Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati has won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the first time. The 25-year-old enjoyed a hugely successful year as she helped her club triumph in the Spanish top flight and Champions League, and her country win the World Cup in the summer. She was also crowned Uefa’s player of the year in August. England goalkeeper Mary Earps achieved a fifth place finish while team-mate Rachel Daly was 10th. Fellow Lionesses Millie Bright and Georgia Stanway were also among the nominees. Sam Kerr of Chelsea and Australia finished second, Barcelona and Spain teenager Salma Paralluelo was…

England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has won the Kopa Trophy for the world’s best player aged under 21. The 20-year-old was recognised at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris. Bellingham has enjoyed a stunning start to his career at Real Madrid, scoring 13 goals in his first 13 games since joining in the summer. The Kopa Trophy recognises his performances last season, during which he scored 14 times in 42 games for Borussia Dortmund. He also helped England reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar. Bellingham was picked ahead of Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, with former…

Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi has had his suspension lifted by Mainz and given an official warning after his social media post about the Israel-Gaza conflict. The former Aston Villa and Everton player, 28, was banned from training and matches on 17 October after a now-deleted post on social media which was perceived to be pro-Palestine. Sources had said the German club would terminate his contract. But Mainz say they have now “opened the door for him to resume his duties”. “Given his commitment to upholding the club’s values and the remorse shown, and in keeping with the club’s culture of using mistakes…

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of N2,176,791,286,033 for the second 2023 supplementary appropriation. Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, announced this on Monday while briefing State House reporters after the federal cabinet meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said the draft supplementary budget to be sent to National Assembly for approval would be used to finance urgent issues including N605 billion for national defense and security. According to him, “This is to sustain the gains made in security and these are…

The Westminster Magistrates Court in the United Kingdom (UK), has adjourned the hearing on the case involving Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to November 2025. President Bola Tinubu’s administration is actively seeking Alison-Madueke’s repatriation to Nigeria. This move comes amidst allegations of corrupt dealings during her tenure as the minister. Nigeria’s Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has submitted a warrant of arrest and an official request to the Crown Prosecution Services of the United Kingdom, urging the immediate extradition of the former minister. This request was made in accordance with the orders of…

A bill proposing the death penalty for kidnappers whose hostage victims resulted in death has scaled through the first reading and is awaiting a second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives. It also proposed life imprisonment, without the option of a fine, for anyone convicted of kidnapping and hostage-taking in Nigeria. The proposed legislation entitled A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Kidnapping, Hostage Taking and for Related Offences” was sponsored by a member representing Ugheli North/Ugheli South/Idu Federal Constituency of Delta, Francis Waive. In his lead debate, the House also proposed that any property owner who knowingly…

Edison Ehie has emerged as the new Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Ehie was the former majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Meanwhile, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Simeon Amadi, has been suspended.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has suspended four of its members. This followed the suspension of Edison Ehie, Leader of the House representing the Ahoada constituency, on Monday morning. Other Assembly members suspended are Goodboy Sokari Goodboy, also representing Ahoada, Adolphus Timothy, representing Opobo/Nkoro, and Victor Oko-Jumbo, representing Bonny. The Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, announced the suspension of Ehie and six other members of the House after they were accused of masterminding the explosion that rocked the Assembly complex on Sunday night. The House also announced the impeachment process of Governor Siminalayi Fubara over alleged misuse of…

Barely a few days after the Supreme Court affirmed Bola Tinubu as the duly elected President of Nigeria, he came out on strong terms to set the ground rules that would guide subsequent Federal Executive Council meetings. While presiding over the FEC meeting on Monday, at the Council Chambers, Tinubu took a few moments to sound a stern warning saying he had observed unauthorized persons gaining access into the Council Chambers of the State House. Tinubu also expressed confidence in his choice of Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajiabiamila, warning that all campaigns of calumny against him should stop henceforth. “First…

Former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales has been banned from all football-related activities for three years by Fifa. Rubiales kissed forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s Women’s World Cup final win over England. The kiss, which forward Hermoso says was not consensual, sparked outcry, with Rubiales eventually stepping down from his role in September. Hermoso later filed a legal complaint against Rubiales. On Monday, world governing body Fifa announced the three-year ban for breaching article 13 of its disciplinary code. It confirmed the case concerned the “events that occurred during the final of the Fifa Women’s World…

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the judgment of the Supreme Court. The former Vice President spoke at a press briefing on Monday, October 30, 2023, in the nation’s capital, Abuja. Below is the text of a World Press Conference by Atiku on the verdict of the Supreme Court regarding the Presidential Election Petition. Protocol. Gentlemen of the Press. “Someone asked me what I would do if I lost my election petition appeal at the Supreme Court. In response, I said that as long as Nigeria won, the struggle would have been…

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers has broken his silence on the crisis rocking the state. Addressing some of his supporters at the assembly complex on Monday morning, the governor accused security agencies of compromise. He spoke after Edie Edison, his strong ally, was removed as Majority Leader of the Rivers House of Assembly. The governor, who said he had committed no offence to warrant impeachment, asked those after him to come out openly. He said, “From what I have seen the security agency is even compromised. They were shooting at me directly but it doesn’t matter, somebody will die one…