Douglas Costa and 37-year-old Prass join Neymar in Brazil's Olympic squad

Douglas Costa and 37-year-old Palmeiras goalkeeper Fernando Prass will join Neymar in the Brazil squad at the Rio Olympics, coach Rogerio Micale announced on Wednesday.
Veteran Prass and Bayern Munich’s Costa join the Barcelona star to make up the Selecao's three permitted overage players.

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Captain Neymar returns to the squad after sitting out of this month’s Copa America Centenario in the USA in order to lead the quest for gold. Doulgas Costa was forced to pull out of Copa Ameirca through injury.
Olympic squads must be made up of at least fifteen under-23 players, born on or after 1 January 1993. Each nation is permitted to name up to three overage players.
Rio 2016 is not included in the men’s international match calendar, however, and earlier this month a FIFA spokesperson confirmed that “clubs are not under any obligation to release players for the tournament, irrespective of the player’s age.”

Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva was rumoured to have made the 35-man preliminary squad, which was not made public, but has missed out along with fellow Olympic hopefuls Willian, Filipe Luis and Miranda, with suggestions their respective European clubs were unwilling to release them for the competition.
Thiago Silva has not appeared for his country since Copa America 2015.
Five-time world champions Brazil are desperate to secure the one remaining title for which they are eligible but yet to win.
It will be the second time in two years the Selecao will attempt to lift a major title on home soil following World Cup 2014, when their campaign ended in the ignominy of a 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany.

Previous coach Dunga was set to lead Neymar and Brazil into the Rio games but his dismissal last month saw Under-20 coach Micale handed the reigns.
Brazil kick have been drawn in Group A of the Rio Olympics men’s football tournament and kick-off their campaign against South Africa in Brasilia on August 4.
Brazil’s Rio 2016 squad in full
Goalkeepers: Fernando Prass (Palmeiras), Uilson (Atletico Mineiro).
Defenders: Luan (Vasco), Rodrigo Caio (Sao Paulo), Marqunhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Douglas Santos (Atletico Mineiro), Zeca (Santos), Willian (Internacional).
Midfielders: Rafinha (Barcelona) Rodrigo Dourado (Internacional), Fred (Shakhtar), Thiago Maia (Santos), Felipe Anderson (Lazio).
Forwards: Neymar (Barcelona), Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich), Gabriel Barbosa (Santos), Gabriel Jesus (Palmeiras), Luan (Gremio).

SAD NEWS: Former Foreign Minister & PDP Chieftain, Ojo Maduekwe Is Dead

The Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ojo Maduekwe, has died.

He died at his residence in Abuja on Wednesday night shortly after returning from the US, according to Sahara Reporters.

The former Minister of Culture and Tourism and a former Minister of Transportation was born on May 6, 1945.

Chairman of the Board of BoT of the party, Sen. Walid Jibril, who is in Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj, said he was shocked when he was told that Maduekwe passed on. Also a former Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh confirmed Mr. Maduekwe’s death.

SAD: Literary Icon, Elechi Amadi Dies At 82 ...

Renowned author, Elechi Amadi, is dead.

The celebrated literary icon passed on, Wednesday, at the Good Heart hospital in Port Harcourt at the age of 82.

A member of the family, Barrister Wabueze Amadi, who confirmed the death said he passed on at about 3.45pm at the hospital.
The late captain Elechi Amadi was among the first generation of African writers and novelists.

Some of his works include: The Concubine, The Great Ponds, Isiburu, Sunset in Biafra, Dance of Johannesburg, Peppersoup, The Road to Ibadan, The Slave, Estrangement and the Woman of Calaber.

He celebrated his 80th birthday in Port Harcourt, in 2014 releasing a souvenir edition of one of his plays, Isiburu to mark his 80th birthday.

He was born on 12 May, 1934 in Aluu community, Ikwerre local government area. He attended Government college , Umuahia and went to the University college, Ibadan where he bagged a BSc degree in Physics and Mathematics.

He served in the 3rd Marine Commandos of the Nigerian Army. He was first Commissioner for Education in the old Rivers state and also served as Commissioner for Lands and Housing He had several honours to his credit.

He was Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Education and a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria . He was awarded a honorary doctorate degree by the University of Port Harcourt in 2011. He was abducted by unknown gunmen in 2008 and later released after some days in their custody. He lived in his community, Aluu until his death.

The Director General, NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside, who also spoke to Vanguard on the development, described him as a great Nigerian who will be greatly missed.

“Captain Elechi Amadi, certainly was a man of many parts who touched lives in many ways. And he will be remembered for good by many people who met him physically or through his books. He was a well known author, publisher, soldier and statesman who was concerned about a better society.

“My generation will definitely remember him more for his great books like the Concubine, the Great Ponds, Sunset in Biafra, Estrangement, the Slave and a collection of poems.
“It is regrettable that Amadi passed away at a time when Rivers, our dear state is still far away from the aspirations of its founding fathers like him and most sons and daughters of the state. There is no doubt that Elder Elechi Amadi and other founding fathers will be weeping in their graves at the state of Rivers State. Nigeria and the international literary community has lost a creative giant.

“The departed patriot, no doubt, had a remarkable life and he will surely be remembered for serving humanity with literature and his interventions. May his soul find eternal rest AMEN....

Court Order Freezing Governor Fayose’s Zenith Bank Accounts Surfaces… See Bank Tellers With Hundreds Of Millions Transferred To Him

The court order by which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) froze the four Zenith Bank accounts used by Governor Ayo Fayose to launder money for his Ekiti governorship election in 2014 has surfaced.

A lawsuit Number FHC/CS?871/2016 titled “Federal Republic of Nigeria Vs Zenith bank PLC account numbers 1003126654, 9013074033, 1010170969 and 1013835889” was decided by Justice Mohammed Idris on June 24, the document shows. The judge granted the EFCC an order freezing all the funds in the said accounts in Zenith Bank.
Two of the frozen accounts belong to Governor Ayo Fayose while the third belongs to Spotless Hotel in Ado Ekiti, which is one of his businesses.  It was also the location of the infamous meeting in 2014 where he met with former Minister of State for Defense, Musiliu Obanikoro; Iyiola Omisore; former Minister of Police Affairs Adesiyan and Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh to plan the rigging for his benefit.  The fourth account was operated by one of Fayose’s aides, Abiodun Agbele, who is now in EFCC custody.
The rigging was carried out using funds sourced from the office of the National Security Adviser, said to be about N4.7 billion.  A lot of it was personally retained by Fayose after the election.
Today, Mr. Fayose, through his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, approached a Federal High Court judge in Ado-Ekiti to unfreeze the account, apparently unaware that a proper court order had been secured for the freezing.
Rather than grant the exparte order request, the judge asked the EFCC to show case on July 4th.
SaharaReporters obtained bank tellers showing how Abiodun Agbele transferred monies to accounts owned by Fayose during the period of the election.

OFFICIAL: Liverpool Complete £30m Signing of Sadio Mane From Southampton

The Senegal international forward becomes the fourth new acquisition under Jurgen Klopp’s charge at Anfield and he will wear the No.19 shirt for the Reds next season

Liverpool have wrapped up the £30 million signing of Sadio Mane from Southampton on a five-year deal.
The 24-year-old becomes the club’s third-most expensive acquisition behind Andy Carroll (£35m) and Christian Benteke (£32.5m) after completing a medical as well as agreeing personal terms with the Reds.
He is the fourth new recruit under Jurgen Klopp’s charge, following Marko Grujic, Joel Matip and Loris Karius to Anfield ahead of the German’s first full campaign at the helm.
Mane’s pace, pressing, versatility, propensity for shots inside the box, dribbling strength and combined 21-goal tally over the past two Premier League seasons distinguished him as one of Liverpool’s priorities in the market.

