Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scored the winner as Nigeria defeated Libya 1-0 in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Friday.

The Group D encounter was a game of missed chances, gamesmanship from the Libyans and poor officiating by the referees but Dele-Bashiru proved the hero the Eagles needed with his late strike.

Coach Austin Eguavoen switched to a 4-3-3 with Ademola Lookman and Victor Boniface leading the attack alongside Moses Simon.

The Super Eagles had the first chance of the encounter when the Libya goalkeeper was forced into a save by Alex Iwobi. The team continued to have the upper hand but failed to make it count as William Troost-Ekong, the Eagles captain, fired wide from a rebound, following a save off Frank Onyeka’s shot.

Iwobi was then expertly denied by a point-blank save as both teams went into the interval on level terms.

Iwobi continued to enter the box at the right time but his finishing was abysmal, with the 27-year-old heading high and wide from six yards out before blazing a half-volley wide minutes later as Nigeria probed the Libyans more on the right wing.

The Libyans settled into time-wasting routine but Lookman found the back of the net with a low shot after exchanging passes but he was deemed offside despite replays showing otherwise.

Nigeria scored minutes later when Dele-Bashiru fired into the far corner from centre of the box off Simon’s pass from the wing, leaving the goalkeeper rooted to the spot while fans celebrated wildly.

The goal ensured Eguavoen’s side secured all three points to put them closer to qualification.

Victory takes Nigeria to seven points on the log from three matches, leading group D at the halfway mark of the qualification series.

The Super Eagles travel to Benghazi to face the Libyans on matchday four on October 15.

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, has refuted recent claims regarding internal rifts within the opposition party.

The Governor of Bauchi State made this remark following a series of suspensions within the party leadership on Friday.

Naija News reported earlier that the PDP crisis escalated on Friday morning with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) division.

A faction of the PDP loyal to the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, had, in a statement on Friday morning, announced the suspension of its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN).

The PDP National Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, made this known in a statement issued in the early hours of Friday.

Subsequently, another faction, in a statement issued by Ologunagba, suspended Damagum, the national chairman of the PDP.

Nevertheless, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order preventing the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP from ousting Umar Damagum as the acting national chairman.

Justice Peter Lifu ruled that only Damagum should be acknowledged as the PDP national chairman until the party’s national convention, which is set for December 2025.

It is worth noting that the crisis rocking the PDP started after the party’s presidential primary polls ahead of the 2023 election.

However, following a private meeting with PDP stakeholders at the Government House in Bauchi on Friday, Governor Mohammed reiterated that the party remains united and is committed to constructively resolving its internal issues.

The PDP Governors’ Forum chairman said: “I would say that we have met and discussed these situations extensively with the acting National Chairman and we have agreed to work together along with other party organs—the BOT, members of the Governors’ Forum, caucuses of the Senate and the House—to resolve all these issues and that is the major takeaway of this visit.

“We will deepen stakeholding and collaboration so that all these issues that are disparaging the members of the party will be resolved and nipped in the bud.”

“We have decided that henceforth, we will not allow a gap, and we will make sure that we resolve all these issues.

“We are not recognizing any faction; we are together as a body, and definitely, at the end of the day, we will resolve all issues.”

Mohammed confirmed that the PDP is diligently addressing its internal challenges by fostering collaboration among essential party stakeholders.

He emphasized that the ultimate decision is not solely his responsibility but involves other members who are stakeholders within the PDP Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees (BOT), the caucus, and other senior party officials.

Additionally, he mentioned that discussions with his fellow PDP governors are currently being held to ascertain the forthcoming actions.

“This has been a productive outing, and I am assured that the party will come together to resolve all contending issues. We have agreed, in the presence of other stakeholders, that we will do whatever it takes to restore the party’s glory so it can achieve victory in the 2027 elections,” Mohammed declared.

Nollywood actor cum politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has claimed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will choose the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2027 if Julius Abure continues as national chairman.

Naija News reports that Okonkwo made this known in an interview on Arise TV.

