Pan African Eyecare Company Lapaire Raises $3 Million to Expand Across Africa

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January 12, 2024

Lapaire, a Pan-African eyecare company that makes affordable eyewear in Africa to help people see and live better, has raised $3 million to expand across Africa.

The equity round was led by I&P, a pioneer impact investment fund in Africa, Investisseurs & Partenaires, with participation from international investors AAIC, FINCA Ventures, and Beyond Capital.

The startup disclosed that the funds raised will be used to expand its footprint in current and new African markets, as well as to keep optimizing its operations leveraging a disruptive approach in the eye health market.

The company’s growth plan includes opening new stores in Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Benin. Also, it plans to open branches in multiple strategic locations within Nairobi, Kenya, and other cities in the country to make their services more accessible to people.

Lapaire Glass was founded in 2018 by Jerome Lapaire, with its launch in Kenya. It initially began with a B2B sales approach, but has since abandoned that model, favouring direct contact with the customer. In the process, it has tested the eyesight of more than 300,000 people and now employs 350 people.

The company quickly caught the attention of a venture capital fund, Saviu Ventures, and now operates 20 optical shops across Africa with over 150 employees, including eye professionals.

Lapaire has remained committed to providing its customers with the best possible service and a positive shopping experience.

With a goal to be the go-to eyewear brand in Africa, the company is planning to open more clinics in major cities before venturing into rural areas.

According to The World Health Organization, it reports that nearly one billion people globally have a vision impairment that could have been prevented or addressed, and over 550 million people need glasses but only one percent wears them.

In line with this, Lapaire has an ambitious plan to be the go-to eyewear brand in Africa and is planning to open more clinics in major cities and then in rural areas.

Its mission is to provide high-quality eyeglasses at affordable prices to ensure that everyone has access to clear sight and the ability to fully enjoy their lives.

Over the next two years, it intends to open 300 eye care centres, with the target for 2024 being 80 new locations.

“Over the last few years, we worked hard to build a highly scalable model, and we are now in the best position to accelerate our growth to positively impact the lives of 1 million people across the continent by 2026,” the company said in a statement.

Supreme Court Upholds the Elections of Abia, Lagos, Kano and other States’ Governors

By

Samuel Nwite

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January 12, 2024

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In a series of significant rulings, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has announced decisive judgments in the gubernatorial elections of Abia, Kano, Lagos, and other states, resolving longstanding disputes and affirming the outcomes of the polls.

Abia State: Dr. Alex Otti Confirmed as Governor

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court declared Dr. Alex Otti as the duly elected governor of Abia State. Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, while delivering the judgment, dismissed the appeal against Mr. Otti’s victory, asserting that the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lacked merit.

The apex court said that the PDP did not have the right to question Otti’s nomination by the Labour Party, stating that the party was “crying more than the bereaved” in this case.

The appeals were filed against Otti by Okey Ahiwe of the PDP and Ikechi Emenike of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had previously declared Otti as the winner, after he secured 175,466 votes in the gubernatorial poll held on March 18, 2023, defeating his closest rival, Mr. Ahiwe of the PDP.

The Abia State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal had earlier dismissed the petitions against Otti’s victory, affirming the credibility of the election. The Supreme Court’s verdict now solidifies Dr. Alex Otti’s position as the authentic governor of Abia State.

Lagos State: Sanwo-Olu’s Victory Upheld

In Lagos State, the Supreme Court has unanimously affirmed the victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the March 18, 2023, gubernatorial election. Justices Lawal Garba and Adamu Jauro delivered the judgment, dismissing two separate appeals challenging Sanwo-Olu’s victory.

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP) and Abdulazeez Adediran (Jandor) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who came second and third, respectively, had contested the election results, alleging irregularities and non-qualification of Sanwo-Olu’s deputy due to dual citizenship.

Both the tribunal and the Court of Appeal had earlier dismissed the appeals for failure to substantiate the allegations. The Supreme Court concurred, asserting that the acquisition of a foreign nationality does not disqualify a citizen by birth from contesting elections.

