PL news : 'Sanchez wants Arsenal title'

Alexis Sanchez wants to steer Arsenal to 85 points and put them in the title race, according to Arsene Wenger.

Sanchez returned to full training at the club this week after an extended leave of absence following his involvement in the Confederations Cup for Chile this summer.
Wenger has not confirmed whether or not Sanchez - who has less than 12 months remaining on his current deal - has asked to leave the club, amid interest from Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, but has insisted the 28-year-old will respect his contract.

The Arsenal boss also remains adamant Sanchez will be fully committed to helping the Gunners sustain a title challenge next season.
Asked whether he was confident that Sanchez will give everything to the team if he remains at the club this summer, Wenger replied: "Of course. Why not?
"My conviction - and if you look well - it's always in your interests, even if you have a short contract, to do well. And the kind of character he is.

"He is a winner. When he goes on the football pitch, he wants to win. He is a guy who loves football. He has advantages and disadvantages on both sides going into a situation like that.
"When you have made 75 points (last season), your target is to get 10 points more. And with 10 points more, you are in there (the title race)."
A return to Champions League football would be a minimum requirement for Wenger following his new two-year contract extension, but the 67-year-old does not believe winning the Europa League should warrant a place in the elite competition.
Manchester United finished sixth last year but will be playing in the Champions League after beating Ajax 2-0 in the Europa League final in May - a reward Wenger has never been keen on.

"I was always against it," he said. "Because apart from Man United, who did win the Europa League, all the years before it was always a team who was kicked out of the Champions League by having been kicked out of it before.
"You cannot go into the season and think that (you will get into the Champions League by winning the Europa League).
"I always was not in favour of that, because I think at some stage it can influence on the championship, because if a team is in April in a position where they have more chance to win the Europa League they can let some games go in the championship, and not completely focus on that, on the regularity of the competition. - SKY

Transfer news : Mahrez targets move this month

Riyad Mahrez has told Sky Sports News he is still looking to finalise a move from Leicester this month.

The Algerian winger handed in a transfer request at the end of last season and interest has been high with a number of clubs showing interest both from England and abroad.
So far, only Roma have made an offer, with Leicester believed to have rejected two bids from them this summer.
Now, Mahrez says he has to be patient about his future.

"I know Roma came in, but nothing was accepted so there is little I can do. They are a great club who I would like to talk to but I can't until Leicester accept a deal," he told Sky Sports News.
"Leicester know my thoughts, but I will continue to give my best for the club as I always have.
"Clearly, it is flattering whenever you get linked with any big clubs, but as it stands, I have not talked to anyone as nobody has had a bid accepted but we nearly have a month left of the transfer window so we will see what happens." - Sky Sports

PL news : Conte expecting the toughest season in his managerial career

Antonio Conte believes that the new campaign will be the toughest season in his managerial career as he aims to defend the Premier League title.

As reported by the Guardian, Conte expects a gruelling campaign with Chelsea’s squad looking thinner, despite spending £130 million on transfers.

“For sure it will be the most difficult season of my career as a coach. Why? There are many reasons and I haven’t a lot of time to explain a lot of these reasons. But I am sure about this. In this moment we have a small squad. Everyone can see the situation. It’s not because the coach shouts: ‘I want this’ or ‘I want this’. We hope to improve it because it’s very clear. But for me and the players the best way now is to be focused on the pitch and not to think of the other situation.”

 Chelsea have signed Willy Caballero, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Antonio Rudiger and Alvaro Morata respectively, but have either sold or loaned over 20 players already, six of which were part of last season’s first-team squad, with the likes of John Terry, Nathaniel Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all leaving the club permanently or temporarily.
The weaker squad will present further challenges as the Blues prepare for a return to the Champions League this season.

To add to Conte’s troubles, Bakayoko, Eden Hazard and Pedro are all due to miss the start of the season with injuries.
Conte is still believed to be in the market for players, with moves for the likes of Ross Barkley, Danny Drinkwater and Virgil van Dijk being touted. - Read Sport

EL: Wenger to rest players in Europa League

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is prepared to rest players in the Europa League and says he was always against the introduction of Champions League qualification via the second-tier tournament.

Winners of the Europa League have earned a place at European football's top table for the past two seasons, with Sevilla and Manchester United benefitting from the format change.
However, although that could provide Arsenal with a viable route back into the Champions League after they missed out on the top four in the Premier League last term, Wenger would prefer to focus on domestic matters.

"I was always against it," he said.
"Because apart from Man United, who did win the Europa League [having started in the competition], all the years before it was always a team who was kicked out of the Champions League.
"You cannot go into the season and think that [you qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League].

"I always was not in favour of that, because I think at some stage it can influence on the championship, because if a team is in April in a position where they have more chance to win the Europa League, they can let some games go in the championship, and not completely focus on that, on the regularity of the competition.
"I will always play a team that has a good chance to win the next game. In the Europa League, if we can afford sometimes to rest some players, we will do it.

"But we have to adapt to the level of the competition and see first what kind of group we play in." - Goal

Vessel of corruption : Plateau Government to sponsor 400 deferred intending pilgrims

Ahead of the 2017 Hajj, the Plateau State Government said it has paid for 400 intending pilgrims, who could not perform the exercise in 2014 but their monies were not refunded.
This was disclosed by Alhaji Dayyabu Garga, the Amirul Hajj for Plateau State pilgrims, while speaking with DAILY POST in Jos.

