Man Utd agree £75m Lukaku fee

Manchester United have agreed a £75m fee with Everton to sign Romelu Lukaku, according to Sky sources.

Senior Everton sources have told Sky Sports  News HQ that no deal has yet been agreed for the 24-year-old but it is understood United remain confident one is close and will be finalised.
Lukaku's future at Goodison Park has been in doubt since he rejected a lucrative new contract offer back in March and said during duty with the Belgium national team that he knew where his future would be.

Lukaku has also been a target for Chelsea this summer but United boss Jose Mourinho has also been keen to add a new high-profile striker to his squad after losing Zlatan Ibrahimovic to injury.
United had been in talks with Real Madrid over a possible deal for Alvaro Morata and saw a number of offers rejected.

But Sky Sports News HQ understands their interest in bringing Morata to Old Trafford has now come to an end.
Lukaku, who scored 25 Premier League goals last season, is expected to have a medical later this week with the hope that he can join United for their tour of the United States.

The team return to training on Saturday before flying off to Los Angeles on Sunday.
Sky sources also understand the Lukaku deal is not linked to one that could see Wayne Rooney head in the opposite direction, moving back to Goodison Park and re-joining a club he left back in 2004 as a teenager.

Negotiations are continuing between the clubs and Rooney's representatives over his potential return to Merseyside.

Chelsea expected to challenge for Lukaku

Everton are expecting Chelsea to aggressively challenge Manchester United for Romelu Lukaku’s signature, according to the Independent, despite reports that United have already agreed a deal.

Earlier this morning, it was reported that United had agreed a £75million deal to sign Romelu Lukaku this summer, although Jim White broke the news that this was not the case shortly afterwards.

With the race for the 24-year old Belgian heating up, the Toffees expect long-term admirers Chelsea to come back in for Lukaku with a renewed sense of urgency, as talks with United having moved along progressively.

Whilst it was confirmed that Manchester United have not yet agreed a deal with Everton, there have certainly been positive discussions between the two clubs, with José Mourinho personally intervening to try and get the deal over the line.
Lukaku has not hidden the fact that he’d like to return to his former club Chelsea, whom he has supported since he was young, but it is now believed that he would be open to reuniting with the man who signed off his departure from Stamford Bridge.

The Red Devils have made offers for the Belgium international after failing with other targets, with Antoine Griezmann electing to remain with Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid proving difficult to deal with over Álvaro Morata. As such, United are now believed to be favourites to sign Lukaku, with it looking more and more likely the player will line up for next season in a red shirt.

However, those close to Chelsea maintain that nothing is said and done just yet.

Wayne Rooney's Everton shirt number revealed

Wayne Rooney will wear the number 10 shirt at Everton once he completes his move from Manchester United, taking over from Romelu Lukaku, according to reports.

The long-standing United captain looks set to complete a deal to return to Goodison Park in the coming days, 13 years after he left the Merseyside club to sign for the Red Devils.
Rooney has found it difficult to establish himself in Jose Mourinho's side and has accepted his time at Old Trafford has come to an end, despite securing his status as United's all-time highest scorer during the 2016-17 campaign.

Now 31, Rooney has donned the number 10 since the 2007-08 campaign, having previously worn number eight for his first three years in Manchester.
And with Lukaku looking increasingly likely to leave Everton this summer, Rooney can retain his favoured number at his new club.

Chelsea are favourites to land the Belgium striker, who scored 25 league goals last term, though United are also considering a substantial bid as they look to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
United are happy to let Rooney leave the club for free, knowing a deal for Real Madrid's Alvaro Morata is nearing a conclusion.

And while Rooney has also been linked with a move to China, former Everton defender Kevin Kilbane believes a return to his boyhood club would prove a sensible one for the former England star.
"To go to Everton might be a good move for him because the way he left Everton didn’t quite work well for him from a personal point of view," he previously told Goal. "Growing up he was a huge Everton fan.

“I think it will be a good move but his agent said that he has got offers from around the world. So it might not necessarily be to stay in the Premier League.
“It looks to me that he will be leaving Old Trafford. He might come to Asia, China, one of the European clubs or stay in the Premier League and go to Everton.

