Thursday, 16 December 2021

Man arrested for masterminding the abduction and murder of his wife so he can inherit her numerous assets (photos)

The Operatives of the Nigeria Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have arrested four (4) suspects in connection with the abduction and gruesome killing of the late Mrs Nneka Nwanyi-Sunday Emeh Kalu who was earlier reported missing and later found dead in a cassava farm on August 29, 2021 in Ngugworo Community in Nguzu Edda in Afikpo South, Ebonyi State.

A statement released by Police spokesperson, Frank Mba, says the suspects identified as Irem Ifeanyi Mbah, Igwe Anya Chima, Okorie Okam and Emeh Kalu – the husband of the deceased and the principal suspect. The suspects are within the age bracket of 25 – 40yrs and all native of Nguzu Edda village in Afikpo South Local Council Area of Ebonyi State.
 
Mba said investigations into the death of the victim followed a complaint received from the people of Ngugworo community, Ebonyi State, a border town to Abia State where the victim resided when the decomposing body of the late Mrs Kalu was discovered in their community. The discrete investigations carried out by the Police team led to the arrest of the four suspects.

''Investigations by the Police team revealed that Emeh Kalu – the husband of the deceased, in a bid to fraudulently and hastily ‘inherit’ his wife’s numerous assets including landed property, houses, money in bank and thriving business, etc, procured the services of five (5) other criminal elements to stage the abduction of his wife by luring her to meet him at a junction to pick up somethings for the house.

Investigations further revealed how the criminals strangled her to death after obtaining necessary information on the whereabouts of title documents and other relevant papers of her possessions. Efforts are being intensified to arrest other suspects and persons indicted in the matter with a view to concluding the investigations.  
 
While condoling with the family of the deceased for the unfortunate loss, the force spokesperson enjoined families and relatives to be their “brother’s keeper” and provide prompt information to the Police that would assist in proactively containing crimes and all forms of gender-based violence.  

Mba added that all the suspects would be arraigned in court on completion of the investigation.

FEC approves 20% upgrade in police officers salary

The Federal Executive Council has approved a 20 per cent increase in salaries for personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, disclosed this to State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday December 15.

Noting that the upward review is a product of the issues raised during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020, Dingyadi stated that the decision was taken to boost the morale of police personnel across the country.

The increase will take effect from January 2022.

 

 

Wednesday, 15 December 2021

African football chiefs hold talks over cancellation of 2022 Africa Cup of Nations due to Omicron Covid-19 variant'


The Confederation of African Football [CAF]  are reportedly holding talks over cancelling the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] tournament in Cameroon next month.

The Cameroon tournament is due to start on January 9 and run until February 6, with several Premier League players - including Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane set to leave their clubs mid-season to take part in the competition.

African football chiefs hold talks over cancellation of 2022 Africa Cup of Nations due to Omicron Covid-19 variant

According to French news outlet RMC Sport, the Central African Federation (CAF) could announce a cancellation as the Omicron variant continues to ravage the continent. 

The tournament's organizing committee met with the CAF at the end of October to unveil their findings in a preparation report for the tournament. The committee announced that 'urgent attention' was needed for the competition to go ahead safely.

One of the areas that required urgent attention was 'sanitary matters' relating to the coronavirus pandemic and the welcoming of fans into the Cameroon stadia. However, the same committee signed off the Organising Agreement between AFCON and Cameroon, which states the tournament was set to go ahead as planned.  

But there are doubts about staging the tournament, which will be welcome news to Liverpool, who will lose key attacking duo, Salah and Mane, for a key part of their Premier League title challenge, should the competition take place.


We will ensure tenants pay monthly from 2022- Lagos state gov, Babajide Sanwo-Olu


The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said his administration will enforce a monthly tenancy on property occupancy from 2022 to alleviate annual financial pressure on tenants.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said this during the inauguration of 744 units Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Phase one) in Sangotedo., on Tuesday, December 14.

