Author

Folarin Kehinde

Entertainment

JUST IN: Court Grants Portable N2 Million Bail As Singer Pleads Not Guilty

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable has been granted N2 million bail by an Isabo Magistrate Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The Zazoo-zeh crooner was arraigned by the police on a five-charge bordering on conspiracy, assault and restriction, armed with cutlasses and guns, conduct possible of causing harm to Ogun public officials.

He was charged alongside nine others as they pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them.

According to the police (prosecutor), Portable and his allies – Nurudeen Warris, 21; Adetola Alashe, 25; Fatimo Muhammed, 26; Oluwaseun Ayenuwa,19; Ifeoluwa Babatunde, 27; Precious Ohiegebo,19; Samuel Adeleke,28; Gospel Kanu, 20 and Oluwapelumi Adeosun, 20 – breached the peace of the public with an intention to kill.

They had allegedly attacked three town planning officers who visited Portable’s bar (Odogwu Bar) for a monitoring and enforcement assignment.

Having pleaded not guilty, the singer’s lawyer, Oluwatoyin Ayodele prayed the court to grant his client bail.

Ayodele told the court that he (Portable) is now remorseful and has since learnt his lessons.

After listening to the plea, the Magistrate, O L Oke granted Portable N2 million bail with one surety in the like sum.

Oke also adjourned the case till March 5, 2025, for trial.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Headlines

FG bans 60,000-litre fuel tankers on roads from March 1

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a ban on fuel tankers exceeding 60,000 litres from operating on Nigerian roads.

The ban is expected to take effect from 1 March 2025, as revealed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA.

The agency also specified that, by the fourth quarter of 2025, no truck with a capacity exceeding 45,000 litres will be permitted to load petroleum products.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, Ogbugo Ukoha, NMDPRA Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, stated that the decision was made in response to the rising number of road accidents involving heavy-duty petroleum tankers.

“The first stakeholders’ technical committee met today to establish timelines for about 10 resolutions aimed at addressing the significant increase in truck transit incidents and fatalities,” he said.

According to him, after deliberations involving key agencies—including the Department of State Services, DSS, Federal Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, DAPPMAN, and NMDPRA—it was agreed that from 1 March 2025, any truck with an axle load exceeding 60,000 litres of hydrocarbons will not be allowed to load at any depot.

“The key point here is that, for the first time, consensus was reached among all stakeholders, and we will continue to work together cohesively to ensure the safe transportation of petroleum products across the country,” he said.

Ukoha dismissed recent claims questioning the quality of fuel in circulation across the country, describing them as bogus, misleading, and unscientific.

He assured Nigerians that all imported and locally refined petroleum products meet strict regulatory standards before being released into the market.

The regulator vowed to ensure compliance with petroleum industry standards and specifications, stressing that recent social media claims about the quality of fuel products in circulation are baseless and should be disregarded.

“The regulator would usually be more circumspect and not respond to every comment made in public,” he said.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Headlines

Military to release 381 ex-terrorists, urges states to be vigilant

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The military has announced plans to release 381 rehabilitated ex-terrorists in March 2025, urging state governments to ensure their proper reintegration through monitoring and empowerment programmes.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, said a total 789 ex-combatants are undergoing rehabilitation, with 381 expected to graduate in 2025.

Represented by the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Shayi Olatunde, Musa stressed the need for proper reintegration of the repentant terrorists to sustain the gains made by Operation Safe Corridor.

Represented by the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Shayi Olatunde, Musa stressed the need for proper reintegration of the repentant terrorists to sustain the gains made by Operation Safe Corridor.

He urged the state governments to play an active role in the transition process by deploying security measures to track and monitor reintegrated individuals.

Musa said, “I, therefore, say that conforming law with localities ensures the proper integration of the first of two parties, consisting of 381 clients.

“It is also important to mention that upon graduation from this scheme, each client will be provided with some personal items as well as start-up pacts based on the three acquired, including their families

“ This is to enable them to set up small businesses and start a new life. Accordingly, I urge benefiting state governments to facilitate the seamless re-integration of the ex-combatants by providing additional support to ease the transitional process. We are very optimistic that working closely with local and traditional authorities, the state can deploy security apparatus at their disposal to effectively track and monitor the progress of the re-integrated ex-combatants.”

The Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brig. Gen. Y. Ali, said the programme has reintegrated no fewer than 2,190 repentant terrorists since its inception in 2016.

He added that the number included 27 foreign nationals who have been repatriated to their respective countries.

Ali disclosed that between July and November 2024, 825 new clients—including 14 foreigners from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger—were transferred to the De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration camp for training.

Ali added that 22 clients requiring further psychological evaluation were transferred to the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri.

He said, “Since the commencement of the programme in 2016, OPSC has successfully processed 2,190 clients comprising 2,163 Nigerians and 27 foreign nationals from Cameroon, Chad and Niger. All the foreign clients were transferred to their respective national authorities for reintegration.

“Between July and November 2024, a total of 825 clients were transferred to the DRR Camp to commence training. Amongst them are 14 foreigners from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. It is also important to mention that 22 clients were subsequently transferred to the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri for further evaluation and management.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Senate
Headlines

USAID/Boko Haram Sponsorship: Senate Summons Ribadu, DSS, NIA, Others

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The leadership of the Nigerian Senate has summoned key agencies over allegations made by a United States Congressman Scott Perry on Boko Haram sponsorship by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The Senate issued the summons at the plenary on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

Some of the top security agencies summoned by the Red Chambers include the National Security Adviser (NSA), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

According to the Senate, the agencies’ heads are expected to brief lawmakers on the alleged sponsorship of Boko Haram by USAID through supposed humanitarian aid to Nigeria.

The Senate leadership said it needs more clarification on the matter before conducting its independent investigations.

More details soon…

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Headlines

JUST IN: Protests in Lokoja after fatal accident kills 7 University students

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Students of the Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Kogi State, have taken to the streets in a massive protest following the tragic death of seven students and a bus driver in a ghastly road accident involving a truck and a school shuttle bus.

The protest, which began on Tuesday and continued into Wednesday morning, saw students demanding immediate government action to prevent further tragedies on the roads around the university.

The fatal accident occurred around 2:30 PM on Monday, February 18, when an articulated truck carrying wood and jerrycans of palm oil lost control and crashed into a school shuttle bus filled with students.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as devastating, stating that the shuttle bus was preparing to transport students when the speeding truck rammed into it, crushing it completely. Seven students died on the spot, alongside the bus driver.

“The driver of the truck lost control and rammed into the school shuttle bus, which was already filled with students and set to leave. The impact was devastating,” a student told SaharaReporters.

In response to the tragedy, enraged students mobilized and blocked roads leading to the university, calling for the restriction of heavy-duty trucks from operating during the daytime.

The protesters gathered at the university gate, demanding urgent government intervention to improve road safety in the area.

Emergency responders, including officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), were deployed to the scene to rescue trapped victims.

Kogi State FRSC Sector Commander, Samuel Oyedeji, confirmed that while the exact number of casualties was still being determined, several bodies had been taken to the morgue, while the injured were rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and the Kogi State Specialist Hospital for treatment.

The ongoing student protest has intensified calls for stricter traffic regulations to prevent further loss of lives.

A student protester said, “On Tuesday, we gathered at the school gate, demanding lasting measures to avert the recurrence of accidents on this road. The Kogi State Deputy Governor visited the university entrance today to sympathize with the aggrieved students and the university community.”

“The students are still out this morning (Wednesday), continuing the protest,” the student added.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Headlines

National Assembly Cancels Passage of 2025 budget Over Errors

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The National Assembly has withdrawn the passage of the 2025 budget due to significant errors in allocations.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives rescinded their decision on the appropriation bill passed on February 13, to correct discrepancies in capital and recurrent expenditures.

Despite the corrections, the total budget remains at N54.9 trillion. However, the capital expenditure has been reduced by more than N500 billion, while recurrent spending has increased by the same amount. Following these adjustments, the capital allocation now stands at N23.439 trillion, while recurrent expenditure has risen to N13.588 trillion. These figures differ from what was initially approved by lawmakers.