Kano State: Abba Kabir Yusuf Restored as Governor

In Kano State, the Supreme Court also reinstated Abba Kabir Yusuf as the governor, nullifying the Appeal Court’s judgment that declared Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the elected governor.

The apex court held that both the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and the Court of Appeal erred in sacking Yusuf, the candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), as governor. INEC had initially declared Yusuf the winner of the March 18, 2023, gubernatorial election.

Gawuna, the APC candidate, contested the outcome, alleging electoral malpractices. The lower courts nullified Yusuf’s victory, leading him to appeal to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court, led by Justice Okoro, held that the tribunal wrongly deducted votes from Yusuf’s results and reinstated all the ballots to Governor Yusuf.

Apart from Abia, Kano, and Lagos, the apex court also delivered judgments in the cases of Plateau, Nassarawa, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Cross River, and Zamfara states, delivering favorable verdicts for incumbent governors.

However, the Supreme Court rulings deciding the fate of governors in more than 10 states underscore the decried political trajectory in Nigeria, where the courts, not the people, choose a significant number of political office holders.

Best Bitcoin Casinos USA in 2024

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TI Partners

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January 12, 2024

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Although many popular casinos have already established a good reputation online, new casinos can often offer more benefits in the form of more significant bonuses, fresher gaming opportunities, or fewer KYC requirements.

To save time researching new casinos US players are accepted at, we’ve compiled the definitive guide to new US online casinos in 2024. Our comparison tables below and pros and cons lists will help you decide which new US casino is most suitable for you. You will also find detailed information about how to sign up for a new casino in the US and start wagering.

Best Bitcoin Casinos In 2024 (Updated)

Considering what benefits and perks new online casinos offer, we have selected 9 top new casinos USA players are accepted at and included them in our list. Here is a quick introduction to our recommendation list.

BetOnline: High Limits with Re-Bet
Game: Leading Crypto-Only Casino
Las Atlantis: A wide selection of Gambling Games and a 14,000% Welcome Package
BetNow: Get Cashback on Your Losses
Bovada: Lighting Fast Payments
MyBookie: Bigger Bonuses with Bitcoin
Everygame: Big Selection of Video Poker
Wild Casino: Best for Blackjack
BetUS: Raffles and Referral Bonuses
io: Leading US Casino with a 400% Matched Deposit Bonus

Top Crypto Casino Sites in America Reviewed

Before you decide which online casino to use, knowing what you can expect from each of them is also helpful. In this section, we will help you understand what benefits and features the new US bitcoin casinos have included in our recommendation list. We have reviewed each casino in detail and included their pros and cons that could help you make a more reasonable decision.

BetOnline: Overall Best Bitcoin Casino

BetOnline faced some seriously stiff competition here. We’re still extremely confident, however, in making it our number one bitcoin casino of all. In short, BetOnline doesn’t just tick every important box, but does so in style.

For starters, the gaming selection is enormous. You can live dealer games, regular table games, video slots, video poker, and more here. The entire selection is also neatly organized into different categories, and many games are available to try out in demo mode. In addition to all that, there’s also a whole separate poker section, which is equally fantastic.

Naturally, BetOnline lets you use bitcoin for your deposits and gaming, plus ETH and LTC. It also offers exceptionally quick payouts on your winnings, plus multiple crypto-specific promos.

>>>Claim Your Bonuses Now<<<

BC.Game: Leading Crypto-Only Casino

Most of the other brands on this list are either evenly-split between traditional and crypto payment methods, or favor the former. BC.Game, however, is unapologetically a bitcoin-focused online casino. Cryptos are the clear priority here, and this shows in every aspect of the platform.

Since launching in 2017, BC.Game has gone from strength to strength. Nowadays it offers one of the most formidable bitcoin gaming selections around. Whether you’re looking for slots, live dealer games, crash games, or basically anything else you can think of, you’ll find it here. Not only that, but the games are housed within a faultlessly slick, modern, and user-friendly interface.

