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  • Another Suspect Arrested Over Murder Of Nigerian Student In UK

    Another Suspect Arrested Over Murder Of Nigerian Student In UK

     

    The Metropolitan Police Service has said a second teenager has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of 14-year-old British-Nigerian, Eghosa Ogbebor, in the Woolwich area of London.

    The police disclosed this in a statement obtained on its website on Sunday, noting that the latest suspect, a 15-year-old boy whose identity was withheld for legal reasons, was arrested on Wednesday, May 6, and subsequently charged with murder.

    It had earlier reported that Eghosa was shot dead in Woolwich on April 2, with three teenagers initially arrested in connection with the incident.

    The Metropolitan Police had said officers responded to reports of the shooting at about 3:40 pm and met the victim with gunshot injuries. Despite efforts by emergency responders, he was confirmed dead at the scene.

    Giving an update, the police said the new suspect was scheduled to appear before the Barkingside Youth Court.

    The statement noted that investigations into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, April 2, commenced after officers were called to Lord Warwick Street following reports of a shooting.

    It added that officers, alongside paramedics from the London Ambulance Service, attended the scene and found Eghosa with severe injuries.

    The statement read, “A boy has been charged in connection with the murder of 14-year-old Eghosa Ogbebor in Woolwich.

    “An investigation was launched on Thursday, April 2, after police were called to Lord Warwick Street following reports of a shooting.

    “Officers attended with the London Ambulance Service and located Eghosa with serious injuries. He sadly died at the scene.”

    The Metropolitan Police added that Eghosa’s family continues to receive support from specially trained officers.

    The statement further disclosed that this is the second charge filed in connection with the killing.

    It noted that a 16-year-old boy from Romford had earlier been charged with murder on Friday, April 10, and was remanded in custody after appearing before the Thames Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, April 11.

    The police added that several other suspects arrested in connection with the case had been released on bail pending further investigations.

    “On Saturday, April 4, officers arrested a 19-year-old man in Woolwich on suspicion of murder. A 46-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. They have been released on bail pending further enquiries.

    “Two boys, aged 14 and 16, and an 18-year-old man, were arrested on Friday, April 3, in connection with Eghosa’s death. They have also been bailed pending further enquiries. The investigation remains ongoing,” the statement added

  • NPFL: Rangers maintain top spot, Wikki, Bayelsa United relegated 

    NPFL: Rangers maintain top spot, Wikki, Bayelsa United relegated 

    Enugu Rangers maintained their hunt for a ninth Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, title with a 2–1 home win over Bendel Insurance on Sunday.

    Former goal king Godwin Obaje netted a brace for the Flying Antelopes.

    Alex Oweifaleya was on target for Insurance in the game.

    Second-placed Rivers United kept the pressure on Rangers with a thrilling 3–2 away win over Wikki Tourists.

    Finidi George’s side fought back twice to win the game.

    Rangers have 65 points from 37 matches, while Rivers United have recorded 64 points from the same number of matches.

    The title will be decided on the final day, with Rangers travelling to Lagos to face Ikorodu City, while Rivers United will host Katsina United in Port Harcourt.

    Wikki Tourists were relegated to the Nigeria National League (NNL) following their defeat to Rivers United.

    Bayelsa United will also compete in the NNL next season after going down 2–1 to Remo Stars in Ikenne.

    NPFL: Rangers maintain top spot, Wikki, Bayelsa United relegated 

  • FirstHoldCo seeks shareholders’ approval on N1trn capital base in bold balance sheet fortification

    FirstHoldCo seeks shareholders’ approval on N1trn capital base in bold balance sheet fortification

    FirstHoldCo Plc, the parent entity of Nigeria’s oldest commercial lender (First Bank), is moving to double the regulatory capital ceiling for international banks, signaling a new phase of aggressive expansion and balance sheet fortification. In a notice for its 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for May 29, 2026, the group proposed a special resolution […]

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  • EPL: Arteta reacts to West Ham’s disallowed goal against Arsenal, hails referee

    EPL: Arteta reacts to West Ham’s disallowed goal against Arsenal, hails referee

    Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has reacted to West Ham United’s disallowed goal against his team during both sides’ Premier League tie on Sunday.

    Arteta hailed the match referee, Chris Kavanagh and his team, insisting that they were very brave to cancel Callum Wilson’s last-gasp goal.

