A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, ordered the interim forfeiture of every asset of NOK University, based in Kaduna.
The University, built by a former Director of Finance and Accounts, DFA, in the Federal Ministry of Health, Anthony Hassan, was suspected to have been built from the proceeds of unlawful activities traced to its owner.
Hassan, who was a DFA in the ministry between 2016 and 2019 allegedly built the University through fraudulent means. Physical assets of the University forfeited include Senate building, ICT building, Faculty of Medicine building, Science Deanery building, two Academic buildings , a Faculty Hall and other buildings.
Other properties traced to Hassan which are also forfeited in the interim are Gwasmyen Water Factory, Gwasmyen Event Center and Gwasmyen International Hotel in Kaduna. الكزينو
Justice Zainab Abubakar, gave the interim forfeiture order while ruling on a motion ex-parte brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. كازينو الكويت Counsel to the EFCC, Ekele Iheanacho told the court that the EFCC sought the order “pursuant to Section 44(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006 and under the inherent Jurisdiction of the Honorable Court”.
The Commission through her investigative Officer, Adaora Asabe Oragudosi investigated some verified intelligence bordering on criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering against some staff of the Federal Ministry of Health where the properties ordered forfeited were traced to the defendant.
In the ruling, the court directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in the National dailies, alerting anyone with interest in the properties to show cause, within 14 days, why it should not be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has convicted and sentenced an ex-convict, Ekemini Akininyene Effiong to eight months imprisonment for criminal impersonation and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of $75 (Seventy Five United States Dollars).
The convict was arraigned on Monday, May 30, 2022, alongside two others: Henry Izuchukwu Nze and Nze Francis Chike by the Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
While Effiong and Chike were arraigned on two-count charges bordering on criminal impersonation and possession of fraudulent documents, Nze was arraigned on five-count charges bordering on criminal impersonation with intent to defraud.
When the charges were read to them, they all pleaded “guilty”, Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren says in a release.
Based on their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, S. R. Akinrinlade informed the court that the prosecution had witnesses in court to review the facts of the cases. However, the court adjourned for facts review, conviction and sentencing to Tuesday, May 31, 2022, for Effiong and Monday June 6, 2022 for Chike and Nze.
The charge against Effiong read: “That you, Ekemini Akaninyene Effiong a.k.a Ashley Smith sometime in February, 2022 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honorable court with intent to obtain property and gain advantage for yourself, fraudulently presented yourself as Ashley Smith to one Blake Walters and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the same Act”.
When the matter came up on Tuesday, Akinrinlade prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant as charged.
Justice Okeke convicted and sentenced him to four (4) months imprisonment on each of the two counts without an option of fine. The sentence is to run concurrently.
Effiong had previously been convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on December 31, 2021. He was convicted by Justice Adamu Mohammed for impersonation, phishing and hacking of e-mail accounts. This makes him a two- time convict for cybercrimes.
Effiong’s fresh journey to the Correctional Centre started when he was arrested by operatives of the Uyo Zonal Command of the EFCC on February 9, 2022. Investigations showed that the convict was impersonating female Americans on social media platforms like Hangout and Instagram to defraud his victims. He variously posed as Ashley Smith on Hangout and Ashley Adams on Instagram and used his profile to initiate chats with one Edward Pendlety and succeeded in defrauding him $75 (Seventy Five United State Dollars) in three places”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) has declared the just concluded Imo PDP Primaries and the Owerri, Imo state capital as the venue of the exercise as legal and valid
The commission said the Owerri as the venue for the PDP primaries was duly approved by the commission.
INEC said the choice of Owerri as venue followed a letter by the National Chairman of PDP Senator Iyorchu Ayu dated May 18, titled venue for PDP primaries for Anambra and Imo.
The PDP National in the letter addressed it to said, “due to security situation in Anambra and Imo states, we are compelled to inform the commission that our primaries for various constituencies in both Imo and Anambra State will hold in their state capitals.”
Meanwhile, the commission has affirmed the spokesman of opposition parties Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere as a duly elected candidate for Ideato North and South federal constituency.
