BREAKING NEWS

  The death toll from the bombing of Muslims celebrating Maulud Nabbiy in Tudun Biri village in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State has increased to 120 as officials of Amnesty International who visited the affected communities confirmed the increase in the death toll.   An air strike intended to flush out terrorists had on Sunday night, Dec. 3, accidentally hit civilians during a religious celebration.   The Army claimed responsibility for the incident.   On Monday night, Dec. 4, the National Emergency Management Agency had put the casualty figure at 85, adding that 66 victims sustained injuries.   However, giving an update on the tragic incident, The Country Director of Amnesty International, Isah Sanusi, said officials of the organisation were on the ground at the affected communities and counted over 120 persons who died in the bombing.  https://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2023/12/death-toll-hits-120-in-kaduna-village-bombing-2.html

  A compulsorily retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Moses Jitoboh, has prayed the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja to declare his retirement by the Police Service Commission before his mandatory 60 years retirement age or 35 years in service, as wrongful, unconstitutional, and unlawful. Jitoboh, in his statement of claims filed before the court, further described his compulsory retirement as a flagrant violation of Rule 020810 of the Public Service Rules and Section 18 (8) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, respectively. The PUNCH reports that the PSC had in a statement on Monday, August 28, 2023, announced the retirement of DIG Jitoboh and three others on the grounds of upholding police tradition of retiring officers when a junior police officer is promoted over senior officers to avoid ‘status reversal’. Meanwhile, retired DIG Jitoboh is also praying for an order of the court directing the PSC to pay the sum of ₦500bmillion only as general damages for the unwarra

  President Bola Tinubu has launched the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer for 15 million households. The launch was held at the Press Gallery of the State House in Abuja on Tuesday, coinciding  with the World Poverty Eradication Day.  The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume represented the President at the event. In attendance are the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Eradication, Betta Edu; Minister Of Finance, Wale Edun; World Bank Country Director, Shubham Chaudhuri; and the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator For Nigeria, Matthias Schmale; among other dignitaries. The President had in his maiden Independence Day broadcast to Nigerians on October 1, 2023 announced the cash transfer programme which he said would target vulnerable citizens. The 15 million households, according to the humanitarian affairs minister, represents 62 million Nigerians. She said that the sum of N25,000 would be transferred to the beneficiaries on a mo

  Spanish footballer,  Jenni Hermoso has filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office over an "unsolicited kiss" by Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales following the Women's World Cup final.   The Spanish footballer is accusing the football boss of sexual assault after she was kissed on the lips following Spain's 1-0 victory over England on 20 August. Hermoso has repeatedly said it was not consensual, but a defiant Rubiales has refused to resign and the ensuing controversy has overshadowed Spain's historic win. Prosecutors said last week that they were going to meet with Hermoso to give her the opportunity to present an accusation against Rubiales and now say accusation was made by Hermoso on Tuesday, September 5 Rubiales has been suspended from his position at the top of Spanish football. He was handed a provisional suspension from FIFA for 90 days last week, after refusing to step down. In the wake of calls for his resignation, the 46-year-old issued a fresh de

  The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has struck out the evidence of 10 out of the 13 witnesses called by Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP) in support of their petition against the election of President Bola Tinubu.   In a judgment delivered today September 6, the court held that the witnesses, who were subpoenaed at the instance of the petitioners, had their written statements, which contained their evidence, were not filed along or frontloaded with the petition within the 21 days allowed by the Electoral Act 2022.   The court, in the lead judgment currently being read by Justice Haruna Tsammani, also rejected the documents, including the report of analysis, tendered by the petitioners through the affected 10 witnesses.   The court also held that some of the witnesses are not only persons with interest in the outcome of the case, the reports they tendered were made during the pendency of the case.   The court also dismissed the Labour Party's 25% FCT votes claim stat

  Galatasaray and Argentina striker,  Mauro Icardi has splashed a whopping £22.3MILLION on a rare Rolls Royce model.   Icardi made a permanent switch to Galatasaray earlier this summer after spending last season on loan at the club from PSG. He has since hit the ground running, netting four goals in three league games.   To celebrate his quick start in the league, the 30-year-old has spent a staggering €26m (£22.3m) on a new Rolls Royce named the Boat Tail. The Boat Tail is the most expensive new car in the world, and just three copies of the model have been produced to date.   Icardi now owns one of them. Billionaire rapper Jay-Z and his pop star wife Beyonce have one of the others. The third Boat Tail was sold to an industrialist who has earned his fortune in the pearl industry.   The Boat Tail reportedly took four years for one to be built by hand. The four-seater convertible has a parasol and a telescopic table attached which open automatically, making it perfect for a picnic for t

