Cybercrime: EFCC Arraigns 11 Chinese, Alleges Plot To Destabilise Nigeria

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  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Tuesday, arraigned 11 Chinese nationals over allegations of cyber fraud, identity theft, and an attempt to destabilise Nigeria’s constitutional structure. The defendants were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos. They pleaded not guilty to the charges. The development comes only a day after the anti-graft agency arraigned 42 Chinese and Filipinos for similar offences before the same Federal High Court in Lagos. According to the EFCC, the foreign nationals were arrested during a raid tagged “Eagle Flush Operation” conducted on December 19, 2024, in Lagos. Following their not-guilty plea, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke ordered that they be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre in Lagos. The defendants are Wang Xiong Wei (alias Xiao Bai), Chen Dong Dong (alias Cun Zhao), Chen Yuan (alias Xiao Doa), Wu Yuan An (alias Zeng Niu), Wang Gong Lin (alias Wang Jing Lin), and Weng Mao Rong (alais A Xiang). They were arraigned on separate charges relating to cybercrimes, cyberterrorism, possession of fraudulent documents, and identity theft. According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly recruited Nigerian youths for identity theft and other cyber fraud schemes. Additionally, five other Chinese nationals, Liu Ke Fan (alias Lina, Lui Chen), Huang Hai Tao, Zhang Jian Feng, Wu A Wang, and Xiao Xin, were charged before the court. In one of the charges, the EFCC accused Liu Ke Fan of impersonating a 28-year-old American named Lina, living in Germany, as part of a romance scam and cryptocurrency fraud operation. Prosecutors alleged that in December 2024, Liu Ke Fan, “with intent to gain advantage for himself and members of his criminal syndicate group, fraudulently impersonated a U.S. citizen using a fake profile on his company’s Maya desktop computer.” The EFCC further told the court that the defendant “willfully provided false information during an investigation, falsely presenting himself as Liu Chen to mislead investigators and conceal his involvement in a criminal syndicate specializing in romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and cyberterrorism.” According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants belong to a syndicate of 792 individuals engaged in cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams. The defendants were arrested on December 19, 2024, in Lagos during a surprise operation codenamed “Eagle Flush Operation” conducted by EFCC operatives. EFCC prosecutors, M.K. Bashir and R.A. Abdulrasheed, informed the court that on or about December 18, 2024, the accused persons “willfully accessed computer systems with the intent to destabilise Nigeria’s constitutional structure by procuring and employing Nigerian youths for identity theft, falsely representing them as foreign nationals to gain financial advantage.” The commission also accused them of “willfully providing false information to EFCC officers during investigations into their alleged cyber fraud activities.” The EFCC stated that their actions violate Sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024), and Section 39(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004. After hearing the charges, the defendants pleaded not guilty. Following their pleas, Justice Aneke ordered their remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending trial. The court adjourned the case to February 21 and March 7, 2025. Punch

