Author: David Great

Zlatan Ibrahimovic made a much-anticipated return to international football but it was Romelu Lukaku who scored a hat-trick as Belgium secured a 3-0 win over Sweden in their opening Group F European Championship qualifier on Friday. Lukaku broke the deadlock in the 35th minute, out-jumping Hjalmar Ekdal to head home a cross from the left from Dodi Lukebakio, who had tormented the Swedish defence from the kickoff. The Belgian striker took advantage of more slack Swedish marking to double his side’s advantage early in the second half as Lukebakio picked him out again with a low cross which he turned…

Standard Chartered on Friday announced that its branches in Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt will be opened to customers to make naira withdrawals. The move by the commercial bank is aimed at making the naira available to its customers, especially in Nigeria’s busiest cities. In a terse statement to customers, the bank said, “To ease the challenges faced in relation to access to naira cash, we are pleased to inform you that our branches listed below will open over the weekend for withdrawals and deposits of naira notes,” the bank said. Standard Chartered prunes operation over Abuja security alert Noting…

Guinea-Bissau’s Mama Balde scored the only goal as they stunned Nigeria with a 1-0 win in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Abuja National Stadium on Friday, inflicting a fourth successive defeat on the home side. Balde’s first-half goal was decisive against a Nigeria team packed with in-form attackers, including Serie A leading scorer Victor Osimhen, as Guinea-Bissau moved top of Group A with seven points from three games. Nigeria remain on course to qualify for the finals in Ivory Coast next January with six points from three matches but the defeat comes after losses to Algeria, Costa…

The Lagos Command of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, March 24, 2023, arraigned one Mamman Nasir Ali, son of Ahmadu Ali, a former chairman, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and one Christian Taylor before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos for an alleged N2.2 billion oil subsidy fraud. They were arraigned alongside Nasaman Oil Services Limited on an amended 49-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, contrary to Section 8 and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006; obtaining money by false…

There is no such thing as free shipping. Even so, Amazon.com Inc and other online retailers who use so-called free delivery to cultivate customer loyalty are scrambling to keep it from draining profits as costs climb and e-commerce contracts. They are adding fees for faster service, raising minimum purchase requirements and making other changes that shift more costs to consumers who are struggling with financial issues of their own. “The days of free delivery are numbered,” Ken Morris, managing partner at Cambridge Retail Advisors, said of the fast-changing retail marketing tool. Retailers are beginning to look more like some airlines, which…

A convicted Nigerian fugitive, Florence Enwerim Onyegbu, was on Thursday, March 23, 2023, extradited to the United States of America, USA, where she is wanted for criminal charges bordering on violation of US law involving the offer and payment of illegal remuneration in a health care matter. Her extradition was coordinated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following a request by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, seeking assistance for her apprehension. Investigations by the EFCC revealed that she had changed her name from Florence E. Onyegbu to Janet Boi in an attempt to remain hidden. She,…

The Lagos Command of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, March 23, 2023, arraigned the duo of Taiwo Oluwadahunsola and Adebola Adetayo before Justice O. O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos for an alleged N999,950,000.00 fraud. Oluwadahunsola and Adetayo were arraigned alongside a company, Green Eagles Limited by EFCC on a 19-count charge bordering on conspiracy to steal, stealing, money laundering, and offences in relation to issuance of dishonoured cheques to the tune of N999,950,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Ninety-nine Million Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only). One of the counts reads: “Taiwo Oluwadahunsola,…

Cristiano Ronaldo tucked away a penalty and slammed home a free kick as he set a new record for the most international caps in Portugal’s 4-0 win over Liechtenstein in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier on Thursday. Ronaldo celebrated his 197th cap, surpassing Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa, with a double as he returned to the starting line-up for their Group J qualifier at the Jose Alvalade Stadium. He converted a 51st-minute penalty – his first goal against the tiny Alpine principality – as the home side went 3-0 up and added the fourth with a trademark free kick that bent back…

Harry Kane became England’s record international goalscorer as his side began their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign by defeating reigning champions Italy 2-1 in Group C on Thursday. England’s skipper struck a penalty past Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma shortly before halftime to make it 2-0 and take his tally to 54, one more than Wayne Rooney. Midfielder Declan Rice had opened the scoring after 13 minutes as Gareth Southgate’s side dominated the first half. Debutant striker Mateo Retegui halved the deficit in the 56th minute as Italy responded in impressive fashion but England weathered a storm to secure a first win…

Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Tinubu on Thursday denied meeting the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola secretly in London. According to some reports, Tinubu had arranged for Ariwoola to secretly meet him in London to influence the outcome of the court’s rulings. Opposition parties have challenged the outcome of the election with the Labour Party calling for a cancellation of the February 25 presidential polls. “Our attention has been drawn to the grossly fake, misleading, and malicious story about the Chief Justice of Nigeria Olukayode Ariwoola disguising himself to meet president-elect Bola Tinubu in London,” Bayo Onanuga, the director of media…