₦airaland Forum

Dapo Ojora, a socialite and one of the sons of boardroom guru, Otunba Adekunle Ojora and his wife, Erelu Ojuolape Ojora is dead. According to sources, Dapo, a polo buff reportedly shot himself in the head Friday evening.

Dapo’s strange death came as a rude shock to many who could not fathom the reason he would take his own life in such a gruesome manner.

Couple of years back, Dapo mysteriously escaped death via a ghastly power bike accident, which forced him to beat a retreat from the public space.

However, there are indications that his alleged suicide may not be unconnected to his marital woes with wife, Patricia, a trained lawyer and an entrepreneur.

Their much celebrated marriage began having hiccups a few years ago and both decided to go their separate ways for undisclosed reasons.

It was gathered that his marital woes was a huge blow to him especially because of the love he shared with his estranged wife, Patricia.

Dapo was said to have tried to put up a brave face, but the separation was too hard for him to handle as he couldn’t bear to lose his loving wife.

Just last year, himself and his wife put their differences aside when they both hosted the creme of society to their daughter, Tara’s wedding to her beau, Folajimi Ayodeji, at their family house in Ikoyi, Lagos.

He left behind his parents and two siblings –Toyin Saraki (wife of former Senate President, Bukola Saraki) and Yinka Ojora.

They all would no doubt be badly hit with this sad news as just nine years ago, they lost the scion of the family, Gboyega Ojora, fondly referred to as Gbegi who died at the age of 50 of heart attack at First Consultant Hospital, Ikoyi.

He left behind a wife, Solveigh Omosalewa and a son, Toluwani.

Devastated to hear about the passing of my brother Dapo Ojora just 9 years after we lost Gbegi his older brother. I knew Daps for 50 years & we played polo together. He was one of the kindest souls that I ever had the honor of being close to. He was a trailblazer! RIP brother.

"Breaking: Billionaire Businessman, Adekunle Ojora’s Son In Shooting Incident..." WOWWW, still saw him in Ibadan exactly a week ago... May his soul Rest in peace...

The police operatives attached to Trade Fair Station of the Lagos State Police Command said it has recovered the mace allegedly stolen from the Ogun State House of Assembly.

The Police said the mace was recovered at Abule Ado Area of the state at about 8.30am.

A statement from the spokesman of Nigeria Police in Lagos Olumyiwa Adejobi, a Superintendent of Police, said the operatives of the force , who were responsive, worked on intelligence from the members of the community that someone in a moving vehicle, suspected to be Toyota Siena Space Wagon, threw out an object into the nearby bush and recovered the object which was later identified to be the Ogun State House of Assembly Mace.

He said the mace had been allegedly stolen from the House of Assembly complex , Ogun State recently. It has been handed over to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, who later instructed the DCP State CID, Lagos State, Yetunde Longe, to protect the mace and liaise with the Ogun State Police Command on the return of the recovered mace to Ogun State.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu however promised to assist the Ogun State Police Command in the investigation into the incident that led to the recovery of the mace.

Some traders of Igbo extraction and Yoruba youths in Akure, the Ondo State capital, have engaged in a free for all following the alleged stabbing of a masquerade escort by an Igbo trader

The incident was said to have happened at Oja Oba.

Witnesses said both sides engaged in a gun duel until security agents were deployed to the area to enforce peace and sanity.

An eye witness said trouble started when a boy serving as an escort of an unidentified Akure masquerade was stabbed by an Igbo man.

The witness said Akure youth mobilised to retaliate against the Igbos and it led to a fracas.

Chief Press secretary to the Deji of Akure, l Michael Adeyeye said the situation has been brought under control.

According to him, “An Igbo man stabbed an Akure man, while the Akure people re-enforced themselves at Odo-petu community.

“The man was injured and has been taken to a nearby clinic. The security men have handled the situation to restore peace.

“At this period, the Kabiyesi has finished every celebration. These fallout celebrations could be done without causing rancour or unrest in the town.”