He will wear the No.19 shirt, vacated by Steven Caulker, becoming the 10th player at the club to don those digits.
Klopp has long admired Mane’s attributes, paying close attention to the Senegal international’s progress at Red Bull Salzburg, who snapped him up from French outfit Metz after he dazzled at the 2012 Olympics.
The 49-year-old drove the deal for the speedster, who is expected to add an extra dimension to his attacking options, and aligns with the manager’s full-throttle approach.

Manchester United twice tried to sign Mane over the past year but Southampton rejected their efforts.
On the move, the player said: “Today is a big day and I am very happy to sign for one of the biggest clubs in Europe.
“It’s a club that has won a lot of trophies and has a big history.
“Now I am looking forward to meeting all the staff and my teammates and starting the season.
“I knew Liverpool were interested in me, I had some [other] opportunities, but I think for me this is the right club, the right coach and the right moment to change.
“I am very happy to be a part of Liverpool Football Club.
“He [Klopp] said he wanted me to come to play for Liverpool. I didn’t even have to ask myself, I said straight away ‘yes, I am interested’ because I know Liverpool.
“I am convinced Liverpool are the right club for me with the right coach.”
The Generation Foot academy graduate becomes the fifth player to to swap St Mary’s Stadium for Anfield in the past three seasons for a combined cost of £92m, following Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne.

'I Started Sleeping With My Daughter Out Of Frustration' - 41-Year-Old Man

A 41-year-old man, Raymond Anyanwu, who reportedly raped and impregnated his 15 years old daughter, said that frustration led him into the act. Anyanwu, who committed the offence at Ajao Estate, Isolo, said:
 “I started sleeping with my 15-year-old daughter sometime around January, after I lost my job. “I am a transporter, but I took to alcohol after I lost my job and could not meet up with my responsibilities as the head of the house.”

Vanguard gathered that Raymond Anyanwu sleeps with his daughter when his wife has gone to work. However, trouble started after the victim’s aunty suspected that she was pregnant. After carrying out a test at home, they discove-red she was pregnant. The victim, it was learned, revealed that her father was responsible for her pregnancy, and the mother decided to play it down as a family issue after her husband beat her up, warning her not to disclose the incident to anyone.

 Vanguard learned that Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development alerted the police and the suspect was arrested last Wednesday. Meanwhile, the victim’s mother had arranged for an abortion, which had been carried out before she was rescued and taken into protective custody by the Lagos State government.
The case, which is currently being investigated at the Gender Unit of Lagos State Police Command, will be charged to Ikeja Magistrate’s Court today.

So Sad! 24yrs Old Nigerian Participant Of 2016 Mandela Washington Fellowship Dies In USA

One of the 100 Nigerians selected for entrepreneurship and leadership training in the 2016 Mandela Washington Fellowship in USA, has died.

The 24-year-old Nigerian Participant of 2016 Mandela Washington Fellowship, John Paul Usman, has died over the weekend after an accident while hiking near Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where heThe U.S Mission to Nigeria in a statement said:

"We extend our deepest condolences to John Paul’s family and friends over this tragic loss.  John Paul was a rising star, devoted to the causes of sustainable development, children’s rights, and peace building in Nigeria.  His selection to the Mandela Washington Fellowship was a tribute to his drive, talent, and dedication to making his country’s civil society even stronger."

According to reports, John Paul just left Nigeria this month on the 16th of June. He had been enjoying the Mandela Fellowship Experience as he shared photos from the various activities as well as inspiring words which reads: "The road of life is made smoother when traveled with someone you love."

Narrating on how the incident happened, DailyTrust reported;

"A colleague of the late Usman from South Africa, Nzuzi narrated what happened: “We went on a hiking trip. I was walking ahead with four other fellows, including John Paul and one of our coordinators. When we reached the waterfall where some decided to swim, John Paul kept insisting I go into the water and I didn’t, because it was too cold.