“Wherever he goes, I think he will be a valued member of that side because I still think he has the ability and can produce what he has shown in the past.”
With Everton forward Lukaku being open about his desire to compete in the Champions League, a summer move was always on the cards.
Antonio Conte had marked the former Blues forward as a potential replacement for the outgoing Diego Costa, who looks set for a Atletico Madrid reunion, though talks have not progressed as Chelsea would have liked.

As such, it has left the door open for Mourinho to make a move for the striker he worked with at Stamford Bridge during his time in charge in west London.

Lukaku's status in the Premier League has exploded since he worked under the Portuguese however, having now hit double figures in five consecutive top-flight seasons.
The Belgian's outstanding campaign last time out has seen him linked with a £100 million move to Old Trafford in the coming weeks. - Goal

Biafra: How Obasanjo is plotting to assassinate Nnamdi Kanu, overthrow Buhari – IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Thursday alleged that former President Olusegun Obasanjo is plotting to assassinate its leader, Nnamdi Kanu through military coup.
He said the coup will also overthrow the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government,

IPOB claimed that Obasanjo plots to use the military to create coup that will lead to the assassination of Kanu.
The group made the allegation while reacting to call by Obasanjo that Kanu should be made to put a stop to his agitation for Biafra.

In a statement sent to Daily Post  by spokesperson of the group, Emma Powerful, the group said Obasanjo’s remark is a “systematic way of telling the whole world that he has plans on the way to overthrow this present Government”, adding that this is the “only possible means he can justify the assassination of Nnamdi Kanu and others who are calling for the restoration of Biafra.”

See full statement below:

The members of the indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) worldwide and it’s leadership worldwide wish to put the whole world on notice of the call by the two times former president of Nigeria Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to assassinate Mazi Nnamdi Kanu the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra through the Military coup.

We are drawing the attention of the well meaning civilised society across the globe that Obasanjo have decided to put Nigeria into coax by calling Nigeria Army to plot a coup in Nigeria to justify his call to assassinate Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other members of IPOB who are bent in using peaceful means to restore Biafra.

The call by Olusegun Obasanjo is to repeat the scenario of 1966 massacre of Biafrans especially the Igbos living in Northern and Western parts of Nigeria before the war of genocide broke out against the people of Biafra between 1967 and 1970.

Since the inception of IPOB and emergence of Our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu we have maintained the nonviolent posture towards the restoration of Biafra, IPOB have never killed any fly rather the Federal Government of Nigeria and her security operatives have been killing the innocent members of IPOB and Bisfrans without provocation.

IPOB and Biafrans are not calling for war or any confrontation with Nigeria Government, individual or group, what we are requesting is referendum to ascertain whether the people of Biafra would choose to remain in Nigeria or not.
Again and to ascertain if the people of Biafra will choose to remain with the humiliation, killing, sufferings in Nigeria. All the civilized world knew the meaning of self determination and referendum that it cannot become a call for war rather it is legal means in the United Nations charter which suppose to be honoured by any member country including Nigeria Government and her politicians like Obasanjo and others.

This call by Olusegun Obasanjo to stop Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB members worldwide is a systematic way of telling the whole world that he had plans on the way to over throw this present Government and the only possible means he can justify the assassination of Nnamdi Kanu and others who are calling for the restoration of Biafra, but if anything happen to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and others or military take over in Nigeria the whole world will hold Olusegun Obasanjo and cohorts responsible.

With this we are calling on United Nations UN, African Union AU, European Union EU, ECOWAS, USA Government, Russia Government, Israeli Government, French Government, Canada, Australia, Chinese Government, British Government, Japan, Amnesty International, Human Right Watch, other relevant human rights organizations across the globe and the people of good concience in the whole universe to be aware of the statements credited to former president of Nigerian Chief Olusegu Obasanjo.

My husband raped his 12-year-old daughter – Woman laments in court

A hairdresser, Ajoke Afolabi, has told an Ikeja High Court how her ex-husband, Kenneth Okonkwo raped his 12-year-old daughter when she paid him a visit last Easter holiday.

She explained, “My former husband, Kenneth Okonkwo, defiled his 12-year-old daughter when she visited him during last Easter holiday.”

Ajoke made the revelation while being led in evidence by the state prosecutor, Akin George, at the resumed hearing of the case yesterday.

