Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Igboho, has attributed his return to Nigeria to divine intervention.

The prominent freedom fighter made his way back to the country on Thursday, just in time for his mother’s funeral, which is set to take place in Saki, Oyo State.

His return has sparked significant attention, given his high-profile status as an advocate for Yoruba autonomy and his previous encounters with Nigerian security agencies.

Igboho, on Friday, revealed that he had faced threats to his life, alleging that President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) and military personnel to assassinate him at his residence.

Igboho, addressing his supporters in Oyo State in the Yoruba language, explained that his activism, specifically his vocal opposition to the killing of farmers by Fulani herders in the Southwest, was the reason behind the alleged assassination attempt.

He said: “Buhari sent his soldiers and DSS to arrest me in my house because I said Yorubas are not slaves to Fulanis, they can’t suppress us in our father’s land.

“Fulanis can’t stop our fathers and mothers from going to their farms. But, I’m back with the power of God and authority not that of man.”

Super Eagles of Nigeria have landed another goalkeeper option as the world football governing body, FIFA, approved the nationality switch of Arthur Okonkwo.

Arthur Okonkwo was born to Nigerian parents in London, England, on September 9, 2001. He developed his football career at Arsenal Academy from childhood.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper gained promotion to Arsenal’s senior team on July 1, 2021, but wasn’t able to establish himself at the club’s senior side.

Hence, Arthur Okonkwo was on loan at Crewe Alexandra between July 29, 2022, to January 15, 2023. He spent the second half of the 2022-2023 season on loan at Sturm Graz.

Since September 1, 2023, Okonkwo has been on loan at fourth-tier club, Wrexham AFC, and he is expected to return to Arsenal at the end of this season.

Since then, the English-born goalkeeper has made 26 appearances in all competitions for Wrexham, in which he kept 11 clean sheets.

Arthur Okonkwo has played for England under-15, under-16, under-17, and under-18 national teams. He has made a total of 11 appearances for all the aforementioned teams.

Now that FIFA has permitted Okonkwo to play for Nigeria, it is left to be seen whether the NFF will invite him to the national team anytime soon.

If that happens, the youngster will compete with Francis Uzoho and Stanley Nwabali for the starting shirt in the national team. Recall that Nwabali overtook Uzoho in the national team and was Super Eagles’ first choice goalkeeper throughout the 2023 AFCON.

Former National President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Olumide Akpata, has emerged as the Labour Party, LP, governorship candidate in Edo State.

Akpata won the LP primary election held in Benin City, the state capital, on Friday.

He was declared the winner of the primary after polling the highest number of votes.

Akpata scored 316 votes to defeat other aspirants in a landslide victory.

The Forward Operating Base, FOB, of the Nigerian Navy in Badagry, Lagos State, has intercepted 15,540 litres of petrol stored in a building along the creeks.

The Commanding Officer of the FOB, Navy Capt. B A Amakiri, said naval operatives intercepted 518 ×30 Jerry cans on Thursday, at about 11:00 am, at Agbojetho-Akorin Beach along Badagry-Seme Road.

According to him, the navy acted after receiving an intelligence tip-off about the activities of some suspected smugglers within the area.

“The intelligence indicated that several jerry cans suspected to contain petrol were stored in a building within Agbojetho-Akorin Beach along Badagry-Seme Road.

“Consequently, the Base Quick Response Team proceeded to the beach general area for investigation and possible arrest and seizure.

“The team conducted a cordon and search operation in the area and discovered 518 x 30 litres jerry cans of the suspected products,” he said.

Amakiri explained that the quantity of the petrol product translates to about 15,540litres, valued at N9,479,400 at the current rate of about N610 per litre.

“The perpetrators absconded on getting information about the approach of the team.

“It is suspected that the perpetrators had the intention of smuggling the products out of Nigeria to the Benin Republic.

“The adjoining communities were also searched, but no other products or suspects were found,” he said.

Amakiri restated the commitment of his officers to continue making smuggling unattractive, adding that the economic saboteurs would be frustrated until smuggling was suppressed to the barest minimum.

Chelsea could shift attention to Victor Boniface as they continue their search for a new striker this summer.

The West London side have been linked with Boniface’s compatriot, Victor Osimhen.

Osimhen is expected to leave Serie A champions Napoli at the end of the current season despite signing a new contract last December.

