Boko haram Threatens Havoc if Sentence is carried out on Al- mustapha. Family reject death sentence.

The infamous islamic sect Boko Haram has threatened to cause more problems and make Nigeria ungovernable if the death sentence passed on former Chief security officer to late General Sani Abacha who was found guilty of the murder of Kudirat Abiola together with Lateef shofolahan at the Lagos High Court.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Brief updates on last minutes signings as january window closes

• Man city completes the signing of David pizarro on loan till the end of the season from Roma
• QPR completes signing of fulhams Bobby Zamora (£5m)
• Keith Andrews joins west brom from Blackburn
• Louis Saha joins Tottenham from Everton
• Pavel pogrebnyak joins fulham from stuggart
• Chelsea signs 18 year old patrick bamford from Nottinham forest. (£1m)
• Man utd signs Frederic Veseli from Neighbours manchester city
• West Ham snaps Ravel Morrison from Manchester United
• Nikica jelavic joins everton from Rangers. (£7m)
• Cahill joins chelsea from bolton. (£7m)
• Sotirios kyrgiakos joins sunderland from wolfsburg
• Thomas Eisfeld joins Arenal from BVB
• Barcelona cancels Hleb contract
• Thiago motta joins PSG from inter
• Chelsea signs kevin de bruyne from genk
• Liam ridgewell joins west brom from Birmingham city
• Freddy Guarin joins Inter on Loan from Porto
• Djbril cisse joins QPR from Lazio
• Nedum Onouha joins QPR from city
• Taiye Taiwo joins QPR from Ac milan
• Ryo myiachi joins Bolton on lon from Arsenal
• Vedran Corluka joins Bayern leverkusen from Tottenham
• Wayne Bridge joins sunderland from Manchester city
• Sulley Muntari joins AC milan on loan From inter milan


Those are the last bitz from the last day of the transfer market.



Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Match reports: Everton humbles City at Goddison, United beat stoke to level with city, tottenham maintains winning streak and carrol scores for liverpool in 3-0 win

Daron Gibson scored the only Goal as city stumbles (everton 1-0 man.city)

United equals city at the top with a 2-0 win over stoke with berbatov & chicharito scoring from the spot. (Man utd 2-0 stoke)

Tottenham defeated wigan 3-1, Bale getting a brace and modric on the score sheet. ( Spurs 3-1 Wigan)

Carroll made the score sheet for liverpool as they shoot three pass wolverhampton wanderers. Craig bellamy and dirk kuyt also on target (Wolves 0-3 liverpool)

Swansea failed to hold on to sinclair's lead as Neil taylor's late own goal cancels sinclairs effort and ensure chelsea shares the point at Swansea. ( Swansea 1-1 Chelsea)
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Fw: Ekiti State university releases admission list

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

-----Original Message-----
From: chibuzor_obasi@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:22:06
To: <chineduobasi91.education@blogger.com>
Reply-To: chibuzor_obasi@yahoo.com
Subject: Ekiti State university releases admission list

The Ekiti state University yesterday released their admission list which has lingered for so long, the released list is now accessible for viewing online at the schools website though candidates are required to obtain an Admission Checking confirmation number which can be purchased on payment in banks.

The Confirmation Number can be obtained at any branches of the banks listed below which you pay for via etranzact and collect confirmation number to print admission letter. They are;

Guaranty Trust Bank
First Bank
WEMA Bank
Zenith Bank
Oceanic Bank
UBA
Intercontinental Bank
Enterprise Bank

Education-nigeria.blogspot.com
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas hails Fernando Torres' improving form ahead of Swansea clash

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas hails Fernando Torres' improving form ahead of Swansea clash

The World Cup-winning striker has not hit the back of the net in the Premier League since scoring and being sent off against the Swans in their previous meeting in September

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has backed Fernando Torres to start scoring goals regularly, insisting that the striker's form has been steadily improving.

The Spaniard left Liverpool in the winter transfer window last season to join the Blues in a record breaking £50 million move but he has since scored just five goals in 43 appearances for the London club.

But now, ahead of the game against Swansea City, the Portuguese boss is hoping that his forward returns to his prime.

"I think we are seeing a player growing in terms of form," Villas-Boas told reporters.

"Eventually we expect goals from it, and we hope those goals will come back."

The last time that the 27-year-old found the net in the Premier League was back in September, when the west London club were playing Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.

Villas-Boas was asked if he could have foreseen the World Cup winning forward's goal drought, and he said: "That is the reality, but he has been helping the team.

"Fernando has equally one of the most assist totals for other players in the club so he is producing for the others as well.

"I think he is confident, to be fair. For the kind of effort he is doing, eventually it will be repaid."

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

In Thomas Eisfeld, Arsenal have signed a player not in Borussia Dortmund’s top five prospects, but the newcomer has potential

In Thomas Eisfeld, Arsenal have signed a player not in Borussia Dortmund's top five prospects, but the newcomer has potential

The Gunners' new addition has had his development harmed by injury, but in the right environment, might one day develop into a star player

On Monday afternoon, Arsenal fans produced a flurry of Tweets, making the name 'Thomas Eisfeld' a trending topic in many locales around the world. Most of these blurbs ended in a question mark: who is he? What can he bring to the Emirates? Is he the next Rosicky, Fabregas, or otherwise?

Truth be told, Eisfeld is hardly better known in his native Germany. At 19, he has yet to appear for any of the German youth national teams, and before his transfer never so much as sat on the bench of the Dortmund senior side: by contrast, at Eisfeld's age, Mario Gotze and Moritz Leitner had both become regulars in Jurgen Klopp's squad.

There is a reason why Eisfeld has had a relatively slow start compared to many of his Bundesliga colleagues: in late 2009, the player suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage, an injury that posed a significant set-back in his fledgling career.

To his credit, the young attacking midfielder has shown great resolve as he has worked his way back to form. This season he was the second-highest scorer for the BVB U19 team behind Marvin Ducksch, having found the net six times in 12 appearances. And that Eisfeld managed to attract the interest of Arsene Wenger, is in itself, enough to indicate that the player has potential waiting to be tapped.

THOMAS EISFELD
ATTACKING MIDFIELDER | ARSENAL



2010-11 SEASON CLUB STATS

Appearances

12

Goals

6

Assists

0

PLAYER FILE

Price tag

€475,000

He could be the next...

Mario Gotze

Even so, Dortmund have long been prepared for a future without Eisfeld: as youthful depth in similar positions they have in recent months signed 18-year-olds Leonardo Bittencourt and Mustafa Amini. Had he stayed in the Ruhr area, there would have been at least four direct competitors of similar age, plus about half a dozen older players to overcome if he were to earn playing time. Already set back by his previous injury, a move was necessary.

Arsenal fans expecting the next Mario Gotze would be wise not to be too hopeful just yet. Eisfeld is a very raw, and entirely unproven player: he is not yet ready for play at the highest level. But he comes with a formidable pedigree, having been raised in one of Germany's finest youth academies: if given the appropriate nurture, might blossom into a fine professional footballer.

Ultimately, all parties have something to gain and little to lose in Eisfeld's transfer. The player had little chance of making a name for himself at Dortmund, and needed a change. Dortmund have lost a potential star, but not one of their very best prospects, and can later claim responsibility for his development if he makes it big. And Arsenal have signed a player who might soon be a star for a modest price of under €500,000. A rare win-win-win scenario

Source: goal

EKSU 2011/2012 Admission list is out

EKSU 2011/2012 Admission list is out

We're happy to announce that Ekiti State University EKSU has finally released her long awaited 2011/2012 UTME and DIRECT ENTRY ADMISSION List.

Surprisingly, the list which was released and now available online is to be checked using Admission Checking confirmation number which can be purchased on payment in banks.

Candidates should visit branches of the banks listed below to pay for admission checking and acceptance fees via etranzact and collect confirmation number to print admission letter. The banks are;

Guaranty Trust Bank
First Bank
WEMA Bank
Zenith Bank
Oceanic Bank
UBA
Intercontinental Bank
Enterprise Bank
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

OAU-CDL Reschedules First Contact Test's Date

OAU-CDL Reschedules First Contact Test's Date

The Centre for Distance Learning of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife has shifted the date for the First Contact Test for her Pre-Degree students. This was announced today to the students after series of conference held by the Academic Staff of the CDL between Thursday and Friday last week.

The university however, said that what necessitated the postponement was the fact that they wanted students to recover over the one week fuel crises in the country.

The new date as regarding to the postponement will be announced later.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

FUTO MAN O' WAR gets new operational gadgets to dictate Bomb.

FUTO MAN O' WAR gets new operational gadgets to dictate Bomb.

The students security outfit under the Man O war has received new set of security gadget for it operation to face the challenges of insecurity in the country.

Similar electronic Bomb detector scanner is noticeably increasing in various university campuses in Nigeria. The management of various schools have called on the students to be security conscious and to report any suspected movement to the security outfit.

