The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 18th March 2023 governorship election in Enugu State, Mr. Frank Nweke Jr says he withdraw the petition filed against Governor Peter Mbah on personal reasons.

Mr. Nweke Jr., who was a Minister in the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration while speaking with newsmen said “i decided to withdraw the petition against Dr. Mbah for personal reasons.

It was reported that Mr Nweke withdrew his petition against the winner of the election and governor of the state, Dr. Peter Mbah, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Nweke, who came third in the governorship election with 17,983 votes as against Mbah’s 160,895 votes, announced the withdrawal of the petition at the Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Sunday, through an oral application by his counsel, R.A.C.E Achara.

Achara said it became imperative to withdraw the petition filed on 11th April 2023 in order to reduce the workload of the tribunal.

The tribunal consequently granted the wish and dismissed the petition accordingly.

[DailyIndependent]

The Senate has said that it is not ready to join issues with some misguided and mischief makers on the recently appropriated 70bn for the National Assembly was a gift from the Executive arm of government.

The Senate also said that the passage of the Supplementary Appropriation Act was part of the constitutional duties of the Senate to accommodate funding for the Federal Government's Palliative for the Nigerian public among other National demands.

The reaction of the Senate to the alleged padding of the Supplementary Budget as reported in some sections of the media was contained a statement issued by the Chairman,, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

According to the statement, "after the passage of the Supplementary Budget to accommodate funding for Federal Government' Palliative for the Nigerian public, among other urgent national demands, the socio-political space has been inundated with spurious, inaccurate and irreverent misinterpretations. 

"Suffice to say that the passage is part of the absolute constitutional duty of the Senate. We would therefore, not wish to join issues with the mischief and misrepresentation that a portion of the just passed Amendment Act that appropriated 70b Naira was a 'gift' to the Legislators," the statement noted.

Senator Adaramodu stressed that "a visit to the Suites, offices and the general structures of the National Assembly complex would reveal a yawning and the need for exigent attention. Many Senators had to bring their chairs, tables and electronics and in many cases, do sundry repairs. 

"The so much debated allocation will not be paid to any Legislator. This will be managed by the National Assembly Bureaucracy. It's pertinent to also note that the National Assembly complex does not house only the Legislators. There are thousands of workers and service providers, whose working environment need a face-lift, and/with necessary tools.

" Since the Assembly Complex is not owned by Legislators who are merely political birds of passage, such allocation cannot be termed by anyone as a palliative to the Legislators. 

"The alleged padding of the palliatve Budget by the National Assembly only exists in the minds of those who are all out to discredit the 10th Assembly. There is nothing like padding as being alleged in some misinformed media outfits.

"We wish to urge fellow compatriots to see the National Assembly as partners in the progress of Nigeria.The National Assembly is the soul of democracy and the 10th Senate shall join hands with other arms of government and our forward looking Nigerians to sing new songs of progress, development, safety and all round economic recovery and growth.

There are over 9,000 licensed filling stations across the country that are fit for the co-location of facilities that dispense autogas fuel, the Federal Government has said.

It disclosed this in a communique issued by the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology at the end of the stakeholders’ engagement forum on the provision of technical manpower and facility for the development and promotion of autogas as transportation fuel in Nigeria.

The conference, with the theme, ‘Autogas as an alternative fuel for transportation in Nigeria’, showed that there was a need for alternative options for transportation fuels such as Liquefied Natural Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas, and Compressed Natural Gas known as autogas, which should become widely used and accepted as an alternative automotive fuel.

The communique stated that Nigeria gas reserves were about 209 trillion cubic feet, adding that gas production was between 8.15 – 8.35 billion standard cubic feet/day, which was more than enough for the nation.

Providing updates on the implementation status of the autogas programme, the NITT said, “There are over 9,000 licensed retail outlets classified fit-for-purpose for co-location of autogas fuel nationwide.

“There are 50 conversion centres currently upgrading for mass conversion and training of technicians in the country. Auto assemblers are already producing fit-for-purpose dual-fuel vehicles in the country.

“The Nigeria Gas Expansion Programme had held extensive multi-sectoral stakeholder engagement and secured impressive programme support and buy-in. The government is supporting the deployment of over one million conversion kits for trucks and smaller vehicles.”

It said the government was supporting the optimal availability of all autogas fuel streams, and that the adoption of autogas technology was good for Nigeria in the short and long term.

