My wife is a devil - Oyo Pastor

A pastor, Michael Adebowale has urged the Iseyin Customary Court in Oyo State to dissolve his four-year-old marriage to his wife, Ashabi.
NAN reports that Adebowale informed the court that the marriage, contracted four years ago, had produced two children.

He said, “My wife, Ashabi, is a devil.

“My wife is evil, I noticed my prayers are not really answered by God like before and I have also noticed that I am now living with a devil.
“She will not attend church or join me in prayers, all she is specialised in is to gossip around town and go to parties.

“I have told her to pack out of my house and she has obeyed me. I want her totally out of my life so that I can begin to receive`anointing’ again from God,” he said.

The President of the court, Mr Adelodun Raheem, after listening to the petitioner, ordered that another summons be served on the respondent.
He said Ashabi must appear in court at its next sitting and adjourned the case until October 5.- Daily Post

‘A man with anti-democratic credentials’ — coalition asks UN to cut off ties with Obasanjo

A coalition has urged António Guterres, United Nations secretary-general to strip ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo of all his associations with the UN, including his recent role as a member of the UN high-level advisory board on mediation.

In a letter dated September 18, the coalition made up of Nigerian and South African nationals said Obasanjo is unfit for the new role as well as other related ones as a result of his “bad” precedents.

Members of the coalition include Ademola Araoye, former head of office for the Consolidation of Democratic Governance (United Nations Mission In Liberia, UNMIL); Essop Pahad, a former South African minister; Kunle Ajibade, executive editor, TheNEWS/PM NEWS; and Garth Le Pere, extraordinary professor of international relations, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Guterres had appointed Obasanjo into the panel which consists of 18 global leaders in 2017.

In the letter, they said Obasanjo is not fit to rescue Africa or the world as a result of his “sordid” profile both in the public and private sectors.

“The United Nations should be protected from contamination from the likes of Obasanjo, whose life career has been antithetical to the Charter of the United Nations and has undermined the ethics and values of this great organisation,” the letter read.

“This protection is required in order for the United Nations to remain a highly valued, constructive partner of the peoples of the continent, and to be perceived as such by African peoples. Given his character, the controversial history and debilitating outcomes of his personal involvement in Nigerian affair, Obasanjo has been publicly declared as unfit to lead a mission to rescue Nigeria and restore the nation to sanity.

“Given this profile, we affirm that his association with the United Nations is a grave error fraught with potentially incalculable harm to the already fragile ethical fabric and upended value systems of not just Nigeria but the totality of African society.

“And in view of the dangers implicit in the association of Obasanjo with the United Nations both to the organization, Africa and Nigeria, and indeed the world in its entirety, it is our hope that as Secretary General, you would, as a matter of priority, nullify this unmerited association of your highly valued organization and historic partner of Africa with an immoral man possessed of stout anti-democratic credentials.”

They cited alleged extrajudicial killings carried out “under Obasanjo’s watch”, including the death of Bola Ige, one-time attorney general of the federation, the killing of “over 300 unarmed Nigerian university students and innocent civilians” during his tenure as military head of state as well as the Odi massacre in which hundreds were also killed.

According to the coalition, “there is an associated nagging question pertinent to Obasanjo’s appointment which is: would anyone with Olusegun Obasanjo’s public and private profile be considered fit to represent any other continent apart from Africa?

“We do not want to be persuaded by the cynicism of those who argue that Obasanjo’s appointment is a reflection of deep-seated contempt for Africa and Africans … The impression should not be created that a paucity of sterling intellectual and moral actors in the public realm exists on the continent.”

They added that Africa is blessed with men and women with “impeccable records” and that “the choice of any of them will serve as an inspiration, not only to Africans but to the world.

“The likes of Olusegun Obasanjo should not be promoted as role models in Africa by United Nations. In the light of the above, we ask that you do the United Nations and Africa, as well as its future generations, a favor by revoking all association of the United Nations with Olusegun Obasanjo.” - TheCable

Salah wins the FIFA Puskas Award

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has won the FIFA Puskas Award for his goal against Everton in the Merseyside Derby on December 10th, 2017.

