Red-hot Liverpool face Palace test as Arsenal try to keep pace

 

Liverpool, flawless in their Premier League title defence so far this season, will face a serious test when they visit unbeaten Crystal Palace on Saturday.

 

Arsenal cannot afford another Newcastle nightmare, while Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is in desperate need of a winning run.

 

AFP Sport looks at three key talking points ahead of the weekend’s action:

 

Palace pose Liverpool threat

 

Liverpool have got off to a flyer with seven straight wins in all competitions, but the Premier League leaders will face a stern examination at Selhurst Park.

 

The Reds, bolstered by their knack for scoring late winners, have marched five points clear after reeling off five successive league victories.

 

However, Oliver Glasner’s Palace are also flying high, in fifth place.

 

The FA Cup holders are the only other unbeaten team left in the top division and have enjoyed recent success against Arne Slot’s men, beating them on penalties in the Community Shield season curtain-raiser at Wembley in August.

Palace also drew 1-1 with champions Liverpool at Anfield on the final day of last season, an impressive result that ranks as part of their current 16-match unbeaten run in competitive matches dating back to April.

 

With Hugo Ekitike suspended, British-record signing Alexander Isak is set to lead the Liverpool attack after scoring his first goal for the club in the midweek League Cup win against Southampton.

 

Isak will be closely watched by Palace’s England defender Marc Guehi, who was on the verge of joining Liverpool before the move collapsed on transfer deadline day.

 

No margin for Arsenal error

 

Desperate to end their agonising wait for a first English title since 2004, Arsenal cannot afford another costly slip-up when they head to Newcastle, which has not been a happy hunting ground recently.

 

Mikel Arteta’s second-placed side, Premier League runners-up for the past three seasons, are already trailing in Liverpool’s wake after losing to the champions at Anfield and dropping two points against title rivals Manchester City.

The Gunners, without a trophy since 2020, are developing an unwanted reputation for crumbling when the pressure mounts and the trip north will provide another test of their mettle.

 

Arsenal have been beaten on their past three visits to St James’ Park, including a League Cup semi-final second-leg defeat last season after a Premier League loss earlier in the campaign.

Newcastle have won four of the past six meetings regardless of venue and Eddie Howe’s men have plenty of motivation after taking just six points from their first five matches.

 

Amorim seeks Man Utd momentum

 

Manchester United boss Amorim has his sights set on finally winning successive league matches as his side travel to struggling Brentford on Saturday.

 

Amorim has endured numerous low points since he arrived from Sporting Lisbon in November, including a humiliating League Cup loss at fourth-tier Grimsby in August, fuelling speculation over his future.

 

United have steadied the ship a little with consecutive home league wins against Burnley and Chelsea — the first time they have managed that in Amorim’s reign.

 

But the 40-year-old is still far from secure after a miserable 3-0 loss at Manchester City, in a match sandwiched between the two wins at Old Trafford, exposed the many issues bedevilling Amorim’s team.

 

If United cannot return home with three points from Brentford, languishing in 17th place after losing three of Keith Andrews’ first five games in charge, the questions surrounding Amorim will grow even more uncomfortable.

 

Fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated):

 

Saturday

Brentford v Manchester United (1130), Chelsea v Brighton, Crystal Palace v Liverpool, Leeds v Bournemouth, Manchester City v Burnley, Nottingham Forest v Sunderland (1630), Tottenham v Wolves (1900)

 

Sunday

 

Aston Villa v Fulham (1300), Newcastle v Arsenal (1530)

Monday

 

Everton v West Ham (1900)

 

AFP

Jigawa assembly approves N58bn supplementary budget

 

The Jigawa State House of Assembly has approved a N58 billion supplementary budget for the 2025 fiscal year.

 

This decision came after the adoption of the report from the House Committee on Appropriation during a plenary session of the Assembly held on Thursday at the Assembly’s complex in Dutse, the state capital.

