The Federal Government has urged a Federal High Court in Abuja to revoke the bail it granted leader of the pro-Biafra group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu and return him to prison.

The government argued that Kanu has not only breached the conditions attached to the bail granted him on April 25 this year on health ground, he has allegedly conducted himself in manners that threaten public peace.

It cited Kanu's alleged threat that elections would not hold in South East states until the Fed Govt conduct referendum on whether or not Biafra should secede and instances where the IPOB leader addressed crowd exceeding 10 and threatened civil disobedience, as against the court's directive that he must not be seen in a crowd of over 10 people.

The government, in a counter-motion, dated August 1, 2017 filed by Magaji Labaran of the Federal Ministry of Justice, urged the court to dismiss an application by Kanu, seeking a review of the bail conditions.

It noted that not only had Kanu met the bail conditions and was enjoying the bail, it was an affront to the court's authority for the IPOB leader to approach the court for the review of the bail conditions, having allegedly breached the conditions.

"The offence for which he (Kanu) is standing trial is not ordinarily bailable; the court, not withstanding, granted bail to the 1st defendant/applicant (Kanu) on health grounds on 25th April 2017.

"Among other conditions for the bail of the 1st defendant is that he should not be seen in a crowd exceeding 10 people; that he should not grant any interviews, hold or attend any rallies; that he should file, in court, medical updates of his health status every month. The bail conditions were perfected by the 1stdefendant/applicant, which he is currently enjoying.

"Rather than observing all the conditions listed above, the 1st defendant, in fragrant disobedience to the court order, flouted all conditions given by the court.

"The 1st defendant equally incited his members to disrupt, disallow and boycott elections in South East states, starting with Anambra State gubernatorial election scheduled for November 18 if the Federal Government failed to hold referendum for the realisation of the state of Biafra.

"The 1st defendant has already declared the bail conditions given by the court unconstitutional before approaching this court with the application for variation. Rather than showing remorse for his actions, the 1st defendant approached this court with an application for a review of the same conditions for the bail which he grossly flouted.

"Considering the above, that the 1st applicant has violated the conditions on which the terms of his bail were premised, we urged this court to commit the defendant to prison by invoking the provision of Section 173(2)(B) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

"We categorically state that justice would have been denied the state by this court, if the state is not protected from the offences being perpetrated by the 1stdefendant/applicant, who is currently on bail," the Fed Govt said.

Kanu and four other suspected IPOB members - Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi and Bright Chimezie - are being tried before the Federal High Court, Abuja on offences relating to conspiracy and treasonable felony.

More so, Kanu, who will be facing four out of the five amended charges, has declared his determination to get the charges quashed for being "grossly incompetent" and for "want of diligent prosecution".

The IPOB leader, through his team of lawyers led by Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, accused FG of violating an express order of the trial court that forbade any of the parties from filing any form of interlocutory application pending the commencement of full-blown trial of the defendants.

Ejiofor accused FG of deliberately stalling the case while fishing for evidence against the defendants.

According to him, rather than to open its case on June 22, FG, served an amended five-count charge on the defendants, "in clear breach and violation of an order the court made on April 25, 2017, wherein his Lordship warned, that the court will not entertain further interlocutory application or process capable of delaying the trial".

He alleged that FG joined the 5th defendant, Chimezie, in the case after a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State had on May 24, not only ordered his immediate release from custody of the Department of State Service , DSS, but equally directed that he should be paid N5million as damages having been illegally detained for period that exceeded the constitutional provision.

Besides, the IPOB leader has filed a motion asking trial Justice Nyako to vary some of his bail conditions which he maintained were arbitrary and unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, a group of lawyers under the aegis of Anambra State Lawyers in Defence of Democracy, ASLADD, have petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, asking him to commence a "high-powered clinical investigation into activities of the IPOB".

The petitioners, while condemning IPOB's position that governorship election will not hold in Anambra state on November 18 as scheduled, urged the AGF "to deploy all the instruments and powers of the Nigerian State" available to him, to tackle the IPOB.

The petition read in part: "The IPOB have taken a position that they would "boycott" the forthcoming Anambra 2017 elections. We do not have any problem with them on this position. However, our challenge with IPOB is their seeming inability to appreciate the meaning of the word "boycott" as it relates to Anambra election. We are worried that their mode of propagating their "No referendum, no election" mantra suggests that the word "boycott" has another meaning assigned to it in their own dictionary which is "disruption" of all legitimate activities of government and electioneering activities calculated at striking terror in the minds of the citizens who have made up their mind to discharge their civic duty on the 18th day of November, 2017.