He described Abure’s leadership approach as transactional politics, stressing that the LP, as presently constituted, is now a ‘housemaid’ to the ruling APC.

The movie star, who served as LP’s presidential campaign spokesperson in the 2023 elections, recounted how Abure withdrew the tickets earlier reserved for the former governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi and  Abia governor, Alex Otti, ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said, “In a nation like Nigeria, where the ruling party is looking for any way to make sure they compromise the opposition, you do not have the leisure of time.

“I can tell you that Labour Party as presently constituted is now a housemaid to APC. The 2027 presidential candidate of the Labour Party will be decided on the table of APC.

“We know their moves. They are meeting the people now who help people to win cases in court.

“Because if nobody from your party is supporting you, then who are you now trying to become a chairman to?

“Remember, when Abure went to Nnewi to do the illegal election, in my own view (because) the supreme court has not ruled. He said the ticket is reserved for Peter Obi.

“I said in this programme back then that this is bribery; that he wants to use it to make Peter Obi to close his eyes on the illegality they’re doing.

“When their tenure ended, it was not even Peter Obi that said their tenure has ended. It was INEC, and they were disgraced out.

“That comes to the culpability of INEC; if INEC said their tenure has ended, why did they not accept the caretaker committee?

“Now, when Peter Obi went to Umuahia to do the right thing, what did Abure say? No, the ticket is no longer reserved.

“What does that tell you? These are transactional politicians who have no policy, who have no principle, but what they are doing there is to trade.

“He said, Otti, we don’t have ticket for you. Who do you think they are reserving the ticket for? Let me give you a poser.

“The deputy speaker of the national assembly told Otti, look, I would not sit down as a man of the ruling party and allow the opposition to govern Abia state.

“And then there is an Abure that is saying that ticket is no longer reserved for you and they are winning cases in court.

“The witch cried in the night and the baby died in the day. What do you think is happening? It’s not an indictment, he said it openly but I can see the nexus.

“Every ticket in the Labour Party is reserved for APC people and I have told you about the nexus. It’s not by accident.”

A Nigerian, Oludayo Adeagbo, has been sentenced to seven years in prison in the United States over a multimillion-dollar business email compromise scheme.

This was disclosed by the US Department of Justice in a release from Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole Argentieri.

According to Argentieri, the defendant was involved in multiple cyber-enabled BEC schemes in an attempt to steal more than $3m from victim entities in Texas.

Court documents, according to DOJ, revealed that the 45-year-old also targeted local government entities, construction companies, and a Houston-area college.

It added that Adeagbo, who also held a British passport, conspired with his accomplices to defraud a North Carolina university of more than $1.9m.

He arrived in the US in August 2022 after he was extradited from the United Kingdom to face criminal charges filed in Charlotte and Houston.

On April 8, the Nigerian man pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his criminal conduct in both cases.

He pleaded guilty following the transfer of his case from the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas to the US District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.

“Oludayo Adeagbo and his coconspirators perpetrated transnational cyber-enabled fraud schemes that targeted schools, government entities, and companies across the United States, and caused millions of dollars in losses,” the DOJ said.

Meanwhile, his Nigerian conspirator, Donald Echeazu, 42, was extradited from the UK to the US, over the same fraud in which a North Carolina university (the University) lost more than $1.9 million via a BEC scheme.

On May 16, 2023, Echeazu was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by a year of supervised release and was also ordered to pay $655,408.87 in restitution for his role in the conspiracy.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has slammed the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, over a recent comment on the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the call for protest over the current economic challenges.

 Amaechi, in an interview with Igbere TV, criticized the lack of proactive responses from the populace, particularly the youth, regarding the rising cost of living.

Amaechi, who previously served as the governor of Rivers State, noted that he anticipated a surge of protests from young people demanding action against the deteriorating economic conditions.

However, in a statement through its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, APC described Amaechi’s comment as insensitive, god-awful, irresponsible and unpatriotic.

