Golden Eaglets Trounce Chile 5 - 1

The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria's blistering start to the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup continued on Wednesday with a 5 - 1 thrashing of host country Chile.

The Nigerian team had started the tournament on a bright note with a 2 - 0 victory over the USA on Saturday.

In Wednesday's match played at the Estadio Sausalito Vina Del Mar, the eaglets got their first goal just after 25 seconds through man of the match Samuel Chukwueze.

Team captain Kelechi Nwakali made it 2-0 in the 17th minute from the penalty spot.

Additional goals from Chukwueze in the 61st minute and Victor Osimhen in the 66th and 86th minutes completed the rout.

The Chileans got their consolation goal in the 81st minute through Marcello Allende.

The Golden Eaglets who sit atop Group A with 6 points from two matches are already through to the second round but will play their last group match against Croatia on Friday.

Read More

Did Ohakim Pay $2.9m Cash For Abuja House?

Did former Imo State Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim pay N270m (equivalent of $2.9m) cash for a property at Asokoro, Abuja in...? Does Chief Ohakim actually own the said property located at Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as No.60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja?

These are allegations the EFCC is trying to prove before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

At the resumed hearing of the case against Ohakim on Tuesday, prosecution witness, Ishaya Dauda told the court that Ohakim paid N270m in cash for a plot of land at No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, also known as No.60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

He also tendered statements which he said the former governor volunteered on the subject matter as exhibits.

Following Chief Ohakim's arraignment before the court on July 8 on a three-count charge of money laundering, Justice Ademola had admitted him to bail on self recognition on July 9, 2015.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Ishaya Dauda, a Senior Detective Superintendent with the EFCC said Chief Ohakim was invited by the anti graft agency in 2013.

His words ;
“I gave him the petitions to go through and asked him if he would be willing to volunteer a statement or not and he answered in the affirmative. I then administered the word of caution and EFCC statement form on him. I also asked him whether he understood the word of caution and he said yes; then, he signed the form, indicating that he understood the word of caution.”

Dauda said that the former governor made five different statements between 2013 and 2015 in addition to the EFCC Assets Declaration Form which he filled.

Copies of the five statements allegedly obtained from Ohakim on January 25, 2013; January 31, 2013; June 18, 2015; June 22, 2015 and June 29, 2015, were tendered and admitted in evidence as exhibits EFCC 1 - 5.

Testifying further, Dauda said ;
“Working on the intelligence reports at our disposal, after the accused person had declared his assets, it was discovered that there was no banking transaction for the purchase of the property. We found out that only cash payment was made in respect of the property. So, we took the accused person to the property. When we brought him back to our office, we asked him who owns the property and he said he rented the property through one Abu Sule, Managing Director, Tweenex Consociate H.D. Limited.”

At this juncture, the court adjourned till November 12 and 13 for continuation of hearing.

Read More

Again, Saraki Refuses To Enter Dock

Once again, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki created a drama at the Code of Conduct Tribunal as he refused to mount the dock when his case was called.

Saraki who was accompanied by 34 Senators and 50 lawyers anchored his decision not to mount the dock on the fact that a higher court had already heard his case.

Objecting to Saraki's action, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs said that it is the tradition for an accused to enter the dock when his case is called. He said that once an accused person's plea is taken, he must always mount the dock during proceedings.

“My Lords, when a matter is called where arraignment has taken place, the first thing is for the accused person to go into the dock. I, therefore, apply that the accused be directed to move into the dock.

“Things must be done properly. The proper thing is for him to go to the dock,” he said.

However, citing Section 122 of the Evidence Act, Saraki’s lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN), argued that Code of Conduct Tribunal was required to take judicial notice of the proceedings pending before the Court of Appeal.

He informed the CCT that the higher court had already heard and reserved judgment in the case.

He said :

“My Lords, going by the Supreme Court's decision in FRN vs Ibekwe, a situation like this, the lower court has to exercise certain restraint and await the outcome of the decision of the Appeal Court.”

However, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Umar upheld the prosecution counsel's position and ordered Saraki to enter the dock.

“The accused person must take his proper place,” he ruled.

Thereafter, Saraki moved into the dock following which the tribunal adjourned till November 5 to await the judgement of the appellate court.

Read More

Final Onslaught: Army Warns Boko Haram To Surrender

The Nigerian Army on Tuesday issued a final call for the surrender of Boko Haram insurgents who wish to escape an impending final onslaught.

The Army high command also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the 219 Chibok girls still in the custody of the terrorists.

The warning follows President Buhari's Monday meeting with the service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

At that meeting, the President was briefed on the state of the counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast and the strategies to achieve the December deadline for ending the insurgency.

A statement issued by Army spokesman, Col Sani Usman on Tuesday said ;

: “This is to finally warn all Boko Haram terrorists wherever they are, to desist from all acts of terrorism, surrender themselves and face the law now.

“We wish to inform them that we are aware of all their hideouts, camps and enclaves. They should follow their colleagues who have so far surrendered.

“Failure to surrender will result in serious consequences as our troops have closed up with them.

“We equally appeal to members of the international community and the world at large, to kindly persuade Boko Haram terrorists and their international collaborators to desist from acts of terrorism and renounce their membership of the terrorist organization forthwith.

“They should also immediately and unconditionally release all abducted persons in their custody, including the Chibok schoolgirls.”

Read More

Fleeing Boko Haram Fighters Kill 20, Burn Village

20 persons traveling in four cars met their untimely deaths on Wednesday when they were shot by Boko Haram terrorists fleeing from an attack on their camp by the Nigerian military.

According to an eyewitness, the travellers were killed around Jingalta village, about 70 kilometers north of Maiduguri, Borno State.

He said ;
“We received information of an attack by Boko Haram gunmen on four cars near Jingalta village where they shot dead all 20 occupants of the vehicles before setting the cars ablaze.

“The gunmen were fleeing a military operation against one of their enclaves in the area around 9:30 am (0830GMT) when they came across the vehicles on the highway and opened fire on them."

The terrorists who were fleeing in pick up trucks and motorbikes are also reported to have looted and burnt a village which had already been deserted by its residents.

Read More

Photos : Buhari Launches 260km Super Highway Project In Cross River

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday launched the 260km Calabar to Katsina Ala Super Highway Project at Obung. Cross River State.
See the launch in pictures.

Photo credits : Vanguard

Read More

FIFA Beams Searchlight On Amos Adamu

FIFA's Ethics Committee disclosed on Wednesday that it is investigating former FIFA Executive Committee member, Dr Amos Adamu for breaching the world football governing body's code of ethics.

Adamu was a member of the executive committee of FIFA from 2006 - 2010 when he got a three years ban from all football activities for allegedly demanding money for world cup votes.

Read More