Meanwhile all FUTO students are by this announcement informed of the latest introduction of bomb detector on campus.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Nigerian Professor of Mathematics wins AU Science award

Nigerian Professor of Mathematics wins AU Science award

A Senior Professor of Applied Mathematics, a Nigerian professor of Mathematics and Director of Post Graduate Studies at Cape Peninsula University (CPTU) in South Africa, Professor Oluwole Daniel Makinde, has emerged winner of the African Union Kwame Nkrumah 2011 Scientific Award for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation.

Makinde schooled in former University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) where he obtained a Bachelor's and a Master's degree. He also obtained a Doctorate degree from the University of Bristol. He has contributed immensely to the upliftment of previously disadvantaged groups in Africa especially in the area of mathematical science research and training.

The award ceremony took place at the African Union Commission Headquarters during the formal opening ceremony of the 18th AU Summit, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Sunday, January 29th, 2012
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Official: Espanyol sign striker Kalu Uche from Neuchatel

Official: Espanyol sign striker Kalu Uche from Neuchatel

The Nigerian forward has agreed to join the Catalan club after the Swiss side's expulsion from the Super League, while Atletico have decided to loan out goalkeeper Joel Robles

Espanyol have announced that they have completed the signing of Neuchatel Nigerian striker Kalu Uche.

The Nigeria international had been on the lookout for a new club after Neuchatel were thrown out of the Swiss Super League for falsifying a bank document provided as a financial guarantee in 2011.

He has signed an 18-month deal with Espanyol, who were lacking numbers in attack following injuries to Alvaro Vazquez and Sergio Garcia in recent weeks.

The former Almeria striker joins the Catalan side on the same day as the La Liga outfit signed Inter's Coutinho on loan until the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Rayo Vallecano have confirmed the signing of Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Joel Robles on a six-month loan deal.

The Spain Under-21 international is the third Atletico player to move to Vallecas in January, following in the footsteps of Diego Costa and Jorge Pulido.




Source- Goal
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Arsenal set to sign Borussia Dortmund youngster Thomas Eisfeld - report

Arsenal set to sign Borussia Dortmund youngster Thomas Eisfeld - report

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder is said to be set to undergo a medical examination in London, with his move allegedly on the verge of being finalised

Arsenal have all but completed the signing of Borussia Dortmund talent Thomas Eisfeld, according to a report from Ruhr Nachrichten.

An employee of International Soccer Management revealed to the German source that the player is with his agent, Reza Fazeli, in London and pending a medical examination, will soon join the Gunners' ranks.

An attacking midfielder, Eisfeld's dreams of a career in professional football took a blow in late 2009, when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Following his horror-injury, he has bounced back, however: in the current season with Dortmund's U19 side, heis his team's second-highest scorer, with six goals from 12 games.

Had he stayed at Dortmund Eisfeld would have faced heavy competition for a place, with the Bundesliga champions having signed midfielders Moritz Leitner, Leonardo Bittencourt and Mustafa Amini over the course of the last 12 months. But now, the 19-year-old appears to be on his way to Arsenal for a new challenge.

The player is expected to complete his transfer within the next 24 hours, assuming he passes what will be a stringent medical examination. Arsenal are expected to pay a fee on the order of €475,000 for his




Source- Goal
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Giovani dos Santos set for Tottenham stay after MLS & Russia snub

Giovani dos Santos set for Tottenham stay after MLS & Russia snub

The Mexico international's representative has also hit out at Spurs' £6m valuation for the forward, claiming they shouldn't command a high fee if they don't play him regularly

Giovani dos Santos is likely to remain at Tottenham until the summer transfer window after declining moves to the MLS and Russia, the forward's agent has confirmed.

Dos Santos joined Spurs from Barcelona in 2008, but has managed just 30 appearances since his arrival at White Hart Lane.

The Mexico international looked likely to move to Villarreal earlier this month before the Spanish club pulled out of the running, while his agent has claimed the 22-year-old has received a wealth of offers.

Speaking with ESPN Raza Deportiva, Vicente Montes, said: "Giovani Dos Santos has offers from Russia and the United States but he has told them that he is not going to play there.

"Tottenham told Giovani that Major League Soccer had put in an offer for him but the player has other plans.

"As things stand it appears that Giovani Dos Santos will stay at Spurs."

It is believed Spurs value Dos Santos at £6 million, a fee that angers the player's representative because of his lack of minutes on the pitch.

"When it comes to valuing Giovani, they place him as a player with big numbers, yet they don't play him," he said.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Thomas Vermaelen admits Arsenal were confident of FA Cup revival against Aston Villa

Thomas Vermaelen admits Arsenal were confident of FA Cup revival against Aston Villa

Despite a two-goal disadvantage at half-time at the Emirates on Sunday, the defender maintains his team-mates were imposing enough to secure victory

Thomas Vermaelen maintains Arsenal were always confident of a second-half turnaround in their FA Cup fourth-round tie against Aston Villa.

Goals from Richard Dunne and Darren Bent fired Villa into a two-goal lead at half-time before Robin van Persie's penalty double and a Theo Walcott effort secured victory for Arsene Wenger's side, placing them in them in the fifth-round draw where they face either Sunderland or Middlesbrough.

Despite their two-goal disadvantage, the Belgium international believes his side's style of play would always lead to a comeback against Villa.

"It was a bit of a shock to be 2-0 down at half time because if you look at the way we played, we were quite aggressive and had some good opportunities to score, but Villa got a 2-0 lead," Vermaelen told the club's official website.

"I was still confident at half time. We were the better team the whole game, we were never really under pressure. 

"You could see that even in the first half we wanted to put them under pressure straight away, we wanted to keep the tempo high when we had the ball and we did that. In the second half we had that little bit of luck to score the goals.



Source- Goal
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Chelsea's Juan Mata defends Daniel Sturridge following penalty award at QPR

Chelsea's Juan Mata defends Daniel Sturridge following penalty award at QPR

The Spaniard highlighted the importance his goal which places Andre Villas-Boas' side into the fifth round following a 'difficult' game at Loftus Road

Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata has defended Daniel Sturridge after the forward won a controversial penalty against QPR in the FA Cup fourth round.

Mata netted the game's only goal to put Chelsea into the fifth round after Sturridge went down in the box following a slight challenge from QPR defender Clint Hill.

QPR boss Mark Hughes blasted the decision which subsequently led to his side's FA Cup exit, but Mata is sympathetic towards his team-mate.

"I think Danny went to head to it and I think the defender tried to stop him. The referee made the decision," Mata told the club's official website. "It was an important penalty. We were drawing 0-0 and with this goal we won finally and I am very happy with this penalty and with this win because it was a very difficult game for us."

In recent years the FA Cup has fallen victim to managers valuing a higher league finish more than success in domestic cup competitions, but Mata still values it greatly.

"The FA Cup is a special competition for every team and from now we are going to put all our commitment and effort into winning it," he concluded
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

PFA chief condemns booing of evra

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has condemned the booing directed at Manchester United's Patrice Evra during the FA Cup clash at Liverpool on Saturday.

Evra was targeted by sections of the Anfield crowd during his side's 2-1 fourth round defeat, after his claim of racist abuse against Luis Suarez was upheld by the FA and led to a eight-game ban for the striker.

Taylor has since spoken of his disappointment regarding the behaviour of some supporters, suggesting it could leave players unwilling to speak out in future and hinder any hope of eradicating the issue from the British game.

He told Sky Sports: "The booing of Evra was unwelcome. For someone to be booed for reporting racist comments is not something we want to see happening.

"Black players may be worried about reporting such things, if there is going to be a backlash like this.

"The game must do all it can to eradicate it."
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Fulham in talks to sign Stuttgart's Pavel Pogrebnyak - report

Fulham in talks to sign Stuttgart's Pavel Pogrebnyak - report

The Cottagers close to adding to their attacking options with Russian striker, as Martin Jol looks set to keep Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora at Craven Cottage

Fulham are in talks to sign Stuttgart striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, according to a report.

The Russia international has also been linked with a move to West Brom this month but according to Press Association Sport, the forward is now close to a move to Craven Cottage.

Fulham boss Martin Jol is looking to add to his attacking ranks, while Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora appear set to stay at the club, despite being linked with moves away.

Pogrebnyak, 28, has struggled for first-team football at Stuttgart this season, and has scored just once in 14 Bundesliga appearances
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Nigerians in Chinese prisons


Nigerians in Chinese prisons

Reports from China that no fewer than 1,000 Nigerians, especially youths, are currently detained in various Chinese prisons is, indeed, disheartening. Minister of Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, while disclosing the figure recently in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, said most of the offences are drug-related. Describing the development as a very "serious matter," the minister expressed deep regrets that many Nigerian youths who indulge in drug trafficking do so in a bid to get rich quick, oblivious of the horrendous consequences to their own lives and the image of the country.

