Sporting Lagos will battle local rivals Inter Lagos for the Nigeria National League, NNL, title in Ikenne on Friday.

Jeffrey Buter’s Sporting Lagos moved top of the Super Four playoff log following a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Doma United on Wednesday.

Sporting Lagos have so far garnered six points from two matches, having opened up their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Ranchers Bees.

They need just one point from the clash with Inter Lagos to be crowned champions.

Inter Lagos bounced back into reckoning after a 2-0 victory over Ranchers Bees on Wednesday.

Doma United and Inter Lagos have three points each, while Ranchers Bees have zero point.

A Gombe State High Court has convicted and sentenced a magistrate, Mohammad Suleiman Kumo, to two years and six months imprisonment for bribery, with an option of a N250,000 fine.

Kumo, who served at the Pantami Chief Magistrate Court, was arraigned on three-count charges bordering on corruption by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court heard that on November 6, 2024, Kumo, in his capacity as a sitting magistrate, received N1 million through the court registrar, Adamu Ahmed.

He was first arraigned on December 3, 2025, before Justice H.H. Kereng and initially pleaded not guilty to the charges.

However, at the resumed hearing on Tuesday, his counsel, Barrister Adamu Bawa, informed the court of his decision to change his plea to guilty.

Following the plea, the prosecution counsel, Barrister A. Aliyu, urged the court to convict the defendant and order compensation.

Delivering judgment, Justice Kereng found Kumo guilty under Section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The judge sentenced him to two years and six months imprisonment with an option of a N250,000 fine.

The court also ordered the convict to pay N500,000 as compensation to the EFCC.

The Sokoto State Government has confirmed the death of 33 children following an outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis in parts of the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Abubakar, spoke on Wednesday during an advocacy meeting with district heads on Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin in Children (SARMAAN) and Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination (MNTE).

The meeting was organised by the state’s Primary Healthcare Development Agency in collaboration with Sightsavers and the Chigari Foundation.

According to the commissioner, 256 suspected cases have been recorded across eight local government areas of the state since the disease resurfaced about a month ago.

Residents of Kurawa village in Sabon Birni LGA had raised the alarm over a suspected outbreak of meningitis, which they said mostly affected children and teenagers.

Report also claimed the situation had worsened, with about two to three deaths recorded daily, mostly among people aged between two and 20 years.

They noted that many of the victims died before the illness was properly diagnosed, adding that residents were later advised to avoid sleeping in enclosed rooms due to the prevailing heat conditions.

Residents described symptoms including unconsciousness, severe neck pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, high fever and, in some cases, foaming from the mouth, all consistent with meningitis.

During the Wednesday meeting, Dr Abubakar confirmed the outbreak, saying Sabon Birni tops the list with 63 cases, followed by Wamakko (60), Shagari (51), Tambuwal (33), and Dange Shuni (26). Kebbe recorded 16 cases, while Bodinga, Gada, and Kware reported two, one, and two cases, respectively.

The health commissioner noted that most fatalities occurred within communities before patients were taken to health facilities.

He attributed this to delayed health-seeking behaviour, often driven by misconceptions that the illness has spiritual causes rather than being a medical emergency.

To contain the outbreak, the state government, in collaboration with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), established isolation centres at general hospitals in Dogo Daji and Tambuwal, with separate wards for male and female patients.

He added that while only about 20 samples have tested positive for meningitis so far, patients admitted early have responded well to treatment, with no recent deaths recorded since intensified interventions began.

Report also mentioned that firsthand accounts from the Dogo Daji isolation centre suggest that the situation remains critical. A nursing staff member at the facility, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, was quoted as saying that the centre currently has 22 patients on admission.

“We are discharging those who have fully recovered. Even today, we discharged two patients, but they were immediately replaced as we received two new cases,” the staff member said.

He explained that the centre operates two wards—one for male patients and another for females and paediatric cases—but noted that increasing admissions may soon necessitate expansion.

“The cases are increasing. In fact, we are considering opening an additional ward to separate female and paediatric patients,” he added.

The nurse also highlighted the level of support available at the facility, stating that adequate medical personnel, including doctors, nurses, health promoters, and hygiene experts, are on the ground.

He emphasised that free treatment is provided, with patients receiving medications, feeding, and even transportation support once their cases are confirmed.

“Patients do not pay for anything. Everything is provided free, including sanitary pads,” he said.