The PUNCH gathered that the yet-to-be-identified hoodlums broke into the speaker’s office overnight and stole the official symbol of the legislature.

When our correspondent visited the assembly building which is located a few metres away from the Governor’s Office complex in the precinct of the State Secretariat, Oke – Mosan, Abeokuta, some security agents denied access into the complex, citing orders from above.

When contacted, the spokesman of the Ogun Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident.

Suspected bandits have attacked two communities, Yakila and Garin Gabbas in Rafi LGA of Niger state, kidnapping several people.

Yakila community was attacked at about 2.30am today, a resident said.

One of the people kidnapped is a youth leader of the All Progressives Congress in Garin Gabbas, Channels TV reported.

The bandits also kidnapped the District head of Gunna in Yakila, alongside children of two health workers said to be working at a Primary Health Care Centre in the area.

The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Ahmed Inga confirmed this to Channels Television via telephone conversation on Thursday.

According to him, several members of the communities are still missing, making it difficult to ascertain the number of other persons who might have been abducted by the bandits.

“We are still gathering details on the attacks. We will keep you updated.” Inga said

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has ordered telecommunications companies to halt the sale and activation of Subscriber Identification Module (SIM).

This comes ahead of an audit of the Subscriber Registration Database.

In a statement on Wednesday, Director, Public Affairs, Ikechukwu Adinde, said the directive will be in effect until the audit is completed.

He noted that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, instructed the NCC to conduct the exercise.

However, an exemption might be granted if the federal government approves.

NCC warned that non-compliance by network operators could lead to withdrawal of operating license.

The inspection is to ensure that the firms comply with quality standards and requirements.

The Bayelsa Police Command has confirmed the recovery of the bodies of the six Police Officers who drowned on election duty in Southern Ijaw on Saturday.

In an exclusive interview with TVC, Police Public Relations Officer, Asinim Butswat confirmed that the bodies are already in the morgue.

“The unfortunate incident occurred on Friday, December 4, 2020, when one of the speedboats conveying eleven Policemen from Yenagoa to Southern Ijaw capsized at Oporoma. Five of the Policemen were rescued immediately, while six were missing,” according to a police statement.

Governor Diri, who also condoled with the families of the deceased policemen, said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, on Sunday, that their sudden demise while on national duty was very painful.

A Professor of Business Administration at Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Ali Muhammad Garba is dead.

He died on Sunday morning after suffering from a brief illness, one week after he was admitted in a hospital in Kano.

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Untill his death, Professor Garba lectured at Business Administration Department and Dangote Business School, both in Bayero University.

He was buried in Kano Sunday afternoon according to Islamic rites.

Daily Trust recalled that BUK has lost many prominent professors in May and June this year at the peak of mysterious deaths said to have been linked to COVID-19 in the state.

Garba is the fourth BUK Professor to die in 2020 after Prof. Balarabe Maikaba, a former Head of the Department of Mass Communication of the university, and Prof. Monsuru Eniola of Physical and Health Education Department.

The university also lost its Deputy Vice-Chancellor, admin, Prof Haruna Wakili in June.

Telling our people that the Insurgency will last twenty years,after repeatedly misleading claims of victories attest to the failure of those saddled with the responsibility of leading the also signifies resignation and bankruptcy of new ideas & strategies.

An attack by bandits in the Gwaram community, Talatan Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State has left the village head dead and eight others abducted.

Zamfara State Police Command spokesperson Superintendent Shehu Mohammed confirmed the attack.

He said one of the abducted victims is the wife of the District head, Musa Makeri, who is also the former ward chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Mohammed said the Village Head was shot dead after refusing to be kidnapped by the bandits.

Following the reported rift between Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola and his predecessor, Rauf Aregbesola, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bola Tinubu is meeting with the duo at the country home of Chief Bisi Akande.

The meeting, which Vanguard gathered was at the request of Chief Bisi Akande is still ongoing as at 3:05 pm behind closed doors.