“The state government is set for the enforcement of a monthly tenancy on property occupancy from 2022. It is confirmed that the percentage of residents depending on tenancy arrangements for housing in Lagos State is quite high.

“While building homes for those with home ownership dreams, we are also determined to cater for numerous others who may not have plans to own homes but have immediate needs for decent shelter.

“The monthly tenancy is a pro-people plan to reduce financial pressure of yearly rent on tenants. The goal of this policy is to equate rental arrangements with a mode of earning which is by and large monthly.”

The governor added that a legislative review was ongoing to reduce rent default.

“We have talked through this policy and an agreement has been reached by representatives of tenants, financiers and the state government. This however should not be a cause of discontent or alarm for landlords or real estate agencies. Adequate legislative review is being done to ensure that rental default is reduced to the barest minimum,” he added
 

O.J. Simpson now a completely free man after being discharged from parole

The 74-year-old former football hero and actor, convicted of armed robbery after his famous 1995 acquittal for the murder of estranged wife Nicole Brown Simpson, has been granted early release from parole over the 2007 heist in Las Vegas.

“Mr. Simpson is a completely free man now,” his Nevada lawyer, Malcolm LaVergne, told the Associated Press on Tuesday December 14.

Simpson, 74, was convicted in October 2008 for leading five men, two of them armed, into a Las Vegas casino-hotel a year earlier to confront two sports collectible dealers.

The former Buffalo Bills star running back had claimed he was simply trying to retrieve items from his NFL career that had been stolen. But the jury didn’t see it that way.

Simpson served nine years behind bars before being released on parole in 2017. He was supposed to be under parole supervision until Feb. 9 but got time trimmed off for good behavior, state police said Tuesday.

His official release date was Dec. 1, police said.

Simpson has remained in a gated community in Nevada, where he’s a regular on the golf course since his release from prison.

Despite a Hall of Fame career in the NFL, Simpson is more widely known for his murder trial in the death of his estranged wife and her pal Ronald Goldman.

EFCC Raids Abuja Hotel, Arrests Woman, Others With Fake $427,400

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested five members of a syndicate who specialise in counterfeiting foreign currencies, especially the dollar, for sale to unsuspecting members of the public.

Acting on intelligence, the commission, in a joint operation with operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, arrested four members of the syndicate on December 8, 2021, at Swiss Pearl Continental Hotel, Koforidua Street, in the Wuse 2 area of Abuja with fake $427,400.

The suspects include Fashanu Adesina, John Ogbaje, Emmanuel Bassey and Chidi Nwachukwu.

A statement on Tuesday by the EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren, titled, ‘EFCC smashes fake currency syndicate,’ said “The suspects volunteered useful statements which eventually led to the arrest of the syndicate’s kingpin, one Chief Douglas Mbonu on Tuesday, December 14.

“The commission wishes to warn members of the public to be wary of the activities of fraud syndicates masquerading as Bureau de Change operators, seeking to exploit the desperation of some citizens sourcing for forex for various purposes to defraud them of their hard-earned monies.

“Citizens are advised to source their forex from commercial banks in line with the directives of the Central Bank of Nigeria to minimise the risk of exposure to fraud syndicates.”

Nigeria Gets First Vaccine Production Facility

MilliporeSigma Announces Collaboration with Innovative Biotech to Support Establishment of First Vaccine Production Facility in Nigeria. 

MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, today announced the Life Science business sector has signed an agreement with biotechnology company Innovative Biotech (IB) to design the manufacturing process for the first vaccine production facility in Nigeria.

“We are committed to expanding access to life-saving and life-enhancing therapies to patients across the world and this collaboration is a testament to that commitment,” said Andrew Bulpin, Head of Process Solutions, Life Science business sector. “We are proud to provide the technical support and expertise that could help enable the first vaccine facility in Nigeria and localize vaccine development in the West Africa region.”

This collaboration is part of the West African pandemic readiness program, which aims to localize vaccine development in the African nations. The first phase of this integrated partnership focuses on designing the fill and finish facility, incorporating Mobius® single-use technology offered by the Life Science business sector, while the second phase will focus on enabling continuous manufacturing.

