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Tinubu Boosts CCB Funding from N3bn to N20bn

Tinubu Boosts CCB Funding from N3bn to N20bn

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Tinubu Boosts CCB Funding from N3bn to N20bn—-President Bola Tinubu has approved a massive increase in the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB)’ budget from about N3 billion to nearly N20 billion.
The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) Dr Abubakar Bello disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
Bello said the increase was to overhaul the nation’s outdated asset declaration system, strengthen verification and enforcement to make the bureau more virile.
He added that the budget increase was necessary to fund  technological upgrades, improve the bureau’s working environment and  strengthen verification processes and enhance enforcement capacity.
The CCB chairman recalled that  when he assumed office, he discovered that asset declaration was still largely manual, relying on paper forms that were scarce, expensive to print and difficult to store, analyse and verify.
He noted that public servants across ministries and agencies constantly requested tens of thousands of forms that the bureau could not provide.
According to him, the situation was worsened by the fact that the 2025 budget made provision of only about N70 million for printing forms.
He said the amount could only produce just about 50,000 to 60,000 forms for over 4.5 million public servants nationwide.
To address the challenge, he said the bureau adopted a temporary model inspired by Kenya, uploading asset declaration forms on its website for public servants to download.
However, he said the method only solved the problem of availability, not the deeper issue of a manual system.
Bello revealed that the bureau is now at an advanced stage of developing a fully online asset declaration platform, following extensive consultations with stakeholders.
He said the system, expected to be ready by the first quarter of 2026, will allow public servants to declare assets from anywhere in the world.
The CCB chairman said the digital platform will be a “game changer” because it will link directly with key databases.
According to him, the platform will link, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Bank Verification Number (BVN) system, land registries and other government records to enable instant verification.
He added that artificial intelligence will also be deployed to analyse asset declarations, compare net worth at the beginning and end of a public servant’s tenure
The AI platform, according to him, would flag unexplained wealth or possible breaches of the Code of Conduct for further review.
As part of reforms, Bello said the bureau has begun inviting ministers, permanent secretaries and other senior officials for asset verification,  stressing that “verification is not investigation.”
He disclosed that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,  Lateef Fagbemi personally appeared to verify his assets, sending a strong signal of leadership by example.
The CCB chairman said verification had already led to interim forfeiture orders in cases where public servants failed to declare assets or could not explain their sources, including properties within and outside Nigeria.
According to him, some recovered funds were already transferred to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He warned public servants that failure to declare assets or refusal to honour verification invitations could trigger investigations and possible prosecution before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Bello urged compliance with the bureau’s guiding principle: “Declare or Forfeit.”

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Aston Villa Complete Alejandro Garnacho Signing from Chelsea on Season-Long Loan with Mandatory Buy Clause

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Aston Villa Complete Alejandro Garnacho Signing from Chelsea on Season-Long Loan with Mandatory Buy Clause—-Unai Emery has landed one of his top transfer targets after Aston Villa reached an agreement with Chelsea for Alejandro Garnacho to join on a season-long loan, with a conditional obligation to make the move permanent.

Aston Villa have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign Argentina international Alejandro Garnacho on a season-long loan, with a buy clause that will become mandatory if certain conditions are met. The move is expected to be finalized after the 22-year-old completes the remaining formalities following his medical in Birmingham.

The deal represents a significant show of faith from Villa manager Unai Emery, who has long admired Garnacho and had attempted to sign the winger before his move from Manchester United to Chelsea last summer. Emery is understood to have personally pushed for the transfer, believing he can help the Argentine rediscover the form that made him one of the Premier League’s brightest young talents.

Although structured initially as a loan until the end of the 2026-27 season, the agreement includes a conditional obligation to buy. The exact conditions have not been disclosed publicly, but reports indicate they are linked to performance or appearance targets and are widely expected to be met. Garnacho has already agreed personal terms on a four-year contract that will take effect once the permanent transfer is triggered.

Garnacho’s departure comes just one year after Chelsea signed him from Manchester United on a long-term contract. Despite arriving at Stamford Bridge with high expectations, the winger struggled to establish himself as a regular starter, managing only limited league starts as competition for places intensified under new manager Xabi Alonso. Chelsea’s recent club-record £117 million signing of Morgan Rogers further reduced Garnacho’s prospects of regular first-team football, making a move away increasingly likely.

For Aston Villa, the signing is another statement of intent as the club prepares for a campaign that includes UEFA Champions League football. Emery has built a reputation for revitalizing players whose careers have stalled, and Villa believe Garnacho’s pace, direct running and attacking flair can add a new dimension to their frontline. Club officials are confident the Argentine international still possesses the potential to develop into one of the Premier League’s top wingers under Emery’s guidance.

The transfer also continues a busy summer of business between Aston Villa and Chelsea. It follows Chelsea’s acquisition of Morgan Rogers in a British-record £117 million deal, with Garnacho now heading in the opposite direction as both clubs reshape their squads ahead of the new season. While the financial details of the future permanent transfer remain undisclosed, all parties are confident the move will become permanent once the agreed conditions are fulfilled.

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BREAKING: Ferran Torres the Hero as Spain Beat Argentina to Capture 2026 FIFA World Cup

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BREAKING: Ferran Torres the Hero as Spain Beat Argentina to Capture 2026 FIFA World Cup—-Substitute Ferran Torres struck the decisive extra-time winner as Spain edged defending champions Argentina 1-0 to lift their second FIFA World Cup title and complete a historic double as reigning men’s European and world champions.

Spain were crowned 2026 FIFA World Cup champions after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 following extra time in a tense and tactical final at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.

After 90 minutes of relentless intensity failed to separate the two footballing giants, substitute Ferran Torres emerged as Spain’s hero, scoring the only goal of the match in the 106th minute to hand La Roja their second World Cup crown, 16 years after their maiden triumph in South Africa.

Luis de la Fuente’s side controlled much of the contest from the outset, dominating possession and creating the better opportunities against an Argentina team chasing back-to-back World Cup titles. Spain finished the match with 15 attempts on goal and won nine corners, while Lionel Scaloni’s men struggled to impose themselves in attack, failing to register a shot on target for long periods of the encounter.

Spain’s patient approach was finally rewarded early in extra time. Following sustained pressure around Argentina’s penalty area, Ferran Torres collected the ball inside the box before unleashing a powerful left-footed strike beneath the crossbar, leaving goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez with no chance and sending the Spanish supporters into wild celebrations.

Argentina’s task became even more difficult after midfielder Enzo Fernández was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time of normal time, forcing the reigning champions to play the remainder of the contest with ten men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Argentina fought until the final whistle but were unable to break down Spain’s disciplined defence.

Goalkeeper Unai Simón produced another assured performance behind a well-organised back line marshalled by Pau Cubarsí and Aymeric Laporte, while Rodri once again dictated the tempo in midfield. Teenager Lamine Yamal also impressed throughout the tournament, capping a breakthrough World Cup campaign by helping Spain reach the summit of world football.

The victory crowns a remarkable era for Spanish football under Luis de la Fuente. Having already won UEFA Euro 2024 and the UEFA Nations League, Spain now add the FIFA World Cup to their growing list of honours, becoming world champions for the first time since 2010. The triumph also makes Spain the first nation to simultaneously hold both the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup titles.

For Argentina, the defeat brought an end to their bid to retain the trophy they lifted in Qatar four years earlier. Lionel Messi and his teammates had reached the final after dramatic victories over England and Switzerland in the knockout rounds, but they were ultimately denied by a composed Spanish side whose consistency and tactical discipline proved decisive on football’s biggest stage.

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