IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Egyptian volleyball giants Al Ahly have advanced to the quarterfinals of the Championship after a commanding 3-0 victory over Cameroon’s Mayo Kani Evolution (MKE), with set scores of 25-17, 25-19, 25-15.

Al Ahly made their intentions clear from the start, dominating the first set 25-17 with fast-paced play and exceptional ball distribution. Although MKE showed resilience, with solid backcourt defense to keep several balls in play, the Egyptian side remained in control.

The second set saw both teams exchange a series of errors, including hitting and serving mistakes. Despite the tight contest, Al Ahly pulled away in the final moments to clinch the set 25-19, extending their lead in the match.

In the third set, MKE put up a strong fight, keeping things competitive early on. However, Al Ahly’s well-executed plays and their ability to exploit gaps in MKE’s defense gave them a 13-10 lead. With a series of precise spikes and a strong finish, Al Ahly wrapped up the set 25-15, securing their place in the quarterfinals.

Al Ahly’s impressive performance underscores their championship pedigree as they move forward in the competition. 

Several state governors are reportedly blocking local government chairmen from opening Central Bank accounts, a key step in implementing the Supreme Court’s ruling on LG autonomy. Nearly nine months after the court granted LGs financial independence, many governors are accused of intimidating chairmen to maintain control over federal allocations.

Only Delta State has submitted LG account details, as most states cite pressure from governors and CBN’s stringent requirements as reasons for the delay. Some governors even rejected proposed compromises, such as receiving 50% of allocations post-CBN transfer.

While some states like Nasarawa and Jigawa claim progress, local government workers across the country say funds are still routed through state-controlled joint accounts, undermining full autonomy. Stakeholders warn that failure to implement the ruling threatens the financial independence of Nigeria’s 774 LGAs.

An 18-seater Toyota Hiace Bus with registration number KTG 283 XA crashed into the crowded Damagum market in Yobe State, resulting in the deaths of a pregnant woman and four others, and injuring 19 people.

Confirming the incident, the FRSC Sector Commander in Yobe, Livinus Yilzoom, said the crash occurred on Sunday evening as the victims were leaving the market.

He clarified that the five individuals who died were not passengers in the vehicle but pedestrians standing by the roadside, waiting to cross.

Founder of the defunct Diamond Bank Plc, Pascal Dozie, is dead. He died on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at the age of 85. The financial guru died a day before his 86th birthday. Born on April 9, 1939 in Egbu, Owerri, Imo State, Dozie founded Diamond Bank before its merger with Access Bank.

In a statement, President Bola Tinubu extended his heartfelt condolences to the Dozie family, the business community, and all Nigerians on the passing of the elder statesman, entrepreneur, and banker. The president celebrated Dozie’s vision and contributions to Nigeria’s economic architecture, describing them as an enduring legacy.

“As the founder of Diamond Bank and the pioneer Chairman of MTN Nigeria, he was at the forefront of two of the most transformative sectors in Nigeria’s development journey: banking and telecommunications,” presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said. Tinubu lauded Dozie as “a rare breed business leader whose wisdom, humility, and pioneering efforts laid a foundation upon which many continue to build. His passing is a profound loss to the private sector and Nigeria”.

The president extended his condolences to his wife, children, and extended family. He called upon the Nigerian private sector to honour Chief Dozie’s memory by upholding the values of integrity, innovation, and nation-building, for which he was renowned.

“Chief Dozie, a steadfast believer in Nigeria’s vast potential, was pivotal in shaping the financial services industry and expanding access to mobile connectivity nationwide. His influential leadership extended well beyond corporate boardrooms. 

The Labour Party (LP) Caucus in the House of Representatives has dismissed recent claims by embattled former party chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, regarding the leadership of the caucus, calling his statements “laughable, naive, and misleading.” The backlash follows Abure’s announcement of the purported removal of Hon. Afam Victor Ogene as Leader of the LP Caucus, in the wake of the Supreme Court's judgment which affirmed the legitimacy of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman.

In a strongly worded statement released on Tuesday and signed by Hon. Ogene himself, the caucus made it clear that the role of Caucus Leader is not one assigned by any party official, but rather elected by fellow lawmakers based on trust and leadership merit. “Leadership of the caucus is determined by members, not by appointment,” the statement said. “Hon. Afam Victor Ogene was duly elected on May 6, 2023, by a majority of 21 out of 31 voting members from the 10th Assembly Labour Party caucus.”

The statement emphasized that only members of the caucus who elected Ogene have the authority to remove him, rejecting any external interference as “an authoritarian overreach by an individual still grappling with unresolved allegations of malfeasance.” Addressing Abure’s alleged motivations, the caucus noted that his recent move may be in retaliation for the group’s support of the Supreme Court ruling that invalidated his tenure.

“If this is Abure’s response to our support for a judicial verdict affirming the end of his tenure, then he is out of touch with reality,” the statement added. “His style of leadership was characterized by forgery, financial impropriety, and desperate power grabs that tarnished the party’s image nationwide.”

The caucus further alleged that Abure has yet to account for funds raised during the 2023 general elections and various off-cycle polls, accusing him of trying to gain access to House Caucus funds for personal use. “No responsible arm of the party will entrust him with even a kobo,” the statement said. “The LP needs a clean break from an integrity-deficient past and must move forward with transparency and unity.”

The statement comes ahead of a crucial NEC and Stakeholders meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 9, convened by LP National Leader Peter Obi and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti. 

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to urgently tackle the escalating violence in Otukpo, Benue State.

In a letter signed by Executive Secretary Ikpa Isaac, CESJET cited a series of killings, kidnappings, and armed robberies—including the recent murder of Chief Onche Akatu and the abduction of 14 passengers—as evidence of growing insecurity.

The group described the police presence in the area as inadequate and warned that continued violence is crippling local communities and economic activities.