Abdul's Blog: 05/16/17

Tuesday, 16 May 2017

Britain to support power sector reform in Nigeria

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright, said the British Government would support power sector reform in Nigeria.

Arkwright stated this on Tuesday in Abuja in an interview with newsmen after visiting Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing.

Image result for Ghanaians, other Africans use Nigerian passports for crime – Yusuf Hinna

A non-career ambassadorial nominee, Commodore Yusuf Hinna (retd.), has alleged that Ghanaians and citizens of other African countries obtain Nigeria passport and use it for criminal activities.

The nominee stated this while responding to questions at his screening by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs in Abuja on Tuesday.

Messi needs World Cup win to ‘seal his legacy’ – Klinsmann

Lionel Messi can only “seal his legacy” by winning the World Cup with Argentina, former United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann says.

Messi has won nearly every club trophy available to Barcelona, but he’s never received a major honour with his national team.

The trial of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, for the alleged criminal diversion of funds meant for the procurement of arms, has been stalled.

The trial was stalled following the failure of the Department of State Services to produce him in court. As a result, the case has been adjourned till Wednesday, May 17.

Lagos socialite, Fred Ajudua, was on Tuesday re-arraigned before the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, for allegedly defrauding a former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (retd) of $10.3 million while they were both in Kirikiri Maximum prison, Lagos.

The Governor of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose says he may dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if the outcome of the Supreme Court verdict on the leadership tussle within the party does not favour the Makarfi-led caretaker committee.

Two men, Qudus Waheed and Ganiyu Samson were on Tuesday at an Ikeja Hight Court, sentenced to 21 years in prison for stealing a necklace and mobile phone.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Waheed and Samson were sentenced by Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, following a plea bargain agreement in which they pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery.

“The defendants have pleaded not guilty to a lesser charge of robbery.

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Tuesday sentenced a former Chief Accountant with Vanguard Media Limited, Bhadmus Yisa, to a 14-year jail term for stealing N3.1 million from his employer.

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye found Bhadmus guilty of conspiracy and stealing charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,( EFCC).

Macron to visit African French troops on Friday – report

President Emmanuel Macron will visit French troops in Africa on Friday, a source close to the new leader said on Tuesday.

Aides have said he is expected to go to Mali where about 1,000 soldiers are based as part of Paris’ West African counter-terrorism force.

Man Utd loss to Ajax in Europa League final ‘would cost £50m’

Manchester United will miss out on £50m if they fail to beat Ajax in the Europa League final on 24 May.

The game in Stockholm is their only remaining chance of reaching next season’s Champions League.

Failure to qualify for Europe’s flagship club competition for a second successive season would trigger a £21m penalty clause in their 10-year, £750m sponsorship deal with Adidas.

A Lagos medical practitioner, who identified himself only as Dr Itan, has accused policemen from the Area M command of stealing N45,000 from him.

The victim, who works with a private hospital in the Iyana Ipaja area of the state, said he was returning from an emergency around 1am, accompanied by his wife, when he was stopped by a police team.

In less than 24 hours, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday injected $457.3 million into various segments of the market.

Isaac Okorafor, CBN spokesperson, in a statement in Abuja, said that both the spot and forwards segments garnered $267.3 million while the wholesale segment got $100 million.

Legendary comedian Bill Cosby believes racism played a part in the series of sexual assault allegations made against him.

About 50 women have come out since 2015 to accuse the comic-actor of sexual assault.

Speaking for the first time in over two years, Cosby agreed with his daughter Ensa Cosby’s assertion that “racism has played a big role in all aspects of this scandal”.

A total of 335 foreign nationals were on Tuesday in Abuja granted citizenship by the Federal Government after statutory clearance and due diligence by the relevant security agencies.‎

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The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau,‎ who presented the certificates of citizenship to the foreigners, charged them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria.

Mrs Iara Oshiomhole, the wife of former Governor of Edo, Adams Oshiomole‎, who is from Cape Verde, is one of the recipients.

