PL latest Klopp and Coutinho's relationship '100 per cent' okay

Jurgen Klopp insists his relationship with Philippe Coutinho remains unchanged despite reports of a third bid from Barcelona being rejected by Liverpool.

The Reds are believed to have turned down a latest offer of £119million for the Brazil international, as the Catalan giants seek a replacement for Neymar, who joined Paris Saint-Germain for €222m earlier this month.
Coutinho is yet to play this season due to a fitness problem and is also unwell, according to Klopp, who remains adamant the player's attitude is not an issue. 

"Phil is now ill, on top of the back injury," the manager told reporters ahead of Liverpool's Champions League play-off second leg at home to Hoffenheim.
"One other player had it and was back in training today. But he has had no training for a long time, so we have no idea at the moment. We'll have to check when he's back.
"I never give comments on what whoever said or wrote but it's 100 per cent clear that nothing has changed. 

"My English is not good enough to give five different answers to the same question. Nothing has changed.
"You ask if everything is okay between me and him - of course. Absolutely. 100 per cent."
Liverpool have a 2-1 advantage over Hoffenheim from the first leg in Germany, a stunning Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick and an own goal by Havard Nordtveit giving Klopp's men the edge.
But Mark Uth struck with three minutes remaining to give Hoffenheim a lifeline in the tie and Klopp is expecting a tough battle against the Bundesliga side.

"The main difference between the legs is now everyone knows about Hoffenheim's quality," he said. 
"I knew it, but a lot of people in England didn't expect it.
"It's half-time and we have to adjust and change things. The first game was good enough to get a result but the second needs to be better. 

"Anfield is a main factor, we all know it. It's a special place and nothing happens by itself, we have to perform and deliver. But the atmosphere can help and I hope everyone is ready to fight. 
"I'd be concerned if people think a weak side is coming and each bad pass gets a moan. But we have a football crowd and they know about the quality. They are ready to fight - and we are too.
"They have a clear plan and I respect what Julian [Nagelsmann] and his team have achieved. We have a plan and need to have a calm approach to the way they play and create half-spaces. They have good enough players and I respect 100 per cent their plan, so we have work to do."
Klopp was also asked about comments from Hoffenheim winger Kerem Demirbay, who claimed his side play better football than Liverpool. 

"I do like Kerem, he's an excellent player, but he knows like me that football is not all about beauty."
"It's not like ice skating where you are judged on the beauty of your performance," Klopp said. "It’'s about winning. There have been matches where the best team has lost. - Goal

Transfer : Man City reportedly readying Gibson offer

.Manchester City are reportedly readying an opening offer for Middlesbrough centre-back Ben Gibson.

According to a report from the Daily Mail today, Pep Guardiola is keen to land the English defender this summer and is preparing a £20m bid to test Boro’s resolve.
Gibson was a key component in Boro’s side last season and despite their relegation to the Championship, he demonstrated his qualities in the top flight.

City have been actively pursuing West Brom captain Jonny Evans, with Guardiola keen to shore up his defence. However, it looks as though the Baggies have fended off interest from the Citizens given their asking price for the Northern Ireland international.

Boro are likely to take a similar stance to West Brom. They are keen to retain one of their most important players, but could be swayed by offers of around £30 million and upwards.
The Baggies, ironically, had identified Gibson as their primary defensive target, but have had several bids reportedly knocked back by Championship outfit Boro. - Read Sport

Hurst : Southgate should end Rooney's England career

Gareth Southgate should tell Wayne Rooney his England career is over, according to 1966 World Cup final hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst.

Rooney has scored two goals in two Premier League games since leaving Manchester United to go back to Everton, prompting suggestions Southgate could welcome back England's record goalscorer for World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovakia in September.
Southgate has previously left the door open for the former captain to return, while none of the strikers who featured in his most recent squad - Marcus Rashford, Jermain Defoe and Harry Kane - have scored in the league this term.

But Hurst does not believe Rooney's early-season resurgence should lead to him being selected by Southgate for the first time since November 2016.
"He [Southgate] has made some bold decisions and I think the bold one he can make is, for me, to say it's the end of Wayne Rooney's international career," said Hurst.
"He has been an absolutely fantastic player. At club level he wasn't playing regularly for Manchester United last season, which is an indication - and if you are not playing regularly at club level you certainly should not represent England in my opinion.

