Nelly's SmartBriefs

The Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, has been reportedly hospitalised in the nation’s capital, Abuja, over alleged poisoning. It was gathered that the minister is currently undergoing treatment at the Federal Medical Centre in Jabi, Abuja. “Lola Ade-John, 60, was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, shortly after she started manifesting symptoms of her poisoning.  She has spent four days at the facility as of Friday morning,” family sources familiar with Ade-John’s ordeal said. Ade-John, a banker and tech investor, has been on oxygen to aid her breathing, adding that the specifics as to what substance she ingested and how could not be immediately ascertained. It further stated: “Her worsening situation has further set the family against the government, with the permanent secretary of her ministry said to be in disagreement as to whether she should continue receiving treatment at a public hospital or be moved to a better-equipped private facility downtown. “The Permanent Secre

Former President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, President of the Economic of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray and African scholar, Prof PLO Lumunba have lamented the threat to democracy in Africa continent. The trio and others spoke at the Democracy Dialogue with the theme: "Breaking New Grounds In the Democracy- Development Nexus in Africa" organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation held at the Nigerian Content Tower, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Jonathan, who spoke in his capacity as the Chairman of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, while commending the Bayelsa State Government for hosting the event noted that the GJF Annual Democracy Dialogue is an initiative of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation that brings together sstakeholders across Africa to critically examine issues of democracy, interrogate the practice in Africa and make suggestions where necessary. He commended the enthusiasm shown by participants as a demonstration of faith in democrac

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, who is also Chairman South-East Governor’s Forum has appealed to people from the South-East to come together and save the zone from the clutches of enemies who are bent on ensuring that the Igbos don’t progress beyond where they are today. He made the appeal in his welcome address at the two days South-East Summit on Security and Economy on the Theme: South-East Beyond 2023, A Time for Reset held Thursday, September 28, at the Landmark Event Centre, Owerri. The governor said that the summit was organized to take decisions that will affect the entire zone on security, economy and even cooperation between one state and another, hence he said "the summit heralds a glorious new dawn." Uzodimma recalled the strengths of the Igbo man pre-Independence era and immediately after, stemming from one sector to the other and regretted that “the trade mark of Igbo unity has been weakened." He asked some pertinent questions: “How did the might

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, aka Sam Larry, over an ongoing investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of the singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad. The Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development in a late Thursday night's interview. “Yes, Balogun Eletu aka Sam Larry is now in our custody. He is currently assisting with the ongoing investigation,” Hundeyin said. The police had earlier invited Sam Larry, and singer, Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley, for questioning over Mohbad’s demise. The police, last week, also confirmed that pathologists had concluded the autopsy conducted on Mohbad, while they await the result. He said, “Autopsy has been concluded. Awaiting results.”  This development followed the exhumation of Mohbad by a combined team of the Nigeria Police Force and health officials. The police had also arrested the nurse who reportedly injected t

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulkarim Chukkol, has appointed Dele Oyewale as the new Head of Media and Publicity of the agency. The appointment followed the appointment of the former spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren as the acting Director of the new Department of Public Affairs of the commission. The appointment of Oyewale is with immediate effect from Thursday, September 28, 2023. Oyewale has worked with various news outlets including The News, Tempo, PM News, and Tell Magazine. He has received awards including the Nigerian Media Merit Awards as the Industry Reporter of the Year 2002 and 2003, the Business Reporter of the Year 2003 and 2005, the Aviation Reporter of the Year 2004 and 2005, and the Banking and Finance Reporter of the Year, 2005. Oyewale holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography from the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism from the Nigeria Institute of Journalism. He also holds

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared a total sum of N1.1trillion as August 2023 Federation Account Revenue to the Federal Government, States, and Local Government Councils. From the N1.1trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total of N431.245billion, the State Governments received N361.188billion and the Local Government Councils received N266.538billion. The FAAC noted that the N100.101trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N357.398billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N 321.941billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N14.102billion, Exchange Difference revenue of N 229.568billion, and Augmentation of NN177.092billion. The committee, in a communique issued by its, Director, Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, on Friday, September 29, disclosed that total revenue of N1483.902billion was available in the month of August 2023. It stated that the tota

The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, said the Federal Government would begin immediate reconstruction of the collapsed Enugu/Port Harcourt expressway. Umahi said this when he and Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State visited the scene of the collapsed bridge for an on-the-spot assessment as part of his working visit to the state. He said that the reconstruction of the bridge would end the plight of commuters plying the road, adding that the collapse of the bridge was unfortunate, and the government would in the meantime, provide alternative road for the people. According to him, “We are going to look at the second bridge and see how far the remedial work will be done on it. We are going to scale up the reconstruction of the two bridges alongside with the road construction. “I want to assure you that I have directed the contractor to do everything possible to provide an alternative road. “We are going to work on the second bridge to ascertain the integrity of the bridge and see if we can us

