Black Friday, arguably the biggest shopping event in the world held over a week ago but the real question is who wore the crown?; The online platforms who outdid themselves with pre-black Friday propaganda or the millennials who actually did the bulk of the shopping in Nigeria? Figures from online shopping community Kaymu.com.ng show that millennials spent the most during this year’s Black Friday, spending an average of wN10,600 each. The data also found that men spent more than women during this shopping event at a ratio of 7:3. This corroborates PwC’s prediction in their 2015 Holiday Outlook Report stating…
Author: Admin
Human rights activist and lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to ignore the reckless campaign of calumny by some suspects implicated in the probe of the diversion of the $2.1 billion and N643 billion arms budget. Falana, who said this in a statement he issued in Lagos yesterday, also called on the federal government to ensure that all individuals and corporate bodies indicted in the criminal diversion of public funds are made to face the full wrath of the law. According Falana, the anti graft agencies should disregard the cheap blackmail, speed up the…
Former deputy governor of Ogun State, Senator Gbenga Kaka, in this interview warns that if the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration must succeed, the president should consider dropping some ministers in the next six months. He also reflects on other key issues. Now that President Buhari has constituted his cabinet, what is your impression about his administration? Any government stands the chance of delivering on its mandate because the essence of contesting for political power is to deliver. The normal expectation is that any government that the people repose confidence in should be able to perform. So, within that limit, 100 percent…
Cameroon confirmed on Monday that the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram last year were not among a group of 900 captives liberated by the country’s army. Last week’s hostage release raised hopes that some of the girls might be among the group. The army also said it killed at least 100 Boko Haram fighters in the operation as it seeks to strike back after a series of attacks, not least in its Far North region. “The people that were freed are just villagers. The schoolgirls who are missing are not amongst the group,” Information Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakari told Reuters…
Residents of Kogi State were still struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of Prince Abubakar Audu, their former governor and the guber candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC), who was on the cusp of returning to Lugard House for a record third stint, following his commanding showing in the November 21 election. Amidst the mourning and the wailing, tragedy quickly turned into farce. And the whole thing has remained a perfect calendar of farce ever since. I am not referring to the jubilation that punctured the funereal ambience, following reports that Audu had resurrected, Lazarus-style, on account…
When he is sworn in on January 27, 2016, Alhaji Yahaya Bello will make history as the youngest governor ever in Nigeria. He turned 40 last June. Alh. Yahaya Bello, popularly known as Fair Plus by his admirers owing to the success of his powerful business brand, was born in the sleepy neighborhood of Agassa in Okene Kogi State to the family of Alhaji Bello Ipemida Ochi and Hajia Hawa Bello Oziohu. He is the last of six siblings. He started his early education in 1984 at LGEA Primary School, Agassa In Okene LGA. The greatness in him started manifesting…
The determination of President Muhammadu Buhari to put square pegs in square holes in his ministerial appointments may have paid off as Nigeria emerges the sought after bride at the ongoing climate change negotiations in Paris, France. Contrary to the undesirable and unenviable position of Nigeria in previous climate change talks, Nigeria has emerged as the leading negotiator for Africa and a much sought after party for other countries. This change it was learnt has to do with the international clout of the Minister for the Environment, Amina Mohammed. Prior to her appointment, Mohammed has been a special adviser to…
The former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, may be interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for his role in the misappropriation of funds meant for the procurement of arms. The former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, was arrested by the EFCC for allegedly disbursing and embezzling money meant for security issues. Chief Raymond Dokpesi was also questioned by the agency over money received from the former NSA although he claimed the funds were “payment for publicity and media political campaigns during the 2015 general elections” for the former president Goodluck Jonathan. According to sources from the EFCC,…
Enugu State Court of Appeal has nullified Uche Ekwunife’s election as the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District. The court has consequently ordered a fresh election within 90 days. Anambra Central Senatorial district is regarded as one of the most keenly contested in the country having a former Governor Chris Ngige, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh and of course Mrs Ekwunife. The appeal was filed by Mr Umeh of APGA. Delivering the judgment, Justice Datijo Yahaya said that the election of Mrs Ekwunife on March 28, 2015, did not meet the prescription of…
President Muhammadu Buhari today held what the federal government called a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting within the Council Chambers at the Presidential Villa. Before addressing the meeting, President Buhari swore in two Permanent Secretaries, Olakunle Bamgbose and Mahmood Dutse. Both of them were unavoidably absent during the swearing in of other permanent secretaries a few weeks earlier. Although details of the meeting was not made known to State House correspondents, indications show the council is putting final touches to the 2016 budget with special attention to the medium term expenditure framework. [ChannelsTV]
President Muhammadu Buhari said on Monday that the deadline given to the military to end terrorism in parts of the country was open to modification. Buhari, who was represented by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonishakin, stated this in Dutse at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Annual Conference of the Chief of Army Staff. “Let me emphasise that the time frame given should serve as a guide and if exigencies of multiple operations across the country requires modification, the Federal Government will not hesitate to do so in order to address the flash points that are…
Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday proposed a budget of N6 trillion for 2016 at an oil bench mark of 38 dollars per barrel. The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, gave the indication while addressing State House Press Corps after an emergency Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari. The minister said the proposal was contained in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) approved by the council. “At today’s council, council approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework. “This sets out the policies of government over the next three years. It sets out the fundamental…
The Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State capital today ruled that Senator Buruji Kashamu is the validly elected representative of Ogun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly. Kashamu headed to the Court after the Ogun State Elections Petitions Tribunal ruled in favour of Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Tribunal had nullified the election of Kashamu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ordered the conduct of fresh election in 109 wards to determine the actual winner of the seat. In the course of the hearing, the Court of Appeal panel was disbanded over a…
Former Delta State governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, has replied erstwhile chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mallan Nuhu Ribadu on his famous claim that he (Ibori) approached him with $15million to stop his investigation. Ibori described the claim as horrible, revolting, nasty and totally untrue. Ribadu, in a recent interview, insisted that Ibori pressurized him with several billions to sweep his case under the carpet. Ibori while reacting to the claim through a statement by his media assistant, Tony Eluemunor, described Ribadu’s claim as watery and laughable. He said, “As the Senate and some security agencies appear…
Bayelsa State Police Command has banned the conduct of all forms of processions, rallies and demonstrations in the state pending the announcement of the results of the state governorship elections which held on Saturday, December 5, 2015. This was disclosed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in Charge of Training and Development, Hashimu Argungu via a statement released today, December 7. The statement reads: “This form of conduct will jeopardize the ongoing electoral process. Therefore the command warns the intending perpetrators to desist from such acts as it will deal decisively with any person or group of persons who…
The Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, has revealed why he was not made a minister in the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government. He disclosed this during a recent interview with The Interviewer magazine. The former Ekiti state governorship aspirant said that he was overlooked as a minister for ideological reasons. He said that some people think he was “too radical”, hence Kayode Fayemi was picked instead. “I was actually contacted. I was actually invited to come on board. It took me appreciable time to make up my mind. Along the way, I was made to understand there were people who…
The deputy governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, Mr Abiodun Faleke, says he will not make himself available for swearing in with Alhaji Yahaya Bello on January 27, 2016. Faleke stated this at a meeting of APC stakeholders in Kogi West Senatorial District in Kabba, Kogi State on Monday He explained that this was in furtherance of his earlier letter to the national leadership of the party not to work with Bello, then governorship candidate. Faleke, who was reacting to resolutions reached at the meeting that he should pursue the legal option to a logical conclusion,…
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, says Nigeria lost about $1 billion (N197 billion) every month under former President Goodluck Jonathan. Sanusi, who is a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, said this during a programme titled: “How a cancer of corruption steals Nigerian oil, weapons and lives,” which aired on The PBS NewsHour, an American daily evening television show. The former CBN governor said many shady deals took place under the immediate past Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is being investigated in the United Kingdom. The monarch said: “In Nigeria, there is no accountability at…
The palace arena is reportedly thronging with invitees who are longing not to miss any part of the august ceremony. There are security operatives in every nook and cranny, as roads leading to the palace have been blocked. Red carpets have been laid on the path to the palace for the monarch and invited dignitaries. There hints of minor skirmishes regarding crowd control and the number of guests keeps teeming by the minute. A pushing and stampede is reported to have ensued at the entrance into the hall, just as certain dignitaries arrive. One could see groups attired in colorful…
You could easily miss the school gate that sits along this dusty, winding road on the outskirts of town. Which is the point: Its anonymity protects those who live and work behind it from prying eyes. But after much back-and-forth with a suspicious guard, the gates swing open to reveal a vibrant burst of activity. A scrum of boys chase after a soccer ball on a new playground, their donated clothing hanging loosely on their slight frames. Others play on freshly painted swings perched cheerfully in front of classrooms and dormitories. As their laughter floats through the air, the children…