Welcome to Ezemuoka's Blog

UEFA have banned families from visiting England players at St George's Park during the European Championship. Gareth Southgate was hoping to give family members access to the team's Burton base but the England boss has now revealed UEFA is against the decision. He said: 'We're not going to be able to let people in. There's a clear edict from UEFA on what the bubbles need to look like to be as secure as we can make them. 'It's never going to be 100 per cent failsafe but we've got to comply with as much as we can.'  However, the England boss fears that may not even be possible, adding: 'It'd be a preference for us if we can, but that's constantly being assessed.  We've got to monitor not only our own situation but where we are as a country, what are the variants, what the Government guidelines are. 'So we hope to do that and we're working towards that, but it is going to be limited access, which we have to accept is goi...

Two men identified as Mr Ayodele Somorin and Mr Oladimeji Josiah have reportedly been abducted by gunmen from their houses in hilly area close to the Lottery Quarters and few metres away from Living Faith Church at Byazhin in Kubwa. Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred around 11:45pm on Friday May 21. It was learnt that the gunmen broke into the first house and took away Somorin, and then went to the second house where they shot sporadically before kidnapping Mr Josiah. They are now reportedly demanding for N10 million ransom each to free the two neighbors.  The police reportedly visited the scene after the incident was reported at Byazhin Police Station the next day, Saturday, May 22.  Spokesperson of FCT Police Command, Mariam Yusuf confirmed the incident and also said the police has launched an operation to rescue the victims.

Seun Kuti, musician and youngest son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has accused Nigerian politicians of arming bandits with guns. In a trending video posted on social media, Seun stated that if Nigerians want banditry to end, all politicians in the country should write down a' list of people they have given guns to' so that the weapons can be retrieved.   ''Politicians are the ones giving bandits guns in Nigeria. Let's not act like we don't know. If we want to end this banditry, all politicians should write down a list of people they've given guns to so we can go and collect it back. These are political thugs."

Men of the Ogun state police command have arrested nine members of Eye cult group in the Ajegunle area of Ibogun during a supremacy battle between them and members of Alora Confraternity.    A statement released by DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, spokesperson of the state police command, said the suspects identified as Sodiq Olabisi, Oluwatosin Andrew, Oladimeji Oyedele, Wasiu Raheem, Oyedokun Lekan, Yusuf Ajetunmobi, Busari Taoreed, Bolaji Raphael and Salami Toheeb were arrested on Monday, May 24.   According to Oyeyemi,  ''While the clash was going on, distress call was made to the police divisional headquarters in Ibogun, and the DPO, CSP Samuel Oladele quickly led his men to the scene. On sighting policemen,  the cultists, who had already inflicted serious injuries on the chest of one member of Alora group, ran away with their injured colleagues, while police successfully apprehended the nine suspects.'' He added that items recovered from the...

Mali's interim president, Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister, Moctar Ouane resigned on Wednesday May 26, two days after they were arrested by the military.   "The president and his prime minister have resigned. Negotiations are ongoing for their liberation and the formation of a new government," said Baba Cisse, an aide to Vice President Assimi Goita , in comments sent by the military to Reuters.   According to the report, the resignation was presented to Assimi Goïta, the transitional vice president, during an emergency meeting with former Nigerian president Jonathan Goodluck and his delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).   At the meeting, they raised the possibility of sanctions against the officers responsible for the takeover, according to a military official who was present.   Vice president Goïta is now expected to become transitional president after Bah N’Daw’s resignation. The colonel, who also orchestrat...

  Antonio Conte has left Inter Milan by mutual consent just weeks after winning the Serie A title with Simone Inzaghi likely to replace him as head coach.    Conte has agreed a deal with the club's owners which will see him paid €7m (£6m) for the final year of his contract.   The former Chelsea boss guided Inter to their first Serie A title in 11 years but was embroiled in a dispute with the club's owners after they proposed a downsizing of his squad.   Inter chairman Steven Zhang reportedly asked Conte to cut his wage bill by 15 to 20 percent and potentially sell players worth up to £70m this summer.     Zhang arrived at Inter's headquarters to continue discussions with senior staff on Wednesday morning, May 26.   A club statement read: "FC Internazionale Milano announces that it has reached an agreement for the consensual termination of the contract with the coach Antonio Conte.   "The whole club would like to thank An...