“By leveraging facility design expertise of the Life Science business sector, we’ll be able to build the first vaccine production facility in Nigeria and manufacture high-quality and affordable vaccines locally,” said Simon Agwale, CEO of Innovative Biotech.

Innovative Biotech’s licensor, TechnoVax, is developing a virus-like-particle (VLP)-based vaccine to target variants of Covid-19. Provisional results from the preclinical studies of the VLP-based vaccine have shown promise for virus neutralization. Technovax is a 2019 recipient of MilliporeSigma’s Advance Biotech Grant for developing a virus-like particle platform that facilitates the development and production of a range of vaccines targeting the prevention of respiratory diseases, hemorrhagic fevers, immunodeficiency and cancers.

2023: I Won’t Turn Down Your Calls, Tinubu Tell Nigerians


National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured his teeming supporters and other Nigerians across the country that he will not turn down their clamour for him to be the next President of the country.

Tinubu made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with members of the Northern Alliance Committee.

He was quick to however add that consultations with political stakeholders were still ongoing.

Asked if he will not heed the clamour of Nigerians to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju said; “I am not going to turn them (Nigerians) down, but I will still effective and widely consult, particularly brainstorm with my friends and find a date to come out openly and tell Nigerians.”

“The president is still in office. I don’t want to distract him from all the challenges that he might face today. So, we will consult and make our programmes known to the people later and the intention is clear. So, you keep guessing.”

FG Debunks Reports That Marriages Conducted At Ikoyi Registry Are Illegal


PRESS STATEMENT BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY AND PRINCIPAL REGISTRAR OF MARRIAGES, MINISTRY OF INTERIOR

The attention of the Ministry of Interior has been drawn to news making the rounds on social media claiming that the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has declared all Marriages conducted by Ikoyi marriage registry to be illegal and invalid.

We would like to state that this statement is false, misleading and a deliberate distortion of the decision of the Court in Suit No: FHC/L/CS/816/18 between Eti-Osa Local Government Council & 3 others v. Honourable Minister of Interior and 2 others, where the Honourable Court held that only the Local Government councils can conduct valid marriages in Nigeria.

It is noteworthy that, the same Federal High Court situated in Ikoyi, Lagos in Suit No. FHC/L/870/2002 between Prince Haastrup and Eti Osa Local Government held that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Interior is constitutionally empowered to conduct marriages in Nigeria and held that the Local Governments were delegated by the Federal Government to conduct marriages, by virtue of Legal Notices issued pursuant to the Marriage Act.

In that case, the learned trial judge held that nothing in the role of local governments, as defined in the Constitution, suggests that local governments can conduct or contract marriages as alleged in their pleadings. The Court affirmed that powers of the local governments to contract statutory marriages is derived from the Legal Notices issued by the President. The Court also confirmed that the role of local governments, as enshrined in the Constitution is limited to registration of all forms of marriages (including Islamic and customary marriages).

Rather than appeal this decision, the same claimants instituted another action in 2016 Suit no. FHC/L/CS/1760/16 Egor Local Government, Eti- Osa Local Government and 2 others V Hon, Minister of Interior and 2 Others. The Court held that the Suit was an abuse of court process, as it could not be invited to make another pronouncement on the same point of law, which would lead to conflicting decisions coming from the same court and therefore struck out the case.

The same issue was adjudicated in the case of Olumide Babalola vs Ikeja Local Government and the Registered Trustees of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in Suit No. LD/1343/GCM/2016 delivered on 15th May, 2017. The Court held that while registration of marriages are regulated by local governments, being under the concurrent list, formation of marriage is under the Exclusive Legislative List, within the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, regulated by the Ministry of Interior.

It is further worthy of note that the issue of formation, annulment and other matrimonial causes are by virtue of item 61 of the 1st Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria exclusively reserved for the Federal Government.

The General Public is invited to note that these judgments are all still subsisting, competent and have not been appealed against till date.

