2025 | Page 9 of 66 | Trendbrio.com

NBA Refutes Selling AGC 2025 Hosting Rights Claims

Our Reporters6 days ago6 days ago03 mins

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has denied selling her 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) hosting rights to Rivers State. Chairman, 2025 NBA AGC Planning Committee, Emeka Obegolu, SAN stated this in a media statement on Monday. The statement reads; “The attention of the Annual General Conference planning committee has been drawn to a statement credited to the Administrator of Rivers State to the effect that Rivers state government paid hosting rights for the hosting of the NBA AGC 2025. “We wish to clarify that the decision to host the 2025 AGC in Portharcourt was taken in August 2024 and was not subject of any bidding process or payment of any hosting rights. The host city has no hosting right and there is no representation by the NBA that the Conference must be held in a chosen city. “Traditionally, because of the enormous cost involved in hosting the AGC, NBA Conference Planning Committee approaches organizations, agencies of government and state governments for support and the support requested for is unconditional and not tied to hosting rights or any rights whatsoever. “Recent NBA conferences have been supported by different state governments, corporate organizations, ministries, departments and agencies whose budgets accommodate corporate social responsibilities and share the same vision with NBA. Such financial supports are in the form of gifts, partnerships or sponsorships. The money from Rivers State was a gift and was not tied to any purported hosting right for the NBA AGC. “We are committed to delivering a world class conference to members of the Bar and will not be drawn into any unnecessary controversy over this issue.” The 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) which has been moved from Portharcourt to Enugu is slated bwetween 22nd and 28th og August.

117 Referees Shortlisted for 2025 Club World Cup

Our Reporters6 days ago6 days ago05 mins

Following a thorough preparation process that included seminars with FIFA referees from all six confederations, the FIFA Referees Committee has announced the match officials who will oversee games at the groundbreaking FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which will take place from 14 June to 13 July across 12 stadiums in 11 Host Cities in the United States. A total of 117 match officials – 35 referees, 58 assistant referees and 24 video match officials – from 41 member associations will take charge of the matches. Commenting on the appointment of Team One, the chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina, said that it would be a “privilege” for those chosen to officiate at the very first edition of the FIFA Club World Cup: “As every new competition starts, the selected referees are among those who have the privilege to be part of this for the first time, so I’m sure that all the match officials will be thrilled. “We are coming from high standard performances delivered during the last FIFA tournaments. So the bar is higher and when you get the bar higher, it’s more difficult to keep the standard. But we are working very hard and Team One will make a solid contribution to the success of this exciting competition. “I like to compare the preparation of a football team and a referee team because both need to work hard and deliver to the highest standards,” noted FIFA Director of Refereeing Massimo Busacca. “We try to find as much uniformity and consistency as possible in what we are doing because football is the same everywhere, but we know that we have to understand the different mentality in football, and this is crucial.” In line with the changes to the Laws of the Game approved by The International Football Association Board (The IFAB), FIFA will implement new rules designed to cut down on time-wasting by goalkeepers. If a goalkeeper holds the ball for longer than eight seconds (with the referee using a visual five-second countdown), the referee will award a corner kick to the opposing team (rather than the current indirect free kick for more than six seconds). In addition, following The IFAB’s support for FIFA’s undertaking to test body cameras worn by match officials to identify possible future use and develop quality and safety standards, referees will be equipped with body cameras on a trial basis at the FIFA Club World Cup. The live footage from these cameras will be made available to fans across the world via DAZN, the exclusive global broadcaster of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 . “We think that it is a good chance to offer the viewers a new experience, in terms of images taken from a perspective, from an angle of vision, which was never offered before,” said Mr Collina, emphasising that it was a trial. “It also has a purpose in terms of referee coaching because, of course, having the possibility to see what the referee sees is important in the debriefing, to evaluate how the call was made by the referee. So, it’s a combination of a new experience for broadcasters and also for coaching purposes.“

Eniola Badmus, Laide Bakare Fight in Public Glare

Our Reporters6 days ago6 days ago01 mins

Actress and Special Adviser to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Social Events and Public Hearing, Eniola Badmus has engaged in a public fight with her colleague, Laide Bakare. The two Nollywood stars engaged in the fight at Eniola Ajao’s ‘Owanbe Thieves’ movie premiere on Sunday. It all started when Laide Bakare was trying to video record herself with Eniola Badmus on the dance floor. Badmus angrily warned her not to capture her, saying, “Must I be in your video? Don’t film us together, we are not friends.” In response, Bakare, as seen in a now trending video on social media, pushed Eniola Badmus back and said in Yoruba “Are you mad? What type of embarrassment is this? Are you insane?”

Atiku Will Dump Opposition If Promised Power in 2027 – Wike’s Aide

Our Reporters6 days ago6 days ago02 mins

Lere Olayinka, spokesman for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has claimed that any opposition movement led by former PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar is doomed to fail. According to Olayinka, Atiku would abandon the opposition and join the All Progressives Congress (APC) if President Bola Tinubu promises to hand over power to him in 2027. He made the remarks while mocking Atiku over his recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna, where he was accompanied by political heavyweights including former governors Nasir El-Rufai, Aminu Tambuwal, and Gabriel Suswam. While Atiku described the visit as a Sallah homage, Olayinka dismissed the explanation, suggesting the former Vice President should instead have visited ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta for Lisabi Day. In a Facebook post, Olayinka wrote:“Those of us who have sense know that any opposition being led by Atiku is a failure from the beginning.If tomorrow President Tinubu tells Atiku, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll hand over to you in 2027, just join APC,’ he’ll switch sides immediately.” Mocking further, he added:“I’m still waiting for Atiku to carry himself to Abeokuta and pay Lisabi Day homage to OBJ. Also, we’re celebrating the Egungun Festival next month in Okemesi Ekiti. He shouldn’t forget to stop by and pay homage there too.”

