Allow court decide Yahaya Bello’s fate, media office urges EFCC

The media office of the former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, has said the court was yet to prove the allegations made against the embattled former governor by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Bello’s media office director, Ohiare Michael, on Friday, adding that the former governor did not pay the fees of his children with monies from the coffers of the Kogi State Government.

On Tuesday, the Chairman of the EFCC at a press conference, alleged that Bello withdrew $720,000 from a government account to pay his children’s school fees in advance.

If I speak, there will be fire – Salah on clash with Klopp at West Ham

Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah, refused to give more details on his clash with manager Jurgen Klopp, during their 2-2 draw at West Ham.

Salah was dropped for the game at the Olympic Stadium, as the Reds looked to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat to Everton.

However, they were leading 2-1 against the Hammers, when Klopp opted to bring him on along with Darwin Nunez.

But while they were waiting on the touchline for a break in play, Michail Antonio headed in for 2-2.

Change your attitude towards local government elections – Rep tells Nigerians

A member of House of Representatives, Adedeji Stanley Olajide has urged Nigerians to change their attitude towards local government elections.

Olajide lamented the situation where only few people come out to vote during local government polls.

He urged Nigerians to attach importance to local government election the way they usually do during presidential, National assembly and state elections.

The lawmaker who represents Ibadan North West/ Ibadan South West Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, spoke shortly after casting his vote in the ongoing Oyo State LG election.

Four Chinese Arrested for Illegal Mining in Nasarawa

Four Chinese have been arrested by the Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, at an illegal mining site where lithium is sold at Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Spokesman of the NSCDC, Babawale Afolabi disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

“Following the commissioning of some specially trained NSCDC personnel as Federal Government Mining Marshals, the team has intensified efforts to clamp down on illegal miners sabotaging the economy of the nation.

“The Mining Marshalls with a renewed vigour swung into action following credible intelligence and uncovered an illegal mining site where lithium is sold at Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Court restrains Kano APC Ward Executives from sacking Ganduje

A Kano Federal High Court presided by Justice A. M Liman has restrained the acclaimed executive members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ganduje Ward from suspending the party’s national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, pending the hearing and determination of a suit filed by the former governor for enforcement of his fundamental rights.

Ganduje had approached the court through his counsel, Barrister Hadiza Nasir Ahmed, seeking the enforcement of his fundamental rights to fair hearing and freedom of association, pursuant to the Enforcement and Procedure Rules, 2009, as subsumed under Section 46 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.

Justice Liman gave the order after hearing of an ex parte application moved by his Ganduje’s lawyer.

Additionally, the presiding judge directed all the parties in the suit to maintain status quo before the purported emergency meeting of the said executive members of APC Ganduje Ward, and to stay all action in respect of the matter, pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice.

Why I contemplated suicide – US President Joe Biden reveals

The United States President, Joe Biden, has disclosed that he contemplated suicide after the death of his first wife and 13-month-old daughter in a car accident.

Biden disclosed this during an interview with radio journalist Howard Stern on Stern’s SiriusXM show.

The president’s first wife, Nelia, and one-year-old daughter, Naomi, died in a car crash in Delaware on December 18, 1972.

Recounting the pains of the past, Biden told Stern: ‘’You don’t have to be crazy to commit suicide if you’ve been to the top of the mountain and you think you’ll never be there again.

Abbas, Kukah canvass for national cohesion

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, and the founder of the Kukah Centre, Bishop Mathew Kukah, have called on Nigerians to work towards building a united nation.

The duo made the call at the National Integration Conference with the theme: “Revisiting the National Question: Nigeria’s Elusive Search for National Integration,” organised by the Kukah Centre.

Tajudeen, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, said Nigeria’s pluralism and its vast diversity in ethnicity, language, and religion remain a valuable asset to the nation.

According to him, embracing and leveraging its pluralism would propel Nigeria towards a more unified and prosperous future where the collective strengths of its diverse population would be fully harnessed.

