Arsenal, Man City Zoom To Next Level In FA Cup Competition

January 9, 2016

Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud scored as Arsenal started their FA Cup defence by coming from behind to defeat Sunderland 3-1 in the third round today.

Arsenal were joined in round four by Premier League title rivals Manchester City, who won 3-0 at Norwich City, but Southampton and Newcastle United were both eliminated and West Bromwich Albion survived a huge scare.

Sunderland took a 17th-minute lead at the Emirates Stadium through Jeremain Lens, but Joel Campbell equalized eight minutes later before second-half goals by Ramsey and Giroud gave Arsene Wenger’s men victory.

Premier League leaders Arsenal are seeking to become the first team to win three FA Cups in a row since Blackburn Rovers between 1884 and 1886.

A side showing five changes fell behind when Lens picked Laurent Koscielny’s pocket and fired home, but minutes later Theo Walcott teed up Campbell to tuck away the equaliser.

Substitute Ramsey made it 2-1 in the 72nd minute after a one-two with Hector Bellerin and Bellerin then teed up Giroud for Arsenal‘s third goal four minutes later.

Manchester City strolled through at Carrow Road, where Sergio Aguero put the visitors ahead in the 16th minute with a driving run and emphatic shot.

Aguero set up 19-year-old strike partner Kelechi Iheanacho for City’s second goal on the half-hour and substitute Kevin De Bruyne wrapped up victory 12 minutes from time.

Southampton and Newcastle both fell at the first hurdle, but could at least console themselves that they were beaten by fellow Premier League teams.

Wilfried Zaha’s 68th-minute goal gave Crystal Palace a 2-1 win at Southampton, while Troy Deeney punished a loose back-pass from Georginio Wijnaldum to give Watford a 1-0 home victory over Newcastle. [myad]

I’m Confident Buhari Will Fight Corruption To Stand-Still – Soyinke

Greenbarge Reporters

January 9, 2016

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would fight corruption to stand-still.

Soyinka, who spoke today when the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed visited him at his home in Lagos, said that the level of exposure concerning corruption under the Buhari administration showed that government is really tackling the vice.

According to him, the country had never had corruption exposed at this scale before, saying: “we have not had a case where it had been alleged and increasingly proven that money supposed to be spent on defending ourselves, our nation, our neighbourhood, has been shared among individuals.

“We never had experience where we were in a state of critical emergency where children are being kidnapped under our noses.

“Never had there been in a situation where we are helpless and our soldiers are sent to the front to defend our very existence and we are not backing them up with conduct that shows integrity and commitment.

“Because of these reasons, corruption is really desperate and has chosen to fight back, but I am confident that corruption will be resolved.”

Professor Soyinka advised the Federal Government not to relent in its effort at bringing all those who looted the nation’s treasury to justice, adding that it should not be cowed by deliberate attempts to frustrate the anti-corruption crusade.

He described as “insulting,” news accusing him of engaging in corrupt practices, stressing that he is ready to face appropriate legal authority if properly invited.

Soyinka decried the deplorable condition of the National Arts Theatre in Lagos, and said that a Private-Public-Partnership may be the solution for the resuscitation of the national monument.

On his part, the minister expressed the government’s resolve to develop the arts industry.

He said that the ministry is currently strategizing on how to tap into the opportunities and potentials in the culture and arts industry to create jobs for Nigerian youths. [myad]

Metuh’s Arrest Angers Ekwerenmadu, Warns Against Disregard For Rule Of Law

Greenbarge Reporters

January 8, 2016

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has expressed anger over the arrest and continue detention of the national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, warning against disregard for the rule of law under the guise of anti-corruption war.

Ekweremadu, in a statement today by his media aide, Uche Anichukwu, said that though PDP is in support of genuine anti-graft crusade, but decried a situation where such crusade becomes a calculated attempt to silence the opposition while members of the ruling party with serious corruption allegations go about their businesses.

According to the number two man in the Senate, the continued detention of Metuh is a recipe for throwing Nigeria into authoritarianism and an attempt to gag the opposition which he said is unhealthy for democracy.

“An anti-graft trap that catches only members of the opposition and those with axe to grind with the government of the day is compromised.”

Ekweremadu called on the nation to denounce and resist the prevailing situation where people are held in custody against the directives of the courts and laws of the land, saying that there would be no justice without the rule of law. [myad]

Cardinal Okogie Accuses Oritsejafor Of Making Mockery Of Christian Religion

Greenbarge Reporters

January 8, 2016

“And look at how they are making mockery of themselves and making mockery of ‘religion’. Is that religion? My brother, I must tell you this; CAN leadership today is zero. CAN has no leader.”

These were the views of the former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, in an interview he granted Premium Times.

The cleric said that it was shameful that Pastor Ayo Ortitsejafor decided to abandon his office as a man of God for politics and deepened himself in politics, with an open support for former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Thank God you are talking to one of the founders of CAN, and I was there as their leader for eight years. Then, the whole country knew that CAN had a leader, not by my own might, but by God. Because what we were doing then, we had only one voice. But the problem we have now is that people are struggling for power in unrighteous way. And because he is struggling for power, he can do little or nothing.

