Jose not worried about eight point gap

The Portuguese boss, Mourinho admits that he has no concerns about the eight point gap between his club and Manchester City, ahead of United’s visit to Arsenal on Saturday.

Mourinho’s side have dropped just ten points in the league but still find themselves right up in the mix, in a bid to bring the Premier League title back to Old Trafford for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.

Speaking ahead of the Arsenal game the Manchester United boss just wants to take it game by game. He said;

“I play a game at a time, and I think that’s the way to do it.”

“Yesterday I was watching an interesting movie: Bjorn Borg vs John McEnroe. And Borg’s coach was telling him that all of the time ‘one point at a time’ – think just about one point at a time, and I tell my players to think just about the game.”

United’s away record under Mourinho against top six clubs has been nothing short of atrocious as they have yet to pick up a single win.

He was accused of playing for a draw against Liverpool earlier in the season, and he will much maligned if he chooses to adopt similar tactics against Arsenal this weekend. He continued;

“It depends on what you think about risks.”

“I think in the beginning of football the guy that decided to say defenders and attackers – this guy was bad because in football everybody has to defend and everybody has to attack. Especially in modern football.”

Man United look set to be without a number of key players for the trip to North London with Marouane Fellaini, Phil Jones and Eric Bailly all out, while Nemanja Matic is a serious doubt after limping off in the mid-week win over Watford. Mourinho explained;

“Matic is a doubt. I hope he can, but I cannot guarantee. He is selected to go, let’s see the feeling before the match – let’s see the warm-up.”

“I hope he can, I want him to and he wants to, but I cannot guarantee.” - Read Sport

Whoa !!! Builder hands in £30 he found then almost instantly wins £50,000

A builder enjoyed instant karma and won almost £50,000 at the bookmakers half an hour after handing in £30 he found at an ATM, it has been reported. 

Colin Banks spotted the money at a cash machine at an Asda shop in Motherwell and handed it in to a member of staff.

Hours later, the 50-year-old beat odds of 372,000/1 to win £49,077 on a Betfred Lucky 15 virtual horse.

“They say honesty is the best policy and it certainly was for me!” the father-of-two told the Daily Record.

“I have a big family and I’m now going to make sure we all have a brilliant time this Christmas – the best we as a family have ever had.

“I was curious and went back into the supermarket on Sunday and the same member of staff I had handed the £30 to was on duty.

“She said the lad had been back in and was very grateful. I suppose one good turn deserves another,” he added.

Mr Banks celebrated his victory by purchasing a second-hand Ford Focus and having “more than one glass” of wine.

Betfred boss Fred Done said: “Christmas has come early for Colin.

“Congratulations on emptying my pocket so quickly with such a tiny stake. This was one of the biggest virtual horse racing wins in our 50-year history.” - The Independent

No progress in fight against malaria - WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday said the progress in the global fight against malaria has stalled amid signs of flat-lining funding and complacency.

WHO said in its annual world malaria report that malaria-infected about 216 million people in 91 countries in 2016, an increase of five million cases over the previous year.

The UN organisation said malaria killed 445,000 people, about the same number as in 2015.

The vast majority of deaths were in children under the age of five in the poorest parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

Pedro Alonso, director of WHO’s global malaria programme, said partly due to funding, and partly due to governments shifting focus away from malaria, the progress seen in the past decade is no longer being sustained.

“We want (this to be) a wake-up call to the malaria community,” Alonso said.

“We are not on track, and we need to get back on track.”

WHO said that overall funding for malaria has levelled off since 2010.

In 2016, an estimated 2.7 billion dollars was invested in malaria control and elimination efforts globally.

In 2015, funding totalled 2.9 billion dollars – almost the same as in 2010.

The WHO report found that when analysed on a country-by-country per capita basis, funding in countries where there is a high threat of malaria has fallen to an average of less than two dollars per year per person at risk.

“Globally … after an unprecedented period of success, we are no longer making progress. “I am concerned that we have become complacent,” said Abdisalan Noor, lead author of the report.

Noor said apart from stagnating funding, the report found “equally concerning” gaps in access to and use of vital malaria prevention, diagnostic and treatment tools such as bed nets, indoor spraying and primary health care.

