Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho refutes tax fraud claims during Real Madrid stint

Jose Mourinho's representatives have released documents they claim show the Manchester United boss "was in compliance with all his tax obligations" after he was accused of by Spanish prosecutors of two counts of tax fraud worth nearly £3 million.

A statement from the Attorney General's Office confirmed to Press Association Sport that the Madrid Prosecutor's Office had lodged the papers, relating to 2011 and 2012, with the municipal court.
The investigation was opened after the Spanish tax authorities informed the Public Prosecutor's Office about perceived discrepancies in the data, with a Madrid judge now set to determine the next stage of the process.

However, Mourinho's representatives Gestifute Media issued a statement on Tuesday evening saying their client had "not received any notification" of the actions by the authorities in Spain, as well as circulating a copy of an official tax document dated July 3, 2015 which covered the periods in question.

Mourinho guided Real Madrid to the 2011/12 La Liga title before returning to manage Chelsea after leaving the Bernabeu in June 2013 and then taking over as Manchester United boss last summer.
"Jose Mourinho has not received any notification with regards to the news published today. To this date, neither the Spanish tax authorities, nor the public prosecutor have contacted Jose Mourinho or his advisers who were hired for the inspection process," the statement from Gestifute Media read.

"Jose Mourinho, who lived in Spain from June 2010 until May 2013, paid more than 26 million euros in taxes, with an average tax rate over 41 per cent, and accepted the regularisation proposals made by the Spanish tax authorities in 2015 regarding the years of 2011 and 2012 and entered into a settlement agreement regarding 2013.

"The Spanish Government in turn, through the Tax Department, issued a certificate in which it attested that he had regularised his position and was in compliance with all his tax obligations."

Underground home housing 400 people discovered beneath Chinese apartment complex

Hundreds of people have been found living in an underground warren of windowless rooms under a luxury Beijing apartment complex.

The hidden space had been subdivided into workers’ dormitories complete with kitchens, single bedrooms and even a smoking room.
The tenants were migrant workers who had come to the city looking for low paid work, Chinese state radio reported.

At least 400 people are thought to have been living in the space, in stark contrast to the wealthy elites living in the spacious Julong Gardens above.
The basement space was owned by the government but was likely to have been sublet at some point, according to China National Radio.
The presence of the underground rooms came to light after residents of Julong Gardens began noticing people in the area who did not seem to live in the complex.

One Julong resident said there were around 140 rooms and he was concerned about safety as the kitchens were kitted out with a powerful rice cooker and fridges as well as a gas tank.
It is unclear whether the homes are illegal. Chinese authorities are reportedly investigating, but the case highlights the growing housing crisis in the capital.

The tenants are among the estimated one million people – known as shuzu or “rat tribe” – living underground in the subdivided bomb shelters and bunkers built under the city in the 1970s and 1980s.

Since Deng Xiaoping opened the country to the West and introduced free market reforms, China’s “economic miracle” has attracted millions of people to the cities in search of a better life.
Many of the poorer migrant workers who arrive in China’s megacities do so unofficially and have little rights under the state’s hukou system.

The hukou, or household registration system, means people are only able to access services such as healthcare and schooling where they are more – meaning millions of workers leave their children behind with their parents to work in the city.
The system was introduced when the Communists first came to power in the 1950s when controls on internal movement were much stricter and most of the country was rural.

In 2014, the Chinese government announced it would reform the hukou system as part of its scheme for 60 per cent of its 1.4bn population to be urbanised by 2020.

Biafra: Anyone who says Igbo nation will not be achieved will die – Nnamdi Kanu warns

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu on Tuesday warned that anyone who insists that Biafra will not be achieved will die.

Kanu issued the warning while addressing a crowd of IPOB members at the palace of His Royal Majesty, Eze I.O Kanu in Isiama Afara Ukwu, Umuahia, Abia State.

The IPOB leader reiterated his resolve towards the struggle for the actualisation of Biafra Republic.
The IPOB leader also declared that there will be no more election in the South-East region starting with Anambra State until a date for referendum was announced by the Nigerian government.
The crowd had gathered at the Palace, following a call he put out to IPOB members.

Addressing the crowd, Kanu said, “Yesterday, I asked Darlington to send a message to say that I want to see IPOBs here today, not too many of you I said but look at what came out.”
Kanu, in a loud voice asked the crowd, “Are we ready for freedom?”
Responding, the crowd chanted, “Yes!”

Speaking further, Kanu said, “Because we are not going back, until the zoo agrees on a date for referendum, there will be no election here anymore.

“We are starting with Anambra, that they may know that this land belongs to our ancestors.
“This land must be set free, here we shall die, and here we shall be buried.
“Anybody that says Biafra will not come, that person will not be alive!”

At that point, the crowd in a resounding shout said, “Iseee!!” meaning amen to his prayers. Daily Post

Algerian Man Dangled Baby From Tall Building For Facebook 'Likes

A court in Algeria has sentenced a man to two years in prison for dangling a baby out of a window in order to attract "likes" on Facebook.

The man posted a picture of himself holding the baby out of a window in a high-rise building with the caption: "1,000 likes or I will drop him."

It prompted other social media users to demand his arrest for child abuse. He was charged with endangering the baby's safety following his arrest on Sunday, police said.

The child was dangled out of the 15th-floor window of an apartment block in the capital, Algiers.

The man, who is a relative of the child, denied he put his life at risk, saying the image had been altered by social media users, Algeria's privately owned Ennahar TV reported.

"The picture was taken in a balcony with protective barriers. These were removed," he was quoted as saying.

The child's father urged the court to forgive the man, saying he had just been playing a game.