Garga, who is Plateau Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs said that out of those sponsored by government, 400 were deferrees who paid for the exercise in 2014 but could not go.
The Amirul Hajj said that the situation generated a lot of problems and government decided to sponsor those that still wanted to perform the hajj and refunded the monies of those that were no longer interested.

“The case of the diversion of the 2014 hajj fare is with the EFCC and other anti corruption agencies and government decided to sponsor those who wanted go in anticipation that when the issue is resolved and the money recovered, it would go into government coffers.
“With the 400 that were sponsored, the state government has successfully cleared the backlog of those who paid and couldn’t go as government had in past two years been assisting them to go,” he explained.

According to him, a total of 1104 intending pilgrims from the State are to travel to the holy land for this year’s Hajj to perform their religious obligation.

DAILYPOST learnt that each intending pilgrim is to pay the sum of N1.529 million (N1,529,03.80).
He further explained that, out of those that would perform the hajj, some were self sponsored.
The Amirul Hajj said that based on the time table of the National Hajj Commission, the intending pilgrims would tentatively be airlifted on 22nd August, 2017.

“Unlike previous years that Plateau pilgrims were airlifted from Kaduna International Airport, this year they will be airlifted at Bauchi International Airport”, he said.
The Commissioner said that the Plateau State Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board had already commenced the sensitization of the intending pilgrims.

Garga further stated that the intending pilgrims were being enlightened against‎ carrying things prohibited in the holy land “because the Saudi Authorities don’t bend their laws.
“We try to educate them on some of the laws to be mindful of and work in the confines of the law.
“We advised them to properly secure their Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA) as that is their feeding allowance that will sustain them in the period that they will stay in the holy land.” - Daily Post

Symbols of corruption!! ''Alooter '' fathers in action !!! What IBB, Obasanjo, Abdulsalami Abubakar discussed in Minna

The details of a tripartite meeting by former Heads of State, all retired Generals- Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar at the IBB home in Minna, on May 2nd, have been revealed.
After the meeting only a group photograph taken by the retired generals emerged.

But according to Sun, the subject of who succeeds Buhari in 2019 dominated the discussion.
At the meeting, said to have been initiated by Obasanjo, the newspaper reports that it was agreed that the next president must be under 70, must be a pan-Nigeria personality from any part of the country.
The Generals also agreed that ehnicity and religion must also not be a barrier.
They were said to have considered some top politicians who have indicated interest, even though quietly, in the race and they zeroed in on a few they could be identified on the spot, who also met their set criteria.

Those considered in the meeting include a former governor of Kano and now a serving Senator, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (60); current governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (51); former Cross River governor, Donald Duke (55) and the immediate past governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole (65), all of who are of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, stock.

Spokesperson to former Head State, IBB, Afegbua, who is also a former Edo State Commissioner for Information, offered to do a detailed response, which he promptly sent.
He told the newspaper, “First of all, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as a politician with an ambition has the right to reach out to anyone who he thinks can add value to his aspiration.
“It is true that he, Atiku has reached out to General IBB and also General Aliyu Gusau, the same way other presidential aspirants have been reaching out too. What is not true is to state that he has been endorsed by the duo.

“On the other hand, Chief Obasanjo has a right to own his opinion on any aspirant, but in the life of any aspirant, no man can play God. General IBB’s doors are open to any aspirant who feels he, IBB can add value to his aspiration.
“General IBB has left partisan politics six years ago when he clocked 70. As an elder statesman, he remains committed to the ideals of the founding fathers of Nigeria and its unity.
“He will continue to welcome Nigerians of all shades to his Minna home in furthering the narrative of one indivisible Nigeria. - Daily Post

Hilarious ! With looting in progress !! We’ll eliminate kidnapping, militancy in one year, says IGP

Police Inspector General Ibrahim Idris yesterday vowed that kidnapping and similar crimes would be eliminated within a year with the necessary support and cooperation from Nigerians.

He spoke during a working visit to The Nation’s corporate headquarters in Lagos to solicit the support of the media organization and boost existing relationship between the police and the company.

Idris said police officers have been strengthened and their morale boosted to combat crimes.

He spoke of plan to send  100 marine policemen to the Navy  for special training on counter kidnapping and  militancy.

 ‘‘We have strengthened our officers and boosted their morale in combating crimes,” he said.

The IGP hailed Nigerians for assisting the police in combatting crimes,citing the recent arrest of suspected kidnap kingpin,Evans Onwanmadike.

His words: “Evans terrorized people in this country for many years but now we have the notorious kidnapper in our custody.

“The police deserve some credit from the public. Give me up to a year, I assure  you that Nigerians would see a different police working to ensure their safety in every nook and cranny of this country.

‘‘When this kidnapping crime was unbearable on Kaduna-Abuja highway, I went to the National Assembly and I told the lawmakers to give me a week. Within five days, our men arrested 58 suspects, who confessed to the crimes.

“More of the suspects were arrested and paraded on Thursday, bringing the total to 77. All we want from the public is support. The police require support and encouragement, because we are human beings too.’’

The police chief stressed the need for the country to begin to focus on the causes of crime.

He said: “We cannot blame the police for the causes of crime. As I speak to you now, I can confirm that we have over a thousand suspects in detention for kidnapping and ritual killings. Then, we should ask why we still have these crimes when we have dozens of suspects? I think we should focus on the causes of crimes and its symptoms, not the agents of reaction.

“We have plans to develop the marine police. We are going to dominate the riverine areas.

