Nigerian employee Tolulope Fayokun, who was fired from Johnson & Johnson, a US pharmaceutical corporation, for working on "African time," has successfully sued the business for racial discrimination. According to the Reading Tribunal's decision, Fayokun was wrongfully "racially profiled" and will get compensation. The hearing was informed that Fayokun, a dual-nationality British Nigerian, began her career at the firm in 2017 and was originally commended by her supervisors for her outstanding leadership abilities. Alessandra Toro, director of strategic insights and analytics at Johnson & Johnson, told Fayokun at her appearance before an employment tribunal that she had "Nigerian traits."

It was said that Toro and Fayokun had a cordial friendship at first, exchanging presents and talking about private issues. According to reports, Toro claimed to Fayokun that she worked on "African time," implying that she missed deadlines for some tasks at certain times. She claimed that after researching Nigerian workplaces, her boss informed her that they were "fluid," which is slang for "any-howness" or "disorganization."

In 2020, Fayokun was fired by the corporation based on this assumption. She started as a senior manager at the firm in 2017. She claimed that soon after she contacted Toro about some of the concerns, she received the sack. Her next move was to sue the business. "The fact that the Nigerian working profile was fluid was in contrast to my personal fixed preferences, meaning that whereas I see deadlines as fixed and set in stone, this indicated to me that I should not adopt or assume the same approach with someone who identified with a Nigerian work style," Toro was quoted as saying before the tribunal in support of her case.

Judge Andrew Gumbiti-Zimuto concluded after hearing the case that Fayokun had been "unfairly racially profiled." Gumbiti-Zimuto decided that Fayokun may legitimately believe that she was treated unfairly at work after learning that the exercise had taken place and was being actively utilized to control her. Another hearing will determine Fayokun's compensation.

Femi Otedola, the wealthy businessman from Nigeria, is not one to back down from a challenge, especially when it comes to worthwhile investments. He attempted but was unable, to unseat the Odukalas from the top spot in FBN Holdings Plc. Tony Elumelu refused to back down when he went after Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp) for a front seat. The most recent is a rumor (which has not yet been verified) that he is purchasing Dangote Cement shares, raising questions about whether he would feel at ease taking up the second position in Aliko Dangote's business this time. The biggest industrial conglomerate in West Africa, the Dangote Group, was founded, is chaired, and is led by Dangote.

In November 2023, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index put his net worth at $16.1 billion, making him the richest individual in Africa, the richest Black person globally, and the 107th richest person in the world overall. On October 23, 2021, Otedola and his nominee, Calvados Global Services Limited, acquired 1,818,551,625 units of shares from FBN Holdings issued share capital of 35,895,292,791, making his equity stake in the financial holding company 5.07 percent at that time. This was done through APT Securities and Funds Limited. After the news of Otedola's share buying leaked that October, Otedola, and Hassan-Odukale fought over who was the single largest shareholder before he lowered his position.

Serial investor and chairman of Geregu Power Plc Otedola had previously attempted to acquire a comparable stake in Transcorp, but his bid was turned down when Elumelu reversed course and purchased another 9.7 billion shares of the business in discrete transactions. Otedola, who is well-known for his audacious stock selections, was a key factor in the 2023 stock market boom after he expressed interest in Transcorp.

2023 was a good year for the market, pushing the return up to 45.90 percent. Shares of Dangote Cement have increased by 48% so far this year, a phenomenon associated with Otedola purchasing the stock. This year, the stock opened at N317 per share and closed at N538.80 on Friday, demonstrating a tremendous growth in value. His 2023 purchase of Transcorp stock ignited a surge that sent the company into the top five performing equities of the year.

