The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Maiden Japa Masters Volleyball Tournament holds in August

    Maiden Japa Masters Volleyball Tournament holds in August

    The inaugural Japa Masters Volleyball Tournament 2024 is set to take place in August 2024, with plans now finalised for this exciting event.

    Genevieve Obuladike, the Manager of Japa Masters Spikers, announced that the tournament will run from the 6th to 10th of August 2024 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos State.

    “Japa Masters Volleyball Tournament aims to set a benchmark for volleyball organisations in Lagos and Nigeria as a whole,” she stated. “It’s an opportunity for players to attract attention from international clubs.”

    Read Also: Japa Masters Volleyball

    She also mentioned plans to collaborate closely with volleyball authorities in Nigeria to explore the possibility of inviting top volleyball agents to scout for promising players.

    Additionally, the tournament offers a substantial cash prize of 4 million naira for the winners, along with other awards recognizing outstanding performances throughout the event.

    Registration for the 1st Japa Masters Volleyball Tournament 2024 will close on June 30th, urging interested participants to seize this opportunity to be part of a groundbreaking sporting event.

  • Badminton: Opeyori qualifies for Paris 2024 Olympics

    Badminton: Opeyori qualifies for Paris 2024 Olympics

    Multiple African Men’s Singles Badminton Champion, Anuoluwapo Opeyori has qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, according to the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

    Opeyori who is a two time African Games Champion made history by becoming the first Nigerian badminton player to make it to the Olympics back to back (2020 and 2024).

    Opeyori dominated Africa in the men’s singles from 2019 till date winning four African Championship titles and two African Games titles.

    Read Also:Aruna, Edem listed for African Cup, Olympics Qualifiers

    An elated Francis Orbih, President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN)  told newsmen on Saturday that Anuoluwapo Opeyori has broken the jinx in Nigeria badminton by making it to the Olympic Games in Paris.

    Orbih said Opeyori’s qualification shows that the current leadership of Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) target of producing world class players is beginning to manifest.

    He revealed that BFN will leave no stone unturned in supporting the dreams and aspirations of the young players in making podium finishes.

    Orbih said, “History has been made in badminton as Anuoluwapo Opeyori has secured a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with the release made by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

    “I am excited and full of joy because Anuoluwapo Opeyori is the first Nigerian badminton player to feature in the men’s singles at the Olympic Games and also the first Nigerian to attend two Olympics and back to back.”

  • Dessers scores consolation goal for Rangers

    Dessers scores consolation goal for Rangers

    Cyriel Dessers has netted his 21st goal of the season, but Rangers still lost 2-1 to local rivals Celtic, who now have opened a six-point gap at the top of the Scottish table.

    Read Also: Dessers eager to keep scoring for Rangers

    Table toppers Celtic opened scoring in the 35th minute and three minutes later they doubled their lead, before Dessers pulled a goal back for Rangers on 40 minutes.

  • Burnley relegated from Premier League by Spurs loss

    Burnley relegated from Premier League by Spurs loss

    Burnley have been relegated from the Premier League after they could not secure a win at Tottenham which would have kept their hopes alive.

    The Clarets, who knew a draw or defeat meant they would no longer be able to catch fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest, took the lead when Jacob Bruun Larsen slid in a 25th-minute opener.

    The joy among the travelling fans was tempered seven minutes later when Pedro Perro hammered in an equaliser.

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    After dominating the second half without finding a way through, Spurs were finally rewarded when defender Micky van de Ven burst forward and expertly slotted the winner into the bottom corner.

    The draw would have done few favours for fifth-placed Tottenham, who needed a win to keep the pressure on Aston Villa in the race for the Champions League.

  • Man City edge closer to title with Fulham win

    Man City edge closer to title with Fulham win

    Josko Gvardiol scored twice as Manchester City put the pressure on Arsenal in the title race by beating Fulham to move two points clear at the top of the Premier League.

    In a game they dominated from start to finish, the visitors opened the scoring early on when defender Gvardiol produced a clinical finish after a good move opened up the Fulham defence.

    Phil Foden then continued his excellent form this season with a second after the break, sending a first-time finish past Bernd Leno.

    Read Also:Four-goal Haaland keeps Man City on track

    Manchester City did not have to wait long for another goal as Gvardiol stabbed in at the far post to put the result beyond Fulham.

    Issa Diop was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time as he brought down Julain Alvarez inside the box, and the Manchester City substitute then duly converted the penalty.

