Four matches to watch this weekend

Man. Utd v Tottenham @Old Trafford@12:30pm on Oct 28

Manchester United is the second team after Liverpool, against whom Spurs have not had the rub of the green in recent times, but those times may be changing. In recent time, this might just be the first time Spurs travel to Old Trafford as favourites because they have won all four away matches this season, scoring 12 goals and conceding just two. United meanwhile have won all four home matches, scoring 14 and conceding none. Jose Mourinho, despite the 2-0 win over Swansea in the Carabao Cup, is under pressure, especially from the fans for what they see as the negativity in team tactics. Against Spurs, United have to play on the front foot but how scarier can Old Trafford be compared to the Santiago Bernabeu, where Spurs fought Real Madrid to a draw?

Current Form: Man. Utd [W-L-W-D-W-W]; Tottenham [L-W-D-W-W-W]

Head to head

Sun    14/05/17     PRL    Tottenham    2 – 1 Man. Utd

Sun    11/12/16     PRL    Man. Utd     1 – 0  Tottenham

Sun    10/04/16     PRL    Tottenham    3 – 0 Man. Utd

Sat    08/08/15     PRL    Man. Utd      1 – 0  Tottenham

Sun    15/03/15     PRL    Man. Utd      3 – 0  Tottenham

Prediction: Man. Utd 1-2 Tottenham

Bayern v RB Leipzig @Allianz Arena@5:30pm on Oct 28

The war of attrition continues as Bayern host Leipzig, three days after their penalty win at the Red Bull Arena. Leipzig believe they were hard done by the referee, Felix Zwayer, who chose to send off Naby Keita, for a pull on Robert Lewandowski. Keita will be back for this one and expect another brutal contest with Arturo Vidal in the middle of the pitch. The goal Bayern conceded on Wednesday was the first they have conceded under returnee manager, Jupp Heynckes. As it was on Wednesday, Leipzig will press very high up the pitch, putting Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng under constant pressure while Bayern will try to break in through the flanks with the new captain, Arjen Robben, and Kingsley Coman. Do not miss this one!

Current Form: Bayern [W-W-W-W-D-L]; Leipzig [L-W-W-W-W-L]

Head to head

Wed   25/10/17      DFB   RB Leipzig    1 – 1P Bayern

Sat    13/05/17     BUN  RB Leipzig    4 – 5  Bayern

Wed   21/12/16      BUN  Bayern         3 – 0  RB Leipzig

Prediction: Bayern 3-1 Leipzig

AC Milan v Juventus @San Siro @5pm on Oct 28

Similar score lines in midweek, AC Milan and Juventus cannot afford to drop points with the way Napoli and to a lesser extent, Inter Milan, are going about collecting points. A 4-1 away to Chievo must have lifted spirits in Milan as Juventus, with Paulo Dybala in superb form, also put SPAL to the sword with a 4-1 spanking. Milan manager, Vincenzo Montella, will be without two of his more influential players; Leonardo Bonucci is unavailable to face his former team because of the red card received against Genoa while Giacomo Bonaventura is out through injury. The ‘Old Lady’ also have their own injury problems with Max Allegri losing Blaise Matuidi, Medhi Benatia, and Stefano Sturaro, for Saturday’s encounter.

Current Form: AC Milan [W-D-D-L-L-W]; Juventus [W-W-W-L-D-W]

Head to head

Fri     10/03/17      SEA   Juventus      2 – 1  AC Milan

Wed   25/01/17      COI   Juventus      2 – 1  AC Milan

Fri     23/12/16      SUC   Juventus      1 – 1   AC Milan

Sat    22/10/16       SEA   AC Milan      1 – 0   Juventus

Sat    21/05/16       COI   AC Milan     0 – 1   Juventus

Prediction: Milan 1-2 Juventus

Atletico v Villarreal @WandaMetropolitano @5:30pm on Oct 28

The resolute defending by a Diego Simeone-led side is almost back and for the visit of the Yellow Submarine on Saturday, Diego Godin and his fellow defenders need to be at their sharpest. Villarreal are just coming into form, spurred by the goals of Cedric Bakambu even though they lost 1-0 to Ponferradina last Wednesday in the Copa del Rey. Meanwhile, Atletico were held 1-1 by Elche, a third division side. This match should be won by the odd goal.

