Author: Chief Editor

Fashion Sakala scored a hat-trick as rampant Rangers came from a goal down to beat 10-man Motherwell 6-1 on Sunday, extending their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to four points. Steven Gerrard’s champions struggled in the early stages at a sodden Fir Park, with Motherwell defender Bevis Mugabi opening the scoring in the 13th minute from a tight angle. Rangers captain James Tavernier, celebrating his 30th birthday, levelled with a fine volley in the 43rd minute before crossing for striker Sakala to head the Ibrox men into a half-time lead. The Zambia international added a third with…

Leeds recorded just their second Premier League victory of the season on Sunday, beating Norwich 2-1 to climb out of the relegation zone. Marcelo Bielsa’s men finished an impressive ninth last season on their return to the English top-flight but have struggled in the early weeks of the current season. The sides were locked at 0-0 at Carrow Road at half-time but the game exploded into life in a dramatic four-minute spell after the break. Leeds broke the deadlock in the 56th minute when Brazilian forward Raphinha rifled into the bottom corner after a pass from Daniel James. Bottom-side Norwich…

The Coalition of United Political Parties has alleged that the Federal Government, through its security agents, invaded the residence of Justice Mary Odili, on Friday, in order to plant incriminating materials that would facilitate her arrest. The CUPP made the allegation on Sunday in Abuja through a statement by its spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere. The statement is titled, “CUPP condemns invasion of Justice Odili’s Abuja residence …describes attack as attempt by FG to plant incriminating materials in Odili’s house to arrest her …opposition parties say attack, height of Buhari regime’s executive recklessness.” The group said it received with shock Friday’s invasion…

The Presidency as well as Ministries, Departments and Agencies have earmarked the sum of N13.2bn for refreshments, meals, food and catering materials and sitting allowance in the 2022 budget proposal, Sunday PUNCH has learnt. Amid rising food inflation in the country, the sum of N5.8bn had been budgeted for refreshments and meals, N1.76bn for food and catering materials while N5.7bn was budgeted for sitting allowance. The figure, it was learnt, could be higher as the budget of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Independent National Electoral Commission and a few other major agencies were not disclosed. The sum…

A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Timi Frank, has called on the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to resign over his alleged involvement in the illegal invasion of the Abuja residence of the Supreme Court Judge, Justice Mary Odili, by security operatives. Frank, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately relieve Malami of his job should he fail to heed the call to vacate office. He said despite Malami’s denial of his involvement in the invasion, he cannot…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari over his failure to probe allegations that over N880 billion of public funds are missing from 367 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to ensure the prosecution of those suspected to be responsible, and the recovery of any missing or diverted public funds. Joined in the suit as respondents are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed. The suit followed the grim allegations contained in part 2 of the…

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took Manchester United south to play Tottenham with his job on the line but lives to fight another day after his decisions paid off handsomely in a 3-0 win. The pressure on the Norwegian was intense after last week’s 5-0 horror show against Liverpool, in which Jurgen Klopp’s men embarrassed their historic rivals. United travelled to London for Saturday’s game after taking just one point from a possible 12 to fall well off the pace in the Premier League. AFP looks at three talking points after the win against Spurs lifted United back within touching distance of…

Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique will miss Tuesday’s crucial Champions League clash against Dynamo Kiev with a calf injury, the club said on Sunday. “Tests this morning confirmed first-team player Gerard Pique has a right calf strain and will be out for the forseeable future,” the club said on their web site. The statement did not say how long Pique was expected to be out. Pique limped off in the 70th minute on Saturday as Barcelona drew 1-1 at home against Alaves in La Liga in the team’s first outing since the sacking of coach Ronald Koeman. He was replaced by…

A former presidential candidate, publisher, and journalist, Dele Momodu, has joined Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party. Momodu announced this in a statement on Friday. He explained that his decision was to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country. The former presidential candidate complained that the achievements recorded under the PDP administration “have been diluted, wasted, or diminished by the present APC government.” He said, “I have consulted widely. And it is clear to me that given the dangerous and disastrous drift that our nation has experienced in the past six years, the only party from which…

• Narrates tortuous ordeal with COVID-19 travel processes returning to the country • Tasks FG on efficient management of international travel portal The venerable writer and Africa’s first winner of Nobel Prize in Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka, has described the country as being in a mess and gradually disintegrating ‘before our very eyes.’ The renowned playwright spoke, yesterday, at a media briefing held at the Freedom Park, Lagos. He said this while reacting to a question on the situation in the Southeast. Responding, the playwright was pessimistic about solution from government, saying: “We are in a mess. This country is…