Conte committed to Chelsea

Chelsea insist Antonio Conte is happy at the club following reports he will leave, Sky sources understand. 

Conte was widely reported to be frustrated with the Chelsea hierarchy over a lack of investment in the transfer market as the Italian prepares his squad for a Champions League campaign.

Sky Sports News HQ understands Chelsea are confident Conte, who is currently on holiday, remains committed to the Blues and will return for pre-season in the first week of July as planned.

Conte won the Premier League in his first season at Stamford Bridge and has two more years remaining on his contract with the club, though the Italian is yet to agree an extension beyond that.
Striker Diego Costa recently claimed Conte had sent him a text message that he was not part of his future plans and could leave this summer.

That prompted suggestions of friction between Conte and the Chelsea leadership, given Costa's availability becoming public could reduce his value in the transfer market.

However, it is understood Conte has made technical director Michael Emenalo and director Marina Granovskaia aware of his transfer wish list and Chelsea will continue recruitment efforts.
Following Chelsea's Premier League success Conte said he wanted to remain at Chelsea for a long time but admitted in "modern football it's very difficult".

7 reasons people stay friends with their exes

Being friends with an ex isn't easy, but scientists say there are seven key reasons why we are drawn to do so.

A study - conducted by Justin Mogilski and Lisa Welling at Oakland University - recently published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences asked 348 volunteers to list as many reasons as possible for why two former partners might want to remain friends. This resulted in 153 reasons.

A second group was then enlisted to rate each reason on a scale of one to five and also completed personality questionnaires. From this researchers, were left with seven key reasons.

1. Sentimentality, eg 'They made me a better person" or because you went through a lot together, good or bad

2. Pragmatism eg "They have a lot of money or offer transportation to certain places"

3. Continued romantic attraction, eg still having feelings for one another

4. Children or shared resources such as a pet, property or a car

5. Diminished sexual attraction which makes it easier to have a platonic relationship

6. Social relationship maintenance, eg having friends in common and minimising drama

7. Sexual access, to keep having sex with them
The study also found that those with certain personality traits were more likely to be linked to certain categories. People who experience higher negative emotions tend to be stay friends with exes for reliability/sentimentality reasons, and continued romantic attraction.

This could be because they suffer more distress during a break-up, so keeping in touch with their former partner might make them feel better. Extravert men and women were more likely to maintain a post-relationship friendship because of sex. Men are more likely than women to stay maintain a platonic relationship with an ex for this reason, too.

Unsurprisingly, in most cases, a friendship with an ex was described as more tense and fraught than those with other friends. Each person ascribed more negative qualities to their ex than they did other friends. Essentially, you can stay friends with an ex, but it often comes at a price. - Harper's Bazaar

Driver kills girlfriend, dumps corpse in bathroom

A driver with in one of the major transport company in Edo State, Anthony Akhimien, has been arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend.

Police said the suspect killed his girlfriend and dumped the corpse in a bathroom close to his house.
The incident happened at number 17 Akugbe Street, off TV road, Benin City.

It was gathered that the suspect threw the corpse over the fence and it landed inside the bathroom where it was discovered on Friday morning.

A tenant in the house where the corpse was found said the man who found the body thought the girl was still alive.
The tenant, who refused to disclose his name, said the man raised alarm after he discovered that the girl was dead.

He said the discovery sparked fears among other tenants as all of them denied bringing any woman home the previous night.

The Nation gathered that the tenants stormed other nearby houses before they found out that the deceased was brought home by the suspect popularly called DPO.

Residents of the building where the killing occurred have fled the house when our correspondent visited the place on Friday. - The Nation

'Barkley on his way out'

Ross Barkley's days at Everton are numbered following the arrival of Davy Klaassen, according to Alan Stubbs.

The 23-year-old is entering the final 12 months of his contract and having failed to comply with manager Ronald Koeman's ultimatum to provide a response to their offer of a new deal by the end of the season, the Dutchman has begun his quest to find replacements.

