Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Wike Tells Atiku To Abandon 2027 Presidential Aspirations. Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to forgo any ambitions of securing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket for the 2027 election. In a live media briefing held in Abuja, Wike asserted that the PDP would not waste its ticket on candidates he described as “serial betrayers,” alluding to Atiku’s past actions within the party. Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2023, recently responded to Wike’s statements by pointing out his previous victories over the Minister, referencing his success in…

President Tinubu Appoints Bwala And Others To Key Roles In Government. President Bola Tinubu has appointed three new directors-general for various federal agencies and a special adviser for public communications and media. This announcement was made on Thursday, with the appointments aimed at strengthening the leadership of key sectors in Nigeria. The appointments include: 1. Mr. Olawale Olopade – Director-General, National Sports Commission 2. Dr. Abisoye Fagade – Director-General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism 3. Dr. Adebowale Adedokun – Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement 4. Mr. Daniel Bwala – Special Adviser on Public Communications and Media (State House)…

Trump Appoints Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As US Health Secretary. US President-elect Donald Trump has announced the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). The decision was shared on Thursday via Trump’s social media account, X (formerly Twitter). Trump praised Kennedy’s commitment to tackling public health issues, emphasising that the new administration aims to prioritise the safety and health of Americans. He stated, “The safety and health of all Americans is the most important role of any administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be…

US Hacker Sentenced To Five Years For $4.5 Billion Bitcoin Heist And Laundering Scheme. Ilya Lichtenstein, the US hacker involved in one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts in history, has been sentenced to five years in prison. Lichtenstein, who pleaded guilty last year, was convicted of laundering nearly 120,000 stolen Bitcoin from the Bitfinex cryptocurrency exchange hack in 2016. At the time of the theft, the Bitcoin was valued at $70 million (£55.3 million) but soared to more than $4.5 billion by the time Lichtenstein and his wife, Heather Morgan, were arrested. Today, the stolen Bitcoin would be worth…

Super Eagles Secure 2025 AFCON Qualification Thanks To Libya’s Victory. Nigeria’s Super Eagles have officially qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following Libya’s 1-0 win over Rwanda on Thursday. The result means that the Super Eagles, currently with 10 points in their group, are now uncatchable, as second-placed Rwanda trail by four points with only one match remaining. The Nigerian team can now look forward to AFCON without the pressure of their final qualifier against Benin Republic. This marks another proud achievement for the Super Eagles, who are aiming to add to their illustrious history in…

Claudio Ranieri Appointed As Roma Head Coach Until Season’s End. Veteran manager Claudio Ranieri has come out of retirement to take charge of Roma until the end of the season, just six months after stepping away from management. The 73-year-old will also serve in an advisory capacity, helping Roma’s ownership in their search for a permanent manager. Following this temporary role, Ranieri is set to transition into a senior executive position at the club. Ranieri’s appointment follows the dismissal of Ivan Juric, who was sacked after only 12 matches in charge. Juric’s tenure began in early October, succeeding Daniele de…

France Ramps Up Security For High-Risk France-Israel Football Match Amid Tensions. In response to recent violence involving Israeli football fans in Amsterdam, France is deploying thousands of police officers to ensure security for Thursday’s high-profile UEFA Nations League match between France and Israel at the Stade de France. Paris Police Chief Laurent Nuñez announced a significant security presence, with 4,000 officers on patrol, including 2,500 stationed at the stadium in the northern Paris suburbs. The operation includes additional personnel on public transport and throughout the capital, while an elite anti-terrorist unit will safeguard the visiting Israeli team. Nuñez described…

Fear Strikes Ikorodu As Armed Robbers Open Fire On Civilians. Residents of the Laketu area in Ikorodu, Lagos State, were thrown into chaos last night around 8 p.m. when four armed robbers opened fire on unsuspecting bystanders. The harrowing incident, reminiscent of a scene from a thriller, left the community in shock. The night was settling peacefully as citizens wrapped up their daily routines, but the calm was abruptly shattered by gunfire. According to eyewitness accounts, the armed men began firing after a trailer unknowingly obstructed their path. In a frantic attempt to escape, the robbers unleashed a barrage…

NNPC Announces Key Leadership Appointments In Major Reshuffle. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has undertaken a significant restructuring of its leadership team, appointing Adedapo Segun as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and announcing other strategic roles aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s energy sector. In a statement released on Wednesday, Chief Corporate Communications Officer Olufemi Soneye confirmed that Segun, who previously served as Executive Vice President (EVP) of Downstream Operations, will now step into the role of CFO. His prior contributions to the company’s downstream sector have been recognised as instrumental in driving operational success. Other…

Appeal Court Disqualifies Labour Party’s Governorship Candidate For Ondo 2024 Election. The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ruled to disqualify Olusola Ebiseni as the Labour Party’s candidate in the upcoming Ondo State governorship election, scheduled for Saturday, 16 November 2024. The ruling, delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Hamma Barka and read by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, upheld an appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024, effectively barring Ebiseni from participating in the election. Justice Banjoko stated that a Certified True Copy of the judgment would be provided to all involved parties for review. Justice Abba Mohammed supported the panel’s unanimous…

Macron And Starmer Reaffirm ‘Unwavering’ Support For Ukraine In Face Of Russian Aggression. In a show of solidarity, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer have vowed their continued support for Ukraine to counteract Russia’s ongoing invasion. Meeting in Paris on Armistice Day, the two leaders reiterated their commitment to backing Ukraine “for as long as necessary,” amidst mounting challenges for European security. The meeting, held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris to mark Armistice Day, saw Macron personally inviting Starmer as a guest of honour. This marked a symbolic moment, as…

FIFA To Introduce New ‘Football Video Support’ System, Allowing Coaches To Challenge Referee Decisions. In a landmark move aimed at enhancing fairness in football, FIFA is reportedly developing a new system called Football Video Support (FVS) that would allow coaches to challenge refereeing decisions. The concept, modelled somewhat after challenge systems used in other sports, would empower coaches to request video reviews of decisions they believe to be incorrect. Under the FVS system, teams would be able to signal for a review when they disagree with a particular ruling on the pitch. While details are still emerging, it’s expected…