A state of emergency has been declared in New York City over flash flooding. Torrential rain caused flooding that closed roads, and disrupted subway service as “dangerous and life-threatening” rainfall surged across the New York City. Many of the city’s subway systems, streets, and highways have flooded, while at least one terminal at LaGuardia Airport was to close on Friday. Up to five inches of rain fell in some areas overnight, and as much as seven inches more is due, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul said. “This is a dangerous, life-threatening storm,” Ms Hochul added. “I am declaring a state of emergency across New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley due to the extreme rainfall we’re seeing throughout the region,” she said on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Please take steps to stay safe and remember to never attempt to travel on flooded roads.” The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) advised people to “stay home if you don’t need to travel”. The New York Polic

The Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara’s administration has dashed any hope of granting any form of amnesty for repentant criminal gang members terrorising the state. The state Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Chisom Kenneth Gbali, stated this in a chat with journalists on Thursday in Port Harcourt. Gbali said that granting amnesty would encourage others carrying arms and killing law-abiding people in the state. He said those in crimes and in cult groups would rather be rehabilitated and re-integrated into the society. “Granting amnesty to cultists will only encourage more youths into criminality”. Gbali stated this on Thursday, September 28, 2023, during a live interview session at a Port Harcourt-based radio station: Nigerian Info 92.3 FM. “What we had in 2019 by the Presidency was amnesty due to agitation by the people of the Niger Delta who were agitating for inclusion, mainstreaming and integration into oil This is still ongoing as the quest for that mainstreaming has not

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, has explained that the FCT Administration would partner with the Republic of Italy on sustainable city tourism and agricultural development. Wike said this when the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stefano Leo, visited him in his office in Abuja on Friday. He said that he would personally visit the Ambassador to discuss areas of mutual benefits for the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Italy. The minister particularly identified the development of Abuja as a sustainable city as one of the areas of interest, including tourism and agricultural development. “You know very well that Abuja has a very good landscape for agriculture and tourism development,” he said. The minister explained that the publication of the names of embassies and commissions owing ground rent was not targeted at anybody, but to improve Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). According to him, the IGR will be utilised for development o

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Friday, September 29, 2023 charged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to come clean on what it described as “the desperation by its lawyers” in the United States to conceal certain vital details regarding the academic records of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Chicago State University (CSU) from the public. It said that it was clear that the APC is a major threat to the nation’s democracy thus, called on all men of goodwill across Nigeria and beyond to stand firm in the defense of democracy, transparency and the rule of law in the country, especially at this critical time. This was as the party said that the desperation to conceal vital information was consistent with APC’s penchant for trickery and underhand dealings in their transactions with Nigerians which has heightened under the Abdullahi Ganduje leadership. The PDP said that the Application by Tinubu’s lawyers urging the US District Court of Illinois not to release the said academic det

The Special Military Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), maintaining peace in Plateau and parts of Bauchi and Kaduna states, have arrested suspected killers of Na’aman Stephen, a Catholic seminarian. The Media Officer of OPSH, Capt. James Oya, disclosed this while addressing newsmen on Friday in Jos. Gunmen killed Na’aman when they attacked the rectory of St Raphael Catholic Church, Fadan-Kamatan of Zango-Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The seminarian was killed when the criminals set the rectory ablaze after a failed kidnap attempt on the two priests working in the parish. According to Oya, among the arrested suspects were those who killed Dorathy Janothan at Afana community of Zangon Kataf, after they failed to have carnal knowledge of her. ”Among these suspects are those in connection with the murder of Mrs Dorathy Jonathan on September 1 at Afana Village in Zango Kataf. ”Also, these suspects involved in the attack and burning of St Raphael’s Catholic Church Fadan

Detectives from the Rivers State Police Command have arrested one of the suspected native doctors who was always preparing the charms for the most wanted cult kingpin, Gift David Okpara Okpolowu, alias 2-Baba, and his gang. The kingpin and his criminal gang had murdered late DPO of Ahoada East Divisional Police Station, SP Bako Angbashim, following a raid in one of their hideouts in Odiemude forest in Ahoada East Local Government Area. Apprehending the suspected charmer for the wanted 2-Baba and his gang may have been made possible through the confessions of some of his gang members already in custody. According to sources close to the Police Command, the suspected native doctor claimed he is from Sii Community in Khana Local Government Area of Ogoniland. He also claimed to be 33 years old. He was arrested last Wednesday, September 27, at Odereimini road, Ahoada East. He claims to be the Chief Priest of Esien Diety (an Ancient Diety) in Sii. Although he an Ogoni by ethnic nationality,