Former Arsenal striker, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 33, has been charged with drug smuggling after UK authorities uncovered cannabis worth £600,000 at Stansted Airport.
Emmanuel-Thomas, who currently plays for Greenock Morton after signing with the club earlier this year, was arrested on Wednesday morning at 8 am following the discovery by UK Border Force officials.
The drugs, weighing approximately 60 kilograms, were found in two suitcases that had arrived on a flight from Bangkok on September 2.
Drugs
According to the National Crime Agency (NCA), Emmanuel-Thomas was promptly arrested and charged with importing class B drugs.
The footballer, once praised by Arsène Wenger for his potential, is now in custody and is set to appear at Carlisle Magistrates Court on Thursday to answer the charges.
In addition to Emmanuel-Thomas, two women, aged 28 and 32, were also arrested at Stansted Airport in connection with the incident.
Both women face similar drug importation charges and were granted bail after their initial court appearance at Chelmsford Magistrates Court. They are due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1.
Senior Investigating Officer at the NCA, David Phillips, emphasized the agency’s commitment to tackling drug smuggling operations, noting that they work closely with Border Force to target both couriers and those organizing such crimes.
Phillips said: “The NCA continues to work with partners like Border Force to target those involved in drug smuggling – that includes both the couriers and the organizers.
“We would appeal to anyone who is approached to engage in any kind of smuggling to think very carefully about the likely consequences of their actions, and the potentially life-changing risks they will be taking.”
Emmanuel-Thomas, who began his football career at Arsenal’s youth academy at just eight years old, made his Premier League debut in 2010 in a 2-0 defeat against Chelsea.
However, after struggling to secure a place in the first team, he left Arsenal in 2011, signing with Ipswich Town for £1.1 million.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has set September 23 for judgment in the suit seeking the removal of Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Following the initial judgement date on September 18, the presiding judge in the matter, Justice Inyang Ekwo, was said to have rescheduled the date to September 23.
Thus, the court’s registrar informed journalists about the new date because the judgement was not ready for the earlier date.
The suit was filed by the North Central APC Forum asking the court to declare Ganduje’s chairmanship of the party as a breach of the provisions of Article 7(vii) and (ix) of the party Constitution and the consensus reached at the 2022 National Convention held in Abuja, Nigeria, that the National Chairman of the APC from 2022 to 2026 must be someone from the North Central Geopolitical Zone of the country.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/599/24, the North Central APC Forum, led by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga from Plateau State, had sued Ganduje, saying he is occupying the position of the National Chairman illegally as the position is for the North Central Zone against consensus arrangements at the 2022 national convention of the party.
However, counsel to Ganduje, Ishaka Mohammed Diko (SAN), asked the court to dismiss the suit, maintaining that the election that produced the incumbent chairman of the APC was dully conducted according to the constitution of the party.
The suit joins Ganduje, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.
[DailyTrust]
The Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR, has reacted to a circulating article in the media space accusing the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate of hypocrisy for supporting the gubernatorial candidate of the party in Edo State, Barr Olumide Akpata.
DAILY POST reported that Peter Obi was in Edo recently where he campaigned for the LP candidate.
The governorship election in Edo State comes up on Saturday.
The media team, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Ibrahim Umar, claimed that the Obi’s campaign “for the Labour Party flag bearer in the upcoming Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State has effectively changed the narrative in the state and is leading opponents to the mischief of trying to divert attention from the issues”.
It noted that Obi’s adversaries, instead of focusing on the issues that drive the election, “are trying to change the conversation by attacking Obi for supporting his party candidate that he found suitable for the job”.
“They anchored their criticism on Obi supporting Bar Akpata because his zone is not supposed to produce the next governor, and that Obi is going against his long-standing principles on power rotation.
“But what they failed to understand is that Obi’s stand on zoning remains, but the Labour Party in Edo even under the leadership of an Edo State indigene then did not zone their gubernatorial seat to any area in particular, and delegates that elected Akpata were strictly only Edo people from all the local government areas, including Edo central because they found him suited for their desires for the state.
“Obi does not trade competence and reputation for zoning, and as a Democrat, he will always respect the position of the majority, especially if it’s anchored on the track record of the candidate.
“Akpata, by his age and antecedents, appeals to the youths as having the energy and mentality for the job.
“In all his campaigns in Edo, in his characteristic manner, Obi did not indulge in name-calling but concentrated his messages on issues that are needed to take Edo State and Nigeria forward and found the LP candidate a square peg in a square hole.
“The Labour Party delegates in Edo state found Bar Akpata their best option for the contest, and Obi, as a true democrat in his usual way of non-interference, decided to support their choice respecting the peculiarities of every state.
“POMR knew that the needless attack on Obi was just to distract attention from the issue that is driving the Edo state gubernatorial election, which places the Labour Party flag bearer in a good stand.
“Our advice for those bitter that Obi is campaigning for his party flag bearer is to leave the people of the state to decide who their next governor will be not to focus attention on mundane things.
“Our principal’s wish, as always, is to urge all critical stakeholders involved in the conduct of Saturday’s election, especially the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and security operatives, to ensure a level playing ground in such a way that the world will see that Edo voters and not any other variables prevail in the end,” the statement added.
[DailyPost]
The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has alleged that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, was fully involved in banditry activities in the state.
Governor Dauda Lawal further alleged that Matawalle as governor, kept some bandits in the Zamfara State government house.
Lawal stated this on Wednesday in an interview with Television Continental (TVC). He demanded that Matawalle resign his position as Minister.
Govern Lawal said, “There were a lot of issues in the past with my predecessor. In fact, let me say this is very categorical. If I were him, I would resign and face all the allegations against me. And that would have been more honorable because from all the information we’re getting, my predecessor was fully involved in some of these banditry issues.
“Typical is the fact that there was a permanent secretary when his children were abducted; it was unfortunate that he had to pay ransom through the government house. And it was also very clear based on all the allegations that bandits were being kept at government house. You know, there are so many issues.
The Zamfara State Governor explained that the appointment of the former governor as Minister of State for Defence by President Bola Tinubu was unfair to the people of the state.
He advised Matawalle to resign from his position and clear his name.
“So for me, honestly, if I were him, I would step aside and face this allegation until I clear my name before I come back and continue my job. That should have been more honorable. And how can you imagine all these allegations against him? And he’s still the Minister of Defense. I mean, that is unfair.
“This man could have been honorable, stay aside, face all these allegations, clear his name and then come back and continue to do whatever he wants to do. Whether he wants to remain as minister or he wants to do something else, that would have been more honorable as far as I’m concerned. If I’m in that position, believe me, I’ll put in my resignation letter,” Governor Lawal added.
The national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has absolved himself from an alleged fresh plot to dethrone the Emir of Kano, Mohammad Lamido Sanusi.
The former Kano State governor also denied being involved in any plan to advise Emir Ado Bayero to abdicate the throne.
He dispelled the allegations and insinuations circulated in the media in a statement on Thursday in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant, Chief Oliver Okpala.
The statement reads: “A report circulating in the social media captioned ‘Ganduje leads a fresh plot to dethrone Emir Mohammad Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.’
“The report quoted “sources within the Kofar Kudu Palace, powerful individuals in Kano, allegedly led by All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, are orchestrating the removal of the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor as the 16th Emir of Kano and Chairman of the Kano Council of Chiefs”
Reacting to the controversial publication, the statement maintained that nothing could be true about the claims, insisting that Ganduje had nothing to do with the allegation.
“Dr. Ganduje is no longer the Governor of Kano State, neither is he the Speaker of the state House of Assembly and could not be linked with any fresh plot or plan to dethrone or enthrone anyone as Emir of Kano.
“It should be made categorically clear that Dr. Ganduje has nothing to do with the present enthronement or dethronement of Emir Mohammad Sanusi in Kano state.”
