Welcome to Solomon Ike's blog

Olympic Games gold medalist, Enefiok Udo-Obong, believes the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon will not only be well organized, but that it will also be glamorous. Udo-Obong, whose blistering anchor of the men 4x400m at the Sydney 2000 Olympics Games, gave Team Nigeria her first gold medal in the relay, said “with the caliber of people on the Organizing Committee, he is looking forward to a well-organized race.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter  Fifty Swiss bank accounts allegedly linked to world football governing body FIFA have been frozen. US officials believe "corruption money" may have been moved through the now frozen accounts, the Swiss justice ministry said. Between 50m and 100m Swiss francs ($50.1million and $100million) was in them, media reports say. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the accounts belonged to FIFA.

Mrs. Oluyemisi Alatise  Mrs. Oluyemisi Alatise has been elected unopposed the first African International Inner Wheel President for the year 2016/2017.  She was elected by over 3,500 Clubs in 100 countries of Inner Wheel world-wide at the weekend. 

Jose Mourinho After several weeks of speculation, Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Chelsea after a meeting with the club's hierarchy Thursday. The 52-year-old, who guided Chelsea to the Premier League title last season, ends his second stint at Stamford Bridge with the team languishing in 16th place, having registered just 15 points from 16 games.

Four members of the Indigenous People of Biafra were shot dead and 13 critically injured by the soldiers of the Onitsha Military Cantonment in the evening of yesterday, December 17, at the Ojukwu Gateway, Onitsha Niger Bridgehead while celebrating the release of Nnamdi Kanu. More photos after the cut...*viewer discretion advised*

Chelsea Football Club sacked Jose Mourinho after a meeting with the club's hierarchy on Thursday. On Friday night, Mikel Obi shared this photo of him and the 52 year old former manager, writing: 'So sad but you had to leave! Gonna miss you boss!! You are still the best!'

Col. Sambo Dasuki ( rtd.) •To be remanded in EFCC custody until fulfilment of conditions •Judge condemns flagrant disobedience of court orders By  Senator Iroegbu The  Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) High Court, sitting in Abuja, has granted the former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki ( rtd.), and four others bail on the condition that they provide N250 million bond each  and a surety in like sum.

Emma Okoji with agency report   MTN Group Ltd. will challenge a $3.9 billion fine in court after resolving that the penalty that’s wiped 28 per cent off the company’s value wasn’t within the powers of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms regulator, to impose.

Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu • Family, IPOB, MASSOB welcome unconditional bail Charles Onyekamuo in Awka, Emma Ugwu in Umuahia and Senator Iroegbu in Abuja   The jubilation by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Onitsha, Anambra State, over the decision of a Federal High Court in Abuja to unconditionally release the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, turned soar yesterday, when soldiers attached to the 302 Artillery Regiment in the commercial town allegedly shot at them, killing five instantly and injuring 25 others. The incident happened at the Onitsha end of the River Niger Bridge and immediately caused panic among motorists and commuters who scampered for safety as tension pervaded the city. THISDAY gathered that the IPOB members had on hearing the court’s ruling ordering Kanu’s release, trooped out in their numbers and converged around the statue of the late Biafra...

President Muhammadu Buhari  • Kachikwu: I never said petrol will sell for N97 a litre  • Forte Oil, Sahara Energy, Oando, 18 others awarded crude term contracts Chineme Okafor in Abuja   President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the next restructuring phase of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the corporation’s group managing director, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, disclosed on Thursday.

One of the biggest carnival bands in Brazil, the Vai Vai Samba, is to make its second appearance at the Carnival Calabar this year as it takes part in the International Carnival Band competition introduced into the carnival calendar by Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade.