Ox closer to Arsenal exit

The chances of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain signing a new Arsenal deal are virtually nil, according to Sky  sources.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is inside the final 12 months of his current deal and attracting interest from Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea.
And the England midfielder is increasingly likely to leave this summer despite flying out to Australia on Arsenal's pre-season tour this week.
The Gunners are confident of keeping Oxlade-Chamberlain, according to newspaper reports on Tuesday, but sources close to the player have told Sky Sports News HQ contract negotiations are at an impasse, with no new talks planned.

The lack of progress has frustrated Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has been at the Emirates for six years.
The 23-year-old has failed to nail down a regular position during his time at the club and was used at wing-back towards the end of last season, starting on the left in the FA Cup final win over Chelsea.

Arsene Wenger said in April it was "vital" for Arsenal to keep Oxlade-Chamberlain, adding "it would be a big damage for us to lose this kind of player."

Nev: Matic would fit bill for Utd

Gary Neville believes that Manchester United need to sign another defensive midfielder for the new season, citing Nemanja Matic as the ideal candidate.

The Serb has been linked with a possible reunion with Jose Mourinho this summer, although it remains to be seen whether Chelsea would be happy to sell to a Premier League rival, especially after losing out to United in the race to sign Romelu Lukaku.

However, former United defender Neville believes Matic could be a long-term replacement for Michael Carrick at Old Trafford if a deal could be done.
Speaking at last week's launch of Super 6's sponsorship of Salford City FC, co-owner Neville said: "United need another holding midfield player.

"Michael Carrick has got one more year but he can't play every single week so they do need to have that player who can come in and do the same job - and Matic would be able to do that.
"Morgan Schneiderlin was let go earlier in the season and Bastian Schweinsteiger didn't get a game, so you're talking about there needing to be a replacement for them and ultimately Matic would fit the bill."

Chelsea are close to securing the services of Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko for a fee of between £35m and £40m with a medical expected this week.
But Neville is still surprised by suggestions that Chelsea would be open to selling Matic, who played 35 times in their Premier League title-winning season.

He added: "It's a strange one for Chelsea to let him go because I thought he was really good for them with Kante.

"I think they need to strengthen, so I'm not sure why they're letting him and they must have a replacement." - Sky Sports

United confirm Carrick as new captain

Manchester United have officially named Michael Carrick as their new club captain as they head into the 2017/18 season. 

The veteran midfielder has been a key component of the Red Devils’ side in recent seasons and has an immense knowledge of the Premier League. 
He proved to be a useful asset for Jose Mourinho last season and helped United to win three trophies in the Portuguese boss’ maiden campaign at Old Trafford. 

Barcelona to demand €14m for Palace target

Crystal Palace are being linked with a move to sign Barcelona youngster Munir El Haddadi.
According to Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo (h/t Sport Witness), Southampton, West Ham and Palace are among three of the clubs that have expressed the strongest interest in landing Munir this summer. Joining them in their admiration for the attacker are Ajax and Real Sociedad.

However, according to another report from in the Spanish media – specifically from Diario Sport – Schalke and an unnamed French club are also in the race for him.

It’s claimed by Sport that Barca will be willing to part company with their promising attacker this summer for a fee of just €14m; an affordable price to pay for a young player with so much promise.
The Eagles undoubtedly face competition from other suitors though, and will need to fend off West Ham and Southampton among others if they are to secure Munir’s signature. - Read Sport

Anambra Police arrests woman for selling baby to buy motorcycle

Anambra State police command has arrested a 24-year-old woman, Oluchi Emeobi from Nnewi Ichi of Nnewi North LGA of Anambra State for allegedly selling her two months old baby for N250,00.

Anambra state police commissioner, Umar Garbage who briefed journalists said the suspect used part of the proceeds of the sale to purchase a motorcycle, which was also confiscated by the command.

Emeobi according to police conspired with on Nchedochi Richard, female, aged 26years, of the same address to sell the baby to a woman, popularly known as First Lady, who he said was now at large.
The commissioner said in order to conceal her dastardly act, the suspect reported at the Police Station under false pretence that she left her baby under the custody of a yet to be ascertained woman who absconded with her.
“Exhibits recovered from the principal suspect include; Sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (#250,000) cash and One Motorcycle the suspect allegedly bought with part of the money realized from the sale of her baby”, he said.

He said the matter was still under investigation and that effort was being made to arrest the fleeing suspect and recover the baby.
The command also paraded criminal gangs including child trafficking syndicates and robbery gangs.
He said, “Following Intelligence report, Police Operatives attached to the Command Monitoring Unit arrested four Man Syndicate as follows: Rev. Pastor Raymond Igboanusi, male, aged 60 years of Oba Idemili South L.G.A Angela Igboanusi, female, aged 42 years of the same address Obinigwe Josephine, female, aged 56 years of Obu-Agu Village, Agulu in Aniocha L.G.A of Anambra State. Jacob Onwuegbu, male, aged 62 years of Obu-Agulu Village all in Anambra State.

