Happy new year! In today’s trending news stories;
1. The body of the late former Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has been brought to Nigeria from Germany. It was received by family members, including his wife, children, and siblings, as well as several governors from Southwest states. The South-West Governors Forum plans to collaborate with the Ondo State Governor and Akeredolu’s family for a fitting burial, expressing condolences and acknowledging the void left by the late governor.
2 President Bola Tinubu congratulated actress Funke Akindele for her movie, ‘A Tribe Called Judah,’ which set a new record as the highest-grossing Nigerian film, earning N1bn since its release on December 15, 2023. The president praised Akindele’s contributions to the industry and emphasized the significance of the creative sector as a source of soft power and employment. FilmHouse Group’s CEO acknowledged the achievement, highlighting the thriving era for Nigerian cinema, while Akindele expressed gratitude on Instagram for the milestone.
3. Betta Edu is under scrutiny for allegedly disbursing N585.2 million meant for vulnerable groups into a personal account. The payment to Oniyelu Bridget, the Project Accountant, is defended as following due process. Social media raised concerns about government money going to an individual’s account. Recent suspensions and investigations in related agencies add to the controversy.
4. Protesters, mainly women, in Bokkos, Plateau State, burned the home of the District Head, Monday Adanchin, demanding the release of youths arrested for the killing of a Fulani man. The incident occurred after a Fulani man was killed, and soldiers arrested some youths, prompting the demand for their release. The reporter, who interviewed the district head the day before the arson, shared details and images of the razed palace. Additional incidents include the killing of an Imam in Dung community and attacks on multiple LGAs during Christmas Eve, leaving over 100 dead. The police spokesperson has not provided information on the recent events.
5. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) conducted a raid on the Dangote Group’s headquarters in Lagos as part of an investigation into forex allocations in Nigeria. The EFCC demanded documents related to the allocation of foreign exchange to the group over the last decade. The raid occurred despite Dangote Group’s intention to surrender documents to the EFCC. The investigation is part of a broader probe into alleged preferential forex allocations by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Some companies complied with the EFCC’s request, while others requested more time. The EFCC’s approach has raised concerns about its impact on foreign investors.
6. The U.S. government, through the Rewards for Justice Program, is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the disruption of the financial mechanisms of Hamas. The identified financiers include Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Khair, Amer Kamal Sharif Alshawa, Ahmed Sadu Jahleb, Walid Mohammed Mustafa Jadallah, and Muhammad Ahmad ‘Abd Al-Dayim Nasrallah. These individuals have been designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury under Executive Order 13224.