INEC To Pay N1.12bn To Family Of Man Killed By Driver

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  The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to pay N1.12bn in compensation to the family of one Mike Madu, killed by an INEC driver in Imo State. Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment on Friday, ordered INEC to pay the N1.12bn with 10 per cent interest per annum from the date of judgment until the final or full payment is made. In addition, the judge ordered INEC, its Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, and other defendants to send a letter of condolence to the late Madu’s family. “An order is hereby made for the defendants to pay the cost of prosecuting this action. This shall be the judgment of this court,” Justice Ekwo added. The plaintiff, Augustine Madu, filed the suit on behalf of the Umudurugwu, Umuokwe, Awo-Omamma community in Oru-East Local Government Area of Imo State. The amended writ of summons, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1074/2019, listed INEC, its Chairman, the INEC Commissioner in Abuja, and an INEC escort driver, Hassan Abdul, as the first to fourth defendants, respectively. Augustine filed the suit on September 18, 2019, seeking four reliefs, including an order for the defendants to pay N1.12bn in compensation to Madu’s family for the unlawful termination of his life. In his statement of claim, Augustine described his deceased brother, Mike Madu, as a successful businessman born on June 9, 1970, to the late John and Chioma Madu in Awo-Omamma, Imo State. He said Abdul, an INEC staff member and driver under the office of the national commissioner, was responsible for the fatal accident that claimed Mike’s life on June 16, 2019. On September 10, 2019, the deceased’s family resolved to take legal action against the defendants. Augustine noted that his brother frequently travelled between China and Nigeria, often accompanying Chinese investors to facilitate business opportunities. On one such trip, Mike was escorting two Chinese investors to explore investment prospects in the Enugu State Free Trade Zone. During their journey on the Itobe-Anyigba Expressway in Kogi State, their Lexus car, driven by Ega Chukwudi of Auto Star Transport Company, collided with a Toyota V8 Land Cruiser Jeep driven by the fourth defendant, Hassan Abdul. The Toyota, occupied by Abdul and a police escort, Sgt. Usman Abdullahi, lost control, swerved into the opposite lane, and crashed into the Lexus in a head-on collision. The Land Cruiser then somersaulted into a bush and caught fire, while the Lexus sustained heavy damage. Mike sustained severe injuries and died, along with one of the Chinese investors, Huang Hia Yan. The victims were taken to Holley Memorial Hospital in Ochadamu Village for medical attention, while the deceased were later transferred to Kogi State Specialist Hospital Mortuary. The surviving Chinese investor, Qu Xin Dong, was admitted to the same hospital, while Chukwudi, the Lexus driver, was treated at Enugu State Orthopaedic Hospital. Abdul and his police escort received treatment at Holley Memorial Hospital. A police report dated July 16, 2019, concluded that Abdul’s reckless speeding was the cause of the accident. On July 10, 2019, the Kogi State Chief Magistrate Court ordered a post-mortem examination of the deceased. The plaintiff later obtained a warrant to bury his brother and the deceased investor. Augustine lamented that throughout this period, INEC and its officials showed no concern or remorse for causing Mike’s death. Punch

Impeached South Korean President Yoon In Court Again For Hearings On Removal

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  South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been arrested and suspended from duties over his declaration of martial law, was in court again Tuesday for hearings to decide whether to remove him from office officially. Yoon, a former prosecutor, plunged democratic South Korea into political turmoil when he declared martial law on December 3, suspending civilian rule and sending soldiers to parliament. His attempt to impose martial law only lasted around six hours as the opposition-led parliament defied armed troops to vote it down and later impeached him over the move. As part of a separate criminal probe, Yoon was detained in a dawn raid in mid-January on insurrection charges, becoming the first sitting South Korean head of state to be arrested. He is being held in detention but has been attending impeachment hearings at the Constitutional Court, which will determine whether his impeachment is upheld. If the court upholds the impeachment, an election must be held within 60 days to elect a new president. A convoy of black SUVs arrived at the court Tuesday, carrying Yoon to attend a hearing scheduled to begin at 2:00 pm (0500 GMT). At previous hearings, Yoon denied instructing top military commanders to “drag out” lawmakers from parliament to prevent them from voting down his decree, a claim refuted by opposition MPs. He has argued that he did not believe the short-lived martial law was a “failed martial law”, but rather one that “ended a bit sooner” than he expected. During Tuesday’s hearing, two former military commanders and an ex-spy agency official are set to testify as witnesses. Hong Jang-won, a former deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, testified before lawmakers that he had been ordered to arrest politicians — a claim that contradicts Yoon’s denial of such an order. Yoon, 64, was indicted in January, with prosecutors accusing him of being a “ringleader of the insurrection”. He faces a separate criminal trial on those charges. Insurrection is not covered by presidential immunity. If convicted, he faces jail time or the death penalty. AFP

