UBA Offers Customers Up To ₦30m Loan To Buy Dangote Refinery Shares

 This one is interesting.

UBA is offering eligible customers personal loans of up to ₦30 million to participate in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery IPO.

On one hand, it gives Nigerians who may not have enough cash available an opportunity to invest.

On the other hand, you are essentially borrowing money to buy shares.

And that raises the real question.

The loan has to be repaid whether the investment performs well or not.

So Viewers, would you take a bank loan to invest in Dangote Refinery shares?

Or is borrowing money to buy shares a risk you would never take?

Al Jazeera Fires 24 Journalists, Staff From Gaza - Foreign Affairs

 The lawsuit was filed in February 2025, names the employees and alleges that some Al Jazeera staff members had ties to terrorist organizations and, in some cases, were members of those groups.

Al Jazeera has fired 24 journalists and staff members who worked for the network in the Gaza Strip, amid a lawsuit filed in the US accusing the Qatari broadcaster of providing support to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Ynet reported on Friday.

The NGO and civil rights group Shurat HaDin filed the lawsuit in February 2025, with support from the pro-Israel advocacy group StandWithUs. It names the employees and alleges that some Al Jazeera staff members had ties to terrorist organizations and, in some cases, were members of those groups.

In a statement on June 25, CPJ said it had removed 20 names from its database after confirming that those individuals had worked for Hamas or PIJ.

The review followed Israeli media reports that identified several individuals previously listed as journalists by international organizations as having ties to Hamas or PIJ.

CPJ outlines criteria for listing journalists in database

“CPJ has always been clear that we do not include anyone in our data sets if there is evidence that they were engaging in combat or inciting imminent violence,” CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg said in the statement.

“This is consistent with international humanitarian law, which considers journalists affiliated with non-state actors to be civilians, provided they do not directly participate in hostilities.”

According to CPJ, the organization uses at least two independent sources of information, desk-based research, and, where possible, in-person reporting before adding an individual to its database as a journalist or media worker.

CPJ said that in-person verification by researchers outside Gaza has not been possible since the beginning of the war, because Israel has not allowed international correspondents access to the territory.

CPJ pushes for access for foreign media in Gaza

The organization has petitioned the Israeli government and the Supreme Court to reverse the restrictions preventing foreign journalists from entering Gaza.

“CPJ condemns in no uncertain terms the misrepresentation of combatants as journalists or media workers, or the misuse of ‘Press’ insignia,” Ginsberg said. “Such actions endanger every single individual journalist legitimately trying to report. We are conducting a full review of the names on our lists to confirm that no one who was actively engaged in combat is listed in our data.”

Tinubu Is Receiving Treatment In France, Same Yar Adua Script- Sowore

 

There is something inherently wrong with Nigeria. To think that the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu mummified showcasing and stunts in Paris just went like that, coupled with his inability to go to the UN General Assembly which I heard is because of his mortal fear that the US govt could order his arrest for his past drug-dealing case, is just surprising.

Every sycophant is playing along, and society has acquiesced completely.

Tinubu is not on vacation; he is receiving treatment in France, and they will package him to return as though nothing happened. We have seen this script before with Yar’Adua and Buhari: secrecy, deception, carefully managed appearances, and a country expected to look away.

Nigeria must be liberated not only from these machinations but from the mentality that sustains them.

Police Arraign Two Women Over Alleged False Publication On Access Bank

 he Police, on Friday, arraigned two women before the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged conspiracy and transmission of a false publication concerning Access Bank Plc, claiming that the lender was shutting down its operations.

The defendants, Iderenyin Samuel Umoh and Fineness Monday Esu, were arraigned on a three-count charge filed by the Police prosecuting counsel, Barr. Stanley Nwafoaku, of the Directorate of Legal Services, Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The Police alleged that the defendants conspired with other persons, now at large, to transmit a false publication through computer systems and networks, claiming that Access Bank was shutting down its operations with effect from September 23, 2026. It urged customers to close their accounts and withdraw their funds.

