Author: David Great

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will lead a team of distinguished experts in observing the general elections in Sierra Leone on 24th June 2023, the Commonwealth says. The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland confirmed on Thursday that Osinbajo has accepted her request to chair the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG). Scotland constituted the observer group upon invitation from the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone. Prof. Osinbajo is a professor of law and one of the nation’s leading legal experts, serving as Vice President of Nigeria since May 2015. He will be joined by recognised dignitaries from various fields including, politicians, legal,…

Manchester United are willing to pay £55m for Chelsea’s England midfielder Mason Mount and are aiming to beat Liverpool and Arsenal to the 24-year-old’s signature. (Mail) Mount will discuss his Chelsea future in a meeting with the club’s hierarchy next week. (90min) Mount is leaning towards Manchester United if Chelsea decide to sell. (The Athletic – subscription required) Gareth Southgate says Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, 30, and 27-year-old Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips’ lack of game time is “concerning” as the England manager called the pair up for the upcoming Euro qualifiers. (Guardian) Aston Villa are leading the race to sign Leicester City’s 25-year-old English winger Harvey Barnes. (Independent) West Ham are also interested in Barnes, as well as Leeds United’s English…

Austin Avuru’s books are now available for purchase following the vacation of court orders issued by Federal High courts in Abuja and Lagos. The Abuja court issued the injunction in July 2022 following a motion exparte filed by Tochukwu Peter Tochukwu, Esq but moved by Nsikan Samuel Ekpeyong Esq with motion No. M/9442/2022 dated 26th Day of July 2002 at an an Abuja High Court presided over by Justice SB Belgore. The injunction was issued days to the scheduled public presentation of the books – My Entrepreneurship Journey and Politics, Economics and the Nigerian Petroleum Industry all by written by…

Champions Manchester City’s 12-match winning streak in the Premier League came to an end as Julio Enciso’s stunner earned sixth-placed Brighton and Hove Albion a 1-1 draw to seal them a Europa League berth on Wednesday. Treble-chasing City, who wrapped up a fifth title in six seasons at the weekend, lacked their usual intensity but took the lead when Phil Foden slotted home in the 25th minute. Brighton have qualified for Europe for the first time, and showed why with some vibrant football and Enciso equalised for the hosts with a long-range piledriver in the 38th minute. Danny Welbeck had…

Tina Turner, the American-born singer who left a hardscrabble farming community and abusive relationship to become one of the top recording artists of all time, died on Wednesday at the age of 83. She died peacefully after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, her representative said. Tina Turner began her career in the 1950s during the early years of rock and roll and evolved into an MTV phenomenon. In the video for her chart-topping song “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” in which she called love a “second-hand emotion,” Turner epitomized 1980s style as…

The Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, arrested 44 suspected internet fraudsters in Benin City. The suspects were arrested in different locations following actionable intelligence on their alleged internet fraud-related activities. However, 33 of the suspects were found to have questions to answer after being profiled. They are Emmanuel Jimmy, Wisdom Osazuwa, Emmanuel Osaretin, Destiny Nonso, Michael Ekeh, Uzoma Okoligwe, Emmanuel Ebushi, Oyegun Osadebamwen, Christain Amhazioya, Azegbeyele Francis, Osarobo Junior, Anyanwu Miracle, and Louis Osahenie. EFCC warns Nigerians against help desk scam alert Others are Ezerhume Jude Osomieneshi, Happy Daniel…

Jose Mourinho’s record as the only manager with a hundred percent win rate in European competitions makes him football’s ‘Special One’, a sports company says. Mourinho guided AS Roma to the maiden European Conference League trophy and has led them to the Europa League final this season where they face Fiorentina in the final. He previously won the Europa League with Manchester United and the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan. Sports pundit Edith Reads noted that the Portuguese manager’s man-management skills are critical to his success. “He has a reputation for being a tough taskmaster but his players…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) raised interest rate by 50 basis points to 18.50% on Wednesday after inflation struck a more than 17-year high in April. The move follows a similar 50-basis-point increase in March and means the bank has now raised rates by a cumulative 700 basis points in its latest hiking cycle. CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele told a news conference that the monetary policy committee thought that the continued rise in inflation albeit moderate “remained the biggest challenge confronting macroeconomic stability in Nigeria”. Foreign Banks: Nigeria apex bank authorises loans in dollars He said policy rate hikes…

Arsenal are prepared to sell as many as eight first-team players this summer, with Leicester City’s England midfielder James Maddison, 26, and West Ham’s England midfielder Declan Rice, 24, among their targets. (Mirror) Arsenal are interested in pursuing a deal for Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan if the 32-year-old cannot agree a new contract with Manchester City. (ESPN) Real Madrid have added Liverpool’s Scotland captain Andy Robertson, 29, to a list of possible replacements for France left-back Ferland Mendy, 27. (Mail) Liverpool and Brazil forward Roberto Firmino, 31, is willing to move to Barcelona but the Spanish giants are thought to be prioritising a move for Chelsea and France forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 33. (Sport – in Spanish) Bayern…

Manchester United are in talks to over a deal to sign Brazil forward Neymar, 31, from Paris St-Germain. (L’Equipe – in French) Man United are also trying to complete a deal for Napoli’s Kim Min-jae, 26, as PSG are interested in the South Korea defender too. (Sun) Barcelona want to sign Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves, 26, from Wolves this summer but the move depends on whether Spain forward Ansu Fati, 20, leaves Barca first. (The Athletic – subscription required) Bayern Munich see Declan Rice as the perfect defensive midfielder for them but are aware that Arsenal are also trying to sign the England midfielder, 24. (Sky Sport Germany) If Arsenal are unable to sign Rice, they have lined up…