The statement further distances Ganduje from an alleged plan to advise Emir Ado Bayero to abdicate the throne.
“It is laughable that Dr. Ganduje who has left office as Governor for some years now would be accused of masterminding a fresh plot to remove or enthrone an Emir.
“According to the publication Ganduje is not only alleged to be plotting to remove Emir Sanusi, they said he is also plotting to advise Alhaji Ado Bayero to abdicate his throne as Emir of Kano for peace to reign. This is, to say the least, preposterous and absurd.
“It must be made clear that Dr. Ganduje has led and Governed Kano state creditably and since moved on, focusing on other more important national issues, as he leads Nigeria’s governing party, the APC.
“Ganduje has no further hand in the Kano Emirship issue as he’s very busy with leading the APC
“He’s satisfied with the enormous contributions he made in terms of massive dividends of democracy, infrastructural developments and the good governance he provided while he held sway as Governor of Kano state.
“Those who are behind this sinister move to malign the APC National Chairman know what their sponsors are planning and they should leave the very busy Ganduje out of it.
“By going further to allege that he wants to use his influence in the Presidency to achieve the so-called enthronement and dethronement, reveal the clandestine and dangerous motive of the sponsors of this act to create bad blood between Dr. Ganduje and Aso Rock.
“Let me reiterate here that Dr. Ganduje has very great respect for the Presidency and the national leader of the party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
“The relationship between both parties have been very cordial and no amount of blackmail can destroy the solidity of the partnership.
“The sponsors of this unsavory publication should know that the people of Kano State love and cherish Dr. Ganduje for his untrammeled services to the people when he served as Governor.
[TheNation]
Nigerian striker Victor Olatunji made a remarkable UEFA Champions League debut, contributing both a goal and an assist in Sparta Prague’s commanding 3-0 victory over Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday.
Olatunji doubled Sparta Prague’s lead in the 42nd minute, finding the back of the net before assisting Qazim Laçi in the 58th minute for the team’s third goal.
Olatunji’s impressive debut earns him a spot among the select group of African players to have scored and assisted in their first Champions League appearance.
According to a football stats platform, Opta Joe, Olatunji is the third African player, and the first Nigerian, to score and assist on his UEFA Champions League debut, joining Daniel Cousin (Rangers vs Lyon, 2007) and Serge Aurier (PSG vs Shakhtar Donetsk, 2015) in this elite group.
To celebrate his goal, Olatunji lifted his jersey to reveal an undershirt with the inscription, “I am a Chosen, who are you?”—a nod to a recent viral trend that has sparked discussions on social media.
The trend gained traction after videos of testimonies shared by members of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries went viral.
The testimonies led to widespread online engagement, with many social media users parodying them.
However, the leadership of the church has refuted claims that the viral videos represent the true essence of their testimonies, stating that some of them have been doctored and taken out of context to mock their faith.
They clarified that the testimonies occurred in dreams and emphasised that people should be cautious of misleading content online.
[Punch]
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York this year.
In a statement on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to the president, Tinubu has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the meeting.
More to follow…
[TheCable]
Canada has announced its decision to reduce the issuance of international student permits for the upcoming year.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government also announced stricter regulations on foreign workers to decrease the influx of temporary residents within the nation.
Naija News understands that this decision follows a series of recent measures introduced to manage the unprecedented surge in immigration levels, which resulted in Canada’s population surpassing 41 million earlier in the year.
The Canadian government attributed the rapid increase in immigration to the strain it places on the housing sector, job market, and social services.
“It is a privilege to come to Canada. It is not a right,” Immigration Minister Marc Miller told a news conference on Wednesday.
In the year 2025, the Canadian capital intends to allocate 437,000 study permits to international students, a decrease from the current year’s figure of 485,000 and a significant reduction from the over 500,000 issued in 2023.
Furthermore, the government is implementing new restrictions on work permits for the spouses of certain international students and foreign workers. Additionally, there will be an increase in the scrutiny of applications for travel visas to address a rise in fraudulent or rejected asylum claims.