However, the judge ruled against him, saying the picture was clear and the child's life was in danger

Mother Of Finsbury Park 'Terrorist' Says She Won't Defend Him

The mother of the Finsbury Park suspect last night said she was 'not going to defend' her son and revealed she screamed in horror when she saw him on television.

Christine Osborne, 72, said that she had not seen her 47-year-old son Darren in one month and described him as being a 'complex' person.

Her son, from Cardiff, South Wales, was arrested on suspicion of murder and terror offences. She described the incident in Finsbury Park, North London, on Monday morning as being an 'atrocity' and spoke about her son's mental health issues.

Mrs Osborne insisted that her son had no problems with Muslims and added he had no links with far-Right groups and added he was not a racist.

She said: 'I'm not going to defend him, but he's my son and it's a terrible, terrible shock.

'It's not just robbing a bank, it's an atrocity. And at this moment in time, I can't cope with it, I can't. I don't want to say anything more.

'He is disturbed, and has been on medication. He's unemployed at the moment. He's got problems, but he's also got a wife and four kids, and we can't talk to his partner Sarah, she's somewhere safe.'

With her grandson Ellis, 26, who is mixed-race, next to her, she added: 'Darren would stand up and die for Ellis.'

'He's never spoken to me about terror attacks or talked about "bloody Muslims" - never in a million years and that's the truth.

'As a mum my heart goes out to everyone in Finsbury Park.'

It is alleged that Osborne - who was not known to police and MI5 - hired an £80-a-day van from South Wales before driving to the Muslim Welfare House in north London.

 

Floods submerge houses, roads in Ibadan

Eight buildings, vehicles, motorcycles and household items were among properties swept away yesterday during a six-hour downpour in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The incident brought back the memory of the August 26, 2011 flood disaster.

Several parts of the city were submerged.
Though no lives were lost, the flood destroyed valuables as the torrential, which poured from 3 a.m to 8.45 a.m, lasted.

The state government, in anticipation of a flood disaster, spent millions of naira to dredge rivers and streams.
But the water channels overflowed their banks yesterday.

The Ogunpa River channels, dredged in the 1980s during the administration of the late Chief Bola Ige after the Ogunpa flood disaster, spilled over before the rain subsided.
A Celestial Church of Christ at Orogun and the University of Ibadan (UI) axis of the city were submerged.

One person was trapped in the deluge but was rescued by the residents and men of the state fire service.
Scores of residents in the affected areas wore sad faces over the loss of their belongings

There was a mild protest against men of the fire service at
Residents of Orogun and UI berated them for allegedly arriving late, despite the calls put across to them when the flood was raging.

A bulldozer belonging to a contractor dredging the Orogun River was swept away and hung under a bridge, which was submerged by the flood.
At Gbekuba, Oke-Ayo, Odo-Ona, Gada and Omi-Adio in Ido Local Government Area, where Governor Abiola Ajimobi hails from, homes and farmlands were submerged by the flood.

The flood made the Ibadan-Abeokuta Expressway at Omi-Adio impassable.
Most traders at the popular Omi-Adio Market lost their goods; the abandoned Magistrates’ Court was submerged by the flood.

At Olodo in Ibadan, eight houses were reportedly submerged.
Vehicles and motorcycles were swept away while many residents were sacked from their homes. - The Nation

Woman caught on CCTV strangling her 1-year-old baby in hospital [PHOTO]

A 32-year-old woman from North Carolina, Maggie Dixon, has been charged with attempted murder and child abuse.
The police said Dixon was caught on camera repeatedly trying to smother her one-year-old son in his room at a Charlotte hospital.

Daily Mail UK, reports that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said nurses at Levine Children’s Hospital were watching their monitors Saturday night and noticed the boy had trouble breathing when his mother, Dixon, was alone with him.

An arrest report states that Dixon’s 12-month-old son was brought to the hospital suffering from respiratory problems.
Investigators said the mother suspected her son had pneumonia, reported the station WSOC-TV.

It was reported that at around 11.25pm Saturday, medical staff summoned police after noticing ‘abnormalities’ in the young patient’s vital signs, including fluctuations in his breathing and oxygen levels, whenever his mother was alone with him in the room.

Investigators further rebealed that when hospital workers reviewed surveillance video from the room, they saw Dixon try to suffocate the toddler four separate times within a span of 15 minutes using both her hands and a pillow.
The 32-year-old suspect was immediately removed from the room and taken in for questioning by police.

Dixon has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and felony child abuse inflicting serious injury. She remained in jail on $200,000 Monday, reported Laurinburg Exchange.
Prior to Saturday’s incident, police say there were no apparent signs that the boy had been subjected to abuse at home.

Authorities say the boy remains within the hospital with other family members. The Division of Social Providers will be helping with the investigation.

Once he fully recovers, the toddler likely will be released into the custody of his father, who lives separately from Dixon.

Ex- Banker Remanded in Prison for N19m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday June 19, 2017,  arraigned one Carlos Okeke before Justice Ike Ogu of the Anambra State High Court,  Onitsha  on a four count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, an offence contrary to Section 385 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 36, Anambra State and Punishable under Section 386 of the same Law.

When the charge was read to the accused person, he pleaded not guilty.

In view of his plea, the prosecuting counsel Rotimi Ajobiewe immediately prayed the court to remand the accused in prison and fix a date for trial.

But the defence counsel, F. A. Okeke quickly informed the court that the defence had filed a motion for bail since May 17, 2017, and then prayed the court to grant the accused person bail on the grounds that the offence was bailable and that the accused had been on administrative bail.
Justice Ogu granted the accused bail in the sum of N1, 000,000 and one surety in like sum who must be resident in Anambra State.

