Welcome to Ezemuoka's Blog

  Former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has penned a new contract with Stoke City. The midfielder is now tied to the English Championship side for another year. An official statement from the club read, “Contract extensions have been activated to retain the services of defender James Chester and midfielder John Obi Mikel.” Mikel Obi, two others need rest – Michael O’Neill Mikel Obi left Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor early in 2020 and signed a short-term deal with Stoke. The Potters failed to make the Championship playoffs following their mid-table finish, but the club was impressed with Mikel Obi and have decided to keep him on. The Nigerian featured in 41 of Stoke’s 46 league matches and was one of manager Michael O’Neill’s first names on the team sheet. The 34-year-old will, however, aim to assist the club in achieving their primary objective of gaining promotion to the Premier League next season.

The management of the University of Lagos has dismissed two lecturers caught on camera demanding sex from a ''student'' The lecturers Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu of the Department of European Languages and Integration Studies, Faculty of Arts, and Dr. Samuel Omoniyi Oladipo of the Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences were filmed demanding sex from a reporter, Kiki Mordi, who posed as a minor seeking admission into the tertiary institution. According to a news publication released by the school today June 2, the lecturers' dismissal was approved by the Governing Council of the University on May 31 and took effect on the same day. See the newsletter below  

  Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Tuesday, June 1,  signed a law prohibiting transgender women and girls from competing in girls and women's sports at public schools in his southern US state. "We believe that is very important that the integrity of these competitions are preserved," said the Republican governor as he signed the measure into law at a Christian school in the northeastern city of Jacksonville. "In Florida, girls are going to play girls' sports, and boys are going to play boys' sports," he said. "We're gonna go based on biology, not based on ideology when we're doing sports."   The law, which goes into effect on July 1, requires girls and young women to state their biological sex through their birth certificate in order to compete in a team. DeSantis signed the measure on the first day of LGBTQ Pride Month.   "Appalling," tweeted Florida state representative Carlos Smith, a Democrat who identif...

A mum left a suicide note for her husband then hanged her 14-year-old daughter before killing herself. Mariolina Nigrelli, 40, and her daughter Alessandra Mollica were found dead on May 31 in their country home in Sicily, southern Italy, by the teens' father. The mum also left a note on the kitchen table which read: "I'm taking Alessandra away with me, I'm sorry I ask for forgiveness."     According to local media, when the father, Maurizio Mollica, had last spoken to his wife a day before, they had disputes over their daughter's education.   Mariolina Nigrelli, 40, Alessandra Mollica, 14, and her father Maurizio Mollica also 40   He told La Republicca: "Yesterday afternoon, shortly after seven, my wife did not answer the phone. I was worried.   "I looked for them everywhere in the village, then I went to our country house. And there I found myself in front of the tragedy."   The well-known blacksmith had found his wife and teena...

  Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus are reportedly set to be banned from the Champions League this week.  The three European giants are facing disciplinary proceedings from FIFA over their plans to form the European Super League. They have insisted that they are within their rights to form a new competition and claim that UEFA and FIFA have no right to get in their way.  Of the dozen clubs to form the new breakaway league outside UEFA's control, only Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus are still on board.   The other nine, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester City, signed a letter of apology to UEFA and pledged to give £12.9m to grassroots football.    La Liga president and UEFA Executive Committee member Javier Tebas said on Tuesday June 1, that Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus should be 'scared' of the outcome of UEFA's disciplinary proceedings against them. ...

Actor, Robert Hogan has died at the age of 87 after suffering pneumonia complications. The star, known for his roles in TV shows like The Wire, Murder, She Wrote and Law & Order, died in his home in Maine on May 27, his family has confirmed. The actor, whose career spanned six decades, had been living with vascular Alzheimer’s disease since 2013. Originally from Queens, Hogan joined the US Army at an early age and served in Korea, before returning to New York to work in engineering.     He then joined the world of theatre and he attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan to hone his craft. In 1998, he won the Outer Critics Circle Award for his stage role as attorney Clarence Darrow in Never the Sinner. Hogan is survived by his novelist wife of 38 years, Mary, his three children from a previous marriage, and his two grandchildren.

The African Union has suspended Mali from its membership in response to last week's military coup and threatened sanctions if a civilian-led government is not restored, the union has announced. The military led by Assimi Goita (pictured above) arrested interim President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane last week and pressured them to resign, halting a transition to democratic elections after ousting the previous administration through a coup last August . Former vice president Assimi Goita, a colonel who led the August coup and last week's revolt, was declared president on Friday, last week. The African Union has now called for "an unimpeded, transparent and swift return to the civilian-led transition ... failing which, the Council will not hesitate to impose targeted sanctions," the AU's Peace and Security Council said. The AU suspension comes days after West African regional bloc,  ECOWAS suspended Mali on Sunday, May 30. Its not the f...