Five-Year-Old Sets Building On Fire While Playing With Matches In Kwara

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  A five-year-old boy on Monday reportedly set a duplex building on fire while playing with match sticks in Ilorin, Kwara State capital. The incident happened at Abiodun Adebiyi close, off Yidi Road, Irewole area Ilorin in the Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state. One of the rooms in the duplex was completely burnt and property destroyed before men of the state fire service arrived at the scene to rescue the building from complete destruction, an eyewitness told Punch Online. The witness, who identified himself as Lanre Abdulrazaq, and said that he was doing a menial job in the area, said, “We just noticed that thick smoke was oozing out of the building; we raised the alarm to sensitise people around for a rescue operation. “We did not know the cause of the fire but later we saw the fire service who arrived and contained the fire.” However, the spokesman for the state fire service, Hassan Adekunle, who confirmed the fire, said the incident was caused by a five-year-old boy who was playing with matches that he unknowingly dropped on a combustible material that escalated the fire. Adekunle, a principal fire officer and head of Media and Publicity in the state fire service, in a statement issued on Monday night said, “Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was caused by a five-year-old boy playing with matches, who inadvertently dropped a lit stick on combustible material, igniting the flames. “On Monday, 3rd February 2025, at about 17:32 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service received a distress call regarding a fire outbreak at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, Off Yidi Road, Irewolede Area, Ilorin. “Our gallant firefighters sprang into action, arriving swiftly at the scene to find one room in a five-bedroom duplex engulfed in flames. “Through sheer expertise and technical precision, the team worked fervently to contain the fire, ensuring it did not spread to other rooms or nearby buildings. Thanks to their exceptional skill and coordination, only one room was affected. . “The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, commended the firefighters for their swift and tactical response. “He urged the public to prioritize fire safety and advised parents to keep matches away from children, emphasizing that a single matchstick could destroy an entire building.” Adekunle said that the State Fire Service remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting lives and property through professionalism and rapid emergency response. Punch

Telecom Tariff Hike: NLC Halts Protest As FG Plans Review Panel

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  The Nigeria Labour Congress has suspended its planned nationwide protest against the recent 50 per cent hike in telecom tariffs approved by the Federal Government. The labour union aborted the planned rally scheduled for Tuesday (today) following a meeting with government representatives at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in Abuja, on Monday. The telecom regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, had defended the 50 per cent tariff increase, citing rising operational costs driven by inflation, foreign exchange fluctuations, and higher energy expenses. In a statement, the regulator said the adjustment was in line with its mandate under the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 to ensure the financial sustainability of the telecom sector. However, the NLC rejected the tariff hike and demanded a reduction to five per cent, threatening a nationwide protest if its demands were not met. It condemned the hike as insensitive and unjustifiable, arguing that it would impose an extra burden on Nigerian consumers. The union’s president, Joe Ajaero, reiterated its demand for a significant reduction after the National Administrative Council meeting of the NLC. He said, “After extensive discussions, the following resolutions were reached: NAC-in-session totally rejects the 50 per cent telecom tariff hike, which it considers too harsh for citizens. It, therefore, strongly condemns the Nigerian Communications Commission’s decision to approve the increase.” “This decision is insensitive, unjustifiable, and a direct attack on Nigerian workers and the general populace, who are already suffering under worsening economic hardship caused by government policies beyond their control.” The