It has been announced that the number of temporary residents will be capped at five percent of the population, a reduction from the current figure of 6.8 per cent as of April.
The Nigeria Customs Service at Kirikiri Lighter Terminal reported the interception of 51.25 kilograms of cannabis indica, valued at N256 million, in September.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Joy Edeldouk, disclosed this while handing over the seized hard drugs to officers of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the command in Apapa, Lagos.
Edeldouk added that the act violates the provision of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, Section 55 sub-section 1C and 1F.
She maintained that the interception was a testament to the command’s continued dedication and commitment to safeguarding the nation’s borders from the importation of illicit and harmful substances.
“In line with the CGC’s policy thrust of collaboration, consolidation, and innovation, on Wednesday 11th of September, our vigilant officers, working in conjunction with the NDLEA, intercepted a consignment of cannabis indica weighing 51.25kg valued at N256m”, Edeldouk said.
According to her, the negative impact of drugs, such as cannabis indica, on individuals, families, and society at large ranges from the destruction of lives to an increase in crime, fueling violence, among others.
Edeldouk maintained that by keeping these dangerous substances out of the communities, “we are preventing untold harm and helping secure a safer future for our citizens, particularly our youths who are most vulnerable to the allure of these harmful substances,”
The KLT Customs boss, however, added that the seized drugs, alongside the suspects, were handed over to officers of the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution.
She vowed to ensure that the suspects face the full wrath of the law, adding that the command remains committed to dealing with any other person caught in the same crime.
Edeldouk warned all unscrupulous importers who might be contemplating testing the resolve of the Nigeria Customs Service to desist from that.
She reiterated that the service is unwavering in its duty to protect the integrity of the borders and would not hesitate to bring those involved in illegal importation to justice.
She mentioned that the NCS, in collaboration with other agencies, would continue to intensify its efforts to rid the country of dangerous contraband.
She promised legitimate traders that the service remained committed to ensuring that the facilitation of legitimate trade is unhindered, “but for those seeking to engage in illegal activities, our message is simple, there is no room for criminality in NCS anyone who dares to breach the law of the country would be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law,”
Matawalle Stole Over ₦70 Billion From Zamfara State, We Need It To Work – Gov Lawal Cries Out
AFOLABI
The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has alleged that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle stole over ₦70 billion from the state government as governor.
Governor Lawal decried that despite evidence made available to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), not much has been done by the commission to recover the loot.
In an interview with TVC, on Wednesday, Lawal noted that he was surprised that security agencies cleared the former governor of the state to be minister despite allegations against him.
He disclosed this while reacting to a question on why EFCC and security agencies have not taken action on the allegations of banditry involvement and looting of Zamfara’s treasury by Matawalle.
Lawal said, “In May last year, 2023, there was this allegation of misappropriating over ₦70 billion. And when we took over, we realized that that ₦70 billion was a child’s play compared to what we have. And all these information are before the EFCC. And I wonder how this guy was cleared by the security operatives before he’s confirmed as a minister.”
He added that Matawalle, as a father of 41 children, owes his children a duty of keeping a good legacy. He challenged him to clear his name.
“And the same thing I will say, if I were him, I will still face the EFCC to say that, look, let me clear my name. You know, this is a father of 41 children. For goodness sake, what kind of legacy is he going to leave for his children when you have been accused of misappropriating this amount of money? So he should have come out clean, face the EFCC, clear his name, and then come back and continue to do whatever he wants to do.
“Honestly, that would have been more honorable. But look at it, we are still waiting to hear from the EFCC. The case has been ongoing for over a year now. And this is people’s money. We need this money in Zamfara with all the challenges we are facing, with financial constraints. At least let’s have some of this money back into Zamfara so that we can work for the people of Zamfara State,” Governor Lawal stated.
More...
Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, the running mate of the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, stated that neither he nor the LP is surprised by the current economic turmoil in Nigeria, as they had cautioned citizens against allowing the All Progressives Congress (APC) to take power in 2023.
