Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s final Copa America group game against Peru after complaining of muscle tightness, team officials said on Friday. Assistant coach Walter Samuel told a press conference that the Inter Miami superstar was “day-by-day” following an injury to his right adductor muscle. “Leo had a problem in the last game, he won’t be there for this game,” Samuel said. “We are going to go day-by-day waiting for its evolution.” Samuel, meanwhile, played down the impact of Messi’s absence on the rest of the team. “The team has always proven to be up to the task before when…

Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has rejected the suggestion by governors that they should be allowed to determine the wages of their workers, saying among others, that it is not only dictatorial but against the concept of the minimum wage. NLC, in a statement, warned the state governors against further inflammatory statements concerning the minimum wage to avoid provoking industrial unrest. In the statement by Mr Benson Upah, NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, Labour contended that it may no longer be able to withstand the pressure for industrial action should the minimum wage issue continue to be prolonged. NLC…

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Warns Minor Chiefs, Including Baales and Olus, Against Wearing Crowns. Aiyedatiwa said any minor chiefs, Baales and Olus that flouted his directive would be sanctioned. He said the crown must be respected. The Ondo governor who was represented by his Deputy, Chief Olayide Adelami, at a meeting with the Ondo State Council of Obas, ordered Traditional Stools in the State without Chieftaincy Declarations to produce one and register it before the end of September 2024. He said such registration was a strategy to ensure seamless transition and put an end to agitations and tussles associated…

President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the fire incident that ravaged parts of Karu Market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday evening. The devastating blaze destroyed property and valuables, leaving traders in distress. In a statement issued on Friday, June 28, by his special adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu extended his heartfelt sympathies to those affected, assuring them of his administration’s full support. “President Bola Tinubu receives the news of the fire incident, which affected sections of Karu Market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with deep sadness. “On Thursday evening, fire ripped…

The ruling party in Kano state, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), on Friday, June 28, accused the immediate past governor, Abdullahi Ganduje of appointing Aminu Bayero and the other four dethroned first-class emirs for his political gains. NNPP chairman, Hashimu Dungurawa, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman had split the Kano emirate into five and appointed five emirs in pursuance of political gains, with a target on the 2023 general election. Dungurawa stated this while fielding questions from newsmen in his office. According to him, it was arranged to expire with the tenure of the former governor, Dr.…

Actress Bisola Aiyeola has denied recent claims made by a blogger regarding Ugo Nwoke, the husband of fellow actress Sharon Ooja. The blog alleged that Ugo is a three-time divorcee in his 50s with three children from previous marriages and that Sharon Ooja is his fourth wife. Bisola took to social media to denounce these allegations, labeling them as lies and reaffirming her support for the couple. “My God. The lies you confidently typed are no shock to me, it’s your way. But guess what, you cannot dampen my girl’s peace at all,” Bisola wrote emphatically. She assured followers that…

The burial of Nollywood actor John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu, has commenced in his hometown of Amuri, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State. The actor passed away in March 2024 in Lagos due to cardiac arrest, following complications from the amputation of one of his legs. John Okafor, born and raised in Enugu, first gained widespread recognition in 2004 with the film “Mr Ibu,” which also starred the late Ita Iheme. Over his prolific career, he appeared in more than 200 Nollywood films, becoming a household name with hits such as ‘Mr Ibu,’ ‘Mr. Ibu and…

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has asked political parties and other stakeholders to avert their minds to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (As Amended) with respect to the tenure of Area Council Chairmen in the Federal Capital Territory FCT. According to the commission, the Act guarantees a four-year tenure for the Chairmen and Councilors, not the three years provided in the Electoral Act 2010. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu who disclosed this at a meeting with the Inter Party Advisory Council IPAC on Friday in Abuja said the tenure of the current chairmen and councilors would lapse…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to cite two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) – Ifedayo Adedipe and Abdulwahab Muhammed – for contempt. It is for their failure to honour their commitment to produce the immediate-past Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello for arraignment. Just Emeka Nwite had adjourned until yesterday based on the SANs’ promise to produce Bello, who was absent again. The judge adjourned till July 17 to rule on EFCC’s application that the two defence counsel be cited for contempt. The former Kogi governor rather wrote to the Chief…

Citizens of Iran cast their votes Friday in a presidential election marked by a lone reformist’s bid to break through against a divided conservative field. Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to vote in the election called after the death of ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash last month. The snap election comes against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions over the Gaza war and discontent over the state of Iran’s sanctions-hit economy. The leading contenders approved by the Guardian Council, which vets candidates, are conservative parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, and…