"I wouldn't necessary call it a bold decision to not play Wayne Rooney anymore, but if I were in charge of the national team I would call Wayne up and say, 'Thanks very much'.
"He has been a fantastic player, one of the greatest players in this country but old Father Time, and I have been there as a striker, comes where you lose a bit of sharpness and I think his time playing for England is over."

After scoring his 200th Premier League goal in Monday's 1-1 draw at Manchester City, Rooney - who previously confirmed he would retire from England duty after the 2018 World Cup - said he would be in contact with Southgate about his international future.
 "I'm sure I'll speak to Gareth Southgate over the next few days and we'll have a conversation and see what happens."
"We'll see. I'm focused on Everton," Rooney told Sky Sports. - Goal

Transfer updates : Tottenham reportedly prepare offer for Man City starlet Sancho

Manchester City youngster Jadon Sancho is the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur, and it’s claimed by the Mirror tonight that the North London club will make an offer for the controversial academy graduate.

Sancho has cut a frustrated figure in recent times. It’s been claimed that he is seeking a move away from the Etihad Stadium as he looks elsewhere to secure regular first-team football, which is looking unlikely under Pep Guardiola.

The 17-year-old has just one year remaining on his scholarship contract with Manchester City and, as well as a compensation fee, would be free to leave next summer.
Arsenal have also been linked with a move for the England Under-17 international, while Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig have also been touted with an unlikely move for the promising wide man.

Tottenham’s bid is claimed to be worth around £3m, which is considered to be somewhat under-priced given Sancho’s quality and potential. - Read Sport

Terrorism : Behind olive trees, Spain terror cell's bomb factory

Martine Groby rues the day when she ignored her father who told her: "They are terrorists, take down their number plates."

"I should have listened to him," said Groby, who saw all the windows of her home in Spain shatter when a massive explosion detonated in the house next door on Wednesday.
It turned out that house hidden behind olive trees was likely the bomb factory of suspected jihadists who used vehicles to mow down pedestrians in Barcelona on Thursday and the nearby seaside resort of Cambrils hours later.

It was in the small seaside town of Alcanar, about 200 kilometres (120 miles) southwest of the Catalan capital, where the cell was apparently plotting "one or more attacks" in Barcelona, said regional police chief Josep Lluis Trapero.
But they are believed to have accidentally detonated an explosion, which blew up at least two of them, and forced them to change their plans.

'Stank of gunpowder'

Investigators combing the site have uncovered 120 gas canisters, as well as detected traces of TATP -- the explosive of choice for the Islamic State organisation, which has claimed the assaults.
"It stank of gun powder. An impossible stench, I told police on the night of the explosion, but they didn't want to listen to me," complained Jenny Rodriguez, 37, who lives just across the road.
It was only after the double attack that killed 14 people that police drew a link to the Alcanar explosion.

In the small area of Alcanar blocked off by police, the streets are deserted and inhabitants silent.
The groan of air-conditioners working overtime in the searing summer heat and the barks of dogs are punctuated by explosions of gas canisters still buried in the bomb factory and the noise of police tractors removing rubble.
Ask locals walking through the district about the house and they say they have never seen or heard the "men who lived there".

'No music, no children, no women'

Groby, a French national, however said she saw them often.
She comes only several times a year to her pink-painted villa but she noticed that four men "who all speak French" were in the house next door since April.
They told her they had rented the house.
"I called them squatters," she said.
"They were very discreet, too discreet. The shutters were closed, there was no music, no children, no women," she recalled.

"Sometimes they stay just two days and they leave. They said hello to me but never looked me in the eye," added the 61-year-old retiree.
She only caught glimpses of the men next door, but said she was able to identify two of the suspects in photos published in the media after the attacks.
But a friend who suffered cuts to his face in the explosion, had told her to stay out of it.
Eliane Fernandez, who was also there on Wednesday night, said "the boom" of the explosion still resonates, but did want to talk further.

'Lights on all night'

Groby described the men as "Arab types", and said one of them had a moustache.
Only her husband and her daughter has seen the one "who wears a beard", she said.
"They were often on the terrace. From up there, they must have been watching the road," she said, sighing that it was only now that she is piecing together all the clues about her neighbours.
Groby also recalled that the men often went out in pairs while the two others would stay behind at home.

They would either go on foot with backpacks, drive in and out in a white Kangoo van, or use two motorcycles.
They would also "move in a manner so that I am unable to see what they are unloading," she said.
"One time, I managed to see them unloading a freezer," she recalled.
"My father who's a former police officer had told me they are terrorists. He told me to take photos and write down their licence plates.