 

The original 2025 budget, tagged “Budget of Innovation and Transformation for Greater Jigawa,” was passed on December 31, 2024, at N689.3 billion. It includes N90.7 billion for personnel costs, about N70.2 billion for recurrent expenditures, and over N537 billion for capital development programs.

 

Besides, the Assembly also approved N17 billion to support the 27 Local Government Councils, covering both their recurrent and capital expenses for the year.

Presenting the supplementary budget report during the plenary session, the Committee Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Hamza-Adamu, explained the increase is due to expected additional revenues from federal allocations to the state.

He stated, “The 2025 Appropriation Law appropriated N698.3 billion for recurrent and capital expenditures, but with the supplementary N58 billion, the total budget now stands at N756.3 billion.”

 

Mr. Hamza-Adamu urged lawmakers to exercise strict oversight to ensure the funds are used wisely and only for their intended purposes.

 

“The Assembly remains focused on transparent and effective budgeting to drive progress in Jigawa State during the 2025 fiscal year,” he emphasised

 

The chairman also highlighted that “this supplementary budget signals an effort to boost ongoing development projects and enhance service delivery across the state.”

 

The PUNCH online reports that the report of the committee was unanimously adopted after Deputy Speaker, Hon. Sani Isyaku Abubakar, who chaired the plenary, put the motion forward for voting.

400 golfers storm Abuja for Nigeria @ 65 tourney

 

More than 400 golfers are set to compete in the Nigeria @ 65 Independence Golf Tournament at the Tukur Yusuf Buratai International Golf Resort and Country Club, Abuja.

 

The week-long tournament, organised to mark Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary, will also honour retired and serving officers of the Nigerian Army.

 

The Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Dr James Agbonhese, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday that the tournament aims to promote unity, camaraderie and national pride.

 

“This is more than a sporting competition. It is a reflection of our national values; unity, perseverance, discipline and excellence,” Agbonhese said.

He said the event would also feature the commissioning of new facilities at the resort, including a midway hut, a modern golf practice range, a back nine starter shed and a golf cart bay.

 

Agbonhese commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Grand Patron of the tournament, for his unwavering support.

 

The Vice Chairman of TYB Golf Club, Dr Ali Peters, who represented the Club Captain, Maj.-Gen. Samson Jiya, said the event was a symbolic tribute to the military’s role in safeguarding national unity.

 

“As we celebrate, we must reflect on the legacy of our founding fathers and the sacrifices that brought us this far,” Peters said.

 

He added that the new facilities would greatly improve the golfing experience for members and visitors.

Jummai Adamu, a member of the LOC, said more than 100 female golfers, including three professionals, would participate in this year’s tournament, reflecting golf’s growing popularity among women in Nigeria.

 

Tournament Manager, Mr Shola Adebayo, said the event would feature daily games, networking sessions and cultural showcases.

 

“It’s set to deliver not just top-level golf but an unforgettable experience for everyone involved,” he said.

 

The tournament tees off on Sept. 27 and will conclude on Oct. 1 with a ceremonial tee-off.

 

Expected dignitaries include the DSS Director-General, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye.

Others expected are diplomats, retired senior officers and other distinguished guests.

 

An award ceremony will be held later in the day to crown the tournament champion and honour winners across various categories.

 

NAN

Man stabs grandparents to death over food dispute

 

A 30-year-old man, Mutawakilu Ibrahim, has been arrested by the Kano State Police Command for allegedly stabbing his grandparents to death during a heated argument over food at their residence in Kofar Dawanau Quarters, Dala Local Government Area of the state.

 

According to a statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, the incident occurred on Thursday morning, around 9:30 am, and was promptly reported at the Dala Divisional Police Headquarters.

 

The suspect, believed to be under the influence of intoxicants at the time of the attack, allegedly used a knife to inflict multiple stab wounds on his grandfather, Muhammad Dansokoto, 75, and grandmother, Hadiza Tasidi, 65, following a disagreement over food.