Enyeama, Mikel, Oparanozie, others nominated for Nigeria Pitch Awards

Three-time FIFA World Cup star Vincent Enyeama, Super Eagles’ Captain, John Obi Mikel, and France-based striker, Desire Oparanozie, have been nominated for various honours in the 4th Nigeria Pitch Awards.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) spokesman, Ademola Olajire, disclosed the nominations in a statement on Tuesday in Ilorin.

Pogba set to miss Man United’s Southampton clash

Paul Pogba is expected to miss Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Southampton on Wednesday after being given compassionate leave to attend his father’s funeral.

Pogba was absent from the squad for Sunday’s defeat at Tottenham following the death of his father, Fassou Antoine, on Friday.

Facebook fined for violating French digital privacy regulations

In a sign of the ongoing tension between European privacy officials and Facebook, the social network was fined $166,000 in France today over changes in is terms and conditions announced in 2014.

The fine is modest for a company of Facebok’s size. But France’s Commission Nationale de l’informatique or CNIL, noted that it’s just one of several European states that was probing the impact of the changes Facebook announced in 2014. Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain also have ongoing investigations at various stages.

Ambode restates directive on VIOs to stay off Lagos roads

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Tuesday restated that Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) had no business staying on Lagos roads.

“Let me reiterate that vehicle inspection officers have been asked to stay off our roads permanently,’’ he affirmed.

Conte wants Chelsea players to reach record-equalling 30 wins

Antonio Conte has challenged his Chelsea players to make history by beating Sunderland on the Premier League’s final day after a 4-3 win over Watford on Monday secured the Blues a record-equalling 29th victory in the competition this season.

Goals from departing captain John Terry, Cesar Azpilicueta, Michy Batshuayi and Cesc Fabregas narrowly earned all three points for a Chelsea starting XI that featured nine changes from the side that clinched the Premier League title with a 1-0 win against West Brom on Friday.

Ref saved Man United season with Herrera sending off – Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has said referee Michael Oliver saved Manchester United’s season from “total disaster” with his red card for Ander Herrera in the FA Cup quarterfinal defeat at Chelsea in March.

United, now unable to claim Champions League qualification via a top-four Premier League finish, will play their 62nd game of the season at Southampton on Wednesday.

Kenya’s health ministry on Tuesday released an alert on Ebola outbreak following the disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Director of Medical Services at the Ministry of Health Jackson Kioko said the government has reactivated the rapid response teams for enhanced surveillance and follow up of travelers with elevated body temperatures and asymptomatic cases with history of travel from DRC.

Zidane dismisses James Real Madrid exit talk

Zinedine Zidane refused to be drawn into discussions over James Rodriguez’s future at Real Madrid, insisting he and the squad are interested only in Wednesday’s crucial La Liga clash with Celta Vigo.

Reports this week have suggested James is set for a big-money close-season move to Manchester United after falling down the pecking order at Santiago Bernabeu.

Man United predicting record revenues of up to £570m

Manchester United are performing better than expected off the field and are now predicting record revenues of up to £570 million this year.

Jose Mourinho’s men sit sixth in the Premier League and have the Europa League final against Ajax to look forward to next week, but despite being without Champions League football, United have raised guidance on revenue and profit for the year ending June 30, 2017.

Newcastle trigger option to sign Chelsea’s Christian Atsu – report

Newcastle United have activated Chelsea winger Christian Atsu’s £6.2 million buyout clause after his successful loan spell, ESPN FC reports.

Last month, ESPN FC reported that Newcastle had an option to buy Atsu on a permanent basis included in his season-long deal.

Borussia Dortmund bus attack had no terrorist motive – prosecutors

German federal prosecutors say they are handing off the investigation of last month’s attack on the Borussia Dortmund team bus after determining that there was no terrorist motive.

Federal investigators said on Tuesday that Dortmund prosecutors are taking over the probe of the April 11 attack on the team’s bus as it was taking the squad from their hotel to the home leg of their Champions League quarterfinal match against Ligue 1 club Monaco.

Security researchers investigating the massive cyberattack campaign that sparked havoc in computer systems worldwide have reported signs of a possible North Korean link, with one expert warning Tuesday that there could be more to come.

After days of disruptions affecting networks worldwide, a top US official said the number of computers affected had reached 300,000, but that infection rates had slowed.

