In April, it appeared any club between Manchester City, Arsenal or Liverpool could emerge champions.

But Jurgen Klopp’s men fell off, thanks to a run of poor results, ensuring the German will leave with just one Premier League title after nine years.

It is a real credit to the Reds that they managed to insert themselves in the conversation, as many observers expected City and the Gunners to slug it out again this season.

Arsenal have especially performed supremely well.

“I think they’ve been excellent,” Clinton McDubus, a top football analyst and podcaster, tells DAILY POST.

“Many had doubts whether they would sustain the level of 22/23, and they’ve proven now that this team is here to stay and be a contender year after year.

“More importantly, they didn’t collapse in the run-in like the previous year and bounced back from various setbacks.

“Very impressive season, perhaps even more impressive than last year. Looks like they’ve gone up a level.”

As it stands, Mikel Arteta is set to finish as a bridesmaid behind his former boss and mentor, Pep Guardiola, for the second consecutive year.

But a lot of observers feel Arsenal will win it in a year or two.

“No. The only thing definite is the level they’ve shown to this point.

“They’re a genuinely good side so expectations will certainly rise, and they will go into the season fully expected to be contenders, and with the accompanying pressure.

“Anything less than that will bring scrutiny or be interpreted as regression. Man City will still be coming in as favourites and the team to beat.

“Those are the only guarantees. Football is cruel like that.

“Because every season is unique in itself, past performance and even obvious growth cannot guarantee a team going from 2nd to 1st the next year. That’s football for you.

“Arsenal will definitely be an interesting team to observe next season though. It remains to be seen how they’ll react if they miss out on the title narrowly for a second year in a row.”

It was not straightforward for City.

Although they began the season in formidable fashion, they fell off just before Christmas, with draws against Chelsea and Liverpool, before losing to Aston Villa at Villa Park.

However, in typical fashion, they have steamrolled their way to the business end of the season.

“I think it’s been a weird one, by their standards,” Solace Chukwu, Site coordinator, AfrikFoot NG tells DAILY POST.

“A comedown was inevitable following a treble and the loss of Ilkay Gundogan.

However, without Kevin de Bruyne for much of the season, this has been a very functional version of Manchester City.

“There has been less subtlety and more of a reliance on physical and athletic domination to win matches.

“But winning is a self-perpetuating habit, and no team has won as much as Manchester City in the last 5-7 years.

“They’ve found a way, and are on the cusp of success despite not being a vintage version of themselves.”

Perhaps the darker stain on City’s potential title win is the 115 charges hanging over their head.

“Impossible to not have that at the back of the mind when evaluating City, although that applies to the entirety of the project as opposed to this particular season,” Chukwu added.

“The allegations against them relate directly to the expense they incurred laying the foundation for their dominance.

“And, by not cooperating, City are essentially delaying justice for as long as possible, while building their myth in the meantime.

“By the time justice finally arrives, it won’t matter as much in the public consciousness anymore.

“It’s a calculated, if unethical, gamble.”

The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested one Rachel Geoffrey, a 23-year-old woman and resident of Federal Housing Estate, Girei, for allegedly setting fire to the hands of her stepchildren.

The children, Genesis Geoffrey, seven years old: and Idadai Geoffrey, three years old, now have their affected hands bandaged.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Suleiman Nguroje, said in a statement that Rachel intentionally inflicted severe physical injuries on her stepchildren. 

In the statement released Saturday, the police image maker said the incident occurred on Tuesday, May 14.

He said the children suffered several calculated acts of cruelty and human rights violations from their stepmother.

He explained that the children faced the wrath of the woman over a plate of rice she cooked and kept for her husband.

“The kids, because of hunger, ate their father’s food and that angered her. She then tied their hands with a handkerchief and set fire to them, resulting in the severe injuries they sustained,” Nguroje explained.

Joseph Aloba, father of late singer, Illerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad, has claimed that the singer rejected his son, Liam, before his death.

