Author: Chief Editor

The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday advised countries to continue administering the AstraZeneca vaccine, stating that it was safe and effective. The global health organisation’s advice is in response to the suspension of the vaccine’s use by 10 European countries, following claims of blood clot associated with its use. However, the spokesperson of WHO, Dr. Margaret Harris, said in a virtual press conference yesterday that they were aware of “blood clot concerns linked to a specific batch of AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine.” Harris said, “As of 9 March, there have been over 268 million doses of vaccine delivered since the start…

For some time now, Nigeria has been receiving help from abroad based on the repatriation of illegally exported monies by former leaders, especially the late head of state, General Sani Abacha. Whenever it appears the global economic downturn would hit the country so badly due to price volatility in the international petroleum market, one benevolent country or another would excavate some of Nigeria’s wealth buried in foreign vaults by Abacha. The windfall, which the so-called Abacha loot represents, has been a source of reprieve for Nigeria’s troubled economy, especially the execution of the federal budget. A fortnight ago, the authorities…

Mikel Arteta has warned his Arsenal players they will face one of the most “special” attacks in Europe when they take on Tottenham in Sunday’s north London derby. Tottenham have scored 102 goals in all competitions this season after Harry Kane struck twice to seal a 2-0 win against Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League last 16 first leg in midweek. Only Bayern Munich have scored more across Europe’s top five leagues so far this season and Arsenal boss Arteta knows Kane, Son Heung-min and Gareth Bale pose a formidable threat to his team’s hopes of winning at the Emirates…

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno, has said that the NSA was misquoted on the interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Monguno was quoted to have said that the government was not aware of how monies meant for the purchase of arms were spent under the immediate past Service Chiefs and could not also trace the arms they claimed to have bought. But the statement noted that the NSA did not categorically say that monies meant for arms procurement were missing under the former service chiefs,…

Manchester City is closing in on a third Premier League title in four years, but behind the runaway leaders, there are tense battles to qualify for next season’s Champions League and to avoid relegation. Manchester United, Leicester and Chelsea are in pole position to finish in the top four, but West Ham, Everton, Tottenham and Aston Villa all have games in hand to bolster their challenge, while troubled champions Liverpool are not yet out of the running. At the bottom, Burnley, Newcastle, Brighton and Fulham are separated by four points in the fight to avoid joining the seemingly doomed Sheffield…

Jose Mourinho expects Harry Kane to be fit to face Arsenal on Sunday after he had ice applied to his knee following a knock in Tottenham’s 2-0 Europa League win over Dinamo Zagreb. The 27-year-old England captain scored both Spurs goals in the first leg of the last-16 tie in London on Thursday. He now has 26 goals and 16 assists in all competitions this season and was hailed by Dinamo boss Zoran Mamic as a “master of football.” Spurs manager Jose Mourinho is optimistic Kane will be fit for the north London derby. “I hope so, I believe so,”…

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the conviction of former Plateau State Governor, Senator Joshua Dariye, on criminal breach of trust and his subsequent sentencing to 14 years imprisonment, although the jail term was reduced from 14 to 10 years by the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal. But the apex court in the same judgment quashed the criminal misappropriation of funds charge in which Dariye was sentenced to two years imprisonment. The five-man panel of the apex court, while delivering the judgment in the appeal filed by the former governor against his conviction and sentencing by both a…

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), has called for greater support in facilitating the recovery of Nigeria’s stolen assets abroad. He also disclosed that the government is working assiduously to narrow the gap between confiscated assets abroad and the actual assets returned to the country. Malami particularly canvassed for international cooperation in facilitating mutual legal assistance for tracing, freezing, seizing, confiscating and returning to Nigeria proceeds of corruption stashed abroad. The AGF made the call while virtually delivering Nigeria’s Country Statement at the 14th United Nations Crime Congress held in Kyoto…

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rose from a five-hour meeting in Abuja, yesterday, to plead for financial aid from President Muhammadu Buhari. The fund, according to them, will help them tackle some teething governance issues. They equally declared support for the Federal Government’s efforts at addressing insecurity and engendering peace across the country. Addressing journalists after the meeting, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum (PDPGF), Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, disclosed that the meeting also received interim report from the Bukola Saraki-led PDP Reconciliation Committee on efforts made to address the grievances among…

Nigerian youths, under the aegis of Nigeria Youths Movement for Tinubu (NYMT), have urged the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to join the race for the 2023 presidential election. The group said the former Lagos State governor is the best person to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari to consolidate on the gains of the APC administration. Director-General of the group, Mukhtar Hussein Mukhtar, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, yesterday, noted that Tinubu made huge sacrifices for the democracy the country is enjoying today. According to the statement, the support of…