Wrestler and actor, John Cena has apologized to China, professing his love for the country after calling Taiwan a "country" during an interview that generated a backlash among fans in China, Hollywood's most important international market. The controversy erupted after Cena who plays the brother of Vin Diesel's Dom Toretto in the ninth edition of the popular "Fast & Furious" franchise gave an interview to Taiwanese broadcaster TVBS promoting the film. "Taiwan is the first country that can watch F9," Cena spoke in Mandarin to TVBS. Taiwan is a self-governed democratic island, but China claims it as its sovereign territory despite the two sides being ruled separately since the end of a civil war over 70 years ago.  China angrily frowns at any suggestion of Taiwan's independence and tries to punish whoever insinuated such by using their huge economic power to control speech on the topic around the world. In 2018, the Chines...

The Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has approved the disengagement of 19 of his political appointees.   A statement released from the state government house today, May 26, said the affected officials include two Special Advisers, a Deputy Chief of Staff, and several Special Assistants.   According to the statement, Bala Yunusa Mohammed, Deputy Chief of Legislative Staff (DCOSL), Halima Musa Nagogo, Special Assistant to DCOSL and Umar Abubakar, another Special Assistant to DCOSL, are among those affected.   The statement further said that Ben Kure, Special Adviser Political, Mustapha Lynda Nyusha and Jamilu Gwarzala Dan Mutum, Special Assistants to the Special Adviser Political will also exit the service, including Umar Haruna, a Special Assistant Political.   The list of those affected also includes Special Adviser Social Development Zainab Shehu, Special Assistant to the Special Adviser Stephen Hezron and Mohammed Bello Shuaib...

Liverpool midfielder, Georginio Wijnaldum has agreed to join Barcelona on a three- year deal after rejecting a switch to Bayern Munich.   Football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano confirmed the news on Twitter, stating that the Dutch star will sign the deal until 2024 “in the next few days” after an emotional goodbye at Anfield last week.   He also said Barcelona and Wijnaldum’s representatives are working on “reducing” his salary. The 30-year-old was on around £90,000 a week with the Reds.   He wrote: "Gini Wijnaldum to Barcelona, confirmed and here we go!  #FCB The verbal agreement has been reached, Wijnaldum is joining Barça until June 2024. He’s expected to sign his contract in the next few days - work in progress to complete the deal reducing Gini’s salary. "   Wijnaldum, who joined Liverpool in 2016, will be best remembered for his Champions League semi-final brace against Barcelona as Liverpool staged a remarkable...

Kim Kardashian looked stunning as she stepped out for the party of London billionaire, Jamie Reuben in Beverly Hills this week.  The newly single reality star, 40, who filed for divorce from Kanye West in February after nearly seven years of marriage, rocked a tiny crop top with a slashed skirt and was joined by her pal Fai Khadra to the party at Reuben's home.    Jamie, who is friends with the likes of Princess Beatrice and Scooter Braun, stands to inherit a $26 billion fortune.     The handsome billionaire was dubbed 'one of London's most mysterious bachelors' by Tatler magazine. Jamie in his 30s and single.    He is the son of Mumbai-born property magnate Simon, one half of the wealthy Reuben brothers. His father Simon and his uncle David built their fortune by buying up large parts of London's Mayfair, including the 200 year-old Burlington Arcade.  Jamie serves as the managing director.   

Nollywood Actress, Ify Onwuemene, who was popular for her role in the popular sitcom ‘Everyday People’, has died of cancer. Her colleague in the film industry, Gloria Anozie-Young, broke the news of her death via her Facebook page. Gloria in her post wrote   “With a deep sense of loss but total submission to God Almighty, we regret to announce that IFEY ONWUEMENE has gone to be with the Lord. “IFEY ONWUEME was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Her womb was removed, but she has been battling the ailment for many years now. “In 2019, even after eight sessions of chemotherapy, the doctors told her she had reached stage 4. However, we are not sure if she was given the wrong diagnosis or being treated with the wrong chemo, because she still felt pains on her upper abdomen and her tummy bloated. “Ify spent more than N10m, being helped with donations by her fellow actors and other Nigerians. A GoFundme account was opened for her, but it did not yield much. She had to g...

  Actress Lois de Banzie has died at the age of 90. Her family confirmed on Tuesday, May 25, that she passed away on April 3 in Greenbrae, California. No cause of death has been given. The family said in her obituary, which was published in the San Francisco Chronicle: "Lois was proud to have made a career as an actress on stage, screen, and television. "Her wit and humor will be much missed."   The TV star is best known for her role as Eleanor Roosevelt in Annie and she also starred in Sister Act as Immaculata alongside Whoopi Goldberg.    