Speaking in a clip captured from a recent social media making the rounds on X , he claimed his late son told him he only slept with Wunmi once before she brought Liam’s pregnancy to him.

Speaking in Yoruba, he said, “They shaved my late son’s hair before I got to his house. People saying my son didn’t reject Liam are lying. He said he only slept with Wunmi once and she brought pregnancy after their first sex.” 

Aloba has been clamouring for a DNA test to be conducted on Liam to ascertain his true paternity following the tragic death of the rapper.

DAILY POST reported that Wunmi, who had previously expressed her willingness for a DNA test on her son, said she is no longer open to a DNA test on Liam.

She said only her late husband has the right to request a DNA test from her.

Wunmi claimed that Mohbad disvirgined her and he was the only man she had ever known.

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The Naira recorded two appreciations and three depreciations in the last week amid the foreign exchange crisis.

The development comes as the Naira closed on Friday at N1497.33 per dollar.

This is an appreciation compared to N1533.99 on Thursday.

Accordingly, the Naira appreciated N1459.02 and N1497.33 per dollar on Wednesday, 15th, and Friday, May 17, respectively, in the week under review.

Conversely, on Monday, May 13, Tuesday, May 14, and Thursday, May 16, the Naira depreciated N1478.1, N1520.40, and N1533.99, respectively.

In the last seven days, the Naira has lost N31.02 compared to the N1466.31 per dollar it traded last Friday.

Meanwhile, at the parallel market section, the Naira gained N42 against the dollar, trading at N1475 per dollar on Friday compared to N1,517 on Monday.

This is because dollar transactions at the official market remained low, closing at $83.50 million on Friday.

Bureau De Change Operators blamed poor foreign exchange allocation from the Central Bank of Nigeria on the Naira depreciation.

CBN recently approved 14 International Money Transfer Operators to boost foreign currency remittances into Nigeria.

Junta-run Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have finalised plans to form a confederation after turning their backs on former colonial ruler France to seek closer ties with Russia.

Their foreign ministers met Friday in Niger’s capital Niamey to agree on a text establishing the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). 

“The objective was to finalise the draft text relating to the institutionalisation and operationalisation of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)”, said Niger Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare as he read the final statement late Friday. 

He said the text would be adopted by the heads of state of the three countries at a summit, without specifying the date. 

“We can consider very clearly, today, that the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has been born,” Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said after meeting General Abdourahamane Tiani, the head of Nigerien military regime.

The third foreign minister at the meeting was Burkina Faso’s Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore.

The Sahel region has been subject to deadly jihadist violence for years, which they accused France of not being able to curb.

The three countries said late January they were quitting The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which they said was under French influence, to create their own regional grouping.

Isaac Oyedepo, the son of Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church, has confessed that he used to struggle with pornography at a point in his life.

Isaac disclosed that he got indulged in P0rnography during a trip to an European country.

Featuring on a podcast “Confession Box,” Isaac said he overcame through the help of God.

According to Isaac: “My confessions are good ones that will help people. I struggled with p0rnography before.

“I remembered how it started, we travelled to one country and I was meant to be in the room alone, I switched on the TV and that’s it.

“But God brought me out of it very quickly. A lot of people still struggle with it and I think of somebody who had struggled with it and had walked up to me and told me how to come out, I would have come out quickly.

“I think people feel there are things we shouldn’t talk about, but today there are some pastors and church members still struggling with it.

“You may be anointed, seeing signs and wonders but it does not mean you are standing right.

“There is this old saying that if it’s working it means you are standing right but I found out that it’s not always the case. There are times I found out I wasn’t right, but grace and mercy found me.

“For the sake of someone who is genuine in the congregation, God can bypass you to meet the person; this is my confession.”

…okays elevation of Wike’s wife, 21 others to Court of Appeal

…bars 2 judges from getting promotion to Appeal Court for a period

 

 

 

The National Judicial Council, NJC, on Friday, said it has constituted panels to investigate eight judges for alleged judicial misconduct.

