WINNERS!Liverpool clinch record ninth Carabao Cup at Wembley

 

The Reds clinched the trophy at Wembley on Sunday afternoon after winning a penalty shootout 11-10 following a thrilling goalless draw with Chelsea after extra-time at Wembley.

It is the club’s first success in the competition for a decade – and the first under Jürgen Klopp – with this latest triumph following previous wins in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995, 2001, 2003 and 2012.

Liverpool are therefore now the outright most successful team in League Cup history, having been level with Manchester City on eight victories before Sunday’s result.

The Carabao Cup honour is the fifth major trophy of Klopp’s managerial tenure, adding to the Reds’ Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup titles under the German.

LFC’s overall honours list now includes 49 major trophies for the men’s team.

 

ASUU Speaks On Demanding N1tr From Nigerian Govt To End Strike

 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has denied requesting a fresh N1tr from the federal government as a condition to end its ongoing strike action.
The report of the huge cash demand was denied on Sunday by the National Chairman of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke.

Societygazette reports that Osodeke made the denial in reaction to reports that the academic union had laid fresh monetary demand of N1tr to end the ongoing strike action by University lecturers which commenced on 14th February 2022.

While acknowledging that little progress has been made in negotiations with the federal government, the ASUU president denied making such monetary requests.

“It’s not correct”.

“The outcome of that meeting was reported. Nobody mentioned N1 trillion. We don’t respond to all these rumours. What we’re demanding is coming after the government agreed to spend N1.3 trillion in 2009,” the ASUU president was quoted by The Cable to have said.

“It was to be released N200 billion per year for five or six years. They didn’t do that which is what we’re asking for,” he added.

Earlier, Naija News had reported that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has been accused by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of showing levity in its negotiation with its members.

The President of ASUU, Emmanuel Osodeke noted that ending the industrial action is dependent on the readiness of the Federal Government

He stated that the strike will end if the Federal Government take the issue with importance and do the needful.

Osodeke further stated that the last meeting between its members and the federal government was not productive because the government team acted as if it did not know the issues at stake.

 

Burna Boy Involved In Ghastly Accident

 

Grammy award-winning singer, Damini Ogulu, better known as Burna Boy, was on Saturday night involved in a “bad accident” in his Ferrari.
The singer via his Instagram stories confirmed the report of his incident after viral videos suggested that the singer may have been involved in an accident.

According to the 30-year-old, he crashed his Ferrari, and his legs hurt a little but he was fine.

“Yes it’s true. I had a bad accident in my Ferrari today. My leg just hurts a little but I’m fine,” Burna Boy wrote.

 

He, however, stated that he found it funny that people were recording him instead of trying to help.

“It’s just funny how everyone came out with phones, recording me instead of trying to help (i guess they too exited to see me regardless of the situation lol. Gambo got me)”

The Ye crooner also revealed that despite the fact onlookers were too excited to see him than helping him, he still loved his fans regardless.

 

The three-time Grammy nominated singer added that his late bosom friend, Gambo, whom he eulogised earlier on his status, “got” him.

Woman sells son N400,000 to raise money for Dubai trip

 

A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has sentenced two women, Chinaza Smart, and Amarachi Ahukanna, to 12 years’ imprisonment each for conspiracy and child trafficking.

Chinaza, 21, and Ahukanna, 28, were found guilty of conspiring to sell the former’s two-year-old son, Daniel, for the sum of N400,000 to a woman identified as Precious from Anambra State.

The Chief Magistrate, Felicitas Amanze, in her judgement, said the two accused persons committed a heinous crime against an innocent child whose whereabouts was still unknown.

She said the second defendant (Ahukanna), who introduced the first defendant (Chinaza) to the child trafficking business lied to the court that she did not convince her to sell her son in order to raise money to travel to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where she could earn N400,000 monthly.

The chief magistrate ruled that Ahukanna was a chronic and unrepentant child trafficker and sentenced the duo to five years on count one of conspiracy and seven years on count two of child trafficking, which would run consecutively.

