Ridoola's blog

Ruslan Obiang Nsue, the son of Equatorial Guinea's President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has been convicted of illegally selling off a plane belonging to the national airline. In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, the country's apex court ordered the convict to either compensate the state for the missing aircraft or serve a six-year jail term for the offense, Supreme Court press director Hilario Mitogo told reporters in a WhatsApp message. According to Mitogo, the court ruled that Nsue could avoid jail if he paid around $255,000 to the airline, along with damages and a fine to the state. However, the court acquitted him on separate charges bordering on embezzlement and abuse of office. Siblings tussle for power? Nsue, a former director of the national carrier Ceiba Intercontinental, was convicted for selling the ATR 72-500 plane to a Spanish company without the approval of the company's board and pocketing the cash. In 2023, Equatorial Guinea'...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has clarified that the 2027 presidential ticket remains open to all interested aspirants, despite a wave of endorsements for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid. Speaking at an interactive session with journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, APC’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Mohammad Argungu , stressed that the party would not shut its doors to competition during the primaries. He said while Tinubu had earned wide recognition for his performance in office , the APC remained committed to democratic principles. “We will definitely not close our doors (to other presidential aspirants. When the time comes, our timetable will be made known. READ ALSO: FULL LIST: 7 crucial endorsement backing Tinubu's 2027 presidential bid "Anybody who wants to aspire for the presidency under the APC will not be denied the opportunity to purchase the expression of interest and nomination forms to exercise ...

The political temperature in Abia State is rising as traders in Aba, the state’s commercial hub, mount stiff resistance against what they describe as a suffocating ₦3.1 billion annual levy imposed by Governor Alex Otti’s administration. The pushback has gained momentum after a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Professor Uche Ikonne openly criticised Otti for “ placing undue burdens on struggling business owners at a time of biting economic hardship.” For years, Aba has been the lifeline of Abia’s economy, home to tens of thousands of traders, artisans, and small-scale manufacturers. However, the new levy has triggered outrage, with many business owners warning that it could cripple the already fragile local economy. Professor Ikonne echoed these frustrations, arguing that no government that claims to represent the people should demand such payments during a time of inflation and widespread unemployment. “Aba traders cannot be paying ₦3.1 billion annually amid econ...

The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South has stirred fresh controversy, unearthing the competing interests, deep-seated anxieties, and constitutional debates that continue to shape Nigeria’s political future. At first glance, the resolution, announced after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, appears to be a concession to unity. Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who chairs the PDP Governors Forum, confirmed that he “sacrificed” his ambition for the sake of consensus. “Politics is not about personal interest, it’s about self-actualisation within the framework of party decisions, manifesto, and national development,” Mohammed said, urging Nigerians to see zoning as an instrument of peace rather than exclusion. Yet, behind the rhetoric of sacrifice lies a much messier reality. Security expert and public affairs analyst, Dr. Mohammed Sani, paints a very different picture. He argues that what l...

Adamawa State-born entrepreneur and industrialist, Bashir Abdullahi Haske, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of peddling falsehoods over claims that he's evading justice under the guise of a medical emergency. The businessman also rejected the anti-graft agency's allegations of his involvement in multi-million-dollar fraud, describing the claim as a political witch-hunt. In a statement issued by his legal representative, Nkemakolam Okoro, on Monday, August 25, 2025, Haske categorically denied the allegations, explaining that, contrary to EFCC’s claims, he voluntarily honoured the agency's invitation, appeared before investigators, and provided comprehensive answers to all questions. Okoro said, despite submitting documentary evidence clearly proving the legitimacy of his financial dealings and businesses, the commission denied his client administrative bail, even after he satisfied all the conditions imposed. He alleged that the accused was...

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced plans to activate a 260,000-strong rapid deployment counter-terrorism brigade, backed by an annual $2.5bn funding requirement, in what could become Africa’s boldest regional security initiative yet. The decision was unveiled at the 2025 African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja, themed “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration.” ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray, represented by Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah , warned of the rising threats. “West Africa, particularly the Sahel, has emerged as the epicentre of global terrorism, accounting for 51 per cent of worldwide terrorism deaths in 2024. We cannot afford inaction,” Touray said. Escalating Terrorism Burden: Nigerians Paid N2.23 Trillion In Ransom In 2024 A December 2024 survey report from the National Bureau of Statist...

