Todd Boehly’s consortium has signed an agreement to purchase Chelsea from Roman Abramovich, the English club have confirmed.
The deal was announced by Chelsea on Saturday after Abramovic put the club for sale in March.
The deal is expected to be completed in late May subject to all necessary regulatory approvals, according to the club.
Chelsea were given May 31, 2022 as deadline to find a new owner for the club, after it sanction the Russian owner.
Abramovich hired the the Raine Group to oversee the sale of the club.
Raine Group have chosen a preferred bidder, headed by the LA Dodgers part-owner – which includes backing from Clearlake Capital, a US investment company .
“Chelsea Football Club can confirm that terms have been agreed for a new ownership group, led by Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital, Mark Walter and Hansjoerg Wyss, to acquire the Club,” the club said in a statement seen by THE WHISTLER.
The group defeated the £4.25bn bidder Jim Ratcliffe and other consortiums led by Stephen Pagliuca and Martin Broughton to become the new owners.
Chelsea said, “Of the total investment being made, £2.5bn will be applied to purchase the shares in the Club and such proceeds will be deposited into a frozen UK bank account with the intention to donate 100 per cent to charitable causes as confirmed by Roman Abramovich.
“In addition, the proposed new owners will commit £1.75bn in further investment for the benefit of the Club. This includes investments in Stamford Bridge, the Academy, the Women’s Team and Kingsmeadow and continued funding for the Chelsea Foundation.”
As the Nigerian naira continues to struggle against the United States dollar, the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has stepped up his game of clinching the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the distribution of $300 each to about 400 presidential nomination delegates in Adamawa and Taraba states.
The Vice President reportedly switched from doling out money in naira to hard currency in order to stay on top of his game.
At a meeting held behind closed doors in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital and Yola, in Adamawa State on Wednesday, Osinbajo gave each delegate to the APC National Convention US $300
“I was handed an envelope containing $300 shortly after the Vice President left the hall,” a delegate told SaharaReporters while displaying the money.
He was said to have pleaded with the delegates to favour his candidacy above all others in the race, arguing that he has more experience in governance at home and on the international stage than all his competitors.
SaharaReporters reported on April 22, 2022, that some presidential delegates of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the South-West on Friday went home with N250,000 each after attending a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Ibadan, Oyo State.
“This was what we were given by Osinbajo today,” a delegate had said while showing the money packaged in an envelope.
A visibly elated VP was accompanied to Muna Hotel in Yola, the venue of the meeting by some APC party senators, House of Representatives members and cronies of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Palpable Crisis is looming in the All Progressives Congress, APC over the inclusion of a Withdrawal Letter in the Presidential Nomination Form, POLITICS NIGERIA has gathered.
Some Presidential Aspirants in the party have declined to sign the letter on the basis that it could be a move to force a consensus candidate on them.
This has also been seen as a move to protect the party from court cases/litigation.
The withdrawal letter, seen by this newspaper, has to be signed before a Commissioner of Oath/Public Notary before submission with the following declaration; “I hereby voluntarily withdraw my candidacy from the contest. My withdrawal is in the best interest of our great party, the All Progressives Congress.”
Speaking on the development, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Babatunde Ogala opined that the addition of the letter “might be wrong.”
“It might lead to a lot of problems including litigation because you can’t ask a man to withdraw from a process that you have not even started.”
He queried why the party will have members purchase the form only to assent to withdrawing from the contest before even participating in the process.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the aspirants who have declared from the APC include; Ogbonnaya Onu, Rochas Okorocha, Rotimi Amaechi, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Yemi Osinbajo, Tunde Bakara, Yahaya Adoza Bello, Emeka Nwajiuba, Godswill Akpabio, Kayode Fayemi, Ibikunle Amosun and Nicholas Felix Nwagbo.
The United Kingdom Government may have classified the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation.
In September 2017, the Federal Government of Nigeria declared IPOB, led by Nnamdi Kanu, a terrorist group.
Critics have long accused the UK of refusing to do the same because Kanu holds a British passport.
Kanu, who is facing charges bordering on treason, has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since repatriation in June 2021.
In December 2021, the Nigerian government urged foreign countries to also outlaw those regarded as enemies of State.
“We are lobbying our Western allies aggressively for partnership, investment and support in other areas, such as proscribing Boko Haram, bandits and IPOB as terrorist groups.
