Author: David Great

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, July 7, 2025 arraigned Awerusuo Otorudo and Chukwuebuka Ehirim before Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja for Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX). They were arraigned on a three-count amended charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, inducement and misleading the public into a fraudulent investment scam. One of the count reads: “That you, Awerusuo Otorudo and Chukwuebuka Ehirim, sometimes between January 2024 and May 2025, within the jurisdiction of this honorable Didi invite the public to deposit money for a fixed period or payable on call with Crypto…

Nico Williams has signed a new eight-year contract extension which will keep him at Athletic Bilbao until 2035, the La Liga club said on Friday, ending speculation over a potential departure to Barcelona. Athletic added that Williams’ transfer release clause had been increased by more than 50%, with reports in Spanish media saying the earlier clause was worth around 62 million euros ($73.01 million). The 22-year-old Spain international, whose previous contract ran until 2027, is one of Athletic’s most prized assets and has made 167 appearances for them in all competitions. “When it comes to making decisions, for me, the…

Chelsea have reached an agreement to sign English winger Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, the Bundesliga club said on Thursday, with the 20-year-old set to sign a seven-year contract in a move reportedly worth £55 million ($75.02 million). The clubs are currently in the United States for the Club World Cup, where they have both reached the quarter-final stage, and the agreement was made at Fort Lauderdale, with contractual details still to be settled. Gittens joined Dortmund as a youth player in 2020 from Manchester City, making his senior debut in 2022, and has made 107 appearances for the German…

The Twelfth Prosecution Witness, PW12, Christopher Adekunle Odofin in the trial of the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Abubakar Sirika on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 told the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, presided over by Justice S.C Oriji that the defendant used his position as a sitting minister from November 11, 2016 to May 29, 2023 to split federal government aviation contracts among his family members. Hadi Sirika, being the first defendant, is standing trial alongside his daughter Fatima Hadi Sirika, son in law, Hamma Jalal Sule and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited on amended six-count charge, bordering on abuse…

Sean “Diddy” Combs was acquitted of sex trafficking charges against him but was found guilty on Wednesday of prostitution-related offenses, in a blow to prosecutors who had urged a jury to find him guilty. He was convicted of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking, a partial win for the former billionaire known for elevating hip-hop in American culture. The verdict followed a criminal trial in which two of the music mogul’s former girlfriends testified that he physically and sexually abused them. He faces a maximum 10-year prison sentence on each…

Arsenal have signed Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from London rivals Chelsea on a three-year deal for a fee reported to be around £5 million. Kepa who joined Chelsea for a record fee of £71 million had spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, where he made 35 appearances in all competitions. Kepa had spent the 2023/2024 season on loan at Spanish giants, Real Madrid where he played cover for Thibaut Courtois. “Here to raise the levels,” Arsenal Football Club wrote on its social media channel along with a video of Kepa. The 30-year-old is still the world’s most expensive goalkeeper,…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, June 26, 2025 presented its 10th and 11th witnesses in continuation of the trial of a former Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika, his daughter; Fatima Hadi Sirika, son-in-law law; Hamma Jalal Sule and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited who are standing trial for alleged misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N2bn (two billion naira). EFCC counsel, A. O. Atolagbe presented 10th Prosecution Witness, PW 10, a public servant working with the Nigerian Upstream (Petroleum) Regulatory Commission, NUPRC and informed the court that he was employed as a staff of…

Botafogo have sacked manager Renato Paiva following their Club World Cup exit, the Brazilian club said, despite his side beating Champions League winners Paris St Germain earlier in the competition. Paiva’s team went out at the last 16 stage with a 1-0 loss after extra-time to fellow-Brazilian club Palmeiras, and the manager has paid the price after just four months in charge. Botafogo grabbed the spotlight at the Club World Cup when they beat PSG 1-0 in the group stage, having earlier defeated Seattle Sounders, and they advanced as Group B runners-up despite a 1-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid. “The…

Arsenal have joined Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United in the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt’s 23-year-old French striker Hugo Ekitike. (Sport Bild – in German, subscription required) Thomas Partey will leave Arsenal when his contract expires on Monday after the 32-year-old Ghana midfielder failed to agree a new deal. (Athletic – subscription required) Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, RB Leipzig and Stuttgart are interested in Manchester City’s 22-year-old England Under-21 midfielder James McAtee. (Times – subscription required) Liverpool are willing to offer 19-year-old Scotland winger Ben Doak as part of a deal for Crystal Palace’s 24-year-old England defender Marc…

Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a mega two-year contract extension with Al Nassr, the Saudi Pro League club announced on Thursday, which will keep the Portugal forward at the club past his 42nd birthday. Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in 2022 after leaving Manchester United to become a free agent, has scored 93 goals in 105 appearances for them in all competitions. “The story still has more to tell! Next chapter; just begun,” Al Nassr said in a post on Facebook. He arrived in Al Nassr on a two-and-a-half-year contract soon after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. That made him…