Our Reporters

Serie A: Lookman fires Alatanta past Fiorentina 

Ballon d’Or nominee Ademola Lookman netted the winner in Atalanta 3-2 win over Fiorentina in a Serie A tie on Sunday.  The red-hot midfielder had grabbed an assist in the 21st minute before putting icing on the cake for the Europa League winners before half time.  In a post match interview, the Nigerian insisted he is ‘enjoying’ his football with Atalanta after a tumultuous summer. Lookman made his first Serie A appearance of the season after pulling out due to transfer interest from big clubs, but now that he is back in the fold, he made an immediate difference with an assist and a goal for Atalanta. “Happy to be back in front of our fans and play football here. Enjoying it, we’ve got a strong squad this season and happy to play, so we go on,” Lookman told DAZN when asked about his rather turbulent summer. Atalanta will be up against Premier League contenders Arsenal in the Champions League on Thursday, a very special game for Lookman, who was born in London. “We’re very pleased to be in the Champions League this season. We deserved that and have to demonstrate it. We want to show the same drive and mentality that we had today to come back from behind.”

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Dangote Refinery begins operations, dishes out PMS 

The Dangote Refinery on Sunday began operation as they release the first set of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol.  In a post on their official X handle, the Group wrote; “HAPPENING NOW: First set of trucks set for loading of PMS at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.” Earlier last week, the Vice President, Downstream, NNPCL Adedapo Segun revealed that the Dangote Refinery will receive additional 17.8million barrels of crude oil as part of the Federal Government push to drive local production of petroleum products.  According to Adedapo, 6.8million barrels in 7 cargoes of crude oil will be delivered to Dangote Refinery in September, while another 11 million barrels will be delivered in November.  Contrary to media reports that Dangote Refinery will only sell products to NNPCL as sole off taker, Adedapo said that Dangote will sell products to other marketers once the market conditions are right for them to play, adding that NNPCL for now will act in public interest as provider of last resort as provided for in the Petroleum Industry Act.

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Auto parts dealer, businesswoman arrested over UK-bound opioids, cocaine 

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested an Ibadan, Oyo state-based businesswoman, Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola Dorcas and an auto parts dealer, Arinze Ora over attempts to export consignments of opioids and cocaine to London, United Kingdom and Congo Brazzaville respectively. NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos had on Friday 6th September 2024 intercepted a cargo going to the United Kingdom.  A thorough search of the consignment revealed 924 bottles of codeine-based syrup weighing 135.70kg and 5,250 tablets of rohypnol were hidden in cartons of foodstuffs. The freight agent, Owojori Olanrewaju Sunday who presented the cargo for export was promptly arrested. Further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect, Adewunmi Akeem Temitope, who claimed that his mother, 58-year-old Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola Dorcas sent the consignment to him from Ibadan to deliver to the agent.  A follow up operation on Saturday 7th September led to the arrest of Mrs. Adewunmi in Ibadan where she deals in foodstuffs and cargo export. In his statement, the agent Owojori confessed that he has been working for Mrs. Adewunmi to export cargoes to the UK, adding that he was paid N2,411,000.00 for the job, while he was paid N2.1million for a similar consignment handled for the businesswoman earlier.

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Sowore regains freedom

Nigerian politician and human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has regained freedom after his arrest at the Murtala Mohammed International  Airport, Lagos on Sunday.  Sowore, who was arrested on his arrival in Nigeria from United States of America, later regained freedom.  In a post on his official X handle, the Politician stated that he been released by the officials of the Nigerian Immigration.  He wrote;”I have just been released by the Nigerian Immigration after a brief detention and my passport released back to me.” On Thursday, 12 September 2024, a DSS memo ordering the arrest of Sowore upon his arrival in Nigeria was leaked.

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Sowore arrested at Lagos Airport 

Nigerian politician and human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has been arrested.  The pro-democracy campaigner was arrested on Sunday morning at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.  The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, has been arrested. In a post via his official X handle, Sowore disclosed that he had been detained by the Nigerian Immigration Service and his international passport had been confiscated. He wrote, “I had just arrived in Nigeria from the USA to the MMIA in Lagos; upon reaching Nigerian Immigration, my passport was seized, and they told me they had orders to detain me.  “This is not un expected because i have always known that It is part of the broader clampdown by the fascist @officialAbat regime on dissent and their fear of the upcoming #FearlessINOctober revolt.  “In case this becomes another prolonged and protracted detention, I urge our citizens to ensure they ALL stop tyranny by all means acceptable and necessary, by engaging in the planned series of direct actions slated for October 1st and beyond.” On Thursday, 12 September 2024, a DSS memo ordering the arrest of Sowore upon his arrival in Nigeria was leaked.

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Osimhen makes winning debut for Galatasaray

Victor Osimhen got off to a winning start for Galatasaray as they smashed past visiting Rizespor 5-0 in the Turkish Super Lig. The Napoli striker on loan to ‘Gala’ was even widely credited with the second goal, but repeated TV replays showed he did not have a touch to the free kick in the 26th minute. Otherwise, he enjoyed a decent debut. He saw his header in the 15th minute off a cross by Dries Mertens miss target narrowly. In the 42nd minute, the striker failed to get a good connection to the ball inside the box. He was then denied his debut goal in the 77th minute by the Rizespor goalkeeper. Osimhen played the entire duration. Fellow Nigeria stars Ibrahim Olawoyin and David Akintola featured for the visiting team.

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Ola Aina makes history with Forests over Liverpool 

Nigerian defender Ola Aina starred for 90 minutes in Nottingham Forest win over Liverpool on Saturday.  His compatriot Taiwo Awoniyi was on the bench for the entire duration of the tie. Liverpool dropped points for the first time this season after a second-half stunner from Callum Hudson-Odoi earned Forest their first victory at Anfield in 55 years. Arne Slot’s side were yet to concede a league goal this term, before the introduction of Hudson-Odoi from the Forest bench, with Nuno Espirito Santo masterminding the unlikely 1-0 win. The substitute scored the winner in the 72nd minute after Liverpool’s retreating backline offered him the time and space to measure a shot from 20 yards. He obliged, bending a perfectly precise strike beyond Alisson at full stretch into the far corner. Ryan Yates was a workhorse in the Nottingham Forest midfield Liverpool, with lofty ambitions in Slot’s first season in charge, created plenty but lacked any cutting edge as every final pass or attempted finish failed to hit the mark. Their 14 shots at goal – five on target – were a sign of the home side’s obvious dominance, but unlike the opening three weeks of the campaign where they scored seven times, they were unable to convert such superiority into goals.

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Bundesliga: Boniface fires brace in Leverkusen win 

Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface netted a brace in Bayer Leverkusen’s 4-1 drubbing of Hoffenheim on Saturday.  The Nigerian forward returned to Bundesliga action after failing to score during the international break.  Before the break, the Boniface had reclaimed his starting shirt in the team, and he started for them against Hoffenheim alongside compatriot Nathan Tella. Die Werkself were the favourites to claim the win, and they enforced their authority early on. They created the better chances from the start, and it took them just 17 minutes to get the opener.  Boniface was the creator, as he sent a nice pass to Martin Terrier, who converted calmly to make it 1-0.

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