Current Form: Atletico [W-D-D-D-L]; Villarreal [W-D-W-W-D]

Head to head

Tue    25/04/17     PRD    Atletico       0 – 1  Villarreal

Mon    12/12/16     PRD    Villarreal     3 – 0  Atletico

Sun    21/02/16     PRD    Atletico       0 – 0  Villarreal

Sat    26/09/15     PRD    Villarreal     1 – 0  Atletico

Wed   29/04/15     PRD    Villarreal     0 – 1  Atletico

Prediction: Atletico 2-1 Villarreal

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How Boko Haram killed 15 Nigerian soldiers in two attacks

More details have emerged of the daring Boko Haram attack on a military base near Damaturu, the Yobe State capital on Tuesday.

NEWS reported the attack on the base in Sasawa village, near the Yobe State capital.

Although the army is yet to provide details of the attack, a spokesperson confirmed it on Tuesday.

“Yes, there was an attack and we repelled it,” Kayode Ogunsanya, a colonel, and spokesman of 3-Division Jos, said, adding that “there were casualties on both sides.”

Efforts to get Mr. Ogunsanya to provide more details on Friday were unsuccessful. He did not return calls or respond to text messages.

The Commissioner of Police in Yobe State, Abdulmaliki Sumonu, also confirmed to journalists that the village was attacked on Tuesday night.

“The attack happened on Tuesday night; we are still working on the details,” Mr. Sumonu said on Wednesday.

Top military insiders have now told NEWS that at least one officer and 10 soldiers were killed in the attack.

Seven other soldiers who were also part of the attacked troops are still unaccounted for, our sources said.

We have details of the officer, a lieutenant, who died in the unfortunate incident but this newspaper is concealing his identity as we are not sure his family has been appropriately informed of the development.

A large cache of arms including two gun trucks, communication radios and small arms were also carted away by the Boko Haram fighters.

“Large quantity of foodstuff were also carted away by the Boko Haram,” an official said.

Boko Haram has in the past weeks amassed large quantity of arms after attacks on military formations or during ambushes on troops, our sources said.

One source, a top military officer, was worried that the captured ammunitions are those the insurgents will use in carrying out further attacks on troops.

“Sadly, the Boko Haram has amassed large quantity of arms, ammo and high calibre weapons from the army within one week”, the source said.

“These same equipment would be used against own soldiers and civilians. They brutally attacked the soldiers and escaped neatly into their hideouts.”

However, while the Sasawa attack is the most recent, military sources told NEWS it was the second such attack within one week on soldiers fighting the Boko Haram in the North-East.

On October 18, at about 12 noon, members of the terror group attacked an army convoy led by the Commanding Officer of 81 Battalion, a lieutenant colonel (name withheld), along the Damboa-Maiduguri road.

The soldiers were said to be on their way to Maiduguri from their base in Bulabulin.

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NGO Celebrates Nigerian Girl Child On International Day

Considering the obstacles- cultural, social, religious and institutional- stacked against the Nigerian girl child, a non governmental organization, Child Love and Protection Advocacy Initiative(CLAPAI), has celebrated the girl child during the World girl child celebration recently.

To mark the occasion, which is held every October 11, CLAPAI organized a programme dubbed ‘Project Pad a Girl for Free’.  Mrs Kyenpiya Nyaban, founder and chief executive officer of the orphanage home, based in Jos, Plateau State, said the ideas behind the program was to give girls free sanitary pads for their menstruation periods so predating men would not take advantage of their inability to purchase such to exploit them.

The founder of the orphanage home, which is located in Zarazong Village in Jos East Local Government Council Area, said the event, which was a huge success according to her, would have been impossible but for MMM’s financial intervention. She used the occasion to call on public-spirited Nigerians and corporate bodies to extend their hands of fellowship to the orphanage.

The highlight of the event was the reading of a poem entitled ‘A Girl with a Book’,whose central theme is that an educated girl child is ambitious, inquisitive, outspoken and proud of her sexuality, and therefore, cannot be intimidated, abused or sexually exploited.