"Sir, the Nnamdi Kanu led IPOB are always quick to raise the green banner of "non-violence" and take refuge under its canopied ambience whereas their official dissemination channel, Radio Biafra, is a flowing river of hate-speeches, incitement to violence and war.

"Hate speech leads to war and war leads to deaths and, therefore, IPOB preaches violence. In the South-East [especially in Onitsha which is our commercial nerve centre], the IPOB miscreants extort money from traders after intimidating them. IPOB hoodlums illegally mount roadblocks to force other citizens to buy their Biafra flags and insignia not minding whether such citizens subscribe to their separatist ideology or whether such citizens have the money to pay for the said flags. They harass citizens and threaten them with violence.

"They intimidate them to close their shops. IPOB street urchins have on two remarkable occasions disrupted campaigns rallies and have most infamously invaded and desecrated St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State where the Governor was to worship [with their chants of no referendum, no election]. Indeed, they have a rich history of mischief.

"This is potentially dangerous. IPOB is exposing the Igbo to another war and this is unacceptable.

"As the Chief Law Officer of the country and the number one defender of our constitution and rule of law, you will agree with us that all these acts complained of [in their aggregate] rudely strike at the root of democracy and constitute a grave threat to the operation of the Nigerian Constitution in the Eastern part of Nigeria especially in Anambra State in view of the governorship election holding later in November. This has now crystallised to a weighty responsibility on your shoulders more so when these acts complained of mostly draw their inspiration from the activities of Nnamdi Kanu who has literally rumpled all the conditions to which his bail was tied and is now revelling in contempt of the Federal High Court with unprecedented and scandalous impunity.

"Speaking from the Bar, we are convinced that the security reports [on IPOB activities] from the security agencies in Anambra State [Onitsha in particular] cannot contradict these complaints we have tabled before you unless the commanders have not been alive to their responsibilities".

ASLADD equally copied their petition dated August 14 to the United Nations Mission in Nigeria, Ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, The European Union Mission to Nigeria, National Human Rights Commission, The Inspector-General of Police, The Defence Headquarters, The Director-General, State Security Service, The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, The Federal House of Representatives, South-East Governors Forum and Anambra Council of Traditional Rulers.

For long, that action remained in the realm of speculation. Since there is no smoke without fire, Nigerians believed it all the same. With the current revelation, it is clear to everyone that power play in Aso Rock is true.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu has revealed how a highly placed presidency official shunned acting president Yemi Osinbajo and took a document to London for President Muhammadu Buhari’s signature.

Shehu who was giving an insight into the power play at the presidency in the absence of Buhari, said a top official in the presidency went to see the President in London to sign a document but the President sent him back to the Acting President.

Shehu disclosed this during his appearance as a guest on Sunrise Daily, a Channel Television programme. According to him, Osinbajo is presently in charge of the country.

The presidential spokesman emphasised that President Buhari has transferred powers to the Acting President.

“Once the President has transferred powers, if you are the Inspector-General of Police and the Acting President says go and do ABC, you are fired if you don’t do it.

“I am aware that a senior official went to President Buhari in the UK and took some documents to him to deal with and the president said no I won’t. The man responsible for the country is in Abuja, so take it to him.

Shehu referred to such action by the government official as a disrespect to the Acting President.

He added that the President is not someone that wanted power for his own sake but since he has transferred powers to the Acting President, all national matters should be handled by him.

President Muhammadu Buhari has been away from our shores for over 100 days in a stretch treating an undisclosed and mysterious illness in far-away London. Since May 29th 2015 when he was sworn into office as President he has spent 350 of his over 740 days in power abroad treating the same strange ailment.

Those that demand that he should “resume or resign” are being attacked and brutalised by security forces and agents of the state. The Buhari government has no respect for human rights and civil liberties. Charly Boy Oputa, Deji Adeyanju, Ariyo Dare- Atoye, Jude Ndukwe and other notable figures and leaders of the “Our Mumu Don Do” movement were brutalised and almost murdered by Buhari’s savage footsoldiers at Wuse Market in Abuja the other day simply because they dared to go on a demonstration and ask for the President to “resume or resign”.

If that had happened Nigeria would have exploded yet no arrests have been made and the government seems unperturbed.

Tension has gripped the land as we approach October 1st and the Nigerian people have expressed deep concern about what is unfolding yet all we are fed with on a daily basis are pictures of an ailing Buhari, holding court in London and granting audience to his friends, political associates, family members and loyalists.