“This would severely dent their funding”, said Garba Shehu, President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman.
In an updated UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) policy, the British Home Office announced new rules.
The guidelines issued to decision makers explained how to consider and grant asylum applications to Biafra agitators.
The UK noted that IPOB and its militia, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), created in December 2020, “have reportedly committed human rights violations in Nigeria”.
Britain said though banned, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) is not a proscribed terrorist group but “reportedly been involved in violent clashes with the authorities”.
“If a person has been involved with IPOB (and/or an affiliated group), MASSOB or any other ‘Biafran’ group that incites or uses violence to achieve its aims, decision makers must consider whether one (or more) of the exclusion clauses under the Refugee Convention is applicable.
“Persons who commit human rights violations must not be granted asylum”, the policy dictated.
Decision makers were directed to find out if asylum seekers submitted a previous application for a UK visa.
Thus, asylum applications matched to visas should be investigated before the asylum interview.
Immigration officers must consider each case on its facts, the legal status, profile and size of the organisation the person belongs and its activities.
Others are whether a person in the UK would wish to continue their activism if returned to Nigeria; whether the organisation has a presence in Nigeria, and any evidence that it is being monitored by the government.
Also for consideration are the person’s profile, activities (including online), relevant documentary or other evidence; the profile and activities of family members, among others.
The Palace of Soun of Ogbomosoland has been invaded by a suspected drug addict popularly known in the town as Ajanlekoko.
Although the mission of the intruder could not be immediately ascertained but some claimed he broke into the palace to steal the crowns while some said he wanted to occupy the vacant throne.
It was gathered that Ajanlekoko broke through the main gate and headed to the administrative office in the palace where he destroyed some doors before he was tamed by some men.
Ajanlekoko was said to have attacked a chief who challenged him and removed the chief’s two teeth with punches.
The Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, died on December 12 2021 and the stool has been vacant since then
The Palace Secretary, Toyin Ajamu while confirming the incident in a statement to THE WHISTLER on Friday said there was no iota of truth in the claims on social media that the intruder invaded the palace to steal crowns.
The statement read, ‘Attention has just been drawn to news circulating on the social media about a man who is suspected to behave under the influence of hard drugs by destroying properties that worth million of naira at Ogbomoso Palace.
“The message is sent to debunk the rumors in the media that the man came to steal crowns at the palace.
“To put the record straight, there was no crown at the palace as the seat of Soun of Ogbomosoland is presently vacant with no crown and nothing whatsoever is being stolen except that he destroyed main Entrance Aluminum Sliding doors and Exit door leading to Soun Administrative office from the Palace.
He also injured one of the Palace Chief: Aremole of Ogbomosoland.
“Members of the public are hereby advised to ignore the rumors peddling around that he was at the palace to steal crowns or any property and those circulating such news should desist from doing so.”
US-based Nigerian Pastor, Nicholas Felix Nwagbo of Miracle Church International, has purchased the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) expression of interest and nomination forms in Abuja.
The forms are sold at a total price of N100 million.
Nwagbo, 40, purchased his form on a day his colleague, Pastor Tunde Bakare of The Citadel Global Community Church, also picked up his form at the APC secretariat.
Pastor Bakare would officially declare his presidential ambition on Monday, May 9, 2022, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Central Business District in Abuja.
Aside from the two pastors, other presidential aspirants on APC platform include the party’s National Leader, Bola Tinubu, Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo; and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi.
Also in the race are Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba; Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio; Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha; former Abia State Governor, Orji Kalu; and former Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, and Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
Italian fashion brand, Gucci, will accept payments in cryptocurrencies in the U.S. beginning from May.
Gucci will accept cryptos in selected stores across the US.
The shops to receive the crypto assets are Wooster Street in New York, Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles, Miami Design District, Phipps Plaza in Atlanta and the Shops at Crystals in Las Vegas, according to Vogue Business.
Gucci will also accept payments in more than 10 cryptocurrencies including: Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Wrapped Bitcoin, Litecoin, Shiba Inu and five stablecoins pegged to the US dollar.
The fashion giants will also accept Dogecoin, a crypto founded by Jackson Palmer.
Marco Bizzarri, Gucci president and CEO said, “Gucci is always looking to embrace new technologies when they can provide an enhanced experience for our customers.
“Now that we are able to integrate cryptocurrencies within our payment system, it is a natural evolution for those customers who would like to have this option available to them.”