Klaassen signed a five-year contract at Goodison Park on Thursday following a £23.6m switch from Ajax with Everton also reportedly interested in Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, suggesting Koeman is making long-term plans which are unlikely to include Barkley.

"I think Ronald put his cards on the table with Ross before the end of the season and he gave him an ultimatum," Stubbs told talkSPORT.
"The fact that we are three weeks gone and Ross hasn't signed, then I think that's the biggest indicator that Ross' future is going to lie elsewhere.

"The one thing that he (Koeman) said towards the end is that he wanted more creativity in the team and I think, with Klaassen, he's certainly got that - his record is very good and he's a great age."
Klaassen's capture was Everton's second signing of the week having earlier secured Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford for an initial £25m fee.

The Toffees are also in the running to sign AC Milan forward M'Baye Niang for an estimated £13m and Stubbs expects the club's outlay to go beyond £100m this summer - although much of that could be recouped if striker Romelu Lukaku leaves.

"Potentially it's the most exciting pre-season that I've probably seen at Everton for a good five or 10 years," Stubbs added.
"We have an owner (Iranian billionaire Farhad Moshiri) who is ready to back the club and I think he is trying to get his business done early and the first two signings look really good and I think there will be plenty more.

"I think Everton will potentially be spending over £100m. 

Monaco to demand €50m for Chelsea target Bakayoko

Chelsea’s pursuit of AS Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko has been well reported over the course of the last few months.

It was looking as though a move for the Frenchman to Stamford Bridge was nailed on, with negotiations seemingly going well and Antonio Conte evidently keen on the midfielder.

However, according to reports out in France today, the Blues may need to cough up an extra €20m on top of their current offer of €30m if they want to land Bakayoko.

The Ligue 1 champions are keen to keep hold of the core of their team, and are reluctant to oversee an exodus of their key players this summer.

It’s hard to say whether or not Bakayoko is worth the reported valuation of €50m, but Conte is said to be an admirer of his energy and style of play, so the Blues may still be ready to spend big on the Monaco man.

2019 election: I will defeat Buhari - Fayose

Fayose, governor of Ekiti state  speaking during a meeting with political office holders at government’s house, Ado Ekiti, described himself as a man of the people.

“I have penchant for taking powers; that one in Buhari’s hand, I will take it. I’m going straight to that villa. I’m the next president,” he said.

“I want to be the next president of Nigeria. My own won’t be this change that has brought nothing, we are going to represent the people well and tell them the truth.”Published June 16, 2017
“Just because Ayo Fayose has won a second term to become governor of Ekiti, some people also think they can come back now, but I want to tell them that it is not possible,” he said.

“I am the man wholeheartedly loved by Ekiti people because of the many developmental projects that have brought great infrastructural and developmental advancement to Ekiti.

“If you go around Ekiti, you will see my handiwork dotting every nook and cranny of the state. This is why I am the man who every Ekiti people will follow in 2018.”

Harry Potter actor Sam Beazley has sadly died at the age of 101

The news was confirmed in the announcements section of The Times with a tribute from the actor's family, saying: "Actor and artist, died in his sleep 12th June 2017, aged 101.

"Beloved brother-in-law, uncle and great uncle. Funeral on 21st June, at Mortlake Crematorium."
During his acting career, Sam Beazley took on roles in British comedies including Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and Johnny English, as well as appearing in Midsomer Murders, Doctors, Casualty and two episodes of Little Britain back in 2005.

The actor played Professor Everard in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth installment in the film franchise.

He appeared in the movie as a portrait hanging in Professor Dumbledore's office as well as in the Ministry of Magic's Headquarters

Beazley's role as the former Hogwarts headmaster saw him involved in the scene where Arthur Weasley was attacked by a snake – where he was sent by Dumbledore to warn the Ministry.


He first started acting in the 1930s, returning to the profession in his seventies after serving in World War II and running an antiques shop for several decades.

