Author: Vincent Osuwo

Billionaire business mogul Femi Otedola has boosted his interest in First HoldCo Plc by acquiring 1.77 billion shares through his investment vehicle, Calvados Global Services Limited. According to a regulatory filing acquired from the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), the N222.20 billion transaction took place on Thursday. The current transaction increases Otedola’s shareholding in First HoldCo from 9.99 billion to 11.77 billion shares, bringing his ownership interest from 21.96 per cent to 25.88 per cent. The purchase is Otedola’s second substantial investment in the bank since July. On July 22, he bought 706.13 million shares worth N77.58 billion, bolstering his position as…

Chelsea have finalized the acquisition of French defender Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace for a fee of £52 million. BBC Sport reports that the 26-year-old center-back has signed a deal with the Blues lasting until 2032, marking the club’s third signing of the summer transfer window. Lacroix, who has represented France seven times, transferred to Crystal Palace from Bundesliga club Wolfsburg in 2024 for a starting fee of £15.5 million and swiftly became a key player under manager Oliver Glasner. The defender played in 55 matches across all competitions last season as Palace triumphed in the UEFA Conference League, earning…

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have officially drawn a line under their summer transfer business, according to their sporting director, Max Eberl. As reported by Fabrizio Romano in a statement on X on Thursday, Eberl confirmed that Bayern do not intend to make any further signings after completing the arrivals of Nene Brown and Ismael Saibari. “We closed the transfers of Nene Brown and Ismael Saibari very quickly. I thought it was clear that we are done with incomings,” Eberl said. The Bayern manager also dismissed the numerous transfer reports that have linked the Bundesliga champions with new targets in recent…

Operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, in collaboration with other security operatives, have rescued nine kidnapped victims in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. The DSS operatives were joined by the Kwara State Forest Guards, along with local hunters and vigilantes, in carrying out the operation in the Obbo-Aiyegunle, Ejiu-Ora, and Osi axes of the local government, which border Ekiti and Kogi. Dada Sunday, Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the Ekiti Local Government Council, confirmed the situation in a statement released to Chronicle NG in Ilorin on Wednesday. According to the statement, the victims…

US President Donald Trump has urged British Prime Minister Andy Burnham to tackle illegal migration, warning that the issue is “killing” the United Kingdom. Speaking to GB News on Wednesday, the US president said Burnham would eventually have to address immigration despite initially avoiding the subject after taking office. “He’s going to have to mention it because it’s killing your country,” Trump told the broadcaster. “I know Starmer did very little about it, and they’re coming from all over the world. “They’re coming from Africa. They’re coming from South America. They’re coming from different parts of Asia. “They’re invading Europe,”…

Brazil’s head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has conceded that his tactical mistakes during the hydration break may have cost his team in their 2026 FIFA World Cup defeat to Norway. In an interview with ESPN on Thursday, the Italian stated that Brazil was in control before the planned stoppage, despite Norway having long stretches of possession in their own half. “I think we lost the World Cup during the hydration break against Norway. Until that moment, the team was in control,” Ancelotti said. He explained that he mistakenly assumed Brazil had lost control of the game and responded by making various…

The governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has declared that the state’s people would not be intimidated ahead of the August 15 governorship election, and he is confident that voters will preserve their democratic rights. In a post uploaded on his official X feed on Thursday, Adeleke stated that the Osun people have a long history of opposing injustice and will once again ensure that their collective will prevails despite what he regarded as external intervention. “Throughout the history of Osun State, our people have never bowed to intimidation. We are resilient, determined, and fiercely protective of our rights. “As…

The Nigerian Army has appointed General Officers Commanding (GOC) for four newly created divisions following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the creation of additional formations. The appointments, approved by Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, are part of a larger restructure of the Army’s operational organization aimed at expanding its footprint, improving command and control, and increasing force projection across the country. To lead the new formations, the COAS chose Maj. Gen. Yakubu Yahaya as GOC, 9 Division, Ilorin, and commander of Operation Savannah Shield. Maj Gen Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife has been named GOC 10 Division, Jalingo, while…

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday arraigned five suspected members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, popularly known as Ansaru, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the May 15 kidnap of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and the killing of two victims. The defendants are: Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, alias Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, alias Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar. They…

Controversial Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, and Nollywood actor Charles Okocha engaged in a heated verbal exchange during a live face-off interview on Wednesday as both men intensified their rivalry ahead of their celebrity boxing rematch. The exchange occurred during a TVC programme titled Chaos in the Ring, where the two appeared alongside a moderator to discuss their scheduled July 31 bout. During the interview, Portable repeatedly stated that he would defeat Okocha again, boasting about his preparations and previous victory over the actor. “I’m the man… I go to prepare; I don’t prepare. I go to…