Author: statereporter
Chelsea have been handed a major boost in their pursuit to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli after the Serie A side lowered their demands. According to The Times, Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has held talks with Chelsea officials in London, where the two parties have been negotiating a deal. The report claimed that the Blues have been told a bid of £38.5m plus Romelu Lukaku and Cesare Casadei would be enough to persuade them to sell striker Osimhen this summer. Napoli are trying to sign Lukaku but cannot afford the £40m asking price. Instead, Antonio Conte’s side have proposed…
Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, has announced he will resign in September, marking the end of a tumultuous three-year term overshadowed by political scandals. In a press conference on Wednesday, Kishida declared he would not seek re-election as the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), emphasising that “politics cannot function without public trust.” Kishida’s tenure has been marred by various controversies, including allegations of financial misconduct and ineffective responses to the challenges of rising living costs. His resignation opens the door for a new leader to tackle these pressing issues and restore confidence in the government. “I will now…
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has scheduled a meeting for Friday, August 16, to select a successor to the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. Ariwoola is set to retire on August 22, when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70. According to a Supreme Court source, the NJC will forward the chosen name to President Bola Tinubu for consideration. The source revealed that the next most senior Justice, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, is likely to succeed Ariwoola, following the traditional hierarchy of the apex court. The Supreme Court has scheduled a valedictory session for August 22 to…
Arsenal are in talks with Real Sociedad over the signing of midfielder Mikel Merino. There is work still to do on the deal, but Merino is understood to be keen on the move. An agreement on personal terms is not expected to be a problem. Merino, 28, has a year left on his contract. He featured in all seven games for Spain at the Euros – scoring the winner in the quarter-final against Germany.
The Kano State government has said those who invaded the State High Court during the nationwide protest carted away some of the documents used in the corruption trial of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. Statereporters gathered that Kano government had dragged Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat, Umar, his Son, Umar Abdullahi, and five others to the court over 8 charges bothering on misappropriation, and diversion of funds during his eight-year tenure as governor. The court is among the properties vandalised and looted by hoodlums during the #EndBadGovernance protest. On Wednesday, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf visited the court to assess the damages. The…
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has withdrawn the counter subversion bill. The bill prescribes a 10-year jail term, N5 million fine or both for those who refuse to recite the national anthem and pledge. The decision, announced in a press statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Musa Krishi, on Wednesday was said to have come after extensive consultations with various stakeholders and a careful assessment of the nation’s current circumstances. The statement read, “In response to the voices and concerns of the people, the Speaker of the House of…
A rights advocating organization, The Take It Back Movement, has announced its intention to initiate a new nationwide protest in response to the recently proposed legislation concerning the national anthem. This threat is coming days following the conclusion of the #EndBadGovernance protests organized by the same group. It is worth noting that the House of Representatives is currently considering a bill that would impose penalties on Nigerians who fail to recite the national anthem. Sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the proposed legislation seeks to enforce a fine of ₦5 million or a prison sentence of up to 10 years, or…
Mikel Obi Says He, Drogba Are Working To Bring Victor Osimhen To Chelsea. Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has revealed that he and Didier Drogba are actively involved in persuading Victor Osimhen to consider a move to Chelsea from Napoli. Victor Osimhen currently has a €130 million release clause in his contract with Napoli and it is highly anticipated that he will depart from the Italian club this summer. Reports suggest that the 25-year-old has attracted interest from Chelsea, with a potential deal involving Romelu Lukaku moving to Napoli. Mikel Obi has expressed his belief that Osimhen’s playing…
President Tinubu will meet with the Equatorial Guinean President at the Presidential Villa on arrival, where meetings will be held between the two leaders and agreements, particularly on oil and gas and security, signed. Accompanying President Tinubu on this trip are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and other members of his cabinet, who will participate in signing agreements and exploring opportunities to enhance bilateral relations between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has slammed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and the National Assembly over the Counter Subversion Bill 2024, which aims to impose stringent penalties on Nigerians who fail to recite the national anthem. State reporters informed that according to the bill sponsored by Abbas, anyone found guilty of refusing to recite the national anthem shall be fined N5 million, face a 10-year prison sentence, or both. Reacting via her X handle, Ezekwesili described the proposed legislation as a silly flight of fancy that further reveals how unserious and irrelevant the…