Gambari’s Appointment Confirmed, Attends Virtual Federal Executive Council Meeting

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May 13, 2020

By Uche Mbah

The new Chief of Staff to President Buhari Wednesday attended the Federal Executive Council Meeting, the first since he was appointed by President Buhari.

Since the ravaging COVID 19, FEC meetings have been held virtually, with attendees joining through the Web.

It was during the meeting that the secretary to the government, Boss Mustapha, introduced the new Chief of staff.

In his verified twitter handle, @BashirAhmaad, the assistant to President Buhari on new media announced this.

“President @MBuhari is currently presiding over the virtual Federal Executive Council (vFEC) Meeting at the State House, Abuja, the New Chief of Staff, Amb. Ibrahim Gambari in attendance”, he twitted.

Meanwhile, Atiku Abubakar, the PDP flagbearer in the 2019 presidential elections, has congratulated Gambari on his appointment as Chief of staff to the President.

“Congratulations Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, CFR on your appointment as Chief of Staff to

@MBuhari

. It is my hope and expectation and those of millions of Nigerians that you will deploy your varied skills garnered over the years in the service of our nation. -AA”, he twitted.

Gambari, a Fulani from Kwara state royal house, was a former Foreign Affairs Minister in Nigeria, and a former United Nations representative.

He was said to have been received at the Villa by Presidency officials including the Director of Protocol, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed, and the Permanent Secretary State House, Mallam Tijani Umar.

Others include the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs, Office of the Vice President, Amb. Abdullahi Gwari, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Mallam Garuba Shehu.

There has not been official confirmation from the traditional media spokespersons but multiple sources have confirmed his appointment. His participation in the Federal Executive Council meeting, where he was said to have been introduced by the secretary to the government, Boss Mustapha.

Former Super Eagles Striker, Benedict Akwuegbu Regrets Playing for Super Eagles

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The Source

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May 13, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Former Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles and Super Eagles striker, Benedict Akwuegbu, says he regrets donning the Green White Green Jersey of the National Team, the Super Eagles.

The former Sturm Graz Football Club of Austria forward regrets not playing for the Austrian National team. He rejected the offer of playing for the European National side during his active days in professional football.

The 45-year-old said after playing at the U-17, U-20, U-23 and the senior national teams, he deserved more recognition than he is getting from the Nigerian football authorities, lamenting the neglect he gets from the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.

According to him, “It is so sad that after serving my fatherland, the football authorities don’t seem to appreciate or recognise my efforts.

“It makes me regret playing for the Super Eagles. It makes me blame myself, and ask myself why I rejected Austria (officials), who were all over me then to play for their national team, which I turned down in preference to Nigeria.

“If I knew I would be treated this way, perhaps I would have been wiser. But then, that is the prize I had to pay for being patriotic, holding tight to my love for the green and white colours of Nigeria.

“Till today, Austria still shows me love, they still recognise me to the point that I now wonder how it would have been if I had taken up their nationality and represented them at the senior level”, Akwuegbu lamented.

Akwuegbu stressed that he was just being honest to his conscience, but basically not against the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation.

He applauded the NFF leadership for doing their best and obviously they cannot carry everyone along.

He added that despite the inability of the NFF to address all issues bothering on the round leather game, he is of the opinion that the field is large enough for them to increase the team (coaches) number.

“You have the Super Eagles, U-23, Flying Eagles, and U-17. You also have the women Super, Falconets and Flamingoes, you can appoint one ex-international to each of these teams, by so doing, nobody will complain. You have ex-Eagles stars like Taribo West and others who gave their all to Nigeria but not recognised now or engaged. It is not fair”, he suggested.

Akwuegbu was part of the Golden Eaglets side to the U-17 World Cup in Scotland in 1989, before stints with the Flying Eagles and the U-23 team.

He was also in the Eagles squad to the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations, and the 2000 Sydney Olympics Games in Australia, before making the squad to the Japan/Korea 2002 FIFA World Cup, playing the last group game against England.

Probe: PDP Says Okorocha Spent N16b Of Money; Ihedioha Goes To Court; Denied Of Application To Stop Probe

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The Source

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May 13, 2020

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By Adesina Soyooye

Even as an Owerri High Court denied granting former Imo State Governor, the Rt Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, an ex parte application to stop the Imo State House of Assembly, which is probing him over an allegation of misapplying the sum of N19.63b, during his tenure in office, his party, the PDP is up in arms in his defence. The party says a whopping sum of N16 billion of the amount was spent by former Governor Okorocha. Meaning: Ihedioha spent a paltry N3.63 billion.

