Category: Happenings

Justice Ahmad Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano has issued an order suspending the implementation of the amended Kano Emirate law of 2024.

With the order of the court, the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano will be put on hold.

According to a suit filed by Alhaji Aminu Bappa Dan Agundi (Sarkin Dawaki Babba) against the Kano State government before the court, the Applicant prayed for an order to suspend the implementation of the new law made by the Kano State House of Assembly.

According to reports after listening to the Applicant, the court ordered that the implementation and the operation of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024 (1445 A.H) be suspended.

A bill seeking to change Nigeria’s national anthem has passed the first and second reading at the Senate.

The bill sponsored by the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, seeks the replacement of the current anthem with the old components of the anthem that were changed in 1978 during the Olusegun Obasanjo military regime.

The senator during an executive/closed session on Thursday, May 23, referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters to report back to the house in two weeks.

The old anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” was replaced with the current one “Arise, O Compatriots in 1978.

According to the lawmakers, the current national anthem is a product of the military junta, decreed by the military, and therefore should be discarded to adequately capture the nation’s democratic values, and integrity and principally foster commitment to nationhood.

Police operatives in Enugu State have arrested a masquerade who brutally assaulted a female victim at Ugwuoye Junction, Nsukka.

The 22-year-old masquerader has been identified as one Ugwuoke Ebube, of Enugu Road, Nsukka.

The suspect was arrested on May 12, 2024, after assaulting the victim (name withheld), the command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe,  said in a statement on Wednesday, May 22.

He said the suspect was arraigned in the Nsukka Magistrate Court of Enugu State but was granted bail by the court.

Ugwuoke was part of a group of masqueraders that assaulted a nurse, Miss Blessing Ogbonna, as captured in a viral video in April 2024.

The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has vowed to keep contesting as long as he’s healthy.

Atiku spoke during an interview on the Hausa service of the Voice of America in Abuja.

Asked if he will contest again, Atiku said: “Of course, I will keep contesting again and again as long as I am alive and healthy.

“Even the former US President Abraham Lincoln contested seven times before finally winning.

“However, given the current state of the PDP, it is clear that a single-handed effort will not suffice to win the election. Strong support and collaboration with other parties are required.”

The former Vice President will be 81 by the time the next presidential election comes around in 2027.

This decision followed the Kano State House of Assembly’s resolution to dethrone the current Emir and also dismantle the four new Emirates in the State established under a controversial 2019 law.


According to a report, “So certainly with the passage of the Bill, Sanusi automatically stands reinstated. No need for confirmation, the thing to is wait for the Governor to assent to it.”

The then restructuring of the Kano Emirate is seen as a political maneuver to diminish the influence of their Sanusi II, a vocal critic of the former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje administration. The creation of the new emirates fragmented the authority of the old Kano Emirate Council, diluting its power and influence

The Governor of CBN, Olayemi Cardoso has urged Nigerians to be patient as the fight against the current inflation in the country will take time.

Addressing journalists at the end of the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, meeting in Abuja, he said despite pressure from food inflation, the general inflation rate was “moderating”, adding that “the tools the CBN is using are working”.

“I have said it several times & I will say again, there is no magic wand. These are things that need to take their time. I am pleased & confident that we are beginning to get some relief & in another couple of months we will see more positive outcomes from the CBN.

The committee thus reiterated several challenges confronting the effective moderation of food inflation including rising costs of transportation of farm produce, infrastructure-related constraints along the line of distribution network, security challenges in some food-producing areas & exchange rate pass-through to domestic prices for imported food items

The Federal Government has approved a $750m World Bank funding for the construction of 1,200 mini-grids in rural communities across Nigeria.

The Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, disclosed this Tuesday, May 21, at a forum in Lagos.

According to Aliyu, the loan was approved to close the gap between Nigerians who have electricity and those without electricity.

He added that 23% of the 85 million unelectrified Nigerians will be provided with electricity when the project is completed.