But before adjourning to September 22, October 11 and November 2, 2017, for trial, Justice Ogu ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody pending when he perfects his bail condition.

One of the charge against the accused reads:“That you Carlos Okeke sometime in 2015 within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Anambra State did commit a felony to wit: with intent to defraud, obtained by false pretence the sum of N19.000.000.00 (Nineteen Million Naira) from one Mrs. Muoka Ngozi Blessing, when you represented to her that you  placed her money on fix deposit with Diamond Bank Plc a representation which you knew was false and thereby committed an offence”.

The incident that led to the arrest of Okereke happened on January 7, 2016, when the complainant, Mrs. Muoka N. Blessing called Carlos who was her account officer in January 2015 when she fixed N17, 000,000.00, informing him of her intention to collect the interest on her fixed deposit and roll over the initial deposit of N17, 000,000.00.  But to her dismay, she immediately got a credit alert for N19, 000,000.00, which was closely followed by another debit alert for the exact sum. Mrs. Muoka then petitioned the EFCC which confirmed through investigation that the Bank had long dismissed the accused over his nefarious activities. It was further discovered, that the certificate which he issued to Mrs. Muoka was forged. - EFCC

Ex Dangote Staff Arraigned for Stealing

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on June 19, 2017 arraigned one Sulaiman Musa,  before Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele of the Edo State High court sitting in Benin on a 4 count charge bordering  on intent to defraud, Stealing and  conspiracy to commit felony contrary to Section 467 of the Criminal Code csp C21 ,Vol.1 laws of Edo State of Nigeria, 2006.

Musa a  former staff of Dangote Cement Plc was said to have sometime in January 2017  in Benin conspired with one Mustapha(still at large) and one Muhammed( still at large) to steal 900 bags of cement, Tyres and Rims valued at over N4 million.

One of the charges reads:” that you Sulaiman Musa , one Mustapha ( still at large) and one Mohammed ( still at large) sometime in January 2017 in Benin  within the jurisdiction of this Honourable  court , with the intent to defraud stole a trailer load of  cement valued at N2,001,500.00 property  of Dangote Cement Plc”.

When the charges were read to him, he pleaded not guilty.
Consequently the prosecution counsel Murtala  Saidu Usman asked the court to fix a date for trial and to remand the defendant  in Prison custody. However the defence pleaded with the court to grant his clients bail as he has been on administrative bail.

After listening to all the  arguments, justice Ohimai  adjoined to  July 17, 18 and 19,2017  for commencement of trial  and ordered the defendant be remanded on Oko prison custody.

Court Jails Man 27months for Job Scam

Justice O. A. Adeniyi of the FCT High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 convicted and sentenced one Micheal Ogun (a.k.a Idris Suleiman, Ibrahim Bello) to 27months imprisonment on a six-count charge of forgery and obtaining by false pretence brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Ogun, allegedly poses as an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and in that assumed capacity defrauding innocent Nigerians of their hard earned money under the guise of securing them job in the two agencies.

The job scam was reported to the EFCC by one Angela Chinwe Okeke after being duped by the defendant.

In the course of the trial, Ogun  changed his plea following a plea bargain agreement.

At the resumed sitting today, Justice Adeniyi asked the defendant to carefully study the plea bargain arrangement and confirm if he fully understood the terms and conditions contained therein noting that, the matter was adjourned for conviction and conclusion of the trial, following chilling evidences tendered against him by the prosecution.

Responding, Ogun’s counsel, Samuel Zibiri, SAN, stated that the defendant has pleaded guilty to all counts.

Referring to paragraph three of the plea bargain, Zibiri urged the court to look at the option of fine adding that the defendant is a young married man with a wife and two infants alongside his aged parents. He further stated that Ogun will restitute all his victims with veritable claims and proof of monies paid.

Justice Adeniyi, after a careful perusal of the plea bargain terms ruled out the option of fine holding that, “the plea bargain was an afterthought coming in at the dying minute after the prosecution has proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt”.

The judge, thereafter, found the defendant guilty and sentenced him to three months each on counts one to five without an option of fine and one year on count six.

Additionally, the convict is to refund the money fraudulently collected from all his victims.

The 20 most dangerous countries in the world

The INSIDER Summary:The World Economic Forum recently released their Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, which analyses the travel and tourism sectors in 136 countries.The report includes a ranking of how safe those 136 countries are for tourists.The ranking is based on the prevalence of violence and terrorism, and not on petty crime. The top five most dangerous countries are Nigeria, Pakistan, El Salvador, Yemen, and Colombia.

Some countries are better suited for tourists than others.
As a part of this report, the WEF ranks the safety of each of those countries. To come up with this ranking, the forum "measures the extent to which a country exposes tourists and businesses to security risks mainly related to serious harm to people (violence and terrorism)." The ranking does not take petty crime into account.
We rounded up the 20 most dangerous countries from the report, based on safety and security.
Keep reading to see which countries you might want to avoid.

20. Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Congolese armed forces, as well as other armed groups and bandits, are active in many parts of the country, and they are pretty violent. Because the Congolese military is in operation throughout the country, travellers are likely to come across troops, armoured vehicles, and attack helicopters.

19. Thailand

The provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla - all of which are in southern Thailand - are the most dangerous in the country. In the last 13 years, more than 6,500 deaths have occurred in these areas due to violence. There's also a martial law in effect in the region.

18. Jamaica

While there are currently no travel advisories for Jamaica, violent crime and shootings are still rampant in some parts of the country, like Kingston and Montego Bay. Even guests staying in resorts can be affected.

17. South Africa

High crime rates in South Africa have led many locals to hire private security guards to protect them. Rape and murder occur frequently, especially in the more remote townships and settlements.

