Author: Chief Editor

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as the Nigerian Government have called for the immediate activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force, following a coup d’état that took place in Mali on Tuesday. The ECOWAS Commission, in a communique dated August 18 but issued Wednesday, said the seizure of power was likely to have a negative impact on peace and stability in Mali and in the subregion. The regional body therefore condemned the overthrowing of President Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita’s democratically elected government and denied any kind of legitimacy to the military, while also demanding the immediate reinstatement…

“Without prejudice to the general powers of the University Governing Council to appoint and remove a Vice Chancellor under the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2003 (No. 1 2007), and without apportioning any blame to either the Governing Council or the Vice Chancellor, the University of Lagos Alumni is of the view that before the Council can exercise such powers, it must follow due process, particularly as mandatorily provided under Section 3(8), (9) and (10) of the Act in the removal of the Vice Chancellor and Section 3(13) in the appointment of an acting Vice Chancellor” – University of Lagos …

An inspired Neymar helped Paris Saint-Germain reach the Champions League final on Tuesday, but the fact that the Brazilian was not their best player against RB Leipzig says everything about the frightening strength of Thomas Tuchel’s team and shows why they can be confident of lifting the trophy for the first time. Neymar has become a different player in his third year in the French capital. His first two seasons at PSG following his 222 million-euro ($264m) transfer from Barcelona were blighted by injuries and constant speculation about a move back to the Camp Nou. When it became clear last…

An anti-corruption lawyer representing FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is facing a criminal probe in Switzerland, said Wednesday he believed the case would be dismissed. “I am completely confident there’ll be a dismissal,” lawyer Jean-Pierre Mean told AFP. Infantino, in charge of world football’s governing body since 2016, is the subject of an investigation by the Swiss prosecutor over suspected collusion between him and Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber, who resigned last month over his handling of a corruption investigation targeting FIFA. However, Infantino has already insisted he had “nothing to hide”. In a letter sent to FIFA’s 211 members…

• Joins African Union, WHO, CAF to in campaign against domestic violence FIFA has confirmed that the African Cup of Nations, originally scheduled to hold in CamerooCOVID-19n in January next year, has been rescheduled for 2022. The tournament, FIFA said, has been pushed back 12 months due to the global health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, adding that the full schedule of dates will be announced at a later time. The latest decision adds to a hectic year for global football. Apart from the African Nations Cup, the 2022 World Cup will be held in Qatar, meaning other events, including…

• Jonathan briefs Buhari Mutinous soldiers, yesterday, arrested Malian President Ibrahim Boubakar Keïta and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse. The nation’s opposition group, M5, had insisted on Keita’s removal as a condition to ending the political impasse in the landlocked West African nation. The position, however, conflicts with the stance of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which had on several occasions, backed a regime change anchored on democratic tenets. Briefing President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday at the State House, Abuja on the outcome of his last week’s meetings with relevant stakeholders in Bamako, former Nigerian leader and ECOWAS Special Envoy…

• Varsity teachers urge probe of sack of VC • Announce own software to tackle corruption in schools The situation at the University of Lagos is getting messier as the controversially appointed acting Vice Chancellor, Prof Omololu Soyombo assumed duty amid heavy security. Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe was earlier sacked as Vice Chancellor by the governing council of the university at a meeting presided over by the Pro-Chancellor Dr Wale Babalakin. The council had thereafter named Soyombo as the acting VC, a decision that has polarised the council and Senate of the university. Addressing workers, Soyombo, who was earlier warned by the…

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Duoye Diri, has asked the Court of Appeal, Abuja, to set aside the majority judgment of the Bayelsa State Election Petition Tribunal which on Monday nullified the election that brought him to office. The panel had in a two-to-one judgment delivered on August 17, 2020 held that the election that produced Diri as Governor of Bayelsa State was illegal and should be annulled owing to the exclusion of a political party from the poll. The appeal which was predicated on 12 grounds argued that the two Justices ( Yunus Musa and S. Owodunni) erred…

Chuks Okocha in Abuja, Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt, Martins Ifijeh in Lagos and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin The two leading candidates in the upcoming September 19 governorship election in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday continued to trade blame over the mounting threat of violence in the state. Speaking on The Morning Show, a programme of ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, Ize-Iyamu accused Obaseki of orchestrating violence in the build-up to the election, “because of his desperation for a…

• It’s of no consequence, Says Keyamo The controversy over the 774,000 public works jobs of the federal government resurfaced yesterday as the National Assembly said that it would not be part of the ongoing recruitment in which 30 slots were allotted to each member of the federal legislature. Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinanya Abaribe, while responding to THISDAY’s enquiries about the job scheme yesterday, said: “As far as the National Assembly is concerned, we are not participating in any form because of our earlier reservations about the lack of transparency in the programme where a minister has hijacked the…