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Femi Gbajabiamila: on course to becoming Speaker House of Representatives A 48-year-old businessman, Mr Philip Undie, on Tuesday withdrew a suit he filed challenging the nomination of Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, a member of the House of Representative vying for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives in the incoming 9th National Assembly. The plaintiff is challenging the eligibility of Gbajabiamila to contest for the speakership of the house on the grounds that he has a criminal allegation in the state of Georgia, U.S. Gbajabiamila is one of the leading candidates vying for speakership position. Other respondents/defendants in the suit are: the House of Representatives, the Attorney General of the Federation and the All Progressives Congress (APC). In the suit with No. FHC/ABJ/CS/539/2019 filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, which is yet to be assigned to a Judge, Undie accused Gbajabiamila of being convicted in the state of Georgia, on Feb. 26, 2007, over cr...

EFCC official with the cash The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Sokoto zonal office, on Tuesday arrested one suspected politician with N60, 000, 000 in cash(about $200,000) following intelligent report of his suspicious money laundering activities. The suspect Murtala Muhammad who is alleged to be a brother to Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, Professor Abdullahi Shinkafi, was arrested at No.145 Igala Hausing Estate, Off Byepass Road, Gusau, Zamfara State, by the operatives of the Commission. Items recovered from him at the point of arrest include: one Black Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Jeep with registration number DKA 67 PX Kaduna loaded with 4 bags of Ghana Must go containing One Thousand Naira Note of N15 million each, totalling N60 million; one single barrel gun; One locally made Revolve Pistol, 25 rounds of cartridges and 12 rounds of 12.9mm live ammunition. According to the EFCC, he would be charged to court as soon as investigation is complete...

Former Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger has been offered a route back into management in Japan, according to The Independentdent UK. Japanese club side, Vissel Kobe have offered the former Arsenal manager their managerial position. The club is owned by Barcelona’s mega-rich sponsors, Rakuten. Wenger had previously managed in Japan, taking charge of Nagoya Grampus Eight in the 90’s before joining Arsenal. Meanwhile, former European footballer of the year, Lothar Matthaus has said he was “sure” that Manchester City forward, Leroy Sane will join Bayern Munich this summer. City have opened up fresh contract talks with the Germany forward to try and counteract the threat of him leaving back for his homeland. But Matthaus told Mirror UK, “A player who, in my eyes, will enchant the Bayern fans next year is Leroy Sane. I am sure he will move to Munich. “If Uli Hoeness publicly reveals that a bid has been made for the player, this results in the vast majority of cases in a move to Baye...

 A magistrate’s court in Kano state has ordered the arrest of Munir Bayero, chief of staff to Muhammadu Sanusi, emir of Kano, Mujitaba Abba and Sani Kwaru, also aides of the monarch. Muhammad Idris, the magistrate, gave the order based on a request by the Kano State Public Complaints And Anti- Corruption Commission. The commission is probing the alleged misappropriation of funds belonging to the Kano emirate council. On Tuesday, Muhuyi Gado, chairman of the anti-graft agency, wrote a letter to Ahmed Iliyasu, commissioner of police in Kano, to request reinforcement of security personnel ahead of the arrest. In the letter, the commission said with the powers vested on it under the provision of section 38 of its establishment act, it is empowered to investigate the “misappropriation”. Last month, Isa Bayero, a former aide to the emir of Kano, was invited by the commission over allegations of financial misappropriation. Bayero had honoured the invitation and subsequently ...

