Author: David Great

Swiss prosecutors announced Thursday they have dropped their three-year criminal proceedings against FIFA president Gianni Infantino over suspected collusion with officials concerning the corruption scandal that engulfed world football’s governing body. Infantino declared a “full and clear victory” in the case and demanded an apology from what he called the “envious and corrupt” people out to tarnish his reputation. A probe was opened in July 2020 to investigate suspicions of collusion between Infantino and Switzerland’s then-attorney general Michael Lauber, the country’s top prosecutor. Lauber was in charge of Switzerland’s probe into the towering corruption scandal that exploded at the heart…

Elijah Anthony, a 17-year-old student in Plateau State, has been detained by men of the State Police Command for reportedly murdering his neighbor’s five-year-old kid after receiving N400,000 in ransom from the victim’s parents. Anthony, a Senior Secondary student at Manret High School in the Angul D village of Plateau State’s Jos South Local Government Area, was among 39 other suspects paraded before the police command’s headquarters in Jos on Thursday. While responnding to questions from journalists, Anthony, who confessed to killing the five-year-old neighbour identified as Dawom Pam, said, “They sent his (victim’s) elder brother to buy something and…

Police in the US state of Maine waged a sprawling manhunt Thursday for a gunman who killed at least 16 people at a bowling alley and a bar in the deadliest mass shooting this year in America. Dozens more people were reported wounded in the rampage in the small town of Lewiston and, in the absence of a formal death toll, local officials estimated the number of fatalities at between 16 and 22. Lewiston was in lockdown Thursday morning, with schools closed and residents ordered to stay indoors. Police said a man named Robert Card—seen in surveillance footage pointing a…

Newcastle United’s Italian international midfielder Sandro Tonali has been banned for 10 months for betting, the Italian football federation said on Thursday. The 23-year-old was found to have gambled on matches involving his former club AC Milan before he joined Saudi-owned Newcastle in July in a 56-million-pound (64-million-euro) move that made him the most expensive Italian player in history. The ban means Tonali will miss the rest of the Premier League season and next summer’s European Championship if holders Italy qualify. Nicolo Fagioli bags seven-month ban for sports betting He is the second Italian player to be banned from football…

2023 WJP Rule of Law Index® finds rule of law fell globally for 6th consecutive year Human rights declined in 3 out of 4 countries since 2016 Nigeria’s score increased, ranks 23rd out of 34 regionally Nigeria has been ranked 120th in the 2023 index on the rule of law as many countries struggle to uphold the law, the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2023 revealed. This is the sixth consecutive Index marking global declines in the rule of law. This year alone, the rule of law declined in 59% of countries surveyed. However, Nigeria is among…

The International Energy Agency (IEA) on Wednesday issued a stark warning to Nigeria this week noting that a gas supply glut is on the horizon. The IEA’s World Energy Outlook report revealed that a rise in global gas production is likely to create a ‘gas glut’. The report predicted that global gas prices could drop by as much as 80% as a result. The analysis also found that global fossil fuel demand will peak before 2030 and then decline. It echoes findings in a separate report published last week, showing that Nigerian fossil fuel use peaked eight years ago. The…

Erling Haaland ended his Champions League goal drought as Manchester City extended their perfect start to the tournament with a 3-1 win at Swiss side Young Boys on Wednesday. Haaland arrived in rain-lashed Bern without a goal in his previous five Champions League matches. The City striker had scored 35 goals in his first 30 Champions League appearances and he got back on track in the competition with a second-half double at the Wankdorf Stadium. Haaland’s penalty restored City’s lead after Meschack Elia had cancelled out Manuel Akanji’s second-half opener for the holders. Switzerland defender Akanji’s first goal for City…

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, has praised the Nigerian legal team that handled the case against Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Ltd., a company intent on defrauding the country of millions of Naira. He also praised the United Kingdom for upholding the rule of law and commended Nigeria’s legal team for handling the case against him. On Wednesday, Obi announced this in a series of tweets on his X (previously Twitter) profile. He congratulated Nigeria on its triumph in the protracted court battle. Obi wrote: “I congratulate our dear nation, Nigeria, especially the legal team that handled the…

Detained Senegalese opposition figure Ousmane Sonko, who eight days ago resumed a hunger strike, is “very weak” and in an intensive care unit, one of his lawyers told AFP on Wednesday. Sonko briefly fell into a coma on October 23, Cire Cledor Ly said, adding that he had been able to speak with the politician a day earlier. He said Sonko regained consciousness the same day but remained frail. “The situation is alarming — the doctors are giving him treatment that he is unable to refuse,” Cledor Ly said. “I launch a solemn appeal to the head of state because…

Everton face a 12-point deduction after an investigation into alleged breaches of financial rules by the Premier League club, according to a report on Wednesday. The Daily Telegraph said Premier League chiefs have asked an independent commission to impose the severe sanction, which would be the largest points penalty in the history of the competition. Losing 12 points would leave Everton on minus-five points at the bottom of this season’s table. Sean Dyche’s side is currently in 16th place with seven points after losing six of their first nine games. The Premier League referred Everton to the commission in March…