Elated by the event and the free sanitary pads given to her, Jessica Gomut, thanked the orphanage and its funding partner, MMM, for the timely intervention, saying “ I won’t be buying pads anytime soon. That means I am going to save some money which will be used for something else. I am grateful to CLAPAI.”

Over 500 girls benefitted from the free pad donation by the orphanage which was funded by MMM, an online non-investment, not-for-profit community where participants freely provide financial assistance and also receive, with their spare money without any expectation of any profit whatsoever.

In recent times, the scheme has been providing assistance to the less-privileged in the society such as people sacked from their homes by flood, internally displaced persons living in various camps across the country, provision of educational materials to pupils e.t.c.

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Search continues for Russian helicopter missing in Arctic

Emergency services on Friday continued to search for a Russian helicopter that went down with eight people on board off the coast of Norway’s Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic, Norwegian rescue crews said.

Norwegian authorities said Russia would join the search, calling it “a race against time” to find any survivors as chances dwindled with the cold temperatures.

Temperatures in the region hover around 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) this time of year and searches become more difficult because of the twilight that lasts much of the day

Russia said it was sending a transport plane with personnel and supplies, which is due to arrive in the afternoon.

Since Thursday, a sea patrol plane, a Danish aircraft, two Norwegian helicopters and several vessels have been searching the area.

A small robot submarine was deployed overnight to investigate an area where an oil patch and bubbles were observed, but “it hasn’t yielded any results yet,” the head of the rescue operation Tore Hongset said.

Rescuers asked for a second, more suitable, robot from the Norwegian army to be deployed.

The aircraft, a Russian Mil Mi-8, went down in the afternoon two or three kilometres from Barentsburg, a Russian mining community in the archipelago.

Its eight occupants, five crew and three scientists, were all Russian nationals.

“The chances of finding people alive fade considerably over time,” Hongset said.

“But we’re continuing. This morning, we’re maintaining our search for possible survivors, who could be on a floating object such as a survival raft.”

Norway was afforded sovereignty of Svalbard, located around 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the North Pole, under the 1920 Treaty of Paris.

Nationals of all signatory states enjoy “equal liberty of access and entry” to Svalbard and its waters.

As a result, Russia operates a coal mine in Barentsburg, a community home to several hundred Russian and Ukrainian miners.

In 2008, another Mil Mi-8 crashed near Barentsburg, killing three of its nine occupants. Yet another crash near Pyramiden of the same type of helicopter left two dead in 1991.

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2019: It’s not optional, Buhari must run, says support group

The Buhari Support Group (BSG), an amalgamation of about 189 different support groups that worked for President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress (APC), has said the president has no option than to contest the 2019 elections.

The leader of the group, Abu Ibrahim and Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, who were in the Presidential Villa to meet with Buhari, to intimate him of the activities of the group, said they believe in his philosophy.

Ibrahim said though the issue of 2019 did not come up at the meeting, the group believes Buhari can ensure the progress, stability and prosperity of the nation.”

He said, “Well, we came here as members of the national committee of the BSG. This is an amalgamation of about 189 support groups that had worked for Buhari and the APC to win the 2015 elections. We have been holding meetings, discussing the problems of this country. So, we thought it was high time we met with the president to intimate him of the activities of the group.

“We discussed with him about the plans to improve the situation in Nigeria. Mr President was very pleased with our programmes.”

Asked if the group was trying to convince him to contest the 2019 presidential election, Ibrahim said, “Well, that didn’t come up actually. We only discussed the programmes of the organization and problems of the group. But we didn’t go into the 2019 elections.”

Asked if the group is going to encourage him to, Ibrahim said, “Yes. Because l believe in his philosophy and l believe he can solve the problems of this nation. He can ensure the progress, stability and prosperity of this nation.”

Lawan, on his part said it is not enough to help a party win election but also to support the government of the day to succeed.

“You know it is not enough to help in elections like most of us did. It is important that we continue to support the president and his administration across the nation as a group, this is what we will continue to do. We will continue to identify with and support all the programmes that this administration has set forward. And l believe that we have every justification to be happy because, the president campaigned on three major pillars of anti- corruption, fighting the insecurity in the country and revitalizing the economy. It has been a very good journey so far and also we believe that Mr. President and Nigerians have a future beyond 2019. What he has started, by the grace of God, he should be able to complete, up to 2023.”