Udo Udoma, minister of budget and national planning, says the federal government has spent only N6.938 trillion of the 2018 budget, leaving N2.18 trillion unspent. Giving his presentation on the 2019 budget in Abuja on Tuesday, Udoma said the 2018 budget performance stood at 79 percent. “Of the total appropriation of N9.12 trillion, N6.938 trillion was spent. This represents 79% performance,” Udoma said. “Debt service and the implementation of non-debt recurrent expenditure, notably payment of workers’ salaries and pensions, were on track.” Udoma revealed that the federal government did not achieve its revenue generation targets for the year, falling short by 45 percent. “As at the end of the year, Federal Government’s actual aggregate revenue was N3.96 trillion, which is 55 percent of the budget, although higher than 2017 revenue,” he said. The minister disclosed that the government generated oil revenue of “N2.32 trillion (77% of budget and 64% higher than...

Chinedu, centre, and his apprentices at the Yahoo Yahoo school arrested by EFCC The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Office, has arrested one Frank Chinedu, alleged to be the proprietor of a ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ training school in Lagos. Yahoo Yahoo, a corruption of the name of the original internet giant, is a bye word for internet related fraud. Chinedu, 22, was arrested alongside eight students of the unidentified training centre located at 14, Animashaun Street, Progressive Estate, Ojodu Berger, Lagos, while receiving lectures on internet fraud. The students arrested with Chinedu were Ahmed Musa, 24; Desmond Eze, 29; Preye Kingsley, 23; Benjamin Irabor, 21; Benjamin Opah, 19; Akapo Prosper, 22; Innocent Paul, 20 and Olamide Edun, 20. The Yahoo Yahoo school under EFCC seal The suspected internet fraudsters were arrested under cover on May 22, 2019, following intelligence reports received by the Commission about their involvement in alleged crimin...

Jose Mourinho has claimed that Arsenal are under more pressure than their Europa League final opponents Chelsea ahead of Wednesday night's encounter. Not only will Arsenal be competing for a trophy, but also Champions League qualification that will largely define the success of Unai Emery's opening campaign in charge of the Gunners. The Spaniard's side have experienced a mixed campaign, producing a string of impressive performances but ultimately disappointing after failing to secure a top four spot. he Gunners ended the season in fifth, only good enough to secure a Europa League position next year. Meanwhile, the Blues finished in third guaranteeing them a Champions League spot regardless of Wednesday night's result. Chelsea also reached the Carabao Cup Final but were defeated by ​Manchester City, making a top four finish their standout achievement in a reasonably strong first season for Maurizio Sarri. Consequently, former Blues manager Mourinho has to...

Audu Ogbeh: Agric Minister An agriculturalist, Mr Fidelis Chukwuma, says organic farming is safer and friendly to human health than the inorganic. Chukwuma, the Director, Agricultural Services, Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu. According to him, organic farming can yield vital benefits as it helps to preserve soil’s organic composition and improves soil fertility. The director said that the state’s ministry of agriculture had been carrying out a lot of grassroots sensitisation, mobilisation of the farmers, and interactions on the importance and methods of organic farming. He said that during the interaction, farmers were told that organic farming, which involved the use of natural fertiliser such as manure promotes better agricultural performance. “The Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture is promoting organic farming to provide organic solution to agricultural challenges. “Lots of chemica...

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk wants the Reds' "special" squad to stay together at least another four or five years and insists there is much more to achieve at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp's side have made it through to the Champions League final this season with a run that included a 4-0 semi-final comeback against Barcelona, and finished runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League. "I made sure I did the right things around it, make sure I eat good, get treatment, recover well. It's not easy but we did it so far and we have one more push left." The Reds have the opportunity to avenge their Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid last year, when they lost 3-1 in a dramatic encounter. Loris Karius made two huge errors to let Karim Benzema make it 1-0 and Gareth Bale secure victory in the 83rd minute after he had earlier netted a memorable overhead-kick. But Van Dijk does not like to look back on the match, insisting he has only wat...

