IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

France striker Kylian Mbappe has called his club side Paris St-Germain "divisive" as doubts over his future intensify. Mbappe, 24, whose contract at PSG expires in 2024, made the comments to France Football magazine.

PSG's all-time leading scorer has told the club he will not sign a new deal. "I think that playing for PSG doesn't help much because it's a divisive team, a divisive club," Mbappe is reported as saying.

"We did what we could [in the Champions League], period. You have to talk to the people who make the team, who organise the squad, who build this club."

Paris St-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi said he will not allow Mbappe to leave on a free transfer when his contract expires next summer.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, in a landmark judgment, has ordered the disclosure of the spending details of about USD$5 billion Abacha loot by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.”

The court ordered the government of President Bola Tinubu to “disclose the exact amount of money stolen by General Sani Abacha from Nigeria, and the total amount of Abacha loot recovered and all agreements signed on same by the governments of former presidents Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan and Buhari.” The judgment was delivered last week by Justice James Kolawole Omotosho following a Freedom of Information suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/407/2020, brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

In his judgment, Justice Omotosho held that, “In the final analysis, the application by SERAP is meritorious and the Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance is hereby ordered to furnish SERAP with the full spending details of about $5bn Abacha loot within 7 days of this judgment.”

Justice Omotosho ordered the government to “disclose details of the projects executed with the Abacha loot, locations of any such projects and the names of companies and contractors that carried or carrying out the projects since the return of democracy in 1999 till date.” Justice Omotosho also ordered the government to “disclose details of specific roles played by the World Bank and other partners in the execution of any projects funded with Abacha loot under the governments of former presidents Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan and Buhari.”

Justice Omotosho also stated that, “The excuse by the Minister of Finance is that the Ministry has searched its records and the details of the exact public funds stolen by Abacha and how the funds have been spent are not held by the Ministry. The excuse has no leg to stand in view of section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act.”

Former Manchester United and Ajax goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar's condition is "stable but still concerning" following a bleed on his brain, his family says. The 52-year-old was taken to an intensive care unit on Friday.

He "will remain in intensive care for the time being" said Ajax in a statement on behalf of his wife. He is reportedly being treated in a hospital in Croatia, where he was on holiday. The former Netherlands international, who won 130 caps for his country, resigned from his role as Ajax chief executive in May after the side finished third in the Dutch league and failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2009.

He retired from playing after leaving United in 2011 before joining the Ajax board in 2012, and later becoming the club's chief executive in 2016. Van der Sar made 266 appearances for the Red Devils and helped them to win four Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League. He also played in the Premier League for Fulham and in Serie A for Juventus.

His former clubs and team-mates are among those sending their support to Van der Sar. "The Van der Sar family, along with Ajax, is grateful and deeply touched by the many messages of support," Ajax said.

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has forwarded a letter of extension on medical leave to the State House of Assembly. This notice came after his doctors advised him on the need to take adequate rest after recuperating.

Receiving the letter on behalf of other lawmakers, the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, said Akeredolu’s action was in line with Section 190 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

According to the letter, Akeredolu’s deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa would continue to act as governor until there is a written declaration to the contrary.

Akeredolu had in a letter dated June 5, 2023, earlier informed the House of his decision to proceed on medical leave and was expected to resume on July 6, 2023.

The Federal Government has filed an eight-count charge against former Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah at a Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing her of falsely claiming to have lost her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, among other allegations. 

The charge was filed on June 26, 2023, according to court documents made available on Monday. This comes amid controversy over alleged falsified documents claiming the former Anambra North completed the mandatory one-year programme.

One of the counts read, “That you SENATOR STELLA ODUAH AND D.A.O OSHINOWO (at large) sometime in the year, 2017, at Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspires amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: make a document titled ‘Re: Request for National Youth Service Confirmation Which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3(6) of the miscellaneous offences Act CAF M17 of the revised edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and Punishable under section 3 (1) (c) of the same Act.”

In another count, the Federal Government alleged “that you SENATOR STELLA ODUAH sometime in the year, 2011 at Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did forward your credential to Federal Government of Nigeria among which is an affidavit and Extract from police Crime Diary, that you lost your National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Certificate the representation you know to be false which led to your nomination as a cabinet Minister and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 39 (2) (a) and punishable under Section 39(2)(b) of the same Act.

One of the other counts reads, “That you SENATOR STELLA ODUAH sometime in the year, 2011 at Federal Capital Territory, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did forward your credential to Federal Government of Nigeria among which is an affidavit and Extract from police Crime Diary, that you lost your National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Certificate the representation you know to be false which led to your nomination as a cabinet Minister and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 157 of the Penal Code Act and punishable under Section 158 (1) of the same Act.”

Chelsea have revealed their home kit for the 2023-24 season without a front-of-shirt sponsor. A shirt deal with telecommunications company Three was not renewed when it expired at the end of last season.

The Premier League blocked a deal with streaming service Paramount+, because of concerns about upsetting its broadcast rights holders. Chelsea decided against a shirt sponsorship agreement with an online gambling company. The club's supporters' trust had spoken out against such a partnership, although it is understood Chelsea had already ruled a deal before that.

In April, the Premier League announced that gambling sponsors would be withdrawn from the front of shirts by the end of the 2025-26 season. Chelsea say the shirt will go on sale on the website and in their shop on 16 August, three days after their opening Premier League game against Liverpool. It will go on wide sale on 23 August.