Author: Naija Daily News

By Deborah Nnamdi The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has confirmed the arrest of 12 suspects connected to the armed robbery incident that claimed the life of Arise TV presenter, Somtochukwu Maduagwu. A statement issued by the Force on Thursday revealed that the suspects were apprehended following a series of coordinated intelligence operations. Those arrested include: Shamsudeen Hassan from Katsina; Hassan Isah, 22, from Kaduna; Abubakar Alkamu (alias Abba), 27, from Katsina; Sani Sirajo (alias Dan Borume), 20, from Katsina; Mashkur Jamilu (alias Abba), 28, from Kaduna; and Suleiman Badamasi (alias Dan-Sule), 21, from Katsina. Others are Abdul Salam Saleh (alias…

By Deborah Nnamdi The National Council of State has approved the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the completion of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure. The announcement was made on Thursday in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Amupitan’s nomination to the council, which gave its unanimous endorsement. The nomination will now be transmitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation as required by law. Amupitan, a Professor of Law and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at…

Photo…Prof Amupitan is first INEC chairman from North Central By Sodeeq Kamsela, Abuja Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Jos, has been nominated as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Amupitan, born April 25, 1967, in Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, is widely regarded as a distinguished scholar and legal practitioner. A Professor of Law, he specializes in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law. His academic journey began at the University of Jos, where he earned his…

By Douglas Maha, with agency reports Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is also home to some of the continent’s wealthiest individuals. Their fortunes span oil and gas, cement, finance, telecoms, manufacturing, aviation, and technology. A closer look at these billionaires reveals how geography shapes industry dominance. The North: Cement and Oil Dominance The North boasts Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, whose empire spans cement, sugar, salt, and the Dangote Refinery. Abdulsamad Rabiu of BUA Group also dominates cement and sugar. Other northern billionaires, including Indimi, Dantata, and the Sani Bello family, focus on oil and telecoms, reflecting the region’s heavy…

By Deborah Nnamdi WhatsApp is testing a groundbreaking feature that could let users connect without revealing their phone numbers — a move that signals one of the biggest privacy updates in the app’s history. According to reports from WhatsApp’s beta testing programme, the messaging platform is developing a username system that will allow users to create unique handles — much like Instagram, Telegram, or X — and use them to chat or join groups without sharing personal phone numbers. The feature is aimed at enhancing privacy and user control, particularly in large group or business settings where disclosing phone numbers…

By Deborah Nnamdi The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has expressed readiness to engage in dialogue over the possible legalisation of cannabis oil in Nigeria, citing the need for evidence-based discussions on its medical and economic potential. Chairman of the NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ workshop themed “Cannabis Oil Debate: The Path Forward for Nigeria,” organised by the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS). The workshop examined scientific evidence on the therapeutic benefits of cannabis oil, international best practices for its regulation, and Nigeria’s existing legal and policy framework. Marwa…

By Deborah Nnamdi A Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on Wednesday heard fresh digital evidence in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, over alleged N233 billion fraud. At the resumed hearing before Justice Rahman Oshodi, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented new forensic findings linking some of Emefiele’s aides and associates to questionable money transfers and coded communications. Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), an EFCC operative, Alvan Gurumnaan, testified on the forensic analysis of mobile phones and other digital records recovered during the investigation.…

By Deborah Nnamdi Founder of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazurike, has declared his readiness to lead a peaceful protest in Abuja or any part of the country to demand the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. In a video message released on Wednesday, Uwazurike described Kanu’s prolonged detention as a “political injustice” against the Igbo nation, saying the matter transcends individual grievances and highlights systemic discrimination against the South-East. “I’ve listened to the court proceedings and the presentations by Nnamdi Kanu’s…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Senate has confirmed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has submitted detailed responses to 19 audit queries over an alleged unaccounted ₦210 trillion covering the financial years 2017 to 2023. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Aliyu Wadada (Nasarawa West), disclosed this while addressing journalists at the National Assembly. He said the NNPCL had requested additional time during the Senate recess to prepare comprehensive responses, which the committee granted. “NNPCL has now responded to all 19 queries, but the report is yet to be presented before the full committee for review,”…

By Deborah Nnamdi The World Bank has commended Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, noting that they are beginning to yield positive macroeconomic results. However, it cautioned that the benefits have yet to translate into improved living conditions for most Nigerians. This was contained in the Bank’s latest Nigeria Development Update (NDU) report, released on Wednesday in Abuja, titled “From Policy to People: Bringing the Reform Gains Home.” The report reviewed Nigeria’s recent economic performance and outlined key policy actions needed to ensure that reform gains reach ordinary citizens. According to the World Bank, Nigeria’s economy grew…