According to her, Okonkwo disappeared after she gave birth to the girl he allegedly defiled in 2005.
She said, “Okonkwo disappeared when I gave birth to the baby in 2005, I and my mother took full responsibility for the baby.

“I left her with my mother because she was so attached to her grandmother and later enrolled her in a private school and also ensured that she did not lack anything.

“Okonkwo made efforts to be involved in the upbringing of our daughter in 2015.
“Sometime in 2015, the defendant saw my sister and inquired about his daughter’s whereabouts. My sister brought him to my mother’s house where he promised to start taking responsibility for his child.

“He paid her school fees for a term and also bought clothes for her and he later came back in April 2015 and told my mother that he would like the girl to come and spend the Easter holiday with him.

“I gave my consent because of his changed attitude toward his daughter and after the Easter holiday, I called him to bring back my daughter but he was not reachable,” she told the court.

“I later went to his family house and was told by his father that he had taken the child to Onitsha.
“I was still contemplating the whole issue when I got a letter from the Alausa Mediation Center inviting me to come for a mediation session.
“I got there only to see him there with my daughter, he demanded full custody of his daughter alleging that I had married another man and that he did not want his child to live in another man’s house.

“We signed an agreement that day and he promised to enrol my daughter in a good school and also take care of her.
“I was shocked when a month later I demanded to see my daughter and he told me that he had enrolled her in a public school in Agege.
“I forcefully took my daughter away and we were invited again by the Mediation Center to settle our issues.

“It was while we were arguing at the Mediation Centre that my daughter opened up to one of the councillors that her father had been molesting her sexually.
“We were referred to the Isokoko Police Station where we were further referred to the Mirabel Center where tests were carried out and it was discovered that she had been sexually abused.
“My daughter was taken away and placed in the Little Saints Orphanage for six months.”
The accused is currently locked up at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons in Lagos.

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, however, adjourned the matter until July 12. - Daily Post

Shocking !!! See the Pastor who impregnates church member, forces her to have abortion

A senior pastor of Rhema Ministries in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe, Jonah Marecha, has reportedly impregnated his lover and engaged a doctor to terminate her six-week old pregnancy on grounds that he was not ready to marry.

Marecha allegedly impregnated one of his members identified as Hannah and secretly approached gynecologist, Ashton Goredema, for abortionn paying $30.

Hannah told Daily Mirror Zimbabwe that the church main leader Prophet Tinashe Mugonda threatened her with either death or poverty if she was to disclose the issued he feared would destroy the church.
She said, “I was threatened with either death or poverty if I was not to comply with Jonah’s orders to abort the pregnancy.

“Jonah referred me to doctor Goredema at Chinhoyi Hospital and I questioned why he wanted to do such an evil act and he told me he had already paid for the procedure.

“I have my whatsapp and audio conversation with the doctor and that of prophet Mugonda, who is always threatening me for exposing their evil acts in church.

“Prophet Mugonda is now saying Rhema is an inter- denominational group not a church and Jonah is not one of his pastors after I threatened to expose his secrets that included dating church members along with his junior pastors. My health was affected following the abortion and I’m facing complications.”

Face of scammer : Bizarre Judgment ; Supreme Court Grants Bail To Convicted Council Boss Serving Jail Term

Reprieve came the way of a former Caretaker Chairman of Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State House Gabriel Daudu as the Supreme Court on Thursday, July 6, 2017 granted bail to convicted council boss.

Daudu, who was also a member of the State House of Assembly, was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges bordering on money laundering and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N1.4 billion.
He was found guilty by a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja of 77 out of 208 counts and consequently sentenced to two years on each of the counts. The sentence was to run concurrently. 
Dissatisfied with his conviction, Daudu approached the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal praying the court to set his conviction aside.

However, in a unanimous decision on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 the appellate court upheld the ruling of the lower court and dismissed Daudu’s appeal as “unmeritorious and lacking in merit.”
Still not satisfied, Daudu proceeded to the Supreme Court, praying to be admitted to bail pending the determination of the appeal before it.
After due consideration of arguments by Joseph Daudu, SAN, and Wahab Shittu representing the appellant and the respondent (EFCC) respectively, the apex court admitted Daudu to bail with two sureties in the sum of N2 million each.

