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  • EPL: Paul Merson rates Man Utd’s chances of winning title next season

    EPL: Paul Merson rates Man Utd’s chances of winning title next season

    Former Arsenal star, Paul Merson, has given his verdict on Manchester United’s Premier League title hopes for next season.

    Since Michael Carrick stepped in as interim manager in January, taking over from Reuben Amorim, United have been climbing up the table.

    They currently sit third in the table, behind only Arsenal and Manchester City this term.

    Still, Merson remains unconvinced they’re ready to go all the way to win the Premier League next season.

    He believes United’s immediate priority should be securing a top-four finish rather than dreaming of the title.

    “I don’t think Manchester United are ready to fight for the title next season,” Merson told Sportskeeda.

    “Their sole focus should be on getting back into the Champions League.”

    EPL: Paul Merson rates Man Utd’s chances of winning title next season

  • Army confirms death of Commander, six soldiers in Borno

    Army confirms death of Commander, six soldiers in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Monday said that the Commanding Officer of Sector 3, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), and six combatant soldiers were killed in Monguno….

  • Diezani, ex-Nigerian petroleum minister denies taking bribes

    Diezani, ex-Nigerian petroleum minister denies taking bribes

    Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former petroleum minister accused of benefitting form proceeds of corruption in the UK in exchange for granting government contracts has denied taking bribes.

    Diezani, 65, told Southwark Crown Court on Monday that she had “tried to push back on corruption” in a country plagued by it since the days it was a British colony, BBC reports.

    Several Nigerian businessmen are alleged to have bankrolled huge spending sprees, including more than £2m at luxury store Harrods and £4.6m on refurbishing homes in London and Buckinghamshire.

    However, Diezani Alison-Madueke said that the cost of services laid on for her while on official duties were later repaid.

    “I can state categorically that at no point did I ask for, take or receive a bribe of any sort from these persons and did not abuse my office,” Alison-Madueke told the court.

    “I always sought to act impartially.”

    NNPC

    She said money spent on her behalf was reimbursed by the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC.

    She added that that a service company was set up in London to handle the logistics because the financial structure of the NNPC was in a mess.

    “They paid for all my hotels, chauffeurs… to allow me to perform the job that I did,” she said.

    In court on Monday, the former minister said she was not aware at the time that one of her chauffeurs had delivered £100,000 in cash to her, adding that the money had had nothing to do with her.

    The court heard how Alison-Madueke had risen quickly through the ranks at Shell, becoming the first senior female executive in its Nigerian operation.

    This was despite her not wanting to work for the multinational company because of its treatment of her father, she said, who had once also been a senior employee.

    At Shell

    “I found the job uncomfortable to put in mildly, ” she said, explaining that her father, who was a tribal leader, had once unsuccessfully taken legal action against Shell “for apartheid practice in West Africa.”

    She told the court how when she worked at Shell, the company was having big problems dealing with oil spills in the Niger delta area where her family was from. She didn’t believe the company had done enough “to make good on the devastation that they had caused”.

    Asked about concerns with her own security, she said Nigeria was a “very patriarchal society” so to have a “woman sitting at the helm was a major no no.”

    She added that she was “under dire threats of kidnap” and that members of her family had been seized.

    Alison-Madueke denies five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.

    Also on trial, oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, denies one count of bribery and another count of bribing a foreign public official.

    Meanwhile, Alison-Madueke’s brother, former archbishop Doye Agama, 69, denies conspiracy to commit bribery.

    The trial continues. BBC

    Vanguard News

    The post Diezani, ex-Nigerian petroleum minister denies taking bribes appeared first on Vanguard News.

  • Customs adopts AI-driven systems to boost revenue collection, curb leakages

    Customs adopts AI-driven systems to boost revenue collection, curb leakages

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified efforts to modernise revenue administration with the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI)…

  • 2027: Ohanaeze warns against castigating Igbo leaders over Tinubu support

    2027: Ohanaeze warns against castigating Igbo leaders over Tinubu support

    Youth wing of apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has described as baseless a statement by one Igboayaka Igboayaka who claimed to have declared former South-East governors persona non-grata.

    Igboayaka, who claimed to be President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, had attacked the leaders for endorsing President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.

    He mentioned the likes of Senator David Umahi, Ambassador Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Ambassador Okezie Ikpeazu Sullivan Chime, Chris Ngige, among others, accusing them of political betrayal.

    However, in a statement issued on Monday, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, urged the general public to ignore what he called “antics of an impostor.”

    Okwu, while accusing Igboayaka of impersonation, said it was unjustifiable to declare anyone persona non grata for holding a political opinion.

    According to him, “it is within the rights of the former governors and indeed anyone else to decide who they want to support ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    “Time has gone for people to come on the media to insult leaders simply for not aligning with their political beliefs, more so when such is coming from an impostor. Leaders in other zones of the country have also at one point or the other declared support for one political party or another, but nobody has come to insult them.

    “As we inch closer to the 2027 general elections, we urge our people to be mindful of the fact that support is never gotten by cohesion but persuasion.

