Category: Happenings

Police arrest a man for allegedly abducting and killing his 6-year-old cousin in Kaduna.

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested Abdulazeez Idris, for allegedly abducting and killing his 6-year-old cousin in Zaria.

The command’s spokesperson, Mansir Hassan, in a statement on Sunday, said the girl, Aisha Dahiru was kidnapped by the suspect on her way to Islamiya school. He said the suspect later killed the girl after she recognized him while in captivity.

“On February 12, 2024, at about 1:00 hrs, Mr. Saidu Dahiru, father of the victim, a resident of Angwan Juma’a, Zaria, reported to the Zaria City police station that his daughter, Aisha Saidu, a 6-year-old female, went missing on her way to Islamiyya school.

According to Mr. Dahiru, Aisha was allegedly abd¥cted by her cousin, Abdulazeez Idris, also residing in Angwan Juma’a, Zaria.

Following her disappearance, Dahiru received a phone call from an unknown individual, later identified as the perpetrator, demanding a ransom of ₦8,000,000 for her safe return.

Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has stated that Nigeria’s tax reforms under the administration of President Bola Tinubu are targeted at improving the system for the overall benefit of all Nigerians.

He said contrary to speculations in some quarters, “We are not here to frustrate any sector of our economy but to create an administrative system that ensures the benefits of a thriving tax system for all our citizens.”

The Vice President, represented by the Special Adviser to the President on General Duties (Office of The Vice President), Aliyu Moddibo Umar, spoke on Saturday at the close-out retreat of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

According to a statement by his spokesman Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President explained that the policy thrust of the Tinubu administration’s tax reforms, pointing out that the dynamics of the nation’s fiscal landscape prompted the Tinubu administration to pause and reconsider the direction it was going.

Yoruba group petitions Tinubu over delay in burial of Taiwo Akinkunmi, designer of Nigerian flag

Yoruba World Congress Worldwide (YWC) has petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what it described as a delay in the burial of the late Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, the designer of the Nigerian flag.


In an open letter addressed to Tinubu, the group advised the president to intervene so that the deceased could be buried without further delay.

Recall that Akinkunmi, a native of Abeokuta in Ogun State, but lived in Ibadan, Oyo Atate, died on August 21, 2023, and his body was deposited in a morgue at a location in Ibadan.


The group called on Tinubu to urgently look into this matter so that the family can bury their dead and be pacified.

“This open letter is for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to personally look into this issue as a matter of urgency. The designer of the flag of Nigeria Late Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi (OFR) (Mr Flag Man) died on August 21, 2023, and his body was deposited in a morgue at a location in Ibadan, Oyo State. His design was selected as the best in the year 1958 amongst all the presented designs for the competition to get a new national flag design for the country (Nigeria) that was about to get her independence from the Colonial masters.

“It was also gathered that the Senate has asked the Federal Government to immortalize the designer of the Nigerian national flag, the late Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi. The resolution of the Red Chamber was sequel to a motion sponsored via Point of Order on a matter of national importance in one of the house plenary session by Senator Sharafadeen Alli (APC, Oyo South) and seconded by Senator Sadiq Umar (APC, Kwara North), who noted that the late Pa Akinkunmi should be immortalised with a national honour. The Senate President Godswill Akpabio in his remarks, directed members of the upper legislative chamber to observe one minute silence in honour of the designer of the national flag, late Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi.

“The deceased family had planned the burial for December 7 and 8, 2023, but it was annulled by the Oyo State Government on the ground that there was no representation from the government to confirm the date chosen by the family. It was also confirmed by the family spokesperson, that a meeting was held on November 29, 2023, by the Oyo State House of Assembly with the family representatives of the late Pa Akinkunmi. It was concluded that the Oyo State Government (which has been inconclusive) would communicate a suitable date for the late icon’s burial to the family through a committee setup by the government.

“Since his death on August 21, 2023, the family has made it known that they have been paying N2,000.00 (two thousand Naira only) daily as mortuary bill till-date without any support from the government. After several attempts by the Akinkunmi family representatives to get the burial done, the Oyo State government representatives further confirmed that Late Pa Akinkunmi’s burial is a state burial and that the government will take charge of the entire programme. It was gathered that the Oyo State government requested another date for the late icon’s burial, to which the family of the deceased sent April 10, 11 and 12, 2024 for the state burial of their late father and national icon, but this date has also lapsed; as all attempts to get to the governor or his representatives were futile.

“By this open letter, the Yoruba World Congress (YWC), UK, is calling on the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to urgently look into this matter so that the family can bury their dead and be pacified. Yoruba World Congress (YWC) is a socio-cultural organization of Yoruba descent worldwide with the responsibility to promote, defend and achieve the collective growth and developmental aspirations and interests, prosperity, security, wellbeing, welfare and sustenance of Yoruba people and culture”.

BREAKING: Tinubu has instructed the CBN to postpone the introduction of the cybersecurity levy according to a report.

“The President is sensitive to what Nigerians feel. And he will not want to proceed with implementing a policy that adds to the burden of the people.