The sureties must have landed property and must be resident in the FCT.

Duadu, who is currently serving his prison sentence in Koton-Karfe is expected to complete the sentence in August.

Faces of scammers : N735m Subsidy Scam: Court Adjourns To October 24

Justice Silvanus Orji of the FCT High Court sitting in Apo has adjourned to October 24, 2017, hearing of the N735 million subsidy fraud case involving two directors of Origin Oil and Gas Limited - Adegbite Adetoye and Ponnle Abiodun.

The judge at today’s sitting also granted two separate applications by I. O. Olorundare, SAN, and K. K. Eleja, SAN representing Adetoye and Abiodun respectively.
The first application, dated June 23, 2017 by Olorundare is seeking an order directing the EFCC to release Adetoye's passport, while also asking for leave of the court to enable him travel abroad for medicals.

Similarly, Eleja, in the second application dated June 28, 2017, also sought the leave of the court to allow the second defendant (Abiodun) travel abroad for follow up on his medical treatment.
Responding to the two prayers, Elizabeth Alabi, counsel to EFCC, did not oppose the second defendant's application but vehemently opposed the first defendant's applications.

According to her, “Adetoye is still under investigation that is why the Commission is still in possession of his passport, and allowing him to travel abroad will jeopardize his investigation”.
She added: "He has not given the court a concrete reason why his passport should be released to him. He cannot say that no hospital in Nigeria can handle his ailment as there is no letter from any general hospital in Nigeria saying they cannot handle his medical condition.

"If his passport is released, he will interfere with his investigation. We are aware of the second defendant's condition that is why we are not opposing his application”.
She urged the court to refuse the first defendant's applications in the interest of justice.
After due consideration of the submissions of the two counsels, Justice Orji opined that purpose of granting bail is for the court to have record of the whereabouts of the accused, not to prevent them from traveling outside.

"I support the applications before me. The refusal of the applications could amount to speculations that the first defendant will not return.

"I hereby grant the applications before me and the EFCC is hereby directed to release his passport on or before July 14, 2017 so long as he will return the passport before October 24, 2017 to face his trial”, the judge ruled. - EFCC

Faces of scammers : EFCC Docks Two For N7.3bn Oil Fraud

               Ejere Kelvin Chris 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, July 6, 2017, arraigned the duo of Ejere Kelvin Chris and Edoma Omagha before Justice A. M. Nicol-Clay of the State High Court sitting in Igbosere, Lagos on a 10-count charge bordering on conspiracy and forgery to the tune of N7.3billion (Seven Billion, Three Hundred Million Naira).

The accused were charged alongside Kehinde Eliot Ogbor, Danium Energy Services Limited, Sibet Oil Services Limited, Loveth Miyemi Ogbor and Rhombi Energy limited, who are all at large. Danium Energy Services Limited allegedly approached the petitioner, Fidelity Bank Plc,  between January 17 and February 9, 2017, to finance three different purchase orders for the sale of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) to Total Nigeria Plc, with a cumulative face value of N12, 134,700.000(Twelve Billion, One Hundred and Thirty- four Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira) .

Thereafter, the bank allegedly financed two of the purchase orders to the tune of N7.3billion, after due confirmation from Total Nigeria Plc.
The products were allegedly supplied by Sibet Oil Services Limited and Rhombi Energy Limited and discharged at the Ibeto Tank farm, Apapa.

The bank was said to have engaged an independent surveyor, International Logistics and Fulfillment Services Limited, which confirmed the existence of the products at Ibeto Tank Farm as well as the Department of Petroleum Resources.
However, when the bank approached Total Nigeria Plc for repayment, it was discovered that the purchase orders were forged by the accused
persons.

One of the counts reads:
“That you , Ejere Kelvin Chris, Edoma Omagha, Kehinde Eliot Ogbor (at large), Danium Energy Services Limited (at large), Sibet Oil Services Limited (at large), Loveth Miyemi Ogbor (at large) and Rhombi Energy Limited (at large) sometime between the months of January, 2017 and February, 2017 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, conspired amongst yourselves to dishonestly convert and steal the cumulative sum of N7.3 billion (Seven Billion, Three Hundred Million Naira) only.”


