Author: Vincent Osuwo

Diezani Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum resources, has accused UK authorities of damaging her character after a botched corruption prosecution that lasted more than a decade. Alison-Madueke, who was acquitted by a jury on Wednesday at Southwark Crown Court in London, made the statements during a BBC interview on Friday. The former minister was charged with five counts of taking bribes and conspiracy to commit bribery after a 13-year investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency. Following her acquittal, Alison-Madueke described the investigation and prosecution as “painful and traumatic.” “I’ve not been allowed to travel. I’ve not been allowed to…

An Argentine TV presenter has stepped down after inaccurately announcing that Lionel Messi’s father had passed away during Argentina’s opening World Cup match. Florencia Pena asserted this during a live transmission on the Argentine streaming platform Luzu TV after Argentina’s first group game victory against Algeria. “I hate to deliver unfortunate news, but Messi’s father has just died. It was unexpected.” During the World Cup,” Pena stated while presenting the show. The report rapidly circulated on social media before Pena clarified that the details had not been verified. The Messi family subsequently released a statement affirming that the player’s father,…

England manager Thomas Tuchel has stated that Bukayo Saka probably won’t be in the lineup to face Ghana on Tuesday. Saka entered the game as a substitute in the 4-2 World Cup victory against Croatia on Wednesday and promptly assisted fellow substitute Marcus Rashford, who scored England’s fourth goal. Prior to the tournament, Tuchel mentioned that Saka would need to be managed cautiously during the initial phases due to what is believed to be an Achilles tendinitis concern. On Monday, Saka stated he was prepared to play and was willing to “risk” his fitness to support the team in the…

Miguel Almirón of Paraguay became the first player to receive a red card for covering his mouth while conversing with an opponent during his team’s World Cup group match against Turkey in San Francisco. Almirón, 32, covered his mouth with his hand while chatting with Turkey’s Mert Muldur, who promptly told the official standing next to him. Following a visual assistant referee (VAR) examination, El Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton informed the fans that the former Newcastle United winger would be sent off. The event occurred shortly before halftime, with Paraguay leading 1-0. Commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, former Republic…

Miguel Almiron was the first player to receive a red card for covering his mouth in the World Cup, yet 10-man Paraguay tenaciously held on to enhance their chances of reaching the last 32 and knock out Turkey. Paraguay went ahead only 64 seconds in when midfielder Matias Galarza struck from outside the box, marking the quickest goal of the tournament and ultimately the decisive one in the match. Former Newcastle United midfielder Almiron covered his mouth in an altercation with Turkey defender Mert Muldur during first-half stoppage time, resulting in a video assistant referee review and a red card…

A slight adjustment has occurred in how FIFA is creating league tables for the 2026 World Cup—and it could significantly affect the concluding group games. For the first time in a World Cup, FIFA is utilizing head-to-head records rather than group goal difference as the main tiebreaker for teams with equal points. Up until 1966, teams were distinguished by goal ratio, which calculated a team’s scored goals divided by the goals allowed. In 1970, FIFA adopted goal difference—up to this point. It aligns FIFA with UEFA, which has consistently prioritized outcomes between teams. The reasoning is that evaluating the direct…

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday convicted and sentenced the mother and sister of late bandit mastermind Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo to 40 years in jail each. The convicted, Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi, were found to have given information to Battujo via telephone conversations in favor of his terrorist acts, thus committing an offense against and punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Prohibition) Act of 2022. The court, in a decision issued by Justice Hauwa Yilwa, also convicted the two ladies of concealing information by failing to report Battujo’s activities to law enforcement or security authorities…

The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) has distanced itself from a list of supposed candidates for Imo, Abia, and Anambra state elections that is now circulating on social media, calling it fraudulent and unapproved. In a statement issued on Friday by its National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, the party advised members and the general public to dismiss the lists, claiming that they did not come from the party’s national headquarters. The NDC maintained that it had previously submitted an authentic list of candidates who would fly the party’s flag in the impacted states to the Independent National Electoral Commission using the routes…

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Friday, threatened disciplinary action against members it accused of undermining the authority of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, amid efforts to resolve a growing leadership dispute within the organization. In a statement issued by its media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, the group warned that any member or faction violating Kanu’s directions or the organization’s Code of Conduct would face punishments such as suspension, removal from office, or expulsion. The warning comes following the disintegration of the third administration of IPOB’s Directorate of State, led by Chika Edoziem, and the inauguration of a…

Costa Rica’s president, Laura Fernandez, was evacuated by security officers on Friday after a loud explosion while on a visit to a mining location. Laura Fernandez, the conservative populist president, later told reporters that she was unharmed following the panic at Crucitas, near the Nicaraguan border. Fernandez and other politicians were exploring an area notorious for its unauthorized gold mines when a burst of unknown origin caused security with firearms to whisk her away in a car, video footage from the site reveals. “It felt like what you see in a movie,” Fernandez said. “They grab you by the hair, throw you…