The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has explained the reasons behind the absence of captain Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika and five other players from the Super Eagles squad for today’s international friendly against Russia.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to the NFF, Ndidi and Basel defender Victory Akpe were ruled out of the encounter due to injuries.

Ndidi reportedly picked up a minor knock during Nigeria’s 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on September 29, while Akpe was prevented from travelling to Russia after sustaining an injury.

Three other players were unavailable after their respective clubs declined to release them for the friendly.

Eintracht Frankfurt reportedly blocked midfielder Raphael Onyedika from travelling, while defender Bright Osayi-Samuel and UAE-based midfielder Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola were also denied permission by their clubs.

Forward Moses Usor was another late withdrawal after Austrian side LASK refused to release him.

Usor had made his Super Eagles debut in Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over Madagascar in Uyo on September 25 and was subsequently called up by head coach Éric Chelle for the Russia fixture.

Slavia Prague forward Suleiman Mubarak also missed the trip after failing to secure his residence permit. The attacker had been in contention to make his debut for the Super Eagles against Russia.

The series of withdrawals has left Chelle with a significantly reduced squad as Nigeria seek to recover from their heavy defeat in Bissau.

Eighteen players took part in training on Sunday before Ibrahim Ajasa, who plays for Russian club FC Rostov, joined the team as a late invitee, bringing the number of players in camp to 19.

The Super Eagles held their final training session at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Monday evening ahead of the friendly.

Russia head into the encounter in strong form, having defeated Iran 2-0 before recording a commanding 6-0 victory over Namibia in Yekaterinburg on Saturday.

Nigeria will be seeking a better outcome than their previous meeting with Russia, which ended in a 1-1 draw in Moscow in June 2025.

Semi Ajayi’s own goal had given Russia the lead before Tolu Arokodare restored parity for the Super Eagles.

Former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has described the Yoruba expression “Emilokan” as a concept associated with despotism.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Aregbesola made the remarks in a viral video while discussing President Bola Tinubu and the political significance of the expression, which became widely known during the 2023 presidential campaign.

According to the former minister, “Emilokan” should not simply be understood as meaning that it is someone’s turn to occupy a political office.

Rather, he explained that the expression reflects a belief by an individual that they have a divine right to control a particular space and exercise authority over it.

Aregbesola said the closest single English word he could use to describe the concept was “despotism.”

He explained that a despot is someone who believes they have a divine right to administer a particular space and time.

The former minister stressed that “Emilokan” should not be interpreted as meaning that a particular individual, group or political organisation is next in line to take power.

“Despotism is a single word for Emilokan. I don’t know if you understand what I mean. Despotism. You know, despot. A man who believes that he has a divine right to administer space and time. That’s Emilokan. Not Awalokan, not Egbelokan, no Eyanlokan.

“It is Emi. That is affirming a divine authority, a divine right to who. If that was not well understood then, I want to believe Nigerians now know what it really means.

“So we are now having it not just being merely said rhetorically, but being physically demonstrated. But Nigerians have the opportunity today to prevent the a

A Federal Capital Territory High Court on Monday heard that millions of naira allegedly allocated to local governments in Taraba State were withdrawn from the account of a private company and subsequently handed over to government officials.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The revelation was made by the third prosecution witness (PW3), Taiwo Johns, during testimony in the ongoing trial of former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku and a former Permanent Secretary in the state’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the two defendants over an alleged ₦27 billion fraud case.

Johns, who was led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, appeared before Justice S.C. Oriji of the FCT High Court.

According to the witness, various sums allegedly received as federal government subventions were paid by local government councils into the account of his company, P3 Cornerstone.

He told the court that whenever such payments were received, he informed officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. He said he was subsequently instructed on several occasions either to withdraw the funds in cash or transfer them into designated accounts.

Johns testified that on October 11, 2019, Yoro Local Government Area allegedly deposited ₦50 million into P3 Cornerstone’s account.

He said he informed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs about the transaction and was instructed to withdraw the money.

The witness also referred to another transaction involving ₦58.5 million deposited into the company’s account, saying the transaction was reported to the Permanent Secretary and the Director of Finance, Babangida Hassan.

He further told the court about Exhibit 11, which contained a ₦64.95 million cheque issued by Gassol Local Government on November 5, 2019.

According to Johns, ₦1.45 million was transferred to P3 Cornerstone on the same day before the money was subsequently paid into the emirate and traditional council account.

He explained that the account was reportedly used for the payment of salaries, allowances and medical expenses of emirs and traditional rulers.

The witness also gave evidence concerning transactions involving Ardo Kola and Gassol local governments.

“There is a manager’s cheque of Ardo Kola Local Government on November 28, 2019, of ₦55 million,” Johns told the court.

He added that ₦62 million was also credited to P3 Cornerstone by Gassol Local Government on the same day.

According to the witness, ₦50 million from the Gassol transaction was withdrawn and handed over to the Permanent Secretary at a United Bank for Africa (UBA) branch.

He further stated that part of the funds was transferred to an individual identified as Prince.

“On the same date, November 29, 2019, Prince received ₦5.6 million. The balance was cashed and handed over to the Perm Sec and Dare Lawal in UBA,” he said.

Johns further testified that on December 2, 2019, Gassol Local Government deposited ₦17,378,542 and ₦13,120,051 into P3 Cornerstone’s account.

He said he informed Hassan, the Director of Finance, about the transactions and was instructed to withdraw the funds.

“I withdrew the money: ₦30,498,593. I handed it over to the Director of Finance and Dare Lawal,” the witness said.

He added that the money was handed over to the Permanent Secretary and Dare Lawal on the instruction of the Permanent Secretary.

Johns also testified about other transactions involving P3 Cornerstone between March and September 2020.

He told the court that on March 23, 2020, the company received ₦11.35 million, ₦75 million and ₦2,500,036.25.

He said a further ₦20,470,036.25 was deposited into the company’s account on March 24, alongside another payment of ₦1,500,036.25.

The witness also stated that P3 Cornerstone received ₦39,999,300.45 on September 14, 2020, while another ₦39,999,500 was received from Zing Local Government on the same day.

He added that the company received ₦7.85 million from Yoro Local Government on September 14, 2020.

According to Johns, the funds were subsequently withdrawn and handed over to the Permanent Secretary, while portions of the money were transferred to the individual identified as Prince.

However, the witness admitted that he did not know the specific purposes for which the subventions were intended.

Following his testimony, the EFCC tendered additional documents before the court. The documents were admitted in evidence and marked Exhibits 13, 14 and 15.

Justice Oriji subsequently adjourned the case until October 6, 2026, for continuation of the