Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | A court on Thursday ordered $153.3 million allegedly diverted by Nigeria’s former oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke from the state-run oil firm to be handed over to the government. Judge Muslim Hassan, sitting at the federal high court in Lagos, made the forfeiture order in the …
Read More »A month later, Nigerian president Buhari absent but ‘healthy
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | The leader of Nigeria’s Senate on Thursday said President Muhammadu Buhari was well after visiting him in London, trying to dispel rumours about the state of his health. Bukola Saraki on Wednesday travelled to the British capital with the majority leader in the Senate, Ahmed …
Read More »Ex-boss of Nigerian oil firm being probed over $10mn cash ‘gift’
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | A former head of Nigeria’s state-run oil company is under investigation after almost $10 million in cash was found at a property he owns. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), an anti-corruption agency, said it had seized $9.8 million (9.2 million euros) from a …
Read More »Nigerians push for clarity on absentee president’s health
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is apparently unwell. Or he might not be. Either way, it’s enough for his health to have increasingly become a national talking point. The 74-year-old former army general had been due to resume work on Monday morning in the capital, Abuja, …
Read More »Nigeria says sending troops, jets to Senegal for Gambia force
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria has sent 200 soldiers and air assets including fighter jets to Senegal as part of a regional force to enforce the result of Gambia’s contested election, the country’s air force said Wednesday. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it had “today moved a contingent …
Read More »Hundreds feared dead after air strike on displaced camp in Nigeria
Kano, Nigeria | AFP | Dozens of people were killed on Tuesday when an air force jet accidentally bombarded a camp in northeast Nigeria for those made homeless by Boko Haram Islamists. The incident happened at about 9:00 am (0800 GMT) in Rann, in the far north of Borno state, …
Read More »AFCON: Resurgent Nigeria will be key absentee in Gabon
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Nigeria boast one of the strongest current national teams in Africa, but will not be among the 16 countries challenging for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations title from Saturday. The ‘Super Eagles’ were much less formidable early last year and taking only one …
Read More »AFCON 2019: Uganda draws Tanzania, Nigeria vs South Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying draw made in Libreville Thursday pitted Uganda against traditional rivals Tanzania, and two teams that have stood in their way in recent continental and world ambitions – Cape Verde and Lesotho. South African opponents Lesotho particularly bring …
Read More »BUHARI: ‘Major decision’ expected on Gambia this weekend
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s presidency on Friday said a “major decision” would be taken this weekend on the crisis in The Gambia caused by veteran strongman Yahya Jammeh’s refusal to step down after elections. President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman Garba Shehu said African leaders would meet in Accra on …
Read More »War not over after Boko Haram ousted from forest bastion
Kano, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria has recently trumpeted a major victory in its battle against Boko Haram, claiming that its army has routed the jihadists from their forest bastion, but the war against them is far from over. After years of devastating battles and a recent surge in attacks, …
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