Arsenal striker Bukayo Saka beats Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Moises Caicedo to win the English Premier League 22/23 PFA Young Player of the Year Award.

With his brilliant performance and contributions last season, Saka, 21, clinched this year’s edition of the award after three previous nominations.

His teammate Gabriel Martinelli, City’s goal poacher Haaland, Jacob Ramsey of Aston Villa, Evan Ferguson of Brighton, Caicedo, who recently joined Chelsea, were contenders for the award.

Saka appeared in all 38 games for Arsenal, scoring 15 goals and making 11 assists in the season under review.

For his national side, England, Saka featured prominently in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, netting three goals in four games, helping the Three Lions reach the quarterfinals.

The Nigerian-born football star, became Arsenal’s sixth player to win the prestigious award, following the footsteps of former Arsenal captain Tony Adams (1986/87), Paul Merson (1988/89), Nicolas Anelka (1998/99), Cesc Fabregas (2007/08) and Jack Wilshere (2010/11).

The Akwa Ibom government has confirmed receipt of N2 billion and 3,000 bags of rice palliatives promised by the federal government.

Governor Umo Eno announced this in Uyo on Tuesday when he received the palliatives committee report set up by the state government.

The palliatives were part of the federal government’s assistance to citizens through various state governments to help cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

Mr Eno said that as part of the palliatives, the state government would ensure that a project was executed per local government areas to create employment, reinvigorate the economy, and increase cash flow within the rural communities.

He said the projects would be awarded to indigenous contractors from the respective local government areas, who would recruit the locals to work, enhance their productivity, and boost their purchasing power.

He, therefore, tasked the local government chairs to liaise with the State Executive Council to identify peculiar areas of need to be favoured by the initiative.

The governor also urged the council areas to donate land for the planned agricultural revolution by the state government.

Mr Eno tasked the committee to ensure that the palliatives were given to the poorest of the poor across party lines and residents of the state, especially those residing in rural communities.

Earlier, Secretary to the State Government and chairman of the committee, Enobong Uwah, thanked the governor for setting up the committee.

Mr Uwah said the committee’s recommendations would ensure even distribution of the palliatives to all residents, especially the poor and needy in the state.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received a batch of 298 Nigerians who were stranded in Libyan prisons.

The agency said this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

The statement said the returnees spent varying periods at various detention camps in the northern African country.

They were repatriated back to the country in two separate chartered flights; the first had 161 returnees on August 21, and the second came on Monday with 137 returnees.

NEMA said the second batch of returnees arrived on board an Al Buraq Air Boeing 737-800 with registration number 5A-DMG at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Cargo Wing, Ikeja, at about 5:38 p.m. on Monday.

The returnees comprised 119 mostly pregnant females and 170 males with three female children, three male children, and three infants.

NEMA revealed that the International Organisation of Migration (IOM), Port Health Service, and National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRM) also received the returnees.

A 27-year-old employee, Sadiq Musa, appeared before the Magbon Alade Magistrates’ Court in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, on Tuesday for the alleged illegal conversion of N13 million meant for Point of Sale (PoS) operations.

A Kano State Shari’a Court has sentenced a 45-year-old man, Usaini Hamisu, to one year in a Correctional Center for stealing two cows worth N700,000.

Mr Hamisu, who resides at Dorayi Quarters in Kano, was arraigned on a count of theft.

The presiding judge, Nura Yusuf-Ahmad, who sentenced Mr Hamisu to one year in a correctional centre, gave him the option to pay N50,000 fine.

The judge also ordered the police to return the cows to the complainant.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Aliyu Abideen, had informed the court that one Garba Audu of Kazawa village, Minjibir Local Government Area of Kano State, reported the matter at Zango Police Division Kano on Aug. 24.

Mr Abideen said that on the same date, at about 2:00 a.m., the defendant went to the complainant’s house situated in Kazawa village and stole his two bulls worth N700,000.

He said the defendant was arrested in Rangaza village while trying to escape with the bulls.

“During the investigation, the defendant said anytime he goes to steal, he uses a charm, a stick, and a piece of white cloth so that the cows won’t make any noise and the owner will be asleep until he finishes his operation.

“The native doctor that made the charm for him said once the charm gets spoiled, he will start sweating.

