UEFA’s Bid To Block Super League Broke EU Law, Court Rules

UEFA’s Bid To Block Super League Broke EU Law, Court Rules

The written judgment stressed that its ruling doesn't necessarily mean that the Super League project should now be authorised, just that FIFA and UEFA have been "abusing a dominant position" in the football market.

Europe’s top court ruled on Thursday that moves by football governing bodies UEFA and FIFA to stifle the creation of a rival Super League had broken EU law.

“The FIFA and UEFA rules making any new interclub football project subject to their prior approval, such as the Super League, and prohibiting clubs and players from playing in those competitions, are unlawful,” the European Court of Justice ruled.

The summary of the written judgment stressed that its ruling doesn’t necessarily mean that the Super League project should now be authorised, just that FIFA and UEFA have been “abusing a dominant position” in the football market.

A22 Sports, the company promoting the Super League project, claimed victory.

“We have won the right to compete. The UEFA monopoly is over. Football is free,” the firm’s CEO Bernd Reichart declared in a social media post from the A22 account.

Port Harcourt Refinery Recommences Operation After Years Of Shutdown

Port Harcourt Refinery Recommences Operation After Years Of Shutdown

The development is coming after many years of underperformance and turnaround maintenance of the facility.

The Port Harcourt Refining Company in Rivers State has recommenced operation in line with the Federal Government’s promise to ensure the production of refined products at the facility in December 2023. 

The development is coming after many years of underperformance and turnaround maintenance of the facility. Four of Nigeria’s refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna have a combined capacity to process 445,000 barrels per day (bpd). But they were shut down in 2019.

However, in August, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said the Port Harcourt refinery will recommence operations in December.

Lokpobiri said this during an inspection tour of the rehabilitation work at the PHRC Ltd. plant

“Our objective in coming here today is to ensure that in the next few years, Nigeria stops fuel importation. From what we have seen here today, Port Harcourt Refinery will come on board by the end of the year,” he said in August.

The recommencement of operations at the Port Harcourt refinery comes over two years after the Federal Government approved funding of $1.5 billion (1.2 billion euros) to repair one of its biggest oil refineries.

The government chose an Italian firm Maire Tecnimont to carry out the repair work at the Port Harcourt facility which has a capacity of some 210,000 bpd.

“We are happy to announce that the rehabilitation of productivity refinery will commence in three phases,” the then-Minister of Petroleum (State) Timipre Sylva told reporters.

“The first phase is to be completed in 18 months, which will take the refinery to a production of 90 percent of its nameplate capacity,” said Sylva, adding that the second phase would be completed in 24 months and the third in 44 months.

Despite being Africa’s number one oil producer, Nigeria has relied on imports of petroleum products because of a lack of domestic refining capacity. Fuel shortages are commonplace.

But as part of moves to overhaul the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the government has been working to improve capacity at the country’s under-performing state-owned refineries.

It is hoped that the resumption of refinery activity in the facility and the commencement of a similar exercise at the Dangote Refinery will improve the supply of fuel in Africa’s largest oil producer and allow the country to make savings on refined fuel and other petroleum products.

With the removal of subsidy on fuel, the move is also expected to impact on the cost of the product.

Cash Crunch Another Test Of Nigerians’ Patience, NLC Warns FG

Cash Crunch Another Test Of Nigerians’ Patience, NLC Warns FG

Describing the cash crunch as another test to try the patience of Nigerians and Nigerian workers, Ajaero said the prevailing scarcity of the naira is unacceptable.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed concerns over the lingering cash scarcity in the country, saying that the situation has serious implications for citizens.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, warned the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria that a mass public protest was imminent if nothing was done to address the naira shortage.

Describing the cash crunch as another test to try the patience of Nigerians and Nigerian workers, Ajaero said the prevailing scarcity of the naira is unacceptable.

“We are worried that by this action and others, the government may be inciting the people and mobilising them to seek alternative routes for protecting themselves from these perverse policies. We believe that the elastic limit of the patience of Nigerians is being breached and no government inflicts this level of pains on its citizenry and expects them to keep quiet for a long time,” Ajaero said in a statement on Tuesday.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, warned the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria that a mass public protest was imminent if nothing was done to address the naira shortage.

Describing the cash crunch as another test to try the patience of Nigerians and Nigerian workers, Ajaero said the prevailing scarcity of the naira is unacceptable.

