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ANGER AS DELE FAROUNBI IS BROUGHT TO COURT IN HANDCUFFS Some Nigerians have expressed anger after human rights activist, Dele Farotimi, appeared at the Ekiti State High Court in handcuffs. Men of the Nigeria Police Force had escorted Farotimi to the court on Monday in handcuffs. Last week, Farotimi was arrested in Lagos State by officers of the Ekiti State …

OBASANJO, AFE BABALOLA LINKED TO ALLEGED N30M COURT BRIBERY IN 2004 – US CLASSIFIED CABLE A classified US diplomatic cable leaked by WikiLeaks has revealed allegations of a bribery scandal involving Nigeria’s former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, and prominent lawyer Chief Afe Babalola. The document posted by former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore alleged that the duo influenced a 2004 Court of …

THUGS STORM COURT, DISRUPT EDO STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION TRIBUNAL Thugs on Monday invaded the premises of the Edo State High Court in Benin in an attempt to disrupt the pre-hearing session on the disputed September 21 governorship election results. The election, which saw Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerge victorious, is being challenged by seven opposition parties. …

COURT GRANTS DELE FAROUNBI N50M BAIL Prominent activist and legal practitioner Dele Farotimi has been granted bail by the Ekiti state high court. The bail conditions include a sum of ₦50 million and a surety of the same amount, with the surety required to possess a landed property. The case has been adjourned to 29 January 2025 for further proceedings. …

IMO STATE HAVING LOWEST RECORD IN VAT EVIDENCE OF OF DYING ECONOMY IN SOUTH EAST – PDP The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Imo State Chapter, has alleged that the recently released data on Value Added Tax, VAT, as generated across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, remains a vindication of its previous stand on the …

MARKETERS BEGIN DIRECT LOADING FROM DANGOTE REFINERY The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has begun lifting Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, The PUNCH can report.This follows an agreement reached with the refinery last month by IPMAN.Our correspondent learned that IPMAN members have so far lifted millions of litres of petrol from the Dangote refinery located …

YOU’RE CONFUSING YOURSELF WITH TAX REFORM BILLS, IT CONTRADICTS CONSTITUTION – NDUME TO PRESIDENCY The Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has stated that his stance remains the same on President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills. The lawmaker had earlier condemned the timing of the bills, arguing that the focus should be on governance reforms before tax reforms. Speaking further …

TAX REFORM; NORTHERN GROUPS LIST CONDITIONS Following the opposition, especially from the North against the proposed Tax Reform Bills in the National Assembly, NASS, leading northern groups have listed conditions to stop opposing the bills. They insisted that their opposition to the planned fiscal laws stems from the potential impact of the reforms on the economic conditions of the North. …

CASH SCARCITY PERSISTS ACROSS NIGERIA AS BANKS IGNORE CBN’S ORDER Days after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) issued an ultimatum mandating banks to ensure cash availability at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and banking halls, many Nigerians still struggle to access cash. The cash scarcity has pushed Point of Sale (PoS) operators to seek alternative sources of cash, such as …

WAIT FOR 2031 – AKUME TELLS ATIKU, NORTHERN BIGWIGS TO SHELVE 2027 AMBITION The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has urged the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and other northern political bigwigs to shelve the ambition of contesting for the 2027 presidency and wait till 2031.Naija News reports that Akume, who spoke on Sunday while …