Fola Badmus

Lagos reaffirms strong ties with India at Republic Day Celebration

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has reiterated the commitment of the State Government to strengthening the long-standing economic and cultural ties between Nigeria and India. Mr. Governor stated this in his goodwill message delivered on his behalf by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barrister Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin at the India Republic Day celebration held recently in Lagos. He commended the Indian business community for its significant contributions to Lagos’ economy, adding that Indian companies, with many headquartered in Lagos, remain some of the largest employers of labour in Nigeria after the Federal Government. Sanwo-Olu stated that their involvement in sectors such as manufacturing, retailing of consumer goods, construction, and air services has solidified India’s position as a major player in the Nigerian economy. “Our administration is committed to further enhancing this mutually beneficial economic partnership. We will continue to promote and provide an enabling environment for investment, trade, and economic development”, he assured. Beyond economic cooperation, Mr. Governor highlighted the robust cultural exchange between Nigeria and India. He applauded the influence of Indian culture in Nigeria, particularly through Bollywood cinema, music, and cuisine. While noting the growing appreciation of Nigerian arts, music, and literature in India, he described this cultural synergy as fostering greater understanding and stronger people-to-people connections between the two nations while praising the Consulate of India in Lagos for its efforts in promoting cultural exchanges and bilateral relations. “The potential for further collaboration between Nigeria and India is immense. We must continue to work together in areas such as agriculture, technology, renewable energy, education, and health care to address shared challenges and achieve common goals. By strengthening our partnership, we can create a brighter future for our citizens and contribute to a more prosperous and stable world,” Sanwo-Olu said. The Governor extended heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Chandramouli Kumar Khan and the entire Indian community in Lagos on India’s Republic Day. He expressed optimism for a brighter and more inclusive future for both Lagos State and India.

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Moses Simon welcomes baby number three

Super Eagles and Nante of France winger Moses Simon has announced the delivery of his third child. The pacy player took to his X handle former Twitter to revealed the new addition to the family. The player wrote; “I find no words strong enough to express my exact feelings, I’m sincerely grateful to God. “God has blessed my home with a baby boy. “Thanks my Queen for this marvelous gift to our family, you are indeed a strong woman and I am always proud of you.”

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Morocco 2025: Nigeria to battle Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania in Group C

Three-time African Champions, Super Eagles will battle Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania in Group C of the Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025. Their opening match will be against Tanzania. Tunisia, champions on home soil in 2004, eliminated Nigeria in the Round of 16 of the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon. The opening match of the 2025 AFCON will be hosts Morocco against Comoros on December 21 in Rabat. Group AMoroccoMaliZambiaComoros Group BEgyptSouth AfricaAngolaZimbabwe Group CNigeriaTunisiaUgandaTanzania Group DSenegalDR CongoBeninBotswana Group EAlgeriaBurkina FasoEquatorial GuineaSudan Group FCote d’IvoireCameroonGabonMozambique

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Rivers Hoopers defeat Hoops and Read

Nigeria Premier Basketball League champions Rivers Hoopers started their campaign at the 2025 Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship with a 72-54 win over Hoops and Read on Sunday. It was the third win for Hoopers over the Olumide Oyedeji-led team within the last three months. The KingsMen won the NPBL Atlantic Conference fixture on November 2 and followed it up with a commanding victory in the Final of the Final 8 tournament two weeks later. Hoopers who were without their head coach, Ogoh Odaudu, shook off a slow start in the first quarter to lead by 10 points (31-21) midway through the second quarter. Hoops and Read crawled their way back into the game with successive dunks, which took the game to a tie at 44-44 in the third quarter. They, however, struggled at both ends in the fourth, handing over the victory to a resilient Hoopers. The KingsMen will next play Comets on Tuesday.

