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Difficult Moments Fuelled My Africa’s Best Award – Ademola Lookman

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Still basking in the euphoria of his successful outing at the 2024 CAF Awards where he was feted as the Men’s Player of the Year, Super Eagles and Atlanta forward, Ademola Lookman, has admitted past difficult moments in his budding football career actually served as the impetus to arrive at the zenith of African football.

On Monday in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, Lookman was named the 2024 CAF African Player of the Year after a remarkable year for club and country.

He was the star for Atalanta with a stunning hat-trick as the Italian Serie A side clinched the Europa League title for the first time at the expense of Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen.

He was also named in the Europa League Team of the Year, contributing 27 goals and 12 assists between club and country in 2024 and deservedly made short-list for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award where he finished 14th .

But at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, he took away the biggest prize ahead of four other challengers including home boy, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi to become the seventh Nigerian to win the CAF Men’s Player of the Year awards.

The 27-year-old follows in the footsteps of compatriot Victor Osimhen, who claimed the award in 2023 as they became the first back-to-back Nigerian winners since Nwankwo Kanu (1996) and Victor Ikpeba (1997).

“It is an incredible achievement and an incredible moment,” Lookman told event organisers, CAF. “It is special to join a list of many great players who have achieved a lot in the game. They are legends.

“There are a lot of special moments that happened this year, I can speak about a lot of good moments. But also the bad moments, when you don’t want to do gym, but you end up doing that session and that gives you more strength. The difficult moments have given me that extra strength.”

“For us to be able to give inspiration to the young kids who want to be like us is the most important thing. If we can set a good example, they have good footsteps to follow.”

Lookman had a special message for the fans, who he thanked for their support.

“I am very appreciative of your love and care, and kind words in the bad moments also, not just the good moments. The people who show you love in the difficult moments are the people who you are most grateful too.”

Lookman has been in the form of his life in 2024, helping turn his Italian Serie A side Atalanta into title contenders and taking them to a UEFA Europa League trophy win, a first major piece of silverware for the club in 61 years.

He scored a hat-trick in the decider as Atalanta became the only team in the 2023-24 campaign to inflict a defeat on German Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen as the forward provided one of the great final displays in European football history.

Lookman also helped Nigeria to the final of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023, where they lost to the hosts. His displays, and three goals, did not go unnoticed as he was named in the Team of the Tournament

 

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Maureen Badejo To Appear Before Federal High Court Tomorrow On Defamation, Cybercrime Charges

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Maureen Omorinola Badejo is scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on February 20, 2026, following charges filed by the Inspector-General of Police over allegations bordering on defamation, cyberstalking, and related offences.

 

 

The charges arise from online publications made in November 2021, in which Ms. Badejo allegedly transmitted statements and videos on YouTube and Facebook concerning Apostle Johnson Suleman and his associate Dickson Omodiale Osajie.

 

 

According to the charge sheet, the prosecution alleges that:

 

Ms. Badejo conspired with others to publish defamatory content against Apostle Suleman.

 

She allegedly portrayed him as a cultist, rapist, assassin, ritualist, and other criminal labels, knowing the claims to be false.

 

She is accused of sending false messages via computer networks intended to cause annoyance, hatred, intimidation, and injury to reputation.

 

Additional allegations state that defamatory statements were also made against Mr. Dickson Osajie, claiming involvement in crimes such as rape and ritual killing.

 

Authorities further allege that the publications caused fear for safety and threatened bodily harm to the complainants.

The offences cited fall under provisions of the Criminal Code Act (Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004) and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

 

The case follows a formal petition submitted to the Nigeria Police Force by Mr. Osajie, who alleged persistent cyberstalking, harassment, invasion of privacy, threats to life, and dissemination of false information affecting himself, Apostle Suleman, and their families.

Statement from Maureen Badejo

Ms. Badejo maintains her readiness to face the court and present her defense, expressing confidence in the Nigerian judicial system to ensure fairness and justice.

 

 

“I will appear in court as required and trust that the truth will prevail through due legal process,” she stated.

 

 

However Ms. Badejo is expected to be formally arraigned before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, where the charges will be read and she will enter her plea.

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Rivers Assembly Suspends Impeachment Move Against Fubara After Tinubu’s Intervention

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The Rivers State House of Assembly has officially suspended impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention.

The House moved the motion to halt the impeachment process on Thursday at its resumed sitting in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

JomogNews had reported that during its first sitting of 2026, the House had begun impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy over allegations of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the State Assembly complex and alleged spending without legislative approval, among other claims.

More details later….

 

 

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Reserves Surge To $48.5bn As Nigeria Reclaims 2013 Peak Levels

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Nigeria’s foreign exchange (FX) reserves have reached $48.5 billion, their highest level in nearly 13 years.

This milestone, confirmed by data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), surpasses previous multi-year peaks and represents the strongest balance since May 14, 2013, when reserves stood at approximately $48.51 billion.

However, the data showed that the foreign reserves increased steadily by 6.45 percent or $2.94 billion year-to-date, from $45.56 billion reported on January 1 to $48.5 billion.

Further checks showed that the FX reserves figure was $48.36 billion on Monday.

According to the CBN, FX reserves are assets held on reserve by a monetary authority in foreign currencies, which are used to back liabilities and influence monetary policy.

On December 22, 2025, the apex bank projected that the country’s external reserves would rise to $51.04 billion in 2026, saying the increase will be supported by FX reforms.

“Reforms in the foreign exchange market are expected to sustain exchange rate stability, while external reserves are projected to increase to US$51.04 billion,” CBN said.

On February 10, Olayemi Cardoso, governor of CBN, said the bank will do “whatever it takes” to safeguard the value of the naira, while strengthening the country’s external reserves.

Looking ahead to 2030, he said the CBN’s targets include achieving single-digit inflation and growing foreign exchange (FX) reserves driven by non-oil exports, foreign direct investment, and diaspora remittances.

 

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