Gennaro Gattuso has stepped down as manager of AC Milan, after missing out on Champions League qualification by a single point. The club's sporting director Leonardo is expected to follow Gattuso out of the door, disgruntled by CEO Ivan Gazidis' decision to tighten the reins on spending in order to comply with Financial Fair Play constraints. Gattuso told ​La Repubblica that he will leave behind the money owed to him by the club, saying he could not let his time at ​Milan come down to a question of money. “Deciding to leave Milan's bench is not easy. But it's a decision I had to make. There was not a precise moment in which I made it, it was the sum of these 18 months as coach of a team that for me will never be like the others. Months that I lived with great passion, unforgettable months. “Mine is a painful but thoughtful choice. Am I giving up a two-year contract? Yes, because my story with Milan can never be a question of money.”

 Felipe is leaving Porto for Atletico Madrid Atletico Madrid have agreed to buy 30-year-old central defender Felipe, the Brazilian's current club Porto announced. In a statement released to the Lisbon stock exchange late Monday, Porto said that Atletico had agreed to pay 20 million euros ($22.4 million) for Felipe Augusto de Almeida Monteiro who joined Porto from Corinthians of Sao Paulo in June 2016, just after winning his solitary Brazil cap. This summer, Atletico Madrid have lost their captain, the 33-year-old Uruguayan centre back Diego Godin, who said he was quitting the club after nine seasons. Porto announced in mid-March that they had agreed to sell another Brazilian central defender, Eder Militao, a 21-year-old with two international caps, to Real Madrid for 50 million euros.

Zinedine Zidane appears to have cast doubt on a potential Real Madrid move for Kylian Mbappe, claiming the forward is "fine" at Paris Saint-Germain. After winning the World Cup with France, Mbappe starred for PSG in 2018-19, scoring 39 goals in all competitions. The 20-year-old is reportedly - along with club-mate Neymar - a target for Madrid, who look set to undergo a rebuild following a disappointing campaign in both LaLiga and the Champions League. However, Madrid president Florentino Perez has dismissed rumours of moves for PSG's star duo and Zidane also looks to have ruled out an approach for Mbappe. "He's fine where he is," Zidane told reporters after playing in a charity match in Bordeaux. As well as Mbappe and Neymar, Madrid have been heavily linked with a move for Chelsea's Eden Hazard, while significant doubts remain over Gareth Bale's future at Santiago Bernabeu.

57 dead in Brazilian prison fight The death toll from recent prison fights in northern Brazil has reached 57, as prison wardens found the bodies of 42 inmates in four prisons. A fight between inmates during visiting hours led to the deaths of 15 inmates on Sunday at the Anisio Jobim Prison Complex, in the city of Manaus in the state of Amazonas. The inmates were strangled to death or stabbed with toothbrushes. Earlier on Monday,the authorities reported the discovery of more corpses. A total of 42 bodies were found not only at the Anisio Jobim Prison, but also at three other jails in Manaus. The Prison Administration Secretariat said that the situation is under control and the inmates are currently locked up in their cells. So far, there were no reports of warden injuries or inmate escapes.

The Yoruba Council of Elders has raised the alarm that Yoruba land, Southwest Nigeria, is under siege of herdsmen. The council therefore called on the Yoruba nation in Nigeria to be awake and brace itself towards halting the insecurity in the country. The council raised the alarm in a statement in Ibadan, by iits President, Col. Ade Agbede (retd.), tasking the governors of Southwest states with putting security on the front burner in all the states According to the YCE, the abduction of a professor and lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife on the Ibadan-Ife road, as well as several killings of Yoruba sons and daughters in their farmlands by herdsmen, justified its worries, insisting that the trend should stop. “As elders and leaders in our own rights, we owe it a duty to speak up. There are said to be 1,123 cells belonging to armed Fulani herdsmen located across Yoruba nation. The cells are said to be well organised and they appear to network with each other as ...

Brazilian star Neymar lost his national team's captaincy for the Copa America to veteran Dani Alves, in another move suggesting the striker will be under heavy pressure to deliver the title of the South American tournament on home soil. Brazil's football confederation, CBF, said in a statement on Monday that 36-year-old defender Alves, a close friend of Neymar's who plays with him at Paris Saint-Germain, will start wearing the armband in the friendly against Qatar on June 5 in Brasilia. The Copa America will be played between June 14 and July 7, and Brazil's first match will be against Bolivia in Sao Paulo on opening day. CBF also said Brazil coach Tite informed Neymar of his decision on Saturday, the day the Paris Saint-Germain striker arrived at the national team's training ground outside Rio de Janeiro. The soccer body also said Alves will only join the group on Tuesday, but was informed on Sunday of his new status. Tite, Neymar and Alves have not ta...

Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane is adamant he's "ready to go" for Saturday's Champions League final against Liverpool in Madrid after returning to full training The England captain has been out of action since suffering an ankle injury during the first leg of the quarter-final against Manchester City. But Kane speaking to reporters on Monday, said: "I feel good. I started to feel my way back with the team at the end of last week. "There have been no problems so far. For me this week now is to get the fitness as high as possible." Kane added: "Then it's down to the manager. Like I said, I feel good. The manager will assess it and decide whether I'm ready to go or not. But so far, I feel good and ready." Meanwhile Mauricio Pochettino, the Tottenham manager, said: "Harry Kane in the last week, Friday and Saturday, started to be involved in the group, it's a very positive situation for him. "We will wait a...

An Aston Villa side managed by lifelong fan Dean Smith ended their three-year exile from the Premier League on Monday with a 2-1 win over Derby County in the Championship playoff final at Wembley. A year after losing in the playoff final to Fulham, Villa were celebrating a return to English football's lucrative top-flight that will be worth at least £170 million ($216 million) and as much as £200 million ($253 million) to the Birmingham club. Anwar El Ghazi put Villa ahead with a header on the stroke of half-time before John McGinn capitalised on a goalkeeping error to score Villa's second just shy of the hour mark. Derby substitute Jack Marriott ensured a nervous finish for Villa with a goal nine minutes from time but it could not prevent County losing in the playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons. Rams boss Frank Lampard, in his first season as a manager, recalled former Chelsea and England team-mate Ashley Cole and Tom Huddlestone into his starti...

Sebastian Soto scored a pair of goals, and the United States beat Nigeria 2-0 Monday in the Under-20 World Cup at Bielsko Biala, Poland, to rebound from an opening loss to Ukraine. Soto headed in Alex Mendez's corner kick from 5 yards in the 18th minute, getting free from defender Zulkifilu Rabiu, then doubled the lead 25 seconds into the second half. Left back Chris Gloster, a teammate in Hannover's youth system, dribbled toward the goal from midfield and passed as Soto burst past defender Valentine Ozornwafor and into the penalty area. Soto ran onto the ball and slotted it past goalkeeper Olawale Oremade with the outside of his right foot from 6 yards. Soto kicked the ball in off a scramble after Tim Weah's initial header was saved in the 30th minute, but a video review determined Weah was offside on the header. Soto, an 18-year-old forward from Carlsbad, California, left Real Salt Lake's youth academy for Hannover last summer and made his Bundesliga debut on A...

© AP It was a good day for soccer fans in Ukraine, New Zealand and Uruguay as the trio of nations all won their respective games on Monday at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. All three nations confirmed qualification to the next round of the tournament. Ukraine moved into pole position in Group D with six points, and Uruguay and New Zealand both moved onto six points to lead Group C. Video player from: YouTube ( Privacy Policy ) Ukraine defender Dennis Popov scored for the second straight match as Ukraine came out 1-0 victors over Qatar. The European side dominated the match against the Gulf nation, finishing with 14 shots and four on goal. Qatar finished on top in terms of possession but after Popov’s goal early in the second half, Ukraine sat back and absorbed pressure. With the win, Ukraine needs just a point or better against Nigeria to win the group. Elsewhere, Uruguay’s Nicolas Acevedo scored in the first half before Nicolás Schiappacasse finished the game off w...