“The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu approved the Biggest public sector-funded off-grid project across the entire world.

It is a $750m project where REA will use that funding as a capital subsidy to incentivise the private sector to electrify 23% of the total unelectrified Nigerians, and we are very clear about how we want to achieve that.

The Federal Government has approved the prohibition of money rituals and the glamourizing of vices in Nigerian films.

This was disclosed by the Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board, Dr. Shaibu Husseini at an event in Enugu on May 22.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Husseini said: “When my predecessor approached the former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed on the need to make subsidiary legislation to curtail the display of smoking in Nigerian movies, he saw the need to include money rituals.

Today, I am delighted to announce to you that the Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, under section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004 has approved the regulation.

The minister has approved the Prohibition of Money Rituals, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco Products, Nicotine Product Promotion, and Glamorisation display in Movies, Musical Videos, and Skits Regulations 20

Margaret, an Idoma girl from Ugbokolo, Okpokwu LGA of Benue State, was last seen around City College of Education in Mararaba, Nasarawa state, at about 3am on Friday, May 17.

Confirming her death, the bereaved father, Mr Atayi, said, “Margaret was a mother of two children. She has been in depre§§ion for some time now due to mistreatment by her husband.

She went out on that fateful Friday morning by 3am without the knowledge of anybody. Her body was discovered in the late hours of Monday, and every available evidence confirmed that she committed sucide.”

Her sister, Stella Ameh, while replying to a comment on Facebook said: “Yes, she went into depre§§ion, left her parents’ house for an unknown destination the day she went missing, and she was found dead after taking h£r own life. And her ordeal was caused by the Orokam man that she got married to, whose first wife di£d in the same fate.

Investigators of the Gombe Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  have arrested a woman, identified as Janty Emmanuel, for allegedly abusing the  Nigerian currency in Gombe.

She was arrested on Monday, May 20, 2024  following intelligence that spotted her spraying  Naira notes at a social event.

The anti graft agency in a statement on Tuesday, said: “Upon arrest, the suspect was shown the video where she was dancing at G-Connect , Tumfure, Gombe State and spraying Naira notes of N1000 denomination.

She admitted committing the crime.  She will  be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has raised the interest rate by 150 basis points from 24.75 % to 26. 25 %.

The Governor of the CBN, Yemi Cardoso stated this at the press briefing following the 295th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the bank on Tuesday, May 21. Cardoso, who is also the MPC chairman said the meeting was held on the 20th and 21st of May 2024 to review recent economic and financial developments and assess risks to the outlook.

“The committee’s decisions are as follows: 1. Raise the MPR by 150 basis points to 26. 25 per cent from 24.75 per cent,” he said. Cardoso, however, said the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) of Deposit Money Banks (DMBS) was retained at 45 per cent.

The MPC also put the Asymmetric Corridor around the MPR at +100 and –300 basis points. It retained the liquidity ratio at 30 percent. The CBN chief who admitted the rising inflation levels in the country said the key focus of the MPC meeting was to achieve price stability by using tools available to rein in inflation.

The Federal Government says only students enrolled in federal tertiary institutions whose institutions have finished uploading their data would be able to apply for student loans in the first phase.

The Managing Director of Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyerr, who disclosed this on Monday said a maximum of 1.2 million students across federal tertiary institutions will access the students’ loans in its opening phase.

Sawyerr stated that potential candidates can start the application process as early as May 24, but stressed that the loan application process has been simplified to provide simple access for all qualified students in federal tertiary institutions.

According to Sawyerr, the program is an essential part of President Tinubu’s administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Its purpose is to give needy students financial support (obligatory fees and stipends) so they can pursue their academic objectives without worrying about the financial burden.

A physically-challenged Nigerian man, who has lived in the UK for 38 years has been threatened with deportation by the Home Office.

Anthony Olubunmi George, 61, came to the UK in 1986 at the age of 24. He has not left the UK since & has no criminal convictions.

According to the Guardian UK, in 2019 he had two strokes, which left him with problems with speech & mobility.

