Author: David Great

Saudi Arabia on Thursday announced the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent, signaling the beginning of the 12th Islamic month. Consequently, tomorrow will mark the beginning of the holy month. Also, the Hajj pilgrimage for 1445 AH-2024 will commence on Friday, June 14, with the day of Arafah falling on Saturday, June 15. With the development, the Muslim biggest festival, Eid Al-Adha, will be observed on Sunday, June 16, 2024. The Arafat Day, which precedes the festival, will fall on June 15. 2024 Hajj: Saudi Arabia profits off Nigeria in return for Islamic terrorism sponsorship – Shehu Sadiq Saudi Arabia’s…

Jack Grealish and Harry Maguire have been cut from Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the European Championship in Germany later this month. The pair – both integral players in previous tournaments for Southgate – become the latest casualties, as per The Athletic, after it was revealed James Maddison and Curtis Jones had both left the squad. James Trafford and Jarell Quansah are also expected to be axed. Grealish’s lack of form for Manchester City in the 2023/24 season likely contributed to his exclusion. He managed just three goals in 36 appearances across all competitions. While he was a regular under…

Nigerians hope of completing their financial transactions through their banks was dashed on Thursday as NIBSS the country’s biggest inter-bank payment system experiences downtime. In a short statement seen via various bank applications the payment system stated that the downtime is due to an emergency maintenance happening on its platform. “Please be informed that NIBSS Instant Payment is currently conducting an emergency system maintenance that may cause a delay in transfers to or from your account. The maintenance is expected to be completed shortly.” the statement reads. Reacting to the development, business owner and X user, Charles-Davies Omiete said, “NIBSS…

Operatives of the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos have arrested a suspected Internet fraudster, Joshua Olawuyi, for allegedly obtaining a vehicle under pretenses and stealing N30 million. The Zonal Public Relations Officer, SP Umma Ayuba, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Thursday in Lagos. She said that the command, under the leadership of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatoye Durosinmi, arrested the suspect after receiving a petition. “Based on a petition received from Adesuwa Ogizie, female, a US-based licensed car dealer; that sometime in 2016, Olawuyi contacted her to purchase a Mercedes Benz GLE 350 valued at…

Senate has passed a bill seeking to prescribe improved salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits for Judicial office holders in Nigeria. The bill was read the third time yesterday and passed. The passage of the bill by the Senators was a sequel to the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters presented by the Chairman, Senator Mohammed Monguno, APC, Borno North. In his presentation, Monguno who noted that stakeholders at the public hearing of the bill were unanimous in their support for its passage, said that the purpose of the bill are sacrosanct…

Turkey Super Lig club Besiktas have appointed former Rangers manager, Giovanni van Bronckhorst as its new manager, the club said on Wednesday. In a post on its social media channel, Besiktas wrote, “We are pleased to confirm that Giovanni van Bronckhorst will become the new manager of Beşiktaş JK men’s football team from the beginning of the 2024/25 season.” Born in Rotterdam to Victor van Bronckhorst, an Indonesian-Dutch father, and Fransien Sapulette, an Indonesian mother, he began playing for a local amateur youth team in Rotterdam, Linker Maas Oever, from age six. He joined the youth academy at Feyenoord the…

The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has detained 100 (one hundred) alleged internet fraudsters in various places across the State. The suspects were apprehended by EFCC operatives in an early morning sting operation on Wednesday, May 5, 2024, following actionable intelligence regarding the alleged activities of an organised network of internet fraudsters operating along Ibagwa-Nike and other sites in the Enugu metropolitan area. EFCC recovered three exotic cars, as well as mobile phones and laptop computers. The suspects will be arraigned in court once the investigations are complete.

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday further adjourned until June 25 for mention of a case against celebrity bartender, Pascal Okechukwu otherwise called Cubana Chief Priest for alleged naira abuse. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Cubana Chief Priest on April 17 on a three-count charge of allegedly spraying and tampering with the naira notes during a social event at Eko Hotel, Lagos. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N10 million. At the last adjourned date on May 2, the defence counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), informed the…

Antonio Conte  has signed a contract until 2027 with Napoli, who finished a disappointing 10th in last season’s Serie A. The Italian last managed Tottenham Hotspur between 2021 and 2023 and has also had spells in charge of Juventus, Chelsea and Inter, as well as the Italy national team. “Napoli is a place of global importance. I am happy and excited at the idea of sitting on the Azzurri bench,” Conte said in a statement. “I can certainly promise one thing: I will do my utmost for the growth of the team and the club. My commitment, together with that…

Chelsea are hopeful they can rival Arsenal in the race to sign 21-year-old Slovenia forward Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. (Standard) Manchester United are interested in signing Everton and England defender Jarrad Branthwaite, 21, as they look to strengthen their defensive options. Juventus and Brazil defender Gleison Bremer, 27, and Nice and France defender Jean-Clair Todibo, 24, are also targets. (Football Insider) West Ham are attempting to derail Bayer Leverkusen’s attempt to sign Girona’s Spain midfielder Aleix Garcia, 26. (Guardian) The Hammers also want to sign Vitoria Guimaraes and Portugal winger Jota Silva, 24. (Teamtalk) Tottenham are open to Djed Spence, 23, joining Genoa permanently after the English defender’s successful loan spell with the Italian club. (Fabrizio Romano) Arsenal are looking…