    Speaking at his post-match interview after the game, Arteta said, “Today I’ve to congratulate them [the officials]. You need a lot of courage and bravery to stand out and give the opportunity to the referee to have a look at the action.

    “When you see the picture, there is no question that it is a clear foul. They were very brave.

    “The action deserved that. In my opinion, it is very clear. They’re the rules, and we ask for consistency.”

    EPL: Arteta reacts to West Ham’s disallowed goal against Arsenal, hails referee

  • Cyberbullying should not be encouraged in our society

    Cyberbullying should not be encouraged in our society

    CYBERBULLYING is becoming rampant in our society these days. Taking X, for instance, one cannot express him or herself without getting hit. There was the case of a friend of mine who was bullied and dragged on TikTok last year on her birthday. There were different hate comments regarding her appearance, which was a lot […]

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  • Banks Grow Earnings And Income Streams Despite Impact Of 2025 Provisions

    Banks Grow Earnings And Income Streams Despite Impact Of 2025 Provisions

    Nigeria’s banking sector is reaping the gains of a high-interest rate environment, posting its biggest interest income and gross earnings growth despite loan provision, which impacted earnings in 2025.

    According to the 2025 audited financial statements for Zenith Bank, First HoldCo, GTCO, Access Holdings Plc, UBA, FCMB Group, Stanbic IBTC, Wema Bank, Sterling Holdco, and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, the industry is thriving on elevated yields rather than broad-based credit growth.

    The financial data indicate that 70.7 percent of gross revenue came from interest income, underscoring how profitability is now tightly linked to monetary conditions. 29 percent was generated from non-interest income and trading /other income during the period.

    Collectively, the ten listed banks generated N26.3 trillion in gross revenue in 2025, representing a  11.9 percent increase from N23.5 trillion recorded in 2024. 

    Interest income surged to N18.6 trillion from N14.3 trillion, while non-interest income declined sharply to N7.74 trillion from N8.19 trillion.

    However, despite the growth across the Nigerian tier one and tier two income-generating streams, the total bank after-tax profit dipped by 7.36 percent as the bigger banks’ loan provisions rose due to the Covid-19 era forbearance exist in June 2025.

     

    Access HoldCo, Zenith, and FirstHoldco lead gross earnings growth 

     

    At the surface, Nigeria’s Tier-1 banks all grew. Gross earnings rose across the board, but the pace was modest. Access Holdings Plc led in scale and growth, expanding gross revenue to N5.52 trillion from N4.87 trillion, representing a 13.3 percent increase, adding the biggest absolute gain of N650 billion.

     

    Zenith Bank Plc followed with N4.07 trillion, a 6.5 percent increase from N3.82 trillion, while First HoldCo Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc posted steady but slower growth of 5.0 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively. GTCO rose marginally by 1.9 percent.

    In response to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reduction of the monetary policy rate in 2025, cutting it by 50 basis points in September from 27.5 percent to 27.0 percent, marking the first easing after several consecutive holds.

    This year, the apex bank further reduced the rate to 26.5 percent in a bid to support growth amid moderating inflation.

    Despite these cuts, banks were able to reprice loans and investment securities upward faster than their cost of funds, widening net interest margins.

    This investment in securities boosted their interest income, with Zenith and GTCO leading the pack as winners of the high-rate environment across the tier one. 

    Zenith’s interest income surged to N2.72 trillion from N1.14 trillion, a staggering 138.6 percent increase, adding N1.58 trillion alone. GTCO followed closely, jumping 148.6 percent from N531 billion to N1.32 trillion. These are not marginal gains; they represent a full repricing of their balance sheets, aggressively converting higher rates into earnings.

    Why Tier-1 banks’ profits declined despite strong earnings growth

    A review of results from Access Holdings, FirstHoldco, GTCO, UBA, and Zenith Bank shows that the decline was primarily driven by a sharp drop in net trading and foreign exchange gains, alongside a surge in impairment charges and operating expenses.

    Combined FX income fell by 53 percent to N1.52 trillion in 2025, down from N3.22 trillion in 2024, as the windfall gains recorded in the prior year following currency devaluation did not recur.

    While Access Holdings recorded a 40.33 percent increase in FX income to N1.23 trillion, most other banks saw steep declines. FirstHoldco’s FX income dropped by 90.75 percent to N47.2 billion, while Zenith Bank and GTCO recorded declines of 89.71 percent and 51.96 percent respectively.