 

The victims were rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, where medical personnel confirmed them dead on arrival.

Their bodies were examined and subsequently released to family members for burial in line with Islamic rites.

 

In response to the tragedy, the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Homicide Section, for a discreet investigation.

“The suspect will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation,” the police spokesperson added.

 

Kano State, Nigeria’s most populous state, has witnessed an increase in reported cases of violent crimes within family settings in recent years.

 

Security experts and community leaders have often linked such incidents to drug abuse, mental health challenges, and rising economic hardship, which put pressure on family relationships.

 

The use of illicit substances, particularly among youths and young adults in Kano, has been a recurring concern.

 

Authorities and civil society groups have repeatedly warned that drug abuse often fuels violent behaviour and domestic disputes, sometimes leading to fatal outcomes.

Nigeria recorded zero oil investment for 10 years before Tinubu – Lokpobiri

 

The Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has disclosed that Nigeria went over a decade without attracting any new investments in the oil sector until the advent of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

 

According to the minister, the stagnation crippled growth and weakened confidence in the industry, but recent reforms are beginning to restore investor interest.

 

The minister made this known in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Nneamaka Okafor, on Thursday, following his keynote address at the United States–Nigeria Council’s session on oil sector collaboration, held on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York.

 

“At the heart of Nigeria’s renewed energy agenda is a clear and deliberate policy direction: to open our oil sector to deeper, smarter, and more strategic partnerships. The time to invest is not just now, it is ripe.

“Recall that for over ten years, prior to the coming of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria did not have any new investment in the oil sector, but with the reforms we have carried out, which have created an atmosphere that is globally competitive and attractive, we now have new investments running into billions of dollars”, the minister stated.

 

“All inactive blocks during the period of no investments are in the basket now and up for grabs. We have a longstanding relationship with the US and US companies; beyond these relationships, there are new opportunities for new investors, both in the upstream sector and other sectors.”

 

The minister noted that, under the leadership of Tinubu, Nigeria’s oil sector has witnessed significant progress over the past two years, including increased production output and a more attractive investment climate.

 

He urged global investors to seize emerging opportunities in Nigeria’s rapidly transforming oil industry, citing ongoing reforms, enhanced production capacity, and the country’s growing regional influence as key drivers of growth.

“Thanks to bold reforms and globally competitive fiscals, Nigeria has significantly ramped up production and repositioned itself as a dependable energy hub across West Africa and the continent,” he said.

 

]Lokpobiri attributed this transformation to the successful implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, which he described as a “robust, investor-friendly legal framework” that is driving growth and restoring investor confidence.

 

He also emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to energy transition efforts, affirming that the country would continue to leverage its fossil fuel reserves to finance its energy mix, while adhering to international climate agreements.

 

“We are fully aligned with the Paris Agreement, and remain committed to cleaner, more sustainable exploration,” he said.

 

“Our doors are open, our laws are clear, and our environment is conducive; now is the time for U.S. and global investors to become part of Nigeria’s energy success story.”

 

The current administration has repeatedly assured international partners that Nigeria remains committed to energy transition goals, but argues that oil and gas revenues will play a crucial role in financing renewable energy expansion.

Recent policy shifts, such as the removal of fuel subsidies, efforts to deregulate the downstream sector, and renewed emphasis on gas monetisation, have also been positioned as signs of Nigeria’s seriousness in reforming its energy industry.

 

These reforms are part of the government’s efforts to attract $30bn in sectoral investments by 2027 and at least $60bn by 2030.

Fire on board forces Lagos-Atlanta-bound aircraft diversion to Ghana

 

A Delta Airlines flight en route from Lagos, Nigeria, to Atlanta, United States, was forced to make an emergency diversion to Accra, Ghana, following a fire incident in the aircraft’s oven.

 

According to the spokesperson for the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, on Thursday, the incident occurred on Tuesday, 23 September, affecting Flight DL055, which had departed from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

 

He said airline officials confirmed that while the fire was swiftly contained and posed no threat to passengers, the delay caused the crew to exceed their expected duty time, making them unable to continue the journey as scheduled.