The Imo State Government had, on April 14, endorsed a request by the Auditor General for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs to recover the money allegedly mismanaged by the immediate past administration. It was, the Government accused, taken from the State Local Government Joint Accounts Allocation Committee, JAAC, through the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

But the past Government has vehemently denied the allegation, dismissing it as a smear campaign deliberately aimed at diminishing the integrity of Ihedioha.

The alleged mismanaged money is now a subject of probe by the Public Accounts Committee, PAC, at the IMHA.

But the PDP is crying foul over the constitution of the members of the Committe. The party says no member of the opposition party was included, insisting that by law, such committees ought to be headed by a member of the main opposition party.

However, while the argument was on, Ihedioha took the precaution of approaching an Imo High Court and filed a case against the probe action.

He also filed an ex parte application to stop the IMHA from probing, or inviting him to appear before the Committee.

But Justice Sylvanus Opara, on Monday, dismissed the application, holding that instead of granting the application, the main case should be set for hearing. He, therefore, asked both parties to file their papers for hearing.

The government is being represented by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Cyprian Akaolisa, while Ihedioha’s Counsel is S.A. Anyalewechi.

But citing a misrepresentation of facts, the Imo State PDP, at a press statement addressed by its Secretary, Nze Ray Emeana, says Ihedioha had nothing to do with a large chunk of the money. The party rather asked the IMSG to look at its documents again, and towards the direction of Okorocha, who it alleges, N16 billions of the money.

Following are excerpts from the text of PDP’s press statement.

“The Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, has applauded His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON, for approaching the Imo State High Court with a view to seeking redress on the ongoing investigation or “probe” of the purported N19.63 billion missing Local Government funds.

” In the first place, it is important to note that the Interim Audit Report of the Auditor General of LGAs in Imo State covered the period from 1st January, 2019 to December 31, 2019.

“The Interim Report reviewed expenditures of the 27 Local Governments of Imo State within this period and queried various officers, and MDAs to explain various expenditures totaling, 19.63 billion Naira.

“It is instructive to note that H.E. Rochas Okorocha was the Imo State Governor from January 1, 2019 to May 28, 2019. Whereas, H.E. Rt . Hon Emeka Ihedioha was the Imo State Governor from May 29, 2019 to December 31st 2019 that the Interim Audit Report covered.

“It should be noted that of the N19.63 billion LGA expenditures in question, approximately N16 billion was expended between January 1 to May 28 2019, during the administration of Rochas Okorocha. It was only the sum of approximately N3.7 billion that was spent by the 27 LGAs between May 29, 2019 to December 31,2019 during the administration of Governor Ihedioha.

“So, effectively it is the expenditure of N3.7 billion that the LGAs during the administration of Gov Ihedioha should explain and account for, not N19.63 billion as is being claimed and bandied about everywhere, by the current Commissioner of Information acting on behalf of Governor Hope Uzodinma of APC. The remaining sum of approximately N16 billion should be accounted for by the regime of Former Governor Rochas Okorocha.

“It was, therefore, surprising and smells of kangaroo proceedings for the Imo State House Of Assembly to purport to invite officials of government during Gov. Ihedioha’s period of service to come to the House of Assembly to explain the whereabouts of the so called missing N19.63 billion. Indeed, the debate of the motion to investigate the interim audit report at the House of Assembly showed extreme bias and a clear premeditated case of witch-hunt, without any pretense to impartiality and objectivity.

“The matter was referred to the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Assembly, that had no single member of the PDP as a Committee member. The Minority Caucus of the PDP in the State House Of Assembly petitioned the Speaker to reconstitute the Committee and not only include PDP members but to make a PDP member Chairman as has been the precedent, convention and procedures in the Imo House of Assembly , some time in the past, in the National Assembly since 1999, in most of the State Houses of Assembly in the Federation and indeed most of the Commonwealth. This is to ensure fairness and transparency. Mr Speaker refused.

“It was also clear that the condition precedent for the House of Assembly to assume jurisdiction to investigate the Interim Auditor’s Report had not been met.

“Under these circumstances it became imperative for His Excellency, to seek the intervention of the Court following obvious breaches in the processes and procedures of the purported probe.

