Author: Ugochukwu Oha-Ema

The United Kingdom government has announced its intention to nominate Professor Dapo Akande, a renowned expert in Public International Law, for election as a judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2026. UK’s Endorsement: Joanna Roper, UK Ambassador to The Netherlands and ICJ representative, confirmed Akande’s nomination, praising his “deep legal expertise and experience.” Akande’s Background: Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Akande earned his LLB from Obafemi Awolowo University and has over 25 years of legal experience. International Recognition: Akande was elected to the UN International Law Commission in 2021 and has served as counsel in various international…

Renowned disc jockey, DJ Neptune, has addressed the recent controversy surrounding unpaid royalties for his 2020 collaboration with singer and Big Brother Naija winner, Laycon, on the remix of “Nobody Icons.” In an exclusive interview on the “Zero Conditions” podcast, DJ Neptune vehemently denied defrauding Laycon, emphasizing that the issue lies in documentation and return on investment. “Laycon is my brother regardless. Let me just establish here that nobody ate anybody’s money,” he clarified. DJ Neptune explained that the song’s distribution deal involves advanced marketing money, which requires recoupment. “When you’ve a deal with a distro company or a label…

The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) have expressed concern over the rising cost of bus fares across the country, warning that it may lead to an increase in school dropouts and teachers missing classes. The concerns come as schools in Lagos State resumed for the 2024/2025 session, with parents and teachers struggling to cope with the increased transportation costs. The National Chairman of the PTA, Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, stated that the rising transportation costs would lead to more student dropouts, emphasizing the hardship faced by parents. “If parents become hesitant to send their children…

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted a three-day spell of rainy and thundery weather conditions across the country, starting from Monday to Wednesday. According to the agency’s weather outlook released in Abuja on Sunday, the northern region will experience isolated thunderstorms over parts of Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Adamawa, and Taraba states during Monday’s morning hours. In the southern region, NiMet forecast intermittent rains over parts of Niger, Benue, Kogi, Kwara states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during the morning hours. Later in the day, localized rains are expected over parts of the FCT, Plateau, Niger,…

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across France on Saturday to protest President Emmanuel Macron’s appointment of Michel Barnier as the country’s new Prime Minister. The move has been widely criticized by left-wing parties, who accuse Macron of undermining democracy and manipulating the recent legislative elections. The protests, led by left-wing groups including the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, condemn Macron’s decision as a denial of democracy. An Elabe poll revealed that 74% of French citizens feel Macron disregarded the election results, with 55% accusing him of effectively stealing them. Barnier, a centre-right politician and former EU Brexit negotiator,…

A former beneficiary of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, has repaid a debt of N2 million, 46 years after benefiting from the loan. According to a statement by Monalisa Dike, of the Corporate Communications Department of NELFUND, Awomolo received the loan during his undergraduate studies at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) between 1975 and 1977. The loan, which amounted to N1,000 for two sessions, was instrumental in helping him complete his law degree. Despite several previous attempts to refund the loan, Awomolo was unable to fulfill the repayment until now. In a letter…

The Federal Government has launched the sale of 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice to Nigerians at a subsidised rate of N40,000 per 50kg bag, with the condition that only buyers with National Identification Numbers (NIN) will benefit. Representing President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, stated during the flag-off ceremony on Thursday that the rice intervention will be sold strictly on a “one person, one bag” basis. Kyari explained that the 50kg bags of rice, priced at a flat rate of ₦40,000, are part of the Federal Government’s effort to provide subsidised milled rice…

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the ruling party in Anambra State, is embroiled in a deepening factional crisis ahead of the September 28 local government elections. The party’s woes have been exacerbated by the sealing of the office of the Edozie Njoku faction by the state government, sparking allegations of intimidation. The Edozie Njoku faction, which claims to be the authentic faction of the party based on a Supreme Court ruling, has opened a separate state party secretariat in Anambra. However, the state government, loyal to Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Barr Sly Ezeokenwa, has sealed off the office, citing…

Senator Athan Achonu, the Labour Party candidate in the 2023 Imo State governorship election, has launched a scathing attack on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary over the Supreme Court’s judgment affirming Governor Hope Uzodinma as the winner of the poll. Achonu described INEC as “another arm of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)” and stated that the country’s democracy has turned into a “circus.” He expressed concerns about the judiciary’s attitude towards election matters, saying that their pronouncements now outweigh the people’s votes. However, INEC’s spokesperson in Imo State, MaryAnn Gods light, defended the commission, stating…

Billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has praised his friend and business partner, Aliko Dangote, for the successful launch of his 650,000 barrels per day refinery. Otedola congratulated Dangote on social media, highlighting the refinery idea was conceived 25 years ago to transform Nigeria’s energy landscape and liberate Nigerians from economic dependence. Otedola noted that Dangote has dealt a significant blow to “local cabals” profiting from Nigeria’s economic dependence. He also praised Dangote for achieving what many thought was impossible, beating skeptics and proving doubters wrong. Otedola drew parallels with Dangote’s revolution in the cement industry, foreseeing a similar transformation with the…