Category: Uncategorized

2019 AFCON: 2013 U-17 FIFA World Cup Champion, Kelechi Iheanacho will not be part of Nigeria’s Super Eagles quest to conquer Africa when the African Cup of Nations, AFCON, kicks off in Egypt on 21st June.

Iheanacho who has had a dip in form since joining Leicester City from Manchester City is joined by Rotherham United’s Semi Ajayi.

22 years old Iheanacho managed just two goals in thirty-five matches for his Premier League side in the just concluded 2018/2019 season.

Both players did not feature in the goalless draw against fellow AFCON bound Zimbabwe on Saturday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium.

The Super Eagles will as part of their preparations for 2019 AFCON travel to the Egyptian city of Ismailia before facing another AFCON bound side Senegal on June 16.

Nigeria is drawn in Group B alongside Burundi, Madagascar and Guinea and will open their campaign against Burundi in Alexandria on June 22.

Full squad:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi.

Defenders : Olaoluwa Aina, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem, William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Jamilu Collins.
Midfielders: Mikel John Obi, Wilfred Ndidi, Okenekaro Etebo, John Ogu.

Forward : Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru, Odion Ighalo, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Kalu, Paul Onuachu, Samuel Chukwueze.

Top Nigerian entertainer, Folarin Falana popularly called Falz has explained why he stopped going to church and how that does not make him less of a christian.

The singer who reveals he values spirituality over religion became the talk of the town late last year when he released his album, ”Moral Instruction” in which some tracks took shots at the moral decadence in the Nigerian society.

In a new interview with Silverbird television, Falz said:

“I’m not an atheist. I believe there is a God. But I believe in spirituality over religion.”

Falz’s mother, Funmi Falana, had complained about his persistence absence from church services, after his 2019 debut album was released.

“Folarin, you don’t go to church and I am bothered. I hope you would start going to church this year,” Fumi said.

However, Falz said in the interview:

“I have nothing against the church or going to church. Everyone has the right to practice the religion they desire. It has been a while that I have been to church. It does not make me less of a Christian.

“The reason is that I went to a few churches and, during sermons, I was put under undue pressure. There was a time that a pastor called me to the altar just to acknowledge my presence for being in church.

“In my mind, I felt that the service was not about me. I felt that everybody was there to worship God, yet they were putting undue pressure on me. The pastor gave me the microphone to address the congregation and I was puzzled; what did he expect me to say to the congregation?”

On the criticisms that greeted the release of the album, Falz said:

“My songs are always going to be heard. The world is a lot smaller now; it only takes one post and it’s everywhere regardless of the attempts by powers that be to try to stop stuff here and there.”

“If you’re making this kind of music, you have to always be ready for the worst. Of course, ‘This is Nigeria’ was banned. We’re still in court. But I have my fundamental rights so you can’t really stop that regardless of what body you are.”

Real Madrid have confirmed the signing of Eden Hazard from Chelsea on a five-year contract.

The 28-year-old will be officially unveiled as a Real player on Thursday – subject to a medical – after striking a deal that could reportedly rise to a club-record transfer of £130m once all bonus payments come into play.

Thank you, @HazardEden10! 💙#ThankYouEden
pic.twitter.com/6mCgZSFNJg
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 7, 2019

Hazard had one year remaining on his Chelsea contract but said it was his wish to leave Stamford Bridge after scoring twice in the Europa League final win over Arsenal.

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said: “Although it is with sadness we say goodbye to Eden and we made it absolutely clear to him the club wished him to stay, we respect the decision he has made to take on a new challenge in a different country and follow his childhood dream of playing for Real Madrid.

“The memories he leaves us with will not fade. He provided all who watched Chelsea play with great entertainment and many match-winning contributions, and for that we thank Eden enormously.

“He has been a model professional throughout his time at the club, a wonderful individual to have around and a joy to work with.

“We look forward to welcoming him back to Stamford Bridge in the future.”

👉 #WelcomeHazard
pic.twitter.com/6CvH9LHXSy
— Real Madrid C.F.⚽ (@realmadrid) June 7, 2019

A £32m signing from Lille in 2012, Hazard made 352 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 110 goals. He won two Premier League titles, two Europa Leagues, the FA Cup and League Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge.