NNL Holds Monthly Award Ceremony in Abuja

Our Reporters6 days ago6 days ago02 mins

The Nigeria National League has concluded plans to organize its monthly award ceremony for players and teams in the league on Tuesday, 15th April in the Federal Capital, Abuja. Chief Operating Officer of the NNL, Danlami Alanana, told thenff.com that the event will commence at 2pm at the West-Point Hotel, Zone 7, Wuse. Award categories include Best Behaved Team of the Month, Best Coach, Best Goalkeeper, Highest Goal Scorer, Best Goal, Best Referee and Most Valuable Player. Crown FC’s Oladeji Joshua has been selected as the best goalkeeper, having kept clean sheets in three matches, while Abdullahi Umar of Kebbi United FC is the most valuable player with four goals, among these a hat-trick scored against Kada Warriors – which happened to be the first hat-trick notched in the season. Umar also takes the highest scorer’s gong, while Solution FC’s Coach Emmanuel Duetsch is best coach and Gateway United is the best-behaved team, having remained without any form of caution in the period under review. Gateway United’s Babatunde Taofeek notched the goal of the season, and Ogunfolaju Joshua from Osun State is the best referee of the month.

BAL: Rivers Hoopers Cruise Past Stade Malien to Wrap Kalahari Conference in Style

Our Reporters6 days ago6 days ago03 mins

Rivers Hoopers concluded their Kalahari Conference campaign in an emphatic fashion with a 79-59 blowout win over Stade Malien, stamping their dominance as they head into the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs in Pretoria, South Africa. Having already secured qualification to the playoffs of the 2025 BAL, the KingsMen stepped onto the court with nothing to prove but a lot to affirm, and it was done neatly. From the tip-off, the Hoopers set the tone, controlling the tempo and keeping Stade Malien in check with a stifling defense that held the Malian side to just 28.6% shooting from the field. The Nigerian side, on the other hand, shot a solid 45.3% and displayed their growing team chemistry. Raphael Putney was the spark plug for the Hoopers, dropping 15 points in under 19 minutes with clinical efficiency knocking down five of his eight attempts at a 62% clip. Putney was ably supported by Madut Akec, whose hustle on both ends saw him finish with 14 points on 46% shooting. Off the bench, Micheal Afuwape provided instant offense, scoring 13 points in just 14 minutes and converting 80% of his shots, including a perfect 3-for-3 from the line. Abel Chidiebere Offia added 9 points and Ifeanyi Anthony dropped 9 points and 3 rebounds in 20 minutes. Rivers Hoopers also outplayed Stade Malien beyond the arc, making nine of their 30 three-point attempts (30%), while Stade Malien managed just 9-of-37 (24.3%). The Hoopers’ ball movement, defensive rotations, and bench depth were simply too much for their opponents. With this win, Rivers Hoopers closed out the Kalahari Conference with a 4-2 record and firmly focused on their next stop Pretoria, South Africa, where the best of the continent will battle for glory in the BAL Playoffs.

Tertiary Institutions Shortchanging Students with Student Loans

Our Reporters7 days ago7 days ago03 mins

Recent investigations into the disbursement of the Federal Government Student Loan Fund have uncovered several unethical practices by some institutions of higher learning. According to the latest report by the Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMO), of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), schools and banks are conspiring to short-change the students. Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the Director General of the NOA, announced the findings after meeting with NELFUND Managing Director, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, over the weekend. Initial reports indicated that certain university officials have been withholding vital information regarding loan disbursements, prompting immediate action from NELFUND. The NOA’s feedback shows how specific institutions have, in connivance with some banks, deliberately delayed payments to successful student applicants for personal financial benefit. Some universities fail to acknowledge the NELFUND’s disbursements to the students. Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr confirmed that some institutions are failing to inform students about loan disbursements made in their name while still requiring them to pay tuition fees. He stated, “Recent findings by NELFUND have shown that some institutions have received student loan disbursements directly into their accounts yet neglect to inform the affected students or record the payments in their financial records, leading to unnecessary confusion. “Withholding critical financial information from students is not only unethical but also a breach of the principles on which NELFUND was founded. We are prepared to take legal action against any institution engaged in such deceptive practices.” In response, Mallam Issa-Onilu has issued a strong warning to these institutions and collaborating banks to cease such activities. NOA has directed its state directorates to provide further feedback from students across the country to ensure that the Federal Government takes appropriate actions against erring schools and banks.

Ex-Eagles’ Striker, Ideye, Denies Second Wife Rumours

Our Reporters7 days ago7 days ago01 mins

AFCON 2010 winning Super Eagles’ striker, Brown Ideye has reiterated that he is not secretly married to another woman outside wedlock. Furious about the rumours spediang like wildfire, the Enyimba FC forward took to his twitter handle now X to dismiss the claims. “Have said this before and I’m saying it again. I don’t have a second wife or family home or abroad. Happily married 2010 and God bless my wife and with two lovely boys. “Don’t take my silence for foolishness. Period!,” he warned. The goalpoacher, who is married to Damka Ideye and were blessed with two boys, Andriy Ideye and Brown Ideye Jr. was accused of having children with a Ukrainian woman during his career at Dynamo Kyiv of Ukraine.