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Rhasidat Adeleke, World Athletics Championship: The Controversies

Ohiomoje Margaret
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Rhasidat Adeleke, World Athletics Championship: The Controversies

Irish sprint sensation Rhasidat Adeleke will not be representing Team Ireland at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. 

The announcement comes after a challenging 2025 season for the Dubliner, who has been struggling with injuries and a dip in form. Adeleke recently withdrew from the National Track and Field Championships and missed a key Diamond League meeting in Monaco, signaling ongoing physical setbacks.

Why She Won’t Be Participating

Adeleke took to Instagram to share her decision, citing persistent injuries and setbacks. In her statement, she wrote:

“This season has tested me in more ways than I ever anticipated. Lingering injuries & continuous setbacks made it increasingly difficult to train & perform at the level I expect from myself. Following yet another recent roadblock, I’m saddened to share that I’m unable to finish out this season. I’ll take this time to heal, recover and do what’s necessary so I can show up next season as my best self, mind and body. I’m so grateful to everyone that shows me unwavering support. It means the world. Much love – R.”

Her decision highlights the physical and mental challenges athletes face when navigating a demanding season, particularly when aiming to balance individual goals with team obligations.

The Controversies

Despite widespread sympathy for her situation, Adeleke’s withdrawal has stirred up debate. Olympic silver medallist Sonia O’Sullivan criticized the timing and manner of her announcement, suggesting that Adeleke’s decision lacked transparency. In her Irish Times column, O’Sullivan wrote:

“My first concern for Rhasidat Adeleke right now is that she’s not being entirely open or honest. Not just with herself but with some of the people around her… Maybe another option for Tokyo would have been to just focus on the relay when she realised her individual 400m aspirations weren’t working out… Without more transparency, it’s hard to assess what exactly is going on.”

The debate revolves around whether Adeleke might have prioritized the Irish relay team even if her individual event plans were compromised. Critics argue that her solo announcement on social media, rather than in collaboration with her management or athletics authorities, left fans and teammates in uncertainty.

Nonetheless, Adeleke’s decision reflects the personal and professional calculations athletes often make to safeguard long-term performance, even at the cost of high-profile competitions.

At just 23, Adeleke has already established herself as one of Ireland’s most prominent athletes. A former NCAA 400m champion with the University of Texas, she has set multiple national records and has been a cornerstone of Ireland’s 4x400m relay teams, participating in both women’s and mixed events. 

Her careful management of team commitments, such as skipping the mixed relay at last year’s Paris Olympics, shows a sprinter balancing individual ambition with team responsibilities.

Coalition will Collapse By September – Sole ADC Member Drops Hint

Ohiomoje Margaret
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0
Coalition will Collapse By September – Sole ADC Member Drops Hint

Leke Abejide, the only House of Representatives member elected under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has predicted that the opposition coalition built around the party will disintegrate by September.

He made the statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Friday.

Abejide, who represents Yagba East/Yagba West/Mopamuro Federal Constituency in Kogi State, said the coalition’s failure to win a single seat in the August 16 by-elections marked the beginning of its downfall.

“The coalition collapsed last Saturday; across the country, they could not even win one seat. That was the beginning of the end. By early next month, the coalition will collapse completely,” Abejide said.

He also insisted that attempts to “hijack” the ADC would not succeed, describing himself as the party’s “landlord.”

“I didn’t establish the party, but I am the one who kept it alive. I have never defected to a big party. I used the ADC to contest all my elections and also brought others into both the National Assembly and state assembly,” he added.

Abejide further argued that key figures driving the coalition have no real ties to the ADC, pointing out that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi were never part of the party.

He noted that while former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola have joined the ADC, neither holds a leadership role in the party.

In July, the coalition had adopted the ADC as its platform ahead of the 2027 general elections, appointing Mark as interim chairman and Aregbesola as national secretary.

Other coalition members include former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Dino Melaye, former Minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalong, former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, and publisher Dele Momodu.

Abejide had previously dismissed the coalition as a gathering of “selfish politicians” with no concrete plans for Nigeria, describing their use of the ADC for 2027 as a “daydream.”

Trump Urges Ukraine to Launch Offensive as Peace Talks Falter

Promise Ogodogu
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Trump Urges Ukraine to Launch Offensive as Peace Talks Falter

In a sharp departure from typical diplomatic rhetoric, U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly urged Ukraine to adopt offensive military tactics against Russia, declaring that “it is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invader’s country.” He likened the situation to a sports team that cannot win by only defending.

The remarks come amid uncertainty over the prospect of a direct summit between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. While Trump had floated the idea of hosting a trilateral meeting, Moscow has played down the likelihood of such talks happening soon.

