Fuji music icon, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1) also known as K1 D’Ultimate has lost his adorable mother, Alhaja Halima Shadiya Anifowoshe. She was aged 105. The deceased may be interred this afternoon in Ijebu Ode according to Islamic rites. Details later…
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has reiterated that Julius Abure remains the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP). A three-member panel of the appellate court in a judgement delivered by Justice Hamma Barka, held that its judgement of November 13, 2024, which recognised Abure as national chairman subsists and has not been set aside by any court. Barka made the declaration on Friday, while delivering judgement in two separate appeals filed by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman and the Caretaker Committee and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The appellate court in the two separate appeals held that it did not delve into the issue of the leadership of the Labour Party, because such issues are not justiciable. According to the appellate court, anything that is done outside jurisdiction amounts to a nullity. Hence the judgement of the Federal High Court delivered on October 8, 2024 by Justice Emeka Nwite is of no effect because it was delivered without jurisdiction. “We cannot say this appeal fails or succeeds because the lower court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit in the first place,” Barka held. While striking out the suit for want of jurisdiction, he held that the appellate relied on its previous judgement of November 13 last year to hold that “Abure Remains National Chairman of the Labour Party”.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko on Friday received Plateau State Governor Bar. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang in the NSC Secretariat in Abuja. The visit enabled both parties to discuss strategic roadmap to advance issues of mutual interest in sports. Rising from the meeting, they resolved to set up a joint-working committee to implement the objectives set in the areas identified. Among wide-ranging issues, discussions included the state collaborating with the Commission in the state’s intention to complete the New Jos Township Stadium, a project the present administration is committed to executing. Similarly, the NSC will activate the Commission’s Training Center in Plateau including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approval for the NSC to align with the state government regarding the asset. Governor Mutfwang applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for restoring the National Sports Commission and appointing Dikko as Chairman. He expressed his confidence in Dikko’s capacity to take Nigerian Sports forward. “I have been following closely everything said about this appointment. This is about the first time in sports that everyone is saying that the right person was picked. We must thank Mr. President for getting this spot-on. Monitoring developments in sports since then, there is no doubt that the sector is heading upwards. I am so sure that this collaboration will yield desired results because of the man in charge of sports in the country”, he said. Mallam Dikko is similarly optimistic about the collaboration. His words, “It is interesting to note the vast knowledge His Excellency has about sports and his commitment to drive its growth in Plateau state. Where there is a will there will surely be a way. Plateau is a place of interest to us. There is a lot that both parties can do together and when the joint-working committee is set up, we will pick it up from there.”
Plans are underway to give several Stadia and Sports facilities in Rivers State a facelift in line with the latest plans of the Rivers State Ministry of Sports to develop Sports in the State. Revealing this, Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Barr. Christopher Green identified the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Alfred Diette Spiff Sports Complex (Civic Centre), amongst others as some of the edifices earmarked for the exercise. “The Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium will undergo massive renovation,” Barr. Green said as he added that the facility will soon host football games sanctioned by Africa’s and the world football governing bodies, CAF and FIFA. “The Yakubu Gowon Stadium will also undergo massive renovation. The Alfred Diette Spiff Civic Centre will also undergo massive renovation. “The Basketball Stadium we have and other such facilities we have (in Rivers State) will also undergo massive renovation,” he said. The Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium was built in 2015 by the Rivers State Government in 2015 and will be undergoing a facelift of this magnitude for the first time. Distinctively different from many Stadiums across the country, it houses a hockey pitch, a shooting range and 25 emergency exits, among other features that backs its boast as the most equipped stadium in Nigeria. The Stadium was officially opened on 19 July 2015 with a 2016 Olympics men’s football qualifier between Nigeria and Congo. Nigeria’s men’s U23 team won the Rio Olympics qualifier 2-1. Virtually all necessary sports in the world could be done in the stadium as it has an aquatic centre that includes two Olympic-sized swimming and diving pools. Also integrated in the stadium are two basketball courts, two tennis courts, two badminton courts, two handball courts, two indoor sports halls as well as hostels and administrative buildings. This stadium is named after one of Rivers State’s former national footballer, Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka. It has a seating capacity of 38,000 with all stands covered. Two training pitches flank the main bowl and all pitches are adorned with natural grass.
The Udine Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into Nigeria and Udinese’s Maduka Okoye, as the goalkeeper is suspected of illegal betting practices and could risk a ban from all competitions for at least four years. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, betting agency Sisal reported unusual gambling patterns detected by its algorithms, as people placed an abnormal amount of bets on the likelihood of Okoye being booked during Udinese’s away clash at Lazio in March of 2024, with the goalkeeper receiving a yellow card for time-wasting after 64 minutes. Such a warning sparked suspicions in the public prosecutor, who is also looking at the role of Diego Giordano, a 40-year-old owner of the Biffi pizzeria in Udine. The pink newspaper explained that the restaurant owner is also under investigation, as it’s alleged that a verbal agreement regarding the bet was made at the pizzeria and later executed at a Sisal betting outlet in the city, just a few days before the meeting between Lazio and Udinese. If found guilty, Okoye could face a ban from all competitions for at least four years, in addition to potential legal consequences. However, the player’s legal representatives have denied all allegations, claiming that the accusations are unfounded and lack any substantial evidence. The goalkeeper is now out of action after undergoing wrist surgery, with the club recently signing Egil Selvik as a precautionary measure.