Further to the above, the current decision of the Federal High Court delivered by Hon. Justice D. E. Osiagor of Court 6, cannot set aside a previous decision of the same Court, which is of coordinate jurisdiction, as that would amount to the court sitting on appeal over its own judgment.

In the circumstances, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Interior, has applied for a certified true copy of the judgement and will take appropriate further action including but not limited to filing of an appeal in respect of this conflicting and confusing decision, in line with the provisions of the Constitution.

We would like to appeal to the general public, the international community, to couples who had hitherto had their marriages solemnized at Federal Marriage Registries by duly licensed places of worship and to all intending couples to be calm and continue transacting their normal businesses at all Federal Marriage Registries subsisting throughout the federation in line with statutory and constitutional provisions.

The general public is to please note the foregoing and maintain status quo ante.

Dr. Shuaib Belgore
Permanent Secretary/Principal Registrar of Marriages
14th December, 2021

Tuesday, 14 December 2021

British singer, Ed Sheeran talked about his obsession with Fireboy DML’s ‘Peru’ and would hop on the remix

British singer, Ed Sheeran has disclosed that he is obsessed with Fireboy DML’s ‘Peru’ and would hop on the remix this December

The Grammy winner made this known during his 15 minutes chat via Apple Music’s ‘Rocket Hour’ platform with Elton John, adding that he finds the song addictive.

Speaking on how he got to work with Fireboy, Sheeran said,
“So I got sent his song ‘Peru’ a week ago, to remix it. Someone, a friend of mine, Jamal [Edwards] who runs SBTV sent it to me.

‘Fireboy DML would love you on the remix of this song and I’ve just found it really intriguing. So I recorded a verse for it and it’s a song that’s blowing up in Nigeria and Ghana at the moment and their club scene runs over Christmas’.

“So you basically put a song to the club in the middle of December, which would seem a weird thing to do in England. But yeah, so I have done the remix for this song, but the original is just an ear-worm, it’s addictive and I’m obsessed with it.

“I mean, Cherry will tell you, I’ve had this song on repeat constantly in the house for the last week.”

All Marriages conducted by the Ikoyi Marriage Registry are illegal and Invalid

There have been a legal brawl between some Local government Areas of Nigeria against the Federal government simply for the determination of who have the power to operate marriage registries, conduct marriages and issue marriage certificates.

Statutorily, the Local governments are the ones empowered to conduct marriages and issue marriage certificates, for this reason, the LGAs have insisted that their powers to register marriages which is statutorily provided are being usurped by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Interior.

The Eti Osa LOcal Government Area of Lagos state took the Ministry of Interior and Attorney General of the Federation to court in suit no.: FHC/ LS/CS/816/18 between Eti-Osa LGA & 3 others v. Hon. Minister of Interior & 2 others (Federal High Court, Ikoyi Judicial Divaion), where the accused Federal Ministry of Interiors of usurping the Local Governments power to operate marriage registries, conduct marriages and issue marriage certificates.

The prayed the court to declare that the federal government have no business in the conduction of marriages and issuing marriage certificates and order the closure of all marriage registries opened and operated by the federal ministry of interior or through their agents including that of the Ikoyi registry.

The case lingered but recently, the federal High court sitting in Ikoyi held in the favor of the Eti osa local government and granted their prayers.

The court held that conduct of marriages and issue of certificate is statutorily the job of the local governments as provided by the law and only the local governments have the power to do such and the acts of the federal government through the ministry of interior operating marriage registries is clearly beyond their powers.

The court further held that all marriages conducted by federal marriage registries or through their agents are illegal and invalid and the federal high court also ordered for the closure of all federal marriage registries including that of Ikoyi marriage registry with immediate effect.

Stanley Alieke, Esq.
Managing Partner,
Stanley Alieke & Co.
infoitooknow@gmail.com

UAE backs down, concedes seven flight slots to Air Peace

In what appears as a move to avert a diplomatic row, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) yesterday conceded seven slots to Air Peace.

