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Former England and  Manchester United midfielder David Beckham is touted to make a sensational return to the Premier League club in an ambassador role if Sheikh Jassim buys the club from the Glazers, according to talkSPORT.

There are speculations the banker is vying with Sir Jim Ratcliffe to buy the Red Devils.

Beckham spent 11 years in the United first-team from 1992 to 2003, before he was sold to Real Madrid.

 

However, his relationship with Qatar dates back to 2013, when he signed a short-term contract with QSI-owned Paris Saint-Germain.

 

The 48-year-old was also a guest at Formula 1’s Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday night and had an ambassadorial role at the 2022 World Cup in the Gulf state.

[Newsguru]

President Bola Tinubu on Monday, October 9, approved the appointment of Fela Durotoye and four others to serve in the office of the president under the media and publicity directorate.

Here are ten things to know about Fela Durotoye:

1. He was born in Ibadan, Oyo State on 12 May 1971.

2. Fela Durotoye was born to Layiwola and Adeline Durotoye, both professors at the University of Ibadan.

3. He was the Nigerian presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria party (ANN) for the 2019 presidential elections.

 

4. He is an alumnus of the John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Education program at Harvard University.

5. Durotoye proceeded to earn his Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science with Economics, as well as a master’s degree in Business Administration (M.B.A) at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

6. In 2015, Fela completed the executive seminar program on strategy, innovation, and governance at the Lagos Business School.

7. Fela Durotoye was a financial analyst at Ventures & Trusts Limited in 1992.

8. Fela is married to Tara Fela-Durotoye, a Nigerian make-up artist, lawyer, and CEO of House of Tara.

9. In December 2009, Fela Durotoye championed the urban renewal project “Mushin Makeover”. The project involved Banky W, Alibaba, Kate Henshaw, Omoni Oboli, Teju Babyface, Sound Sultan, TY Bello, Dj Jimmy Jatt, Omawumi, Denrele, Dele Momodu, Tosin Bucknor, Stella Damasus, Tee A, Segun Dangote, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu amongst others, painting and calling for donations of paints for the project.

10. He is the new Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Values & Social Justice.

 
[Nation]

THREE England-based players, Taiwo Awoniyi, Ola Aina and Jamilu Collins, have all withdrawn from the Super Eagles squad for the friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in Portugal, the Nigerian national team confirmed today.

The Super Eagles face Saudi Arabia on Friday and Mozambique next Monday, with both matches to be held in Portimao, Portugal.

Nottingham Forest pair Awoniyi and Aina have been replaced with Tyrone Ebuehi and Sadiq Umar respectively, while Chidozie Awaziem comes in for Cardiff City defender Collins.

Both striker Awoniyi and defender Aina missed recent Premier League fixtures for Forest with injuries.

Awoniyi missed Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace with a knock while Aina was not in the squad for the 1-1 draw with Brentford on October 1 and Saturday’s clash.

On his part, left-back Collins, who has made nine appearances in the Championship this season after recovering from a long-term injury, played all 90 minutes on Saturday as Cardiff drew 1-1 with Watford.

The Super Eagles players are expected to arrive in Faro, Portugal from tomorrow for the games.

The Nigeria Football Federation says the friendlies have been arranged as tune-up games for the Super Eagles ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The three-time African champions begin the race by hosting Lesotho in Uyo on November 17 before travelling away to play Zimbabwe four days later.

[NaijaNews]

The Enugu State House of Assembly has approved a N170 billion loan facility to the administration of Governor Peter Mbah.

 

Naija News understands that the loan facility is used to fund capital projects, among others, in the state.

On Monday, the House unanimously approved the request, saying that it would enable the government to deliver on its mandate, especially in providing critical infrastructure needed to attract investments to the state.

The lawmakers also said it was a good move because the loan would run its entire course in the governor’s first tenure.

According to SaharaReporters, a draft of the loan request shows that N100 billion is for a bank guarantee line while N10 billion is for a term loan, N10 billion is for an overdraft facility, and N50 billion for a credit facility.

In a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, and addressed to the Enugu State  Speaker, Hon Uchenna Ugwu, it was disclosed that the request followed approval from the Enugu State Executive Council of the offer of N100 billion bank guarantee line, N10 billion term loan and N10 billion overdraft facility from Fidelity Bank and N50 billion credit facility from Globus Bank.

The N100 billion bank facility will guarantee payment for contracts issued to approved contractors.

The loan will be repaid via Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) on consolidated Enugu State IGR accounts, which would be domiciled in Fidelity Bank and domiciliation of JAAC/FAAC/Infrastructure Support.