The whole thing is not only inappropiate and undignified but it is also deeply insulting. Simply put it is sordid. Meanwhile the world laughs us to scorn and mocks our nation. We are a nation in which an Acting President who is scared of his own shadow, has been reduced to a mere national co-ordinator and that is in the power of a faceless and tiny cabal .

The truth is that we are now a full-fledged dictatorship that is being controlled and presided over by a tiny cabal with a religious and ethnic agenda. This, together with an unrelenting, though unsuccessful attempt, to demonise and crush the traditional opposition and silence all forms of dissent has resulted in the irresistable rise of powerful and well-organised secessionist and separatist groups such as the Yoruba Liberation Command (YOLICOM) and the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The fact that the Federal Government is incapable of encouraging national cohesion and integration but is instead saddled with a morbid obsession to try to destroy President Goodluck Jonathan and rubbish his excellent legacy speaks volumes.

The lies and propaganda of the Buhari administration are second to none. Simply put they are filled with deceit, deception, mendacity and hate.

They have sought to demonise and destroy more innocent Nigerians than any other Government in our entire history. They have killed more innocent Nigerians than any other Government in our history outside of the civil war. They have locked up more innocent Nigerians and subjected them to shameful and barbaric witchunts and media trials than any other civilian Government in the history of our country.

Under them soldiers slaughtered over 1000 Shia Muslims in one afternoon in Zaria and buried them in mass graves. Under them thousands of IPOB youths have been butchered by security agents.

Under them hundreds of thousands of innocent Nigerians have been raped, maimed, robbed and massacred by well-armed, well-funded and well-organised Fulani militias and herdsmen all over the country yet not one of the perpetrators has been arrested or brought to justice simply because they are members of the President’s ethnic group Under them Boko Haram has resurrected, restored its fortunes and won back virtually all the territory that they had lost when President Goodluck Jonathan was in power.

Under them more Christians have been butchered and more Churches burnt down than any other Govermment in the history of Nigeria. Under them northern youths have given a chilling quit notice to our Igbo compatriots to leave the north.

They have also threatened them with genocide and mass murder if they fail to do so by Octobr 1st yet not one of those youths has been apprehended, questioned or arrested.

Under them a frightful and barbaric song has been crafted and is being shared and sang all over the north which openly calls for the ethnic cleansing and total elimination and annihilation of every Igbo in the country yet the song has not been outlawed or banned and its authors have not been arrested.

Under them a culture of silence and fear has been imposed on the Nigerian people and few are ready to risk life, limb and liberty by speaking truth to power or resisting and standing up to tyranny.

Under them the worst economic recession that we have ever experienced in our history has been established and the Nigerian people have been afflicted with pain, hunger, hardship, suffering, poverty, uncertainty and despair.

Under them cows (yes cows!) have taken over our city streets, schools and places of worship and the lives of cattle are deemed to have more value than that of human beings. They refer to every northern Muslim that resists their evil agenda and that does not support them as a traitor and an infidel and they refer to every southerner and Christian as a slave and an unbeliever.

Their’s is the language of hate, violence and division and it must be condemned and resisted by all men and women of goodwill regardless of their faith and ethnicity. More than any other Government this government has divided us along ethnic, religious and regional lines and they don’t appear to give a hoot about the implications of doing so.

As a matter of fact the contrary is the case: they appear to enjoy doing it and they feed on the dangerous divisions that they have created. permit me to conclude this contribution with the following.

So obsessed, so primitive, so provincial, so insensitive, so petty, so cruel, so crude, so paranoid, so deluded, so out of touch with reality, so reckless, so hateful and so obsessed with President Jonathan and the PDP is this Presidency that they went as far as to say that the great lady and former Minister of Information Mrs. Dora Akunyili was sent to her premature death and early grave because she was given a job by the former President.

Never in the history of our nation has such a vicious, nonsensical, baseless, malevolent and specious mendacity been pronounced by an official of the Federal Government. Never-mind the fact that the statement was issued by a very junior staff of the Presidency It is also a clear reflection of the intellectual bankruptcy of the Buhari administration.

Whatever this government feels about Jonathan, the People’s Democratic Party or anyone else they should please leave Dora Akunyili out of it because this profoundly good lady that brought joy to the hearts of so many is not here to speak for or defend herself.

They should allow this great daughter of Nigeria who was not only my colleague in the Obasanjo administration over ten years ago but who also served our nation honorably and creditably through the auspices of no less than three PDP President’s and Federal Governments to continue to rest in peace.

