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Kenneth Okonkwo, a lawyer and Nollywood actor has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of throwing unnecessary obstacles in the way of opposition members in Nigeria’s polity.
Speaking on Arise Television on Monday, Okonkwo described the electoral body as a department of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He alleged that INEC has continued to frustrate efforts by the coalition, championed by a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, to oust President Bola Tinubu from power.
Speaking on the coalition plans, the lawyer debunked claims that the movement was already in disarray.
He said, “Well, a coalition is a group of interested parties that come together for a common goal. You know, Nigerians like formulating stories which I call market talk. How can something be in disarray when it has not yet started?”
Okonkwo also noted that at the moment, all the political bigwigs interested in the coalition have only one aim which is to remove the APC-led government from power.
“People are talking and some opponents are already selling to you that it’s in disarray. What we have now is common priorities we don’t have individual difference because the time for individual ambitions have not commenced.
“So we are just talking about the options that we have, which is the option of; do we go for a new party altogether? Now with INEC as a department of APC, you know that they put a lot of roadblocks for the opposition and engages a lot of obstacles,” Okonkwo stated.
He further said that should the rule of law be respected, the coalition would have preferred to name a new party ahead of the 2027 elections.
“If we are in a nation where the rule of law is guaranteed under this kind of INEC, it would have been preferred to have a new party altogether, registered, where everyone would move in.
“But when INEC has the tendencies of delaying what is apparent, you can’t throw all your eggs in one basket,” he added
The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Barr Julius Abure, has warned its 2023 presidential election candidate, Peter Obi, to stop blackmailing the party’s officials.
Abure said the attention of the party’s leadership was called to an interview on Monday granted by Obi wherein he alleged that the APC-led federal government has infiltrated the leadership of the Labour Party and, by so doing, fomented a crisis in the party.
A statement issued by the Labour Party’s national secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, said that Obi could not produce any tangible evidence when asked to produce evidence.
“He said that the national chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, referred to the Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti, as a dwarf.
“As a member of our party, we sincerely do not wish to join issues with Mr. Obi, but for his penchant to constantly misinform Nigerians on the real reasons for the crisis in the party, knowing that virtually most other parties are in one form of crisis or the other. We sincerely hope he will introspect and move away from these ill-conceived narratives.
“It is therefore pertinent to put on record that the problem with the Labour Party was not created by the ruling party (APC). Rather, the problem in the Labour Party was created and sustained by Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, who is presently serving a suspension for anti-party activities. We dare Obi to produce any tangible or intangible evidence which suggests remotely or otherwise that the Abure leadership of the Labour Party is in bed with the APC-led government,” the party said.
The statement said nobody is infallible, adding, “it behoves anyone who makes mistakes to be bold enough to own it.
“When good leaders fail, they should own up to their responsibilities. Obi was unable to provide leadership for the party. He should own up to his mistakes. Therefore, it is shameful for Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti to continue accusing the government of infiltrating the Labour Party and demarketing it.
“This same government was in existence in 2022 when the party made six aspirants, including Prof. Pat Utomi, to step down for Peter Obi as the party’s candidate. The government existed when the party crisscrossed all the country’s nooks and crannies, including the insecurity-prone areas, campaigning for Peter Obi in 2022 and 2023.
“The government existed when the national chairman, Julius Abure, travelled across Europe and the United States to galvanise support for Peter Obi. The government also existed when the party leadership mobilised its members across the state, leading to over six million votes won during the election.
“It was the same leadership that you claimed had been infiltrated that stood with Peter Obi throughout the tribunal and up to the Supreme Court. The same Abure appeared in court more than Obi, refusing to be cowed when a splinter group wanted to hijack the process. The government existed when Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti were given sole tickets for 2027, even against the status quo.
“For the records, there was no problem in the Labour Party until Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti went to Umuahia, Abia State, to create an illegal and unconstitutional Caretaker Committee that polarised the party. And may I ask, is it the ruling party that sent Obi and Otti to Umuahia to create a division in the party?