The N10 billion term loan is on a tenure of 48 months and a monthly repayment via ISPO on consolidated Enugu State IGR accounts, which will be domiciled in Fidelity Bank and domiciliation of JAAC/FAAC/Infrastructure Support. It will be used for infrastructural development.

The N10 billion overdraft facility will be used for prompt payment of recurrent expenditures such as salaries and has a tenure of 12 months with monthly clean up and repayment via ISPO on consolidated Enugu State IGR accounts, which will be domiciled in Fidelity Bank and domiciliation of JAAC/FAAC/Infrastructure Support.

The N50 billion credit facility is for the refinancing of the outstanding receivables from the Enugu State Government, and the repayment plan is 42 months equal and consecutive monthly repayment of principal and interest, which will be debited from Enugu State FAAC account with Globus Bank PLC.

[NaijaNews]

Sevilla have sacked Coach Jose Luis Mendilibar after winning just two of their opening eight La Liga games this season.

Saturday’s 2-2 league draw at Rayo Vallecano left Sevilla in 14th position in the standings with eight points taken of a possible 24.

Mendilibar, 62, took the helm of Sevilla in March and guided the club to defend their La Liga status and won the Europa League for a record-extending seventh time.

“The club wants to thank the services provided by the Basque coach, whose role will go down in the club’s history by winning the seventh Europa League,” the club said in a statement.

Sevilla will host LaLiga leaders Real Madrid on October 21 before welcoming Arsenal to the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in the Champions League three days later.

Under Mendilibar, the team drew their opening two Champions League games against Lens and PSV Eindhoven.

 

They sit third in the standings, two points adrift of group leaders Lens and one point adrift of Arsenal.

[Leadership]

Oil prices rallied while the dollar and yen advanced Monday after Hamas launched a shock attack on Israel at the weekend, sparking fresh concerns about tensions in the Middle East.

The crisis fanned concerns about supplies of crude from the region at a time when supply worries are already high owing to Saudi Arabia and Russia’s output cuts.

It has also renewed fears about the impact on inflation, with energy costs a key driver of spiking prices, giving a fresh headache to central banks as they try to ease up on interest rate hikes to avoid recessions.

The surprise attack and Israel’s declaration of war in response to it have left more than 1,000 dead and raised concerns that a potential broadening of the conflict could draw in the United States and Iran.

“Key for markets is whether the conflict remains contained or spreads to involve other regions, particularly Saudi Arabia,” said ANZ Group’s Brian Martin and Daniel Hynes.

“Initially at least, it seems markets will assume the situation will remain limited in scope, duration, and oil-price consequences. But higher volatility can be expected.”

Both main contracts surged more than five per cent in early Asian business before easing back as the day wore on.

However, SPI Asset Management’s Stephen Innes warned: “Historical analysis suggests that oil prices tend to experience sustained gains after the Middle East crises.

“Meanwhile, stocks tend to eventually recover and trend higher after an initial period of volatility. Safe-haven assets like gold and Treasury, which initially see gains during such crises, tend to fade from their initial price spikes as the situation stabilises.

“But with Middle East analysts considering this to be a pivotal moment for Israel, the view looks incendiary in any current scenario.”

A decidedly risk-off mood also saw investors push into the safety of the dollar, which was up against the pound and euro, as well as the Australian and New Zealand dollars.

The yen, considered one of the safest currencies, strengthened against the greenback, though it still remains locked around 11-month lows.

Gold, another key haven, gained around one per cent.

Equity markets were mixed, with Shanghai dropping on its first day back after a week-long holiday as investors continue to fret over the stuttering Chinese economy.

There were also losses in Mumbai, Singapore, Manila, Bangkok and Wellington, though Hong Kong rose in shortened trade, having been closed in the morning owing to a typhoon.

Sydney and Jakarta eked out gains. Tokyo was closed for a holiday.

London edged up while Paris and Frankfurt were lower.

The tepid performance came despite a rally on Wall Street, where traders welcomed data showing a forecast-busting jump in new jobs but wage growth slowing.

The “Goldilocks” figures – neither too strong nor too weak – lifted optimism the world’s top economy can avoid a recession even as the Federal Reserve keeps rates elevated.

 

Still, there are worries the bank will hike one more time before the end of the year, with officials determined to bring inflation to heel and keep it at their two per cent target.

[DailyTrust]

Arab League foreign ministers will meet on Wednesday to discuss Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip following a surprise assault by Hamas on Israel, the regional bloc announced.

Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on Saturday and said the surprise attack was in response to the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence. It said it fired rockets and captured many Israelis.