The Council, in a statement it made available to newsmen, said its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees filtered 35 petitions that were written against the judicial officers and them to be meritorious.
However, the legal body stressed that other petitions that were brought against 20 High Court judges across the federation, were dismissed for lack of merit, evidence of misconduct, subjudice or that they were matters that could be appealed.

It further disclosed that stern warnings were issued to Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja for abuse of the discretionary power of a Judge by wrongly granting an ex parte order, as well as to Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of the Delta State High Court for his failure to deliver judgement within the stipulated period.

Whereas Justice Ekwo was barred from getting a promotion to the appellate court for a period of two years, Justice Brikins-Okolosi was barred for three years.

Besides, the NJC, which took the decisions at its 105th plenary meeting held on May 15 and 16, okayed the elevation of 22 judges to the Court of Appeal.

Among those who made the list of judges to be promoted to the bench of the appellate court, included the wife of the former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Hon. Justice Nyesom-Wike Eberechi Suzzette.

According to the Council, 64 others were recommended for appointment as judges of various other lower courts.
It said the recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in after the approval of their appointment by President Bola Tinubu and the Governors of their respective states.

Likewise, the Council said it deliberated on the notification of retirements of three Judicial Officers, among whom included the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, as well as the notification of death of three Judges of the Federal and State Courts.

The statement, which was signed by the Director of Information at the NJC,
Soji Oye, read: “The National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, at its plenary of 105th Meeting held on 15 & 16 May 2024, resolved to issue warning letters to Hon Justice Inyang E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court and Hon. Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court.

“Hon Justice Inyang E. Ekwo is warned for abuse of discretionary power of a Judge by wrongly granting an ex parte order in Suit No FHC/ABJ/C/626/2023 Juliet Ebere Nwadi Gbaka & 2 Ors V Seplat Energy Plc & 12 Ors.

“The Hon Judge is also barred from being elevated to a higher Bench for a period of two years.

“Hon. Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court is also issued a warning for failure to deliver judgement within the stipulated period in Joseph Anene Okafor Vs Skye Bank, Suit No A/94/2010 after parties had filed and adopted their final Written Addresses.

“Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi will also not be elevated to a higher Bench for three years.
“Council cautioned Hon. Justice Amina Shehu of Yobe State High Court for issuing Writ of Possession Conferring Title on the Defendant in Suit No YBS/HC/NNR/1cv/2020 when there was no subsisting judgement of any Court to enable His Lordship issue the Writ.

“Council at the meeting considered two Reports of its two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees that filtered 35 petitions written against Judges of the Federal and State High Courts and decided to empanel eight Committees to further investigate the petitions that were found meritorious by the Committees.

“Petition against various Judges were dismissed for lack of merit, evidence of misconduct, subjudice or that they were matters that could be appealed.

“The dismissed petitions were against Hon Justices A. M. Liman, A. A. Okeke, D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Hon Justices S. B. Belgore, Bello Kawu both of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Hon Justices O. A. Chijioke, A. E. Akeredolu and Kadi M. U. El-Mainari who sat on Election Petition Tribunal in Edo State, Hon Justice Okey Paulinus Aneke, High Court Enugu State and Hon Justice C. Anya of Abia State.

“Others are Hon Justices M. A. Ikpambese and W. I. Kpochi both of Benue High Court, Hon Justices T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka Chief Judge and B. C. Iheka of Imo State High Court, Hon Justice Rose Godwin Soji of Nasarawa State High Court, Hon Justice T. J. Yakubu, High Court Taraba State, High Justices W. N. Danagogo and Chinwendu Nworgu, High Court Rivers State, Hon Justice C. C. Okaa, High Court Anambra State and Hon Justice Abdullahi Sulyman High Court, Kogi State.

“The Council deliberated on the notification of retirements of three Judicial Officers including that of the Chief Justice of Nigeria Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON and notification of death of three Judges of the Federal and State Courts.

“Council at the Meeting also considered the recommendation of its Interview Committee on Appointment of Judicial Officers of all Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria and resolved to recommend the under-listed 86 Judicial Officers for appointment to the Court of Appeal, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Sharia Courts of Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal of States in Nigeria.

