News
‘I Am Very Sorry’: Madugu Apologises To Nigerians After Super Falcons’ World Cup Miss
Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu has apologised to Nigerians and accepted responsibility after the team failed to qualify for the World Cup.
Nigeria lost 2-1 to South Africa in the play-off. After a goalless first half, Thembi Kgatlana and Refiloe Jane scored for Banyana Banyana. Christy Ucheibe pulled one back from the penalty spot. But her goal was not enough to send the Super Falcons through.
Speaking after the match, Madugu accepted responsibility for the outcome, which ended Nigeria’s 2027 Women’s World Cup dreams.
“I am very sorry,” the Adamawa-born coach said during a post-match interview after the team’s disappointing exit, admitting that although the Super Falcons gave their best, it was not enough.
“We came, did the best that we could, but our best was not good enough, and we’re very sorry for that, and we take full responsibility for everything that happened,” he said.
Madugu said the 10 times Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champions approached the game determined to win but were punished for failing to convert their chances and for making costly mistakes at the back.
“We had chances. Still, the conversion was another problem, and we made some little errors at the back. They capitalised on that, and they got the goals,” he said.
The coach said the defensive problems were largely the result of poor decision-making and lapses in concentration rather than sustained pressure from the opposition.
“We had the game under control,” Madugu said. “Momentary loss of concentration and then trying to do something that was unnecessary always results in the kind of goals that we tend to concede.”
He admitted that the repeated defensive lapses had become a major concern, especially for a team that has traditionally been difficult to score against.
“All of a sudden, I don’t know, it could be complacency, it could also be, you know, sort of overconfidence, and then we end up making mistakes,” he said.
Madugu also acknowledged that Nigeria’s inability to finish chances proved costly.
“We have not been clinical. We create several chances, but we are very wasteful with the opportunities that always come our way,” he said.
According to him, the Super Falcons had enough opportunities to put the game beyond their opponents but failed to take advantage of them.
“This was a game we would have finished in the first half, based on the opportunities that we had, but we couldn’t utilise them,” Madugu added.
“How many chances did South Africa get? But because they were more clinical, they converted the chances that came their way. Today, they are the ones that won the match.”
On his tactical decisions and substitutions, Madugu defended the changes made during the game, explaining that some were forced by injuries.
He revealed that Deborah Abiodun had been playing through pain and repeatedly signalled that she needed to leave the pitch.
“She was in pain and kept giving signals that she wants to go out,” he said, adding that the player had to be protected to avoid worsening the injury.
Addressing calls for his dismissal on social media, Madugu said he understood the anger and disappointment among Nigerians.
“It’s within their right because I can understand the pains that everybody is going through,” he said.
Madugu added that he was prepared to accept whatever decision the football authorities eventually make about his future.
“As a coach, you must always live with the consequences of whatever it is that comes your way. I am not afraid of being sacked,” he said.
He pointed to his record with the team, saying he had managed almost 28 matches, winning 19, losing four and drawing four.
However, he acknowledged that the timing of the defeats mattered, particularly when they came at crucial stages.
“Nigerians… you are always judged as a coach based on your last result,” Madugu said.
Despite the disappointment, Madugu maintained that the team had prepared extensively and analysed its opponents before the match.
He said the Falcons had a clear game plan but failed to consistently execute it, with anxiety and individual mistakes ultimately proving costly.
“We said they do the same thing we’re going to do because now the normal trend everywhere,” he said, stressing that sticking to simple instructions could have prevented some of the problems.
With the World Cup dream now over, Madugu accepted that the team must learn from the painful outcome.
“If our best is not good enough, it’s not for me to decide what happens,” he said, while thanking Nigerians for the opportunity to lead the national team.
Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 31 abductees and neutralized two terrorists, including a suspected kingpin, during separate operations in Katsina and Kebbi states.
The military also arrested two suspected terrorists and recovered ammunition, a motorcycle, camouflage clothing and other items during the operations conducted on September 14 and 15, 2026.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North West, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 16.