Morka expressed disappointment that such a remark came from one of Nigeria’s longest-serving and highest-ranking political freeloaders – a two-term Speaker of the Rivers state House of Assembly, a two-term Governor, and a two-term Minister of Transport.

He stated that Amechi is angry alongside opposition party leaders like former vice president Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi and others who wished they were in government.

The APC chieftain also questioned Amaechi’s allegation of stealing by those in power. He urged him to focus on the crisis cropping Rivers State instead of attempting to create anarchy in the country.

The statement read, “For almost all of his adult life, Amaechi has been a leechy dependant on state resources, a voracious beneficiary of official patronage, and a leading participant in the generational devastation of our country’s economy. Attempting to hoodwink Nigerians into his web of false empathy and incitement to violence is hypocritical, provocative and dangerous.

‘If those in power “steal money” as Amaechi mischievously alleged, how come he can’t afford “to buy diesel” barely two years after “stealing” for over 24 years in power as Speaker, Governor and Minister?

“The only real anger that Amaechi and his fellow tribesmen of naysayers of the likes of Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, must feel is that they are not in the saddle of government today. But that was a decision made by Nigeria’s ultimate political authority – the electorate. Nigerians are highly perceptive, discerning, demure, and mindful that economic discomforts associated with the administration’s inevitable reforms are transient and will pale into insignificance in comparison to the enduring transformative dividends which are already beginning to manifest. Nigerians will not be cajoled into taking back through street violence what they handed to the administration through the ballot, as Amaechi and his partisan tribesmen would wish.

“One would expect Amaechi to keep busy trying to solve the crippling crisis in Rivers state that he once governed. Instead, he has chosen to stoke anarchy on a national scale. Weaponizing protest and exploiting citizen’s economic discomfort for selfish political objective, as these partisan tribesmen are doing, is irresponsible and decidedly unpatriotic.

“We urge Nigerians to dismiss the call to anarchy by Amaechi and his partisan tribesmen and to remain patient and continue to support President Tinubu’s bold effort to transform our country’s economy once and for all.”

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, has disclosed that the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has barred him from leaving the country because his name is on their watchlist.

Sowore disclosed this in a statement and video shared on his X account on Friday.

He stated that he was being subjected to harassment and violation of his rights.

He wrote, “The Nigerian Immigration Service #nigimmigration continues to subject me to unwarranted harassment and abuse. Violating my rights repeatedly.

“Today, again, they stopped me on my way out of Nigeria, claiming I am placed on their WATCHLIST!”

The video showed Sowore questioning an officer of the Immigration Service, requesting to see their superior.

Protest: Sowore Speaks On Overthrowing Tinubu’s Government

Meanwhile,  Sowore, has knocked the government of President Bola Tinubu for suggesting that there is a link between the protests in some parts of the country and possible plans to overthrow the government.

Sowore argued that it was hypocritical of the government to tell Nigerians to shelve their grievances and wait until the next election cycle in 2027.

He said this against the backdrop of the government’s response to the #EndBadGovernance protests in which protesters were told to wait till 2027 to express their grievances at the polls.

Naija News recalls after the #EndBadGovernanace protest, some protesters were arrested and charged to court for alleged attempts to overthrow the Tinubu government.

Speaking on Tuesday during the fresh #FearlessInOctober protest in Ikeja, Lagos State, Sowore denied any plan by the protesters to overthrow the government.

The news publisher also noted that when the All Progressives Congress (APC) was in the opposition, they also carried out the Occupy Nigeria protests while a sitting government was in place.

“When the APC wanted to come to power — there was a government in place — they started protesting in 2012. The election was in 2015. Did they wait for 2015 before they started Occupy Nigeria? That is my answer, they are just a bunch of hypocrites,” Sowore told FIJ.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has generated N103.7bn in revenue from the Electronic Money Transfer Levies in the first half of 2024.

According to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s statistical bulletin, this represents a 7.55 per cent increase compared to the N96.44bn collected during the same period in 2023 of last year.

This figure shows the growing use of digital payment platforms and a higher volume of electronic transactions as more Nigerians and businesses embrace digital banking solutions.