    The result means the Gunners head to Manchester United on Sunday needing to win to be certain of taking the title race to the final day of the season.

  • WC Qualifier: Fit-again Ekong tops Super Eagles list

    WC Qualifier: Fit-again Ekong tops Super Eagles list

    Officials said AFCON MVP William Ekong has been recalled by new Super Eagles coach Finidi George for next month’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin.

    Experienced central defender Ekong has returned to full training with Greek club PAOK after surgery for a thigh injury he suffered at the AFCON in February.

    He was a stand-in skipper at the delayed AFCON and scored thrice from defense to be named the tournament’s best player.

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    Finidi has submitted to the NFF a provisional squad for the World Cup qualifiers.

    Nigeria welcome South Africa to Uyo on June 7 before a trip to Abidjan to take on hosts Benin a few days later.

    The Super Eagles are third in Group C with two points from as many games.

    Rwanda lead the group with four points with South Africa, widely regarded as Nigeria’s main rivals, second with three points.

    Meanwhile, the Super Eagles training camp in Uyo for a must-win 2026 World Cup qualifier against South Africa will open on June 1.

    Officials told SCORENigeria that full team training will be same day.

    The Group C World Cup qualifier is fixed for June 7 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

    Bafana Bafana of South Africa are second in the qualifying group with three points from two matches, a point ahead of third-placed Nigeria. Rwanda top the group with four points.

  • Benue commission of inquiry calls for memoranda

    Benue commission of inquiry calls for memoranda

    The commission of inquiry set up by Governor Hyacinth Alia to investigate the income and expenditure of the Benue State Government from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023, said it has commenced collection of memoranda.

    In a statement signed by Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo (retrd) and Dr. Abraham Gberindyer on Friday, the commission said all memoranda, which are to be addressed to the chairman, should be in 11 hard copies and 1 soft copy.

    According to the statement, such mail should reach the commission at Court 6, opposite Nigeria Immigration Service Command, Makurdi not later than 14 days from May 10, 2024.

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    The Commission is to, among others, identify the income of the Benue State Government from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023; look into the expenditure and utilisation of the income of Benue State from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023; identify all the Benue State bank accounts and examine the propriety or otherwise of the transactions in the accounts from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023.

    The commission is also to identify the loans taken by the Benue State Government from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023, and ascertain the appropriateness of the utilisation, interest charged on the loans and the possible abuses thereof.

    Others are to identify the loans given out by the Benue State Government, the alleged waivers and the possible abuses thereof, as well as identify the special interventions, including but not limited to the Bailout Funds, Paris Club Refunds received by the Benue State Government from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023, and their application thereof.

    The Commission is to further determine the internally generated revenue and the utilisation of same and identify cases of misappropriation, abuse, misuse and diversion of Benue State funds from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023, and such persons that were involved in the misappropriation.

    It is also expected to Identify all the contracts that were issued by the Benue State Government from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023, and examine whether due process was followed in issuing such contracts and whether such contracts were actually executed

  • Court strikes out N400m account freezing suit against CBN

    Court strikes out N400m account freezing suit against CBN

    The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by one Mr Babatunde Victor Segun, who claimed that his bank account was unlawfully frozen by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and United Bank of Africa (UBA).

    Justice Emeka Nwite, in his judgement on Friday, May 10, 2024, held that the suit lacked merit and dismissed it without cost.

    The Applicant had approached the court in 2021 in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1339/2021, claiming that the CBN and UBA blocked his UBA account from October 15, 2020, till November 4, 2020, without due process.

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    He asked the court to award him N400 million as compensation for the alleged unlawful restriction of the account, and cost of his action.

    In arguing the Applicant’s case, Segun’s lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) argued that blocking his account without due process of law was unconstitutional, and a violation of his rights to own property under the Constitution, the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights.

    But countering Falana, Lead Counsel to CBN, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) of Kenna Partners leading Abdulfatai Oyedele, Esq. of Vantage Attorneys LP, submitted that the CBN does not provide banking services to individuals and does not have any banker-customer relationship with Mr. Segun.

    Ajogwu further submitted that the Applicant had failed to adduce any evidence that his human rights were infringed upon by the CBN.

    But delivering judgement, Justice Nwite agreed with Ajogwu’s position that the apex bank does not transact with individuals.

    The judge also upheld Ajogwu’s submission that the Applicant failed to provide evidence in the action to prove that his fundamental human rights were violated by the CBN and UBA when his UBA bank account was frozen.

    The court thus held that the suit lacked merit and dismissed the suit without cost.

