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Official: Chelsea signs Nkunku from Leipzig Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig. The France international has signed a six-year contract after the two clubs pre-agreed a deal for Nkunku to make a summer move to Stamford Bridge at the end of last year. The 25-year-old, who had a buyout clause worth just under £53m in his RB Leipzig contract, underwent medical tests early last season before an agreement was reached in December. Chelsea released a video on Twitter confirming the news. They captioned it: 'Nkunku is a Blue!', before posting a photo saying: Welcome Nkunku'. Speaking about his move to Chelsea, Nkunku said: 'I am incredibly happy to be joining Chelsea. A big effort was made to bring me to the club and I am looking forward to meeting my new coach and teammates and showing the Chelsea supporters what I can do on the pitch. 'Having played in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga, I now want to play in the Premier League, one of the st...

Excessive alcohol affected your organs, not poison - Atiku's Aide replies Wike The special assistant on public communication to Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, has advised former Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to reduce his consumption of alcohol following a revelation by the immediate former governor of Rivers state that his liver and kidneys failed due to “poisoning”. He said, “I am not a medical doctor but it is general knowledge that excessive alcohol consumption leads to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, digestive problems; and cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, oesophagus, voice box, liver, colon and rectum. “Other ailments associated with excessive drinking include: weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick; learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor sexual performance. Wike should look inwards. Let us assume that he was poisoned by food. Was his hoarse and husky voice also caused by food poisoning?”...

Emefiele Challenges DSS Detention In Court The suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele on Tuesday approached the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, challenging his detention by the Department of State Services (DSS). In his originating motion on notice, Emefiele is praying for the court to enforce his right to liberty and freedom of movement, as there is no basis for his continuous detention. However, the Attorney General of the Federation as well as the DSS have insisted that the detention of the suspended CBN Governor is lawful. In a preliminary objection filed against the fundamental rights enforcement suit instituted by Emefiele, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the DSS told the Federal Capital Territory High Court that the detention was backed by the order of a magistrates’ court and prayed for the court to dismiss the motion with cost. They noted that the arrest of the former CBN governor was an administrative decision ...

 June 20, 2023 Press Release: ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENT OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR MARKETS IN ABA AND UMUAHIA The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has approved the appointment and constitution of the Management Committee Members for the various markets in Aba and Umuahia.  The appointees, whose names are listed below will be inaugurated on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at the headquarters of Abia State Ministry of Trade and Commerce, Umuahia. Time: 11 a.m. SIGNED: Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu Special Adviser to the Governor  Trade and Commerce ABA MARKETS               GSM MARKET AT ST. MICHAEL’S: 1. Mr. Collins Uchendu – Chairman  2. Mr. Azubuike Okereke – Vice   Chairman 3. Mr. Izuchukwu Umeohakobi – Secretary  4. Mrs. Chinyere Ukaeje – Member  5. Mr. Joseph Odinaka – Member  6. Mr. Silas Onyeachilam – Member  7. Mr. Kalu Kalu Eleanya – Member  ORIE-OHABIAM ELECTRONICS/ELECTRI...

AU Conference Tasks EITI on Glencore’s Bribery Scandal in Nigeria, 5 Others The Conference on Addressing Illicit Financial Flows and Asset Recovery in the Extractive Industries has tasked the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) on the bribery scandal by Glencore in Nigeria and five other African countries. The Conference, in a communique released on Tuesday at the end of its two-day session in Diamniadio, Dakar, Senegal, asked EITI to publicly call out Glencore for its failure to adhere to the group’s principles and values over its bribery scandal in Nigeria, Cameroon, South Sudan, Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Conference convened by the Secretariat of the African Union High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows and the Working Group on Common Africa Position on Asset Recovery (CAPAR) held parallel to the 2023 Global Conference of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) on 13th and 14th June 2023 in Dakar, ...

Court Sends University Graduate, 10 Others to Prison for Internet Fraud in Benin Twenty six year-old Ohenhen Victor Ikponwosa, a graduate of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma and 10 others were on Tuesday June 20, 2023 convicted and sentenced to prison by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City for internet fraud. The others are Iredia Junior Ehis, Awe Macdonald, Azanuwa Junior, Kelvin Akenuwa, Godspower Oghenekohwa, Collins Daniel, Junior Osarobo, Marvis Ogbodaga Osemudiamen, Jephthah Eromosele and Christopher Christian Dickson. The convicts’ journey to prison began following their arrest based on intelligence on their nefarious activities by operatives of Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC and subsequent arraignment on separate one count charges each bordering on possession of allged proceeds of crime,  false representation and unlawful possession of fraudulent documents, contrary to Sections 17(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( Establis...