“His Excellency, Ihedioha, would want the Court to determine whether the procedure for investigation is consistent with sections 128, 129 and even 125 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Imo State Local Government Administration Law, Section 129 (1), that contained the procedures for the auditing of Public Accounts of Local Governments.

“It is, also, imperative for the Court to clarify whether the composition of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Imo State House of Assembly for the investigation is in line with the relevant extant laws, parliamentary rules, conventions and procedures. And whether fair hearing would be afforded His Excellency.

“From the foregoing, it is evident and incontrovertible that Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has no intention of stopping or evading any investigation or “probe” of the N19.63 billion Auditors Interim Report by the Imo Legislature. Rather, he is out to establish that the rule of law , due process and FairPlay are applied in the entire process.

“We note that the current regime, having failed to convict Rt. Hon. Ihedioha in the media trial it has been waging, now wants to exploit the option of the legislature to achieve their sinister plan of establishing an infraction where there is none. Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha has nothing to fear, is not afraid of accounting for his stewardship to the people of Imo State that elected him. But he will not sit idly by and condone deliberate twisting of facts in a kangaroo trial with a meditated and predetermined outcome.

“Let the facts and truth prevail.”

Rivers: CLCC Condemns Wike For Brutality, Demands AGF’s Intervention

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Bayo Bernard

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May 13, 2020

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By Tosin Olatokunbo

A rights group, Centre for Law and Civil Culture, CLCC has called on the Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike to stop desecrating the sanctity of his office.

The call came on the crest of alleged human rights violations by the state government, most especially, the recent demolition of two hotels in Port Harcourt, the state’s capital, for allegedly violating the governor’s Executive Order on the containment of Corona virus.

CLCC has joined other well meaning Nigerians and rights bodies in the country who have virulently condemned the governor for the demolition and other extra judicial acts committed by his government.

According to a statement signed by Abdul Ganeey Imran Esq, Executive Secretary and Deborah Okpanachi, Publicity Secretary, the human rights body said it has become habitual for Governor Wike to take law into his hands against the spirit of the nation’s extant law.

According to the group “the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike desecrates the prestigious office of the governor when he personally took law into his hand by supervising, monitoring, directing and ensuring the demolition of private hotels of innocent citizens of Rivers state who were alleged to have violated the lockdown order/directives in Rivers state.

This untoward action is nothing but an ‘act of executive recklessness’. The CLCC therefore, condemn this in very strong terms and advise the Governor Wike to desist from any further act of lawlessness, it is a jungle justice which is unknown to our law.

The body further stated that “the action of Rivers State Governor in this circumstance, could be likened to the attitude of hooligans who usually takes law into their hands and could at will, set ablaze armed robbery suspect without giving them rooms to be heard, a case that at best, could be likened to extra judicial killings.”

CLCC said the governor as a lawyer should know better that jungle justice does not have a place in the nation’s constitution.

Therefore, the governor, should know, for instance, that he “cannot kill a citizen simply because he witnessed how that citizens killed his fellow citizens, the proper approach would have been for the governor to insist on the rule of law to be followed.

The twin pillar of natural justice has always been audialterampartemand nemo judex in causa sua, which explains that you must hear the other party and you cannot be a judge in your own cause.

It’s obvious in this case that Governor Wike has violated and contravened these twin pillars of justice,” CLCC said.

The defense put up by the state’s helmsman is purely an afterthought which is unsustainable and indefensible under the nation’s law, it stated, calling on the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC and the Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice to immediately wade into the issue, to stop Governor Wike and security agencies from further “violating the constitutional rights of our dear citizens across the country, in the name of containing COVID 19.”

CBN, Donors Raise N127bn Against COVID 19

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Bayo Bernard

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May 13, 2020

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By Fola James

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has set up a N100 billion intervention fund for the production of a home grown vaccine to fight Corona virus in the country, Governor Godwin Emefiele has said.

The amount has brought to total N127 billion so far raised from both the private and public sectors against the novel virus.

The apex bank Governor who spoke at the commissioning of the ThisDay Dome Testing, Treating, Tracing and isolation centre in Abuja on Tuesday, disclosed that the fund will be granted to support researchers and science-based institutions and biotechnology firms to produce a home grown COVID 19 vaccine for the containment of the pandemic.

Emefiele said the Coalition Against COVID-19, (CACOVID), a private sector initiative in the fight against the virus has already raised over N27billion to fund this initiative, but added that the N100 billion will further the production of a vaccine.

