Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Ismael Bennacer’s first-half goal gave AC Milan a slender advantage over Napoli in the first leg of their all-Italian Champions League quarter-final. The Algeria midfielder struck home from the edge of the area after Braham Diaz broke superbly on the halfway line. Napoli had Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa sent off in the second half and were well held by an organised Milan. Milan also came close to a second goal when Simon Kjaer’s header bounced off the underside of the bar. Napoli, in the Champions League last eight for the first time, were straight out of the traps, demonstrating a belief…

Chelsea have it all to do if they are to advance to the Champions League semi-finals after losing to holders Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. Karim Benzema’s tap-in – his 90th goal in the competition – gave Real boss Carlo Ancelotti the perfect start against his former club. Real Madrid struggled to add to their lead before Ben Chilwell was shown a straight red card in the 59th minute for fouling Rodrygo as the Brazil forward threatened to go clean through on goal. Chelsea produced a battling performance but Real scored what could be a decisive second goal when substitute…

An undisclosed number of construction workers have been reportedly trapped under the rubble of a seven-storey building that collapsed at First Avenue, Banana Island, Ikoyi area of Lagos. According to an eyewitness, some of the workers jumped from the top floors, just before the building collapsed. And some kids walking around the site narrowly escaped.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday presided over Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as President Muhammadu Buhari is away on official visit to Saudi Arabia. While in Saudi Arabia, Buhari will perform Umrah, the Lesser Pilgrimage. Before the council meeting commenced, Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, formally notified the meeting of the passing of former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Prince Bola Ajibola. The council then observed a minute silence in honour of late Ajibola, who died on April 8 at the age of 89. At the last meeting on April…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that supplementary elections for the Niger State House of Assembly seats in 15 polling units of four local government areas are set to hold. INEC stated that the supplementary elections will hold on Saturday, 15 April 2023. The confirmation was given by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Ahmed Yusha’u Garki, at a stakeholder meeting at INEC Headquarters in Minna. The councils affected include Agaie, Agwara, Rafi, and Rijau with Garki confirming that all arrangements are set for the conduct of the supplementary elections. The REC commended all stakeholders for their respective contributions to…

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday nullified and set aside the Ward and Local Government congresses purportedly conducted on February 7 by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kogi to nominate its candidate for the November governorship election. The court voided the two congresses because they were not conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 and the Constitution of the APC. Delivering judgment in a suit instituted by a group of aggrieved APC members led by Realwan Okpanachi, Justice James Omotosho barred the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from using the unlawful delegates list that emanated from…

The Federal Government (FG), in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), on Tuesday evacuated 152 Nigerians, who are stranded and lived as illegal immigrants in Libya, to Nigeria. The evacuated Nigerians whose return was facilitated under the FG-IOM Voluntary Repatriation Exercise, arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday evening. Amb. Kabiru Musa, Charge D’affiares en titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya, made this known in a statement made available to Newsman on Tuesday in Abuja. The Envoy noted that this is the third exercise the FG and IOM have carried out in 2023, with…

The National Population Commission (NPC) has postponed indefinitely, the training for Enumerators and Supervisors earlier slated for April 13. Dr Ipalibo Harry, Chairman Census Committee told Newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday. Henry assured that the postponement would not affect the conduct of the Population and Housing Census scheduled to hold from May 3 to May 7. He said that the commission was ready to conduct a credible census, adding that they had already concluded the training of Quality Data Managers and others. The census committee chairman said a new date for the training of the enumerators and supervisors would be…

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says the call for his arrest and prosecution for admonishing Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, over inciting the public to violence is unjustifiable. The minister stated this on Wednesday in London while reacting to the call by Elder Statesman and Leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, that he should be arrested and prosecuted for spreading “fake news” about Obi. Mohammed said he stood by his admonition of Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, insisting that his advice was never premised on falsehood. What will be my offence?…

The federal government has warned Nigerians against fake Industrial Trust Fund recruitment advertisements trending on social media. Mrs Suleyol Chagu, Director of the Public Affairs Department Industrial Trust Fund, ITF, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday. Chagu dismissed claims of ongoing recruitment in ITF. According to her, the viral advertisement on social media is an attempt to defraud some unsuspecting Nigerians. “These Individuals are only out to deceive and defraud the unsuspecting public. “They created a fake profile and page of the fund’s Director-General and Chief Executive on LinkedIn and Facebook using the telephone number 07025143825,” she said.

Many foreign commentators were surprised by the outcome of the 2023 Nigerian Presidential election due to their wrong mindset before the polls, the Federal Government has said. Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, disclosed this in London during his meeting with some international media organisations and Think Tanks. Mohammed is in London to defend the legitimacy of the 2023 presidential poll and correct certain narratives regarding the elections. He said some of the commentators had the wrong mindset that the Labour Party (LP) and its Presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, would win the election. “In the course of my…

Bundesliga giants, Bayern Munich are interested in luring Victor Osimhen away from Napoli this summer. According to Eurofoot, the Bavarian will offer around €100m for the Nigeria international. The German champions according to the report have already opened talks with Napoli over a deal. The Partenopei are expected to demand more than €100m for Osimhen, who they bought for €72m from Ligue 1 club, Lille in 2020. Bayern Munich are yet to replace Poland international Robert Lewandowski, who left the club for Barcelona last summer. Premier League clubs, Manchester United and Chelsea also have strong interest in Osimhen. The 24-year-old…