Sweden introduces first ever biometric train ticket implant

Rushing to buy a train ticket or losing your cool when you realise you've left your season pass behind could be distant memory as passengers are using biometric microchip implants to purchase rail cards instead.

Swedish rail operator SJ is claiming to be the first travel company in the world to allow passengers to ditch old-fashioned paper tickets and pay for their travel cards using a biometric chip implanted under the skin of their hand.

The small microchip uses NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, the same as that found on Oyster cards and contactless bank cards, allowing users to pay for tickets by simply being scanned by train conductors.

SJ claims the implants will be more convenient and is currently trialling the innovative system with around 100 customers already signed-up. The state-owned rail company, however, is not dishing out the microchip implants – customers will have to already have one to benefit from the service.

You might think finding someone with a surgically implanted microchip might be difficult, but no so in Sweden. Getting microchipped is proving to be increasingly popular with a reported 20,000 people already having the implant in their hand. One company is offering to 'chip' its staff to enable them to be used as security passes to open doors and pay for food.

Sceptics are wary this could be a nefarious method of tracking its employees and the security-conscious crowd claim the microchips, which can be programmed to store your personal details and banking information, are a danger waiting to happen.

During the trial it was reported that for some passengers the LinkedIn profiles rather than ticket payment were shown to rail operators as they scanned the chips using smartphones. However, a spokesperson for SJ attempted to alleviate fears by saying "that's why we call it a trail".

"SJ is already one of Sweden's most digital companies, so this new project could be started up very quickly," said SJ's Peter Dahlqvist.

"The microchip ticket is a good example of how we are happy to try out new ideas alongside customers and help to force the pace of digital development."

While there are no plans as of yet to bring the technology to the UK, even if they did – would you be brave or trusting enough to get yourself a biometric implant? - IBT

Photos: Footballer Cheick Tiote's remains arrive in Ivory Coast for burial

The remains of footballer Cheick Tiote has been flown back to his home country Ivory Coast. 

The body of the Beijing Enterprises midfielder arrived Thursday afternoon at Port Bouet Airport in Abidjan, the Ivorian capital, after being flown from China where he tragically passed away.

He was received by hundreds of people, including former Elephants coach and teammates Herve Renard, Kolo Toure, Gervinho, Tiene and Wilfred Bony who was among the pallbearers carrying the coffin containing Cheick Tiote's body when it arrived.

According to BBC Sports, Tiote’s family wants the late player who collapsed and died during a training session with his Chinese club last week, to be buried in his hometown Yamoussoukro but the Ivory Coast’s Football Federation prefers Abidjan.

Politician’s Wife Caught Cheating In Delta With Another Man (video)

This trending video shared by Okoh Edwin

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1306938162737523&id=100002640548222 shows the ‘wife of a popular politician and traditional ruler’ in Delta state caught allegedly cheating on her husband with another man.

The woman can be heard in the footage telling Police officers that October 2017 will make it two years she has been having issues with her husband, while the man in question said he never knew she was married.

“She told me she divorced,” he said.

Watch below and listen to the audio.

The highest money I collected is $1 million , says ‘most notorious’ kidnapper

In an interview with Channels TV, Chukwudubem Onwuamadike, the billionaire kidnapper said the highest ransom he received is $1m.

THE INTERVIEW

Where did you start kidnapping?

I started in Anambra then I came to Lagos.

How many jobs did you do in Anambra?

The truth of the matter is that I did not do anything in Anambra. Anambra can check the record of it. In Edo state it was like about three times.

Who did you kidnap in Edo state?

I don’t know their names. I know the people that do the thing. That time they said they did not collect N100 million, that what they collected was N50 million.

When did you move to Lagos?

I moved to Lagos in 2013.

Who did you kidnap in Festac, Lagos?

I don’t normally know names. But when I see someone that I know I will, you understand. Because sometimes something will happen, you will not know the name of the person.

How did you identify rich individuals?

Anybody that is rich, you will know that he is rich. I have people that give me information. I don’t know where they are right now.