He explained that the donation received so far is being used to build well-equipped isolation centres across the 36 states of the federation.

According to him “The ThisDay Dome Testing, Treating, Tracing and Isolation Centre being launched today, represents a part of the support being provided by the CACOVID alliance.

So far, CACOVID has equipped and handed over isolation centres in Rivers, Enugu, Kwara, Ondo and Borno

More isolation centres, Emefiele stated, will be built to expand the treatment of COVID 19 as ‘’It is expected that other isolation centres will be handed over in the other states of the country including FCT, by May 23rd 2020. As part of measures put in place to cushion the effect of the COVID-19, CACOVID has provided food items to poor and Indigents Nigerians.’’

When Udala Grows at St Peter’s Square

By

Uche Mbah

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May 13, 2020

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By Uche Mbah

Book: Udala

Author: Obu Udeozo

Publisher: Fab educational Books, Jos

Number of pages: 107

Reviewer: Uche Mbah

In Udala, Obu Udeozo crystalizes bonding spun from yarns on spiritual distaff-and immediately lands on his buttocks when he heard the call of the Udala elf. But that is only part of the story.

The other half of the story was already told by the poet himself when he broke his own rule to provide “ex Cathedra commentary” on his work. It is not that the Poet lied but, dogged by the shadow of Infallibility, he went ahead to provide a front page glossary of local idioms that may become obfuscating Shibboleths to none native speakers of Igbo language. He celebrated life as a dance under the shade of local spices and celestial mystery-like Alexander Pope’s mock-epic poems where the trivial and the regal hold pride of place.

That, in itself, is the message of Udala: nothing is so insignificant that it does not merit attention. Thus when he in awe drools about the only Source of Infinite Intelligence, God, from whose “skirl/of mystic lights/and the spoken WORD/rocks, rivers and fruits/flow into/their millennial grid”-a rather prancing lampoon on the West Ponente, Bernini’s “Breath of God” at St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City-this is seen as a deliberate extension of the ex-cathedra metaphor.

That he prefaced the collection of Poems with a poem dedicated to himself and went ahead to make it the title theme shows his struggle to anchor the taproot of his seeking heart in his native soil while feeding the leaves of beauty in hyperbole-beauty, not in terms of pancake and catwalk but of sinews and sentinels. Thus in lightning, for example, he could not resist the Breath-Of-God metaphor: Bolt’s “farewell/symphonies” flashed past like “match Flare/in wind’s breath…” even though he pierced through the entire narrative with “gunshots”. Udeozo has proved an accomplished artist with a brush of white chalk and ink-fed feather poetic sculptor.

This is actually true in metaphor and song. He is an artist-literally-and mold his poetry with the dexterity of an African potter sitting on her coiled legs under the protection of the elf of an Udala tree. And the patterns must conform to the Universal, like a flint of shots from Michelle Obi’s bidders: “bidding eternity of cowries/over allegorical maidens/ with luscious aroma/of satellite and vermillion clouds/at your feet”-a cross-cultural bride price of dribble and passes.

He closed the “Akamgba” strophe with a Greek chorus of the refrain: “after chewing darkness/for seven years-like a catechumenical refrain which he was forced to chant carrying fire and water in the same mouth, a burden of “the seven tongues of fire/of poison, smiles, and holocaust”. His restless quest for the recognition of the infinite: “our precious LORD/mailed resurrection as proud witness/of the splendor of Christ/over calculations/culture and human clock” tares him with brushes that evoke the image of a poetic eagle on the wings of Pablo Neruda’s reluctant obsession with death.

For one who equates to Neruda’s voice-over (at least in an inclination of some of his strophes), he names names in his eulogies of simple folks pursuing their talents. The roll call is a mixed grill of cross-functionality-Chukwuma Soludo, Obiagaeli Ezekwesili, Mallam el-Rufai, Stephanie Okereke, and some heroines he plucked from obscurity-Lucy Maria Uzo, Patricia Dogun and Omolara. But he was careful to separate them into two groups-Uziza and mkpulu ose ora. While those he grouped under Uziza are socially spicy, they are the porridge of soup and spiced essence. But the Mkpulu ose ora group are self announcing-as, for example, El-Rufai, whom he described as mba ana abalu agu-the leopard who shrugs off all vituperations against him. The activities must not always be edifying. For example, El-Rufai presided over a period when “mortuary chorus of caterpillars” force “frying pans, bank drafts, duplexes, Corner shops, Pam oil, electronics, Markets, kerosines and fabrics/ kneel before metallic Herod’s furnace of tears…” in his usual mock-epic style. But Soludo he weighs on a scale, balancing his goofs with his angelic works-goofs because he was a reluctant “Jonah’s Whale/inhaling God’s WORD…” and one who soothes our pains: “Our nerves are rinsed/by a strange melody/in this balm of angels…” For Dora Akunyili, the “Agulu goddess”, under whose watch “local sanctuaries of Wolves/in Kano, Onitsha and Port Harcourt/became sweet-smelling offerings/feeding the flames/of our LORD’s wrath”. She invokes the “mba ana abalu agu” monicker in a different milieu. For him, Akunyili belongs to Tennyuson’s Light Brigade: “Into the valley of death/rode the six hundred…”

