Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, a member of the House of Representatives representing the Aba North and South federal constituency of Abia State, appeared before an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court in Kuje on Wednesday, charged with allegedly assaulting a bolt driver at his residence. Ikwechegh pleaded not guilty to the First Information Report filed by the Nigerian Police Force, which includes charges of abuse of office, assault, and threats to life. Following his plea, prosecution counsel Mr. A. Umar requested a date for a full hearing on the case. In response, Ikwechegh's lawyer made an oral application for bail, arguing that the charges were bailable and that the defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence under the 1999 Constitution. Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id agreed to grant bail and set it at N500,000, requiring two sureties of the same amount. The court emphasized that the sureties must reside within its jurisdiction and provide utility bills as proof of residence....

  Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri has won the men's Ballon d'Or - awarded to the best footballer of the year - for the first time. The 28-year-old, who lost just one game last season for club and country, is the first Spanish player to win the men's award since 1960 and the first Premier League player to win the award since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008. Rodri, who helped Spain win Euro 2024 in July, was awarded the prize in Paris on Monday. He also won the Premier League, Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup with City. Rodri, the first player in the club's history to win the Ballon d'Or, claimed the award ahead of Real Madrid and Brazil winger Vinicius Jr. Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was third - the highest an English player has finished since Frank Lampard's second place in 2005. Rodri is the third England-based player to win, following Manchester United's George Best in 1968 and Liverpool's Michael Owen in 2001. Real Madrid won the awar...

  Erik ten Hag has been relieved of his duties as Manchester United manager, the club announced on Monday. This decision follows a disappointing 1-0 defeat to West Ham United, marking the end of the Dutchman's two-and-a-half-year stint at Old Trafford. Under Ten Hag’s management, United struggled at the start of the 2024–25 season, securing only three wins from nine league matches. Overall, the team achieved just four victories in 14 games across all competitions, leaving them in 14th place in the Premier League—seven points behind the Champions League qualification spots. In the wake of Ten Hag's departure, Manchester United is expected to appoint club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim manager. Van Nistelrooy, who joined the coaching staff in the offseason to assist Ten Hag, will take charge while the current coaching team remains in place. Ten Hag began his tenure with high hopes in 2022 and recently had his contract extended through 2025. His time at the club included an...

  The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has announced the recovery of two additional bodies from the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter that crashed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The helicopter, which was carrying six passengers and two crew members, crashed on Thursday, resulting in the confirmed deaths of three individuals at the scene. In an update on Friday, the NSIB reported that two more bodies have been found, bringing the total recovered to five. Three individuals are still missing as recovery efforts continue. In an interview, NSIB Director General Alex Badeh stated that search operations are ongoing with the hope of recovering the remaining three bodies. When asked about the possibility of survivors, Badeh remarked, “Unfortunately, the current working theory is that none of those on board survived.”

  British actor Idris Elba has revealed his intention to move to Africa within the next decade to contribute significantly to the continent’s film industry. Presently involved in establishing film studios in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and Accra, Ghana, Elba emphasized the importance of Africans telling their own stories during a recent industry meeting in Accra. He plans to relocate within five to ten years and aims to uplift the region’s film industry, criticizing existing narratives that overlook Africa's rich cultural diversity. Elba also announced he will star as Okonkwo in a new adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s "Things Fall Apart".

  The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to retract his threat to arrest beggars in Abuja or face a lawsuit. In a post on its official X handle, #SerapNigeria , on Wednesday, the group emphasized that no one should be criminalized for their socio-economic status. SERAP urged Wike to focus on providing opportunities to help beggars rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society. This comes after Wike, during the flag-off ceremony for a road construction project in the Katampe District on Tuesday, announced a plan to crack down on street begging. He declared that enforcement agents would begin apprehending beggars from Monday. "Let me make it clear, we have declared war. Abuja is becoming a beggar city. If you know anyone who is begging, please remove them. From next week, we will take action. It's embarrassing to see beggars all over the city. Some of them might even be criminals pretending to be beggars," Wike...

  Bayer Leverkusen's sporting director, Simon Rofles, announced that the club has not yet determined whether Victor Boniface will be part of the squad for the upcoming match against Brest. Boniface was involved in a car accident on Sunday, sustaining only minor injuries. The 23-year-old missed training on Monday as the Bundesliga champions began preparing for their UEFA Champions League away game. Rofles commented to Bild, “He’s feeling better. Situations like this are never easy, and it takes time to process. We’re relieved that he wasn’t seriously injured. We’ll speak with him again and assess the situation to decide if he will travel. That remains uncertain for now.”