Asked the areas Buhari could improve upon ahead of 2019, Lawan said, “Well, we have issues we think that the administration will be dealing with very successfully, now that we have economic recovery and growth plan which encapsulates everything we need to move Nigeria forward.

Now that Nigerians have continued to show love for Mr. President, l believe that we are going to achieve those things that we set for ourselves at the moment. I also believe that the future is bright and by the grace of God, by 2019, we would have achieved so much in this administration and Mr. President will have no option but to continue the good work he has started.”

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Malabu Oil Deal: Finally, FG Recovers $85m from UK

Concludes arrangement with Switzerland for return of $321m Abacha Loot

Tobi Soniyi in Lagos, Adedayo Akinwale and Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, Thursday said Nigeria had recovered $85 million from the Malabu Restrained Funds in the United Kingdom.

Malami spoke in Abuja at the Pre-Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) and Consultative meeting with the theme: ‘Building an Enduring Framework for Asset Recovery in Nigeria,’ preparatory to GFAR slated for December in Washington DC where he also said the federal government had concluded negotiations with the government of Switzerland for the return of $320 million recovered from the family of former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

The $85 million was seized at the request of Italian prosecutors who were also investigating the deal. The money was part of the OPL 245 largesse not yet distributed.In 2015, a British judge, Justice Edis of the Southwark Crown Court refused to release $85 million to Malabu, a company controlled by former Minister of Petroleum, Chief Dan Etete.

Etete approached the British court and asked that the money be returned to him having sensed that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was yet to find its feet on international legal matters.
But Justice Edis declared that he was not sure the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan acted in the interest of Nigeria when it approved the money to Malabu.

“I cannot simply assume that the federal government of Nigeria which was in power in 2011 and subsequently until 2015 rigorously defended the public interest of the people of Nigeria in all aspects,” he ruled.

The Jonathan administration controversially approved the transfer of $1.092 billion from Nigeria’s JP Morgan account in London to Nigerian accounts controlled by Malabu.

The former AGF, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, and the former Minister of State for Finance, Alhaji Yerima Ngama, signed the documents approving the transfer to Malabu.

But Malami said Thursday that the money had been released to Nigeria.
“I am also pleased to inform that Nigeria has just recovered the sum of $85 million from the Malabu Restrained Funds in the UK,” the AGF said.

He lamented that the recovery and repatriation of stolen wealth stashed abroad continued to be very tedious despite several bilateral and multilateral agreements entered into between Nigeria and other jurisdictions.
He noted that even when the provisions of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption oblige state parties to facilitate the return of stolen assets to victim states, countries including Nigeria are saddled with some challenges.

According to him, “My office has also put in place necessary machinery to hold bilateral talks with countries of interest during the Global Forum on Asset Recovery. These countries include the United Kingdom, Island of Jersey, Guernsey (and other UK Territories), United State of America, Canada, Switzerland, South Africa, Panama, United Arab Emirates, Northern Island and The Gambia.”

On monies looted by the late Gen. Sani Abacha, he said: “We have indeed concluded the negotiation with Switzerland on the return of $320 million recovered from the late Abacha family. I am pleased to inform that the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) were involved in the negotiation of the Memorandum of Understanding.

“Most importantly, the CSOs will be involved in monitoring the use of the funds. With the conclusion of the negotiation, parties hope to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the GFAR and repatriation will follow within weeks as agreed by the parties.”

Malami stressed that Nigeria was willing to support the transparent return of stolen assets, while also calling on the international community to improve on the procedure for faster return of our assets to enable us to meet the sustainable development goals.

He said his office has coordinated the preparations bringing on board all government agencies which mandates fall within the purview of asset recovery.

The minister of justice, therefore, used the forum to reiterate the need for the international community to ensure the implementation of the measures considered and adopted at the London Anti-Corruption Summit in May 2016 which includes: easing the legal technicalities and procedures associated with recovery and repatriation of stolen funds; reducing opportunities and incentives that enable stolen funds to be placed in banks, or laundered through property acquisition and investment in offshore locations, among others.