Add in some of the very biggest bitcoin bonuses around, plus a very good downloadable casino app, and you’ll soon see there’s plenty to like here.

Though BC.Game accepts only crypto payments; many cryptocurrencies are available for quick deposits and withdrawals, along with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Tron, Solana, and many other popular cryptos, BC.Game also supports payments with its native token called BCD or BC Dollar.

>>>Claim Your Bonuses Now<<<

Las Atlantis – A wide selection of Gambling Games and a 14,000% Welcome Package

Las Atlantis has already gained recognition among US players as a newly opened online casino. What we enjoyed most about this platform is its bonus program, which grants welcome bonuses, free spins, and special bonuses when you make deposits through Neosurf and cryptocurrencies. It is, therefore, among the best Bitcoin casino sites.

The selection of games provided by this platform includes slots, poker, table, blackjack, and specialty games. There is also a section where the most popular games are showcased: Achilles, Ancient Gods, IZombie, Caesar’s Empire, and a few others that Real Time Gaming and Visionary iGaming provide that stand out with their rewarding and entertaining slots.

You will find three bonuses at Las Atlantis casino – welcome package bonuses, free spins, and special ones. The first one rewards $2,800 for slots and cards and is valid 5 times. The free spins bonus grants you 110 free spins on the game Spins and Masks of Atlantis. Eventually, a Special bonus grants you up to $1,650 with a minimum deposit running from $10 to $150.

Las Atlantis has an excellent customer support team that will answer your questions 24/7 through live chat and email. This ensures you get quality help whenever you encounter a problem on its platform.

You can use Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, and Litecoin as cryptocurrency options to make deposits on the platform. However, withdrawal in cryptocurrencies can take up to 3 days. Traditional payment methods include Visa, Mastercard, and vouchers such as Neosurf and Flexepin.

>>>Claim Your Bonuses Now<<<

BetNow: Get Cashback On Your Losses

Despite launching quite a while ago now, back in 2007, BetNow continues to fly under the radar compared to some of the other, better-known brands on this list. We find that curious, with this being both one of the best online casinos in general, and certainly one of the top US bitcoin casinos.

In fairness, the site doesn’t look too appealing. Scratch beneath the surface though, and you’ll find an extremely well-rounded bitcoin casino waiting for you. All your favorite game types are in place, including live and RNG-based table games, video slots, keno, and more. The platform might lack visually, but it’s actually very easy to use when playing all those games. You can also play using not only bitcoin, buy bitcoin cash too.

Another area in which BetNow impresses is in its special offers. In addition to an excellent sign up bonus, you’ll find a refer-a-friend scheme, reload bonus, and more. Perhaps most appealing of all is the casino rebate deal, which refunds up to 10% of your losses, ready to be used again another day.

>>>Claim Your Bonuses Now<<<

Bovada: Great Poker Selection

Bovada is easily one of the most prestigious and best-known bitcoin casinos around. It has been operating for well over a decade now, and has spread its operations not only across the US, but further afield too. In short, this is a safe, respected, and legitimate betting brand.

Naturally, it also happens to be one of the best bitcoin casinos around. Things get off to a great kick start, thanks to the massive bitcoin-friendly welcome offer. Armed with your bonus, you can then tackle the hundreds upon hundreds of games available to try out here. These are split neatly into regular and live dealer titles, with both sections being packed to bursting.

Where Bovada arguably most excels, however, is in its poker section. If you’re a fan of online poker, you’ll find everything you need here, including regular tournaments, all the most popular variants supported, and more.

>>>Claim Your Bonuses Now<<<

MyBookie – 50 Free Spins + Many Benefits for VIP Members

MyBookie is a good choice for enthusiasts of online sportsbooks betting, casino games, and live casino. Apart from its usual services, you can also become a VIP member and get one of three tiers – Heart, Club, or Diamond. This will provide you with many benefits, including VIP support, monthly cashback, free access to VIP contests, speedy payouts, a VIP account manager, and many more.