 

Following the unscheduled landing in Accra, the airline initiated rebooking arrangements for stranded passengers. Some were accommodated on a Delta Accra-New York service the same evening, with further passengers rebooked on the following night’s flight.

He said, “However, some passengers were rebooked on the airline’s Accra-New York flight the same evening, and this effort was repeated on Wednesday night for additional passengers.

 

“Flight DL055 LOS – ATL finally departed from Accra today, 25 September 2025, at approximately 1200 hrs.”

 

In a related development, Delta Airlines also cancelled its inbound flight ATL-LOS (Atlanta to Lagos) for Thursday, 25 September.

Though passengers were said to have been informed in advance, “The airline provided hotel accommodations and ground transport for those who still reported to the airport.”

To mitigate the disruption, the airline rebooked 23 affected passengers on Air France, while others were scheduled to travel via British Airways, KLM, and Lufthansa.

 

The remaining passengers will be airlifted on Delta’s regularly scheduled flight tomorrow, 26 September, at 11:40 a.m.

 

He added, “Regarding today’s 25 September 2025 ATL – LOS arrival cancellation, although passengers were duly informed about the cancellation, the airline accommodated those who arrived at the airport by providing transportation to hotels as reported in the flight disruption this morning.

 

“Twenty-three passengers had been rebooked on Air France, while others would be airlifted on British Airways, KLM, and Lufthansa Airlines. The remaining passengers are scheduled to depart on the airline’s scheduled flight tomorrow, 26 September 2025, at 1140 hrs.

 

Contrary to earlier reports, the Air France flight from Lagos has not been cancelled and is expected to operate at 01:30 a.m.

“Air France flight has not been cancelled as speculated, but would operate at 0130 hrs. Kindly note that I am attending meetings in Montreal, but I have had to constantly leave the hall to make calls and get feedback.

 

“Follow-up continues. While wishing you safe travels, do not hesitate to reach out to me if there is a further need to,” Achimugu added.

Singapore sets Meta September 30 deadline to end govt impersonation scams

 

Singapore said on Thursday it had given Meta until September 30 to clamp down on the growing number of scammers pretending to be government officials or face hefty fines.

 

Meta’s Facebook is the top platform used by fraudsters to carry out the scams, which have cost victims tens of millions of dollars, according to the city-state’s government.

 

The Ministry of Home Affairs said the police issued a directive to Meta “to put in place measures to target scam advertisements, accounts, profiles, and/or business pages impersonating key Government Office Holders on Facebook” by September 30.

 

Failure to comply “without reasonable excuse would render Meta liable on conviction to a fine” of up to Sg$1.0 million (US$776,000), the MHA said.

Non-compliance after the deadline will subject Meta to a further fine of up to Sg$100,000 “for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction”, it said.

 

There was a rise in scammers on Facebook pretending to be government officials in fake advertisements, accounts, profiles and business pages between June 2024 and June 2025, the MHA said.

 

It said Meta had taken steps to address the risk of impersonation scams globally, including in Singapore, but authorities were concerned that they had continued.

It was the first time the police ordered an online platform to tackle the rising scam problem in the city-state under the Online Criminal Harms Act passed last year.

 

Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming said this month that, in the first half of this year, scams involving the impersonation of government officials rose by 200 per cent from the previous year to more than 1,760 cases.

 

In one notorious example, scammers used deepfakes or images of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong this year to sell fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes.

 

Losses to impersonation scammers rose by about 90 per cent to Sg$126 million in the first half of 2025, according to Goh.

 

There was no immediate reaction from Meta, although it said this month that the firm was against ads that deceptively use public figures to try to scam people.

 

AFP

Ex-French president Sarkozy found guilty in Libyan money scandal

 

A Paris court on Thursday convicted former French president Nicolas Sarkozy on charges of criminal conspiracy but acquitted him of corruption and accepting illegal campaign financing in his trial into accusations late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi helped fund his victorious 2007 presidential run.