“When I became the IGP, the first state I visited was Delta State, precisely Tompolo’s hometown. I discovered that our presence on the creeks was minimal. I believe we can succeed in dominating the creeks if we have certain things put in place.

“We need to train more marine police officers with modern techniques and gadgets. We need to buy more patrol gunboats and we are making progress in this respect. Already, we got offer to train about 100 policemen in marine security and a promise of 10 gunboats.

“By the time we get this done, we are going to start deployment from Lagos because of the rate of crime in riverine communities.

“We have been making efforts to secure these riverine communities from militants. This progress is achieved due to the activities of the marine police. We are training the marine police to perform better. We are liaising with the Navy in the training of our marine officers. We are going to train more officers in continuous succession.”

Asked why neither Biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu nor the President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) Shettima Yerima was arrested for inflammatory comments, Idris said the National Security Council (NSC) weighed the aggregation of interests after weighing the benefits and disadvantages of certain action.

He said: “We have the National Security Council in place chaired by the Acting President. We have been meeting and analyzing each of these threat messages from separatist groups. We have to analyse the pros and cons. As you are aware, the police are on top of the situation.

“As an organisation, what we take as paramount is the maintenance of law and order. There was a time we ordered the arrest of the leaders of groups making threat messages. Then, leaders of various ethnic nationalities came to the villa for a meeting with the Acting President.

Saraki and fraud !!! Sowore: Saraki fraudulently procured the order blocking Sahara Reporters’ accounts

Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara reporters, has accused Senate President Bukola Saraki of “fraudulently procuring” the court order which blocked the accounts of his organisation.

On July 25, Adeyinka Oyinloye, justice of the Kwara state high court, ordered the freezing of two accounts – UBA and GTB – linked to Sowore.
Saraki had filed charges of libel against the publisher at the court, where he procured an order asking Sowore to pay N4 billion as damages for allegedly publishing malicious content against him.
Speaking with premium Times, Sowore accused the senate president of deliberately conspiring with his associates to send court summons to wrong addresses in the bid to prevent him from defending himself.

“They sent their notice to 142 W. 29th Street, New York, when for a fact Sahara Reporters’ address is situated at 146 W. 29th Street, New York,” the publisher was quoted to have said.
“So, you can see they deliberately sent it to the wrong address so we won’t be aware of the lawsuit. In Lagos, where Sahara Reporters opened a multimedia facility on Isaac John Street on May 25, Mr Saraki’s lawyers also sent the notice to the wrong street number.”

However, the publisher said the operations of his media organisation were not seriously affected because it is run from New York.
He also said the bank accounts that were frozen contained $300,000, which was a grant from MacArthur Foundation.
“They blocked only funds in the bank accounts in Nigeria. But our activities have always been run from the United States. The money blocked in Nigeria belongs to Sahara Reporters Media Lab which is a foundation,” he said.

He added that the media lab was not a party to the libel suit because “it didn’t even exist as of the time the case was instituted”.
“But Saraki used his intrigues and influence over the State Security Service to get the Media Lab account frozen,” he said.

“Specifically, the account was holding the remaining portion the $300,000 grant which Sahara Reporters Foundation received from MacArthur Foundation earlier this year.
“We’ve done a lot of projects from the $300,000 so far paid to us by the MacArthur Foundation. The rest of the ‎of the money paid to us by the MacArthur Foundation is what the court blocked.” - Cable Nigeria

International : FBI arrests Nigerian Adekunle Ojo for ‘identity theft’

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested Adekunle Ojo, a Nigerian, who has spent less than 14 months in the United States.

Ojo was been arrested in Durham, North Carolina and charged with fraud and identity theft offences.
The offences stemmed from Ojo’s phishing scheme, using an AOL and GMail email accounts that targeted school districts in Connecticut and Minnesota in an effort to get employees’ personal information and file bogus tax returns.
His arrest was announced Friday by Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation in New England.
Following his arrest at his Durham residence, Ojo appeared before a US magistrate judge in Greensboro, NC, and was ordered detained pending his transfer to the District of Connecticut.

Prosecutors said a school district employee in Glastonbury, Connecticut, received an email in February that appeared to be sent by another employee, who asked for tax information for 1,600 school district workers.
The worker who received the email then forwarded the information, which was used in the scheme to file 122 bogus tax returns seeking nearly $600,000 in refunds, authorities said.
Officials said the Internal Revenue Service processed about six of the fake returns and electronically deposited nearly $37,000 in refunds to various bank accounts.

“Investigators linked the email sent to the employee to Ojo,” prosecutors said.
Officials also believe Ojo was involved in similar email schemes targeting school districts in Groton, Connecticut, and Bloomington, Minnesota.
In March, a Groton school employee emailed tax information of 1,300 employees in response to an email that appeared to be from the superintendent of schools.
Authorities said the information was used to file about 66 fraudulent tax returns seeking about $364,000 in refunds.

Officials said the fake returns were not processed because they had been flagged as being part of an identity theft scheme after school employees discovered the problem.
Prosecutors also said they linked the email account used by Ojo to a similar scam that obtained tax information for about 2,800 school employees in Bloomington earlier this year.
Eric Placke, a federal public defender in North Carolina who represented Ojo only for his initial court appearance, declined to comment Friday. It’s not clear who Ojo’s attorney will be in Connecticut.