Meanwhile, the civil society organisations (CSOs), African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Social-Economic and Accountability Project (SERAP), and Open Government Partnership (OGP), have called on the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK) and Switzerland to ensure criminal convictions for foreign bribery and harbouring of developing countries’ looted assets.

The civil groups also said that tracing, tracking and repatriation of looted assets should be given accelerated attention and not bogged down with legal complications by harbouring countries as being experienced by Nigeria.
The Executive Director, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, said the US, UK and Switzerland should urgently repatriate all looted assets in their countries for the Nigerian government to finance development.

The Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Eric Mayor, said his government and the government of President Muhammadu Buhari were committed to fighting corruption, adding that the Swiss government changed her legislation in the last decades in order to avoid that stolen monies could be deposited in their banks.

He said Switzerland was the first country to give the looted money back to Nigeria, especially $722 million stolen by the Abacha family in 2005.

“The Swiss justice nevertheless continued its investigation and discovered that other assets were still around and froze hundreds of millions of naira deposited by the Abacha family in other banks, this time not in Switzerland but in Luxembourg,” Mayor noted.

Also, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, H.E Paul Arkwright, said the UK understood the frustration that delays and slow progress could bring in certain cases in the UK, but assured Nigerians that the UK government was doing everything it can to accelerate those processes within the rule of law.

“Because there is no shortcut when it comes to law, but we recognise the importance of managing some challenges and expectations. Clear, honest communication is vital in order to build the confidence and trust of citizens in the recovery process and indeed in the fight against corruption.

“The Proceeds of Crime bill here in Nigeria is expected to provide the legislative framework to ensure greater accountability and transparency around asset recovery. The UK is keen to see the swift passage of this bill and stands ready to support its implementation,” he added.

In a related development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Thursday failed to arraign Adoke, Etete and seven others before the Federal High Court in Abuja, over their alleged complicity in the controversial sale of Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245, otherwise known as Malabu oil.
The others who were not in court were Aliyu Abubakar, ENI SPA, Ralph Wetzels, Casula Roberto, Pujatti Stefeno, Burrafati Sebestiano and Malabu Oil and Gas Limited.

They were accused of conspiring and defrauding the federal government of $1.1 billion in a shady oil bloc deal.
Specifically, Adoke was accused of playing a major role in the alleged fraudulent deal that saw the transfer of ownership of Malabu Oil to two multinational oil companies, Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company and Nigeria Agip Exploration Ltd.

When the matter was called Thursday, the EFCC could not go ahead with the arraignment due to the absence of Adoke and Etete in court, forcing trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, to adjourn the trial till February 15, 2018.

Prosecuting counsel, Johnson Ojogbane, informed the court that the situation remained the same since the last adjourned date of June 16. He said: “My Lord, my situation has not improved since the last time I came to court.
“The process of getting the defendants to appear in court to face arraignment is very cumbersome, but it is ongoing.

“We are hoping that very soon the process will be concluded.”
He, however, pleaded for a further date to enable the federal government complete the process of ensuring that the defendants are in court for arraignment.

Responding, Justice Tsoho adjourned to February 15, 2018, for arraignment.
Thursday’s sitting would be the third failed attempt by the prosecution to arraign the defendants in court.
On April 3, 2017, the federal government had approached the court with a request for guidance on whether or not to issue an arrest warrant against Adoke.

The prosecution counsel stated that Adoke and some of the defendants are residing outside the shores of Nigeria, making the service of the writ of summons on them difficult.

Justice Tsoho pointed out that if Adoke had already been arraigned before the court and had attempted to evade trial, it would have been proper to issue a warrant of arrest.

“Once a person has been arraigned before a court and is attempting to escape, then it becomes necessary to issue a warrant of arrest, the judge said.

But in this case, the court stated that Adoke has not been arraigned, adding that the matter is still being investigated.

The matter was later adjourned to June 16, but again, the arraignment could not hold due to the absence of Adoke in court.

It was then adjourned to Thursday, yet the arraignment was stalled.
The charges are part of an international collaboration to ensure that all those who took part in the $1.1 billion OPL 245 scandal are brought to justice.

