Lobi Stars FC has officially dismissed Coach Eugene Agagbe from his position as Chief Coach, effective immediately.

The decision comes after the Board’s assessment of Agagbe’s failure to meet a set target of five wins, securing only one victory and suffering three defeats.

In response, the Board has appointed former Super Eagles coach, Daniel Amokachi, as the new Technical Adviser, also with immediate effect. Amokachi is expected to bring a fresh approach to the team as they look to improve their performance and strategy on the field.

Despite a 1-0 victory over Shooting Stars in their most recent match on Saturday, it was not enough to retain Agagbe. After five games, Lobi Stars currently sit in 17th place, facing an early relegation battle.

Amokachi’s primary focus will be to steer the Makurdi-based team away from the relegation zone and stabilize their position in the league.

The election petition tribunal for the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release all the materials used for the election.

The chairman of the tribunal, Justice W.I. Kpochi, granted the order in an exparte motion filed by the candidate of the party, Asue Ighodalo, and the party.

The exparte motion with suit number EPT/ED/GOV/01M/2024 and dated September 27, 2024, was filed by Rotimi O. Ogunseso, SAN, with Seun Olusuyi’s counsel to the applicants.

The petition and affidavit were sworn to by Osasere Adagbonyin.

Secretary of the tribunal Mauzu Ibrahim Bagudu ordered INEC to produce all election materials.

In the petition, the applicants prayed the court to order INEC to produce and hand over the comprehensive list of all the Electoral materials available in its custody for inspections.

The documents listed by the applicants and granted by the tribunal are all forms EC8A, forms EC8B, forms EC8C, forms EC8D, forms EC8E, forms EC25B, and forms EC25B(i) used at the election.

Also granted are all forms EC40A, EC40C, EC40G and EC40G (i) used at the gubernatorial election

The court also ordered INEC to make all the polling unit Results, Forms EC8A uploaded to its IREV portal from the poling unit, list of accredited agents of all the political parties that participated in the gubernatorial election.

The tribunal ordered INEC to produce and make available to the applicants’ records and a list of polling units where election results were not uploaded to the INEC IREV portal as of 22nd September 2024 when the results of the election and return of winners were announced.

It also directed that records of the posting of INEC ad-hoc staff for the 4519 polling units, the number of Permanent Voters Cards, and PVCs collected in each polling unit should be made available to the applicants.

Meanwhile, the PDP has served INEC the certified true copy of the tribunal’s order.

Kogi State governor Usman Ododo on Monday approved the N72,500 minimum wage for workers in the state civil service and local government.

The approved N72,500 minimum wage for state workers is N2,500 higher than the approval in July by the Federal Government for workers in both private and public sectors.

Ododo who gave the approval while receiving a report from the Kogi state minimum wage implementation committee headed by the Head of Civil Service in the state, Elijah Avenemi, said he was more committed to the overall welfare of all cadres of workers.

The governor gave tax relief to workers for one year.

Ododo noted that being a labour leader and a civil servant before going into partisan politics, he knew what the civil servants were going through.

He called on the workers to cooperate with his administration and give him all the necessary support to succeed, assuring them of prompt payment of their salaries.

Presenting the committee report, Evinemi commended the members for a seamless negotiation before the agreement.

He lauded the governor for creating an enabling environment to conclude the exercise in good time, saying that the governor has set the pace for other governors.

Earlier, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Gabriel Amari who spoke on behalf of the organized labour in the state, commended the governor for all his efforts and described Ododo as the best workers’ friendly governor in the state has ever had.

The NLC chairman, who expressed joy over the seamless efforts at which the implementation committee arrived at the new minimum wage, said some states in the federation were yet to set up implementation committees.

He promised that the workers would be more committed to their duties and continue to cooperate with the governor.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour matters, Comrade Onuh Edoka, commended the governor for his generosity and commitment to the welfare of Workers in the state.

Edoka, the immediate past chairman of the NLC in the state, noted that the state has never had a seamless negotiation like under Ododo.

He called on Kogi workers to be more committed to their duties, assuring that the state government under the governor will prioritise their welfare.

President Bola Tinubu has called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, political leaders, and their supporters in Rivers State to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law.

Tinubu also directed the police to restore and maintain peace, law, and order immediately.

Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement on Monday that the president’s statement was in response to recent tensions following last Saturday’s local government council election.

After Saturday’s LG election, tensions in Rivers rose, and on Monday, fire destroyed the newly built Ikwere Local Government Secretariat and some sections of the Eleme Council complex.