The minister said that the Federal Government has written to the Chinese authorities to provide details of the offences. But he was silent on the efforts to get the offenders out of Chinese jails. All the same, the development is disturbing, and the high figure of our youths in Chinese prisons speaks volumes of the increasing involvement of Nigerians in the illicit drug business. This calls for introspection on why the wave of drug trafficking by our youths, both at home and in foreign lands, has reached an alarming proportion.

In this respect, government should take due cognizance of the reasons why our youths who constitute almost 50 percent of our total population are involved in the illicit, though high rewarding activity. This trend, we believe, cannot completely be divorced from the present high rate of joblessness, poverty and inequality in our society and government's seeming inability to initiate concrete measures that could address the plight of the youths. Current statistics bear out the fact that youth unemployment in Nigeria has reached a frightening proportion. Figures from the Ministry of Youth Development put the number of unemployed youths at 28.15 million. This represents 42 percent of our population.

This also tallies with the statistics from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which put youth unemployment at the unenviable threshold of 41.6 percent.
While stiffer penalties for drug traffickers may curtail the number of youths in the illegal and risky trade, our dysfunctional value system needs to be addressed urgently. Undoubtedly, there is a revolting and inordinate ambition to get rich quick among many Nigerians, the youths included. This abnormal societal system has become somewhat deep-rooted as the society does not frown on these tendencies to acquire wealth through the wrong means. We have repeatedly cautioned that as long as our value system does not place premium on hard work, contentment, patience and transparency, so long will our youths put themselves under desperate financial pressures to be like the "Joneses".

But beyond putting the youths caught in drug trafficking behind bars, one of the solutions is tracking down the drug barons. They are the ones who need longer jail terms upon conviction. We advise the Chinese anti-drug agencies to collaborate with its Nigerian counterpart, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on how to exchange intelligence towards getting at the barons. NDLEA should look within its personnel, and purge itself of bad eggs who may be working in concert with drug barons. That is one of the surest ways to stem the current tide of youth involvement in drug trafficking.

We recommend that our judiciary should borrow a leaf from the new guidelines in Britain where judges handling drug-related offences have come to distinguish between those who have been exploited such as youths and those heavily involved in the drug trade. These guidelines followed a recent research in England and Wales into convicted drug moles who admitted to the offence but said they had carried drugs for someone they trusted or feared what would happen if they did not do so. Some confessed that they carried the drug to make ends meet.
More than ever before, there is need to strengthen the administration of justice so that drug offences do not take too long to dispense with


Source- daily sun editorial
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Student shoots playmate in Ondo

Student shoots playmate in Ondo

Tragedy struck over the weekend at Ile-Oluji town, Ondo State when gunshots by a yet-to-be-identified youth claimed the life of a secondary school student, Wale Yusuf during a football friendly match between the two streets in the town.
Several other youths also sustained injuries when the trigger-happy youth started firing gunshots in different directions following argument that ensued between the supporters of the two football team.

The youths who were secondary school students from the town and other neigbouring towns in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area of the state have been engaging themselves in friendly football matches as a way of fostering unity among the youths in the area.
Footballers and supporters who came to watch the match ran for safety following the killing of the student who was protesting alleged bias by the referee.
The tragic incident, which occurred at the foot-field of Gboluji Grammar School in Ile-Oluji threw the entire town into pandemonium as parents and guardians trooped out in search of their children.

Trouble started, it was gathered, when some youths accused the referee of bias and the development led to argument among supporters of the two teams.
The argument was said to be going on when one of the supporters started shooting in different directions and in the process bullets hit the victim and he died on his way to the hospital. Confirming the incident, police spokesman, Adeniran Aremu who described the incident as unfortunate said police were already investigating the killing.



Source- daily sun
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

2012: State House defends N500m budget for meals, refreshment•N738.8m budgeted for vehicles•Another N356.7m for crested dinner sets

2012: State House defends N500m budget for meals, refreshment
•N738.8m budgeted for vehicles
•Another N356.7m for crested dinner sets

"What do you think our country is turning into, people are dying of hunger and our ELECTED government are partying away every day. The other day about 24million was used to just change a name from Nigerian Football Association(NFA) to Nigerian Football Federation(NFF), today, just take a look at their figures. But they would not pay 1.3trillion for subsidy, but could spend over 1.7trillion for fun. Dinner set, are they not plates for them to be evaluated at 356.7million. May God help us"- Da silva
State House Permanent Secretary, Dr. Tunji Olaopa yesterday defended the over N500 million budgeted for meals and refreshment in the Presidency's 2012 budget with plans to spend another N738.8 million to buy vehicles this year.
Dr. Olaopa told the Senate Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs Committee yesterday that the proposed budget for meals and refreshment in 2012 is meant for consultations, meetings and trips for the year.

He said this, while defending the N18.353 billion 2012 budget of the State House before the Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta-led committee.
Dr. Olaopa insisted that the State House is largely a service bureaucracy: "But for the intervention of the President, there wouldn't have been a reduction in the number of trips, and entourage. We would perhaps have had a lot of liabilities by now. There are a retinue of people received on daily basis and lately, because of certain events in the country, the level of consultations have increased based on the number of people."

Senator Isa Mohammed Galaudu queried why N193 million would be budgeted for refreshments. "I think there should be need for more prudence. I agree that you are a service-oriented bureaucracy, but I believe that the figure is high. The people are correct to show their anger over this."
From the State House budget presentation, N356.724 million is being proposed for replacement of crested wares (1,000 sets) while N821.862 million would be spent for local and international transport and training.

To fuel and service generators for 2012, the State House has budgeted N69.544 million and another N265.1 million would be used to procure computers/accessories and office equipment.
Another N343.2 million has been allocated for office stationeries and computer, while a sub-head called welfare will gulp N285.1 million.
The Presidency in the budget for the year would spend N577.543 million to replace aged vehicles in the presidential fleet, while N168.722 million would be for fuel/lubricants.

The State House would spend N993.02 million to fuel vehicles and N54 million to fuel generators and budget for telephone would be N56.692 million.
For the office of the Vice President, refreshment and meals would gulp N208.02 million; N35.363 million to fuel vehicles; N20.802 million to fuel generators and N6.240 million for cooking gas and fuel.
Olaopa also told the committee that the State House generated N2.8 billion with Independent Revenue accounting for N126.021 million; VAT, N1.2billion; With Holding Tax, N1.39 billon and PAYE, N48.4 million.
Earlier, the committee chairman demanded to know why the State House would budget for generators instead of fixing the nation's power problems.

Source- daily sun
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Soldiers, Boko Haram clash again in Borno

Soldiers, Boko Haram clash again in Borno

The Military-led Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno has killed another Boko Haram sect member barely a week after it gunned down 11 suspected members of the sect during an attack in Maiduguri, the state capital.

some sect members had attacked the task force outpost located around the London Chiki in the metropolis on Sunday night, a development which reportedly led to exchange of gunshots. A suspected member of the sect was said to have been killed in the gun battle that lasted about 30 minutes.

JTF spokesman, Lt Col Hassan Ifijeh Mohammed who confirmed the incident disclosed that the suspected Boko Haram men had opened fire on the troops posted to London Chiki in the metropolis to restore order but "were overpowered by the vigilance and courage of our men," adding the JTF troop killed one of the attackers.

Lt. Col Mohammed urged those he said were harbouring the sect members to turn them over to the security agencies in the state in their own interest. He also warned that the task force would treat anybody caught harbouring the Boko Haram men in residential areas, shops or business premises as accomplice.
He said the JTF would continue its search operations within the metropolis and affected areas to fish out the perpetrators of serial killings in the area.

Meanwhile, anxiety gripped residents of Jidari and Polo in Maiduguri yesterday afternoon following sporadic gun shots witnessed in the area. A resident of the area claimed some gunmen suspected to be of Boko Haram had sneaked into the area at about 3.30pm and attacked a JTF sector unit.
"I can't actually tell you how they got to the area or by what means but we started hearing gun shots at about 3.30pm and everybody had to run. You know no one will wait to ask what happened in that kind of situation as one will first think of safety. I later found out that some Boko Haram men shot at the soldiers," the resident who wanted anonymity told Daily Sun.

It was gathered that one of the soldiers was injured during the attack though this could not be confirmed by the JTF as at the time of filing this report yesterday evening. Neither the JTF spokesman, Lt Col Mohammed nor its Field Operations Officer, Col Victor Ebhaleme picked the reporter's calls.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Court dethrones Obong of Calabar...As Etubom Traditional Council heads for Appeal Court

The former minister of finance, Etubom Anthony Ani, has won the second round of his protracted legal battle over who occupies the coveted traditional Efik stool of Obong of Calabar. The High Court in Calabar has restrained the incumbent Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, from parading himself as the Efik mornarch.

In April 2008, the former minister of finance in the then military regime, Etubom Anthony Ani and Ufok Ikot Nkpor had instituted a case against the Obong and challenged the verdict of the Etuboms Council in selecting and proclaiming Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V as the Obong of Calabar.