In a bid to get to the root of what transpired in the oil bloc scam, the federal government had in December 2016, filed a charge against Adoke, Etete, etc.

In March 2017, the federal government instituted another charge against Adoke and those involved in the OPL 245 Oil bloc deal.

In the charge filed in March 2017, count one stated that the accused persons conspired contrary to Section 26 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 to defraud the federal government of billions of naira.
The offence is punishable under Section 12 of the same Act.

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NYSC: Prospective corps members express frustration over 2017 Batch B Online Registration

Some prospective members of the 2017 Batch B National Youth Service Corps have expressed frustrations over access to the NYSC portal.

Some of the prospective members who went on twitter to express their frustrations, said that all efforts to complete or even begin their online registration were unsuccessful.

The NYSC had earlier announced today (Tuesday) as the commencement date for the 2017 Batch B online registration.

One of the tweets by the prospective members read: “The IT or software company that runs the NYSC portal needs to be fired”.

Another one read: “This NYSC thing is vexing me. Why must it be a struggle to do even the most mundane things? Why?”

Another one tweeted: “Everything in this country is like the kingdom of God. You must struggle violently. Just imagine NYSC that is suppose to come with ease”.

All efforts to reach the spokesperson for NYSC in the Federal Capital Territory, Abosede Aderibigbe, on the issue failed as she was not answering calls or replying messages to her phone.

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Fresh Bomb Blast Hits Maiduguri

A fresh blast, suspected to be from a vehicle loaded with explosives, has killed four and injured three people in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. 

The explosion occurred at about 7.10am in the Bulumkutu area just in front of Shehu Elkanemi College. According to a witness who spoke to Premium Times, “the vehicle exploded on traffic and there were two people inside the car.” 

He also clarified that the blast was from a popular commercial tricycle, Keke, which was riding behind a packed police patrol vehicle. The witness said it was likely that all occupants of the Keke and the police vehicle were dead.

A resident of the area, Mallam Sheriff, confirmed the incident. “Yes, we just heard a large explosion from the direction of the area and I can see many ambulances and military vehicles heading in the direction. God help us,”  he said. According to another witness, Abraham Mshelia, a tricycle attempted to ram into a vehicle that just came out of Borno Motor Garage, the biggest in the town. Mshelia, who claimed he was near the scene of the incident, said the tricyclist waited for the bus to come out from the garage, adding that immediately the bus drove out, the tricyclist sped after it but could not catch up before exploding few kilometer away. "I was at the motor park to board a vehicle when the explosion occurred. The park is near the SSS office and a tricycle was targeting a bus that just left the motor park but triggered off the explosion before the tricycle could get to bus. Four people including the bomber were killed,"  Mashelia said. Ibrahim Audu, who said he escaped death by a whisker, stated that he was in another tricycle just about 500 metres from the spot of the blast. "I saw three dead bodies being evacuated from the scene about 20 minutes after the arrival of emergency and rescue workers. Three other persons were assisted to the hospital,"  he said. 

Source: 9jafreezone.blogspot.com

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Breaking: Shock As Man Jumps Into Lagos Lagoon Via Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge

A yet-to-be identified man jumped into the Lagos lagoon from the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge on Friday, October 20.

​Officials of the ​Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Marine Police and other ​relevant agencies are at the scene​.​

Earlier in the year, a man jumped into a canal in the Festac area of Lagos State.

In another incident, a 58-year-old identified as Taiwo Titilayo Momoh, was rescued from jumping into Third Mainland Bridge.

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Connect rail to 36 state capitals, Buhari directs

‘We deserve less-crowded coaches, faster trains’

President Muhammadu Buhari has given the directive that all the 36 state capitals should be connected with rail in the ongoing railway projects.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr, Chibuike Amaechi, said this on Thursday at the meeting with the Chairman Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Sen. Shehu Sani.

The meeting also attended by the Ministers of Finance; Budget and National Planning; and Power, Works and Housing was in connection with President Buhari’s loan request of 5.5 billion dollars.

Amaechi said the central rail line project connecting several communities of northern and southern Nigeria would be completed in June, next year.