The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the counts. In view of their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, George Chia-yakua, asked the court for a date to commence trial and prayed that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody. Counsels to the accused persons, through oral application urged the court to admit their clients to bail, but was opposed by Chia-yakua, who insisted “they must file written applications.” Justice Nicol-Clay adjourned to July 11, 2017 for hearing of the bail applications and ordered the accused persons to be remanded in the EFCC custody. - EFCC


Edoma Omagha

Magu: Corrupt people should be jailed in Sambisa

Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), says a prison for corrupt persons should be established in Sambisa forest, a stronghold of the Boko Haram sect in Borno state.

Magu made this known while speaking at the commissioning of the agency’s zonal office in Kaduna on Thursday.
He also appealed to the judiciary to cooperate with the commission in the anti-graft war, saying Nigeria would make little or no progress if concerted efforts are not made to rid the country of corruption.

“We want to call for the establishment of a prison in Sambisa forest in order to keep away corrupt people from our midst,” he said.
“In this case, the judiciary has direct influence to help in the fight against corruption. Concerted efforts are being made by some big Nigerians to neutralise the fight against corruption.

“We must change the narrative by fighting back those who do not want the fight to succeed.”
Commending Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, for encouraging the commission to establish a zonal office in the state, Magu vowed not to relent in the fight against corruption.

“I remain committed to the fight against corruption and I commend the Kaduna state governor, Nasir el-Rufai for encouraging EFCC to establish a zonal office in Kaduna,” he said.
“We must, therefore, join hands together to kill corruption before corruption will kill us.” - TheCable

Nobody can remove Magu, says Osinbajo

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo says nobody can remove Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

He said this in Kaduna on Thursday while commissioning a zonal office of the EFCC.
Represented by Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna,  the acting president described Magu as a “nightmare for corrupt people”.
El-Rufai also revealed the outcome of a conversation on Magu which he had with President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Mr chairman, two weeks ago, I discussed the EFCC and your appointment with President Muhammadu Buhari and he told me he has confidence in you and in the commission and the work that you have been doing, and as long as he is president you remain the chairman of the EFCC,” he said.
“Last night, I spoke with the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, who reconfirmed the position of the president and told me that as long as he remained the acting president or vice-president, Ibrahim Magu would remain the chairman of the EFCC.

“That is the only message from the president, so those thinking that corruption is winning this war, Magu would remain their nightmare for the next two years or six years as the case may be.”
Making personal remarks, el-Rufai said over N500 million had been recovered from corrupt officials of the past government and some contractors in Kaduna.
He added that those officials would be handed over to the EFCC for prosecution.
El-Rufai said because of the zero tolerance his administration has for corruption, the anti-graft agency EFCC encouraged him to establish a zonal office in Kaduna.

The governor promised to allocate a piece of land to the commission for construction of its training school and staff quarters.
There is a brewing crisis between the legislature and executive over Magu’s position.
On Tuesday, the upper legislative chamber resolved to suspend the confirmation of nominees sent by the executive over Osinbajo’s support for Magu.

Ahmad Yerima, senator representing Zamfara west, had moved a motion to stop the confirmation of Lanre Gbajabiamila as the director-general of Nigeria Lottery Commission.
He wondered why Osinbajo would send a nominee to the senate after he said the upper legislative chamber did not have the power of confirmation.

Yerima was making reference to a statement made by Osinbajo when he spoke with select media organisations, including TheCable, in April.
Osinbajo had expressed support for the view of Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, that the executive did not need to send the name of Magu to the senate for confirmation.
“There is an argument, whether or not we need to present him (Magu) for confirmation and that’s a compelling argument from Femi Falana,” Osinbajo had said.

“His (Falana) argument is that under the constitution, section 171, and if you look at that section, it talks about the appointments that the president can make. They include appointments of ministers, ambassadors and heads of agencies such as the EFCC. In that same section 171, the constitution rightly said that certain appointments must go to the senate such as ministerial and ambassadorial appointments. Those of heads of agencies like the EFCC do not have to go to the senate. That’s what the constitution says. But the EFCC act, which of course as you know is inferior, says that EFCC chairman should go to the senate for confirmation.