In the first clues of the origin of the massive ransomware attacks, Google researcher Neel Mehta posted computer code that showed similarities between the “WannaCry” malware and a vast hacking effort widely attributed to Pyongyang.

Rapper Travis Scott was arrested after a concert in Arkansas with police accusing him of “inciting a riot” as the crowd rushed to the stage, injuring several people.

In the latest such incident for the 25-year-old, an enthusiastic crowd pushed through barricades to move closer to him at the arena concert Saturday night.

Video footage posted online shows Scott energetically dancing and revving up the crowd but later asking fans to step back and politely thanking the fire marshals after completing his hit “Goosebumps.”

Ace Nigerian singers Wizkid,Tekno and Davido have been nominated for the ‘Best International Act Africa’ category of the 2017 edition of the prestigious Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards.

According to the list of nominees released by the organisers on bet.com on Monday,four Nigerian singers, including Mr Eazi, and three South AfricanS and a Ghanaian artistes were nominated for the awards.

Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho is set to become the most surprising member of manager Pep Guardiola’s summer clearout at the Etihad Stadium with the club willing to listen to offers for the 20-year-old Nigerian.

German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund have already expressed an interest in the young forward who was tipped for the top by former City boss Manuel Pellegrini and has scored 21 goals for City despite making only 20 starts.

Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi ll has said that Nigeria will remain one and indivisible country, and appealed to those agitating for the country’s split to have a rethink.

Sanusi said this on Monday when he received the newly installed Garkuwan Hausawa in Ogun, Otunba Rotimi Paseda, in his palace.

Emir Sanusi said if Nigerians respect each other, they would continue to remain as one entity irrespective of their tribes, religion and cultural differences.

Chelsea icon John Terry scored in what is likely to be his penultimate game for the newly-crowned champions and suggested unless a good offer came along he might retire after Sunday’s final Premier League match.

The 36-year-old — who has spent 22 years at the club winning 15 trophies including this season’s title — opened the scoring in the 4-3 win over Watford at Stamford Bridge his 67th goal in 716 appearances for the Blues.

Donald Trump showed highly classified information about Isis to Russian officials

President Donald Trump revealed highly classified information about Islamic State militants to Russian officials during a meeting last week, it has been reported.

Three White House officials who were in the May 10 meeting strongly denounced the Washington Post story, saying no intelligence sources and methods were discussed – but they did not deny that classified information was disclosed.

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HIV Positive Nigerian Woman Hides Her Status From Her Husband Before Marriage

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama on Monday, nullified a four-year-old marriage between Mr Ugochukwu Eke and Uchenna Eke due to the wife’s terminal disease which she concealed.The judge, Justice Jude Okeke, in his judgment, held that the petitioner’s evidence had been accepted since the woman did not file any protest contradicting the facts.

“The court holds the view that by undeniable evidence that the respondent is suffering from HIV prior and during the marriage.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday presented cheques totaling N55 million to the families of security officers who lost their lives in the Ishawo area of Ikorodu after an ambush unleashed on them by militants.

The families of four police officers that died during the operation got N10 million each, while an officer who sustained injury during the attack and still recuperating in the hospital, Sgt. Alexandra Ugadu got N5million.

A man who encouraged his female partner to have sex with three dogs has been jailed for 12 months today.

Daniel Galloway, 65, admitted aiding and abetting Carol Bowditch, 64, to have sex with three different breeds.

A 20-year-old man, Badmus Gbadamosi, has been accused of killing his friend and roommate, Friday Michael.

It was gathered that Gbadamosi killed 27-year-old Michael in the Mamu area of Ogun State.

The Ogun State Police Command’s spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said late Michael saw his friend two different times while on robbery operations with his gang members.

Nigerian born British actress, Wunmi Mosaku has won the British Academy Television Award (BAFTA) for Best Supporting Actress.

The annual awards of the British Academy Television Awards (BAFTAs) was held on Sunday at Royal Festival Hall in London.

Mosaku won for her performance in ‘Damilola, Our Loved Boy’, seeing off competition from Siobhan Finneran (Happy Valley), Vanessa Kirby (The Crown) and Nicola Walker (Last Tango in Halifax).

