Author: Opeyemi Ogabi

A Nigerian national, Bimbo Toyin Akinyemi, has been found guilty of attempting to defraud a Kansas resident of cryptocurrency, resulting in civil penalties of over $50,000. According to a statement by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, Akinyemi promised the victim a large return for investing in cryptocurrency, but instead exploited their lack of understanding of cryptocurrencies to swindle them out of $250. Court documents revealed that Akinyemi entered into a contract with the unnamed victim on July 15, 2023, where the victim was to purchase Bitcoin and deposit it into Akinyemi’s ‘investment wallet address,’ with an expected return of $500…

The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Mr. Monday Onyeme, has called on Nigerians to work with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to redeem the country from its current challenges. Onyeme made the call on Saturday when non-working members of the PDP’s State Executive Committee paid him a courtesy visit to Asaba. According to the deputy governor, Nigeria was better off when the PDP was in power. He stated that the country has learned valuable lessons from voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC). “Nigerians learned lessons the hard way by voting for the All Progressives Congress. When the PDP was…

The stage is set for a historic showdown between United States Vice President, Kamala Harris, and former President Donald Trump, as they face off in their first and possibly only televised debate before the 2024 election. The high-stakes ABC debate, scheduled to hold in Philadelphia on Tuesday, will be a critical test for both candidates. Harris, 59, has unified the Democratic party and overhauled Trump’s lead in the polls, but insists she remains the “underdog” in a tight race. She has been preparing for the debate, spending five days in Pittsburgh, while Trump, 78, is expected to opt for an…

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, has stepped down from his role with immediate effect due to medical issues affecting his nuclear family. Ngelale announced his decision in a statement issued by the Presidency on Saturday. In the statement, Ngelale revealed that he had submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, informing him of his plan to proceed on indefinite leave. He also stepped down as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen. Ngelale explained that his…

London has launched a new public bus service connecting two areas with significant Jewish populations, Golders Green and Stamford Hill, in response to a surge in anti-Semitic incidents. The new service, which began this week, provides a direct link between the two areas, eliminating the need for passengers to change buses. London Mayor Sadiq Khan stated that he was moved by the fear expressed by Jewish individuals who had experienced abuse while changing buses. “I was told stories by families who, where they changed buses from Stamford Hill to Golders Green at Finsbury Park, were frightened about the abuse they…

The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education has thrown its weight behind the Federal Government’s decision to peg the minimum age for candidates sitting for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination at 18 years. In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Thursday, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education, Mark Useni, said the decision might not be reversed. He disclosed that the committee had met with the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, to discuss the policy. Useni said, “The Committees on Basic Education and Examination Boards took this matter to the leadership of…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the recent increase in the pump price of petrol, describing it as “thoughtless” and a further blow to the already suffocating economic hardship faced by Nigerians. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately reverse the latest increase in fuel price to save the country from further socio-economic challenges. Ologunagba said, “Nigerians cannot bear fuel price increases worsening the effect of suffocating economic hardship that they currently face.” The PDP’s publicity secretary described the action as “anti-people” and a show of unconcern to…

The Nigerian currency, naira, suffered a significant decline against the US dollar at the foreign exchange market on Tuesday, amid another increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol). According to data from the FMDQ, the naira weakened to N1,611.34 per dollar on Tuesday, down from N1,585.77 exchanged on Monday, representing a loss of N25.57. The naira also lost ground at the black market, depreciating by N10 to close at N1,640 per dollar on Tuesday. Despite the naira’s decline, foreign exchange transaction turnover increased significantly to $206.61 million on Tuesday, up from $71.18 million the previous day. The…

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen was mobbed by enthusiastic Galatasaray fans at the Istanbul Airport, as he arrived in Turkey ahead of his loan move from Napoli. The 25-year-old was greeted with chants and applause as he stepped off the private jet that brought him from Italy. Osimhen reciprocated the affection, joining in the celebration with the fans. Osimhen is set to sign a one-year loan deal with Galatasaray, with a break clause in January that allows him to leave for another club if a fee is received. Napoli have also reduced Osimhen’s release clause to €75m. The warm welcome is…

The launch of $Jota Coin, endorsed by popular skitmaker Brain Jotter, has ended in disaster, with the coin crashing just hours after its debut on the TON network. Crypto analysts and social media users have criticized the project, mocking its rapid failure and warning others about the dangers of such ventures. Experts say the rise in fraudulent schemes tied to celebrity endorsements underscores the need for greater regulatory scrutiny in the crypto space. Investors are advised to conduct thorough research before investing in any cryptocurrency, regardless of its celebrity endorsements. The failure of $Jota Coin has sparked strong reactions online,…