Author: bibncollar

The National Judicial Council (NJC), at its 111th Meeting held on Tuesday, 13 May 2026, under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, GCON, has recommended twelve (12) new Justices for appointment to the Court of Appeal. The Council also recommended one candidate for appointment as a Judge of the High Court of Benue State and two candidates as Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Katsina State. These recommendations are aimed at filling existing vacancies created by elevations and retirements, thereby strengthening the capacity of the courts for timely and effective…

The Kwara State High Court in Ilorin has convicted and sentenced Prophet Ajiboye Olayinka, General Overseer of a church in Ilorin, to life imprisonment for the rape of three underage female congregants. The court also sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment for carrying out illegal abortions on several pregnancies resulting from the sexual abuse of his victims. Prophet Olayinka faced an eight-count charge that included criminal conspiracy, unlawful sexual intercourse with minors, illegal abortion, and unlawful possession of firearms. The charges were brought under the Penal Code, the Robbery and Firearms Act, and the Kwara State Child Rights Law.…

Experts from the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) and Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA) have revealed that African countries lose an estimated $89 billion annually through illicit financial flows (IFFs), largely driven by harmful tax practices. The disclosure was made on Thursday during an interactive session with ECOWAS parliamentarians at the ongoing 2026 First Ordinary Session in Abuja. Discussions focused on strategies for operationalising ECOWAS tax directives to improve domestic resource mobilisation and regional tax harmonisation. According to the experts, Africa’s annual domestic resource mobilisation deficit stands at about $194 billion, with tax evasion, tax avoidance, tax misinvoicing, and…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted 4,173.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, valued at more than ₦10.4 billion at the Tin Can Island Port in one of its largest drug busts of 2026. According to the agency, the operation followed several weeks of intelligence gathering and coordinated surveillance involving security agencies from Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said the shipment departed Toronto, Canada, on March 28, 2026, before being transported by rail to Montreal and shipped to Morocco. The cargo was later transferred to another…

President Bola Tinubu and President Paul Kagame have agreed to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and Rwanda during a meeting held on Wednesday evening in Kigali. According to a statement from presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, both leaders met at the Urugwiro Presidential Villa shortly after Tinubu arrived in Rwanda for the Africa CEO Forum. During the discussions, the two presidents stressed the need to revive the Joint Permanent Ministerial Commission (JPMC), an agreement established in 2021 to promote cooperation between both nations. They also agreed that Nigeria would host the next session of the commission. On consular relations,…

Britain’s economy recorded stronger-than-expected growth in March, closing the first quarter on a solid note despite growing concerns over geopolitical tensions linked to the Iran conflict. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics showed that the country’s gross domestic product expanded by 0.3 percent in March compared to the previous month, outperforming economists’ expectations of a 0.2 percent decline. Growth was supported by improved activity in the services sector, construction, and manufacturing industries. Overall, the UK economy grew by 0.6 percent during the first quarter, continuing a trend of relatively strong first-quarter performances in recent years. However, analysts cautioned…

Nigeria recorded its strongest oil production performance of 2026 in April, as total liquid output rose to 1.66 million barrels per day (bpd), up from 1.54 million bpd in March, according to data released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. Crude oil production alone increased to 1.489 million bpd in April from 1.383 million bpd recorded in March, representing a 7.7 per cent rise. However, the country still fell slightly short of the 1.5 million bpd production quota allocated by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. OPEC’s quota calculation excludes condensates. Total crude oil and condensate production in…

India has announced an immediate ban on sugar exports that will remain in effect until September 30, aiming to protect local supplies and keep domestic prices stable. The directive, issued late Wednesday, allows only a few exceptions, including shipments already underway and exports carried out under government-backed food security agreements with other nations. Authorities said the decision was influenced by fears that the upcoming sugar harvest, expected to begin around October, may suffer due to below-average monsoon rains linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon. The ongoing conflict involving Iran has also added pressure to India’s economy. As a…

Sabastian Sawe is set to compete in the Berlin Marathon this September after making history as the first athlete to complete a marathon in under two hours. Race organisers confirmed on Wednesday that the 31-year-old Kenyan will return to Berlin on September 27, months after his remarkable performance at the London Marathon, where he clocked 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds while wearing a new generation of super shoes, breaking the previous world record. The Berlin Marathon is widely regarded as one of the fastest marathon courses in the world because of its flat terrain and minimal corners, making…

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka is set to chair the 32nd anniversary celebration of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), where key figures and institutions involved in Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle will be honoured. The commemorative event, scheduled for May 20 at the MUSON Centre in Onikan, Lagos, will also feature the public presentation of a memoir titled The NADECO Story, written by NADECO General Secretary Ayo Opadokun. According to organisers, the celebration is aimed at reflecting on NADECO’s role in the fight for the actualisation of the June 12, 1993 presidential mandate and the restoration of democratic governance in Nigeria. Retired…