"He found these daily to and fro trips strange. I didn't want to believe him," she said.
But as she began hearing noises of metal scraping in July and started seeing lights on at all times of the day, she began to ask questions about the house.
She finally found out it belonged to a bank which had put it up for sale.
On Wednesday, shortly after 11 pm, as she and her family were clearing away dinner, she was flung to the floor.

"Suddenly it became all black. I had the impression that I was being burnt alive... I thought it was a nightmare. I didn't know they were terrorists. I thought it was our gas canister that exploded," she said. - AFP

OMG !!! Husband allegedly axes wife to death in Benue

A truck driver, Terkaa Ushir, has reportedly beaten and hacked his wife, Lucy Wasem to death with an axe.
The deceased’s father, Daniel Akighir, accused his son-in-law of killing his 29-year-old daughter over unresolved domestic issues.

Akighir said: “Last week Friday, my son in-law, Mr Terkaa of Joseph Tia street, Gboko North and his wife (my late daughter) came to my house for counseling and settlement over their matrimonial disputes, but after a long discussion my daughter refused to return to her husband’s house.
“According to her, she has refused to return because of the husband’s recent odd behavior and present eminent threat to her life.
“On Sunday, my daughter, Lucy came back from morning mass and told us – me and her mother – that her husband invited her for settlement; we were glad since it was our desire for them reunite”.
The tearful 69-year-old Akighir, however, said the couple’s neighbours told him that Terkaa lured Lucy indoors and locked the door and started beating her.

“An eyewitnesses told me that on reaching there (the house), her husband locked her in their one room apartment, beat, strangled and axed my daughter to death.
“All efforts by neighbours to save my daughter proved abortive as the door was locked and after he confirmed that his wife was dead, he escaped through the back window.
“After several attempts, the door was forced open only to discover the lifeless body of my daughter Lucy Wasem under the mattress with deep cuts on her neck and head in the pool of her blood. Two axes and a hammer were found in the room stained with blood”.
The body of late Lucy has since been deposited at the mortuary of the General Hospital, Gboko.

Spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Moses Yamu, confirmed the incident to Channels TV yesterday.
Yamu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, noted that the command had recovered the weapons used to murder the victim and that investigation was ongoing.
“It is true that we got a report that one Terkaa Ushir allegedly killed his wife and fled the scene.

“But I can assure you that the culprit will be apprehended and made to answer for the crime he is alleged to have committed,” he said.
“We have recovered the murder weapon but it is not yet clear why he committed the offence''. - Daily Post

Shocking !!! Missing reporter: Torso 'deliberately' mutilated

Danish police have said the headless torso of a woman found floating in waters south of Copenhagen had been deliberately mutilated.

Officers are searching for Swedish journalist Kim Wall, who has not been seen since she was spotted on a 60ft homemade submarine on 10 August.
A torso missing its head and limbs was discovered in Koge Bay on Monday and DNA is being compared to genetic material from relatives of Ms Wall, 30.
Police investigator Jens Moeller Jensen said the arms and legs had "deliberately been cut off".
He said: "We do not know yet whether it is her or not.

"The length of the torso means we cannot rule out that it could be Kim Wall, but we don't know yet."
The results of the DNA testing are expected on Wednesday.
Danish inventor Peter Madsen has been accused of the negligent manslaughter of the 30-year-old journalist - but denies any wrongdoing.
The pair were seen onboard the Nautilus by several people in waters off Copenhagen on the evening of 10 August.

He initially told authorities he dropped Ms Wall off on an island later on the evening of 10 August.
But he then changed his story days later when he appeared in court, saying she died in an accident on board and he dumped her body at sea in an undefined location in Koge Bay.
Search crews found the missing sub Nautilus on 11 August and Madsen was recovered from the vessel, alone, just before it sank.
Police have said they believe Madsen "deliberately" sank the submarine. It was raised to the surface and searched, but found to be empty.

Ms Wall was a freelance journalist who had met with Madsen to interview him for a feature story she was writing. - SKY

Transfer news : Chelsea keen on Gueye move

Chelsea are reportedly weighing up a move for Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye.

According to the Daily Mail today, the Blues are making contingency plans in case they fail to land Danny Drinkwater from Leicester City.
Antonio Conte wants to sign another central midfielder to bolster his options for the season ahead, and it looks as though signing Drinkwater is a priority of his.

