Man, 50, Brought Before Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for Alleged Indian Hemp Possession
Metro

Man, 50, Brought Before Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for Alleged Indian Hemp Possession

On Thursday, a 50-year-old man named Oluwole Ariyo was arraigned by the police before the Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court on charges of possessing Indian hemp. Identified as having no fixed address, the defendant is facing trial for the possession of the substance. According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Olubu Apata, the alleged incident took place on May 9 around 1:00 p.m in Iyin-Ekiti. It was claimed that Ariyo was found in possession of suspicious weeds believed to be Indian hemp. Apata cited a violation of Section 5 (b) of the Indian Hemp Act LFN 2004 in connection with the offense. The prosecutor requested an adjournment to allow for further examination of the case file and to prepare witnesses. The accused, however, entered a plea of not guilty to the allegations. Repre...
News Update: Tragic Incident in Zamfara as Bandits Target Villagers
Metro

News Update: Tragic Incident in Zamfara as Bandits Target Villagers

Reports have come in stating that a horrifying attack by bandits has resulted in the death of at least three individuals and the kidnapping of over 120 villagers in the Goran Namaye community situated in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Witnesses, like Abubakar Muhammad, shared that the bandits struck the town around 1:17 am on Thursday, moving between houses to carry out their sinister plans. Among the abducted individuals, the majority were women and men, with the attackers also claiming the lives of three people during their brutal raid. "The fate of many community members remains unknown, and unfortunately, we mourn the loss of three of our own to this tragic event," mentioned Muhammad. Describing the terrifying scene, Muhammad highlighted how the bandits arrived in a...
Obateru: Journalists facing increasing dangers
News

Obateru: Journalists facing increasing dangers

Encouraging journalists to prioritize their safety and security while carrying out their professional responsibilities, Taye Obateru from the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Jos spoke at a Talk and Prayer Session hosted by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ, Plateau State Council. The event marked the 17th anniversary since eight journalists lost their lives in a tragic accident while on assignment in Jos, the state capital. Reflecting on the theme "Taking Personal Responsibility for Our Safety as Journalists," Obateru emphasized the importance of journalists being mindful of their well-being amid the pressures of delivering stories on tight deadlines. Obateru noted, "In today's landscape, journalists are increasingly at risk, covering various crises, conflicts...
Sports

Abia Warriors’ Samson Obi Aims to Increase Goal Count

Samson Obi, forward for Abia Warriors, is looking forward to scoring more goals in the Nigeria Premier Football League. During the 2-0 victory against Rivers United at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Wednesday, Obi found the back of the net for Abia Warriors. With seven goals to his name, Obi is currently the top scorer for Abia Warriors. He has expressed his desire to score three more goals before the season concludes. Speaking to the club's media, he said, "I am extremely pleased because I have put in a lot of hard work to achieve this milestone." "My goal is to increase my goal tally by the end of this season."
Politics

Calls for Removal of Seats as Abia Lawmakers Switch to LP – Aisha Yesufu Responds

Expressing her views, civil rights activist Aisha Yesufu emphasized that the two Abia State House of Assembly members, who recently moved to the Labour Party, should be prepared to give up their seats. According to reports from NewsNow, two lawmakers in Abia, formerly affiliated with the Young Progressives Party (YPP), switched to the Labour Party on Tuesday. The defectors, Mr Iheanacho Nwogu representing the Osisioma North State Constituency, and Mr Fine Ahuama representing the Osisioma South State Constituency, were welcomed into the ruling party by Governor Alex Otti. In response, Aisha Yesufu, a key figure in the Labour Party and a strong advocate for the party's 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, disapproved of the lawmakers’ decision. Commenting on the defection on her offic...
2024 Bet Awards Nominate Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, and More
Entertainment

2024 Bet Awards Nominate Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, and More

A group of Nigerian musicians, including Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Tems, Asake, Seyi Vybez, Davido, and Lojay, have been selected as nominees for the 2024 BET Awards. Ayra Starr leads the Nigerian artists with three nominations, followed closely by Burna Boy and Tems, each with two nominations. Tyla, a South African artist, holds the most nominations from Africa with a total of four. Drake received the most nominations overall for the 2024 BET Awards with a total of seven, followed by Nicki Minaj with six nominations. Below is the complete list of nominees for the 2024 BET Awards: Best male R&B/pop artist Brent Faiyaz Usher Drake Burna Boy Chris Brown Fridayy Bryson Tiller October London Best female R&B/pop art...
News

Commendation for Tinubu’s Financial Transparency from VP Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima praised the federal government under President Bola Tinubu for maintaining transparency in its financial dealings and fulfilling its fiscal responsibilities. He pointed to the recent upgrade of Nigeria's credit outlook to positive by global credit rating agency, Fitch, as evidence of growing confidence in the country's economy. Addressing the 141st meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, Senator Shettima commended the government's transparency measures and financial safeguards. He highlighted the significance of the credit outlook upgrade, attributing it to the reform progress spearheaded by President Tinubu. Shettima emphasized the importance of policy changes aimed at reducing the country's deb...
Business

Central Bank of Nigeria’s Reason for Granting Approval to 14 IMTOs for FX Remittance

Recently, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced the approval of 14 new International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) for foreign currency remittance inflows through formal channels in a bid to address the foreign currency crisis. A statement released by Hakama Sidi Ali, CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, revealed this development. The CBN aims to boost the supply of foreign exchange in the official market by fostering competition and innovation among IMTOs, reducing the cost of remittance transactions, and promoting financial inclusion. Formal remittance flows are crucial for Nigeria as they contribute significantly to foreign exchange reserves and account for over 6% of the gross domestic product. These flows can help stabilize Nigeria's exchange rate by mitigat...
Small-Scale Industrialists Express Concern Over New Electricity Tariffs
Business

Small-Scale Industrialists Express Concern Over New Electricity Tariffs

Small-scale industrialists are facing immense hardship due to the sudden surge in electricity prices, adding to their existing struggles with high production costs, limited credit access, and tough competition both locally and globally. The National Association of Small Scale Industrialists raised this issue during a press conference at the Press Centre, Kano. The Association's Chairman, Aminu Ibrahim Kurawa, emphasized their distress over the recent rise in electricity tariffs in Nigeria. He voiced out, “The sharp increase in electricity costs is overwhelming for small-scale industrialists already battling challenges like high production costs, limited credit access, and tough competition." Kurawa warned that the new electricity tariff could endanger the survival and growth of small...
Dangote Refinery of Nigeria seeks 24m barrels of crude oil from US
Business

Dangote Refinery of Nigeria seeks 24m barrels of crude oil from US

Reports indicate that Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery, worth $20 billion, has released a term tender to purchase two million barrels of American crude oil on a monthly basis. A recent publication by Bloomberg revealed this information. The refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels, was established by Aliko Dangote, the wealthiest individual in Africa, is striving to achieve full production capacity using various channels. As stated in the report, the tender is set to close at 3 p.m. on May 21st. A trader dealing in West African barrels commented that this tender highlights the challenges faced by Nigerian crude oil in competing with the supply from the United States. Located near Lagos, Nigeria, in the Lekki Free Zone, the refinery, once completed, is anticipated to be the largest oil re...