But counsel to Edidem Otu, Chief Rotimi Williams (SAN) raised a preliminary objection that Ufok Ikot Nkpor and the claimant (Ani) lacked the locus standi to bring this action and the court had no jurisdiction to hear the matter.
On April 7, 2008 the Etubom Traditional Council of the Palace of the Obong of Calabar announced Otu as the Obong and was on December 13, 2008 colourfully coronated as the Obong of Calabar, natural ruler, treaty king and grand patriarch of the Efik Nation at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Duke Town Parish, Eyamba Street, Calabar.

His emergence, under very controversial circumstances, as the monarch of the Efiks followed the demise of the past Obong, Edidem Prof. Elijah Nta Henshaw VI.
In the nearly two hours judgement yesterday, Justice Obojor Ogar restrained the Obong from parading himself as the Obong of Calabar until proper election had been held and also restrained the Etubom Traditional Council (ETC) from excluding Etubom Anthony Ani and Mbiabo Ikoneto from any election or selection of an Obong.

However, counsel to the ETC, Mr. Paul Eba, said "we are trying to study the judgement as judgement has not made any positive order to the government to withdraw the certificate so the Obong is still on the throne," adding "definitely, we are going on appeal to determine some issues raised by the judge."
Justice Ogar had, after receiving final addresses from counsel to Etubom Ani, Mr. Joe Agi (SAN), counsel to Edidem Otu, Chief Ladi Williams (SAN) and counsel to the ETC, Mr. Ukpong Eba, adjourned the matter to January 11 for judgment but for was postponed again to yesterday.
Etubom Ani had in his claim and submission by his counsel, Mr. Agi, sought a declaration that "the presentation and selection of the 4th defendant (Edidem Otu) who was chairman of the screening committee for the selection of the 4th defendants as the Obong of Calabar-elect is contrary to natural justice, equity and good conscience.

"That the purported selection of the 4th defendant as the the Obong of Calabar-elect, who is from Adiabo is contrary to the decision of the Western Calabar Traditional Rulers Council that Ikoneto has the exclusive right to produce the next Obong of Calabar and the 4th defendant is not qualified to be selected and or appointed the Obong of Calabar."

He also sort a declaration that the Etuboms Traditional Rulers Council of the Obong's Palace refusal to entertain the complaint of the Plaintiff violates their right to fair hearing and an injunction restraining the government from according recognition and/ or giving staff of office to the 4th defendant.
Counsel to the defendant, Chief Williams, who was represented by Miss Rebecca Tanga, in his submission asked the court to dismiss the applicant's claims, saying "that he was not qualified to be Obong of Calabar," stressing that the applicant was given fair hearing was given fair hearing in the process of selection of the Obong of Calabar.

After hearing all the issues raised, Justice Ogar ruled that, any election or selection of an obong of Calabar without the participation of Etubom Ani and Mbiabo Ikoneto is null and avoid and therefore restrained the ETC from doing that.
He also granted an injunction restraining "the Obong of Calabar from parading himself as the Obong until proper election has been done".
Counsel to Etubom Ani, Mr. Bassey Offiong, who represented the lead Counsel, Mr. Agi, SAN expressed satisfaction with the judgement saying the court also granted all the 5 prayers Etubom Ani sort for as stated above.

Offiong said "We are satisfied with the judgment and on the issue of certificate of recognition is it the government that installs an Obong. The government acted on certain papers that were presented to it to issue a certificate. So if the court has not specifically said the certificate is withdrawn, it is obvious that it is withdrawn."
"You cannot carry a paper that has no weight. The certificate of recognition given by the government is of no moment; in fact it is worse than a piece of paper because it was based on fraud."

He said the first issue of whether the first claimant, Etubom Ani, is qualified to contest the throne of the Obong of Calabar, Offiong said "the Court resolved that he is qualified because they waved it, they invited him and he gave them everything and they even told that he was qualified.'
He, however, said they turned round to produce a fake report which the court said the report they issued was a fake report because they could not substantiate it.
Besides, on the issue of whether Ikoneto is the only ruling house that should present a candidate, the court said yes based on the avalanche of documents available, adding "that the traditional council having written to Ikoneto that you are the only one and also writing a reminder that if you don't do it your time will expire. So Ikoneto having presented a candidate now, you cannot turn round to say that Ikoneto was not the only ruling house that they were other ruling houses. That if other ruling houses were involved that they should not have written the letter."

On the issue of whether the present Obong is traditionally qualified, he said the court has also resolved that issue that he is not qualified because he never took part in the selection as he was the chairman of the selection interview.
Counsel to the ETC, Mr. Eba said the Obong is still the Obong and they will study the judgement to go for appeal.
He described the judgemnet as "a declaration judgement that Ikoneto has right to contest. Definitely we are going on appeal to determine some issues raised by the Judge".
END.

Source- daily sun.

Does a court has the right over traditional powers?
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Al-Mustapha to die by hanging • Court orders Shofolahan to die too

Former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Head of State, Gen.Sani Abacha, Major Hamzat Al-Mustapha and former protocol officer to MKO Abiola, Lateef Shofolahan, have been sentenced to death by hanging by a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere after 12 years of trial for the June 4, 1996 murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief MKO Abiola.

The trial judge, Justice Mojisola Dada handed down the verdict after comprehensively reviewing the evidence adduced by both parties which lasted for seven hours and convicted them of conspiracy and murder in accordance with the provisions of Section 219 of the Criminal Code of the Laws of Lagos State.

"The evidence of the prosecution is manifestly reliable and has established all the ingredients in this case. The crime of murder under section 219 of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State is punishable with death by hanging.

"The first defendant magnified himself and his office that he felt nobody could touch him," the court said.
Justice Dada punctured the case of the defence as canvassed by their lead counsel, Olalekan Ojo, which was predicated on the latter recanting of the earlier testimonies of the star witnesses: Barnabas Jabila (aka Sergeant Rogers) and Mohammed Abdul (aka Katako).

Delivering its judgment, the court held that recanting of an earlier testimony by a witness does not cancel the earlier statements made by the witness.
Specifically, the court pointed out that the statements made by the witnesses during the investigation of the matter by the Special investigation Panel (SIP) in 1999 were not negated by their latter recant.

In that statement, they had stated that Jabila was sent by Al-Mustapha to kill Mrs. Abiola and that Katako was the driver of the car used in the drive-by shooting.
They had also stated that Al-Mustapha's co-accused, Lateef Shofolahan, was their informant on the movements of the deceased, contrary to the evidence of Shofolahan that he met Al-Mustapha during a two million man march for Abacha held at Eagles Square, Abuja in 1998 and the former CSO's claim that he met Shofolahan at the SIP.

Thus, the court established the link between the two defendants through the voluntary statements of the witnesses that Shofolahan had been an acquaintance of Al-Mustapha as he used to visit him in Aso Rock. In fact, the court noted that on June 3, 1996 a day before the murder, Jabila had confessed that he met with Shofolahan at the National Theatre in Lagos to finalise preparations for the murder.
Later, the two witnesses while being cross examined by the defence counsel said the earlier statements were false and that they were made to make those statements by some authorities in government as at 1999.

However, the court held that the demeanour of the witnesses while they were recanting during cross-examination by defence counsel shows that they were saying what the defence wanted them to say.
Consequently, the court held that the prosecution has been able to prove the two-count charge of conspiracy to murder and murder sufficiently.
Justice Dada held that though the defendants had been discharged in a similar case before a sister court after the recanting by the same witnesses, it was not enough not to convict them.

She also pointed out that the evidence of Sergeant Rogers was cogent and reliable "when he described how Abiola was killed and he said 'We get am!' shows that it was not a product of coaching."

On the alibi of the defendants that they were not at the scene of the crime, the court noted that an accused does not need to be at the scene of the crime before he commits the crime. Citing a legal authority, the court held: "Indeed, an alibi is the weakest defence an accused can concoct."
On the attitude of the second defendant while opening his defence before the court, the court noted that Shofolahan put up a theatric show to deceive the court when he was crying in court to hide his guilt.

"The second defendant wanted to be relevant no matter whose ox was gored. It was his greed that took him to such acts. He participated actively in the two million man march while MKO Abiola was still in detention and he was his protocol officer. This traitor gratuitously found his way into the presidency. He tried to turn the case into a huge joke by his theatrics in court thinking it would be carried away by his acting," the court held.
According to the court, the prosecution has been able to give sufficient reliable evidence to prove the case against the defendants.

However, the defence apparently dissatisfied with the outcome of the trial dropped the hint that the verdict would be contested before the appellate court as they are poised to challenge the death sentence passed on the two defendants by the trial court. Lead defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, in his swift reaction to the judgment prayed the court to avail them of a copy of the judgment so that they can prepare their brief on the appeal on time.
"We are praying the court to avail us of a copy of the judgment so that we can expedite the appeal before the three wise men. We shall certainly test this judgment before the Court of Appeal."