According to the statement, troops in Katsina rescued 10 kidnap victims, comprising three males and seven females, after responding to distress reports from Unguwan Daudu and Unguwan Chibauna communities in Funtua Local Government Area.
The troops reportedly launched a hot pursuit of the fleeing terrorists and engaged them in a gun battle, forcing them to abandon the victims.
Among those rescued was an infant.
The victims were subsequently taken into military custody for necessary assistance and further action.
21 Victims Rescued in Kebbi
Also on September 14, troops operating in Kebbi State responded to a distress call following the abduction of civilians from Fafala Village in Kangiwa Local Government Area.
Acting on intelligence, the troops launched a fighting patrol towards Fafala and Dandikwa, where they reportedly engaged the terrorists in a heavy exchange of gunfire.
The terrorists were forced to withdraw from the area, allowing the troops to continue their operation and rescue 21 kidnapped victims.
The rescued civilians were later reunited with their families.
Terrorist Kingpin Killed in Katsina
The following day, September 15, troops in Katsina reportedly foiled an attempted terrorist attack on communities in Matazu and Kankara local government areas.
Acting on intelligence, the troops moved towards a suspected terrorist hideout and engaged the group with superior firepower.
The military said two terrorists were killed during the encounter, including Abbah Alhassan, whom it identified as a known terrorist kingpin.
Other terrorists reportedly escaped into the surrounding bush.
Troops recovered 10 rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle, a cutlass, camouflage clothing and suspected Indian hemp from the area.
Two Suspects Arrested
In another operation on September 15, troops arrested two suspected terrorists around the Yantumaki general area of Dan Musa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Preliminary interrogation reportedly indicated that the suspects were associated with a suspected terrorist kingpin identified as Mannori.
The suspects remain in military custody while investigations continue.
The Joint Task Force said the operations demonstrate its continued efforts to rescue kidnapped civilians, disrupt terrorist networks and restrict the movement and operational freedom of armed groups across its area of responsibility.
The task force also commended residents for providing security-related information and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements and activities to the nearest security agency.
By Gloria Ikibah
The National Assembly has transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 to the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states for consideration and approval.
The transmission, carried out on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, marks the next stage in the ongoing constitutional alteration process and was undertaken pursuant to a directive from the leadership of the National Assembly.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, Esq., said the Bill was transmitted to the state legislatures in compliance with the provisions of Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Under Section 9, a bill seeking to alter the Constitution cannot be passed by either chamber of the National Assembly unless it is approved by resolutions of not less than two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states.
The state legislatures are therefore required to consider the proposed constitutional amendments in accordance with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly after completing their deliberations.
Although the Constitution does not stipulate a specific timeframe within which state Houses of Assembly must respond to a constitutional alteration bill, the National Assembly said the state legislatures are expected to communicate their decisions within 30 days of receiving the Bill.
The National Assembly, however, stressed that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe and not a constitutional deadline.
According to the Clerk, the timeframe is intended to promote an orderly, coordinated and timely conclusion of the constitutional amendment process while respecting the constitutional independence of the state legislatures.
What the Constitution Requires
Nigeria’s Constitution sets a deliberately high threshold for constitutional amendments because changes to the country’s supreme law require approval beyond the National Assembly alone.
In addition to the required approval by at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly, Section 9 prescribes other legislative requirements depending on the particular constitutional provisions being altered.
The process generally involves the introduction and passage of the alteration Bill by the National Assembly before it is transmitted to the state legislatures for consideration. The resolutions of the state assemblies are subsequently communicated to the National Assembly for the next stage of the process.
The requirement for state-level approval gives the 36 Houses of Assembly a constitutionally recognised role in determining whether proposed amendments can proceed.
The National Assembly said it recognises this responsibility and respects the independence of the state legislatures in considering the Bill.
National Assembly Seeks Coordinated Process
In the statement, the Clerk said the transmission was intended to facilitate the orderly discharge of the state assemblies’ constitutional responsibilities rather than interfere with their legislative processes.
“The National Assembly remains committed to ensuring that the constitutional alteration process is conducted in strict compliance with the Constitution,” the statement said.