Authorities said Ojo entered the US in May 2016 on a visitor’s visa and failed to leave on his scheduled departure date in June 2016.
Daly urged the public to double-check links and email addresses before clicking on and responding to them, to avoid becoming an identity theft victim. - Cable Nigeria

Attention Emir of corruption !!! Group Asks Saraki To Refund All Monies He Collected As Pension

A socio-political group, Kwara Mass Movement (KMM), has called on the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to return all monies he had collected as pension from the state government.

National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Salmon Jawondo, made the call in Ilorin on Thursday while briefing the media on “the state of the State’’.
“We watched with great consternation the twist in the pension policy for former governors in the state which had benefitted Dr. Bukola Saraki in no small way.

“Saraki served as the governor of Kwara State from 2003 to 2011.

“According to Saraki’s media aide, he wrote to stop his pension in August 2015 after he benefitted from it for a period of four years,” he said.
Jawondo said that the moral burden on the senate president was for him to return all the benefits, including houses car and cash, to the state.
He said that KMM was poised to return the state to the path created by those who worked for its creation, the only path that can guarantee sustainable development and prosperity.
“Definitely, there had been serious deviations from the dreams and aspirations of the founding fathers of Kwara.

“There is no time in our chequered history that we need to be united than now.
“We must work assiduously to reposition our dear state, where the founding fathers envisaged so that their labor shall not be in vain,” he added.
Jawondo said that KMM would provide a platform for all Kwara people to vent their ideas in the quest to build a society that could guarantee better living for a diligent man without being a praise singer.

“We want a Kwara that will mop up the vast majority that have been deliberately pauperized so, that they can always come back to pick crumbs that fall from the table.
“We commend those who have raised the bar of diligence and patriotism in the face of maladministration and impunity in the corridor of power.

“The days of reckoning are closing up on adversaries every day,’’ he added.
Jawondo called on the people of the state to come out to exercise their franchise during the Nov. 4 local government councils’ elections. - PM News

Looter in action !!! Civil Servant Arraigned For Exposing Kogi Gov’s Abuja Residence

A 32-year-old civil servant, Mr. Johnson Musa, was on Friday dragged before a Lokoja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly threatening and exposing the Abuja residence of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

Musa, an indigene of Dekina Local Government Area of the state, was alleged to have taken aerial pictures of the governor’s Abuja residence with a drone camera and posted them on social media.
He was said to have posted the pictures with the caption, “This building is owned by an individual in Kogi, where hunger is the first name, in less than one year.”
The prosecuting counsel, Mohammed Abaji, a senior legal officer with the state Ministry of Justice, said Musa was arrested on Thursday by men of the Department of State Services.
The action, Abaji said, had put the governor and his family under threat and potential harm to their property, urging the court to take cognisance of the offense of cyber stalking against the accused.
Musa pleaded not guilty to the offense and his counsel, Williams Aliwo of Crystal Chambers, orally applied for his bail in line with section 36(5) of the Constitution and section 341(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code.


Aliwo submitted that any order to remand the accused in prison custody would amount to punishing him ahead of the proof of his guilt, adding that the accused would not jump bail or try to escape justice if the bail conditions were granted.

 But the bail application was vehemently opposed by Abaji on the grounds that an investigation into the matter was ongoing aside from the fact that the penalty attached to the offense is 10 years’ imprisonment or an option of a minimum of N25m fine.
In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Alhassan Husaini, said by virtue of Section 36(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the presumption of innocence of the accused was constitutionally guaranteed.
Husaini granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, adding that the sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.

To allay the fears of the prosecution counsel over the inconclusive investigation, he ordered that a register of attendance be opened at the DSS office for the accused to report on Monday and Thursday.
The case was adjourned till  August 17. - PUNCH

Transfer news : Chelsea interested in Aurier

Chelsea are interested in a move for PSG right-back Serge Aurier, according to the Manchester Evening News.

The report claims that Chelsea have joined Manchester United in the hunt for Aurier this summer, who looks like he could leave the French capital.
PSG signed Dani Alves on a free transfer from Serie A side Juventus earlier this summer, leaving Aurier as back-up to the Brazilian.

This has attracted interest from the Premier League, with Chelsea among the interested parties.
Antonio Conte has made it clear that he is still looking for more additions to his side and Aurier could be the idea signing to strengthen his fullback areas.

The report claims that Manchester United have not prioritised a move for Aurier, which could give Chelsea room to steal a march on their rivals.
Victor Moses was the main right wing-back last season, with Aurier seen as an upgrade on the former Wigan winger. - Read Sport

Transfer news : Galatasaray seal Fernando signing from Manchester City

Galatasaray have completed the signing of midfielder Fernando from Manchester City.

The Turkish side confirmed the move had been finalised on Friday, a deal that will cost them a transfer fee of €5.25million, which could rise by a further €900,000 in bonuses.
Gala also revealed Fernando has signed a three-year deal and will earn an annual salary of €3.3m.
The 30-year-old spent three seasons with City, who he joined from Porto in 2014, but only started five Premier League matches in 2016-17, Pep Guardiola's first campaign in charge.

City had left Fernando, who leaves with the 2016 League Cup as his only major honour, out of their pre-season tour of the United States prior to Gala confirming talks over a move on Thursday.
The Brazilian was grateful for his three years in England, telling the club's website: "It has been a pleasure to play for Manchester City.
"The Club has looked after me incredibly well throughout my time here and I have enjoyed the challenge of playing for a top team in probably the world's toughest league.

