Author: Chief Editor

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he is not in favour of sanctions against the 12 clubs that tried to launch a European Super League, preferring “dialogue” on football reform. The plan to create a closed competition was “unacceptable” and “unimaginable”, the world football boss told French sports daily L’Equipe in an interview published on Wednesday. “Certain actions should have consequences, and everyone must assume their responsibilities,” said Infantino, who has publically joined the opposition to the project. “But you always have to be careful when you talk about sanctions. “It’s said quickly that you have to punish. It’s even popular…

The Federal Ministry of Interior says ”Ghost marriages” are illegal, warning that any Federal Registrar found to have violated the law with regards to registration of marriages, shall be punished. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ”ghost marriage”, is a marriage in which one or both parties are deceased. The Director of Citizenship and Business Department, Mrs Moremi Soyinka-Onijala, made this known in response to speculations that marriage certificates were being obtained from the federal registries, in the absence of intending couples. Responding on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Soyinka-Onijala told NAN that it is absolutely compulsory for…

A prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said the students of Greenfield University, Kaduna, were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents, and not bandits. Speaking yesterday on a live TV programe, Gumi said Boko Haram insurgents were beginning to infiltrate bandit herders. “Now, we have two groups of bandits. We have the ordinary Fulani ethnic herdsmen and now there is another element which is coming in; it is the terrorist, the religious idealogues and this is what I’ve been fearing,” he said. “The issue is getting compounded because this element is coming in; Boko Haram is coming into the scene…

It had all the elements of drama. But, deeply etched on Senator Smart Adeyemi’s histrionics and lachrymose display was the dilemma of the Ninth Senate’s being unequally yoked with the Presidency. The Senator representing Kogi West, while making his contributions to the debate on the nagging security situation in the country, gave the impression that some of the lawmakers, particularly those on the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) are truly fed up with the security in the country. Their predicament seems to be compounded by the demand of espirit de corps, to be ‘on the same page with the executives’…

Stakeholders urge political parties to pick governorship candidates from the zone Major Stakeholders and prominent politicians from Ekiti South Senatorial District have resolved to ensure that presentation of candidates for the 2022 governorship election from the zone was a mandate for political parties participating in the poll. The stakeholders, under the aegis of Ekiti South Agenda Forum, include associates of Senator Biodun Biodun Olujimi; former Deputy Governor, Prof Kolapo Olusola Eleka; and a former bank chief, Mr. Kayode Adaramodu among other notable politicians. They rose from a meeting at Ikere Ekiti, the senatorial headquarters with the assertion that it was…

A former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State and former member of the House of Representatives, Ladi Adebutu, has urged the former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, to reconcile with all aggrieved party leaders to enable the party win the 2022 gubernatorial election. Adebutu said that Fayose alone could not win the election for the PDP without collaboration with other estranged leaders. The PDP chieftain spoke, yesterday, at the unveiling of the incumbent PDP State Chairman in Ekiti State and former House of Assembly member representing Efon Constituency, Mr. Bisi Kolawole, as Fayose’s anointed candidate…

Antonio Conte has justified his salary as the highest-paid coach in Serie A by toppling his former club Juventus to end Inter Milan’s decade-long title drought after two seasons at the helm. Eleven years after Jose Mourinho’s historic treble, Inter claimed the ‘Scudetto’ for a 19th time thanks to a fiery coach whose winning mentality was forged over many years at arch-rivals Juventus. The title justifies Chinese-owned Inter’s decision two years ago to make Conte the star signing of the fallen northern giants with a reported annual salary of 12 million euros ($14.4 million) until 2022. The 51-year-old fell short…

Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami,SAN, on Tuesday welcomed an ECOWAS Court judgment dismissing a case filed by the trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against the Federal Government. Malami, in a statement by Dr Umar Gwandu, his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, said the judgment has saved Nigeria from payment of billons of naira for bogus claims. He described the judgment as a clear vindication of the government’s efforts towards respecting human rights and international conventions. Malami, therefore renewed the commitment of his office to protecting the rights of citizens in all ramifications as well…

The inability of Nigeria to establish the National Procurement Council in line with the Public Procurement Act of 2007 meant to standardize the cost of procurement in public and private live-in Nigeria in line with best global practices is costing the country in excess of N300 billion annually, the President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Fraud Examiners of Nigeria, Dr. Iliyasu B. Gashinbaki has said. The 14 years Council in abeyance was convinced to take over the procurement functions currently undertaken by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Federal level and by State…

As the industrial action by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) enters its fifth week, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has resolved to engage relevant stakeholders on financial autonomy for the Judiciary. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that JUSUN on April 6, embarked on a nationwide strike action calling for a full implementation of financial autonomy for the Judiciary. As a direct fall out of the strike, the union directed the closure of all entrances to courts premises in the country. With the strike action now in its fifth week, the NBA leadership has urged all lawyers…