Analysts describe the recent Washington summit, attended by Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders, as a European-led “damage control” operation designed to reinforce transatlantic unity and counter perceptions of Trump’s closeness to Putin. While the meeting was successful in projecting solidarity, critics note that it produced little progress on territorial disputes or long-term security guarantees.

Meanwhile, Russia has continued to escalate the war. A massive assault involving more than 500 drones and dozens of missiles targeted Ukrainian infrastructure, including a U.S.-owned factory, leaving multiple casualties. Zelenskyy condemned the attack as evidence that Moscow has no genuine interest in peace, urging stronger international sanctions and trade restrictions.

What This Means

Trump’s call for Ukraine to go on the offensive marks a notable departure from earlier caution about strikes inside Russia, raising fears of potential escalation.

On the other hand, the Washington summit helped showcase European solidarity with Ukraine, but the lack of concrete breakthroughs highlights the fragility of the process.

Russia’s ongoing missile and drone attacks during the diplomatic push have reinforced skepticism about Putin’s willingness to engage in genuine negotiations.

President Tinubu Departs Japan For Brazil

Ohiomoje Margaret
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0
President Tinubu Departs Japan For Brazil

President Bola Tinubu has left Yokohama, Japan, en route to Brazil for a state visit. According to a statement on Friday morning by Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy, the president departed Japan on Thursday night and will stop in Los Angeles before continuing to Brasília, where his official visit begins on August 24.

Tinubu left Nigeria on August 15, had a layover in Dubai, and arrived in Japan on August 18 to attend the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9). The conference, initiated by the Japanese government and co-hosted by the UNDP, African Union Commission, and World Bank, focused on Africa’s economic transformation, business environment improvements, and private investment-led innovation.

Onanuga noted that the president also held bilateral meetings and engaged with Nigerians living in Japan during his stay.

China Slams U.S. Tariffs, Vows Support For India

Promise Ogodogu
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0
China Slams U.S. Tariffs, Vows Support For India

China has sharply criticized the United States for imposing a 50% tariff on Indian exports, including an additional levy tied to India’s imports of Russian oil. Beijing’s envoy in New Delhi, Xu Feihong, described the U.S. action as an act of “bullying” and declared that China would firmly support India in resisting such aggressive trade measures.

Xu warned that silence in the face of these unilateral steps would only embolden the United States, stressing that both India and China should work together to uphold a fair, rules-based international trading system under the World Trade Organization. He added that Beijing and New Delhi should move beyond old rivalries, deepen mutual trust, and strengthen cooperation to help shape a multipolar world.

The ambassador emphasized that China and India, as the two major engines of growth in Asia, have a shared responsibility to push back against protectionism and ensure stability in global trade.

His comments come ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, where leaders from both nations are expected to hold high-level discussions against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions and Washington’s tariff actions.

NNPC Profit Falls Sharply To ₦185 Billion In July

Yemisi Lanre-Idowu
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0
NNPC Profit Falls Sharply To ₦185 Billion In July

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has reported a steep drop in profit for July 2025, recording ₦185 billion after tax. This marks a sharp fall from the ₦905 billion profit declared in June, which itself had already declined from ₦1.054 trillion in May.

According to the company’s monthly financial statement, revenue in July stood at ₦4.4 trillion, lower than the ₦4.57 trillion generated in June and well below the ₦6.008 trillion recorded in May. Despite this drop, remittances to the federation account remained strong, with NNPC contributing ₦7.965 trillion from January to June 2025, an increase from the ₦6.96 trillion it had remitted as of May.

Crude oil and condensate production showed slight improvement, averaging 1.70 million barrels per day (mbpd) in July, up from 1.68 mbpd in June. Of this total, crude oil accounted for 1.40 mbpd while condensates contributed 0.29 mbpd. Natural gas output also rose, hitting 7.72 billion standard cubic feet per day in July compared to 7.58 billion in the previous month. Gas sales moved in the same direction, rising to 4.978 bscfd from 4.74 bscfd in June.

Petrol availability at NNPC retail stations dipped marginally to 70 percent in July, down from 71 percent recorded in June. On infrastructure projects, the company disclosed that the Obiafu–Obrikom–Oben (OB3) pipeline remained at 96 percent completion, unchanged from June, while the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) pipeline advanced to 83 percent completion, slightly higher than the 81 percent recorded in May.

The company attributed its overall operational performance to sustained crude and condensate production, better facility uptime, closer collaboration with stakeholders, and efficiency improvements. It added that efforts to complete the AKK pipeline’s mainline works were being accelerated, while a revised execution plan was introduced for the OB3 River Niger crossing.

NNPC also revealed that a 113-kilometre section of the OB3 pipeline has been commissioned, allowing the delivery of about 300 million standard cubic feet of gas daily from suppliers. Among these, AHL provides 250 mmscf/d, while Platform, Chorus, and Xenergi contribute 50 mmscf/d.