 

The trial is the latest in a string of legal troubles for the right-wing ex-leader, 70, who denies the charges.

 

Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, has already been convicted in two separate cases and stripped of France’s highest honour.

 

Judge Nathalie Gavarino said Sarkozy,as a serving minister and party leader at the time, had “allowed his close collaborators and political supporters over whom he had authority and who acted in his name”, to approach the Libyan authorities “in order to obtain or attempt to obtain financial support”.

 

The court’s ruling however did not follow the conclusion of prosecutors that Sarkozy was the alleged beneficiary of the illegal campaign financing. He was acquitted on a separate charges of embezzlement of Libyan public funds, passive corruption and illegal financing of an electoral campaign.

Sentencing is due to be announced later in the hearing, with prosecutors requesting a seven-year prison term for Sarkozy.

 

He was present in court for the verdict, accompanied by his model and musician wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.

 

Two former close aides were also convicted. His former right-hand man Claude Gueant was found guilty of passive corruption and falsification while former minister Brice Hortefeux was found guilty of criminal conspiracy.

 

Eric Woerth, Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign treasurer, was acquitted.

 

In a dramatic coincidence, the judgement was issued by the Paris court two days after the death on Tuesday in Beirut of Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine, a key accuser of Sarkozy in the case.

 

Takieddine, 75, had claimed several times that he helped deliver up to five million euros ($6 million) in cash from Kadhafi to Sarkozy and the former president’s chief of staff in 2006 and 2007.

 

He then spectacularly retracted his claims before contradicting his own retraction, prompting the opening of another case against Sarkozy and also Bruni-Sarkozy, on suspicion of pressuring a witness.

Prosecutors argued that Sarkozy and his aides devised a pact with Kadhafi in 2005 to illegally fund Sarkozy’s victorious presidential election bid two years later.

 

Investigators believe that in return Kadhafi was promised help to restore his international image after Tripoli was blamed by the West for bombing a plane in 1988 over Lockerbie, Scotland and another over Niger in 1989, killing hundreds of passengers.

 

Kadhafi was ultimately overthrown and killed by opponents in 2011 during the Arab Spring as NATO military intervention — in which France under Sarkozy played a key role — enforced a no-fly zone.

 

The prosecution’s case is based on statements from seven former Libyan dignitaries, trips to Libya by Gueant and Hortefeux, financial transfers, and the notebooks of the former Libyan oil minister Shukri Ghanem, who was found drowned in the Danube river in Vienna in 2012.

 

Sarkozy has faced a litany of legal problems since his mandate and has been charged separately with corruption, bribery, influence-peddling and campaign finance infringements.

He was first convicted for graft and sentenced to a one-year jail term, which he served with an electronic tag for three months before being granted conditional release.

 

Separately, he received a one-year jail term — six months with another six months suspended — in the so-called “Bygmalion affair” for illegal campaign financing. Sarkozy has gone to France’s top appeals court to appeal that verdict.

 

He has faced repercussions beyond the courtroom, including losing his Legion of Honour — France’s highest distinction — following the graft conviction.

 

Legal woes aside, the man who styled himself as the “hyper-president” while in office still enjoys considerable influence and popularity on the right of French politics, and is known to regularly meet with President Emmanuel Macron.

Police foil car snatching, child abduction attempts in Anambra

 

 

The Anambra State Police Command has foiled a car snatching, diversion of trucks and also recovered stolen items in separate operations across the state.

 

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Spokesman for the state police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, three suspects were arrested during the operation.

 

Ikenga said the operation was conducted through the enhanced strategic positioning and security patrols emplacement and community/security stakeholders collaboration of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu.