Electronic money transfer levy was introduced as a source of government revenue in the Finance Act 2020, which amended the Stamp Duty Act to tap into the growth of electronic funds transfer in Nigeria. 

The EMT levy is a singular and one-off charge of N50 on electronic receipt or transfer of money deposited in any deposit money bank or financial institution on any type of account on sums of N10,000 or more.

In January 2024, the revenue from EMTL stood at N18.60bn, reflecting a 26.57 per cent decrease compared to N25.33bn in the same period of last year.

However, February 2024 showed a 20.21 per cent increase, with collections rising to N16.59bn from N13.80bn in February 2023.

March 2024 also experienced growth, recording N18.60bn, up by 53.41 per cent from N12.13bn in March 2023.

The revenue in April 2024 was N15.37bn, which was a marginal 1.85 per cent increase compared to N15.09bn collected in April 2023.

May 2024 saw a more substantial year-on-year increase, with earnings reaching N18.78bn, 24.24 per cent higher than the N15.12bn collected in May 2023.

Although June 2024 saw a slight dip compared to May, with N15.78bn collected, it still marked a 5.40 per cent increase from the N14.97bn recorded in the same period of last year.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that e-payment transactions in the country jumped by 86.44 per cent to N566.39tn in the first half of 2024 from N303.60tn in the same period of last year, according to data from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System.

The NIP, launched in 2011 by NIBSS, is an online real-time interbank payment platform that enables instant value transfers.

Banks have since made the NIP platform accessible to customers through various channels, such as internet banking, mobile apps, USSD, ATMs, POS, and bank branches.

The surge in e-payment transactions was linked to the increasing adoption of digital payment platforms by businesses and individuals, driven by convenience and efficiency in financial transactions.

Last year, electronic payment transactions in the country hit an all-time high, rising by 55 per cent to N600tn, compared to N387tn in 2022.

However, as telecom operators in Africa increasingly invest in the mobile money sector, they confront a major fraud crisis, prompting calls for improved security measures.

According to the Global System for Mobile Communications Association’s “State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money 2023”, mobile money fraud in Africa exceeded $1bn, raising concerns that security issues could impede the adoption of mobile money services.

The Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed November 1, 2024 to rule on the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the final forfeiture of the $2.045million, seven choice landed properties and shares involving former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

On the same date, the court will also rule on the formal application filed by the former banker for a stay of proceedings.

On August 15, 2024, the court had authorised the EFCC to temporarily take custody of the assets.

In granting the application, the court had directed the EFCC to publish the order of interim forfeiture for any person interested in the funds to show the cause why it should not be finally forfeited to the FG.

At the resumed hearing on Friday, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), counsel for the EFCC, moved an application for the final forfeiture of the sum of $2.045m, as well as share certificates, which he said was not contested by the interested Party.

In opposition, Olalekan Ojo, counsel to the interested Party (Emefiele), urged the court to hold that the interested party has shown in a balance of probability that the court ought not to grant the final forfeiture of the properties.

He adopted his written address and urged the court to refuse the application.

Earlier in the proceedings, the court refused to stay further proceedings in the suit.

Through his lawyer, Emefiele had urged the judge to stay proceedings pending the hearing of an appeal he filed before the Court of Appeal seeking to nullify the temporary forfeiture order earlier granted by the court.

But Justice Deinde Dipeolu held in his ruling that interested parties had the right to approach the Court of Appeal which must be contingent on the trial court’s decision.

The court also held that an appeal flows from the decision of a trial court but in the instant case, the court had not made any decision as to any application filed or as to the substantive issues in the suit.

Justice Dipeolu, therefore, dismissed the oral application made by Ojo seeking to stay the court’s proceedings.

At the last sitting of the court, Ojo had urged the court to stay further proceedings in the case pending the determination of the banker’s appeal.

He said, “We’re urging your lordship to stay proceedings pending the hearing and determination of the appeal court in order to avoid judicial rascality.”