He made several applications for leave to remain in the UK, which the Home Office has rejected, most recently on 7 May.

He has endured many periods of homelessness and disclosed he has lost count of the number of friends who have sheltered him over the years, adding that he no longer has any close family in Nigeria.

The Guardian UK said in 2005, his previous solicitors submitted a forged entry stamp in his passport and have subsequently been reported to the police & the legal regulatory bodies.

George told the Guardian he knew nothing about the passport stamp until many years later.

Nigerian Army dismisses three soldiers arrested for armed robbery and kidnapping of truck drivers.

The Nigerian Army authorities have dismissed three soldiers who were arrested by the police for armed robbery & kidnapping.

The suspects: LCPL Abdul Musa, CPL Innocent Okwoli, and CPL West Isaac, were last month arrested by policemen during an operation with some civilians.

They were then handed over to the army authorities for their investigation, as per SaharaReporters.

Consequently, the soldiers were charged, tried, found guilty, and subsequently dismissed from service in line with the provision of the Armed Forces Act Caps A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

According to military sources, “The soldiers were arrested by men of the Nigerian Police Force for the offense of armed robbery & kidnapping. After their arrest, the police handed them over to the army authorities for their investigation.

Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  have arrested seventy-eight (78) suspected internet fraudsters in Enugu and Imo States respectively.

While twenty-nine suspects were arrested on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 in Enugu State metropolis, the remaining forty-nine suspects were nabbed on Friday, May 17, 2024 in Imo State metropolis.

The 78 suspects were arrested, following actionable intelligence about their suspected involvement in online criminal activities.

Items recovered from them include mobile phones, laptops and 13 cars.

They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has issued a public notification regarding the recall of Caro White Skin Lightening Beauty Lotion by the European Union (EU) Rapid Alert System for Dangerous Non-Food Products (RAPEX).


A statement on NAFDAC’s website, ‘Public Alert No. 15/2023 – Alert on the Recall of Ivorian Made Skin Lightening Beauty Lotion’, obtained by Channels Television,  said the product failed to comply with the Cosmetic Products Regulation due to its high concentration of Kojic Acid, which surpasses the allowable maximum concentration of one percent.

The conclusion was drawn by the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).

The presence of a high concentration of Kojic Acid raises concerns regarding potential endocrine-disrupting properties associated with its usage.

Product details:

While the product is not listed in the NAFDAC database, the body advised importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers to exercise caution and vigilance regarding the product.


“The product authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked. Members of the public in possession of the product should discontinue the sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office,” the statement read in part.

Healthcare professionals and consumers were also encouraged to report adverse events experienced with the use of the product to the nearest NAFDAC office.

On the 7th of July 2023, following an analysis, five of the United Kingdom stores discovered that Caro White Intensive Care Lightening Beauty Cream, sold via eBay, posed a serious chemical risk to consumers.

The cream was found to contain 422mg/kg (0.042% w/w) clobetasol propionate, a substance prohibited in cosmetic products.

Additionally, hydroquinone, another prohibited ingredient, was found in the product, which was not listed on the box. The product also lacked proper labelling and markings.
The hazardous discovery prompted corrective action, leading eBay to promptly remove the listing from its online marketplace.
Owners of the products were also strongly advised to discontinue its usage immediately.

The details of the recalled brand in the UK include:

Product Description: The product was comprised of a card box containing a tube of orange cream. The box was marked with the following details: Caro white, Lightening Beauty Cream, With carrot oil, 30ml, Dream Cosmetics, 23 BP 4757, Abidjan 23, CI. The tube also bore the same markings.

Three American citizens are among those arrested in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for their alleged involvement in a failed coup attempt, authorities said on Sunday, May 19.

The leader of the attempted coup, identified as Christian Malanga, was killed during attacks on the presidential palace and the residence of a close ally of Congo’s president.

The attacks which occurred on the nation’s capital, Kinshasa, left at least three people dead.