    “Political rascalism will not be tolerated in the South-East this time; what the so-called Igboayaka did was the height of rascality and stands condemned.

    “Those behind this mask should desist from disparasing our leaders. These are people who have served their states meritoriously at one point or the other, and we are not going to sit by and allow unknown quantities use them to chase clout.

    “It is highly despicable to deride our most distinguished leaders, including the likes of Ambassadors Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, who have continued to make the youths proud, as well as the workaholic works minister, Engr David Umahi. These are eminent leaders and we totally respect their decision.

    “We are very much aware of people sponsoring the so-called Igboayaka and it is only a matter of time and we will expose them if they don’t desist from this infamous path,” Okwu declared.

    2027: Ohanaeze warns against castigating Igbo leaders over Tinubu support

  • Kebbi govt assures of implementing policy on youth developments

    Kebbi govt assures of implementing policy on youth developments

    The Kebbi State Government has indicated its willingness to implement the draft policy on youth development designed by youth groups to give them…

  • Insecurity: Ekiti govt deploys joint security squad to flash points

    Insecurity: Ekiti govt deploys joint security squad to flash points

    In a decisive response to rising security concerns and reported cross-border criminal activities, the Ekiti State Government on Monday deployed a joint security squad to identify flashpoints across the state….

  • 2027: I’ll respond soon to calls to run for Abia gov — Kalu tells supporters

    2027: I’ll respond soon to calls to run for Abia gov — Kalu tells supporters

    The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has promised to respond to calls by Abia residents to run for governor during the 2027 general elections…

  • Insecurity: Uba Sani Warns Kaduna ‘Conflict Entrepreneurs’, Vows Tough Action

    Insecurity: Uba Sani Warns Kaduna ‘Conflict Entrepreneurs’, Vows Tough Action

    Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State on Monday warned individuals and groups he described as “conflict entrepreneurs” to desist from politicising insecurity, declaring that his administration would deal decisively with anyone seeking to undermine peace in the state.

    The governor gave the warning during his opening remarks at the State Security Council meeting held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.

    He stressed that as the chief security officer of the state, he would not compromise in fulfilling his constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.

    “The constitution entrusts me with the responsibility of protecting lives and property, and I will continue to discharge that responsibility firmly and without compromise,” Sani said.

    He added that his administration was closely monitoring developments across the state and was fully prepared to act against any threat to peace.

    “We are not unaware of those who seek to test our resolve. We are monitoring developments closely, and we are prepared to act. Kaduna State will not return to a past defined by violence, fear, and division. That chapter is closed,” the governor declared.

    Sani maintained that since assuming office on May 29, 2023, the state had not experienced ethno-religious or farmer-herder conflicts, attributing the relative peace to deliberate policies and strategic security interventions.

    “The whole nation can readily testify that since we assumed office, Kaduna State has not witnessed any form of ethno-religious conflict or even farmer-herders conflict,” he said.

    The governor explained that his administration had adopted a preventive approach to tackling insecurity, anchored on intelligence gathering, collaboration, and proactive engagement.

    “We must strengthen intelligence at the grassroots, deepen collaboration with traditional and religious institutions, and maintain seamless coordination among all security agencies. We must stay ahead—consistently and deliberately,” he said.

    He noted that the Kaduna Peace Model remained central to the successes recorded so far, describing it as an inclusive security framework driven by intelligence-led operations and community participation.

    “The Kaduna Peace Model has shifted our posture from reactive containment to proactive prevention. Our most critical asset remains intelligence, which has enabled us to detect threats early, disrupt criminal networks, and prevent escalation,” Sani stated.

    While expressing optimism, the governor cautioned that emerging threats required sustained vigilance, particularly as the political climate becomes more sensitive.

    “The threat landscape is evolving and becoming more complex, and in some instances influenced by political opportunism. As we approach a sensitive political period, we must anticipate attempts to exploit divisions and destabilise communities,” he warned.

    Sani also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had provided critical backing through improved coordination and institutional reforms.

    He further commended the Minister of Defence, retired General Christopher Musa, for his commitment to national security, as well as security agencies operating in the state.

    “Your courage, discipline, and sacrifice continue to shield our people from harm. You operate in difficult and dangerous conditions, yet remain steadfast in your duty. Kaduna State recognises your service and stands firmly behind you,” he said.

    The governor also praised traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders for their role in sustaining peace at the grassroots.

    “Security is not sustained by force alone; it is built on legitimacy, cooperation, and shared values. Your contributions remain central to our success,” he added.

    He urged residents to remain vigilant and support security agencies, stressing that collective responsibility was key to maintaining peace and stability in the state.

    Insecurity: Uba Sani Warns Kaduna ‘Conflict Entrepreneurs’, Vows Tough Action is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

  • NGX: Bullish momentum persists into new week as investors gain N461bn

    NGX: Bullish momentum persists into new week as investors gain N461bn

    The Nigerian equities market began the week on a positive footing on Monday, extending its bullish trajectory…