Former Nigeria forward Finidi George will occupy the chief’s corner in the dugout when the Super Eagles confront West African arch-rivals Ghana in an international friendly in Marrakech on Friday.
The 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and Real Betis (Spain) winger, who made a scoring debut in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Lagos on 27th July 1991, has been appointed by the NFF to hold the reins in the meantime as a group of 22 players take on Ghana and Mali in this month’s international window.
On his debut in 1991, George, who also featured for Calabar Rovers and Sharks FC in the domestic scene before heading to Europe, scored one and made four assists for legendary ‘goalsfather’ Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory), and also assisted the latter to score Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA on 19th June 1994.
Actually, George scored the goal that took Nigeria to her first FIFA World Cup finals, when he put Nigeria ahead against hosts Algeria in a crucial qualifier in Algiers on 8th October 1993. The match eventually ended 1-1 and earned Nigeria a ticket to the finals in America.
On Friday, Finidi George, from a family of football stars (elder brother Alari and younger brother Igeniwari of blessed memory were established players), will bellow instructions from the touchline, 21 months after he began to understudy Portuguese José Santos Peseiro, who led the Super Eagles to runner-up position at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire earlier in the year.
As at Tuesday lunchtime, 12 of the 22 players expected had arrived in Morocco’s fourth-largest city, with defenders Gabriel Osho and Tyronne Ebuehi, and forwards Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi having been knocked out by injury.
At the team’s Adam Park Hotel in Marrakech are goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Olorunleke Ojo, defenders Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Jamilu Collins, Bruno Onyemaechi and Benjamin Tanimo, midfielders Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika and Alhassan Yusuf, and forwards Moses Simon, Nathan Tella, Cyriel Dessers, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Sadiq Umar and Ademola Lookman.
Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, defender Chidozie Awaziem, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Wilfred Ndidi, and forward Kelechi Iheanacho were being expected in Marrakech by Tuesday. Only Turkey-based defender Bright Osayi-Samuel is being expected on Wednesday.
The African vice champions will also take on the Les Aigles of Mali at the same Grand Stade de Marrakech on Tuesday, 26th March.
Court Grants N300,000 Bail To Phone Repairer Accused Of Flogging Child With Belt & Electric Wire
AFOLABIThe police in Lagos State on Tuesday arraigned a 37-year-old phone repairer, Abdulhafiz Adewale, for allegedly flogging his four-year-old child with a belt and an electric wire.
The defendant, who resides at 4, Alhaji St., Ladega, Ikorodu, Lagos State, is charged with assault and causing grievous harm.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, ASP Raji Akeem, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on February 11 at his residence.
Akeem said the defendant’s neighbour, Mr Babatunde Olowonisaye, brought the child to a police station.
Akeem said that the complainant saw the boy crying, with bruises all over his body, and asked what was the problem.
The prosecutor said that the boy told the complainant that his father flogged him with a belt and an electric wire. The alleged offences, he said, contravened Sections 172 and 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum. Osunsanmi adjourned the case until April 17 for mention.
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has listed his losses in the cause of his agitation for Biafra.
Speaking on Tuesday, he said his parents were sacrificed as part of efforts to liberate the Southeast from Nigeria.
To this end, Kanu blamed the insecurity in the Southeast on some people in government and not himself.
Speaking during his appearance at the Abuja Federal High Court, Kanu said some people in government are sponsoring the bloodbath in the Southeast.
According to the Biafra agitator, those behind the insecurity in the Southeast are not IPOB members and should be dealt with for the crime they are committing.
Kanu said: “Some People In government are making money from the insecurity happening in the Southeast. They’re sponsoring the bloodbath. Anyone responsible for the insecurity and killing in the Southeast must be dealt with. You can’t be Killing our people and say you’re fighting for Biafra. I sacrificed my parents, so why would I want to kill our people?
“Anybody committing a crime cannot go free. I swear it. Anybody committing a crime in the East cannot go free. They are doing it because I am in the DSS (custody).
“Anybody involved in any form of violence in the South East in the name of IPOB is a goner and they know it. Let me come out of this mess, only two minutes there will be peace in the East.”
