Author: Daily Post Nigeria

Manchester United board are ‘optimistic’ of beating Premier League rivals Manchester City to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.

The Red Devils’ hierarchy wants to bolster their manager Michael Carrick’s squad ahead of next season and have made Brazil midfielder Ederson their first signing of the summer in a £35m deal with Italian club Atalanta.

But Carrick wants Man United to sign at least one more midfielder as Casemiro has left Old Trafford, and Manuel Ugarte could be sold this summer.

However, according to The Guardian, Man United are optimistic of hijacking Manchester City’s deal for Anderson.

Man City had identified Anderson as their top summer target and are lining up another offer for the England midfielder after seeing their first £80m bid rejected.

The report added that Man United believes Anderson is yet to make the final decision over his future and are confident he can still be persuaded to choose the club over the Cityzens.

Anderson joined Nottingham Forest from Newcastle United in 2024 after signing a five-year contract with the club.

Transfer: Man Utd board optimistic of signing Man City target for Carrick after Ederson deal

Popular Nigerian comedian and actor Bovi Ugboma has said he celebrates divorce when it happens, arguing that it often signifies freedom from an unhealthy marriage.

Speaking during a recent episode of The Morayo Show, Bovi explained that he views divorce as a positive outcome in situations where one or both partners are unhappy or struggling within a marriage.

According to the comedian, the dissolution of a troubled marriage can bring relief to those involved, making it a preferable option to remaining in a toxic relationship.

“I celebrate when people get divorced because I feel it means one or both people were not breathing well in the marriage. I will not suffer anybody, nor will I want anybody to suffer me,” he said.

While expressing support for divorce in certain circumstances, Bovi stressed that his comments should not be interpreted as opposition to marriage. He noted that maintaining a successful union requires commitment and perseverance.

Reflecting on his own experience, the comedian revealed that his marriage of 17 years has not always been easy.

“That is not to say my marriage has been easy for 17 years. It has not. I got married at 29. I have been providing for 17 years nonstop,” he added.

Divorce Should Be Celebrated When Marriage Becomes Unbearable, Says Bovi is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

World soccer ruling body FIFA, has announced that Somali referee Omar Artan will not officiate at the 2026 World Cup after he was denied entry to the United States.

Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup finals, was reportedly stopped at Miami International Airport and subsequently repatriated. He is currently in Turkey.

In a statement issued after discussions with US authorities, FIFA confirmed that the highly rated official would miss the tournament.

“Fifa can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the Fifa World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States,” read a statement.

FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present.

“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”

US immigration authorities have given no official reason for denying Artan entry into the country. However, the development comes amid travel restrictions affecting several countries, including Somalia, under measures introduced by the administration of US President Donald Trump.

The incident has sparked concern within Somali football circles, with the Somali Football Federation (SFF) reportedly contacting FIFA to seek urgent clarification over the circumstances surrounding the referee’s exclusion.

Artan was among the 52 referees selected by FIFA to officiate at the World Cup finals, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July.

His omission is a significant setback both personally and nationally, as he was on course to make history as the first Somali official to referee at football’s biggest tournament.

His selection for the 2026 World Cup had been viewed as a landmark achievement for Somali football and a reflection of his steady rise through the ranks of international officiating.

With FIFA maintaining that immigration decisions remain solely within the jurisdiction of host governments, Artan’s hopes of making World Cup history have now been put on hold, leaving one of African football’s most accomplished referees sidelined from the sport’s biggest stage.

FIFA Drops Referee Omar Artan From W/Cup Duties is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Nollywood actress Peggy Ovire has accused her estranged husband, Frederick Leonard, of having an affair with a married woman, making the allegation in a social media post.

The actress made the allegations via her Instagram Story on Tuesday, where she posted a video purportedly showing Leonard and the woman she claimed is his lover.

In a series of posts, Ovire urged Leonard to appear before a customary court on June 23, alleging that he had previously failed to attend proceedings related to their divorce case.

“Married woman o, shameless lots, please don’t avoid coming to customary court June 23rd for the second time,” she wrote.

She further claimed that Leonard had requested a divorce but failed to appear in court after being served legal documents.

“You said you wanted a divorce, yet you didn’t show up when you were served. Please don’t avoid customary court for the 2nd time on June 23rd because I’m coming with receipts and let’s make this divorce done and dusted, so both of you can finally be together,” she stated.

Ovire also alleged that the woman involved is married with four children and accused Leonard of denying the relationship publicly despite being aware of the details contained in her court petition.