“And we didn’t buy the position. But this time around, because they are rushing to be in power, nobody obeys them. And look at how they are making mockery of themselves and making mockery of ‘religion.’ Is that religion? Today, they are with the federal government. We saw the writing on the wall when we left. The very first person that took over started romancing with Obasanjo. Then one or two CAN presidents tried their best before it got to this present CAN president, Oritsejafor. This is not right. Look at how Oritsejafor has fallen, from grace to grass.”

He also condemned Oritsejafor over his link with the $9.3 million smuggled abroad purportedly to procure arms and seized by South African authorities, saying: “they are ready with their moneybags. Where did they get the money from? Where did they get the $9.3 million that has been seized by South Africa from? They said it was to buy arms. We have to be very careful in this nation. What is the man (Oritsejafor) looking for? If you call yourself a man of God, then you should rely on God. Why should he be jumping up and down? But because he was not elected, not chosen by God, that is what is happening. Today, he wants to build a university, tomorrow he wants to be something else, next tomorrow he wants to be like other people.” [myad]

Enugu Governor Appoints Online Publishers’ President Council Chairman

Greenbarge Reporters

January 8, 2016

President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Malachy Agbo was one of the prominent indigenes of Enugu state that were today, appointed chairmen of the local government caretaker committees.

The state governor, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who inaugurated the committees for the 17 local government councils in the state, asked them to live within their respective council areas even as he also directed all them to brace up for a government that place great emphasis on fiscal discipline in view of the peculiar situations confronting each of their council areas.

Only three of the former local government council chairmen, including Prince Cornelius Nnaji of Enugu East local government, Mr. Afam Okereke of Nkanu West council area and Cornnel Onwubuya of Uzo-Uwani local government council were retained.

Other chairmen of the council caretaker committees include, Professor Rose Onah for Nsukka, Ekwe Chidi from Aninri, Igwe Isaac Chukwudi – Enugu North, Sunday Ugwu – Enugu South and Fred Ezenwa – Ezeagu. Others are Malachy Agbo – Igbo-etiti,
Uwake Ezeja – Igboeze North, Fidelis Odoh – Igboeze South and Benjamin
Edeoga – Isiuzo among others.

The governor emphasized the imperative of the new helmsmen domiciling in their local government council areas, saying that the era of running the local government system from hotels is over in the state.

The governor reminded them that government and the people of Enugu State expect good results from them. He thanked the out-gone chairmen and the councilors for the service they rendered in their respective capacities, wishing them well in their future endeavours. [myad]

Lassa Fever Ravages 10 Nigerian States, Kills 40 – Minister

Greenbarge Reporters

January 8, 2016

A total of 40 people have died in an outbreak of Lassa fever in at least 10 Nigerian states within the last six weeks, the Nigerian health minister, Dr. Isaac Adewole has confirmed today.

“In the last six weeks, Nigeria has been experiencing Lassa fever outbreak which so far has affected 10 states in the country,” Dr. Adewole said at a news briefing today in Abuja.

The affected states include Bauchi, Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Edo, Plateau, Gombe and Oyo state.

“The total number of cases so far reported is 86 and 40 deaths with the mortality rate of 45 percent,” Adewole said, adding that laboratory tests confirmed that 22 of the 86 suspected cases were Lassa fever.

Experts describe Lassa fever as an acute illness that causes bleeding and deaths in severe cases. The host of the Lassa virus is the “multimammate rat.”

It is said to transmit to humans from contact with infected food or household items contaminated with rodent excreta. The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa.

Dr. Adewole had said the Nigerian government would continue to enhance its surveillance and social health education to prevent further spread of the disease in Nigeria. He added that the World Health Organization had been notified of the outbreak. [myad]

Metuh’s Arrest Angers Ekwerenmadu, Warns Against Disregard For Rule Of Law

Greenbarge Reporters

January 8, 2016

“An anti-graft trap that catches only members of the opposition and those with axe to grind with the government of the day is compromised.”

How I Ignored Many Lies Sophia, My Wife Told Me Cos Of Love – Davido

Greenbarge Reporters

January 8, 2016

Controversial musical maestro, David Adeleke, popularly called Davido has narrated how he had ignored many lies which his estranged wife, Babymam, Sophia Momodu told him in the name of love he had for her.

The musician, who met with operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) at Ikeja, Lagos was said to have disclosed that recent lie by Sophia was her sexual relation with a friend of his father, Dr. Deji Adeleke in Dubai.

Davido was said to have told the NAPTIP operatives that he knew Sophia had other relationships apart from Dr. Adeleke but that he had overlooked all these because he truly loves Sophia.