 Shame On Those Who Printed New Naira Notes To Frustrate Tinubu's Campaign, Fani-Kayode Mocks Suspended Central Bank Gov., Emefiele, Others Former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has mocked the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele and his supporters regarding the controversial Naira redesign policy of the previous administration. Fani-Kayode said Emefiele embarked on the policy to frustrate the presidential campaign of President Bola Tinubu, but that he has been thrown into shame.

FG renames Women Centre after late Maryam Babangida The Federal Government has immortalised the late Mrs Maryam Babangida by renaming the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) after her. This is in recognition of the impacts of her projects on women, especially those in rural areas. Mrs Monilola Udoh, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, disclosed this on Tuesday while addressing newsmen in Abuja. Udoh said that the bill for the change of name was passed by the Senate on March 29, 2023, while the House of Representatives passed the same on April 5, 2023. According to her, the renaming is in line with the amendment of the National Centre for Women Development Act, Cap. N15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to enhance the functions of the centre. She said: “The government under the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, approved the bill by assenting to it in May 2023. “By this information, we want our esteemed partners, the general publi...

Nurse and two other staff arrested over missing placenta inside Ondo Hospital The Police in Ondo State have arrested a nurse, health assistant and security guard at the Comprehensive Health Centre, Emure-IIe, Owo Local Government Area, over the mysterious disappearance of a baby’s placenta. Confirming the incident to newsmen, the spokesperson of the state police command, SP Olufunmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, explained that the three persons were arrested after the 23-year-old father of the new born baby, Tunde Ijanusi, made a complaint of the incident at the Emure-Ile Police Division H. She said the 19-year-old nursing mother gave birth to a baby girl on June 15 at the health center and when the father of the baby asked for the placenta, the nurse and her assistant could not produce it. Speaking with the newsmen, the father of the baby, Ijanusi, said that he was worried after health workers who took the delivery failed to give them the placenta of the new born in line with tradition. Also...

Southern Kaduna Christian Appointed As Chief Of Defence Staff  Christopher Gwabin Musa was born in Sokoto on December 25, 1967. He originally hails from Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. He is a member of the 38 Infantry course, admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986 and commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Corps in September 1991. He holds an Advanced Diploma in Security Management from University of Lagos, Advance Diploma in Defence and Strategic Course (China) – International College of Defence Studies -National Defense University (ICDS-NDU) – Changing – China, amongst others. Major-General Musa has attended all statutory Military Courses and Trainings both in Nigeria and outside Nigeria. On previous positions held, he was at one time Commander, General Staff Officer 1 Training/Operations at HQ 81 Division, Commanding Officer 73 Battalion, Assistant Director Operational Requirements at Department of Army Policy and Plans, Infantry Repres...

Tinubu’s Start As President Better Than His Lagos Days – Bode George A former Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, says the early days of President Bola Tinubu as Nigerian leader is not perfect but reasonably better than his time as Lagos State governor between May 1999 and May 2007. George, who spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday, said though he remains as solid member of the PDP, while Tinubu is an All Progressives Congress (APC) powerbroker, he is not an enemy of the President. “The major difference between Bola and I is his methodology, his managerial style, is unlike me. I have a background in the military and I am a logistician in the military. You don’t carry your men to war without adequately doing your serious planning, intelligence gathering,” the PDP chieftain said. Asked of his assessment of the Tinubu’s administration in the last three weeks since the President assumed office on May 29, 2023, George said, “...

Tinubu arrives Paris for Global Summit President Bola Tinubu touched down in Paris, France, on Tuesday evening. A video of Tinubu disembarking from the presidential jet was shared by his media team on Twitter. The president is in the European country to take part in the Global Financing Summit, which is convened by President Emmanuel Macron. It is Tinubu’s first official trip out of Nigeria since he was sworn in as President on May 29, 2023. Confirming his arrival in Paris, Tinubu said on his official Twitter handle: “My team and I arrived in Paris, France where we’ll be taking part in the Global Financing Pact Summit convened by President Emmanuel Macron.” The President is expected back in the country on Saturday, June 24.  