However, it’s claimed by the Daily Mail that Conte will also ponder a move for Gueye if Leicester continue to demand an astronomical fee for their England international. The Foxes are demanding a huge sum of £40 million for the former Manchester United man, and Chelsea are unwilling to pay the full extent of their valuation.
So, they could very well turn their attention towards Senegal international Gueye, who has been a vital cog in Everton’s side since his move from Aston Villa last summer. - Read Sport

Shocking !!! Nigerian woman arrested for allegedly killing boyfriend in India (Video)

The Police in India have arrested a Nigerian woman identified as Evelyn Uzodinma over the death of her boyfriend, Godfrey Izzu Chibueze.

Evelyn on Saturday afternoon allegedly stabbed 30 year Godfrey, during a quarrel outside their house in West Delhi, after which she then rushed him to a hospital where he died of excessive bleeding.

The suspect was taken into custody at the hospital.
According to hindustantimes, the pair were known to quarrel often; they both lived together at a rented house in Uttam Nagar’s D block.
Chibueze ran a garments business, and Evelyn operated a food stall.
Investigations revealed that the couple had a fight around 2 p.m. on Saturday before Godfrey’s death.

Neighbours also told police they saw the couple fighting and punching each other.

Police have registered a murder case against Evelyn while awaiting for an autopsy report for further clarity on Chibueze’s death. 
An unidentified police officer said during the fight, the woman picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed Chibueze on his left hand, causing him to bleed excessively. - Daily Post

Transfer updates : Alex Ox to thrash out Arsenal future

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will hold talks over his future at Arsenal later this week, Sky Sports News understands.

Sky sources have hinted the meeting, involving Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis, could take place on Thursday.
Wenger said last week that he hoped the England international forward would extend his current contract, which only has one year remaining on it.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is one of three key Arsenal players whose deals run out next summer.
Wenger said of that trio: "We always hope, even now, that we can extend the contracts of [Alexis] Sanchez, Chamberlain and [Mesut] Ozil.
"I rate him [Chamberlain] highly and he's one of the players who is on his way up. In the last year, he has made huge progress and I want him to stay here for a long time.

"I'm convinced he will be the English player that everybody will look at in the next two years."
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been linked with summer moves to Premier League rivals Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City. - Sky Sports

Updates : Sanchez having Spurs medical

Davinson Sanchez is having a medical on Tuesday ahead of a club-record move to Tottenham, according to Sky sources.

Spurs confirmed on Friday that a deal, believed to be worth up to £42m, had been agreed with Ajax and the Colombian international had signed a six-year contract, subject to a medical and work permit.
It is believed there will be no problems with the work permit. The 21-year-old has been capped twice by Colombia.

"I would like to thank the coach, management, players and fans of Ajax. It is a great move for me to come here to develop my career," Sanchez told the Spurs website on Friday.
"I am very excited to be signing for such a famous club as Tottenham Hotspur. I am looking forward to working with Mauricio Pochettino and the players and meeting everyone there."

Sanchez was Ajax's player of the year last season and was also a target for Barcelona and Inter Milan. - SKY

OMG !!! ‘Jealous’ nurse allegedly stabs husband to death

An auxiliary nurse and mother of two, Mrs. Folashade Idoko, has been accused of stabbing her 42-year-old husband, Lawrence Idoko to death in Lagos.

Idoko, a pipeline engineer with Greater Inspection and Industrial Services at Sango-Otta was stabbed to death by his wife at their residence at 20, Kosoko Street, Ayetoro, Oto-Awori local government area of the state.

The deceased’s landlord, who is the Balogun of Ayetoro, Chief Gani Akanni, alleged that the nurse’s action was triggered by jealousy, the Nation reports.
The 42-year-old was said to have suffered years of domestic violence from his wife but kept quiet.
Mrs Idoko, who was arrested by the police from Ijaniki shortly after she was arrested, claimed that the knife fell on her husband by accident.
According to Akanni, “There was a time I took the woman to the police station because she vandalised my property after I locked up the tenants’ rooms for defaulting in payment of Lagos Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) bills.

“She went ahead to break the door. It was unfortunate because the husband is such a quiet and peaceful man.”
The report also quoted Idoko’s aunt as saying, “It was unfortunate that spousal abuse is still prevalent and that it continues to take a toll on partners, either male or female.
“My nephew, like many men and women who die daily in violent relationships, would have been alive had they fled such deadly arrangements in the name of marriage.


