Author: starconnect
King tells the world: “Nobody is above the law” By THE SCM REPORTER 19 Feb 2026 THE disgraced former Prince Andrew was dramatically ARRESTED today as police swooped on his home on his 66th birthday. In a dawn raid that has rocked the Monarchy to its core, six unmarked police vehicles and eight plain-clothes officers arrived at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate to take the man now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor into custody. The arrest follows explosive allegations that the former “Air Miles Andy” used his role as a UK trade envoy to leak confidential government…
Admin I Thursday, February 19.26 LAGOS, Nigeria – When the final runner crossed the finish line at the 11th edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon (ABLCM), the applause began to fade. But for hundreds of workers across Lagos, the real work was just beginning. Major highways had been closed to facilitate the event. Tens of thousands of runners moved through the city in a coordinated surge of athletic endurance. Thousands of bottles of water and energy drinks were distributed, alongside sachets containing essential medical supplies and medication. The race route itself was meticulously prepared, lined with…
BY OUR FOREIGN DESK IT was supposed to be a moment of divine favor—but it turned into a right royal mess for Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te. The Taiwanese leader was left reaching for the dry cleaners yesterday after the Chairman of the country’s State Temple turned him into a human splash zone. President Lai was in the middle of a high-profile traditional ceremony, handing out “lucky bags” filled with snacks and treats to eager crowds. But the atmosphere turned from festive to foul in a split second when the Temple’s top official suddenly lost his lunch. Witnesses watched in…
Titus Eleweke, South East Editor AWKA, Anambra – The First Lady of Anambra State, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo, has felicitated with Christian and Muslim faithful as they commence the sacred seasons of Lent and Ramadan, describing the periods as profound opportunities for spiritual renewal and moral rebirth. In a statement personally issued on Wednesday, Mrs. Soludo noted that the holy months present unique moral and spiritual opportunities for adherents of both faiths, urging them to renew their commitment to love, peace, and selflessness. She described the sacred periods as important spiritual obligations during which acts of faith are measured…
Admin I Thursday, February 19.26 LAGOS, Nigeria – Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc (“Sterling HoldCo” or “the Group”) has announced the commencement of the allotment process for its 2025 Public Offer of 12,581,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at ₦7.00 per share. This follows the earlier receipt of final approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the recent clearance by the Securities & Exchange Commission. The allotment process, which begins immediately, marks the continuation of a disciplined, multi-year capital-raising programme that has positioned the Group as one of the fastest-growing financial institutions in the region.…
By SCM Correspondent, Abuja ABUJA, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu has signed a landmark executive order that effectively strips the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited of its controversial revenue-retention powers, marking the most significant overhaul of the country’s energy fiscal regime since 2021. The directive, which was gazetted on February 13, 2026, aims to curb “unjustified” financial leakages by mandating that billions of dollars in oil and gas proceeds flow directly into the Federation Account rather than being diverted through the state-owned firm’s balance sheet. Under the previous framework of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, NNPC Limited…
Admin I Wednesday, February 18.26 ABUJA – In a landmark move for Africa’s largest democracy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially signed the Amended Electoral Act 2026 into law. The signing ceremony, held at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday, marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s voting landscape as the country prepares for crucial off-cycle elections and the 2027 general polls. President Tinubu was flanked by the upper echelons of the National Assembly, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House Tajudeen Abbas, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu. In a notable show of cross-party representation, the ceremony also…
Admin I Wednesday, February 18.26 LAGOS, Nigeria – Following the recently held Court-Ordered Meeting and subsequent overwhelming endorsement, the merger and business combination between Unity Bank Plc and Providus Bank Limited remains firmly on course. Analysts appraising the ongoing recapitalisation programme believe that the regulatory backing and shareholders’ support for the merger represent the most important milestones for meeting the recapitalisation requirements within the stipulated timeline. Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) backed the merger between the two lenders, with a pivotal financial accommodation to support the transaction. The merger also received a further boost with a…
Admin I Wednesday, February 18.26 TEHRAN’S top diplomat has launched a blistering attack on European leaders, accusing them of “deafening silence” over Israel’s suspected nuclear weapons. In a series of explosive comments, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed the West is turning a blind eye to an “atomic threat” while hammering Iran over its own energy program. The firebrand minister didn’t hold back, claiming the “Israeli regime” has been “committing the most atrocious crimes for eight decades with full impunity.” Speaking from Tehran, Araghchi fumed: “There is no crime it has not committed and no red line it…
By SCM REPORTER SPANISH PM Pedro Sánchez has sparked a border row after announcing a massive plan to legalize 600,000 undocumented migrants. The left-wing leader says the three-year “amnesty” will help the country’s economy—but top cops have warned the real number of people getting residency could explode to a staggering 1.3 MILLION. Under the controversial new decree, hundreds of thousands of people currently living in the shadows will be handed work permits and residency papers. Sánchez claims the move is an “investment in dignity” to fill labor shortages in the sun-drenched nation. But a leaked report from the National…