UK Cuts Tariffs On Products From Nigeria, Others  June 20, 2023 The United Kingdom (UK) Monday simplified trading rules and cut tariffs on products from developing countries, including Nigeria, saving businesses and consumers millions of pounds a year. The UK’s new post-Brexit Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) scheme, which implementation began yesterday, according to a statement by the British Deputy High Commission in Nigeria, covers 65 countries, including Nigeria. It said with the new scheme, over 99% of goods exported from Nigeria would automatically be eligible for duty-free access to the UK. It added that Nigeria would receive enhanced preferential access for almost 3,000 products. The scheme was designed to benefit developing countries looking to diversify and increase exports, driving their prosperity and reducing their need for aid. “4.5% removed on cocoa paste, 26.5% removed on fruit juices, and 14% removed on prepared tomatoes”, the statement said. The scheme, ...

4 dead 12 injured in New York separate shootings .... So far 13,900 has died of US gun violence in four months No fewer than four people, including a 16-year-old, have been killed, with at least 12 others wounded in a separate shooting incidents that rocked the New York City on Monday. In the latest violent spree of shootings,  a 56-year-old man was found dead in the Bronx. According to police investigators, the man was identified as Kevin Roberts, with multiple gunshot wounds outside of an apartment building on Simpson Street in the Longwood section of the Bronx at around 11 p.m.  Eyewitness News reported that no arrests have been made. Among those victims was a 16-year-old, who was shot and killed in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. It happened while the teen was standing across the street from where he lived on Marcus Garvey Boulevard just before 6 p.m. Monday. The motive of the shooting is unknown, and police are looking into whether the 16-year-old was the inte...

“MATAWALLE LEFT N4M IN ZAMFARA ACCOUNT” – GOV LAWAL The Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal,  has stated that he only met about N4 million in a single account since he assumed power on May 29, 2023. According to the Governor, this has forced him to be operating the affairs of the state on debt as the four months’ salary of workers are yet to be paid. Lawal revealed these on Monday during an interview with BBC Hausa, adding that the state is unable to pay security agencies their allowances. “I have been running the affairs of the state on debt since I assumed office as governor of Zamfara. I met the treasury account of the state with no money. I only saw a single account with about N3 to N4 million in it,” he said. “It is about three months now and we are yet to pay the salary of the workers. If you look at all the government agencies, the power supply to the buildings has been disconnected due to the hundreds of millions of debts incurred. “The security agencies, for three months n...

FG, LABOUR SET 8-WEEK DEADLINE FOR CONLUSION ON SUBSIDY INTERVENTION   The Federal Government has set up a steering committee to come up with a framework for delivering the expected intervention presented by the organised labour following the removal of petroleum subsidy. The framework for is to be presented by August 14, 2023. This was part of the resolution reached on Monday during a meeting between the federal government and representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by its president, Joe Ajaero, and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) led by Festus Osifo held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, The Special Adviser to the President on Communications, Special Duties and Strategy, Dele Alake said “We reconvened today. And then, both parties went through this list. And we ticked off the viable ones; those things are broken into three different categories; the immediate, those that are low-hanging fruit, then the medium term and the long...

BEYONCE GIFTS £8,000 TO NIGERIAN-OWNED RESTAURANT IN LONDON  American singer, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, has selected a popular Nigerian-owned restaurant in North London as one of ten winners to receive a grant. According to ITV news on Tuesday, the Black Parade Small Business Impact Luncheon was created by Beyoncé's BeyGood Foundation to "celebrate people, communities, and small businesses impacted by economic inequities worldwide", with Beyoncé committing £806,400 to support businesses. The restaurant, Chuku's, which is located in Tottenham was selected to receive £8,000 by Beyoncé's foundation. Emeka Frederick, co-founder of Chuku’s, expressing his happiness said, "This grant couldn’t be more welcome. Chuku’s, like other restaurants that don’t have a financial reserve, has been battered by lockdowns and the cost of living crisis. "Every day, we’re fighting to stay open to make it to our fourth birthday. This money will make that fight a little easier and...

EFCC, Ghana’s EOCO Partner Against Financial Crimes in West Africa The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulkarim Chukkol, on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, called for strong partnership and cooperation among law enforcement agencies across Africa. Chukkol made the call while declaring open a Peer Exchange Programme organized by the EFCC for Ghana’s Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) at the Rockview Hotel, Abuja He stated that such alliances will be instrumental in combating economic and financial crimes in the region. “This study tour holds immense importance as it offers the unique opportunity to engage in peer learning through the exchange of knowledge, experiences and best practices in the field of law enforcement and anti-corruption efforts. “I believe together we can contribute to strengthening the fight against economic and financial crimes and the promotion of rule of law in our respective countries”, he said. The EFCC boss stated that th...

