Author: Ganiyu Amodu

Benue Crisis Donation Appeal Puts Billionaire Heir, Kiddwaya, Under Fire

Ganiyu Amodu

Social commentator and activist, VeryDarkMan has criticized billionaire heir, Kiddwaya, for requesting public donations to support victims of the recent attack in Yelwata, Benue State. Recall that Kiddwaya who shared a post on X, urged Nigerians to contribute funds for the affected community, sparked widespread backlash, which prompted him to take down the post. In response, VeryDarkMan in a video posted on X, was quick to point out the irony of Kiddwaya’s actions, questioning the motives of someone known for flaunting his wealth, suddenly seeking financial assistance from ordinary citizens.…

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Exponent of Quiet Authority, By Bamidele Johnson

Ganiyu Amodu

One of the best tributes you may read anywhere on TheNews Magazine’s Founder and Senior Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media, Bayo Onanuga   Even the boldest have their limits, but not Mr. Bayo Onanuga. Intrepid? Definitely. Frigid? Occasionally. Reckless? Well, you decide. Take this: in the early 2000s, armed robbers trailed him home to Mojisola Estate in Ogba. He’d just driven in with his brand-new Skoda Octavia and was about to shut the gate when they pounced, guns drawn. They wanted the car. They demanded the key. What…

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‘Six Months After $1.5bn Rehabilitation,’ NNPCL Shuts Down Port Harcourt Refinery

Ganiyu Amodu

Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) on Saturday announced a scheduled maintenance shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), beginning on May 24, 2025. Platforms Africa reports that the refinery began truck loading of petroleum products on Tuesday 26 November after a rehabilitation that gulped $1.5 billion. Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Femi Soneye, who confirmed the shutdown in a statement to Platforms Africa, added that the shutdown is part of a planned maintenance and sustainability assessment aimed at ensuring optimal performance of the facility. He said that further…

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‘Late Kick-offs,’ Man City Fined Over £1m After Breaking Premier League Rule

Ganiyu Amodu

Manchester City have been fined over £1m by the Premier League over delayed kick-offs or restarts related to nine of their matches last season. The league announced on Thursday it had entered into a sanction agreement with the club over breaches of the league’s rules around kick-off and restart times between October and February. The longest delay was two minutes and 24 seconds before the resumption of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford last December. The Premier League said City had accepted and apologised for the breaches of Rule L.33,…

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Meet Prof. Oloruntola Sunday, UNILAG’s First Dean Faculty of Communication And Media Studies

Ganiyu Amodu

. Platforms Africa presents five things to know about the Professor of journalism   Professor Oloruntola Sunday has been elected as the pioneer Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Univeristy of Lagos. The election was held on friday, 20th June, 2025, where Professor Oloruntola Emerged Pionner dean and Dr. Ebony Oketumbi also emerged first SubDean of the faculty of communication and Media Studies. Iran Rejects Negotiation With US, Israeli Attacks Continue FCCPC Seals France, Belgium, Italy Visa Centres In Abuja ‘On Wedding Day,’ Groom, Friends Killed In Auto Crash…

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Iran Rejects Negotiation With US, Israeli Attacks Continue

Ganiyu Amodu

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected any negotiations with the United States while Israel continues its attacks on Iran, in an interview with state TV broadcast on Friday. FCCPC Seals France, Belgium, Italy Visa Centres In Abuja ‘On Wedding Day,’ Groom, Friends Killed In Auto Crash “The Americans have repeatedly sent messages calling seriously for negotiations. But we have made clear that as long as the aggression does not stop, there will be no place for diplomacy and dialogue,” said the chief diplomat, who was due in Geneva for talks…

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Senate Flags N210 Trillion Discrepancies In NNPCL Audited Financial Reports

Ganiyu Amodu

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has uncovered alleged financial irregularities totalling N210 trillion in the audited statements of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), raising concerns over what lawmakers described as severe contradictions and unexplained transactions within the company’s books between 2017 and 2023. At the centre of the controversy are inconsistencies in receivables and expenditures, including legal and auditing fees paid by NNPCL without adequate documentation. The committee, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wadada, challenged the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, during an investigative session held on…

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‘Historic Takeover,’ American Businessman Mark Walter Set To Buy LA Lakers In Record $10bn Deal

Ganiyu Amodu

Chelsea co-owner Mark Walter is set to take control of the LA Lakers in a deal that would make the basketball team the most expensive sports franchise ever. The Buss family intend to sell their controlling interest of the outfit to the American millionaire, with a person with knowledge of the agreement, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirming the details on Wednesday. Walter owns a minority stake in Chelsea and is the chief executive of TWG Global, who boast the likes of the LA Dodgers, LA Sparks and Formula…

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‘Over $17m Fraud,’ Five US-based Nigerians Bag 159 Years’ Jail Term

Ganiyu Amodu

A United States of America court has sentenced five Nigerians to over 159 years of combined jail term for defrauding over 100 Americans, companies and government entities to the tune of $17m. This was contained in a statement obtained on the US Department of Justice website on Wednesday and signed by the acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, Ray Combs. The statement noted that the defendants, Damilola Kumapayi, Sandra Iribhogbe, Edgal Iribhogbe, Chidindu Okeke and Chiagoziem Okeke, were part of a transnational organised crime group. The attorney…

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Court Grants Natasha N50m Bail Over Defamation

Ganiyu Amodu

A federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Maitama has granted bail in the sum of N50 million to Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central. In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Chizoba Orji, presiding judge, rejected the application by the federal government to remand the Akpoti-Uduaghan in prison custody pending trial. The judge held that there was no justification to deny Akpoti-Uduaghan bail, noting that there was “sufficient evidence” before the court showing her willingness to face trial. Chelsea Winger Mudryk Charged Over Anti-doping Violation ‘Over $456m Unpaid Revenue,’ Reps…

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