“So, he has asked the CBN to hold off on that policy and ordered a review. I would have said he ordered the CBN, but that is not appropriate because the CBN is autonomous. But he has asked the CBN to hold off on it and review things again.”

“If you look at it, the law predates the Tinubu administration. It was enacted in 2015 and signed by Goodluck Jonathan. It is only being implemented now.

“You know he (Tinubu) was not around when that directive was being circulated. And he does not want to present his government as being insensitive. As it is now, the CBN has held off the instruction to banks to start charging people. So, the President is sensitive. His goal is not to just tax Nigerians like that. That is not his intention. So, he has ordered a review of that law,” A source told The Punch.

As the controversy over how the administration of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, spent a whopping N10 billion for non-existent airport project continues to rage, the incumbent Gov. Alex Otti, has said that he is not interested in jailing anybody but only after the recovery of the fund.

Gov. Otti who spoke while responding to a question during a media parley, Thursday night, opened the can of worm on how his predecessor paid the largesse into the account of a company that never bided for the project, and later instructed the firm to wire the fund into 32 different accounts in tranches.

Otti who wondered what else the act could be called other than graft, vowed that it was either those who swallowed the fund vomited it or “they show us the airport”.

Unknown gunmen reportedly shot dead a middled-aged man, Khalid Bichi in Maitama, Abuja

Khalid Bichi, a Staff of FIRS with social media X handle @Khalid_Bichi, was trailed by his killers and shots many times after he went to get food around Maitama at about 9pm.

He was rushed to Maitama General Hospital where he eventually died. Mr Bichi, is a friend to influential politicians.

He will be laid to rest by 1:30pm on Saturday after a funeral prayer at the Abuja National Mosque.

The nation’s currency, the naira, has taken a downturn, emerging as the world’s worst-performing currency in the past month, a recent Bloomberg report says.

The reversal came after the naira’s recent gains, emerging as the world’s worst-performing currency after a wonderful performance last month.

The report, which emerged on Friday, emphasized that the development has placed increased pressure on the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to continue raising interest rates. The local currency depreciated to 1,466.31 against the dollar, marking its weakest level since March 20.

According to the report, the decline is attributed to the local scarcity of the US currency, with only $84 million available on Thursday, half of the previous day’s supply. Yemi Cardoso, CBN governor, had previously hailed the naira as the best-performing currency globally as of April 2024.

One shot as detained soldiers break out of ‘overcrowded cells’ to protest poor feeding, and deplorable living conditions in Sokoto State.

A soldier identified as Lcpl Charles Ekefure with 17NA/76/1660 has been reportedly shot following complaints by some detained soldiers who broke out of their cells (guardrooms) in Sokoto State.

The incident occurred on Thursday at the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto amid the soldiers’ clamor for better food and improved living conditions.

It was learned that the soldiers had demanded to speak to Major General Mutkut Godwin, the GOC 8 Division, Nigerian Army.

A source who spoke with SaharaReporters on Friday said over 100 soldiers were detained at the 8 Division with 10 soldiers in each cell. The source said some of the soldiers had been in detention for 4 to 5 years.

It is reported that the soldier who was shot had been taken to MRS Hospital in Sokoto.

Bandits on Thursday, May 9, 2024, invaded the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTEC), Osara, Okene in Kogi, and abducted some students.

An eyewitness account indicated that the bandits swooped on the university around 9 p.m. while the students were reading for their upcoming exams.

The source said that the bandits came in through the bush, went into three lecture halls, and began to shoot into the air to scare the students.

“They trapped the students inside the halls and started taking them; the school was thrown into total confusion as fear-stricken students in other halls scurried to safety, scampering in various directions.

By the time local security guards and the conventional security men at the gate engaged the bandits, they had already succeeded in abducting some students.

But the efforts minimized the damage as the attackers didn’t go beyond the first three halls,” the source said.

The Kano State Police Command has made significant progress in the investigation of the abduction & culpable homicide of Bello Bukar Adam, a Kano Electricity Distribution Company staff member.

The incident, which occurred on the 4th of May, sent shockwaves through the community, leaving residents on edge.

According to a press release issued by the Kano State Police Command on Thursday, the victim, Bello Bukar Adam, 45, had left his home in Zawaciki Housing Estate, Kano, with his Toyota Corolla motor vehicle, only to disappear without a trace.

However, on the evening of the same day, a male adult’s lifeless body was discovered abandoned on the outskirts of the Eastern Bypass, near Bechi Village in Kumbotso LGA.

Upon receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police swiftly mobilized a team of detectives. The team’s diligence paid off when they arrested Sadiq Zubairu.

Sadiq further confessed to disposing of the victim’s body along the Eastern Bypass and stealing his motor vehicle and mobile phone.

The Senate has approved the death sentence as a penalty for drug traffickers in the country, as it passes through the third reading, the 2024 NDLEA Act (Amendment) Bill.

The proposal was adopted on Thursday when the Senate dissolved into a committee of the whole for clause-by-clause consideration of a report of the Chairman of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters and Drugs & Narcotics National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Senator Tahir Munguno.

In a review of the penalty provisions of the amendment bill towards strengthening the operations of the agency, a proposed amendment to award a death sentence to drug traffickers rather than just a life sentence was raised by the Senate Chief Whip and Sen. Peter Nwebonyi Under clause 11.

When the matter was put to a voice vote, it appeared the nays had it. However, when the question was put on a second vote, the Deputy Senate President ruled in favor of the i’s.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Ifeanyi Ubah, has said that two refineries- Port Harcourt and Warri would be fully operational by the end of 2024.

The senator also called on the federal government and other stakeholders to work toward the establishment of modular refineries to further expand the nation’s domestic capacity to refine crude oil.

“My mandate is to ensure that the refineries in Nigeria are up and functional. By my involvement, before the end of this year, two refineries will be up and running.

“Also, before the end of next year, the Kaduna refinery will come on stream.

“I can assure Nigerians that I will tirelessly pursue and ensure that these refineries are up and running before the end of the year. We have set up a technical team to visit the refineries every two weeks in order to meet the set target,” he said.

The video of a man being buried alive for an astonishing 8 hours has left viewers stunned and intrigued.

In the footage, the young man can be seen inside the box he was buried in, surrounded by various items he brought along to assist him during his confinement.

These items include a rolling camera, installed lights, a portable rechargeable fan, a power bank, and food, among other essentials.

The man admitted that the challenge was proving to be more difficult than he had anticipated and mentioned that he still had several hours to go.

One of the most concerning aspects for him was his rechargeable hand fan, which was running low on battery, and he realized that he had forgotten to bring its charger.

This video has sparked questions among internet users, who are curious about the man’s motives and why he would willingly put his own life at risk.

Real Madrid will take on Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side are through to European football’s biggest match yet again, as they bid to lift the Champions League trophy for a remarkable sixth time in ten years, after knocking out Bayern Munich in chaotic fashion.

It was more European magic from Real, who were minutes away from being knocked out. Joselu struck twice late on though, his winner coming in stoppage-time, as the LaLiga champions secured a 4-3 aggregate win.

Dortmund have not been in the final of this competition since they lost to Bayern at Wembley in 2013, and they will be desperate to ensure it is not more London misery.

Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off on Saturday June 1, 2024.

The match will take place at Wembley Stadium in London.

The presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms says there is a need to increase the value-added tax (VAT) rate.

Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the committee, spoke on Monday while disclosing the VAT revenue-sharing formula would be reviewed. He spoke at a policy exposure and impact assessment session organised by the committee.

Nigeria’s VAT rate is currently 7.5%. Oyedele also said the committee has proposed reviewing state and local governments’ share of VAT revenue to 90 percent. According to section 40 of the VAT Act, the federal government gets 15 percent of the tax revenue, states share 50 percent, and local governments share the balance of 35 percent.

However, Oyedele said the committee is recommending reducing the federal government’s share from 15 percent to 10 percent. “We are proposing that the federal government’s portion should be reduced from 15 percent to 10%. States’ portion will be increased but they would share 90% with local governments,” he said.

The apex bank disclosed this in a circular dated May 6, 2024, signed by Adetona Adedeji, CBN’s director of banking supervision. On May 1, banks resumed the collection of processing fees on cash deposits. Based on the directive, 2 percent was to be charged on deposits above N500,000 for individuals, while corporate account holders were to be charged 3 percent on deposits above N3,000,000.

According to the latest circular to financial institutions and non-financial institutions, CBN said the processing fees have been suspended. “Please refer to our letter dated December 11, 2023, referenced BSD/DIR/PUB/LAB/016/023 on the above subject, suspending processing charges imposed on cash deposits above N500,000 for Individuals and N3,000,000 for Corporates as contained in the “Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial Institutions and Non-Bank Financial Institutions” issued on December 20, 2019,” CBN said.

Binance Says It Was Asked for ‘Secret’ Payment Over Nigeria Woes.

“As our employees were leaving the venue, they were approached by unknown persons who suggested to them to make a payment in settlement of the allegations” — Binance CEO, Richard Teng.

Later that day, Binance’s local lawyer was “presented with a demand for a significant payment in cryptocurrency to be paid in secret within 48 hours to make these issues go away”  — Binance CEO, Richard Teng.

The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, said President Bola Tinubu was not responsible for Nigeria’s current economic hardship.

This is as the lawmaker.on Sunday, feted orphans, widows, people living with disabilities & the aged at his Bende, Abia State country home to mark his 53rd birthday.

Fielding questions from newsmen during the massively-attended event, the Deputy Speaker, explained that Nigeria’s current economic ordeals were occasioned by the errors of the previous administrations in the country which, according to him, President Tinubu is working hard to fix.

“The hardship we are passing through was not caused by this man. It’s a piled up case of previous administrations & how they mismanaged one or two things.

Kalu urged Nigerians to be patient with President Tinubu as he makes efforts to address the challenges he inherited, claiming that his policies are beginning to yield results. Tinubu wants to clean up the place so that we can have a genuine livelihood.