“Suspects allegedly conspired and trafficked One Ifeanyi Odili, male, aged 10yrs at the sum of Three hundred Thousand Naira (₦300,00.00)only.”
The commissioner also paraded suspected cultists and their leaders. - Daily Post

Four arraigned for hacking WAEC website

The Nigeria Police on Tuesday arraigned four persons accused of hacking into the website of the West African Examinations Council.
The suspects – Samuel Onuora, Patrick Nwodo, Effiong Joseph and Chijioke Nwachu – were arraigned before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a 13-count charge bordering on fraud and cyber crime.

The quartet, according to the prosecuting counsel, Mr P. A. Amadi, illegally gained access into WAEC’s website and printed questions meant for the May/June 2017 Secondary School Certificate Examination, and sold same to students.
Also printed and sold to the students, according to Amadi, were answers to the said questions.
He said that the offences contravened section 28(3) of the Cyber crime Prevention and Prohibition Act 2015

The accused persons, who were arrested in Uyo, Umuahia, Enugu and Owerri and transferred to the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

In view of their ‘not guilty plea,’ Amadi prayed that they be remanded in Kuje prison, pending the determination of the case against them.
Counsel to the defendants, Mr Christopher Eichie, applied for their bail on the grounds that the offences were bailable

Arguing further, Eichie reminded the court that the defendants had been in police custody for close to two months.
Justice Dimgba agreed with Eichie’s submission, and admitted the defendants to bail.
He added that the bail was based on self-recognizance of the defendants’ counsel, and ordered him (counsel) to deposit his Call to Bar certificate with the court.

He, however, said that the counsel could apply for the certificate each time it was needed.
The judge also ordered the defendants to provide one surety each, who should be either a businessman or a civil servant.
He adjourned the matter to October 12 for commencement of trial. -NAN

Badoo: I pray never to encounter those boys – Baba Suwe

Popular Nollyword Comic actor, Babatunde Omidina, aka Baba Suwe has lamented the operation of Badoo cult group in Ikorodu Lagos.
The actor said the activities of the ritualists have turned Ikorodu into a hot spot where vigilante groups embarrass visitors with barrage of questions especially at night.

Babatunde Omidina said he has lived in Ikorodu for over ten years and has never encountered such tragedy.
He says, “I was born and bred in Lagos but I have been living in Ikorodu for over ten years. Since I have been here, nothing like this has happened before.”

“Personally I am very afraid of these boys and my prayer is that I should never encounter them in my life

“Their activities have hindered my movement because it is no longer advisable to move around at night”, the actor said.
He expressed the depth of the situation as people no longer find it safe around the Ikorodu axis.
According to him, many landlords have vacated their homes for the fear of these boys.

“It is so bad that lots of landlords have vacated their homes for fear of these boys. They ran for their lives,” he added.  - Daily Post

Face of scammer : Court Adjourns Omokore’s Trial to October 5

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of a Federal High Court, Abuja has adjourned trial of Jide Omokore, embattled chairman of Atlantic Energy Brass Development and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept to October 5, 2017 after rejecting a document which defense counsel sought to tender.

Omokore is standing trial along with Victor Briggs, a former Managing Director, National Petroleum Development Company; Abiye Membere, a former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production at the NNPC, and David Mbanefo, a former Manager, Planning and Commercial at NNPC, for a $1.6billion fraud.
At the resumed sitting on July 10, 2017, counsel to Mbanefo, Afan Osigwe, through a prosecution witness, Mohammed Abiri (a former accountant with National Petroleum Investment Management Services) sought to tender in evidence a copy of speech by Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

In the document, Kachickwu had announced the decision of the Federal Government to exit the Joint Ventures cash call arrangement with international oil companies was resisted.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, however, objected to the admissibility of the document, arguing that "the document which was tendered from the NNPC website has not been certified and falls short of requirement of Section 102 and 104 of the Evidence Act." - EFCC

'EFCC Agents Want To Assassinate Me ' - Mama Peace

Mrs. Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of sending assassins after her.

Mrs. Jonathan said she had survived two of such attempts but urged the House of Representatives to quickly intervene before the EFCC would succeed in the alleged plot to eliminate her.

In a letter written by her lawyers, Granville Abibo (SAN) & Co, Mrs. Jonathan said, “There have been assassination attempts, at least twice, between February and April, 2017, against our client ostensibly by the operatives of the EFCC along the Yenagoa-Mbaima Road, Bayelsa State, in furtherance of its unlawful actions against the former first family.”

Patience also accused the anti-graft agency of bugging her telephone lines, adding that agents of the commission had been sending threatening text messages to her.
The former President’s wife said, “The EFCC and its agents have repeatedly bugged the personal telephones of our client and her relations through its many operatives and has inundated her with numerous threatening calls and text messages.”
She said apart from the EFCC, other agencies of the government, like the Federal Inland Revenue Service had intimidated her.