16. Guatemala

Guatemala's border with Mexico is one of the most dangerous parts of the country because of frequent drug and alien smuggling. The country also had the fifth highest homicide rate in Latin America and the Caribbean last year. Other common crimes include carjacking, armed robbery, and theft.

15. Chad

ISIS, Al-Qa'ida, and Boko Haram are all active in Chad. In the past, attacks by these extremist groups have targeted not only civilians and security forces, but also foreigners.
Border crossings can be dangerous too, due to minefields in those areas - specifically Chad's borders with Libya and Sudan.

14. Bangladesh

Besides the threat of terrorist attacks, extreme weather also affects Bangladesh, putting the country at risk for a number of natural disasters. The Asian nation experiences tropical cyclones, flooding, and sometimes earthquakes.

13. Mali

The risk for terrorist attacks is high in Mali's capital, Bamako, as well as other parts of northern and central Mali. Hotels and restaurants are often the targets for these attacks; in November of 2015, a number of people were taken hostage and killed at a Radisson Hotel in Bamako.

12. Lebanon

Because multiple extremist groups are active in Lebanon, terrorist attack such as bombings happen frequently. It's also typical for protests and smaller disputes between neighbours or families to escalate and turn violent, causing harm to bystanders.

11. Philippines

In addition to the recent shooting and fire at a Manila Casino, kidnappings are common throughout the Sulu Archipelago and the southern Sulu Sea. Foreigners are often the targets of these kidnappings.

10. Ukraine

Fighting between Ukrainian armed forces and Russian-backed armed separatists is common in both the eastern and southeastern regions of the Ukraine, more specifically, the regions of Donetsk oblast, Luhansk oblast, and Crimea. Civilians continue to get caught up in the fighting.

9. Honduras

Honduras is home to one of the world's highest murder rates. The department of Gracias a Dios in particular is plagued with crime and drug trafficking, and also lacks police or military presence.
Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and La Ceiba are other dangerous areas; 70% of US citizen homicides in the last seven years happened in these districts.

8. Kenya

While many terrorist attacks occur outside of Nairobi, the threat of terrorism is still high in the city. Grenades, shootings, and stabbings are common forms of attacks.

7. Egypt

ISIS and other extremist groups pose serious threats to public venues throughout Egypt, including tourist sites. The groups have also been known to target various modes of transportation.

6. Venezuela

Shortages of basic goods such as water, food, medicine, and electricity have lead to much social unrest and crime throughout Venezuela. The country has one of the highest crime rates in the world; armed robbery, murder, kidnapping, and carjacking are all common forms of violence in much of the country. The U.S. Department of State warns against travel to Venezuela.

5. Nigeria

Two extremist groups, Boko Haram, and Islamic State West Africa, are responsible for much of the violence that occurs in Nigeria, and commonly target heavily populated areas like churches, schools, restaurants, hotels, and entertainment venues.
The U.S. Department of State says visitors "should be vigilant at public gatherings and locations frequented by foreigners," and to "Exercise extreme caution throughout the country due to the threat of indiscriminate violence."

4. Pakistan

Religious conflict has plagued Pakistan for years, and violence against certain religious groups is still common throughout the country.
Pakistan's government also greatly limits freedom of speech, and forbids foreigners access to numerous places throughout the country.

3. El Salvador

Besides having one of the world's highest homicide levels, El Salvador is also known for its many gangs, which are known as maras. Gang violence includes everything from extortion to arms and drug trafficking.

2. Yemen

Rebel groups based in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, continue to both target and detain US citizens. Extremist groups such as Al-Qa'ida are also active in the country, and because of land mines and air strikes, much of Yemen's population lacks basic necessities like food, water, and medical assistance.

1. Colombia

While Colombia isn't as dangerous as it once was - Medellin was named South America's best destination last year - visiting the country still poses quite a risk for foreign travelers.
BACRIM, armed gangs, are responsible for kidnappings, drug trafficking, and robberies that occur throughout the country, while acts of terrorism, like explosions, are common in many big cities like Bogota. - INSIDER

Maradona: Dani Alves is an idiot

Diego Maradona has slammed Dani Alves after the Juventus full-back criticised the Hand of God, insisting the defender is an "idiot".
Maradona helped Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, as he palmed the ball past Peter Shilton in his country's 2-1 quarter-final victory over England. Maradona also scored one of the best goals in history in the same game, as he dribbled past five players before scoring, but Alves insisted recently that the iconic star - who lifted the World Cup in '86 - cannot be seen as a role model.

 "You want to compare Messi to Maradona? You can't compare them," Alves told Brazilian channel Canais Esporte Interativo. "I would not be proud to say that I won a World Cup with a 'Hand of God.' I wouldn't be able to tell my son that I won a World Cup like this with the whole world talking about it.
"The 'Hand of God' tricked us, you have to take this firm position. A sportsman like this can't be an example for youngsters."

However, Maradona has now hit back, insisting that Alves is a bad example of a full-back, and has also mocked his playing position.
"Dani Alves is an idiot. He makes 28 passes and only gets four right. As a '4' [right-back], Cafu and Maicon were good. Dani Alves? Poor thing," he replied, via TyC Sports.
"He speaks because he plays in a position on the pitch where football is not played. They [right-backs] touch the ball three times and make eight fouls per game."

 

 

 

Man sacks wife for making ‘sweet’ moans while being raped by robbers

Drama occurred in Iyana Ejigbo area of Lagos State recently as a man sacked his wife for refusing to scream while being raped by robbers in presence of her husband.

The incident, which happened around Bello Street left many people in confusion.

It was gathered that the heavily armed gunmen had invaded their house around 3am and demanded for money.