“The defendant told the police that it was the charm that got spoiled that was why he was arrested.”

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes the provisions of Section 133 of the Kano State Shari’a Penal Code.

Former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress and human rights activist, Omoyole Sowore, has called for the removal of Ebunoluwa Adelesi as Kwara State Police commissioner.

Sowore said this while reacting to a Punch Online report about a Lagos Federal High Court summoning nine persons, including the Kwara State CP.

All nine persons were summoned for the arrest of Isese activists; Mr. Adegbola Abdulazeez. aka Tani Olorun; Madam Efunsetan Abebi Aniwura Olorisha aka lya Osun, and Chief Ademola Olawoore aka Baba Tede.

Reacting to the post, Sowore called for the removal of Adelesi whom he tagged ‘incompetent.’

“#FreeTaniOlohunNow: When they started this kangaroo arrangement in Ilorin, they thought Tani Olohun was just another one of their victims that they could oppress and rubbish as they wished.

“It is now getting out of their hands, the reason they haven’t rested since they committed this act of unpardonable oppression, barbarism, torture, and inhuman treatment.

“I got hold of a copy of the Magistrate proceedings today and it is shocking what the Magistrate did to Tani Olohun. It is unbelievable man’s inhumanity to man.

“I maintain that the incompetent CP of Kwara State Police Ebun Oluwarotimi Adelesi and police prosecutor, SUPOL Nasiru Yusuf Esq. both accomplices in the egregious abuse be removed immediately and sent packing from the Nigeria Police Force,” his post read.

The Federal Road Safety Corps has arrested a driver who used both foreign and Nigerian number plates on his vehicle.

The driver with the vehicle, a Volkswagen (Golf 3) with Kano number plate (BBJ746AA) placed at the front, and a foreign one (CV 51UMC) at the rear, was apprehended within Idu operational area of the corps in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, following adequate intelligence gathered by the tactical team.

The impounded Volkswagen and the driver have been handed over to Life Camp Divisional Police Command, FCT for further questioning and possible prosecution, after concluding a preliminary investigation by the Corps Intelligence Unit.

The corps in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Bisi Kazeem, on Tuesday, urged the public, especially perpetrators of this criminal act to note that “tactical teams of the Corps have been strategically placed to ensure that all suspects are arrested and their vehicles impounded at sight for onward prosecution.”

The Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali Biu, had directed a nationwide clampdown on all unstable, unregistered and improperly registered vehicles.

Madam Efunsetan Abebi Aniwura aka Iya Osun, has been reportedly released from a correctional facility in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Publisher of SaharaReporters and politician, Omoyele Sowore, made this known via a statement on his Facebook page, Tuesday.

The statement read, “#Freetaniolohun. Iya Osun was granted bail in Ilorin, Kwara State. Two sureties with N200,000 affidavit of means. Keep them on their toes for the sake of justice.

“Madam Abebi was arrested on July 31, following a complaint lodged by Alfa Abdulsalam Baba Tonile Okuta-Agidi and some other Muslim clerics in Kwara state.

The federal government, with the support of the International Organisation for Migration on Monday evacuated 139 Nigerian irregular migrants freed from detention centers across Libya.

Amb. Kabiru Musa, Charge D’Affaires En Titre, in a statement on Monday in Abuja said the exercise seeks to ensure that no Nigerian is abandoned abroad for migration offences.

According to Mr Musa, the evacuees comprising 85 males, 51 females, two children and one infant were expected to arrive at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos on Monday evening.

“The Nigerian Mission in Libya with support from the IOM again secured the release of 139 irregular Nigerian Migrants who were in detention centres in Libya and have facilitated their return home.

“The 139 evacuees departed Mitiga International Airport, Tripoli aboard chartered flight No.No. UZ 0189 on Monday afternoon and are expected to arrive at Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos on Monday evening.

“We did not only evacuate them but also sensitised them on the dangers of irregular migration so that on return, they are to warn others against taking such dangerous routes,” Mr Musa said.

Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), a military task force maintaining peace in Plateau and parts of Bauchi and Kaduna States, have arrested 17 suspects for alleged murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal acts.

The Gombe State Police Command says it received no less than 43 rape cases between January and July.

