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An Edo State High Court sitting in Benin on Friday granted bail in the sum of ₦5 million to Osaze Adùn, popularly known as “Kapuepue,” over allegations of assault, harassment and brutalisation of renowned journalist and media executive, Dr Don Pedro Obaseki. In a short ruling, Justice R. A. Ogbevoen admitted the defendant to bail with one surety in like sum. The surety, the court held, must be a civil servant on Grade Level 12 and above and resident within the court’s jurisdiction. The judge further ordered the defendant to appear in court on the last Friday of every month…

In a renewed effort to protect public health and safeguard citizens from harmful products, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, in collaboration with the Edo State Government and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has initiated the appointment of national task force officials to curb the spread of illicit drugs, counterfeit medicines, and unwholesome processed foods across the country. In line with the SHINE Agenda, the Edo State Government has embraced the initiative to further strengthen enforcement and compliance with public health standards. Consequently, the State inaugurated its Task…

The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on February 20, 2027, with governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls scheduled for March 6, 2027. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed the election timetable at a news conference in Abuja on Friday. “This action is taken pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which mandate the Commission to publish the Notice of Election not later than 360 days before the date appointed for…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Saturday embark on a one-day official visit to Kebbi State to inaugurate projects executed by Governor Nasir Idris. A statement on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said the President would also headline the 61st edition of the 2026 Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival as the special guest of honour. The festival, regarded as one of Africa’s most celebrated cultural events, is staged by the riverside of the historic Matan Fada in Argungu. According to the statement, the cultural fiesta has been recognised by the United Nations…

The U.S. Marine Corps has confirmed that Lance Cpl. Chukwuemeka E. Oforah, a 21-year-old Florida native of Nigerian descent, has died after falling overboard in the Caribbean Oforah fell from the USS Iwo Jima on 7 February and despite an intensive three-day search operation involving five ships and 10 aircraft, he was not recovered. The military officially ended the search and pronounced him dead on 10 February. While the death was announced this Wednesday, the Marine Corps has not yet released specific details regarding the circumstances of the fall, and the incident remains under formal military investigation. “The loss of…

The Federal Government has launched the Renewed Hope Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (RHGEEP 3.0) and flagged-off the FarmerMonie Dry and Wet Season Programme, in a decisive move to expand economic opportunities, strengthen food security, and accelerate poverty reduction across Nigeria. The programmes were unveiled in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, through the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Declaring the programmes open, the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, said the event represents more than…

A former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, on Thursday, resisted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, minutes after he arrived from Cairo, Egypt. Short video clips trending on social media show Mr. El-Rufai telling the plain-clothed security agents that he would not follow them even on the order of the President. “Listen, nobody, not even the President, would tell me what to do. If you want to invite me, send a letter,” Mr. El-Rufai said during the airport face-off. As of press time, it was unclear which particular security agency attempted to nab the former governor. Meanwhile, an…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has dissolved the State Executive Council and sacked all Special Advisers. Fubara has also appointed a new Chief Press Secretary, Mr Onwuka Nzeshi. The governor’s former CPC, Nelson Chukwudi, has been relieved of his appointment. However, no reason was given for Chukwudi’s sack. The cabinet dissolution was contained in a Government Special Announcement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday by Nzeshi. Fubara asked the commissioners and special advisers to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most Senior officers in their Ministries with immediate effect. The statement reads, “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Governor…

The Benin Electricity Distribution Company says it has received 75,000 electricity meters from the Federal Government under the ongoing free metering programme, with installation already underway across its franchise states. The Managing Director of BEDC Electricity Plc, Mr Jonathan Lawani, disclosed this at a one-day stakeholders’ engagement in Benin on Thursday. Lawani said the company was expecting a total of 161,000 meters under the programme, covering its four franchise states of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti. He explained that Edo State had been allocated over 38,000 meters, distributed across BEDC’s three operational regions in the state: Benin, Uromi and Auchi.…