Chelsea, who are desperate to sign a new striker following another underwhelming campaign, face competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal for the 25-year-old.

According to BILD chief transfer expert, Christian Falk, the Blues are now keeping tabs on Boniface.

“Nicolas Jackson has not yet managed to solve the striker problem at Chelsea,” Falk told CaughtOffside.

“Someone else could do that in the future: Victor Boniface, [he] came from Saint-Gilloise in 2023 for €16m…Contract until 2028. Current market value €40m. Chelsea are tempting, but Bayer don’t want to sell him.”

Boniface, who is currently sidelined with an abductor injury has scored 16 goals and registered eight assists in 23 games in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen this season.

Nigeria Defender, William Troost-Ekong says he would consider playing in the Saudi Arabia Professional Football League in future.

Troost-Ekong was named the Most Valuable Player, MVP, at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

The 30-year-old is said to have caught the eye of a number of clubs in the Saudi Arabian top-flight during the competition.

The centre-back is currently on the books of Greek Super League outfit, PAOK Salonica.

The former Watford player admitted he will be interested in playing in Saudi Arabia if he had the opportunity.

“I can’t tell you that now because it’s not right in front of me,” Troost-Ekong stated in an interview with CNN World Sports Amanda Davies.

“The Saudi League is something which is exciting, you saw quite a lot of the best players who were part of the AFCON have headed in that direction and are playing there.

“If that option is in front of me, then, I will have to study it a bit more and consider it.”

Asked if he would love to play alongside Portuguese superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo’, he said; “Who wouldn’t? One of the best players in the world. We’ll have to see what happens but I’m happy at PAOK.”

The President Bola Tinubu-led federal government has announced plans to create 100,000 jobs for Nigerians before May 29, 2024.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Job Creation, Office of the Vice-President, Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, made the disclosure.

According to the presidential aide, the target is to create 384,000 jobs in four years, but the initial 100,000 target is by May 29, 2024.

Adekunle-Johnson, made this known while speaking at the inaugural Job Creation and MSME Quarterly Communications Forum, organised by the Job Creation & MSME Secretariat, Office of the Vice President.

He said the government was focusing on job creation in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

“We are saying that by May 29, we will create at least 100,000 jobs. The target is to create 384,000 jobs in four years,” he said.

Adekunle-Johnson also noted that the initiative would be a partnership between the Federal Government and Access Bank.

“Today’s programme is to announce our partnership with the Access Bank, how the bank is trying to support the government with regard to access to funding for MSMEs.

“Right now, the interest rate for loans is between 27 and 29 per cent, but the Access bank is giving us at the rate of 15 per cent.

“The bank is committing N50 billion to support MSMEs. They are even now saying that if you are an MSME and you want to collect N1 to N3 million, don’t worry; the collateral that they need is simplified to enable you to have access to the money,” he stated.

Earlier, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who was represented at the event by the Director-General, Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Ndace, said the Federal Government was committed to creating an enabling environment for MSMEs in the country in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended no fewer than 48 students from Kwara State University (KWASU) and two Malete residents over alleged involvement in Internet fraud, commonly known as Yahoo Yahoo.

The anti-graft agency claimed the arrest was made following reliable intelligence on the increasing prevalence of internet fraud activities in the state, particularly within educational institutions.

In an effort to combat corruption and illicit activities associated with yahoo-yahoo, the EFCC reportedly conducted thorough investigations, tracking down the suspects and apprehending them in various locations where they were hiding, following days of surveillance on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.

Among the suspects are Idris Yekini, Ayantola Segun, Adeshina Taheeb, Mustapha Alamin, Usman Harun, Oladimeji Oseni, Qudus Temitope, Adewunmi Israel, Lukman Uthman, Alamin Ibitoye, Usman Sadiq, Musbau Waris, Ibrahim Oluwatosin, Oladele Israel, and Rafiu Ashimu.

Others arrested include Aransiola Oluwaseun, Akolade Adetola Toheeb, Joseph Samuel, Adewuyi Quadri, Adebayo Olamilekan, Ogunride Gabriel, Abolaji Ismail, Ogundele Samuel Ejiro, Musa Ali Olawale, Isah Oluwatumishe, Abdullahi Abdulmajib, Abdulrahman Abubakar, Olaosebikan Martins, Mazeed Ayomide, Oyeniyi Michael, Moses Bright, Oladipo Victor, Shehu Abdugafar, Abdulmalik Khalid Timileyin, Muhammad Nabil, Adebayo Qudus, and Owoeye Adeyanju.

