The Edo State Police Command has issued a disclaimer distancing its Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, from remarks made in a viral video currently circulating on social media. In the viral clip on Friday, a man addressing the seated Commissioner is heard making political remarks in Pidgin English, including, “ CP Monday. The name of the governor is Monday and your name is Monday, that’s why you people are working. “CP, I am loyal to you. When we catch ADC people we will hand them over to you, straight to Abuja…People like that Obi, idiot…” Edo Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika in the viral video…Credit: X / honest30bgfan_ The footage shows a crowded hall-like setting with people dressed in traditional and casual attire. The Commissioner of Police is seen seated, smiling at moments while the remarks were being made around him. In a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations...

President Bola Tinubu on Friday afternoon held closed-door talks with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, alongside some Reps members at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting held shortly after the lawmakers joined the President in observing the Jummah prayer at the State House mosque. The short gathering, which was not listed on the President’s official schedule for the day, was confirmed by officials who saw Abbas arrive at the Villa alongside other lawmakers, including the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Usman Kumo, who represents the Akko Federal Constituency of Gombe State under the All Progressives Congress. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were not privy to the substance of the discussions. “They followed him back to the office after the prayers but I don’t know what they discussed. The chief whip, that reps member from Gombe, Usman Kumo, was...

Continental Hotels Group’s Cluster Director of Human Resources, Niyi Agoro, has been named among Africa’s Top 15 Hotelier HR Leaders for Q1 2026 by Hotelier Africa, earning recognition for his growing influence in shaping workforce strategy across the hospitality sector. In a statement, Continental Hotels Group affirmed that the listing highlights Agoro as one of the leading human capital executives redefining talent management in an industry driven by digital transformation, talent mobility, and rising guest expectations. Hotelier Africa said the honourees for the quarter were distinguished for building resilient talent ecosystems that support sustainable growth and competitive advantage across organisations. “Agoro’s approach emphasises agile organisational cultures, robust performance frameworks, and positioning talent as a core business enabler,” the platform stated. The recognition, according to industry observers, reflects a broader shift in the hospitality sector, where human resource leadership now plays a central role in driving enterprise performance and long-term competitiveness....

President Bola Tinubu has assured Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal of increased troop deployment and enhanced security support during a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where both leaders discussed the state’s security challenges and related economic concerns. According to a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, on Thursday, the meeting focused largely on efforts to restore peace in Zamfara, with the President reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthened troop deployment and operational support. The statement read, “Governor Lawal held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu… The focus of the meeting is the security situation in Zamfara, particularly highlighting the successes achieved so far and identifying areas that require improvement to facilitate the return of peace across the state.” It added that Tinubu “stressed his commitment to providing full support to the Zamfara State Government, including deploying more troops and the essential equipment to...

The Nigeria Democratic Congress has said it is opening its doors to members of other political parties nationwide, expressing confidence that it will secure victory in Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. Speaking to journalists in Owerri, Imo State capital, on Thursday, the party’s National Vice Chairman, South East, Chief Teddy Obey, described the NDC as a “clean, uncompromised platform” for Nigerians tired of “recycled promises.” “Nigeria is looking for a clean, uncompromised platform. That platform is NDC,” Obey declared. He argued that the party’s biggest advantage is its status as the newest political party in Nigeria and the only one without palpable litigation hanging on its neck. “Go and check. Others are in court, dragging over who owns their souls. We’re in the field building our structure. A house divided against itself cannot stand. A house without a court case can stand,” he said. Obey said he was in Imo State...

The Jigawa State House of Assembly has ordered the state government to recover missing public funds and sanction erring officials over financial irregularities uncovered in audited accounts from 2019 to 2024. PUNCH Online gathered that the resolution followed the submission of a report by the House Committee on Public Accounts during plenary in Dutse on Wednesday. The report was presented to the assembly by the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Mr Sani Isyaku. Presenting the report, Isyaku said the committee had earlier conducted a public hearing and a comprehensive review of the audited accounts of the Jigawa State Government and the 27 local government councils from 2019 to 2024. He said the committee recommended that all unverifiable expenditures, overpayments, and unaccounted funds be recovered, while officers responsible for financial violations should be sanctioned in accordance with civil service rules and financial regulations. Isyaku said the committee reviewed annual audit...

The governing council of Tai Solarin Federal University of Education has announced the appointment of Prof. Samuel Ekundayo Oladipo as the new Vice Chancellor of the institution. According to a statement on Wednesday by the Registrar of the university, Mr Dapo Oke, Oladipo assumes office as the 6th substantive Vice Chancellor of the institution. The Professor of Social Psychology and foundation faculty member of TASUED brings decades of academic experience, administrative expertise, and a commitment to value-driven education to the university’s top office. Announcing the appointment, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof Rahamon Bello, at the end of the council meeting on Tuesday, reportedly “praised Prof Oladipo’s impressive track record, noting his emergence as a product of merit, doggedness, and an unwavering dedication to the University’s founding ethos.” Born on June 29, 1969, into the family of the late Mr and Mrs Amos Oladipo of Agbaakin Compound,...

Estevao Willian’s breakthrough season at Chelsea has been disrupted by a hamstring injury that casts doubt over his participation at this summer’s World Cup. The 18-year-old winger was forced off during Chelsea’s 1–0 defeat to Manchester United after pulling up with what appeared to be a muscle issue. He was visibly emotional as he left the pitch, with Chelsea staff later confirming that he had a hamstring problem. As reported by BBC Sport on Wednesday, medical scans have since confirmed a hamstring strain that will rule him out for the remainder of Chelsea’s season. It is another setback in a campaign where he has already dealt with similar muscle issues. The injury comes at a difficult moment for both club and country. Estevao had been regularly involved with the Brazil national football team setup in the build-up to the World Cup, and manager Carlo Ancelotti is expected to include him...

The National Association of Judiciary Correspondents will on Thursday hold its annual national conference and capacity-building programme in Abuja, with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, expected to declare the event open. Kekere-Ekun will also deliver the keynote address at the conference themed, “The Role of the Judiciary in Deepening Democracy in Nigeria.” The Federal Ministry of Justice will host the event at its Olusegun Obasanjo Auditorium, where the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, will attend as a special guest. Also scheduled to speak is the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, who will present a paper titled “NJC as Watchdog of the Judiciary.” In a statement, NAJUC Secretary-General, Paschal Njoku, said the conference would commence at 10 am, with participants expected to be seated by 8 am. He noted that eminent scholars and key stakeholders in the justice sector had...

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have killed a Man O’War officer, Dasola Sanusi, following an ambush on commuters along the Ibadan–Ago-Iwoye Expressway, a road connecting Ogun and Oyo states. PUNCH Metro learnt on Tuesday from a source privy to the incident that the attack happened at about 6:30 pm on Saturday when the officers were returning from an outing. The source, who pleaded anonymity because of the nature of the incident, disclosed that the officers came under heavy gunfire shortly after passing the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria area, as armed men reportedly opened fire indiscriminately on vehicles plying the route. The source noted that despite the attack, the officers were able to escape from the scene, although some of them sustained gunshot wounds in the process. They were subsequently rushed to a hospital in Ago-Iwoye for urgent medical attention. The source said, “At about 1830 hours on the 18th...