Patience alleged that officials of the FIRS stormed her hotel in Bayelsa State two months ago and vandalised its properties.
Mrs. Jonathan added, “On May 3, 2017, officials of the FIRS, in a convoy of about 20 trucks and over 70 personnel, raided our client’s NGO – Aridolf Jo Resort Wellness and Spa Limited – situated at Kpansia Expressway, Bayelsa State, and orchestrated a massive destruction of personal properties belonging to our client without any lawful court order or search warrant and caused mayhem there under the guise of trying to collect unpaid taxes without following any due process provided by law to do so.”

She stated that apart from her bank accounts, the commission had frozen those of her relatives and her NGOs which she said were only carrying out charity work for the benefit of Nigerians.

Patience said the anti-graft agency had also seized properties belonging to her NGOs. - Daily Trust

Arsenal want West Ham's Quina

West Ham wonderkid Domingos Quina is being monitored by a number of top Premier League clubs including Arsenal, according to Sky sources, after a series of eye-catching performances at the U19 Euros in Georgia.

The 17-year old joined West Ham from Chelsea last summer with Slaven Bilic promoting him immediately to the first- team squad, playing twice in the Hammers' Europa League qualifying campaign before the Premier League season began.

Sky Sports News HQ understands Arsenal offered a contract to the teenager before he joined West Ham and remain keen on the talented youngster.
Like England, Portugal have progressed to the semi-finals of the U19 Euros and face Holland tomorrow, thanks to some impressive displays by the midfielder including a man-of-the-match performance in Portugal's 2-1 win against the Czech Republic.

In May 2016, he won the UEFA European U17 Championships with his international outfit.
Playing for West Ham's PL2 side, Quina scored a wonder-goal against Leicester City in the Premier League Cup, lobbing the goalkeeper from the halfway line in the 2-0 away win.

Injury ruled him out of the latter part of the last campaign, but his performances and development saw him awarded the prestigious Dylan Tombides Award for the outstanding player from West Ham's academy.

Lazio in talks with Chelsea to sign Mario Pasalic

Lazio have contacted Premier League champions Chelsea over the possibility of taking Mario Pasalic on a season-long loan, according to reports in the Daily Mail.

The Serie A side have enquired about Pasalic’s situation, with Chelsea believed to be keen on allowing the Croatian international to leave Stamford Bridge, knowing that he will gain more regular first-team football.

Pasalic, 22, arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2014 from Hadjuk Split for a fee in the region of £3 million, however, the Croatian has failed to make a first-team appearance for Chelsea, and has enjoyed loan spells in La Liga, Ligue 1 and Serie A.

Pasalic impressed during the last campaign with Serie A giant’s AC Milan and there were rumours that Milan may make an attempt to sign Pasalic permanently, however, Chelsea are believed to be wanting to keep hold of their highly rated midfielder and will only consider loan bids.

Giroud's Arsenal future depends on Sanchez and Lemar deals

Olivier Giroud is set to remain at Arsenal until the future of Alexis Sanchez and Thomas Lemar are decided, according to a report from the Telegraph.

Sanchez has been linked with a move away from the Emirates with Premier League rivals Manchester City keen to lure him to the Etihad.

Arsenal are also negotiating with French club Monaco over a possible deal for French winger Lemar and Wenger is waiting for the outcome of that deal before deciding on the future of Giroud.
The striker is a target for London rivals West Ham who are looking to bolster their attack by adding a big-name striker this summer, while Everton are also thought to be interested.

But they will have to wait as the Gunners do not want to rush into a decision to sell Giroud before they have completed other business such as retaining Sanchez.

Giroud wants regular first-team football ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia where he wants to be a starter for France. The striker has been used mainly as a substitute during his time at Arsenal and has offers from clubs who are willing to make him their starting striker. - Read Sport

Pictured : Iheanacho, 38 'beat step son to death then attacked mother to stop her getting help'

A man delivered a fatal beating to his five-year-old stepson before attacking the boy's mother to prevent her seeking help, a court has heard.

Marvyn Iheanacho, 38, is accused of causing Alex Malcolm fatal head and stomach injuries on the evening of 20 November last year.
Mr Iheanacho, from Hounslow in west London, is standing trial at Woolwich Crown Court, where he denies murdering the boy.

It is claimed Mr Ibeanacho flew into a rage after the child left his trainers in the park.
He then rang Alex's mother to tell her he had fallen asleep, then attacked her at her home to prevent her seeking help, the prosecution alleged, according to MailOnline.

Alex was taken to hospital three hours later for surgery but died two days afterwards, jurors were told.

A postmortem determined Alex died from bleeding on the brain. A pathologist found bruising all over his body and inside his abdomen.
Witnesses heard a "child's fearful voice saying 'sorry'", loud banging, and a man screaming about the loss of a shoe, jurors were told.

But Sally O'Neil QC, for the defence, suggested the noises the witnesses heard were the park gates being locked or rattled by someone else.

