Author: Mayor

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has returned to Nigeria after what his team described as a brief stopover in London. He arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, around 4:00 a.m. on Monday, where lawmakers, aides, and supporters received him at the presidential wing. His return comes after days of speculation on social media alleging that he had been critically ill and hospitalised abroad. Speaking to journalists shortly after landing, Akpabio dismissed the rumours. “There’s nothing like such. I’m fit as a fiddle. I only stopped over in London for a short vacation,” he said, describing the claims as the…

Newcastle United have confirmed the signing of midfielder Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa, making him the Magpies’ fourth senior addition of the summer. “The 24-year-old becomes the Magpies’ fourth first team addition of the summer after penning a long-term deal at St. James’ Park,” the club announced on their website, though details of the contract length and fee were not disclosed. Reports in British media suggest Newcastle paid £39 million, with a further £4 million in potential add-ons. Ramsey, a product of Aston Villa’s academy, made 167 appearances for the club. Last season, despite battling a hamstring injury midway through…

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate dropped for the fourth straight month in July 2025, easing to 21.88 per cent from 22.22 per cent in June, according to new data released by the National Bureau of Statistics. The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report published on Friday showed that July’s figure was 0.34 percentage points lower than the previous month and 11.52 percentage points below the 33.40 per cent recorded in July 2024. The NBS report stated, “The Consumer Price Index rose to 125.9 in July 2025, reflecting a 2.5-point increase from the preceding month (123.4). “In July 2025, the Headline inflation…

France forward Kingsley Coman has completed a move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on a three-year contract, both clubs confirmed on Friday. “Al Nassr … officially signed a contract with the French star Kingsley Coman,” “Coman’s contract will be valid until 2028.” the Saudi club announced in a statement on X. The 29-year-old winger first arrived at Bayern Munich on loan from Juventus in 2015 before making the switch permanent two years later. “Ten years after first joining Bayern, Kingsley Coman has left Munich to join Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia,” Bayern said…

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Uyo Zonal Directorate, have apprehended five individuals suspected of engaging in illegal mining activities. The suspects were allegedly involved in the extraction and transportation of ilmenite without proper authorisation. The anti-graft agency, in a statement released on its official X handle on Friday, identified the suspects as Samuel Akwa, Willie Uboko, Muhammed Tukur, Salmannu Ibrahim, and Jaafar Adam. The EFCC revealed that the suspects were caught while transporting 1,200 bags of ilmenite in a truck without legal clearance. “At the time of their arrest, the suspects were said to be conveying…

Veteran Nollywood actor, Olusegun Akinremi, popularly known as Chief Kanran, has passed away at the age of 70. The news was confirmed on Friday by movie executive and producer, Seun Oloketuyi, who announced via Instagram that the actor died earlier in the day. He wrote, “Popular actor Segun Remi popularly known as Chief Kanran died Friday morning. Details soon.” Chief Kanran was a celebrated figure in the Yoruba film industry, admired for his unique style, refined elegance, taste for luxury, sharp humour, and powerful performances that graced stage plays and films for decades. In a 2020 interview with PUNCH, the…

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has refuted claims that a Canadian court declared the party a terrorist organisation. In a statement issued on Friday, APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, clarified that the court made no pronouncement on terrorism in its ruling. This followed reports from some media outlets on Thursday — excluding The PUNCH — alleging that the Canadian court had declared both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as terrorist organisations. APC urged its members, supporters, and Nigerians at large to disregard the reports, describing them as false and misleading. The ruling party stated, *“We wish…

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has hinted that goalkeeper Andre Onana and new striker Benjamin Sesko could be available for Sunday’s Premier League clash against Arsenal. Onana has been sidelined since the first week of pre-season with a hamstring injury, but Amorim says the Cameroon international is in contention. “Josh (Zirkzee) and Andre (Onana) are recovering and are options. We’ll see. “We cannot change everything in four weeks, but we are better. We are training harder and are more prepared to cope with the demands of the game. I’m really more confident, that is clear. Step by step, we will…

When Liverpool host Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday night, it won’t just mark the start of a new Premier League season — it will be the first opportunity for home supporters to watch their side defend the title under Arne Slot. The reigning champions arrive with history firmly on their side, while Bournemouth will be aiming to overturn years of struggle in this fixture. Slot could again unleash all of his new signings — Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike — just as he did in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace. For the visitors, it’s about…

Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has thrown his weight behind plans to construct 3,400 homes in the sensitive E1 area of the occupied West Bank, urging the annexation of the territory in defiance of international objections. The announcement comes as several countries, including Britain and France, prepare to recognise a Palestinian state later this year. In a statement at a pro-settlement event, Smotrich declared, “Those who want to recognise a Palestinian state today will receive a response from us on the ground… Through concrete actions: houses, neighbourhoods, roads and Jewish families building their lives.” He further urged Prime Minister Benjamin…