Salah scored 44 goals for the Reds last season, including a record-breaking 32 in the Premier League, and it was one of these league goals that won Salah the award for the best strike of the season.

The Egyptian star curled the ball past Everton’s Jordan Pickford in the first half of the Derby, a game which ended 1-1 as Wayne Rooney’s penalty earned the visitors a point.

Many people expected either Gareth Bale or Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award after both scored stunning overhead kicks in the Champions League last season, with Bale’s coming against the Reds in the final, but it was Salah’s goal which was voted as the best of the season. - Read Sport

Transfer News : Man City make €50m bid for Tanguy Ndombele

Manchester City have had a €50m bid for Lyon’s Tanguy Ndombele rejected by the French club.
As per reports in France, City made a €50m offer for the 21-year-old midfielder but Lyon have rejected it.

The Premier League champions got a good look at Ndombele last week as he was part of the Lyon side that pulled off a 2-1 upset win at the Etihad and, if these reports are to be believed, that was enough for them to make an offer for the youngster.

The French U21 star is a key player for Lyon and after keeping hold of Nabil Fekir in the summer when his move to Liverpool collapsed at the final hurdle, they’d also like to keep hold of Ndombele and look to make an impact not only in Ligue 1 but also in the Champions League, where they have one win from one game so far. - Read Sport

Choirmaster’s wife allegedly pours acid on girl suspected to be sleeping with her husband

The Police at ‘B’ Division in Asaba, Delta State have arrested a 43-year-old housewife, identified as Maureen Ndikwe for allegedly bathing a female rival with acid.

Police sources say the suspect, wife of the choirmaster of a popular Pentecostal church in Asaba, allegedly bathed her rival on Sunday evening at a well-known hotel around Infant Jesus area of Asaba where the husband and the lady purportedly had sexual intercourse.

A senior police officer at the station, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect to journalists on the condition of anonymity, said, “the suspect confessed to attacking her rival in anger and with acid water. She said in her statement that the girl failed to steer clear of her husband after several warnings”.

It was gathered that the choirmaster’s alleged randy activities since he assumed the leadership of the choir section of the popular church had been alarming, particularly among teenage and unmarried girls whom he allegedly “pummeled” at the hotel most often.

This, our informed sources, said were piled up offences recorded against him by his wife who was said to have vowed to take the laws into her hands with a view to putting a stop to act of infidelity.

DSP Andrew Aniamaka, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in the state, confirmed the arrest of the suspect, and told journalists that “the woman said she caught the husband with the girl in the hotel after they may have had sexual intercourse, and at the gate she poured acid water on her body”.

He added that the victim was at present being treated at the Federal Medical Center, FMC, Asaba as investigation was ongoing.

Eyewitness, Tony Ehrew said the suspect emerged from the bush path to the hotel when the unsuspecting husband and the girl were moving towards the gate, and brought out a container with acid water she allegedly poured on her rival.

But her attempt to disappear into thin air was thwarted when she stumbled on a stone and fell to the ground.

He said, “the suspect fell down after pouring the girl acid water, and in the process angry mob descended on her before the police were invited to the scene who later took her away to the police station.”

Pastor in charge of the church, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, said there have been series of accusation of sleeping around with female church members by the husband of the suspect, adding that upon investigation, it was found that the choirmaster’s randy activities might spell doom for the church if he is not expelled.

He said, “We were just planning to expel the suspect’s husband when the bubble burst. By this he can no longer serve as a choirmaster of the church again.” - Daily Post

FRSC 2018 recruitment: 324,000 applicants jostle for 4,000 jobs

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed that 324,000 applicants applied for 4,000 jobs in the corps in the 2018 recruitment.

The commission started physical screening for the applicants on Monday.

