2024 Federation Cup: Key Fixtures To Watch Out For In Men’s Round 64.

The Nigerian FA has completed the Federation Cup round 64 draw and the draw produced some mouth-watering fixtures to watch out for in 2024. The 2024 Federation Cup draw took place at the Nigeria Football Federation secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, April 18. PauseUnmute Fullscreen Arguably, the biggest fixture in the Federation Cup round 64 is the game between last season’s runners-up Enugu Rangers, and fellow Nigeria Premier Football League giants Kano Pillars. The reigning champions of the tournament, Bendel Insurance have been given a relatively less competitive fixture. They will commence their title defense against Ogun State-based Nigeria National League side, Stormers FC. The reigning NPFL champions, Enyimba of Aba will commence their Federation Cup campaign against Warinje FC of Bauchi. National League League side, Solution FC of Anambra have paired to take on Oyo state-based NPFL club, Shooting Stars. Other key fixtures in the Federation Cup round of 64 include Akwa United Vs Cynosure FC of Abakaliki, Sunshine Stars Vs Jedo Academy of Sokoto, Plateau United Vs Ekiti United, and Abia Warriors Vs Ilaji FC of Oyo state. Also, the games featuring Ogun State winners, Beyond Limits, against National League One side Hammola FC will be interesting to watch, just like the game between Lagos State champions Ikorodu City and Green Berets of Kaduna. Note that the NFF are yet to announce the dates and venues for the men’s round 64 matches and the women’s round 32 games.

I’m The Only ‘GOAT’ In Nigeria – Davido Boasts.

Grammy-nominated Afrobeat singer, David Adeleke, better known as Davido, has claimed he is the greatest musician of all time in the Nigerian music industry. Naina News reports that music enthusiasts have always argued about the biggest Nigerian artist, Davido, Wizkid, or Burna Boy. PlayUnmute Fullscreen Despite the argument, the ‘If’ crooner has continued to downplay any comparison between him and his colleagues. In a video shared on TikTok by British-Nigerian content creator, Shopsydoo, Davido could be heard bragging about being the only “GOAT” in Nigeria. He said, “There is only one GOAT in my country and it’s me.”

Davido Reacts To Arrest Claims, To Take Legal Action Meanwhile, Davido has debunked reports that he was arrested after his show in Kenya. In a statement released on his official X account, Davido debunked the rumour, stating that he has never been arrested and described the reports as untrue. Naija News reports that he disclosed that he completed his show in Uganda and Kenya and had since returned to Nigeria. The ‘Unavailable’ crooner further disclosed that he will seek legal recourse against the media platform from which the fake news emanated. The statement by Davido read, “Fam, it has come to my attention that false reports regarding an arrest circulated online on April 1st, which has since led to a barrage of calls. I want to assure my fans that these re- ports are entirely untrue. I successfully completed my scheduled shows in Uganda and Kenya and have since re- turned home to Nigeria.”

Naira Abuse: EFCC Wants To Arrest Me – Portable Claims.

Controversial singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is planning to arrest him upon his return to Nigeria. Naija News reports that the ‘Zazu’ hitmaker, currently abroad, aired these allegations during a recent Instagram live session with fans. PlayUnmute Fullscreen Portable’s troubles stem from a call to action by a self-proclaimed social media activist, known only as VeryDarkMan, who has reportedly urged the EFCC to investigate the singer for his treatment of the national currency. This callout follows Portable’s public plea for forgiveness from the EFCC, where he asked for leniency if found guilty of any wrongdoing regarding his handling of the Naira. In the live session, Portable expressed his fear of being detained upon his arrival in Nigeria. “The EFCC is planning to arrest me when I return to Nigeria because VeryDarkMan name-dropped me,” he claimed, addressing his over 700,000 Instagram followers. Adding to his defensive stance, Portable criticized VeryDarkMan’s credibility and influence, questioning his motivations and qualifications to speak on legal matters. As the EFCC has not yet officially responded to these claims, the authenticity of Portable’s allegations remains unconfirmed. However, the agency is known for its strict enforcement of laws against currency abuse, a standing policy that could potentially affect Portable upon his return.

Nigerian Navy Arrests 14 Suspected Oil Thieves, Others In Akwa Ibom.

The Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state, conducted a review of its anti-crime operations in the first quarter of 2024. The Commanding Officer of the base, Capt. Uche Aneke, noted in a report made available to journalists that a total of 14 suspects were apprehended for various crimes during this period. PlayUnmute Fullscreen According to him, the suspects were arrested for offences such as smuggling, oil theft, cultism, economic sabotage, sea robbery, and other criminal activities within the joint operations area (JOA). Aneke emphasized the Navy’s unwavering stance against maritime crimes and economic sabotage in Nigeria’s waterways. The suspects have been transferred to relevant security agencies for further investigation and prosecution. Aneke mentioned that the arrests and confiscations during this timeframe are not merely individual triumphs but rather accomplishments achieved through operational implementation and tactical execution, ensuring that the overall security situation in the operational area has been relatively calm. The Commander stated that the Base has successfully minimized criminal activities over the years through extensive operations in collaboration with security stakeholders within the joint operations area. He also revealed that Operation Delta Sanity, which includes FOB, Ibaka, has been strengthened by the dedication of FOB, Ibaka and other bases participating in the operations. Additionally, he shared that the base has hired 35 civilian employees who receive compensation and three meals daily to demonstrate their dedication to intelligence tasks for the base and foster a positive relationship with the local communities. He praised the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, for his role in providing the Nigerian Navy with the resources and moral support required to safeguard the waterways. Naija News understands that the FOB Ibaka is responsible for monitoring Nigeria’s Eastern flanks, which include sea approaches from Calabar to the new international maritime boundaries with the Republic of Cameroon. This area also encompasses land territories in Mbo, Udung Uko, and Oron LGAs of Akwa Ibom.

Atiku and Wike attend PDP National Caucus meeting.

The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, attended the PDP’s national caucus meeting in Abuja this evening, April 17. The meeting comes ahead of the party's National Executive Committee meeting, scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 18. This is the first time that the former Rivers state governor will be attending a meeting of the PDP since after the presidential election last year. Wike has been at loggerheads with the PDP leadership and did not support the party’s candidate, Atiku, in the 2023 presidential election. Apart from his opposition to Atiku’s campaign in the election, Wike's decision to serve in the President Bola Tinubu cabinet, had worsened the rift between him and key stakeholders in the part. Critical decisions regarding the leadership of the party and other issues such as Wike's activities in the party will he discussed at the NEC meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

Google fires 28 employees involved in protest over $1.2B Israel contract.

Google has fired 28 employees who participated in a 10-hour sit-in at the search giant’s offices in New York and Sunnyvale, California, to protest the company’s business ties with the Israel government. The pro-Palestinian staff at Google had donned traditional Arab headscarves as they stormed and occupied the office of a top executive in California on Tuesday, April 16. They were fired late Wednesday, April 17, after an internal investigation, Google vice president of global security Chris Rackow said in a companywide memo. “They took over office spaces, defaced our property, and physically impeded the work of other Googlers,” Rackow wrote in the memo. “Their behavior was unacceptable, extremely disruptive, and made co-workers feel threatened.” In New York, protesters had occupied the 10th floor of Google’s offices in the Chelsea section of Manhattan as part of a protest that also extended to the company’s offices in Seattle for what it called “No Tech for Genocide Day of Action.

“Behavior like this has no place in our workplace and we will not tolerate it,” Rackow wrote. “It clearly violates multiple policies that all employees must adhere to – including our code of conduct and policy on harassment, discrimination, retaliation, standards of conduct, and workplace concerns.” Rackow added that the company “takes this extremely seriously, and we will continue to apply our longstanding policies to take action against disruptive behavior – up to and including termination.” The fired staffers are affiliated with a group called No Tech For Apartheid, which has been critical of Google’s response to the Israel-Hamas war. The impacted workers blasted Google over the firings in a statement shared by No Tech For Apartheid spokesperson Jane Chung. “This evening, Google indiscriminately fired 28 workers, including those among us who did not directly participate in yesterday’s historic, bicoastal 10-hour sit-in protests,” the workers said in the statement. “This flagrant act of retaliation is a clear indication that Google values its $1.2 billion contract with the genocidal Israeli government and military more than its own workers — the ones who create real value for executives and shareholders.” “Sundar Pichai and Thomas Kurian are genocide profiteers,” the statement added, referring to Google’s CEO and the CEO of its cloud unit, respectively. “We cannot comprehend how these men are able to sleep at night while their tech has enabled 100,000 Palestinians killed, reported missing, or wounded in the last six months of Israel’s genocide — and counting.”