“I am sure that even a pocket book lawyer knows that when a legislation conflicts with constitution, it’s the constitution that prevails. I agree with Mr Falana that there was no need in the first place to have sent Magu’s name to the senate.”
The senate rejected Magu on two different occasions. - Cable Nigeria

NATO allies look for reassurance from Trump in Warsaw

U.S. President Donald Trump meets eastern NATO allies in Warsaw on Thursday amid expectations he will reaffirm Washington's commitment to counter threats from Russia after unnerving them in May by failing to endorse the principle of collective defence.

En route to a potentially fractious G20 summit in Germany, Trump will take part in a gathering of leaders from central Europe, Baltic states and the Balkans, an event convened by Poland and Croatia to boost regional trade and infrastructure.
The White House has said Trump will use the stopover in Warsaw to showcase his commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, which he once called "obsolete", a likely effort to patch up relations after the tense alliance summit in May.

Poland's conservative and eurosceptic government, which shares views with Trump on issues such climate change, migration and coal mining, has hailed the U.S. president's visit as a recognition of its role as a leading voice in central Europe.
The west Europeans, critical of Poland's democratic record, will be watchful as to whether Trump, who will give a major policy speech on a Warsaw square, may encourage its government in its defiance of Brussels.

Some west European governments are worried over a deepening divide between east and west within the European Union and some diplomats see Thursday's regional summit as a Polish bid to carve out influence outside EU structures.
Poland also wants to buy liquefied natural gas from U.S. companies to counterbalance Russian gas supplies in the region.

"We are simply an important country in this part of the world," Polish President Andrzej Duda said in an interview with the PAP news agency.
"We are among the biggest countries in Europe, we are a leader of central Europe, and President Trump ... understands this."
Like other countries close to the NATO frontline with Russia, Poland will be eager to hear Trump embrace the alliance principle that an attack against one member represents an attack against all of them.

Trump, who has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past, flustered allies at his first NATO summit when he dropped a mention of the mutual defence principle, known as Article 5, which is the bedrock of the trans-Atlantic partnership.

"The White House sees opportunities to fix the problem that they created in Brussels where it looked like there was a big trans-Atlantic divide," said Julie Smith, who was a national security adviser to former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.
"If he has a very warm welcome in Poland ... that could help push back on the narrative that he's not developing strong partnerships with our closest allies," Smith, now with the Center for a New American Security in Washington, told Reuters .

 

'Lukaku can replace Zlatan'

Stoke boss Mark Hughes believes Romelu Lukaku has proved he has the talent to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Manchester United.

United have agreed a £75m fee for the Belgium international, although the two clubs are yet to finalise a deal for the 24-year-old, according to Sky sources.
Lukaku has scored 71 goals in 133 games for the Toffees since signing on a permanent deal from Chelsea in 2014 and Hughes believes the striker would be the perfect replacement for Ibrahimovic, who left the United at the end of last season after suffering a serious knee injury.

"It's been in the offing for a while it seems," said Hughes. "There's been a lot of discussion in terms of which club he was going to go to.
"There's been a lot of talk about Chelsea but it looks like he's going to go to Manchester United. From the outside, it looks as though Everton have already been spending the money they're going to accumulate - it is a big chunk of money, you have to say.

"In fairness to the boy, for a number of years, he has been scoring regular goals at the top level of British football.
"Given that Manchester United have lost Zlatan, they clearly had to address that and they've gone for Lukaku."

Lukaku has refused to sign a new contract with Everton after repeatedly questioning the club's ambition to win trophies.
The former Anderlecht and Chelsea striker is now set to link up with international team-mates Marouane Fellaini and Adnan Januzaj at United and former striker Mark Hughes expects Lukaku to cope with the pressure that inevitably comes with leading the line at Old Trafford.
"It will be a different challenge for him," Hughes said.

"Everton are a good club - I've played at both clubs. Everton are very much a family club, United - clearly since I left - it's gone on to become even bigger on the world stage and it's a huge entity now.
"Maybe he'll find a little bit of a difference in that but his day-to-day work will be similar and I'm sure he'll be a great success there."

Rwanda will proceed with the ban on used clothes despite threats by the United States

 
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame has insisted that Rwanda will proceed with its plan to phase-out importation of second-hand clothes despite threats from the US that the move could lead to a review of his country's eligibility for duty-free access to the American market.

