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Showing posts from May, 2016

N100bn Pension Assets: EFCC probes ex-lawmaker, South African bizman

By Soni Daniel ABUJA —The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has launched a probe into the over N100 billion worth of pension assets being managed by First Guarantee Pension Limited, with a view to preventing undue stripping. Already, operatives of the commission have questioned a senior staff of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Chinyere Ekweonu, who stood surety for a former lawmaker, Chidi Duru, said to be on the run, a senior operative of the anti-graft agency said in Abuja, yesterday. The EFCC source said the former House of Representatives member and a South African, Mr. Derrick Roper, representing Novare Holding Limited’s interest, were being probed for diversion of millions of Naira of FGPL, a licensed pension administrator. The anti-graft agency specifically accused Duru of diversion of N16 million, being part of the equity contribution of Novare Holding, a South African firm, to another business and collection of N20.5 million as “executive allowance” without b

Burna Boy’s many controversies

By Kehinde Ajose Damini Ogulu a.k.a Burna Boy is known for his exceptional musical talent, aside that, he has over the years, created a reputation for himself as a controversy magnet. He has had diverse face-offs with bloggers, fellow artistes and fans. Burna Boy is currently involved in a fresh controversy for allegedly impregnating one Uju Stella. The lady accused him of impregnating her and not taking up his responsibility. In 2015, he threatened to cause physical harm to bloggers who, he claimed, were writing false stories about him. “‘These bloggers been writing shit thinking it’s a game until I see you all face to face one day and hospitalize or murk you.” In June 2015, he posed with a gun and posted the picture on Instagram. In the caption he wrote: “This is not a movie or music video. Trust me, daddy”. He got severely criticized for posting that picture .He later bowed to the pressures of his fans and deleted the picture. Early in 2015, he threatened Buffalo Soulja, a Zimbabw

We sleep with men, ‘Chair Lady’ collects the money — Calabar teenage sex workers

By Emma Una CALABAR — FOUR Teenage girls, who were tricked into prostitution in a notorious Calabar  brothel, Vegas Flex,  weekend recounted   how they   sleep  with more than 20 men daily and how their ‘Madam’ collects the money. The girls, Felicia Nzuworgar, 17; Patience Williams, 18; Angela Benjamin, 17 and Charity Nkwogor all from Okun Local Government Area of  Benue state said Abigail Aliyu whom they call “Chair Lady” took them from their homes in  Benue State in  January this year on the pretext that she was taking them to Lagos to work as sales girls in her drinking spot, but ended up as sex workers in the  brothel located at 26 Bedwell Street,  Calabar. One of the girls,  Felicia, told Vanguard, “the woman  told me that she has a beer parlour in Lagos and wanted me to work as sales girl there,  but when we got here she gave me  boxer shorts to wear and when I asked her where the drinking parlour is for me to  start working, she said  I should hustle like other girls  by sle

John Ogu and Tony Nwakaeme crowned Israeli league champions

The Nigerians helped the Camels end their 40-year wait for the Israeli topflight crown with victory against Bnei Sakhnin Nigeria’s John Ogu and Tony Nwakaeme have won the Israeli league title with Hapoel Be’er Sheva courtesy of their 3-1 victory versus Bnei Sakhin on Saturday. Goals from Maor Bar Buzaglo, Maor Melikson, Ben Sahar helped Barak Bakhar’s win the diadem for the first time since 1976 at the Turner Stadium. The Camels finished three points ahead of runners-up Maccabi Tel Aviv, with the Nigerians playing key roles as they will feature in next season’s Champions League. It has been a rewarding season for Ogu as he was also named the Best Foreign Player in the Israeli Premier League. The award, which is voted for by club captains and coaches, saw the Nigerian pick up 64.2 per cent of votes ahead of second-placed compatriot and Be’er Sheva teammate, Anthony Nwakaeme, who polled 21.6 per cent, while Nikita Rokabitzih finished third with 14 per cent of the votes. -

Jamie Vardy to miss England game for wedding

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy will miss England's friendly against Australia on Friday - because he is getting married just two days before. The 29-year-old postponed his wedding last year and then moved it from June so he could play at Euro 2016. England manager Roy Hodgson said Vardy "deserves" time off to get married. Vardy, who scored the winner as England beat Turkey 2-1 on Sunday, said: "The boss has given me Wednesday off but I'll be back training after that." Listen to the goals from England's win over Turkey. Hodgson added: "I don't think his place in the team or the squad at the moment is under enormous threat and we do have other players that we need to look at." Vardy, who scored 24 Premier League goals to help Leicester win the title, started the victory over Turkey at Etihad Stadium on the left of a front three. He later moved into the centre and scored the winner after Tottenham striker Harry Kane had giv

