Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

The House of Representatives has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and other security agencies to secure the safe release of the seven National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted by bandits. This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Unyime Idem (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and eight others at the Plenary on Tuesday. Presenting the motion, Idem recalled that eight corps members from Akwa Ibom State were abducted on August 17  by gunmen in Zamfara State while on their way to their Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) and their abductors had demanded N200 million. He…

Due to the spread of diphtheria in 18 states including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, the Federal Government is said to be considering the use of face masks to curtail the spread of the disease. Confirmed cases of diphtheria have risen to over 8,000 with Kano State being the epic centre of the contagious disease with 7,188 cases. Cases have been recorded in Yobe ( 775), Katsina (232), Borno (118), Jigawa (23), Bauchi (20), Lagos (8), Kaduna (17), FCT (6), Gombe (5), Osun (3), Sokoto (3), Niger (2). Cross River, Enugu, Imo, Nasarawa, Kebbi and Zamfara states have recorded one…

Pope Francis has suggested he would be open to having the Catholic Church bless same-sex couples. Responding to a group of cardinals who asked him for clarity on the issue, he said any request for a blessing should be treated with “pastoral charity”. “We cannot be judges who only deny, reject and exclude,” he said. He added, however, that the Church still considered same-sex relationships “objectively sinful” and would not recognise same-sex marriage. The request was one of a number sent to the Pope ahead of a weeks-long global gathering to discuss the future of the Church, set to get…

Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, said it has detained singer, Mr. Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, amid investigation into the death of late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad. The information was relayed by Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin on his X handle. “Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, has been taken into custody for interrogation and other investigation activities.” Mohbad passed away on September 12 and was buried the following day. On September 21, the police exhumed his corpse for autopsy and are awaiting the results. On September 18, the Lagos Police Command inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe Mohbad’s…

Manchester United’s woeful season lurched from one damaging loss to another as Galatasaray took advantage of some calamitous defending to record a comeback Champions League win at Old Trafford. Ten-man United led twice through young striker Rasmus Hojlund, the second a brilliant effort as the 20-year-old took advantage of Davinson Sanchez’s slip to race 50 yards and beat Fernando Muslera with a deft finish. But the hosts could only hold their advantage for a combined 10 minutes, as first old-boy Wilfried Zaha, then Kerem Akturkoglu levelled. Then, after Mauro Icardi had failed to convert the penalty that followed a terrible…

Jude Bellingham further enhanced his status as Real Madrid’s star player, scoring and assisting as they beat Italian champions Napoli at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in the Champions League. The England midfielder carried the ball from 40 yards out, charged deep into Napoli’s defensive third and then proceeded to weave his way through their backline before curling a shot cutely into the bottom right corner to give his side a 2-1 lead at half-time. Defender Leo Ostigard had earlier put Napoli in front in the 19th minute, reacting quickest to head in after Natan’s effort came back off the crossbar,…

The audio recordings of discussions between the match officials around Luis Diaz’s disallowed goal against Tottenham have been made public. Liverpool asked the Premier League for the audio after the controversy in the first half of their 2-1 defeat. Video assistant referee Darren England did not overrule when Liverpool’s Diaz was wrongly flagged offside. In the audio, England says the check is “perfect” before swearing when he realises a mistake has been made. Following the incident in Saturday’s Premier League game, Liverpool said “sporting integrity has been undermined”. In a statement on Sunday, the club said they will “explore the…

The Nigerian Senate has amended its standing orders to prevent first-term Senators from running for the positions of Senate President and Deputy Senate President. The amendment, which revised Rule 3(2) (1-3) of the Senate Standing Orders, came after a motion was proposed by Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele. With this change, first-term Senators are now ineligible to contest for the top leadership positions in the upper chamber. The amended Rule 3 now states that any Senator aspiring to become the Senate President or Deputy Senate President must have completed at least one term in the Senate. This decision appears to be…

Eddie Howe has said Newcastle must contain their emotions when they face Paris St-Germain at St James’ Park in the Champions League on Wednesday. Newcastle drew 0-0 at AC Milan in their opening group game last month. Wednesday marks their first Champions League home game since a 2-0 loss against Barcelona in 2003. “I can’t wait to experience the home atmosphere and what our fans create,” said Howe. “I think it will be a really memorable night and hopefully our performance will make it that way, too. “The fans will bring their positivity, noise, enthusiasm and love for the game. It’s up to…

Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze is facing six weeks out after sustaining a hamstring injury in the win against Manchester United. Eze was substituted just before the full-time whistle as Palace beat United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday. Palace are also missing winger Michael Olise, 21, for an extended period after he injured his hamstring again. Eze had played every minute of the new Premier League season before he was taken off at the weekend. Roy Hodgson’s Palace face Nottingham Forest in the top flight on Saturday, followed by games against Newcastle and Tottenham at the end of October after…

A 23-year-old lady, Fiddausi Ahmadu is currently in the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS) for threatening to stage a suicide bomb attack on an election Tribunal judge alongside all those she felt were responsible for the victory of Kano All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, at the tribunal. A reliable source in the service confirmed her arrest, saying steps were being made to arraign her before the court. Fiddausi issued the treat in video she posted on her social media handle attacking the tribunal’s lead judge, Vice-President Kashim Shetima, Gawuna among others. The lady, who spoke in…

President Bola Tinubu has replaced Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, a former Ministerial nominee from Kaduna State with Balarabe Abbas. Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced this while reading a letter from the president on Tuesday. In the letter, the president sought the confirmation of Abbas, Jamila Bio and Olawale Olawande. While Bio and Olawande have been assigned portfolios of Minister of Youths and Minister of State for Youths respectively, none has been assigned to Abbas. The new nominee served as Secretary to the State government under El-Rufai. He also headed the transition committee of the state in 2015 and served as the…