From less than N2 per share to N19 per share, the stock increased. In 2022, the share price of FBN Holdings was less than N5. At the time he bought it. The stock recently traded at around N30 per share and crossed the trillion-naira market value. The largest economy in Africa had the strongest stock market gain internationally, with 26 percent as of Friday. In terms of returns, the Nigerian stock market surpassed Argentina's last week. This year, the bulls have remained in charge of the stock market action. There has only been one session with a negative closing on the market. The benchmark performance index crossed 90,000 basis points last week due to investor interest in stocks, defying the market's reaction to Monday's inflation news.

General Ali-Keffi appeals to Tinubu over detention for exposing masterminds with terrorism financing. President Bola Tinubu has received a letter from Maj Gen Ali-Keffi, the former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army's 1 Mechanized Division, about his arrest, incarceration, and mandatory retirement.

As head of Operation Service Wide (OPS), which was established by former President Muhammadu Buhari to look into those involved in terrorism financing, he claimed that this was in response to revelations made by a presidential investigative task force he headed, which revealed the involvement of top military brass, senior government officials, and a top banker in terrorism financing. Major General BM Monguno (rtd), the former National Security Adviser (NSA), called a five-week Board of Inquiry (BOI) that Ali-Keffi oversaw and held in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) from early January to late February 2020.

As the President of the Board of Inquiry, I oversaw a group of members and secretaries from the NCS, NIS, DSS, NIA, ONSA, and NFIU. The Board of Inquiry was primarily charged with investigating the circumstances surrounding the illicit smuggling of petroleum products into the Benin Republic through a single smuggling route in Ilesa Barbara, Kwara State. According to him, the BoI went above and above to find 295 oil tankers that carried Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and the main smugglers that were identified.

According to the petition, the BoI produced an important finding on the connection between the smuggling network, the terrorism plaguing the Northeast, and the ransom kidnapping/banditry that was developing in the North-West and some areas of the North-Central geopolitical zones. He asserted that this included large-scale money laundering, primarily for counterterrorism and insurgency activities that were mostly taking place in the country's northern areas, as well as illicit mineral extraction in the northwest and north-central regions. The hub for transferring money for terrorism and other illegal acts mentioned above was a syndicate with a wide-ranging network throughout the nation and linkages to the global criminal network.

The most concerning thing was that there were people with ties to the military who were financing Boko Haram terrorists and obtaining and transferring weapons and ammunition for BH and other criminal groups. This meant that terrorism and insurgency in the North-east, North-west, and North-central regions were criminal enterprises with profit—rather than ideology—serving as the driving force behind them.

"Therefore, it is evident to us at the BOI that progress cannot be made until the leaders, financiers, accomplices, and supporters of terrorist and insurgent organizations are found and the network destroyed," he stated. According to the petitioner, suggestions on the results were made and forwarded to the president.

The petition claimed that the operation had effectively penetrated the terror groups' leadership in the northeast, leading to their annihilation, and that important terrorism funders were connected to those found guilty of funding terrorism in the United Arab Emirates. The petitioner stated that the task force became a "victim of unfair attacks" when it was denied money to continue operating. He remarked, "This supports the claim that some influential people in the military and in and out of government felt uneasy about the task force, and particularly about my modesty as commander."

The petitioner claimed that the task force suffered a setback when Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, the acting army chief, passed away and Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya took over as GOC of the 1st Mechanized Division, Kaduna. He observed that the AGF was "less helpful" after the president. He said that the entire ordeal resulted in his imprisonment and 64 days in solitary confinement, during which he slept on the floor, having negative health effects. He bemoaned that the most agonizing aspect of his ordeal was that President Buhari, who permitted him to lead the task group, did not intervene to save him. Thus, he asked President Tinubu to become involved in the situation.

Please launch an inquiry into the events surrounding my arrest, confinement, mistreatment, and forced retirement from the Nigerian Army, he pleaded to the president. In addition, he requested reimbursement for the task force's expenses related to renting cars and apartments, as well as a review of his forced retirement from the army and a move to voluntary retirement. In addition, Ali-Keffi requested authorization for personal security as well as recompense for the suffering and wounds sustained while detained.