"He decided to join the fellows who were right under the water and the next thing that happened was that he slipped into the water and started drowning. Another fellow tried to save him but they both disappeared for a while. We were all freaked out and then the one fellow (trying to rescue the deceased) came back up but JP remained unseen. We started screaming for help, and people jumped in to look for him. They then recovered his body." was studying Civic Leadership.

EFCC Nabs Businesswoman For Fraud And Issuance Of N7.3M Dud Cheque (Photo)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday June 27 arraigned one Helen Ogunniwa alongside her company, Den-Moyek Nigeria Enterprise, before Justice 0. A. Taiwo of the Lagos State High Court Igbosere on a two-count charge bordering on Obtaining Money by False Pretence and Issuance of Dishonored Cheque to the tune of N7, 369,600m (Seven Million Three Hundred and Sixty Nine Thousand, Six Hundred Naira).

The complainant, Alhaja Jumoke Yusuf, supplied a truck load of Vegetable Oil to the defendant to supply another company worth of N7, 376,650. Out of this, she only made payment of N800, 000.00 leaving balance N6, 576, 650.00 which she refused to pay. Consequently, the accused person allegedly issued a cheque in favour of the complainant.

However, when the complainant presented the cheque, it was dishonored due to insufficient funds in her account.

“Buhari Can Nominate Ambassadors Anyway He Deems Fit” – SGF

 
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. Babachir David Lawal has declared that President Muhammadu Buhari is empowered by the constitution to nominate ambassadors anyway he deems fit.
The Senate had suspended the screening and confirmation of the 47 nominees by the President, noting that the list did not reflect the Federal Character principle as some states were left out.
The Upper Chamber further summoned the SGF and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to explain the criteria used in the nomination of the 47 ambassadorial list that had no representation for Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ondo and Plateau states.
But addressing journalists in Abuja at the weekend, the SGF said he was ready to appear before the Senate, stressing that the President is not bound by any law to adopt any particular criteria while nominating ambassadors.
He stated that while the constitution prescribed nomination of at least one Minister from each state, the President has no such restriction in ambassadorial nominations.
Lawal maintained that the matter would have been resolved with just a phone call, rather than suspending deliberation on the list, asserting that delaying the screening of ambassadors even by one day is inimical to the country.
According to him, “Certainly, we will appear, we are law abiding, we respect the National Assembly and we respect the laws of the land. One thing however is clear, the constitution makes it clear that it is the prerogative of the president to nominate Ambassadors and the criteria he will use to do so is also the constitutional right of the President. Whatever criteria he chooses to use is constitutional. We acknowledge also that it is also the prerogative of the Senate to approve or not to approve that nomination.
“Be that as it may, I must say that we are disappointed that the National Assembly took the decision it did but again we believe that the Senate is made up of very responsible and patriotic Nigerians and the Senate is made up of great people including governors who have governed and known the constitution regarding separation of powers.
“We believe that the Senate will not do anything that will bring the country to disrepute because right now Nigeria enjoys tremendous goodwill all over the globe. Countries now have high regard and respect for our president, our ministers and all other representatives of government are treated very well and with respect wherever they go. It is important to have ambassadors to sustain this goodwill,” he added
The SGF also pointed out that having ambassadors in foreign countries have a long way to go in seeking foreign investment into the country.
His words, “Again, a lot of the travels by the president and government representatives is to attract direct foreign investment into the country and ambassadors are key to sustaining this and ensuring that the goals for these trips are achieved.
“A third reason why we think these ambassadors are key is because of the phenomenal of global terrorism; almost every country around the world is facing it and all nations of the world are now collaborating with each other to fight this international terrorism. It is important that Nigerians have representatives on the ground who will represent its interest and defend it.”
He however said: “We believe that senators being patriotic Nigerians will not want to cause undue hardship and put Nigeria at an undue disadvantage in any regard. While we respect their rights and their views on the issues of ambassadorial nominees, we expect that in coming to whatever decision, they will consider patriotism and put into cognizance the interest of their own country and not probably political considerations or even personal considerations to bring undue hardship and disadvantage to their own country.
On the Federal Character principle, Lawal said: “Of course we have read in the newspapers some of their concerns such as federal character and so on. At the last count my recollection is that out of the 47 diplomat nominees, …. Out of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, 32 states were represented. While the constitution preaches federal character, it does not say that every state must be represented in any appointment, except of course in the case of ministers. Not in all other appointments, so the spirit of the constitution has been fully satisfied by having 32 ambassadors out of 36 plus one. I believe that every objective analyst will agree with this.”
Listing some of the criteria adopted in the nomination of the ambassadors, apart from merit and qualifications, he said that it was important not to appoint someone an ambassador that will soon retire.
According to him, “So one of the criteria the person must have is that he must not be less than 30 months to retirement.
“If you know the processes of nominating and deploying ambassadors you will know that for example, it is highly unlikely that the Senate will be done with it within the next two, three weeks. These ambassadors will need to be presented to the countries where they are going to be posted for checks and confirmation by those countries.
“We cannot dictate the speed at which they will do it, so it could take in all honesty probably six to seven months for an ambassador to fully be cleared and assume his new post. It will take longer still for him to acclimatise and settle down in his work. There have been a subsisting policy not by this regime alone that it will be good for someone who has 30 months to retire not be be posted because then he will just be settling down before retiring, it doesn’t make sense.”
He said that another criteria considered was the accelerating level of the nominee, which must be grade level 16 or 17.
“Due to no fault of this government, not all states have people in the ministry of foreign affairs, in the foreign service department that met this criteria,” he stated
The SGF also said that the criteria included consideration for specialist areas, satisfying requirement of gender sensitivity, while the nominee must also be change compatible.
He disclosed that other ambassadorial appointments will come from outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or related agencies that will provide opportunity for the states that didn’t make the list.