SOURCE: Skysports

The eighth Senate, presided over by Dr Bukola Saraki has adjourned sine die after a valedictory session which marked its last official assignment.

There were mixed feelings at the valedictory session, when senators took turns to appraise their performance for the past four years.

The Upper Chamber, which for some time has been scanty in attendance after the 2019 general election, was packed full with lawmakers taking turns to speak on their experiences since 2015 when the Senate was inaugurated.

Senator Magnus Abe (APC-Rivers) commended his colleagues for working tirelessly in preserving the Senate as an institution.

He said: “It was the desire to serve Nigeria that brought us here. We preserved this institution for others to come and make their contribution.

“We may not have served perfectly but we represented the highest standard of integrity. May God bless us all.”

Also speaking, Senator Shehu Sani said lawmakers were not elected to only represent their constituents, but also to protect the interest of the country at large.

He pointed out that lawmakers had a duty to define their role in history by defending the institution of the National Assembly.
He said that one thing every lawmaker ought to take note of was to serve with honour and leave with more honour and also by standing for the truth irrespective of religious, ethnic affiliation or party leaning.

“The National Assembly is not an agency or a ministry, but an institution created to protect Nigerians.

“As a parliament, it is a calling. We are not just here to represent the people, but to stand for issues that are germane,” he said.

The eighth Senate was inaugurated on June 6 and will officially cease to be on June 8.

The valedictory session is the last official assignment of the lawmakers. The ninth Senate is expected to be inaugurated on Tuesday, by President Mohammadu Buhari.

NAN

The 8th House of Representatives has ended its tenure after four years in office and has adjourned indefinitely in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

This was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by the Majority Leader of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) at the end of the valedictory session in Abuja.

Earlier, the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara said that the house was inauguration on June 9, 2015.

He appreciated the members for the confidence reposed in him and for electing him speaker of the house in 2015.

Dogara said that the house passed a total of 382 bills out of which 76 were assented to by the President.

He said that with 382 bills passed by the 8th Reps, it had surpassed records of all previous assemblies.

Dogara said that the 8th Reps was the most harassed in the history of the country, yet it sustained the legacies of its past leaders.

“It appears we are losing the fight against violence and as if that is not bad enough, the situation is so dire that known statesmen are becoming petrified and speaking up in ways that may further rend our national fault lines.

“It is like we refused to hear the whispers and now the screams are threatening our ear drums.

Dogara charged members-elect of the 9th National Assembly to be determined to raise the bar of the records of the 8th assembly, especially on the issue of flawed elections.

The Deputy Speaker of the house, Rep. Yussuff Lassun (APC-Osun) appreciated members for voting him into office.

He said some person did not believe in him and were of the view that he would mess up the office but in the end, he did well.

Lassun who would not return for the 9th Assembly urged returning member to uphold the rules and traditions of the house.

The Majority Leader of the house, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) said though the 8th assembly started on a rocky soil, the leadership style of the speaker and maturity of members stabled the ship.

Gbajabiamila said that he would miss members who would not return and urged those re-elected to work hard to further build the institution.

The 9th assembly will be inaugurated on Tuesday, June 11, 2019.

SOURCE: NAN

Gianni Infantino was reelected president of FIFA, global football’s governing body, in Paris.

The 49-year-old took over the reins of FIFA in February 2016.

However, Lennart Johansson, a Swede who presided over European soccer for 17 years as its Champions League turned into a global commercial juggernaut, has died after a short illness aged 89, Sweden’s Football Association said.

Johansson, president of European football association UEFA from 1990 to 2007, was a driving force behind the formation of the Champions League, giving the continent’s championship a new identity and a huge revenue stream for big clubs.

“Swedish football is in mourning,” the Swedish FA said in a statement.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said Johansson would be remembered as the architect of the Champions League.

“World football will always be grateful to him for all he has achieved for the beautiful game,” Ceferin said in a statement.

…Says waiting for Nigeria, US govts to come decide on sharing formula

A British court has seized the sum of £211,000,000 (N81.9bn) being money looted by the former Nigerian dictator and military head of state, General Sani Abacha.

The said money was seized from a Jersey bank account that belonged to General Abacha.