Omar Berrada, the CEO of Manchester City, will become the next CEO of Manchester United after a spectacular swoop. Former captain Richard Arnold departed Old Trafford in November while negotiations to purchase a 25% share in the team progressed with INEOS. Berrada served as City Football Group's chief football operations officer, closely collaborating with director of football Txiki Begiristain and contributing significantly to the team's success in recent years behind the scenes.

 But it's official now that he's left the treble champions of last season. "Manchester City Football Club can confirm that Omar Berrada has resigned from his role as chief football operations officer at City Football Group," City sent to The Athletic. With our gratitude and best wishes, the club accepts his choice to seek out new challenges."

In addition to working in the football and commercial departments at Old Trafford, Berrada will be a member of the Manchester United board of directors and will be responsible for reporting to the new stakeholders. The Glazers blessed the plan, spearheaded by Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS business. Berrada will take over for current interim CEO Patrick Stewart, who assumed the position after Arnold's departure, should his hiring become official. Berrada formerly served as a senior business development manager and head of sponsorship at Barcelona.

It's one of the first major decisions taken by Ratcliffe, whose deal at United is still awaiting Premier League ratification. INEOS employee Jean-Claude Blanc had previously been touted as the Red Devils' next CEO, having previously improved the fortunes of Juventus with his work on the Allianz Stadium.

Ivory Coast 0-1 Nigeria: Captain Troost-Ekong scored a penalty kick to complete a crucial victory / R47 Nigeria's 1-0 victory against the host Ivory Coast in Group A marked a significant advancement into the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16.

The pivotal moment of the game occurred in the 55th minute when Victor Osimhen was caught in the box by Ousmane Diomande. William Troost-Ekong was able to score quickly from the penalty spot as a result. The Ivorians, encouraged by a boisterous crowd, exerted a lot of effort to equalize but were unable to generate a clear opportunity against a strong Super Eagles defense. Nigeria overtook the Elephants to take the second spot in Group A. In terms of head-to-head record, Nigeria trails leaders Equatorial Guinea, who defeated Guinea-Bissau 4-2 earlier on Thursday.

After two games, the Ivorians have three points; thus, they must defeat Equatorial Guinea on Monday to advance to the next round. Guinea-Bissau will play Nigeria in their last Group A match; the three-time winners' four points may already be enough to advance.

Orders of magnitude Ivory Coast XI: N'Dicka, Ousmane Diomande, Ghislain Konan, Yahia Fofana, N'Dicka, Aurier, S. Fofana, Jérémie Boga, Kessie, Jean-Philippe Krasso, Sangare, Kouame- Subs: Gradel, Boly, Seri, Badra Ali Sangaré, Pepe, Bamba, Odilon, Singo, Karim Konaté, Lazare Amani, Ismaël Diallo, Nigerian starting lineup: W. Troost-Ekong, Iwobi, Semi Ajayi, Aina, Osimhen, Lookman, Zaidu, Frank Onyeka, Calvin Bassey, Stanley Nwabili, Samuel Chukwueze Subs: Bright Osayi-Samuel, Terem Moffi, Raphael Onyedika, Bruno Onyemaechi, Iheanacho, F. Uzoho, Joe Aribo, Awaziem, Omeruo, A. Musa, Paul Onuachu, Moses Simon, and Iheanacho

Before a Nottingham Forest game, Senegal's football association has granted international player Cheikhou Kouyate, the current Africa Cup of Nations winner, permission to return to Dakar. Following the passing of his father, Cheikhou Kouyate has been granted permission to travel home. Cheikhou Kouyate, a top player for Nottingham Forest and Senegal, has left his country's Africa Cup of Nations squad to go home after his father passed away. With 88 senior caps, Kouyate, 34, is among the most seasoned players in his nation. Following the announcement, the Senegalese Football Federation released a statement stating that the veteran has been granted permission to return to Dakar.