 

The statement read in part, “The Anambra State Police Command continues to stabilise the safety and security of the state as police operatives attached to the respective Police Divisional Headquarters, which include Achalla, Okpoko, and Ihiala, record the arrest of three suspects involved in car snatching/diversion of trucks, child-stealing syndicate, and recover stolen items and vehicles in separate operations.

“On September 23, 2025, by 12.38pm, a Joint Team of Police operatives from Achalla Division and members of the Special Vigilante Taskforce of Achalla swiftly arrested two male suspects identified as Chinwendu Ndieli and Uchenna Offodile.

 

“The Joint Security Team acted on the report of a Mack Truck with Registration No. T 5003 LA, together with an empty container suspected to have been stolen, which was parked near St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Achalla.

 

“Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and revealed how the truck was stolen from a company in Lagos. Meanwhile, the owner has been contacted to come with the necessary documents to reclaim the vehicle.”

According to him, in a similar development, on the evening of the same date, police operatives from Okpoko Division received credible information about an abandoned vehicle along Onitsha–Owerri Road, opposite Tiger Fruit Company.

 

“Acting promptly, the Divisional Patrol Team, led by the DPO, moved to the scene and discovered a white Toyota Camry Spider with Registration Number Anambra: AWK 91 SR.

 

“During the search, an additional plate number, Delta: 06A 90 DT, was recovered inside the vehicle. The car has since been recovered to the station for safekeeping, identification and possible collection by the rightful owner.

 

“Also, on the same evening of September 23, 2025, through the assistance of the youths of Akwa Village, Ihiala arrested one male suspect, Charles Chiemerie Onuigbo, over an alleged case of abduction of three children between the ages of six, three, and two years respectively.

 

“Preliminary information reveals that Charles and two others who are currently at large conspired and abducted the three children. Further revelations from the mother of the victims stated that while her children were eating in front of their house, she went into the kitchen to get them more food, but returned to find them missing. Also, the arrested suspect is a neighbour who had been harbouring the two fleeing suspects whose identities are yet unknown.

“In view of the above, Charles was attacked and beaten by irate members of the community, sustaining injuries before being rescued by the Police,” he added.

 

According to him, the case is under investigation and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and rescue the missing children, adding that other parts of the state command have remained calm as counter-terrorism and other crime prevention operations continue.

FBI places $10,000 bounty on Nigerian wanted for bank fraud

 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a Nigerian, Olumide Adebiyi Adediran, wanted in the United States for multiple fraud offences.

 

According to a statement on the FBI’s website on Wednesday, Adediran faces charges of bank fraud, identity document fraud and credit card fraud in connection with alleged crimes committed in Illinois as far back as 2001.

 

The 56-year-old, who also goes by several aliases including Kevin Olumide Adediran, Eric O. Williams, Maxo Alexandre, Olumide Adkins, and Edward N. Anderson, is accused of attempting to cash fraudulent checks and using stolen identities of US citizens to open bank and credit accounts.

 

According to the FBI, Adediran fled the Central District of Illinois in December 2001, shortly before his trial was due to begin.

A federal arrest warrant was subsequently issued on January 2, 2002, for violation of the conditions of release.

 

The statement read, “Olumide Adebiyi Adediran is wanted for Violation of Conditions of Release. In August of 2001, Adediran allegedly entered a bank in Champaign, Illinois, and attempted to retrieve funds from a deposited fraudulent check.

“He also allegedly used stolen information of United States citizens to open bank and charge accounts. Adediran fled the Central District of Illinois at the end of December 2001, shortly before his trial in the Central District of Illinois was set to begin on federal charges of Bank Fraud, Identification Document Fraud, and Credit Card Fraud.

 

“On January 2, 2002, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Adediran in the United States District Court, Central District of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, after he was charged with Violation of Conditions of Release.”

 

The FBI noted that Adediran has ties to South Florida and remains on its wanted list.

 

He is described as being 5’11” tall, weighing 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

 

“The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Olumide Adebiyi Adediran,” the agency stated.

 

The FBI urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact its offices in the United States or the nearest American embassy or consulate.

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