They are as follows:

“Twenty-Two (22) Justices, Court of Appeal: Hon. Justice Kwahar Polycarp Terna, Hon. Justice Ruqayat Oremei Ayoola, Hon. Justice Eleojo Eneche, Hon. Justice Asma’u Akanbi-Yusuf, Hon. Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, Hon. Justice Abdu Dogo, Hon. Justice Fadawu Umaru, Hon. Justice Ishaq Mohammed Sani, Hon. Justice Zainab Bage Abubakar, Hon. Justice Abdulazeez M. Anka, Hon. Justice Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba, Hon. Justice Nwoye Victoria Tochukwu, Hon. Justice Nwabunkeonye Onwosi, Hon. Justice Okorowo Donatus Uwaezuoke.

“Hon. Justice Ngozika Uwazurunonye Okaisabor, Hon. Justice Ntong Festus Ntong, Hon. Justice Nehizena Idemudia Afolabi, Hon. Justice Nyesom-Wike Eberechi Suzzette, 19. Hon. Justice Lateef Babajide Lawal-Akapo, Hon. Justice Akinyemi Abiodun Azeem, Hon. Justice Oyewumi Oyejoju Oyebiola and Hon. Justice Olukayode Adegbola Adeniyi.

“Twelve (12) Judges, High Court, FCT, Abuja: Ademuyiwa Olakunle Oyeyipo, Bamodu Odunayo Olutomi, Anumaenwe Godwin Iheabunike, Odo Celestine Obinna, Hauwa Lawal Gummi, Abdurahman Usman, Buetnaan Mandy Bassi, Sarah Benjamin Inesu Avoh, Maryan Iye Yusuf, Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria, Lesley Nkesi Belema Wike and Munirat Ibrahim Tanko.

“Seven (7) Judges, Imo State High Court: Akowundu Cletus Ndubuisi, Uchenna Mary Njoku, Chibuogwu Ojiugo Chukwumaeze, Ononogbo Chidi Linus, Adaego Peace Nosiri, Emeka Ozoma Orafu, Mathew Chinedu Ijezie.

“Six (6) Judges, Bauchi State High Court: Amin Umar Ilelah, Aliyu Bin Idris, Ahmed Shuaibu Ningi, Shafa’u Ladan Yusuf, Abdussalam Idris Waziri, Kawu A. Yerima.

“Three (3) Judges, Taraba State High Court: Hamidu Audu, Bibonga Jeniffer Nauma, Joel Daniel Ubandoma.
“Thirteen Judges, Lagos State High Court: Sunmonu Tunde Bashiru, Azeez Fimisola Augusta, Alebiosu Olawale Lawal, Adewale Russel Musiliu, Popoola Oluwatosin Ajose, Anjorin-Ajose Tanimola Abdulwaheed, Muyideen Abdul-Raheem Tejumade, George Alfred Akingbola, Balogun Adegboyega Ganiu, Shonubi Adenike Kudirat, Badejo-Okusanya Yewande Jokotola, Layinka Oyeladun Amope, Ojuromi Nalirat Olayinka Oluwatosin.

“Four (4) Judges, Kogi State High Court: Ajesola Joseph Sunday, Ojoma Rachael Haruna, Kadiri Badama, Ezema Beatrice Ada.

“Two (2) Judges, Jigawa State High Court: Mohammad El-Usman, Nilfa Abdullahi Gambo.

“Five (5) Kadis, Sharia Court of Appeal, Bauchi State: Ishaku Magaji Abdurrahman Hassan Sabo, Bello Mohammed Sambowal, Muhyiddeen Mohammed, Mahmoud Idris Shehu Tiyin.

“Five (5) Kadis, Sharia Court of Appeal, Kogi State: Muhammad Muhammad Bello, Okino Isah Saidu, Yakubu Adavenge Abbas, Shaibu Ridwan Aliyu, Idris Alhaji Abdullahi.