How did you meet with your boys?

Each time I want to go for an operation, I will call them on the phone like let’s meet in so and so place before we start going for the operation.

Where did you get the military uniform you use for your operations?

I no get army uniform.

How many of you normally go for an operation?

Three or four.

How did you get your victims away?

We would carry the man put inside motor and go.

How did you get into a victim’s House?

It is maybe along the road.

So you wait for your victims to come out?

Yes.

What is the most expensive ransom you have collected?

The highest money we have collected is from somebody living in Festac, $1 million.

Why did you keep your victims for months and where?
Just because they are wasting time. Because when you are wasting time you have to wait for the money to be complete. We have people that are feeding them.

Where did you keep your victims?

Just one. It is around Igando area. It is a rented apartment.

What are names of the boys that watched over the victims?

The name of the boy is Uche. They are two. I can’t remember the name of the second person. He is an Igbo boy. He is from Aguleri. His name has escaped me but I will remember.

Are they armed?

No.

How much do you pay him and how long have they been working for you?

The boy is a new person but Uche is the old person.

How much do you pay Uche before this boy joined him?

N2 million.

Every month?

Every operation. Sometimes above that.

Your second in command, how much do you give him?

It depends on the money we make.

Who goes to collect the ransom?

I can make the call but they can go and collect it. When they bring the money we have to share it. All of us.

How many of you?

Like six.

You have boys in each state?

Yes. It is those people I have in Lagos. I don’t have boys in Edo and Anambra.

If you want to go and kidnap in Edo, what do you do?

It is by phone call. That was that time we made phone calls then we gather together.

Where do you meet?

We can meet along the road and ask them to pick me up.

Tell us about your family. Your mum, your sisters, do they know what you do?

As for my mum, she doesn’t know.

What message do you have for your children?

I don’t have any message for them. I believe God will take control.

Abia: Police arrest fake Soldier, rescues kidnap victim

The Abia state police command has arrested one suspected fake soldier who gave his name as Okezie Chukwuebuka and his girlfriend Ugonma Arisa Kalu from Ozuabam for allegedly using military uniform to steal from people.

Speaking in Umuahia while parading the fake soldier, his accomplices and other criminals, the Commissioner of Police (CP) Leye Oyebade said that one Stephen Nwokoma reported that his phone worth N28, 000 was robbed along Uzuakoli road Umuahia.

Oyebade said that the victim said that three men and a lady with one of them dressed in a military uniform were the ones that robbed him of his valuables which led to the arrest of one Nwadi Paul by a team of mobile police men.

The Abia CP said that the arrest of Nwadi led to the arrest of the fake soldier with his girlfriend in a hotel room in Umuahia and the items recovered from him include, two pairs of army camouflage uniform, UBA cheque leaves belonging to Uwajumogu Ikechukwu.

He said that other items recovered from them are fidelity bank cheque leaves belonging to Eni Virginia Enyinnaya, one Peace Corps identity card for Nwadi, one UBA ATM belonging John Oluchi, one Skye bank cheque leaflet belonging to Eni Virginia Enyinnaya among others.

Oyebade said that the suspects are members of robbery gang which has been terrorizing the state capital and its residents and dispossessing them of their valuables.
Responding to questions from newsmen, Chukwuebuka said that he was dismissed from the army after running away from the battle field for lack of weapons and after being court marshaled, he was dismissed.

Chukwuebuka said that he had a quarrel with one of his friend and that he collected his phone from him, “He (my friend) then went to the police to report which led to his arrest and his girlfriend”.
The Abia CP said that with the arrest of the notorious kidnapper, Evans by the IGP’s team that the era of kidnapping being profitable is gradually coming to an end as he has been talking and very soon his accomplices in any part of the country will be apprehended.

He said that the new strategies the command has set in place and the free giving of information has led to the rescue of a kidnapped victim, Fredrick Osuya of Rainbow feeds limited.

