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Mancini: Chelsea Are Clear Favourites

Mohammed Useni
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Mancini: Chelsea Are Clear Favourites

Ahead of Galatasary’s round of 16 Champions league encounter tomorrow against Chelsea of England, Roberto Mancini believes Chelsea has 70 percent chance of eliminating his Turkish side

The Italian who was formerly at Manchester City understands that Chelsea are favourites to go through but beieves his side must remain focused

“Everyone knows Chelsea are one of the best teams in Europe,”

“They won [the] Europa League last year and [the] Champions League two years ago. They are used to playing these games every year and we know it will be difficult.

“I think Chelsea are top of the Premier League because they are a top team, with good players who can change the game at any moment. I think they are 80% [likely] to go through in this game.

“It’s important we play well in this match because we want to play the return leg in London with some chance.”

 

Nigeria Versus Scotland Friendly Match Proposed For May

Mohammed Useni
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Nigeria Versus Scotland Friendly Match Proposed For May

The national team of Scotland have been offered the chance to play Nigeria in a friendly at Fulham’s Craven Cottage ground in May.

The proposed match would help Gordon Strachan’s preparations for the Euro 2016 qualifiers which begins in September.

Nigeria last met Scotland in 2002, a game the Super Eagles won 2-1 in Aberdeen.

Scotland has been drawn in the same European Championships qualifying group as Germany, Republic of Ireland, Poland, Georgia and Gibraltar.

Amaechi, Atiku & Others Will Not Return To PDP – Eze Chukwuemeka

Mohammed Useni
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Amaechi, Atiku & Others Will Not Return To PDP – Eze Chukwuemeka

Last Saturday in Owerri while addressing a PDP Grand Rally, President Goodluck Jonathan gave an ultimatum to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Governors Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) asking them to return to the People’s Democratic Party or risk losing their seniority in the ruling party

While reacting to the ultimatum, the spokesperson of the now defunct new PDP (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze has said there is no chance the defected members will return to the PDP

“With due respect, President Jonathan is simply playing to the gallery. For the avoidance of doubt, Atiku, Amaechi and the other patriots who left the sinking and undemocratic PDP have no intention of returning to the party, either now or in the future. They are happy in APC, so Mr.President can keep his seniority as Atiku and the rest do not need it. Only a mad fellow will run away from a sinking ship and run back to such a ship” 

Eze revealed that the members who decamped were never treated as Senior members of the PDP but they were rather humiliated:

“If we may ask, what seniority is President Jonathan talking about after having ensured that Atiku, a former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was never invited to any BoT and NEC meeting of PDP? Which seniority is he to lose having since been denied all his rights as enshrined in the Constitution of PDP? What type of seniority would Amaechi, Kwankwaso, Nyako, Wamakko and others be seeking in a political party that did everything humanly possible to humiliate them, even taking the state PDP structures from
them?”

He said the President’s ultimatum was meaningless and urged him to allow the politicians to continue with their rescue mission with their new party:

 “Having left PDP for good, Atiku, Amaechi and others are on a rescue mission to salvage our nation from the sorrowful state to which it has been subjected by the administration of President Jonathan. They should be allowed to concentrate on this divine mission  and not be disturbed with calls that do not make any meaning.”

Eze also criticized President Jonathan’s visit to Owerri visit at a time the country is experiencing crises in some Northern states

“Jonathan is going about receiving expired politicians back into the PDP without commissioning any projects. It simply demonstrates that this administration is bereft of ideas and vision on how to save this country from its present comatose state.”

