Author: Vincent Osuwo

The Independent National Electoral Commission has asked civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations interested in monitoring the February rerun and by-election to apply through an online portal by January 17. On Thursday, INEC’s acting Director of Electoral Party Monitoring, Hauwa Habib, issued a notification in Abuja stating this. Habib advised the organizations to visit (http://observergroups.inecnigeria.org) and fill out the application form. According to her, this was without prejudice to any earlier interaction with the commission, and completing the prescribed application form (EC14A(l)) remained the only acceptable method of application. “Observer groups should particularly note that all other information, including legal…

The Gambia football squad narrowly escape disaster when traveling to the Africa Cup of Nations, coming “within half an hour of dying” when the cabin oxygen supply failed. The squad and coaching staff were on a trip from Banjul to Ivory Coast for the competition when several players passed out shortly after boarding. Only nine minutes after takeoff, the pilot was forced to return to Banjul Airport for an emergency landing due to inadequate oxygen supplies on board. The former Manchester United player Saidy Janko said in an Instagram post that some on board were left suffering from “strong headaches…

No fewer than eight people have died after major rioting and unrest hit Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby. Shops and cars were set on fire and supermarkets looted after police went on strike over a salary dispute. Hundreds had taken to the streets on Wednesday. In the aftermath, the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape, addressed the nation, stating that lawlessness would not be tolerated. “Breaking the law does not achieve certain outcomes,” he told the public on Thursday. The army has been sent to restore order, and while most of the rioting had subsided by Wednesday…

Paris Saint-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi has chastised Lionel Messi for lacking “respect” for the French club after he left in June 2023. In September, the Argentina captain expressed resentment that PSG did not acknowledge him following his World Cup heroics. “He’s not a bad guy, but I don’t like it,” Al-Khelaifi told RMC Sport. “I’ll say, not just for him but for everyone, we talk when we’re there, not when we’re gone. That’s not our style. “I have great respect for him [Messi], but if someone wants to speak badly about Paris Saint-Germain afterwards, that’s not good. That’s not respectful.”…

The Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kano on Wednesday ordered the remand of Yusuf Haruna, an 18-year-old man, in a correctional facility for allegedly stabbing Imam Malam Sani Mohammed to death. The defendant, who lives in Tudun Nufawa Quarters, Kano, has been charged with culpable homicide. Mrs. Fatima Ado-Ahmad, the prosecutor, informed the court that Musa Yunusa, who lives at the same home, reported the incident to the Jakara Police Division in Kano on December 31, 2023. She claimed that about 7 p.m., the defendant attacked and fatally stabbed the 45-year-old Imam in the back with a sharp knife. “As a…

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced Wednesday that former Sao Paulo manager Dorival Junior has been named coach of the Brazilian men’s national team, taking over the five-time world champions following a string of bad defeats. Dorival, whose appointment was revealed by his old club on Sunday, will be formally presented at CBF headquarters in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, the confederation said in a statement. The CBF did not define the duration of his contract. According to Brazilian media reports, it will last until the World Cup in 2026. He succeeds fellow Brazilian Fernando Diniz, who held the position…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Betta Edu on bail after hours of questioning her about the approval she gave for the transfer of approximately N585 million from the ministry’s funds to a civil servant’s private account. President Bola Tinubu suspended Edu from office on Monday and directed the EFCC to probe the approval and other embarrassing disclosures, following a public uproar over the issue. The EFCC quickly summoned her to its headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday. She accepted the invitation on Tuesday morning and was remanded in detention…

Gloria Maya Musu-Scott, Liberia’s former chief justice and justice minister, has been sentenced to life in jail for brutally murdering her niece. It marks the downfall of one of Liberia’s most well-known judges and politicians, who took pleasure in her role as a champion of women’s rights. Musu-Scott, 70, is currently in jail, attempting to reverse the decision on appeal. A judge sentenced Musu-Scott after a jury convicted her of the murder of Charloe Musu, 29. Musu-Scott’s trial heard that she, along with three other women, “wilfully, intentionally, purposely, and maliciously inflicted several bodily injuries” on her niece at her…

Gerard Pique has announced a shock return to football, just 14 months after he hung up his boots. The former Barcelona and Manchester United defender announced his abrupt retirement in November 2022, after just playing one match. However, the 36-year-old has hinted at a return to football, admitting that he plans to take on a new position in the sport. In a statement on social media, he wrote, “It’s a new year, and after serious consideration, I’ve decided to return to football. “I miss it a lot. This time, it won’t be as a player. It will be as a coach.…

Adan Canto, a popular Mexican actor, has died at the age of 43. The actor rose to fame after starring in the popular film ‘X-Men’ in 2014. The late actor died of appendiceal cancer on Tuesday, according to the Hollywood Reporter. He is survived by his wife, Stephanie Canto, and their two children, Roman Alder and Eve Josephine. Meanwhile, Fox TV expressed its condolences to the actor’s family on Wednesday. Hollywood actor Alan Arkin dies at 89 It tweeted, “He’ll always be our Arman. Adan Canto, your memory will be cherished forever. “We grieve alongside Adan’s family, friends, and fans.”…