“We are worried that by this action and others, the government may be inciting the people and mobilising them to seek alternative routes for protecting themselves from these perverse policies. We believe that the elastic limit of the patience of Nigerians is being breached and no government inflicts this level of pains on its citizenry and expects them to keep quiet for a long time,” Ajaero said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Forcing Nigerians into revolt by continuously taking actions that deny them basic access to survival will not augur well for our nation. This cash crunch is indeed another test of the already worn patience of Nigerian masses and workers.”

Ajaero said the NLC recognised the importance of a vibrant economy and believed that it was in the interest of the nation to ensure that the citizens could enjoy the festive season without undue financial strain.

He urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take “immediate and decisive action to alleviate the cash crunch and mitigate its impact on the people.”

See the full statement below:

CASH CRUNCH: AN INCITEMENT OF NIGERIANS

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is deeply concerned about the recent cash crunch that has gripped the Nigerian economy, particularly as the nation approaches the festive season. This economic challenge has far-reaching implications for the citizens of our great nation, and urgent steps must be taken to address this issue to prevent further hardships for the already suffering Nigerian populace.

Fresh in the minds of every Nigerian is the excruciating conditions that we were all subjugated to as a result of the last Cash crunch earlier this year that was orchestrated by the ill-conceived and ill-implemented currency redesign policy of the immediate past. The sorrow that botched exercise foisted on us is not what Nigerians wish to witness again in one year.

This time, there is no discernible reason by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) neither any explanation from the Government on why Nigerians should be subjected to this level of suffering once again in 2023. Though we have heard reasons like; the increase in fake notes in circulation and the hoarding of the Naira. These reasons are clearly unacceptable as we cannot see anything that will make any Nigerian hoard the Naira. In any case, it is not the ordinary Nigerian that hoards money in their houses.

If the CBN is saying that those with ill-gotten wealth are stashing cash in their houses to avoid detection, it becomes a heavy indictment on the government anti-corruption agenda. This is because what the CBN is saying is that since the assumption of office of this Government, that the level of graft has increased resulting in the creation of hideouts for the slush funds. The question then is; should the ordinary citizens be made to suffer the apparent incompetence of government in prosecuting the anti-corruption war or is it that there is actually no anti-corruption war going on?

Nigerians are spending more time in the Banks trying to source for cash not for monies that are not in their accounts but for their own money. This is undermining confidence of the public in the banks and may discourage the citizenry from participating actively in Banking. It is shameful that Nigerians would have to spend a lot of money to gain access to their hard-earned income. We are creating another avenue for economic rentiers such as the POS operators and their collaborators in the Banks to fleece Nigerians.

Subjecting us again to spend our meagre salaries buying our money automatically devalues our income. POS operators currently charge around N400 to access N10,000. This is about a 4% reduction in the value of the income of poor Nigerians who hardly make use of electronic platforms to perform their transactions. For citizens who are already impoverished by the same policies of Government, foisting this on them again, amounts to gross insensitivity and double jeopardy.

We are worried that by this action and others, the Government may be inciting the people and mobilizing them to seek alternative routes for protecting themselves from these perverse policies. We believe that the elastic limit of the patience of Nigerians is being breached and no government inflicts this level of pains on its citizenry and expects them to keep quiet for a long time. Forcing Nigerians into revolt by continuously taking actions that deny them basic access to survival will not augur well for our nation. This cash crunch is indeed another test of the already worn patience of Nigerian masses and workers.

During this Yuletide season which is traditionally a time of joy, celebration, and familial gatherings, but the current cash shortage threatens to cast a shadow over the festivities for many Nigerians. The unavailability of cash has led to increased difficulties in meeting daily needs, exacerbating the economic challenges faced by ordinary citizens.

The Nigeria Labour Congress recognizes the importance of a vibrant economy, and we believe that it is in the interest of the nation to ensure that our citizens can enjoy the festive season without undue financial strain. We call on the government to take immediate and decisive action to alleviate the cash crunch and mitigate its impact on the people.

Government should therefore explore measures to inject liquidity into the economy, ensuring that there is sufficient cash flow to meet the demands of businesses and individuals. It is fairly tale to continue brandishing cash hoarding as an excuse. Nigerians want their money and it should be made available to them. Excuses are not what Nigerians want to hear but access to their money.