DAILY POST gathered that the man, whose identity was given as Baba Eneh, a native of Owukpa in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State told the robbers that he only had N3’500 at home.
A resident of the area hinted our reporter that Baba Eneh, a road transporter begged the robbers to leave them after collecting the money, saying that they just got married and trying to settle down.

Angered by the man’s inability to provide money, the robbers descended on the wife and started raping her.

Drama occurred during the incident as instead of the woman to scream for help, she was moaning in excitement.
“Instead of her to cry for help, she was busy making some funny sounds, an indication that she was enjoying the sex, even in the presence of her husband,” the source said.

After the robbery incident, the man reportedly ordered her to leave the house on the ground that she disgraced him.

According to the source, it is against the gods of Owukpa for a married woman to sleep with another man.
The man, who was apparently afraid of dying, asked the wife to return to her village until the necessary sacrifices are done.

When Daily Post   contacted the chairman of Owukpa Youths Ambassador chairman in Lagos, Samuel Adikwu, he said the group was aware of the development but failed to give further details because it was a ‘family affair.

My wife brings her lover into our matrimonial home, man tells court

A businessman, Abor Egwu, on Tuesday told a Nyanya Customary Court, Abuja, that his wife brings her lover into their matrimonial home whenever he was not at home.

He was testifying in a divorce petition filed by his wife, Gift Erima.

“A neighbour told me that whenever I leave home, my wife brings her man friend into our house.
“I did not want to believe that, because it is not always wise to act based on hear-say in issues of this nature.

“I just disregarded it, and termed it gossip,” he said.
Egwu told the court that he did not know that it was true until he found out the whole truth by himself.
He said that he would have confronted the man, but for the fact that the man was wealthier than him.

“The man has a lot of money, cars, in fact he is very rich,” he said.
Egwu also told the court that when he found out, he sent his wife to go to the village and stay.
“I later heard that my wife took that same man to her parent and introduced him as the man she wants to marry.’’

He told the court to grant his wife’s request and dissolve the marriage, as he was already fed up.
Egwu begged the court not to grant his wife the custody of their children, adding “I don’t want another man to raise my children.’’
Erima who was present in court, denied all the allegations.

“He is lying, he is the one that is married, and ever since he married, he has not been taking care of me and the children,” she said.

Erima begged the court not to grant her husband custody of the children of the marriage.
The judge, Mr Jemilu Jega, advised the couple to reconcile and adjourned the case until June 22, for report of settlement or hearing.

EFCC Tasks NITDA on Anti-Graft War

Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has urged the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA to join in the war against corruption.

He made the call while playing host to the Director General, NITDA, Dr. Isa Pantami on June 19, 2017 at the EFCC Head office.

"We never claim monopoly of knowledge. We are willing to fight, but we cannot fight without the common consensus of Nigerians to join hands in the fight against corruption," Magu said.

The anti-graft czar, who highlighted the ills of corruption, stressed that "agitations and kidnappings in the country" were as a result of corruption.

"If we want solution to these agitations, we must unite and chase corruption out of this country," he added.

The EFCC boss encouraged NITDA to join hands with the EFCC in the fight against corruption, stressing that "we must all be united to serve this country, because corruption is a threat to the survival of Nigeria, it is a threat to the unity of the country".

Pantami, while commending the Commission and its leadership's commitment to the fight against corruption, pledged NITDA's support for the EFCC.

According to him, the essence of the visit was "to see how the EFCC can support NITDA when it comes to regulation of IT projects in Nigeria".

He noted that there were many Information Technology, IT, projects in the budget "but nothing to write home about as regards development of the sector".

The NITDA boss stressed the need for strict regulations noting that, "The projects are brought up in every budget, but there's no justification for them".

He further used the opportunity to canvass for a working group to comprise of staff of EFCC and NITDA.

"Our country needs people that are fearless, those that can do what is right without looking at the consequences of their action," he said. - EFCC

Evans’ Wife Hasn’t Visited Home Since She Got Married - Brother

The elder brother of Mrs. Uchenna Precious Onwuamadike, wife of the dreaded kidnap kingpin, Mr. Chidumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans, Mr. Chukwuemeka Okoye said yesterday that his sister has not visited her village at Awo Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State since she got married in 2006.

He told Vanguard yesterday that even when their father died in 2014, Uchenna, who is the last of 13 children of the Okoyes, and her husband, Evans, did not attend the burial.

 He said that he has not been communicating with his sister even on telephone, adding that he does not even know that she is married with five children.

When shown the photograph of his sister and her five children, Chukwuemeka, a farmer and a daily paid job man at Oraifite market said he would not be able to identify his brother in-law, Evans, if they meet.

He said: “Our father was very sick when Uchenna got married and he was bedridden for eight years before he died in 2014.

 It was her father in-law that came for the burial. Once she got married, nobody heard from her again and sometimes we heard that she was living abroad.

“My elder brother who is living abroad once told me that he communicated with her and there was no way I could know their present predicament because I do not watch television, neither do I have a mobile phone that can be used for browsing.”

 He said that despite the poverty in his family, Uchenna and her husband never cared and said that he had not even heard that his sister’s husband was a kidnapper.

Their aged mother, who is said to be diabetic, is presently staying with one of his brothers in the North and has been away for over one year.

Uchenna’s cousin, a Reverend of the Anglican Church, who preferred anonymity said they did not know much about Uchenna because she was not communicating with the family, adding that he only knew about their present situation from the internet.

Community housing Evans den starts residents’ profiling Meantime, Community Development Association, CDA, heads in Bungalow section of Jakande estate , Oke-Afa, Isolo area of Lagos where Evans, had one of his hide-outs have begun to profile residents with a view to ascertaining their identities and means of lively hood.