                                                                                                                        Cheikhou Kouyate

The midfielder, who has experience playing in the Premier League for Crystal Palace and West Ham United, did not enter the game for Senegal's opening group match. The team led by Aliou Cisse defeated the 10-man Gambia 3-0, with Lamine Camara scoring twice. "The president of the Senegalese Football Federation Mr. Augustin Senghor, the members of the executive committee, the coach of the national football team Mr. Aliou Cisse, the players of the national football team, and the football family have regret and deep pain to inform you of the death of Mr Bangiougou Kouyate, father of Cheikhou Kouyate, member of the Senegal national team," said the statement.

"He passed away in Dakar on Tuesday, January 16. On Wednesday, January 17, the burial will take place at the Musalman cemetery in Yoff, after the funeral at the Khar Yalla mosque. The Senegalese Football Federation extends its deepest sympathies to Cheikhou Kouyate, who was granted permission to depart from the national team's meeting today to attend the burial in Dakar, in this traumatic situation."

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has said that certain security personnel in the nation are employed by criminals. In his appearance on Trust TV on Wednesday, January 17, Mutfwang demanded a thorough examination of the hiring procedure as well as a system to identify and remove "bad eggs" from the security services. He also emphasized the need for stricter laws governing gun ownership and more accountability. "We must be able to ensure balance," declared the governor.

But it also speaks volumes about the caliber of the decision and the judicial officers involved, which in any case affects how far they may advance in their careers—especially as justices of the appeals court, where they still have a rung to climb. "Judges who engage in these types of activities ought to be cautious by now, particularly in cases when the Supreme Court has to publicly support them.”

They also respond, "No, this is not right," when speaking with their leaders. Instead of arresting people who organize to defend their communities, you need to be able to encourage them; we have reported any excesses to the appropriate authorities. Let me add that we as a country need to face the truth that the security agencies have been compromised. Some people are working for security agencies who shouldn't be there since they are agents of these criminals and occasionally they even pose a threat to their coworkers. As a result, there are many ambushes during security agency operations.

"Therefore, to ensure that the wrong elements are not recruited into the security agencies, the president must issue a very firm directive to the security agencies directing them to take great care in the ongoing recruitment processes. Additionally, a mechanism to identify and remove these bad actors from the security services is necessary, as it is only through doing so that we can guarantee professionalism and discipline."

Obideient brought to memory that during his tenure as governor of Anambra state, kidnappers killed Obi's deputy. According to Obedient, if Obi had been chosen to succeed Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president of Nigeria, the nation's security issues would have vanished. However, the former presidential aide Bashir Lawal reminds the submissive of how Dr. Chudi Nweke, a former deputy governor of Anambra State under Peter Obi's administration, was abducted and murdered because the ransom was not paid.

SAN hits CJN's turf The Supreme Court, however, famously wept for the dismissed lawmakers whose petitions couldn't legitimately reach the highest court and overturned the Plateau firing, refusing to adopt Justice Waziri's viewpoint. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), however, was unimpressed with the Supreme Court's assertion of superiority in the Plateau scandal, notwithstanding the fury that followed the sacking and the court's ongoing praise. Chief Yomi Alliyu expressed confusion with the Supreme Court's rebuke of the Court of Appeal, pointing out that the court had previously rendered heinous decisions in governorship cases.

                                                                                                                       Chief Afe Babalola

In his words, "The Supreme Court, with respect, is departing from the long-standing custom of ruling only on matters that are on appeal before it when it was rendering a decision in a Plateau State matter." The highest court abruptly turned into the judiciary's police force in cases that were not before it! No matter how complicated the case, I think the Supreme Court should hold off on deciding until after it has had a chance to consider it to avoid giving a superfluous ruling that many would see as an attempt to deflect blame for the court's own "sins" in earlier rulings.

