Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The winners of the Nations League quarter-final between Italy and Germany will host the last four of the tournament from June 4-8, UEFA announced on Monday. Juventus and Torino’s grounds will be used if Italy win the two-legged quarter-final in March, while Munich and Stuttgart will stage the semi-finals and final if Germany progress. The Italian football federation said Juventus’ Allianz Stadium would host both semi-finals and the final, with the third place play-off to be played at Torino’s stadium. Italy take on Germany in the first leg of their tie on March 20 in Milan. The return is scheduled…

The Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to remove President Bola Tinubu from office. The case was filed by Ambrose Owuru, the 2019 presidential candidate of the de-registered Hope Democratic Party (HDP). Owuru alleged that President Tinubu is an agent of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), making him unfit for office. He also referenced Tinubu’s earlier forfeiture of $460,000 in a drug-related case in the United States, calling for his disqualification. Owuru specifically prayed the court “to invoke section 157 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and oust Tinubu from office for being under the control of…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday received a 12-member delegation from Benin Republic’s Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA) who visited on a study tour. INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, received the delegation from Benin Republic alongside other top officials of the commission at INEC headquarters in Abuja. Led by Sacca Lafia, CENA president, the delegation included national commissioners, directors, and senior staff. According to Lafia, the visit was aimed at learning from Nigeria’s electoral processes and best practices as Benin Republic prepares for its upcoming 2026 elections. In his speech at the event, Yakubu underscored the importance the visit…

Britain’s centuries-old Royal Mail is set to pass into foreign ownership after the UK government approved the takeover of its parent company by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky’s EP Group on Monday. The takeover of International Distribution Services (IDS) by EP Group is worth £3.6 billion ($4.5 billion). The “deal protects workers and key services whilst seeing Royal Mail continue to be headquartered in Britain, securing jobs and tax receipts in the UK”, the government said in a statement. The government will hold a “golden share” in the former state monopoly Royal Mail which ensures it has veto power over Royal…

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf has forwarded six names to the State House of Assembly as Commissioner-nominees. The Speaker of the House, Ismail Falgore disclosed this on Monday while reading the governor’s letter. The nominees include Shehu Sagagi, Dr Dahiru Hashim, Ibrahim Wayya, Dr Isma’il Dan Maraya, Gaddafi Shehu and Abdulkadir AbdulSalam.

The 2024/25 English Premier League season has seen a rapid turnover of managers, with four parting ways with their clubs in just seven weeks, highlighting the pressure to deliver results in one of the world’s most competitive leagues. All four managerial changes occurred within a span of 49 days, from October 28, 2024, to December 15, 2024. As speculation continues about potential future dismissals, the high stakes and intense competition remain evident. The latest changes include: Erik ten Hag – Manchester United Erik ten Hag was dismissed from his role as Manchester United manager after a poor start to the…

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) will airlift 10,000 Christians for this year’s holy pilgrimage to Jordan, starting on December 22. Each pilgrim paid N3 million for the journey, amounting to a total of N30 billion from the Nigerian contingent. According to the NCPC’s Executive Secretary, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, the pilgrimage will last 10 days and include visits to holy sites in Jordan and Turkey. This marks the first pilgrimage of 2024 after several delays. Earlier plans for the President’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to lead the contingent…

The Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Ibrahim Kashim, has resigned. This was disclosed in a press release issued to journalists on Friday by Mukhtar Gidado, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed. Gidado noted that the governor has accepted Kashim’s resignation with immediate effect. “The Chief of Staff, Government House, Bauchi, Dr. Aminu Gamawa, has been directed to take over from him in an acting capacity. “Governor Bala Mohammed, on behalf of the government and the people of Bauchi State, appreciated him for the services he rendered to the State and wished…

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said Friday he felt privileged to work with Cole Palmer after labelling him as “different” to the Premier League’s other star forwards. Palmer has been Chelsea’s outstanding player in their unexpected rise to second place in the Premier League. With 11 goals in 15 games, the England international is Chelsea’s top scorer and has also provided six assists. Palmer’s confidence and quality were on display once again with the cheeky chipped penalty in last weekend’s win at Tottenham. It was the kind of eye-catching moment that Maresca claimed as evidence that the 22-year-old is a truly…

The Appeal Court Abuja has set aside all orders restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation from releasing funds to the Rivers State Government. The Three-member panel, presided by Justice Hamman Barka, held that the subject matter was not within the jurisdiction of the court relating to the revenue of the state. While allowing the appeal of the Rivers State government, the appellate court also set aside all the orders made by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, stating that it was unconstitutional for her to make orders restricting Rivers State government to receive funds due…