ONE WORD

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged not to consider including names of persons standing corruption trial and those with corrupt tendencies in his new cabinet. The Executive- Secretary, Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), Dr Dennis Aghanya gave the advice in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja. He said sidelining corrupt persons yet to be prosecuted and those standing trial would bestow more credibility on the president as one with zero tolerance to corruption. Aghanya further explained that it would be most expedient to keep those standing trial out of his cabinet to forestall them funding their trials with public funds. “This has become necessary to avoid situations whereby cabinet members would use public funds to defend their corruption cases pressed against them by the EFCC or any other anti-graft agencies. “To achieve this, the EFCC and all the anti-graft agencies in the country should also re-double their efforts...

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Sunday attended the funeral of 25 persons killed by bandits in a fresh attack which occurred on Saturday in three communities in Rabah local government area of the state. Tambuwal, together with heads of security agencies, traditional rulers and government officials later condoled the families of the victims after the burial held at Gandi town. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the bandits who were in large numbers raided Kalhu, Tsage and Geeri villages near Gandi and killed the 25 persons. The attackers were said to have engaged in indiscriminate shooting from around 5pm on Saturday till Sunday morning, after which they carted away hundreds of cows, sheep and other valuables. Rabah has been experiencing bandits’ attacks in recent time, with people losing their lives while many others who were rendered homeless now taking refuge at an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Gandi. Tambuwal pledged that the government would ...

Real Madrid are willing to let their forward, Gareth Bale to join Manchester United for just £25 million. Manchester United could seal a deal for the player for as little as £25million this summer by signing him on loan. United had already signed another Wales forward this summer in the person of Daniel James who joined from Swansea. Ole Gunner’s Solskjaer could seal another deal in the coming days. Bale would be sold for £75million on a permanent basis and Both United and Tottenham have been linked the 29-year-old However, the player’s fitness and lack of form have put off both clubs from parting with that amount of money. Bale could still find himself at Old Trafford next season in the form of a £25 million season-long loan.

New Real Madrid signing, Eden Hazard has described Barcelona’s Lionel Messi as the best player in the world after completing his move to Real Madrid. Hazard, who completed an £89m move from Chelsea has made no secret his admiration for the star of Madrid’s most bitter rivals in the past. The Belgian international’s transfer from Chelsea was officially confirmed on Friday evening in a deal which could rise to up to a staggering £150m. Hazard said it had always been his dream to move to the Bernabeu at some point in his career. Ahead of their Euro 2020 qualifying match, Hazard told a press conference, “I can’t be compared to (Lionel) Messi. Yes, there are some similarities, we’re both small and fast, but he scores important goals in every game. I can’t be compared to the incomparable. “When you are playing football you want to play against the best players in the world and the best teams in the world. Messi is the best player in the world.”

Muhammadu Sanusi II, emir of Kano, has replied a query issued to him by the administration of Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano. The Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission which probed the emirate had alleged that there was misappropriation of N3.4billion between 2014 and 2017. Citing the report of the probe panel, the Kano government had asked the emir to respond to the allegation with 48 hours. In a letter, the  emir thanked the state government for giving him the opportunity to respond to the allegations. He said secretary of the emirate is the accounting officer and not him. Sanusi added that N1.8 billion was in the account of the emirate when he was appointed. Abba Yusuf, acting secretary of Kano emirate council, signed the letter on his behalf. Below is the letter which was obtained : I am directed to refer to your letter No. SSG/OFF/03/V.I, dated June 6th, 2019 to which was attached a copy of the report of the Kano State Public...