Fewer than half of households in countries in sub-Saharan Africa are said to have enough bed nets to protect against mosquito bites, and only about a third of children in Africa with a fever have access to free public health sector medical care.

“The fact that funding … has plateaued, that the number of malaria cases in 2016 is similar to the number in 2012, and that there remain huge gaps in coverage of key malaria control tools, all make clear that unless we increase our efforts, we are not going to see any further progress,” Noor said. - Cable Nigeria

Four years ! Zero achievements !! FG not obligated to provide jobs for Nigerians – Presidency

The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Industry, Trade and Investment, Olajumoke Omoniyi Oduwole, has said it is not the federal government’s obligation to provide jobs for Nigerians.

Oduwole made this known in Abuja while addressing newsmen yesterday.

According to her, the role of the government was to create an enabling business environment for everybody to thrive.

Rationalising why entrepreneurship studies was made compulsory in tertiary institutions, Oduwole said the government wanted to groom a generation of private sector participants because it is not the major driver of the economy.

Her words; “Entrepreneurship is actually global best practice. In the US, we have so many entrepreneurs and that is how it is everywhere around the world.

“The government only employs a small amount of people. The private sector is the driver of any economy, it is not the government.

“What the government is obliged to do is to make sure there are regulations, laws, amongst other things to make business thrive in the country.” - Daily Post

40% of UNIZIK staff watch pornography more than they work, says VC

Joseph Ahaneku, vice-chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, has said more than 40 percent of the school staff spend more time watching pornographic videos.

According to PUNCH, Ahaneku said he discovered that staff of the university work less than they watch pornography.

He said the staff had requested for computers to make their jobs easier but while monitoring their activities from his own network, he found out that they were being abused.

“This is one reason we shut down YouTube from the university’s resource center,” he was quoted as saying.

“People should be made to be conscientious as well as do what they have been assigned to do and eschew indolence.

“There have been a lot of abuses on facilities that, ordinarily, should aid staff in their jobs and as a result plan is are underway to remove the televisions in central offices.

“Spending government time without doing what one is paid for is an act of corruption.” - Cable Nigeria

PL latest : Conte charged by FA after dismissal

Antonio Conte has been charged with misconduct by the FA following his sending-off against Swansea on Wednesday night. 

The Chelsea boss was sent to the stands after remonstrating with the officials for what he perceived as time wasting by the Swansea players.

However, Conte will not face a touchline ban as he is subject to a standard FA charge.

If he accepts the charge, he will be hit with an £8,000 fine. If he contests the charge and is found guilty, the fine will be increased.

Following the game, Conte said: "I saw that the opponent was wasting time and that is the reason I spoke a few times with the fourth official.

"I didn't see that the situation hadn't changed and I was frustrated with the fourth official.

"For this reason, I have to apologise to him and the referee. In that moment, I was angry but I know that is it right to apologise to them."

The FA have given the Italian until 6pm on Tuesday 5 December to respond to the charge. - Sky Sports

Buhari Govt is for Fulani and friends – Annkio-Briggs

Annkio Briggs, environmental and human rights activist, has insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments are lopsided.

The Niger Delta activist maintained that Buhari gave, “critical positions” in his government to his “region, friends and people of his religion.”

Speaking with Vanguard, Briggs said the Presidency lied to Nigerians by saying the current Federal Government is unbiased in its appointments.

According to Annkio-Briggs, “As far back as 2015 from the portfolios of the ministerial appointments, to the National Security Adviser, NSA, Air Force, Police, Defence, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Department of State Services, DSS, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, National Immigration Service, NIS, and many other appointments, complaints have come from the Niger-Delta, South-West, South-East and Middle-Belt that President Buhari gave the critical positions to his region, relatives, friends and people of his religion.

“It is therefore irrelevant and untrue for the presidency or the president’s media people to attempt to lie to Nigerians and the world in saying that his appointments, so far, are not lopsided.

“Anyway, if it makes them feel better by telling themselves those lies, that is okay. We know what we know.”

Nigeria ‘will experience’ severe humanitarian crisis in 2018 - Research institute

ACAPS, a Geneva-based research institute, says Nigeria will in 2018 experience “severe humanitarian crisis” due to violence, hunger and other factors.