Somewhat in the same light he viewed Obiageli Ezekwesili, whom he saw as “the real, real Juliet/and global rose” whose name is etched among the global register of indelible deeds. He concluded this part with an elegy to Keats, the single solitary sage saddled in non-African bridle. To him, Keats was “Vice President to Shakespear”. Enough said.

In the last strophe, he picked up the thread of West Ponente again, this time bringing out cymbals, lutes, trumpets, and, of course, the Long drum. Songs of “the WORD” breastfeeding our blindness opens our ears to the “idioms from Hellfire, spelling “hot” with a tongue forked into three. Here, the Jeremiah complex rules-the work could easily replace the book of lamentations. In his words, the prevailing deaths and murders are simply “cruel harvests/secretaries” awaiting “our savior Christ”. Prophesies are unheeded in a recalcitrant “ana agwa nti crisis”-the deaf-mute fatalists in the symbolism of fired spices.

Even the glimmer of hope in Africa, George Weah, has little impact when Nigeria is bedeviled with a crisis of apocalyptic proportions. Yet, sometimes lost for words in the description of what only the heart can see, he resorts to picture poetry-illustrations of the book of revelations with the intensity of the pictured lightning tearing holes in the pages and the mushroom of armageddon exposing the book of life. The dark pages of damnation fell below the altitude of Milton’s Paradise lost, while in the blank pages are nameless lost souls…then heaven at last for survivors after “the Trumpet Blasts/ate the earth.” Then follows a description of the glories of heaven: “airborne saints/upon wings of light/wafted solemn rallentando/across the skies…”

There is no gainsaying that Obu Udeozo’s Poetry is deeply etched into his Christian faith, though he leaves feeder roots of Igbo cosmology into that belief. He thus forms a bridge of convenience between the two. Like Angel Gabriel standing with one leg on the sea and one leg on the land to blow his Trumpet, Udeozo bridges the gap between Okigbo and Pablo Neruda…

Two Chinese In Trouble For Offering N100m Bribe To EFCC Top Officer

By

The Source

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May 12, 2020

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Two Chinese Nationals are in deep trouble. Mr Meng Wei Kun and Mr Xu Koi, were, on Monday, arrested by the Sokoto Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for offering the sum of N50, 000,000 (Fifty Million Naira only) as bribe to Mr. Abdullahi Lawal. Lawal is the Commission’s Zonal Head.

According to a statement issued by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity, EFCC, the suspects were arrested on Monday, May 11, 2020 in Sokoto.

The bribe was allegedly offered in a desperate bid to compromise ongoing investigations of a construction company, China Zhonghao Nig. Ltd, which is handling contracts awarded by the Zamfara State Government in the sum of N50,000,000,000.00( Fifty Billion Naira) between 2012 to 2019.

The construction company is being investigated in connection with the execution of contracts for the construction of township roads in Gummi, Bukkuyun, Anka and Nassarawa towns of Zamfara state. There is also the construction of one hundred and sixty eight (168) solar- powered boreholes in the 14 local government areas of the state.

Said the EFCC: “Alarmed by the consistency and professionalism of investigation being conducted, the company reached out to Lawal with an offer of N100,000,000( One Hundred Million Naira) as bribe to “bury” the matter.

“In a grand design to trap the corrupt officials, Lawal played along, and on Monday, two representatives of the company, Meng Wei Kun and Xu Kuoi, offered him cash totaling fifty million naira in their office along airport road, Sokoto. The cash was offered as a first installment.”

The suspects were promptly arrested with the cash as an evidence.