The communique stated that the forum recommended that the Federal Ministry of Transportation should collaborate with relevant stakeholders and the private sector for research, development, and deployment of autogas fuel in Nigeria.

It said the Federal Government should provide incentives to motorists, especially in the public transport and road freights sub-sectors for the conversion kits acquisition as a way of cushioning fuel subsidy removal.

Wole Olanipekun, counsel to President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, has asked the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) to dismiss the petition of Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP).

Olanipekun in his final written address against the petition of Obi and LP, described the arguments and testimonies of their witnesses as “frivolous, bogus and based on hearsay”.

On March 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the 2023 presidential election.

Tinubu secured a total of 8,794,726 votes.

Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had the second-highest figure with 6,984,520 votes, while Peter Obi of LP was next with 6,101,533 votes.

On March 20, Obi and LP filed a petition before the court, seeking nullification of the poll on grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.

Olanipekun in his final written address dated July 14 asked the tribunal to bar Obi from contesting in another election if the court voids the February 25 poll.

He said Obi’s name was not in the Labour Party membership register when he contested the election, noting that Obi was still part of the PDP.

“Obi is constitutionally barred from participating in any election, in the very unlikely event that the election of 25th February 2023 is voided, as the only candidates constitutionally prescribed to contest any subsequent election shall be Tinubu and the candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar who came second, by scoring the next majority of votes in the highest number of States (19 States), to the 1st petitioner’s 16 States, and also coming second by plurality of votes, having scored 6,984,520, far and above 1st petitioner’s 6,101,533 votes,” Olanipekun said.

In his conclusion, Olanipekun said the presentation of the petition itself and the evidence presented glaringly shows it is a crass abuse of the court process.

“Based on the arguments and submissions contained in this address, we urge this Honourable court to dismiss this petition as totally lacking in merit, substance and bona fide,” he said.

“It has been glaringly shown and demonstrated by the presentation of the petition itself and the evidence presented by the petitioners, including the evidence of PW12, that the petition itself is not only frivolous but also amounts to a crass abuse of the process of the court.”

The educational pursuit of a Nigerian undergraduate of a Cyprus university may have abruptly ended after illicit drug was found in his luggage.

The 19-year-old Benjamin Daberechi who hails from Enugu State had in his luggage 7.2 kilograms of methamphetamine which he deceitfully
concealed in a crayfish embellished nylon.

The teenage suspect was intercepted on July 12, during an outward clearance of passengers on Turkish Airlines flight TK 0624, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

A statement by the spokesperson of the agency, Femi Babafemi noted that Daberechi was enroute to Europe before he was intercepted during an outward clearance of passengers.

In another development, operatives of the Tincan Port Command of the Agency on July 11, also intercepted a 116.5kg consignment of Colorado, a strong strain of cannabis.

The package was concealed in bags hidden in a heap of used vehicle parts on the floor of a container marked FCIU 8459700, bearing three units of used vehicles imported from Toronto, Canada.

Babafemi noted that based on intelligence, the agency had requested a 100 percent examination of the container which had arrived at the TICT terminal of the port on June 14.

“A joint examination with the Nigeria Customs, DSS and other stakeholders on Tuesday 11th July however led to the discovery of 233 parcels of the illicit substance stashed inside travelling bags on the floor of the container, covered with used vehicles spare parts,” the agency said in the statement.

Meanwhile, a Lekki Lagos-based female lawyer, Ebikpolade Helen, who specialised in the production and distribution of skuchies, a mixture of cannabis, opioids and black currant has been arrested in a follow-up operation in Awka, Anambra State.

The arrest followed an earlier seizure of 5kg cannabis and 12 bottles of prepared skuchies in her apartment at Lekki.

While commending the officers and men of the agency, the Chairman/Chief Executive, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa charged them to remain vigilant and execute their job thoroughly.

Manchester City’s recent success is highlighted by a quick glance at their net spend per trophy over the past 10 years, with Arsenal, Liverpool and the rest following behind.

Bankrolled by billionaire owners, Premier League clubs have been throwing money at new players in the hope it translates to results on the pitch.

Using data from Transfermarkt, we’ve looked at the net spend per trophy won for the ‘big six’ Premier League clubs since 2013-14.

Note: we’ve not included the Community Shield as a major trophy.

The figures show that City are obviously dominating in terms of getting a return on their investments, and while Arsenal have closed the gap considerably, failure to win silverware means their recent heavy investment is looking a little desperate.