union called on Nigerians to prepare for a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services in protest against the increase. Despite the union’s pressure, telecom operators remained firm that the current adjustment was necessary to maintain service quality and support network expansion in an increasingly challenging economic environment. They ruled out negotiations with organised labour on the tariff increase, insisting that no reduction would be made despite the labour threat. The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, argued that the approved increase is vital to sustaining telecom operations amid escalating costs. “This increase is a lifeline that enables us to survive. Anything lower would be like giving someone who needs 100 litres of oxygen only a fraction—barely enough to keep them alive but insufficient for long-term survival,” he asserted. To ensure maximum impact, the NLC mobilised the electricity, aviation workers and civil society groups for the protest. However, following the Monday meeting, the NLC resolved to halt the demonstration pending further discussions. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, NLC President, Ajaero, said the government had agreed to set up a larger committee to review the entire tariff structure. According to him, the committee will be composed of five representatives from both sides and is expected to submit its findings within two weeks. Ajaero stated, “We emphasised that the NLC is the largest organisation in Africa, and no stakeholder consultation can exclude us and still stand. On that basis, they agreed to form a broader committee to ensure a fair and inclusive agreement to look at the entire tariff structure as a model to come out with a realistic and all-inclusive agreement. “So, the committee will be made up of five representatives, from both sides and expected to come out with a result after two weeks. That will determine the next line of action and the process of engagement.’’ He added that the union’s next steps, including protests, boycotts, or service withdrawals, would depend on the outcome of the committee’s work. “The symbolic action of submitting the letters tomorrow (today) will be put on hold until the outcome of such a committee. The outcome of such a committee is what will determine our next line of action in terms of protest, in terms of boycott, in terms of even withdrawal of services, which are the three issues we put online,” he explained. While the planned symbolic submission of protest letters had been put on hold, Ajaero noted that the NLC remains concerned about other pressing economic issues, including electricity tariffs and burdensome taxes on workers. “We have also expressed our displeasure over the high electricity tariff and the unbearable tax regime, which is killing workers. These remain unresolved issues that must be addressed,” the labour leader said. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the NCC raised the tariff following a study. He stated that the NLC agreed to look at the study to come up with its resolutions, adding that a committee of five representatives each from both sides had been instituted. The minister said, “The crux of the matter is that there is already a study that was conducted by the NCC that led them to arrive at this 50 per cent increase. Now, we are discussing this with Labour. “Labour has agreed that they will look at that study, and then a small committee has been set up to look at that study once again and come up with a final resolution for the consideration of government and Labour in about two weeks. “So, the summary of it is that the Nigeria Labour Congress and the delegation of the Federal Government have set up a committee of five each. “We are going to meet here continuously for the next two weeks, and at the end of the second week, we will now come up with a recommendation that we will give to the government and the organised Labour for final consideration. “Both the organised Labour, the NLC particularly, and the government people have sat down here and have agreed on this position. “So, there won’t be any protest tomorrow (today) by the Nigeria Labour Congress, and there will be some form of report that will come up in about two weeks from now to consider the study and other considerations by both parties.” Meanwhile, the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria, which had initially supported the protest, also announced on Monday the suspension following a high-level … Read more

NLC Declares Warning Strike Tuesday Over 50% Telecom Tariff Hike

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  Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress has disclosed that it will embark on a one-day warning strike on Tuesday. The state NLC Chairman, Dauda Shuaibu, made this known on Monday while briefing journalists shortly after an Executive Council meeting held at the NLC headquarters in Bauchi. According to Dauda, the strike is aimed at protesting the Nigerian Telecommunications Commission’s decision to increase tariffs by 50% for calls and data. He explained, “The purpose of the strike is to show our grievances over the increment in tariff by the Nigerian Telecommunications Commission. “We urge all organised labour unions in the state to mobilise their members to participate in the strike.” He added that the NLC has been actively involved in advocating for workers’ rights and protesting policies that negatively impact the workforce. “We will not fold our arms and watch as the government continues to impose harsh policies on the people. “We will continue to fight for the rights of workers and the general public,” he said. He urged the Federal Government to take immediate action to address the grievances of workers and the general public. “Failure to do so may lead to further industrial action. We are giving the government an opportunity to review the tariff increase and consider the plight of workers and the general public. “If they fail to do so, we will be forced to take further action,” he added. Punch

Court Sentences Killers of Ogun Couple, Son To Death By Hanging

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  An Ogun State High Court sitting in Kobape, Abeokuta, the state capital, on Monday sentenced Lekan Adekanbi, Ahmed Odetola, and Waheed Adeniyi to death by hanging for the murder of Kehinde Fatinoye, his wife, Bukola Fatinoye, and their son, Oreoluwa, on January 1, 2023. The couple was attacked at their Ibara GRA residence shortly after returning from a crossover service. Led by their driver, Adekanbi, the assailants invaded their home at about 2am, killing them before setting the house and their bodies on fire. They also tied up their son, Oreoluwa, and an adopted son before throwing them into the Ogun River. Oreoluwa did not survive, but the adopted son miraculously escaped. During an interview with journalists in February 2023, Adekanbi confessed that he orchestrated the attack because the Fatinoyes refused to increase his salary or grant him a loan. “I took the step because the couple refused to increase my salary, and when I approached them for a loan to buy a motorcycle, they didn’t oblige,” he admitted. He revealed that he invited two accomplices, Odetola and Adeniyi, to help him rob the couple. “The three of us waited for the couple until they came back from the crossover service. We pounced on them immediately after they entered the house,” he said. According to him, they forced Kehinde Fatinoye to transfer N1,102,000 to his Access Bank account at gunpoint after a previous transfer attempt to Odetola’s Kuda Bank account failed. “When I realised that my identity had been exposed through my bank account, I decided with others to terminate the lives of the couple,” he confessed. Adeniyi then used a knife to slaughter Kehinde Fatinoye, while Adekanbi struck Bukola Fatinoye on the head with a sledgehammer, killing her instantly. When the couple’s son, Oreoluwa, and their adopted son, Felix Olorunyomi, walked in, the criminals tied them up and threw them into the Ogun River. Felix managed to escape. The Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, recounted how Adekanbi initially escaped from custody after faking an illness. “The suspect, Lekan Adekanbi, suddenly collapsed in the cell on January 2, 2023, and was rushed to the hospital for medical care. But while receiving treatment, he suddenly jumped from the bed and escaped through the hospital fence,” Oyeyemi said. Following a technical and intelligence-driven investigation, police tracked him to his brother’s house in Iseyin, Oyo State. Although he had fled before officers arrived, he was later arrested in Abeokuta on January 21, 2023. His accomplices, Odetola and Adeniyi, were arrested in Ogere on February 9, 2023. “The three suspects, who are members of the Aiye confraternity, have all confessed to their roles in the gruesome and callous murder of the family,” Oyeyemi stated. Adekanbi, Odetola, and Adeniyi, along with six others, were charged with 24 counts, including conspiracy to commit armed robbery, murder, arson, and perverting the course of justice. They pleaded not guilty. Delivering her judgment, Justice Basirat Adebowale ruled, “The trio of Adekanbi, Odetola, and Adeniyi are guilty of nine counts because the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.” Adebowale sentenced them to death by hanging. “You, Adekanbi, Odetola, and Adeniyi, for killing a father, mother, and son, do not deserve mercy. You are hereby sentenced to be hanged by the neck until you are dead or by lethal injection. May God have mercy on your souls,” she declared. Other sentences included: Temitope Fadairo (Adekanbi’s wife) to two years imprisonment for hiding her husband, Adenike Adekanbi (Adekanbi’s mother) to one-year imprisonment for providing false statements to the police, Azeez Usman (the welder who dismantled the stolen vehicle) to 14 years imprisonment for receiving stolen property, plus additional sentences to run concurrently, Anuoluwapo Owolaja to two years imprisonment, Abass Odetola and Lukmon Adewusi were discharged of all charges. During the trial, Chief State Counsel, Adefisoye Temilola, told the court that the trio committed the crime at Karounwi Street, Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta. “The defendants, while armed with a gun, hammer, and cutlass, robbed Mr. Fatinoye of N1.102 million and a Hyundai vehicle worth N12 million. They also robbed Mrs. Bukola Fatinoye of her phones valued at N1 million,” Temilola said. After robbing the couple, Adeniyi used a knife to slaughter Kehinde Fatinoye, while Adekanbi struck Bukola on the head with a sledgehammer. “They set the house ablaze and killed their only son, Oreoluwa, by tying his hands and legs and throwing him into the Ogun River, leading to his death,” she concluded.

Babcock Varsity Worker, One Other Die In Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Crash

