Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has started training with his teammates at Atalanta despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Soccernet.ng reports.

Just like his compatriot Victor Osimhen, Lookman’s next destination has dominated transfer talks in recent weeks following his impressive performances for Atalanta.

The Nigerian attacker joined La Dea two seasons ago, and he has shone brightly. His stock rose at the end of last season when he scored a hattrick against Bayer Leverkusen in the final of the UEFA Europa League.

Since then, he has been linked to Chelsea, Liverpool, PSG, and some clubs in Saudi Arabia have shown interest in signing him.

Due to the numerous talks surrounding his future, Lookman did not participate in Atalanta’s first two Serie A games. For the past two weeks, he has been training alone, away from his teammates.

However, the talks have cooled off in recent days, and it seems like the former Leicester City man will not get his big move this summer.

According to Atalanta BC, Lookman has returned to training with the full squad, and that makes him available for their next Serie A fixture against Inter Milan at Stadio Giusseppe Meazza.

Lookman’s return to the team would be a big boost against a solid Inter Milan side at home. La Dea lost their last game against Torino, but Lookman has enough magic on his feet to help them return to winning ways next time out.

Italian football administrator Pietro Lo Monaco has criticized Victor Osimhen over the management of his transfer from Napoli.

Osimhen’s exit from Napoli is one of the biggest issues in Europe as it has dragged on since the end of last season till now.

The Nigerian striker has been superb for Napoli in the past three seasons and has attracted interest from a lot of top clubs in Europe and Saudi Arabia.

Osimhen has attracted interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, PSG, and Al Ahli, but the debacle has either been his personal demands, or Napoli’s price tag.

With his future still in the balance, Osimhen has not played for Napoli since the start of the season, missing their Copa Italia game against Modena and their two Serie A games against Verona and Bologna.

The issue has dominated the news in Italy, and football administrator Lo Monaco has expressed displeasure at the turn of events. He believes Osimhen should still not have excluded himself from Napoli’s squad.

“The market sets the price, it all depends on whether the president decides to accept or not. His (Osimhen) management has been a joke, it is inconceivable that a player would dare to refuse to play,” Lo Monaco said, per Calcio Napoli.

The transfer window will close in less than 48 hours, putting Osimhen in a tough position. His next destination remains unclear despite numerous speculations.

Nonetheless, a lot could still happen before 11:59 PM on August 30.

Nigerian businesses and households expect the inflation rate to rise in the next one to six months.

This is according to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s July Inflation Expectations Survey Report released on Tuesday.

The survey showed that respondents expect inflation to rise in the review months with indices of 37.4 for the next month, -26.3 for the next two months and -15.8 for the next six months.

However, the report showed respondents expect the inflation rate to gradually reduce over the next six months.

A further analysis indicated that businesses anticipate that the inflation rate will drop compared to households, with indices of -33.4 and -11.0 points for the next month and next six months respectively.

“Overall, both businesses and households believe that the inflation rate will rise further in the periods”, the survey stated.

It added that the expected inflation rate hike will be driven primarily by changes in energy prices, exchange rates and transportation costs.

The reports come weeks after Nigeria’s inflation declined to 33.40 percent in July, from 34.19 percent in June.

In the past months, the apex bank had continued to tighten Monetary policy measures such as the interest rate which stood at 26.75 percent to tame the inflation rate.

 ...husband seeks financial assistance

A 54-year-old Nigerian woman, Alake Latoyosi gave birth to 11 babies in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

While her husband, Yahaya Nafiu, 56, is seeking help to support his family’s care for the babies and their mother.

Nafiu, the Missioner of Ilorin Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) in Port Novo, Ajasse, and Cotonou in the neighbouring West African country, said his 54-year-old wife delivered the babies in two batches. The first set of six arrived on 7 August, while the second arrived seven days later, on 14 August.

According to the father, a birth attendant took delivery of the babies on the two occasions.

The babies consisted of eight males and three females, but two of the girls died during delivery.

Nafiu said the remaining nine are hale and hearty. However, he said he struggled to meet the huge financial cost of caring for them and their mother.

“A few days after the delivery of the first set of children, my wife said she felt strange movements in her stomach. After a scan was carried out at the hospital, the doctor revealed that she was carrying another set of children, which led them to contact the initial birth attendant, and the next set of five babies was delivered”, Mr Nafiu said.

According to him, the pregnancy lasted over three years before the delivery.

He said the hospital could not ascertain the pregnancy position of his wife, resulting in the doctors being unable to carry out a Caesarian operation. The cleric attributed the experience to an evil spiritual influence on the doctors.

Canada is currently witnessing widespread protests as approximately 70,000 international students take to the streets against the new immigration policies implemented by the federal government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

These demonstrations, which have spread across various provinces such as Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia, highlight the growing unrest among foreign students.

According to a report by City News Toronto, the discontent stems from a series of policy changes that have significantly impacted international students.

In 2021, Canada eliminated the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program, which previously allowed international students to gain work experience after completing their studies.

