Author: Opalim Lifted

An Osun State High Court, sitting in Ikirun, convicted and sentenced to death Segun Olowookere, who was 17 years old at that time, for stolen fowl and eggs in a poultry farm in Oyan, Odo-Otin local government. Olowookere, who has been in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison since 2014, is the son of his parents. Ahead of the second anniversary of Governor Ademola Adeleke administration, the parents of Segun Olowookere, indigenes of Osun State, pleaded with the governor to grant their son amnesty over stolen fowl and eggs. The parents also appealed to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly,…

The Puskas Award for the best men’s goal of the year was won by Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho for his sensational bicycle kick in their 3-0 win at Everton in November 2023. Mohammed Kudus’ fine solo goal for West Ham in the Europa League against Freiburg was also nominated. Until this season the award covered all football but a new Marta Award now covers the women’s game. “I’m very proud to win this award,” said Argentine Garnacho in a pre-recorded interview. “It’s a proud moment for me and my family. It was a special goal and I will always…

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk says he is in “complete shock” after testing positive for a banned substance. The club confirmed on Tuesday that they had been contacted by the Football Association (FA) after an “adverse finding in a routine urine test” provided by the Ukraine international. The attacker, who has been provisionally suspended by the FA following the positive result, denies knowingly using a banned substance. Chelsea say they will work to establish what caused the failed test. “This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and am…

Tottenham Hotspur’s Rodrigo Bentancur will serve the final two matches of his seven-match ban after the Football Association dismissed his appeal. The Uruguay midfielder was given the ban in November for using a racial slur about team-mate Son Heung-min on television. Spurs accepted the judgement but appealed against the severity of the suspension. However, the appeal was dismissed following a hearing and Bentancur will miss matches against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup and Liverpool in the Premier League. The former Juventus midfielder has been able to play in the Europa League during his ban as it only applies to…

Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk has failed a doping test, the Premier League club said on Tuesday, as reports stated the Ukraine international has been provisionally suspended. The Blues said they were notified by the Football Association of an “adverse finding” in a urine sample provided by the 23-year-old winger. “Chelsea Football Club can confirm that the Football Association recently contacted our player, Mykhailo Mudryk, concerning an adverse finding in a routine urine test,” a club statement said. “Both the club and Mykhailo fully support the FA’s testing programme and all our players, including Mykhailo, are regularly tested. “Mykhailo has confirmed…

Vitor Pereira has agreed an 18-month deal to become Wolves’ new manager. The Premier League strugglers are paying around 1m euros to bring the boss of Saudi Pro League club Al-Shabab to the Midlands. Portuguese Pereira, a former Porto and Olympiakos manager, was due to travel to England on Tuesday and, although a contract is yet to be signed, no late problems are expected after negotiations went smoothly. The 56-year-old’s first game will be at Leicester on Sunday with Wolves second-bottom, five points behind the 17th-placed Foxes. Wolves have lost 11 of their Premier League 16 games and sacked previous…

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, DR Congo, DRC on Tuesday filed a criminal case against European subsidiaries of tech giant Apple, accusing them of illegally using “blood minerals” in its supply chain. DR Congo alleges that Apple has bought contraband supplies from the country’s conflict-racked east and Rwanda, zones in which the materials are alleged to be mined illegally and then integrated into global supply chains before ending up in tech devices. Apple’s French and Belgian units also deployed deceptive commercial practices to persuade consumers that its supply chains were clean, according to a statement from lawyers representing the…

A Brazilian judge has ordered a song by British pop superstar Adele, “Million Years Ago,” be pulled worldwide — including on streaming services — over an ongoing plagiarism claim by a Brazilian composer. The injunction threatens the Brazilian subsidiaries of Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music, Adele’s labels, with a fine of $8,000 “per act of non-compliance.” The music companies, however, can still appeal the decision. The injunction was made by judge Victor Torres on Friday, in Rio de Janeiro’s 6th Commercial Court, pending further activity in the continuing plagiarism case. His preliminary injunction, obtained Monday by AFP, orders Sony…

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement has congratulated Super Eagles Ademola Lookman for being crowned the African Player of the Year 2024. Chronicle NG reported that Ademola Lookman was crowned 2024 CAF men’s ‘Player of the Year.’ The 27-year-old was announced the winner of the gong at the gala held in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Monday. Kwankwaso wrote, ”Congratulations to our Nigerian star, Ademola Lookman on emerging the CAF African Player of the Year 2024”. “Lookman had a great performance at the previous AFCON competition…

Ademola Lookman, Super Eagles winger, says his success as the 2024 CAF men’s player of the year came after he “failed in front of the world” four years prior. Lookman spoke after receiving the award as the best African male footballer of 2024 in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday. The 27-year-old finished ahead of Achraf Hakimi, Simon Adingra, Ronwen Williams and Serhou Guirassy to win the coveted individual prize for male African footballers. He followed in the footsteps of Victor Osimhen, who won the award in 2023. Speaking at the ceremony, Lookman referenced his failure to convert a penalty for Everton…