Author: Kwara Reporters

A witness in the trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika and his brother, Ahmad Sirika has narrated how the minister allegedly awarded the contract of rehabilitation of Katsina Airport to an unqualified company.The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 10-count charge against the Sirikas for an alleged contract fraud valued at N19.4 billion.The EFCC alleged that the minister awarded the sums in contracts to Enginos Nigeria Ltd said to belong to his younger brother, Abubakar Sirika, among others.At the resumed hearing on Monday, a witness, Musa Obinyan told the FCT High Court that the firm…

A yet to be identified group of herdsmen with a large number of cows have allegedly invaded and destroyed a five-hectare rice plantation belonging to one Okegbenro Julius, in Ilupeju Ibaro Village, Abeokuta.According to a statement by police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, on Monday, the herdsmen who caused extensive destruction to crops, on noticing that they were observed, fled the scene leaving one of their cows behind.Odutola noted that Julius, the owner of the farmland, reported the incident to the Ilupeju Division of the command.In response to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo directed the DPO to convene an…

About 2, 580 traffic offenders were arrested by the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, between January and December 2024 across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.This is also as the corps revealed that 411 persons died scoping fuel in 2024 across the country.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, made the disclosure while addressing newsmen on the 2024 special patrol operations on Monday in Abuja.According to Mohammed, the corps recorded a reduction in the number of offenders in 2024 as against 29,220 within the same period in 2023.He explained, “This signifies a 26 per cent increase in…

Ex-VP: it’s only way to dislodge sitting govt ‘I’m not interested in coalition to grab power’Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party (LP) chieftain Peter Obi yesterday disagreed on the proposals for a coalition to dislodge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next general election.Atiku emphasised the importance of synergy among the opposition parties in a bid to wrest power from the ruling party.But Obi said he would not endorse any coalition if the motive is restricted to mere power grabbing.The two opposition politicians spoke on the challenge of civil rule, leadership and political reforms at the ‘Democracy Conference’…

Nigerian singer, Innocent Idibia popularly known as Tuface, has announced his divorce from his wife of 12 years, Annie Macaulay.Tuface took to Instagram to state that he and Annie, who he shares two kids with, have been separated for a while and recently filed for divorce.The post which is no more available read;“Hello to my beautiful people of all FEDERATIONS. WELL THIS THING I HAVE TO SAY IS SHORT BUT ALSO LONG…. I AND ANNIE MACAULAY HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FOR A WHILE NOW. AND CURRENTLY FILED DIVORCE… I WOULD GRANT A PRESS RELEASE SOON TO SAY MY STORY..NOT BECAUSE IT…

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspects at a security checkpoint on the Umudioka-Awkuzu road by Igbariam and recovered one Beretta pistol, two live ammunition and a Toyota Corolla car from them.In a statement on Monday, the spokesman for the command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said operatives of the Special Anti-Cult Squad from Enugwu-Ukwu carried out the arrest.Ikenga said four occupants were in the vehicle when they were ordered to stop for a search; while two alighted and ran away, two others were apprehended.He said, “Operatives of the Special Anti-Cult Squad Enugwu-Ukwu, at a security checkpoint on Umudioka-Awkuzu road…

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has forecast a spell of haziness and cloudiness across the country from Monday to Wednesday.According to NiMet’s weather outlook, released on Sunday, a moderate dust haze is expected on Monday, with a horizontal visibility range of two to five kilometres in the North.Furthermore, localised visibility of less than or equal to 1000m is anticipated in parts of Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Yobe, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi throughout the forecast period.Moderate dust haze with a horizontal visibility range of two to five kilometres is also expected over the North Central region, with localised visibility of less than or…

The Nigerian Army has confirmed dozens of military casualties and the killing of over 60 insurgents in the Timbuktu Triangle area of Borno during a gunfight with terrorists.The DHQ disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.“Due to the pressure on the terrorists and a sign of desperation and last resort, on 24 January 2025 at about 7:10 p.m., the terrorists cowardly rammed into troops at their harbour position with a vehicle-borne IED at Gardiri base, killing a commanding officer, two officers and some of our very brave men while injuring 20 others,” the statement explained.It reported that at least 60…

Legal icon Afe Babalola says he is ready to withdraw his criminal defamation suit against rights activist Dele Farotimi.Mr Babalola recently dragged Farotimi before an Ekiti Magistrates’ court, claiming criminal defamation in the latter’s controversial book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.The court granted Mr Farotimi N30 million bail.Mr Babalola’s decision to withdraw his suit followed a visit to his Ado-Ekiti home by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Sunday night.The Ooni arrived at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, at about 10:30 p.m. and was accompanied by other top Yoruba traditional rulers, including the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Ogoga of…

Zenith Bank Plc has raised N350.4 billion through its recently concluded hybrid rights issue and public offer.In a statement released to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Group on Sunday, January 26, 2025, the Bank announced that it had secured the full regulatory approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in respect of its recently concluded Hybrid offer, comprising of a rights issue of 5,232,748,964 Ordinary Shares of 50k each at N36.00 per share and public offer of 2,767,251,036 Ordinary Shares of 50k each at N36.50 per share.The public offer was 160.47% subscribed, with…