The trial, expected to last between two to three weeks, continues. -Independent

This ‘magical island kingdom’ off Maine’s coast could be yours for $8m

A private island replete with a mansion, two guest houses and a barn with workers’ quarters is on the market in Maine for $7.95 million.

Developer John Cacoulidis bought the 86-acre Hope Island in 1993 for $1.3 million. The real estate listing says, ‘‘No expense was spared creating this magical island kingdom.’’
The property includes an 11,295-square-foot (1,049-square-meter) main house with six bathrooms and three bedrooms. It also features a 10-stall horse barn, a tavern for entertaining, a private chapel and a boat house with a deep-water pier.

The property in Casco Bay is a 25-minute boat ride from Portland.
The real estate agent tells the Portland Press Herald Cacoulidis is no longer using the island like he had in the past. His wife died last year. - AP

'First' Muslim same-sex marriage takes place in UK

A newly married couple are hoping “to show the whole world that you can be gay and Muslim” after their wedding in the West Midlands.

Jahed Choudhury and Sean Rogan married in Walsall, in what could be the UK’s first same-sex marriage involving a Muslim partner.
Footage showed the couple dressed in traditional Islamic attire to say their vows while surrounded by loved ones at the town’s registry office.

Mr Choudhury, 24, told the Express and Star he felt like the “black sheep” of his Bangladeshi Muslim family, being bullied at school, attacked by other Muslims and banned from his local mosque.
He said he attempted to change his sexual orientation and went on religious pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh but became suicidal and attempted to kill himself before meeting Mr Rogan.

They started living together in 2015 and Mr Choudhury proposed on his husband’s birthday last year.
Mr Choudhury said: “This is about showing people I don't care, my family doesn't want to come on the day, they just don't want to see it, it's too embarrassing for them.

“They think it's a disease and can be cured, some of my family still call it a phase.
“I want to say to all people going through the same thing that's it's okay – we're going to show the whole world that you can be gay and Muslim.”
Mr Rogan, 19, told the Express and Star he would stand by his husband “every step of the way”.
“Being gay’s not wrong, it’s not ‘a phase’,” he added. “People just need a bit of support.”

The Independent could not confirm whether it was the first same-sex marriage involving a Muslim partner in the UK.
A spokesperson for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that the religion of spouses is not routinely recorded at non-religious ceremonies.

The number of same-sex religious marriages recorded in 2014, the most recent year of available data, was too small for a breakdown to be made available.

The Muslim Council of Britain, which represents more than 500 organisations and mosques, was among the religious bodies including the Church of England opposing the legalisation of same-sex marriage in England and Wales in 2013.

Equal marriage was later legalised in Scotland but remains illegal in Northern Ireland, where campaigners are demanding change amid concern over the alliance between the Government and Democratic Unionist Party.

Mbappe still on Wenger's radar

 

Arsene Wenger says anybody would be interested in signing Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe and admitted he is keen on further acquisitions this summer.

The 18-year-old is a red-hot target for the world's top clubs with Real Madrid leading the race, while Sky Sports News HQ have reported that Arsenal and Liverpool also want the Frenchman who scored 27 goals last season.

It is understood PSG are also in the hunt and are willing to increase his wages from £16,000-a-week to £200,000-a-week, but the teenager remains on the Gunners' radar despite the recent addition of Alexandre Lacazette.
Speaking in Sydney on Tuesday, Wenger said: "Nobody can say they are not interested in a player of that calibre, because he has such immense quality at 18 years of age. All the clubs are open and interested in him.

"He's a player who, when he gets up in the morning, can choose where he wants to go.
"There are not many players with that kind of luck, because he's only 18 years of age and has the whole of Europe rolling out a red carpet for him."
Lacazette, who joined from Lyon for what is understood to be a club-record fee, was part of the 25-man squad who flew out on Sunday with the team ahead of Thursday's tour opener against Sydney FC.

It is understood that Arsenal remain interested in Monaco winger Thomas Lemar following their rejected bid at the end of June.
Asked about Lemar, who helped Monaco win the French title last season for the first time in 17 years, Wenger added: "That's all speculation at the moment, there is nothing really concrete about any signing.

"He's a player that we have looked at, but the rest is only speculation."
Wenger is under pressure to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League in the new campaign having been backed by the club's board and signing a two-year contract extension.
Asked about the potential for further transfer activity, Wenger said: "I am open to get some more signings, but it is not easy to find the players who can strengthen our squad, because we have top-quality players.

"There are two ways to improve always - analyse what we did well last season and what we did not so well and improve that, and then you can bring new players in.

"But at the moment, because we are in pre-season, it is very important for us to analyse well what happened last season and where we can improve. We have top quality in our squad, and at the moment I focus on that."

Bayern Munich complete shock two-year loan deal for Real Madrid star James Rodriguez

Bayern Munich have completed a shock two-year loan deal for Real Madrid star James Rodriguez.

The Colombian was linked with Manchester United and Chelsea earlier this summer but Bayern have stolen ahead of them.
Bayern have the option to sign the player on a permanent deal once his loan expires.
Rodriguez was frustrated with his role at the Bernabeu under Zinedine Zidane and wasn't included in the squad for the Champions League final.