NAN reports that Corps Marshall Boboye Oyeyemi made the disclosure when he paid a visit to the two screening centres in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday.

The centres are the Sani Abacha Barracks, Asokoro and the National Stadium Abuja.

The screening was for various cadres, including Officers, Marshal Inspectorates and Road Marshal Assistants.

Oyeyemi said “We are working with about 324, 000 applicants nationwide out of which we have about 105, 000 graduates.”

He said those that would be recruited at the end of the exercise “won’t be more than 4,000. “

“Out of the 4,000 slots, 400 are for the officer cadre.

“Inspectorate has 1,000 and Road Marshal Assistants, 3,200 slots.

“It will be a keenly contested exercise that is why they will go for aptitude test to be conducted by JAMB.

“Those being screened from today (Monday) to Tuesday are graduates and you can see their level of discipline.

“The exercise started early today and tomorrow nationwide, it will be for the graduates, I believe with the planning put in place, everything is okay.

“After the aptitude test, they will go for interview then drug test; then the final screening with the corps marshal,” Oyeyemi said.

He commended the smooth conduct of the exercise which he described as having being okay and was not hectic.

“There is orderliness. The exercise began since six o’clock in the morning. This shows the level of planning.

“The officers conducting the exercise are going by directive of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

“He has given directive that we must ensure the planning is much better than the previous exercises,” he said.

Oyeyemi commended the Service Chiefs, Inspector-General of Police and Director-General, and Department of State Services for providing the security for the exercise.

The corps marshal said there were some irregularities during the exercise, including some pregnant female applicants, over-aged applicants, those short in height and married persons. - Daily Post

Osun Decides: ‘You are a fool if you voted APC’ – Adeboye explodes

Leke Adeboye, the last son and Senior Personal Assistant of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has reacted to the outcome of the Osun State governorship election.

DAILY POST had reported that Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led the race with 254,698 votes, 353 votes more than that of Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The margin was, however, less than the 3,498 votes in the polling units where voting were cancelled.

The Returning Officer for the election, Professor Joseph Afuape, consequently declared the poll inconclusive and ordered for a rerun within seven days.

However, reacting, Leke on Instagram described Osun electorate who voted for the APC as ‘fools.

He said, “If you are in Osun and you voted for APC to be honest and this is being neutral o, YOU are a FOOL.

“The government of APC didn’t pay salaries for over 2 or 3 years. Apart from the train, what did you gain from the last 3 years? And please don’t tell me they built roads, that’s a standard.” - Daily Post

FIRS: 6,772 corporate bank accounts to be frozen for tax default

Babatunde Fowler, executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), says 6,772 corporate bank accounts will be frozen for defaulting on tax payments.

In a statement released on Sunday, Fowler told Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, that the agency has collected N12.66 billion from billionaire tax defaulters in less than a month.

Saying the law empowers FIRS to appoint banks as tax collection agents, he said: “So, all these ones of TIN and no pay and no TIN and no pay, to the total of 6772 will have their accounts frozen or put under substitution pending when they come forward.

“First, they refused to come forward in 2016, they refused to come forward under VAT and are still operating here. So, we are putting them under notice that it is their civic responsibility to pay tax and to file returns on these accounts.

“FIRS wrote to all commercial banks in May 2018, requesting for a list of Companies, Partnerships, and Enterprises with a banking turnover of N1 billion and above.

“This activity is aimed at ascertaining those companies that are compliant with the Tax Laws and those that are not compliant. So far, non-compliant organization have paid about N12.66bn.”

While commending the FIRS for their work so far, Ahmed said the ministry of finance will continue to work closely with the agency.

“For us, the directive I have is to increase the tax revenue and that is the most important task ahead of all of us. You have done well. And the reward for good work is more work,” she said.