The commission in a letter signed by its HOD EPM Bar V Nwakobia also affirmed the election of Christ Ogbu for Ideato South state constituency and Kanayo Nwankwo for Ideato North.
It also declared Hon. Jones Onyeriri duly elected candidate for Imo West Chief Emma Okewuluonu Imo North and Uche onyeagucha for Owerri Senatorial District.
Professor Peter Umeadi, Wednesday, clinched the Presidential ticket of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA at a special convention attended by party leaders and members drawn from the six geo-political zones of the country, and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
At a special convention at the Katampe-Abuja national headquarters of the party, a total of 150 delegates affirmed the candidacy of Prof. Umeadi by a voice vote.
Umeadi, a former Chief Judge of Anambra state, in his acceptance speech called on party members, chieftains, and stakeholders, to protect the sanctity of the ballot, noting that unless the votes count, the entire electioneering process would not rub off positively on the nation’s democracy.
He said: “Nigerians should respect the ballot. Nigerians should allow only valid votes to count. We should in the most vocal manner possible, enforce the extant laws such that no person who is palpably below the age of 18 years should be allowed to vote.
“Our next task as a political party is to secure votes at the polls from a majority of Nigerians. We should work hard to secure as many legislative seats as possible across the country.”
Promising to leverage on his background as a legal practitioner, Prof. Umeadi noted that Nigerians deserve a better country, saying, “I am stepping out with the triple banner of rule of law, separation of powers, and due process. We are entitled to a country better run than we have now.
“We need to change the way we think so we can change the way we do things. Our triple banner should form the substructure for a new Nigeria which an APGA government at the centre under my watch would bring about.
Uppermost in my mind is how to reconcile with ourselves across the length and breadth of our dear country. In a new political culture, I undertake to galvanize the old, young, rich, poor, literate or not from different religious persuasions and from all six geo-political zones to deliver a new Nigeria where justice would reign for all citizens equally irrespective of tribe or status.
On the thematic focus of his government if elected, the legal luminary said: “I will work assiduously for sound education, affordable health care, food on the table, security of life and property and ability to achieve life ambitions in a setting presenting a level playing field and pre-determined standards.
“I pledge also to remove my personal interest in its entirety from the picture in the course of my official duties if elected. We expect to usher in patriotism, collective reconstruction of our economy, upliftment of all segments of our society, promoting probity, accountability and dedication in our public and private lives.”
The Association of South East Town Unions, ASETU, also known as Igbo Town Unions, has pleaded with President Mohammadu Buhari to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to their custody, promising to produce him anytime he is needed and at any location.
They Prayed to President Buhari to forget the logic and legality of their request and heed their request, noting that Kanu’s continued detention has brought more insecurity to the country, particularly in their communities, than when he was free.
The Igbo communities cited instances such as in the Niger Delta and North East areas where dialogue and compromise resolved problems of insecurity in the regions other than the use of legalities.
ASETU made the plea in an open letter to President Buhari after an emergency Extra-Ordinary National Caucus meeting in Awka, Anambra State.
The letter was signed by its National President, Chief Emeka Diwe; National Secretary, Gideon Adikwuru; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Dr. I. I. Onwubuya and presidents of the body in the five states of the SouthEast region.
Parts of the letter reads: “We utterly decry the worsening security situation in Igbo land and particularly, in parts of Imo and Anambra States.
“ASETU and indeed Igbo, in general, are most grieved by the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, an action which has not helped the security situation in Igbo land and Nigeria but rather introduced the monstrous and retrogressive ‘sit-at-home’ with the attendant massive deterioration of security situation and debilitation of the South East economy.
“The daily loss of innocent Igbo lives and the crippling of the South East economy occasioned by the monstrous ‘sit-at-home’ calls and worsening insecurity in Igbo land attributed to the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (as claimed) is not to the best interest of the country.
“We passionately appeal to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari to extend his milk of human kindness to Ndi Igbo in this most trying period and abate the continued loss of innocent souls and the destruction of the South East economy by applying a political solution and using his prerogative of Presidential Amnesty to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention. As the father of all, may we remind him of the Igbo adage that says: ‘if a father beats his child with the left hand, he draws him back with the right hand.’