It has also granted the Nigerian carrier the permit to fly directly to Dubai instead of Sharjah Airport, a source said.

But, the government said it was unaware of alleged stoppage of Nigerians by the UAE from entering any part of the Emirates through other carriers.

According to sources, the General Civil Aviation Authority sent a December 13t, 2021 letter to Air Peace.

Although the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not copied in breach of protocol, the Federal Government was said to have received the letter.

Monday, 13 December 2021

Sheikh Gumi’s Brother Kidnapped By Bandits

Popular and controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has revealed the kidnap of his senior brother by bandits, saying they demanded ransom to regain his freedom.

Gummi revealed this in an interview with some journalists in Gusau, saying his senior brother was kidnapped because he made a case for bandits and for visiting them in their forest conclaves.

He, however, solicited the release of his brother, saying he had also been a victim of the bandits on several occasions.

“Also in our mosque, we have paid a ransom. Even now, somebody is asking me to assist him to pay the ransom. Our family driver who happens to be our relative, his son, a private soldier, was killed by bandits. So now I can support such people?” Gumi said.

However, the cleric said his efforts with bandits have been sabotaged recently, stressing that he has quit meeting with bandits because it will be dangerous for him to continue to engage with them.

The Islamic scholar blamed those calling for his arrest as those behind the banditry in the northern zone of the country, stressing that it is a constitutional right for someone to express his views.

The cleric said his efforts are to prevent banditry in his own way stating that he has also been a victim of banditry.

“They are clowns, they don’t know anything about the Nigerian society, they don’t know about the Nigerian constitution and liberty. It is a constitutional right for someone to express his views, so long you are not calling for violence or to harm anybody.

“These people calling for my arrest, I don’t see them different from the bandits. To say that I am supporting or sponsoring bandits is malicious. I am just trying to cure them in my own way. I am trying to prevent it my own way and I have seen how my little efforts have helped”

Sunday, 12 December 2021

NFF appoints Eguavoen interim Super Eagles’ boss as relationship with Rohr ends

The Nigeria Football Federation has appointed Mr Augustine Eguavoen, currently its Technical Director, as the Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles on an interim basis. This is with immediate effect, and follows the termination of the relationship with Franco-German Gernot Rohr, who has been in charge of the three –time African champions for the past 64 months, and is Nigeria’s longest –serving manager.

Following a virtual meeting of the NFF Executive Committee on Sunday, it was decided that Eguavoen will work with Salisu Yusuf (Chief Coach); Paul Aigbogun (Assistant Coach); Joseph Yobo (Assistant Coach); Dr Terry Eguaoje (Assistant Coach) and Aloysius Agu (Goalkeeper Trainer). Former Nigeria captains Augustine ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu and Garba Lawal have been appointed to provide technical and ambassadorial support for the crew.

General Secretary of the NFF, Dr Mohammed Sanusi said: “The relationship between the Nigeria Football Federation and Mr Rohr has come to an end. We thank him for his services to the Super Eagles and Nigeria.

“We also want to thank the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports for their collaboration and guidance all through.”

Eguavoen, a former Nigeria captain, was coach of the squad when it finished in third place at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in 2006. He was on-field captain when the Super Eagles lifted the Africa Cup for the first time on away ground, in Tunisia 27 years ago.

He will now take charge of the team as it begins preparations for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Cameroon 9th January – 6th February 2022, and until the appointment of a substantive Head Coach.

Tolulope Atobatele 
Sport Journalist

Thursday, 9 December 2021

UK travel ban on Nigeria is not discriminatory - British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has said that the ban on UK travels from Nigeria is science-based and not discriminatory as it is being suggested.

Last week, the United Kingdom (UK) announced that travelers from Nigeria would not be permitted to enter the United Kingdom beginning from Monday this week as a result of the growing concerns over an outbreak of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.


The UK Health Minister, Sajid Javid, who made the announcement, said only residents and citizens of the UK and Ireland travelling from Nigeria would be allowed entry into the region adding that they will have to quarantine on arrival. He said the measures are required to slow the spread of the new variant while scientists work to understand more about the transmissibility and implications for vaccine effectiveness of the variant.