Oyebade said that the victim was kidnapped while driving home in his black Toyota Corolla car along Ogbor hill area of Aba, “The men of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) swung into action and rescued the victim at Umuokeonyi village in Obingwa council area of the state”.

The CP said, “The hoodlums on sighting the police team escaped into the bush and abandoned their hostage, we have to commend the general public for giving us prompt information which led to the rescue of the kidnapped victim”.
He said, “Items recovered from them include one cut to size locally made double barrel gun, one locally made revolver gun and five live cartridges while we are still looking for the victim’s car”.

In his speech the victim, Osuya said that he was kidnapped while coming back to his house after buying some drugs, “As I was driving home a white Toyota Hilux van double crossed me and nine people came out and said that they are kidnappers and assassins, today is your day”.

Osuya said, “They forced me out from my car and took me into their van while my car was in front and they drove for a while and later stopped, where they removed my dress and tied my hands and took me into the bush”.

“They took my ATM card and asked me to give them the pin code or they will kill me, around early hours of the following morning I heard gun shots and later some men came and said they are SARS people, that was how I was rescued”,
In his reaction to the rescuing of the kidnapped victim, Oyebade said, “We were able to rescue him because information was given to us and we moved in immediately, so I want to appeal to people to always give us information to enable us work better and faster”.

The CP also paraded other suspected criminals including armed robbers, burglars, cultists and recovered stolen vehicles some of which were stolen outside the state and brought in to be sold in the state. - The Nation

Man docked over threat to life

A 38-year-old businessman, Sunday Linus, was on Friday arraigned in a Mararaba Magistrates’ Court in Nasarawa State, for allegedly threatening the life of one Yahaya Othman.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Olusegun Fabiyi, told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 13 at about 9.00 a.m.
Fabiyi said that the complainant went to his plot of land located at Masaka and saw the accused with one Yakubu Mesin who is now at large, working on the land.

He said that when Othman questioned them, they threatened him with cutlasses and asked him to leave the land immediately.

He said that based on the threat, the complainant went to the Police Area Command Headquarters, Keffi to report the matter.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 97, 348 and 397 of the Penal Code.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.

The Magistrate, Mr. Patrick Epu, granted the accused N200,000 bail and one surety in like sum and adjourned the case until July 20 for hearing.

US student has severe brain damage after North Korea captivity

The U.S. college student who returned from a North Korean prison in a coma has severe brain damage — but doctors said Thursday they are still unaware what caused it.

Doctors said Otto Warmbier, 22, was in a state of “unresponsive wakefulness” — but declined to elaborate or discuss his outlook for improvement.

Warmbier, a student at the University of Virginia, remains in stable condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he was taken upon his arrival in Ohio on Tuesday after more than 17 months in North Korean captivity.

His father, Fred Warmbier, met with reporters Thursday, saying, “I’m so proud of Otto, my son, who has been in a pariah regime for the last 18 months, brutalized and terrorized. And he’s now home with his family.”

Otto Warmbier, who had embarked on a group tour to North Korea, was detained in January 2016 trying to fly out of Pyongyang International Airport on suspicion of pilfering a propaganda banner. The student was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for theft and spent most of his imprisonment in a coma.

North Korean officials claimed Warmbier had contracted botulism and ingested a sleeping pill that landed him in a coma — but the family doesn’t buy that account, Fred Warmbier said Thursday.

“Even if you believe their explanation of botulism and a sleeping pill causing a coma, and we don’t, there is no excuse for any civilized nation to have kept his condition a secret and denied him top-notch medical care for so long,” he added.
President Trump called the student’s parents Wednesday, the father said, describing the talk as “really nice.”

“To be honest, I had avoided conversations with him, because to what end? I’m dealing with my son,” Fred Warmbier said. “But I did take the call, and it was gracious and it felt good, and I thank him for that.” - NY Daily News

Justice department links Malaysia’s first lady to $30m stolen funds

The U.S. Justice Department says nearly 30 million dollars of funds stolen from scandal-hit 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was used to buy jewelry for the prime minister’s wife, including a rare 22-carat pink diamond set in a necklace.