According to a report by the UK Metro, the money worth £211,000,000 was laundered through the US into the Channel Islands and now, that money has been recovered. The money was put in accounts held in Jersey by Doraville Properties Corporation, a British Virgin Islands company.

The report said the money was seized and being held by the government until the Jersey authorities, the US and Nigerian authorities come to an agreement on how the money would be distributed.

According to the report, “Money to the value of £211,000,000 has been seized from a Jersey bank account that belonged to a former dictator. General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian army officer and de facto president between 1993 until his death in 1998. He laundered money through the US into the Channel Islands and now that money has been recovered. The money was put in accounts held in Jersey by Doraville Properties Corporation, a British Virgin Islands company.

The money is now being held by the government until authorities in Jersey, the US and Nigeria come to an agreement on how it should be distributed. Any money that Jersey does keep will be put into the Criminal Confiscation Fund, which is used to pay for a variety of projects. In the past the fund has been used for the new police station and developments at La Moye Prison. It is expected that even more money held by Doraville is likely to be seized and paid into the Civil Asset Recovery Fund in the future.

Attorney General Robert MacRae said: ‘In restraining the funds at the request of the United States of America, through whose banking system the funds were laundered prior to arriving here, and in achieving the payment of the bulk of the funds into the Civil Asset Recovery Fund, Jersey has once again demonstrated its commitment to tackling international financial crime and money laundering.’

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo, has advised the First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari to get the attention of her husband, President Muhammed Buhari through pillow talk for him to grasp the true position of the state of the nation.

Mrs. Buhari had challenged Nigeria’s security agencies to quickly end banditry and other security challenges in parts of the country.
However, reacting to the development, Obasanjo, who commended Mrs. Buhari for speaking out said, apparently, the First Lady has not adopted the bedroom approach to get her husband’s attention to the issues.

The former President, who hosted the Editorial Board of the renowned social media platform,
Penpushing Media at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, advocated for sensitisation to get the desired change in the country.

In a statement by his Media Aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo said the media also plays a crucial role in the mission to make the country better.

The former President said: “We have to put all things on table to address these problems. Mind you, we have to be sincere and genuine with ourselves.

“It is nice that the President’s wife is talking, I think she did well, and maybe she should also have a pillow talk with the President.

“I believe every Nigerian family, individual, group is entitled to livelihood. It is the responsibility of all to make sure we have a dignified life. That should be our aim collectively.”

SOURCE: Vanguard

President Muhammadu Buhari has issued a proclamation for the Ninth National Assembly to commence sitting from Tuesday.

The presidential action was contained in a one-page document, titled ‘Proclamation for The Holding of The First Session Of The 9th National Assembly,’ bearing the president’s seal, signed on May 30.
Buhari said he was proclaiming the Ninth Assembly in line with section 64(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).

The document stated inter alia: “Whereas it is provided in Section 64(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) that the person elected as president shall have power to issue a proclamation for the holding of the first session of the National Assembly immediately after his being sworn-in.

The president stated: “Now, therefore, I, Muhammadu Buhari, President Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in exercise of the powers bestowed upon me by Section 64 (3) aforesaid and of all other powers enabling me in that behalf, hereby proclaim that the first session of the Ninth (9th) National Assembly shall hold at 10:00am on Tuesday, 11th June, 2019 in the National Assembly, Abuja.

Controversy, however, appeared to have dogged the authenticity of the proclamation document.

While sources at the office of the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Omolori, confirmed that the document was actually received from the president, the former Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, feigned ignorance of the document.

SOURCE: Thisday

THE Presidency has denied that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the establishment of State, Local Government Police.

The Presidency said that President Buhari had requested that the report would be studied and white paper produced within three months.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said, “President Muhammadu Buhari received a report on the reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

” The President requested that the report be studied and a white paper produced within three months.

“President Buhari’s specific directive is that a three-man panel be set up to produce the white paper.

” The report of the white paper committee will form the basis of the decisions of the government on the many recommendations, including the setting up of state and local government police made by the Ojukwu panel.

“Until a white paper is produced, it will be premature and pre-emptive to suggest that the recommendations contained in the report have been approved by the President in part or whole.

SOURCE: Vanguard