“I am also glad that you are increasing cooperation with several agencies like the EFCC, ICPC and Nigeria Customs Service. The effort you are doing in Abuja, Lagos and Osun –(on payment of taxes on property using their turnover as a basis for assessment)- is a commendable one and I encourage you to maintain the tempo in generating tax revenues.” - TheCable

PL News : Giroud backed to provide goalscoring support over Morata

Chelsea legend Ron Harris believes that Olivier Giroud is the man to provide goalscoring support to Eden Hazard, according to a report on Goal. 

Harris admitted that he enjoys the link up play between Giroud and Hazard and believes that it suits Chelsea better than with Morata up front.

The Spaniard is having a torrid time in front of goal and after missing a host of chances in the Europa League, he missed a crucial chance once again late on against West Ham.

The ball simply won’t go into the back of the net for the former Real Madrid forward and Harris believes that he could find it difficult to get back into the team ahead of Giroud.

He said:

“[Giroud] seems to link up better with Eden Hazard. The other lad Morata is desperate for goals. He’s had some good opportunities and missed them, and when sometimes when the luck is going with you, you can mishit a shot and it goes in.”

“This fella seems to miss some unbelievable chances and I just feel he’s lacking in a bit of confidence at the moment. The one that seems to be thriving with Eden Hazard is Giroud.”

Morata managed to score 15 times for Chelsea in all competitions last season but he has only found the back of the net once so far this term.

Giroud’s hold up play and physicality allows Hazard to make darting runs ahead of the striker, putting him into better goalscoring positions. - Read Sport

Roma considering Conte move to replace Di Francesco

Former Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte is emerging as a serious contender to replace Eusebio Di Francesco at Roma this season.

According to local outlet La Stampa, as cited on Inside Futbol, Conte is being considered by the club, as they prepare for all eventualities.
A lot was expected of Roma this season, but the Giallorossi have won just one of their first five games of the campaign, leaving them languishing in the bottom half of the table.
Di Francesco earned plenty of plaudits for his efforts at the club last season but is now under serious pressure to stay in a job.

Conte is still being paid by Chelsea after the club refused to sack him from his contract, so the Italian side would need to negotiate with the Blues in order to reach a deal.

Roma would be forced to buy Conte out of his Chelsea contract, despite the Italian not officially being in charge of the club.

The Italian left Chelsea at the end of last season after failing to guide the club to a top-four finish. - Read Sport

I want to die smiling, says Femi Kuti

Femi Kuti, Afrobeat icon and percussionist, says he would love to die with a smile when it’s time to take his exit from the world.

The musician said he is not afraid of the eventuality of death while speaking about his new album, ‘One People, One World’, at an event on Saturday.

The event, held at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, was the listening party for his 10th studio album.

Kuti said: “I think it will inspire people, the title of the album says it. We have to understand that we are one people.

“The day I die, I want to die with a smile. I am 56 now, I am not afraid because I know it will eventually come.”

The son of Fela Kuti also reiterated his stance on not actively listening to music in almost two decades.

Explaining the reason behind his so-called music abstinence, Kuti said he yearns “to be original” and does not want to be influenced by other sounds.

He said: “I have not listened to music since 2000. Of course, when you go to the mall or visit places, you hear music here and there but I never go out of my way to listen to music.

“In the beginning, it was my father who got me listening to music but I read a Miles Davis book, where he said, ‘I wanted to be original,’ so I stopped listening to music.”

His son, Made Kuti, recently joined his Positive Force band as a bassist after the musician who formerly played the role absconded during a show in the US. - TheCable

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have threatened to shut down the country over a labour dispute involving Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) management and the staff.

The warning was contained in a joint statement at the weekend by Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN General Secretary and Comrade Adamu Song, NUPENG General Secretary.

It lamented the ways and manners the Chevron Management is executing the end of M15 and H15 Contracts with “hidden plans and intentions to unilaterally and heinously sack thousands of contract workers inspite of the ongoing intervention of Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment as well as the established Labour Contract Staffing Guidelines in the oil and gas industry”.