“In light of the most recent data we are taking further action to slow the incursion of the Omicron variant.

From 4 am Monday, only UK/Irish citizens and residents travelling from Nigeria will be allowed entry and must isolate in a managed quarantine facility” the statement said

The Federal government has since condemned the move. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, at a press conference, described the UK's decision to bar flights from Nigeria because of the Omicron variant of COVID19, is unjust and discriminatory. 

In an interview with Channels TV, the UK envoy to Nigeria, dismissed claims that the decision to bar flights from Nigeria is discriminatory. She said the decision was science-based as they were in search of ways to contain the spread of the virus in their country.

''On the point that it is discriminatory, I can say it is not. When the UK was the epicenter of the Alpha variant, we took some very tough measures ourselves to cut ourselves off. We banned all non-essential from the UK. That was a very tough decision for us.

The UK has been red-listed itself in the earlier stages of this variant. We were needlessly barred from Austria, France and Turkey.

So we have been red-listed by other countries.''

''In terms of hearing the reactions from Nigeria, I can tell you the reactions have been heard loud and clear but I don't want to suggest to anybody that that would change the basis of the decision because the health basis has to be the basis on which the decision was made. 

As this unfolds, I hope there would be a point where before too long, Nigeria will be removed from the re list as soon as the health data convinces us that we can do that.''

Germany bids Angela Merkel farewell as Chancellor


German Chancellor Angela Merkel has stepped down after 16 years in power, as the German parliament elects Olaf Scholz as the next leader of Europe's biggest economy.

Merkel formally handed over the reins to her successor on Wednesday afternoon, in a bittersweet goodbye.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier formally appointed Scholz as Merkel's successor on Wednesday after the parliament elected him chancellor.

"It will be a new beginning for our country. In any case, I will do everything to work towards that," the 63-year-old said as he took his oath of office in an official handover ceremony in the Berlin parliament. 

Scholz was elected chancellor after a secret ballot in which he won 395 out of 707 German lawmakers' votes. Scholz will lead Germany's first federal "traffic light" coalition, made up of the SPD, the ecologist Greens, and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), and named for the parties' colours.  

Scholz will head a three-way governing coalition consisting of the social democrat SPD party, the Greens and the liberal FDP.

The SPD-Greens-FDP coalition sealed a pact, titled "Dare for More Progress" last month that pledged “a new beginning for Germany". 

The alliance aims to slash carbon emissions, overhaul decrepit digital infrastructure, modernise citizenship laws, lift the minimum wage and have Germany join a handful of countries worldwide in legalising marijuana.

“I know you are starting work highly motivated,” Merkel told Scholz at her chancellery in Berlin, adding: “take this office and work in the best interest of our country—that is my wish.” 

Welcoming Scholz’s election, French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated the new chancellor and promised to work with his German counterpart. 

"We will write the next chapter together. For the French, for the Germans, for the Europeans," said Macron in a tweet in French and German. He also thanked Merkel for "never forgetting the lessons of history, for doing so much for us, with us, to move Europe forwards". 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Scholz and said she looked forward to working with him for a stronger EU.   

"Congratulations, dear Olaf Scholz on your election and appointment as federal chancellor. I wish you a good start and look forward to further trusting cooperation for a strong Europe," she tweeted in her native German. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin also reacted to the appointment, calling for "constructive” ties with Scholz. 

"We are counting on continuity, on the fact that constructive relations will develop between the president and the new chancellor, that the German side will continue to proceed from the understanding that there is no alternative to dialogue to resolve the most difficult differences," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. 

Merkel, 67, Germany's first woman chancellor, is retiring from politics after four consecutive terms, the first post-war leader to step aside of her own accord. 

Sunday, 5 December 2021

Rohr wants outstanding salaries, bonuses before quitting Super Eagles


Embattled Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has reportedly demanded the Nigeria Football Federation pay him his outstanding salaries of two months and an additional four months pay before he quits the team. 