“Also, an axiom in criminal justice administration advocates that ‘it is better to release one hundred condemned criminals than punish one single innocent soul.’
“The continued detention of one man (Nnamdi Kanu) has caused the death of so many innocent lives and destruction of properties worth billions of naira. If releasing him will stop the killings, and the sit-at-home orders as claimed, what do we lose by trying this option to save further lives and property. It is a costless benefit of the doubt. We assure Mr. President that releasing him will not worsen the security situation, rather it will bring enduring peace and eliminate or drastically reduce the killings. Our leadership is grassroots-based and we feel the heartbeat of the people more.
“Let us not over-stretch the logic and legality of his ‘offence’ and resultant trial as that may gainlessly lead us to unending circles of justifications including the claimed primary cause of the anger of Igbo youths, which is the obvious and unwarranted marginalization of Ndigbo (which is indeed our collective agitation).
“However, while we are not justifying his approach in pursuit of that cause, we are saying that in the interest of peace and the remaining lives of our people, especially the youths (our future generation), let Nnamdi Kanu be released to us and let us talk thereafter. This is not the first time Nigeria is compromising logic and legality to achieve peace, except there is more to it. It was done in the Niger Delta in the case of Asari Dokubo and Co.
“Also, confirmed Boko Haram killer terrorists and bandits who have murdered several innocent soldiers, Police, and thousands of other security agents and innocent civilians were said to have been pardoned, compensated with billions of Naira, and placed on salaries above Level 15 civil servants; ironically but dangerously, they were recruited and absorbed into the same Nigerian Army they swore to wipe out!
“We the Igbo Town Unions, the grassroots of the Igbo and to which every Igbo by birth is a member, most respectfully appeal to you to please release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to us. As the closest administrative structure to the people in Igbo land, who feel the heartbeat and know the pulse of the people, we know the incalculable damage Nnamdi Kanu’s continued detention is causing our people and the great reprieve his release would bring to Ndigbo in particular and Nigerians in general.”
The group appealed to all Igbo sons and daughters wherever they are domiciled to maintain peace and good neighbourliness as it awaits the President’s positive response to its passionate appeal.
The Association of South East Town Unions, ASETU, also known as Igbo Town Unions, has again pleaded with President Mohammadu Buhari to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to their custody, promising to produce him anytime he is needed and at any location.
They Prayed to President Buhari to forget the logic and legality of their request and heed their request, noting that Kanu’s continued detention has brought more insecurity to the country, particularly in their communities, than when he was free.
The Igbo communities cited instances such as in the Niger Delta and North East areas where dialogue and compromise resolved problems of insecurity in the regions other than the use of legalities.
ASETU made the plea in an open letter to President Buhari after an emergency Extra-Ordinary National Caucus meeting in Awka, Anambra State.
The letter was signed by its National President, Chief Emeka Diwe; National Secretary, Gideon Adikwuru; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Dr. I. I. Onwubuya and presidents of the body in the five states of the SouthEast region.
Parts of the letter reads: “We utterly decry the worsening security situation in Igbo land and particularly, in parts of Imo and Anambra States.
“ASETU and indeed Igbo, in general, are most grieved by the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, an action which has not helped the security situation in Igbo land and Nigeria but rather introduced the monstrous and retrogressive ‘sit-at-home’ with the attendant massive deterioration of security situation and debilitation of the South East economy.
“The daily loss of innocent Igbo lives and the crippling of the South East economy occasioned by the monstrous ‘sit-at-home’ calls and worsening insecurity in Igbo land attributed to the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (as claimed) is not to the best interest of the country.
“We passionately appeal to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari to extend his milk of human kindness to Ndi Igbo in this most trying period and abate the continued loss of innocent souls and the destruction of the South East economy by applying a political solution and using his prerogative of Presidential Amnesty to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention. As the father of all, may we remind him of the Igbo adage that says: ‘if a father beats his child with the left hand, he draws him back with the right hand.’