It was gathered that there is still deadlock between the Governor and his predecessor as non of the two his compromising their position.

A source told Vanguard that if they were able to reach compromise, journalists may be brief otherwise there would not be any press briefing.

Today, I swore in the Secretary to the @EdoStateGovt, Osarodion Ogie Esq., and urged him to remain undaunted and focused. I also reiterated that the pressures of the job would continue in our quest to restructure our systems for efficient and effective service delivery.

The naira this morning reversed its two weeks loss to the dollar in the parallel market, appreciating by N20 to N470 per dollar.

The naira had earlier depreciated by N30 against the dollar, as the parallel market exchange rate rose sharply to N500 per dollar on Monday November 30th from N470 per dollar on Friday November 20th 2020.

But the new rules introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria on Monday November 30th, which allowed beneficiaries of diaspora remittances and foreign exchange transfers into domiciliary account, to collect the proceed in foreign currency cash, halted the dwindling fortunes of the naira.

As result the naira gained N10 against the dollar yesterday (Tuesday December 1st) as the parallel market exchange rate dropped to N490 per dollar from N500 per dollar on Monday.

This trend continued this morning, howbeit on a larger scale, as the parallel market exchange rate further dropped to N470 per dollar from N490 per dollar yesterday, translating to N20 appreciation for the dollar.

Thus, the naira had reversed the N30 loss against the dollar since November 20th, 2020.

The sharp appreciation of the naira according to Aminu Gwadabe, President Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) shows the effectiveness of the new CBN rule receipt of diaspora remittances.

He said: “Certainly, those hoarding foreign exchange better sell now otherwise they will lick their wounds.”

Commeting further on how the new rule will impact dollar supply and the activities in the BDC subsector, Gwadabe said: “The monopoly of (banks) is broken and the policy will induce liquidity in the BDC subsector.

“It is true that the volume of diaspora remittances amidst COVID-19 19 is still huge. In fact, other countries like Kenya and Zimbabwe are recording higher diaspora remittances inflow as a result of skillful medical doctors abroad.

“Nigeria is expected to close the year with over $20 billion diaspora remittances despite the pandemic in 2020.

“The beneficiary is free to collect his proceeds in foreign cash currency and trade it in the BDC subsector which will lead to true price equilibrium in the market.”

PRESIDENT BUHARI APPOINTS IMAAN SULAIMAN-IBRAHIM AS DIRECTOR-GENERAL, NAPTIP

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim as the new Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

A holder of BSc (Sociology), Masters of Arts (Management) and Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degrees, Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim, hails from Nasarawa State.

Until her new appointment, she was a member of the Nasarawa State Economic Advisory Council as well as Special Adviser on Strategic Communication to the Minister of State for Education.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
December 1, 2020

Nigerian superstar singer, David Adeleke, more popularly called Davido, has expressed his frustration with the rising dollar rate in Nigeria.

The Fem singer took to his Twitter account to lament, saying that he almost cried when he changed dollars to naira.

Davido, who is known for wealth and influence on social media, once said he had made a lot of money and he was tired of making money in a video.

However, in his tweet today, the singer stated that he almost cried when he changed his dollars to naira at the rate of N500 to a dollar.

The foreign exchange crisis in the country has generated concerns in recent weeks, with the pressure on the naira at the parallel market, despite the assurances by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The parallel market had responded to the fresh devaluation of the naira amidst growing foreign exchange illiquidity. The local currency weakened to N500/$ at the black market over the weekend.

The Central Bank of Nigeria had adjusted the value of the naira by N6 against the dollar on Friday. That was the third time the naira would be officially devalued this year.

In a weekly exchange rate for disbursement of proceeds of International Money Transfer Service Operators issued on Friday, market dealers, including bureau de change players and service providers, were advised to add N6 to existing rates.

Dollar don reach 500 ... I changed naira to dollar today and I almost cried smh this country nawa

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State on Sunday admitted that the dreaded Boko Haram sect are still existing strongly in many parts of the state especially in the Sambisa Forest, River Fringes of Koshobe and Lake Chad Basin posing threats to over 6 million people in the state.

Zulum spoke after he attended the mass burial of rice farmers/fishermen slaughtered on Saturday in Koshobe in broad daylight at Zabarmari community in which, 44 corpses have been recovered by security operatives and volunteers, while other corpses are still not recovered in the Bush of Koshobe village, with scores missing at press time.

Koshobe, located north-east, an agrarian community under Jere Local Government Area, where most Hausas engaged in farming and fishing is about 25km drive from Maiduguri, the state capital.

Zulum said, though his administration has launched a security outfit called ‘Agric -Ranchers’ comprised of military, paramilitary and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force including Hunters/Vigilantes safeguard farmers, there is the need for collective responsibility especially from the parts of the Federal Government, and Governments of border countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroun Republic to team up and address the lingering Boko Haram crisis in the region.

He regretted the escalating killings perpetrated by armed insurgents in some parts of the state and assured that his administration will soon recruit additional Civilian Joint Task Force to complement efforts of the security operatives in the fight against Boko Haram.

“With what happened in Koshobe/Zabarmari community yesterday, I can admit that the dreaded Boko Haram sect are still existing strongly in many parts of our state especially in the Sambisa Forest, River Fringes of Koshobe and Lake Chad Basin posing threats to over 6 million people in the state.

“As you are aware that this administration has launched a security outfit called ‘Agric -Ranchers’ comprised of military, paramilitary and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force including Hunters/Vigilantes safeguard farmers, there is the need for collective responsibility especially from the parts of the Federal Government, and Governments of border countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroun Republic to team up address the lingering Boko Haram crisis in the region.

“You have seen this morning, we buried 44 recovered corpses according to Islamic rites, I was informed that over 70 farmers were slaughtered while harvesting their rice in Koshobe village, but as it is, more corpses are still lying there waiting for evacuation.

“I assured you that this administration will soon recruit additional Civilian Joint Task Force complement efforts of the security operatives in the fight against Boko Haram.” Governor Zulum said.

He, therefore, prayed God/Allah to grant eternal rest to the souls of the deceased and their families to bear the irreparable lost.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Rice Farmers Association in Zabarmari, Mallam Hassam Maina in an interview described the incident as a “Deadly Blow”.

He called on the Government and the security agencies to live up to their responsibility in protecting lives and property in the state.

Explosions have rocked a church belonging to father of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

It was learnt that hoodlums numbering about five sneaked into the Christian Universal Church International on 25 Azikiwe Street Mile, 3 Diobu, on Saturday night and detonated the explosives suspected to be dynamite.

Report has it that there was also a significant part of the church which was damaged by the explosion, created panic in the area.

However, no group had claimed responsibility for the dastardly act, two of the miscreants were said to have been apprehended by a vigilant group and handed over to the police.

The operatives of Eagle crack, an outfit of the state police command, Mopol 19 and other security agencies were said to have cordoned off the area.

The secret screening of candidates to head the Economic and Finan­cial Crimes Commis­sion (EFCC) began in earnest on Monday – six days ago.

Although it was not immedi­ately clear which government agency is screening the candi­dates, dependable source close to the Presidency disclosed that “the shortlisted candidates are being screened right now.”

Though the source refused to disclose whether it is the Department of State Security (DSS) or National Intelligence Agency (NIA) that is directed to carry out the screening, other indications point to an inter-se­curity agency screening panel to make the screening multi-di­mensional as every aspect of the lives of the shortlisted candidates will be thoroughly examined.

Though Saturday INDE­PENDENT could not ascertain the exact number of candidates, our investigations have spotted three front-runners, at present.

One of them, from the South West, is a retired Commissioner of Police (CP) who has headed the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police. This law­yer recently bagged a doctorate degree.

What recommended him is that while at the SFU, most high profile cybercrimes cases, and related financial crimes cases were referred to him from all police formations as well as the Force Headquarters by a partic­ular former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) who deployed him to SFU because he believed he could revive the outfit. This man made the SFU to compete favourably with EFCC in terms of arrests, investigations and prosecutions.

Investigations revealed that under him all financial crime cases were treated with dis­patch and readily prosecuted after prima facie cases were established.

The second front-runner is a serving Commissioner of Po­lice from Yobe State. He is said to be thorough bred in cracking cybercrimes and other related financial crimes.

He is from North East geo-political zone.

A most dependable source close to the Presidency confid­ed on Crime Tracker on Friday that, “he is the candidate of the Attorney-General of the Fed­eration. He (CP) almost got the job the last time around but for the publicity the press gave him. And Aso Rock was not happy about that publicity blitz.”

Our source hinted that the presidency does not want to be predicted correctly because “they (Aso Rock) like to sur­prise the public.”

Another front-runner is a re­tired Assistant Inspector-Gener­al of Police (AIG) from the same geo-political zone with the CP.

He had headed the Interpol arm of the police and one of the state police commands in the South West. In both places he exhibited prowess of a trained and experienced detective. He is articulate and does not com­promise illegality. He is known in the Force as a stern officer.

He had also served in the EFCC as an operational officer at the rank of Assistant Com­missioner of Police (ACP). While in EFCC, he was said to have exhibited prowess with good track records of thorough investigations.

Many, think he is the most favoured owing to his EFCC experience. Yet, his EFCC background is proving to be a double-edged sword as those who want a fresh EFCC run by fresh faces in totally fresh ways views his EFCC experience as unwieldy garbage.

Our investigations also re­vealed that a retired Brigadier –General from the North is also being pushed forward. He is said to be close to President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, we learnt that thick clouds have converged against him. Those kicking against his candidature are citing the Comptroller-General of Customs, a retired Colonel who was said to have earlier been recommended in 2015 to head EFCC but was dropped. His candidature was taken for granted as being unstoppable because the man was not only close to Buhari, had played un­forgettable roles in all Buhari’s political campaigns, but his strong and unbending charac­ter had earned for him the “Ne­tanyahu” sobriquet. President Buhari later appointed him to head the Customs.

It was not clear if he came into reckoning at all this time among those being screened. But we know for sure that his CV was among those earlier received at the presidency.

Our efforts to determine when the body screening the candidates would submit its findings to President Buhari hit brick walls. But our sources are optimistic that the next EFCC boss would be announced be­fore the end of December, so that the EFCC will not be with­out a substantive head for too long or this will tell a bad tale to the international community.

Dependable sources close to the Presidency disclosed that, “the CVs of those being screened were submitted short­ly after Magu’s probe panel began and untoward happen­ings began to be unearthed. Saturday Independent further learnt that the “Aso Rock influ­ential insiders (the cabal) knew Magu would not be reinstated, so myriads of interested peo­ple began submitting names of their candidates But now, I believe only few of them have been shortlisted.”

Furthermore, our investiga­tions revealed when that, since Friday 20, 2020 Justice Ayo Salami probe panel submitted its report on the suspended Acting Chairman of the EFCC Ibrahim Magu, to President Muhammadu Buhari, there have been intense lobbying for Magu’s job.

Crime Tracker’s investi­gations further revealed that numerous CVs of many con­testants were submitted to the Chief of Staff, the Attor­ney-General and the National Security Adviser (NSA) by top politicians.

Ibrahim Magu was sus­pended on July 7, 2020 on alle­gations of anti-graft agency had himself graft questions to an­swer. That was when Magu the dreaded hunter became Magu the pitiable hunter.

It will be recalled that, Saturday INDEPENDENT exclusively reported that, the Director of Operations Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mohammed Umar, who on July 10, 2020 was directed by the Presidency to act in Magu’s stead may eventually not be confirmed as the Chairman of the anti-graft agency, when many had thought he was a shoo-in for the job.

We also reported that, the Attorney-General of the Feder­ation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, the Chief of Staff to the President, Profes­sor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu as well as one of the Northern Governors were said to have been sponsoring differ­ent candidates.

Yet, our report that the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari had a soft spot for a former Military Administrator from her Ad­amawa State made the most wave in the sea of public opin­ion.

It will be recalled that those who had headed the anti-graft agency are all from the north­ern part of the country.

The first was retired AIG Nuhu Ribadu from Adamawa State, who was appointed as a serving Deputy Commissioner of Police, before he rose to the rank of AIG. He was followed by retired AIG Mrs. Farida Waziri from Benue State and married to a Gombe State man. Riba­du’s Director of Operations, AIG Ibrahim Lamorde from Adamawa State took over from Waziri. Again, Ibrahim Magu also from the north took over from Lamorde.

A senior officer from the Southern part of the coun­try, who pleaded anonymity, frowned at how Southerners are not considered for sensitive positions, saying this dampens the morale of a whole lot of Southerners in the Force. The officer, giving credence to his be­lief, cited late Mrs. Dora Akuny­ili from the eastern part of the country, who headed National Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and per­formed creditably well.

“Mrs. Dora Akunyili was an Igbo woman. Ordinarily, she would not have been given NAF­DAC job, because it is believed that Igbo people are more into drug business and she could compromise. But she did not, rather, she did a perfect job,” he buttressed his argument.

Shortlists for the player, goalkeeper and coach prizes announced

Public voting via FIFA.com: votes can be cast until 9 December at 23:59 CET

The Best FIFA Football Awards™ 2020 takes place on 17 December.

FIFA has revealed the candidates shortlisted for seven of the individual trophies that will be presented at The Best FIFA Football Awards™ ceremony on 17 December 2020.

Two expert panels – one for women’s football and one for men’s football – have selected the candidates for each category.

The nominees are listed below in alphabetical order:

The Best FIFA Women’s Player:
Lucy Bronze (England / Olympique Lyonnais / Manchester City WFC)
Delphine Cascarino (France / Olympique Lyonnais)
Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway / FC Barcelona)
Pernille Harder (Denmark / VfL Wolfsburg / Chelsea FC Women)
Jennifer Hermoso (Spain / FC Barcelona)
Ji So-yun (Korea Republic / Chelsea FC Women)
Sam Kerr (Australia / Chelsea FC Women)
Saki Kumagai (Japan / Olympique Lyonnais)
Dzsenifer Marozsán (Germany / Olympique Lyonnais)
Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands / Arsenal WFC)
Wendie Renard (France / Olympique Lyonnais)

The Best FIFA Men’s Player:
Thiago Alcântara (Spain / FC Bayern München / Liverpool FC)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal / Juventus FC)
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium / Manchester City FC)
Robert Lewandowski (Poland / FC Bayern München)
Sadio Mané (Senegal / Liverpool FC)
Kylian Mbappé (France / Paris Saint-Germain)
Lionel Messi (Argentina / FC Barcelona)
Neymar (Brazil / Paris Saint-Germain)
Sergio Ramos (Spain / Real Madrid CF)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool FC )
Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands / Liverpool FC)

The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper:
Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany / Chelsea FC Women)
Sarah Bouhaddi (France / Olympique Lyonnais)
Christiane Endler (Chile / Paris Saint-Germain)
Hedvig Lindahl (Sweden / VfL Wolfsburg / Atlético de Madrid Femenino)
Alyssa Naeher (USA / Chicago Red Stars)
Ellie Roebuck (England / Manchester City WFC)

The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper:
Alisson Becker (Brazil / Liverpool FC)
Thibaut Courtois (Belgium / Real Madrid CF)
Keylor Navas (Costa Rica / Paris Saint-Germain)
Manuel Neuer (Germany / FC Bayern München)
Jan Oblak (Slovenia / Atlético de Madrid)
Marc-André ter Stegen (Germany / FC Barcelona)

The Best FIFA Women’s Coach:
Lluís Cortés (Spain / FC Barcelona)
Rita Guarino (Italy / Juventus Women)
Emma Hayes (England / Chelsea FC Women)
Stephan Lerch (Germany / VfL Wolfsburg)
Hege Riise (Norway / LSK Kvinner)
Jean-Luc Vasseur (France / Olympique Lyonnais)
Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands / Dutch national team)

The Best FIFA Men’s Coach:
Marcelo Bielsa (Argentina / Leeds United FC)
Hans-Dieter Flick (Germany / FC Bayern München)
Jürgen Klopp (Germany / Liverpool FC)
Julen Lopetegui (Spain / Sevilla FC)
Zinedine Zidane (France / Real Madrid CF)

FIFA Puskás Award
Who will succeed 2019’s winner Daniel Zsóri in taking home the coveted crown this year? The eleven-goal shortlist for the best goal of the year has been revealed. This year’s selection:

Shirley Cruz (CRC) – Costa Rica v. Panama [Concacaf Women’s Olympic qualifying] (28 January 2020)

Giorgian De Arrascaeta (URU) – Ceará SC v. CR Flamengo [Brasileirão - Brazil] (25 August 2019)

Jordan Flores (ENG) – Shamrock Rovers FC v. Dundalk FC [League of Ireland] (28 February 2020)

André-Pierre Gignac (FRA) – UANL Tigres v. Pumas UNAM [Liga MX - Mexico] (1 March 2020)

Sophie Ingle (WAL) – Arsenal WFC v. Chelsea FC Women [FA Women’s Super League - England] (19 January 2020)

Zlatko Junuzović (AUT) – SK Rapid Wien v. FC Red Bull Salzburg [Bundesliga - Austria] (24 June 2020)

Hlompho Kekana (RSA) – Mamelodi Sundowns FC v. Cape Town City FC [South African Premier Soccer League] (20 August 2019)

Son Heungmin (KOR) – Tottenham Hotspur FC v. Burnley FC [Premier League - England] (7 December 2019)

Leonel Quiñónez (ECU) – Universidad Católica v. CSD Macará [Serie A - Ecuador] (19 August 2019)

Luis Suárez (URU) – FC Barcelona v. RCD Mallorca [LaLiga[MG(1] - Spain] (7 December 2019)

Caroline Weir (SCO) – Manchester City WFC v. Manchester United WFC [FA Women’s Super League - England] (7 September 2019)

The winner of the FIFA Puskás Award will be selected by an international jury comprising a panel of FIFA Legends and by the fans from all over the world registered on FIFA.com. Each of the two groups of voters within the jury has the same electoral weight.

Voting open now!
Public voting is open on FIFA.com and will run until 9 December 2020 (23:59 CET).

FIFA will announce the three finalists in each of the seven categories listed above on 11 December 2020.

The full voting and award process is explained in the rules of allocation.

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state continued his sacking spree on Tuesday as he announced the dissolution governing boards of the state’s two tertiary education institutions.

The governor also sacked 16 more Aides from various local governments in the state.

The boards dissolved are the Ebonyi State University Governing Council and the Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo Governing Boards.

The two boards are headed by Ambassador Franklin Ogbuewu and a former Minister of State for Health, Fidelis Nwankwo.

The dissolution of the boards and the sack of the Aides was announced by the Secretary to the State Government, Kenneth Ụgbala.

Mr Ugbala said the dissolution of the two boards was to enthrone efficiency in service delivery.

The statement reads: “In the further effort of Ebonyi State Government to enthrone efficiency in service delivery, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr David Nweze Umahi, has approved the dissolution of the Ebonyi State University Governing Council and the Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo Governing Board with immediate effect.

“The Chairmen and members of the affected Council and Board are directed to hand over all government property in their possession to the Vice Chancellor and the Provost respectively before the close of work on Tuesday, 24th November, 2020.

“Copies of the handover notes should be submitted to the Secretary to the State Government/Coordinating Commissioner without delay. All concerned are to ensure strict compliance,” the statement added.

The governor in another statement announced the sack of the sixteen Aides, who are mostly Technical Assistants.