We urge Government to collaborate with other financial institutions to improve banking services, such as ensuring the availability of cash at ATMs and bank branches to facilitate easy access for the public. We urge the CBN to Provide clear and transparent communication to the public regarding the steps being taken to address the cash crunch and reassure citizens about the stability of the financial system.

The Nigeria Labour Congress is not unmindful of the complexities of managing an economy, especially during challenging times. However, it is crucial for the government to prioritize the well-being of its citizens and take immediate action to alleviate their suffering.

Comrade Joe Ajaero

President

Court Disqualifies Trump From 2024 Presidential Race

Court Disqualifies Trump From 2024 Presidential Race

The court placed its ruling on hold until January 4, anticipating an appeal to the US Supreme Court, which Trump's campaign immediately said it would seek.

Donald Trump is ineligible for the US presidency because of his involvement in the January 2021 assault on the Capitol, Colorado’s supreme court ruled Tuesday, setting off a political earthquake that could upend next year’s election.

The stunning legal decision — which Trump’s campaign said it would appeal — drew immediate condemnation from Republicans across the spectrum, and looked set to light a fire under the former reality TV star’s claim to political persecution.

The ruling, which only applies to the Colorado primary ballot, is the first of a number of legal actions across the country to successfully invoke the US Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which bars from office anyone formerly sworn to protect the country who later engages in insurrection.

“A majority of the court holds that President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of President under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the Colorado high court wrote.

“Because he is disqualified, it would be a wrongful act under the Election Code for the Colorado Secretary of State to list him as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot.

“We do not reach these conclusions lightly,” the 4-3 majority wrote.

“We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us. We are likewise mindful of our solemn duty to apply the law, without fear or favor, and without being swayed by public reaction to the decisions that the law mandates we reach.”

An earlier ruling by a lower court found that while Trump had clearly given succor to the January 6 riot, the office of president was not included in the list of federal elected positions affected by the 14th Amendment.

Noah Bookbinder of campaign group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which brought the original case, took to social media to hail Tuesday’s ruling, calling it “a huge moment for democracy.”

“It is not only historic and justified, but is necessary to protect the future of democracy in our country.

“Our Constitution clearly states that those who violate their oath by attacking our democracy are barred from serving in government.”

Supreme Court

 

The court placed its ruling on hold until January 4, anticipating an appeal to the US Supreme Court, which Trump’s campaign immediately said it would seek.

“We will swiftly file an appeal to the United States Supreme Court and a concurrent request for a stay of this deeply undemocratic decision,” campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.

Cheung said the “all-Democrat appointed” panel in Colorado was doing the bidding of a “(George) Soros-funded, left-wing group’s scheme to interfere in an election on behalf of Crooked Joe Biden.”

“Democrat Party leaders are in a state of paranoia over the growing, dominant lead President Trump has amassed in the polls.

“They have lost faith in the failed Biden presidency and are now doing everything they can to stop the American voters from throwing them out of office next November.”

The judgment brought swift rebukes from senior Republicans, including Trump’s one-time rival for the 2016 nomination, Senator Marco Rubio.

“The US has put sanctions on other countries for doing exactly what the Colorado Supreme Court has done today,” he wrote on social media.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis — who is running against Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination but has closely aligned himself with many of the former president’s political positions — said the US Supreme Court “should reverse” the Colorado ruling.

“The Left invokes ‘democracy’ to justify its use of power, even if it means abusing judicial power to remove a candidate from the ballot based on spurious legal ground,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Even as swathes of the traditional Republican Party are becoming increasingly exasperated with Trump and his brand of grievance-filled isolationism, a vocal grassroots movement continues to support him enthusiastically.

Failure to stand behind the presumed frontrunner against what he paints as a “witch hunt” can have dire consequences for even senior party figures.

Trump’s historic indictments for allegedly leading a criminal conspiracy to steal the 2020 election — one at the federal level and another in Georgia — have opened a frenzied legal debate over his eligibility for future office.

The Colorado action is one of multiple 14th Amendment lawsuits against Trump proceeding nationwide. Minnesota’s top court threw out a similar move last month.

Bandits Abduct Village Head, Imam In Zamfara

Bandits Abduct Village Head, Imam In Zamfara

Bandits have long terrorised some North-West and North-Central states, operating from bases deep in forests and raiding villages to loot and kidnap residents for ransom.