According to a report released by the organisation, food security, displacement, health, and protection are expected to be Nigeria’s priority concerns in 2018.

Statistics provided showed that 5.2 million people are estimated as severely food insecure; 6.1 million people are in need of protection assistance in 2017, up from 5.45 million in 2016; 3.9 million people are in need of safe water in 2017, up from 3.6 million in 2016; and 3.4  million people are in need of nutrition assistance in 2017

The report said that Islamic extremism, specifically in Nigeria’s north-east, will restrict humanitarian access and worsen food insecurity and healthcare.

It also said key infrastructure such as health, education, and livelihood facilities will likely remain damaged due to the ongoing conflict.

Lars Nissen, director at ACAPS, said the report focused on countries where the crisis may not necessarily worsen but will remain severe.

“If 2017 did not look good, predictions for 2018 are no better,” he said. “Food insecurity is likely to deteriorate into 2018 in northeast Nigeria.” - Cable Nigeria

Armed robbers attack police station, kill two officers in Niger state

Some gunmen believed to be armed robbers, Wednesday evening, raided the Lapai Police Station, in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, killing two policemen and injuring four others.

The heavily armed gunmen, numbering 50 also raided a bank and took over the community.

Sources in the area, who witnessed the ugly incident, told newsmen that the robbers took the police unawares as they shot sporadically, leaving the police helpless.

The witnessed, who gave his name as Sule said, “This was the first of its kind. I have not seen that kind of thing until Wednesday when the hoodlums were shooting as if we were in a war situation.

“After killing the policemen and injuring four others, the robbers shot their way into the bank vault, from which they carted away money in sacks and Ghana-must-go bags.”

Four customers of the bank were shot, while 12 others were injured. The robbers came through Gulu-Lapai road in three vehicles. They later broke up into two groups.

“One group blocked the three major roads leading to the town, to ward off security personnel.

“They shot into the air and held the entire community hostage. There was panic and commercial activities were grounded as people scampered for safety. Traders hurriedly closed shop.”

The Niger State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Austin Agbolahor, who led other senior officers on visit to the scene, said the police was investigating the matter.

Looters republic !!! ICPC detains four ex-Kogi commissioners for allegedly diverting N11.3bn

Four former commissioners in Kogi State under the administration of Captain Idris Wada, have been arrested and detained by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for alleged misappropriation of N11.3 billion.

According to the ICPC, the four ex-commissioners allegedly connived with the former governor of the state to divert the huge sum of money that was meant for the provision of public services at the state and local government levels, thereby depriving the state and its people value for money.

The anti-graft agency gave the names of the suspects currently being held at its facility as Kayode Olowomoran, who was in charge of Culture and Tourism; Abdulrahman Wuya, who was in charge of Works, Onama Godwin, who oversaw the Transport Ministry and Ali Ajuh, who was commissioner for Budget and Planning.

The agency said, “The four men were arrested after ICPC commenced investigations into allegations that the suspects acting in connivance with the former Governor, former Accountant-General, Ibrahim Idakwo and a former Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Commerce, Frank Onoja, had obtained a N2 billion Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria on behalf of the state and misapplied it.

“Preliminary investigations by the commission also revealed that the suspects allegedly partook in the mismanagement of another N8 billion bond that was raised to fund 57 projects across the state. The large sum of money released for the projects was far beyond the level of work done.

“Furthermore, the suspects are alleged to have benefitted from illegal deductions to the tune of N1.3 billion made from the funds of the 21 local government councils of the state by the same administration.

“As investigations continue, the suspects will remain in custody until they fulfill the administrative bail conditions granted them by the Commission,” a statement by the Spokesperson of the commission, Mrs. Rasheedat A. Okoduwa, said. - Daily Post

Face of corruption !!! Paris Club Refund: Court Freezes Seven Accounts Linked To Governors’ Forum

The Federal High Court in Abuja has frozen seven separate accounts which, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, were used by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to launder the sum of N10bn said to be derived from the proceeds of the Paris Club refund.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole directed on Wednesday that the freezing order would last for 45 days within which the EFCC must either institute charges in respect of the transactions against the relevant suspects or apply to the court for an extension of the order.

The judge also gave seven days to the account owners, if interested in seeking the setting aside of the freezing order, to file an application which must be served on the EFCC.

