Australian Firm Finds Oil And Gas In Zimbabwe

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May 8, 2023

Just In: Tribunal Annuls Adeleke’s Victory, Declares Oyetola Osun Gov

The Supreme Court on Monday fixed Tuesday, May 9, to deliver its judgment in the disputed July 16 governorship election in Osun State.

The apex court fixed the 24-hour period for the judgment delivery after taking arguments from parties involved in the matter.

At the centre of the disputed election is the incumbent Governor Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke, who stood for the poll on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Adegboyega Oyetola who was the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate.

However, while Oyetola is the appellant in the Supreme Court matter, having lost at the Court of Appeal, Adeleke is the major respondent who won the Court of Appeal decision.

The Supreme Court will deliver the final verdict by 2 pm on May 9.

At today’s proceedings, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN argued for the APC.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had on Friday, March 24, vacated the tribunal judgment that nullified the election of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices, held that the appeal Adeleke lodged to challenge his sack by the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal was meritorious.

Aside from setting aside the judgment of the tribunal, the court, in its lead judgment that was delivered by Justice Mohammed Lawal, awarded N500,000 cost against the All Progressive Congress, APC, and its candidate, Gboyega Oyetola.

Alcaraz, Sabalenka win Madrid Open Titles

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May 8, 2023

TENNIS-WTA-ESP — MADRID: Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka poses for pictures with the winner's trophy after beating Poland's Iga Swiatek during their 2023 WTA Tour Madrid Open tennis tournament singles final match at Caja Magica in Madrid. – AFP

World number two Carlos Alcaraz defended his Madrid open title with a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over Jan-lennard Struff on Sunday.

The us open champion earned his 10th career title and can reclaim the world’s top ranking from Novak Djokovic simply by playing a single match at the Rome masters next week, before the French open.

Alcaraz continued his roland garros build-up by adding the madrid trophy to victories in barcelona, buenos aires and indian wells this year, although he was below his vibrant best against lucky loser struff, the world number 65.

The 20-year-old was given a tricky time by his German opponent but eventually became the youngest player since Rafael Nadal in 2006 to defend an ATP masters 1000 title.

Also, world number two Aryna Sabalenka played a superb attacking game to beat top ranked Iga Swiatek 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and win the Madrid open for the second time on Saturday.

The big-hitting Belarusian gained revenge for defeat by her polish rival in the Stuttgart final a fortnight ago with a thrilling triumph to end Swiatek’s nine-match winning streak ahead of her French open defence.

Two-time roland garros winner swiatek fought her way back into the match after an explosive start by sabalenka, but the second seed came back strongly in the third set to win the first wta 1000 final featuring the top two ranked players since 2014.

Sabalenka earned her 13th career title, and only her second on clay in two hours and 25 minutes, clinching victory on her fourth championship point with a forehand cross-court winner.

Election Tribunal Adjourns Sitting to Tuesday

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May 8, 2023

Reps Approve Electoral Offences Commission, Tribunal Establishment

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, the nation’s capital has adjourned its sitting to Tuesday.

It also adjourned for the continuation of pre-hearing proceedings till Wednesday for the petition of the Labour Party and Peter Obi and that of the Action Peoples Party (APP).

Tuesday’s proceedings will have the petitions of Atiku Abubakar and Allied People’s Movement in its schedule.

The commencement of the tribunal’s pre-hearing of the petitions challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress polled 8,794,726 votes to win the election. While Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party came second with 6,984,520 votes, Peter Obi of the Labour Party was third with 6,101,533 votes.

Having rejected the outcome of the polls, Atiku and Obi approached the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to annul Tinubu’s victory.

At Monday’s hearing, the tribunal headed by Justice Haruna Tsammani assured all parties involved that justice will be served.

In attendance at Monday’s pre-hearing are lawyers to the petitioners, journalist, Governor Simon Lalong of the APC and Obi of the LP.

Other panel members include Justice Stephen Adah, Justice Misitura Bolaji-Yusuf, Justice Boloukuoromo Moses Ugo and Justice Abbah Mohammed.

Sudan: 129 More Nigerian Evacuees Arrive In Abuja

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May 8, 2023

Sudan: Second Batch of 130 Evacuees Arrive Nigeria

One hundred and twenty-nine more Nigerians have fled war-torn Sudan as the Federal Government further strengthens its efforts to repatriate stranded Nigerians in the North-African country.

The returnees arrived on Monday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the nation’s capital on board the Tarco Airlines from Port Sudan.

Upon their arrival at 9:15 am, the returnees were processed by officials with the filling of the returnee registration forms handed to them by government officials.

Comprising 124 adults and five infants, they were received by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Others include operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the military.

