First Bank

Monday, March 13, 2023

How Gambian children died from toxic cough syrup

 

Ebrima Saidy's three-year-old daughter Adama had a fever in September 2022.

Saidy bought some paracetamol syrup from a local pharmacy in Gambia, hoping it would help bring his daughter's temperature down.

But instead, Adama's fever spiked after taking the syrup.

Nine days later, she died in the hospital.

"When she passed away, I had to go hold her, kiss her forehead, crying bitterly. The doctor said to me, consoling me, 'She is gone, she is gone, so you just have to take heart.' It wasn't easy for me. It wasn't an easy moment."

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Train crashes into bus in Lagos - officials

 

At least three people died in Lagos, Nigeria when a train collided with a public bus.

That's according to an official at the National Emergency Management Agency.

Security guard Ubong Okon witnessed the aftermath of the crash.

"I came out to open the gate, then I saw the train and the bus, I looked inside the bus, there were lots of passengers inside, I went inside and saw people with injuries, there was blood everywhere, then I started to help get people inside the bus out."

Social media footage showed the moment the bus was craned off of the railway track.

Dozens of others were injured and taken to hospital.

Buses of the type involved in the crash can seat about 40 people at full capacity and up to 100 when passengers are standing.

Friday, February 24, 2023

Police arrest Rivers Rep member with $498,100


Days after his Television and Radio Stations were allegedly bombed by gunmen, Dr Chinyere Igwe, a member of the House of Representatives has been arrested with a bundle of dollars along Ana Road, Port Harcourt very early on Friday morning.

The police while confirming Igwe’ss arrest gave the total sum as 498,100 USD, along with a list of people the monies are meant for.

Reports has it that the Atlantic Television Network and Wish FM 99.5 located in the same building in Ozuoba, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State were attacked with dynamites, with many properties destroyed.

The State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said Igwe was nabbed during a stop and search operation by operatives deployed to the Independent National Electoral Commission office along Aba Road in Port Harcourt.

Sunday, February 19, 2023

No N400 Billion nor EFCC raid on Tinubu's house - EFCC


The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a report circulating in a social media, claiming that operatives of the Commission raided the home of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubustandard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the forthcoming presidential elections and recovered a humongous sum of N400billion.

The Commission wishes to state that no such operation was carried out by the EFCC. The public is enjoined to disregard the report as fake news.


Friday, February 17, 2023

We did not authorize banks to receive old N500 and N1000 notes - CBN



The Central Bank of Nigeria revealed it did not authorize Banks to collect old N500 and N1000 notes.

This was disclosed in a statement on Friday.

CBN describes the report as fake

CBN said: “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria has been drawn to some fake and unauthorized messages quoting the CBN as having authorized the Deposit Money Banks to collect the old N500 and N1,000 Banknotes.

“For the avoidance of doubt, and in line with Mr. President’s broadcast of February 16, 2023, the CBN has been directed to ONLY reissue and recirculates the old N200 banknotes and this is expected to circulate as legal tender for 60 days up to April 10, 2023.”

Reports emerged that the CBN had given the directive, just 24 hours after President Buhari ordered the re-circulation of older N200 Notes.


Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Fashion meets politics at Nigeria election campaign events


Too stylish for political party t-shirts and caps, some fashionistas in Nigeria are donning the colours and faces of their preferred candidates for a presidential election this month.

Ahead of the Feb. 25 vote, political rallies have become catwalks for colourful printed fabrics twisted into elaborate dresses, tunics and headscarves.

For many, it is also an opportunity to wear traditional dresses rather than the Western attire most city dwellers use for work and daily life.

Friday, February 10, 2023

Fuel and cash shortages rile Nigerian voters heading into election


At a fuel station in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, tempers flare and harsh words are exchanged as motorists wait in line for hours to fill up their tanks at one of the few outlets with petrol left in the vicinity.

Recurring fuel shortages in Africa's top oil producer are adding to voter frustration as Nigeria prepares to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on February 25. They are a stark example of the economic hardships that have dogged Nigeria for years, including surging inflation, widespread unemployment and acute shortages of foreign exchange that have severely weakened the naira currency.

"People are suffering, there is no money, there is no food," said Titus Nwafor, a 53-year-old bus driver as he waited to fill up at the Lagos station.

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Beyonce earns $320k per minute for Dubai Performance


After more than four years of absence from the stage, Beyonce performed her first live show alongside her daughter Blue Ivy. 

The Grammy-winning star gave a nearly 75-minute performance, Saturday, during the launch of Dubai’s newest luxury hotel The Atlantis Royal.

Nairametrics gathered that the superstar earned $320 for every minute she was on stage, totalling $24 million according to Marca. 

A luxury event: Video footage of the show flooded the internet on Sunday despite a strict no-phones policy at the exclusive event. 

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Labour Party National Chairman Drags Arise Television to Court for Defamation


...Seek One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira damages

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Com. Julius Abure has dragged Arise Television to court for slanderous comments made against him on air.

In Suit No: B/35/2023 filed before High Court of Edo State by his counsel President Aigbokhan, Esq on 18th January, 2023, made available to the press, the chairman stated that he has been defamed more than twice by the television station.

The chairman stated that his attention was drawn to the television’s Morning Show interview granted to the former National Publicity Secretary of Labour Party Mr. Arabambi who has been sacked from the party. The claim of the chairman shows that the Television station broadcasted defamatory statement against him on 11th day of December 2022 through the interview of the party former publicity secretary without cross checking the facts with the party or inviting the party representative for such an interview.

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Swiss court hears Liberia war crimes appeal


A Liberian man convicted of 22 counts of war crimes - including rape, murder and an act of cannibalism - is seeking to overturn the judgement in Switzerland on Wednesday (January 11).

Alieu Kosiah was a rebel commander fighting against former President Charles Taylor's army in the 1990s.

In 2021 he was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Switzerland's first-ever war crimes trial.

Sunday, January 8, 2023

Bus crash kills dozens in Senegal

Thirty-eight people have died and around 80 been wounded in central Senegal after two buses collided in the early hours of Sunday (January 8) morning, local officials and President Macky Sall have said in statements.

The crash is one of the deadliest in the West African country's recent memory.

It took place near the town of Kaffrine about 137 miles southeast of the capital Dakar.

Sall said on Twitter that he was "profoundly saddened" by the accident.

He announced three days of mourning, starting on Monday (January 9).

According to the area's local prosecutor the accident occurred after a tire burst on one of the passenger buses, sending it into the path of another coming in the opposite direction.

Road accidents are common in Senegal where large trucks and buses, often decades old and overburdened, hurtle down two-lane highways pitted and rutted by overuse.