Author: News Room

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), acting as liquidator of the defunct Gulf Bank Plc, has filed two separate suits against Wema Bank at the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking the recovery of disputed Banana Island properties valued at about N125.38 billion and an alleged unauthorised payment of N401 million. According to court documents shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, the case marked FHC/L/CP/466/26 and another companion suit, were filed under the Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks Act. The NDIC said the action forms part of efforts to recover assets linked to the defunct…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has endorsed the Renewed Hope Baby Support (RHBS) programme, a new initiative aimed at improving birth registration, healthcare participation and long-term social protection for Nigerian children. The programme was launched by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) as part of efforts to strengthen child identity systems and human capital development across the country. Mr Shettima spoke on Thursday during a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where the management of the commission, led by its Managing Director, Mohammed Alkali, presented the implementation framework for the programme. The Vice President said the initiative aligns with President Bola…

The draw ceremony for the national competition of this year’s President Federation Cup (men and women) will hold at the NFF Secretariat, Abuja on Friday. The draw comes after the national playoff games, during which four teams were eliminated from the women’s competition, and six teams from the men’s competition. A total of 32 teams will be drawn for the national competition in the women’s category, while there will be a total of 64 teams in the men’s competition. Cup holders Kwara United, Shooting Stars, Enugu Rangers, Bendel Insurance, Nasarawa United, Ikorodu City, Rivers United, and Barau FC are among…

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said that former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will lose the entire Southeast in the next year’s general elections. Okonkwo said this on Thursday while fielding questions in an interview on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television. He also said that the ‘Obi or Nothing’ slogan is an abomination in Igbo land. “Here is the catch. I’m trying to tell you why Peter Obi will lose the entire Southeast. Have you not heard of the slogan Obi or nothing? First of all, that slogan is an abomination culturally in Igbo…

Veteran Nollywood actor and politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has described key figures in the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, including Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, as “renegades” who abandoned the coalition movement out of fear of participating in party primaries. Speaking on Politics Today on Thursday, Okonkwo alleged that political parties zoning their presidential tickets to the South were indirectly working in favour of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election. According to him, he had earlier warned Nigerians against supporting any political party that zoned its presidential ticket to the South, claiming such a move would ultimately benefit Tinubu politically.…

The Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned the Managing Director of Viscount Microfinance Bank, Blessing Gozi-Anyaokei, over allegations of unlawful conversion of investment funds amounting to N19 million and $30,000. Gozi-Anyaokei was brought before Justice Y. Halilu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on a two-count charge bordering on alleged illegal conversion and obtaining money under false pretence. According to a statement issued on Thursday by EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the defendant allegedly received N19 million from one Ernest Terkula Jor in 2022 for investment purposes while serving as the Managing Director…

Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has insisted that the next Chelsea manager must give Jorrel Hato a chance. Stam could be speaking directly to Xabi Alonso, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder, as well as ex-Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid manager, who is leading the race to become Chelsea’s next boss. After a rocky start to life in west London, the 20-year-old, whom the Blues signed from Ajax in the summer for £37 million, has established himself as one of the most reliable defenders at the club. In an interview with ComeOn, Stam took a dig at Chelsea…

Kylian Mbappe will spearhead France at the World Cup after national team coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday announced his 26-man squad for this summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Deschamps, who guided France to World Cup glory in 2018 and will leave his role after the 2026 edition, included few surprises. Mbappe will likely captain the team despite a thigh injury sustained last month, which caused him to miss key matches in Real Madrid’s La Liga run-in. However, the 27-year-old will be on the plane to North America as part of a glittering French forward line, also…

The Oyo State Police Command, on Thursday, confirmed the arrest of a suspected kidnapper while allegedly trying to collect a N10m ransom demanded from the relatives of a victim at Otefon village in Atiba Local Government Area of the state. It was gathered that the victim, identified as Alhaji Bagudu, was kidnapped at his residence in Ilowa village last week and later whisked away to Otefon forest, where he was kept until the ransom demanded was paid. Confirming the arrest, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, said, “On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at about 0100hrs, credible intelligence was…

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has submitted his presidential nomination forms at the secretariat of the African Democratic Congress in Abuja ahead of the 2027 general elections. Amaechi disclosed this in a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, where he formally declared his intention to contest for the presidency under the ADC platform. “Today, I submitted my Presidential nomination forms at the ADC Secretariat, officially throwing my hat in the ring to salvage our country, Nigeria,” he wrote. Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, is seen sorting his presidential nomination forms at the secretariat of…