Latest – Page 6 – National Daily Newspaper

Mother reveals vaccine caused twins' deaths in lawsuit against pediatric group

Mother reveals vaccine caused twins’ deaths in lawsuit against pediatric group

A 23-year-old American mother, Andrea Shaw, has revealed that routine childhood vaccinations administered to her twin toddlers led to their deaths, as her legal...

Atiku Calls for Gbajabiamila's Suspension Over Alleged ₦400m Bribery Scandal ABUJA, NIGERIA — Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations of bribery and irregularities surrounding the 2026 federal budget. In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Atiku Media Office, the former vice president urged the President to order an independent and transparent investigation into allegations that Gbajabiamila received ₦400 million through a proxy and demanded an additional ₦200 million in exchange for facilitating a federal appointment. The allegations were made by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). Adeyemi also alleged that the Chief of Staff requested a 48 per cent kickback from the agency's proposed ₦27.4 billion take-off allocation after he refused to comply with the alleged demands. However, Gbajabiamila's office has strongly denied the allegations, insisting that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council does not exist under the current administration. The office further maintained that Adeyemi was never appointed to any position within the Presidency and described the allegations as false and unfounded. The controversy deepened after Atiku questioned how ₦27.4 billion could allegedly be appropriated in the 2026 budget for an agency the Presidency says does not exist. "If the Chief of Staff's position is correct, then serious questions must be asked about the credibility of the budget process. An allocation of ₦27.4 billion to a non-existent agency cannot be ignored," Atiku said, adding that the allegations warrant an impartial investigation and that public officials should be held accountable. He argued that the claims raise broader concerns about transparency in the implementation of the 2026 Appropriation Act and urged President Tinubu to demonstrate his administration's commitment to accountability by allowing the matter to be thoroughly investigated. Meanwhile, pro-government groups have dismissed Atiku's demand, describing it as politically motivated. The Arewa Youth Integrity Forum (AYIF) accused the former vice president of attempting to exploit unverified allegations for political advantage ahead of the 2027 general elections. The group also questioned Atiku's anti-corruption credentials, citing previous controversies during his tenure as vice president between 1999 and 2007. Similarly, some public affairs commentators and civil society organisations cautioned against drawing conclusions before the allegations are investigated, stressing that while transparency in public finance is essential, allegations should be verified through due process. The Presidency has yet to announce whether it will initiate a formal investigation into the allegations. The controversy is expected to fuel further scrutiny of the 2026 national budget and intensify political debate in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.

Featured4 days ago

Atiku calls for Gbajabiamila’s suspension over alleged ₦400m bribery scandal

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend his Chief of Staff,...

At least 15 killed in fresh Benue attack

Crime4 days ago

At least 15 killed in fresh Benue attack

At least 15 people have been killed and more than 10 others injured following a deadly attack by suspected armed assailants on Sai Community in the...

Abducted school children; Oyo teachers suspend indefinite strike, resume classes

Latest4 days ago

Abducted school children; Oyo teachers suspend indefinite strike, resume classes

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has suspended the indefinite strike embarked upon by public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State, following a directive...

MRS slashes petrol price by N50/Litre as Dangote Refinery cuts fuel costs

Business4 days ago

MRS slashes petrol price by N50/Litre as Dangote Refinery cuts fuel costs

Motorists in Abuja have received fresh relief as MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, one of the major marketers supplied by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, reduced...

Chelsea complete £43m signing of Marco Palestra on seven-year deal

Football4 days ago

Chelsea complete £43m signing of Marco Palestra on seven-year deal

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of highly rated Italian defender Marco Palestra from Atalanta, securing the 21-year-old on a seven-year contract in what marks...

Nigerian Stock Market suffers Historic N13.29tRn loss in June selloff

Business4 days ago

Nigerian Stock Market suffers Historic N13.29trn loss in June selloff

The Nigerian stock market recorded its steepest monthly loss in history in June 2026, with investors losing an estimated N13.29 trillion in market value following...

Why the Vice Presidential slot could decide Nigeria's 2027 presidential race

Latest4 days ago

Why the Vice Presidential slot could decide Nigeria’s 2027 presidential race

By Andra Oriyomi As political parties race to beat the July 11 deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the submission...

Breaking; CBN revokes licences of 46 Microfinance Banks over regulatory breaches

Business4 days ago

BREAKING: CBN revokes licences of 46 Microfinance Banks in major regulatory crackdown

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revoked the operating licences of 46 Microfinance Banks (MFBs) over their failure to meet regulatory requirements, in a move...

New NYSC reforms will prepare youth for jobs, leadership, says Tinubu

Latest4 days ago

New NYSC reforms will prepare youth for jobs, leadership, says Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has said the newly approved reforms of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) are aimed at equipping young Nigerians with the skills, values...