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has insisted that Rwanda will proceed with its plan to phase-out importation of second-hand clothes despite threats from the U.S. that the move could lead to a review of his country’s eligibility for duty-free access to the American market. President Kagame recently made the remarks while addressing a news conference moments after submitting his nomination papers to the National Electoral Commission (NEC).

Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and South Sudan decided to fully ban imported second-hand clothes and shoes by 2019, arguing it would help member countries boost domestic clothes manufacturing.

Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART); an association of textile companies in the United States of America (USA); members argue that the decision by the East African Community (EAC) to ban imports of used clothing and footwear is imposing significant economic hardship on the USA’s used clothing industry. The petitioners argue that the ban directly contradicts requirements that AGOA beneficiaries work towards eliminating “barriers to United States trade and investment” and promote “economic policies to reduce poverty”.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has, as a result, initiated a review of the eligibility of Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania to receive benefits under AGOA. The EAC nations are one of the most important markets for U.S. industry’s used clothing exports with direct American exports to the EAC member countries totaling approximately $24 million in 2016. U.S. imports under AGOA totaled $43 million in 2016, up from $33 million in 2015 while exports were $281 million in 2016, up from $257 million in 2015.

The review is further fuelled by efforts from EAC towards the ban. For example Tanzanian Parliament voted in of June 2016, to approve a budget that doubled import duties on second hand clothing, increasing the tariffs from 0.2 to 0.4 US dollars per kilogram. During the same month, Kenya and Uganda also announced tariff increases on used clothing imports similar to those announced by Tanzania while Rwanda raised import duties on second hand clothing by from 0.2 to 2.5 US dollars per kilogram.

The petitioners observed that the tariff increases are so high that they amount to a de facto ban on second hand clothes, which made it clear that EAC member states are moving towards the ban.

President Kagame said the situation leads Rwanda to make a choice between continued importation of used clothes and developing the local textile industry.

“Rwanda and other countries in the region that are part of AGOA, have to do other things, we have to grow and establish our industries,” President Kagame said. “We are put in a situation where we have to choose; you choose to be a recipient of used clothes with a threat hanging or choose to grow our textile industries, which Rwandans deserve at the expense of being part of AGOA. This is the choice we find that we have to make. As far as I am concerned, making the choice is simple, we might suffer consequences. Even when confronted with difficult choices, there is always a way,” he added.

The President noted that this is not the first time that Rwanda has had to make tough decisions in the interest of citizens.

Rwandan Efforts towards autonomy

In the 2017/18 budget estimates, the government eased taxes on inputs under the Made-in-Rwanda initiative, which is expected to facilitate the growth of the local textile industry.

President Kagame is one of the African heads of state advocating for improved engagement terms between African countries and Western countries for mutual benefit. Kagame has said several times that it’s time to consider Africa as an equal partner in development as opposed to a beneficiary requiring donations and aid.

As part of the move to make the continent less dependent on external financing, Kagame was last year asked to spearhead the African Union reforms. The President said that the intention by African leaders to change status quo was a huge step. “The fact that the leaders of Africa have found it necessary to do things different is a very big step,” he said. Going forward, he said the move by the continent will reduce the impact of external factors on the continent’s socio- economic progress.

-  ThisIsAfrica

New Everton signing Henry Onyekuru turned down PSG

 Everton’s new summer signing Henry Onyekuru has told the Belgian media how he had been contacted by 48 clubs including French giants Paris Saint-Germain before deciding on a move to Goodison Park.

The Toffees announced the signing of the 20-year-old last week from Belgian side Eupen and was immediately loaned to Anderlecht for the upcoming campaign.
Onyekuru, who found the back of the net in the Pro League 22 times and was the top scorer, admitted that there were a lot of options for him on the table before he finally decided on a move to Everton. He even stated that he finished his medical with Paris Saint-Germain before the move collapsed.

The youngster is more than happy with how things have ended up and told the Belgian media: “With Everton and Anderlecht we found the perfect deal. I’m in a good club from the Premier League and with Anderlecht I can play the Champions League.”

 

Juventus agree deal for Chelsea target Bernardeschi

Serie A champions Juventus have reached an agreement in principle with fellow Italian side Fiorentina for the signing of rumoured Chelsea target Federico Bernardeschi, according to Tuttosport.