Police Arrest A Dozen People Who Allegedly Tortured Ejigbo Market Women

Mohammed Useni
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Police Arrest A Dozen People Who Allegedly Tortured Ejigbo Market Women
The Nigerian Police Force through a statement by the Force Public relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba has revealed that a dozen people have been arrested in connection with the torture of three women at Oba Morufu International Market, Ejigbo, Lagos.
The victims two of whom were  young girls were arrested alongside their mother. Their abductor suspected to be members of  Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and some market association officials. Their torturers  also extorted the sum of fifty thousand naira from the father of the victims in return for their freedom.
Another victim, Juliana Agoma, a native of Republic of Benin, was taken to Cotonou by her father. She went on to die from injuries she suffered during the torture.
The suspects include: Saheed Adisa, Lateef Tijani, Ahmed Adisa, Oloruntoyin Dauda a.k.a Iya-Oja, Adenkule Adenuga, Jimoh Busari and Azeez Akinosun. Another of the suspect is Isiaka Waidi (the Baba-Oja of the market), he is said to be the mastermind of the whole incident. Others are Haruna Abdullahi and Buhari Yusuf who mixed the concoction of pepper and alcoholic spirit that were applied on the private parts of the victims and other parts of their bodies.
Earlier this year, the Inspector-General of Police, MD Abubakar had ordered that the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Force Criminal Investigation Department (Lagos Annex) take over the case from the Lagos State Police Command so as to ensure a quicker resolution and investigation.
Crack detectives led by DCP Chris Ezike swung into action and conducted investigations which has now led to the arrest of the suspects
The following suspects were declared wanted by the police:
‘Tiri, an alleged member of OPC who was captured in the video footage and alleged to have stripped naked one of the victims, Ajoke Agoma, mother of the two other female victims in the presence of her husband, Otepa Oluronti, Akeem and Machael Abolore whose whereabouts are yet unknown but who have been implicated in having played active roles in the heinous crimes against the victims.’
The IGP has also appreciated and commended the Human Rights, Civil Society, Women Support Groups, the Office of the Public Defender, Lagos State Ministry of Justice and everyone who assisted police in this case and other similar cases. The IGP also urged the public to assist the Police with information that will lead to the arrest of the suspects at large.

NCC Vows To Rid Nigeria Of Fake Cell Phones

Mohammed Useni
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NCC Vows To Rid Nigeria Of Fake Cell Phones

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said in Abuja on Tuesday that it would take necessary measures to protect the nation from being a dumping ground for fake cell phones.

The NCC Public Relations Officer, Mr Reuben Muoka, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Muoka said the commission was conscious of the health implications of fake cell phones on the populace.

He, therefore, said the commission would ensure that only certified phones and phone accessories found their way into the nation’s markets.

NCC was partnering with the Nigerian Customs Services (NCS) and the Phone and Allied Dealers Association of Nigeria (PADAN) to that effect.

“Checks have revealed that major dealers in the Nigeria ICT market also engaged in the sale of unapproved phones.

“The NCC condemns this in complete terms because of its health implication and effects in the quality of services delivery.

“Worried by the ugly trend, the regulatory authority in partnership with NCS and PADAN has organised a forum in Lagos to sensitise end users on the dangers of buying fake phones.

“We have warned phone dealers to secure an approval for any type of communication equipment before importing them to the country,’’ he said.

Muoka told NAN that the commission would penalise any dealer who sells or installs any communication facilities without obtaining approval from the NCC.

He said approval meant to ensure that all communication equipment complies with international standards before it could be used in the country.

NNPC GMD Denies Conniving With Swiss Firms To Defraud Nigeria

Mohammed Useni
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NNPC GMD Denies Conniving With Swiss Firms To Defraud Nigeria

NAN

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Tuesday debunked claims that the corporation connived with Swiss oil companies to defraud Nigeria.

Mr Andrew Yakubu, Group Managing Director of the corporation, made the denial at the investigative hearing on the alleged connivance of NNPC and Swiss oil companies to defraud Nigeria of billions of dollars.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the allegation was made by Berne Declaration, a Switzerland-based non-governmental advocacy group.

The group alleges that Nigeria loses billions of dollars every year from large volumes of crude oil exported from Nigeria below the international market price.

It specifically mentioned Vitol and Transfigura Commodity Trading Firms of Switzerland in the shady deal with the NNPC.

Testifying before the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Yakubu, however, said that the corporation’s pricing strategy was in line with international best practice in the oil industry.

“Our prices are based on a reference to the benchmark crude Brent which prices are published by Platts for the international community,” he said.

The NNPC boss said that the claim by Berne Declaration that Vitol and Trafigura oil companies accounted for over 36 per cent of total volume of crude oil disposed by the NNPC was false.

He said that contrary to the claim, Vitol and Trafigura accounted for only 30.7 million barrels out of the 341.07 million barrels disposed by the corporation in 2013.

“The lifting of Trafigura and Vitol in 2013 therefore represents nine per cent of the total lifting as against 36 per cent reported by Bernes Declaration,” Yakubu said.

He said that Nigerian traders collectively accounted for 98.2 million barrels during the period under review.

Yakubu told the committee that international traders, including Swiss trading companies, accounted for 61.2 million barrels, while off-shore and the Nigerian refineries took 36.2 and 38.3 million barrels, respectively.

He said that the selection of buyers of Nigerian crude was done transparently and competitively based on financial and technical capabilities.

Yakubu said that there had been significant increase in the number of Nigerian traders participating in the disposal of Nigerian crude.

He explained that the swap arrangement alleged by the Berne Declaration was a known practice in the oil industry

Yakubu said that the corporation delivered the international market value of crude to the federation on the basis of the general sales agreement and conditions.

He said that the NNPC Act mandated the corporation to supply petroleum products to the federation as supplier of last resort.

“In order to meet this obligation, 445, 000 barrels of crude is assigned to the corporation at international price for domestic refining,” he said.

The Chairman of the committee, Rep. Muraina Ajibola (PDP-Oyo), said that the committee would ensure that appropriate recommendations were submitted to the House.

Death Toll From Yobe Federal Government Girls College Massacre Rises To 43

Mohammed Useni
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Death Toll From Yobe Federal Government Girls College Massacre Rises To 43

KANO (AFP) – The death toll from a school massacre in Yobe by suspected Boko Haram Islamists on Tuesday has risen to 43, a hospital source in the troubled northeastern Yobe state said.

“Ambulances have been bringing in bodies from Federal Government College in (the town of Buni Yadi,” a senior medical source at the Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital in Yobe’s capital Damaturu told AFP. “So far 43 bodies have been brought and are lying at the morgue,” he said, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to discuss death tolls.

Yobe’s police chief Sanusi Rufai told AFP that 29 people were killed but it was not immediately clear if all of the dead were students.

Rufai said he was en route to Buni Yadi with Yobe’s covernor Ibrahim Geidam to assess the extent of the damage.

Yobe is one of three northeastern states which was placed under emergency rule in May last year when the military launced a massive operation to crush the Boko Haram uprising.

At least 40 students were killed in September at an agriculture training college in Yobe after Boko Haram gunmen stormed a series of dorms in the middle of the night and sprayed gunfire on sleeping students.

More than 1,000 people have been killed in the northeast since the emergency measures were imposed, despite the enhanced military presence.

Boko Haram, declared a terrorist organisation by Nigeria and the United States, has said it is fighting to create an Islamic state in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north.

Geidam and the governor of neighbouring Borno state, Kashim Shettima, have fiercely criticised the military’s record in combatting Boko Haram, insisting that more resources were needed to defeat the emboldened and increasingly well-armed insurgents.

In a video sent to AFP last week, Boko Haram’s purported leader, Abubakar Shekau, said he would continue his relentless campaign of violence on anyone who supports democracy or so-called Western values.

Shekau, declared a global terrorist by the United States, also threated to widen the insurgency outside the group’s northeastern stronghold with attacks in the oil-producing, southern Niger Delta region.

Nigeria is Africa’s top oil producer and an Islamist attack in the country’s key economic region would pile further pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan, who has faced scathing criticism over his handling of the Boko Haram crisis.

Ondo House Of Assembly Speaker Dies Of Cancer

Mohammed Useni
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Ondo House Of Assembly Speaker Dies Of Cancer

The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon Samuel Ajayi Adesina is dead.

Adesina, who was representing the Odigbo II Constituency in the Assembly died Tuesday during a protracted battle with cancer of urinary bladder.

The death of the late speaker was confirmed by the state government in a statement by signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Rotimi Adelola.
According to the SSG, the late speaker during his life time, was a bridge builder, a man of integrity and a reliable team player who placed the interest of the state above personal consideration.

He said the government received the news of the speaker’s death with rude shock and disbelief.

Okonjo-Iweala Pressure President Jonathan On Missing $20billion #WhereIsOurMoney

Mohammed Useni
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A statement by the Ministry of Finance according to made available to the BBC’s Robert Peston Reads…

“The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has asked for urgent action with regard to an independent forensic audit of conflicting claims of unaccounted funds made by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamdio Sanusi”.

And here is a direct statement from Dr Okonjo-Iweala, the finance minister:

“My position on this has been clear from the start. The Ministry of Finance’s reconciliation showed a shortfall of $10.8bn in NNPC remittances to the Federation account. After this, the conflicting claims continued with new figures such as $20bn being mentioned.