“They were also aware that the courts, from the lower court up to the Supreme Court, clearly affirmed the party’s leadership, but Peter Obi and Alex Otti surreptitiously plotted to hijack the party’s leadership by instigating the division. Again, is the government in power creating the division or forcing them to march to INEC headquarters to exhibit their ignorance? the statement asked.
The statement added: “For Peter Obi to respond to the comment where the National Chairman referred to the governor as dwarfy in knowledge, we want to say clearly that there is no action without a reaction. The National Chairman was only responding to a pejorative comment made by the governor, wherein he referred to the National Chairman as ‘masturbating’.
“The governor neither retracted nor apologised for that reckless statement. He showed utter disrespect to the constituted authority of the party, to the man who went out of his way to help him achieve his ambition to be a governor.
“If the governor is not limited or dwarfy in knowledge, he would have appreciated the import of the Supreme Court judgement, which practically resolved the crisis in the party, but these men were only blinded by their inordinate desire to wrestle the party from the present leadership.
Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX), a Ponzi scheme that disappeared with subscribers’ funds earlier in the year restored depositors’ balance on Tuesday amidst intensified investigation by the Nigerian authorities.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) launched investigations into the disappearance of deposits by Nigerians with a pledge to recover the losses.
However, while subscribers said on Tuesday that they were able to view the amounts in their wallets prior to the platform’s alleged crash in April, victims were being asked to pay additional fees to retrieve their lost investments.
In order to purportedly retrieve their lost fund, a new deposit of $200 was requested as fresh deposit from individuals who initially invested over $1,000 and $100 from those who invested below $1,000.
A victim told our correspondent anonymously, “I have been able to view my balance but it makes no sense to be asked for a fresh deposit to retrieve my investment.
“I’ll wait to see what happens to know what to do next, but if it requires a fresh deposit, then count me out.”
However, the scheme allegedly demanded the extra payments before investors can access or withdraw the funds.
CBEX caught victims unawares in April when it collapsed without warning, locking users out of their accounts and sparking panic.
Furious victims embarked on violent protests, including the looting of the scheme’s office in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
The company had previously promised to double deposits within 40 days.
Despite locking their Telegram group to suppress complaints, CBEX operators blamed hackers for the shutdown.
The EFCC said it arrested some suspects and traced funds to multiple countries while some suspects were also recently declared wanted by the anti-graft agency in connection with the cryptocurrency scam.
EFCC, however warned that it might not be able to recover all lost investments
…Says Nigeria is a crime scene that needs fixing
The 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has decried the growing insecurity and hardship across Nigeria, describing the country as a “crime scene” in dire need of repair.
Speaking at the public presentation of the book “Obi: The Political Change Agent”, authored by Ike Abonyi, in Abuja on Tuesday, Obi lamented that although Nigeria is not officially at war, many citizens live like refugees, both within and outside the country.
“Today in Nigeria, we’re not officially at war, yet Nigerians are living in IDP camps in their own country. Nigerians are refugees in Chad, in Cameroon. And the only reason is because we don’t have a government that cares for them,” he said.
Obi urged Nigerians to actively work to “dismantle this crime scene called a country,” warning that the current system is unsustainable and dangerous.
“Some people are dancing while the ship is sinking. When it finally goes down, it will consume everyone — rich or poor. I’ve seen this before in places like Beirut and Afghanistan. Crisis does not discriminate,” he warned.
He criticized the nation’s priorities, pointing out that while government buildings are being renovated and parties thrown, women continue to die during childbirth and millions of children remain out of school.
“We use public resources to paint offices and build mansions, while women die trying to give birth. According to a recent report, one woman dies every seven minutes in Nigeria during childbirth. That’s what we want to dismantle,” Obi stated.
The former Anambra State Governor emphasized that many of Nigeria’s problems stem from a lack of leadership and value creation.
“Our leaders in government and business are producing poverty. When people hoard money without creating value, they are fueling poverty. A functional economy must be built on the exchange of real value,” he said.
On currency devaluation, Obi supported the idea but stressed the need to eliminate corruption first.
“Yes, I support removing fuel subsidy, but only after removing the criminality in the system. If we build confidence in the market and clean up corruption, the naira will stabilize. It’s happening in Ghana and Angola — why not here?”
