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.”