“Also, an axiom in criminal justice administration advocates that ‘it is better to release one hundred condemned criminals than punish one single innocent soul.’
“The continued detention of one man (Nnamdi Kanu) has caused the death of so many innocent lives and destruction of properties worth billions of naira. If releasing him will stop the killings, and the sit at home orders as claimed, what do we lose by trying this option to save further lives and property. It is a costless benefit of doubt. We assure Mr. President that releasing him will not worsen the security situation, rather it will bring enduring peace and eliminate or drastically reduce the killings. Our leadership is grassroots-based and we feel the heartbeat of the people more.
“Let us not over-stretch the logic and legality of his ‘offence’ and resultant trial as that may gainlessly lead us to unending circles of justifications including the claimed primary cause of the anger of Igbo youths, which is the obvious and unwarranted marginalization of Ndigbo (which is indeed our collective agitation).
“However, while we are not justifying his approach in pursuit of that cause, we are saying that in the interest of peace and the remaining lives of our people, especially the youths (our future generation), let Nnamdi Kanu be released to us and let us talk thereafter. This is not the first time Nigeria is compromising logic and legality to achieve peace, except there is more to it. It was done in the Niger Delta in the case of Asari Dokubo and Co.
“Also, confirmed Boko Haram killer terrorists and bandits who have murdered several innocent soldiers, Police, and thousands of other security agents and innocent civilians were said to have been pardoned, compensated with billions of Naira and placed on salaries above Level 15 civil servants; ironically but dangerously, they were recruited and absorbed into the same Nigerian Army they swore to wipe out!
“We the Igbo Town Unions, the grassroots of the Igbo and to which every Igbo by birth is a member, most respectfully appeal to you to please release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to us. As the closest administrative structure to the people in Igbo land, who feel the heartbeat and know the pulse of the people, we know the incalculable damage Nnamdi Kanu’s continued detention is causing our people and the great reprieve his release would bring to Ndigbo in particular and Nigerians in general.”
The group appealed to all Igbo sons and daughters wherever they are domiciled to maintain peace and good neighbourliness as it awaits the President’s positive response to its passionate appeal.
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has sent out a passionate appeal to the All Progressives Congress delegates to consider aspirants’ history and public records before voting at the party’s upcoming presidential primary.
In a letter contained in a statement on Wednesday, the presidential aspirant asked for the delegates’ votes so that he could emerge as the APC presidential flag bearer for the 2023 presidential election.
He also urged the delegates to choose a person that would lead and not rule Nigerians and “a leader with absolutely no-baggage”.
The statement read, “To all delegates across Nigeria, I beseech you to put pecuniary and monetary incentives aside and seriously consider what is ‘in the greater good. مواقع الرهان على المباريات ’ As you make your decision in picking the flag bearer of our party, I urge you to seek for a leader and not a politician. مال مجاني
“I ask you to choose a person that will lead and not rule Nigerians; one that will be understanding, tolerant, fair, honest, and progressive. A leader that comes with absolutely ‘No-Baggage.’
“A vital component of any logical, efficient and authentic evaluation of a person involves assessing past behavior. The key here is that one’s best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. If one has always done something a certain way, they are likely to do that same thing in the same manner in the future. لعبة روليت للايفون
“The same goes for how one navigates or pillages in leadership. Thus, as you, the delegates, are determining the APC party presidential flag bearer, it is important to look at past behavior to elicit what behaviors, avarice and rapacity candidates have exhibited in the past. It is important for you to access all candidates along this parameter.
Read full text of the letter:
My Dear APC Party Delegates,
Compliments of the season. Permit me to write to you through this medium. As we converge at this great time, in this great party to begin the journey of determining the future of this great nation, we must be cognizant of the fact that the fate of Nigeria fluctuates.
While democracy asserts that the Nigerian voting public determines the person to emerge as President, however in advance of that, the party delegates are saddled with the task of nominating the flag bearers. This communication is an appeal to all APC delegates as the party prepares for its presidential primaries.
