Abdul's Blog: 12/18/17

Monday, 18 December 2017

Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia ‘fine’ after injury scare

Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia has offered what appears to be a positive injury update after he was forced off during the 2-1 win at West Brom on Sunday.

The Ecuador international was replaced by Marcos Rojo in the 66th minute at The Hawthorns, with United boss Jose Mourinho admitting after the game that the injury could be “big, small, medium”.

The Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has confirmed receiving the sum of N4.76 billion as the last tranche of Paris Club refund.

In a tweet on Monday, he said: “I have received N4.76 billion Paris Club Refund.

Jamila Malafa has been promoted to the rank of Commodore by the Nigerian Navy, equivalent to the Army rank Brigadier-General.

She's the first female General from Northern Nigeria. Malafa, who joined the Navy in 1988, was born in Gombi LGA, Adamawa State, 1965.

Taoheed Adedoja, one of the chairmanship aspirants at the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has taken the party to court.

Adedoja is asking a federal high court sitting in Abuja to nullify the outcome of the convention on the basis that he was “excluded” from the excercise.

The Ekiti State Government has described as total falsehood, report that the State borrowed a total sum of N56 billion since Governor Ayodele Fayose assumed office and that a fresh N25 billion loan was applied for; saying that;

“the only fresh loan taken by the government of Fayose was the N10 billion grant from the Excess Crude Account, which was released to all States for capital projects, N2.8 billion requested from Wema Bank to pay State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) counterpart fund out of which N1 billion has been accessed and N600 million for MDGs counterpart fund, which has been repaid.”

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has expressed surprise that he was nicknamed “Igwe,” meaning king, by Nigerian fans.

The former France striker said this during his visit to Nigeria over the weekend.

He was hailed “Igwe” by fans as he arrived the Landmark Centre Hall, Lagos, as a guest in the Guinness Made of Black campaign.

South Africa’s deputy-president, Cyril Ramaphosa has been elected leader of the ruling African National Congress, a pole position that will make him president of the country in 2019.

Ramaphosa emerged the winner in the tightest election for the party leadership ever, beating Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, President Jacob Zuma’s former wife and chairperson of the African Union.

An unemployed Nigerian has been praised for his good heart after discovering a huge sum of money at an accident scene and returning it.

Facebook user Prince Harrison shared the story writing;

Suspended president of the Spanish football federation Angel Maria Villar blamed Spain’s government for a FIFA threat that could lead to the country being thrown out of next year’s World Cup in Russia.

Villar, 67, was suspended from the post he has occupied since 1988 in September for a year after being arrested as part of a corruption investigation.

Four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah upset the odds to be named 2017 BBC Sports Personality of the Year at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Sunday.

The 34-year-old was the third favourite coming into evening – with heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua the bookies’ tip – but finally won the award after a previous best finish of third in 2011.

Oil workers under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria have called off a planned nationwide strike.

Some residents of Imo state who staged a peaceful protest against the Governor Rochas Okorocha government in state on Monday morning, were attacked by operatives of Nigerian Police.

According to Premium Times, the protest, tagged ‘Occupy Owerri’, which is expected to last for one week, was called by Imo People’s Action for Democracy (IPAD), against the policies of the Governor Okorocha administration.

A US woman has been mauled to death by her pit bulls, while out for a work. After the deed, they then stood guard over her body.

According to reports, Bethany Lynn Stephens had gone out for a walk with her dogs when they attacked her. Police said the 22-year-old suffered horrific head and throat injuries.

The four-year old relationship between a church evangelist, Nchedo and his wife-to-be, Ogoo has crashed after Nchedo lured and impregnated a 15-year old church chorister, PM Express has reported.

It was gathered that the man confessed that the reason why he impregnated the chorister was because the Ogoo had refused to allow him his conjugal rights.

The Kano State Government said on Monday that it had destroyed illicit drugs worth N4.1 billion confiscated in the state this year.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje who revealed this at the Senate Roundtable on Drug Abuse Epidemic held in Kano, said this was part of the renewed fight against drug abuse in the state.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday canceled his scheduled trip to Niger Republic.

His Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, had announced on Sunday that Buhari would join some world leaders for the 59th Proclamation of the Republic of Niger ceremony in Tahoua, Niger.

The military operation that led to President Robert Mugabe's resignation last month, Operation Restore Legacy has officially ended. Power will now return to the hands of the police force.

Prof. Adegboyega Fawole of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), has warned that Human Papiloma Virus (HPV) has been found in the throat of people engaging in oral sex.

