Theophilus Afe

Footage from Ukraine shows explosions, a missile strike and a helicopter under fire. By air, land, and sea, Russia has launched a devastating attack on Ukraine, a European democracy of 44 million people, and its forces are on the outskirts of the capital, Kyiv. For months, President Vladimir Putin denied he would invade his neighbour, but then he tore up a peace deal, sending forces across borders in Ukraine's north, east and south. As the number of dead climbs, he stands accused of shattering peace in Europe. What happens next could jeopardise the continent's entire security structure. Why have Russian troops attacked? Russian troops are advancing on Ukraine's capital from several directions after Russia's leader ordered the invasion. In a pre-dawn TV address on 24 February, he declared Russia could could not feel "safe, develop and exist" because of what he claimed was a constant threat from modern Ukraine. Airports and military hea...

Facebook on Thursday warned Nigerian advertisers on its platform to update their Value Added Tax, VAT, records to the site on or before February 25, 2022, or risk not having their adverts displayed on the platform. The warning apparently followed Federal Government’s resolve to tax foreign-based social media platforms, who earn money from Nigerian advertisers. It would be recalled that on December 7, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari sent the Finance Bill 2021 to the National Assembly. One of the major highlights of the bill is the aspect equipping the Federal Inland Revenues Service (FIRS) with the power to evaluate non-resident firms like Twitter, Facebook, Google, and Netflix and tax them on fair and reasonable turnover earned from digital services to Nigerian customers. In response, Facebook last year announced that all advertisers from Nigeria would pay an additional 7.5 per cent VAT on ad placement from January 1, 2022. The social media platform’s par...

Senegal’s players in back row, midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate, defender Abdou Diallo, forward Ismaila Sarr, forward Famara Diedhiou, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and defender Kalidou Koulibaly; in front row, defender Saliou Ciss, forward Sadio Mane, midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye, defender Bouna Sarr and midfielder Nampalys Mendy pose before the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 final football match between Senegal and Egypt at Stade d’Olembe in Yaounde on February 6, 2022. Sadio Mane made up for missing from the spot in normal time to score the decisive penalty as Senegal overcame Mohamed Salah’s Egypt 4-2 in a shoot-out to win their first Africa Cup of Nations title after Sunday’s final finished goalless at the end of extra time. Mane had seen Mohamed Abou Gabal save his seventh-minute penalty at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde but Egypt could not capitalise as they went all the way to extra time for the fourth consecutive game at this Cup of Nations. Salah was due to step up t...

A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Abeokuta has remanded the four teenage boys who killed Sofiat Okeowo for money ritual. Soliu Majekodunmi, the 18-year-old boyfriend of the slain girl, strangled her alongside with Mustakeem Balogun who helped in slaughtering the 20-year-old girl, who was also his former girlfriend. They were caught alongside two others while burning the head in a local pot at the Oke Aregba area of Abeokuta., the Ogun State capital. On Thursday, the Ogun State Police Command arraigned Mustakeem (20 years), Majekodunmi (18 years), Abdulgafar Lukman (19 years) and Waris Oladeinde (18 years) in court. They were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder. Magistrate I. O Abudu refused to take the plea of the defendants, ordering that they should be remanded in prison custody. According to Abudu, the defendants should be remanded in Oba Correctional Centre, pending legal advice from the Ogun State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP)...