Bernardeschi, 22, has refused to sign a new contract with his current club, and Juventus have taken full advantage of this, now agreeing a deal to take the Italian international to Turin.
Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte is thought to be a big fan of his fellow Italian and was considering making a bid for the winger, with Inter Milan also interested in the player.

It has been reported in Italy that the fee is worth around €40 million for Bernardeschi and they are also willing to pay the player €4 million per season on a five-year contract.
The deal is not close to being finalised just yet, as there is still some creases that need to be ironed between the two clubs as Juventus want to pay their fellow Serie A rivals in three instalments, with Fiorentina wanting the fee paid up front.

Bernardeschi, who impressed at this summer’s European U21 Championships, could replace former Chelsea player Juan Cuadrado, who is being linked with a move away from Juventus

Three jailed for drug trafficking

Three drug traffickers are to spend the next 39 months in jail,  Justice Joyce Abdumaleek of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, has ruled.

The trio — Dele Akanmu, Afeez Akeem and Ibrahim Mohammed – was convicted of trafficking in 6.270 kg of Hemp.

Abdulmaleek, in three separate judgments, said the court convicted them based on the evidence before it and their pleas of guilt.
“In order to serve as a deterrent to others, Akanmu is sentenced to three months in prison, Akeem is sentenced to one year in prison and Mohammed is sentenced to two years in prison.

“The sentences start from the date of arrest of the convicts,” the judge said.
Earlier, Mr Musbau Olapade, counsel to the accused, had urged the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing them.

Olapade said the accused had learnt their lessons and would not go back to drug trafficking.
Mr Raphael Himinkaiye, counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), told the court that Akanmu, Akeem and Mohammed were arrested at different spots in Ibadan between March 30 and May 18.

The prosecutor said Akanmu was apprehended with 270 grammes, Akeem was picked up with 1.5 kg and Mohammed was caught  with 4.5 kg of Hemp.
The offence contravened Section 11 (C ) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of the Federation 2004.

Man impregnates housemaid, strangles pregnant wife

The Plateau Police Command on Thursday confirmed the arrest of a 40-year-old man, Victor Dashit, who allegedly strangled his eight months pregnant wife, Irene.

“Victor is in our custody and investigation is ongoing. W shall soon take him to court,” its spokesman, Terna Tyopev, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos.

He said that Dashit, a staff of the National Industrial Court, Jos  who resides at New Abuja area of Jos, killed the wife, a 33-year-old teacher, at their farm in Kangang, on June 2.
NAN investigation revealed that Dashit, after killing the woman, invited his brother to help him to convey her to hospital after lying that she slumped few minutes after she complained of feeling dizzy.

A family source said that prior to the incident, the couple had faced lots of problems leading to persistent domestic violence.
He said that the situation got worse in May 2016, when the deceased caught her husband in bed with their house help, one Nora, in their home.
“The woman woke up one night sometime in May 2016 and did not see her husband on the bed. After combing the entire house, she peeped into the house help’s room and found her husband on her,” the source said.

He said that Irene sent the girl out of the house, but the girl came back two months later and told the husband that she was pregnant.
“Nora’s pregnancy aggravated the problems in their marriage; at a point, Irene fled to her parents’ house in Gindiri, but was persuaded to return to her husband’s house by their Pastor.
“The Pastor persuaded her to return in November 2016, after intervening in the quarrel. She became pregnant immediately.

She said that Irene had two daughters, while the baby, a male, removed from her womb after she died, did not survive.
A source at the Air Force Military Hospital, Jos where Irene’s corpse was taken, said that the Dashit who brought the wife on June 2, had claimed that she slumped and died after complaining of dizziness.

“The doctors confirmed her dead on arrival, but rushed her to the theatre for an emergency CS in a bid to save her unborn baby but brought out a dead child,” the source said.
Further investigation by the medics, however revealed marks on her neck, which suggested that she was strangled.

“The doctors quickly reported the matter at the Anglo Jos police station where Dashit owned up to strangling his wife,” he said.
Tyopev, while describing the incident as “unfortunate”, blamed the development on alleged infidelity, saying that Dashit had equally confessed to impregnating his housemaid.

“He confessed to holding the woman by the neck, but said he did not intend to kill her,” he said.