Speaking to newsmen outside the courtroom, a legal officer with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs Esther Acho-Korienta, hailed the judgement and expressed the hope that it would serve as a deterrent to other child traffickers.

She said, “The two young ladies conspired to sell the child of the first defendant in the name of travelling to Dubai for business.

“The second defendant approached the first defendant that she earned N400,000 monthly in Dubai, that why would she continue suffering under her boyfriend instead of going to Dubai to do the kind of business she was doing.

“They sold the two-year-old child to a woman at Ihiala, Anambra State, and till date, the child has not been found.

“The second defendant also sold one of her own children in order to also travel to Dubai.”

 

One Dead As NDLEA Operatives Clash With Thugs In Lagos

 

One person has been reported dead during a clash between operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and some hoodlums in Lagos Island.
Naija News gathered that the NDLEA officials engaged the thugs in a gun duel during a raid on camps of some drug peddlers in the area on Saturday morning.

It was learned that the officials of the anti-narcotic agency were trying to arrest and seize hard drugs when they were attacked by thugs.

This development comes days after some NDLEA officials arrested two singers, Zinoleesky and Mohbad from their residence in Lekki for being in possession of hard drugs.

 

Although they have been released, several Nigerians queried why they were manhandled and arrested without a warrant.

In a swift response on Friday, the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi disclosed that the ID card of an NDLEA agent serves as an ‘arrest’ warrant.

 

[BREAKING] 2023 Election: Atiku Visits Obasanjo In Ogun

 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Saturday paid a visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
It was gathered that the Waziri of Adamawa is at Obasanjo’s home to discuss his presidential bid in 2023.

Atiku arrived the penthouse residence located within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) around 10am and went straight into a closed door meeting with Obasanjo.

Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate in 2019 is currently consulting over his yet-to-be declared presidential.

 

According to Daily Trust, Atiku, who was Obasanjo’s vice, stormed Abeokuta on Friday alongside his aides ahead of the Saturday’s consultation.

Atiku is expected to akso meet the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo.

 

Russia Invasion: US Joe Biden Steps In For Ukraine As War Enters Third Day

 

President of the United States, Joe Biden has taken fresh steps in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Society gazette reports that Russia has been unleashing terror attacks on Ukraine since Thursday and over a hundred citizens of the country have been killed.

However, despite a warning by Russian President Vladimir Putin that no world leader, or nation should intervene in the ongoing war, President Biden on Saturday instructed State Department to release the sum of $600m (£448m) in “immediate military assistance’’ to Ukraine.

The Democrat instructed the secretary of state Antony Blinken to release up to $350m “in defence articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training” under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

The remaining 250m would be for “overall assistance”, according to the memo released by the White House, Naija News understands.

The order comes after a call between Mr Biden and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky spoke about strengthening sanctions against Russia and providing defence assistance to Kyiv.

Naija News understands that residents of Ukraine have been fleeing to neighbouring countries since Thursday after the Russian army began to invade their home country.

 

Heavy street fighting against Russian troops is underway in Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv as officials urged locals to take immediate shelter.

The Russian troops reached Kyiv early on Saturday morning, attacking a military base in the city, as well as attempting to capture an electricity generation station.

 

2023: Bola Tinubu Breaks Silence On His Health Status

 

Presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, on Friday clarified that he is not sick, adding that he has what it takes to lead Nigeria.
The National Leader of the ruling APC stated this when he visited the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo in Osun State.

Tinubu further stated that he wants to serve Nigeria and has the quality to serve and make Nigeria great.

The former Governor of Lagos State while speaking at the palace said he wishes to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari when his tenure ends in 2023.

 

He said, “I didn’t apply for a job as a bricklayer. The job I’m applying for requires a brain. I’m not sick. I only repaired my kneel. I’m not applying for the relay race and I’m not a horse. I have the quality to serve and make Nigeria great. I want to serve my country. I have the brain.

“I came here to seek for your prayers. I am here for your support and cooperation. You have known my intention already. You have known what I am aspiring for; all I need is your prayers.