Plotting John Obi Mikel's future at Chelsea

John Terry may have signed a new contract, but could the Nigerian offer him some competition in the heart of the defence? Should Mikel remain at Chelsea—and rumours persist that he’s bound for the exit door—could he be a candidate to replace Terry's declining influence both on and off the pitch? With regards to his off-field influence, Mikel is the club’s longest-serving player behind Terry by some distance. He joined the Blues in 2006, and following the exits of stalwarts such as Frank Lampard and Petr Cech, is the last survivor of the club’s FA Cup-winning side of 2007. Indeed, only Gary Cahill remains—as well as Mikel—from the 14 players who featured in the Champions League final of 2012 when the west Londoners beat Bayern Munich on penalties to win the capital’s first-ever European Cup. Alongside Terry, Mikel is the last-standing lieutenant of Jose Mourinho’s first tenure at the club, and could well command significant dressing room authority, particularly in light

Olympian Michael Diamond 'drove drunk with shotgun'

Australian shooter Michael Diamond allegedly gave a blood-alcohol reading more than three times the legal limit after police arrested him with a shotgun and ammunition in his car. Police said Mr Diamond was involved in a domestic dispute prior to his arrest on Saturday night. The 44-year-old trap shooter won gold medals at the Atlanta and Sydney Olympic games. He has been charged with high-range drink driving and weapons offences. According to local media reports, Mr Diamond is alleged to have refused to undergo a road-side breath test after he was stopped by police north of Newcastle in New South Wales state. He later returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.159 at a police station. The blood-alcohol limit for drivers in Australia with a full licence is 0.05. Mr Diamond was granted bail to appear in court next month. The dispute was with his brother, who has taken out an apprehended violence order against him, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp. His place in the Aus

Diamond League: Semenya wins 800m at first African meet

South Africa's Caster Semenya won the 800m at the Diamond League meeting in Rabat, Morocco - the first to be held in Africa. Semenya, 25 - who underwent gender testing after winning gold at the 2009 World Championship - coasted home in one minute 56.64 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year. She is a clear favourite for gold in the event at Rio 2016, where she also plans to run the 400m. Britain's Lynsey Sharp finished fifth. Also representing Britain in Rabat, Dan Bramble jumped 8.00m to finish fourth in the men's long jump, while Robbie Grabarz cleared 2.25m and was fifth in the men's high jump. Rabah Yousif finished sixth for Britain in the men's 400m, posting a time of 45.90 seconds. - BBC NEWS

Barcelona completes the Spanish league and cup double

Ten-man Barcelona completed the Spanish league and cup double as two goals in extra time clinched the Copa del Rey. Luis Enrique's side claimed the trophy for the 28th time despite having Javier Mascherano sent off in the first half. Jordi Alba and Neymar scored for Barcelona, who can boast back-to-back doubles after winning La Liga. Sevilla had Ever Banega dismissed in stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes and Daniel Carrico at the end of extra time as they finished with nine men. Mascherano was given a straight red card in the 36th minute for dragging down Kevin Gameiro by his shirt as the Frenchman raced towards goal. Five minutes into the second half, Barcelona defender Gerard Pique produced a vital deflection to divert a long-range effort from Banega onto the post and, after an end-to-end second half, Banega was sent off in stoppage time for chopping down Neymar on the edge of the area. Barcelona broke the deadlock seven minutes into extra time when Alba sprin

Boko Haram: Suicide bomb attack on Kano market aborted

A major suicide attack on the city of Kano was Saturday night aborted after a primed female suicide bomber, regained consciousness and escaped from the captivity of suspected Boko Haram agents, who were driving her to her target. The female escapee, Hajia Khadija Ibrahim, a mother of three, was kidnapped and drugged in Maiduguri and was driven to Kano, strapped with improvised explosive device, when their vehicle developed faults on transit. Recounting her chilling experience at the Government House, Sunday, she disclosed that she was sick and was on her way to the hospital in Maiduguri when she was kidnapped. “I walked up to a junction in Baga Road (in Maiduguri) and I flagged down the first tricycle (Keke Napep), which incidentally was already filled up,” she stated. “I flagged down another Keke (tricycle) which was not going my way. But when I flagged it down, both the Keke (tricycle) and a vehicle stopped at the same time, even though I did not stop the vehicle. “The o

Mount Everest: Thirty climbers sick on Everest after three deaths

About 30 climbers have suffered frostbite or become ill on Mount Everest after three others died, apparently from altitude sickness. Two Indian climbers have also been reported missing in the mountain's so-called "death zone" near the summit. However the mountain's most successful female climber reached the summit for the seventh time on Friday. Experts say it is not unusual for altitude sickness to claim some lives on Everest. But this is the first climbing season for two years, after an earthquake in Nepal killed at least 18 people on the mountain last year and 16 guides were killed in an avalanche in 2014, leading to protests that prematurely ended that season. With the mountain open again, climbers have been taking advantage of good conditions in large numbers, with nearly 400 reaching the summit from the Nepalese side since 11 May. There have been successful ascents from the Chinese side too, including Lhakpa Sherpa, a Nepalese woman now living perman