Those talking about Dora are not fit to mention her name or to lick the bottom of her shoes.

Source: Eyes Of Lagos

The unnecessary cult killings and bloodshed appear to have started again in Rivers state following the gruesome murder of another person. Residents of Elele area of Rivers state woke up this morning to a shocking discovery as a young man was found beheaded in the area by unknown assailants.

Reports reveal that security operatives are yet to arrive the scene.

The post Tension In River State As Cult Cuts Off A Man’s Head (Photos) appeared first on Ngyab.

Morata Is Good Enough To Replace Costa - Graeme Le Saux

Former Chelsea star, Graeme Le Saux believes Alvaro Morata is good enough to replace Diego Costa for the club.

Costa has been involved in an ongoing transfer saga with Chelsea, with Conte informing him he is no longer needed by the club.

Chelsea lost their first match of the season to Burnley 3-2, with Morata scoring one and assisting another.

“When I look at his quality, he has had fantastic experiences at the clubs that he has been at,” he told Goal. “He has always scored goals, his movement is excellent. He does a lot of hard work before the ball comes to him. He is always aware of what’s around him.

“The timing of his run for that Willian cross [against Burnley] was great and how he kept himself onside. He got a run on the defender and it was a confident header. He has plenty of ability and attributes.

“It will have done him a world of good to get off to such a fantastic start but as for him replacing Diego Costa, it is a big task. Costa scored 20 goals last season and 20 goals three seasons ago when Chelsea won the title then as well.

“Costa is a very adaptive player who is versatile and holds the ball up well. It is a real shame to see what’s happening there because he is a really good player. It is a disappointing situation to see it get to where it has.

“I think over time, Morata, if he continues to do what he did, will settle in and lead the line very well.”

Zidane, Mourinho, others battle for FIFA Men’s Coach prize

Zinedine Zidane, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte are among the names on the shortlist for the Best FIFA Men’s Coach award for 2017.

Real Madrid won La Liga, the Champions League and the Club World Cup under Zidane last season, while Mourinho claimed three trophies in his first term with Manchester United and Conte steered Chelsea to the Premier League title.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is also nominated, despite failing to win a trophy last term, along with Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone and Juventus’ double-winning specialist Massimiliano Allegri.

Germany head coach Joachim Low is included after his side’s Confederations Cup triumph, while Brazil boss Tite is a more surprising name in the running for the award won by Claudio Ranieri this year.

Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim earns a place after their Ligue 1 title triumph and run to the Champions League semi-finals, but Paris Saint-Germain boss Unai Emery misses out.

The 12-man list was composed by a panel of former stars including Cafu, Diego Maradona, Carles Puyol and Edwin van der Sar.

A final trio of nominees will now be decided by a combination of a public vote, which runs between August 21 and September 7, as well as input from national team captains, coaches and a panel of media representatives.

Catholic Church excommunicates Nigerian priest who resigned recently

The Catholic Church in Nigeria has excommunicated a priest who recently quit the Church.

Patrick Edet

The Church said it was by the notice stripping the priest of all privileges accruing to a leader of the Church.

Patrick Edet, who served in the Catholic Diocese of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, had announced over a local radio station on August 2 that he was leaving the Catholic Church so he could be ‘free to serve God the way he wanted.’

Before he left Catholic Church, Mr. Edet ran a Pentecostal-style fellowship that attracted a huge crowd in the city of Uyo.

He said leaving the Catholic Church now gave him the freedom to manage the fellowship in his own style, without getting into conflict with his former church, adding that being a Catholic priest was like being restricted to “a box.”

“You cannot know God beyond that box. You cannot express God beyond that box. And any attempt for you to go beyond that box brings you label.

“The reason I am doing this is that I want to be right with God first. I want to go to heaven when I die,” he said.

The Catholic Bishop of Uyo Diocese, John Ayah, in his reaction to the development, issued a general notice to the parishioners on August 12, where he advised Catholics to stay away from Mr. Edet.

“I advise that no Catholic member should approach him to obtain any service or guidance henceforth in the name of the Church,” the bishop said, adding that the Church disassociated itself from the activities of Mr. Edet.

“Any Catholic who attends his programme or identifies with him (Mr. Edet) in any way does so at the risk of his or her Catholic faith and membership,” he said.

The bishop said following Mr. Edet’s resignation, he has stripped him of all his power, rights and privileges as a Catholic priest.

Mr. Ayah said he was forwarding Mr. Edet’s resignation letter to Pope Francis for further directives on the matter.