There was unusual heavy presence of security around the premises of the court as the entire area and the adjourning streets were cordoned off by stern looking security operatives armed to the teeth as early as 7.00am. Both gates leading into the court were manned by security operatives and fierce looking police dogs. Both passers –by and members of the public who wanted to enter the court premises were thoroughly screened by the heavily armed combined operatives of the prison guards, Lagos state special anti- crime force, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the State Security Service (SSS).

The security remained tight until 5pm when the court finished delivering its judgment. As the news of the conviction and death sentence passed on the duo of Mustapha and Shofolahan, there was dramatic movement of people trying to get out of the court premises apparently for fear of possible riot from the defendants' supporters who had gathered en masse in the court premises as early as 7.00am in solidarity for them.
The security, however, remained calm until the convicts were driven out of court with heavy security details.

Source- daily sun.

Train crushes man in Oyingbo

A young man in his thirties was crushed by a moving train in the early hours of Friday at Oyingbo, Ebute Meta, Lagos State. The deceased was crossing the railway track with an ear-phone piece blocking his two ears when a Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) train moving from Lagos to Ilorin, Kwara State knocked him down.

The accident immediately threw the busy commercial community into confusion as traders were seen hurriedly packing their wares and early commuters gathering around the corpse. At about 7.30a.m last Friday, the deaceased, simply identified as Yisa, was crossing the railway track while listening to music on his mobile phone with the earpiece covering his ears. He was hit by an oncoming train and died immediately before rescue could come his way.

A resident, Olawole Bakri said, "he was passing by the train track; unfortunately, the train hit him down and he died immediately. He was busy listening to music from his phone with the phone's earpiece. "He has not been identified yet because we used his phone to contact someone who said he was at Ilorin." Another eyewitness, Wasiu Olatunji, explained: "I was at a corner waiting for the train to pass. I heard people shouting to alert him of the oncoming train but he was deafened by the earpiece in his ears. I felt he was confident enough to beat the train but unfortunately the train hit him. But the phones we found on him were stolen immediately by an area boy."

Nigerian Railway Corporation, Oyingbo Ebute Metta, the District Superintendent Officer, Mr. Elomole Samuel, confirmed the report, saying the driver blared the horn of the moving train but the victim was deafened by the phone's earpiece stuck in his ears.

He noted that the accident could not have been averted by the train driver since it was not a moving vehicle one could apply break immediately to stop but a moving engine, even as he disclosed that the corporation had notified the district police force in charge of Railway Corporation to take the corpse to mortuary pending when his family would come for identification.

Samuel, who lamented that two similar accidents representing 99 percent of deaths recorded in 2011 were due to the use of earpiece, which occurred at Ijoko, Sango Ota and Ebute Meta Junction, warned the public to desist from the use of such and be careful when crossing railway tracks. The Police Public Relations Officer of Denton Police Station, Oyingbo, ASP Mahmah, who also confirmed the accident said it was unfortunate that a young man was crushed by a moving train but noted that his men were deployed to guard the corpse before the railway police would move it to the appropriate quarter

Such a sad news for a sad month
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

ASUU TO CALL OFF STRIKE TOMORROW

The ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may be called off tomorrow. To this end, the leadership of the union is billed to meet at the University of Abuja, Gwagwalada, to review the strike and outcome of dialogue with the Federal Government.

ASUU, last week, met with the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai in Abuja to resolve grey areas in the contentious ASUU agreement. The meeting could not produce the desired results as the lecturers turned down the minister's pleas to end the strike.

Before the meeting, Senate, as part of moves to get ASUU to call of the strike, passed a bill elongating the retirement age of lecturers from 60 to 70 years. The increase in the retirement was contained in ASUU's agreement signed by government some years ago.

Other items in the agreement include revamping the decaying infrastructure in universities, increased research funding and enhanced emoluments. Although the Federal Government signed the agreement, it had refused to honour it, leading to recurring strikes by ASUU

According to Daily Sun, an official of ASUU who pleaded anonymity revealed that significant inroads had been made in resolving the disagreement with government. He said: "We are almost at the end of the strike. Unless anything crops up we hope to call off the strike on Tuesday (tomorrow).

"We will meet at the University of Abuja on that Tuesday and I think the meeting will agree to end the strike."
Asked if the Federal Government had accepted to implement the union's agreement, he replied: "What I can tell you is that we have made some strides. We have a minister who, to some extent, is not playing politics with the agreement unlike what we had in the past."



Source- daily sun
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Fulani herdsman Chops off vulcanisers hand

Pandemonium gripped Akure, the Ondo State capital recently when a Fulani herdsman allegedly chopped off the right hand of a vulcaniser, Mr. Deji Adeleye in Akure during a misunderstanding. The incident, which occurred at Ayedun area of Akure recently threw the entire community into confusion as people feared possible attack from other Fulani herdsmen grazing their cows in the area.

Daily Sun gathered that the victim, a vulcaniser in Ayedun quarters and some carwash owners had warned the herdsmen several times to stop grazing their cows in their business premises. It was learnt that the herdsmen turned deaf ears and as a deliberate way of causing trouble the herdsmen changed their movement to the place from twice in a week to daily routine. Apparently angered by attitude displayed by the herdsmen after several warnings, Adeleye and other people chased the cows out of the area.

The herdsman, it was gathered who did not show any sign of annoyance when his cows was chased away later came back when many people had left the area and chopped off Adeleye's hand with a sword. It was gathered that the Fulani herdsman wanted to behead Adeleye but the vulcaniser escaped by whickers as he used his right hand to block the herdsman's sword.

An eyewitness and a relation to Adeleye, Olorunlogbon Ajayi quoted the victim to have said:  "The herdsman moved stealthily towards me and drew out his sword with the intention to behead me. I raised up my hand to protect my head, but had my hand chopped off." The victim was rushed to a private hospital while the herdsman ran away when some youths around the area wanted to lynch him.

Efforts made by our correspondent to speak with Adeleye where he was receiving treatment proved abortive as security operatives did not allow visitors to gain access to him except few of his family members. The security agents, in a bid to prevent the victim from speaking with the newsmen moved him from the hospital to another private hospital within the Gbogi axis and only doctors and a nurse were allowed to have access to the victim's room while the security operatives were giving the medical officers close monitoring so that they would not use any device to take the photograph of Adeleye.

Also efforts made to interview the wife of the victim when our correspondent approached the woman for comment proved abortive as the woman first denied being the victim's wife but after much pressure she admitted being his wife but declined comment on the incident. It was further gathered that the herdsman had fled the area and all efforts made by the police and other security operatives to track him down had not yielded any positive result.
The state government had directed the security agents to manage the situation so that it would not degenerate into inter-tribal clash.

The victim, it was reliably gathered had also been promised N5 million as a compensation by some politicians in the state to start a new life after living the hospital.

Source- daily sun
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

NFF SANI LULU spends 24million naira to change name from association to federation, (NFA-NFF)

More facts are beginning to emerge over the circumstances that led to the legal quagmire in which the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is stuck as investigations revealed that the Alhaji Sani Lulu-led board spent a whopping N23.39 million to effect the change name from association to federation. In the federation's 2009 budget performance document submitted to the House of Representatives Committee on Sports and made available to Daily Sunsports at the National Assembly Complex, the Lulu board revealed that it spent the amount to organise the Congress during the Annual General Assembly held in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, that changed the name.

What is our country turning into that one would spend such amount just to change an alphabet of a name when some people are dying of hunger?

Source- daily sun
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Boko haram razes kano again

Gunmen attacked another police station yesterday in the flashpoint city of Kano, sparking a shootout with police and causing pandemonium, witnesses and police said. The shootout occurred in Zaria Road axis of the state. The attack followed the January 20 attacks by the Islamist group Boko Haram that killed 185 people in the city and after a string of recent threats of more violence from the group.

The bitter confrontation started at about 6.45pm at a police station in Naibawa area, after the sect members launched an attack.
The police station was on fire as at the time of filing this report. Soldiers were seen moving to the scene of the incident. Residents of the affected area have all run into quarters and homes to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

"A large number of gunmen stormed the area at prayer time and opened fire on the police station," local resident Kabiru Maikatako told AFP. The police fired back and a shoot-out has been going on for the past 30 minutes," he added."I am now trapped in my (timber) shed. It is shooting all around and the whole area has been deserted. Only the police and the attackers are shooting at one another."

Kano State Police Commissionner Ibrahim Idris confirmed the attack."I am aware of the attack on the Naibawa police station," he said. The commissioner confirmed to reporters that part of the police station was burnt.

He said no policeman died in the attack, adding that the security agents succeeded in repelling the sect members.
However, Idris said a civilian was shot dead by the sect members as they were retreating.




Source- daily sun

ASUU PRESIDENT HOPEFUL OF AN AGREEMENT

ASUU Strike: ASUU President hopeful strike will end before mid-February

The ASUU president has stated that he is optimistic the deadlock between it and the Federal Government would be resolved before mid-February.

Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie said the government's offers to the union being studied by stakeholders.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that discussions were ongoing with the various stakeholders on the offers.

"The union is concerned about quick resolution of the issues and the resumption of academic activities in the universities.

"I am optimistic that the union will make its stand known before mid- February. We have taken the outcome of the Abuja meeting to the National Executive Committee of the union after which we shall also be taking it to our congress and various state branches.

"We are working on this seriously with all sense of urgency and the fact that we are consulting with all the stakeholders shows that we are interested in ending the strike within the shortest possible time- prof ukachukwu awuzie(ASUU president)

ASUU embarked on an indefinite strike on December 5, 2010 over non- implementation of their 2009 agreement with the government




Source- information nigeria

What do u think of the lingering strike?
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Libyan detainees dies in prison

HUMANITARIAN and rights group, Amnesty International, has alleged that several people have died after being tortured by militias in Libyan detention centres, according to agency reports.
The group claimed to have seen patients in Tripoli, Misrata and Gheryan with open wounds to their head, limbs and back.
Meanwhile, UN human rights chief, Navi Pillay, has raised concerns about detainees being held by revolutionary forces, saying there were some 8,500 prisoners in about 60 centres.
"The majority of detainees are accused of being Gaddafi loyalists and include a large number of sub-saharan, African nationals," she said.
"The lack of oversight by the central authority creates an environment conducive to torture and ill treatment.
" My members of staff have received alarming reports that this is happening in places of detention they have visited," the UN rights chief said.
She urged the authorities to take control of these informal jails, review the cases, and deal with the prisoners in a legal framework.
Also, the United Nations (UN) Security Council has heard that Libyan militias are holding thousands of people in secret detention centres, while the interim government struggles to assert authority.
The council was told recent violence in Tripoli, Bani Walid and Benghazi highlighted the problem.
According to UN officials, over 8,000 pro-Gaddafi supporters are being held by militia groups, amid reports of torture.
However, a charity group, Medecins Sans Frontieres, said it has suspended some operations because its work was being "exploited".
The humanitarian medical organisation said it had stopped work in detention centres in the north-western city of Misrata because some patients were being brought in for care between interrogation sessions.
About four people died in clashes in Bani Walid, a former Gaddafi stronghold, on Monday.
The UN's Libya envoy, Ian Martin, told the Security Council in New York on Wednesday that those clashes between armed residents of Bani Walid and revolutionaries had been misreported as pro-Gaddafi forces retaking the city.
Nevertheless, he said it highlighted the challenge of reconciling the former leader's supporters and the rebels that had defeated them.
Militias were responsible for fatal clashes in Tripoli and fighting in other towns this month, he said.
"The former regime might have been toppled, but the harsh reality is that the Libyan people continue to have to live with its deep-rooted legacy," said Martin.
He described that legacy as "weak, at times absent, state institutions, coupled with the long absence of political parties and civil society organisations, which render the country's transition more difficult".
Martin said some steps had been taken towards demobilising ex-combatants.
But the government was struggling to establish its legitimacy, he added, with weapons freely available and various armed brigades having unclear lines of command and control.
While authorities had so far successfully contained any outbreaks of violence, they could escalate and widen in scope, he warned.
Libyan Defence Minister Osama al-Juwali, who has been negotiating with militiamen in Bani Walid, told British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) yesterday that the situation was stable.
As al-Juwali arrived, National Transitional Council (NTC) forces - loyal to the new government - gathered outside the town.
They were heavily armed and apparently poised to attack if talks failed, although one commander insisted they were there for "reconciliation".
Fighters in the town have reportedly expelled NTC forces into the surrounding desert.
One local official told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that 90 per cent of the town was under militia control.
Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said some officials had sought to "exploit and obstruct" its work.
"Patients were brought to us for medical care between interrogation sessions, so that they would be fit for further interrogation. This is unacceptable," said general director Christopher Stokes.
"Our role is to provide medical care to war casualties and sick detainees, not to repeatedly treat the same patients between torture sessions."

Visit liftedsouls.tk for inspiring messages
Source- guardian
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Bill gates boost aids funding with $750m

MICROSOFT chairman Bill Gates yesterday pledged additional $750 million to global AIDS fund and urged governments to continue their support to save lives.
"These are tough economic times, but that is no excuse for cutting aid to the world's poorest," he said in Davos at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.
According to Reuters, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria announced two days ago that its executive director, Michel Kazatchkine, was stepping down early following criticism over misuse of funds and cuts in funding.
The public-private organisation, which has the backing of celebrities like rock star Bono, accounts for around a quarter of international financing to fight HIV and AIDS, as well as the majority of funds to fight TB and malaria.
But it has been forced to cut back and said last year it would make no new grants or funding until 2014.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is giving $750 million through a promissory note – a fresh injection in addition to the $650 million that the Gates charity has contributed since the fund was launched 10 years ago.
While that will give an immediate boost, more is needed from governments, which have provided the bulk of the $22.6 billion that has been raised by the Geneva-based organisation to date for its work in 150 countries



Also visit liftedsouls.tk for inspirational messages.

Source- guardian
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Arsenal makes remarkable comeback against villa.

Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 2: Gunners come from two down to send Villans crashing out

Two Robin van Persie penalties and a fortunate Theo Walcott goal saw Arsenal complete an amazing comeback against a stunned Aston Villa.

The Villans had stormed into a half-time lead with goals from Richard Dunne and Darren Bent.

But Arsenal returned with a fierce performance in the second half to turn the game on its head and shock Alex McLeish's side.

MATCH DETAILS

Arsenal: Fabianski, Coquelin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Henry 89), Ramsey, Song, Rosicky (Arteta 71), Walcott (Sagna 88), Van Persie.

Subs not used: Szczesny, Park, Henry, Arshavin, Benayoun.

Goals: Van Persie 54 pen, 61 pen, Walcott 57

Bookings: Koscielny

Aston Villa: Given, Hutton, Dunne, Cuellar, Warnock, Ireland, Petrov (Bannan 82), Clark, Agbonlahor (Gardner 71), Keane, Bent.

Subs not used: Guzan, Heskey, Weimann, Lichaj, Baker.

Goals: Dunne 33, Bent 45

Bookings: Dunne

Attendance: 60,019

Referee: Mike Jones

Fa cup draw

FA Cup fifth round draw: Liverpool to face Brighton at Anfield as Chelsea host Birmingham City

The Seagulls have been rewarded with a trip to Anfield after their shock fourth round victory while Chelsea also host Championship opposition

League Cup finalists Liverpool have been handed a home draw in the fifth round of the FA Cup against Brighton & Hove Albion.

The seagulls caused the biggest upset in round four when the beat Newcastle United at The Amex and will want revenge on Liverpool who knocked them out in the third round of the league cup earlier this season.

Chelsea have been given a home tie against Championship side Birmingham City after their victory over QPR.

FA CUP FIFTH ROUND DRAW IN FULL*

Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion
Everton v Blackpool/Sheffield Wednesday
Chelsea v Birmingham City
Crawley Town v Stoke City
Stevenage v Tottenham Hotspur
Norwich City v Leicester City
Sunderland/Middlesbrough v Arsenal
Millwall or Southampton v Bolton Wanderers




Source: goal.com
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Tevez might still join milan as milan prepares fresh bid for the argentine

The Rossoneri will allegedly still try to sign the unsettled striker before the transfer market closes but they are said to be unwilling to meet the Premier League side's demands

AC Milan have not given up on signing Manchester City wantaway Carlo Tevez, Corriere dello Sport claims.

The Serie A champions landed Catania's Maxi Lopez on a temporary basis on Friday after failing to reach an agreement with City before the deadline of 19.00CET set by the club.

Milan CEO Adriano Galliani stated later that day that his side would only reopen negotiations for Tevez in June, but fresh speculation suggests that the San Siro outfit will make one last attempt to sign the controversial striker on loan in January.

It is believed that the two clubs are still some distance apart in negotiations for Tevez, with City reportedly demanding €8 million in compensation in case Milan do not exercise their €24m buying option for the striker at the end of the season.

The Argentina international, who is understood to be in exile in his homeland, has been frozen out of City's squad after allegedly refusing to warm up in the Champions League group game against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in September



Carlitos Tevez - Manchester City
SOURCE: GOAL.COM
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Honda to lazio: deal completed

Keisuke Honda to join Lazio in €14 million transfer from CSKA Moscow.

The 2011 Asian Cup's most valuable player is to join the Serie A giants, after reported interest from the likes of Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus fell through

Japan and CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda is to join Serie A side Lazio in a €14 million transfer, ending weeks of speculation.

According to Sports Nippon, the 25-year-old has agreed terms with the Rome outfit and will join the club pending a medical.

Lazio will formally announce the signing once the Italian side fulfills its quota on non-European Union players.