"The League Cup success of 2016 was a highlight for me and something I will never forget."
Director of football Txiki Begiristain thanked him for his service, saying: "Fernando has been an excellent servant for City.
"He is a dedicated professional and a player who has made a significant contribution throughout his time here.
"I am sure he will continue to prove his quality for years to come." - Goal

Transfer update : Arsenal willing to make €60m Lemar offer

According to French journalist Julien Maynard, Monaco are refusing to sell Thomas Lemar – despite Arsenal willing to offer €60m.

Maynard claims that Arsenal have made it clear they would be ready to offer €60m, but Monaco are not willing to sell at any price.

Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for Lemar over the course of the transfer window.
It has even been claimed that Arsenal are prepared to offer the winger £100k-a-week to join the club

With Lemar already eager to join Arsenal and make his move to the Premier League from France it looked as though he was set to complete the switch, but it appears not to be the case.
Monaco have already rejected two offers from Arsenal for Lemar and are desperate to keep him.
Arsenal have already made one signing from Ligue 1 this season, breaking their transfer record to land Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon.-

Pl news :Ronaldo wants return to England

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that he wants to return to the Premier League.

The global superstar says that he is fed up of the tax allegations being thrown at him by Spanish press, claiming that this was never the case whilst he was in England.
Ronaldo says that he has paid his taxes, both in England and Spain, but he has only ever encountered problems with the Spanish media.
As quoted by the  Daily Mail, Ronaldo said this:

“In England, I never had these problems, that’s why I want to go back there.”

 “I always paid my taxes, always. In England and in Spain. As you know, I cannot hide anything, it would be ridiculous on my part to do such a thing.”

“I am an open book. you don’t need to do anything but type my name into Google and everything about Cristiano comes out.”

He has long been touted with a return to Manchester United, since leaving the club for – at the time – a world-record fee in 2009 to join Real Madrid.
Ronaldo has since gone on to score 406 goals in 394 appearances for the Spanish giants, winning the Balon D’or three times with Madrid and once with United.

His comments do suggest that a return to Manchester United could well be on. - Read Sport

OMG !!! Married man sentenced to prison for stealing N1000 corn in Ondo

An Akure Magistrate’s Court in Ondo State has convicted and sentenced a middle-aged man, identified as Busuyi Ajibola, to two months’ imprisonment for stealing maize worth N1, 000.
Ajibola was said to have committed the offence at Ago Ego on Idanre Road, Akure, the Ondo State capital on July 30, 2017.

The convict was arraigned on one-count of stealing.
He was described as a notorious thief that had carried out numerous ‘operations’ in Akure and its environs.
The police in charge of the matter, had earlier told the court that the offence committed by the convict was contrary to and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Cap 37. Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

Ajibola pleaded guilty to the one-count when it was read to him.

His lawyer, Grace Obanigba, however, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.
She pleaded that the convict was a family man and that the court should consider his wife and children.
In her ruling, the judge, Mrs. Oluwafunmi Edwin, said “on a closer look at the charge and the fact of the case, it was glaring that the convict committed the act deliberately, thus, he was found guilty.”
 Ajibola was sentenced to two months in jail. - Daily Post

OMG !!! ‘Sultan of Sex’ films sexual intercourse with over 150 married women

A man identified as Faud bin Sultan, aka ‘Sultan of Sex’ has been arrested for filming sexual intercourse with over 150 women, mostly married women, and blackmailing them for money afterwards.

Sultan, who works as a male escort, in the Bangladeshi city of Dhaka, was arrested by police on Thursday.

The self-proclaimed “Sultan of Sex” have blackmailed dozens of women with intimate videos he filmed of their sexual encounters.
According to Dailymail UK, when police raided his home on Wednesday a laptop, methamphetamine tablets and alleged pornographic videos were seized.
Spokesperson for Bangladesh police, Ishtiaque Ahmed told reporters that Sultan would meet clients online and bring them back to his apartment for sex.

Ahmed said, “He filmed those intimate moments and later blackmailed those victims, mostly married women, for money. We found nearly 150 individual victims’ videos in his laptop.

“He conducts vulgar live streaming service wearing superhero masks on social media which attracted thousands of viewers minors.
“After we arrested him, Sultan admitted to having those extramarital relations and claimed himself as the Sultan of sexual intercourse.
“He said the ladies came to him willingly, knowing everything.”
Pornography is illegal in Bangladesh, a conservative Muslim-majority nation of 160 million.

He has been charged under tough anti-pornography laws that could land him in prison for 10 years if found guilty. - Daily Post

Shocking !!! Popular bishop rapes 20-year-old church member in the bush

The founder and General Overseer of Radiant International Church, in Zambia, Bishop Cephas Mabo, has been arrested by the police in Kasama for allegedly raping a 20-year-old girl.

The bishop who was arrested Friday night was said to have raped the girl, who is one of his church members, in the bush where they had gone for fasting and prayer.

The victim was said to have attempted to commit suicide after the incident.
Dailymail Zimbia reports that Northern Province Police Commissioner, Rechard Mweene, while confirming the development to Radio Mano News last night, said “the incident happened around 15:00 hours on Wednesday in the mountains along the Kasama-Isoka road.”

The Commissioner of Police added that the 45-year-old Bishop who resides at Kasama’s Malama compound has since been detained in police custody and charged with rape.
He gave the victim’s name as Ethel Namukoko, a resident of Compensation compound in Kasama.