Check out the casino section on the MyBookie website to find the most entertaining slots, blackjacks, social games, live casino games, and table games supported by the casino. The featured games on MyBookie include Buffalo Riches, Mr. Vegas, Kense Blades, Egypt Story, Western Riches, and over 100 other games.

The platform offers 3 bonuses, 2 of which are casino bonuses. There is a 10% cash bonus of up to $200 and a 150% casino bonus of up to $750. The casino also offers a 200$ referral bonus and a 50% sports welcome bonus. The free spin bonuses include Wednesday free spins, which grants 50 free spins with a minimum deposit of $50, and the Weekend bonus, which gives a 200% casino bonus up to $500 with a minimum deposit of $100.

If you are a registered user on the platform, you will have no problem contacting MyBookie’s support team. The professionals are ready to answer your questions through a 24/7 live chat and email option.

This casino supports traditional patent methods such as Visa and MasterCard but offers limited banking options. Crypto users can transact in popular cryptos such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other altcoins, including Solana, Dogecoin, and Cardano

>>>Claim Your Bonuses Now<<<

EveryGame – 125% Welcome Match Bonus and a $5555 Welcome Package

And the final pick on our recommendation list is EveryGame which is a good choice for its massive number of slots and jackpot games. The platform is also famous for its low deposits, medium wagering requirements, and bonus rewards with up to $5,555 welcome package.

There are 200 different slots displayed on EveryGame’s slots section from the leading providers in the market, such as BetSoft, Nucleus, and Real Time Gaming which will provide an entertaining and rewarding experience on the platform. Other sections include roulette, blackjack, and video poker. The platform has a few specialty games, keno, and Caribbean games.

Apart from 2 types of welcome packages, EveryGame offers many other exciting promotions and bonuses. Some of these bonuses have deadlines, while others are permanent. Weekly bonuses for mobile players grant 20 players from $20-$100 each Wednesday. The loyalty pays-off program rewards you $1 for each 100 COMP points you get playing the casino.

The casino provides 4 different email addresses to contact the support team and solve your problems. Another way to reach out to its customer support is through an online 24/7 chat where you can quickly get your answers.

The platform’s banking is versatile, with many payment options, including fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies. Traditional banking options supported by EveryGame are bank cards, e-wallets, and vouchers

>>>Claim Your Bonuses Now<<<

How We Rank the Best Bitcoin Casinos in the USA

Our aim with this page is to highlight what we see as the best Bitcoin casino sites. But here’s the deal: we know it’s not a “one-size-fits-all” kind of thing. So, we’ve made sure to lay out the criteria we use to rate each Bitcoin casino. This way, you can do your own assessment before you make your final choice.

Bonuses

Welcome bonuses are a common sight in the world of casinos, but here’s a little secret – you can often score some juicier bonuses by going the Bitcoin route for your deposits.

Rest assured, we’ve done the legwork to confirm that the casinos we’ve reviewed in this article really do deliver those superior bonuses for Bitcoin deposits. That’s a key factor in their eligibility for our rankings.

Bitcoin Casino Games

Typically, your run-of-the-mill crypto casino will serve up a menu of 300+ Bitcoin casino games. But here’s the catch – quantity doesn’t always equal quality. Even if a casino falls short of this number, we take a closer look at their software providers before giving them a thumbs up or down.

Security & Trust

We want to make it crystal clear that we haven’t included any crypto casinos in our rankings if they don’t hold an active license. Ensuring that all websites are properly encrypted is also a firm requirement on our checklist. These factors are non-negotiable because we take the safety and security of our readers seriously.

Trust is paramount for us as well. It’s hard to overlook the fact that Everygame has been in the game for over 25 years. That kind of longevity speaks volumes about their trustworthiness and reliability, and we believe it’s a significant factor in our evaluations.

Payment Options

When you’re scouting for a solid crypto casino, what you really want are ample payment options, swift processing, and minimal fees. Now, most crypto casinos will throw in the standard payment methods, but if you’re looking to quicken your transactions and dodge those fees, your best bet is going the crypto route.