This is according to the latest filings by the U.S. Justice Department in a civil lawsuit lodged at the District Court in Los Angeles.
It did not identify Prime Minister Najib Razak or his wife Rosmah Mansor by name, but said the jewelry purchases were for the wife of ‘Malaysian Official 1’.

Malaysian and U.S. government sources have previously confirmed that ‘Malaysian Official 1’ refers to Najib.

The diamond necklace set alone cost 27.3 million dollars, according to latest filings in a lawsuit that was launched in July 2016.
The accusations will provide further ammunition for Najib’s political rivals, who often criticize his wife for

lavish spending, and come at an awkward time for the Malaysian leader, as he had been expected to call a snap
election later this year.
Rosmah’s aide did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The prime minister’s office, in a statement early on Friday, said it was “concerned by the unnecessary and gratuitous naming of certain matters and individuals that are only relevant to domestic political manipulation and interference.” Najib has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

A total of 4.5 billion dollars have been misappropriated from 1MDB, the Justice Department said on Thursday. The fund was set up by Najib in 2009 to promote economic development.

The department is seeking to seize a total of about 1.7 billion dollars in assets that were bought with misappropriated funds, including a Picasso painting that was given to actor Leonardo DiCaprio and the rights to two Hollywood films.
“This money financed the lavish lifestyles of the alleged co-conspirators at the expense and detriment of the
Malaysian people,” acting U.S. Assistant Attorney-General Kenneth Blanco said in a statement.

The jewelry purchases were arranged by Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, who was also accused of
gifting DiCaprio a 3.2 million dollars Picasso.
A spokesman for DiCaprio on Thursday said that the actor had begun proceedings to transfer ownership of the
Picasso to the U.S. government, having in July 2016 “initiated the return” of gifts he had received from
financiers connected to the 1MDB case.

Low, whose whereabouts are unknown, could not be reached for comment.
In an emailed statement through a representative, Low said the Justice Department’s actions were “a further
example of global overreach in pursuit of a deeply flawed case.”
“The U.S. Department of Justice’s latest move continues its inappropriate efforts to seize assets despite not
having proven that any improprieties have occurred,” the statement read.

Rasky Partners, a public relations firm that emailed his statement, could not be immediately reached by phone.
The lawsuits show the jewelry for Rosmah was bought with funds that passed through Najib’s account.

According to findings, the jewelry, like the Picasso painting, was purchased with funds traceable to diverted proceeds from a 2013 bond offering by 1MDB.
It also show that the diamond necklace was bought in 2013, just months after 680 million dollars was transferred to the private bank account of Najib in Kuala Lumpur.

The Malaysian government says that money came from a member of the Saudi royal family.
The necklace was purchased from New York jeweler Lorraine Schwartz, who has designed for Beyonce Knowles,
Jennifer Lopez and other stars of the entertainment world.

“Need a 18 carrot (carat) pink heart diamond vivid or slightly short of vivid. On diamond necklace urgent,” Low
said in a text message to Schwartz in June 2013, the filings said.

A month later Schwartz showed the necklace in Monaco to a group of people, including Rosmah, onboard Topaz, one
of the largest private yachts in the world.
Low had chartered the 147-meter yacht for seven days in early July 2013, according to the filings.
Rosmah and Low met with Schwartz again at a hotel in New York in September that year, when Najib was in New York
to attend the UN General Assembly.

The necklace was eventually delivered to an unnamed friend of Rosmah’s in 2014 in Hong Kong, who then handed it
over to Rosmah in Kuala Lumpur, the filings said.
Low also arranged for the purchase of 27 pieces of jewelry – worth a total of 1.3 million dollar, for Rosmah in 2014.