The Guardian learnt that unknown gunmen suspected to be political thugs invaded and detonated explosive devices at the secretariat buildings a few hours after the police withdrew its personnel from the 23 Councils in the State.

The thugs insisted that the recently held Local Government elections where the camp of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, won 22 seats on the platform of Action Peoples Party (APP) and the candidate of Action Alliance (AA) clinched Etche council chairmanship seat was illegal, saying an unpopular party cannot win council seats in Rivers State.

The group maintained that the six-month tenure extension given by the Martins Amaewhule Assembly to the former council chairmen loyal to the minister remains.

The president, however, expressed deep concern over reports of arson and explosions in the state and urged all political actors to de-escalate the situation and discourage their supporters from engaging in violence or destructive actions.

While instructing law enforcement agencies to bring the situation under control, he emphasised the need to ensure the security of public institutions.

President Tinubu said government facilities built with public funds must be safeguarded from vandalism.

He stressed that self-help has no place in a democratic system, especially after 25 years of continuous democracy.

According to Tinubu, the judiciary can settle all political disputes, and the outcome of this election should be no exception.

Uganda loses about $2.5 billion to corruption every year, equivalent to almost a quarter of its annual budget, the country’s anti-graft head told AFP on Monday.

Corruption is a huge issue in the East African nation, which is ranked a lowly 141 out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s corruption index.

While President Yoweri Museveni has repeatedly promised change, several major corruption scandals involving public officials have surfaced recently, triggering anti-graft demonstrations.

“The country loses about 9.144 trillion shillings ($2.5 billion) annually, money enough to cover 23 percent of this year’s national budget,” said Beti Kamya Turwomwe, head of the Inspectorate of Government.

“Losing such colossal sums that would have gone into delivery of services to the citizens is a wake-up call to all the citizens to fight the vice,” she said.

Turwomwe said her department had recovered just $2 million of the vanished money, which she blamed on a lack of funding and staffing.

Her comments follow the government body’s annual July-June report — based on research by international think tank the Government Transparency Institute — which was presented to parliament last week.

It found that the highest area of corruption was the environmental protection sector, estimating losses of 2.8 trillion shillings or $700 million a year.

A report summary shared online said the figures are based on a “variety of methods and data sources”, without being more specific.

“Overall, the estimates on cost of corruption are considered to be lower than actual in Uganda since some costs are in kind while others are non-measurable due to lack of data,” the summary said.

It found that utility costs, such as bribing officials for access to water and electricity, result in a loss of almost $130 million.

The report comes a week after Museveni pardoned a government official who had served five years of a 10-year sentence after swindling $1.2 million from government coffers, provoking outrage from civil society groups.

Headphones have revolutionized the way we experience music, podcasts, and gaming. With countless options available, choosing the perfect pair can be daunting. This article explores key factors to consider, popular types, and top brands to help you find your ideal headphones.

Key Factors to Consider

1. Sound Quality: Frequency range, driver size, and impedance impact audio fidelity.
2. Comfort: Ergonomic design, weight, and cushioning ensure extended wearability.
3. Noise Cancellation: Active or passive noise isolation enhances listening experience.
4. Durability: Build quality, materials, and warranty influence lifespan.
5. Budget: Price points range from affordable to luxurious.

Popular Types of Headphones

1. Over-Ear (Full-Size): Immersive sound, excellent noise isolation.
2. On-Ear (Supra-Aural): Compact, lightweight, suitable for commuting.
3. In-Ear (Earbuds): Discreet, portable, ideal for exercise.
4. Wireless: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or infrared connectivity for convenience.
5. Gaming: Specialized headphones with mic, surround sound, and low latency.

Top Brands

1. Sony
2. Bose
3. Sennheiser
4. Audio-Technica
5. Beats
6. HyperX
7. SteelSeries
8. Razer

Headphone Technologies

1. Driver Types (Dynamic, Balanced Armature, Electrostatic)
2. Noise Cancellation (Active, Passive, Adaptive)
3. Wireless Standards (Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 6)
4. Audio Codecs (AAC, aptX, LDAC)

Tips for Choosing Headphones

1. Determine your primary use (music, gaming, commuting).
2. Consider budget and brand reputation.
3. Read reviews, compare sound quality.
4. Try before buying (if possible).
5. Warranty and customer support.

Headphones are an essential accessory for audiophiles, gamers, and music lovers. By understanding key factors, popular types, and top brands, you’ll find the perfect pair to enhance your listening experience.