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  The Ogun State Police Command on Sunday reported an accident along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at about 7:15am just before Danco Filling Station, claiming two lives while five others were severely injured. The crash involved a Toyota Sienna space bus with registration number EPE 430 HT driven by one Adewale Yusuf and a stationary luxury bus with plate number KTU 835 XY belonging to Young Shall Grow Transport Company and driven by Chukwudi Ilo of Anambra State. The spokesperson for the state police command, Chief Superintendent of Police, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Sunday. Odutola said “Investigations revealed that the luxury bus had stopped in traffic behind other vehicles due to a minor accident ahead when the Toyota Sienna, coming at high speed, lost control and crashed into its rear. “As a result, five passengers in the Sienna bus sustained severe injuries and were rushed to Live Well Hospital, Sagamu while two male passengers, identified as Charles Izuchukwu, a staff member of Babcock University, and another unidentified male occupant, succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. “The deceased were deposited at Last Home Green Mortuary, Sagamu while the driver of the Sienna bus and two other injured passengers are receiving medical attention.” However, the Motor Traffic Department promptly responded to the scene, documented the incident, and cleared the wreckage to restore normal traffic flow. Both vehicles have been towed to the MTD Office, Sagamu, for further investigation and inspection by the Vehicle Inspection Officers. Meanwhile, the command has continued to emphasize that reckless driving, excessive speeding, and negligence remain major causes of road crashes. The police also listed factors significantly contributing to accidents including driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, use of expired or substandard tires, lack of focus, and disregard for traffic regulations as well as prioritizing financial gain over passengers’ safety. The command has therefore urged all motorists, particularly commercial drivers, to exercise caution, adhere to speed limits, and avoid reckless behaviours that endanger lives. Drivers were also warned against substance abuse and must ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before embarking on any journey. The police said they remained committed to enforcing traffic regulations to reduce road fatalities and that any driver violating road safety rules would face legal consequences. The public has also been encouraged to report reckless drivers and unsafe road conditions to the nearest police station or road safety officers.  

Tems Wins Best African Music Performance At 2025 Grammy Awards

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  Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has won the Best African Music Performance category at the 67th Grammy Awards. She secured the award with her song Love Me JeJe, beating Tomorrow by Yemi Alade, MMS by Asake featuring Wizkid, Sensational by Chris Brown featuring Davido and Lojay, and Higher by Burna Boy. This marks Tems’ second Grammy win. South Africa’s Tyla won the award for her hit Water in 2024 in the category’s first edition. Tems received three nominations at this year’s Grammys, bringing her career total to eight. She was also nominated for Best Global Music Album (Born in the Wild) and Best R&B Song (Burning). The 67th Grammy Awards took place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday. Below are the categories featuring Nigerian nominees: Best African Music Performance Asake & Wizkid – MMS Burna Boy – Higher Chris Brown Featuring Davido & Lojay – Sensational Tems – Love Me JeJe – WINNER Yemi Alade – Tomorrow Best Global Music Album Antonio Rey – Historias de un Flamenco Ciro Hurtado – Paisajes Matt B & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Alkebulan II – WINNER Rema – Heis Tems – Born in the Wild Best R&B Song Coco Jones – Here We Go (Uh Oh) Kehlani – After Hours Muni Long – Ruined Me SZA – Saturn – WINNER Tems – Burning Punch

Transfers: Villa Close In On Rashford Loan, West Ham Push For Ferguson

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  Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is set to join Aston Villa on loan in a deal that includes a potential permanent transfer, according to sports journalist Fabrizio Romano. In a post shared on Sunday via X, Romano reported that Villa will cover over 70per cent of Rashford’s salary as part of the agreement, with a £40 million buy option included in the deal. The England international is expected to undergo a medical today before finalising the move. Romano wrote: “Marcus Rashford to Aston Villa, here we go. Agreement in place on a loan deal with over 70% of his salary covered by Villa. A buy option clause worth £40m is also included in the contract, with a potential three-and-a-half-year deal to follow. Medical booked today.” Meanwhile, West Ham United are making progress in negotiations to sign Brighton striker Evan Ferguson on a straight loan deal until June. Talks are ongoing, with final details yet to be agreed upon with the player’s representatives. Elsewhere, Manchester United and Arsenal are in contact with Mathys Tel’s representatives as the Bayern Munich forward considers his future. With just 36 hours remaining in the transfer window, Tel still has a strong chance of leaving the German club, with United pushing for a loan move and Arsenal making another approach. In Serie A, Chelsea midfielder Cesare Casadei has completed a permanent move to Torino in a €15 million deal, while Nicolò Zaniolo has joined Fiorentina from Galatasaray after his loan spell at Atalanta was terminated. Flamengo also approached Arsenal in an attempt to sign Jorginho immediately, but the Gunners rejected the request. The Brazilian club is now working on securing the midfielder on a free transfer for next season. Meanwhile, Eintracht Frankfurt have activated a €16 million buy option for Belgian defender Arthur Theate, who has been in impressive form and is attracting interest from several clubs ahead of the summer window. With the deadline fast approaching, clubs across Europe are racing to finalise deals before the window shuts. Punch

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