"It is important to inquire as to whether the Supreme Court has never erred and boasted that because its rulings are final, they are infallible. Are there no cases in which the Supreme Court flagrantly disregarded earlier rulings or even specific statutory provisions? To prevent the Amaechi issue, for instance, the Electoral Act specified that the declaration of a winner would never apply to an individual who abstained from the election. Did the Supreme Court act per this when it declared the 2014 Katsina State National Assembly elections invalid? Refer to Yardua v. Yandoma (2014) LPELR-24217(SC), among other cases.

When the Court of Appeal sits in as the last court in certain election appeals, will the maxim "be infallible because you are final" not also apply? When there is no way—at least not through the Constitution—to correct the "mistake," shouldn't the Supreme Court's adherence to the notion of the last court's infallibility serve as guidance to prevent it from making careless remarks that can ignite the nation? "Any attorney who dares to request a revisit at the Supreme Court pays through their noses."

                                                                                                                        Chief Wole Olanipekun

Inquire about Chief Wole Olanipekun, Chief Afe Babalola, and Chief (Mike) Ozekhome SANs who previously dared to challenge the Supreme Court's ultimate authority and finality! Furthermore, given the Supreme Court serves as a training ground for Court of Appeal judges, one would assume that as former members of that court, they should be aware that the Court of Appeal lacks the authority to vacate its ruling. Since election appeals are sui generis and cannot be resolved upon or reopened beyond the time frames stipulated by the Constitution and the Electoral Act, why was Pontius Pilate justified in doing so?

The Supreme Court's judges have been successful in utilizing the Court of Appeal as cannon fodder, but they seem to have forgotten that many others are gazing at your anus as well when you kneel to spy on someone else's in a dunghill.

Based on the aforementioned principles, the Supreme Court behaved supremely against the interests of the judiciary when it issued rulings and/or pronouncements on a case that was not before it. Aside from dancing to the gallery, their remarks are purely self-serving! "This aberration in the minds of right-thinking persons will hurt the judiciary and the profession." Don dismisses PCA As Alliyu was criticizing the Nigerian Chief Justice's court, Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a renowned attorney and law professor, was scolding the lower court.

According to the enduring critic of his main constituency, Plateau was the state with the most obstinate Court of Appeal. Additionally, Monica Dongban-Mensem, the president of the court, was born and raised there. On June 11, 2020, two days shy of her 63rd birthday, Mrs. Dongbam-Mensem took office as the seventh President of the Court of Appeal. Simon Bako Lalong, a lawyer who, like Mrs. Dongbam-Mensem, is from Shendam in the Central Senatorial Zone of the Plateau State, was the governor of the state at the time. Nigeria's Supreme Court is still casting the final votes in the 2023 elections, over a year after the nation started voting in February last year.

Election season has been lengthy, torturous, and painful. The Independent National Election Commission (INEC) declared the results after public voting. Both of those phases were completed by March of last year.

The next year, Mr. Lalong named Buetnaan Mandy Dongban Bassi, Monica's daughter, a judge of the Plateau State High Court. The National Judicial Council (NJC), which authorized her appointment, included her mother as a member. Two years later, in September 2023, Paul, the son-in-law of Monica and husband of Buetnaan, was forwarded to the Court of Appeal by the same NJC. "Mr. Lalong campaigned on the APC platform to represent the people of Plateau Central in the Senate in that election as well. Mrs. Dongban-Mensem would have been a constituent if he had prevailed. They reside in the same community. He was defeated by Napoleon Bali of the PDP in the end.

After that, Mr. Lalong appealed his defeat to the electoral petition tribunal. All challenges regarding parliamentary elections are resolved at the Court of Appeal. The president of the court appoints panels of three justices to sit on the court. All appeals in Plateau State were heard by a panel led by Justice Oluwayemisi Williams-Dawodu, a Justice of Appeal serving since March 2014.

