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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Veteran forward Aishat Oshoala and Everton star Toni Payne were on the scoresheet as Nigeria defeated Senegal 2-1 in a friendly match on Friday as the Super Falcons continue preparations for the defence of their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) crown.

Solid first-half performance from the Super Falcons saw Nigeria take a two-goal cushion.

Payne gave Nigeria the lead in the 32nd minute of the clash, firing into the net from a nicely teed-up ball from right-back Shukurat Oladipo.

The Super Falcons then made it two at the Remo Stars Sports Complex, Ikenne, Ogun State, thanks to a spot kick from Oshoala.

Préparation #WAFCON2026 | Le Sénégal s’incline sur le score de 2 buts à 1 face au Nigeria pour son premier match amical de la semaine. Rendez-vous ce lundi 8 juin pour le remake entre les deux sélections. #NGASEN #FriendlyGame

Skipper Rasheedat Ajibade was close to adding to the tally before the break but saw her effort served by the Senegalese goalkeeper Khadi Faye.

As expected, the African champions continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession upon resumption of the game.

They could have scored more as the match wore on.

However, the visitors responded late into the game. The Teranga Lionesses scored a consolation goal in the 87th minute from a Sokhna Pene long-range effort to reduce the deficit. Despite a brief spell of pressure from Senegal, Justin Madugu’s ladies held on to get the win.

FT in Ikenne
Nigeria 2-1 Senegal

Goals from Asisat Oshoala and Toni Payne get us the W.#SoarSuperFalcons

NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) June 5, 2026

Nigeria and Senegal will battle it out again at the same venue on Monday as they intensify preparations for the 2026 WAFCON billed for between July and August.

The Super Falcons are 10-time winners of the WAFCON.

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has fixed June 9, 2026, to rule on the bail application of self-styled relationship therapist Blessing Nkiruka Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, who is standing trial over an alleged ₦36 million property fraud.

Justice Deinde Dipeolu fixed the date after hearing submissions from counsel in the matter.

Counsel to the defendant, P.I. Nwafuru, informed the court that the bail application, dated May 15, 2026, was supported by a six-paragraph affidavit and five exhibits.

He urged the court to exercise its discretion and grant the defendant bail on liberal terms.

However, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Suleiman Suleiman, opposed the application. He told the court that the Commission had filed a 28-paragraph counter-affidavit dated May 29, 2026, deposed to by its investigating officer, Bufa Regina Okangbe.

“We rely on all the depositions contained therein and the exhibits attached.

“At some point during the course of the investigation, the defendant stopped honouring invitations extended to her by the Commission.

“We urge Your Lordship not to accede to the request of the defence and instead order an accelerated hearing of the matter,” Suleiman submitted.

After hearing arguments from both parties, Justice Dipeolu reserved ruling on the bail application until June 9, 2026.

Earlier, the prosecution called its first witness, EFCC investigator Bufa Regina Okangbe, who narrated how a trail of bank transactions, property records, and witness statements allegedly revealed that the defendant received ₦36 million from the petitioner for a property she did not own.

According to Okangbe, the Commission received a petition that was assigned to her team for investigation. She said a Bank Verification Number (BVN) search conducted on the defendant revealed several bank accounts linked to her.

“Following this, letters of investigation were sent to the banks, while another letter was forwarded to the Lagos State Land Bureau to determine whether the property belonged to the defendant.

According to her, ₦25 million was transferred into the defendant’s GTBank account, while an additional ₦11 million was paid into her Access Bank account for the lease of a property located at No. 1B Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, Lagos.

She further testified that an analysis of the defendant’s bank accounts revealed subsequent transfers, including ₦8 million to Mr and Mrs Osobu, ₦1.9 million to Beauty City by Lekki, ₦11 million to Lina Uzoma Okoro, the defendant’s mother, and ₦15 million to Kenneth Emeka Onuora.

Under cross-examination, the witness stated that the Federal Republic of Nigeria, being the complainant in the criminal proceedings, was not privy to any settlement arrangement allegedly entered into between the defendant and the petitioner.

She also told the court that she was unaware of any attempt by the defendant to refund ₦24 million to the petitioner, as claimed by the defence.

According to the witness, the petitioner had already commenced renovation work on the property before its owner, Tunbosun Osobu, allegedly appeared and ejected them from the premises.

Justice Dipeolu subsequently adjourned the matter until June 22, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.

The EFCC is prosecuting Okoro on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.

One of the counts reads: “That you, OKORO BLESSING NKIRUKA, between July 14 and 17, 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did obtain the sum of N36,000,000.00 (Thirty-six Million Naira) from Mrs Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the false pretence of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex situated at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, Off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos State, which representation you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Media office of the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has debunked reports in a section of the media insinuating that he promised his colleagues who failed in the just concluded primaries return tickets.

This was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Hon Eseme Eyiboh stating that:

“The attention of the Office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to misleading reports circulating in sections of the media suggesting that the President of the Senate has promised to secure senatorial tickets for senators who lost their party primaries.

“We must categorically assert that this report does not reflect the position of the President of the Senate. For the record, Senator Akpabio has neither made nor authorized to be made such promise.

“What the President of the Senate actually said, in the course of interacting with his colleagues, was to empathize with senators who were affected negatively by the outcome of their primary elections. He assured them that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, is actively working to address all issues arising from the primaries and that the final list of candidates will be released in due course in line with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.

“Senator Akpabio remains committed to party discipline, due process, and the internal mechanisms of the APC for resolving disputes. He will not interfere with the autonomous processes of the party or make commitments that are outside the purview of the National Assembly leadership.
*ON COMMENTS REGARDING SECURITY AND LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT*
“The office also notes another report quoting a distinguished Senator on the need for the Senate to probe the military over recent security incidents.

“While legislative oversight is a constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly, Senator Akpabio’s position is that this is not the opportune moment for a public probe of the Armed Forces. At a time when our troops are engaged on multiple fronts against terrorism, banditry and other threats to National Security, subjecting the military to a public legislative inquisition could undermine their morale and operational focus.

“The Senate President believes strongly that support, collaboration and closed-door engagements with security agencies are more productive at this critical time. Oversight will be exercised responsibly, without creating distractions that embolden adversaries or divert attention from the urgent task of securing Nigeria and its people.

“Senator Akpabio urges the media and the public to disregard sensational and inaccurate misrepresentation of his remarks and to always seek clarification from his office before publication.