Posts

Showing posts from November 7, 2016

Buhari mourns military officers killed by Boko Haram

Image
  President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said the sacrifices of fallen officers and men in the war against terrorism in Nigeria would never go in vain. He said their memories would be eternally etched in the hearts and minds of fellow citizens for whose sake they laid down their lives. According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President was reacting to the death of Col. Abu Ali. Shehu quoted Buhari as saying that he was shocked by the news of the officer’s death along with other gallant soldiers during an encounter with the Boko Haram bandits in Borno State. The President said, “A courageous commander does not only give orders, but also joins his men to fight the battle, no matter the risks or the obvious danger. “The late Colonel Abu Ali was an extraordinary officer who inspired respect and adoration among those he commanded. “One of the greatest attributes of a war hero is the ability to help your troops ov

Naira may not fall below 475, say experts

Image
      Naira Economic and financial experts say the naira may not fall below 475 against the United States dollar between now and end of December. They based the prediction on declining dollar demand and efforts being made by the Central Bank of Nigeria to boost supply of foreign exchange. The experts spoke in separate interviews on the outlook of the naira. “It appears the exchange rate has got to the peak, which is something around 470/dollar. I think  the naira may not go beyond 475/dollar between now and end of December,” a currency strategist at Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Ezun, said. He added that holidaymakers returning to Nigeria for Christmas would also make dollar supply to increase. According to Ezun, this will reduce the currency volatility created by dollar scarcity. The Chief Executive Officer, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, said due to declining economic activities, demand for forex was gradually reducing. This, coupled w

Eden Hazard, Philippe Coutinho, Paul Pogba dazzle in Team of the Weekend

Image
     The ESPN FC crew break down their Premier League Team of the Weekend after the most recent slate of matches.    After each round of Premier League fixtures, ESPN FC brings you its Team of the Weekend. Our panel of experts carefully selects 11 star performers along with a manager.      ESPN FC's Premier League Team of the Week. GK: Victor Valdes came face to face with Pep Guardiola, the man with whom he won two Champions Leagues at Barcelona, and produced a display that recaptured the days when he was part of the best team in European football. Middlesbrough's achievement in snatching a late draw against Guardiola's Man City side was largely because Valdes kept them in the game, something our panel are only too happy to note. Steve Nicol hailed his "important saves early on" while Paul Mariner added that "Valdes made crucial saves to help Boro earn a valuable point." RB: Since a 3-0 defeat against Arsenal on Sept. 24, C

Led by Pogba and Ibrahimovic, Man United break out vs. Swansea

Image
      ESPN FC's Craig Burley talks Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney's influence on United's easy win over Swansea.  SWANSEA, Wales -- Three points from Manchester United's 3-1 win over Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday. 1. United saunter into Swansea   At last, a Manchester United performance full of swagger under Jose Mourinho. There were times at Swansea, especially in the first half, when their passing triangles were reminiscent of the Sir Alex Ferguson era. And their finishing, so hesitant in recent weeks, was at last explosive.  Two summer signings heavily criticised during United's recent malaise made hay against a desperately poor Swansea. Paul Pogba's spectacular 15th-minute goal was rifled in from 25 yards, before Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted in the 21st and 33rd minutes. Swansea staged a fightback over the last 20 minutes after being buoyed by Mike van der Hoorn's 69th-minute header, as some spirit at last revealed itse

Fresh EFCC probe links Obanikoro to Diezani poll cash November 7, 2016

Image
     Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro A former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has been fingered in a new N400m scam . Impeccable sources in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission told our correspondent on Sunday that Obanikoro, who was released last Friday, might be invited again soon to explain his alleged role in the scam. The ex-minister, who returned from the United States on October 17, spent three weeks at the Abuja office of the EFCC for allegedly receiving N4.7bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser and distributing over N3bn to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and Senator Iyiola Omisore, who were the governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti and Osun states respectively in 2014. Obanikoro subsequently returned N100m to the EFCC with a promise to return another N480m. His American and Nigerian passports were subsequently seized before his release last Friday.

Patient disappears from Ogun hospital, family blames nurses

Image
                                              Ajarat The family members of a 40-year-old woman, Mrs. Ajarat Muritala, who was on admission at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, have blamed her disappearance from the hospital’s female ward on the negligence of the nurses. They also lamented that police investigation into her disappearance was at snail pace, saying no progress had been made in finding the woman since she went missing on October 12. About six nurses were reportedly with the woman and other patients in the ward before she was discovered missing.  Ajarat was receiving treatment on a heart related disease at the OOUTH. The mother of four children was said to have gone into a coma on October 11 and was admitted to the emergency and accident ward of the hospital. Our correspondent gathered that she was later taken to the female ward, where she went missing after regaining consciousness. Her husband, Mr. Muftau Muri

Anxiety over Kogi gov’s whereabouts

Image
        Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello There was anxiety in Kogi State on Sunday following the non-appearance of Governor Yahaya Bello in public in the last two weeks. Sources said the governor might have been flown abroad to treat an undisclosed ailment. All state functions have been put on hold leaving the Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba, with only the duty of receiving visitors on behalf of his boss. However, the governor’s spokesman, Kingsley Fanwo, has  denied that the governor is nursing any ailment. In a statement issued on Sunday night, Fanwo urged the public to discountenance “the rumour,” describing it as lacking any iota of truth. “My attention has been drawn to the spurious rumour that there are concerns over the health of the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. “I want to state clearly here for the avoidance of doubt that the rumour lacks any iota of truth. It is a reflection of the depth the enemies of Kogi State have gone in their