The action, is coming on the heels of the confessional statement by kidnap kingpin, that he used one of the bungalows on Green street to keep abducted victims.

Evans, led operatives to the building weekend, where some left over food used to feed abducted victims were seen.

 Vanguard gathered that two members of the gang who acted as watchmen to abducted victims, occupied the bungalow.

 They however fled when news of Evans’ arrest reached them. When Vanguard visited Green street yesterday, residents were amazed that they had been living with a criminal without having an inkling. One of them, Fatai Owolola said: “We never knew that the building was used to keep abducted victims.

I usually saw two young men coming in and out of the building, without suspecting anything bad was going on there.

The only time cars came in was at night and they drive out almost immediately.” The kidnappers were said to have taken advantage of the quietness of the vicinity.

 Everybody goes out in the day time and comes back at night without prying into other peoples business.”

Another resident Mrs Chikwendu Odinaka who claimed to have been in the area for over 10 years, said: ”Community leaders of all the bungalows streets have printed forms for residents.

This is aimed at documenting the identities of all the residents and their places of work, in order to know where to look for them in case of eventuality.

‘’We were shocked when policemen brought Evans, that we had been reading about, to one of the bungalow buildings on Green street on Sunday.

‘’Why he chose there instead of better high brow areas, remains a question only him can answer,“ she said. The streets where the profiling will be done are: Brown, Purple, White, Blue, Green, Pink, Silver, Gold and orange. Blue and White streets community started distributing the forms yesterday.

N1.162bn Fraud: Absence of Dariye’s New Counsel Stalls Trial

The trial of Joshua Dariye, a former Plateau State governor, who is facing an alleged N1.162 billion fraud charge before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Gudu, could not continue on June 19, 2017 as he did not come to court with his new counsel.

The serving senator, whose counsel, G.S. Pwul, SAN, withdrew from his defence in March (having opened defence in June 2016), instead, approached the court with a personal letter, without a counsel to represent him. The trial judge had given Dariye about three months to get himself a new counsel to represent him in the case.

He however, appeared in court without a counsel. The prosecution, led by Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, had closed its case against him on June 6, 2016. In the letter dated June 14, 2017 with the Seal of the Senate and Reference No JCD/NASS/FCTHCRT/PLC/14/06, Dariye did not mention whether he had utilized the period to avail himself a new counsel, but instead, sought for an adjournment based on medical grounds.

He also attached a medical report from Makkah Specialist Hospital, Kano, where he had undergone the eye surgery. “I had notified this Honourable Court and your Lordship of my travail with my right eye that led to eye surgery,” he wrote, informing the court that he underwent two different surgeries on April 11, 2017 and May 30, 2017 at the hospital.

He informed the court that even with the surgery, he was “battling with a blurred vision” and “reading is completely difficult, each time I try, I end up with dizziness and severe headaches”.
He also complained of the instability of his blood pressure. While pleading with the court “for your understanding to allow me up to the end of July 2017 in view of my health challenge”, Dariye added that he would need to travel abroad for further treatment.

He then asked the court that his international passport be released to him. Justice Banjoko, who adjourned to September 18, 2017 for “continuation of trial”, however, instructed him to make sure he came to court with his new counsel, who should “move the motion seeking for the release of your international passport”, and ordered that “the counsel should also be the one to take up the matter to the end, and it would be a day-to-day trial”. - EFCC

N29bn Fraud: Court Admits More Exhibits Against Nyako, Others

A Federal High Court, Abuja on June 19, 2017 admitted in evidence six volumes of documents tendered in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against a former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako.

Nyako along with his son, Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako, Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifikk Abba, are standing trial before Justice Okon Abang, on a 37-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N29 billion.

Five companies that allegedly served as conduit pipes for the illegal diversion of the funds – Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited, were equally charged before the court.
The documents, which comprised of payment vouchers from the Office of the Secretary to the Adamawa State Government, were tendered through the state’s Chief Executive Officer, Accounts, Adamu Yahaya.

Yahaha, who is the tenth prosecution witness, had on May 17, 2017 told the court that he “took records of payments made on the approval of the governor and reported the same to the office of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, between 2008 and 2014”.

The bundle of documents showing copies of payment vouchers from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Political for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 were tendered and admitted in evidence as Exhibits E1, E2a and E2b, E3a and E3b, E4a and E4b, E5a, E5b and E5c, and E6, respectively.
The matter was afterwards adjourned to June 20, 2017 for continuation of trial. - EFCC

Court Throws Out Metuh’s Application for Stay of Proceedings, Berates Defence

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja Monday, June 19, 2017 dismissed an application by a former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh, seeking a stay of further proceedings following June 9, 2017 ruling of the Supreme Court dismissing a similar application by the defendant.

The apex court, had in the said ruling, validated Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 which prohibits courts from entertaining such applications.

Metuh is standing trial alongside Destra Investment on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N400million, which he allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, in 2014 without justification.

The trial had been put on hold since December 16, 2016 due to interlocutory applications by Metuh’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, seeking for a stay of proceedings pending the decision of the Supreme Court on the matter.

The defence argued that, “although the applications are similar, the High Court ought to defer proceedings as the Supreme Court had already begun hearing the appeal”.
In his ruling today, Justice Abang dismissed the application relying on Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
“This court has no power to stay proceedings in a criminal matter,” the judge held.

Justice Abang, also in a separate ruling, dismissed another application seeking the release of Metuh’s international passport as well as leave to allow the defendant to travel to the United Kingdom to seek medical attention.

Describing it as a ‘contentious application’, Justice Abang described the application as “lacking in merit”.