We’ve double-checked that our chosen crypto casinos are on board with all the major transactional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Coin, and Tether. If they’ve got these covered, chances are they’ll have a wider range of options at your disposal too.

Take our number one pick, BC.Game, for instance. They let you deposit using 12 different cryptocurrencies, spanning from the tried-and-true big names to the altcoins.

The Best US Bitcoin Casino 2024

Our number one pick for the best Bitcoin casino in the USA in 2024 is BetOnline. With an impressive game library of over 6,000 titles, secure and lightning-fast cryptocurrency payments, and generous bonuses for both new and returning players, it stands out.

Another great thing about BetOnline is the number of exciting features and benefits- it welcomes multiple payment methods, from traditional ones, such as bank transfers, e-wallets, and credit cards, to cryptocurrencies.

BetOnline also offers a hassle-free sign-up process with no KYC requirements and holds a valid license from the Curaçao Gaming Control Board, ensuring a reliable and private gaming experience.

FAQs

What is the best new US online casino as of 2024?

Based on our research, we consider BetOnline the best new US Bitcoin online casino as of 2024. It has a number of benefits to offer users: it accepts payments in cryptocurrencies, offers a good selection of games, rewards bonuses, and free spins, which differ depending on the amount of your deposits.

What is the best payout online casino in the US?

We can’t precisely say which casino has the most payouts, but BC.Game is among the best casinos in terms of fast payouts. Its payout time is up to 1-hour with crypto and up to two business days with fiat currencies.

Which online casino in the US has the biggest welcome bonus?

Almost all the new casinos included in our list offer huge match and referral bonuses. BetOnline offers a 200% match bonus and 50 free spins. BetUS offers up to a 300% welcome match bonus. BC.Game is another new casino offering a huge bonus: its matched deposit bonus is 200% of up to $10,000 deposit.

Bayo Ogunlesi: From Sagamu To The Pinnacle of Global Finance

By

Ndubuisi Ekekwe

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January 12, 2024

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He is peerless and one of the world’s finest in investment banking, private equity (PE) and infrastructure financing. Born in Sagamu, Bayo Ogunlesi rose to the pinnacle of global finance at a really fast pace, making and crystalling deals, which have seen his private equity firm, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), to become one of the most important PEs in this century.

Now, he wants to take some cash: “BlackRock Inc., the world’s largest money manager, has announced its ambitious acquisition of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) for a staggering $12.5 billion, per Bloomberg.”

The GIP acquisition aligns seamlessly with the vision of BlackRock’s CEO, Larry Fink, who aims to position the firm as a major player in the swiftly expanding market for private and alternative assets. With this move, BlackRock is set to enter the top echelons of investors specializing in long-term bets on energy, transportation, and digital infrastructure.

The third-quarter closure of the deal will see 70 year-old Adebayo Ogunlesi, GIP’s esteemed Chairman and CEO and a former executive at Credit Suisse, joining BlackRock’s board and global executive committee. Ogunlesi, currently serving as Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s lead director, brings a wealth of experience and strategic insight to BlackRock’s leadership.

Congrats Mr. Ogunlesi. You have demonstrated the greatness of America, that a Sagamu kid can come here, and within years, build an empire. We #salute because you inspire. You push us to think more of our character and capabilities over our color, because you have shown that excellence has dates in the palace of greatness.

BlackRock Acquires Adebayo Ogunlesi’s Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) in $12.5 Billion Mega Deal

BlackRock Acquires Adebayo Ogunlesi’s Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) in $12.5 Billion Mega Deal

By

Samuel Nwite

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January 12, 2024

0

BlackRock Inc., the world’s largest money manager, has announced its ambitious acquisition of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) for a staggering $12.5 billion, per Bloomberg.

The deal involves a substantial $3 billion in cash and approximately 12 million shares, valued at around $9.5 billion based on Thursday’s closing prices. This landmark acquisition is poised to reshape the financial industry, marking BlackRock’s most significant deal since the acquisition of Barclays Global Investors in 2009.