I am reaching out to every single one of you APC delegates to plead with you to put ‘Nigeria First’ and give thought to the future of 215,763,437 (million) Nigerians, a lot of whom will appreciate the sagacious determination you will make during this process. I am reaching out to you, with humility, to ask for your votes so that I can emerge as the APC Presidential flag bearer for the 2023 Nigerian Presidential election.
At this point, it is not lost on me that we must come together as one party and as one nation, for we have a great deal to mend, to rehabilitate, to reinstall and so much more to achieve. We have a unique chance to measure up to every expectation and show Nigeria and the world that Democracy triumphs. And that journey shall start during the APC Presidential Primary Election process.
To all delegates across Nigeria, I beseech you to put pecuniary and monetary incentives aside and seriously consider what is ‘in the greater good.’ As you make your decision in picking the flag bearer of our party, I urge you to seek for a leader and not a politician. I ask you to choose a person that will lead and not rule Nigerians; one that will be understanding, tolerant, fair, honest, and progressive. A leader that comes with absolutely ‘No-Baggage.’
A vital component of any logical, efficient and authentic evaluation of a person involves assessing past behavior. The key here is that one’s best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. If one has always done something a certain way, they are likely to do that same thing in the same manner in the future. The same goes for how one navigates or pillages in leadership. Thus, as you, the delegates, are determining the APC party presidential flag bearer, it is important to look at past behavior to elicit what behaviors, avarice and rapacity candidates have exhibited in the past. It is important for you to access all candidates along this parameter.
Dear delegates, look for a leader that will not buy your votes but one that is prepared to sell and deliver your dreams. I promise you that I will be that leader. I am prepared to offer you myself and my heart; my integrity, my dedication and my might. I want to offer you a dream of justice for all, a dream of uniting to fight the foes we face, a dream of unity under one single ideal, common purpose, common endeavor and resolve; a dream to right the wrongs of our past, a dream of work, employment, functioning safe schools, security, electricity, infrastructure, stable economy, compassion for citizenry, technology, opportunity and so much more that Nigerians desire.
I will give you my all, thinking not of power, but of possibility and the public good. I want you to take my hand so that together, we can show the Nigerian story of hope, unity, tolerance, healing, principle, greatness and goodness. I want you to take my hand so that together we can learn from history, embrace faith and find a way to unify Nigeria and take her into the future. We are at an extraordinary historic moment both in APC and in Nigeria and our unity is the path forward.
Dear delegates, I give you my word, I will defend the constitution. I’ll defend our democracy. I will defend Nigeria. I will defend every single Nigerian from every nook and cranny, across the length and breath of the nation and from every corner. I commit to defend all 371 spectacular tribes existing in this brilliant, colorful, diverse and beautiful nation.
This and nothing more than this is what we owe to our forefathers, this is what we owe to each other and this is what we owe to the generations that will follow behind us; to our children and our children’s children.
Dear APC delegates, you have the sacred mission at this hour of history, during this hour of decision of taking this country to a plain beyond. I urge you to assist me in uniting Nigeria in our common desire to move forward together.
We shall meet on the voting field as members of Africa’s largest party and as Nigerians united in our resolve to remain the most vibrant party in Africa and one of the greatest nations on earth. We shall meet on the voting field to tell the positive tale of Nigeria. While this is expected of every Nigerian, it starts with you, the APC delegates.
I give you my word that I shall not fail you. To this end, I ask for your precious votes and your dedication to our party, APC, and to our motherland. I give you my word that, given the privilege of carrying the APC Presidential ticket, I will represent you with pride, courage, equity, endurance, faith, conviction, devotin to you all and the country we love with all our hearts. I give you my word that I will strive to take the APC presidential ticket nomination you will hopefully give to me and turn it into a landslide win in the 2023 general elections.
Al-Haji Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Al-Haji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Herbert Macaulay, Professor Eyo Ita, Alvan Ikoku, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Sir Egbert Udo Udoma, Al-Haji Aminu Kano, Chief S. A. Ajayi, Joseph Tarka, Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Dennis Osadebay and all the other great men that founded, made and preserved this great Republic are looking down and smiling fondly at every single one of you as you take your place in history in duty and service of your great party and ultimately, your nation.