When the three-count charge was read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty. Following their pleas, Barr. Nwafoaku urged the court to remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service and adjourn the matter for trial.

However, Barr. Cynthia Nwanpu, who appeared for Barr. Ifenna Okeke, counsel to both defendants, urged the court to grant a short date to enable the defence file a formal bail application.

Justice Akintayo Aluko subsequently ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service. The judge adjourned the matter until November 25, 2026, for trial, pending the filing of the defendants’ bail application, which the court said would be given expeditious hearing.

In Count One, the Police alleged that the defendants, on or about July 28, 2026, in Lagos, conspired among themselves and with other persons now at large to knowingly transmit and cause the transmission of a false publication concerning Access Bank through computer systems and networks.

The alleged publication purportedly stated that the bank would shut down its operations from September 23, 2026, urging all customers to close their accounts and withdraw their funds.

The Police said the alleged act was committed for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order, contrary to and punishable under Section 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.

In Count Two, the defendants were accused of knowingly and intentionally sending and causing the transmission, through Facebook and WhatsApp, of a publication they allegedly knew to be false, representing that Access Bank was shutting down its banking operations from September 23, 2026.

The Police alleged that the publication urged members of the public and customers of the bank to close their accounts and withdraw their funds, with the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order.

The charge stated that the alleged offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.

In Count Three, the Police alleged that the defendants, knowing or having reason to believe that the information was false, published or reproduced a statement, rumour or report that Access Bank was shutting down its operations effective September 23, 2026, and that customers should close their accounts and withdraw their funds.

The Police said the alleged publication was likely to cause fear and alarm to the public and disturb public peace, contrary to and punishable under Section 59(1) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

₦18,000 Minimum Wage Bought More Than ₦70,000 Does Today - Makinde

 Voodoo economy’ — Makinde says old N18,000 minimum wage could buy more than current N70,000

Makinde spoke on Friday while addressing civil servants at the government house in Agodi, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, after returning from his annual leave.

The governor said the old N18,000 minimum wage during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan could buy more than the current N70,000.

A month before Makinde was sworn in for his first term as governor of Oyo, the late former President Muhammadu Buhari increased the minimum wage for civil servants from N18,000 to N30,000 per month in April 2019.

Nearly five years later, President Tinubu raised the minimum wage to N70,000 in July 2024 as part of efforts to cushion the impact of the removal of the petrol subsidy.

In August, Taiwo Oyedele, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, said the economic reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy, had mobilised N15.8 trillion in resources for the federation between June 2023 and December 2025.

Makinde, however, said the increase in minimum wage had not effectively tackled the economic hardship caused by the removal of the petrol subsidy.

“It’s been a very challenging period, economically. Yes, FAAC has gone up. But when I came in as governor, the first salary bill I signed was N4.5 billion,” he said.

“Today, the salary bill is N18 billion. The minimum wage as of the time I came was N18,000. Today, it is N80,000. But the N18,000 of that time can even buy more than what the current N70,000 can do today.

“That is the kind of voodoo economy that they have handed over to Nigeria.

“So, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), we have to sit down. Our people are challenged. That is the reality. The resources are limited.”

In view of the economic situation, the governor said his administration would extend its current wage award to workers across the state for another three months, while transport subsidies would also continue.

‘WHY IS HE SCARED OF HANDING OVER TO THE VICE PRESIDENT’

The governor also criticised Tinubu over what he described as the president’s failure to formally transfer power to Vice-President Kashim Shettima while away from the country.

Makinde compared the situation with his own recent annual vacation, during which he said he handed over to Bayo Lawal, his deputy.

“I went on vacation, but I handed over to my deputy governor. I am running to be the president of Nigeria because I have the capacity,” Makinde said.

“They’re trampling on the constitution of Nigeria. If the president is out of the country, why is he scared of handing over power to the vice-president?

“I went away for one month, but my team was able to carry the responsibility of running the state. So, tell him (Tinubu) to follow the constitution of Nigeria.

“He swore at the Eagle Square to abide by the constitution. If the president is not around, hand over the government to the vice-president. That is the constitution.”