He joined Real in 2014 in a £71million deal after shining for Colombia in the World Cup.

Rooney wants England return after rejoining Everton

Wayne Rooney hopes to force his way back into the England squad after completing a move back to boyhood club Everton.

Record goalscorer Rooney has not featured for the national team since winning his 119th cap against Scotland in November, having fallen out of favour at former club Manchester United.
But Rooney is not ready to give up on his England career just yet and believes a good run of form with Everton could give national boss Gareth Southgate something to think about.

"As you well know, I love playing for England," said Rooney.
"Gareth had to make a decision — as Jose Mourinho did — but I spoke to him. I wasn't playing the football that I like and I don't think you should play for your country if you are not playing for your club.

"So I understood his decision fully. He told me that if I get back playing every week then the door is still open to return to the squad.
"It would be great if I could do that. If I do well here, I'm sure he will have a decision to make."
Rooney says he would have called time on his England career if he had taken up the opportunity of a move to the Chinese Super League.

"I want to play for England," added Rooney. "If I'd gone to China, which was an option, then I would have called it a day myself.

"It just wouldn't have been right for me to try to carry on playing for England if I had gone there." - Goal

Southampton willing to pay €10m for Munir

Southampton are prepared to pay up to €10m to sign Barcelona winger Munir El Haddadi.
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, via Sport Witness, Southampton, West Ham and Crystal Palace are all prepared to offer between €8-10m for Munir’s signature.

Barcelona are looking for a fee closer to €14m, which has already been sent to them by Russian side Zenit.
Although, that move appears to be a non-starter as Munir is not keen on a move to Russia this summer.

The report also claims that Barcelona are keen to sell Munir, which plays into the hands of Southampton – who can haggle the price down to €10m.
Munir looks set to leave Barcelona after six years at the club, playing for the B team and the first-team.

The Spaniard has played 45 games for the first-team, scoring ten goals, but was sent on loan to Valencia last season.
Munir scored seven goals in 36 games for Valencia in all competitions. -

How the miserable death of Moammar Gadhafi factors into Kim Jong Un's nuclear ambitions

North Korea's refusal to drop its nuclear weapons program may have a lot to do with the fate that met another would-be nuclear power's dictator just a few years ago.

Pyongyang's ongoing development of nuclear weaponry — including the successful launch last week of a missile that could potentially reach the United States — has set off alarm bells across the international community. But the insistence of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un to keep building an arsenal could come from a lesson he learned from another one-time opponent of the West: Libya's Moammar Gadhafi.

Gadhafi conceded to Western demands that he give up his quest for nukes in 2003, only to be toppled by NATO and his Libyan opponents during a brief civil war in 2011.
Nobody likes Kim having nukes. He's an erratic leader whose weapons programs defy UN sanctions, and North Korea has repeatedly broken promises to stop developing them. Worst of all, Kim likes to threaten to attack other countries, including Japan, South Korea, the United States and Australia.

But Kim likely sees the weapons as an insurance policy that keeps him in power. There are uncanny similarities between his regime and Gadhafi's: The Libyan dictator had seized control of the state after leading a military coup in 1969. Like Kim, Gaddafi ran a socialist dictatorship built on a cult of personality. Under Gadhafi, Libya earned a reputation as a rogue nation. It consistently breached international norms, committing human rights abuses, funding terrorist groups, and proliferating weapons of mass destruction.

Yet, in a surprise move in 2003, Gadhafi agreed to give up his weapons program and welcome international inspectors. In exchange, the U.S. and its allies promised better relations with Libya and lifted long-standing economic sanctions.
Eight years later, NATO led a military intervention to support rebels trying to overthrow Gadhafi's regime. NATO said it was responding to a United Nations call to end crimes against humanity in the country.

Gadhafi was beaten and killed after he was chased down by rebel soldiers on October 20, 2011. His convoy had been bombed and scattered by U.S. and French airstrikes only moments earlier. Gadhafi holds the unfortunate (for him) distinction of being the only Middle Eastern national leader who was killed during the Arab Spring.

U.S. President Barack Obama has called his failure to plan for the consequences of Gadhafi's downfall the worst mistake of his presidency. But he has said he still believes military intervention was the "right thing to do".
It's highly likely that Kim keeps Gadhafi's unfortunate end in mind, and it deters him and his North Korean leaders from surrendering their own nuclear weapons, according to experts.

"We see in Libya and Iraq countries who gave up their WMD programs, and foreign power campaigns that led to a regime change," said Dr. Guo Yu, principal Asia analyst at global risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft. "To safeguard against that, North Korea (is) firmly in the belief that they need to have credible nuclear deterrent, and they believe that as a sovereign country they have the right to do so."

Kim is also "watching what's been happening in the Middle East, and the external military interventions — mostly led by the U.S. — which are interested in regime change and just reinforce the mindset for pursuing independent credible nuclear deterrence," Yu said.

