Business

Bayelsa power plant not yet ready, Diri admits

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has said the 60-megawatt independent power project inaugurated on 10 April by President Bola Tinubu is not yet complete and still requires “finishing touches.”

The governor’s clarification follows disappointment among residents of Yenagoa and its environs, who had expected immediate improvement in electricity supply after the plant’s inauguration.

Metro

Lagos police arrest 23 suspected cultists, recover firearms

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 23 suspected cultists and recovered five firearms during a coordinated statewide crackdown on cultism and violent crime.

The operations, carried out across Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Okoko, Ilasan, Ogba and Iju, targeted criminal hideouts and illegal arms proliferation. Police said the raids were part of ongoing efforts by the Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, to curb cult-related violence in the state.

Metro

Court orders arrest of ex-minister, perm secretary

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has issued a warrant for the arrest of a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, and the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, over an alleged fraud totalling $1.3 million and N746.6 million.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie made the order on Thursday, 16 April 2026, after both defendants failed to appear in court for their arraignment. Only the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, was present.

Metro

Alleged N33.8b fraud: Mamman fails to file final written address

Proceedings were stalled in the trial of the former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, on Thursday, April 16, 2026, as he could not file his final written address before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja.

Mamman is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 12-count charge, bordering on money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503.73 (Thirty-three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, Seventy-three Kobo).

News

Police chief urges applicants to meet recruitment deadline

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Tijani Fatai, on Thursday, visited the 2025 Police Constable Recruitment Screening Centre at the Police College, Ikeja, to assess the ongoing exercise and ensure compliance with established guidelines.

The screening, which began on Monday, 9 March 2026, is being conducted at the Police College in accordance with the approved procedures.

During the visit, the commissioner met with representatives of the Police Service Commission (PSC), the Federal Character Commission (FCC), and the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Lagos State Command, who are overseeing the process to ensure transparency, fairness and credibility.

Politics

Bayelsa LP slams Ajoku, denies defection claims

The leadership of the Labour Party in Bayelsa State has dismissed claims that Miss Helen Ajoku defected to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) with a large number of women, describing the development as inconsequential.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the National Deputy Women Leader, Mrs Enu Timipre, the party said Ajoku’s assertions that she left with “thousands of women” were false and misleading.

News

Kalu takes helm as FRSC commander in A’Ibom

The Command’s Public Enlightenment and Public Relations Officer, Mr Paul James, disclosed this in a statement issued in Uyo on Thursday.

He said Kalu succeeds Mr Francis Ajatta, who has been redeployed to the Rivers State Command. According to James, her appointment is aimed at enhancing performance and efficiency in road traffic management and safety across the state and the country.

Metro

Police arrest robbery suspects, recover firearms in Lagos

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested three suspected armed robbers linked to incidents of conspiracy and armed robbery at an estate in Sangotedo on 11 and 13 April 2026.

Abimbola Adebisi, Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, said the police identified the suspects as Balogun Teslim, Suleman Balogun and Peter Oluwagbemi.