The decision to amend the budget followed a motion by Senator Adeola Olamilekan, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Appropriations, and Abubakar Kabir, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. The motion was easily agreed to by lawmakers who admitted that the errors needed urgent correction to ensure a more accurate distribution of resources.

When the budget was initially passed last week, N13.064 trillion had been allocated for recurrent expenditures, while capital projects received N23.963 trillion. The first breakdown of the N54.99 trillion proposal also included N3.645 trillion for statutory transfers and N14.317 trillion for debt servicing. The fiscal deficit stood at N13.08 trillion, with a deficit-to-GDP ratio of 1.52 per cent.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Headlines

JUST IN: IGP Egbetokun Deploys Tactical Squads to Osun State Following Bloody Clash

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered the deployment of more tactical squads to Osun State to strengthen security and restore peace after violent clashes.

The decision comes after a series of confrontations at various local government secretariats in the state.

Supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) engaged in a violent struggle for control over local government councils.

Tensions escalated following a court ruling that granted the APC control over several local government areas. Eyewitnesses reported that suspected APC supporters stormed government buildings in Osogbo and Olorunda, attempting to assert control. However, PDP supporters resisted, leading to the escalation of violence.

Reacting, the police boss condemned the violence. In a statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, he vowed to bring those responsible to justice.

“The Police recognizes that violence undermines the democratic process and threatens the wellbeing of citizens, and hereby affirms its commitment to identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators of these acts, ensuring they face the full weight of the law,” the statement read.

Egbetokun warned individuals disturbing the peace in Osun State. He declared that the Police Force will not tolerate any form of lawlessness, hooliganism, or acts of anarchy.

The IGP also called on residents, community leaders, and political stakeholders to reject violence and maintain peace. He urged all parties to respect the judiciary, emphasizing that legal disputes should be resolved through the courts rather than violence.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Headlines

VIO returns to Abuja roads despite court restraining order

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Officials of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), popularly known as VIOs have taken to the streets of Abuja to commence e-ticketing for traffic offenders.

This act comes barely one year after a court in Abuja barred the VIO or its agents from arresting motorists or impounding their vehicles across the FCT.

However, speaking on the matter, Abdullateef Bello, the director of DRTS said officials of the agency are on the roads to enforce the e-ticketing initiative.

Urging residents to remain law abiding and respect traffic rules, Bello said the DRTS had appealed the judgement of the court.

He said the VIO has resorted to using technological devices which has legal backing.

“In compliance with the FCT Transportation Secretariat’s strategy of e-enforcement and penalty system, the DRTS has today, Monday, February 17, 2025, commenced e-ticketing and central booking of traffic offenders.

“And henceforth, all violators of traffic issues will now be booked electronically and they will be served with their tickets for seven days. If they fail to pay the fine, then the vehicle will be impounded henceforth.

“We are back on the road and we will now impound vehicles only when you fail to pay your fines within seven days. The DRTS will not be stopping vehicles at random now because the devices will select those that are not adequately in line with the position of law, and those are the ones we will be dealing with henceforth,” Bello said.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Headlines

BREAKING: PANDEF Leader Edwin Clark is Dead

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Renowned Nigerian statesman and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, has passed away at the age of 97.

Clark’s demise was announced in a statement signed by Prof. C. C. Clark for the family and Mr. Penawei Clark for the children.

According to the statement, Clark passed away on Monday, February 17, 2025.

The statement reads, “The Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family of Kiagbodo Town, Delta State, wishes to announce the passing of Chief (Dr.) Sen. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark OFR, CON on Monday, 17th February 2025.

“The family appreciates your prayers at this time. Other details will be announced later by the family.”

More to follow…..

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Headlines

Eight injured as Delta plane flips over while landing in Toronto airport

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

An aircraft belonging to Delta Airline crashed while landing on Monday.

The aircraft which left Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport flipped over while landing at the Toronto Pearson Airport

CBSNews reports that about eight people were injured, though the extent of their injuries was not immediately clear.

The incident was confirmed by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said the flight was Delta Air Lines Endeavor flight 4819.

In a statement, the body said: “AFA crew were working this flight. Reports are there are no fatalities. Please do not speculate on this incident as everyone works to gather information and support those involved.”

Airport officials say “all passengers and crew are accounted for.”

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts