Author: Mayor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered a money laundering scheme involving over $300,000 allegedly linked to a suspected internet fraudster arrested in Edo State. According to a statement by the Commission on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the suspect was apprehended alongside 34 others during a sting operation conducted on Sunday, May 4, 2025, in the Sabo Iyako area of Auchi, following “credible intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities.” EFCC investigations revealed that the suspect acted as a “picker” or “azaman” — terms used in cybercrime circles — and was responsible for collecting and laundering more…

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has called for unity within the squad as they prepare for a make-or-break Champions League semi-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. The Gunners face an uphill battle at the Parc des Princes, needing to overturn a 1-0 first-leg defeat to reach only their second-ever Champions League final. Ousmane Dembele’s goal in north London gave PSG the edge, adding Arsenal to a growing list of English clubs the French side has tested this season, having already knocked out Liverpool and Aston Villa after beating Manchester City in the group stages. Arsenal’s recent form has done little…

A federal appeals court on Monday rejected the Trump administration’s request to revoke the temporary legal status of hundreds of thousands of migrants from Nicaragua, Venezuela, Haiti, and Cuba residing in the United States. The 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Boston, upheld a lower court ruling that blocked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from ending the two-year “parole” period initially granted to the migrants under the Biden administration. The Biden-era policy had allowed migrants from these countries to stay in the U.S. temporarily, but the Trump administration had moved to terminate the program, reflecting its stricter…

Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has reacted to the recently released 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results, describing them as a troubling indicator of Nigeria’s deteriorating education system. In a statement posted on his official X handle on Monday, Obi attributed the poor performance of candidates to long-standing neglect of the education sector by successive governments. “The latest JAMB results once again highlight the consequences of decades of underinvestment in education, a sector that should be central to our national development strategy,” Obi said. He lamented that the country’s university enrollment remains abysmally low compared to other developing nations.…

The Trump administration has halted future research grants and federal aid to Harvard University, demanding the institution implement major policy changes before any new funds are released, a senior U.S. Department of Education official confirmed on Monday. The decision escalates a growing conflict between the federal government and the prestigious university, with the administration leveraging federal funding to press its policy agenda across institutions ranging from law firms to higher education. In a letter addressed to Harvard, Education Secretary Linda McMahon outlined the administration’s conditions, which include changes related to campus antisemitism, the use of race in admissions, and a…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Command, on Monday arraigned one Friday Audu, alleged to be the ringleader of a massive cryptocurrency and romance fraud network, before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos. Friday Audu, alongside his company, Genting Nigeria Limited, is facing a seven-count charge bordering on unlawful retention of criminal proceeds, forgery, and possession of fraudulent documents amounting to $2.5 million and N3.5 billion. According to the EFCC, Friday Audu spearheaded a syndicate of 792 members involved in orchestrating sophisticated cryptocurrency and romance scams, targeting both Nigerian and international victims.…

Chelsea winger Cole Palmer has expressed relief and renewed determination after scoring his first goal in 19 games during the Blues’ crucial victory over Liverpool. The win brought Chelsea a step closer to securing a Champions League spot, and Palmer’s performance helped ease pressure as he converted a penalty to break his scoring drought. Speaking to the club’s official website, Palmer reflected on his recent struggles and his mindset throughout the challenging period. “I knew that patches like this were going to come; it was going to happen,” he said. “It’s not really affected me, it’s just one of those…

France’s former Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, has formally apologised to Liverpool fans for the botched security operation at the 2022 UEFA Champions League final in Paris. The long-awaited apology comes three years after the chaotic scenes at Stade de France, which saw fans trapped in overcrowded bottlenecks and tear-gassed by police. In an interview aired on YouTube on Monday, Darmanin — now serving as Justice Minister — admitted the authorities mishandled the event and expressed remorse. “Yes, it was a failure,” Darmanin said. “Because I hadn’t checked what was happening properly, which was my mistake, and because I gave in…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended a social media content creator, Muhammed Kabir Sa’ad, in Kaduna for allegedly abusing the Nigerian currency. Sa’ad, popularly known on TikTok and Instagram as @youngcee0066, was featured in a viral video where he was seen scattering naira notes on the ground, stepping on them, and taunting the EFCC in Hausa. In the video, he issued a daring challenge to the Commission, saying: “Come and arrest me if you can.” According to a post shared by the EFCC on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, the agency’s operatives located and arrested Sa’ad in…

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has voiced strong opposition to the proposed zoning arrangement for the party’s 2026 governorship ticket in Osun State. In a Facebook post on Monday, the former lawmaker representing Osun Central Senatorial District declared that zoning is not recognized in the APC constitution and emphasized that every eligible party member should be allowed to contest. Ajibola Basiru argued that zoning could undermine the democratic process and alienate potential voters from zones excluded by such arrangements. He insisted that competence and unity should guide the party’s choice of candidate, not…