Two Internet Fraudsters Jailed In Makurdi The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Makurdi Zonal Command, has secured the conviction and sentencing of two internet fraudsters to various jail terms before Justices Abdul Dogo and N. I. Afolabi of the Federal High Court, Makurdi, Benue State and Federal High Court, Lafia, Nasarawa State respectively. The convicts were prosecuted by the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Commission on separate one count cyber-fraud related charges. They pleaded guilty to the separate charges preferred against them by the Commission.  Consequently, Justice Afolabi convicted and sentenced Edward to one year imprisonment with an option of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500, 000) fine. He is also to forfeit his iPhone X which was the instrument used in perpetrating the crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Justice Dogo similarly convicted and sentenced Arigu to two years imprisonment with an option of One Million Naira (N1, 000,000.00) fine. More...

Tinubu’s victory: Peter Obi will go to court for 8 years – Comedian Akpororo Popular comedian Bowoto Tanimola, better known as Akpororo, has taunted the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who is currently in court over the 2023 presidential election. During a recent performance, Akpororo inquired of his audience: “Peter Obi still they go court, abi?” The crowd responded, “Yes.” He go still dey go court for eight years”, Akpororo added. His joke didn’t sit well with many, especially Peter Obi’s supporters, who took to social media platforms to berate the comedian after the video went viral on Tuesday.  

Gunmen kidnäp bank manager in Bayelsa Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted the Operations Manager of the Sterling Bank, Mrs. Nneka Enuka Ugonochie in Bayelsa State.  It was gathered that the woman was abducted by gunmen dressed in military camouflage around the PDP Junction of the Sanni Abacha Expressway in Yenagoa on Friday, June 16, 2023.  Security sources told Daily Trust that the victim had been warned previously to relocate from her residence which is adjacent to that of the arrested kidnap kingpin, John Ewa aka John Lyon and Emmanuel Agase. It was gathered that the men of the Operation Puff Adder and anti-kidnapping squad of the state police command had provided security for her residence but the arrangement was altered after she complained of cost of logistics. It was also revealed that she was warned that until the state government approved the seizure of the building owned by the arrested kidnappers, she should be vigilant and security conscious.  Many...

Alaba Market Demolition: Ezekwesili Tells Sanwo-Olu To Publish Details Of Each Destroyed Building..... Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has advised the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to immediately publish details of each building that was demolished in Alaba International Market, and the "dateline of the due process rules" that were exhausted by the State Government before those buildings were demolished. She said that doing so would prove to members of the public that the demolition was not a political attack against the Igbo people in Alaba International Market. A few days ago, the Lagos State Government had begun removing what it described as distressed buildings in Alaba International Market. It was gathered that an enforcement team had gone round to reseal the buildings which had before now been marked with several quit seal notices by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA). The demolition had sparked mixed reactions from members of the...

The money I have received is not even enough to employ a soldier that will be walking around with me - Chef Dammy says as she appeals to Nigerians for financial assistance  Nigerian chef, Damilola Adeparusi, popularly known as Chef Dammy, has appealed to Nigerians for financial assistance.  Chef Dammy who hit the limelight after she reportedly cooked for about 120 hours, made the appeal in a video that has gone viral. Dammy said all the money that came in from her fans and well-wishers while she was cooking for 120 hours is not enough for her to employ the services of a soldier that will serve as her security detail. ‘’The monies that came in isn't enough to employ security. It is not enough to employ a soldier that will be looking after me. Honestly please, consider all this if you want to gift me something. I will appreciate it'' she said  

90 Reptiles Found In Luggage Seized At Vienna Airport Customs officers found no fewer than 90 reptiles in the luggage of a passenger at Vienna Airport, Austria. The 85 geckos, two snakes, and two scorpions had a total retail value of 47,000 euros (51,400 US dollars), the Ministry of Finance reported on Tuesday. The 50-year-old had flown from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to Vienna. He was checked when he wanted to use the exit for travelers without goods to declare. To their shock, the officials found an initially unmanageable amount of reptiles in three transport boxes, the ministry added. The animals, none of which were considered protected species, were handed over to Schönbrunn Zoo, some of them already in visibly poor health. The man explained during his interrogation that the animals were worthless to him, saying he had only taken the geckos to feed them to his snakes.