Fawole, who is of the Department of Gynaecology, UITH told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Tuesday that HPV was mostly sexually transmitted.

The lead singer of South Korean boy band Shinee has killed himself after sending a message to his sister saying: 'Tell everyone I've had a hard time', it has been reported.

Kim Jong-hyun was found unconscious in an apartment in Cheongdam-dong, in the upscale Gangnam district of the capital Seoul.

Arabic Mehndi designs are different from Indian Mehndi. These are mostly detailed, have spaces, and sometimes resemble some architectural designs. Common designs include flowers and peacocks, which are very much known for its beauty and exquisiteness. Other designs include veils and swirls recurring in a geometrical template.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Ms Hadeza Bala Usman, has said that the agency has surpassed its 2017 revenue target saying that “over N118billion was raked in, in the first quarter of the year.

Speaking at this year’s long and merit service award in Lagos, Bala Usman said that the agency’s achievements was attributed to the support received from the employees of the authority.

Saif Gaddafi, the second son of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi will announce in coming days his intention to run for president of Libya, the family’s spokesman, Basem Hashimi Soul, told Sputnik Monday.

On Wednesday, the Libyan Government of National Accord’s (GNA) foreign minister, Mohamed Siala, said that presidential election in Libya might be held in mid-2018.

For allegedly stealing phones valued at N60,500, a 26-year-old man, Monday Francis, was on Monday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Francis, a resident of Egbeda area of Lagos State, is being tried for stealing. According to the prosecutor, Sgt. Yomi Egunjobi, the accused committed the offence on Nov.19 at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja in Lagos State.

The Confederation of African Football has announced the top three shortlists for the 2017 African Player of the Year with Victor Moses not making the cut.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane made the cut decided by votes from the members of the Caf Media Committee, Caf Technical & Development Committee and half of the 20-member panel of experts.

Four persons parading themselves as operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad have been gunned down in Rivers State.

The suspects were killed by F-SARS on Saturday at Ogbogoro community in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State following a distress call from an unidentified member of the public.

A 25-year-old man from Babana-Borgu in New Bussa Local Government Area of Niger State, Aliyu Mohammadu, has been arrested by the Police for allegedly cutting off the genitals of his 17-year-old cousin, Farouk Ibrahim, over N3,500.

Unless there is urgent intervention, experts have warned that Nigeria may be building a nation of drug addicts.

This is not unconnected with latest reports which show that 3 million bottles of codeine are consumed daily in Kano and Jigawa States. Even the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration of Nigeria, NAFDAC, has expressed worry over uncontrolled use of codeine containing cough syrups across the country.

A lawyer, Olufemi Ajiboso, has protested against his arrest and detention by the police in Lagos for an offence that was allegedly committed by his client.

Ajiboso, who said he was preparing to file charges against the police, said he was put in a cell with hardened criminals for two days and forced to sign an undertaking.

A football match organized to celebrate the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara’s 50th Birthday, saw Nigerian lawmakers including the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal, and Kogi west senator, Dino Melaye, participate in the game.

Four persons were feared dead weekend in a fresh outbreak of bloody communal clash in Ogobia town, Ugboju community of Otukpo Local Government Area.

Vanguard recalls that the crisis which was allegedly sparked off last August following political disagreements between two brothers, Ijachi Udeh and Benjamin Udeh, claimed the lives of many including that of retired Major Lawrence Ugbo.

British actress Ashley Jensen has been left 'devastated' after the sudden death of her actor husband who was found unconscious at home.

Terence Beesley, 60, was married to the Ugly Betty actress for ten years and the couple have an eight-year-old son, Francis.

In this exclusive interview on Channels Television’s Question Time, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, speaks on some of the issues in the ministry, including the causes of the derailment of trains and the gridlock around Apapa Wharf among others.

Excerpt:

No less than four dare-devil armed robbers on motorcycles at the weekend struck and robbed an unidentified woman of huge amount of money she had withdrawn from a bank and escaped.

According to P.M. Express, the incident happened at Ikotun/Idimu Road in Ikotun area of Lagos where the bank was located very close to a police station.

Controversial gunman George Zimmerman took a verbal shot at JAY-Z over the weekend, threatening to “beat” the rapper and feed him to “an alligator” over the Jiggaman’s role in a Trayvon Martin documentary, according to a report.

Zimmerman, who gunned down 17-year-old Trayvon in February 2012, said he has a score to settle with the rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter, over the way his family was treated by Carter’s camera crew, according to entertainment website Blast.