During a visit to Libya's former colonial ruler Italy in 2009, Gaddafi remarked: "We had hoped Libya would be an example  to other countries … But we have not been rewarded by the world."

Five children die after eating cucumber fruits in Cross River

Five Children comprising three girls and two boys have reportedly died after consuming allegedly poisoned cucumber fruits.
The incident occurred in the village of Amana in Becheve close to the Obudu Ranch Resort in Obanlikwu local government area of Cross River State.

Mr Augustine Ogar, who resides in the area said “After eating the cucumber left for them by their mother who went for burial at the Ranch Resort, the victims slumped and died”.
According to him, the deceased mother left some cucumber for the children to eat while she went to attend a burial ceremony in the village.
However, someone allegedly poisoned the cucumber leading to the death of the children after they ate it.

“Their mother left some cucumber for them to eat on Thursday afternoon while she went to attend a burial ceremony in the village on the Ranch Resort but someone is suspected to have poisoned the cucumber leading to the death of the children after they ate it”, Augustine stated.
He explained that the cucumber was not bought from the market but harvested from their mother’s farm.
When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Cross River State, Ms Irene Ugbo confirmed the story

He noted that nobody was arrested even though the investigations was continuing.
She told Daily Post  on Monday that the incident occurred in Obanlikwu Local Government Area of the state.

She explained that the deceased died after eating the cucumber fruits suspected to have been poisoned, adding that the Divisional Police Officer in the area who wass investigating the matter was yet to make any arrest in connection with the death.

COURT JAILS TWO OIL BUNKERERS FIVE YEARS

Justice I.E Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, on Monday convicted and sentenced two oil bunkerers: Tony Ochonogo and Efe Alex to 5years imprisonment each without an option of fine.

The convicts were brought before the court on a four-count charge, bordering on conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products without a license,  levelled against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.  The court found them guilty , convicted and sentenced them accordingly. 

Ochonogo was found guilty on counts 1, 2, 3 and 4 while Alex was convicted on counts 1 and 2. The sentence is to run concurrently.
Also,  the judge ordered that the Truck,  which was used by the convicts, to convey the illegally refined Automative Gas Oil, AGO, and the products conveyed, should be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The convicts’ journey to prison started on 20 March, 2013 when officials of the Joint Task Force, OPERATION PULO SHIELD Yenagoa, Bayelsa State,  while on patrol, arrested them together with a tanker truck, loaded with 33, 000 litres of  petroleum products  suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil. They presented a waybill purported to have been issued from Warri Refinery which was found to be false.

Jackals, hyenas around Buhari ’ll go, says wife

President Muhammadu Buhari is getting better and will soon be back, going by his wife Aisha’s statement yesterday in London.

The President’s wife last week travelled to London to be with her husband, who is undergoing treatment for an undisclosed ailment. She has also been carrying out other assignments.
President Buhari left the country on May 7 for another round of treatment. He spent more than 50 days during his first medical vaction in London.

On his return, he told the nation that he had never been that sick in his life adding that he underwent blood transfusion. But he did not disclose his ailment.
On her facebook page yesterday, Mrs Buhari, in a response to the July 6 post by Senator Shehu Sani, expressed herself in a figurative manner, using the animal imagery like the senator did.

She wrote: “God has answered the prayers of the weaker animals. The hyenas and the jackals will soon be sent out of the kingdom.  We strongly believe in the prayers and support of the weaker animals.

“Long live the weaker animals. Long live Nigeria.”
Director of Press in Mrs Buhari’s office Mr. Suleiman Haruna, said yesterday that the post was on the president’s wife’s “verified facebook page”.
As at 10pm, about 257 people had made comments on the post, most of which were wishing President Buhari quick recovery.

Senator Sani (Kaduna Central) wrote on his facebook page on July 6.
“Prayer for the absent Lion King has waned; until he’s back then they will fall over each other to be on the front row of the palace temple.
“Now the hyenas and the jackals are scheming and talking to each other in whispers; still doubting whether the Lion King will be back or not.

“Now the Lion king is asleep and no other dare to confirm if he will wake up or not. It’s the wish of the hyenas that the Lion King never wakes or comes back so that they can be kings. It’s the prayers of the weaker animals that the Lion King comes back to save the Kingdom from the hyenas,the wolves and other predators.”

The senator is believed to be referring to those who are scheming to become president in 2019, criss-crossing the country in moves to taking advantage of the president’s absence.
Some people who are holding political positions are also believed to be undermining the system to position themselves in the president’s absence.

The President’s wife also yesterday posted her photograph speaking at an event in London.
She wrote under the photograph: “Today I attended the Babatunde Osotimehin Memorial Lecture at County Hall, London.