  In its bid to fortify security architecture and forestall any breakdown of law and order across the country as a result of the forthcoming Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Judgment scheduled to be passed on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, the Nigeria Police Force says it has strengthened its deployment across the length and breadth of Nigeria.    In a statement released by its spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police reassured Nigerians of its commitment to ensure the safety of lives and property before, during, and after the judgement.  The NPF has diligently emplaced all necessary deployments and security measures during this critical period as officers and men are fully prepared to maintain order and enforce laws while respecting the rights and freedoms of all citizens.'' the statement read   The statement further adds that the police  ’strongly cautions all individuals, including mischief makers and political gladiators, to be cautious in their actions and sta

  An eight-man committee has been inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, to set up a roadmap for the education sector in line with the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda of President Bola Tinubu. The committee, headed by Dr. Nuhu Yakubu, has as one of its members a former Deputy Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Ernest Ojukwu, and Professor Sa’ad Umar. While inaugurating the committee on Tuesday, the minister said, “Mr. President has clearly laid out his vision for his administration and it is anchored on improving the lives of Nigerians in a manner that not just reflects our humanity but encourages compassion towards one another, and duly rewards our collective efforts to resolve the social ills that seek to divide us. “On education specifically, our president has declared his commitment and as a priority, among other missions, to see that about 10.5 million Nigeria’s out-of-school children are retrained with skills that will make them stand on their own

  A former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has appealed to Anambra state pupil, Mmesoma Ejikeme, whose JAMB result was withdrawn, to ‘’come clean" with the source of her result so he can beg the board to show some leniecy towards her.   In a statement released on Wednesday July 5, Chidoka, who is also the owner of the Computer-Based Testing (CBT) Centre where Mmesoma sat for her examination, said he will beg the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for leniency, if she explains how she got the result she was parading. He pointed out that the result Mmesoma was parading had the initial name on his center which has since been changed. His statement reads;     “Miss Nmesoma Ejikeme took her 2023 JAMB at my foundation’s Computer-Based Testing (CBT) Center at Obosi. I got some calls from worried friends about Nmesoma’s result, which had Thomas Chidoka Center as her examination center. I allayed their worries that the result issue had nothing to do with the examination c

  Arsenal striker, Folarin Balogun is attracting interest from five overseas clubs following his breakout season in France.   The young striker is expected to leave Arsenal this summer to continue playing regular football after he starred at Ligue 1 side Reims. During his loan spell, Balogun scored 21 league goals to finish as the joint fourth-highest scorer in France’s top division.   Arsenal have now placed a £50m price tag on the rising star, as they look to recoup some funds following their own transfer outlay this summer, while his form has attracted a number of clubs. Italian giants AC Milan and Inter Milan, French sides Marseille and Monaco plus German’s RB Leipzig have all expressed their interest in the 22 year-old.   Born in New York, Balogun also ended the season by resolving his international future by becoming a senior international for USA and scoring his first goal against Canada last month.

  Kylian Mbappe has been told he must sign a new contract if he wants to stay at Paris Saint-Germain.   According to PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the club will not allow the superstar France striker to walk away on a free transfer in 12 months' time. Mbappe, who has long been linked with Liverpool and Real Madrid in recent years, recently told the club he will not be triggering the one-year extension in his contract.   That means the top goalscorer at the 2022 World Cup will be a free agent next summer unless PSG cash in on his services. Speaking at a press conference to introduce Luis Enrique as the club's new manager following the sacking of Christophe Galtier, said: that they “want Mbappe to stay” but he “can’t leave for free”. “We want him to stay but he can’t leave for free,” Al-Khelaifi told reporters. “It was our oral agreement and he had expressed it publicly in an interview. So it’s not debatable. And I was really shocked to learn that he intended to leave for fre

  Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi, psc+, FISN, has assumed office as the new Police Commissioner for Kwara State, making her the first female Police commissioner in the state.   A statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Okasanmi Ajayi, on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, noted that the outgoing commissioner of police, Paul Odama, psc+, has been promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG). According to the statement, CP Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi is originally from Sagamu, in the Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State. She joined the Nigeria Police Force on March 3, 1990, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police.   Throughout her career, she has served in various Police commands and formations both within and outside the country, holding several command positions. CP Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi attended Federal Government College Kaduna for her O Levels and A Levels Certificates. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language from Ogun State

  Arsenal and West Ham have finally reached a full agreement over Declan Rice's £105m move with the West Ham captain to undergo a medical.    The two London teams had been in discussion over the payment structure linked to the £100m guaranteed portion of the fee. But the clubs have now settled on the fee being paid in three installments over 24 months, with Rice now due to undergo a medical ahead of signing his contract.  Personal terms of a minimum £250,000 per week have already been agreed. Mail Sport were first to reveal last Wednesday that the two clubs had agreed the £105million fee in principle.   Arsenal will allow Granit Xhaka to leave for Bayer Leverkusen for £21.5m once Rice is on board.    The Gunners are also set to complete a £40million switch for Jurrien Timber from Ajax.   Arsenal are planning for the Dutchman’s medical to take place by the end of the week.

  The transport sector in Nigeria represents about 24% of in-scope carbon emissions every year. And 72% of these emissions come from passenger vehicles.   As the fuel price hits historic highs, commuters are starting to feel the pinch of increasing transport fares. The typical Nigerian commuter already spends up to 40% of their income on transport. Thankfully, there’s a better, more sustainable alternative: electric taxis and buses.  In a groundbreaking move towards sustainability and eco-friendly transportation, Possible EVS, Nigeria’s pioneering innovation and sustainable mobility company, announces the launch of the country's first-ever electric vehicle taxi service, EV Taxi.    With an initial fleet of 30 units, the company has plans to expand to at least 20,000 electric taxis across major Nigerian cities by 2028, revolutionalizing public transport in Nigeria. The e-taxis will provide Nigerians with a sustainable transport alternative, support the country's plan to achieve

  Manchester United have completed the signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea for an initial £55m.   The overall fee for England international midfielder Mount could rise to £60m depending on success and appearances over several seasons. The 24-year-old has signed a five-year deal at Old Trafford that runs until the summer of 2028 and has the option to be extended by a further year.   Mount becomes United's first summer signing and the transfer brings his 18-year association with Chelsea, during which he won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup, to an end. Mount, who will wear United's iconic No 7 shirt, said: "It's never easy leaving the club where you grew up, but Manchester United will provide an exciting new challenge for the next phase of my career. "Having competed against them, I know just how strong a squad it is that I'm joining, and I can't wait to be part of this group's drive to win major trophies. "Everyone can s

  Footballer, N'Golo Kante has agreed on a deal to buy Belgian third-division side Royal Excelsior Virton just weeks after he moved to Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad.   The club said on Thursday June 29, that the former Chelsea and Leicester City midfielder is set to take over ownership from Flavio Becca from July 1. The club, which is situated near the Luxembourg border, did not disclose any financial details for the deal. 'Flavio is obviously extremely happy to be able to hand over the keys of the club to N'Golo Kante, a player of great class, not only for his footballing qualities but also and above all for his universally recognised human qualities,' it said in a statement. 'Flavio is handing over a club in good financial health, free of all debt. A new board of directors will be appointed in the next few days.' Kante left Europe after winning the Premier League with Leicester and Chelsea. He also led the London side to Champions League and FA Cup glory.

  Former U.S. President Donald Trump, a longtime admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has said that Russian president Vladimir Putin has been "somewhat weakened" by an aborted mutiny. According to Trump, the front-runner in opinion polls for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, now is the time for the United States to try to broker a negotiated peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine. "I want people to stop dying over this ridiculous war," Trump told Reuters in a telephone interview on Thursday, June 29. "You could say that he's (Putin) still there, he's still strong, but he certainly has been I would say somewhat weakened at least in the minds of a lot of people," he said.   If Putin were no longer in power, however, "you don't know what the alternative is. It could be better, but it could be far worse," Trump said. As for war crime charges levied against Putin by the International Criminal Court in March, Trump s