The lawsuits also describe how Low spent about nine million dollars in 2014 buying jewelry for Australian model Miranda Kerr. - Agency Reporter

REVEALED: ‘Nnewi deities exposed Evans, neutralised his charms’

New revelations have emerged on why the police were able to arrest notorious kidnap kingpin, Chukwudemeje George Onwuamadike alias Evans last Saturday after a seven-year hunt.

It was gathered that Nnewi monarch and the traditional council two weeks ago, went round all the communities in Nnewi with their deities to curse those kidnapping prominent sons/daughters of the town.

The monarch was irked by the alleged kidnap of the Ikenga Nnewi (keeper of the Oracle of justice), whose abductors abandoned him on their way to a detention camp after an argument broke out among them.
According to some natives of Nnewi, the Ikenga had told the kidnappers their end was near whether they left him or not.

He was said to have gone to the monarch and told him those responsible for their plights were among them (natives), which prompted the ritual.

Despite the ritual, Evans’ native doctor in Nnewi assured him that he would never be caught. He was said to have prepared charms for him to counter the curses placed by the monarch and chiefs and told the kingpin to carry on with his life.

A native who refused to be named said: “Two days after the Igwe and his chiefs went round the communities with Ofor Nnewi  (staff), a house, where the kidnappers usually held their victims hostage in the town was exposed. The house is near a prominent politician’s house but no one knew something like that was happening there.

“One afternoon, the man in charge of the house started acting like he was insane. He left the door open and that was how all the victims ran out. People saw them and the house owner was lynched after his confession.
“A lot of people were implicated in the kidnapping business of Evans and most of them were silently arrested.

“It was the Igwe’s curse that led to his arrest. The Ikenga told them the day of his kidnap that if they left him, they are in trouble and if they took him with them, they would still be in trouble.
“As they were going with the man, the kidnappers started arguing and fighting among themselves, that was how they dropped him and he went to the Igwe.”

Meanwhile, in the build-up to arrested Evans, the police picked up his pregnant sister and mistress but none of them was able to implicate the kingpin.
According to a source, the sister initially claimed Evans was her boyfriend and she knew nothing about his crime until she was threatened that her baby would be born in the Police cell.

Evans’ mistress, said to be a widow with four children, refused to give him away because he has been her benefactor. The source said the woman, who lived around Okota explained that she would die of guilt if she assisted the police in arresting him.

“The woman said he has been the one taking care of her and her children and that she could not give him away. She said he usually came to her house to take her out and always gave her anything she requested. He was a good man to her and father to her children.

“Police wanted to use her to lure him but she refused to comply. She was arrested. So many people were arrested in the quest to get Evans. It was one of those picked up that told the police he had a scar on his shoulder, which he sustained from a gun injury.

“He has not stopped crying. He drinks only Eva water and has been very quiet. He has confessed that he owns a big hotel in Amuwo Odofin, a house in South Africa, Canada and other properties.

“He also said he used to live at that Igando camp and that he moved to his Magodo mansion from there. He retained the place as detention camp and used Ogechi Amadi’s name on it.

“He said his native doctor promised him that nothing would happen to him. That after Felix was arrested and the failed kidnap of the Ikenga and the curse by the Igwe, the native doctor told him nothing would happen to him. He said reports that the native doctor warned him to stay out of the Magodo house was not true. That if he had warned him, he would not have gone there.” - The Nation

US, UK ‘revoke’ visas of senior military officers over human rights issues

The US embassy and British high commission in Nigeria have reportedly withdrawn and denied entry visa to some serving and retired Nigerian army officers.

According to THISDAY, this was disclosed in a report of an army panel set up to investigate alleged human rights abuse levelled against the military by Amnesty International (AI).

While presenting the findings at a press conference in Abuja, Nuhu Angbazo, chief of military/civil affairs, had said the army was not guilty of the accusations.

He said though no court of law nor board of enquiry had found the military guilty of human rights abuse, “at least two diplomatic missions either revoked or denied their country entry visas to a number of senior officers.”

He said the senior military officers involved were those in charge of operations in the north-east.
“There were cases of officers whose names did not appear in the allegation but were also denied visas,” he was quoted to have said.

