Manchester United has unveiled ambitious plans for a new £2 billion stadium, aiming to set a new benchmark in football infrastructure. The proposed 100,000-seat venue is designed by renowned architect Lord Norman Foster, known for iconic projects like London’s Wembley Stadium.

The stadium’s design features a vast umbrella-like structure that harvests energy and rainwater, symbolizing Manchester’s industrial heritage.

The exterior will be adorned with tensile fabric and triple masts inspired by the club’s logo, reflecting the city’s weather and urban spirit. The development includes a public plaza twice the size of Trafalgar Square, aiming to create a vibrant community space.

Planned adjacent to the current Old Trafford site, the new stadium aims to ensure continuity for fans and minimize disruption during construction.

However, the project faces logistical challenges, including the potential relocation of a rail terminal. Securing necessary approvals and integrating the stadium into the existing urban fabric will require careful planning.

Funding the £2 billion project presents significant challenges. Manchester United’s current debt levels raise questions about financing the stadium without compromising financial stability. Government support may be crucial to realize this vision, but the financial implications are complex and require thorough assessment.

Deji Adeyanju, the lawyer representing social media critic Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, has dismissed gospel singer Mercy Chinwo’s defamation suit against his client as “a complete joke.”

A Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, recently issued a bench warrant for VeryDarkMan’s arrest on March 13, 2025, after he failed to appear in court over allegations of defaming Chinwo. The summons was initially issued on March 5, 2025.

Chinwo has also filed a lawsuit at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, demanding N1.1 billion in damages. The lawsuit stems from allegations that VeryDarkMan made defamatory statements on social media, accusing Chinwo of being involved in a contract dispute and the mismanagement of $345,000 tied to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu (Eezee Tee).

Speaking in an interview with AIT, Adeyanju brushed off the lawsuit, questioning the basis for such a huge claim. “Pay N1.1 billion for what? Over what? This isn’t a court of law, so I won’t discuss our strategy here. We have no comment — it’s nothing serious, just a joke,” he said.

Meanwhile, VeryDarkMan, who is currently outside the country, has challenged security agencies to arrest him at the airport when he returns to Nigeria. He confidently stated that he was no stranger to being arrested.

Omoyele Sowore has criticized northern leaders for shutting down schools to allow children to participate in Ramadan fasting. The decision, implemented in Bauchi, Katsina, Kebbi, and Kano States, has caused criticism from many Nigerians.

Sowore, a well-known Nigerian activist, accused the leaders of hypocrisy, claiming that their children are not affected by the policy since they attend expensive private schools in Abuja or study abroad.

In a statement on his Facebook page, Sowore condemned the move, saying, “Those who decided to shut down schools for Ramadan fasting don’t have their children in these struggling public schools.

Their kids attend top private schools or study overseas, funded by resources meant to support underprivileged students in these poorly maintained schools, which remain open during Ramadan. These leaders are irresponsible and unfair.”