Category:

Headlines

Uche Nnaji
Headlines

JUST IN: Tinubu’s minister dodges press briefing on forgery scandal

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The minister of science and technology, Uche Nnaji, on Monday failed to attend a press conference his office convened to address allegations of certificate forgery against him.

Journalists were invited to the event, scheduled for 2 p.m. at the ministry’s conference room in Abuja, with the invitation titled “Minister Speaks”.

The invitation suggested that Nnaji would personally respond to questions about an investigation that accused him of forging his University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.

However, after over an hour’s wait, the minister did not show up.

The briefing eventually commenced at about 3:30 p.m. and was presided over by Nnaji’s spokesperson, Robert Ngwu, alongside other officials of the ministry.

Premium Times had on Saturday published findings from a two-year investigation alleging that Nnaji falsified the academic and service credentials he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Senate during his ministerial screening in 2023.

Allegations of certificate forgery have trailed the minister since July 2023, when Tinubu included him among the first batch of 28 ministerial nominees sent to the Senate for confirmation.

Critics have long claimed that Nnaji did not complete his studies at UNN and that the certificates he presented to federal authorities were forged.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Kano Govt
Headlines

Kano Govt Trains 380 Youths To Fight Phone Theft

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Kano State Government has enrolled 380 youths into the State Corporate Security Institute in Gabasawa for paramilitary training aimed at curbing phone snatching, thuggery, and other related crimes across the state.

The Commandant of the institute, Captain Muhammad Mai Gaskiya (rtd), said the training programme is designed to equip participants with skills in phone snatching prevention, VIP protection, and defensive driving. He added that the exercise also includes lectures by officials from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and counselling sessions conducted by Hisbah personnel.

According to him, parade drills and physical fitness exercises are also key components of the training, intended to build discipline and resilience among the trainees.

Captain Mai Gaskiya urged the participants to take the training seriously, noting that upon successful completion, they would be absorbed as civil servants to support security operations and help maintain law and order in Kano State.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Uche Nnaji
Headlines

Nigerians Call for Minister Uche Nnaji Resignation Over Alleged Certificate Forgery

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Pressure is growing on Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, to step down following allegations of certificate forgery.

Two prominent civil society organisations — the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International Nigeria — have urged the minister to resign and apologise to Nigerians over the scandal.

CISLAC’s Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, made the call in an interview with newsmen, stressing that public officials should uphold integrity and transparency.

Rafsanjani noted that politicians are not required to possess university degrees to hold office, as the constitution permits individuals with school-leaving certificates to serve. He, however, condemned any form of dishonesty in credentials.

“If you lie on your certificate, whether it’s a degree or not, you should simply resign once it’s exposed,” Rafsanjani said. “You cannot promote lies and fraud while in leadership. What example are you setting?”

He added that the minister’s continued stay in office may be due to his closeness to the president, but insisted that “leaders must lead by example.”

Rafsanjani further urged President Bola Tinubu to act decisively, warning that keeping officials with integrity issues undermines public trust.

“There are several ministers and public officials facing serious integrity challenges — from corruption allegations to certificate scandals,” he said. “If you want citizens to respect leadership, you cannot have people with damaged reputations in office.”

He also referenced a recent controversy involving a presidential aide who allegedly claimed a degree from a European university that later denied any affiliation.

As of press time, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), under which Nnaji serves, has not issued an official statement on the matter.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Headlines

JUST IN: Many feared dead in Ogun tanker fire explosion

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

An unconfirmed number of people have died in a tanker fire accident that occurred at midnight along the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway.

The spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, said the incident happened at about 1 a.m. on Friday. He explained that a 33,000-litre petrol tanker overturned due to excessive speeding, spilling its contents on the highway.

Speaking to newsmen, Akinbiyi said, “The case of an inferno caused by a 30,000-litre fuel-laden tanker which fell on its side and spilled its contents around 0100hrs today, along the Abeokuta–Kobape–Siun–Sagamu Interchange stretch of the PMB Expressway, due to excessive speed and loss of control, has been reported.

“The effect of the unfortunate incident also extended to the burning of a truck and a tow vehicle along the roadside, as well as the destruction of a PHCN cable supplying electricity to Mowe and environs.

“Though the casualty figures cannot be ascertained presently, rescue and emergency services made up of TRACE, Ogun State and Nestlé PLC Fire Service, FRSC, and the Police are still on the ground to restore normalcy and orderliness after quenching the fire and carrying out the decantation process.”

He urged road users to be patient and follow traffic diversions and re-routing measures put in place by TRACE, the police, the Ogun State Fire Service, FRSC, Amotekun, and the NSCDC.

“However, any inconveniences as a result of this unfortunate incident are highly regretted,” he added.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Headlines

JUST IN: Notorious kidnap kingpin Maidawa killed in Kwara

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The leader of a notorious kidnapping gang in Kwara state, Maidawa has been killed in an airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force, the state government has said.

It was gathered that Maidawa, whose gang specialises in terrorising Kwara and its neighbouring states was killed during an airstrike on the thick forests of Isanlu-Isin on Tuesday.

Ibraheem Abdullateef, the Senior Special Assistant on Communication to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq made this disclosure in a statement on Thursday.

According to Abdullateef, the NAF airstrike followed a recent attack on the Oke-Ode community in Ifelodun LGA and the killing of 11 forest guards and other residents by some suspected kidnappers.

He also stated that the attack on the kidnappers’ enclave followed an intelligence gathering by security agencies which led to the interception of communication between the criminals.

Abdullateef noted that through the process, the location of the gang members was revealed, leading to the killing of Maidawa and some of his foot soldiers.