Oqua Etim, Commissioner of Police in the state, disclosed this in an interview in Gombe on Monday.

Mr Etim, who said the crime was a major challenge in the state, revealed that 37 of the reported cases had been charged to court, while six were still under investigation.

He said the cases received were quite worrisome because the victims included minors, while in some cases, perpetrators were sometimes family members.

Mr Etim added that while arrests of perpetrators who were eventually charged to court had been intensified, concerted advocacy was being carried out to check the rising cases of sexual abuse in the state.

The police boss said the command is collaborating with critical stakeholders at the grassroots and intensifying advocacy to address the challenge.

According to him, the police had reached out to several critical stakeholders from religious, traditional and community leaders, schools, among others, to help in the fight against rape and other sexual abuses.

Mr Etim expressed worry over the unwillingness of rape victims and their family members to report rape cases to the police.

He stressed that rape cases should not be covered but exposed for proper prosecution of perpetrators in the interest of the victims, society and to serve as deterrent.

“We have had cases of people mounting influence on us, claiming that they don’t want people to know and stigmatise them, but we always insist that a crime is a crime.

“I have vowed that under my watch, any parent whose child was abused but compromised would be charged to court under the appropriate laws.

“This is because I have heard that some parents asked for monetary compensation at the risk of the lives of these children,” he said.

Mr Etim also berated some parents for allowing their children to be used as labourers on people’s farms and as hawkers.

He noted that giving birth to children without plans to train and educate them is a crime.

According to him, parents have a responsibility to cater for their children by ensuring that they are not exposed to the risk of being sexually abused.

The House of Representatives has resolved to end the incessant farmers and herders clashes in the country, using a multifaceted approach to achieve a lasting peace.

Chelsea FC have agreed a season-long loan deal with Roma for Romelu Lukaku, the PA news agency understands.

The Serie A side will pay £8 million to take the wantaway striker for a year as a solution to the stand-off between player and club appears to be in sight.

PA understands that there is no obligation for the club to make the deal permanent.

The uncertainty surrounding Lukaku, who joined Chelsea for £97.5 million in 2021 but scored only eight Premier League goals in 26 games before being loaned out to Inter Milan last season, has hung over the early weeks of Mauricio Pochettino’s time in charge.

Pochettino hinted last week that he would be willing to consider reintegrating the Belgium international into his squad if no deal for him to leave could be reached before Friday’s transfer deadline.

But that impasse was averted Monday night after a deal was struck for the 30-year-old, who spent three years on Chelsea’s books between 2011-14.

He made just 10 appearances between loan spells at West Brom and Everton, to join up with ex-Blues boss Jose Mourinho in the Italian capital.

The Kano State government has dragged the federal government before the state High Court over what it described as harassment and intimidation of the state Anti-corruption Commission (PCACC) by three federal agencies.

This is sequel to an invitation sent to the PCACC and its officials by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau, respectively, to answer questions over the commission’s administration from 2011 to date.

In an exparte order, the court, presided by Justice Farouk Adamu, ordered the federal agencies and their agents to stop questioning or investigating officials of the PCACC.

The court also ordered the agencies to stop meddling into the matters of the anti-graft agency.

The Order with suit no K/M1128/2023, further advised all the parties involved in the case to maintain status quo.

The case was instituted by the Attorney General of Kano State, Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission, and Muhuyi Rimingado (as first, second and third plaintiffs) against the EFCC, Code of Conduct Bureau, and ICPC) as first, second and third defendants.

The court also declared that:

“By virtue of the Supreme Court decision in Nwobike vs FRN, the powers of the EFCC and other respondents to investigate alleged financial crimes is not at large and does not transcend all boundaries.

“The EFCC, ICPC and Code of Conduct Bureau cannot arbitrarily meddle or interlope into the affairs of the office of the Attorney-General or any other agency, department or parastatal under his supervision without recourse to the Hon. Attorney-General as the head of the department or chief law officer of the state.

“The EFCC or any of the respondents are not empowered by their enabling laws to investigate financial crimes allegedly committed in respect of the finances, administrative structure and properties of state governments based on faceless, vague and nebulous complaints by meddlesome interlopers.”

