Category: localnewsupdates

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday sentenced the Biafran agitator, Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment for terrorism.

Trial judge James Omotosho said he ought to sentence him to death but for his decision to show him mercy.

He therefore sentenced him to life imprisonment for counts 1, 4, 5 and 6, “instead of death sentence”.

He added, “With respect to count 3, he is sentenced to 20 years imprisonment without fine. He is sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for count 7,”

He ordered that the sentences should run concurrently.

The judge also ruled that he should not be allowed to use digital devices and be kept in protective custody.

B@ndits Att@ck Abuja Community, K+ll Police Officer in Fierce Shootout

A kidn@pping attempt by suspected bandits in the early hours of Thursday turned vi%lent in Guto village, a border community in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

According to reports, officers of the FCT Police Command confronted the attackers, leading to a heavy exchange of gunfire.

The incident happened around 1:10 a.m. when about 30 armed men invaded the community and tried to abduct a resident along with his family.

ANOTHER TRAGIC REPORT 😩🙆🏻‍♂️ 💔

Earlier today, an 18-seater bus carrying prospective NYSC members from Adeyemi Federal University of Education (AFUED), Ondo State, crashed en route to the NYSC Orientation Camp in Gombe State.

Preliminary reports indicate 16 of 18 passengers, mostly young graduates, were feared dead, with the two survivors in critical condition.

The crash occurred along a northern highway, reportedly due to loss of vehicle control.

The Federal Road Safety Corps is expected to lead investigations, while neither NYSC nor the Presidency has yet released formal statements.

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu’s bold tax reform initiatives are central to Nigeria’s strategy for economic resilience, the Executive Chairman of the Federal inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, has said.
He made the statement during the maiden Distinguished Lecture
Series at the University of Ilesa, Osun State.
Addressing academics, policymakers, students, and industry leaders at the event hosted by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu, Adedeji said Nigeria’s revenue challenges were not a crisis but an opportunity to implement urgent reforms.
In the lecture, titled ‘Economic Resilience in an Era of Dwindling Revenue’, he highlighted the global pressures on public finances, including digital disruption, rising debt, climate challenges and overlapping economic shocks.
He argued that Nigeria’s path forward must combine stronger institutions, diversified revenue streams, and a modernised tax framework.

Adedeji outlined four pillars for building a resilient economy to include fiscal flexibility policy coherence, institutional strength and human capital adaptability.
He emphasised that growing non oil revenue, deepening tax reforms and strategic investment in skills development are crucial to keeping pace with global economic trends.
He provided insight into President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda in the ongoing FIRS reforms, automation of tax processes, expansion of TaxPro Max, improved taxpayer identification and partnerships with state governments to reduce fragmentation.
According to him, the measures are designed to enhance efficiency, transparency and compliance.
Adedeji urged Nigerian universities to engage actively in the country’s national economic strategy, advocating for collaboration with the government to develop evidence-based models for digital taxation, revenue mobilisation and economic diversification .

Lieutenant A.M. Yarima, a young Nigerian Navy officer who recently clashed with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, reportedly survived an ass@ssination attempt on Sunday evening.

According to military sources quoted by Vanguard, unidentified men dressed in black and riding in two unmarked Hilux vans without number plates trailed the officer. The vehicles allegedly followed him from the NIPCO Filling Station along the Line Expressway down to Gado Nasco Way.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali’s availability for Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff final against DR Congo remains uncertain.
Nigeria will face the Leopards in the final of the qualifying playoff in Morocco Today
The South Africa-based goalkeeper played the entire full ume after sustaining an injury in the closing stages of Nigeria’s 4-1
win over Gabon.
Nwabali chose to continue between the posts despite Udinese’s Maduka Okoye warming up to replace the chippa United shot-stopper.
The goalkeeper participated in partial training on Friday, while the other two goalkeepers, Okoye and Amas Obasogie, completed their full training drills.
Manager Eric Chelle is awaiting a full medical report before confirming whether Nwabali will start against DR Congo.

Eberechi Eze has explained why he is convinced it will be a great season for Arsenal he works towards becoming a ” complete player”.

The Premier League Leaders sit four points above second-place Manchester City after 11 games and are expected to go deep into the Champions League as well this season.
Arsenal have finished second in the league in each of the last three seasons but have been the top-flight’s strongest team in the first three months of this compaign as they bid for a first league title since 2003-04. New signings such as Eze, Noni Madueke, and Martin Zubimendi have made a positive impact.
“I am confident it will be a great season,” Eze said after scoring a sublime goal for England in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Serbia. “That’s the aim.That’s what we’re striving towards and working towards every day, club and country. I guess it’s an exciting time.”
England head into Sundays final qualifier in Albania yet to concede a single goal in Group K, and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side have conceded just five goals in the league.
Eze, asked about playing for teams that don’t ship goals, said: “It’s good to be part of these types of squads where the players at the back are so solid and so on it, and they’re just so structured.
“You control a lot of the game, and you have plenty of opportunities to go up the other end. So yes, it’s fun for me, and its enjoyable, and I pray to God it continues.”

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has withdrawn from international duty with Italy.

The defender joined up with his compatriots for their world cup qualifiers against Moldova and Norway, but trained alone amid complaints of a hip injury.

Calafiori has been Mikel Arteta’s first-choice left-back this term, and he played the full 90 minutes of the 2-2 draw at Sunderland in their most recent Premier League outing.

The hip issue meant that he played no part in the 2-0 win over Norway either, with the Azzurri looking to end their qualifying campaign with a flourish .

Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso had said previously that he wanted his players to prioritise Italy’s bid to qualify for next year’s tournament, having missed out on the last two in Russia and Qatar.

However, in his pre-match press conference ahead of the italian’s game with Norway, he admitted that he did not want to push Calafiori to the limits.

“Riccardo joined the national team with a physical problem,” Gattuso said.

“He showed dedication to the shirt and we tried to make him grit his teeth, but we couldn’t force it.

“Alessandro Buongiorno, Gianluca Mancini and others are there for that position.”

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has been sent home from camp ahead of their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Armenia, Daily Mail reports.

This follows his red card in the 2-0 defeat to Ireland on Thursday .

Ronaldo was sent off following a VAR review for a frustrated elbow on Dara O’Shea .

Straight red cards in international football carries a two-match ban.

This means Ronaldo could be suspended for the first game of what is sure to be to his last-ever World Cup.

Portugal are yet to secure their qualification to next summer’s tournament .

The former European champions need a win against Armenia Today to confirm their next at next year’s tournament.

Should they draw and Hungary beat Ireland by more than three goals, though, they face needing to qualify through a playoff.

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong is pleased that Wilfred Ndidi has been cleared to face the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sot Blog reports.

Ndidi was initially expected expected to miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoffs final due to suspension . The 29-year-old received his second booking in the qualifying series against Gabon on Thursday night. The Besiktas star has now been cleared by the Confederation of African Football, CAF to feature against the Leopards on Sunday in Rabat . Troost-Ekong said the team is happy with the decision .

We are happy that Wilfred can play. The clarification is out now, no issues . We also understand what it means for any player on a yellow card to miss a game. Its good to know that he is available for the game,” Troost-Ekong told the Super Eagles media.

Ndidi produced an impressive display in Nigeria’s win over Gabon , providing the assist for the Super Eagles’ third goal, scored by Victor Osimhen.