  Barcelona have made their third signing of the week with Brazil defender Emerson Royal joining from Real Betis after Argentina striker Sergio Aguero and Spain center-back Eric Garcia joined.  The 22-year-old right-back initially joined Barcelona from Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro in January 2019 in a three-way deal also involving Betis, which saw the full-back join the Andalusian club on loan. Barca have now exercised their option to bring Emerson back to the Nou Camp. Officially announcing the switch on Wednesday, a Barca statement read: "FC Barcelona have informed Real Betis Balompie that they are exercising their right to bring back Emerson Royal from July 1 after two seasons on loan at the Andalusian club.  "Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil on 14 January 1999, Emerson Aparecido Leite de Souza Junior, better known as Emerson Royal, is an attacking right-back who will be involved in the upcoming Copa America with the Brazilian national team.  "The defender ...

  Former Ekiti state Governor, Ayo Fayose, has reacted following social media platform, Twitter's decision to delete President Buhari's tweet about the civil war. Buhari on Tuesday June 1, via his Twitter handle said those who are too young to understand what occurred during the civil war will soon be treated in a 'language they will understand'     After many people reported the tweet as being a threat of violence/war, Twitter on Wednesday, June 2, deleted the tweet. Twitter said the tweet violated it's policies. Fayose, has now reacted to Twitter's decision saying 'those exercising President Buhari's powers for him do not know when & where to stop' He then alleged that Buhari couldn't 'operate an Android phone' talk more of making genocidal tweets. "It is obvious that those exercising President Buhari's powers for him do not know when & where to stop their power-madness." Fayose wrote on Twitte...

  The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, has announced a new date for the application of passport. According to the NIS, applications for passports will now commence on June 8 as against the earlier scheduled date of June 1. A statement from the new spokesman of the Service Amos Okpu confirmed the decision of the comptroller general in Abuja on Tuesday. The NIS explained that issuing centres are being congested by crowds who want to collect their passport, noting that the surge was making compliance to COVID-19 protocols difficult. The federal government had last month announced the suspension of issuance of passports.

  A 20-year-old Ijaw student from Rivers State, Miss Alaba Ann Tam Danagogo, is the 2021 overall best scholar at the Syracuse University in New York, the United States of America (U.S.A). Graduating with distinctions in Biology Major and Minor in English and Textual Studies, among other academic accomplishments, Alaba was also awarded the prestigious 1870 scholarship by the university for another four-year Medical Studies. The university’s Dean of the School of Arts and Science, Prof. Karin Ruhlandt, said among Alaba’s academic accomplishments are the Deans List Honors, Distinction in Biology and the highest recognised 1870 Syracuse University scholarship offered by the Office of Admission of the university. Alaba was Students’ Speaker (valedictorian) for 2021 and she was selected as a Senior Class Marshall of the university, recognised as a Distinguished Syracuse University Scholar, having graduated summa cum laude with a 3.97 CGPA in a four-point system. Ruhlandt ...

Governor Simon Lalong has sacked 532 civil servants in Plateau state over falsified records. He said this was uncovered after an investigation using the BVN system. Speaking at a policy retreat for Permanent Secretaries held at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS) Kuru, near Jos, the Plateau state Governor vowed to rid the civil service of members of staff who have questionable records or are found to have tampered with their records. Lalong added that the exercise will continue as those found culpable will face disciplinary actions.

A Tanzanian Member of Parliament (MP), was thrown out of the parliament by the Speaker of the House for wearing trousers. Condester Sichwale, arrived at the parliament on Tuesday, June 1, wearing a yellow peplum blouse and black trousers. A male colleague, Hussein Amar, complained about how she was dressed, Global Publishers reports. "Parliament is a mirror of society and Tanzania, and some of our sisters are wearing strange clothes and are legislators. What are they showing to the society?" Amar complained in a video shared by Tanzanian journalist, Jay Maudaku. The Speaker asked who he was referring to and Amar pointed in Sichwale's direction. Speaker, Ndugai then asked Sichwale to leave and change before she will be allowed back in parliament.      Photos from the scene show other MPs turning to look at Sichwale as she was ushered out.     She later returned, wearing a navy blue skirt.    

  Nigerian rapper Falz has reacted to President Buhari's tweet of treating those who are too young to understand what occurred during the civil war in a "language they will understand".    The President had triggered an outcry after he tweeted;    "Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand."   Reacting to this, Falz asked if he has treated Boko Haram with the “language they understand”.    The rapper who further stated that Buhari tweeted "rubbish", also asked the treatment given to kidnappers and bandits by the President he said "goes to London today and Paris tomorrow".    He tweeted;    What is this? Have you treated Boko Haram with the “language they understand”? What about the kid...