Many brands have been testing blockchain technologies like crypto as a pay form, but the use has been frustrated by many Central Banks.
Brands like Microsoft, PayPal, AT&T and Starbucks have already adopted some cryptos as payment for their products.
The wait is over as Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo has picked the All Progressive Congress, APC, nomination and expression of interest forms ahead of the party’s primaries.
A top member of his campaign team, Senator Kabiru Gaya picked up the forms on behalf of the nation’s number two citizen on Thursday, May 5, Naija News reports.
Recall that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) made known his presidential ambition last month.
Osinbajo has been touring the country to consult delegates ahead of the primaries which will hold at the end of this month.
Osinbajo’s most recent tour was on Wednesday when he visited Adamawa State and met with delegates from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Naija News reports the VP met with the APC delegates behind closed doors at the multi-purpose Hall of the Muna Hotel in Yola, the state capital.
Though journalists were not allowed into the venue of the meeting, the Vice President spoke briefly with newsmen after he met with the party delegates.
Describing the deliberations as fruitful, Osinbajo said the purpose of his visit was to consult with the APC delegates from the state about his 2023 presidential ambition.
He said: “I came here to discuss with our delegates. We have very useful and robust discussions.
“All of it was directed at various ways by which we can do great things for our country and how we can make progress. A lot was said and done here today and I can say that the future is very bright.”
The Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, on Wednesday made ten promises to Nigerians if elected the next President in 2023.
He made the promises in his presidential declaration speech read to his supporters and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
Below are the ten promises made by Governor Fayemi.
1. Programmatically, as the standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress, I will be leading the implementation of a holistic and integrated response to the multifaceted security crises confronting us. To this end, the retooling of our armed forces, intelligence agencies, and border guards will be pursued in tandem with an overhaul of our policing system and the phasing in of bold universal social policies that will enable us decisively tackle poverty and upgrade human capital and security.
2. To give full effect to concrete programmes of action that will be launched in priority areas which will allow for a revamping of the credibility of the Nigerian state, the promotion and fulfilment of an enhanced social contract, and the rebirth of the national identity.
3. The adoption of broad socio-economic measures that enhance our capacity to fight insecurity must be done at the same time as investments in reinforcing the deterrent capacity of the state through its armed forces, security agencies, and police authorities. Authority and legitimacy coupled with deterrence and rapid response go hand in hand, just as we must better design and interface economic policies with broad social objectives and goals of political inclusivity towards a well-defined outcome, namely, sustained peace, stability, and progress of our country.
4. Let there be no doubt: For the economy to serve broader social and political purposes that enhance human and state security, stem poverty, and promote national prosperity, my agenda for Nigeria encompasses attention to questions of productivity, diversification, domestic value addition, investments in and incentives for research, development, and innovation, and the expansion of domestic revenue mobilisation, among others.
5. Considerable work is already ongoing on the upgrading and expansion of our infrastructure and one of my prime objectives would be to accelerate this both through public investments and partnerships with the private sector whilst simultaneously ensuring that we enforce accountability and get much greater value for money.
6. By the same token, a major rescue and investment programme for the education sector, the health system, the civil service, and the local government system will be launched to re-orient each of them for the task of overall national development, and progress and prosperity.
7. I fully understand that we cannot secure our prosperity without ensuring that our agricultural sector is able to deliver self-sufficiency in critical food markets, feed our efforts at agro-allied industrialisation and thus meaningfully enable the transformation of the unemployed into gainful employment, reinvigorate the rural areas, foster the coordinated expansion of commodity exchanges, and boost the flow of foreign exchange into the economy.
8. No vision of national prosperity however impeccable or programme of national transformation however comprehensive can deliver the outcomes desired without attention to the planning system of government writ large. We must build on recent successes in restoring our national planning system and statistical capacity in order to open new, forward-looking approaches to development management that are research and data-driven.
9. As part of this commitment, a holistic approach to decentralisation will be embraced and institutionalised so that government and its services are brought closer to the people. Our programme of decentralisation will also feed into the goals of a stronger, more united, and stable Nigeria, outcomes which are not only good for our domestic prospects but which will also benefit West Africa, the rest of the African continent, and a troubled international multilateral system.
10. In the course of this campaign, I will adhere to the highest standards of decorum, decency, and respect that Nigerians expect of their leaders. Also, I pledged to bring to full fruition his promises to the pride of all Nigerians and the admiration of the world.