The July figures underscore a significant slump in profitability for the state-owned oil firm, despite modest improvements in oil and gas production and steady progress on key gas infrastructure projects.

Boko Haram Leader Bakoura Refutes Reports Of His Death

Ohiomoje Margaret
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0
Boko Haram Leader Bakoura Refutes Reports Of His Death

Ibrahim Bakoura Doro, also known as Abu Oumaimah, a commander of Boko Haram, has denied reports from the Nigerien government claiming he was killed during recent military operations in the Diffa region.

The Nigerien Armed Forces had announced on Friday that Bakoura was among several insurgent leaders eliminated in targeted airstrikes on August 15 in Korongol, Kournawa, and Shilawa.

According to the military, the strikes destroyed Boko Haram bases, neutralised dozens of fighters, and killed high-ranking commanders, including Bakoura.

Niger’s Head of State, Gen. Abdurahamane Tiani, hailed the operation as a significant success, describing Bakoura as a key figure in efforts to destabilise the country.

However, security sources on Saturday intercepted a communication in which Bakoura reportedly told his commanders that he survived the airstrikes and was not among those killed.

PDP Asks Court To Sack Four Osun Lawmakers Over Defection

Promise Ogodogu
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0
PDP Asks Court To Sack Four Osun Lawmakers Over Defection

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has filed a lawsuit seeking the removal of four members of the Osun State House of Assembly who recently defected from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In the suit lodged before the Federal High Court in Osogbo, the PDP argued that the lawmakers lost their seats the moment they abandoned the platform through which they were elected, insisting that their defection was unconstitutional and a betrayal of the mandate given to them by the electorate.

The party maintained that the lawmakers’ action contravened provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that an elected legislator must vacate their position if they leave the party under which they won an election, unless in the case of a division within that party. PDP stressed that no such division existed within its fold.

The legal action comes amid growing political tension in Osun, as the party moves to protect its majority in the Assembly. PDP leaders said the defection undermines democratic principles and accused the defectors of “political opportunism” motivated by personal interests rather than service to the people.

Court filings show that the PDP is asking for a declaration that the lawmakers’ seats are vacant and for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections in the affected constituencies.

The case is expected to test once again the judiciary’s interpretation of constitutional provisions on party defection, an issue that has repeatedly shaped Nigeria’s political landscape.

EFCC, NIS Deport 51 Foreigners Jailed For Cyberfraud

Ohiomoje Margaret
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0
EFCC, NIS Deport 51 Foreigners Jailed For Cyberfraud

In under eight days, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in partnership with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), has deported a total of 93 foreign nationals convicted of cybercrime and Internet fraud.

According to a statement on Thursday via the EFCC’s official X account, the latest deportees include 50 Chinese nationals and one Tunisian.

“The convicts are among the 192 foreign nationals arrested during a sting operation by the commission in Lagos, following actionable intelligence about the operations of one of the largest foreign-led cybercrime syndicates in Nigeria,” the statement read.

This latest action raises the total number of deportees since the exercise began on August 15, 2025, to 93.

Earlier, 42 Chinese and Philippine nationals, also among the 192 convicted of cyberterrorism and Ponzi scheme offences, were expelled. They were part of a larger group of 759 persons arrested during a major raid on December 10, 2024, at Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The EFCC noted that further deportations are expected in the coming days. The convicts were found to have operated an extensive cyberfraud and Ponzi network, training employees of Genting International Co. Limited in fraudulent activities and defrauding victims using fake identities.

Following the first batch of deportations, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede praised the effort as a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign.

“These convictions send a strong signal that Nigeria will not serve as a haven for cybercriminals,” he said.

“The commission remains committed to intensifying investigations, recovering stolen funds, and restoring national dignity in line with President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption drive.”

The charges against the convicts were brought under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

Benue Assembly Suspends Four Lawmakers Over Alleged Impeachment Plot

Tosin Onisuuru
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0
Benue Assembly Suspends Four Lawmakers Over Alleged Impeachment Plot

The Benue State House of Assembly has suspended four of its members, Hon. Berger Alfred Emberga, Shimawua Emmanuel, Cyril Ijebe, and Abu Omoru, for three months over allegations of plotting to remove the Speaker from office.

The decision was taken during plenary at the Assembly complex in Makurdi, following deliberations on what was described as “gross misconduct and acts capable of destabilizing the House.”

The suspended lawmakers are accused of conspiring to carry out an unlawful impeachment, violating the Assembly’s standing rules.

Presiding over the session, the Speaker emphasized that any attempt to undermine the House’s stability would not be tolerated and stressed the importance of maintaining discipline to safeguard the integrity of the legislature.

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