Author: Olukayode Oke

Court Dismisses Contractor’s Application To Halt $65 Million Money Laundering Case. A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an application filed by Mr. Tarry Rufus, Chief Executive Officer of Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited, seeking to prevent the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) from prosecuting him in a $65 million money laundering case. Presiding over the case, Honourable Justice Yilwa H. Joseph ruled that evidence presented during investigations demonstrated a prima facie case against Mr. Rufus, along with Mr. Gimba Kumo Ya’u (former Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria) and Mr.…

Obasanjo: Only Leaders Ordained By God Will Succeed. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has asserted that leaders who are either self-made or enthroned by Satan are bound to fail. Speaking during a Zoom programme, Boiling Point Arena, hosted by a radio station in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo emphasised that leadership ordained by God has a greater likelihood of success. While rejecting the notion that all leaders are divinely chosen, he clarified that leadership can also emerge from malevolent influences. “Most leaders are prepared by God and put in place by Him. When that happens, the chances of success are…

Premier League Referee David Coote Dismissed After Investigation. Premier League referee David Coote has been dismissed by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) following a “thorough investigation” into allegations of misconduct. The 42-year-old official was suspended on 11 November after a video allegedly showing him making derogatory remarks about Liverpool and their former manager, Jürgen Klopp, surfaced on social media. Days later, further allegations emerged when photos published by *The Sun* reportedly depicted Coote using a white powder during the summer’s European Championship. In a statement, the PGMOL described Coote’s actions as a “serious breach” of…

Assad Toppled As Rebels Capture Damascus, Ending Nearly A Decade Of Rule. In a dramatic turn of events, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been removed from power following the capture of Damascus by rebel forces. The fall of Syria’s long-time leader marks the end of nearly a decade of his rule, sustained by Russian military intervention since 2015. Assad, along with his family, has reportedly fled to Moscow, where the Kremlin has granted them asylum on “humanitarian grounds.” The sudden collapse of his government has sent shockwaves through Syria and the broader Middle East, bringing to an end a regime…

Formula 1 Prepares For Thrilling 2025 Season: Big Changes, New Drivers, and Exciting Milestones. The curtain has closed on the record-breaking 2024 Formula 1 season, which saw Max Verstappen secure his fourth drivers’ title and McLaren celebrate their first Constructors’ Championship since 1998. With the 2025 season marking the 75th anniversary of the Formula 1 World Championship, anticipation is already building for what promises to be an electrifying year on the grid.  Hamilton Joins Ferrari One of the most anticipated moves is Lewis Hamilton’s switch from Mercedes to Ferrari. After a glittering 12-year stint with Mercedes, where he…

Missing 4-Year-Old Found Safe By Police In Abuja. A four-year-old child, Hope Evans, who was declared missing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has been safely rescued by police operatives in Abuja. Spokeswoman for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the development on Saturday. She disclosed that the child had been reported missing by his mother, Ms Lydia Jonah Gabriel, on 31 October 2024.  Incident Details  The child disappeared after being lured away from his primary school in Azube, Port Harcourt, by a suspect identified as Blessing Okoi. According to SP Adeh, the suspect…

Chelsea Close Gap On Liverpool As Premier League Title Race Heats Up. Chelsea secured a thrilling 4-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, moving into second place and reducing Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to just four points. Despite this achievement, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca maintained his stance that his young squad is not yet ready to contend for the title. The win marks Chelsea’s ninth in 15 matches, highlighting their strong form this season. However, Maresca remains cautious about raising expectations, insisting that his side still has room for growth. Tottenham’s Struggles Continue…

Tinubu Congratulates Ghana’s President-elect John Mahama On Election Victory. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, on his victory in the recently concluded general elections. The commendation followed a concession speech by Mahama’s main opponent, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice-President of Ghana and candidate of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP). In a telephone conversation with Mahama, President Tinubu expressed optimism that his return to leadership would bolster stability within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He commended the Ghanaian people for their steadfast commitment to democracy, as evidenced by the peaceful and…

Nigeria’s VAT Collection Reaches Record N1.78 Trillion In Q3 2024. The Nigerian government has achieved a remarkable milestone, collecting a total of N1.78 trillion in Value Added Tax (VAT) during the third quarter of 2024, according to a report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This represents a 14.16% quarter-on-quarter increase compared to the N1.56 trillion collected in Q2 2024 and an impressive 88% year-on-year growth from Q3 2023. The report highlighted three key revenue streams contributing to the N1.78 trillion VAT collections: – Local VAT Payments: N922.87 billion – Foreign VAT Payments: N448.85 billion -…

New Political Movement ‘The Alternative’ Aims To Reshape Nigeria’s 2027 Elections. A fresh political platform, known as The Alternative, has emerged with an ambitious vision to challenge Nigeria’s political status quo and secure power in the 2027 general elections. The movement was officially unveiled in Jos during the North Central Zone National Opposition Movement town hall meeting held at the Fox Hotel. Segun Sowunmi, a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State and convener of The Alternative, outlined the movement’s objectives, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction with Nigeria’s existing political structure. He described The Alternative as…

Ministry Of Health Raises Alert On New XEC COVID-19 Variant. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has issued a formal notice regarding the detection of a new COVID-19 variant, designated XEC. In a letter addressed to the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors, the Ministry highlighted concerns about the variant’s rapid spread and potential public health implications. The XEC variant has been reported in Australia and has already spread to 29 countries globally. The Ministry noted that this strain exhibits a significant growth advantage over other circulating variants, raising alarms about its potential impact on…

Football Community Rallies Around Michail Antonio Following Dreadful Autocrash. The footballing world has come together to support Michail Antonio after the Jamaican striker got involved in a nasty autocrash yesterday. Clubs including Southampton, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, and Colchester posted messages of encouragement on social media, while the Jamaica national team expressed their solidarity. Antonio, who began his career in non-league football with Tooting & Mitcham before progressing to professional stints at Reading, Cheltenham, Southampton, and Colchester, has been a key figure for Jamaica. He has scored five goals in 21 appearances for the Reggae Boyz, playing a vital role…