“So since 13th February I have called for an independent forensic audit.

“President Goodluck Jonathan indeed announced last night that there will be an investigation into whether there are any funds missing from NNPC. He also indicated that the correct process needs to be followed in this investigation and I understand that the entity that has the proper authority to initiate such an investigation is the Auditor-General of the federation.

“I therefore want to see the truth from an investigation under the auspices of the Auditor-General, which in my view should be undertaken as a matter of extreme urgency by independent external auditor.”

On the face of it, this looks like a declaration of at least semi independence by the finance minister from Nigeria’s president, who has been accused of punishing the central bank governor for raising concerns about the allegedly missing oil billions.

The reason I say that is because – I am reliably led to believe – the finance minister is concerned that Goodluck Jonathan, if left to his own devices, would not have initiated an independent probe of the allegedly missing billions.

Goodluck Jonathan suspended Nigeria’s central bank governor last week for “various acts of financial recklessness and misconduct”. The president has insisted that his decision to suspend the governor was taken “in absolute good faith, in the overall interests of the Nigerian economy and in accordance with our laws and due process”.

Governor Sanusi, whose international reputation is strong, had been criticising the government over oil subsidies and apparent shortfalls in oil revenues.

Pranking Gone Wrong!!! Watch BigMcOkon Pranking His Nigerian Dad

Mohammed Useni
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Pranking Gone Wrong!!! Watch BigMcOkon Pranking His Nigerian Dad

In this video, BigMcOkon – a regular Youtuber pranks his father.

This is very similar to and inspired by that of Lewisham Young Mayor a.k.a EmansBlogs who pranked his father by telling him his girlfriend was pregnant for him.

Check out this one from BigMcOkon and check out his father’s reaction.

*lips sealed*

Play

Inter Milan Target Summer Deal For Mikel

Mohammed Useni
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Inter Milan Target Summer Deal For Mikel

According to Italian Newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport Italian giants, Inter Milan are considering a move for Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel

The Nerazzurris will be restructuring their squad in the summer and it seems coach Walter Mazzarri is looking to sign a holding midfielder who would help the likes of Hernanes and Guarin work better as attacking midfielders.

Inter’s sporting director Piero Ausilio has scouted some high profile players for that role but it seems Nigerian, John Obi Mikel is number one on his list.

It is reported that John Obi Mikel wants to test his skills in a different league after seeing Serbian, Nemanja Matic go above him in the pecking order at Chelsea.

Mikel’s  Chelsea contract lasts till June 2017 and he is valued at €15 million, but his €4 million yearly wage might prove a stumbling block.

Shagari Urges Northern Leaders To Support Jonathan’s 2015 Ambition

Mohammed Useni
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Shagari Urges Northern Leaders To Support Jonathan’s 2015 Ambition

In an interview with THISDAY Newspaper in Sokoto, the State’s Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mukhtari Shehu Shagari asked Northern Leaders to pay the South South region for all their support over the years by re-electing President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

He revealed that the Niger Delta people help the North  during the first, second and third republics to form the federal government. He further stated that there was an existing political relationship between the people of the Niger Delta and the North. He urged northern leaders to help President Jonathan remain in power come 2015

“I don’t really want to talk about the northern elders because I don’t know for whom they are speaking. But all what I am trying to say is that nobody in the North can deny the fact that there was a political relationship between the people of the North and people of the South-south brought about by the late Sardauna, Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Shehu Shagari and Melford Okilo.

“And that relationship has helped the North many times because it helped the North to form the government in the first republic, it helped the North to form a government in the second republic. During the 1979 presidential election, the Niger Delta people gave more votes to Shagari than the people of Sokoto and in 1983, they supported us and we won the election.

“Even when the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua came, he was given an overwhelming support by the South-south and he won the 2007 elections. I am telling you the reality that nobody can deny such relationship. So, the North should reciprocate the gesture of South-south over the years because one good turn deserves another”.

Shagari believes it is the responsibility of the North to support Jonathan’s re-election bid next year just as he urged Nigerians to support Northern candidates in the future

 

“And now that their own (Jonathan) is there, if he decides to go for a second term, I think we have the duty to support him and after that, the possibility of a northerner becoming a presidential candidate under the PDP is there and then we will need their support. So, the relationship between the people of the North and South-south politically is a very strong pillar of unity in this country”.

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