Nigerians mostly on social media had expressed diverse reactions on the resignation with some lauding his confidence while others criticised him as an attention seeker.

Why I had regular sex with my daughter – Father

A30-year-old man from Rafin-Makadi in Rimi Local Government Area of Katsina State, Inusa Aliyu, has confessed to having regular sexual intercourse with his 14-year-old biological daughter.

Aliyu told the police after his arrest that his action was based on the recommendations of a herbalist, who gave him the assurance that sleeping with his daughter would bring him immense wealth and good luck.

The Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Gambo Isa, who confirmed the report, said the wife of the accused, Mariya, caught him in the act after repeated complaints from her daughter.

Isa said  the accused would remain in custody, while further investigations continued.

According to him, “the daughter informed the mother of the sexual affairs with her father, but she could not believe until she caught him having sex with their daughter.

“She reported the case to the police headquarters in Rimi Local Government Area and the man was arrested. The girl was rushed to the General Hospital in Rimi for medical attention and the case has been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.”

We will not see Chamberlain to Chelsea - Arsene Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has stated emphatically that midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will not face the exit doors at the Emirates stadium this summer.

Chamberlain has 12 months left on his contract at the Emirates, and he is a major target for Premier League champions Chelsea.

Chelsea coach Antonio Conte has reportedly told the club chiefs to make an offer for the Englishman as he wants the 23-year-old to bolster his midfield.

Chamberlain could be tempted to leave the Emirates Stadium as he would have the chance to play in the UEFA Champions League should he make a move to Stamford Bridge.

''Yes, he is staying here. Why? Personally, because I rate him highly and he's one of the players who is on his way up.

''In the last year, he has made huge progress and personally I want him to stay here for a long time.

''I'm convinced he will be the English player that everybody will look at in the next two years at the end of the season,'' the Frenchman explained.

Usain Bolt set to play with Manchester United legends in charity match

All is set for ex-Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt to finally actualize his dreams of playing for Manchester United, as he has been named in the Manchester United legend squad to face Barcelona.

Bolt will join Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes for the game at Old Trafford against Barcelona

The football fan is to make his first appearance since retiring from athletics and line up alongside Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs at Old Trafford on September 2.

But after pulling his hamstring in his final race at the World Championships in London last week, the 30-year-old athlete might not be fit to feature in his ‘dream Manchester match’.

According to The Sun, a source said: “This has been his dream for many years. He’s desperate to do it as long as he can get over the injury.”

The Jamaican sprinter will also train with German club Borussia Dortmund. He said: “I’ve always said I wanted to play football. It’s something I’ll be good at.”

Meet 22-year-old Christopher ‘King’ Bowofade the OAU dropout who built million-dollar hedge fund

A hedge fund company is an organisation that pools capital from investors and invests it in several assets. It is hard to get people to put their money in anything that does not guarantee profit.

However, young Nigerian man identified as Christopher King Bowofade has surprised the world after he built a N600 million hedge fund company.

The 22-year-old who is a dropout of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) built his company in less than two years.

Bowofade’s hedge fund company Better Days Investment (BTD) buys and sells futures and options on behalf of 7,902 individual investors.

Meet 22-year-old Christopher ‘King’ Bowofade the OAU dropout who built million-dollar hedge fund

Like every other businessman, Bowofade has had his share of challenges. He was rejected to study Economics twice, first as a secondary school leaver and as an Ordinary Diploma Holder.

In 2012, the young man graduated as the second best in his Conservation Science and Tourism class with a 4.41 Grade Point Average (GPA).

After his direct-entry admission into OAU to study Economics, Bowofade quickly fell in love with financial marketing, forex, futures, options and binary options.

A friend of his from Conservation Science and Tourism class, Johnson Alabi urged him to start a company and became one of the earliest investors in BTD.

With his knowledge in website designing and graphics he built the company website and they started the company. The first investors were mainly students willing to earn extra money.

In 2015, Bowofade and Alabi started out with N1 million from twenty investors and as word spread more investors joined the company.

They were so focused on the company in their 200 level that they neglected school work and ended up with low grades. Alabi had a GPA of 2.6 while Bowofade had a 1.9.

In 2016, investors started to lose interest in the company after the challenges of the Mavrodi Mundial Moneybox (MMM) affected many Nigerians.

Bowofade said: “This was depleting our capital so much that it challenged the company’s sustainability.”

More troubles came for the young entrepreneur after he parted ways with his COO Alabi due to misunderstandings. Some of his best student-staff also left him and he was forced to sack some.

