Benchmark Naija

Nigeria football looks to be, unfortunately, heading into a long, dark night as world football –governing body is set to wield the big stick on Monday (27th October, 2014) against the most populous black nation on earth. Even as the Super Eagles still have a chance of qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations to defend their crown, despite a poor start in the race; even with the Golden Eaglets, the reiging champions of the world, ready to compete at the African Championship to be eligible to travel to Chile to defend their world title next year, and with the Super Falcons reclaiming their continental title in Namibia on Saturday, non –conformity to simple football rules and regulations has put Nigeria at the danger of a big slam. On Saturday in Windhoek, Namibia, CAF President Issa Hayatou told Nigeria’s Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo in clear terms that the world was fed up with Nigeria’s incorrigibility in the area of football administration. Hayatou’s words: “I had to p...

The Super Falcons on Saturday beat Cameroon to lift the African Women’s Championship cup for the seventh time. The Falcons defeated Cameroon 2-0 in a match that saw the girls dominate every department on the pitch. The Falcons remained unbeaten in the tournament hosted by Namibia. The two goals came the 1st half through Oparanozie and Oshiola

THE Executive Chairman, Delta Board of Internal Revenue DBIR, Mr Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has been turbaned as the Majidadin Kaigama of Katsina by His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, Emir of Katsina. The Katsina monarch bestowed the title on Thomas at a gala night at the Protea Hotel, Warri, Delta State, with Alhaji Kabir Muhammed Mashi, the Kaigama of Katsina State, the Emir’s representative performing the turbaning. Mashi, Chairman of the Joint Task Board who said the decision to honour the DBIR boss was taken after “an extensive consultation,” added that the title demonstrates the Emir’s detribalised posture and promotion of unity amongst the diverse people of Nigeria and the recipient’s outstanding performance. “It is in recognition of your outstanding contributions to the development of taxation in the country, both at the state and national levels,” Mashi, told Thomas. He advised the Majidadin Kaigama of Katsina to uphold and promote the cultural heritage o...

Following the ruling of the Federal High Court in Jos, Giwa resumed today at the Glass House and immediately reinstated Stephen Keshi as the Coach of the Super Eagles. It will be recalled that Amaju Pinnick was elected NFF President in Warri but that Election and Congress has since been nullify by the Court sitting in Jos. this will definitely bring FIFA hammer on Nigeria as it frowns on taking football matters to courts

The Supreme Court on Friday sacked a member of the Delta State House of Assembly representing Ugelli North Constituency II, Mr. Edoja Akpodiete. The apex court ordered him to refund to the state coffers all the salaries and allowances he had collected since he had been occupying the seat since 2011. It was the first time the Supreme Court would be ordering any person to refund the money earned from office that he or she illegally occupied. In its lead judgement delivered by Justice Walther Onnoghen, the Supreme Court ordered that Mr. Jenkins Gwede of the Democratic Peoples Party to take over the seat from Akpodiete. The court held that the Independent National Electoral Commission had wrongfully issued the certificate of return to Akpodiete even when it was aware that he had ceased to be the sponsored candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party over 45 days before the state House of Assembly election was conducted on April 26, 2011. The apex court described INEC’s action as w...

Self acclaimed secretary General of Boko Haram, Mallam Danladi Ahmadu have said that the group’s cases fire agreement with the Federal Government is very much on course. Ahmadu disclosed that the final meeting between the group and the Federal Government to finally seal the ceasefire agreement has been scheduled for Monday in Ndjamana, Chad and to be supervised by the Chadian leader, Idris Derby. Danladi Ahmadu, who spoke in the Hausa service of the Voice of America VoA on Friday and monitored in Yola affirmed that the Chibok Girls would surely be released on Monday to the Chadian President, Idriss Derby for onward presentation to the Nigerian government. He added that an enlarged meeting of the group has been fixed for the weekend to prepare ground for the Monday meeting with the Federal government, affirming that the final ceasefire and the release of the Chibok girls are promises that will surely be fulfilled by the group. Ahmadu also disclosed to VoA that the group and the ...

Shock and disbelief could best describe the expression on the faces of residents of Omitola street in Agege area of Lagos, when Saturday Vanguard visited Thursday , to ascertain the circumstance that led to the death of a 12-year-old boy. The guardians of the boy allegedly beat him to death just as a man in Oregun, Ikeja, was also alleged to have beaten the son to death for stealing N1,000. The 12-year old boy who was identified as Onyedikachi Mbanozo, was reportedly brought from the village by Mr and Mrs Paul Obiefule, last year, with a promise to send him to school. Ironically , he died on a day children all over the world were being celebrated. He was hungry and sought to eat at about 1pm. It was to be his first meal of the day. His guardians allegedly pounced on him in the process of which he slumped and died. Residents told Saturday Vanguard during the visit that when the couple discovered that Mbanozo was dead, they hid his corpse under the bed. Sens...