Further tightening of immigration rules came last year when the federal government introduced a two-year cap on international student visas.

The changes have had a profound effect on the student population. By 2023, international students made up 37% of all study visa holders in Canada, contributing to the strain on housing, employment, and other services.

The new cap on student visas is expected to reduce the intake of foreign students by 35%, further exacerbating the situation.

In response to these challenges, the Canadian government announced in June that foreign nationals would no longer be able to apply for a PGWP at the border, adding to the difficulties faced by international students.

The protests have been fueled by fears that many graduates may face deportation when their work permits expire at the end of the year. The Naujawan Support Network, a student advocacy group, has been vocal in its concerns, warning that the situation is dire for many students.

The situation has been compounded by new provincial policies that have reduced the number of permanent residency nominations by 25%, making it even harder for international students to remain in the country.

Mehakdeep Singh, a former international student now facing deportation, expressed his frustration to City News Toronto: “I spent six years taking risks to come to Canada. I studied, worked, paid taxes, and earned enough Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, but the government has taken advantage of us.

A 71-year-old man has been admitted to lacing his wife’s Coca-Cola drink with drugs, including cocaine and MDMA, with the intention of killing her and marrying her daughter.

Alfred W Ruf pleaded guilty to spiking his wife’s beverages at least a dozen times in 2021, state court documents obtained by WXIN.

Ruf’s wife reached out to cops in January 2022 after Ruf admitted to attempting to poison her to death.

The wife said she had been to the hospital a half dozen times in a matter of weeks after experiencing headaches, diarrhoea and drowsiness, among other symptoms.

She tested positive for a few drugs she did not knowingly consume herself, including cocaine, MDMA and benzodiazepines.

Responding Richmond police officers reportedly heard Ruf say that he added an "unknown substance" to his wife’s drink that her own daughter had given to him.

The wife turned over to cops a pill bottle that was filled with an off-white coloured powder, as well as a Coke can with a similar residue.

Ruf then admitted that he tried to kill his wife in order to marry her daughter. He said the substance made his wife sleep for about 13 hours straight.

"He stated that he would do this to eventually kill her," stated the court documents.

Ruf claimed that the daughter and a friend told him to put the powder into his wife’s Coke can and wait for her to doze off, and that the pair would then go to his Indiana home to "put on a show".

He added that he had s3xual intercourse with one of the women while the other woman stole his wife’s possessions. Ruf said he paid the women for the s3x acts.

The daughter told Ruf to "get mom out of the picture" and cash in on her insurance policy, he claimed. Ruf said that the daughter planned to tie the knot with him after they "took care of" his wife

Ruf reportedly confessed to what he did to his wife "because he felt bad".

But the wife told authorities that Ruf admitted he was "drugging" her in order to engage in s3xual activities with the daughter and her friend.

Ruf on Monday, August 26, pled guilty in Wayne County Court to aggravated battery posing a risk of death. He had a charge of conspiracy to commit m*rder dismissed.

Ruf has been sentenced to four years behind bars, as well as five years of probation.

The Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has approved the appointment of 12 new Permanent Secretaries (PMs).

The appointees were chosen from their respective constituencies to fill the available vacancies in the Kogi State Public Service.

A statement released on Wednesday by the Head of Service, Elijah Evinemi, indicated that the governor highlighted the careful selection of permanent secretaries based on merit, fairness, and justice principles.

In a congratulatory meeting with the successful candidates, Mr. Evinemi urged the newly appointed permanent secretaries to meet expectations in their roles and demonstrate utmost loyalty, dedication, and integrity.

The newly appointed permanent secretaries are as follows: Momoh Aziz from Ajaokuta LGA, Negedu Muhammed Bala from Ankpa 1 Constituency, Haruna Jibo Muhammed from Bassa LGA, Ejigbo Akoji from Dekina-Biraidu Constituency, Enimola Enimola A. from Kabba-Bunu LGA, Fashoba Ayo-Sunday from Mopa-Amuro LGA, Adurodija Ebenezer O. from Ogori-Magongo LGA, Enehe Dorcas Omeneke from Okehi LGA, Sanni Haruna Muhammed from Okene 1 Constituency, Ochu Philips Omeiza from Okene 2 Constituency, Shaibu Danjuma Fabian from Olamaboro LGA, and Baiyegunsi Taiwo S. from Yagba-East LGA.

Appointment Of 1,192 Additional Aides

Naija News reports that Governor Ododo’s latest appointment comes days after controversies over his appointment of 1,192 additional aides to his government.

These appointments were confirmed in a statement issued last Monday by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Folashde Ayoade.

However, the development has not settled well with opposition camps and other concerns of the state’s citizens.

SDP Reacts To Ododo’s Additional Appointments

The Kogi State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has criticized Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo

Reacting, the Director of Media for the SDP campaign organisation in Kogi State, David Ijele, faulted the incumbent administration, describing the appointment as a misplaced priority.

“They haven’t paid those who laboured for the state, yet they are employing youths to be used as thugs,” Ijele said.