He also lamented the collapse of Nigeria’s infrastructure, citing a trip to Kafanchan where he didn’t see a single trailer transporting goods — a sign, he said, of a broken, unproductive economy.
“Colonial masters built railways to move goods — cotton, granite, ginger. Today, they’re gone. We have no trains, no trailers, nothing. And we wonder why people are hungry?”
Obi called for a new wave of leadership, especially in the National Assembly, urging voters to elect leaders who are committed to peace and service rather than personal gain.
“We must not allow people who want to make money from politics. If that’s your goal, you are part of the problem,” he declared. “This time, we will vote. The votes will count. We will be everywhere.”
Obi ended his remarks by thanking supporters and urging them to remain committed to the cause of national transformation.
Earlier, Professor Sam Amadi, former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), described Peter Obi as the ideal leader to spearhead a necessary democratic revolution.
“A successful revolution is defined by democratic civilization and democratic diplomacy. Peter Obi possesses the profile, pedigree, personality, and passion to lead this change,” Amadi said.
He noted that while Nigeria’s challenges are vast, they can be overcome with the right leadership, commitment, and collective sacrifice.
An alleged Police Inspector and two others have been apprehended by the local vigilante in Makurdi for allegedly vandalising Jos Electricity Distribution Company’s installations in the Demekpe axis of the town.
The suspects, according to an eyewitness, were nabbed in the early hours of Tuesday at about 4 am while carrying out their nefarious activities.
According to the source in the neighbourhood, the trio had gone to vandalise the power installation in the area when the vigilante confronted them, “and two members of the gang, on sighting the vigilante fled but a man in his early 50s identified as Innocent Ishaku was apprehended.
“Two of his accomplices who initially fled were later apprehended when he disclosed their names as Isa and Mohammed, who are well-known members of the community.”
He stated that the said Ishaku was interrogated further and he disclosed that he was an Inspector with the Police serving in Makurdi for about 10 years after being transferred from Abuja.
The suspected was also alleged to have confessed that he and his accomplices had been carrying out cable theft around Wadata axis of the town.
The trio were immediately handed over to the “D” Division Police Station, Makurdi while items recovered from them included electrical cables and connectors, and a Police Identity Card with service number 309976 bearing Innocent Ishaku.
Contacted, the Head of Corporate Services, JEDC Makurdi office, Dr. Adakole Elijah confirmed the incident.
The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent, DSP, Udeme Edet could not be reached at press time.
It is not a hidden fact that Nigerian passport holders face some of the strictest visa requirements globally. This is because of the demand of many countries which includes lengthy processing time, proof of funds and extensive documentation.
The factors that determine and influence the ease of obtaining visa for Nigerians include visa type, individual circumstances and current policies. Most people face challenges such as high embassy fees, limited appointment availability, strict financial requirements, and bias against Nigerian passport holders in some regions.
This article will explore 10 countries in the world where securing a visa is generally easier for Nigerians, particularly for those who present genuine intentions and complete documentation.
1. Singapore
If you want to visit Singapore stress-free, you can book a packaged holiday. Qatar Airways via Dubai is the best flight option for this trip.
The Easy visa with travel package to Singapore is valid up to 90 days and a travel trip you should know is that proof of onward travel and accommodation may be requested.
The country is a tourist destination best known for urban explorers and foodies.
2. Mauritius
The visa to Mauritius is free for 90 days for tourists on arrival. The African nation combines African, Indian, and French influences in a stunning island setting. Notably, the visa-free access makes the destination a very attractive alternative to Seychelles with more affordable options.
The country is a tourist attraction best for beach holidays, luxury travel, and Indian Ocean exploration.
3. Hong Kong
Hong Kong offers Nigerians an eVisa, which means there are no associated costs of travel to apply for it. However, it can be a bit discouraging based on the fact that it takes a long time to obtain. So, you are urged to apply early.
The duration of the eVisa is determined by Hong Kong Immigration. Hong Kong is best for extended layovers and Pacific island exploration.
