Manchester United and Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing Super Eagles defenders Calvin Bassey and Zaidu Sanusi as they look to reinforce their defensive departments ahead of the January transfer window.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Manchester United have reportedly identified Bassey as a potential addition following his impressive displays for Fulham, where the 26-year-old has become one of the club’s most consistent performers despite their difficult campaign.

According to TEAMtalk, United’s recruitment team have been monitoring the Nigerian international, whose performances have also earned him the captain’s armband at Craven Cottage.

Bassey’s current contract is due to expire next summer, although Fulham have the option of extending it by another year. The London club are keen to secure his long-term future but could face competition from several interested teams.

The Red Devils are reportedly planning a major squad overhaul in 2027, with Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire all approaching the final months of their contracts.

Martinez is also said to be considering an exit from Old Trafford, with Barcelona reportedly making enquiries about his availability.

Bassey’s experience in the Premier League and his versatility, which allows him to play both as a centre-back and left-back, have reportedly made him an appealing option for Manchester United.

However, the English club are not alone in monitoring the defender, as Newcastle United, Everton, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also said to be interested in his situation.

Meanwhile, Leeds United are reportedly considering a move for another Nigerian defender, Sanusi, when the January transfer window opens.

According to Football Insider, Leeds manager Daniel Farke wants to strengthen his left-back position and has identified the Porto player as a possible signing.

The 29-year-old could provide competition for Sweden international Gabriel Gudmundsson, who joined Leeds in 2025 and has impressed with his performances.

Leeds have reportedly considered signing Sanusi during the previous two transfer windows and have continued to monitor his situation.

Nollywood actress Doris Ogala knelt before the court on Friday and apologised for her conduct during an earlier sitting.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Ogala is facing charges bordering on alleged cyberstalking, cyberbullying and attempted extortion involving Pastor Chris Okafor.

The actress, who was remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre after her arraignment on Wednesday, appealed to the court, expressing regret over her actions and saying she never imagined she would end up in prison custody.

Appearing before Justice Akintayo Aluko, Ogala promised that she would not repeat the behaviour that disrupted proceedings at the previous sitting.

“I am very sorry, my Lord. I apologise for my bad behaviour. I have never been to prison before and I wasn’t expecting that I would do that.

“I regret my actions and I apologise to my Lord. I tender my apologies wholeheartedly. Sorry, this will never happen again going forward,” she said.

Her apology came after the judge expressed displeasure over her conduct on Wednesday, when she was remanded. Ogala allegedly shouted and sang inside the courtroom, disrupting proceedings and forcing the court to adjourn.

Justice Aluko said her behaviour prevented the court from attending to more than seven other cases scheduled for that day.

The judge disclosed that he had considered committing the actress for contempt but decided against it, despite believing that her conduct deserved punishment.

“She should have been given some form of imprisonment, right, on that day, but I kept my cool and I rose,” he said.

Aluko added that Ogala could have been sentenced to at least two months in prison for obstructing court proceedings.

Expressing his displeasure, the judge questioned why the actress had chosen to shout and sing in the courtroom, noting that her conduct forced the court to rise and had been officially recorded.

He also criticised the defence counsel for failing to acknowledge the incident and explain his client’s behaviour before commencing arguments on the bail application.

The judge recalled that he had personally directed that the bail application be given accelerated consideration, taking steps to ensure it would be heard within 48 hours.

He said he was disappointed that the disruption occurred despite the court’s efforts to handle the matter promptly.

Ogala’s lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, also apologised to the judge, describing the incident as regrettable. He assured the court that such behaviour was not characteristic of his client.

Abubakar said he had known Ogala for some time and was surprised by her conduct.

Following the apologies, the court proceeded to hear arguments on the actress’s bail application.

Moving the application, Abubakar urged the court to grant his client bail, arguing that the prosecution had effectively acknowledged her entitlement to bail by proposing conditions for her release in its counter-affidavit.

He maintained that the prosecution was not opposed to her release but was concerned about the conditions under which she would be granted bail.

The defence counsel also cited judicial authorities to argue that bail conditions should be reasonable and must not undermine an accused person’s right to liberty while awaiting trial.

However, the prosecution, led by Tolulope Mokolu, urged the court to impose stringent bail conditions, particularly because of concerns surrounding Ogala’s social media activities.

The prosecution argued that her continued use of social media could influence witnesses and interfere with the administration of justice.

Mokolu acknowledged that the defendant had constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression but maintained that those rights were not absolute and must be exercised within the limits of the law.

After listening to arguments from both parties, Justice Aluko reserved ruling on the bail application until November 6, 2026.

Ogala was subsequently returned to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, where she will remain pending the court’s decision on her bail application.

The Bayelsa State Government has approved special allowances for public servants and workers in tertiary institutions, a development expected to raise its monthly salary expenditure by approximately ₦3 billion from October 2026.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Under the arrangement, more than ₦900 million will be spent monthly on allowances for workers in tertiary institutions, while an additional ₦2 billion will cover special allowances for other categories of public servants.

The disclosure was made on Friday, October 30, during the state government’s transparency briefing on its revenue and expenditure for August and September 2026.

Presenting the financial report, the Technical Adviser on Treasury, Accounts and Revenue to Governor Douye Diri, Timipre Seipolu, said the allowances were approved to improve workers’ welfare and recognise the demands of various professional groups.

He explained that payments would begin in October, adding that the government had also undertaken to settle outstanding arrears dating back to January 2026.

“The state has approved special allowances for tertiary institutions, and the payment is commencing from October, even though the government has also committed to paying the arrears from January 2026,” Seipolu said.

According to him, the additional allowances for other public servants would increase the state’s monthly salary expenditure by about ₦2 billion, bringing the combined increase from the two arrangements to approximately ₦3 billion.

“That alone will increase our monthly salary by about ₦2 billion. So, these two components alone will increase the state’s monthly salary bill by about ₦3 billion, commencing from October 2026,” he stated.

Seipolu further disclosed that approximately 65,411 workers were covered by the state’s salary payment arrangements.

He noted that different professional groups operate under separate salary structures and allowance systems, listing doctors, nurses, investigators, civil servants, university employees and fire service personnel among those covered.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, dismissed reports claiming that some major government projects had been abandoned or stalled.

She maintained that the nine-storey State Secretariat building, the rehabilitation of the Light Floor project and the Lagos Road project were progressing as scheduled.

Koku-Obiyai said she had inspected the Lagos Road project alongside the Commissioner for Works and confirmed that construction had reached an advanced stage.

She urged residents to disregard unverified reports, insisting that the state government was meeting its financial obligations to contractors to ensure the timely completion of ongoing infrastructure projects.