Media
VIDEO: Detained IPOB Leader Nnamdi Kanu speaking today at the FHC Abuja, I like his stand on criminals/terrorists threatening the peace of South East region of Nigeria. Mazi doesn’t support violence/criminality under any disguise pic.twitter.com/X8ulXva6rI
— UNCLE DEJI™️ (@DejiAdesogan) March 19, 2024
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has advised the Nigerians to educate themselves and their children on the activities of fraudsters and scammers, as a means of protecting their money from such criminals.
peaking yesterday in Abuja in a message at the 2024 Global Money Week (GMW) celebration, Deputy Governor in charge of Financial System Stability (FSS), Mr. Philip Ikeazor said that children should be educated on how criminals dupe unsuspecting members of the public of their hard-earned money and that people should take every necessary step to protect their money from fraudsters.
ccording to him, “The theme for this year’s edition ‘Protect your Money, Secure your Future’, captures the importance of learning, from an early age, to always think about your future when making financial decisions and plan accordingly.
“It emphasizes the importance of not only making money, but understanding frauds and scams, saving, and investing for your future. Equipped with such skills at this young age will enable you achieve financial independence and a financially secure future.
“Truth be told, having an income, and making a substantial amount of money does not guarantee financial security. What is important is your ability to develop and hone skills and attitudes to manage your financial resources to have a secure future.
“In addition to this, it is vital to know the types of frauds and scams, how to respond to scammers, and various ways to protect your money online and offline.
“This also implies knowing how to report to a bank if you do have an encounter with scammers or fraudsters. In essence, the financial decisions you make today and the education you acquire today have a huge impact on your future.
“Therefore, when you learn these skills at a young age and with consistent practice, you will have a brighter future. So, be smart about your money while you are still young; save, budget and become educated.
Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested a 22-year-old man, Rukevwe George, in military camouflage for alleged possession of arms.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Funsho Adegboye, who paraded the suspect before newsmen in Benin City on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, said the onslaught against crime and criminality in the state has led to tremendous achievements, including recovery arms and ammunition of different caliber.
According to the Adegboye, the suspect was arrested based on intelligence information in Benin City, where one pump action, a double barrel gun and military camouflage were recovered from him.
The suspect on interrogation confessed that the guns belong to his master, Ralph, who is now at large.
“Our operatives have been on the trail of the suspect and the long arms of the law will soon catch up with him,” the commissioner stated.
“He is yet to give a satisfactory explanation as to what he does in military camouflage.
”But we know that this is the kind of people that will disguise himself as a military personnel and use it to commit some unimaginable crimes under whatever guise.”
The CP while encouraging members of the public to continue to assist the security agencies in the State by giving actionable and accurate information which will be beneficial to all and sundry as fighting against crime and criminality in the state is concern.
Nigerian sprint icon, Tobi Amusan has won the women’s 100m hurdles Round 1 heat at the 13th Africa Games in Ghana.
Amusan won the heat with a time of 13.03s.
By virtue of the victory, Amusan secured a spot in the semis of the women’s 100m hurdles at the ongoing Africa Games.
Meanwhile, Team Nigeria lost the men’s and women’s 100m gold to Cameroon and Gambia respectively, settling for silver and bronze in the events on Tuesday.
Usheoritse Itsekiri returned at a time of 10.23secs to lose the men’s 100m surprisingly to Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme who finished at 10.14secs while Namibia’s Hainuca Gilbert took the bronze with a time of 10.25secs.
Nigeria’s other entrant in the men’s 100m, Emmanuel Ekanem returned at a time of 10.42secs to finish a distant fourth.
In the Africa Games women’s 100m, Olayinka Olajide could only muster a third place finish to win bronze with a time of 11.55secs behind Miriam Bittaye of Gambia who won the gold with 11.36secs and Alyse Miccoy of Liberia whose 11.49secs gave her the silver medal.
You Love Drama But Will Still Lose Elections In 2027 - Bashir Ahmed Slams Peter Obi Over Breaking Of Ramadan Fast
AFOLABIFormer Presidential aide, Bashir Ahmed has taken a swipe at the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, after a video surfaced online of him joining Muslims to break their Ramadan fast.
In the viral video, Obi was spotted sitting at the mosque to have Iftar.
While describing the action, the former Anambra governor, wrote on his X account in a series of tweets that it was an opportunity for him “to perform a sacred duty in line with the Ramadan season.”
“I had the honour of travelling to Lafia in Nasarawa state, where I had the privilege of meeting with the Emir of Lafia, Honorable Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad JSC Rtd, a very revered, leader and also extended my courtesy to Governor Abdullahi Sule.”
“This visit was more than a mere formality, it was a genuine expression of my deep respect and unwavering solidarity with the community,” Obi wrote.