4. Benin Republic
Next door to Nigeria, Benin Republic is a visa-free entry destination for Nigerians.
It is a very affordable destination, even a short drive from Lagos is possible. Benin Republic is best for weekend trips, cultural exploration, and historical tourism.
5. Maldives
The Maldives represent the tropical luxury experience. Although it is an expensive option and luxury destination, the visa-free access is a huge win for tourists and fun lovers. The trip can be done on a budget when staying on local islands. Maldives offers a free 30-day tourist visa on arrival.
6. Malaysia
Malaysia is another country that offers eVisas to Nigerian citizens. However, some applications may require an NDLEA certificate but a good travel history outside the continent could serve as a replacement for the certificate.
The eVisa to Malaysia is available online and processed within 5-7 days.
7. Rwanda
Rwanda is not only a visa-free destination for Nigerians, but it is also one of the best budget-friendly travel destinations on the African continent.
The country is a visa-free destination for Nigerians and African Union member states. Rwanda is a popular destination known for its first-time solo and leisure-seeking travellers.
8. Seychelles
Seychelles is one of the countries with the most accessible visa regimes for Nigerians, although it can sometimes be challenging for Nigerians.
It offers a free 30-day visitor’s permit on arrival. The country is a relatively expensive destination, but the visa-free access helps to save money upfront.
9. Kenya
Kenya’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is one of the easiest visas for Nigerian citizens to obtain. The ETA is available online and processed within 2-7 days. It is advisable to apply for the ETA at least one week before travel.
10. Ghana
Ghana is also a next-door nation to Nigeria and no visa is required for Nigerians for up to 90 days.
The country is a good destination to explore as it is renowned for business networking, affordable gateways and cultural exploration.
President Bola Tinubu has encouraged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to disregard detractors and focus on his transformative work in the Federal Capital Territory.
Tinubu commended Wike’s leadership, emphasising that the centre’s overhaul reflects his administration’s commitment to excellence and quality governance.
The president stated this during the inauguration ceremony of the rehabilitated International Conference Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, Wike praised President Tinubu for showing leadership by giving him a matching order to rehabilitate the centre. The minister added that he received pressure about the project from some people whose names he didn’t mention.
In his speech, President Tinubu said the centre’s rehabilitation is part of his administration’s efforts to “change the way we do things and reflect us as people of quality, people of character.”
Reacting to Wike’s remark about pressure from people, Tinubu told the minister to focus on his work in the FCT and ignore busybodies and bystanders.
“Don’t pay attention to the busybody and the bystanders. Whatever they say, continue with your good work. You’re a transformational leader. You have the foresight and determination to succeed.”
Earlier in his speech, Wike said the conference built in 1991 by the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida was an eyesore because no renovation work has been done on it since its first inauguration.
Wike said any agency or ministry that intends to use the halls within the centre must pay to sustain and maintain the facility.
A former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor-Kalu, has said it is not advisable for Nigeria to return to the era of paying a subsidy for petroleum products imported into the country, insisting that the subsidy was a scam.
Kalu, who is the senator representing the Abia North senatorial zone in the Senate, spoke in his Igbere country home on Tuesday, adding that the Federal Government can subsidise agriculture and food to reduce the effect of subsidy removal on Nigerians.
He said President Bola Tinubu has been working tirelessly to pull people out of poverty, adding that the economy of Nigeria will soon be stable because of the economic policies of the president.
He said, “President Tinubu has done very well in the last two years. I’m not playing politics, and I’m talking about revamping the economy, so let us come together and support the President to rebuild our economy.
“I’ve spoken seriously about the economy and getting it back on track on several forums, but this is a task that requires all hands on desk to accomplish. At the top, the economy is doing well, but it needs time to trickle down to the common man.
“But it will take time to get back on track because of the worldwide inflation. The effects of COVID are still with us, which might take up 10 to 15 years to pull out. I can assure you that President Bola Tinubu is working tirelessly to pull people out of poverty.
“I’m not a part of the President’s economic team, and I’m not saying this because I’m a member of the APC but as a citizen of Nigeria. The President knows people are hungry, and he is working to ensure the country is pulled out of hunger.