A school teacher who was accused of sexually assaulting a student was found dead alongside his wife in an apparent double suicide. Rodney Charles Eather and his wife Joan Eather's bodies were discovered at their home in Morayfield which lies around 30 miles from Brisbane, Australia. A suicide note was believed to have been left by the married couple. The bodies were discovered just three days after Rodney Eather was charged with 11 counts of sexual assault of a person under 16 years of age and carnal knowledge by a teacher of a girl aged between 10 and 17. A female student was allegedly sexually assaulted between the ages of 13 to 16, by a teacher between 1981 and 1983. In March 2021, officers from Richmond Police District began an investigation into those reports and arrested the former Ballina High School teacher in Queensland about 5.40pm on Tuesday, May 25. Rodney Eather was granted bail when he appeared in court where it was also revealed he suffered from a numbe...

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has called for a unicameral legislature for the country which will lead to scrapping of the senate.  The Governor who spoke at the Akure Centre of the South-West Zonal Public Hearing on constitution review on Tuesday June 1, said the upper chamber of the National Assembly should be scrapped while the Assembly should be on part-time basis to reduce the cost of governance. Akeredolu stated that no lawmaker should earn allowances not known to the Revenue Mobilisation and Allocation Committee and, more importantly, people they claim to serve. He also called for creation of state police, devolution of powers, state control of resources, decentralization of supreme court among others The Governor said;    “The position of the Ondo State Government has been made public. We advocate for a Federal Government largely reduced in size and scope of engagement. We want to see a Constitution that will enhance the performanc...

    15 youths have been arrested in connection with the violent protest in the Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara state.  The arrested youths were paraded at the Police Headquarters in Gusau, the state capital by the Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, Hussain Rabiu.  Rabiu who said that the protest which took place on Monday May 31 was organised by unpatriotic citizens from Kurya Madaro and Maguru District in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of the state, called on parents and guardians to take proper control of their children and advised them against attempts to be recruited by the said conflict entrepreneurs to commit acts of criminality.     The commissioner disclosed that items recovered from the suspects include six motorcycles, four locally fabricated guns, motorcycle plugs used as bullets, a machete, and assorted charms. He also warned residents that the command under his watch would not toler...

The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has suspended one of its lecturers, Dr Jonathan Mbachaga, over alleged sexual harassment of a student. Mbachaga was until his suspension, an associate professor in the Department of Theatre and Media Arts. A statement by Folusho Ogunmodede, the Chief Information Officer of FUOYE’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina on Tuesday, June 1, said Mbachaga's suspension followed his indictment by a committee set up to investigate him. The statement revealed that Mbachaga was suspended, "on the grounds of a prima facie evidence of sexual harassment established against him by a panel set up by the Institution’s Faculty of Arts, which investigated the allegation.” "The suspension which was with immediate effect would pave the way for a five-member committee set up by the Vice-Chancellor to further probe the allegation with a view to getting to the root of the allegation of sexual harassment against the embattled lecture...

Inter Milan midfielder, Arturo Vidal has been hospitalised for severe tonsillitis and Covid-19 after testing positive while on international duty with Chile. The 34-year-old, who was vaccinated against the virus has been isolated from his Chile team-mates for 72 hours after initially being taken into hospital with the throat infection. The national team confirmed he had later tested positive for coronavirus but that no other players in the squad had been infected. "The medical team of the Chilean national team emphasizes that at the request of the player Arturo Vidal, it is announced that he has been diagnosed positive for Covid," the national team said on its official website. The midfielder will now miss Chile's World Cup qualifier with Argentina on Thursday.  Infection rates in Chile remain high with over 6,000 daily cases reported. Vidal posted a picture of him receiving the vaccine on Instagram on Friday alongside the caption: 'Happy with the vaccine !!!...

  Carlo Ancelotti is now the head coach of Real Madrid, his second stint at the club. The 61-year-old Italian, who managed Real Madrid for two years between 2013 and 2015, has left Everton after 18 months in charge at Goodison Park, where he led the Toffees to a 10th place finish. Ancelotti has signed a three-year deal at Real and said the move represented "an unexpected opportunity". He succeeds Zinedine Zidane at Real and the move leaves Everton searching for a sixth permanent manager in five years.   In a statement released Tuesday, June 1, Ancelotti said: "I have complete respect for everyone associated with Everton and hope they can achieve the exciting opportunities they have in front of them. "While I have enjoyed being at Everton I have been presented with an unexpected opportunity which I believe is the right move for me and my family at this time." Real Madrid will present Ancelotti to the media on Wednesday, while Everton said they...