Author: David Great

The groups for the new-look FIFA Club World Cup to be held next year in the United States, have been revealed with the draw having been conducted on Thursday in Miami, Florida – the same city that will host the opening match on June 15th. In some of the more eye-catching results of the draw, Manchester City were grouped with Juventus while Paris Saint-Germain drew both Atletico Madrid and Botafogo in their group. Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will feature in Group A alongside FC Porto and Palmeiras while European champions Real Madrid were drawn into Group H with Neymar’s Al…

Renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, has alleged that lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi defamed him in a book published recently. The accusation stems from a Supreme Court judgment involving a land dispute that spanned over two decades. In a petition dated November 19 and addressed to the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale, Babalola detailed how his law firm discovered Dele Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System and the defamatory contents therein. “I write to report the criminal defamation of myself, my law firm Afe Babalola & Co…

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on Thursday said the Senate has not withdrawn the Tax Reform Bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu. Speaking during plenary at the upper chamber, Akpabio said the Senate cannot be bullied or intimidated. Reacting to the point of order raised by a senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, Akpabio said the bills are in the interest of Nigerians. According to Akpabio: “The Senate cannot be bullied. Any reform that we are convinced serves the interest of Nigerians will proceed. These bills contain provisions that are in the best interest of the public. “We have not suspended or…

Colombian Finance Minister, Ricardo Bonilla, resigned at the request of President Gustavo Petro after accusations that he turned a blind eye to the bribery of parliamentarians. A former adviser accused Bonilla last week of knowing that lawmakers were being paid off in return for backing key reforms promised by Petro. The attorney general’s office alleges the bribes were paid with $200,000 taken from public funds. Bonilla has maintained his innocence. However, Petro said at a press conference on Wednesday that Bonilla would be replaced by his deputy, Diego Guevara. Landslide in Colombia kills 33 including children Petro told reporters…

Liverpool saw their cushion at the Premier League summit cut to seven points as they squandered a late advantage in a 3-3 draw against Newcastle United. When Sandro Tonali forced a smart stop out of Caoimhin Kelleher in the opening stages at St. James’ Park, Liverpool probably sensed they weren’t in for an easy night. But after weathering an early Newcastle storm, the Reds began to assert their authority on the game, and after Alexis Mac Allister forced an impressive save out of Nick Pope, the Argentinian hit the post from the resulting corner. It was Newcastle’s turn to rattle…

Chelsea continued their impressive Premier League away form as they breezed past 10-man Southampton 5-1, climbing to within seven points of league leaders Liverpool. Following a pre-match lights show at St Mary’s, a much-changed Chelsea side put on a display of their own during an entertaining first half. The visitors raced into a lead with seven minutes on the clock when Axel Disasi’s header helped Enzo Fernandez’s corner over the line. However, having yet to lose a PL game in which they have broken the deadlock, the Blues were pegged back just four minutes later as Kyle Walker-Peters got the…

A Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja on Wednesday, shifted the trial of Mrs Chioma Okoli, charged with allegations bordering on her online commentary on Erisco Foods Limited’s tomato paste, to February 10, 2025. The matter, which was scheduled for hearing, could not proceed due to the FHC New Legal Year event and the ongoing judges’ conference. Justice Peter Lifu, the trial judge, could not sit due to the programme. The matter was fixed for February 10, 2025 for trial. Recall that Okoli was, on May 31, admitted to N5 million bail with two sureties after spending few days in…

The trial of former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his ex-Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, began on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin. The duo has been accused of misappropriating N5.78 billion, including funds meant for teachers’ salaries and infrastructure projects under the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the defendants on October 21, 2024, on charges of conspiracy and theft of public funds. They pleaded not guilty and were granted bail, with the trial commencing before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar. During Wednesday’s proceedings, the EFCC presented…

The Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, has issued a stern warning to teachers and school heads allegedly sabotaging Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s free and compulsory education policy. The board said six teachers have been sacked for sabotaging education in the state by charging money for sundry reasons. Dr Vera Nkiru Nwadinobi, Executive Chairman of ASUBEB, disclosed this at a press briefing in her office on Wednesday. She listed the defaulting headteachers who were sacked as Mrs Okoye Uju of Awada Primary School, Mrs Nwafor Eunice Nwanneka of Awada Primary School, Mrs Nwakaku Patience Obioma of Awada Primary School, Mrs…

The British Government is set to deport popular pastor, Tobi Adegboyega, to Nigeria after losing his case against deportation at the immigration tribunal. Recall that the UK government had shut down his church, SPAC Nation, after investigations exposed a misuse of funds by his church. It was gathered that the UK authorities closed the church after Adegboyega failed to properly account for more than £1.87 million of outgoings and operating with a lack of transparency. However, according to The Telegraph, an immigration tribunal ruled that he should be deported back to Nigeria after investigations. After arriving on a visitor’s…