It added that the process would be guided by due process, institutional cooperation and respect for the legislative responsibilities of all tiers of the legislature.
The National Assembly will await the resolutions of the 36 state Houses of Assembly before taking the subsequent steps required under the Constitution.
The transmission of the Sixth Alteration Bill comes amid continued efforts to amend aspects of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, a process that requires cooperation between the federal and state legislatures because of the constitutional threshold for altering the nation’s supreme law.
The statement was signed by Kamoru Ogunlana, Esq., Clerk to the National Assembly.
News
REVEALED: 11 Nigerian-Born Lawyers Hit by U.S. Disciplinary Actions Over Professional Violations
At least 11 Nigerian-born lawyers practising or based in the United States have faced suspension or other disciplinary measures over alleged or established professional violations, according to disciplinary records cited in a report by The Peoples Gazette.
The cases span several years and involve different jurisdictions and regulatory bodies, including state bar authorities, U.S. immigration authorities and the Board of Immigration Appeals.
The disciplinary matters range from unauthorised practice of law and failure to meet professional obligations to alleged misrepresentation, neglect of clients’ cases and mishandling of client funds.
The sanctions are not identical, and the grounds for disciplinary action vary from one case to another. Some of the lawyers have also reportedly been reinstated, while others remain suspended or have not been reinstated.
Below is a summary of the lawyers and the disciplinary actions reported against them.
1. Aloysius O. Ejimakor
Aloysius O. Ejimakor was suspended from practising law in New York for nine months in 2004 following disciplinary proceedings over alleged false claims concerning his professional qualifications.
According to a U.S. Department of Justice document, the Office of General Counsel for the Executive Office for Immigration Review commenced proceedings against him in July 2003.
The proceedings alleged that Ejimakor violated federal regulations by making false statements concerning his qualifications.
The report states that he had not been reinstated following the suspension.
2. Abiola O. Adesioye
Abiola O. Adesioye, based in the District of Columbia, was suspended in July 2025 by the Board of Immigration Appeals from practising before the board, U.S. immigration courts and the Department of Homeland Security.
The suspension followed an order issued by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals on March 25, 2025.
According to the report, disciplinary counsel for the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Department of Homeland Security jointly petitioned for her immediate suspension under applicable federal regulations.
The Board of Immigration Appeals granted the petition pending the final resolution of the disciplinary proceedings.
3. Emelike Nwosuocha
Emelike Nwosuocha, who died on July 21, 2024, aged 64, faced disciplinary proceedings before his death.
According to the report, he was posthumously suspended for three years in 2024 over professional misconduct.
The disciplinary matter included an alleged failure to provide an affidavit required under an earlier suspension and failure to pay attorney fees owed to a defendant in a medical negligence lawsuit.
In 2023, Nwosuocha had reportedly received a six-month suspension after failing to respond to a disciplinary grievance.
The relevant disciplinary authorities subsequently affirmed the suspension.
4. Michael Ozulumba
Michael Ozulumba, who is based in Massachusetts, was reportedly suspended from practising before the Internal Revenue Service and the Executive Office for Immigration Review for two years.
The reported disciplinary findings involved professional misconduct, neglect of client cases and misrepresentations.
However, the supplied material contains a reference to a 2027 board decision. Since that date is still in the future as of September 16, 2026, that portion requires independent verification and has therefore not been treated here as an established past event.
5. Michael Imevbore Ojo
Michael Imevbore Ojo, based in Houston, Texas, was suspended from practising law for 12 months by the Evidentiary Panel of the District 4C05 Grievance Committee of the State Bar of Texas.
The disciplinary action reportedly involved alleged violations of Texas professional conduct rules, including neglect, failure to communicate with clients and failure to cooperate with a State Bar investigation.
Troops rescue 31 abductees, neutralize terrorist kingpin in Katsina, Kebbi
NASS Transmits 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill to 36 State Assemblies
REVEALED: 11 Nigerian-Born Lawyers Hit by U.S. Disciplinary Actions Over Professional Violations
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