“It was an honour to have spoken about his achievements at all levels and his commitment towards women and children all over the world.”
Osotimehin was the Exective Director of the United Nations Fund for Population Activitiies (UNFPA) and a former minister of health, who died last month. - The Nation 

A nation without leaders - Cardinal Okogie

To Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, no leader gives what he does not have. The fiery cleric believes Nigeria needs a visionary leadership to steer its ship to the Promised Land. In this article, the Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos says the country is in dire need of quality leadership as an executive and a legislature locked in a recurrence of unprincipled and sterile conflict cannot in any way fix the country. 

When a nation is in turmoil, those who have faith in God must pray. Given clear indices that Nigeria is in turmoil, we pray: Gracious God, grant that our leaders become wise, and the wise become our leaders. But it would be irresponsible fideism to simply pray and fold our arms. Those who pray must think, and, having sought and obtained answers to right questions, they must act intelligently.

As Nigeria passes from one turbulent season to another, it has become inescapable to inquire: what is the quality of leaders – of the men and women at the helm of affairs – in our beloved Nigeria?  Can it be said that those at the helm of affairs – at federal, state, and local levels of government – are sufficiently competent to navigate the ship of state? Do our leaders fit the bill?

Some indices
The high level of insecurity in our land; the abysmally low quality of life of the average Nigerian, in scandalously sharp contrast with the opulence in which past and political office holders live; the self-serving and malevolent demagoguery that accompanies unitarist, secessionist, and xenophobic agitations in our country; the propagation of the stubborn myth that one’s ethnic community is marginalised by all other ethnic communities, when in fact, every ethnic community is marginalised by the incompetence of our leaders; the acceptance of this myth by young, discontented but gullible Nigerians:  these and many other indices offer little or no hope to even the most incurable optimist in the land.

Our kind of leaders
Instead of devoting their mental and physical capacities to governance, our leaders are seeking their own interests. Nigerians bear the excruciating burden of being ruled by politicians who simply care less about Nigerians. The burden is increased when they have to listen to religious leaders who whip up emotions and deceive by using the name of God, claiming visions and miracles.  We do not care about our legacy, we care only about the power we wield, the wealth – often ill-gotten – we display, and above all, the pleasure and affluence we seek.

What do we make of a country where an individual owns a fleet of private jets while an overwhelming percentage of its citizens cannot afford a bus ride to the market? What do we make of a country where the wealth of the land, wealth that belongs to the people and not to government, is used to provide security for government officials, while there is no security for the average man or woman in the street?

We have the police and the military; we have assorted security agencies with exotic names.  Yet, Nigerians are robbed and murdered in their homes, abducted on the streets, at the mercy of gangsters, ritualists and cultists in their neighbourhood, while the police are helpless to the point of non-existence. The only sign that there is policing is when policemen and women extort money from Nigerians, often at gun point.

Our security agencies need to get the sequence of their steps right. Thorough investigation must precede an arrest and diligent prosecution with evidence must come before conviction in a lawfully constituted court. That is what obtains in other climes. But, in our own Nigeria, media trial is fashionable. Suspects are paraded on prime-time television, guns and bullets are displayed in front of them, the police spokesman presents them to Nigerians and pronounces them guilty in front of television cameras. Case closed.  Nigerians are not asking for any follow-up. They hear of no trial, no conviction, no sentencing. What has happened to numerous suspects paraded on television in this country?

While we seek answers, to that question, we note that, from time to time, Amnesty International (AI) raises alarm about extra-judicial killings in Nigeria. Are Nigerians satisfied with the response of the police? Why is it that once suspects are paraded and presented as guilty – and the legal and moral propriety of the parade is another bone of contention – we very rarely see them in court?  Is there no law that says a suspect must be charged to court within 48 hours? Why then are suspects kept for days and weeks and months without trial?

It is in the same vein that we must ask: what has happened to so many public office holders pronounced guilty by the EFCC (Economic and Financial Commission) and DSS (Department of State Services) in the media before they were even charged to court? We know that some of them were set free by the law courts. We also know that government reacts with a familiar refrain: “corruption is fighting back”. But is there no correlation between the quality of investigation and prosecution on the one hand, and the verdict given by our judges on the other hand?

A thief is a thief. If you apprehend him red-handed but fail to provide evidence in court to lead to his conviction, do not camouflage the incompetence of your team of investigators and prosecutors by blaming the unfavourable outcome of the case on corrupt judges. We are not to hold brief for any judge. But we must bear this in mind: The onus of proof is on the accuser, not on the accused. That is why the accused is innocent until proven guilty. 

Whether he is accused of kidnapping the citizen or of kidnapping public funds, as is the case with those who have stolen the wealth of this country, thorough investigation must precede diligent prosecution. To violate this principle is to bid farewell to security of life, property and reputation. It is to receive a resounding defeat in the much-publicised war against corruption. It is to live in a country where die-hard criminals get away with murder while the innocent gets convicted. He is convicted, not because he has been found guilty, but because – thanks to media trial – he has been demonised and made to look guilty. It is to give the dog a bad name and hang him.