“We would have intervened one way or the other but he hid the entire violent scenario from us. Persons suffering domestic violence should always call out for help. It was indeed a big tragedy for us.”
“We, the family, will ensure that justice is done. This is another young and promising life deliberately cut short and this wickedness will not go unpunished. - Daily Post

Crime : Internet fraudster who duped man of 80,000 dollars arrested

An internet fraudster who duped a man of 80,00 dollars has been arrested by the Osun State police command.

The suspect, Femi Agbolade pretended to be a woman and was using a female picture to deceive his victim on social media while the alleged fraud lasted.

The suspect was arrested following a tip off from another citizen.
The state Commissioner of Police, Olafimihan Adeoye, confirmed this while parading suspect before newsmen.
Adeoye explained that the suspect was arrested after a tip-off by a Nigerian, urging other citizens to always release useful information that could help in eliminating criminals from the state.
Adeoye decried the increasing rate at which young people engage in internet frauds and noted that it showed that the youths were not ready to work again but only seeking quick means to get rich.

He added that an anti-cultism squad has been organised to curb the increasing rate of cultism.
However, the suspect denied collecting 80,000 dollars from the victim, claiming he only collected 43,000 dollars.
“I only collected 43,000 dollars.”
“Before now, I have been in the illegal business since 2015.” - Daily Post

Update : Church expels Pastor who prays for women naked, shaves pubic hair

Pastor Matthew Olakunle of Christ Apostolic Church, Ondo who reportedly impregnated a married woman and prays for women naked has been expelled from the church.

The pastor, who heads a branch of CAC in Iju town in the Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State was expelled following viral reports on Tuesday, the Punch reported.

The pastor on Monday denied being responsible for alleged pregnancy confessing that he was only in the habit of praying for women naked because God answered prayer faster while praying naked.
According to a source who pleaded anonymity, the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Paul Obadare would soon address the ugly incident.
He said, “Immediately after the incident occurred and the church knew about it, he (Mathew) was transferred out of the town to our church in Ilorin, but I want to confirm to you that he has been expelled.

“The leader of the church, Pastor Paul Obadare is not around now and I am sure he would have been informed about the incident, when he comes around, then he will address the press to tell the world about the step the church had taken on the matter. But I am sure the pastor has been expelled.” - Daily Post

Mega city ! Mega flaw !! Groups write World Bank, demands clarification of its role in Lagos water sector

The our water our right coalition has written to the World Bank asking it to clarify its role in plans by the Lagos state government to go on with the “opposed” public private partnerships (PPPs) in the water sector.

The letter, which was signed by at least nine groups, was addressed to Joaquim Levy, the bank’s managing director and chief financial officer.
A statement issued by Philip Jakpor, spokesman of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, one of the signatories, said the letter specifically asked the bank three questions:
“First, what water infrastructure initiatives the bank and its institutions like the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) are supporting, planning to support, or considering supporting in Lagos?

“What are the World Bank plans to seek meaningful input from civil society on any meaningful initiative that will solve the Lagos water crisis? And how is the bank planning to institute and maintain meaningful transparency policies to ensure all Lagosians can understand it’s efforts in the state?”

Signatories to the letter are the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Corporate Accountability International, Child Health Organisation, Citizen’s Trust Advocacy and Development Centre, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Peace and Development Project (PEDEP), Women Environmental Programme (WEP), Climate Aid Initiative, and Public Services International, among others.

The group drew the attention of the global organisation to issues raised last December by Léo Heller, UN special rapporteur, concerning “lack of transparency in Lagos water policy.”
They quoted Heller as saying: “For more than a decade, the government has adopted a hard-line policy according to which the solution would seem to [be] only [to] attract private capital, notably via public-private partnerships (PPPs).
“Numerous civil society groups have urged the government to guarantee their right to participate in these processes.”

The groups said the fact that the World Bank has promoted water privatisation, including PPPs, in Lagos and that Levy recently visited the state deputy governor suggests that the bank “may once again be supporting deeply unpopular water infrastructure PPPs and other privatization plans in Lagos”. - Cable Nigeria

Jungle republic : FG budgeted N4.9bn for environmental services in Aso Rock yet rodents found their way to Buhari’s office

On Monday, a presidential source told TheCable that President Muhammadu Buhari — who just returned after a three-month medical vacation in London — will be working from his residence in Aso Rock.