In the originating summons, the court ordered that: “Let the defendants within five days after service of this summons on them inclusive of the day of such service cause an appearance to be entered for them to this summons, which was issued upon the application of Attorney-General of Kano State, Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, and Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, seeking the determination of the following questions:-

“Whether in view of the Supreme Court decision in Nwobike vs FRN, the powers of the EFCC to investigate alleged financial crimes is at large and transcends all boundaries?

“Whether the scope of the powers of the EFCC are open-ended and indefinable and includes powers to investigate alleged infractions committed at state levels despite relevant penal provisions.”

The plaintiffs had prayed the court to grant an order “Directing all parties to maintain status-quo ante-bellum.”

Also, the plaintiffs sought an order restraining the federal agencies from meddling in their matter.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the state anti-graft agency has assured that nothing would deter the commission from carrying out its constitutional duties.

Mr Rimingado told journalists that no amount of blackmail and smear campaign would deter the commission from performing its lawful mandate.

He accused some corrupt public officers in the state of frustrating the commission, citing a recent development where a law firm defending a N4 billion fraud case petitioned the Inspector-General of Police seeking the withdrawal of policemen attached to the commission.”

The recent intimidations and smear campaigns against the commission are the handiwork of people with skeletons in their cupboard.

“We will not cut corners, and we will strictly adhere to the Rule of Law. We are committed to ridding the state of corrupt public officers,” he said.

A Federal High Court in Lagos, Monday, summoned nine persons and entities closely connected to the arrest and remand of three Isese adherents, Mr. Adegbola Abdulazeez aka Tani Olorun; Madam Efunsetan Abebi Aniwura Olorisha aka lya Osun and Chief Ademola Olawoore aka Baba Tede.

Those summoned include the Inspector-General of Police, Kwara State Police Comminssioner, Kwara State Government, Registered Trustees Of Council of Ulama (Islamic Clerics); Justice Salihu Mohammed (Executive Secretary of Council of Ulama).

Others are Sheikh (Dr) Mohammad Bashir Saliu (Chief Imam of Ilorin and Chairman of Council of Ulama); Alfa Abdulsalam Baba Tonile Okuta-Agidi; Kwara State Magistrates Court, Ilorin, and the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ilorin, Kwara State.

The three Isese adherents were remanded in a correctional facility in Ilorin, Kwara State, for allegedly insulting prominent Muslim clerics of the state.

Justice Akintayo Aluko, summoned all nine persons while granting parts of the request made by a lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, on a motion exparte.

Ogungbeje, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit numbered FHC/L/CS/1674/2023, sought eight reliefs and declarations from the court.

The reliefs and declarations are:

(1) An interim order of the court restraining the respondents jointly and severally, whether by themselves, their agents, officials, servants, privies, officers and/or howsoever called from arresting, detaining, harassing, embarrassing, humiliating, interfering, disrupting, disturbing and further violating the rights to freedom of religion, thoughts and conscience of traditional religion adherents and worshipper and faithfuls enshrined in Section 38 under Chapter IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) as it relates to the planned Isese cultural festival to be celebrated in Ilorin, Kwara State or any other cultural festivals in connection with the facts of this case pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating summons filed before this honourable court.

(2) An order of the court compelling the first, second respondents to provide adequate and maximum security arrangements and cover for traditional religion adherents and faithfuls pursuant to the rights to freedom of religion, conscience and thoughts enshrined in section 38 under Chapter IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) as it relates to the planned isese cultural festival in Ilorin, Kwara State or any other cultural festivals in connection with the facts of this case pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating summons filed before this honourable court.

(3) An interim order of the court compelling the ninth respondent (Nigerian Correctional Service, Ilorin, Kwara State) to unconditionally release Mr. Adegbola Abdulazeez. a.K.a Tani Olorun and Madam Efunsetan Abebi Aniwura Olorisha. a.k.a lya Osun from their custody forthwith pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons.

(4) An order of this honourable court granting leave to the Applicant to serve the originating summons and other accompanying processes filed in this suit on the fifth, sixth and seventh respondents through the fourth respondent at Chief imam’s office, Ilorin Central Mosque, Oja-Oba Market, Omu-Aran Road, Ilorin, Kwara State.

(5) An order deeming the service on fifth, sixth and seventh respondents as good, personal and proper service.