The meeting in Eygpt’s capital, Cairo will seek to find “avenues of political action at the Arab and international level”, as Israel keeps pounding targets in Gaza following Saturday’s attack, Arab League deputy Chief Hossam Zaki said in a statement.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, requested an emergency ministerial-level meeting of the Arab League over the latest Israeli escalation.

 
 

In a statement, the ministry said it had directed “its permanent delegation to the Arab League to request an emergency meeting of the League Council at the ministerial level.”

The development was reached over “the escalation of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people,” it said.

The Moroccan Foreign Ministry on Sunday, also called for an emergency Arab League meeting at the level of Arab foreign ministers for “consultation and coordination on the deterioration of the situation in the Gaza Strip and the outbreak of military actions targeting civilians.”

Intensive consultations are underway for the meeting to be held this week at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo, the ministry said in a written statement.

[Punch]

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed some men and women to serve in the Office of the President under the Media and Publicity Directorate.

A statement signed by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, enumerated the new appointees as follows:

(1) Mr Fela Durotoye Senior Special Assistant to the President — National Values & Social Justice

 

(2) Mr Fredrick Nwabufo Senior Special Assistant to the President — Public Engagement

(3) Mrs Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe

Senior Special Assistant to the President — Strategic Communications

(4) Mr Aliyu Audu

Special Assistant to the President — Public Affairs

(5) Mr Francis Adah Abah Personal Assistant to the President — Special Duties

According to the statement, the President has further approved the secondment of Mrs. Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe to serve as the Communications Adviser to the President of the ECOWAS Commission.

He tasks all new appointees who are serving in the Media and Publicity Directorate to uphold the highest standards of decorum and decency in their engagements with all members of the public as they advance the President’s determined bid to renew the hope of Nigerians in a restructured economy and unified society that caters sufficiently to the needs of all.

The President reportedly followed the full tenets of Nigeria’s federal character principle and the supremacy of merit in this new appointment

[DailyPost]

No More N8k: FG to Give N75,000 to 15 Million Families » Voice of Nigeria


 

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, said the Federal Government will launch a conditional cash transfer to 15 million households on October 17, 2023.

Edu stated this while speaking in an interview on Channels Television.


This comes months after the Federal Government stopped the payment of subsidies on petroleum.


She said, “With the approval from the President which we hope to get this week, on the 17th of October, we will be officially launching the conditional cash transfer to 15m households in Nigeria.”

According to Edu, the ministry is working with stakeholders across the country to get a credible register of beneficiaries.

She said, “As we speak, we are having a verification exercise. Every state can bear us witness that we have put boots on the ground – persons who are working with the state cash transfer office as well as the governors who are the heads of the steering committee and then several other persons.

“All of this is to be sure those who are on the national social register truly are Nigerians who fall [spend] within the under $1.95 a day [range] and they deserve to have it.”

The minister, who noted that some persons on the register may have died or moved up the economic ladder, said the verification exercise is to clean up the register.

She said, “So, two things. First, as we speak, we are on the field cleaning up that data and doing a complete verification and we are juxtaposing both the BVN, NIM and the rest of it to identify these people and be sure we are dealing with authentic persons.

“And then, of course, there is biometrics to it and you have a capturing of the head of the household as well as a picture of the household so it can be located.


“On each of these households, they are numbered so people can go there and verify against the register,” she said.

Bolanle Raheem and Drambi Vandi


The Lagos High Court Sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square on Lagos Island, on Monday, sentenced the suspended Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi, who killed a Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem, to death by hanging.

Justice Ibironke Harrison sentenced the ASP after finding him guilty of the murder of the pregnant lawyer.

Harrison held that the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge also held that the convict shot the deceased at close range.

The PUNCH reports in April that the court dismissed a “no case submission” filed Vandi.

Justice Harrison ordered the defendant to open his defence as a ‘prima facie’ has been made against him.

In his application on the no-case submission, Vandi had asked the court to dismiss the suit and discharge him claiming that he had no case to answer.


In his arguments, the defence counsel, Adetokunbo Odutola, told the court to note among other things that none of the eyewitnesses saw the defendant shoot and that the ballistic report of the gun allegedly fired expressly stated that the bullet could not be linked with any of the firearms recovered from the police officers at the scene.

Oduntola who argued that the pathologist who testified mentioned that the bullet penetrated from the left through the armpit while the prosecution stated that the deceased was shot in the chest.

However, the prosecution led by the Attorney General of Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), had countered the arguments and urged the defendant to defend himself insisting that the prosecution had successfully made its case against him.