Yesterday, Honda met with Lazio president Claudio Lotito in Rome after arriving from Barcelona, where he was undergoing rehabilitation on his injured right knee, the newspaper writes.

The move ends weeks of speculation in which several major English clubs including Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa were reported to have shown an interest in Honda during the Asian Cup in January last year.

In June 2011, Juventus reportedly held talks with CSKA Moscow over the midfielder, who was also linked with Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the month.

Honda spent four years at J-League side Nagoya Grampus until 2007, followd by a two-year spell at Dutch club VVV Venlo. He joined CSKA in January 2010, signing a four-year deal, and became the first Japanese player to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League later that year.




SOURCE: goal.com

Boko Haram warns sultan

Members of the boko haram sect has issued a direct order to the sultan of sokoto ALHAJI MOHAMMED SAID ABUBAKAR 111 to intervene in the release of its members held at various prisons across the state or put the lives of his citizens at risk.

The message given to the newsmen in maidugiri by boko haram spokesman Abu Qaqa reads:

This is an open message to the Sultan(Emir) of sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Said Abubakar, the speaker of the house of representative, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, and the acting governor of the state.

Before we visited kano, we wrote open letters to the senior citizens there on the imperative of releasing our members but nobody cares to talk. Indeed we sent three warnings to kano.

What happened in kano would be inevitable in sokoto unless you intervene and secure the immediate and unconditional release of our members who were specifically arrested in the city of sokoto last week thursday.

The spokesman also went against the suggestion of dialogue by the president saying, "our people are being trailed and killed on one hand and on the other hand, they are asking us to give up arms and come out. This is impossible "
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

Enugu state place commisioner says boko haram suspects would not be released

Enugu state police commissioner Danazumi job, maintained that the 25 suspects brought from nsukka and claimed they were hunters would not be released until detailed and thorough investigation has been carried out. The suspects were arrested from opuje between Nsukka and kogi on their way to uzo-uwani at the early hours on friday.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

3 suspected armed robbers dead in a shootout with policemen

Delta state police confirmed that the 3 men were part of the gang that killed over ten policemen in various attacks in the state and looting their weapons. The three men were seen to carry out their robbery in military uniforms, and were nabbed by the marine police in warri during which one of the robbers disclosed that the uniforms was given to them by a serving soldier.

The police and the robbers were engaged in a gun battle in which two of the robbers were killed on the spot, and the third who escaped with bullet wounds was later found dead in the swamp yesterday.


Source- vanguard


EDITOR
My question is that if they were all found dead, when did the robbers mention that a serving soldier gave them the uniform?? Perhaps through the spirit....
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

PSG COMPLETES SIGNING OF CHELSEA'S ALEX

The Brazilian fell out of favour with Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas and has now been reunited with Carlo Ancelotti, having signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Ligue 1 club

Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed the signing of Alex from Chelsea for a reported fee of €6 million.

After completing a medical in the French capital on Friday morning, the Brazilian defender was officially presented to the media at a press conference at 16:30CET and he wasted little time in outlining the reasons behind his departure from Stamford Bridge.

"Basically, I had not played much in the last two months and I wanted to leave Chelsea," Alex told reporters.

"Finally, we began to negotiate with PSG and everything went very well.

"I know the fame of the club, so I wanted to come. And I spent two years with [PSG coach] Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea. I wanted to play again with him."

Former Blues boss Ancelotti had stated earlier in the day that he was thrilled with having been reunited with the 29-year-old centre-back.

"It was a good opportunity because of his price and his desire to come to PSG," the Italian coach explained.

"I know him very well. He's a fantastic player and a great guy. He has extensive experience as he played in the Dutch league, English league, the Brazil national team and many Champions League matches.

"He's a great professional and I think he will have a great season."

The Premier League outfit originally signed Alex from Santos but he spent three years on loan at PSV Eindhoven before finally arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2007.

He proved a reliable performer for Chelsea but fell out of favour at Stamford Bridge following the arrival of Andre Villas-Boas as manager last summer.




Source: goal.com
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

Ghana close to qualifying after seeing off Eagles of Mali

Match Reports (goal) Ghana 2-0 Mali

Ghana are closer to qualifying for the quarter-final of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after having beaten Mali 2-0 courtesy of goals from Asamoah Gyan and Andre Ayew at the Franceville Stadium on Saturday.

Both goals came in the second half after the sides had battled it out in a tense but physical first half that saw few attempts on goal.

Al Ain marksman Gyan finally broke the deadlock in a tight game with a superb curling free kick that flew over the Malian wall and landed in the top left corner of goalkeeper Soumbeila Diakite's goal.

The Eagles came close to equalising in the 67th minute through Modibo Maiga when he jumped above the Black Stars defence but his header shaved the top of goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey's post to leave Ghana in the lead.

The climax of the second west African derby in Group D arrived in the 73rd minute when a back heel from Gyan set up Olympique Marseille's Ayew, who brilliantly turned two of his markers inside out and curled a low shot into the corner of the goal to beat shot-stopper Diakite and double the lead of the four-time African champions.
    
Both teams started off with a great deal of respect to each other. It was a game characterised by tensed moments and physical challenges as both sides made few attempts on goal in the first half.

The first real chance surfaced when Ghana's midfield creative force Kwadwo Asamoah unleashed a thunderbolt, which was parried by the Malian goalkeeper and Sulley Muntari's rebound was off target.

The Udinese play-maker Asamoah was once again on hand for the Black Stars when he turned one of the Eagles' defenders inside out, but his left-footed shot was off target.

It was a half full of fouls and close marking as the two west African countries looked determined to outdo each other.

With about seven minutes left before the interval, Cheick Tidiane Diabate took a breathtaking free kick that slammed off one post and onto the other despite Ghana shot-stopper Kwarasey spreading wide to cover the bottom right corner of his post. Abdou Traore was unlucky with his rebound under pressure, which was hit high above the intended target.

The two goals in the second half broke the silence at the Franceville Stadium in Gabon and arrived at the right time for the Black Stars.

The win gives Ghana a better chance of moving to the next stage of the continental showpiece, as they now top the group on six points, with Mali and Guinea on three and Botswana yet to register a positive result

Source: goal.com
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

Madrid comes from behind to snatch all points

Real Madrid 3-1 Zaragoza: League leaders come from goal behind as Kaka, Ronaldo & Ozil strike to seal victory

Jose Mourinho's men came from a goal down to put Manolo Jimenez's men to the sword at home, with the three attackers all getting on the scoresheet in the 3-1 victory

Match report( goal)

Real Madrid survived an early scare against Zaragoza to come back and earn a comfortable 3-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday evening, with Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil all getting on the scoresheet for the hosts.

Angel Lafita gave the visitors a shock lead on 11 minutes after some slack defensive play from Los Blancos, yet Kaka got his side back on level terms in the 32nd minute.

The home side were 2-1 up not long after the break when Ronaldo scored from close range before Ozil completed the scoring with a powerful finish in the area.

Mourinho's side head eight points clear of rivals Barcelona who visit Villarreal later in the evening while Zaragoza remain bottom after extending their winless run in the league to 13 games.

Madrid forged the first opportunity of the game in the sixth minute when Cristiano Ronaldo's precise cross into the box was inexplicably headed wide of goal from four yards out by Karim Benzema.

Despite their bright start to the game, Madrid found themselves a goal down five minutes later after some poor defending. Carlos Aranda was allowed time and space to make a run into the box before the forward played a low ball along the six-yard line for Angel Lafita to tap into an empty net - his third goal at the Santiago Bernabeu after his double last season.

In the 26th minute, Mourinho's men came close to an equaliser from a set-piece. Mesut Ozil whipped an inviting ball into the box which was met by Kaka's flicked header that narrowly crept wide of the top corner with Roberto at full stretch.

However, the home side did not have to wait long to draw back level and on 32 minutes, the goal arrived. Ricardo Carvalho's defensive-splitting pass fell to the feet of Kaka who took a composed touch before stroking the ball into the net, despite Roberto's best attempts at keeping it out.

A determined Madrid side came out for the second half and in the 49th minute the hosts grabbed the lead. After a slick passing move, Esteban Granero slid the ball to Ozil who cut the back across the six-yard line for Ronaldo to slam home - a goal reminiscent of Zaragoza's opener.

Seven minutes later Mourinho's team extended their lead with another well-executed team goal. Granero and Kaka both linked up impressively before the Brazilian found Ozil in the box, who smashed the ball past Roberto at his near post for the German's first league goal of the season and the final goal of the game.

Madrid are back in Liga action next weekend when they travel to local rivals Getafe while Zaragoza are due to entertain Rayo Vallecano

Source: goal.com
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

Fw: Chelsea through to 5th round in FA cup as liverpool send man.utd packing

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

-----Original Message-----
From: chibuzor_obasi@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:41:02
To: <chibuzorobasi.football@blogger.com>
Reply-To: chibuzor_obasi@yahoo.com
Subject: Chelsea through to 5th round in FA cup as liverpool send man.utd packing

QPR 0-1 Chelsea: Controversial Juan Mata penalty settles derby to send Blues through in FA Cup while rivals Man utd were ousted by late dirk kuyt strike.