The frozen accounts are 0002184449 with Jaiz Bank Plc and operated by HAD Properties Limited; 0025600864 with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and operated by Hassan Ahmed Danbaba; as well as 0005892453 with Access Bank Plc and operated by Melrose General Services Coy.

They also include one Access Bank account, 0045824054 and another Zenith Bank Plc account 1010948906, both of which belong to Bina Consult and Integrated Services.

The rest are two Access Bank Plc accounts – 0700755576 and 0700946008 – belonging to Farouk Adamu Aliyu and Malam Alu Agro Allied Company Ltd., respectively.

EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Ben Ikani, had moved the ex parte application seeking the freezing of the accounts on November 27, following which Justice Kolawole adjourned till Wednesday for ruling.

The commission alleged that its preliminary investigation had revealed that the N10bn was fraudulently diverted by the NGF under the guise of paying consultancy fee to BizPlus GSCL Consortium which the Forum engaged “to carry out reconciliation of accounts and recover the amounts due to the states” from the refund of the over-deducted payment of Paris Club debt by the Federal Government from 1995 to 2002.

In an affidavit filed in support of the EFCC’s ex parte motion, a member of the Special Investigation Committee, set up by the commission to investigate the alleged Paris Club refunds scam, Osas Azonabor, alleged that preliminary investigation had revealed that the NGF caused the Central Bank of Nigeria to pay N19,439,225,871.11 into its account for onward payment to BizPlus as consultancy fee.

But the investigator stated that N10bn of the N19.4bn paid to the NGF account by the CBN was fraudulently disbursed to the seven accounts of companies and individuals, who were not part of the said BizPlus GSCL Consortium.

Detailing how the fraud was allegedly perpetrated, Azonabor alleged that the NGF had agreed to pay a "success fee" of two percent to BizPlus GSCL Consortium.

But the investigator alleged that upon the success of the recovery, rather than stick to the two percent fee, the NGF caused the Central Bank of Nigeria to deduct five percent, amounting to the N19.4bn.

He said, “That sometime in January 2017, the applicant (EFCC) received intelligence in respect of a case against the Nigerian Governors’ Forum alleging conspiracy, criminal misappropriation of public funds involving the sum of N19,439,225,871.11 out of the Paris Club refund made by the Federal Government in favour of the 36 states of the federation.

“That preliminary investigation conducted by the commission revealed that the 36 state governments, under the auspices of the NGF, engaged the services of Bizplus GSCL Consortium to carry out reconciliation of accounts and recover amounts due to the states from line charge made on them from 1995 to 2002 for a success fee of two percent payable by the NGF.

“That investigation further revealed that contrary to the agreed fee of two percent as stated in paragraph 6 above, NGF caused the Central Bank of Nigeria to deduct five percent of the amount due to the states which amounted to the sum of N19.4bn (stated in paragraph 5 above) and paid the same into the NGF account, supposedly for onward payment to the Bizplus GSCL consortium.

“That our investigation of the case further revealed that a larger part of the amount stated in paragraphs 5 and 7 above was fraudulently disbursed by the NGF to individuals and corporate entities that were not part of the consortium.

“That the names, account numbers and bankers of the fraudulent beneficiaries of the criminal diversion of the public funds are as stated in the schedule to this application and that copies of the statements of accounts showing the disbursements is hereby attached and marked Exhibits EFCC1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 respectively.

“That further investigation revealed that those individuals and corporate entities were used by the NGF to launder over N10bn under the guise of paying consultancy fees to the Bizplus GSCL Consortium which, however, found its way to the various accounts listed in the schedule to this application.”

Justifying the commission’s request for the freezing order, Azonabor stated that the 72 hours stop-order allowed by law to be placed on any account suspected to be involved in a suspicious transaction or any crime had expired, but the investigation had yet to be concluded.

He maintained that the court order freezing the accounts was needed to enable the EFCC to carry out its investigation to a logical conclusion.

He said, “That further to the foregoing, I am aware that substantial amounts of the fraudulent disbursements into these accounts have further been laundered to some other accounts or withdrawn as cash. While a discrete investigation is currently ongoing, the 72 hours stop order allowed by law to be placed on any account suspected to be involved in a suspicious transaction or any crime has expired.’’ - PunchNG