Arsene Wenger dismissed protests from Arsenal fans seeking his removal as manager and called on his players to focus instead on the club’s push for Champions League football next season.

An emphatic 4-1 win at Stoke kept the Gunners in contention for a top four finish and a 21st consecutive season of elite European football.

Image result for Reds ready to finish top four charge – Sturridge

Daniel Sturridge says Liverpool are ready to finish off their bid to qualify for the Champions League in style after routing West Ham 4-0 on Sunday.

Sturridge marked his first Premier League start since January by putting Liverpool ahead with a cool finish in the first half at the London Stadium.

By Ajiroba Yemi Kotun, from TheNigerianVoice, originally posted 23 May 2013

Did you know that in May 1962, on the departure of the British colonial administrator and then Governor of Northern Nigeria, Sir Gawain Westray Bell (1909-1995), many people in the North and beyond including Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, late Emir of Kano and grandfather of the current Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, (who himself rightly nurtures an ambition to become the Emir of Kano someday), felt that the Sardauna of Sokoto (1938-1966) and Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello (1909-1966) might follow the example of Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909-1987), ppointing the then Ooni of Ife, Oba (Sir) Adesoji Aderemi (1889-1980), as Governor of Western Region, by recommending an emir to be Governor of the North?

After serving nearly 40 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Ricky has finally been exonerated

In 1975, a man was robbed and murdered in Ricky’s Cleveland neighborhood. Days later, armed police kicked in the door of the home where 18-year-old Ricky lived. Based on the testimony of one young boy who claimed to have witnessed the murder, Ricky and two of his friends were convicted of the crime and sentenced to death.

Italian authorities on Monday said a leading clan of the Italian ‘Ndrangheta mafia that made millions of Euros from gambling and the migrant reception business has been dismantled.

The authorities also announced the arrest of 68 people.

The anti-mafia prosecution office of the southern city of Catanzaro said in a statement that the members of the Arena crime family were accused of mafia membership, racketeering, false registration of assets, embezzlement, fraud and other tax crimes.

The world’s biggest ransomware attack levelled off on Monday after wreaking havoc in 150 countries and causing political acrimony, with Russian President Vladimir Putin blaming US intelligence services.

The indiscriminate attack struck hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide Friday by exploiting known vulnerabilities in older Microsoft computer operating systems.

Pray for good health of President Buhari – APC urges Nigerians

Mr Abayomi Adesanya, the Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, on Monday urged Nigerians to pray for good health and quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Adesanya made the call while speaking with journalists in Lagos.

President Buhari, had on Sunday, May 7, travelled to London for a follow-up medical consultation with his doctors.

Joshua, Klitschko rematch may hold in October

There is the possibility of a rematch between unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in October.

Joshua stopped Klitschko at Wembley in April to add the WBA world heavyweight title to his IBF crown.

Oct. 28 could be a potential date for the rematch, with the Principality Stadium being considered as the venue.

Pochettino foresees golden future in Spurs’ new home

Mauricio Pochettino described Tottenham Hotspur’s final day at White Hart Lane as “perfect”, but said moving into their new stadium would take the club to the next level.

Local hero Harry Kane scored the decisive goal as Tottenham beat Manchester United 2-1 on Sunday in their last game at the Lane, which is due to be demolished and rebuilt in time for the 2018-19 season.

Why Vernacular Newspapers do not do well in Nigeria – Nda-Isaiah

Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah, the Chairman Leadership Group says indigenous language newspapers do not do well in Nigeria because of limited circulation and the lack of advertisements to sustain them.

Nda-Isaiah whose company publishes Hausa language newspaper, “Leadership Hausa’’ stated this on Monday in Kaduna at a Two-Day Annual Round Table on Cultural Orientation.

Jubilant Portugal celebrates first Eurovision victory

Jubilant Portugal on Sunday feted the country’s first ever Eurovision song contest victor Salvador Sobral, who suffers from a serious heart condition but triumphed with a melancholy ballad, with hundreds turning up to welcome him home.

“When we are very good, we’re the best of the best. Congratulations Salvador Sobral,” President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa wrote in a message to the 27-year-old crooner.