“A few things we have been able to get back are the stabilisation of the exchange rate of foreign currency in the past 9 months.
“Should we depend on petroleum subsidy again? No. We can subsidise food and others, but in petroleum, it was a very big scam.
“In the next two to three years, the economy will be stabilised. I know people are suffering, I pay people, I produce things, and I know the quantity I manufacture and what I sell. No president in the world wants to punish the people, but every president wants to ameliorate the suffering of the people”.
Speaking on the accolades from Governor Alex Otti, Kalu said that during his time as governor, his target was to build Aba to use the resources to build other places, and that’s what he did.
“There’s nowhere in Africa that people do not know Aba and Enyimba City, and that starts with securing the people. I created the Bakassi Boys, and they worked with the police and DSS to secure the place. This shows the people who said we didn’t do anything in the state. I laid the foundation and worked with a template to build the Aba and Umuahia added with Ohambele.
“My visit to Otti is very private. I’m the oldest governor of Abia State. I have the right to go to Governor Alex Otti. My discussion with him is about the state. I’m building 5 factories in Igbere, which will take off in the next one year, and before long, it will start processing, so I need peace and unity in this place.
“I’m APC to the core, and I’ve said that I’ll pull the trigger for the party. APC should work hard to deliver the party in the state and federal and we are committed to that.
“I’m a high-ranking member of the APC; to suspend me in the party, you will have to go to NEC. So we need to make the APC win in other places. Politics is not all about carrying crowd, because young men who are in politics to make money are making noise. We don’t do that. I’ve been in business for 40 years, and I’ve the track record,” he said.
Kalu also urged Nigerians to join hands to build a strong nation for future generations to come, insisting that nation-building cannot be achieved overnight.
He said, “Our duty is to Nigeria and to work for the country. We have done well. I have been fortunate to be in a few African countries and those institutions. People criticise our judiciary, but we have one of the best and strongest judiciaries in Africa.
“They criticise our journalism, but we have one of the best. In all, we are building a strong democracy. Democracy is not a job you do in a day or hour.”
Popular On Air Personality, Ifedayo Olarinde, popularly known as Daddy Freeze, has revealed the severe personal and financial toll he faced after publicly criticising Nigerian pastors and religious institutions.
According to an interview he granted to Leadership Podcast cited by PUNCH Online on Tuesday, he revealed that his outspoken views on religion came at a steep cost, including the complete loss of his business investments and a total blackout from his lucrative career as a Master of Ceremonies.
“When I came after the Nigerian pastors, at the initial stage, I lost 100% of my business. It got so bad for like two years,” he said. “I used to MC and my rates were high — I used to charge N1.5 million when the dollar was N150.”
The controversial on-air personality explained that he earned as much as $10,000 per MC job, often getting booked every couple of months. “A revenue of at least $60,000 annually from just one aspect of my business, and it went away,” he lamented. “Since 2019 till now, I haven’t had an MC job.”
Freeze recounted how even one confirmed gig fell through due to backlash. “After they paid upfront and the flier went viral, people said they were not going to attend the event,” he said. “The guy had to call and inform me, and when I told him that we had already agreed, he said if it is about the upfront payment, you can keep it.”
Known for his Free the Sheeple movement, Daddy Freeze has consistently challenged the teachings and wealth practices of some Nigerian pastors.
Justice D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one-year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud, following their arrest in a major sting operation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
According to a statement on Tuesday via X by the EFCC, the convicts, identified as LI Dong, Deng Wei Qiang, Huang Bo, Xiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, Zhao Xiao Hui, Lui Hai Rong, Lui Gang, and Du Ji Feng, were part of a syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects apprehended on December 19, 2024.
The EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 charged the nine individuals in February 2025 with one count separate charges of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The charge stated, “That you, LI Dong, Deng Wei Qiang, Huang Bo, Xiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, Zhao Xiao Hui, Lui Hai Rong, Lui Gang and Du Ji Feng, sometime in December, 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: cause to be accessed computer system used for the purpose of destabilising and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015.”