According to him, 17 coaches are expected to arrive in November and out of the number, 10 will be deployed to Abuja-Kaduna rail line while the remaining seven will be deployed to the Itakpe-Warri rail line.

Amaechi said that part of the money being requested now for approval by the senate was to execute the rail projects covering Kano-Kaduna, and Lagos-Ibadan networks.

Sani had earlier advised if Nigeria “must borrow, it must borrow responsibly”.

Sani said: “the committee has the mandate to examine the merits and otherwise of the current loan request of 5.5 billion dollars of the president.

“If we must bequeath to the future generation a pile of debt, it must be justified with commensurate infrastructural proof of the value of the debt.

“The payment plan of this debt will undoubtedly last the length of our lifetimes and possibly beyond.

“We must leave behind a legacy that will appease and answer the questions the next generation of Nigerians will ask,” Sani said.

Also providing insight into the loan request, the Director-General, Debt Management Office, Mrs Patience Oniha, explained that the loans have sustainable benefits that would live beyond the present generation of Nigerians.

“What we should take away is that we are going into projects whose benefits don’t go away.

“The roads don’t go away, the schools don’t go away, and the hospitals don’t go away but all that we need to do is to maintain them properly and that is the explanation I want to make on that,” she said.

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Peter Okoye releases first solo single ‘Cool It Down’

Following the breakup of Nigerian pop group, Psquare, Peter Okoye has officially become the first member of the defunct group to release a solo song and video. The song is a mid-tempo tune titled Cool it down.

The track was released under his own imprint PClassic Records while Patrick Elis shot the video.

The new single comes days after Peter, now known as Mr P, urged Psquare fans to get used to the fact that Psquare is no more.

Mixed reactions have trailed the release with fans urging the twin brothers to reunite and operate as Psquare.

Peter also signed a partnership deal with Empire; an American distribution company and record label based in San Francisco, California, USA.

Peter reportedly sent a termination letter to their lawyer, Festus Keyamo, demanding a termination of the partnership agreement between Psquare.

The music duo finally split in September after years of dominating the Nigerian music scene.

Watch below the video of his solo effort here.

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A blast of music in Anyigba, as Tuface, Timaya, others Rock University town

It was the turn of Anyigba last week, as telecommunications solutions provider, Globacom, staged its soar-away Glo Mega Music Nationwide Tour in the university community in Kogi State.

 

Held at the sports field of Kogi State University (KSU), Anyigba, the entire university community thronged the show in their numbers to experience the fun and entertainment, which are the hallmarks of the flagship musical show that was compered by star actresses, Juliet Ibrahim and Mercy Johnson-Okojie.

Dance hall master, Runtown, was in his elements with his amazing tracks including Kolabo, Fijo Gbowo, Emergency, Baby Answer, Bend Down Pause and Superwoman.Lady of songs, Omawumi Megbele, came with her full band to perform tracks from her repertoire of hits including Who I Go Ask, Kokoma Bonsue, Somori and As I dey. On her heels was another energetic female vocalist, Yemi Alade, who put up a pulsating stage performance with her talented band of choreographers. They performed Ferrari, Johnnie, Thank God among other tracks, which got the audience salivating for more.

Youthful Kiss Daniel came next with his monster Mama and No Be You track and others, turning the hall into a dancing arena where the crowd gyrated and moved to the pulsating beats. The last two acts of the afternoon were the Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa, Timaya, and arguably Nigeria’s greatest contemporary musician, 2Baba, who did a mélange of all his tracks from the beginning of his career till date. The two artistes proved their mettle with their superlative performances before finally drawing the curtain on the show to the delight of the excited audience.

 

Anka Samuel, a student of the university who attended the show, said, “no other company could have done this apart from Globacom, and it is a welcome development that Glo is coming to our school for the second time in three weeks.”

 

In the same vein, Okiemute Carolina also expressed satisfaction with the calibre of artistes, who performed at the show. According to her, ‘’Only Globacom has ever brought these big names in the music industry to this campus. This is why the student populace here will always patronise Globacom.”