Armed bandits have abducted the village head of Rakyabu in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Magaji Sa’idu, and the Chief Imam of the village, Malam Abdullahi 

The incident happened last Wednesday when the terrorists invaded the community.

Although police authorities in the state are yet to confirm the latest abductions.

“I am not aware of the incident, I just returned to the state from an official engagement, I will contact the DPO of Tsafe and I will get back to you,”  the spokesperson of Zamfara State Police Command, Yazid Abubakar, told Channels Television.

But a resident of the area, who pleaded anonymity for security reasons, said the bandits had contacted the community, demanding N5 million as ransom.

According to him, the community had launched an appeal fund since the incident happened and could only raise N500,000. He said the bandits had collected the N500,000 and refused to release the two abducted persons.

“They said we must balance the remaining N4.5 million, they did not release the captives even till now,” he said.

“We are soliciting support from relevant authorities to assist us in getting the captives to regain their freedom, we have tried our best since last week.”

Bandits have long terrorised some North-West and North-Central states, operating from bases deep in forests and raiding villages to loot and kidnap residents for ransom.

In the North-East, jihadists have been pushed back from the territory they held at the height of the conflict, though they continue to fight on in rural areas.

More than 40,000 people have been killed and two million displaced since 2009 in that conflict.

Four Killed, Eight Others Abducted As Bandits Attack Katsina Farmers

Four Killed, Eight Others Abducted As Bandits Attack Katsina Farmers

The spokesman of the Katsina Police Command confirmed the incident on Monday. 

Four people have been killed and eight others abducted after bandits with sophisticated weapons including AK-47 rifles attacked farmers in Katsina State.

The incident occurred in the Nahuta and Dantsuntu Communities of the Batsari Local Government Area of the State.

An eyewitness told Channels Television that the bandits surrounded the area from Saturday evening when the farmers were busy working on their farmlands, shooting sporadically. They operated until the early hours of Sunday.

But the spokesman of the Katsina Police Command confirmed the incident on Monday.

He noted that police are already on top of the situation as five persons have so far been rescued unhurt out of the eight that were earlier kidnapped.

Batsari is one of the frontline local government areas in Katsina State where banditry is on the increase. The development has made life unbearable with the locals finding it difficult to access their farmlands which remain their only source of livelihood.

Violence in North-West Nigeria has its roots in the conflict between nomadic herders and settled farmers over land and resources, but it has spiralled into wider criminality.

Settlements form self-defence vigilante groups to protect villages and gangs carry out tit-for-tat reprisals on rival communities, often including mass abductions for ransom or leverage.

Security Scare Near Biden As Car Hits Motorcade

Security Scare Near Biden As Car Hits Motorcade

A car crashed into a Secret Service vehicle attached to Joe Biden's motorcade on Sunday, with the security scare startling the US president as he left his campaign headquarters in Delaware.

A car crashed into a Secret Service vehicle attached to Joe Biden’s motorcade on Sunday, with the security scare startling the US president as he left his campaign headquarters in Delaware.

After a loud bang caused by a sedan slamming into an SUV positioned in a nearby intersection about 130 feet (40 meters) from Biden, security personnel rushed the president into a waiting vehicle and he was whisked away from the building in downtown Wilmington.

“Both the president and first lady are fine,” a White House official told an AFP reporter who witnessed the incident.

“Today, at approximately 8:09 pm (0109 GMT), a Secret Service vehicle securing the president’s motorcade route was struck by another vehicle in Wilmington,” Secret Service spokesperson Special Agent Steve Kopek said.

“There was no protective interest associated with this event and the president’s motorcade departed without incident,” he added.

Pool reporters had gathered on the sidewalk outside the campaign offices — where the president and First Lady Jill Biden had dinner with staff — and had just finished shouting questions to Biden from a distance when they heard the crash and saw him with a surprised expression on his face.

Agents sprang into action, cornering the silver car with Delaware license plates and drawing weapons on the driver, who held up his hands.

Reporters were then quickly rounded up by staff to join the motorcade as it departed the rain-drenched scene.

“They’re evacuating, you guys gotta go,” a staffer told reporters as security personnel secured the area.

Biden arrived safely at his family home without further incident.