Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Former AC Milan coach Paulo Fonseca was appointed head coach of Ligue 1 side Lyon on Friday, following the departure of Pierre Sage. The 51-year-old former Portugal international signed a two-and-a-half- year contract and has been tasked with guiding Lyon, who are currently sixth in the table, to Champions League qualification. Fonseca watched from the stands on Thursday alongside Lyon’s American owner John Textor as Lyon secured their place in the last 16 of the Europa League with a 1-1 draw against Bulgaria’s Ludogorets. Sage was an unknown quantity when he was appointed in November 2023 to take over a…

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has decried what he describes as systematic dismantling of the opposition by the President Bola Tinubu administration. In a post on his X handle, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate, said that the recent arrest and “baseless prosecution” of Omoyele Sowore is the latest in the harassment of opposition figures. “When I made the clarion call that Tinubu and the APC were devoting their energies to the systematic harassment, intimidation, and dismantling of the opposition, all in service of their grand design for a one-party autocracy, I became the target of vicious attacks.…

The Ondo State Government has called on nurses to suspend their planned strike over alleged welfare neglect. The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) in the state had declared an indefinite strike on Thursday, citing the government’s failure to address their concerns. NANNM Chairman, Felix Orobode, expressed dissatisfaction, accusing the government of neglecting nurses’ welfare despite their crucial role in healthcare delivery. However, the state government, through the Head of Service, Bayo Philip, expressed surprise at the announcement, stating that there were no unresolved disputes to warrant the industrial action. Philip noted, “Like other health workers and public…

Moscow on Friday accused Ukrainian troops of killing 22 people in an occupied Russian village, including eight women who were allegedly raped before being executed. Ukraine controls dozens of border settlements in the Kursk region of western Russia since launching a surprise offensive in August and says about 2,000 civilians still live in areas it occupies. Russia has now retaken several towns. Russia’s Investigative Committee had said on January 19 it was investigating the killing of “at least seven civilians” in the village of Russkoye Porechnoye, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the Ukrainian border. On Friday, it said it…

With less than 24 hours before President Donald Trump’s deadline to impose sweeping tariffs on the three biggest US trading partners — Canada, Mexico and China — the global economy is bracing for impact. Shortly after taking office this month, Trump said he planned to introduce 25 per cent tariffs on neighbours Canada and Mexico on February 1 unless they cracked down on illegal migrants crossing the US border and the flow of deadly fentanyl. He added that he was eyeing an additional 10 per cent duty on Chinese goods as soon as Saturday as well, similarly over fentanyl. On…

British designer Kim Jones has stepped down from his post as artistic director of Dior Homme, the fashion house said on Friday, after seven years overseeing its men’s collections. “The House of Dior wishes to express its deepest gratitude to Kim Jones, who has accelerated the development of men’s collections internationally and has greatly contributed to the worldwide influence of the house by creating an inspiring wardrobe that is both classic and contemporary, and connected to some artists of our time,” it said on X. The 51-year-old Londoner began work at Dior in 2018 and initially introduced a younger streetwear-influenced…

Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface has resumed training with Bayer Leverkusen after his proposed €15 million per season move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr fell through. Boniface, who was excused from training and left out of Leverkusen’s UEFA Champions League squad on Wednesday, shared a picture of himself and teammates in training on Thursday following the announcement. Negotiations between Leverkusen and Al Nassr appeared to be progressing smoothly, but transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the Saudi club ultimately backed out of the deal. “Victor Boniface and Al Nassr, deal off,” Romano posted on X. “The Nigerian striker…

Four soldiers from Myoung Barracks in the Morocco area of Shomolu, Lagos, were feared dead, while others sustained injuries after a vehicle rammed into them during their routine morning jog. The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday when a Toyota vehicle carrying three young men reportedly lost control and crashed into the soldiers outside the barracks. An eyewitness, Priscilla, who resides in the area, described how the vehicle was speeding before the crash. She stated that after the accident, the occupants of the car attempted to flee but were caught by onlookers. They were allegedly beaten, and their…

The Federal Government has donated ₦30 million to the family of the late Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, designer of Nigeria’s national flag, nearly two years after his passing. The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, officially presented the cheque at the residence of the late Akinkunmi in Elebu, Ibadan, Oyo State. He was accompanied by the Oyo State Director of NOA, Olukemi Afolayan. Akinkunmi, who designed the iconic Green-White-Green flag, passed away on August 29, 2023, at the age of 87. Speaking during the visit, Issa-Onilu emphasized that the donation was not a payment for the late…

A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Head of Media and Publicity for the Commission, Dele Oyewale, confirmed this to Channels Television in a telephone conversation on Wednesday. Professor Yusuf was arrested by EFCC operatives who raided his residence on Wednesday. According to the Commission, he will be arraigned on Thursday 30th January, 2025. A petition was submitted to the immediate past presidency under former President Muhammadu Buhari and  the Federal Ministry of Health, over misconduct and fraudulent practices. Yusuf was…