News: Federal High Court orders Abia state governor to immediately vacate office

Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, to vacate his office immediately, after finding him guilty of submitting false information to his party, the PDP during the party’s governorship primary in December 2014.

Ikpeazu’s rival at the primary, Uche Ogah, had petitioned the court and provided evidence to show that Ikpeazu had indeed provided false information about himself to their party. After listening to the counsels of both politicians, the presiding judge ordered INEC to immediately issue a certificate of return to Ogah.

video: Singapore Airlines plane catches fire after emergency landing

A Singapore Airlines plane bound for Milan caught fire shortly after making an emergency landing.

Flight SQ368, which departed at 02:05 local time on Monday (18:00 GMT Sunday), was two hours into the flight when the pilot announced there was an engine problem.
The plane turned back and landed before the right engine of the Boeing 777 burst into flames.
All 222 passengers and 19 crew on board were safely evacuated.
“We were in the air for roughly an hour before we began to smell gas,” Chuan, a passenger on board with his wife told the BBC.
“The pilot came on the intercom and said that there was an oil leak in one of the engines and that they were going to turn and go back to Singapore.”
Chuan added that all the passengers were very calm and that he actually “went back to sleep” after the announcement was made.
It was only after he got off the flight that he realised how “close to death” he had been.
Firefighters took about five to 10 minutes to extinguish the flames, he said.
Passengers will be transferred to another aircraft which is expected to depart for Milan later on Monday, said Singapore Airlines in a statement on facebook

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video: Argentina 0 – 0 [2-4] Chile [Copa America 2016 Final] Highlights

DOWNLOAD video: Argentina 0 – 0 [2-4] Chile [Copa America 2016 Final] Highlights – Lionel Messi is still searching for his first international honour after Argentina lost on penalties in the Copa America final for the second successive year.

The two sides were deadlocked 0-0 after 90 minutes and also after another half an hour of extra time in a match where both teams were reduced to 10 men in the first half.

Chile’s Marcelo Diaz was sent off after receiving second booking in the 29th minute and Argentina defender Marcos Rojo was shown straight red card for violent conduct just before half-time.