Mr Ụgbala said they were sacked for alleged dereliction of duty.

The governor also asked the affected persons to submit all government properties in their possession on or before the close of work today.

“Following the directive of the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, the under listed political appointees are hereby relieved of their appointments for dereliction of duty with immediate effect.

They are: “Mr. Atuma Stephen Ifeanyi (Technical Assistant, TA), Barr. Jude Nwovu (Technical Assistant, TA), Ifeanyi Ogbuewu (Technical Assistant, TA), Chinyere Oreke Daniel (Technical Assistant, TA), Chinoso Iboke (Liaison Officer), Chinedu Iteshi (Liaison Officer), Agatha Nwancho (Member, DC Management Committee), Nwaforagu Ikechukwu (Member, Dc Management Committee).

Others include; Kingdom Otubo (Technical Assistant, TA), Oforbuike Nwoba Technical Assistant, TA), Udoka Elias(Technical Assistant, TA), Sabastine Ojiogu (Technical Assistant, TA), Ejimofor Aleke(Technical Assistant, TA), Amarachi Eze(Technical Assistant, TA), Okoro Idam Eni(Technical Assistant, TA) and Hon. Collins Out Eleri (Technical Assistant, TA)” the statement added.

Mr Umahi has been on a sacking/dissolution spree since last week in the wake of his defection to the All Progressive Congress from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on November 20.

Last week, he announced the sacking of most political appointees from Ohaukwu local government area of the state.

The sacked aides from Ohaukwu LGA, according to Mr Ụgbọala was in order to “ensure greater participation of Ebonyi people in governance”.

The affected officials included all LGA development centre coordinators, executive assistants, senior technical assistants, technical assistants, liaison officers and management committee members of development centres.

The Leader of the PDP since Umahi’s defection and former governor of the state, Senator Sam Egwu hails from the local government, raising suspicion that the sack was a means of removing Mr Egwu’s loyalists from Mr Umahi’s administration.

The governor also sacked four of his technical assistants on Saturday for dereliction of duty.

They include Cletus Ogbonna, John Osi, Tochukwu Ali and Olachi Arua.

“All affected officers are directed to handover all government property in their possession to the SSG before the close of work on Monday, Nov. 23,” Mr Ugbala had said.

Chief of Staff to President Mohammadu Buhari, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and other high profile dignitaries are expected in Port Harcourt today.

They are expected to meet with the South-South governors and stakeholders of the Niger Delta region in Government House, Port Harcourt.

The meeting was called off last week due to the absence of the federal government’s representatives.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Friday announced that only 12 political parties met the commission’s requirements to take part in the forthcoming Bayelsa West Senatorial District by-election.

Bayelsa West Senatorial District is among the rescheduled by-elections holding on the 5th December, 2020.

According to a statement issued to DAILY POST, on Friday in Yenagoa by INEC’s HOD Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Wilfred Ifogah, the 12 political parties cleared for the election include Accord, Action Alliance, African Action Congress, African Democratic Congress, Action Democratic Party, Allied Peoples Movement, Action Peoples Congress, New Nigeria Peoples Party, National Rescue Party, Peoples Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party and Young Progressive Party.

In the statement, Ifogah further explained that, “the exclusion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is in compliance with the Federal High Court judgement in suit no: FHC/YNG/CS/60/2020 and FHC/YNG/CS/66/2020 which restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from including the name and logo of the candidate of the party for Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Peremobowei Ebebi.”

It could be recalled that the presiding judge, Justice Jane Inyang, had in a judgment on a case of forgery filed by Richman Samuel, a former Director of Domestic Matters, Government House, Yenagoa, upheld the plaintiff’s prayers and declared the APC candidate ineligible to contest.

The plaintiff contended that the academic credentials and voter’s card, which the defendant submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the by-election, were forged documents.

Ebebi, who is a former deputy governor, emerged the APC candidate in a direct primary conducted in September by primary electoral committee headed by General Abdulsalam Dahiru (retd.)