Initially pleading “not guilty,” the defendants reversed their pleas to “guilty” during a court session on June 5, 2025.
Prosecution counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa, urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, a request supported by the defence counsel.
Justice Osiagor subsequently sentenced each defendant to one year in prison, effective from their arrest date of December 10, 2025, and imposed a fine of N1,000,000 on each.
The court further ordered that the convicts be repatriated to their country of origin within seven days of completing their sentences, as directed to the Comptroller General of Immigration.
Additionally, mobile phones, computers, laptops, and routers seized during the EFCC’s “Eagle Flush Operation” were forfeited to the Federal Government.
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A Nigerian pastor, Abel Damina of Abel Damina Ministries International, has said the offerings and tithes collected in churches don’t belong to God, but men.
The controversial man of God stirred discussion with his recent statements regarding the destination of offerings and tithes collected by churches.
In a viral video clip from a Sunday service sermon, Damina asserted that these contributions do not go to heaven.
“No offering goes to heaven. Every offering we collect is used by men.
“All the offerings we give to God go to men,” he explained, claiming that the funds are, in fact, spent.
He also challenged common pastoral rhetoric, specifically those statements used to encourage tithe payments.
According to Damina, preachers propagate the idea that God utilises offerings and tithes exclusively to affect people’s thoughts.
He further alleged that many preachers who require their congregations to tithe do not tithe themselves.
“Those tithe mongers who say the windows of heaven will open when you pay tithes are lying.
“The doors have been open since Jesus rose from the dead.
“They collect from everyone but don’t give to anyone.
“I was there; I know how it works,” Damina stated.
The publisher of Ovation International, Dele Momodu, has claimed that his soul has left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Momodu stated this during an interview on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State’s programme, on Tuesday.
The PDP chieftain bemoaned the division within the PDP, which, according to him, poses a serious challenge to the ruling party.
“My soul has left the PDP; it’s only my body that remains.
“If the PDP were united, it could defeat the APC in 2027.
“But too many forces within and outside are fighting against this.”
His comments come amid a deluge of defections from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Momodu added that, “the ruling party’s strategy is to weaken the opposition.”
[DailyPost]
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike on Tuesday renamed the Abuja International Conference Centre (AICC) after President Bola Tinubu.
While speaking at the commissioning of the edifice by the Tinubu in Abuja, Wike said the ‘Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre’ is a world-class structure requiring constant maintenance.
He noted with the permission of the President that anybody that would use the newly renovated ICC must be made to pay irrespective of his or her status
Details shortly…
[TheNation]
Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal is reportedly negotiating a short-term loan deal to bring midfielder N’Golo Kanté from rivals Al Ittihad for the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States, according to transfer expert David Ornstein.
While no agreement has been finalised, there is growing optimism that a deal can be reached.
“Al Hilal are in talks to sign N’Golo Kanté on a short-term loan deal from fellow Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad for the Club World Cup,” Ornstein reported. “An agreement has not yet been reached but there is optimism that a deal can be done.”
Both clubs are controlled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which acquired Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, Al Nassr, and Al Ahli ahead of the 2023 summer transfer window.
Al Hilal earned their spot in the expanded Club World Cup as the 2021 AFC Champions League winners, making them the only Saudi representative at the tournament.
Kanté, 34, joined Al Ittihad on a free transfer from Chelsea in July 2023 and played a key role in their Saudi Pro League title-winning campaign last season, finishing eight points ahead of Al Hilal.
The French midfielder, who has made 81 appearances for Al Ittihad, previously starred at Chelsea, where he won the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, and FA Cup across seven years and 269 appearances.
Kanté joined Chelsea from Leicester City for £30 million in 2016 after helping the Foxes secure their historic Premier League title.
Al Hilal, now led by former Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi, boasts a squad featuring former European stars such as Rúben Neves, Aleksandar Mitrović, and Kanté’s ex-Chelsea teammate Kalidou Koulibaly.
The club will kick off their Club World Cup campaign against Real Madrid on June 18, followed by matches against Red Bull Salzburg on June 22 and Pachuca on June 26.
[Punch]