(6) An order of the court granting leave to the applicant to serve the originating summons and other accompanying processes filed in this suit on the eighth respondent through the third respondent at Attorney General’s Chambers, Attorney General of Kwara State and Commissioner of Justice, Kwara State Ministry of Justice, Ahmadu Bello Way, Ilorin, Kwara State.

(7) An order deeming the service on eighth respondent as good, personal and proper service.

(8) An order that all parties especially the 8th Respondent in this suit to maintain status quo and refrain from taking any action or step in any manner or further court proceedings against Mr. Adegbola AbdulAzeez. a.k.a Tani Olorun and Madam Efunsetan Abebi Aniwura Olorisha. a.k.a lya Osun pending the hearing and determination of he substantive suit as filed before this honourable court.

After the lawyer’s presentation, Justice Aluko held that: “Upon listening to the counsel who is the applicant in this suit, reliefs four, five, six and seven are grantiable, and are thereby granted.”

The judge ordered all nine respondents to be issued a hearing notice to appear before the court to show cause why reliefs one, two, three and eight should not be granted.

Justice Aluko then adjourned hearing to September 9.

The Delta State Police Command on Tuesday announced that it arrested over 100 gay suspects carrying out a gay wedding ceremony in a hotel in Delta state.In a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the state police said it would parade the suspects shortly.

“Delta State Command has arrested over a hundred gay suspects in a hotel carrying out a gay wedding ceremony. We will be going live shortly on Facebook to parade the said suspects.”

The PUNCH reports that since signing the anti-gay law in 2014, people believed to be homosexuals have been arrested and paraded by security operatives.

In December 2020, the Lagos State Police Command arrested 10 individuals suspected of homosexual activities in a brothel located in the Okota area of the state.

Earlier in 2018, the police in the state paraded 57 men for alleged homosexual activities at Kelly Ann hotel in Egbeda.

In January 2022, eight alleged homosexuals were arrested in a hotel in Isolo, Lagos for alleged gay activities.

The PUNCH reports that the anti-gay law of 2014 stipulates a 14-year prison term for anyone convicted of having sex with members of the same sex.

The Kwara State Police Commissioner, Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi, has declared one Salam Ayodeji, wanted for allegedly threatening Isese adherents in Ilorin Kwara State.

Punch Online had on Sunday reported that Ayodeji stormed the shop of a female Isese adherent in Ilorin, to not only bully her but also threaten to wreak havoc should she not leave town in eight days.

Ayodeji, in the video shared on X, Sunday, was heard accosting the lady asking if women sell electronics before giving her an eight-day ultimatum to evacuate the building where she transacted business.

The cleric continued saying, “We have told you what we want; leave the town. We do not allow Isese people in our town.”

In a meeting with Ayodeji’s family, on Monday, Adelesi asked the family to produce the suspect latest Wednesday for the alleged offence of terrorism and defamation against the police.

The police boss also berated the family for what she described as “the poor training of their son”.“Is it because Tajudeen’s wife is from Osun State? Does that mean she’s a traditionalist? Or are there no Muslims in Osun State”, the enraged CP queried.

The commissioner who also spoke with the Alaran family, renters to the Isese adherents who were evicted per Ayodeji’s threats, berated them for obliging the suspect.

Ayodeji responding to the police commissioner said they had unsuccessfully tried to locate their son, whose phone line had remained unreachable for days now.

Tajudeen, husband to the Isese lady, who was bullied and threatened by Ayodeji and his cohorts, said the suspect’s family had asked for his forgiveness and he had given it.

The deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, on Monday walked out of the 60th anniversary of the Midwest referendum organised by the state government in Benin.

Shaibu left the venue following arguments with security personnel who denied his media team entry.

Rapper Chibuzor Azubuike, known professionally as Phyno, has announced the birth of his first child.

The rapper made this known on his Instagram page on Monday.

Sharing a picture holding his newborn, he wrote, “I took some time off to be a Father and also work on new music / Album and it’s been a wholesome experience. Now it’s time to get back to what I do best. ❤️”

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, on Monday met the former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), and the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai.

This was contained in a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Victoria Agba-Attah.

The statement revealed that the minister’s visit was to seek professional advice from the duo on how to tackle and accomplish the task ahead of him.