There is growing unrest in Nigeria following the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission’s (RMAFC) proposal to raise the salaries of President Bola Tinubu, governors, ministers and other senior government officials. The move has been met with stiff opposition from labour unions, political figures, and activists who argue that such a review is ill-timed and insensitive, given the current economic hardship facing millions of Nigerians. The RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, while addressing journalists in Abuja, said the current pay structure for top government officials is “inadequate, unrealistic, and outdated”. He disclosed that the President currently earns ₦1.5 million monthly, while ministers receive less than ₦1 million, figures that have remained unchanged since 2008. “Paying the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ₦1.5 million a month, with a population of over 200 million people, is a joke,” Shehu argued. He maintained that while the commission is n...

South African opposition leader Julius Malema has cautioned African nations against excessive borrowing from global financial institutions, warning that such loans are a “debt trap” that could undermine the continent’s future. Malema, who leads South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), gave the warning on Sunday in Enugu while delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference. According to him, leaders across Africa continue to mortgage future generations by taking loans with little accountability. “The debt trap of Africa to our foreign colonisers must be stopped. Our leaders commit future generations to debts, yet they will not be here when the colonisers come to collect,” he said. The firebrand politician disclosed that his party has already introduced the Public Finance Management Amendment Bill in South Africa’s parliament to regulate foreign borrowing. Under the proposed law, the National Treasury woul...

Traditional rulers and community leaders in Ogun State have commended Alhaji Yusuf Kamorudeen, Personal Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Special Duties, for sponsoring a skill acquisition programme aimed at empowering young people across the state. The month-long initiative, organised by the Alliance for Kamosky Group, kicked off in Ado-Odo earlier in August and is designed to train students and young adults in all 20 local government areas of Ogun State in various vocational skills. Alliance for Kamosky is a coalition of friends and supporters of Yusuf who share his vision of uplifting society by supporting the less privileged. Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Olofin of Ado-Odo, Oba Olusola Idris Adebowale Lamidi-Osolo , represented by Chief Quadri Gafar-Iseki , urged participants to make the most of the training. ALSO READ: Tinubu's aide denies involvement in harassment of communities in Ogun He said: "These skills have the potential to promote self-reliance ...

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), calling for disciplinary measures against three top judges over what he described as gross judicial misconduct in his ongoing trial. In a strongly-worded petition personally signed by him and shared through his lawyer, Umesi , Kanu accused Justices Binta Nyako , Haruna Tsammani , and Garba Lawal of miscarriage of justice. He insisted that their handling of his case amounted to judicial abuse that has left an indelible stain on Nigeria’s legal system. Kanu, who was extradited from Kenya in June 2021 and has remained in detention at the Department of State Services (DSS) facility in Abuja, chronicled what he termed “a catalogue” of infractions committed by the judges. He urged the NBA, currently holding its annual conference in Enugu, to investigate the allegations and hold the judges accountable. According to him, only decisive action from the Bar can ...

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has said that his political ambition is not driven by desperation to occupy Nigeria’s highest office in 2027. Instead, he insists that his priority is to see the country move towards a safer, better, and more prosperous future. Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, made the comments through his representative, Professor Ola Olateju of Achievers University, Ondo State. He spoke on Saturday during a ceremony in Lagos, where defectors from the PDP and the Labour Party (LP) were formally welcomed into the African Democratic Congress (ADC). According to him, his political journey has never been about self-interest but about working towards building a government that delivers on the hopes of Nigerians. ALSO READ: 2027: Tinubu will be in trouble if Obi, Atiku run on single ticket - APC chieftain warns “Atiku Abubakar’s plan is to build a better Nigeria. It’s not about him being presid...

More than 35 fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been killed in a major offensive carried out by Nigerian troops under Operation Hadin Kai, working in close coordination with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). The fierce face-off took place in Kumshe, a border town in Borno State, on Saturday, August 23, 2025, after ISWAP fighters attempted to storm military positions from the Gulumba Gana axis. According to reports from counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama , the insurgents met stiff resistance from soldiers who unleashed heavy firepower, forcing them into retreat. Preliminary assessments revealed that over 35 terrorists were neutralised during the firefight. Some of the injured were reportedly evacuated to ISWAP’s camp in Zangeri, near Gulumba Gana, while others were either buried hastily or left behind by fleeing comrades. ALSO READ: Soldiers, bandits killed in fierce gun battles across Kaduna, Niger The Nigerian military, however, was not witho...

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have sent a strong warning to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and other “anti-party forces” plotting to frustrate the party’s upcoming national convention. In a communiqué issued after their 7th meeting in Gusau, Zamfara State, on Saturday, August 23, 2025, the PDP Governors’ Forum reaffirmed its loyalty to the resolutions of the party’s 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which set November 15, 2025, as the date for the national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State. The governors urged party members to stand firm against any attempt to derail the process, describing the PDP as “the only viable alternative to rescue Nigeria from bad governance and hardship under the APC.” “The Forum reaffirms its full commitment to the resolutions of the 101st NEC meeting of July 2025 regarding the November 15 National Convention. It urges members to resist all attempts to derail the co...