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), had, however, objected insisting that no application from Emefiele was taken and ruled on that crystallised to an appeal.

Oyedepo said: “My lord how can the defendant in this case rush to the Court of Appeal because the (Federal High) Court returned the (case) file to the administrative judge for assignment, owing to the fact that the annual vacation of the court ends on the next adjourned date?

“I submit with due respect that the defendant just went to dump mere documents in registry of the Appeal Court. Therefore, I urge the court to hold that there is no appeal.”

Oyedepo had also argued that the former CBN governor’s appeal cannot stop the proceedings in this matter because the leave of the court was not sought, as the rule of court has made it mandatory when it is an appeal filed on the ground of mixed fact and law.

The embattled acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has taken a jab at Nigerians who supported President Bola Tinubu during his campaign.

He said that they are now enduring the consequences of trading their votes for items like spaghetti and wrappers.

Damagum stated this on Friday during a visit to the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, who doubles as the Chairman of the PDP governors forum.

He noted that the ongoing hardships faced by many should serve as a lesson to prioritize credible and capable leaders over short-term inducements.

Addressing journalists after a close-door meeting with the governor and other stakeholders of the PDP, he said “The APC was never ready to govern, so what good could possibly come from them?” 

“Those who accepted spaghetti and wrappers to bring in this government are suffering the most, and this should serve as a lesson. We must seek credible, proven, and tested leaders who are genuinely prepared to govern, not those who simply say, emi lo kan,” (SIC).

Damagum expressed concern over the continued hardship many Nigerians are enduring, which he attributed to policies from Tinubu’s administration under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking on Damagum’s visit, Governor Bala Mohammed denied the existence of any faction within the PDP.

He also reassured that the issues of suspension and internal crises would be resolved amicably.

The lawmaker representing Borno South, Senator Ali Ndume, has issued a stern warning regarding efforts by certain individuals to undermine the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement released in Abuja on Friday, Ndume expressed deep concern over the escalating prices of fuel, food, and essential goods, which he described as increasingly unaffordable for the average Nigerian.

Ndume attributed the rising cost of living to the actions of what he termed “bad actors” who are allegedly promoting harmful reforms and policies designed to destabilize the government.

He criticized these individuals for diverting attention away from pressing issues such as inflation control and exchange rate stabilization.

“Those who are bent on making the President look bad will stop at nothing in inflicting pain on Nigerians through the so-called reforms until things get out of hand, and the blame will be on President Tinubu,” Ndume stated, emphasizing the need for immediate action to alleviate the hardships faced by citizens.

The senator urged President Tinubu to prioritize addressing the suffering caused by hyperinflation, which he noted has been exacerbated by frequent price hikes across essential goods and services.

“I believe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for Nigeria and Nigerians. I know this because I know what he stands for. But some of his advisers who don’t mean well to the people of this country give him wrong advice,” Ndume said.

He continued, “I’m appealing to him to resist these bad people who want to pitch the people against his administration. The hardship these people are inflicting on Nigerians is becoming unbearable. I’m currently in Borno, and I know what I’m talking about. People are really suffering, hungry, frustrated, and angry.”

Ndume highlighted the severe impact on residents in Borno, saying, “Many families here can’t even feed anymore. The untold hardship caused by these frequent price increases is unimaginable. Farmers can’t move their products because of the high cost of transportation.

“Those who manage to transport goods pass the costs onto consumers, making food items too expensive. People can’t even afford to travel anymore. For instance, traveling by road from Abuja to Maiduguri is now a fortune. How many people can afford that?”

Ndume emphasized that Tinubu has good intentions for Nigerians but must not allow a few bad advisers to damage the country’s stability.

“That’s why I’m begging him to do something before it is too late. It is not good to test the patience of Nigerians, and that’s exactly what these bad advisers are doing,” he said.

“As soon as the President returns to Nigeria, I urge him to look into these issues and address them urgently. The purchasing power of Nigerians is too poor, and they can’t afford the things being pushed on them every day by enemies of the state,” Ndume advised.