Court orders Jonathan’s govt to account for ‘missing’ N30trn

THE Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has or­dered the administra­tion of former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iwea­la to “provide informa­tion on the spending of the alleged missing N30 trillion which represents some accruable income during the last four years of the administration of former President Good­luck Jonathan.” The judgment was delivered last week by Justice Ibrahim Buba, following a Freedom of Information suit number FHC/L/ CS/196/2015 brought by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Proj­ect (SERAP). SERAP’s suit followed revelations by former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Charles Soludo, that, at least, N30 trillion “has either been stolen or un­accounted for, or grossly mismanaged over the last few years under Okonjo- Iweala’s watch.” Justice Buba ruled that: “Mrs Okonjo-Iwea­la and the Federal Gov­ernment have no legally justifiable reason for re­fusing to provide SERAP with the

Suspected killer escapes from police detention

From Tony Osauzo, Benin A teenager, Gift, who was being detained at Juvenile Welfare Home in Benin for allegedly killing a mother and daughter has escaped from detention. The 15- year-old suspect with others at large, were said to have been arrested for killing a mother and daughter in broad day light. They reportedly stabbed their victims Itohan Enagbare and her three-year- old daughter, Iwinosa to death. Gift was said to have escaped from detention on Saturday morning in alleged suspicious circumstance. Counsel to the Enagbare family, Jefferson Uwoghiren, who raised the alarm over the suspect’s escape described his disappearance as worrisome and in bad taste. “We are horribly appalled and shocked to learn of the escape from lawful custody of Gift Edosomwan, a suspected killer of Itohan Enagbare and her daughter. “We demand his immediate re-arrest. We seek immediate arrest of all those responsible for this embarrassing escape. A serial killer is on the prowl,” Uwoghi

MASSOB threatens to exchange Naira for Biafran currency

From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha MOVEMENT for the Ac­tualisation of the Sov­ereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has threat­ened to start exchanging naira for Biafran curren­cy in Igboland. Speaking in Onitsha, Anambra State, the MAS­SOB Anambra North Di­rector of Finance, Mr Martins Ezeaka, said since the value of the nai­ra has depreciated, the group may reintroduce the Biafran currency and make people use it in South East, as it did in 2011. MASSOB former leader, Chief Ralph Uwa­zurike had on February 27, 2011 launched the Bi­afran currency, vehicles, motorcycle plate num­bers and driver’s licence. According to Ezeaka, “now that the naira has depreciated, it is to the advantage of Biafra cur­rency because you can buy things with Biafran money at a very cheap price. “We can now consoli­date our finance sector with valuable economy to meet the world stan­dard and we attribute this feat to our brain, re­sourcefulness and holis­tic approach to the strug­gle for a Biafran state.” He

Barack Obama to lift US arms embargo on Vietnam

President Barack Obama has announced the US is fully lifting its embargo on sales of lethal weapons to Vietnam, its one-time enemy. Speaking during a visit to communist Vietnam and talks with its leaders, Mr Obama said the move removed a "lingering vestige of the Cold War". The US is trying to bolster its relationship with its Pacific allies, as China asserts territorial claims. But Mr Obama said the embargo decision was not related to US policy on China. "It's based on our desire to complete what has been a lengthy process of moving towards normalisation with Vietnam," he said in Hanoi. White House officials had indicated the ban would be lifted only if there was an improvement in human rights in Vietnam. "Sales will need to still meet strict requirements, including those related to human rights, but this change will ensure that Vietnam has access to the equipment it needs to defend itself," Mr Obama said. Vietnam had been arguing for an e

NLC surrenders to strike saga!

Suspends strike, to resume negotiations with govt       By Bimbola Oyesola THE National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday rose from an emer­gency meeting in Abuja, and announced the suspension of its nationwide industrial action. The NLC in a commu­niqué jointly signed by the President, Ayuba Wabba and the General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, said Labour centre suspended the action based on its impact across the nation. But Daily Sun authorita­tively gathered that the real reason leadership of the organised labour took the de­cision was to avoid running foul of the law. Labour had initially vowed last week that the strike would run for two weeks, after which it would be reviewed. The union is expected to appear in court today “having been formally served with the court injunction from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja,” a competent source told Daily Sun. A faction of the NLC-led by Wabba had chosen last Wedn

Falluja assault: Iraq PM announces start of operation against IS

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has announced the start of a military operation to retake Falluja from so-called Islamic State (IS). "Zero hour for the liberation of Falluja has arrived. The moment of great victory has drawn near," he said, adding IS had "no choice but to flee." Iraq's military has already warned civilians to leave the town. Falluja was the first city to fall to IS in 2014 and is one of its two remaining strongholds in Iraq. The Iraqi military told state TV that those who could not flee should raise a white flag above their homes. Iraqi officials say corridors will be provided for civilians to make their way to camps outside the city. Reuters news agency quoted residents as saying 20 families left a front-line neighbourhood on Saturday, but only half made it out, succumbing either to IS fighters or explosives planted along their route. The military, police and volunteer fighters virtually surround the city, about 65 km (40 miles) w