According to NEMA’s Director of Special Duties, Dr Onimode Abdullahi Bandele; over 1000 Nigerians are still stuck in the war-torn country and plans are underway to evacuate them as soon as possible.

This is coming barely 24 hours after the fourth batch of returnees was successfully airlifted by the Federal Government from the North African country.

It was gathered that returnees left Port Sudan International Airport around 5:25 am on Sunday and landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport around 12:40 pm.

In all, over 800 Nigerians fleeing war-torn Sudan arrived in Abuja on Sunday.

Arsenal pass Newcastle Test to keep Pressure on Man City

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May 8, 2023

Arsenal kept the premier league title race alive as Martin Odegaard’s strike and Fabian Schar’s own goal beat Newcastle 2-0 on Sunday to close to within one point of leaders Manchester city.

City have a game in hand on top of their slender lead, but the gunners are refusing to give up the fight in their hunt for a first league title in 19 years.

Newcastle’s second home defeat of the season slows the magpies’ charge towards champions league football next season as their lead over fifth-placed Liverpool remains three points.

Newcastle United’s Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes (R) fights for the ball with Arsenal’s Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard (L) during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Arsenal at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on May 7, 2023. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) /

Arsenal held an eight-point lead just a month ago but had won just one of their last five league games to let the destiny of the title slip out of their hands.

Mikel arteta’s men, though, showcased their improvement over the last 12 months since defeat at st. James’ park last season cost them a place in the top four.

While arsenal still need favours from city in the run-in to achieve their goal, a top-four finish is still within newcastle’s reach.

Eddie Howe’s men likely need just six points from their final four games to guarantee champions league football for the first time in 20 years.

Osimhen Breaks African Serie A Record

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May 8, 2023

Nigeria international victor Osimhen on Sunday became highest scoring African in Serie A history after netting Napoli’s only goal in their 1-0 win over Fiorentina at the Diego Maradona stadium.

Osimhen saw one penalty saved before scoring another as the champions marked their scudetto celebrations amid a carnival atmosphere.

The goal was his 23rd league of the season and his 47th in the league since his move in 2020.

Osimhen’s 47th goal in serie a was also his first from the penalty spot.

The napoli striker claimed a slice of history with his game-winning strike, surpassing weah (46 goals) to become the highest-scoring african player in italian top-flight history.

The super eagles forward had equalled weah’s record for the highest african goalscorer in serie a with his massive goal against udinese on thursday which helped napoli to clinch their first serie a title in over three decades.

Having ended a 33-year wait to win Serie A on Thursday, Luciano Spalletti’s men were greeted by a jubilant crowd at the stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Flying Eagles’ arrive Argentina Ahead World cup

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May 8, 2023

Nigeria’s delegation to the Argentina 2023 FIFA u-20 world cup has arrived in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, for a 10-day camping program ahead of the competition.

The contingent of 20 players and 10 officials departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport, Abuja, on Saturday night aboard a Turkish airline flight and travelled through Istanbul before heading to the “land of the pampas.”

With a record of having finished with the silver medals in 1989 and 2005, and with the bronze medals in 1985, the flying eagles are hoping to break the duck and collect the top prize in their 13th appearance at a tournament they first graced in Mexico 40 years ago.

That year, they stunned the union of soviet socialist republics (ussr) team 1-0 through a well-taken goal by tarila okorowanta in monterrey, but then lost 0-3 to brazil in their second game in guadalajara. Needing victory to reach the knock-out round, the flying eagles could only draw with the netherlands in their final group game in monterrey.

Nigeria has been slotted in group d for this year’s championship and will play dominican republic, italy and brazil in that order in the group phase.

Their first two games will hold in mendoza, in the far west of argentina, against the dominican republic on may 21 and against italy on may 24, before they fly to la plata to play brazil on may 27.

La plata, Santiago del estero, san Juan and Mendoza are the four host cities for the 24-nation championship.

Action Alliance Withdraws Petition Against Tinubu

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May 8, 2023

Election Tribunal Adjourns Sitting to Tuesday

The Action Alliance has withdrawn its petition against the President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

At the commencement of the pre-hearing of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Monday in Abuja, no reason was given for the withdrawal.

The head of AA’s legal team, Oba Maduabuchi (SAN), a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said he filed the petition on behalf of the 1st and 2nd petitioners.

Subsequently, Maduabuchi formally applied to withdraw the petition of the party.

Prior to the announcement of the withdrawal, another lawyer had announced himself as the representative of the AA.

Justice Haruna Tsammani subsequently struck out the petition after the respondents – the All Progressives Congress (APC), the President-Elect and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said there had no objection

FIFA U-20 World Cup: Flying Eagles Land In Argentina

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May 8, 2023