While referring to the submissions previously made by the second applicant, the judge expressed displeasure at what he called ‘wild allegations’ deposed to by the defendant which alleged that the court raised the issue of jurisdiction suo motu and did not afford counsels the opportunity to address the court before it went ahead to decide the matter.

Reacting to the allegation Justice Abang said, “The second defendant's counsel is most unfair to this court and Gerard Ajoku lied under oath. This is grossly unethical and a reckless abuse of judicial process. I leave them to their conscience”.

He went on: “No counsel should mislead the court. The records show that the court invited parties to address the court briefly as to whether the court has jurisdiction to release international passport on March 23, 2016. The second defendant applicant was party to the proceedings on that day and the decision can only be said to be a nullity if parties were not given a chance to be heard.

“Any complaint against the said decision can only be heard in appeal. None of the parties appealed the decision in upward of 10months. The second defendant applicant suddenly woke up from his slumber after 10months to complain that the decision is a nullity”.

Dismissing the application the judge said: “This application lacks judicial support and is unknown to law.
The application lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed”.
Consequently, Justice Abang adjourned to June 20, 2017 for continuation of trial. - EFCC

Antonio Conte wants quick push for six new signings after agreeing new £9.5m-a-year Chelsea deal

Antonio Conte is expected to push the need for quick signings when he meets Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich later this week.

Conte held talks with Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia on Sunday about signing a new deal.
As Standard  Sport revealed last week, the club always had plans to give him a new contract despite claims that their relationship had become strained.

Conte will become the seventh highest paid coach in the world on £9.5 million a year when he signs the extension, which will see him stay at Stamford Bridge until 2021. The 47-year-old is currently on holiday in Italy.

He and Abramovich have had a good bond since the Russian interviewed Conte for the job last year. The owner made a point of backing Conte with visits to the training ground following consecutive defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal in September.

The duo were noticeably on good terms when they sat next to each other to watch Chelsea’s FA Youth Cup win at Stamford Bridge two months ago.

Conte’s only source of unease has been the lack of signings by Chelsea so far. He is not looking for greater control over recruitment as he is content with the set-up involving Granovskaia and technical director Michael Emenalo.

But the Italian wants to avoid a repeat of last year when two of his acquisitions, David Luiz and Marcus Alonso, were completed on the final day of the transfer window.

Their late arrival meant he couldn’t work with them during pre-season and the switch to a 3-4-3 formation was delayed until October. Conte won’t have the benefit of several free weeks to develop tactics and systems in practice sessions next season because the club are back in the Champions League. Chelsea return to pre-season training on July 7 and leave for their pre-season tour of the Far East 12 days later.

Those players involved in internationals will have an extended break, but Conte is looking for his squad to be completed as much as possible so they can play in the three friendly games arranged, as well as the Community Shield against Arsenal on August 6.

While terms have been agreed with former Manchester City keeper Willy Caballero to become back-up to Thibaut Courtois, no other signings have been made. Conte wants at least five more, including a centre-half, wing-back, central midfielder, attacking midfielder and a striker.

Chelsea have had a £52m bid for Juventus left-back Alex Sandro rejected and are still negotiating with Monaco over midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko.
Striker Romelu Lukaku is committed to returning to west London, three years after leaving to join Everton for £28m. But Chelsea are determined not to pay Everton’s £100m asking price.

They are also prepared to listen to Conte’s thoughts on whether he wants a replacement for assistant Steve Holland, who has joined the England set-up on a full-time basis.

Tiger Woods receiving professional help to manage medication as battles to return to fitness

Tiger Woods has revealed he is receiving "professional help" to manage his medications as he battles to return to fitness.

On May 29 the 41-year-old American was breathalysed in a Florida jail after his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. He denied that alcohol was involved and claimed an "unexpected reaction to prescribed medications", with the police record supporting his claim.

Woods, absent from the game as he continues to recover from a fourth back operation since April 2014, released a statement via his official Twitter account on Monday which read: "I'm currently receiving professional help to manage my medications and the ways that I deal with back pain and a sleep disorder.

"I want to thank everyone for the amazing outpouring of support and understanding, especially the fans and players on tour."
He is due to appear in court in Palm Beach County on August 9 to answer the DUI charge, unless a deal is struck beforehand. - The Independent

'Predatory' bear mauls boy to death during race

A 16-year-boy has died after being mauled by a "predatory" black bear as he took part in a mountain race.

A search was launched after Patrick Cooper went off the trail in Bird Ridge, Alaska, and called his brother to say he was being chased by a 250lb bear.

After a couple of hours other runners tracked down the teenager using the GPS coordinates on his phone, but found him motionless on the floor with the bear guarding his body.

Volunteer searchers sent the race director a text message saying they "needed a weapon", before a park ranger arrived on scene and shot the bear in the face.

However, it survived and ran off.
Rangers and wildlife officials continue to search for the bear, which they intend to kill.

Park ranger Tom Crockett said: "It did definitely take a slug strike to the face when the ranger fired on it. We know he struck it.

"This young man didn't do anything wrong, he was just in the wrong place.
"You can't predict which bear is going to be predatory."

Patrick was found around 500 yards off the trail in steep, heavily wooded terrain, Mr Crockett added.
The teenager, from Anchorage, was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was airlifted to hospital.

Race director Michael Friess said the "tragedy" would be reviewed "with a fine tooth comb".
He said: "You just never know, you never know where you'll see a bear or encounter a bear.