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Lionel Messi told reporters after Argentina’s Copa America Centenario final loss to Chile on penalty kicks that he is retiring from the national team. Sunday night, Messi said that after so many missed chances, he is ready to step away.
Messi was Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer during Copa America Centenario. He spoke out about problems with the Argentina football federation, but did not bring that up when he told reporters of his decision to quit international soccer.
He said:

“The national team is over for me. That’s four finals (lost), it’s not for me,” Messi told reporters after losing his third final in as many years. “It’s a made decision, I think.”
Argentina lost to Chile in penalty kicks on Sunday night.

Argentina lost to Chile in penalties in the 2015 Copa America and lost to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final. They also lost to Brazil in the 2007 final.

Economic Condition Has Affected Our One-Chance Robbery – Robbery Suspect

 
Adeleke Rasaq, a robbery suspect, was arrested along with an accomplice, Lucky John, on Sunday, by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command in the Abule Egba area of the state.
The suspects were said to have been terrorising residents of Abule Egba, Agege, Fagba and Egbeda areas of the state before they met their Waterloo.
Rasak, who resigned as a factory worker, confessed to the police that he became a ‘one –chance’ robber to survive.
He said, “John and I lived in Badagry. Every day, we go to Abule Egba, Agege, Fagba, Egbeda to operate. As soon as we make enough money, we retire for the day. I teamed up with John because picking people’s pockets is not easy. We had to team up to make more money to survive.
“We don’t make much money like before. The present economic condition in the country has greatly affected ‘one-chance’ robbery; everywhere is dry. Since Monday, we have been sharing N20,000, N30,000 and N40,000. Before, when I operate alone, I could make close to N150,000. Now, things are difficult.”
Rasak said he resigned from the factory where he worked after he noticed that his friends in the Ajegunle area were living large.
“It has been six years since I joined this gang. We don’t call it robbery, we call it hustling,” he added.
Meanwhile, the RRS operatives also smashed another syndicate, which robbed two passengers in the Gbagada area of the state.
Members of the gang, Ubuke Michael, 26, and 24-year-old Obinna Okoro, were reportedly arrested after their operational bus, with number plate FST 890 XM, had picked up the two passengers going to the Alaba International Market and Ladipo Spare Part Market to buy goods.
Ubuke, the leader of the gang, had allegedly invited a bus driver and a conductor to join the gang for the operation.
He said, “The driver and the conductor are familiar with the operation. I have so many commercial buses that I call for operations. I call them to join me at a particular location.
“The driver and the conductor would do their normal work, while we collect belongings of the passengers before dropping them off. The two passengers in the bus were our victims that day.
“One of them came out of a bank before boarding our bus, while we noticed that the other had bulging pockets. We were about to collect their belongings when we were arrested. We don’t normally carry more than two passengers during operations. And whatever money we make, we share with the driver and the conductor; but our share is usually more.”
One of the victims, Boniface Anusionwu, said he had gone to withdraw some money from the bank for his business and house rent when he boarded the vehicle of the suspects.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrests. She added that the suspects would be charged to court when investigations were completed.

