Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita  – Wema Bank has responded to allegations surrounding the sale of properties on Banana Island that were linked to the defunct Gulf Bank, insisting that the transactions were legal and carried out as part of efforts to recover outstanding debts. According to the bank, the dispute traces back to an interbank placement of about ₦4.6 billion made in 2002 to Gulf Bank, which was later reduced to around ₦1.2 billion before the obligation became unpaid. Wema Bank says it then began recovery actions to protect depositor and shareholder funds, especially after Gulf Bank’s collapse and liquidation. The bank…

Manny Ita  – The family of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of restricting his access to food and medical care while he remains in detention over allegations of financial misconduct linked to his time in office. In a statement issued by his son, Mohammed El-Rufai, the family alleged that officials of the anti-graft agency prevented the former governor’s personal doctor from meeting him despite what they described as a valid court order granting him access to medical personnel. The doctor was reportedly turned away when he visited…

* Some of the core areas of activities of the gathering were: • Enhancing Governance; • Holding Annual Assembly; • Fostering Future Generations. The opening ceremony of the Inaugural General Assembly of the Global South NGO Platform (GSNP) was held as part of the Baku Urban Week on May 14. The event was well attended by representatives of NGOs from over 110 countries, including Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. First, a video highlighting the organization’s one-year activity was displayed. While addressing the event, Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs…

Manny Ita – The 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season is set for a dramatic finish as Rangers International and Rivers United head into the final matchday separated by just one point in the title race. After 37 matches, Rangers sit top of the table with 65 points, while Rivers United are close behind on 64 points, setting up a winner-takes-all final round of fixtures. Rangers will travel to Lagos to face Ikorodu City at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena. A win for the Enugu-based side will guarantee them the league title, which would be their ninth NPFL crown and…

Manny Ita  – Deji Adeyanju, Nigerian human rights lawyer and activist, has been appointed to the Board of the Katutu Civil Rights Center, an international civil rights organisation based in New York, United States. The appointment further strengthens his profile as a prominent advocate for civil liberties and democratic governance in Nigeria and beyond. The Katutu Civil Rights Center focuses on human rights advocacy, policy engagement, and support for vulnerable and marginalised communities across different regions of the world. It works with civil society groups, institutions, and policymakers to promote justice, accountability, and wider civic participation. Adeyanju’s appointment is being…

Wema Bank Wema Bank Plc has responded with concern to recent media publications containing false, misleading, and wholly unsubstantiated allegations regarding the sale of certain Banana Island properties purportedly linked to the defunct Gulf Bank Plc. We unequivocally reject these claims, which are inaccurate, malicious, and clearly intended to distort the true position. For the benefit of our stakeholders—shareholders, customers, regulators, and the general public—we set out below the factual background to the transaction. The Original Exposure and Default In 2002, Wema Bank Plc (the Bank) made an inter‑bank placement with Gulf Bank Plc for ₦4.6 billion. By August 2004,…

Manny Ita  – The international ratings agency S&P Global Ratings has upgraded Nigeria’s sovereign credit rating from “B-” to “B”, while maintaining a stable outlook, signaling cautious improvement in the country’s economic position. The upgrade was announced by Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele, who said the decision reflects growing confidence in Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms. According to him, this development follows similar positive rating actions earlier in 2025 by Fitch Ratings and Moody’s, which also raised Nigeria’s credit standing. The Federal Government welcomed the decision, describing it as evidence that recent economic policies under President Bola Tinubu are beginning to yield…

US President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, shortly after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25, 2026. US President Donald Trump (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) Al-Minuki had been placed under US sanctions in 2023 for ties to the Islamic State group. US President Donald Trump said on Friday that American and Nigerian forces had killed a senior Islamic State group leader. “Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed…

Manny Ita  – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken popular Nigerian influencer Blessing CEO to court over an alleged ₦36 million rent scam. According to the charges, Blessing CEO—whose real name is Blessing Okoro Nkiruka—was accused of collecting ₦36 million from a woman, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye, under the false claim that she could secure a six-bedroom duplex for rent in Lekki, Lagos. The alleged incident occurred between July 14 and 17, 2024. She pleaded not guilty to the two charges brought against her. Her lawyer informed the court that she had already refunded ₦24 million and…

Manny Ita – The first General Assembly of the Global South NGO Platform concluded in Baku on May 14, bringing together representatives of civil society organizations from more than 110 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific. Held during the Baku Urban Week, the gathering focused on strengthening cooperation among developing nations and promoting a unified voice for the Global South on major international issues. Addressing participants, Hikmet Hajiyev said the Global South now occupies an increasingly influential place in world affairs. “Azerbaijan considers itself a part of the Global South. We are a part of the Global…