“Security forces, spurred by new calls of the state government for urgent interventions, have ratcheted up efforts to dislodge the kidnappers who often launch cowardly attacks on civilian populations and abduct people for ransom.

“Our security agencies, supported by the government, are determined to crush these criminals. Kwara will not be a haven for bandits,” Abdulateef said.

He noted that the state government have also identified some locations, including places that have recently experienced incidents of criminal activity, as flashpoints.

In addition, he assured that the state government, in collaboration with joint security operatives, will continue to conduct phases of onslaught against criminals operating in Kwara State.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Atiku Abubakar
Headlines

Atiku Abubakar Express Readiness To Step Aside For Younger Candidate in 2027 Elections

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed readiness to shelve his presidential ambition in 2027 if a younger, vibrant, and widely accepted candidate emerges under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Atiku made the disclosure during an interview with BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday, stressing that his interest in the 2027 election is not driven by personal ambition but by the need to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative.

The former PDP presidential candidate urged young Nigerians to take active roles in politics, assuring that he would throw his full weight behind any youthful contender capable of uniting the country.

“I am not desperate for the seat of the president. My concern is rescuing Nigeria from those who have held it hostage,” Atiku stated.

He added: “My being in the 2027 race does not prevent anyone from contesting. If a vibrant and widely accepted younger candidate emerges, I am willing to step aside.”

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Pengassan
Headlines

FG Brokers Peace Between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Federal Government has resolved the dispute between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) after two days of conciliation meetings.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, announced the outcome in a statement issued early Wednesday, noting that the talks produced key agreements.

According to the statement, the parties agreed that unionisation is a fundamental right of workers under Nigerian law and must be respected.

On the issue of staff disengagement, the meeting resolved that the management of Dangote Group will immediately begin redeploying affected employees to other companies within the group, without any loss of pay.

The statement also affirmed that no worker would face victimisation over their role in the dispute.

PENGASSAN, on its part, pledged to commence the process of calling off its strike action, while both sides committed to implementing the resolutions in good faith.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Bola Tinubu
Headlines

Tinubu Calls for Productivity, Nigeria First at 65th Independence Anniversary Message

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to embrace productivity, innovation and enterprise as the nation marks its 65th Independence Anniversary.

In a message posted on X, the President said the federal government will continue to “fix the plumbing in the economy,” but stressed that citizens and sub-national governments must also play their part in nation-building.

“We must all turn on the taps of productivity, innovation, and enterprise, just like the Ministry of Interior has done with our travel passports, by quickening the processing,” Tinubu stated.

He called on states to support federal efforts, adding that the country must prioritise local production, agriculture, and manufacturing.

“Let us be a nation of producers, not just consumers. Let us farm our land and build factories to process our produce. Let us patronise ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ goods. I say Nigeria first. Let us pay our taxes,” the President wrote.

Tinubu expressed optimism that with unity and faith, Nigeria can achieve prosperity and self-reliance.

“With Almighty God on our side, I can assure you that the dawn of a new, prosperous, self-reliant Nigeria is here,” he added.

 

“Happy 65th Independence Anniversary, and may God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Headlines

BREAKING: “Ooni of Ife tried to trap me with a woman” – Oluwo of Iwo Raises Alarm

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, has accused the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, of allegedly plotting to set him up using a woman.

The monarch made the allegation in a video posted on his verified Instagram page on Tuesday, while speaking on the strained relationship between the two first-class monarchs.

He claimed that he played a role in helping Ooni Ogunwusi ascend the throne but alleged that the latter later turned against him out of fear that he might reveal certain sensitive information.

According to Oba Akanbi, a woman from Canada, whom he claimed not to know, was allegedly sent to entrap him and ended up living in his palace for three years. The monarch further alleged that the woman bore a child whose paternity remains unconfirmed pending a DNA test.

The Oluwo also claimed that he was poisoned twice and survived an assassination attempt during the period, accusing the Ooni of providing accommodation for the woman and questioning the circumstances surrounding her alleged meeting with the monarch in a hotel. However, he did not disclose the name of the hotel where the incident allegedly occurred.

The development is the latest in the ongoing tensions among prominent Yoruba traditional rulers.

Recently, a similar confrontation erupted between the Ooni of Ife and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, over the controversial conferment of the title Okanlomo of Yorubaland on Ibadan businessman Chief Dotun Sanusi by the Ooni.

The Alaafin, through his media aide Bode Durojaiye, insisted that no traditional ruler other than himself had the authority to bestow a title covering the entire Yorubaland and issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni to revoke the title or “face the consequences.”

In response, the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, dismissed the ultimatum, stating that the monarch had decided to leave the matter “in the court of public opinion.”

 

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Headlines

Prostitutes will pay tax – Taiwo Oyedele

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Government has said that ‘runs girls’ (commercial sex workers) will pay tax under the new laws.

Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, said this during an engagement session at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David, Lagos.

The tax expert said: “If somebody is doing runs girls (sex worker), right, they go and look for men to sleep with. You know that’s a service. They will pay tax on it.”

According to him, the new laws do not differentiate between legitimate and illegitimate income sources.

“It just asks you whether you have an income. ‘Did you get it from rendering a service or providing a good?’ Then, you pay tax,” he explained.

Explaining further, Oyedele said money sent to relatives, friends or even strangers are not taxable, as they are considered as gifts.

He said: “You earn a certain amount of money and you have to send upkeep to your cousin, your brother, even a stranger, it doesn’t really matter.

“If the amount you are sending is money you are giving to them not because they have done something for you, then it is a gift. We call it a non-exchange transaction. That is not taxable.”

Recall that the new (reformed) laws are the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act.

 

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts