Category: Fact Check
Falana Demands Police End Harassment of Amnesty International
Kehinde Fajobi Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has condemned the harassment of Amnesty International Nigeria and urged Nigerians to expose anyone violating the Anti-Torture Act 2017. In a statement on Wednesday, January 2025, Falana criticised the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for intimidating Amnesty International following a report on police brutality during the 2024 #EndBadGovernance…
APC, PDP Trade Blame Over Edo Election Tribunal Shooting Incident
Kehinde Fajobi The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have engaged in a war of words following a shooting incident at the Edo Governorship Election Tribunal in Benin on Wednesday. APC Chairman in Edo, Jarret Tenebe, condemned the incident, calling it a “deeply disturbing and unacceptable act of violence that undermined…
ASUU Warns Tax Bill Could Abolish TETFund
Kehinde Fajobi The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kano Zone, has raised serious concerns over the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, accusing the Federal Government of attempting to eliminate the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), a crucial agency for public tertiary education funding. Speaking to journalists in Kano, Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Comrade Abdulkadir Muhammad,…
Aiyedatiwa Dissolves Ondo Executive Council, Exempts Two Commissioners
Kehinde Fajobi Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has dissolved the State Executive Council with immediate effect. In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, on Wednesday, Aiyedatiwa exempted two commissioners, citing the critical nature of their roles. The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, and the Commissioner for Finance,…
NIDCOM Rejects $500 Festive Tax Proposal for Returning Nigerians
Kehinde Fajobi The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has dismissed a proposal to impose a $500 tax on Nigerians returning home during the festive season, describing it as exploitative and counterproductive. Chief Dokun Olumofin had suggested the tax in a letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, targeting Nigerians and tourists arriving between November and January.…
Military Bans Unauthorised Drone Use in North East
Kehinde Fajobi The Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, has banned the use of drones in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States without prior authorisation. Air Commodore U.U. Idris, the Air Component Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, announced the directive in a signal. Idris cited serious security risks posed by unauthorised drone operations by government agencies…
Gunshots Disrupt Edo Tribunal, APC Condemns Violence
Kehinde Fajobi Gunfire erupted near the Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Wednesday morning, sparking chaos and panic among those present. The incident occurred at the Edo High Court Complex on Sapele Road, Benin, where the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member panel was sitting. Lawyers, litigants, politicians, and reporters fled for safety as stray bullets…
EFCC Accuses Asue Ighodalo of Shielding ₦6bn Fraud Suspect
Kehinde Fajobi The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo State, of obstructing its investigation into a ₦6 billion fraud involving Jonathan Okunbor and Kezmith Global Ventures. In a statement on Wednesday, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, alleged that…
2027: PDP Youths Confident Party Will Reclaim Power
Kehinde Fajobi The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State Youths Forum has expressed confidence in the party’s chances of reclaiming power in the 2027 general elections. Speaking during a news briefing on Wednesday after a condolence visit to Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, the forum, made up of youth leaders from the 36 states and the…
Inflation Rises to 34.8% in December Amid Festive Demand Spike — NBS
Nigeria’s inflation rate climbed to 34.8% in December 2024, up from 34.6% in November, driven by increased demand for goods and services during the festive period, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The NBS revealed these figures in its December 2024 Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, noting a marginal 0.20% rise compared to…
Soludo Sympathises with Nnewi Fire Victims, Calls for Safety Measures
Kehinde Fajobi Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has expressed sympathy for victims of a devastating fire that ravaged Ahịa Mgbede, near the New Motor Spare Parts Market in Nnewi. The fire, which broke out in the early hours of Tuesday, destroyed numerous shops and goods worth millions of naira. The cause of the incident remains…
Opposition Calls for Impeached Lagos Speaker Obasa’s Probe
Kehinde Fajobi The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State have urged anti-corruption agencies to investigate the impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa, over allegations of corruption. This demand came on Tuesday, a day after Obasa was removed from office by 90% of his colleagues. The…
NCC Orders Telcos to Disconnect USSD Services of Nine Banks Over Debts
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed telecommunications operators to disconnect the USSD codes of nine financial institutions due to unpaid debts. The disconnection, scheduled for January 27, 2025, is part of enforcement actions to recover significant outstanding payments owed by the banks. The affected banks include Fidelity Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank, Jaiz…
Alleged Unlawful Dismissals: OAUTHC Workers Drag Management to Court
In a dramatic turn of events, over 500 former employees of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, have taken the hospital’s management to court, accusing them of “unlawful termination” of employment. Represented by their legal counsel, Sola Ojutalayo, the embattled workers are demanding reinstatement and full payment of their outstanding entitlements. The…
IGP Slammed with Fine Over Illegal Arrest, Detention of Bashir Hadejia
A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a landmark judgment ordering the release of Bashir Hadejia, a politician and businessman, while branding his arrest and detention by the police as both unlawful and unconstitutional. In a scathing decision, the court also imposed a fine of ₦10 million on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for…
Minister Accuses Bauchi Gov of Diverting Funds, Dispossessing Citizens of Land
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tugga, has launched a scathing critique against Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, accusing him of allegedly dispossessing small-scale farmers and urban residents of their lands under the guise of commercial farming and redevelopment projects. Speaking during an interview with Liberty TV, Tugga dismissed the governor’s recent verbal jabs at President…
Iran Dismisses Allegations of Plot to Assassinate Donald Trump
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has firmly dismissed allegations that his country ever conspired to assassinate Republican U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. “None whatsoever. We have never attempted this to begin with, and we never will,” Pezeshkian declared when pressed about the alleged Iranian plot to target the incoming U.S. leader. This statement comes in the wake…
Meta to Lay Off 3,600 Employees, Citing Performance-Based Cuts
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is set to lay off approximately 3,600 employees, representing five percent of its workforce. The decision, announced in an internal memo and confirmed by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, comes as part of a strategy to improve performance management and address low performance within the company. Zuckerberg explained…
Lagos Govt Launches EKO Learners’ Support Programme for Exam Preparation
The Lagos State Government has unveiled the EKO Learners’ Support Programme, designed to assist students preparing for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) exams. The initiative was announced by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during a ceremony at the Education Resource Centre in Ojodu, Lagos, on…
Lagos Vaccinates Over 24 Million Residents Against Yellow Fever, Measles in 2024
The Lagos State Government has successfully vaccinated over 24 million residents against yellow fever, measles, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in 2024, a significant public health milestone. The Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board (LSPHCB) shared the update during a press briefing held at the Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday. Dr. Abimbola Bowale, Permanent Secretary of…
Financiers Await FG Revalidation Letter to Boost Project Confidence
The chairman of the Escravos Seaport Industrial Complex (ESIC) project, Okoja, has revealed that the financiers for the massive initiative, including EDIB International from Hong Kong and Impact Global, a Swiss group, are ready to commit $27.29 billion. However, they are awaiting the revalidation letter from the federal government as a guarantee before proceeding with…
NAF Team Meets Zamfara Gov Over Tungar Kara Air Strike Incident
On Tuesday, the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Lawal, received a team from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) at the Government House, led by Edward Gabkwet, the Director of Coordination and Cooperation of the Civil-Military Relations Branch in the NAF. The visit follows the tragic airstrike that struck Tungar Kara, a community in the Maradun…
NYSC Debunks Claims About Call-Up Numbers, Urges Patience
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has dismissed recent reports circulating on social media, which suggested that Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) who have not received their Call-Up Numbers should visit State Secretariats to obtain them. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Caroline Embu, the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations for NYSC, clarified that…
Iwobi Scores Brace, But Fulham Falls 3-2 to West Ham
Alex Iwobi was in dazzling form on Tuesday night, scoring twice for Fulham in a dramatic 3-2 loss to West Ham United at London Stadium. The Nigerian international’s brace brought his season tally to 10 goal contributions, but it wasn’t enough to prevent his side from slipping to defeat. West Ham took control early in…
Simon Ekpa’s Arrest Eased Tension in South-East — CDS
Kehinde Fajobi The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said on Tuesday that the arrest of Simon Ekpa in Finland had significantly reduced tension in Nigeria’s South-East region. He attributed this and the Defence Headquarters’ Operation Udoka to the ongoing restoration of peace in the area. Speaking before the House of Representatives Committee on…