Reacting to the gesture on X, Ahmad said Obi was engaging in acting many scripts, questioning why he did not join Muslims to break Ramadan fast when he was governor for eight years in Anambra.
According to Ahmad, the former governor travelled to Lafia, the Nasarawa capital, to break fast when he could have done it in his home state, criticizing him that he has started paying politics because of the 2027 general elections.
The former presidential aide wrote, “Peter Obi loves dramas; he would have to act in many scripts from now to 2027 and still end up producing an unsellable movie in the ballot boxes. I just watched his latest hit, his visit to a mosque in Nyaya where he joined Muslims during their breaking of the Ramadan fast.”
“For eight years as a governor, Obi didn’t deem it fit to break fast with Muslims in Anambra even years after leaving office. 2027 politics is in the offing,” he added.
Meanwhile, Obi’s action has continued to generate mixed reactions among Nigerians as some people commended him for displaying love and tolerance, while some labelled the action as an eye service.
A Nigerian nurse based in the United Kingdom by name Wemimo has taken to social media to lament over her salary.
She revealed that her salary is not enough to sustain her.
Wemimo revealed that she earns £2,767 (equivalent to approximately N5.3 million) monthly but finds it difficult to sustain her life with that.
She lamented that after taxes and other various deductions, she's left with just £1,973 (equivalent to approximately N3.8 million).
She pointed out the prevalent misconception among some husbands that their wives’ nursing salaries suffice for the family’s needs.
In her words;
“It’s high time men in the diaspora whose wives are Nurses step up and start helping in the family. I don’t think I have seen any family surviving on one income in the UK.”
Netizens Reactions:
@Figer Walata said; “A lot of people make more money than nurses. Business analysts.”
@Jennifer Chino said; “Nursing career is just name. Most HCA receive more then the nurses.”
@Mrs K said; “I am a team leader in a care home and I bring home £2500 after tax and other deductions….all nurses should be considering care homes not NHS.”
@nelsongarande said; “I am in Africa, December alone my hustle made me in excess of US$7 000 and I finished my house, yet we still want to find a way to come to the UK, crazy.”
See below;
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@justdoingmii It's high time men in diaspora whose wives are Nurses step up and start helping in the family. I don't think I have seen any family surviving on one income in the UK. #nursesoftiktok #nursesalary #nhsagendaforchange #africanmenindiaspora #nigwriannursesintheuk #nurseswages #getsidehustle #nursingjobisnoteasy #carehomenursesinuk #wardnurselife #nigeriansintheuk???????????????? ♬ original sound - thatmumof5
Omoyele Sowore recounts the touching reunion with his daughter, Ayomide "Mamike" Sowore.
According to his statement. "Permit me to share with you what I found out about my daughter, Ayomide “Mamike” Sowore, when I returned home to her after five years. This might blow your mind!"
Media
Nigerian comedian and public affairs commentator Atunyota Akpobome aka Alibaba has revealed that some states should be classified as local government areas.
He made this known when he featured as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday.
He said some of the 36 states of the Federation were created by the military to appease some commanders who were later deployed to the states as administrators.
Alibaba said subregionals unable to generate enough revenue to sustain their operations but depend solely on monthly allocations from the Federal Government should be local government areas.
At the country’s independence from Britain in 1960, Nigeria had three regions — Northern, Western, and Eastern — which would later become four with the creation of the Mid-Western region two years later. But between 1967 to 1996, the military created 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, from what existed. 774 local government areas exits within the 36 states.
Alibaba said, “Some states were created just to appease some military officers. ‘Oh, this guy is a senior military officer, he comes from this area, we can’t give him a state now, let’s just create a state and take care of those people’.
“Or the issue of: We want to create four states in the north, let’s just balance it with some states in the south so that it will look deliberate because some of the states that were created needed to be local governments.
“Up till now, we have states that if they do not get federal allocations for three months, there will be problem in the state. Meanwhile, those same states have enough natural resources.”
The social commentator said Nigeria’s multifarious challenges started when the federal military government asked the regionals and the states to bring all their monies to the national purse and then began to give them whatever they think they should get through the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
He also faulted the 1999 Constitution bequeathed to the country by the military regime of ex-Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), during the country’s transition from military rule to democratic governance in May 1999.
Alibaba said, “Our constitution is the biggest problem we hve now; it’s an anomaly, it’s not actually a constitution; it’s something that some people drafted, got some lawyers to knock it together because the constitution doesn’t speak to the growth and national development of our country.