    UBA reported a net FX loss of N140.6 billion, representing a full reversal from the N181.8 billion gain recorded in 2024. At the same time, operating expenses, including depreciation and amortization rose significantly across the board, increasing by 29.03 percent to N5.53 trillion in 2025 from N4.29 trillion in the prior year.

    Inflation continues to present a double-edged impact. Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 15.38 percent in March from 15.06 percent in February, reinforcing concerns about persistent price pressures and complicating the policy outlook ahead of the CBN’s May meeting.

    The latest data has weakened the case for near-term monetary easing, prompting analysts to expect a cautious stance from the central bank.

    Olayemi Cardoso, the CBN governor, warned that rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East particularly involving the United States, Israel, and Iran could influence Nigeria’s interest-rate decisions.

     

  • Selling and value engineering

    Selling and value engineering

    Selling is basic to every progressive movement. Business and selling are inseparable. Selling is indeed the pivot, the fulcrum, and the propelling power of change and progress. Today, I will be discussing selling from a progressive, side-by-side point of view with value engineering. The question is: how do we sell in this turbulent marketplace, which […]

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  • EPL: West Ham vs Arsenal might have decided title winners – Wenger

    EPL: West Ham vs Arsenal might have decided title winners – Wenger

    Legendary Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has claimed that the team’s 1-0 win at West Ham might have decided the Premier League title winners.

    The Gunners claimed a narrow win at the London Stadium, thanks to a late Leandro Trossard goal.

    Having played a game more, Mikel Arteta’s men are five points clear of Manchester City.

    Wenger, speaking on beinSPORTS, hailed Arsenal’s defensive stability and resilience.

    He said: “It was a difficult game, in the end it was very tense.

    “Once again, it is the defence who did their job, like most of the time.

    “This could be a decider for the championship.”

    EPL: West Ham vs Arsenal might have decided title winners – Wenger

  • Why I Beat Up My Daughter, Bbnaija Ilebaye’s Father Opened Up

    Why I Beat Up My Daughter, Bbnaija Ilebaye’s Father Opened Up

    Ilebaye Odiniya’s father is Hon. Emmanuel Odiniya (or Emmanuel Godson Odiniya), an Abuja-based politician and former Physical Health Education teacher from Kogi State

    “Ilebaye’s issue started after she left the Big Brother house. I want to put the record straight that what led to the incident wasn’t that I didn’t love my daughter, and she’s one of my best child.

    If you take records to the days back, you will know she attended one of the best schools. That is to let you know how much I love her.

    During her time on BBNaija, I contributed a lot and stood by my daughter, and made sure people voted for her massively. After she successfully came out and won, she changed.

    Ilebaye stopped listening to me. I will book her 5 to 6 times in a week and she wouldn’t give me audience. I saw a lot of things going wrong with her. She doesn’t want to listen to anyone again, to the extent that her mother disowned her at some point.

    I told my daughter the nature of friends she’s making doesn’t align with our culture, but my daughter still wouldn’t listen. My daughter will go and beautify her face, a child of 24/25, go for surgery to beautify her face and b&mbu&m.

    Each time I complain, problem will come and she will start insulting me, but I kept swallowing it. To a certain time, I couldn’t bear it any longer. I forced her to sit with me so I can caution her because she’s disappointing me too much.

    My daughter will insult to the extent that she will ask me, ‘Who am I? Am I a father?’ One day she took AC anger and h!t me with it till blood started gushing out of my body. Instead of her to run away, my daughter will face me as if she wants to beat me. That was why I was provoked, and determined I wouldn’t let it slide this time.

    Even if I need help, my daughter will never assist me. The most recent one I was not happy about was when I was supposed to go for medical check-up in Dubai.

    I told my daughter to borrow me money and that when I get back, I will pay her back. My daughter told me she doesn’t have, but a week before that, she went to one of her colleague’s wedding, whom they call Cross, to spend bundles.

    And again, the way she was going with one of my sons I have two sons, one is 14 and the other is 10, she adulterated the one of 14 with substance. I cried when the principal expelled him from school. I’m pleading with everyone to put me in prayers so Ilebaye can change for good…”

  • CIS strengthens market trust through advocacy ethical enforcement

    CIS strengthens market trust through advocacy ethical enforcement

    The outgoing 13th president and Chairman of the Council of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Oluropo Samuel Dada, FCS, is a seasoned investment professional. Having previously served as the Institute’s 2nd and 1st Vice President, he was elected president in July 2024. In this interview with Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba, he shares his perspectives on key […]

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