He said that “Ms Namukoko attempted to commit suicide following the rape ordeal and is currently admitted at Kasama General Hospital.”
The CP disclosed further that “the victim sustained a painful vagina from the ordeal.” - Daily Post

Anti-corruption : EFCC/CYIaC Set to Launch Diaspora Action Against Corruption in Dublin

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission corruption prevention project, Creative Youth Initiative against Corruption (CYIAC) has concluded plan to launch anticorruption movement in the Diaspora. The event tagged “Diaspora Nigeria Action Against Corruption Initiative (DNA Action)” is earmarked for flag–off on October 1, 2017 to coincide with Nigeria’s national day celebration in collaboration with the Association of Nigerian Professionals in Ireland, Dublin.

DNA Action is expected to broaden the coalition of groups abroad committed to tackling corruption, improving Nigeria’s global image with a view to improving the country’s rating on the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, CPI. The group will further create a platform for discourse on the benefits of ridding Nigeria of corruption and support the anti- corruption prevention measures as it relates to children and youth re-orientation.

The Europe Director of DNA Action, Mr. Olajide Ademola Ajayi says there is no better time than now for Diaspora Nigerians to get involved in the advocacy against corruption. The group is currently reaching out to Nigeria communities worldwide for global campaign against corruption. DNA Action will facilitate town hall meetings in major countries across all continents (Asia, America, South America, Oceania etc) in collaboration with the Nigerian embassies

The CYIaC is a vehicle for children and youth sensitization on the ills of corruption through creative development, self-awareness and re-orientation. The initiative was flagged off in October 4, 2016 in Abuja by the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.  It has since engaged over a thousand children and youth in various creative initiatives all designed to increase their consciousness on the possibilities of a corrupt free Nigeria

According to Foluke Michael, Project Director, CYIAC is seeking to build a sustainable anti- corruption movement that will complement and boost the efforts of the EFCC in the fight corruption in Nigeria. She expressed appreciation to the Consulate General of Germany and Nigeria Stock Exchange for supporting CYIaC, whilst calling on more corporate organizations and International bodies to partner with EFCC –CYIAC to eradicate corruption and corrupt practices in Nigeria.

Foluke Michael

EFCC-CYIAC Project Director

Anti-corruption war : EFCC Pledges Support to AMCON on Asset Recovery

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC on Thursday, August 3, 2017 pledged its support to Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria AMCON, in its drive to recover toxic assets and boost for the nation’s economy.

The Acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu delivered the pledge while playing host to Ahmed Lawan Kuru, Managing Director, AMCON and his team in his office.
According to Magu, “it is in the interest of this country that we support you and work with AMCON."
He blamed the incidence of bad loans especially in the banking sector on insider dealings, adding that it is about time bankers are held liable for their indiscretion. He expressed the Commission’s willingness to strengthen the team already working on AMCON related cases.

In his remarks, Mr. Kuru informed the Commission of how over N3.7 trillion of depositors funds, 15,000 jobs were saved due to AMCON intervention in the banking sector in 2009/2010.  "The Corporation borrowed money from the Financial system and bought 13,000 non-performing loans at the cost of N3.7trillion from 22 banks and also injected N2.3 trillion as financial accommodation to ten banks in order to bring stability and avoid systematic failure”, he said.
He however listed some of the challenges hampering the corporation’s debt recovery efforts to include the judicial process, non cooperation of debtors, concealment of assets, irregular documentation by banks and other financial institutions, forgery and alteration of financial records.
Mr. Kuru further expressed satisfaction with the performance of the EFCC/ AMCON desk ,saying "ever since the set up of the AMCON desk, we have enjoyed tremendous support of the team which has led to recovery and increased  the number of obligors coming forward to AMCON looking for a resolution out of the situation they are in."

He added that the importance of the EFCC to the actualization of AMCON mandate cannot be overstated as the Commission is “about one of the few organizations that have the power to request or demand information from some of these financial institutions and get response.” - EFCC

EFCC : BEWARE, NO ONE IS MANDATED TO COLLECT MONEY IN MAGU’S NAME

Once again, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, wishes to call the attention of the general public to the activities of a band of fraudsters who have been extorting head of ministries, departments and agencies, claiming they were acting at the behest of Ibrahim Magu, acting Chairman of the Commission.

No fewer than three ministers have in the last few weeks drawn the attention of the Commission to the activities of this gang of criminals. This information points to a worrisome trend in which criminal groups now use the good name of the chairman of the EFCC to con unsuspecting members of the public.

A few months ago, the Commission had cause to issue a statement after it came to light that some person had been approaching suspects under investigation by the Commission, claiming they have the instruction of the acting chairman to seek gratification for them to be given soft landings. Also, there have been instances in the past in which fraudsters cloned the email and Facebook accounts of the EFCC Chairman and were sending messages demanding bribes from unsuspecting members of the public.

These reports are indeed worrisome as they detract from the well-established mode of operation by the Commission. As a highly disciplined and professional organization, demanding and receiving bribes are serious offences against discipline in the EFCC. The punishment for such acts includes dismissal and prosecution. Staff of the Commission are reasonably well paid and have no need to seek rent from suspects. The mere fact that a supposed officer of the EFCC demands gratification should put the public on notice. Under no circumstance should members of the public offer gratification to any one that claims to be an officer of the EFCC. Indeed such demand for gratification is enough indication that the so called ‘operative’ could be an impostor.

The Commission regularly receives report about fake invitation letters to persons and organizations by fraudsters claiming that such persons are under investigation by the agency. Some victims of this scam have been directed to unimaginable places and defrauded by the criminals. Many victims however believed they actually dealt with bonafide officers of the Commission, while those who belatedly realise their folly are often too embarrassed to come forward. This calls for circumspection as the public need to verify such invitations and ensure they truly emanate from the Commission.