“I have been supporting the people here and there. We have moved all over the country for one candidate or the other especially in 2015 when we campaigned for President Muhammadu Buhari after his emergence, we equally supported him in 2019.

 

“As you all know, what the Constitution says is just two terms for a president after which another person succeeds him. That is what we are going around the country to let our people know that I am ready to succeed d the incumbent President after the expiration of his second term.

“As you all know, what we are doing is to succeed him and I want to vie for President. I want to succeed Buhari and I can’t do it alone without your support. I want your continued support. With your support, it will come to pass.

“I am determined, I am prepared and I am ready for it. God that put our traditional rulers in their various thrones will not forsake us. He will put us there. I want to be President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I want your continued prayers.”

 

General Irabor Speaks On Plans To Overthrow Buhari Govt

 

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Lucky Irabor has dismissed reports that military personnel are planning to undertake a coup and overthrow the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
Speaking on Friday at a virtual media chat tagged ‘Open Ears Dialogue’, Irabor said the Defence headquarters will continued to educate its personnel over the evils of coups.

He said: “The armed forces of Nigeria have nothing whatsoever to do with anything that has to do with coup. We have learned our lessons over the years and we have come to our conclusion that coups will do us more harm than good.

“And so this is what the leadership of the armed forces is passing down the chain, and educating everyone under our command that there is no reason whatsoever for anyone to contemplate that.”

He also warned against politicians drawing military personnel into political matters.

Irabor maintained that the Defence leadership has also made their views against coups known.

“And in the same vein, the leadership of the armed forces is also telling politicians to leave us alone, do not mix us up with issues that have to do with politics and do not use political inclinations and persuasions to want to lure anybody from the armed forces into the idea of having to undertake coups and all,” he said.

 

BREAKING: Nigeria Govt Summon Russia, Ukraine Over Crisis

 

The Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government on Friday summoned the Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to Nigeria, Alexei Shebarshin and Kirdoda Valerii.

The government summoned the duo over the evacuation of Nigerians from both countries.

This was made known by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who met with the envoys behind closed doors.

Speaking on his meeting with the Russian Ambassador, Onyeama said he told Shebarshin that the Government of Nigeria could not condone as a country, the violation of the territorial integrity of a United Nations member state.

 

According to Nigeria’s Minister, he told the Russian envoy that he country must withdraw from Ukraine and prioritise diplomacy and dialogue.

He said: “This is really the position of the government. And also, that we have 5600 Nigerians in Ukraine and we are very concerned about what we are hearing and what we are seeing regarding missiles and bombs about the safety of our Nigerian citizens there, that we would like to be able to evacuate them.

“This would be communicated to his headquarters and that obviously, they consider Nigeria a friendly country and Nigerians; and that they would do nothing to harm Nigerians and assured me that their action is targeted at military installations and that they are not about to start attacking civilian areas and so forth.”

Onyeama added that the Russian envoy insisted that civilians are not being targeted by Vladimir Putin’s military.

On evacuating Nigerians in Ukraine, Onyeama said the issue can only come up when the airports open.

He added that they discussed road travel to facilitate the evacuation, even though some Nigerians have been able to get into neighouring countries such as Holland.

On his meeting with Valerii, the minister stated that the Nigerian government sympathized with Ukraine regarding Russia’s invasion.

While pointing out that Nigeria has diplomatic relations with Ukraine, Onyeama said the Buhari government condemned the violation of their sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“And we certainly want the cooperation of the Government of Ukraine to do whatever is possible to ensure their (Nigerians) safety and security and to also seek advice as to how the evacuation can be facilitated,” Onyeama further said.

 

On his part, the Ukrainian envoy expressed gratitude to the Government and people of Nigeria for their support.

“Right now, we are in a very difficult situation, but we are fighting against the aggression and we believe that we will all win,” the Ukrainian envoy said.

Valerii stated that the evacuation, by air, of Nigerians in the country was currently impossible because it is not safe to fly on the sky of Ukraine.

 

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