Additionally, Abdulwaheed Zakariyah, Olaleye Gbenga, Victor Kayode, Samad Olarewaju, Raheem Ayomide, Ismail Abdulbasit, Oluyedun Khalid, Moshood Lawal, Utman Abayomi, and Aransiola Joshua were also apprehended. Furthermore, Babalola Razaq and Godwin Ouna Ejika, residents of Malete, were included in the arrests.

During the operation, authorities seized nine (9) luxury vehicles, twenty-four (24) laptops, and various brands of mobile phones from the suspects.

Upon the completion of the ongoing investigations, the suspects will be promptly presented before the court for arraignment.

Youths affiliated with the Nigeria Civil Society Forum (NCSF) gathered in Abuja to participate in a solidarity rally expressing support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration.

Naija News reports that the youths gathered at the Unity Fountain in the Business District Centre of the Federal Capital City as early as 9 am, carrying placards and dressed in white T-shirts and face caps emblazoned with the bold inscription “Jagaban is working.”

Placards bearing the inscription “NLC Stop Faking To Be Fighting For Nigerians” were observed, reflecting sentiments regarding the planned two-day nationwide strike organized by the Nigerian Labour Congress.

According to the organizers of the solidarity rally, their decision to mobilize was prompted by the proliferation of inaccurate narratives regarding the state of affairs in the country.

They emphasized that Tinubu remains steadfast in implementing his programs and policies.

Speaking to journalists during the solidarity walk from Unity Fountain to the National Assembly gate in Abuja on Friday, the Convener of the group, Terrence Kuanum, said the planned nationwide protest by the NLC was an act of sabotage.

“What is happening is sabotage and we already anticipated this sabotage because few Nigerians were benefiting immensely from this subsidy regime and insecurity that was in this country.

“I am hungry, you are hungry but it is not by sabotaging the system or antagonising the system that we can resolve this issue. We can only resolve this issue as patriotic Nigerians who are concerned that we need to resolve this problem and the generation next to us doesn’t face it.”

While the Co-convener of the group, Sunday Attah, deemed it unnecessary to call for protests against a government in power for only eight months.

Attah further pointed out that despite the recession in the United Kingdom, there are no protests against the government.

His words, “We must understand the trajectory of how the NLC has operated over time. Remember in this same country, when fuel subsidy was removed they got up and claimed to be standing for Nigerians.

“They fought and said fuel subsidy should not be removed but after a series of meetings, which of course today they are saying didn’t yield any fruit, we know how these ‘colour’ paper exchanged hands and matters died on the ground.

“We are not going to allow the NLC to plunge Nigeria into anarchy. Calling for protest against an eight months old government is uncalled for. The president is doing all his best, he is not a magician, all that Nigerians need at the moment is to be patient with the president. When a woman gets pregnant it takes nine months for her to deliver and when the child is born it takes another one to two years for the child to walk.”

The Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, has granted bail to former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in the sum of ₦50,000,000 on charges related to an alleged N10 billion fraud.

The court also mandated that Ahmed provide two sureties owning landed properties within Ilorin, alongside surrendering his international passport as part of the bail conditions.

This development follows the arraignment of Ahmed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 12-count charge centering on fraud, as reported by Naija News.

The former governor faced the court on Friday, where allegations of misappropriating state funds during his tenure were laid out against him.

Notably, media personnel were restricted from accessing the courtroom during Ahmed’s arraignment, sparking concerns over transparency in the proceedings.

The EFCC’s case against Ahmed includes accusations of diverting N1.6 billion allocated for security and operational costs in Kwara State to finance personal expenses, such as chartering private jets.

A particular count in the charges highlights the alleged fraudulent conversion of N400 million from a N1 billion short-term loan secured by the Kwara State Government from Ecobank Nigeria Limited.

These funds, intended for completing ongoing state projects, were purportedly misused under Ahmed’s administration.

The EFCC said, “Ahmed (while being the Governor of Kwara State) between 2015 and 2019 in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this honourable court used an aggregate sum of N1,610,730,500, property of Kwara State Government, meant for the security and running cost of the Government of Kwara State, to charter private jets through Travel Messengers Limited on different occasions for your local travels and which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust or theft.”