“One (1) Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Jigawa State: Mukhtar Shuaibu Adam.
“Three (3) Judges, Imo State Customary Court of Appeal: Everyman Ezenna Eleanya, Ofoha Sylvesta Uchenna, Ibeh Rosemond Oluchi.

“Two Judges, Customary Court of Appeal, Taraba State: Esther Tata, Benjamin Samuila Bawage.
“One (1) Judge, Customary Court of Appeal, Kogi State: Maryann Oziohu Otaru.
“All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the President and their respective State Governors,” the statement read.

Seun Kuti, the Afrobeat musician, has spoken up about why his late father and the pioneer of Afrobeats, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, married 27 women in one day.

Recall that Fela got married to 27 women in one day back in 1978 in what was seen as a very daring move. 

Appearing on the ‘Fresh Off The Boat’ podcast via Skype, Seun Kuti explained that his father married 27 women in one day in a bid to preserve their honour and dignity as the media was already tagging his female dancers and band members living with him as “prostitutes.”

He said: “My father was under immense media propaganda. He was very scrutinised. And most of it were directed to the women that were in his life; his female back-up singers, dancers. They all lived together with my dad but the media started calling them prostitutes.

“So my dad, in order to preserve their honour and dignity, asked them if they would choose to be his brides so nobody would call them names anymore and they all agreed. That was how the marriage happened.”

He also disclosed that Fela’s biopic is already in the works.

A prosecution witness, Victor Onyejiuwa, on Friday, told the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja that the alleged $600,000 he was asked to pay for the contract he executed for the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, was paid to the  former apex bank Director of Information Technology, John Ayoh and not to the embattled ex-CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Onyejiuwa who is the Managing Director of Resource Computer Limited, stated this while being cross examined by Emefiele’s lawyer , Mr Olalekan Ojo, SAN.

The witness who stated that  all his communication with Ayoh was done via Whatsapp, noted that first bribe payment he made to Ayoh was $400,000, in Lagos and the second payment of $200,000 was made in Abuja.

Onyejiuwa also stated that he didn’t get any letter of authorization from the CBN management that he should pay bribe for the contract that was awarded to his company but that it was Ayoh that signed the award of the contract and the completion.

He however noted that after Ayoh left the CBN, he still did other contacts with CBN till 2019 when  Emefiele was still in charge and that he was paid in due time and no bribe was demanded from him.

“I have never met him (Emefiele) before. My dealings with the CBN management was through Ayoh.

” I did a new contract with CBN and no bribe was demanded and the payment for the contract was paid in due time

” I executed the contract while Godwin Emefiele was still the CBN governor,” the witness said.

Asked whether he had any conversation with any of the CBN deputy governors, to find out  if Ayoh had the authority to collect the $600,000 bribe he answered in the negative.” No, I did not”. 

When asked if Ayoh showed him any communication between himself (Ayoh) and Emefiele about the delivery of the money, he said no.

The witness was also asked if he showed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC a letter demanding for bribe, he said no.

Asked who the money was delivered to he said it was delivered to Ayoh, in his office and after the payment was made it was an official of the IT department that signed.

The embattled Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are currently facing trial on 26 counts, bordering on abuse of office alleged $4.5bn and N2.8bn fraud.

The former CBN governor and Omoile pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Onyejiuwa on the last adjourned date in his examination in chief had told Justice Rahman Oshodi, that

he was pressured to pay $600,000 before he was paid for a contract.

According to him, sometime in 2017, he got an ‘enterprise storage and servers’ from the CBN and after executing the job, he was approached by a senior official who told him that his payment would not be approved if he did not pay certain sums.

“The official said there was pressure on him. I told him that our payment was being delayed. He told me that if I didn’t accede to his request, my payment would not be approved.

“After several back and forth, I succumbed to his pressure. I was able to organise the sum of $400,000 and $200,000 to facilitate payment of the contract funds.

“Within two or three weeks after, the payment was made. That is what happened,” the witness said.

However the case was adjourned till July 9, 10, for continuation of trial.