The U.S. ambassador to the country, Lucy Tamlyn, in a statement said: “I am shocked by the events of this morning and very concerned by reports of American citizens allegedly involved. Please be assured that we will cooperate with the DRC authorities to the fullest extent as they investigate these crim+nal acts and hold accountable any U.S. citizen involved in criminal acts.”

The coup reportedly began around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday near the residence of Vital Kamerhe, who is running to be speaker of the national legislature.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has declared a couple wanted for allegedly running a cocaine cartel from India.

The couple, Kazeem Omogoriola Owoalade (alias Abdul Qassim Adisa Balogun) and Rashidat Ayinke Owoalade (alias Bolarinwa Rashidat Ayinke) was declared wanted following the arrest of four members of the syndicate in Lagos.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, May 19, said a Sports Utility Vehicle was recovered and two houses already traced to them sealed for forfeiture to the Federal Government.

“Two members of the syndicate: Imran Taofeek Olalekan and Ishola Isiaka Olalekan were arrested on April 3, 2024, following their bid to export 3.40kg cocaine on a Qatar Airlines flight going to Oman through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos.

One helicopter in a convoy of three in which Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was travelling was involved in an accident, Iranian state TV said on Sunday.


Rescuers were attempting to reach the site, state TV said, but had been hampered by poor weather conditions in the area. There had been heavy rain reported with some wind.

Raisi was traveling in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. State TV described the area of the incident as being near Jolfa, a city on the border with the nation of Azerbaijan, some 600 kilometers (375 miles) northwest of the Iranian capital, Tehran.

Raisi had been in Azerbaijan early Sunday to inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. The dam is the third one that the two nations built on the Aras River.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, May 17, 2024, handed over the sum of $22,000 recovered from a convicted internet fraudster, Hakeem Ayotunde Olanrewaju, to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, FBI, in Lagos.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos had, on August 15, 2023, ordered that the money recovered from Olanrewaju, who was sentenced to two years imprisonment for identity theft and impersonation, be restituted to his victim in the United States of America, U.S.A.

Speaking during the handover ceremony in Lagos, the Acting Director, of Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC, Michael T. Wetkas, reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to combating crimes and restoring sanity to the nation.

“We are delighted to be handing over this proceeds of crime today.

“The EFCC is willing and always ready to do more.”

Responding, the FBI Legal Attaché, Charles Smith, said: “The EFCC and FBI work collaboratively together, and it is thanks to the EFCC that we can recover funds of this nature, especially from Business email Compromise, BEC.

“This type of crime cripples businesses in the US, and for them to recover the money within one to two years gives hope to the affected companies and brings some level of justice, even if not all subjects have been identified.

“We hope our relationship continues and fosters a more cohesive partnership between the two agencies. If there’s anything the FBI can do to support this investigation, we will do so.

“We appreciate this on behalf of the FBI and thank the EFCC.”

In attendance at the event were the Head, of Public Affairs, Lagos, DCE Ayo Oyewole; Head, of Investigation, ACE I Deborah Oni and Head of Advance Fee Fraud 1, AFF, CSE Alex Ogbole. 

Also present was the Assistant Legal Attaché, Michael Thomas, and the Foreign Service Investigator, Ayo Solademi.

A 25-year-old man identified as Elisha has allegedly killed his girlfriend in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The suspect allegedly killed the deceased, who was an auxiliary nurse, on Tuesday evening, May 14, 2024, at his home in Atiku Abubakar Way, Uyo.

A source said the suspect came home with his girlfriend and as soon as they got into the room, he started beating her.

According to her, “An aged woman in the compound on hearing the shouts went and advised the boy to stop the beating but he refused. Since we couldn’t do anything, we called the father who lived away from the area to come and control the situation.

The boy, on sighting the father in the compound, jammed the door against them and they raised the alarm to invite other people for rescue.

Before others could arrive at the compound, the boy had already killed the girl and shredded her into pieces and went into hiding in the ceiling of the room, where the police came to bring him down for arrest.”