He mentioned that Okon Abang, whose tenure on the court started only in October 2023, and Justice Abdulaziz Waziri, who was appointed to the court in 2021, joined her. Additionally, Odinkalu, a former head of the National Human Rights Commission, claimed, "On November 7, this Court of Appeal panel annulled Senator Bali's election. Simon Lalong was declared the winner of the election, even though he had been soundly defeated, by the court.

Lalong was one of several people who benefited from a decision made by the Court of Appeal in the state where Monica Dongban-Mensem was born. By the time it was over, the court had dismissed five members of the House of Representatives who had been elected on the PDP platform in addition to two state senators. The Court of Appeal ousted 16 PDP-endorsed lawmakers from the 25-member state House of Assembly, giving the APC authority over the legislature and their seats.

Timothy Datong (Riyom); Rimyat Nanbol (Langtang); Moses Sule (Mikang); Salome Waklek (Pankshin); Bala Fwangje (Mangu South); Maren Ishaku (Bokkos); Dagogot (Quaanpan North); Nannim Langyi (Langtang North); Nimchak Rims (Langtang South); Danjuma Azi (Jos North-West); Gwottson Fom (Jos South); Abubakar Sani Idris (Mangu North); Happiness Akawu (Pengana); Ibrahim Abalak (Rukuba/Irigwe); Philip Jwe (Barkin Ladi); and Cornelius Deyok (Qua’apan South).

The Court argued that the PDP ought not to have fielded candidates in any of these circumstances. Their logic overturned a slew of rulings from the Supreme Court. This was extremely corrupt judicial misconduct, not an error. The panel ought to have been summoned, at the very least, when they rendered their initial ruling.

Oluwatoyin Madein, the Accountant General of the Federation, has been questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for her purported involvement in a N585.2 million scam that involved Dr. Betta Edu, the recently sacked Minister of Humanitarian Affairs. At the EFCC offices on Monday, Madein, the keeper of Nigeria's purse strings, was subjected to intensive questioning for six hours. Even though she was freed without being formally charged, the questioning sheds information on the government's ongoing investigation into possible financial misconduct.

                                                                                                                              Halima Shehu

 Documents that have been leaked indicate that Edu planned the illegal transfer of N585.2 million from the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) account to a ministry official's account. Madein, however, angrily denied having approved the contentious document, emphasizing that funds are sent directly to self-accounting organizations that are in charge of carrying out projects and making payments. Following a ten-hour questioning session by the EFCC last week, President Bola Tinubu finally suspended Edu on January 8. This came after earlier revelations that revealed the unauthorized movement of aid money into a personal bank account.

                                                                                                                                      Betta Edu

In the meanwhile, Halima Shehu, the troubled head of the NSIP agency, is also being investigated for a second N44 billion cash theft, significantly broadening the anti-graft agency's scope. The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is a national organization entrusted with reducing poverty and misery, and the growing crisis raises grave worries about possible mismanagement and embezzlement within the organization. President Tinubu's prompt suspension of Edu and the stepped-up investigations show that he would not tolerate corruption in his government. The complete scope of the suspected financial violations is yet unknown, though, due to continuing investigations and emerging information. To rebuild public confidence and guarantee that important humanitarian aid reaches those most in need, more oversight and openness are imperative.

The Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has acknowledged that Nwankwo Kanu and Austin Okocha are largely responsible for his success. In an interview with AFP, the Napoli player revealed this, saying that Okocha and Kanu had inspired him to pursue a football career. "I used to talk to Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu. "I believe that they are largely responsible for my achievements as they served as a source of inspiration for me during my formative years," declared Osimhen, who won the Under-17 World Cup in 2015.

It means a lot to me to be ranked in the same category as them, not because I am a better football player than them, but rather because of what I have accomplished. He also conveyed his dissatisfaction with the team's 2023 Africa Cup of Nations game with Equatorial Guinea, ending in a 1-1 stalemate. He declared, "The first game was disappointing." "In the future, we must ensure that we execute well in the upcoming match against a more formidable foe."