The SDP chieftain stated that Governor Ododo’s days in office were numbered.

Speaking further on the party’s legal battle against the incumbent administration, Ijele insisted that the Supreme Court would rule in favour of the SDP candidate, Yakubu Ajaka.

“The Constitution is very clear on the BVAS, and we believe the Supreme Court will give justice to the people of Kogi State and chase these charlatans out of Lugard House,” Ijele announced.

The federal government has revealed the identity of the woman behind a viral video clip threatening the mass killing of Nigerians in Canada.

Her identity was revealed by the chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

 The woman, in a viral video on social media, threatened to poison Nigerians living in Canada.

She added that she is a resident of Ontario, Canada, and dared anyone to report her to the Canadian authorities.

The woman, who spoke mainly in Pidgin English, is believed to have made the threat in a virtual meeting on Tiktok.

She vowed to take poisonous substances to her workplace and poison any Yoruba or Benin person she came across due to the ‘hate’ against Igbos.

She said: “Record me very well; it’s time to start poisoning the Yoruba and the Benin. Put poison for all una food for work. Put poison for una water, make una dey kpai one by one.”

“I want make Ndi Igbo get that heart of wickedness. Una too dey quiet,” the woman added.

“Enough is enough! If you have any means of kpaing them, kpai them commot for road,” she said.

However, on Wednesday, 28th August, Dabiri-Erewa identified the woman as Amaka Patience Sunnberger.

Amaka Patience Sunnberger

In a post via her X account, the NIDCOM chairman disclosed that the woman has deleted her Tiktok account but added that a group of Nigerians in Canada are reporting her officially to authorities in the North American country.

“This is the picture of the lady behind the voice.Amaka Patience Sunnberger. She has deleted her TikTok account and a group of Nigerians in Canada are reporting her officially to the relevant authorities in Canada . Thanks for alerting everyone,” Dabiri-Erewa said.

A Nigerian Navy officer, Abdul Rasheed Muhammad, has been arrested for the murder of Aminu Ibrahim, the son of former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral I. I. Ibrahim (retd).

During a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, revealed that Muhammad killed Aminu and stole his car two weeks ago. Igweh confirmed that the vehicle, a Prado SUV, has since been recovered.

“About two weeks ago, Aminu Ibrahim, the son of Vice Admiral I. I. Ibrahim (retd), was robbed and killed in the Maitama area of Abuja, and his Prado SUV was stolen. I want to inform you that Abdul Rasheed Muhammad, a serving Nigerian Navy personnel, committed the murder. He has confessed to the crime, and we have recovered the Prado Jeep,” Igweh stated.

Speaking to journalists, Muhammad, a seaman in the Navy, admitted to the crime. He explained that he was assigned to the former Naval Chief’s residence as a security guard.

“I work at the house. He wanted to go out at night, around 11:30. He said he needed security, so I followed him with my gun. Along the way, he stopped to check his ATM, as if he was going to buy something. I thought maybe I was going to escort him to a market or somewhere. Then, when I came out through the other door, I shot him, took the car, and left. He did not do anything to me; I killed him to steal his car,” Muhammad confessed.

In a related development, 94 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria were also paraded for their involvement in the death of two police officers on Sunday.

Former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu might be in another trouble while serving his sentence in the UK.

Recall that he is currenlty serving 10 years in prison for human trafficking last year.

According to a new report by TheNation, Ekweremadu is currently under investigation by the London Metropolitan Police in a new case linked to him.

A documentary by Chude Jideonwo titled: “Daniel vs Ekweremadu,” the police are investigating a case involving Ekweremadu, although details are scarce due to the ongoing investigation.

Part 1 of the two-part docu-series was released on Friday, 23 August. It is written and directed by award winning filmmaker and TV host, Chude Jideonwo.

In an email from a spokesperson to the police, Alexandra Meek to the producers as shown in the documentary, she said: “With regards to the live investigation, which is linked – On Tuesday, 8 November 2022 detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime arrested a woman on suspicion of conspiracy to exploit for the purposes of organ harvesting.

“The woman, who is in her 50s, has been released under investigation. Enquiries remain ongoing.”

Ms Meek, who is senior communication manager for the MET Police, gave this as a reason for the police’s inability to participate in the documentary.

According to Chude: “‘Daniel’ is the name given by a journalist and adopted by the documentary filmmakers for the victim-survivor of the first conviction under the UK’s Modern Slavery Law – under which Ekweremadu became the first to be sentenced to jail alongside his wife, Beatrice and a doctor-friend, Obinna Obeta.

“It follows a directive from the judge of the case for the real name to remain undisclosed.

“‘Daniel vs Ekweremadu’ tells the story of Senator Ekweremadu’s fall from Nigerian deputy senate president to British jailbird upon his conviction for organ harvesting.

Shot in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, the series includes exclusive access to British prosecutors, police, the family of the survivor-victim amongst others in this first-of-its-kind thriller-style documentary from a West African independent studio.”