He said that although the panel exonerated the army of any alleged sexual abuse of IDPs in the north-east, it faulted the trial of Boko Haram detainees.

“The board found out that the process determining the legal status of the detainees in all military detention facilities appear to have been left to the Nigerian army alone,” Angbazo reportedly said.
“We note in particular the difficulty encountered by the Nigerian Army in transferring detainees in Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri detention facility to the Maiduguri maximum prisons to ease congestion in the facility.

“The board found that a common feature in all the detention facilities visited was the delay in the legal processing and trial of Boko Haram detainees.”

Chelsea target Jerome Boateng wants Real Madrid transfer

Antonio Conte wants to add a centre-back or two to his squad this summer with John Terry having left the club and Kurt Zouma likely to depart on a loan deal.

According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea did make an enquiry to Bayern Munich regarding defender Jerome Boateng, but the 28-year-old has his own dream move in his mind.

Spanish source Don Balon claim that Boateng is hoping to push through a move to La Liga champions Real Madrid, having achieved all he can with the Bundesliga champions.

Real Madrid aren’t that keen on the Germany international and would rather sign his teammate David Alaba but it’s understood that a transfer for the Austrian is unlikely as Bayern see him as a key player for the future.

Capped 67 times by Germany, Boateng is under contract at Bayern until 2021 meaning that he would cost a sizeable fee to prise away from the Bundesliga champions.

Cristiano Ronaldo 'wants to leave Spain' as tax fraud case leaves Real Madrid ace feeling like a 'victim of persecution'

Cristiano Ronaldo is desperate to leave Spain in the wake of tax fraud allegations, claim Portuguese reports.
The Real Madrid superstar is said to be disillusioned by claims by authorities that defrauded authorities of €14.7million, which he refutes.

A Bola , the paper that splashed Ronaldo's feelings on the front page on Friday, follows a claim by the same outlet that Real were preparing for a £157m bid for his services.
And now they say Ronaldo "does not want to continue in Spain and therefore will look to leave La Liga next month".

Ronaldo is currently on duty with Portugal ahead of their Confederations Cup opener on Sunday against Mexico.
On his return, they say Ronaldo is ready to leave Real Madrid after leading them to back-to-back Champions League titles.

"Despite the player's deep passion for Real, Ronaldo's decision is taken and the player wants to leave Spain shortly after the short holiday following the Confederations Cup," A Bola says.

They cite sources who claim Ronaldo is "deeply disillusioned" after it was claimed he had defrauded Spanish tax authorities out of €14.7million and that he feels he is "a victim of persecution".

Ronaldo responded that "sometimes the best answer is to be quiet" in response to Spanish prosecutors' four accounts of alleged fraud between 2011 and 2014.

Speaking yesterday at a ceremony for the national team, held in honour of coach Fernando Santos, Ronaldo took the opportunity to defend himself.
When asked by a reporter about the lawsuits,  Ronaldo said: "I have a clear conscience." - Irish Mirror

Nigerian Army Nab Notorious Kidnap Kingpin “Burtu” In Kaduna

The Nigerian Army have arrested a notorious kidnap kingpin Sani Ibrahim (alias Burtu) after a forest raid in Kaduna on Wednesday 14th June 2017.

Troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army successfully carried out clearance operation at Rijana forest, Kaduna State following the disturbing resurgence of armed banditry and kidnappings along Abuja-Kaduna road.

To ensure the arrest of Burtu, the Army troops cordoned armed bandits’ camp at Rijana forest where  the suspected notorious gang leader, Sani Ibrahim (alias Burtu) was arrested.

Burtu has, for a long time, been on the most wanted list of the Security Agencies in Kaduna State.

During the operation, the troops also recovered 1 motorcycle and 25 goats from the camp.

Similarly, troops mounted ambush along Zamfara State border with Kebbi State in which they neutralized 3 armed bandits and recovered 134 cows and 13 sheep.