Manchester United boss, Jose Mourinho, has reacted to a video posted by Manchester City players, mocking him of “parking the bus.”

Manchester City celebrated their 17th successive victory in 18th Premier League matches this season by taking a pop at their city rivals on Saturday.

Police officers at Gwarinpa Division have recovered an iPhone 6 suspected to have been stolen in Abuja from a Nigerian in India.

A police source at the division said one person was arrested in connection with the phone which was recovered about 14 weeks after it was reported stolen at the division.

The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has appealed to the Petroleum and Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to shelve its planned strike in the spirit of conciliation brokered between it and Neconde Energy Services Ltd.

A statement by the Deputy Director, Press in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Samuel Olowookere said “with the conciliation by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, the impending action by PENGASSAN stands effectively apprehended in line with the provisions of the relevant labour laws whose powers are invested in the Honourable Minister.”

AS President Muhammadu Buhari clocked 75 years yesterday, he has expressed happiness that his health condition has improve greatly and thanked Nigerians for their fervent prayers.

Though President Buhari did not organize any birthday celebration, his aides presented him with a birthday card at his residence in the Presidential Villa.

According to a NAN report, security officials have revealed that gunmen fatally shot the mayor of Libya’s third-largest city, Misrata, late on Sunday, ambushing his car inside the city,

The North African oil producer has been in chaos since the 2011 uprising that unseated Muammar Gaddafi; but Misrata, Libya’s biggest port, had been relative peaceful until now.

Woman openly admits she loves her dog more than her only child

A woman says she loves her cockapoo Lola more than anything else in the world – including her young son. Helena Mueller, 38, says she devotes her life to making sure her pet wants for nothing and has spent £1,000 on the dog’s Christmas presents this year – buying Lola more presents than her six-year-old Harry.

She says she got Lola in 2015 because Harry was an only child and says she has since become ‘obsessed’ with the dog. ‘We do everything together. I am obsessive, I don’t disturb her if she’s asleep,’ Helena said. ‘Is she’s cuddled up on me on the sofa and I want something, I call Mark and make him get it. Mark says “aren’t your legs working?” and I’m like “I’m not going to disturb Lola.”‘

Former Senate President David Mark is to account for over N5.4billion slush cash and campaign funds traced to him, The Nation learnt yesterday.

Part of the money is N550 million, which is part of the $2.1billion controversial arms procurement cash, according to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sources.

The claim by BUA Group that Dangote Group is trying to create a monopoly in the Cement Industry in Nigeria has been punctured by documents filed in a Court of law in a recent suit.

The documents revealed that Dangote’s interest and title in the dispute; Mining Lease is legitimate and was acquired through due process of law.

The Nigerian Army on Monday denied the killings of civilians in an attack coordinated by the Boko Haram insurgents against the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP’s) trucks on Saturday.

Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, gave the clarification in a Short Service Message (SMS) to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

Dancehall Singer, Burna Boy Finally Arrested, to Be Arraigned In Court Today

Damini Ogulu popularly known as Burna Boy, is to be arraigned in court today, December 18th over his alleged involvement in the robbery attack of Mr 2Kay, at the Eko Hotel in October after he was arrested on Friday.

According to Lagos State spokesperson, SP Chike Oti, Burna boy was arrested on Friday after he submitted himself to the Lagos State Police Command. He was also "interrogated and detained and is expected to be charged to court on Monday alongside four of members of the gang earlier arrested.”

A newlywed bride Shafa Muhammad, attacked her husband with a razor blade, three weeks after their wedding, and injured him in the head.

According to DAILY TRUST, the couples were said to be residing at Arkillar Liman area in Wamakko local government area of Sokoto state.

Following widespread condemnations from individuals and groups particularly from the South-West, a lawmaker, representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, has said the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project will be completed “soon.”

Adeola, in a statement on Sunday by his Media Adviser, Mr. Kayode Odunaro, said the request by the Presidency to vire N135bn in the 2017 budget, out of which the Trunk A road would be funded, had been put in “abeyance.”

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and some state governors on Sunday joined President Muhammadu Buhari to cut his birthday cakes.

The President’s wife, Aisha, also joined them for the event that took place inside Buhari’s official residence at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Evangelical Church Winning All has alleged that higher institutions in the North have been denying Christians admissions into professional courses while Christians have also been denied employment on account of their religion.

ECWA also expressed concern over the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the country with a call on the Federal Government to explain why no conviction had been secured against perpetrators.