Former NFF Officials File No Case Submission In N1.3b Scam Trial

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday fixed November 15 for hearing in the no case submission filed by four former Nigerian Football Federation officials

The accused are former NFF President  Sani Lulu, former First Vice President Amanze Uchegbulam, former executive committee member Taiwo Ogunjobi and former Secretary-General Bolaji Ojo-Oba.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, the accused had earlier failed in their bid to get the Court of Appeal to quash the charges against them.

They are accused of unauthorised payment of estacodes/allowances of $800,000 to 220 delegates to the World Cup in South Africa as against 47 delegates approved for the trip. They are also alleged to have mismanaged N900million World Cup funds belonging to the NFF.
They are equally accused of purchasing luxury buses for the Super Eagles at inflated prices and incurring a $125,000 fine in South Africa over a botched deal with a hotel.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, counsel to the accused persons, Chief Sunday Ameh, SAN, reminded the court of a pending no case submission .

He said ;
“My Lord, my clients have filed a joint no-case-submission on about three grounds why they should not stand this trial.

“We have duly served the prosecution team and some responses received from them.

“We will be glad if the court allows us to move the motion with the hope of getting this case behind us."

Countering Chief Ameh's position, prosecution counsel Mr Titus Ashaolu, SAN said that the defense counsel had not responded to all the issues he raised against the motion.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Evoh Chukwu directed all parties to file written addresses for presentation at a later date.

His words ;
“Having agreed on the date to appear next in court, the matter is hereby adjourned till Nov. 15 for the adoption of your written addresses."

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I will take anything but not insult to my dead mother - Enyeama

Super Eagles keeper and former captain, Vincent Enyeama recently took to Instagram to give an insight into his altercation with Coach Sunday Oliseh that led to his being stripped naked and thrown out of the team's camp.

Here is what he wrote.

‘’After 13 years of national service, having this smile on my face and this passion in my heart. Through the billows, the waves of the ocean, the tears of defeat, the sound of rejoicing from victory chants. Now the thought of being stripped naked and security agents throwing me out breaks mecompletely.“I will take anything but not insult to my dead mother.”

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I want a disciplined captain - Oliseh

Coach Sunday Oliseh has given reasons why he stripped goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama of the Super Eagles captain's arm band.

Here is what Oliseh told Brila Sports Radio.

‘’I want a captain who is disciplined. A leader who can motivate other players. A player who  comes to camp early. I want a young player not a retiring player as captain. And Ahmed Musa is that player. He is my captain.

“As a coach I have looked at the team and I have looked at Nigeria going forward. We need a captain who will think of staying with Nigeria for several years to come, who is regularly in the front. And Ahmed Musa did a great job for us in Tanzania under very difficult circumstances . He is a very responsible player and he is the captain of the team. So he is the captain of the team, there is no question of a tussle.

“The fact is that I would like to have somebody (as captain) who is thinking of playing now and not somebody who is preparing for retirement or thinking of life after football. And I think it’s time we had peace and quiet around the Super Eagles. That is why I am glad that most of the players here are finding ways to work as a team because I get the feeling now that they are aware that they are representing 170 million people."

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2016 Budget : Buhari Meets National Assembly Leadership

The leadership of the National Assembly on Wednesday night met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja to discuss matters concerning the 2016 budget.

Present at the meeting were Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

Other people present at the meeting were Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume; the Deputy Majority Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah; Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio Senate Minority Whip, Philip Aduda, the Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun; and House Leader,Femi Gbajabiamila.

The meeting reportedly started by 9.15 pm with President Buhari leading Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other top government officials.

Pressmen were however not allowed to cover the meeting which was held at the First Lady's Conference Hall of the Aso Presidential Villa, Abuja.

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October 31 Deadline For Bank Verification Number Remains

The Central Bank of Nigeria has declared that the October 31 deadline for bank customers to obtain their Bank Verification Numbers, BVN will not be extended.

The apex bank's Director, Banking and Payment System Department (BPSD), Mr Dipo Fatokun said this while speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that bank customers who failed to obtain their BVN at the end of the deadline would not be able to access their accounts.

He said ;
“Last week Friday the bankers communicated that there is no extension on the BVN.

“If you have not registered go and register and of course submit your BVN to your bank, no extension on the deadline of October 31.

“By November 1 if you don’t have a BVN you won’t be able to operate your account, but that does not mean that your money will be confiscated as some people have said.

“No, what it means is that you should go and do your BVN, Once you do your BVN and you link it to your account, you continue to operate your account."

BVN is a unique identity number that is verifiable across the entire banking industry. It was inaugurated in February 2014 to protect customers’ accounts from unauthorized access to reduce the incidences of theft and exposure to fraud.

NAN

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We'll Meet December Deadline For Ending Insurgency

Nigerian military says it is restrategising to defeat Boko Haram and meet the December 2015 deadline for ending insurgency.

Chief of Defense Staff, Gen Gabriel Olonisakin made the remark during his tour of military formations in Rivers State. He said his visit was to ensure the troops were prepared to combat the prevailing threats to national security.

He said that measures are being taken to maximize the efficiency of troops in counter insurgency operations.

He said,
“The essence of our visit to Port Harcourt is to look at the operational readiness and preparedness of the troops and to see how we can enhance their performances. We are working on the December deadline by Mr. President. We are re-addressing our strategies to ensure we comply with the order.

“I must say that we sympathise with the families of those that have lost their loved ones in that incident. The military is on top of it to ensure that we checkmate such reoccurrences.”

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Edwin Clerk Leaves PDP

Foremost Ijaw leader and PDP stalwart, Chief Edwin Clark has quit the Peoples Democratic Party.

However, Clark who was a highly vocal supporter of former President Goodluck Jonathan ruled out joining the ruling APC.

The former Federal Commissioner for Information announced his decision on Wednesday when the Think Nigeria First Initiative paid him a courtesy visit at his Abuja home.

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