The reason given for this was renovations in the president’s office.

However, Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, has come out with the news that the renovation was as a result of various damages rodents had caused.

“Rodents have caused a lot of damage to the furniture and the air conditioning units,” Shehu told THISDAY.

Checks by TheCable revealed that for 2017, N4, 953,184,635b was appropriated for annual routine maintenance of mechanical/electrical installations, building/civil and environmental services within and around Aso-Rock villa facilities.

These facilities include offices of the president and the vice-president.

There is another N139.4m for the maintenance of office buildings and residential quarters in the state house. Also, N52. 8m was appropriated for sewerage charges.

Reactions have continued to trail Shehu’s remarks, and some Nigerians are surprised how rodents could find their way into the president’s office.

“Did the cleaners/maintenance personnel attached to the office also go on the three-month leave with Buhari?” Ayuba Ayus, a Facebook user, asked.

Checking further, TheCable found that in the 2017 appropriation, the state house is to spend N40.8m on rehabilitation of animal enclosures, procurement of vet lab equipment, feeding and medication of wild and domestic animals in the state house zoo.

If the rodents that took over the president’s office while he was away are those from the state house zoo, then those in charge of feeding them should be questioned on why the rodents had nothing to eat, finding their way to feasting on the furniture in the president’s office. 

- Cable Nigeria

Queen of corruption !!! Court orders forfeiture of 56 houses ‘linked to Diezani’

A federal high court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the interim forfeiture of 56 houses linked to Diezani Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum resources.

The order followed an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking forfeiture of the assets.

In the application, the commission told Abdulaziz Anka, the presiding judge, that the assets are “ill-gotten properties from alleged acts of corruption”.

The houses located in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja, were said to have been acquired by the ex-minister between 2011 and 2013 using front companies.

The houses seized included 21 mixed housing units of eight four bedroom penthouse apartment; six buildings of three bedroom apartments; two buildings of three bedrooms apartment and one building of four bedrooms apartment, all ensuite, located at 7 Thurnburn Street and 5 Raymond Street, Yaba. They were all valued at N937 million.

There were also 16-four bedrooms terrace buildings, located at Heritage Court Estate, Omerelu Street, Diobu GRA, Port-Harcourt, River state, valued at N928 million.

Also forfeited were 13 three-bedroom with one room maid’s quarter situated at Mabushi Gardens Estate, Plot 1205, Cadastral Zone B06, Mabushi, Abuja, valued at N650 million; and six flats of three bedrooms and one boys quarter, located at Plot 808 (135) Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, valued at N805 million.

The EFCC said, while Dieziani was serving as a minister, she allegedly paid the sum of $16,441,906 in cash for the property from the proceeds of suspected unlawful activity.

The forfeiture is the latest of previous ones the former minister has made to the federal government.

On August 7, a federal high court in Lagos had ordered the permanent forfeiture of a $37.5m sky-scrapper on the highbrow Banana Island, Lagos, belonging to her.

The court had also ordered that the sums of $2.7 million and N84.5 million realised as rents on the property should equally be forfeited to the government.

The EFCC said so far, it had traced N47.2 billion and $487.5 million to the former minister.

Earlier in February, She forfeited $153 million said to be linked to her. - Cable Nigeria 

Yeah ! We have a non-performing government, says Olisa Agbakoba

Olisa Agbakoba, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has said “the non-performing government we have” in the country cannot attract foreign direct investment.

Speaking on Monday at the ongoing annual general conference of the NBA in Lagos, he blamed inept leadership for country’s underdevelopment.
He described the country’s poor leaders as the “central challenge” facing Nigeria.
The senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said lawyers have a huge role to play in getting public officials to carry out their responsibilities while urging his colleagues to “put pressure on government”.

“Despite all of the resources allocated to power, we don’t have power. As I stand before you, I run about 10 generators in various offices,” The Nation quoted him as saying.
“The vice president spoke very eloquently but in real terms, we as lawyers are responsible in the context that we must put pressure on government.
“No one is going to come here on foreign direct investment with the kind of, for want of a better word, non-performing government that we have. It’s not possible.

“I am a maritime lawyer in Apapa district. The Apapa district contributes 30 per cent of Nigeria’s national budget. Yet it takes three hours for me to get to work because trucks and tankers have blocked the entire place.
“So, let’s not pretend. We must look for leadership. And I think that is the central challenge.”

