Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Manchester United are closing in on a massive takeover by INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe, but such a deal may raise even more questions from UEFA. With multi-club ownership rules forbidding two connected teams from competing in a UEFA competition, United may be drawn into a debate with another INEOS-owned outfit, Ligue 1 side Nice, who are flying this season. Amid speculation that United could face a ban from the Champions League if the INEOS takeover goes through, here’s a closer look into the situation. Article 5 of UEFA’s Champions League regulations state that no club in any UEFA competition…

English football’s only openly gay professional male footballer, has described Jordan Henderson’s move to Saudi Arabia as a “slap in the face” after the midfielder’s previous work advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. Daniels, a forward for Blackpool in England’s League One, spoke to the BBC about Henderson’s transfer, noting the former Liverpool player sent him a message of support when he came out in May 2022. “He was backing me and said: ‘We’re proud of what you’ve done,'” Daniels said. “Seeing him move to Saudi, it kind of like, slaps me in my face really. “But I guess the money pays well, and money must mean more…

The National Teachers Institute (NTI), Kaduna, has asked for an increase in the federal government’s budgetary allocation for education. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday following the conclusion of a three-day conference held at the NTI headquarters in Kaduna. The theme of the conference was “Re-directing the Focus of Education Stakeholders Towards Modern Process of Producing Competent, Dedicated and Professional Teachers in Nigeria”. The statement, signed by Prof. Musa Garba-Maitafsir, Director of the Institute, said the upward review will help to improve infrastructure, delivery and overall educational quality, among other things. ‘’There should be an improvement in…

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the election of Abdullahi Sule as the Governor of Nasarawa State. The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of justices, voided the verdict of the Nasarawa state governorship election petition tribunal, which sacked Sule, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Delivering judgement, the three-member panel, led by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, held that the tribunal erred in law in concluding that Governor Sule did not win majority of the votes cast in the election. The Court further held that the governor was denied a fair hearing. Recall that…

Harry Maguire has accepted an apology from the Ghanaian Member of Parliament who previously ridiculed him. Maguire has often faced significant criticism for his performances after becoming the world’s most expensive defender upon moving to United back in the summer of 2019. Though such disapproval has come from all corners of the globe on various platforms, he would have been surprised to hear his name tarnished in Ghanaian parliament last year. In December 2022, MP Isaac Adongo claimed that Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia was the ‘economic Maguire’ due to the Bawumia’s New Patriotic Party budget mismanagement. But in parliament on…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has tasked the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to seek ways of deepening the consumption of locally produced petroleum products. He also called for the establishment of modular refineries, as well as the renovation of existing ones “to create a multiplier effect which will include the creation of jobs for our teeming youths and more security for the country.” He spoke when the Group Managing Director of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, led the management team on a courtesy visit to him at the National Assembly yesterday. Akpabio said the Red Chamber would partner…

The Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, says it has sacked and demoted a number of staff found to have been involved in tickets racketeering. Fidet Okhiria, the NRC Managing Director, said this at the interactive session of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance on the 2024–2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, MTEF/FSP, in Abuja on Wednesday. He said the corporation was working with the security agencies to address the menace. James Faleke, the chairman of the committee, expressed worry over the meager N345 million revenue remitted by the corporation in 2023. “Our concern is that if we expect…

The Legal Attache of the American Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, in Nigeria, Mr. Jack Smith has applauded the appointment of Mr. Ola Olukoyede as Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. He gave the commendation on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 in Abuja while on a courtesy visit to the corporate headquarters of the EFCC. Smith said that he made personal efforts to study the antecedents of Olukoyede and found out that he has impressive credentials to lead the EFCC.  “I came to congratulate you on your appointment. I did my home work and research and I…

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has urged the Federal Government to use Nigeria’s diplomatic links with Finland to extradite Biafran agitator Simon Ekpa, whom the military has charged with instigating the unrest in the Southeast. On Tuesday, General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, claimed that Ekpa, who is currently based in Finland, was undermining the work of security officers in the Southeast. Speaking on Tuesday in the House of Representatives, Musa said that “Simon Ekpa is sabotaging our efforts in the Southeast,” adding that the agitator was using Finland as a shield. However, the Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, said…

The GCEO of NNPC Ltd., Mele Kyari said the Company has already made a robust plan for the supply of petroleum products especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, sufficient to last beyond the ember months and the new year festivities. Kyari disclosed this when he led an NNPC Ltd. delegation on a courtesy visit to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, at the National Assembly in Abuja, on Wednesday. “By the creation of the National Assembly, NNPC Ltd. is saddled with the responsibility of guaranteeing Nigeria’s energy security which is critical to national security. We have made…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after participating in the G20 German Summit in Berlin, Germany. Tinubu was received upon his return by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike; his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje. After participating in the summit, the Nigerian leader met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Tinubu also said he witnessed the signing of two agreements between Nigeria and Germany at the German-Nigeria Business Forum on Tuesday in Berlin. The president said a major gas export deal and a…

The Lagos Coroner Court sitting at Ita-Elewa, Ikorodu, on Wednesday, said the most crucial aspect of an autopsy to determine the cause of death of late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, is being conducted in the United States of America (USA). The state counsel, O. Akinde, told the Coroner Magistrate, Adetayo Shotobi, that the autopsy into the external body of the deceased had been completed. Akinde made this known following the insistence of other counsel to the father of the deceased, David Fadimu, that of TNKay Music Worldwide, David Nawoola, and representative of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)…