Headline

NPC Bill: Our Motive Is To Make Money From Journalists, Media Houses – Executive Secretary

Published

5 years ago

October 27, 2021

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council, Henry Nwosu has explained the reasons for requesting payments for the registration of journalists and media houses

He said the Council had wanted to use the registration of journalists and media houses to generate funds, noting that it needs the licence fees of journalists and media houses to survive without depending on the federal government for support.

Recall that the federal government had tried to use the press council bill to regulate the media.

In July 2021, the bill, alongside others like the National Broadcasting Commission bill, was met with resistance from the press.

Nwosu disclosed this during budget defence organized by the committee on information, national orientation, ethics and values.

It would be recalled that the chairman of the committee, Segun Odebunmi sponsored the draconian anti-media bills.

At the hearing on Wednesday, Mr Nwosu said the “Journalists are to register with the council, have a licence to operate. That way we can have some funds for the coffers of the council. These are the ideas we are thinking can help instead of depending entirely on the federal government for revenue; we can generate some amount every year from the registration of journalists and the registrations of media houses.”

He appealed to lawmakers to enact laws that will ensure that media houses and journalists are mandated to get registration from the council.

Odebunmi further claimed the committee was committed to regulating the media, but the regulation will only be a product of broad consultation with all the stakeholders.

He stressed that the committee will get funding from the House to embark on the consultation drive.

Headline

Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges

Published

5 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.

Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.

Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.

He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.

According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.

The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.

“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.

Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.

The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.

Headline

Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran

Published

6 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.

“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.

“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.

Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.

Headline

US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran

Published

6 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.

The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.

A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.

The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.

Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.

Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.