The Vice Presidential candidate was quoted to have said this at the inaugural meeting of the LP Interim National Caretaker Committee, in Abuja.
This was contained in a statement issued by the committee, in Abuja, yesterday.
Baba-Ahmed who represented Peter Obi, at the event, said the Labour Party is ready to repeat and surpass the feat of 2023 in 2027 by producing a majority in the National Assembly and winning the presidential seat in 2027.
He said, “We didn’t have a crisis. We managed a transition which was a bit bumpy and that was it. I tell you, no other political party of our size could do that in the time and manner that we did.
“We are the political party who went all the way to the Supreme Court claiming our 10 million votes. They were only able to give us 6 million votes.
“So we are a force to contend with in Africa. What we’ve done has never been done before. When PDP came they had the military. We had nothing.
“We started, it was organic, It was us. It was Nigerian people. It was obedients, and we defeated two existing political parties to the best of us of our submission in the courts.
“What is more, we are buoyed by the fact that what we warned Nigerians of the failure of APC, the dangers of APC is happening. They are failing more on the Nigerian economy.
“They are destroying the security of Nigeria. Every day in the news you report it, our citizens are abducted. They are killed in hundreds of villages.
“We warned Nigerians this was going to happen. Desperate people took the victory of the Labour Party. What did they do with it?
“Our currency value again destroyed. Security destroyed. Hunger in the land. Fuel removal of subsidies managed very very poorly, aggravated corruption continued lies and lies and lies”
“The former Federal lawmaker also clarified the leadership tussle in the party stressing that no governor removed Julius Abure, but the constitution of the party removed him because his tenure elapsed. He called on Abure and his team to sheath their swords and join hands with the Caretaker Committee to rebuild the party.
“Listen, my friend, no governor unseated, Abure, the constitution on unseated him, Abure time elapsed. Nobody unseated. As of today, Abure is our good friend and a loyal member.
“We want him back in the fold, we have roles for him to play. Likewise, all members of the former NEC and NWC, are welcome to come and join us. And continue to build the Labour Party. They are welcome”
Earlier, Chairman of the Labour Party National Caretaker Committee, Senator Nenadi Usman reassured members of the party of her Committee’s determination to rescue the party from the current challenges as well as restore and rebuild it to provide a veritable alternative platform for Nigerians.
She appealed to party members and supporters to make the necessary sacrifices for the party to take its pride of place in the political process.
He specifically called for sacrifice from members of the Caretaker Committee urging them to carry out their assignment with integrity in the interest of the party and the nation at large.
She promised the readiness of the Committee to lead the party to a path of reconciliation within the short time of its assignment.
Usman said, “My brothers and sisters, we are on a rescue mission, not just for the Labour Party, but I tell you for our dear nation Nigeria.
“The interest this committee has generated extends beyond party lines. The number of telephone calls I have received not just from Labour Party members, but people from other political parties who told me that if we get this thing right, we will walk together. So we have a huge task.
“Our party by the grace of Almighty God will become a platform for all disenfranchised and unhappy Nigerians. For people who are not happy with the way things are going, we are going to be the platform for them by the grace of God. Therefore, we must view this significant national assignment”
Earlier, deputy governor of Abia State Ikechukwu Emetu who represented Governor Alex Otti charged Committee Members to work for the growth of the Labour Party and shun acts that can be detrimental to the interest of the party.
Secretary of Committee, Senator Darlington Nwokocha said the committee works hard within its time frame to produce elected Ward, LGA, States and National Officers for the party.
He said, “We have started already, it is something we are working hard to achieve. The organs of the party at all levels will come on board soon, depending on the elasticity of what we are doing, but we want to do a good job, we will do the proper sensitization, advocacy, consultation, consensus building and so many other legitimate things from the grassroots to the top, to making sure that the proper people are being put in place of leadership, elected from the ward to local government, to states and the national convention.