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Annie and I have separated for a while -Tuface

Popular Nigerian musician and performer Innocent Idibia, widely known as 2Baba or Tuface, has revealed that he and his wife Annie Idibia have separated for a while before declaring it publicly. One of Nigeria’s biggest celebrity couples, Annie and Tuface got married in 2012 and had two daughters together. In a post on Instagram, the African Queen singer said they had been separated for some time and had taken steps toward a divorce. The post was later deleted but 2Baba then released a video to confirm that its contents were accurate. The singer is seen as being one of the pioneers of the Nigerian music scene that is now popular around the world, paving the way for musicians like Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy. The couple had a star-studded wedding ceremony in 2013, an event which was widely followed in Nigeria even though it took place in Dubai. The star is still widely known as Tuface even though he announced in 2014 that he had changed his name to 2Baba. News of the separation has shocked fans and admirers across the continent as the couple had overcome previous problems and are one of Nigeria’s longest-lasting celebrity couples. The former Plantashun Boyz member said he plans to hold a press conference to provide more details, adding that he is committed to sharing his perspective directly with his supporters and music lovers around the globe. “I and Annie Macauley have been separated for a while now, and currently filed for divorce,” he said in the Instagram post. In a bizarre twist, the post was deleted minutes later, followed by another saying the account had been hacked. But 2Baba then went live on his Instagram account to confirm his initial post about the separation. “No-one hacked my account, I said what I said, I come in peace,” he said in the video. The couple have also cut ties on social media, unfollowing each other on their respective platforms, backing the performer’s statement about their split. In the video of his most popular song, African Queen, Annie played his love interest and it is believed that their relationship blossomed from there. Annie, an actor, recently trended on social media after she shared personal details about her marriage, including a miscarriage and struggles with her husband’s other relationships, on the reality show Young, Famous & African.

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CAF, Morocco LOC announce host cities, venues for AFCON 2025

The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) together with Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football and the Local Organizing Committee of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025 have announced the cities that will host matches in the competition. Six cities and nine stadiums have been selected for Africa’s flagship football tournament, which will run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. They are Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Marrakech, Fes and Tangier.

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Court orders Airline Operator to pay Falana $17,000 within 30 days

Hon. Justice (Prof.) Elizabeth Oji of the Lagos Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court has ordered Med-View Airline to pay its former staff Mr Falana $17,000.00 outstanding duty tour allowance; N2,364,962.60 (Two million, Three Hundred Sixty-Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Two Naira, sixty kobo) unremitted pension contributions; 1,399, 853.80 (One Million, three hundred and ninety-nine thousand eight hundred and fifty-three naira eighty kobo) outstanding and unpaid leave allowance; and N2, 909 558.52 (Two Million Nine hundred and nine Thousand, Five Hundred and fifty-eight Naira, Thirty-Eight Kobo) salary arrears within 30 days. From facts, the Claimant- Mr Falana had submitted that he was employed as an Aircraft Engineer on 15th January 2014, where he worked till his service was no longer required by Med-View Airline on 14th May 2018. Mr Falana argued that by virtue of the Internal Memo dated 19th April 2017, the total sum of allowances due to him for the inspection and engineering duty in Ethiopia is the sum of $17,000:00 (Seventeen Thousand Dollars). Mr Falana further averred that against the provisions of the company’s handbook, the Airline refused to pay him annual leave allowances for year 2016, year 2017 and year 2018, and unpaid salaries for February 2018 to May 2018, and leave allowances for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 amongst others. However, despite service of processes on the Med-View Airline, the Med-View Airline refused to file any defence in the matter. In its final submission, Mr Falana’s counsel, further argues that parties in the above relationship are bound by the terms of contract of employment without any further extrinsic matters outside the contract of employment. Mr. Falana submits that in proof of his claims for unpaid salaries, allowances and bonuses, he has tendered exhibits and urged the Court to grant the reliefs sought. In a well-considered judgment after careful evaluation of the submission of both parties, the Presiding Judge, Justice Elizabeth Oji reiterated that judgment would only be given to Mr Falana on the strength of his case, not on the absence or weakness of the Defence. The Court resolved that Mr Falana’s statement of account shows lack of consistency in the payment of his salary, by the Airline Operator, and the Med-View Airline’s decision not to challenge or contradict this evidence is hereby taken as admission of the facts especially in view of exhibit tendered. Justice Oji ruled that Mr Falana has proved the reliefs sought based on the evidence before the Court. The Court ordered Med-View Airline to pay Mr Falana the sum of N2, 909 558.52 (Two Million Nine hundred and nine Thousand, Five Hundred and fifty-eight Naira, Thirty-Eight Kobo) being his salary arrears from February 2018 to 14th May 2018; and the sum of 1,399, 853.80 (One Million, three hundred and ninety-nine thousand eight hundred and fifty-three naira eighty kobo being outstanding and unpaid leave allowance for years 2016, 2017 and 2018. In addition, Justice Oji ordered the Med-View Airline to pay Mr Falana, the sum of N2,364,962.60 (Two million, Three Hundred Sixty-Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Two Naira, sixty kobo) being the unremitted pension contributions to Mr Falana pension account for the period commencing from February 2015 to 14th May 2018 and the sum of $17,000.00 (Seventeen Thousand Dollars) being outstanding duty tour allowance from 11th March 2017 to 27th March 2017. “Cost of this action is set at N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira) only. The terms of this judgment are to be complied with, not later than 30 days from today; failure at which interest will accrue at the rate of 20% per annum,” the Court ruled.

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Yobo, other African legends for Morocco AFCON 2025 Final Draw

Former Super Eagles captain and assistant coach Joseph Yobo, Mustapha Hadji, Serge Aurier and Aliou Cisse will be assistants at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 Final Draw that will take place at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat tonight. The 24 qualified CAF AFCON 2025 teams will learn their path to the trophy at Final Draw, which starts at 19h00 local time (18h00 GMT | 20h00 Cairo). Yobo, Hadji, Cisse and Aurier will not only pull the balls from the pots, but also be on hand to offer their insights into the groups for the tournament that will be played in Morocco from 21 December, 2025 to 18 January, 2026. They are some of the biggest names in the African game and all have a rich history with the CAF AFCON themselves. JOSEPH YOBO (NIGERIA)Yobo was a commanding centre-back who made 101 appearances for Nigeria’s Super Eagles over a distinguished 13-year career. He was squad captain as the side claimed the CAF AFCON title in 2013 and was a veteran of six continental finals tournaments to go with three FIFA World Cups. He spent the majority of his club career at Everton in England, where he became a fan favourite, but also played in Belgium, France, Spain and Turkey.He played 10 FIFA World Cup matches in 2002, 2010 and 2014. MUSTAPHA HADJI (MOROCCO) Hadji is renowned as one of Morocco’s greatest ever players and was named African Footballer of the Year in 1998. He won 63 caps for his country and scored 12 goals, playing at two FIFA World Cup tournaments.He netted the winner for Morocco against Egypt at the 1998 CAF AFCON, the only team to inflict a defeat on the eventual champions. He also played at the 2000 finals. He had a successful club career in France, Portugal, Spain and England, and in 2011 received the CAF Legends award for his services to the game. SERGE AURIER (COTE D’IVOIRE)Aurier is a two-time winner of the CAF AFCON having lifted the trophy in the 2015 and 2023 editions. The right-back has been a stalwart of the national team since his debut in 2013 and has 93 caps, scoring four goals. His club career has taken him to the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur, and he is a two-time winner of the French Ligue 1.He had the honour of being named in the CAF Team of the Year on four occasions between 2015 and 2019, showing his incredible consistency for club and country in that period. ALIOU CISSE (SENEGAL)Cisse was captain of Senegal when they excelled at the 2002 FIFA World Cup by reaching the quarter-finals against the odds, and while he failed to lift the CAF AFCON as a player, he later did so as coach of the national team. He won 35 caps as an industrious midfielder during a period when he played for Paris Saint-Germain in France, leading Senegal to the 2002 CAF AFCON final where they lost out to Cameroon. He became head coach of the national team in 2015 and would lead them through a golden period that included lifting the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON in 2021, and to FIFA World Cup qualifications in 2018 and 2022. He was named CAF Coach of the Year at the CAF Awards in 2022. CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 qualified teams: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

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