  ByteDance’s CEO has announced he’s stepping down from his role leading the company whose success with TikTok led it to become the world’s most valuable startup. Zhang Yiming, who co-founded ByteDance in 2012, will move to another position at the company, and fellow co-founder Liang Rubo will become the new CEO. Liang presently runs HR at ByteDance. In a lengthy internal letter that ByteDance later made public, Zhang ruminated on his position and how he feels he’d be more effective in another role. Zhang says “I worry I am still relying too much on the ideas I had before starting the company, and haven’t challenged myself by updating those concepts.” “I think someone else can better drive progress through areas like improved daily management,” he continues. “The truth is, I lack some of the skills that make an ideal manager. I’m more interested in analyzing organizational and market principles, and leveraging these theories to further reduce management work, rather...

No fewer than 20 people have been killed in a fresh cholera outbreak in Bauchi State. About 322 persons have reportedly been infected in the outbreak which has spread across nine local government areas of the state. Bauchi State Commissioner of Health, Dr Aliyu Mohammed Maigoro, gave an update on the situation during a media briefing. Maigoro explained that the index case, a 37-year-old patient, was admitted at Burra General Hospital on 24 April 2021.

52 suspects have been arrested in Adamawa State for various offences ranging from kidnappings, armed robbery, rape and possession of illicit substances. Briefing newsmen on Tuesday, May 25, the State Commissioner of Police Adamawa, Aliyu Adamu Alhaji, disclosed that the suspects were arrested between March to May 25, in raids carried out by Anti Kidnapping Unit, Anti Shila Squad, and the State Intelligence Bureau of the Command. "52 suspects were arrested and 20 prohibited firearms with 1000 rounds of ammunitions, large quantity of hard drugs, diazepam, tramadol, exzole, about 50.70 kilograms of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp and rubber solution among other substances valued at N3 million naira were recovered," the CP stated.     The Commissioner also said that two repentant kidnappers surrendered two G3 refiles with breach number 58607 and 52007 and five rounds of live ammunitions to the command.  According to him, the command is investigatin...

Gennaro Gattuso has been confirmed as the new head coach of Fiorentina. Gattuso only left his role at Napoli two days ago after failing to secure Champions League qualification, with the team ending the season fifth in the standings, one point behind fourth-placed Juventus. The 43-year-old's last game in charge of Napoli was the 1-1 draw with Hellas Verona on Sunday. He replaces Giuseppe Iachini, who confirmed he would leave Fiorentina at the end of the season in an open letter on March 21, ending his second spell in charge of the club. 'Dear Rino, I am happy to have spent almost two seasons with you. Thank you for your work and I wish you success wherever you go. A hug also to your wife and children,' De Laurentiis wrote after the match.   Gattuso's Napoli contract was set to expire in June. Fiorentina, meanwhile, finished down in 13th position. He will take over as Fiorentina boss from July 1, with club president Rocco Commisso confirming the news on the c...

The Akwa Ibom State Police has arrested a soldier for the alleged murder of a businessman in Ikot Abasi Local government area of the state. It was gathered that the army officer allegedly killed the businessman and dispossessed him of his vehicle after giving him a ride on Sunday, May 23.  A source from Ikot Abasi LGA told The Nation that the suspected officer was tracked and arrested at Ukanafun LGA on Tuesday, May 25, and the vehicle including a rifle were recovered from him. "The incident happened on Sunday; a motorist offered a serving army officer a ride in his vehicle, not knowing that he was going to kill him. They got to place, the army officer attacked and killed him and after killing him dumped his corpse by the way side," the source said.  "The attention of the police was drawn to the scene and they swoopped into action and recovered the corpse and later deposited it at the mortuary for preservation. "On Monday, the deceased relatives came to ...

Senegalese-American singer, Akon's car was stolen from a gas station on Monday night, May 24 in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta.  The car was reportedly stolen as the singer was pumping gas into his car. According to the  Atlanta Journal-Constitution , Akon stopped at a Quiktrip gas station to fill his white Range Rover up with gas. He left the car running with the keys inside the vehicle, so he could fill up the gas tank. Before he was done, however, he noticed someone taking off with his car, which held valuables, including a $25,000 diamond necklace, a Louis Vuitton bag and his iPhone. Akon called police, who arrived at the gas station at 11:59 p.m. He told authorities that a dark-colored sedan followed his SUV when it made a right onto Sidney Marcus Boulevard. Surveillance footage of the theft confirmed his account. A police report stated that the video showed the sedan as it pulled into the station right next to Akon’s SUV.  “Shortly aft...