Author: Olukayode Oke

Arsenal Thrash Sporting 5-1 In Champions League Masterclass. Arsenal delivered a scintillating performance in Lisbon, defeating Sporting 5-1 to secure their most emphatic Champions League away win in years. Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhães, Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard all found the net as the Gunners showcased their attacking prowess. The victory marked a significant statement for Mikel Arteta’s side, lifting them to seventh in the table and ending their five-match winless run in Champions League away games. Martinelli opened the scoring early, tapping home Jurrien Timber’s low cross in the seventh minute — Arsenal’s fastest…

Manchester City Surrender Three-Goal Lead As Feyenoord Stun Etihad. Manchester City’s struggles continued as they squandered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in a dramatic Champions League encounter at the Etihad Stadium. City seemed in full control after Erling Haaland netted twice and Ilkay Gundogan added another to give the hosts a commanding lead. However, Feyenoord mounted a remarkable comeback, silencing the home crowd and delighting the 5,000 travelling fans. Anis Hadj Moussa sparked the comeback in the 69th minute, capitalising on a defensive error by Josko Gvardiol to pull one back for the Dutch side.…

Lewandowski Hits Champions League Milestone As Barcelona Outclass Brest. Robert Lewandowski etched his name further into Champions League history by becoming the third player to score 100 goals in the competition as Barcelona delivered a commanding performance to defeat Brest. The 36-year-old Poland striker joined the exclusive century club, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo (141) and Lionel Messi (129) in the all-time rankings. Lewandowski’s milestone came early in the match when he converted a penalty in the 10th minute, following a collision with Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot. Barcelona doubled their lead through Dani Olmo, who netted his first…

Yahaya Bello Honours EFCC Invitation Amid Allegations. Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has once again presented himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja to address allegations of financial mismanagement during his tenure. Arriving at the EFCC headquarters on Tuesday in a black Hilux vehicle, the former governor was accompanied by his legal team. Notably, the current Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, was absent from the visit, contrary to earlier speculations. This latest development comes in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the EFCC’s authority to investigate state officials, reinforcing…

House Of Representatives Removes Danladi Umar As CCT Chairman. The House of Representatives has removed Danladi Umar from his position as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), invoking constitutional provisions despite lacking the required two-thirds majority. During Tuesday’s plenary session, lawmakers relied on Paragraph 17(3), Part 1, Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 22(3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. This stipulates that the removal of the CCT Chairman requires a two-thirds majority vote from both legislative chambers. With the House comprising 360 members, the required threshold stands at 240; however,…

CBN Adjusts Monetary Policy Rate To 27.50%. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has raised its monetary policy rate (MPR) to 27.50%, an increase from the previous 27.25%. The decision was made during the Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) final meeting of the year, held at the bank’s headquarters in Abuja. Announcing the adjustment, CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso emphasised that the move aligns with the bank’s commitment to tackling inflation and ensuring economic stability. The MPR, a critical tool in shaping interest rates, has a direct impact on the cost of borrowing and the broader economy. The decision reflects…

President Tinubu Orders Swift Restart Of Warri And Kaduna Refineries. President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to expedite the reopening of the Warri and Kaduna refineries as part of ongoing efforts to revitalise the nation’s energy sector. This directive was issued as the President commended NNPCL for successfully restoring operations at the Port Harcourt refinery, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s push for energy self-sufficiency. President Tinubu expressed gratitude to former President Muhammadu Buhari for initiating the rehabilitation of the country’s refineries, highlighting the importance of continuity in governance. He also acknowledged…

Governor Sanwo-Olu Suspends Senior Aide Over Misrepresentation. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced the suspension of his Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, Mr. Wale Ajetunmobi, following the misrepresentation of facts on his personal “X” account regarding a past incident. The suspension comes in the wake of concerns over the inaccuracy of Mr. Ajetunmobi’s statements, which have raised doubts about his conduct. In response, the Governor has reiterated his administration’s firm stance against any form of extrajudicial punishment, emphasising that such actions have no place in the state’s values. Governor Sanwo-Olu stated, “We categorically denounce any…

NACA Reveals 160,000 Children Living With HIV In Nigeria. The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has revealed that approximately 160,000 children aged 0-14 are living with HIV in Nigeria. This figure highlights the country’s challenge in preventing mother-to-child transmission of the virus, which currently has a coverage rate below 33%, far short of the 95% target. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja ahead of World AIDS Day 2024, NACA’s Director-General, Dr Temitope Ilori, quoted data from the UNAIDS 2023 report. She emphasised that Nigeria’s overall HIV prevalence is 1.4% among people aged 15-64 years, with…

Port Harcourt Refinery Commences Crude Oil Production. The Port Harcourt Refinery, owned by Nigeria, has officially begun processing crude oil after years of delays and missed deadlines. Olufemi Soneye, spokesperson for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), confirmed the development on Tuesday, stating that the refinery is operating at 60% capacity. This translates to a daily processing output of 60,000 barrels of crude oil. The refinery, which has a total capacity of 250,000 barrels per day, marks a significant step forward in Nigeria’s efforts to reduce its dependence on imported petroleum products. The commencement of operations…

Carragher Criticises Salah’s Comments On Contract Situation. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has labelled Mohamed Salah “selfish” for publicly expressing his disappointment at the club’s failure to offer him a new contract. The 32-year-old forward, whose current deal expires at the end of the season, made the comments after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Southampton on Sunday, where he scored twice to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League. Salah, Liverpool’s top scorer this season with 12 goals in all competitions, told reporters, “I’m probably more out than in” and revealed he had not yet been offered…

Spurs’ Vicario Undergoes Surgery After Playing With Broken Ankle In Manchester City Victory. Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has undergone surgery after bravely playing 60 minutes with a broken ankle during Spurs’ remarkable 4-0 victory over Manchester City on Saturday. The 28-year-old Italian was injured in the first half following a collision with City winger Savinho. Despite the injury, Vicario continued to play through the pain, helping his team secure a stunning win at the Etihad Stadium. “Sometimes football gives you its highs, and sometimes it challenges you in ways you don’t expect,” Vicario shared on social media…