Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Martinez’s Stunning Save Not Enough As Forest Stage Late Comeback Against Aston Villa. Emiliano Martinez produced a moment of goalkeeping brilliance at the City Ground, yet Aston Villa fell to a 2-1 defeat after Nottingham Forest mounted a late comeback in a dramatic Premier League clash. The match, which had been a largely uninspiring affair, came alive when Forest’s Nicolas Dominguez appeared to have broken the deadlock. A flicked corner from Morgan Gibbs-White found Dominguez just four yards from goal, and the midfielder’s stooping header seemed destined to cross the line. However, Martinez, twice awarded the Yashin Trophy…

Liverpool Rescue Late Draw As Jota Returns To Deny Fulham In Thrilling Clash. Diogo Jota marked his return with a dramatic late equaliser as 10-man Liverpool twice fought back to secure a 2-2 draw against Fulham at Anfield. The result extended Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League table, despite their rivals gaining ground. Jota, sidelined with injury since October, slotted home in the 86th minute to salvage a point for the Reds after Rodrigo Muniz’s strike appeared to have handed Fulham a late victory. The game had earlier turned against Liverpool when Andy Robertson was shown…

Arsenal Fail To Break Down Resilient Everton In Goalless Stalemate. Arsenal missed a crucial opportunity to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw against a resolute Everton at the Emirates Stadium. The result leaves Mikel Arteta’s side in third place, six points adrift of Liverpool, who dropped points earlier with a 2-2 draw against Fulham. Arsenal, having played one more game than the Reds, will view this as a missed chance to stay firmly in the title race. Despite dominating possession with 76% and registering 13 shots, the…

INEC Refutes False Reports Of Chairman’s Demise, Urges Public To Avoid Fake News. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has strongly refuted rumours circulating on social media regarding the death of its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, describing the claims as entirely false and misleading. In a press statement released on Saturday, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, urged the public to “disregard the rumour,” affirming that Prof. Yakubu is “alive, hale and hearty.” The misinformation, which emerged on 9 December 2024, caused concern among citizens and stakeholders. Mr. Oyekanmi dismissed the false claims…

CBN Reiterates Validity Of Old Naira Notes Indefinitely. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reaffirmed the validity of the old series of ₦1000, ₦500, and ₦200 banknotes, putting an end to ongoing misinformation surrounding their circulation. In a press release issued on 13 December 2024, the CBN reiterated that the Supreme Court’s ruling of 29 November 2023 permits the concurrent use of all versions of these denominations indefinitely. The bank clarified that both old and new designs, including commemorative notes and earlier designs of the ₦100 denomination, remain valid as legal tender without any deadline. The statement urged…

Finland Freezes Simon Ekpa’s Assets And Holds Him In Notorious Prison. Finnish authorities have reportedly frozen the assets of Simon Ekpa, a controversial figure and self-proclaimed Biafran agitator, who is under investigation for terrorism-related activities. Ekpa, along with four alleged accomplices, has been in detention for several weeks as part of an ongoing probe. In addition to freezing Ekpa’s personal assets, authorities have seized assets linked to companies associated with him and the other suspects. The move is part of a broader investigation into allegations of incitement to violence and the financing of terrorism. Ekpa is being held…

Celebrations In Seoul As South Korean MPs Impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol. The streets of Seoul erupted in jubilation on Saturday as thousands of protesters celebrated the impeachment of South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol. In a historic vote, 204 MPs in the National Assembly approved a motion to impeach the embattled leader, who had declared martial law just last week, plunging the nation into political turmoil. With this decision, President Yoon will be suspended from office, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will assume the role of acting president. The Constitutional Court now has six months to deliberate on the…

Future Eagles Set Sights On Redemption After Friendly Defeat To Morocco. Nigeria’s Future Eagles have vowed to bounce back after a 2-0 defeat to Morocco’s U16 national team in the first leg of a two-match international friendly series. The game, played at the Complexe Mohammed VI de Football, tested the mettle of the young Nigerian side as they continue preparations for major tournaments ahead. The team, led by coach Patrick Bassey, travelled to Morocco earlier this week to participate in the friendlies, which are designed to expose the players to top-tier facilities and enhance their readiness for the upcoming U17…

Former Manchester City Striker Mikheil Kavelashvili Set To Become Georgia’s President Amid Protests. Former Manchester City footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili is poised to become the president of Georgia after being nominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party. The 53-year-old, known for his brief stint with the Premier League club in the mid-1990s, is now at the centre of a political storm as his impending appointment has sparked nationwide protests. The position of president in Georgia is largely ceremonial, with the role being determined by a 300-member electoral college comprising MPs and local officials. Given the dominance of the Georgian Dream party…

FG Launches National Initiative To Boost Wheat Production And Food Security. The Federal Government has unveiled a transformative initiative aimed at increasing Nigeria’s wheat production, reinforcing food security, and reducing reliance on imported wheat. The programme, launched under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), is set to benefit 16 wheat-producing states across the country. The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, announced the initiative in Abuja, highlighting its potential to enhance agricultural productivity and stimulate economic growth. Speaking during a briefing, National Project Coordinator Ishaku Buba outlined the…

FG, States, And Local Councils Share N1.727 Trillion FAAC Revenue For November. The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has distributed N1.727 trillion to the three tiers of government as revenue for November 2024. This was disclosed during the December 2024 FAAC meeting, chaired by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun. The total gross revenue of N3.143 trillion for November was derived from statutory allocations, Value Added Tax (VAT), Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), and Exchange Difference (ED). Of this amount, the Federal Government received N581.856 billion, States were allocated N549.792 billion, Local…

Special Operations Brigade Deployed To Combat Lakurawas Sect In Sokoto And Kebbi States. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has deployed a Special Operations Brigade to intensify efforts against the Lakurawas sect operating in Sokoto and Kebbi States. This move builds on the achievements of Operation FOREST SANITY III, codenamed “CHASE LAKURAWAS OUT.” On 13 December 2024, Brigadier General Ibikunle Ajose, General Officer Commanding 8 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, addressed the troops on behalf of Theatre Commander Major General Oluyinka Soyele. He urged the soldiers to ensure the complete eradication…