  Respected human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, has criticized the Nigerian Immigration Service for arresting controversial crossdresser Okuneye Idris, popularly known as Bobrisky. The arrest occurred while Bobrisky was attempting to leave Nigeria, sparking concerns about the violation of his rights. Ogun, expressing his frustration on Facebook, argued that denying a Nigerian citizen the right to travel without any legal basis is unlawful. He emphasized that Bobrisky faces no charges, and his freedom of movement and personal liberty are protected under the 1999 Constitution. In his statement, Ogun condemned the arrest as arbitrary, illegal, and without justification. He warned that allowing such actions could set a dangerous precedent, potentially restricting the rights of citizens, including journalists and activists. Bobrisky was reportedly intercepted at the Sème border and spent a night at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Lagos.

  The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on Southeast residents to disregard a sit-at-home order issued by an unknown group. In a statement on Monday, IPOB clarified that the order did not come from their organization. Social media has circulated audio and video messages advising residents to avoid public spaces, keep children home from school, and close businesses, with threats against those who do not comply. IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful emphasized that IPOB had suspended all sit-at-home actions and denounced the order as coming from "criminal elements and Finland-based infiltrators." He urged residents to carry on with their normal activities.

  Israel struck dozens of south Lebanon villages and towns overnight and targeted Nabatiyeh city for a third time this week, Lebanese state media said on Sunday. “Warplanes struck… the city of Nabatiyeh seven times” including on an inhabited building, with rescuers still looking for survivors under the rubble, the official National News Agency said. The city where Hezbollah and ally Amal hold sway had seen deadly Israeli strikes on Wednesday that killed its mayor, with bloody attacks last week razing its marketplace. It added that Israeli jets “conducted strikes” on more than 50 towns and villages including the border villages of Kfarshuba, Bint Jbeil and Khiam that have seen heavy fighting, reporting casualties. “Israeli troops blew up the Tarrash neighbourhood in Mais al-Jabal,” a border village where Hezbollah has clashed with Israeli soldiers, “after booby-trapping it with highly explosive materials,” the NNA said.

  Nigerians are once again reeling in darkness following the collapse of the national power grid for the third in one week. The grid collapse occurred early Saturday morning, with many states reporting total blackouts. Data obtained from the Nigerian System Operator’s portal ( niggrid.org ), revealed that the grid recorded an unprecedented zero Megawatts (MW) as of 8:16 am today. Data showed that all 22 generation companies (GenCos) are down as of the time of this report. The grid had collapsed twice this week, marking the eighth grid disturbance in 2024. The grid collapse occurred early Saturday morning, with many states reporting total blackouts. Data obtained from the Nigerian System Operator’s portal ( niggrid.org ), revealed that the grid recorded an unprecedented zero Megawatts (MW) as of 8:16 am today. Data showed that all 22 generation companies (GenCos) are down as of the time of this report. The grid had collapsed twice this week, marking the eighth grid disturbance in 20...

  Billionaire Elon Musk has contributed close to $75 million to a political action committee (PAC) he established to back Donald Trump's U.S. presidential campaign, according to recent filings. This marks Musk's growing support for the Republican cause. Musk, the world's wealthiest individual, has taken a more prominent role in Trump’s campaign, sharing the stage with him at a Pennsylvania rally and frequently criticizing Democratic candidate Kamala Harris on social media. Trump often references Musk in his speeches and has pledged to appoint him to a committee aimed at reducing government red tape. Current polls show Trump and Harris in a tight race for the presidency. Between July 1 and September 30, Musk’s America PAC raised $74.95 million for Trump’s campaign, as per filings with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The PAC has focused on mobilizing voters in key battleground states like Pennsylvania, which could be pivotal in determining the election outcome. Ame...

  The national electricity grid collapsed again on Tuesday, plunging millions of people into darkness. The latest incident comes barely 24 hours after electricity distribution companies across the country announced the grid collapsed around 6:48p.m, resulting in the loss of power supply across their networks . “Dear valued customer, kindly be informed that there was a system collapse at 09:17hrs which has resulted to a loss of power supply across our network,” Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) which serves some parts of Lagos State said on its X handle. “We are currently working with our partners as we hope for a speedy restoration of the grid. We will keep you updated as soon as power is restored. Kindly bear with us.” Similarly, the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company confirmed the fresh collapse and promised the restoration of normalcy as soon as possible. “Dear Esteemed Customers, We sincerely apologise for the power outage in our franchise states since yesterday...

Senator John Enoh, Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, has stated that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is “insisting” that Nigeria’s Super Eagles face Libya in their upcoming match on Tuesday. This comes after the Super Eagles were reportedly held for over 15 hours at Al Abraq Airport upon their arrival in Libya, leading the players to threaten a boycott of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. In a post on X, Enoh shared that he had spoken with CAF President Patrice Motsepe and Secretary-General Mosengo Omba, expressing Nigeria’s primary concern for the team’s safety and safe return. He tweeted, “While the CAF President’s focus is on ensuring Nigeria participates in tomorrow’s match, I have stressed that our government’s priority is the safety of our team.” Enoh also called for consequences against the Libyan Football Federation for their actions, adding that CAF’s insistence on the match proceeding under the circumstances is unacceptable.