“Despite the huge market – 200 million Nigerians – we are very poor. So, sometimes we sit here in fancy suits; but go out to the streets. - Cable Nigeria

La Liga : The offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Barcelona have announced they are taking legal action against Neymar after alleging the Brazilian failed to fulfil his contract.

Earlier this month, the Catalan giants saw Neymar depart for Paris Saint-Germain, who met the €222million (£198m) release clause in the player's contract, smashing the world transfer record in the process.

Barca's complaint relates to Neymar having signed a fresh deal until 2021 in October last year, with the club hoping to recoup his "renewal premium" as well as €8.5m (£7.8m) in damages and a further 10 per cent in arrears.
Neymar has made a stunning start to his time in Ligue 1, scoring three times in his first two games, but on Tuesday Barca released a statement confirming they were suing the forward for at least €8.5m (£7.8m). - Goal

OMG !!! Teacher docked for ‘defiling’ 3 sisters

A 23-year-old teacher, Ibrahim Idris, was on Tuesday arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defiling three sisters of the same parents.

Idris, who teaches Arabic, resides at No. 2, Kelani St., Adealu Bus Stop in Dopemu, Lagos.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Clifford Ogu, told court that the offence was committed from May to August, 2017 at the residence of the accused.
Ogu said that the three sisters, whose ages range from seven to 12 years, were receiving Arabic and Islamic lessons from Idris.
“The parents did not know that the accused was sexually molesting their daughters until they relocated to another area and needed to change their Arabic school.
“The smallest of the girl told the mother that they don’t want another uncle to be teaching them.”

Ogu said that on hearing her daughter’s remark, the mother asked questions and was told what the previous teacher was doing to them.
“The case was reported at the police station and the accused was arrested,” the prosecutor said.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Chief Magistrate, Mrs Taiwo Akanni, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N250, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned until September 11 for mention.
The offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. - Daily Post

Shocking !!! Why I pray for women naked, shave their pubic hair – Pastor confesses in Ondo

Pastor Matthew Olakunle of the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Itura in Iju town, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, has said that he prays for women naked because God answers prayers faster without the clothes on.

He said this while admitting to the allegation of praying for the women in the church naked.

A 32-year-old woman, Omotola Akerele had accused the pastor while featuring in a programme on Adaba FM Akure, the Ondo State, of sleeping with her and getting her pregnant during a spiritual cleansing.
She said it was her mother, a member of the church, that introduced her to the pastor when she was battling with a severe cough.
Omotola, who hails from the town narrated that as a result of the sex she had with the pastor, she got pregnant and later aborted the pregnancy without the consent of her husband.

She told the radio station, “I had a severe cough and my mother took me to Pastor Olakunle Mathew for prayer in Iju. After praying for me he said I needed a shaving stick and a handkerchief to perform the spiritual exercise which I took to him.

“The pastor told me that if he wanted to use my hair to perform some spiritual work that would solve my spiritual problem. On the night of that first day we got there, he asked me to put off my clothes in the presence of my mother to pray for me in the mission house.

“Since that day, he has been asking me to come for deliverance and when I got there he would ask me to remove my clothes and lie on the bed. He would lie on me naked and be praying for me.
“On the seventh day, he shaved the hair of my private part and my armpit hair and put the hair in the white handkerchief. After that, we had sexual intercourse and after the intercourse, he asked me to go and bury the hair in the handkerchief.”
Omotola added that she aborted the pregnancy but her husband later got to know about it and sent her out of the house.

He said, “On the third day of the spiritual programme, I shaved the hair on her private part and I touched it (her private part) with my penis and I told her to be using my penis to rob the entrance of her private part so that she would discharge.
“After that, I wiped the discharge of her private part with the white handkerchief and I prayed for her using psalm 24.

“After the exercise, I asked her to go and bury the handkerchief in the bush. I asked her to call her husband to do it for her but she refused, that was why I did it for her but I didn’t have sex with her.”

However, the pastor explained that Omotola’s case was a spiritual attack and she agreed to undergo the spiritual exercise performed on her in the church.
Olakunle, who said he had been transferred by the C.A.C to another church in Ilorin, Kwara State, however, denied having sexual intercourse with Omotola.
He also denied impregnating her but he confessed to having had sexual relationship with Omotola’s younger sister twice and had prayed for their mother too while being naked. - Daily Post