The genius decided to freeze the fund and meet up with some of his investors based in Lagos state. He organised an Investor Conference in February of this year to ask investors who had exposure of up to N30 million in BTD to trust him.

Although, Bowofade did not graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University, he would join up with the school’s Enterperneurship Hall of Fame alongside other entrepreneurs who graduated from the school like Femi Otedola and Opeyemi Awoyemi of Jobberman.

Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho ready to sacrifice World Cup chances for Barcelona transfer

Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho is reportedly willing to risk his World Cup chances if it means finally pushing through his dream transfer to Barcelona.

The Brazil international has been linked with a big-money move to the Nou Camp in recent times, with Barcelona having plenty to spend after banking £199million from Neymar’s switch to Paris Saint-Germain.

Chris Smalling’s opinion of Nemanja Matic has changed since he joined Man Utd

Coutinho has emerged as one of Barca’s priority targets due to their desire to bring in a long-term replacement for Andres Iniesta, with the 25-year-old showing himself to be one of the finest attacking midfielders in Europe during his time at Anfield.

Various outlets claim the deal could be edging closer, with Coutinho reportedly absolutely determined to make the move and telling Jurgen Klopp he plans never to play for Liverpool again, even if it means sitting in the stands all season.

 

Coutinho has told Jurgen Klopp he won’t play for Liverpool again (Picture: Getty)

According to Mundo Deportivo, he is so fixated on playing for Barcelona that he is willing to put his chances of playing for Brazil at next summer’s World Cup at risk with the move.

Coutinho may not play as regularly if he were to move to the Catalan giants, and his actions to force a move through could also potentially damage his reputation if he is seen as behaving unprofessionally.

However, it seems his priority now is to get the transfer he wants, regardless of any consequences, in a surprise twist after he only signed a long-term contract extension with Liverpool earlier this year.

Billionaire kidnapper Evans wins first case in court

Billionaire kidnapper Evans has won the first round of court battle as the Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos ruled that the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, aka, ‘Evans,’ can proceed.

Justice Abdulaziz Anka dismissed the objections of Emmanuel Eze, the counsel for the third and fourth respondents, and agreed with counsel to Evans, Olukoya Ogungbeje, that service on the first and second respondents had been properly effected.

The first and second respondents in the suit are the Inspector General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force.

The other respondents are the Lagos State Police Commissioner and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

In his ruling, Justice Anka also held that leave was not required for the matter to be heard during vacation, as Order 4 Rule 5 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules of 2009 enjoins the court to pursue speed and justice on issues of fundamental human rights.

In the application, the suspected kidnapper, Evans, is challenging his continued detention since June 10 without arraignment.

He claims that his parade on June 11 before journalists at the Lagos Police Command headquarters in Ikeja, without a court order, is unconstitutional and illegal.

Evan wants the court to award him N300m as exemplary damages for his alleged illegal detention and the alleged harm caused by his media trial.

He has also asked the court to order the police authorities to immediately arraign him before a law court, or release him from custody.

NABTEB releases May/June 2017 results

The National Business and Technical Examinations Board, NABTEB, has released its May/June 2017 results for the National Business Certificate, NBC, and National Technical Certificate, NTC, examinations.

The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Professor Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanihe, made the announcement on Tuesday while addressing reporters at the National Headquarters of the Board in Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, the Edo state capital.

 

Holders of NBC/NTC certificate qualify as certified craftsmen and women and its O’Level certificates are equivalent to NECO and WAEC certificates which are requirements for placement into tertiary institutions in Nigeria and abroad.

A breakdown of the results shows that a total of 58,448 candidates registered for the ordinary craft level examination in 1,458 centers across the country.

Professor Isiugo-Abanihe said that this year’s result was an improvement of the previous year 2016.

She said, “33, 712 candidates representing 58.75% of candidates in the NBC/NTC examination scored five credits and above including English Language and Mathematics; whereas 47,360 candidates representing 82.53% scored five credits and above with or without English Language and Mathematics.

“Both the federal and state governments should establish more modern and well-equipped technical colleges in all local government areas in the country as directed by the Federal Ministry of Education.

“Again the National Vocational Qualification Framework should be implemented as approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2013.”

Chelsea to go for Torino striker Andrea Belotti as Costa refuses to train

Premier League giants Chelsea are now reportedly interested in signing Torino striker Andrea Belotti following the refusal of Spanish striker Diego Costa to resume training.

