6/11/2026, 4:10:21 PM
Artan to referee Uefa Super Cup after losing World Cup spot
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup, has been appointed to take charge of the Uefa Super Cup match between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa later this summer. The contest between PSG, who won the Champions League last term and Aston Villa, who triumphed in the Europa League, is scheduled to take place on 12 August in Salzburg. In a statement, European football's governing body said that decision had been taken after discussions with the Confederation of African Football (Caf). Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said: "Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football. "Football is made to connect people, and Uefa wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination. "I am grateful to my friend Caf president Patrice Motsepe for supporting enthusiastically our initiative." Artan, the 2025 Caf men's referee of the year, who has been on Fifa's international list since 2018, was set to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup finals. However, he was turned away by border officials in Miami despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa. On Wednesday, a US government official said Artan had not been allowed to enter the country because of his "association with suspected members of terror organisations". Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump and after speaking to the US authorities, world governing body Fifa said Artan would miss the tournament.
6/11/2026, 3:55:11 PM
Blessing CEO Remanded Over Alleged N13 Million Medical Fundraising Fraud
Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, in Lagos, on Wednesday ordered the remand of popular social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist, Blessing Okoro, fondly called Blessing CEO, in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the commencement of her trial on September 24, 2026. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Okoro on a six-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, forgery, possession of false documents, fraudulent conversion and retention of proceeds of alleged unlawful activities amounting to N13m. At the proceedings, EFCC counsel, H.U. Kofanaisa, informed the court that the anti-graft agency had filed a six-count charge against the defendant and requested that the charges be read to her for plea. Following the reading of the charges, Okoro pleaded not guilty to all counts. According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly obtained N13m from members of the public by falsely claiming that she had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, specifically a left breast lump and invasive ductal carcinoma with lobular features. The commission further alleged that she forged a medical document titled “Histopathology/Cytopathology Report”, purportedly issued by Xinus Medical Diagnostics, and used the document to solicit financial assistance from unsuspecting individuals. The prosecution also accused her of possessing and using the allegedly forged medical report, disguising the source of the N13m obtained from donors, fraudulently converting the funds to her personal use, and retaining the money in her personal bank account despite allegedly knowing it constituted proceeds of unlawful activity. EFCC arraigns Blessing CEO over alleged fresh N13m medical fraud June 11, 2026 6:44 am EFCC arraigns Blessing CEO over alleged fresh N13m medical fraud Influencer Blessing CEO (Okoro)...Photo Credit: IG/ Blessing Ceo By Onozure Dania Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, in Lagos, on Wednesday ordered the remand of popular social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist, Blessing Okoro, fondly called Blessing CEO, in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the commencement of her trial on September 24, 2026. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Okoro on a six-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, forgery, possession of false documents, fraudulent conversion and retention of proceeds of alleged unlawful activities amounting to N13m. At the proceedings, EFCC counsel, H.U. Kofanaisa, informed the court that the anti-graft agency had filed a six-count charge against the defendant and requested that the charges be read to her for plea. Following the reading of the charges, Okoro pleaded not guilty to all counts. According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly obtained N13m from members of the public by falsely claiming that she had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, specifically a left breast lump and invasive ductal carcinoma with lobular features. The commission further alleged that she forged a medical document titled “Histopathology/Cytopathology Report”, purportedly issued by Xinus Medical Diagnostics, and used the document to solicit financial assistance from unsuspecting individuals. The prosecution also accused her of possessing and using the allegedly forged medical report, disguising the source of the N13m obtained from donors, fraudulently converting the funds to her personal use, and retaining the money in her personal bank account despite allegedly knowing it constituted proceeds of unlawful activity. Following her plea, the prosecution asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant pending the hearing. The counsel to the defendant, Stanley Ofoegbu, informed the court that although he had not yet filed a formal bail application, he wished to make an oral bail application or seek a short adjournment. Justice Bogoro declined the oral application, holding that no formal bail application was before the court. He subsequently adjourned the matter until September 24, 2026, for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos. The latest arraignment comes barely a day after Okoro secured bail in another criminal case. On June 9, 2026, Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, admitted her to bail in the sum of N10m with two sureties in like sum in a separate N36m fraud case instituted by the EFCC. She was also arraigned on the same day before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, on a two-count charge alleging that she defrauded Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited of N69.15 m.
