Author: Kwara Reporters

A former governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has been tipped as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Daily Trust reliably gathered last night.Ganduje, 73, was yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and three governors who are members of the APC.Barring any last-minute changes, the former governor will be named as interim national chairman of the ruling party, pending the conduct of the convention of the party later in the year.Recall that this paper had exclusively reported on Monday the resignation of Senator Abdullahi Adamu as the…

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, over his failure to appear in court to explain circumstances surrounding the $53 million judgment debt arising from the Paris Club refund.Justice Inyang Ekwo, who ordered Emefiele to appear on the next adjourned date, said he was minded to exercise restraint in the proceeding to give the ex-CBN boss an opportunity to explain himself in the matter.Emefiele’s counsel, Audu Anuga (SAN) had prayed the court to give his client another opportunity due…

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, criticised the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for its adjustment of the pump price for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), or petrol, from around N500 to N617 per litre.Falana was reacting to the NNPCL’s seemingly overnight price hike on Tuesday, which saw the second impromptu petrol price review in under two months — coming from a ballpark price of N185 in May.In a statement on Wednesday, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria noted that President Bola Tinubu, in his inaugural address in May, announced that his administration would govern the country in accordance with the rule…

The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, has said that over 137 students sponsored abroad by the fund absconded.He stated this when he appeared before the House of Representatives Ad-hoc committee investigating the alleged mismanagement of N2.3tn tertiary education tax by TETFund on Tuesday.Echono said the scholars, who were sponsored by TETFund for “higher education” abroad refused to return to the country after completing their programmes.“We may have to take that hard stand because the numbers are alarming. We just checked about 40 institutions and over 137 absconders and the review is ongoing,” he stated.“It…

Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin yesterday convicted a 24-year-old Francis Stephen Oke Eghele for presenting himself to be a female America woman in order to defraud unsuspecting victims.He was convicted alongside one Adeniyi Aliyu over similar offences.The duo of Francis and Adeniyi were arraigned on separate charges by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).Count 2 of the charge against Francis reads: “That you, Stephen Oke Eghele (a.k.a Sugarmom) sometime in July, 2022 or thereabout at Ilorin, Kwara State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court attempted to…

In a developing situation, a fierce gun battle has broken out between the Nigerian military and kidnappers in the Owa-isin area of Isin local government area in Kwara State. Eyewitnesses on the scene report that the exchange of gunfire is ongoing, creating a tense and chaotic atmosphere.According to the eyewitnesses, one of the victims who was previously kidnapped has been shot during the intense firefight between the kidnappers and the military. The injured victim has been swiftly transported to a neighboring town for urgent medical attention. The severity of the victim’s injuries is yet to be confirmed.The armed confrontation between…

The Kwara State Government has been urged to urgently prioritize the protection of the Kwara State Polytechnic lands to halt further encroachment.Fielding questions from journalists this morning at the Press Centre of the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Pro Tem President of the Polytechnic Worldwide AlumniAssociation, Engineer Abu Salami, sought the support of the media and relevant stakeholders in taking swift and decisive action to stop further encroachment and reclaim the unlawfully occupied areas. According to him, the government’s intervention is crucial to ensuring the long term viability and growth of the institution. Engineer Abu Salami said…

The new leadership of the All Progressives Congress has written to intimate President Bola Tinubu on the postponement of the long awaited National Caucus and National Executive Committee meetings, The PUNCH learnt.The development is coming barely 24 hours after the Acting National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abubakar Kyari, announced the resignation of his successor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore.This was even as multiple sources confirmed that the National Working Committee might be looking towards October to convene a National Convention to complete the transition of filling up the vacant offices.Aside from the offices of the National…

Following intense criticism of his administration’s plan to pay N8,000 monthly to 12 million vulnerable persons as palliative to cushion the adverse effect of petrol subsidy removal, President Bola Tinubu has directed the review of the cash transfer policy.This was announced on Tuesday by Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President (Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy).He said the government will now unveil a complete package of palliatives to Nigerians. The presidential spokesman announced the approval by the president for the immediate release of fertilizers and grains to approximately 50 million farmers and households, respectively, in all 36 states and the FCT.Alake…

• Diri expresses optimism on country’s futureAs Nigerians await the verdict of the presidential election tribunal, former national vice chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has expressed fears that the nation could be thrown into turmoil if either the petitioners or respondents win the case.He stated this in a speech at the fifth annual lecture organised by Freedom Online, with the theme: “2023-2027: Nigerians, Elected Leaders and Expectations” in Lagos, yesterday.George, former military governor of old Ondo State, said he was worried about what would happen if the verdict of the tribunal swayed either to President…