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PH REFINERY SHUTS DOWN AGAIN AFTER $1.5BN REHABILITATION Less than a month after the Port Harcourt Refining Company appeared to have resumed production, the facility has stopped working.Our correspondent, who visited the refinery on Thursday, December 19, 2024, observed that the lifting of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) had stopped.It was gathered that the lifting of petrol actually stopped last Friday, …

JUBILATION AS FORMER KOGI GOV, YAHAYA BELLO, ACCUSED OF STEALING N110.4B GOVT MONEY IS RELEASED ON BAIL Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has been captured in a rejoicing mood at home following his release from the Kuje Minimum Custodial Centre in Abuja after meeting his bail conditions. The embattled former governor was seen in the midst of jubilant supporters …

EKITI MAGISTRATE COURT CLAIMED RULING ON DELE FAROTIMI’S BAIL APPLICATION MISSING The Ekiti State Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti had on Friday morning shockingly claimed that its ruling on the bail application filed by human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi is missing. The court was slated to give its ruling on the bail application filed by Farotimi, Friday morning. However, SaharaReporters gathered …

SOARING COSTS, SHRINKING INCOME DAMPEN YULETIDE CELEBRATIONS In this feature, VICTOR AYENI delves into the harsh realities facing Nigerian citizens and business owners as they grapple with shattered expectations of a festive and joyous Christmas. From the crippling high prices of food to the unavailability of physical cash to the devastating blow of low patronage, he mirrors the challenges that …

WE BUDGTED N213BN FOR ROAD, NOT N55BN – ENUGU GOVT The Enugu State Government has expressed dismay over a report in the December 19, 2024 edition of the Punch Newspaper stating that the government earmarked N55bn for the construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of urban and rural roads in the state’s 2025 budget proposal by Governor Peter Mbah, while allocating N50.27bn …

HOW TINUBU’S ₦1B OFFER TO NASS MEMBERS AVERTED TAX REFORM SHOWDOWN DURING BUDGET PRESENTATION A fresh report has revealed an alleged offer to lawmakers prior to the Wednesday presentation of the 2025 budget to the national assembly last week. The Senate and the House of Representatives, at their separate plenaries on Thursday, passed for second reading the N49.7tn ‘Restoration’ 2025 …

NORTH IMPOVERISHED BY ITS POLITICAL LEADERS FOR OVER 40 YEARS –DOGARA A former Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has attributed the North’s current state of backwardness to its leaders. He also urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu in transforming the nation through the tax reform bills currently awaiting the endorsement of the National Assembly. Dogara …

COURT RESTORES SUSPENDED EDO LG CHAIRMEN An Edo State High Court has ordered the restoration of the suspended local council chairmen in Edo State. The court, presided by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba, issued the order on Friday, December 20, 2024. Justice Ikponmwonba gave the order while ruling on a suit filed by the embattled 18 council chairmen and the Edo State …

APPEAL COURT FINES MTN N15 MILLION OVER UNSOLICITED MESSAGES Appeal Court fines MTN N15 million over unsolicited messages and caller tunes on lawyer’s phoneThe Court of Appeal in Abuja has awarded N15 million as general damages against MTN Nigeria Communications Limited for disturbing its Nigerian customer’s phone number with unsolicited messages and callertunes, without the customer’s subscription to these services.The …

CUSTOMS HAS NO RIGHT TO CONFISCATE FOREIGN RICE IN OPEN MARKETS— COURT OF APPEAL The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna has warned the Nigeria Customs Service against confiscating foreign rice in open markets. The court gave the order on Wednesday in a judgement following an appeal by Customs against the judgement of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, which discharged …