May you all be protected and directed through wisdom as you journey to the presidential primary election to speak for yourself, your family, your generation, your future, your state and for Nigeria.
May the Almighty be with you as you make the best decision for the future of Nigeria.
Political stakeholders, including traditional rulers and youths have endorsed the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, for the 2023 presidential election.
Lawan, who is running under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was endorsed after a meeting by the leaders of the group on Wednesday
The leader of the group, Prince Isah Abraham, in a statement said Lawan is the most competent leader and candidate to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
“We have reached an agreement to seek consensus so that we can close rank and build unity for the Northern Nigeria , South-East and South-South Nigeria. لعبة بينجو اون لاين We are happy that after due process and due consultation, involving traditional rulers, political stakeholders, doctors, students and youths have chosen and endorsed the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan as our consensus candidate.
“Nigeria needs a de-tribalised leader with national and international contacts, who would consolidate on the infrastructure gains of the current administration, but most importantly, better manage the country’s diversity, retool the economy and deal conclusively with insecurity. العاب سباق الخيل
“The next president of Nigeria asides being a de-tribalised politician, should be an accomplished and a humble leader from the North East geo-political zone that is yet to rule Nigeria since 1999.
“Using the aforementioned as a yardstick, Sen. Ahmed Lawan is the most accomplished among others to consolidate the gains achieved by President Muhammadu Buhari. We have decided to throw our full support to Lawan and that is the reason the delegates of the South East refused to see any other aspirant.
Lawan is an administrator who can never be frivolous with the resources of the nation . رهان المباريات “
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson gives a press conference with the Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin prior to a meeting on whether to seek NATO membership, in Stockholm, Sweden.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said on Wednesday that dialogue with Turkey regarding Sweden’s NATO membership will continue, and Sweden will respond directly to Turkey to “sort out” any possible “misunderstandings.”
“We have had discussions, dialogue with Turkey, and this dialogue will continue going forward, and I am looking forward to further constructive meetings together with Turkey in the near future,” Andersson said at a news conference in Stockholm after a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
“Our responses to demands and also questions from Turkey, we will take directly with Turkey and also of course sort out any issues or misunderstandings that there might be,” she added.
During their meeting, Andersson and Guterres discussed “Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine,” the security situation in Europe and the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, she said.
“Sweden will continue to pressure on Russia and to be a strong supporter of Ukraine,” Andersson said, as the world is “witnessing shocking brutality and attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
“Russia must be held accountable for its action and I’m grateful for the secretary-general’s clear stance on this,” she said.
It’s more than 1,800 miles from Severodonetsk to Glasgow.
As Russian pressure increases in the strategically key eastern Ukraine city where two-thirds of properties have been reported as destroyed, an international football match in the Scottish city would seem somewhat irrelevant.
Ukrainian Taras Berezovets, who worked as a political analyst before the Russian invasion started on February 24 but has since joined Ukraine’s special forces, would disagree.
Like many other of his “brothers in arms” – given football has always been the number one sport in Ukraine – Berezovets will be doing his best to keep across developments in his country’s World Cup playoff against Scotland on Wednesday.
If Ukraine does get past Scotland at Hampden Park and then beats Wales in Cardiff on Sunday, the country will have remarkably secured qualification for the World Cup in Qatar later this year.
According to Berezovets, work is underway to find a broadcast of the match. But even if that’s impossible for those on the front line, he says those fighting will still gather together and listen on the radio if they can.
“When the football team is playing, the whole country is watching. Football is the number one sport in Ukraine, it’s extremely popular,” Berezovets told CNN Sportover the phone from the country’s embattled south.
“Especially during the wartime, I think all the country will be supporting our national team. People are looking forward to this match against Scotland. The importance of this match is very high and especially for the armed forces.”
Ahead of the 2027 General Elections, the Abia State Deputy Mayors Forum, comprising all Deputy Mayors across the state’s 17 Local Government Areas has...
