Author: David Great

Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has refuted reports that the 10th Senate is proposing that the Federal Government purchase new aircraft for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. Speaking to reporters in Maiduguri shortly after heading a group to pay a condolence visit to Senator Tahir Monguno on the loss of his father, Akpabio said, “I never said that”. Reports in the media last week claimed that Akpabio had stated that the Senate would approve the purchase of new aircraft for the President and Vice President, regardless of whether Nigerians were hungry. The Senate President stated that the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained why it reached an agreement with Cubana Chief Priest following his abuse of Nigeria’s currency, naira. The anti-graft agency stated that as part of the deal it struck with Cubana Chief Priest, he will “lead rigorous and intensive sensitization or campaign against abuse of coins and notes”. Nigerians have accused the EFCC of double standard after it struck a deal with the Cubana Chief Priest but declined to do the same for popular crossdresser, Bobrisky, who is serving prison time. A statement by Dele Oyewale, EFCC head of media and publicity…

Justice Hamza Mua’zu of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, slated July 8, 2024, for ruling on the prayer of Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the release of his passport to enable him travel overseas for medical attention. Emefiele’s counsel, Mathew Burkaa had during proceedings on Tuesday informed Justice Mua’zu of his client’s subsisting application in respect of his overseas medical check-up which the judge deferred ruling on till July 8, 2024. In continuation of the day’s business, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC through…

The third prosecution witness, PW3, Abdulhamid Isa Muri, in the ongoing trial-within-trial of the former Accountant General of the Federation, AGF, Ahmed Idris, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, told Justice Halilu Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, did not promise Idris that he was not going to face prosecution for his N109 billion alleged loot. Muri is a staff of the EFCC whose duties involve intelligence gathering, conducting surveillance, partaking in undercover operations, interacting with informants and any other duty legally assigned by the Director of investigations or…

Austria scored two stunning goals on Tuesday as they stunned Netherlands 3-2 and emerged leaders of Group D with France playing a 1-1 draw against Poland who are out of Euro 2024. Austria and France qualify automatically while the Netherlands go through to the knockout phase as one of the best third-placed teams. Netherlands began the day top of the group but they fell behind twice to Austria and looked like they would secure a point but a screamer from Marcel Sabitzer for Austria left Netherlands grappling for straws. In the second match, Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski both scored…

Hassan Ya’u, a 42-year-old maize and sesame seed farmer from Katsina state in Nigeria, was tending to his crops early this month when dozens of armed men on motorbikes approached his plot and began shooting at close range. Ya’u and fellow farmer Musa Nasidi escaped, but the attack murdered at least 50 people, many of whom were farmers working in their fields at the time. This was the latest in a series of fatal raids on rural districts. The assault took place in broad daylight and abducted an unknown number of persons. Ya’u and Nasidi claimed the gunmen attacked their…

Real Madrid defender and captain Nacho is leaving after a 23-year stay at the Santiago Bernabeu, the LaLiga club said on Tuesday. The Spain international has won six Champions League titles with Madrid since joining their youth academy in 2001, as well as four LaLiga crowns, two Copa del Reys. “Real Madrid announces that our captain Nacho has decided to end his career as a Real Madrid player,” the Spanish club said in a statement. “Real Madrid would like to express its gratitude and affection to Nacho, one of the great legends of our club. “Nacho ends his career at…

2021 runners-up and nine-time Copa America champions Brazil were held to a goalless draw by the second-lowest ranked side at the tournament in Costa Rica. Despite dominating possession and having plenty of chances, Dorival Junior’s side could not find the net and start their tournament with a point. Having lost one and won ten of their 11 all-time historical head-to-head matches, Brazil came close to opening the scoring in Los Angeles after only seven minutes as Raphinha forced Costa Rican keeper Patrick Sequeira into a smart save at his near post before Rodrygo unleashed an effort only millimetres wide of…

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun was on Monday elected as the new chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum. The governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Soludo, emerged as the Vice Chairman of the forum. The Southern Governors’ Forum serves as the umbrella body for the 17 governors from the South-West, South-South, and South-East geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Others include Ekiti State’s Biodun Oyebanji, Cross River’s Bassey Otu, Anambra’s Charles Soludo, Imo State deputy governor, Chinyere Ekomaru, Delta State deputy governor, Monday Onyeme, and Ondo State deputy governor, Olayide Adelami. Soludo urges governors to earn minimum wage to feel workers’ pain Abiodun…

Euro 2024 hosts Germany have been hit with fresh defensive concerns ahead of their last 16 clash, with centre-back Antonio Rudiger in doubt with a thigh injury. The German FA (DFB) said Monday that Rudiger would be in doubt for the match, against an as yet undetermined opponent in Dortmund on Saturday, from the side’s training base in the Bavarian village of Herzogenaurach. Coach Julian Nagelsmann will need to find a new partnership in central defence, with Jonathan Tah already ruled out of the last 16 match due to a yellow card suspension. Germany qualified first in their group having…