“The truth is if you want this country to grow, let each state generate its own revenue. The Federal Government can assist them if they want to but the funds and revenue that comes from certain states should not be shared to every other person.”
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Nollywood producer and actor, Chief Okechukwu Nnadi, popularly known as Andy Best is dead.
Chief Nnadi hails from Umunkwo Village in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo state and was the CEO of Andy Best Production, a foremost movie production firm in Nigeria.
Andy Best produced so many Nollywood movies like The Lion of Africa, White Poison, My Father’s Cup and others.
The remains of the foremost producer have been deposited at the Aladinma Mortuary, in Owerri
Eleven persons have been killed while 42 others sustained varying injuries as a bus conveying students from a top Kenyan university collided with a truck on a busy highway after skidding in heavy rain.
The accident occurred at 5:50 pm on Monday, March 18, at Maungu, 360 kilometres from the capital Nairobi, when the students from Kenyatta University were travelling to the coastal town of Mombasa.
Ten people from the Kenyan varsity died on impact and another died later in hospital, police said, adding that 42 people were seriously injured.
“The driver of (the) university bus was overtaking a fleet of motor vehicles and as it was raining heavily, the bus skidded to the right side of the road,” the police report said.
This “prompted the driver of the truck to avoid head on collision, hence hitting the left side of the university bus,” it added.
The bus was carrying 58 people on an academic trip.
The injured were taken to a hospital in the nearby town of Voi, the Kenyan Red Cross said on X, formerly Twitter.
Kenyatta University said on Tuesday it was “deeply saddened” by the accident and had set up a help desk at the main campus to provide “assistance during this challenging time”.
“Some of the injured students are in the process of assessment for possible evacuation to Nairobi,” it said.
Controversial Islamic scholar, Ahmad Gumi has made an allegation against security agencies.
He claimed that security agents know the hideouts of bandits.
Gumi said security agents who accompanied him during negotiations knew the hideouts of the bandits in the Northern part of the country.
Speaking with Nigeria Info FM, on security agencies not knowing the hideout of bandits, the cleric said: “I don’t think they (security agents) are truthful with you. When I go, I go with them; I don’t go alone.”
On the identities of the bandits, Gumi said they are mainly herdsmen, who are largely Nigerians with few foreigners.
The cleric also emphasized the necessity of negotiation with the perpetrators behind the recent abduction of approximately 287 students from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in the Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
He proposed that negotiation could lead to a safe return of the captives without necessarily involving financial transactions, hinting at potential prisoner swaps.
Gumi portrayed the bandits as marginalized citizens deprived of basic social services like education, infrastructure, and water.
The suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Prof Cyril Ndifon has made a claim against the lawyer representing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
Ndifon claimed that ICPC lawyer is not registered to practice in Nigeria.
He told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that this contravened Section 2 of the Legal Practitioners Act which states that a practicing lawyer’s name must be contained on the roll of legal practitioners in the country.
Recall that the professor is currently standing trial on amended four counts of alleged sexual harassment and gratification.
Also joined in the matter is his lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu, who was alleged to have harassed ICPC’s star witness, urging her to shun the ICPC’s invitation.
Dr. Osuobeni Akponimisingha has been appearing in court for the ICPC alongside Joshua Alobo.
In a motion on notice filed on behalf of the suspended Dean by their lawyer, Joe Agi, they urged the court to acquit them of the sexual harassment and cybercrime charges filed against them by the ICPC.
The motion on notice partly read, “The amended charge in this case is incompetent and preferred by a person whose name is not on the roll of legal practitioners in Nigeria under Section 2 of the Legal Practitioners Act and thus robbing this court of its jurisdiction.
“The amended charge was preferred by one Dr Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, a person whose name is not on the roll of legal practitioners in Nigeria under Section 2 of the Legal Practitioners Act.”
The defendants also urged the court to refer the two prosecution counsel to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
“We hereby seek an order of court striking out the amended charge, in this case, same being incompetent and preferred by a person whose name is not on the roll of legal practitioners in Nigeria under Section 2 of the Legal Practitioners Act and thus robbing this court of its jurisdiction.
“An order of court striking out all the appearance of Joshua E. Alobo from the prosecution counsel for appearing as a private legal practitioner in a criminal case without the fiat of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation.
“An order of court referring both Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha and Joshua E. Alobo to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for answering and caused to printed on their processes the title ‘Dr.’ ‘Professor’ when they do not have the academic qualifications to show for the titles thereby misrepresenting themselves to the public and bringing legal profession to ridicule and shame.”