The Lagos State Police Command has ordered the restructuring of a squad whose officers were caught on camera assaulting a motorist during a stop-and-search operation. In the viral video, shared widely on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, the officers were seen forcefully attempting to remove the man’s eyeglasses, which they suspected had video recording features. Benjamin Hundeyin , spokesperson for the Lagos police command, confirmed that swift disciplinary action has already been taken against the officers. In a statement, the Nigeria Police Force described the incident as isolated and condemned the officers’ conduct, stressing that it does not reflect the professionalism expected of its personnel. ALSO READ: How illegal mining costs Nigeria ₦13.7trn annually, fuels banditry “We strongly condemn the actions of some officers captured in a viral video attempting to forcibly remove a pair of glasses from a motorist during a stop-and-search operation, and further assaulting him,” t...

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has opened up about his past struggles with albinism, recounting the bullying, body shaming, and rejection he faced because of the condition. Albinism is described as a genetic condition that causes a deficit in the body’s biosynthesis of melanin, a pigment that colours the skin, hair and eyes. The lack of melanin often leads to vision impairment, skin and hair changes, and increased skin cancer risk. People with this condition are often subjected to significant social and emotional hardships, including stigma, bullying, discrimination, and social isolation, arising from misunderstandings and a lack of public awareness about the condition. This was exactly Eno's experience growing up , as he recounted in a post on X (formerly Twitter ) on Thursday, August 21, 2025. ALSO READ: Kenneth Okonkwo is still living in bondage, Gov. Eno blasts actor for calling him “transgenderic” Despite those challenges, the Governor said he now stands prou...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has come under severe criticism for declaring Bashir Abdullahi Haske, a businessman and son-in-law of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, wanted. On Thursday, August 21, 2025, the anti-graft agency listed the Adamawa-born entrepreneur, industrialist, and investor wanted in connection with alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering. In a statement issued by its Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale , the commission urged the public to provide any information on Haske’s whereabouts to the nearest police station or EFCC offices across Nigeria . “Abdullahi is 38 year-old and his last known address is: No 6 Mosley Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State; 952/953 Idejo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State,” EFCC said. ALSO READ: Court freezes 4 bank accounts linked to ex-NNPCL boss Kyari EFCC accused of bad faith in Haske's case Reacting to the development, Nkemakolam Okoro , a Partner in the law firm of Dr. M.O. Ubani SAN, who is representing H...

The age-long rivalry between two of the most powerful thrones in Yorubaland has reignited, as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, lock horns over the conferment of a chieftaincy title on Ibadan-based business mogul, Dotun Sanusi. The Ooni had recently conferred the title of “ Okanlomo of Oodua” on Sanusi, a recognition with spiritual and pan-Yoruba implications. But the Alaafin strongly opposed the act, arguing that the Ooni overstepped his bounds. The disagreement has opened a fresh debate on the historical roles of the two monarchs, their powers, and the cultural legitimacy of their actions. Ile-Ife vs Oyo: A Struggle Rooted in History Speaking with Pulse Nigeria, Professor Ranti Ojo of the University of Abuja explained that the feud is less about Dotun Sanusi and more about the centuries-old rivalry between Ile-Ife and Oyo. “Ile-Ife existed thousands of years before Oyo came into being. While Oyo rose to prominence through mi...

In a recent report, the National Good Governance Advocates (NGGA), a civil society organisation, has presented a glowing appraisal of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas's tenure as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State. The report, made public at a press conference in Abuja, champions Ibas's leadership for reportedly rescuing the state from a "brink of collapse" and restoring peace and stability after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 's declaration of a state of emergency on March 18, 2025. This narrative, while celebratory, warrants a critical look at the claims and the underlying political dynamics. The NGGA report paints a stark picture of the preceding administration led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accusing it of plunging the state into chaos. According to the group, Fubara’s administration was marked by a "brazen abuse of constitutional norms," including an alleged unlawful attempt to declare the seats of 27 lawmakers vacant. The report also attribut...

Nigerian lawmakers are under tough public scrutiny following the unveiling of the National Assembly Deliberative Barometer and Policy-Focus Productivity Report, a groundbreaking digital accountability platform developed by ERGAF-AFRICA in collaboration with CISLAC and partners. The platform, described as Africa’s first interactive legislative performance barometer, uses real-time data to evaluate the productivity of all 469 federal lawmakers. It tracks bills, motions, debates, petitions, and plenary contributions, providing citizens, researchers, and civil society groups with unprecedented access to legislative performance data. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, hailed the initiative as “a mirror through which we can examine ourselves honestly and pursue continuous improvement.” He admitted that the tool compels legislators to “raise the standard of representation, lawmaking, and oversight” while deepening Nigeria’s democratic culture. The repor...

