Author: Alade Adisa

The future of the far-right leader Marine Le Pen – and France’s political landscape – will be decided on Monday when a court hands down its verdict on charges she and party officials embezzled money from the European parliament. If convicted, the three-time presidential candidate of the National Rally (RN) could be barred from standing to succeed Emmanuel Macron in the 2027 presidential election. Public prosecutors have demanded Le Pen be given a €300,000 (£250,000) fine, a prison sentence and that she be prevented from holding or seeking to hold a political position or five years. On Friday, in a…

Manchester City came from behind to reach the FA Cup semi-finals for a record seventh consecutive season with a 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday, but victory came at a cost as Erling Haaland hobbled off injured. Haaland had seen a first-half penalty saved before Evanilson put the Cherries in front. The Norwegian made amends by equalising four minutes into the second period before being forced off with an ankle injury. His replacement, Omar Marmoush, took just two minutes to score the winner from a second assist by the impressive Nico O’Reilly as City booked a semi-final clash against Nottingham…

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has given the federal and Edo State governments a 14-day ultimatum to prosecute those responsible for the killing of 16 northern hunters in the state. NEF spokesperson, Abubakar Jiddere, demanded that the perpetrators be publicly punished to serve as a deterrent against future acts of violence in a statement on Saturday. Jiddere also called for the immediate retrieval of the victims’ bodies for “honourable burials in line with their faiths.” “The north has tolerated numerous such animalistic and cannibalistic acts of recklessness from some southern parts of Nigeria in the past,” Jiddere said. “This must…

US President Donald Trump said he was “p—ed off” with Vladimir Putin and threatened new sanctions against Russia as attempts to negotiate a Ukraine ceasefire stalled. The US president voiced his frustration on Sunday during an interview in which he also threatened to bomb Iran if Tehran did not reach a nuclear deal with Washington. Trump’s remarks came as he prepared to accelerate his global trade war on Wednesday – “Liberation Day” – when he will implement sweeping tariffs on imports. Sir Keir Starmer has drawn up retaliatory tariffs, according to The Telegraph. Trump is growing frustrated with efforts to…

President Bola Tinubu has explained why his administration removed the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from the Treasury Single Account (TSA). The president, who spoke in Abuja while receiving FCT residents at the Presidential Villa for Sallah homage on Sunday said the move was done to expedite development and enhance resident participation in governance. President Tinubu also said the bureaucracy associated with the TSA was hampering infrastructure growth in the capital city and had to be reviewed for impact and progress. The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, led the residents during the homage. President Tinubu highlighted that freeing the FCT from TSA…

A renowned Nigerian billionaire and business leader, Tony Elumelu, has been appointed to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth. ·Tony Elumelu appointed to IMF’s Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth ·Council’s mission is to promote resource allocation, innovation, and sustainable private sector-led economic growth ·Elumelu’s appointment solidifies his influence in global financial and economic affairs Elumelu will join eight other eminent professionals on the IMF advisory council, including Professor Ufuk Akcigit from the University of Chicago, HRH Ambassador Reema Bandar Al-Saud from Saudi Arabia, and Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce. The Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship…

Hamideh Zarei, an Iranian activist has been sentenced to 178 lashes and 18 months in prison after being arrested for not wearing a hijab. A former political prisoner, Zarei was released earlier this month from Rasht Central Prison after spending nearly a month behind bars – only to now face a brutal new sentence. Her latest sentence includes nine months of imprisonment and 74 lashes for ‘disrupting public order,’ nine months for ‘resisting law enforcement officers,’ 74 lashes for ‘insulting an officer on duty,’ and 30 lashes for ‘causing non-visible injuries.’ The Tehran University masters student’s ordeal began on February…

A 40-year-old Nigerian boxer, Gabriel Olanrewaju has died after collapsing during a fight in Ghana. Per multiple Ghanaian news reports, the former West African Light Heavyweight Champion was competing against John Mbagunu, known as “Power”, at the Bukom Boxing Arena on Saturday, March 29, 2025, when he suddenly collapsed in the ring. In what turned out a tragic night in Accra, Olanrewaju was fighting in an undercard bout in Ghana’s Professional Boxing League when the heartbreaking incident occurred. Reports say he suddenly fell to the canvas, during the match, prompting the referee to immediately call for medical assistance. Initially, officials…

A judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja who was assigned to hear a suit filed by the suspended Senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Tuesday, recused himself from the case. Justice Obiora Egwuatu based his decision on a petition the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, wrote to challenge his (Egwuatu’s) objectivity in the matter. Though the suit was originally fixed for hearing, however, when the matter was called up by the court’s clerk, Justice Egwuatu announced his decision in a short ruling he delivered. The trial judge said the case-file would be returned to the Chief Judge for…

Suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has formally filed a petition before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, seeking the disbarment of Senator Nedamwen Bernards Imasuen from the Nigerian Bar. According to reports, the petition, grounded on allegations of professional misconduct, claims that Senator Imasuen was previously disbarred from the New York Bar for fraud, misappropriation of client funds, and failure to respond to disciplinary authorities. The petition noted that Senator Imasuen was permanently disbarred by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department on May 10, 2010, following a complaint by Daphne Slyfield, a client who accused him of…