He said that he also overlooked other lies she had told him, including her age and educational qualification, adding that contrary to her initial claim that she was only two years older than him, he later discovered that the age difference could be as much as six. Davido gave his own age as 24.
He said that Sophia was not a graduate as she has claimed so far.

Davido was at the office of NAPTIP to answer the a petition by Sophia that he was attempting to take their child, Imade, out of the country without her consent.
meanwhile, Davido’s sister, who is said to have been ill, is expected to appear before the NAPTIP operatives, also in the Lagos office next week.
She was fronting as the mother of Imade at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport as they made to travel with the baby before Sophia appeared to lay claim to the girl. [myad]

Ladoja Of Accord Party Confirms Receiving N100 Million From Arms Deal Scam

Greenbarge Reporters

January 8, 2016

Leader of the Accord party in the last general election, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has confirmed that he too received N100 million from former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih ahead of the 2015 presidential election.

The confirmation was contained in a one-page letter to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, by the National Secretary of Accord party, Hon. Nureni Adisa.

In the letter titled: “Release of One Hundred Million by Chief Tony Anenih” and dated 8^th January, 2016, Hon. Adisa said: “Our attention has been drawn to a newspaper report that the sum of One Hundred Million Naira was released to the ACCORD leader, Senator Rashidi Ladoja by Chief Tony Anenih, the (former) Chairman BoT of the PDP.

“We confirm that the sum of One Hundred Million Naira was given to the Party through our leader after series of meetings between the leadership of ACCORD and Chief Tony Anenih in preparation for the 2015 general elections.

“The following issues were discussed at the meetings:

The need to support the Presidential candidate of the PDP since ACCORD had no Presidential candidate.
The need to ensure that peace was maintained to enhance peaceful movement during periods of campaign, elections and after the elections.
The need for the PDP to support ACCORD campaign effort.

“Accordingly, the PDP (former) BoT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih released the sum of One Hundred Million Naira for these purposes through our leader, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.

“The money released was accordingly used for the purposes as stated above.”

It would be recalled that disbursements of varied sums of money to the accounts of some PDP leaders have been reportedly made by the Office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki, who has been alleged to have diverted $2.1 billion meant for procurement of arms and ammunition that the armed forces would have used to fight Boko Haram insurgents.

It was reported that N260 million was traced to the account of the chairman of the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, who in a letter to the EFCC, explained that the money was a part refund of the money former President Goodluck Jonathan instructed him to release to some political groups for mobilization and post-election peace advocacy.

The former PDP BoT Chairman, who explained that he was not a direct beneficiary of the money, said in his letter to the EFCC that N100 million was given to the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae, N100 million to the leader of Accord, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and N63 million to a group headed by elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai.

He said that the N260 million could not defray the total money, estimated at over N440 million that he eventually doled out from his pocket to other groups and individuals on the instructions of the former President.

Both Yakassai and Falae had already confirmed that they received N63 million and N100 million respectively from Anenih for the purposes specified. [myad]

Metuh’s Ordeal May Linger As EFCC Gets Court Order To Detain Him Ad Infinitum

Greenbarge Reporters

January 8, 2016

The possibility of the release from detention, of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not be immediately on sight as an Abuja Chief Magistrate has granted his continued detention.

The purpose of his continued detention, according to ex parte motion pursuant to Section 293 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 brought by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) was based on the fact that some of the people suspected to be his accomplice in the alleged N1.4 billion scam have disappeared.

Metuh was picked up by the the EFCC operatives on Tuesday, for interrogation in respect of about N1.4 billion “suspicious” funds in an account of a company in which he has interest.

TheEFCC counsel told the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Wuse Zone 2 while presenting the reason why Metuh should be confined into detention, that it decided to seek for such order because some of his accomplices are at large.

The EFCC counsel, Mr. C.O. Ugwu said: “Your Worship, we have a remand proceeding brought by way of ex parte motion pursuant to Section 293 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

“The application is supported by Form 8, which is the stipulated form for an application of this nature. It is of 16-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Junaid Saidu, a detective officer with EFCC.

“We place reliance on the entirety of the deposition in the said affidavit, especially paragraphs 4-15. In a nutshell, we have brought this application because the investigation involved in this case is a bit complex and there are also persons reasonably suspected to be involved in the fraud who are yet at large.

“We need the suspect in the custody so as to aid us in our investigation. So, we have come with this application to respectfully apply for an order of this Honourable Court authorising us to keep him in custody.

“By the provision of Section 296(1) of the ACJ Act, Your Worship is enjoined to grant an application of this nature for a period of 14 days.”

In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Okeagu Azubuike said: “This court has read carefully the affidavit in the Form 8 to support this application as well as the legal authorities submitted thereto.

“This court has therefore found merit in this application and hereby allows the applicant to detain the respondent(Olisa Metuh) in their custody from the 6th of January to 13th of January, 2016, pending the investigation.

“The Respondent(Olisa Metuh) should be given access to his lawyer, relatives and medical doctors and should be arraigned before a court of law on or before 13th of January.” [myad]

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