Unfortunately, despite repeated warnings, some members of the public continue to fall prey to the antics of these fraudsters. The EFCC again wishes to dissociate itself from the activities of these criminal gangs. Mr. Magu has not mandated any person to collect gratification under any guise on his behalf. Those doing so are simply employing the fear factor to defraud persons who apparently are too jittery about prospects of investigation by the Commission. The EFCC as an agency does not condone gratification either to facilitate or ‘kill’ an ongoing investigation.
The EFCC will no longer tolerate the activities of these fraudsters which is capable of eroding the credibility of the agency and the integrity of its leadership. Consequently, the Commission warns that it will deal decisively with anyone caught using the name of the EFCC or its chairman for fraudulent purposes.

Consequently, the public is implored to report any one found to be soliciting gratification on behalf of the Chairman of the EFCC or any senior officer of the agency, to the nearest police station or contact the EFCC through this number: 0903131991,  or send email to:  info@efccnigeria.org .

Federal republic of corruption !!!! N30trn probe: Senate asks police to arrest 30 CEOs

The senate has directed the police to arrest chief executive officers (CEOs) of 30 firms for failing to appear before its committee probing national revenue loss.

The companies are alleged to have been involved in the N30 trillion-revenue believed to have been lost by the country in its maritime sector.
The senate joint committee on customs, excise and tariff and marine transport, handling the investigation had invited 63 firms accused of complicity but only 33 honoured the invitation.
The order to arrest the companies’ officials was announced by Hope Uzodinma, chairman of the committee, at its meeting on Friday in Abuja.
The companies involved include Crown Flour Mills, Glo Mobile, British American Tobacco, CCECC, Dana Group, Olam Int. Ltd., Hong Xing Steel Co. Ltd., Visafone, African Wire, Star Comments and Allied Ltd. and Aarti Steel Nig. Ltd.

Others are Abyem-Diva Int. Ltd., Gagasel Int., Friesland Capina, Etco Nig., Edic Chemicals and Allied Distributors, De United Foods, Don Climax Group, Skill G Nig. Ltd., Premium Seafood and La Rauf Nig. Ltd.
Also involved are Standard Metallurgical Co. Ltd., Kam Industries, IBG Investment Ltd., Orazulike Trading Co. Ltd., Popular Foods Ltd., A-Kelnal Integrated & Logistics Services, African Industries, African Tiles & Ceramics and ZTE Nigeria.

Uzodinma said the refusal of the officials to honour the invitation in spite of several reminders was disrespect for the national assembly.
He warned that the 8th assembly would not tolerate such behaviour from anybody or institution, particularly in the present situation that involved federal government funds.
According to him, investigations carried out by the joint committee showed several forms of infractions that have cost the country huge amount of money in revenue loss.

He said such development in a country currently in a recession was a disservice to it.
“It is no longer going to be business as usual,” Uzodinma said.
“We have directed the Nigeria police to arrest the heads of the firms and bring them before us.
“If we can suspend our recess as lawmakers to see to the end of this investigation, I see no reason why the firms that have been indicted will not come to defend themselves.”
The chairman asked the firms that honoured the invitation to go through the documents given to them and return next week for defence.
The senate had mandated the joint committee to carry out an extensive investigation into alleged revenue leakages in the import and export value chain between 2006 and 2017.

Face of corruption !!! REVEALED: Two newly-appointed ICPC board members ‘undergoing multi-million-naira probe’

Two board members of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other offences Commission (ICPC) whose appointments were approved by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo are being investigated for corruption, according to ICIR.

The website said the anti-corruption agency is currently probing Maimuna Aliyu and Sa’ad Alanamu for alleged corruption in the region of N1billion.
While Alanamu is reportedly being investigated on corruption charges allegedly committed when he headed some institutions in Kwara state, Aliyu is said to have a longstanding case of abuse of office, misappropriation and diversion of public funds against her.

On Tuesday, the federal government replaced Nta Ekpo, chairman of ICPC, with Bolaji Owasanoye, a professor of law and also appointed 14 members into the board  of the agency.
But ICIR said charges were already being prepared against Aliyu in preparation to taking her to court when her new appointment was made public.
“Aliyu is said to be highly connected in the corridors of power and might have used her clout to get nominated to the ICPC board to stop her prosecution by the commission,” the website said in its report.

“Apart from the ICPC investigation, our investigations also show that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Police have investigated several corruption cases against Aliyu, a former executive director of the Aso Savings and Loans.”
The report added that in May, a police investigative report indicted her and recommended her for prosecution.
The investigative report dated May 31, 2017, and signed by Taiwo Oyewale, a superintendent of police, for the deputy commissioner of police, IGP monitoring unit, said that Aliyu illegally converted to personal use a total of N58 million being proceeds of three plots of land belonging to her employers, Aso Savings and Loans.

As executive director, marketing, Aliyu was said to have got approval to sell three of the bank’s landed property in Abuja at the rate of N19 million each. Aliyu is said to have sold the lands for N58 million but refused to hand over the money to the bank.
The police investigations commenced after Aso Savings and Loans wrote a petition in November 2016 alleging that Aliyu, who had by then retired from the bank for three years, had refused to hand over the proceeds of the land sale.