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Neymar Fined 1.2 Million US Dollars Over Tax Case Delays

A Brazilian court has fined footballer Neymar $1.2 million for attempting to "obstruct the continuity" of a tax evasion case. The penalty applies to the Paris Saint-Germain player, his parents and three companies that manage his finances, according to the federal regional court, reports Xinhua news agency. Judge Carlos Muta said Neymar and his representatives acted in "bad faith" by using appeal processes to delay a final judgment.

Neymar's representatives were not immediately available for comment.

In 2015, a local court froze assets belonging to the Brazilian worth 192.7 million reais ($607.24 million) to ensure the payment of outstanding taxes and possible fines.

The 25-year-old is accused of evading 63.6 million reais ($20.04 million) in taxes from 2011 to 2013 by using front companies to hide the true value of his income.

Most of the amount relates to Neymar's controversial transfer to Barcelona from Santos in 2013.

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Untitled Avengers film

The untitled Avengers film is an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the Avengers, produced by Marvel Studiosand distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is intended to be the direct sequel to 2018's Avengers: Infinity War, as well as the sequel to 2012's Marvel's The Avengers and 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron and the twenty-second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, with a screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, and features an ensemble cast that includes Robert Downey, Jr., Josh Brolin, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Karen Gillan, Anthony Mackie, Tom Holland, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Paul Bettany, Scarlett Johansson, Jon Favreau, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sebastian Stan, Don Cheadle, Pom Klementieff, and Paul Rudd.

The film was announced in October 2014 as Avengers: Infinity War – Part 2. The Russo brothers came on board to direct in April 2015 and by May, Markus and McFeely signed on to script the film. In July 2016, Marvel removed the film's title, referring to it simply as Untitled Avengers film. Filming began in August 2017 at Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Fayette County, Georgia, shooting back-to-back with Avengers: Infinity War. Additional filming took place in the Downtown and Metro Atlanta areas, and Scotland. Filming is scheduled to last until July 2018.

The untitled Avengers film is scheduled to be released in the United States on May 3, 2019, in IMAX and 3D.

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Snoop Dogg looks so much like his dad! (photo)

This is Snoop Dogg and his dad. He took his dad's face. The dad is pictured below with Snoop's son...

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Gov. Ayade orders investigation after students were pictured packing refuse with their bare hands

The Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade has announced that it will commence investigation into the alleged ordering of students of Edgerley memorial girls secondary school in Calabar, by a Green Sheriff personnel to pack refuse after littering the street.

The Green Sheriff was created by the governor to tackle the challenges of environmental degradation, climate change and deforestation.

A statement issued on Thursday, by the spokesperson to Governor Ayade, Christian Ita, said the governor will investigate the matter in view to "identifying the officer involved and taking appropriate action"

The Special Assistant to Mr. Ayade on media and publicity, Emmanuel Ulayi posted the photos which shows a student packing refuse from the streets with her bare hands.

"Green Sheriff ensuring environmental sanity in Cross River State as the men of the sheriff this morning caught students of Edgerly memorial girls secondary school dumping refuse on the ground. They were taken to their school authority and seriously warned never to repeat the act again. This happened at Edgerly street." he wrote.

 The photos sparked outrage and condemnation from social media users, with many commenting on how unsafe it was.

"The attention of the Cross River State Governor Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade has been drawn to an incident involving an officer of the Green Sheriff asking a student of Edgerley Memorial Girls Secondary School Calabar to pack refuse which she dumped wrongly on the floor at a dump site when the dumpsters where yet not full," the statement reads.

“The state Governor regrets this over reach and lack of discretion of the officer and has directed the Director General of the agency to investigate the matter with a view to identifying the officer involved and taking appropriate action.

“While the State Governor appreciates the work that the Green Sheriff is doing in keeping the state clean and green, he will not tolerate actions that will increase risk of exposure of citizens to infections or other health challenges.

“In line with this, the agency is directed to step up guidance of Officers of the Green Sheriff on acceptable methods of enforcement of sanitation laws and ethical engagement of citizens.

“The Governor also encourages citizens to support government’s effort to keep the state clean by disposing off their waste appropriately and building the cleanliness culture which the state is known for.

“Once again, the governor wants to assure all citizens that it is committed to keeping the state clean and green but will do this in a civil manner that will respect rights of citizens and decency.”

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