Rohr has 12 months left on his deal with the NFF. He also asked to be paid bonuses for qualifying the Eagles for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon and World Cup playoffs a close source told PUNCH Sports Extra.

The NFF and the sports ministry are said to be finalizing details concerning Rohr’s disengagement as well as the new coach to lead the national team but are yet to agree with the Franco-German over his severance pay.

“The federation is broke and cannot afford to meet his (Rohr) demands of disengagement,” a close source told PUNCH Sports Extra. 

Meanwhile, the NFF have ruled out any chance of appointing an indigenous coach for the team with the federation considering hiring Serbian Mladen Krstajic to replace Rohr if he is relieved of his job.

Rohr was appointed in 2016 and has recorded 28 wins, 13 draws, and 13 defeats in the 54 games he has been in charge of the team. He also led the team to a third-place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

COVID-19 : UK adds Nigeria to red list over Omicron variant

The United Kingdom has added Nigeria to its red list on an effort to restrict the spread of Omicron, a variant of Coronavirus. 

The UK made the announcement on Saturday, Dec. 4.

"From 0400 on Monday 6 December, Nigeria will be added to the red list for entering England," the UK government’s travel advisory on Nigeria said.

Following the latest development, all international arrivals to the UK will now be required to take pre-departure COVID-19 tests, the Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, said on Saturday.

UK citizens and residents will be able to enter the country from Nigeria but they will have to pay to stay in a quarantine for 10 days.

"Nigeria is second only to South Africa for cases linked to Omicron," Javid said.

He added that there are "27 cases already in England and that's growing".

Javid also said the measures are "hugely unfortunate" for people who already had travel plans, but insisted that they would be "temporary".

"We want to remove them as soon as we possibly can," he added, saying that "vaccines remain our first line of defence".

#Justiceforsylvester Police commence investigation into Dowen college student’s death

The Lagos State Police Command has commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a 12-year-old Dowen College student, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, in Lekki Lagos on Tuesday, November 30.

In a statement released on Saturday evening, the spokesperson of the state police command, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, says the state Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered the Maroko Divisional Police Officer under whose division the incident happened to commence an investigation into the matter.

The press statement reads

''The Lagos State Police Command is not unaware of the reported death of one Sylvester Oromoni, a 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos which is currently going viral on social media.

The Command wishes to inform the public that, although no formal report of the incident was made to the police, the Commissioner of Police, upon hearing about it instantly directed the Divisional Police Officer, Maroko Division under whose jurisdiction the place of incident is to immediately visit the school to carry out an initial investigation into the incident.

This directive has been carried out as an investigation into the case has since commenced. However, in view of the seriousness of the case, the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, has also been directed to take over the investigation of the case immediately.

Members of the public, particularly the deceased’s bereaved parents, friends and relatives, are assured that the Lagos State Police Command has deployed all available human and material resources at its disposal to unravel the circumstances surrounding the sad and unfortunate incident.

While diligent investigation is ongoing, members of the public are advised against taking the law into their own hands. They are also enjoined to refrain from comments that could jeopardize investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, while commiserating with the bereaved family, has equally assured that the outcome of the police investigation would be made public in due course.

Saturday, 4 December 2021

COVID-19 Affected My Fight Against Corruption, Insecurity – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that the COVID-19 pandemic affected his administration’s anti-corruption crusade and insecurity in Nigeria.

The president made this known disclosed this at the United Arab Emirates, during Nigeria Day at the EXPO DUBAI 2020 on Friday.

This was contained in a statement signed by his spokesman, Femi Adesina.

“The concerted efforts by world leaders, working together, enabled us to limit the catastrophic consequences of this pandemic.

“Nigeria, like other countries in the world, was impacted negatively by the COVID-19 pandemic, compounding national efforts in addressing insecurity, fighting corruption and diversifying the nation’s economy.

“Nonetheless, the present administration in Nigeria has registered significant progress within a short period of time and is still making headways in key sectors of the economy,” the statement said.