Manchester United have the biggest net spend of any Premier League side since 2014, which doesn’t reflect well on their trophy haul since then.

1. Arsenal

Transfer expenditure: €1.37billion
Transfer income: €381.8million
Net spend: €992.09million

Trophies won: 4
Net spend per trophy: €248.02million

2. Chelsea

Transfer expenditure: €2.09billion
Transfer income: €1.37billion
Net spend: €718.38million

Trophies won: 8
Net spend per trophy: €89.80million

3. Liverpool

Transfer expenditure: €1.20billion
Transfer income: €708.97million
Net spend: €493.56million

Trophies won: 6
Net spend per trophy: €82.26million

4. Manchester United

Transfer expenditure: €1.66billion
Transfer income: €418.50million
Net spend: €1246.16milion

Trophies won: 4
Net spend per trophy: €31.15million

5. Manchester City

Transfer expenditure: €1.70billion
Transfer income: €689.30million
Net spend: €1008.52million

Trophies won: 15
Net spend per trophy: €6.72million

6. Tottenham 

Transfer expenditure: €1.12billion
Transfer income: €594.02million
Net spend: €523.61million

Trophies won: 0
Net spend per trophy: N/A

[planetfootball]

The 22-year-old was an unexpected success story during his loan spell with Reims last season, finding the back of the net 21 times in 37 Ligue 1 appearances.

Balogun's impressive exploits in France caught the eye of the USA international team, and having played for England at youth level, he pledged allegiance to the Stars and Stripes earlier this year.

The former Middlesbrough loanee took no time at all to adapt to the rigours of senior international football, scoring in his second appearance against Canada in the final of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Reims were keen to convert Balogun's loan switch into a permanent move, but the French side did not possess the financial firepower to poach the striker permanently, and he has since returned to Arsenal for pre-season.

Balogun played in the second half of the Gunners' recent friendly draw with Nurnberg, and he was recently named in their travelling squad for their pre-season tour of the USA.

However, it remains to be seen if the 22-year-old can force his way into the first-team setup amid competition from Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz.

Inter are thought to be weighing up an approach for the Arsenal man, as the Nerazzurri seek out alternatives to Romelu Lukaku, having dropped their interest in the Chelsea man after learning of his talks with Juventus.

Now, Gianluca Di Marzio claims that Milan are also plotting a move for Balogun, as the Rossoneri prepare for life without the recently-retired Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Balogun is still under contract with Arsenal for another two years, and the Gunners are reportedly ready to demand as much as £50m to let the 22-year-old leave in the current window.

Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta opened the door for Balogun to make his mark in pre-season when asked after the draw with Nurnberg if he wanted to see the striker remain at the Emirates.

"Yeah. He's just staying here with us at the moment and we will see what happens," Arteta told reporters. "This is what he has been doing and that's why we gave him the minutes that he deserves to show what he can do."

Balogun joined Arsenal's academy in 2011 but has only made 10 competitive appearances for the first team so far, registering two goals and one assist in the 2020-21 Europa League.

A shock switch to Chelsea has also been mooted for the striker, although it is unclear if he would be willing to swap the Emirates for Stamford Bridge - a path that fellow Hale End product Omari Hutchinson walked down last year.

Arsenal will face the MLS All-Stars, Barcelona and Manchester United as part of their USA tour, kicking off against the former in Washington on Wednesday.

[sportsmole]

Nigeria's Women World Cup squad received a warm First Nations welcome in Bribane, Australia.

Some of Nigeria's staff and players joined, Saturday (Jul. 16), their host performing traditional dances.

The ceremony took place 4 days before the FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off.

The Nigerians will start their World Cup campaign by facing Canada on Friday (Jul. 21).

This year’s edition of the tournament is the third time the two teams will be clashing in the World Cup, with the West African side undefeated in the previous two head-to-heads.

They'll then clash with Australia four days after Cananda and with the Republic of Ireland also four days after Australia.

The four teams make up group B.

The 9th FIFA Women's World Cup is hosted by New Zealand and Australia.

The Super Falcons have participated in the past six editions. Their best showing to date is a quarter-final appearance in the 1999 World Cup.

Nigeria is one of four squads from Africa which qualified this year.

Zambia is in Group C and will play Spain, Costa Rica and Japan.

South Africa in Group G will go head-to-head with Sweden, Italy and Argentina.

Morocco in Group H will play Germany, Colombia and The Korea Republic.

[africanews]