By Ado Oyeyemi The Presidency and the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress have criticised former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, over his assertion that only “mad people” would vote for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Amaechi, who is the vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, made the remarks on Thursday during a party town hall meeting in Benin, the Edo State capital, where he urged residents to reject Tinubu at the polls. Addressing party leaders, candidates and supporters, the former Minister of Transportation described those campaigning for Tinubu as thieves and suggested that…
Author: Ado Oyeyemi
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By Ado Oyeyemi A United States court has sentenced a Nigerian businessman based in Texas, Edikan Adiakpan, to 30 months in federal prison for helping fraudsters move proceeds from an email scam through his company accounts. Adiakpan, 35, who founded Akama Lifestyle, a Houston based luxury transportation and lifestyle concierge company, was sentenced on Thursday by a US District Judge, Andrew Hanen. The United States Department of Justice said the sentence would be followed by three years of supervised release. According to the department, Adiakpan operated as a money mule, using his company’s accounts to receive and transfer funds obtained…
By Ado Oyeyemi The Nigeria Labour Congress has given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to reduce petrol prices, begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage and implement outstanding agreements with organised labour. The ultimatum, which takes effect on Friday, October 9, followed a joint meeting of the union’s National Executive Council and Central Working Committee at the Olaitan Oyerinde Hall, Labour House, Abuja. In a communiqué signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and made available on Thursday, the congress warned that it would take further action if the government failed to meet its demands within the stipulated…
By Ado Oyeyemi The Federal Government has announced a 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited filling stations, with public transport operators to enjoy priority under the initiative aimed at easing the burden of rising fuel prices. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this on Thursday during a briefing on petrol prices and government interventions in Abuja. Oyedele explained that the initiative would operate as a discount on petrol sold at NNPC stations and would not amount to a return to the fuel subsidy regime. “We are offering a discount on…
By Ado Oyeyemi Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted the Federal Government’s planned 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited filling stations, describing it as an inadequate response to the economic hardship confronting Nigerians. Atiku argued that the temporary measure would not address the persistent increase in transportation fares, food prices and other essential expenses that have placed pressure on households and businesses. In a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council, the former vice president accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of offering short-term relief…
By Ado Oyeyemi The Independent National Electoral Commission has called on security agencies in Ondo State to strengthen the protection of its personnel and electoral materials ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr Mutiu Agboke, made the appeal on Thursday in Akure during the Ondo Central Senatorial District stakeholders’ meeting organised as part of preparations for the polls. Agboke said INEC was committed to conducting credible elections, adding that the commission had begun centralising its voter education and sensitisation efforts across the three senatorial districts to ensure wider public participation. He said the…
By Ado Oyeyemi Periwinkle Empire has expanded its luxury real estate operations to Abuja with plans to develop a $150m 20-storey residential tower in the Central Business District of the Federal Capital Territory. The project, known as Royalties Abuja, is being developed in partnership with Prime Luxury Address Limited and is located opposite the United States Consulate in one of the capital’s prime areas. The developers formalised the partnership on Tuesday during a consortium agreement signing and the official handover of the project site. Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of Prime Luxury Address Limited, Dr Peter Adejoh, said the…
The Federal Government has announced a 30-day discount on petrol sold by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited as part of efforts to cushion the impact of rising fuel and transportation costs on Nigerians. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing in Abuja on the government’s response to rising petrol prices. Oyedele stressed that the measure should not be regarded as a return to the controversial fuel subsidy regime, saying the government would only make petrol available to consumers at cost during the initial 30-day period. He…
By Ado Oyeyemi A 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker, Anojan Sivarasa, has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia over a Facebook comment deemed blasphemous. Sivarasa was initially sentenced to five years in prison and fined three million Saudi riyals under the country’s cybercrime law before prosecutors appealed the judgment and sought his trial under Sharia law. The appellate court, on September 17, subsequently overturned the earlier sentence and imposed the death penalty. According to the BBC, Sivarasa became involved in an online religious argument after another social media user allegedly made derogatory remarks about a Hindu deity. Sivarasa responded…
By Ado Oyeyemi A United Kingdom-based Nigerian, Emmanuel Opeyemi Makinde, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Jabi, Abuja, how he allegedly discovered that a travel agent had used his details to register a woman as his wife without his knowledge. Makinde, the complainant in the case, made the disclosure while testifying before Justice Ademuyiwa Oyeyipo in the trial of the travel agent, Waliyu Aderibigbe Shitta, who is accused of arranging the alleged fraudulent marriage to facilitate a woman’s travel to the UK. Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, R. Abang, Makinde alleged that Shitta included one Dolapo…