War: Russian airstrikes damage Ukrainian energy facilities in three regions

Ukraine’s Energy Minister, German Galushchenko, says Russia launched airstrikes on Ukrainian energy facilities in three regions on Saturday.

Galushchenko said the attack damaged equipment and injured at least one energy worker.

In a Telegram message, he said the Russian strikes targeted the Dnipropetrovsk region in central Ukraine and the western regions of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk.

DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, said its four thermal power stations were hit.

Oyo LG election: Makinde casts vote in Ibadan

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has cast his vote in today’s local government election.

Makinde voted at Polling Unit 1, Ward 11 in Ibadan North East Local Government Area in Ibadan.

He arrived at 10:17 am and voted five minutes later.

My journey won’t be complete without 2Baba – Kizz Daniel

Popular singer, Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe, aka Kizz Daniel, has hailed the legendary 2Baba for his impact on his musical career.

According to him, his success story won’t be complete without working with the ‘African Queen’ crooner.

Referring to 2Baba as his mentor, Kizz Daniel expressed strong desire to collaborate with the legend.

On his X handle on Friday night, he wrote: “The Journey no fit complete without a 2baba Collabo @official2baba.

Junior Pope: Family of late Nollywood actor releases burial date

Funeral arrangements for the burial of the late Nollywood actor John Paul Odonwodo have been released by his family.

Junior Pope and four other actors drowned after their boat capsized in the Anam River in Anambra State on April 10 while returning from a movie shoot.

Of the 12 individuals who boarded the ill-fated boat, only seven were rescued alive, while five died, including Junior Pope.

The details of funeral arrangements for the late actor, signed by Divine Odonwodo on behalf of the family, indicated that besides the April 23 requiem mass at Saint John-Mary Vianney Parish in Asaba, Delta State, another requiem mass is scheduled to be held at Christ the King Catholic Parish, G.R.A., Enugu, on May 13.

Liverpool to replace Klopp with ‘most expensive Dutch manager’

Liverpool are set to pay Feyernoord a compensation fee around €13-15m to land Arne Slot as their next manager.

This was revealed by football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, on Friday night.

Both clubs have been in negotiations over the week over Slot, who has expressed his desire to join the Premier League side.

Romano wrote: “Arne Slot will be the most expensive Dutch coach ever as Liverpool will pay compensation fee around €13-15m.

King Charles III to resume public duties next week after cancer treatment

The British monarch, King Charles III, will resume his public duties next week following a three-month break to focus on his treatment and recuperation.

A few months ago, the British monarch was diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer and has been receiving treatment.

However, Buckingham Palace on Friday said the monarch would be visiting a cancer treatment centre on Tuesday, the first of several public appearances he will make in the coming weeks.

According to the palace, one of his first major engagements will be to host a state visit by the emperor and empress of Japan in June.

Payment still ongoing – Nigerian govt gives update on N50,000 grants

The Nigerian government has said the N50,000 Conditional Grant Scheme to Nigerians is ongoing as 150,000 of one million targeted citizens have received disbursement.

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, disclosed this in a recent statement through her official X handle.

“Grant disbursements are ongoing; 150,000 of the 1 million targeted payments have been issued as of this week.

“If you’re verified and awaiting funds, we appreciate your patience. For full transparency, a list of all beneficiaries will be released upon completion,” she said.

Kogi: I didn’t pay $720,000 as school fees – Yahaya Bello

Former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has denied paying the sum of $720,000 school fees for his children using the state government’s funds.

Bello was reacting to the claim by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede that he withdrew $720,000 from the state’s coffer to pay for his children’s school fees before leaving office.

The governor described the remark as misleading, stressing that the receipts in public domain were released by his lawyers.

In a statement signed by his Media Officer, Ohiare Michael, the former governor said his children have been attending the American International School, Abuja, before he became governor and he has been paying their fees as at when due.