That the Committee has hit the ground running by swearing Committee Members and setting up essential subcommittees to drive its affairs and mandate.
Former Nigerian international, Taribo West believes that Augustine Eguavoen always fails with the Super Eagles when it matters the most because he lacks “grace.”
Taribo West argued that Eguavoen lacks a certain grace that is essential for achieving success with the Super Eagles despite possessing strong coaching techniques.
Eguavoen, who also serves as the Nigeria Football Federation Technical Director, took charge of the senior men’s national team after the deal with the proposed German coach, Bruno Labbadia, fell through. This marks Eguavoen’s fourth stint in leading the team.
During his previous coaching stints, Eguavoen achieved a third-place finish at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations and led the team to win all three group games at the 2021 AFCON, but were eliminated in the round of 16 by Tunisia with a lone goal.
Despite his efforts, Eguavoen’s tenure has seen some near misses, such as narrowly failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and facing challenges in major tournaments.
Taribo West acknowledged Eguavoen’s tactical prowess in bringing out the best in the players but noted that consistent results have been elusive.
“Anytime Eguavoen leads the team, he brings a certain touch, taking the team back to those glorious days”, Taribo West, who is the founder of the Shelter in The Storm Miracle Ministry, said on Brila FM’s ‘No Holds Barred with Ifeanyi Udeze.
“In major tournaments, where you expect them to cross the line, something always happens. What Eguavoen is lacking is only grace.
“The team will play well, but the results won’t favour them.”
He added, “I don’t see why we go for foreign coaches when we can invest more in our local coaches.”
The Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouk Bahago, has stated that the economic challenges currently faced by Nigerians were inherited from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Emir made these remarks during a sensitisation event on federal government intervention programmes, organized by the Office of the Minister of Information and National Orientation in Minna, Niger State.
Represented by Alhaji Maikudi Achaza, the Hadinin Minna, the Emir praised President Bola Tinubu for his efforts in addressing the issues caused by past corruption. He pointed out that many citizens remain unaware of Tinubu’s initiatives due to inadequate communication, particularly in local languages.
Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar also expressed concern about the worsening hardships faced by Nigerians. He urged the Tinubu administration to take urgent action to alleviate the suffering of the people. During a courtesy visit from the Campaign for Democracy and Human Rights, a Minna-based civil society group, Abdulsalami criticized the distribution of palliatives, stating they are not an effective solution to the rising cost of living.
He emphasized that leaders need to connect with ordinary citizens and understand their struggles, noting that high transportation costs, increased fuel prices, rising school fees, and lack of financial resources are making life difficult for many.
Abdulsalami proposed that the government should sell essential food items at reduced prices to help citizens cope with inflation, rather than relying solely on palliatives. He also urged Nigerians to remain peaceful ahead of the planned #EndBadGovernance protests on October 1, 2024, and advised the government not to take citizens for granted.
The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, represented by Asabe Sule Garba, emphasized that the event aimed to raise awareness about the federal government’s efforts to improve the lives of citizens. He reiterated President Tinubu’s commitment to accountability and transparency and called for public support.
Nollywood actress Elma Godwin has joyfully announced the arrival of her second child with her husband.
The excited mother took to her Instagram page to share the delightful news with fans and colleagues, posting adorable photos of herself and the newborn.
In the heartwarming post, Elma introduced her baby girl, Aninoritse Bridget-Chimereya Ludart, born on September 13, 2024.
What captivated many was the striking similarity between mother and daughter, with the little one sporting a distinctive patch of white hair on her forehead, just like Elma.
The actress referred to her newborn as her “twin,” expressing her gratitude to God for the blessing.
She wrote:
“I gave birth to my twin!! Aninoritse Bridget-Chimereya Ludart arrived on the 13th of September 2024. We @ludart_solutions and @ariludart are so over joyed and grateful to God.”
Fans and fellow celebrities quickly flooded the post with congratulatory messages, celebrating the joyful occasion with the star.