Since last season, Chelsea coach Antonio Conte and striker Diego Costa have not been in good terms and the striker also claimed that the Italian tactician has told him to leave the club.

The Blues however told Costa to resume training on Tuesday, August 15, but he refused claiming he wants a move back to Spanish club Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea to go for Torino striker Andrea Belotti as Costa refuses to train (photo: Sun)

Antonio Conte is now frustrated with the latest development about Diego Costa who is currently in Brazil, and he has told the club to sign Andre Belotti from Torino.

According to the report, the 23-year-old forward has also agreed that he will join Chelsea, and negotiation has reportedly began between Chelsea chiefs and Torino.

Belotti was in good form last season in Italy scoring 26 League goals and he is expected to compete with Alvaro Morata for the starting line up should a deal work out before the close of the transfer window.

Eden Hazard returns to Chelsea training after suffering from ankle injury

Chelsea have been handed a huge boost following Eden Hazard's return to training after suffering form a long-term injury.

The Belgian who has been out for the Blues since June, returned to training for the first time after he fractured his ankle while away on international duty.

The 26-year-old missed Chelsea's Community shield game against Arsenal and their opening league fixture against Burnley which they both lost.

Eden Hazard training for the first time after his injury. Photo: Jim Bennett.

The former Lille man played a key role to help Antonio Conte's men clinch the Premier League title last season.

Although Hazard is back to training, he is unlikely to make an appearance for Chelsea in the nearest future as Conte will no be ready to risk him.

Eden Hazard returns to Chelsea training after suffering ankle injury. Photo: Jim Bennett.

Gurusbest earlier reported that Chelsea are set to splash a mouthwatering £120million for three new signings after a disappointing start to their Premier League campaign.

Jonathan replies presidency, says time for propaganda is over

Former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, has replied a statement by presidency accusing his administration of corruption and leaving Nigeria in 'tatters'.

Jonathan in a statement on his official Facebook page signed by his aide, Reno Omokri, faulted the statement by the presidency signed by President Muhammadu Buhari's senior special assistant on media, Garba Shehu.

Jonathan's statement reads: "The Presidency's statement issued by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on media to President Muhammadu Buhari has only exposed why Nigeria is in an economic recession and is floundering in all spheres.

It is quite sad that Malam Garba Shehu does not know that oil constitutes only 15% of Nigeria's GDP and thus a fall in the price of oil should not lead to a collapse of the Nigerian economy as has been experienced under President Buhari.

If Garba and his boss are willing to learn, the Jonathan Foundation and the Peoples Democratic Party can arrange a course for them to be tutored on the subject-how to grow your economy to be the largest in Africa. We make bold that we are experienced in that area."

Jonathan accused Shehu of being ignorant, intellectually lazy and forgetful of important events.

He said: "When Mr. Shehu says 'There is nothing to show for the revenues earned, no major capital project was completed, neither power generation, road development, rail or agriculture benefitted from the windfall earnings' he only further exposes his intellectual laziness and failing memory.

"Obviously Garba Shehu has forgotten that when his boss was commissioning the Abuja-Kaduna 187KM fast railway that enables Nigerians work in Abuja and live in Kaduna, he was forced to admit that the project was conceived, built and completed by the Jonathan administration."

Jonathan went further to list the achievement of his administration in the area of infrastructure developememt.

"At that event, President Muhammadu Buhari said about the $1.5 billion project and I quote "This project was conceived by a previous administration, started by the last government".

"My question to Mr. Shehu is this-who is a liar between him and his boss?

"I also urge Garba Shehu to take note of the fact that the only Federal University in his boss's home state of Katsina was built by the Jonathan administration in addition to 13 other universities and 165 Almajiri schools built all over Nigeria. For people who don't value education, I am not surprised that they see this as "nothing to show"!

"It may also interest Garba Shehu to note that the Jonathan administration revived the moribund Nigerian Railways Corporation to the extent that the loquacious Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi was forced to confess on December 15, 2015 and I quote "In fact, I think we have a problem; most people don’t believe that the railway transport is functioning in Nigeria. I didn’t even know, until I started this tour, I never knew that the railway was functioning, it was even from his (MD’s) speech that I learnt that there are some coaches or services that go to Kano or Port Harcourt or elsewhere."

The statement also accused the presidency of being against restructuring and trying to bury the report of the 2014 national conference.

"It is quite surprising that Garba Shehu now praises the former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, His Royal Majesty, Muhammadu Sanusi II.