The Ogun State Government has said that it is considering signing the Death Warrants of condemned criminals sentenced by competent courts to serve as a deterrent to those who may want to commit heinous crimes in the state. The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), made this known on Friday after inspecting inmates and facilities at the Correctional Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta. The Attorney General, who was conducted around by officers of the Centre, expressed concern over the increase in criminal activities like ritual killings, kidnapping, cultism, and other heinous crimes in recent times in the state. According to Mr. Ogungbade, the state government is ready to take the bull by the horns by implementing the law through signing the Death Warrants. He observed that despite the proactive measures put in place by security agencies in tackling crimes, there appears to be an upsurge, particularly in ritual killings, adding that the government had identified the wrong perception that there would be no repercussions when some of these crimes are committed as the root cause. “I can tell you that we are looking seriously at a means of sending a message that Ogun State is not a place where you can come and commit such serious crimes and get away with it. “The law as of today, for example, states that a murder case attracts the death penalty and some other offenses. But if you look at it nationally, for a long time, there has been reluctance on the part of governments across the states, particularly since the advent of democratic rule, to sign Death Warrants. But I assure you that at this time, we are looking very seriously at following the law to its letter. “It is part of the duty of the governor to sign Death Warrants, and I am certain that when he took that oath of office, he took it knowing full well the responsibilities that come with it. He is a governor who upholds the rule of law, so I can assure you that in deserving cases, he will not shy away from that constitutional duty. “Though I may not give a timeline, I can only say that in deserving cases, which we are looking at, it will happen. “If somebody has gone through the process of a fair trial and has made use of all his appeals, we will begin to look seriously at implementing those judgments, hoping that it will serve as a deterrent to those who still intend to carry out such crimes. But in doing so, I can assure you that we will be systematic about it; we will not be reckless about it,” he assured. He said the present administration has done a lot in terms of granting amnesty to those condemned to death by turning their death sentences into life imprisonment, reducing life imprisonment to a fixed term of imprisonment, as well as allowing punishment to serve as a deterrent. The Commissioner attributed the upsurge in criminal activities to a total loss of value system and the support given to criminals by their relatives, saying this is in variance with the African belief system that abhors criminal behavior and seeks punishment for offenders. “In times past, when people committed crimes, their family members were usually the ones who would even alert law enforcement. But what we have today is where the family comes together to shield people who have committed crimes. Unless there is a total reappraisal of our value system, we will continue to have this problem. We need to go back to the family,” he added. The Attorney General said his visit to the Correctional Centre was to see the conditions of the inmates and the facilities, with a view to doing the needful to ensure that the centre worked the way it was designed and that the inmates were not made to go through excruciating suffering.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed his appreciation for the Nigeria Governors’ Forum following their unanimous endorsement of the four Tax Reform Bills currently under consideration by the National Assembly. President Tinubu lauded the governors for their bold leadership and commitment to fostering unity among leaders nationwide, transcending regional, ethnic, and political barriers to advance Nigeria’s development. Thursday’s productive consultation between the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Presidential Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy is a commendable example of cooperation between the Federal and State governments. He extended special commendations to the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, for successfully galvanising support among his peers for these transformative tax bills to rejuvenate the national economy and enhance Nigeria’s investment climate. He also commended the Progressive Governors Forum, the Northern Governors Forum, and all other groups that made the bipartisan resolution of the controversy stirred by the tax bills possible. President Tinubu underscored that the primary aim of the Tax Reform Bills, which is pro-poor, is to promote national interests, improve the competitiveness of Nigeria’s economy, and attract both local and foreign investments. He said updating the country’s outdated tax laws is essential to this endeavour. The President noted that the dialogue between the NGF and the Presidential Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy Reform highlights the power of constructive conversation in resolving differences. President Tinubu regarded the governors as vital contributors to nation-building and affirms his commitment to partnering with them to promote economic growth, national harmony, peace, and stability. He also encouraged other stakeholders with ideas and suggestions for refining the Tax Bills to engage with the ongoing legislative process at the National Assembly. Finally, President Tinubu urged the National Assembly to expedite the legislative process for these crucial bills so that the country can swiftly reap the benefits of the reforms.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been named new coach of Besiktas. The former Manchester United manager has been out of football since his sacking in December 2021. Solskjaer said at his presentation: “It’s great to be here. “It’s very nice to see so many people who care about this fantastic football club. “I’ve had a very nice first meeting with the members of the board. “I’m really looking forward to this – it’s fantastic to be in this beautiful city.” Besiktas axed Giovanni van Bronckhorst last month. The Black Eagles currently sit sixth in the Super Lig table.
