat denied Governor (Ben) Ayade the honour to control all party structures in the state… Ayade and a good number of politicians… would pull out of the party.…

Abimbola Adelakun By now, most people are aware that some disgruntled lawyers pulled out of the Nigerian Bar Association and formed a splinter group called the “New NBA”. The disengagement was a culmination of the NBA’s rescinding of a speakership invitation extended to the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for their annual conference held last August. Critics had rightly pointed out that a man in charge of a state with prolonged ethnic crisis had no business pontificating at a conference exploring “citizenship.” The NBA de-platformed El-Rufai and faced criticism from the likes of dethroned Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II,…

Lionel Messi’s father and agent met Barcelona club president Josep Maria Bartomeu on Wednesday to discuss the player’s wish to leave the club but the talks ended in a stalemate, Spanish media reported. Earlier, Jorge Messi said it would be “difficult” for his son to remain with Barcelona, the only club he has ever played for professionally. The meeting lasted one-and-a-half hours and was held in a cordial atmosphere, according to media reports including sports dailies Marca and Mundo Deportivo. They said Bartomeu sees Messi as a key part of Barca’s plans to rebuild under new coach Ronald Koeman. There…

The Police have assured voters of adequate security in the forthcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states. The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, a deputy commissioner of police, who gave the assurance, revealed that the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu would be adopting collaborative approach in dealing with the issues of policing the electorate during the elections. Mba who spoke yesterday on ARISE NEWS Channel, a sister broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, said: “The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is fully prepared for the coming elections in Edo and Ondo states. We acknowledge the fact that security…

The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said his government will continue to partner private organisations to lift the socio- economic facet of the state to an enviable height by creating enabling environment for them to operate. The governor stated this yesterday evening at the end of his two-day tour of projects sites across the state. Fayemi, who commenced the inspection last Monday, visited the four newly constructed model schools in Ado-Ekiti; the ultramodern Oja Oba Market complex; Ureje Water Dam and water treatment plant rehabilitation project at Ajilosun; JMK Rice Mill at Odo Ado; Ekiti State Water Corporation…