"Nigerians have not forgotten that it is the same Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, now Muhammadu Sanusi II who carpeted the economic policies of the Buhari administration, saying that under the Buhari administration, and again I quote, “There is one rate for petroleum marketers, there is interbank rate, there is another for money market operators such as western union, money gram, there is bureau de change rate and there is a special rate you get when you call the CBN for a transaction."

"My other question to Garba Shehu is this, how will an economy not collapse when you have multiple exchange rates?

"Malam Garba and his boss continues to show that they are in over their necks by their statements. For instance, Garba says "At the inception of the current administration, 21 States were unable to meet their salary bills and the spectre of workers arrears had commenced. The PDP solution was the raid the Ecological Fund and selectively grant N2Bn each to the PDP States."

"Is it that Garba Shehu and his boss do not know that Nigeria is a federation and that the Federal Government cannot control the states? No wonder they are against restructuring and want to throw the report of the 2014 National Conference into the dustbin.

"We have already proved that the accusation re the Ecological Fund is a lie and it shows desperation on the side of the Presidency to rehash it.

"When that notorious liar, Nasir El-Rufai first made the accusation, we showed, with documentary evidence, that core PDP states like Akwa-Ibom, where the then chairman of the PDP Governors Forum comes from and Ekiti state which was the only PDP state in the Southwest, did not benefit from the Ecological Fund. Meanwhile, 10 states which were of the then opposition All Progressive Congress did.

"Apparently, when Garba Shehu and Lai Mohammed speak, they speak their native language, lies!

"Mr. Garba Shehu would do well to remember that his boss promised Nigerians 3 million jobs every year. Rather, according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, 4.58 million jobs, created by the Jonathan led PDP administration, were lost in his boss's first year.

"Laughably, Garba Shehu cites the fight against corruption and the terror war as major achievements of the Buhari administration.

"How can Garba Shehu reconcile his so called anti corruption war with the fact that Nigeria has made NO PROGRESS in Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index under Buhari and in the latest CPI Transparency International said and I quote "Some other large African countries have failed to improve their scores on the index. These include South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania and Kenya."

The statement also challenged Buhari administration's claim that the war against Boko Haram has been won.

It reads: "On the alleged terror war, Nigerians will recall that President Muhammadu Buhari said that Boko Haram has been technically defeated.

My question is how can a defeated Boko Haram now have the ability to kidnap policewomen and oil explorers? How can a defeated Boko Haram attack military formations? How can a defeated Boko Haram carry out more bombing a in the last eight months than at any other time in Nigeria's history.

Has Garba Shehu forgotten that on July 6, 2017, the World Economic Forum named Nigeria as the fifth most dangerous country in the world? Or that on the 4th of February 2017, the United States Congress cited Nigeria as "the most dangerous place for Christians in the world"?"

Meanwhile, former President Goodluck Jonathan has reacted to the verbal tirade against him by VON DG, Mr Osita Okechukwu.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page by his aide, Reno Omokri, on Sunday, August 13, Jonathan advised Okechukwu to stick to facts.

'Costa’s case is mild to be honest, Mikel went through worse' - Emmanuel Sarki

Former Chelsea youngster Emmanuel Sarki revealed that Antonio Conte treated Mikel Obi 'far worse' than Diego Costa.

Sarki claimed that the Super Eagles star was completely left out of the Blues squad because he decided to represent his country at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

Mikel failed to make an appearance under Conte before he eventually left for Chinese club Tianjin Teda in January 2017.

Mikel Obi. Photo: Skysports.

Sarki who was at Stamford Bridge from 2006 to 2010 told Owngoalnigeria.com: "I was told how Conte treated Mikel after his decision to represent Nigeria at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

"He was granted permission to go by Conte under one condition, which was 'you might not get a look in upon your return'.

"Mikel was told by the same man who granted him permission to represent Nigeria at the Olympic upon his return that his services isn’t needed anymore.

"Even when the coach of the national team of Nigeria (Gernot Rohr) pleaded for Mikel to be allowed to play U23 games to build up his fitness, Conte still didn’t budge.

"How painful he didn’t give Mikel the chance to say goodbye to fans who have stood by him for ten and half seasons.

Diego Costa. Photo: Skysports.

"Costa’s case is mild to be honest, Mikel went through worse but never said or acted wild as he is someone who doesn’t talk much and hardly reacts negatively to issues."

Gurusbest earlier reported that Costa admitted he is being treated like a 'criminal' at Chelsea.

The Spanish striker was told by the club manager Conte via text that his services were no longer needed at Stamford Bridge.