QPR VS CHELSEA (MATCH REPORT: goal)

After a forgettable first half, Mata delivered the telling goal from the spot on the 62nd minute to put Chelsea's name in the hat for the fifth round draw.

The winning goal was shrouded in controversy though as referee Mike Dean deemed Clint Hill's push on Daniel Sturridge in the box enough to warrant a penalty, much to the disbelief of the home fans.

The game started brightly with Ashley Cole's crunching tackle setting the tone for the game. However any hopes of a feisty west London clash quickly diminished as Chelsea settled into their stride. QPR found it hard to gain and retain possession as the away side stroked the ball across the Loftus Road pitch.

Mata had the first real chance of the game in the 12th minute, pouncing on Luke Young's slip to drive at the heart of the QPR defence. His shot from just inside the area was on target but close enough to Paddy Kenny to have it parried away for a corner.

The first half saw few chances as both teams cautiously worked their way into the game. David Luiz's overhead kick from a Terry flick-on required a much more deft touch to trouble Kenny's goal.

Shaun Wright-Phillips was booked for a lunge borne more from frustration at a loose touch than genuine malice and that summed up an opening period that offered supporters little cheer.

Chelsea were reduced to shots from range as Fernando Torres drifted wide in search of the ball and it nearly paid off as Raul Meireles found room on the edge of the box to take a touch on his thigh and volley the ball at goal. The well-struck shot fizzed wide of Kenny's right-hand post.

There were moments of magic though and the most notable invariably came from Mata, whose backheel on 40 minutes played Ramires into the right channel of the box. For the Spaniard's good work, the Brazilian fluffed his lines, over-hitting his cross well past the waiting Florent Malouda at the back post.

Half-time led to Mark Hughes making one change, introducing Manchester United loanee Federico Macheda for the largely innocuous Heider Helguson but Villas-Boas' team provided the early threats on goal.

Torres' fine work inside the right corner of the box saw him elude two QPR defenders and feed Sturridge marginally behind him. The young English striker's powerful first-time left foot strike looked to be headed in but rose just over Kenny's crossbar.

Chelsea's intent was obvious and Luiz combined to a more positive start to the half, roaming to the edge of the box before unleashing his drive just wide.

Then came the minute of drama. QPR produced their first glimmer of threat as Macheda and Wright-Phillips teamed up to unlock the Chelsea defence. As Cole was left on his heels, Wright-Phillips nipped down the right channel but his flashed drive across goal was beaten away by Petr Cech.

The Chelsea break, perhaps stirred by the QPR chance, showed intent but it was smothered in controversy. As Mata cut back and crossed towards Sturridge, the striker felt contact from Hill and tumbled in the box. Referee Mike Dean had no hesitation in pointing to the spot amid boos from the home support, who had presumed Sturridge was guilty of simulation.

Regardless, Mata composed himself before striding towards the penalty spot and sending Kenny the wrong way to give Chelsea the lead in front of the away support

LIVERPOOL VS MAN UTD(match report: goal)

Daniel Agger opened the scoring for the Reds, heading home a Steven Gerrard corner, but Park Ji-sung brought the visitors level shortly before half-time.

United enjoyed plenty of possession in midfield but struggled to find their way past the Liverpool defence and they were punished when Kuyt provided the decisive strike.

Tensions between the two clubs had been high prior to this match following the fallout of their last meeting at Anfield, but while Patrice Evra was booed by the home fans throughout, the game itself proved a low-key affair until Kuyt's dramatic winner.

Kenny Dalglish opted to remove, Kuyt, Craig Bellamy, Glen Johnson and Charlie Adam from the team that beat Manchester City in the League Cup on Wednesday. Instead Andy Carroll started in attack, with Maxi Rodriguez replacing Kuyt on the right wing. Martin Kelly came in at right-back, with Jamie Carragher providing a defensive presence in central midfield.

Wayne Rooney failed to recover from injury in time for the tie, so Sir Alex Ferguson added an extra man in midfield in the form of Paul Scholes while Park replaced the injured Nani on the left wing.

Chances from distance for Rodriguez and Ryan Giggs aside, the battle of the opening 15 minutes took place largely in midfield. In terrific form but without his partner in crime, Nani, on the opposite flank, Antonio Valencia would be relied upon as a primary creative force for United on the right-hand side and he burst past Rodriguez before thumping a 20-yard shot against Pepe Reina's far post.

United goalkeeper David De Gea has sometimes looked uncertain when dealing with high balls into the penalty area this season and Liverpool were determined to exploit that potential weakness from the first minute. Each set-piece saw the Spaniard crowded by three or four red shirts and he was left stranded when Gerrard curled a corner into the six-yard box that Agger rose to head home.

The away side dominated the ball for long periods from that point, patiently probing for a gap to take advantage of in the Liverpool defence. They found it when Valencia's flick drew Jose Enrique and Rafael into a race for the ball that the Brazilian won. The right-back cut a cross back into the penalty area into the path of Park, who hammered a first-time shot beyond Reina.

Agger and Chris Smalling both survived handball appeals in their own area early in the second half; the home side's claim on the latter incident was strongest, but both were from close range and neither could be judged as deliberate.

Match details drafted from goal.com

Diego forlan pledges future to inter

Inter striker Diego Forlan has committed his future to the club after announcing his intention to see out the entirety of his two-year contract at San Siro.

The 32-year-old has scored just one goal in nine matches since his arrival from Atletico Madrid last summer, leading to speculation over his future after so far failing to replicate the impact of Samuel Eto'o, who departed for Anzhi Makhachkala in the summer.

However, in response to the rumours, Forlan assured that he will stay put with the Nerazzurri until 2013, after speaking of his admiration for boss Claudio Ranieri, before eventually bringing the curtain down on his career in South America.

"I still have several years of my contract remaining and I will respect them," Forlan told Il Cacha.

"I want to stay in Europe a little longer after that and then, permitting my physical condition, I will return to South America.

"[Ranieri] is a coach of great experience, I have a good relationship with him."

An injury-hit campaign followed, as the oft-prolific striker netted just eight Liga goals in 32 appearances, although he did manage to salvage some form during last year's Copa America. Forlan, meanwhile, is adamant his setbacks are nothing out of the ordinary.

"Those are things that happen," continued the forward. "I know that I will be faced with different types of injuries, but if you analyse previous years, my fitness has been very positive.

"First I had the Copa America to deal with, then the move to Inter straight after. However, you must not forget the fact that I've always done the best I can, regardless of whether it was a good year or bad.

"Of course [not playing has affected me], especially because I am at a new team and I want to play. In the past, I had always started playing for a new club immediately.

"It is only natural that the years pass and after consecutive matches, you feel more and more tired, but it is normal. However one thing is certain: Diego does not want to hang up his boots."

"I want to go to the Olympic Games, but I also know that Oscar Tabarez has the final decision. My desire is there, but I know that many of us are targeting the Games," he said.

Reports in Italy have also claimed that Inter midfielder McDonald Mariga is set to cut his loan spell at Real Sociedad short and complete his move back to Parma on Monday

Source: Goal

Fw: Supreme Court sacks Bayelsa, Adamawa, Sokoto, C/River, Kogi State Governors

------Original Message------
To: chibuzorobasi.vandetta@blogger.com
Subject: Supreme Court sacks Bayelsa, Adamawa, Sokoto, C/River, Kogi State Governors
Sent: Jan 28, 2012 8:04 AM

The Supreme Court has in a judgement delivered, Friday morning, sacked Governors Liyel Imoke, Murtala Nyako, Ibrahim Idris, Wamako and Temipre Silva of Cross River, Adamawa, Kogi, Sokoto and Bayelsa states from office.

The court in Abuja held that the tenures of the governors started to count from the time they took their oath of office after emerging winners in their respective state governorship elections in 2007 and not from the period they took their second oaths of office after emerging winners of the re-run elections when there initial elections were nullified.

The apex court held that the trial court as well as the Court of Appeal erred in law when the considered the actions taken by the respective governors before their elections were nullified by the various Election Petition Tribunals as valid on one hand while discounting the time they spent doing those valid actions from their constitutionally prescribed tenure of office.

The court held that the provisions of that section of the Constitution will stand violated if the tenure of office of the Governors is calculated from their second taking of Oath of Office and the Oath of Allegiance and stated that their tenure started counting from their first Oath of office which they all took after they were declared winners of the April 2007 elections and that they are entitled to four year terms from that date.

The court also rapped the Peoples Democratic party for attempting to abort the hearing of the matter at the court through their preliminary objections filed against all the consolidated appeals. The party had argued that the subject matter of the appeals have become academic and should be dismissed.



Source- Information Nigeria.



Question: Should these states be left without, would it not increase Boko Haram sect crime attacks?

Leave your thought via comments.

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.