“So-called traditional Igbo man with another Igbo man’s wife with four children. You ran to a blogger that I was lying, but when you were served and saw details of my petition, you knew I had seen one out of many, yet refused to show up in court but sent your lawyer,” she added.

As of the time of filing this report, Leonard had not publicly responded to the allegations.

Peggy Ovire Alleges Frederick Leonard Cheating With Married Woman is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested seven suspected bandits linked to criminal activities, including the killing of three Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, personnel in Bagudo Local Government Area.

Police spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, said in a statement on Monday, that the arrests were made during intelligence-led operations targeting criminal networks operating around the Soda Forest axis and neighbouring border communities.

He said mobile police operatives intercepted three suspects along the Illo–Lolo road while they were travelling on a motorcycle from the Soda Forest area towards border settlements.

The suspects were identified as Muhammadu Bande, Aliyu Abubakar, and Muhammadu Aliyu.

Preliminary investigations showed that they were allegedly moving to deliver food supplies to armed groups operating in forest hideouts.

In a separate operation along the Bakin Ruwa–Ka’oje axis, four additional suspects, Haruna Abubakar, Abubakar Lawali, Anme Shehu, and Yahaya Shehu, were arrested as part of ongoing clearance operations in the area.

The police said investigations are ongoing to determine their level of involvement in recent attacks, including the killing of three FRSC officers in the area.

The suspects are in custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Umar Hadejia, commended the operatives for the arrests and praised residents for providing useful intelligence that supported the operation.

Police arrest seven suspects over killing of FRSC officers in Kebbi

The Executive Chairman of Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Malam Salihu S Abubakar, has said that animal sacrifice has been performed for all pilgrims that paid their Hadaya through the Agency.

Malam Salihu made the clarification on Monday, following widespread complaints amongst some pilgrims that they had paid Hadaya but no evidence that rams have been slaughtered in fulfilment of their Hajj obligations.

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uba Sani, Malam Ibraheem Musa on Tuesday, noted that Hadaya is the money that pilgrims pay for animals to be slaughtered on their behalf on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah.

The statement maintained that some pilgrims had complained to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria(NAHCON), that the animal sacrifice was not done for them despite paying Hadaya.

Addressing Kaduna pilgrims, Malam Salihu noted that the names of all those who paid Hadaya have been displayed at the pilgrims’ residence, adding that officials had informed pilgrims to check their names.

The Executive Chairman challenged any pilgrim from Kaduna State who has valid evidence of payment but his name is not on the list, to meet him for further investigations.

He recalled that 827 intending pilgrims had paid their Hadaya in Nigeria before setting foot in Saudi Arabia, to the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, while 47 others paid through NAHCON.

According to him, 54 others paid in Saudi Arabia, totalling 928 pilgrims and amounting to 668, 160 Saudi Riyals.

The Executive Chairman recalled that only a few pilgrims had presented evidence of payment but their names were not on the displayed list.

‘’We crossed checked their receipts with our records and discovered that those category of pilgrims made payments via Point Of Sale(POS) platforms and the payments didn’t reflect their names,’’ he clarified.

Malam Salihu who said that the error has been rectified, reiterated that the Special Hajj Committee of Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency which he heads, is holding the position in trust for Governor Uba Sani.

He vowed that members of the Committee will not do anything that will betray the trust bestowed on them, tarnish the Governor’s image or short-change any pilgrim.

Hadaya: We made sacrifices for our pilgrims – Kaduna Hajj Chairman

Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, NITP, has expressed reservations over the non-domestication of the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning law of 1992 by many states in the country.

It urged traditional rulers to assist in promoting sustainable physical planning, environmental management, and orderly urban development in Nigeria.

The Assistant National Public Relations Secretary of NITP, Mr Ufot-Akpabio, in a press statement on Tuesday, said the institute made the call during a courtesy visit to the Chairman, Enugu State council of traditional rulers and Ogadagidi 1 of Edem Ani Kingdom, HRM Igwe Asadu.

The delegation, which was led by the National President of NITP, Dr Chime Ogbonna expressed hope that with the new collaboration with traditional institutions, issues of town planning and environmental management would be prioritised.

The statement in parts, “The National President informed HRH Igwe Asadu, the Ogadagidi 1 about the non- domestication of the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning law of 1992 by many states including Enugu state and called on him to assist the Institute in that direction both in Enugu state and beyond.”

He also commended the Royal father for his leadership and dedication to the preservation of traditional values, promotion and maintenance of peace and good governance in Enugu state and Nigeria at large, even as he intimated him of their upcoming 

2026 International Conference/60th Anniversary.

In his response, Igwe Asadu thanked the National President and his entourage for the visit and informed them of the benefits of Town Planning and his preparedness to support the Institute to achieve its desired goals. 

He commended the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners for its professional contributions toward the development of functional cities, towns, and communities across the country and assured the Institute of the continued support and cooperation of the traditional institutions in advancing sustainable development initiatives and encouraged the Institute to continue in its advocacy drive across the country. 

Institute decries non-domestication of urban, regional planning law in states

Iran’s allocation of fan tickets for the group stage of the World Cup has been revoked just days before the start of the tournament, says the country’s football federation.

The World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, begins on Thursday, with Iran scheduled to play New Zealand on 15 June and Belgium on 21 June – both in Los Angeles – before facing Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.

Iran’s governing body says Fifa regulations state each federation involved in the World Cup receives 8% of the tickets for each of their matches, to distribute to supporters.

It added that it had already begun selling tickets but can no longer provide them to fans, some of whom have already made travel arrangements.

“Depriving Iranian supporters of access to their lawful and official allocation of tickets is an action contrary to the spirit of governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries,” the FFIRI statement said.

“This development raises serious questions about the interference of non-sporting and political considerations in the organisation of the world’s biggest football event.”

The FFIRI also called on Fifa “to uphold the principles of neutrality, fairness, and established regulations”.

Iran’s involvement in the World Cup has been plagued with uncertainty, linked to the ongoing war in the Middle East and related security concerns.

On 25 May, Iran moved their training base from Tucson, Arizona to the Mexican city of Tijuana, claiming the US were unwilling to host them.

Under the conditions of their visas, they will have to fly in and out of the United States on matchday for each of their three group games.

Less than a fortnight later, on 6 June, they accused the US of denying visas to “integral” members of the national team’s backroom staff, with 15 administrative officials denied entry.

The FFIRI had previously presented Fifa with a list of 10 conditions for their participation in the World Cup, including allowing players, coaches and officials who have completed military service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said Iran’s players will be welcome at the tournament but individuals with links to the IRGC could face entry restrictions.

Iran were the only country not present at Fifa’s annual congress in Vancouver in April after a delegation of FFIRI officials, including president Medhi Taj, were turned away at the Canadian border.

BBC

W/CUP: Tickets For Iran Fans Revoked, Says Federation is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The organised labour movement, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, has announced plans to commence negotiations for a new national minimum wage in July 2026.

Labour leaders disclosed this at a joint press conference held on the sidelines of the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

The workers’ representatives acknowledged that many state governors have recognised that the current N70,000 minimum wage is insufficient to meet the basic needs of workers.

However, they urged governors not to unilaterally propose a new wage figure, stressing that the appropriate negotiation process should be followed.

The organised labour also called on the government to ensure the payment of all outstanding gratuity arrears.

The labour unions said they remain committed to engaging relevant stakeholders in the forthcoming wage review process to secure improved welfare for Nigerian workers.

Organised Labour to commence re-negotiation of new minimum wage in July

Nollywood Actor-turned politician, Kenneth Okonkwo has alleged that the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC and other party leaders in the South-East received were bribed during the recent primary elections.

Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, made the allegation during an interview on Channels TV.

He claimed that a House of Representatives aspirant from Anambra State, sent him an “SOS message” exposing the alleged fraud that shrouded the outcome of the primaries.

Okonkwo, who claimed that anybody voting for Peter Obi and NDC in 2027, “is voting for criminality”, identified the alleged whistle-blower as one Obunike Ohaegbu, who sought to represent the Nnewi North and Nnewi South Federal Constituency in Anambra State via NDC.

According to Okonkwo, the NDC aspirant “sent an SOS to me and said that Peter Obi is now the head of the criminality that they were scammed in NDC.

“He said Kwankwaso went to his people and made sure that every Constituency produced one candidate so that they are not scammed, but Peter Obi told them that all the aspirants should go into the field, and the aspirants were told that they were going to have primaries.

“Remember that Dickson came out and said once you pay for your expression of interest form, you are not going to pay any money, when you are the one who is nominated, that is when you will pay nomination fees.

“All of them ran into it then Peter Obi and leaders of the South East, NDC caucus, went and told them that after paying for the expression of interest froms, you must pay N10 million bribe for Reps and Senate, N20 million.

“When all of them paid, thinking they were the candidates, they were told to go for the primary. While they were doing the primaries, Peter Obi was in the John Wood hotel writing names of candidates.

“The aspirant sent me the receipt of the money”.

NDC aspirant sent me receipt – Kenneth Okonkwo alleges Obi’s involvement in bribes