Author: David Great

The first batch of Nigerian evacuees arrived in the country’s capital, Abuja late Wednesday night from war-torn Sudan. In an update provided by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), the evacuees arrived via a military aircraft. “The first batch of Nigerians who fled war-torn Sudan arrived via military jet C13 at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 2340HRS with an estimate of 376 evacuees,” NIDCOM said in a tweet. Sudan conflict drives 100,000 over border amid crumbling ceasefires The agency also shared pictures of evacuees who were aboard an Air Peace airline. The total number of evacuees was not disclosed.…

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland scored his record-breaking 35th Premier League goal of a stupendous season to help secure a 3-0 victory against West Ham United that sent his side back to the top of the table on Wednesday. The marauding Norwegian ended some stubborn West Ham resistance when he dinked a delicate chip into the net after 70 minutes to make him the highest scorer in a single Premier League season. He also took his tally in all competitions for City in a mind-boggling debut season to 51 — roughly one for every million pounds City paid Borussia Dortmund for…

Former Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of Rivers State, OCJ Okocha on Wednesday told Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Tinubu that the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo revolutionized the judiciary of Lagos state when both men served together between 1999-2007. Okocha, a past president of the Nigerian Bar Association and founder of the Law Firm of Okocha & Okocha added that the Rivers State judiciary copied the model established by Osinbajo. Speaking at a state banquet in honour of Tinubu in in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, he said, “Professor Yemi Osinbajo revolutionised the judiciary in Lagos state when…

Tottenham have made former Liverpool and Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso, 41, their top target to become Antonio Conte’s successor after Julian Nagelsmann’s wage demands put Spurs off the German. (Metro) Sheikh Jassim has abandoned plans to buy Brazil forward Neymar, 31, if his Manchester United takeover is successful – instead targeting France trio Kylian Mbappe, 24, of Paris St-German, Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman, 26, and Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, 20. (Bild’s Christian Falk) West Ham’s England midfielder Declan Rice, 24, Bayer Leverkusen’s French forward Moussa Diaby, 23, and Crystal Palace pair Wilfried Zaha, 30, of the Ivory Coast and England’s Marc Guehi, 22, are among Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta’s six-man…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the final forfeiture of 324 properties recovered for the Kano State Pension Fund Trustees. Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja gave the order of final forfeiture while ruling on a motion by the EFCC, seeking the final forfeiture of the properties which are “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities of Kano State Pension Fund Trustees”. The properties comprise of 168 homes situated at Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam Bandirawo City, Kano; 122 houses at Sheikh Nasiru Kabara (Amana City), Kano and 38 houses at Sheikh Khalifa Ishaq…

Chelsea have been linked with Bayern Munich’s 31-year-old Senegal forward Sadio Mane. (Football London) Manchester City are preparing to open talks with Norway striker Erling Haaland, 22, over a new contract. (Football Insider) Crystal Palace and Ivory Coast attacker Wilfried Zaha, 30, is attracting interest from Arsenal, Juventus, Chelsea and Barcelona.(Telegraph) Chelsea are confident England midfielder Mason Mount, 24, will turn down approaches from Bayern Munich and Liverpool and sign a new contract. (Football Insider) Juventus’ 23-year-old Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic has been offered to Arsenal and Bayern Munich.(Tutto Mercato Web – in Italian) Leicester will sell 26-year-old England international James Maddison this summer even if they avoid relegation, with Manchester United, Tottenham and Newcastle interested. (Telegraph – subscription) Manchester United and Paris St-Germain sent scouts to watch 25-year-old…

By Toni Kan Tributes are pouring in as Dr. Mike Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga, GCON celebrates his 70th. But most have focused on the indelible footprints he has left on the sands of Nigeria’s corporate landscape. This is a more personal tribute that will riff on the little-known aspects of this giant of a man. The gushing tributes are without a doubt fitting for a man who has impacted millions across the world. Admirers may call him the Spirit of Africa but he is indeed a Spirit of the World, a global icon courted and feted by captains of industry…

Diogo Jota scored deep in stoppage-time as Liverpool clinched a 4-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in a barely-believable Premier League thriller at Anfield on Sunday. The Portuguese substitute struck in the fourth minute of added time, one minute after Tottenham substitute Richarlison thought he had earned his side an unlikely point. Goals by Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah put Liverpool 3-0 ahead inside the opening 15 minutes as Tottenham suffered a horrible case of deja-vu having conceded five in the opening 21 minutes of a 6-1 rout at Newcastle United a week ago. But Tottenham hit back before…

Gunmen have released 74 out of over 80 persons kidnapped earlier this month in Nigeria’s northwest Zamfara state after ransoms were paid, the parents and a village chief said on Saturday. In recent years, violent gangs have targeted numerous local villages in northwest Nigeria, while bandits have continued to carry out attacks in the northeast. Two parents from Zamfara’s Wadzamai village claimed they paid 20,000 naira each, and their severely malnourished children were among those released on Friday. Gunmen kill 74 people in two attacks in Benue Eleven people, according to the village chief of Wadzamai, are still being held…

Manchester City claimed top spot in the Premier League for the first time since February as Erling Haaland reached another set of a milestones in a 2-1 victory at Fulham on Sunday. It took Haaland only three minutes to score his record-equalling 34th Premier League goal of an extraordinary debut season in England, the Norwegian tucking away a penalty. It moved him level on the Premier League single season scoring record of Alan Shearer and Andy Cole. The Norwegian also became the first player in England’s top flight to score 50 goals in all competitions in a season since Tom…