The same month, the bank also wrote a petition against her to the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the EFCC and the ICPC
In one of the investigations, it was discovered that Aliyu actually sold the three plots of land entrusted to her by the bank at N40 million each (instead of N19 million) totaling N120 million and held on to every penny.
Apart from the N120 million allegedly misappropriated by her, the bank also lodged several complaints of abuse of office and conversion or diversion of its funds, totaling nearly N1 billion.

The bank alleged that in 2012, Aliyu sought and got a mortgage facility of N40 million to purchase five houses – four-bedroom detached mansionettes. However, after she resigned her appointment in September 2013, the former executive director said she could no longer bear the burden of the payments and requested the bank to cancel the mortgage on four units and take them over. She said she would continue to maintain the mortgage contract on just one unit.
She was also said to have abused her office by illegally allocating a house at Aso Groove estate to her son, Sand Aliyu. According to the bank, Aliyu had showed interest in buying the house for her son in the name of a company in which he is a director.

However, because she had all the keys of the houses put up for sale by the bank since she was in charge of marketing and sales, Aliyu handed over the key to the house to her son without paying a dime for the house worth N210 million.
ICIR said it attempted to reach Aliyu for comments, but her telephone line was switched off.

Alanamu was described as a protégé of Olusola Saraki, father of Senate President Bukola Saraki.
He is said to be undergoing investigation for corruption and bribery. He allegedly collected bribes from contractors handling TETFUND contracts, which he approved as chairman of the Board of Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.
Both of them are believed to have got the appointments without the mandatory security screening. - Cable Nigeria

Sick guy of Benue !!! Ortom: If Buhari is sick, so is every Nigerian

Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state, says President Muhammadu Buhari’s sickness means that all Nigerians are sick.

He said this on Thursday while speaking to state house correspondents on the outcome of the recent visit of some governors to Buhari in the UK.
While stating that the president was mentally alert throughout the period of his meeting with the governors, Ortom added that they advised him not to return until “he is completely healed”.
“I was the first person that initiated prayers and I shouted halleluyah when I saw him because God has answered my prayers,” he said.

“I urge both Christians and Muslims to pray for Mr. President because that is our duty.
“There is no power without God’s ordination. So those of us who are subjects should continue to pray. We should not be castigating Mr. President or wishing him evil.
“We should be praying for him. If Mr. President is sick, it means all of us are sick; the whole country is sick. It is our responsibility to pray that Mr. President get well so that our country too will be well.

“Mr. President is doing well. When we saw him, he was not in a wheelchair, he was not bedridden. He greeted us, we cracked jokes and he was mentally alert. We discussed about the security situation in the country and he asked us questions about what we are doing.
“Our prayer is that God will consummate his healing. We asked him not to hurry because there is no vacuum. The Acting President is holding forth for him and he is doing very well. By the grace of God, I believe that very soon, he will be with us.”

Aisha, wife of the president, returned to the country on Thursday after travelling to see her husband on July 2.
He has been away since May 7 when he departed Nigeria for a medical follow-up in the UK. - Cable Nigeria

Pictured : Model who tried to steal £1,000 of luxury goods from Harrods is spared jail due to 'considerable talents'

A stunning model has been spared jail after she tried to steal £1,000 of designer goods from Harrods after a judge said she was a woman of 'considerable talents'.
Natalia Sikorska, 28, attempted to make off with a Markus Lupfer jacket, a pair of Claudie Pierlot shoes, a Pinko handbag and the silver knife on July 5.
The stunning blonde was stopped before she left the Knightsbridge store with the haul worth £959.59.

The Polish model and actor is currently studying business management and economics at the University of Westminster.
She also works as a business development manager for drinks bottle manufacturers Aquatiser, did not manage to leave the store with any of the items.
After she admitted theft, Westminster Magistrate Grant McCrostie gave her a conditional discharge for 12 months and said: "You are a newcomer to this county, you are a student with a place at university.

"You are obviously a woman of considerable talents, you are obviously intelligent. Taking goods from any store, including Harrods is wrong.
"Your future has been put at risk by these actions.
"Because of the fact that you pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and you do have a potentially bright future, we will deal with this more leniently than we should have.

"It will be a conditional discharge for a period of 12 months."

Sikorska admitted attempted theft from a shop.

She was given a conditional discharge, ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge

Mr McCrostie said if Sikorska stays out of trouble for that period she will not face any further punishment.
'You have been given another opportunity do not abuse the opportunity we have given you, stay out of trouble,' he said.
Sikorska replied: 'Thank you so much.' - Mirror

Transfer news : Barcelona refuse to pay €26m Neymar loyalty bonus

Barcelona have made it clear they will not pay a €26 million (£23m) loyalty bonus to Neymar and his father following the Brazil star's world-record move to Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday.

It was reported that Neymar's father and agent held up the €222m (£198m) deal in order to trigger a loyalty payment that would be owed after July 31, as part of the new contract the player signed with Barca last October.
However, Barca spokesperson Josep Vives says Neymar's talks with PSG meant he was in breach of the terms of that agreement and that the fee, reportedly totalling €26m, would not be paid.
"The cheque is no longer with the notary, it's at the club," Vives said at a news conference.

"There were three conditions: one, that the player does not negotiate with another club in the last three months before July 31.
"Two, that he will express publicly his commitment to fulfil his contract.
"Three, the collection was to be made on September 1, to ensure that he did not go to another club.

Barca had stated on Wednesday that the fee would initially "remain deposited with a notary until the case is resolved".
"Given these breaches, the club is not going to liquidate the cheque for his renewal." - Goal