Tinubu said his administration had stabilised key economic indicators and was implementing reforms to attract investments, improve infrastructure and create jobs. The President spoke during an interactive meeting with members of the Nigerian community on the sidelines of the ongoing Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Japan on Thursday, August 21, 2025. According to a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga , the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Tinubu said his administration has stabilised key economic indicators and is implementing reforms to attract investments, improve infrastructure, and create jobs. “I am happy to listen to you. I’m happy to report that many of our people are returning home. ALSO READ: Tinubu’s national single window reform gains momentum after past failures “Yes, for economic reasons, some people might decide to stay away; it’s a fundamental right of the individual, but for the economic growth and opportunity...

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on strike action over the Federal Government's alleged failure to honour longstanding agreements on the revitalisation and proper funding of Nigeria’s public universities. ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna , made this known while speaking at a press conference at the University of Jos on Thursday, August 21, 2025. The union said its members had endured over two years on broken promises and delay tactics from the President Bola Tinubu -led administration. Piwuna outlined the unresolved issues, including the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement , outstanding salary arrears, withheld promotions, and the welfare of retired lecturers. ALSO READ: FG, NDLEA to introduce compulsory drug tests for varsity students “The general public should also note that ASUU has written several letters to the FGN drawing its attention to the need to resolve this crisis amicably. Lamentably, the FGN has always turned...

Frank Caprio, the retired Rhode Island judge who won hearts worldwide for his compassion in the courtroom, has died at the age of 88. His family announced his passing on Wednesday, describing him as a man who embodied “deep compassion, humility, and unwavering faith in the goodness of people”. Caprio, who served nearly four decades on the bench before retiring in 2023, rose to global prominence through his television show Caught in Providence. The programme, launched in 2000, captured his warm and often forgiving approach to minor offences such as traffic and parking violations. Clips from the show spread rapidly online, drawing tens of millions of views and earning him the affectionate title of “ the nicest judge in the world”. Here are five crucial facts to know about him: 1. He Rose from Humble Beginnings Born in 1936 in Providence, Rhode Island, Caprio came from a working-class immigrant family. To support himself, he shined shoes and delivered newspapers as a boy. These e...

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dominic Alancha, has warned that an alignment of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi could jeopardise the ruling party's chances of holding on to power in the 2027 general elections. Alancha explained that, unlike 2023 when Atiku and Obi split votes on separate tickets, a possible alliance between the duo would change the dynamics of the 2027 election and weaken the APC significantly. Alancha, who also leads the Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum (NENF), spoke on Channels Television ’s  Politics Today  programme on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. “In 2027, the dynamics may not be the same as what happened in 2023. If Peter Obi and Atiku can align, have a consensus amongst themselves and agree on a single ticket, I’m telling you it’s going to deplete our support base because, at the table, they already have over 13 to 14 million votes,” he said. ALSO READ: You've tried your b...

Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid all profit from selling regulatory credits to rivals who haven't sold enough EVs. Now, the Trump administration is gutting the credit scheme, and it's causing the three companies a serious headache. In a court filing, Rivian said the regulatory changes had put $100 million in revenue in limbo. The Trump administration is gutting an obscure set of EV regulations, causing EV makers Tesla , Rivian, and Lucid a major headache. The three companies have all warned in recent weeks that the end of the regulatory credits system — which allows them to make money off electric vehicles their rivals aren't selling — is set to have a big impact on their profits. In a petition filed in the DC Court of Appeals earlier this month, EV startup Rivian said that the Trump administration's regulatory overhaul had left over $100 million in revenue in limbo. In the same petition, filed by the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), rival startup Lucid...

My friend was selling her house in Georgia at a fraction of what ours had cost in Maryland. We bought the house and moved, but it wasn't the fresh start we were hoping for. We left, bought another house in Maryland, but eventually divorced. Hindsight is 20/20 — especially when I watch nearly $3,000 disappear from my bank account every month for a mortgage that should be nearly paid off by now. The reason I'm in this financial mess? A well-meaning but costly move to Georgia that changed the course of my life. It was 2000. My (now ex-) husband and I had two little boys — ages 1 and 2 — and we had just upgraded from a townhouse to a single-family home outside Baltimore, Maryland . It was a split-foyer with a third of an acre, mature trees, and a sunroom I loved. We put a wooden swing set with a slide and a little treehouse in the backyard for the boys. Life was comfortable. We'd bought the house for $153,000, so the mortgage was low. I stayed home with our sons and my ...