"We just want to express our sincere condolences to Patrick and his friends and family." - SKY News

How Kuku, Aides, Pocketed Over N35.2m from Amnesty Funds in Two Months - Witness

Ayogu Nnamdi, a prosecution witness in the trial of Henry Ugbolue, an aide to Kingsley Kuku (former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta) on Thursday, June 15, 2017 told Justice M. M. Kolo of the FCT High Court Wuse, Abuja that the accounts of Great & Gamaliel Alliance Limited received a turnover of about N35.2million in two months.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had on April 20, 2016 arraigned Ugbolue and Lawrence Pepple, both former aides to Kuku on two separate charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, false declaration of assets and fraudulent acquisition of property to the tune of N55million.

Kuku (a fugitive) and Ugbolue were alleged to have conspired among themselves and awarded contracts running into millions to companies in which they had interests.

It was alleged that Ugbolue was the sole signatory of Great & Gamaliel Alliance Limited, the company which provided integrated management of communications and stakeholders’ engagement chain for the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta.

On his part, Pepple was the director and sole signatory for KER Global Wave Limited, which was awarded a contract to provide Reintegration Support Services by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Testifying, Nnamdi, a compliance officer at the United Bank for Africa, UBA, who testified as PW1, told the court that, “a sum of N35, 206,564.89 was paid to the account of Great & Gamaliel Alliance Limited between March 4 and May 15, 2014 through the Office of Special Adviser to President on Niger Delta”.

Counsel to EFCC, Faruk Abdullah, sought to tender account opening documents, statement of account and mandate card in evidence, but the admissibility of the documents was objected to by Ugbolue’s counsel, G. E. Ezeuko, SAN, on the grounds that the documents were originals of public documents adding that, only certified true copies of public documents are admissible.

Ezeuko argued that, “one of the account statements has no certificate of identification and the one with certificate of identification did not comply with Section 84 (4) of the Evidence Act”.
He also noted that one of the account statements was not in the proof of evidence given to him.

Responding, Abdallah argued that, “we concede that the documents are originals of public document. However, contrary to the submission of the defendant’s counsel, the original of a public document is admissible as it’s a primary document itself. The Supreme Court had settled this when it held that, such document is the best form of document”.

Abdallah added that, “It’s only when you intend to tender a secondary evidence of a public document that it must be certified”.

Justice Kolo deferred ruling on the admissibility of the documents. He, however, admitted the documents, in the interim, as exhibits D & E adding that, “in the event the documents were found inadmissible everything relating to it would be expunged from the court record”.
The judge, thereafter, adjourned to September 20, 2017 for continuation of trial. - EFCC

Why people say 'bless you' after a sneeze

Everyone sneezes -- the average healthy person does so up to four times per day, in fact.

Sneezing can be caused by a lot of things besides allergies and illness; being too full, seeing a bright light, or even orgasm can all trigger an "achoo!"

In most cases, "a sneeze is designed to expel foreign particles and irritants from your airway, particularly your nasal cavity, and is a protective reflex," Dr. Jonathan Moss of Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates, previously told Business Insider .

Given how common sneezing is, scientists actually know very little about the phenomenon. What we do know is that nearly every sneeze in the US is answered with a "bless you."
But why?

"The Greeks and Romans saw sneezing as a sign of wellness and expressed their good wishes to the person who sneezed using the phrase 'live long,' or 'May Jupiter bless you,'" according to a 2013scientific review of sneezing and itching published in the book "Nasal Physiology and Pathophysiology of Nasal Disorders".

Somewhere along the way, though, sneezing fell out of good graces.
In the 14th century, Pope Gregory VII asked that 'God Bless You,' become "a short prayer to be said after every sneeze to protect against the plague," said the authors in the review. From then on, the tradition stuck.

"Bless you" isn't the only common response to body's reflexive behaviour, of course. Another frequently used response in America is the German word "Gesundheit," which means "good health to you."

Other countries and cultures around the world have even more and diverse responses to a sneeze.

The entries of a Wikipedia page titled "Responses to sneezing" are quite entertaining to scroll through -- though reliable citations are lacking. According to the list, people in many countries reference health and longevity in their sneezing responses, with only a handful referring to God.

N600m Fraud: Court Admits Evidence Against Ex-Naval Boss, Jibrin

Justice A. S. Umar of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on Monday, June 19, 2017 admitted in evidence two documents tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, who is standing trial for alleged corruption.

At the last sitting (June 14), there were arguments and counter arguments between Jibrin’s counsel, Y. C. Maikyau, SAN and counsel to the EFCC, Faruk Abdallah, on whether the documents tendered by the latter against the defendant is admissible or not.

The documents are: the Appropriation Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2013 & 2014 on one hand and the the Appropriation Act of the National Assembly for 2013 and 2014 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the other hand.

Miakyau had argued that the documents sought to be tendered by the prosecution did not satisfy the provisions of Section 106 of the Evidence Act, while Abdallah cited Section 122 (1) (2) of the Evidence Act to the effect that the documents tendered are admissible.

In his ruling today, Justice Umar admitted the two documents - a three-volume of Appropriation Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for 2013 as exhibit 16 a, b and c, and a three-volume of Appropriation Act of the National Assembly 2014 as exhibit 17 a, b and c.

“I have read carefully and examined the relevant Act, the prosecution has conformed to Section 106 of the Evidence Act”, the judge held.

Justice Umar, thereafter, adjourned to July 13 - 14, 2017 for continuation of trial.

Jibrin is facing trial alongside Rear Admiral Bala Mshelia, Rear Admiral Shehu Ahmadu (all retired) and Habor Bay International Limited on a 4-count charge of criminal conspiracy preferred against them by the EFCC.

The naval chiefs whilst in office allegedly bought a house worth N600million from the account of Naval Engineering Services without budgetary provision.

It was also alleged that, the documentation for transfer of ownership of the property was done such that a private company owned by the family of the first defendant (Vice Admiral Jibrin) became the buyer.