  • Unpaid salary arrears, others why electorate should vote against Ighodalo – Okpebholo

    Unpaid salary arrears, others why electorate should vote against Ighodalo – Okpebholo

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) i in Edo State for the September 21, 2024 election, Senator Monday Okpeboho, has promised to end the 27-month unpaid salaries of lecturers of Edo government-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, the headquarters of Esan West Local Government Area of the state, from November 12 this year.

    He also urged Edo electorate to stop with their massive votes, the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Asue Ighodalo, a Lagos-based lawyer, being backed by Governor Godwin Obaseki, in order to ensure good governance.

    Okpeboho, the representative of Edo Central Senatorial District, spoke at Emuado-Ekpoma in Esan West LGA, while receiving into the APC, over four thousand Obidient Movement’s defectors from Ward 4 and other wards in Ekpoma.

    Read Also:AA’s Iseghohi-Okojie battles Okpebholo, Ighodalo for Edo votes

    He was accompanied by his running mate, Dennis Idahosa, who represents Ovia constituency of Edo in the House of Representatives; the state’s Chairman of APC, Jarett Tenebe; and other chieftains of the party.

    Okpebholo declared that change was imperative in Edo on November 12, so as to ensure a departure from the bad governance and administrative mediocrity, currently being experienced in the intellectually-endowed state.

    The governorship candidate of APC in Edo said: “The neglect of AAU, Ekpoma’s lecturers is unacceptable. The Edo electorate must chase out Obaseki and his PDP. The September 21, 2024 governorship election provides an opportunity for a fresh start. PDP has done enough damage in Edo State. PDP has failed the residents of Edo State.

    “I saw Obaseki on national television the other day, saying PDP had all it would take to win over 80 per cent of votes in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State. Someone who has not been able to rescue AAU’s lecturers, who are owed 27 months salaries, while he is still desperate to produce a successor in Asue Ighodalo.”

  • Surveillance contract: Coalition alleges smear campaign against Olu of Warri

    Surveillance contract: Coalition alleges smear campaign against Olu of Warri

    Niger Delta youths’ coalition under the auspices of the Coalition of Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders for Peace Group (NDENYLPG) has warned some Ijaw groups allegedly blackmailing the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, over unfounded allegations concerning pipeline surveillance contract.

    An ex-militant leader and the national coordinator of NDENYLPG, ‘General’ A. Osama and the National Secretary, ‘General’ Jemine Josiah, in a statement yesterday, vehemently warned the sponsored Ijaw groups to henceforth stop their lies and cheap blackmail by some unscrupulous elements calling for the termination of the contract awarded the revered monarch.

    Rising from a crucial meeting recently, the youths’ coalition said: “The NDENYLPG deems it fit to come from all parts of the Niger Delta where our leaders from Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Kalabari, Okrika, Egbema, Isoko, Bini and others converged on Edo State from the creeks of the Niger Delta recently for an all-important emergency meeting to deliberate and address some pressing issues that are threatening the sustained peace existing in the heart of the region.

    “We totally condemn calls for the termination of the contract of Ocean Marine Solutions Company that is handling the Trans-Forcados Pipeline (TFP), of which the Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atuwatse III, OFR, is the Chairman.

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    “The Itsekiri tribe in Delta State owns over 60 per cent of that Trans Forcados Pipeline, while only 30 per cent of that TFP crisscrosses the Ijaw communities in the creeks and by virtue of this, who is supposed to be awarded the responsibility of the security of the TFP pipeline surveillance contract? Definitely it is well deserved for the revered first class monarch, the Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atuwatse the III, OFR, to handle it.

    “Therefore, we want to warn that the so-called disgruntled fellows of a group, Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum (NDSF), headed by one Chief Julius Daukoru from Ijaw ethnic nationality to call for the cancelation of the surveillance contract handled by OMSC, chaired by the revered monarch, the Olu of Warri Kingdom, is an insult, aberration and sacrilege to the Itsekiri nation as whole.

    “The call to re-award it to Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, an ex-militant leader, who is an Ijaw man from Gbaramatu Kingdom, is totally condemnable, disheartening and uncalled for. We deem it as adding petrol to the fire and we stand against this move being made by the so-called disgruntled, unscrupulous and notorious group of persons that are playing the script of their paymasters.”

    The coalition said that for the purpose of clarity and putting the records straight, the Ocean Marine Solutions Company had never breached its contract terms and guidelines of the agreement entered with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) as falsely alleged by the group.