Forgery: Fireworks Begin As FG Arraigns Saraki And Ekweremadu

Buhari’s Aides, Senators, Police To Testify As Witnesses
Legal fireworks begin today at the Abuja High Court as the Federal Government arraigns the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and two others over alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules.
The Federal Government had, last week, filed a two-count criminal charge against Saraki, Ekweremadu, a former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa and his deputy, Benedict Efe turi, bothering on criminal conspiracy and forgery. In the charge, Maikasuwa is listed as the first defendant, Efeturi (2nd defendant), Saraki (3rd de-fendant) and Ekweremadu (4th defendant).
Justice Yusuf Halilu had, last week Tuesday, fixed today for arraignment after ordering substituted service of the charges on the defendants. The order, made by the court, followed the complaint by the prosecution that several attempts of personal service on the defendants had failed.
While granting prosecution’s request for substituted service on the defendants, Justice Halilu ordered that the charges be pasted on the notice board of the National Assembly. However, the central government had listed among its witnesses against Saraki, two aides of President Muhammadu Buhari – Senators Ojudu Babafemi and Ita Enang.
Others listed, as witnesses are Senators Solomon Ewuga, Ahmed Lawan, Abdullahi Gumel, Kabiru Marafa, Gbenga Ashafa, Robert Borrofice, Abu Ibrahim and Othman Hunkuyi. There were indications last night that Saraki and Maikasuwa may not attend the court session today for the arraignment.
A source, who pleaded anonymity, stated that Saraki’s absence in court will be as a result of an application filed by his counsel last week which the court has not sat on. For Maikasuwa, the source stated that the order of substituted service made by the court cannot catch on Maikasuwa as he is no longer a staff of the National Assembly, and as such it is deemed under law that he has not been served.
Saraki, in his application filed by his counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN) last week, asked the court to set aside the charge, describing it as unnecessary distraction. If the two defendants are absent in court, then it follows that the arraignment will be stalled, as the new Administration of Criminal Justice Act ACJA did not provide for separate trials of defendants charged together. But, Saraki’s Media Adviser, Alhaji Yusuf Olaniyonu, simply told New Telegraph that: “When you come to court, you will report what you see.”
In a motion on notice filed at the registry of the court, Saraki is challenging his physical appearance at the court, thereby praying for an order of court dispensing with his physical appearance and arraignment. He also prayed the court for an order setting aside the service of the Charge/ Information Sheet, which was effected by substituted means on him.
In addition, he is praying the court to strike out or quash the charge against him in the Charge No. CR/219/16 between FRN v. SALISU ABUBAKAR MAIKASUWA & 3 ORS. He premised his prayer on ground that no prima facie case was established against him.
Furthermore, Saraki is asking the court for an order suspending or adjourning sine die all the proceedings against him in the case. He submitted that the notice of trial and information ought to be served on him personally.
He also submitted that there is no link between the proof of evidence and the allegations made against him in the charge. The charges are: Count 1 reads: “That you Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa, Benedict Efeturi, Dr. Olubukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu, on or about the 9th of June, 2015, at the National Assembly Complex, Three Arm Zone, Abuja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourselves, to forge the Senate Standing Order, 2011 (as amended) and you thereby committed the offence of Conspiracy, punishable under Section 97(1) of the Penal Code Law.”
Count 2 reads: “Forgery contrary to 362 of the Penal Code Law” while the particulars of offence reads, “That you Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa, Benedict Efeturi, Dr. Olubukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu, on or about the 9th of June, 2015, at the National Assembly Complex, Three Arm Zone, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with fraudulent intent, forged the Senate Standing Order 2011 (as amended) causing it to be believed as the genuine standing order, 2015 and circulated same for use during the inauguration of the 8th Senate of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, when you knew that the said Order was not made in compliance with the procedure for amendment of the Senate Order, you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Law.”
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome had condemned the charge filed against Saraki and Ekweremadu. His words: “I do not think that they have even looked at Section 3, Legislative Houses Privileges Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria which grants total immunity to legislators in act conducted on the floor of the house within the precinct of the National Assembly, whether in spoken form, in written form, by motion, bills, amendments,all of them spectacularly and completely privileged.
“Under Section 3 of that law, they also perhaps do not know that what they regarded as amended rules which provoked the whole of this political maneuvering is always the way it has always been done.
In 2003, you have 2003 amended rules, which is normally amended by the bureaucracy during the period of interregnum, when the National Assembly is on break and politics are going on.
“Neither the Senate President, nor his deputy nor the clerk amends the rule; it is done by the National Assembly bureaucracy, the civil servants who amend the rules to await the National Assembly.
“So after 1999, the one of 2003 was called amended rules, 2007 amended rules, 2011 amended rules, then you have 2015 amended rules. These rules are normally amended by the bureaucracy when the members of the National Assembly are being elected. It is that laws that guide the new Senate and House of Representatives’ members coming on board, not the old one.
“I think the people who raised this issue are the neophytes. They were new people in the Senate who did not know that is how it is always being done conventionally in a parliamentary system. They probably thought that some people went somewhere that morning to amend those rules.
Those rules are normally amended.” Ozekhome added that the case is more political. “It is all politics. My take on this is that the All Progressives Congress (APC) should take more than passing interest in what is going on.
If they succeed in removing the leadership like I warned last year, they will find a situation where the next Senate President and deputy will be PDP people. “This is not the time for all this, rather it is the time the presidency should engage the National Assembly to produce masses centred bills. Nigeria is no longer a banana republic,” he stated