“While Chevron had decided to close M-15 and H-15 contracts by 31st October, 2018, it is really disturbing to see the new Contractors being engaged by Chevron Management and whose Labour Contract will take effect on November 1, 2018, to start advertising all jobs, inspite of clear provision for “roll over” of the existing workers on the jobs, consequent upon which large numbers of the current workforce are most likely to be abruptly thrown into the Labour market in their own country.

“Without mincing words, we are deeply bothered by the purported claims being peddled around by Chevron Management that their action of sacking Nigerian workers is a directive from National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPPIMS) and the Nigeria Contents Monitoring and Development Board (NCMDB). We then begin to wonder if the role of these reputable government agencies is to create jobs for Nigerians or to compound unemployment situation as already prevalent in the country.

“At this juncture, we are further constrained to notify the general public that NUPENG and PENGASSAN will not hesitate to embark on nationwide industrial action on this matter and we have already placed our members on red alert should the Management of Chevron remains recalcitrant or adamant to rescind its anti-labour decision which is grossly injurious to Nigerian workers who are oil and gas workers and by extension the nation’s”.

Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director (GMD), NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, has urged oil workers to halt their planned strike.

Baru made the appeal in a statement by NNPC’s Group Public Affairs Manager, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, in Abuja on Sunday.

The GMD, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, said he had directed the management to work with other stakeholders to resolve the issues raised by the leadership of the unions.

He appealed to the unions not to do anything, “that would disrupt the industrial harmony that had pervaded the sector”.

NNPC also allayed concerns of petroleum product consumers over possible hiccups in supply in parts of the country due to the workers’ ultimatum.

It gave the assurance that the corporation had “adequate storage of petroleum products across the country to take care of the national demand”. - Daily Post

NNPC: Falana dares FG over $470m, N8.8bn recovered by police

Legal luminary and rights activist, Femi Falana SAN has challenged the federal government to speak on the missing $470.4 million and N8.8 billion, which the police said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) claimed it paid into government’s coffers.

NNPC, had in its reaction, stated that it did not hide any money in any commercial bank, describing the police allegation as misleading.
Falana, in a statement on Sunday titled “Where is the missing $470.4 million and N8.8 billion”, warned the government not to sweep the matter under the carpet.

The statement reads: “Last week, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) claimed to have recovered some huge public funds, including the sum of $470.4 million and N8.8 billion belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) BRASS/LNG hidden in some commercial banks in the country.

“According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Acting DSP Jimoh Moshhod, the fund, which was recovered by the Monitoring Unit of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahin Idris, was part of the unremitted revenue by the NNPC to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in the Central Bank of Nigeria in violation of President Buhari’s directive that all public funds be domiciled in the TSA.

“Instead of seeking clarification from the Police authorities, the management of the NNPC swiftly dismissed the report and claimed that there was no missing fund.

“It is strange that the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force did not contact the NNPC Management before announcing the recovery of the said sum of $470.5 million and N8.8 billion.

“However, notwithstanding the lack of coordination on the part of both institutions, the Central Bank of Nigeria ought to confirm the receipt of the missing fund, which is alleged to have been deposited in the TSA.

“Apart from explaining the whereabouts of the money, the Federal Government should declare and account for all the funds recovered since 1999 in line with the order obtained from the Federal High Court by the Socio-Economic and Accountability Project (SERAP),” it added. - Daily Post

2019: Why Nigerians must vote out Buhari – Adebanjo

Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a chieftain of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, at the weekend urged Nigerians to vote out the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the 2019 general elections.

Adebanjo stated this in Akure, Ondo State capital in his remarks at the special colloquium to mark the 80th birthday of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae.

The colloquium had the theme ‘Nigeria: Work-in-Progress’ and had the President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo as the lead discussant.

Adebanjo said Nigerians should ensure that the APC should not return to power at any level in 2019.

“Nigerians must do anything that will get rid of the APC in 2019. It must be done at the local, state and federal levels.

“The APC has failed the country and it must be shown the way out,” Adebanjo said. - Daily Post