Blog - Abia ThinkTank News

Jan

2025

Trump Sentenced To Unconditional Discharge In Hush Money Case

Trump Sentenced To Unconditional Discharge In Hush Money Case US President-elect Donald Trump, has been sentenced by a judge to an unconditional discharge on Friday. He was sentenced for covering up hush money payments to a porn star despite the US president-elect’s last-ditch efforts to avoid becoming the first felon in the White House. “This court has determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgement of conviction without encroaching on the highest office of the land, is an unconditional discharge”,” said New York judge Juan Merchan delivering the sentence during a court session that Trump attended…

Jan

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

US Moves To Return $53 Million Linked To Diezani

Crime, Economy, News Flash

US Moves To Return $53 Million Linked To Diezani The United States Government and the Federal Republic of Nigeria have signed a memorandum of understanding to repatriate the sum of $53 million stolen funds to Nigeria. The funds were part of funds of the Galactica asset linked to former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke. Speaking during the signing, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) said the agreement provides that $50 million of the funds, which is about N77 billion, will be used to fund rural electrification project to increase the reliability and availability…

Jan

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

CBN Halts Extension Of Export Proceeds Repatriation For Exporters

CBN/Commercial Banking, Economy, News Flash

CBN Halts Extension Of Export Proceeds Repatriation For Exporters The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a circular announcing the immediate suspension of approvals for the extension of export proceeds repatriation on behalf of exporters. Dated January 8, 2025, the directive applies to both oil and non-oil export transactions, marking a significant policy shift aimed at ensuring compliance with existing regulations. The circular was signed by Dr W.J. Kanya, the acting Director of the CBN’s Trade & Exchange Department and released on Thursday. Key provisions of the circularIn the circular titled “Suspension of Extension of Export Proceeds on Behalf…

Jan

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Money Laundering: Chief Of Staff Implicates El-Rufai In Confessional Statement

Crime, Economy, Judiciary, News Flash, Politics

Money Laundering: Chief Of Staff Implicates El-Rufai In Confessional Statement Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu, former Chief of Staff to Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has implicated his former principal in a confessional statement related to an ongoing money laundering case against him. It will be recalled that the Chief Magistrate Court in Rigasa remanded Sa’idu at the Kaduna Correctional Centre following his arrest and arraignment by security agencies on 31 December 2024. The charges against the former Chief of Staff allege that he sold $45 million in hard currency belonging to the Kaduna State Government—equivalent to ₦18,450,000,000—at the significantly undervalued rate of…

Jan

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Teacher Pleads Not Guilty To Assaulting 3-Year-Old Pupil, Gets N200,000 Bail

Education, Human Rights, Judiciary, Lagos

Teacher Pleads Not Guilty To Assaulting 3-Year-Old Pupil, Gets N200,000 Bail Stella Nwadigo, a teacher arrested for physically assaulting a three-year-old pupil at Christ-Mitots International School in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, appeared before Magistrate M.O. Kusanu at the Ogba Magistrate Court on Thursday. Nwadigo, who was apprehended after a video surfaced online showing her repeatedly slapping the young child, Abayomi Micheal, reportedly pleaded not guilty to the charges read to her. The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency disclosed this in an update on X.com on Thursday. The statement read, “Following the ongoing viral case of child…

Jan

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

“I Made Chioma Understand That I Will Never Have Anyoda Child Outside Again If We Get Married And Become One” – Davido

Entertainment, Love & Life, Marriage And Love

"I MADE CHIOMA UNDERSTAND THAT I WILL NEVER HAVE ANYODA CHILD OUTSIDE AGAIN IF WE GET MARRIED AND BECOME ONE" -Davido reveals what Chioma needed to hear to concur. "Before she said "I do" publicly to me in the eyes of God and man. One day, before she served me one of her finest sumptous meals, she wore a mild smile like Queen Esther and called my name in her Igbo way which bursts my head! She said "Davim I truly love you and will be glad to spend the rest of my life until the next with you, but…

Jan

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Lagos State Governor Approves A Record-Breaking Budget Of N3.366 Trillion

Economy, Lagos, News Flash

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has signed the 2025 Appropriation Bill into law, approving a record-breaking budget of N3.366 trillion. The budget, which is geared towards advancing the Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat administration’s developmental agenda, focuses on infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic growth. During the signing ceremony, the governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to delivering impactful projects that improve the quality of life for Lagos residents and ensure sustainable development across the state. Gboyega Akosile, spokesman of the governor, wrote on X: “Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu today signs the 2025 Appropriation bill to law. “The budget size is N3.366 trillion meant for…

Jan

2025

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Raging Inferno: LA Fires Spark Suspicion Amid Unnatural Spread – By Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Columns/Opinions/Letters, Foreign Affairs, International, Mishap

Raging Inferno: LA Fires Spark Suspicion Amid Unnatural Spread The current LA fires have raised suspicions about their causes, but as of now, investigations are still ongoing. The Los Angeles Fire Department has reported that the fires are being fueled by severe Santa Ana winds, a windstorm, and drought conditions. While the extremely dry conditions and powerful winds have contributed to the rapid spread of the fires, the exact causes of the fires are still unknown. The Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, Hurst Fire, and Sunset Fire are some of the notable fires currently burning in the Los Angeles area. It's…

Jan

2025

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Otti 2027: A Narrative Of Truth, Progress And Development – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Good Governance, Politics

Otti 2027: A Narrative of Truth, Progress and Developlopment Truth and political narratives are intertwined in complex ways, particularly in the context of Abia State's 2027 elections. Political narratives often blur the lines between fact and fiction, making it challenging to discern the truth. Governor Alex Otti's narrative of development and progress, for instance, may be based on factual achievements, but it can also be embellished or distorted to serve political purposes. Similarly, opposing parties may create counter-narratives that dispute Otti's claims or highlight his alleged shortcomings. The tension between truth and political narratives raises important questions about the role…

Jan

2025

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Otti’s ABIA Vision 2025 And Beyond: Transformation, Not Competition – By Ebere Uzoukwa Ph.D (SSA To Governor Otti On Public Affairs)

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Good Governance

Otti's Abia Vision 2025 and Beyond: Transformation, Not Competition Ebere Uzoukwa, Ph.D Governor Alex Otti's administration is on a mission to transform Abia State, staying focused despite distractions. Attempts by some Abia PDP agents and social media critics to compare him to Enugu State Governor, Mr. Peter Mba, have not swayed Governor Otti from his comprehensive vision for Abia's rebuilding. These comparisons, often made in bad faith, aim to instigate rivalry between the governors, but Governor Otti remains committed to his goals. After 24 years of destruction, abandonment, corruption, and looting by the Abia PDP, Governor Otti has made significant…