BY OLUSEYE AROWOLO, NIGERIA. There is need for Oyo State government to employ more judges into the Judiciary to hasten justice dispensation in the state. The Archbishop of Ibadan Province and Bishop of Ibadan Diocese, Anglican Communion, Nigeria, the Most Revd. Joseph Akinfenwa stated this in his sermon at the 2024/2025 New Legal Year and thanksgiving at the St. James's Cathedral, Oke Bola, Ibadan, Oyo State on Monday. Governor Seyi Makinde was represented by the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin. Addressing the array of dignitaries including the Judges led by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Iyabo Yerima;, the state Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Abiodun Aikomo; Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Magistrates, judicial workers, Chairmen of the Ibadan, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Saki branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (Ibrahim Lawal, Olajide Olanipekun, Mrs. O. Olatubosun, and Adediji Oke respectively. among others, Rev'd. Akinfenwa explained that...

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has demanded the return of petrol prices to what they were as of June 2023. “We want the price of the product to go below what it was before; not just reverse to what it was before but to go below,” said TUC President, Festus Osifo, at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday. He asked the government to specially intervene in the sector by giving foreign exchange to Dangote Refinery at $1/N1,000 and not at the current $over 1/N1,600 exchange rate to crash petrol prices “The solution we are proposing if implemented will take us to the price we had as of June last year,” Osifo stated, stressing that “there is no government in the world that doesn’t intervene in its critical sector” and that the Federal Government “shouldn’t leave it (the oil sector) to the vagaries and gyration of our naira”. Since May 2023, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has increased the pump prices of petrol from ₦184 in Lagos to ₦998. The price per litre of petrol ...

  The FBI has successfully thwarted a planned Election Day attack in the United States, allegedly orchestrated by an Afghan man with links to ISIS. The suspect, who reportedly intended to target polling stations, had been under surveillance by U.S. intelligence agencies. The FBI’s operation highlights ongoing concerns about foreign terrorist threats as the country prepares for upcoming elections. Authorities believe the suspect was motivated by extremist ideologies and had been in contact with ISIS affiliates. The FBI is working with other agencies to investigate further and ensure no additional threats are linked to this case.

Alejandro Arcos, the recently elected mayor of Chilpancingo, was found murdered on Sunday, just six days after he took office, amid a surge of violence linked to drug cartel activity in the region. The tragedy follows the recent killing of Francisco Tapia, the city’s new secretary, who was also shot and killed shortly after Arcos began his term. Guerrero’s state governor, Evelyn Salgado, expressed sorrow, stating that the violence “fills us with indignation,” as the community now mourns the loss of two officials in under a week. While authorities have not yet provided information on suspects or motives, Guerrero, known for its coastal location and drug cartel influence, has long been plagued by violent power struggles between rival gangs, such as the Ardillos and Tlacos. Chilpancingo, home to around 280,000 residents, has often been at the heart of these turf wars. Before his death, Arcos had been focused on aiding disaster relief following last month’s Hurricane John. His social media...

  Enzo Maresca says he is "convinced" Chelsea cannot compete for "big things" with Manchester City and Arsenal this season. The Italian manager has had an good start at Stamford Bridge, winning seven of his 10 matches, overseeing a run of 27 goals and seeing Chelsea rise into fourth place, just two points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. Meanwhil e , Maresca has urged caution about his team's ability to win major trophies during his first season. “I really don’t think we can compete with City or Arsenal," Maresca said after beating Gent 4-2 in the Europa Conference League. "I really don’t think that because we are not ready. The reason is that City has worked with the same manager for nine years and Arsenal for five years. If you want to compete for big things you need that time. “After Arsenal beat PSG they asked Luis Enrique and he said the same thing that Arsenal have had the same manager for five years and them only a year and a half."...

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a fresh warning to Iran Monday, saying there was no place in the Middle East beyond Israel’s reach amid a flurry of strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. In a video statement made in English, Netanyahu addressed the people of Iran and warned that their government was bringing them “closer to the abyss”. “With every passing moment, the regime is bringing you — the noble Persian people — closer to the abyss,” said Netanyahu. “There is nowhere in the Middle East Israel cannot reach,” the prime minister added, warning the people of Iran that their “regime plunges our region deeper into darkness and deeper into war”. “Don’t let a small group of theocrats crush your hopes and your dreams,” Netanyahu said. Israel has in recent days been mounting heavy air strikes in Lebanon against the “Axis of Resistance”, a network of Iran-aligned militant groups in the region, including in Syria, Yemen and Iraq. An Israeli strike on Beirut Friday killed Hassan Nasra...