Why Are We so Wicked and Sinful in Nigeria in Spite of Our Deep Religiosity? on: 26 Jun 16, 05:44 AM (15 hrs ago) by
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Religion is a cultural system of behaviors and practices, world views, sacred texts, holy places, ethics, and societal organization that relate humanity to what an anthropologist has called "an order of existence". Different religions may or may not contain various elements, ranging from the "divine", "sacred things", "faith", a "supernatural being or supernatural beings" or "...some sort of ultimacy and transcendence that will provide norms and power for the rest of life.

Nigeria is now the most religious nation on earth. The richest pastor is also here, in spite of the fact that over 110 million Nigerians live on less than N300 par day.

I don’t need to mention how crazy we are, when it comes to religion, both Muslims and Christians.

Religious people in Nigeria are ready to do anything because of money.

We do things that God doesn’t like, simply because we want to augment our income, like tolerating exam malpractices. The so-called Unions collect monies they don’t work for, sometimes by force, and you’ll see them fasting, performing Hajj, and praying.

Pastors, bishops, imams, sheiks, etc., fall extremely short when measured by human standards (not to mention God’s standards), and yet they think God called them. They think they’ve his backing.

We use fake results, fake certificates, fake age, etc. We bastardize things. Nations who aren’t deeply religious anymore are even more righteous than us. I believe coming generations would be disillusioned with religion, and adopt the Western mindset.

The issue is: We’re also among the most corrupt nations in the world. Majority of us are deceptive, ungrateful, wicked, traitors, dishonest, callous, promiscuous, greedy, etc. Everything religious persons must not do are what we do, yet we go to church on Sundays, we go to mosques on Fridays.

Why are we so wicked and sinful in Nigeria in spite of our deep religiosity? We pray and pray, and contribute money for religion, but poverty increases? Is that of any use?

POLICE in Imo State have begun investigating the death of Onyinyechi Okegbulam from Egbu in Owerri North Local Government Area who was killed by her boyfriend for refusing his marriage proposal.

In a gruesome murder, the 22-year-old Onyinyechi was, until her untimely death, a final year student of Federal Polytechnic, Nekede in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state. She was apparently shot in the head at close range by her supposed boyfriend in the village after she rejected his offer of marriage.



Eyewitnesses said that the deceased was lured out of her family home by the boyfriend at night after she rejected him and was then shot. Another source claimed that soon after shooting the girl, the young man tried to smuggle Onyinyechi’s lifeless body into his car but scampered for safety when a woman raised alarm, which attracted several people to the scene.

It is believed that the ditched boyfriend was responsible for the entire educational expenses of the girl and it was this that infuriated him. Police are now said to be looking for the boyfriend, although it has not yet been confirmed if an arrest has been made.

One local resident said: “We heard that the boy picked the bills for the girl’s education but that the girl later abandoned the boy and opted to marry another man. We have even heard that the marriage has been fixed before the boyfriend struck.”

A spokesman from the Imo State Police Command said they are investigating the matter and the late girl’s parents are cooperating with them. If the boyfriend is caught, it is almost certain that he will be charged with murder.