Author: David Great

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the 36 state governors in the country and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mr Nyesom Wike to “disclose details of federal allocations meant for local governments in your state and the FCT and the actual disbursement of the allocations to the local governments since the return of democracy in 1999.” SERAP also urged them “to promptly invite Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations meant for local governments in your…

Atalanta striker, Ademola Lookman scored a brace as Nigeria defeated old rivals Cameroon 2-0 on Saturday, advancing to the quarter-final of the Africa Cup of Nations holding in Ivory Coast. The impenetrable Super Eagles kept the Indomitable Lions at bay until Lookman sealed the victory in the 90th minute in front of 22,085 supporters at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan. The Super Eagles in the early stage of the round of 16 encounter had a Semi Ajayi goal disallowed due to a VAR review, but Victor Osimhen’s continuous bullying of the Cameroon defenders resulted in Lookman scoring in…

Barcelona’s title defence was derailed as Villarreal romped to a sensational 5-3 victory in La Liga on Saturday with three late goals. After Real Madrid moved two points clear of Girona at the top of the league with a win at Las Palmas, the pressure was firmly on Xavi Hernandez’s defending champions in third. In a see-saw match Gerard Moreno and Ilias Akhomach put Villarreal two goals ahead before Barcelona battled back. Ilkay Gundogan and Pedri struck before Eric Bailly headed into his own net to give the hosts the lead. However, Goncalo Guedes fired home in the 84th minute…

Cauley Woodrow scored a last-gasp goal and Luton Town knocked out Everton and sixth tier Maidstone United upset Championship Ipswich Town in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday. Woodrow, who broke his hand during the match, netted in the 96th minute when he smashed a close-range shot past keeper Joao Virginia to seal Luton’s 2-1 victory in the all-Premier League tie in front of a stunned Goodison Park crowd. “To be fair I don’t really remember much. It just fell to me and I managed to tap it in,” Woodrow told the BBC. “It was a tough game and…

Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi has ordered the arrest of some persons trading on the completed section of the Aba axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, still undergoing rehabilitation. Umahi, who was in Aba to inspect the project, directed the security operatives attached to his motorcade to arrest the erring traders. He expressed disappointment over the activities of the traders, saying that they would be charged to court according to the law of the land. The minister expressed dissatisfaction that the traders’ activities disturbed construction works, as they used the completed section of the road for trading and dumping…

Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid came off the bench to score a late header in a 2-1 comeback win over Las Palmas, propelling his team to the top of La Liga on Saturday. After a sluggish first half, Real were stunned by the hosts in the 53rd minute when Javi Munoz tapped in from close range after Sandro surged up the right and fired in a low cross. However, Real responded in the 65th minute with a point-blank strike by Vinicius Jr, and in the 84th, substitute Tchouameni scored with a thunderous header from a Toni Kroos corner. Real Madrid…

The Abia State Police Command stated on Saturday that Prof. Godwin Emezue, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of Abia State University Uturu, was kidnapped while getting petrol at a filling station in Umuopara. Maureen Chinaka, the command’s Public Relations Officer, stated this in a statement on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie. “On 26/01/2024, at about 9.30 p.m., the Abia State Police Command received information that on the same date, at about 7 p.m., the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Uturu ABSU, ProfGodwin Emezue, while in the company of his wife in their vehicle, was abducted by hoodlums while purchasing fuel…

Gunmen have kidnapped Philip Aivoji, chairman Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, as well as many other party leaders. The Lagos State PDP publicity secretary, Hakeem Amode, said in a statement on Friday that Mr Aivoji was abducted by unknown kidnappers on Thursday. “Aivoji was abducted on Thursday, Jan. 25, at about 6.00 p.m. on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while returning from a stakeholders meeting in Oyo State convened by Gov. Seyi Makinde and Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun. “It is disheartening that kidnapping has become a prevalent issue in our country, and the government’s inability to address this…

Tracka has uncovered a total of N9.3 billion paid by the Federal Ministry of Works to FIMS Microfinance Bank Limited between June and December 2023 for 62 projects, including the construction of road projects across the country, amongst others. Some of the projects uncovered by Tracka which were published on its Govspend platform, include the payment of N1.4 billion in September 2023 for the construction of Yaba-Yangoje Road in the Federal Capital Territory; the payment of N1.2 billion in October 2023 for the rehabilitation of a 2km road from Oriawo-Boroboro-Oke-Medina School of Science Road in Atiba, Oyo state; the payment…

Pope Francis defended Friday the Catholic Church’s recent approval of blessings for same-sex couples while attempting to soothe his conservative critics. In December, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, its department for Roman Catholic doctrine, said priests could bless “irregular” and same-sex couples under certain circumstances. That sparked an outcry in some quarters, particularly in Africa, with critics accusing the Church of back-tracking on the issues of gay marriage and homosexuality, both of which it opposes. “These blessings… do not require moral perfection in order to be received,” the pope said during an audience with members of…