But when criminals are properly investigated we would be in a position to prevent crime. Where we do not prevent crime, life and property are not safe. Where life and property are not safe, investments are not safe.  Investors take to their heels and vote with their capital.  Where there are no investments, the quality of life of citizens takes a plunge; their abject poverty breeds discontent and anger, insecurity, secessionist and xenophobic tendencies.

Finally
Precisely for these reasons, this country is in very urgent need of quality leadership. Our situation cannot be addressed by an executive and a legislature locked in a recurrence of unprincipled and sterile conflicts. In more concrete terms, neither an ailing and absentee President nor an acting President can lead Nigeria out of the present situation. Nigerian leaders must wake up lest the ship of state sink. They must stop fiddling while the country is burning.
So, we pray: Grant, O Lord, that our leaders become wise, and that the wise become our leaders. Amen.

Flood ‘chases’ corpses out of mortuary in Lagos

The management of a private mortuary, Toluwalase Hospital Morgue, located at Otunba Oladokun Street, in Igando area of Lagos State has ejected corpses deposited in the facility due to massive flooding of its premises.
This is coming on the heels of the ceaseless rainfall witnessed across Lagos metropolis last week, which led to flooding

The flood has taken an immense toll on the facility, forcing its operation to stop.
According to the mortuary’s manager, Bolaji Oluwafemi, the area was flood prone and always quick to transform into a lake anytime it rained.
He added that the Lagos State Government had ignored repeated complaints from the hospital management and other residents living in the area

“There is the lingering need for proper channelization of water and the sand filling of the low land in the area”, Oluwafemi furthe explained.

Due to the neglect by the government, the morgue manager said they, alongside other residents, hired a contractor to sand fill the lowland and divert the flood water to a nearby drainage, incurring N3 million as expenses for the job.

Oluwafemi, a retired Naval officer, said: “It has paralysed our business, everybody has moved of their houses to live in the available dry land outside of their premises.

“We have been living outside in our cars. Look, (pointing at cooking utensils) that is where we cook our food.
“The woman that sells food has vacated her flooded shop. All the tenants and landlords are out of their houses. On Monday, a woman was searching for her daughter in the flood while others hurried out of their houses.
“We are left with nothing!”

Oluwafemi and other residents seen with him pleaded with the state Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to come to their rescue. - Daily Post

US jails Nigeria’s Olanrewaju Animasaun for $1million wire fraud

A Nigerian, Fawaz Olanrewaju Animasaun will spend the next two years in jail in the United States for defrauding East Texans and others of nearly $1m.

Twenty-seven-year-old Animasaun is one of the two persons named in a federal indictment for charges of aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, as well as aiding and abetting.

He was travelling to the U.S. from Ghana, by way of Amsterdam, when he was arrested at the airport in New York in November last year.
Just a few weeks later, the 7-foot-1-inch tall Nigerian was an inmate at the Gregg County Jail awaiting his turn in a federal courtroom.
Under a plea agreement finalised in May, Animasaun is serving three years in prison on the conspiracy charge. He is ordered to pay $930,737.60 in restitution to three financial companies

Court documents show Animasaun will pay $135,989 to East Texas-based Austin Bank as part of that restitution.
In addition, the agreement states that Northern Trust Company is due $46,800 and UMB Financial Corporation is due $747,948.60.
Animasaun and his alleged accomplice Idowu Temitope Omolade, also from Nigeria, are believed to be involved in at least 21 fraudulent wire transfers between April and August of 2012.

And that may not be all.
A rare footnote made by a U.S. Attorney in the 21-page federal indictment reads, “Because the purpose of this complaint is to set forth only those facts necessary to establish probable cause to arrest, I have not described all the relevant facts and circumstances of which I am aware.”

The indictment says the purpose of the conspiracy was to “… unlawfully obtain money through unauthorised transfers of funds from bank accounts and brokerage accounts.”
To do that, the Nigerian men allegedly impersonated actual account holders in emails exchanged with banking and financial services personnel. In those email conversations, the indictment says the suspects “… harvested details about the target accounts, including account balances, and obtained wire transfer instructions.”
With those details, the suspects were then able to initiate a wire transfer without the account holder’s knowledge or authorization.

The indictment said that the money was moved through a series of accounts using “money mules,” or people who may or may not have known they were assisting in the transfer.
Other financial institutions affected include Wells Fargo, UMB Bank, UMB Financial Corporation, Northern Trust and Northern Trust Corporation.
Animasaun was transferred out of the Gregg County Jail on June 28, in the custody of the U.S. Marshals. Federal Bureau of Prisons records show he is now in a detention centre in Brooklyn, New York, and will remain there until June 2019. He could have received up to 30 years in prison for each count of the indictment.

The indictment states that Animasaun kept Omolade informed of the progress, and told him when to expect specific wire transfers. Omolade is not listed as a federal inmate, and there is no record of an arrest. Aliases listed in the indictment include “Michael Chernick” and “CLICKIDONLINE.”

Animasaun is listed in the indictment with four aliases, including “Larry Hoover” and “Slim Husstle Olanraywaju.” - Daily Post