Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has suspended Wale Ajetunmobi, his senior special assistant on print media, following controversial comments on social media. In a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter) on November 23, Ajetunmobi claimed that many individuals involved in the 2020 burning of Television Continental (TVC) were “hunted down and executed.” He described incidents involving alleged arsonists being chased and killed by soldiers, sparking accusations of endorsing extra-judicial killings. The public backlash led to Ajetunmobi’s suspension. Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu’s media aide, clarified on November 26 that the governor’s administration does not support extra-judicial punishments, emphasizing that such actions are against its principles. The incident recalls the #EndSARS protests in October 2020, during which youths demonstrated against police brutality. Following the Lekki tollgate shooting on October 20, 2020, violence erupted, leading to attacks on TVC, police stations, and other properties. Allegations of security forces killing protesters and the discovery of a 2023 document about the mass burial of 103 bodies further fueled controversy surrounding the protests. The Lagos government maintains these bodies were unrelated to the Lekki tollgate.
2. Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, on November 26, announced the suspension of two commissioners from his cabinet due to allegations of gross misconduct and dereliction of duties. The suspended officials are Engineer Francis Ori, Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, who received an indefinite suspension, and Dr. Moses Ekuma, Commissioner for Health and Social Development, who was suspended for three months. Additionally, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health, as well as the executive secretaries of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the State Health Insurance Agency, were also placed on a three-month suspension. Governor Nwifuru’s directive was issued through a statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Jude Chikadibia-Okpor. The suspended officials were instructed to hand over all government property, including vehicles, by the close of work on November 25, 2024. In the interim, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Health oversaw the Ministry of Health. This action follows an earlier suspension of the Commissioner for Water Resources, Chinedum Nkah, for similar reasons. The Governor emphasized his administration’s commitment to the people’s needs.
3. Journalist and politician Dele Momodu has revealed that a former presidential candidate allegedly spent $30,000 per delegate, totaling $23,220,000, to secure votes from 774 delegates during the primaries for the 2023 presidential election. Speaking on the Key to Keys podcast, Momodu criticized the monetization of Nigeria’s political system and the influence of “principalities” controlling the country. Momodu, a former presidential aspirant for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ruled out running for the presidency in 2027 unless adopted by a major party through consensus. Reflecting on his 2023 campaign, he lamented spending N50 million on a nomination form without securing a single vote, attributing the failure to the dominance of wealth in Nigerian politics. He added how some politicians amass untraceable raw cash, enabling them to control vast sums outside the banking system.
4. The Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) in Rivers State has officially commenced crude oil processing, marking a significant step towards Nigeria’s energy independence. The announcement, made on November 26, 2024, by Femi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Limited, celebrates this achievement as a transformative milestone for the nation’s economy. Truck loading operations also began the same day. This development follows years of missed deadlines and extensive rehabilitation efforts since the refinery was shut down in 2019. In 2021, the Federal Government approved $1.5 billion for its repair. Under the leadership of NNPC’s GCEO Mele Kyari and with the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the refinery’s rehabilitation is part of broader efforts to increase Nigeria’s refining capacity. The Warri Refinery is also expected to come online soon. The resumption of the Port Harcourt Refinery, alongside the Dangote Refinery’s production of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel, offers hope for reduced dependence on imports and relief from the effects of the fuel subsidy removal, which had driven prices from N200 to over N1,000 per litre.
5. Access Bank PLC denied allegations of unethical behavior and a N500 million discrepancy in a deceased customer’s account, labeling the claims “baseless.” In a statement on November 24, the bank assured customers of the security of their funds, emphasizing that no money is missing from the account in question. The allegations surfaced over the weekend when social media influencer Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, accused the bank of withholding N500 million reportedly belonging to the deceased customer. Otse claimed the deceased had informed their family about the funds before passing away, but the family discovered the money was missing when attempting to retrieve it. He also questioned gaps in the bank statements from 2017 to 2019. Access Bank conducted a thorough investigation with independent stakeholders and found no evidence supporting the claims.
6. Nigerian singer Patoranking mourns the loss of his sister, Chioma Onuabuchi, and her husband, George, who died following a tragic gas explosion on September 11, 2024, in their Abakaliki home. The couple was laid to rest on November 23, 2024, in their hometown of Uburu, Ebonyi State. A neighbor described the explosion as resembling a bomb, causing extensive damage to the house. The Ebonyi State Police, represented by DSP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the incident, stating that investigations are ongoing to determine whether the explosion was from a gas cylinder or a battery inverter. Both victims sustained severe injuries; Chioma passed away shortly after the explosion, followed by her husband later that same day. The couple leaves behind a three-year-old son, who was unharmed as he was with his grandmother during the tragedy.
7. Grammy Award Singer Ed Sheeran has apologized for interrupting Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim’s live TV interview after United’s 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town on November 24. Amorim, in his debut as United’s manager, was speaking to Sky Sports’ Kelly Cates, Roy Keane, Izzy Christiansen, and Jamie Redknapp at Portman Road when Sheeran, a minority owner of Ipswich, interrupted to greet Redknapp. Sheeran briefly addressed Amorim, joked about his presence, and then left, allowing the interview to resume. On November 25, Sheeran posted an apology on Instagram, stating he hadn’t realized Amorim was being interviewed and adding, “Great game, congrats to all involved.” Sheeran became Ipswich’s main shirt sponsor in 2021 and purchased a minority stake this summer after the club’s promotion to the Premier League. In the match, Marcus Rashford scored early for United, but Omari Hutchinson equalized for Ipswich in the 43rd minute.