The GIP acquisition aligns seamlessly with the vision of BlackRock’s CEO, Larry Fink, who aims to position the firm as a major player in the swiftly expanding market for private and alternative assets. With this move, BlackRock is set to enter the top echelons of investors specializing in long-term bets on energy, transportation, and digital infrastructure.

The third-quarter closure of the deal will see 70 year-old Adebayo Ogunlesi, GIP’s esteemed Chairman and CEO and a former executive at Credit Suisse, joining BlackRock’s board and global executive committee. Ogunlesi, currently serving as Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s lead director, brings a wealth of experience and strategic insight to BlackRock’s leadership.

Ogunlesi founded the firm in 2006 with support from General Electric Co. and Credit Suisse. The portfolio companies associated with Ogunlesi’s firm boast a collective annual revenue surpassing $80 billion, as indicated on its website.

The market response to the announcement was reflected in a slight dip in BlackRock’s shares during early New York trading. However, both Fink and BlackRock President Rob Kapito expressed confidence in the strategic importance of the acquisition. In a memo to employees, they emphasized the unprecedented need for new infrastructure in digital development, logistics enhancement, and efforts toward decarbonization and energy security.

“The unprecedented need for new infrastructure – for digital infrastructure, for upgraded logistics hubs, and for decarbonization and energy security – coupled with record high government deficits means that private capital will be needed like never before. This will be one of the fastest-growing areas of our industry over the next 10 years,” stated Fink and Kapito.

This acquisition marks a pivotal shift for BlackRock, moving away from its traditional focus on index-based investing toward becoming a major player in illiquid funds supporting complex and substantial projects. BlackRock’s assets in illiquid alternatives have shown an impressive 65% increase over the three years leading up to September 2023.

Combining GIP’s extensive $100 billion in assets with BlackRock’s existing infrastructure assets of approximately $50 billion will create a formidable unit, rivaling industry giants like Macquarie Asset Management and Brookfield Asset Management. BlackRock’s involvement in substantial infrastructure investments worldwide, including pipelines in the Middle East, a carbon-capture project in Texas, and a fiber network venture with AT&T Inc., further solidifies its position in this space.

While alternatives currently constitute around 3% of BlackRock’s assets under management, they contribute a significant 10% of the firm’s fees. BlackRock is strategically positioning itself as a comprehensive solution for a broad range of investment options, responding to the growing demand for alternative assets from institutional clients such as pensions, endowments, and sovereign wealth funds.

The infrastructure investments sector has become increasingly lucrative, with McKinsey projecting a substantial $15 trillion spending gap on global infrastructure through the end of the decade. Despite recent declines in other private investment products, infrastructure investments have demonstrated resilience, experiencing increased fundraising in 2022 while private equity and real estate faced setbacks.

Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a prominent player in the infrastructure investment space, holds stakes in some of the busiest airports globally, including London’s Gatwick. The firm’s diversified portfolio contributes to a combined annual revenue surpassing $80 billion. In 2019, GIP set a then-record by raising an impressive $22 billion for its flagship fund, Global Infrastructure Partners IV, and is actively raising a fifth fund.

As part of the acquisition, five of GIP’s founding partners will join BlackRock, bringing valuable expertise and industry knowledge. Approximately 30% of the shares involved in the deal will be deferred for about five years. To cover the cash portion of the acquisition, BlackRock has disclosed plans to issue debt. The completion of the deal was advised by Perella Weinberg Partners for BlackRock, with Evercore Inc. serving as the lead adviser for GIP.

The success of this acquisition could mark a new era for BlackRock and set the tone for the financial industry’s future ventures into alternative and private asset investments.

Pan African Eyecare Company Lapaire Raises $3 Million to Expand Across Africa

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Supreme Court Upholds the Elections of Abia, Lagos, Kano and other States’ Governors

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Best Bitcoin Casinos USA in 2024

Best Bitcoin Casinos In 2024 (Updated)