Investigation of the construction company was informed, the Commission said, by intelligence reports which alleged conspiracy, misappropriation of public funds, embezzlement, official corruption, abuse of office, stealing and money laundering against the Zamfara state government through inflated and uncompleted contracts awarded to the company.

Investigations have so far revealed that China Zounghao Ltd has received payments of over N41, 000, 000, 000.00 (Forty One Billion Naira) from the Zamfara state government, out of which about N16, 000, 000, 000. 00 (Sixteen Billion Naira) equivalent to over $53,000,000.00( Fifty Three Million US Dollars) was allegedly diverted and traced to some bureau de change operators

Oyewale disclosed that the suspects would be charged to court soon.

Covid-19: FIFA Postpones Female Under-17 World Cup Due To Coronavirus

By

The Source

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May 12, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

World Soccer Governing Body, Federation International Football Association, FIFA, has postponed the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup scheduled to take place in India.

The Soccer body had to postpone the tournament due to the outbreak of coronavirus disease.

The match scheduled to hold in India, November was, on Tuesday, postponed till next year.

The tournament to be played in five cities across the country, will now start Feb 17, football’s governing body said.

India is looking to boost its international standing as a host of top sporting events after holding the men’s Under-17 World Cup in 2017.

“All the host cities have put in a lot of effort and commitment so far, and we are happy that the new dates will allow them to make up for the lost time and provide momentum going forward,” the local organising committee said after the FIFA announcement.

FIFA also unveiled new dates for this year’s U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica and Panama.

The games would be played from Jan 20 to Feb 6, 2021

E -Money, Emeka Okonkwo, Under Investigation; Police Queries Lifestyle, Abuse Of Orderly

By

The Source

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May 12, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Nobody can put a finger to what exactly sparked off the investigation. But flamboyant, young money-man, popular as E-money, is in trouble.

Okonkwo is, allegedly, being investigated by the police on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Mohamed Adamu.

Reports say the IGP was embarrassed by the number of Policemen – six – attached to Okonkwo, and wondered how he got them. He has, therefore, ordered an investigation and the withdrawal of the Policemen.

But according to reports, Okonkwo may have triggered his problem by his lifestyle. Reportedly very rich, he lives his life to the fullest.

But his problem may have started by his alleged misuse of the Policemen attached to him. Unconfirmed reports claim he reduced them to domestic servants, doing menial jobs for him, including opening doors and shielding him with umbrellas.

Confirming the withdrawal of the Policemen, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Lagos State Command, DSP Bala Elkana, told The Punch on Tuesday, ” I can confirm that E-Money’s policemen have been withdrawn. We were ordered to do so, and the directive has been complied with. I do not know the reason for the order at this time.

Okonkwo is the Chairman of Five Star Group, and a brother to Musician, Kingsley Okonkwo, popular as K-Cee.

It is Untrue, No U.S. Judge Okayed Nigeria’s Request To Access My Bank Account – Jonathan

By

The Source

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May 12, 2020

0

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has faulted reports the Media to the effect that a Judge in the US has granted the Nigerian Government’s request to investigate his bank accounts in the US.

In a statement signed on his behalf by his Special Assistant on Media, Ike Eze, the former President admitted that a subpoena was granted, but said it is of no effect at all because there is no such account anywhere in the world, either in his name or in the name of proxies.

The statement reads:

“Our attention has been drawn to reports in some online news sources that a New York federal judge, Lorna Schofield, has granted access to US bank accounts of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We wish to state that these reports are misleading and untrue.

“Yes, Judge Lorna Schofield has granted the subpoena applied for by the Federal Government of Nigeria seeking to verify if former President Jonathan, and other named persons, have bank accounts in the United States of America.

“No, the court did not grant access to the bank accounts of former President Jonathan, because the former President has no bank accounts in the United States, or any other country in the world, either in his name or in the name of privies.

“It will be recalled that when the news of the subpoena broke last month, we did not only restate the fact that former President Jonathan has no accounts in the United States but also urged the US authorities to grant Nigeria’s application by providing the requested bank records.

“It is expedient to mention that the subpoena was approved several days ago. Consequently, we urge those who implemented the subpoena to tell Nigerians and the world whether or not they found any bank accounts in the name of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we will continue to reiterate that whether in or out of office, former President Jonathan does not have any property or bank account outside Nigeria.

“Finally, be it known to the public that interested journalists can themselves make a Freedom of Information application to peruse the documents discovered by this subpoena. This is important because Nigerians deserve to know the outcome of these investigations.”