News, Events, Entertainment, Sports and Lifestyle

Former Chelsea captain, John Terry, has agreed to join Aston Villa, sources close to the player have told ESPN FC.   Terry has reportedly told other interested clubs, that he has decided to join Villa and the move is expected to be finalised over the weekend. Villa have been leading the chase for the 36-year-old, with Steve Bruce keen to bring the former England star to Villa Park for next season. Terry became a free agent after leaving Chelsea at the end of his contract this summer. He opted to leave Stamford Bridge after 22 years, after finding himself down Antonio Conte’s pecking order.

A 16-year-old teenage beauty queen has live streamed her own death as she filmed herself and a friend while drinking and driving in Ukraine. 16-year-old Sofia Magerko, and Dasha Medvedeva, 24, were driving at speed and drinking alcohol when their BMW car crashed into a lamppost in Ukraine. Sofia, winner of a local beauty contest in her home city of Izyum, was killed immediately in the tragedy, according to reports citing police.  Horrifying photos showed the mangled wreckage of the car on the side of the road in the Kharkiv region.      

The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla has said the call by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu and others for referendum was a wasted effort, and without sense.   Speaking with The Sun, the Presidential aide noted that restructuring would not solve the myriad of problems confronting the nation. He said, “The demand for a referendum with regards to Biafra is a constitutional impossibility. “It is a legal and political impossibility. There is no provision in the constitution of the country or any other law that provides for a part of the country to break away. “It is a nonsensical demand. Biafra ended on the January 15, 1970. I think the agitators are just expressing their rights to freedom of expression. Noting that agitators are just expressing their freedom of speech, the presidential aide said they are just wasting their time on the call for referendum. He said, “The international law does not...

Senate President Bukola Saraki has said he would collect every penny of the N4 billion awarded to him against publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore.   A court had awarded N4 billion to Saraki on Thursday in a lawsuit against SaharaReporters for series of libelous articles against him. In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said he would use the money to support media organizations struggling to survive as well as lawyers handling pro bono cases for citizens. Saraki said the judgement showed that Nigeria’s system could be trusted and redress could be sought. “One thing is clear by the judgement, there are systems in place in our nation for all citizens to seek redress if they have been unfairly treated in any way. “This judgement is a fulfillment of our promise that we will explore all legal means to seek redress for all the fabrications and mudslinging that Sahara Reporters has thrown at us over the years.’’ On what he p...

FIFA have provided an explanation as to why the back to back World Cup 2018 Qualifiers tie between Nigeria and Cameroon was moved to Thursday the 31st of August and Monday the 4th of September respectively.   Nigeria presently lead group B of their group with four points more than second placed Cameroon, who are one point ahead of Zambia in third while Algeria occupies the basement of the group with one point. Leadership of the group is looking like a straight battle between Nigeria and Cameroon, and the tie which will most likely decide who leads will be in the next round of matches. The double header tie was originally billed for the 1st and 5th of September respectively but FIFA announced on their official website that the games have been moved for reasons bothering on television broadcast. Toyin Ibitoye the press officer of the senior national team of Nigeria said, the reason FIFA gave for moving the games to week days is to give the game the much needed television broadcast ba...

If restructuring as been clamour for in various quarters is anything to go by, the 2014 Conference report by the administration of Goodluck Jonathan recommended the creation of 18 new states across the country. This is coming contrary to the expectation of many Nigerians that the 2014 National Conference proposed a return to the regional governments. Nigeria Senate had also called on the Presidency to submit the 2014 confab report to it, for deliberations, as the calls for restructuring continue to mount. Notable Nigerians including former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, some Afenifere group had called for the restructuring of the polity. Even ruling All Progressives Congress, APC had listed a process of restructuring in its 2015 election campaign although the Chairman of the party, Cheif John Oyegun said all nationality will be engaged before the process starts. According to the report, the additional...

Nigeria on Saturday assumed the chairmanship of the AU Peace and Security Council, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports. The council is the standing organ of the AU for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts. It is a key element of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), which is the umbrella term for the main AU mechanisms for promoting peace, security and stability in Africa It was established to be a collective security and “early warning” arrangement with the ability to facilitate timely and efficient responses to conflict and crisis situations.   The PSC’s core functions are to conduct early warning and preventive diplomacy, facilitate peace-making, establish peace-support operations and, in certain circumstances, recommend intervention in Member States to promote peace, security and stability. The PSC also works in support of peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction as well as humanitarian action and disaster management. - NAN

The Indigenous People of Biafra, on Friday, said its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, had not flouted his bail conditions, hence, security agents have no justification to re-arrest him.   It added that Kanu had neither held any rally nor protested as instructed by the court, thus, he had not gone beyond the limit set by the court. In response to enquiries by Saturday PUNCH on Friday, IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, said that those who had been converging in thousands on Kanu’s father’s house in Umuahia, Abia State, came to see the IPOB leader on their own volition and that he could not send his visitors away, neither would he decide not to receive them (1). Powerful said, “Nnamdi Kanu never flouted his bail conditions because the court said he should not go for rallies or protests and he has never done that since his release But citizens of Biafra and other parts of Nigeria want to see him, that is why you see him with people and these people come to his father’s house. He cannot chase those wh...

Manchester United legends produced an impressive display to beat their Barcelona counterparts 3-1 at the Nou Camp on Friday night.   The United heavyweights have now established a handy lead ahead of the return leg at Old Trafford in September, thanks to goals from Jesper Blomqvist (14), Karel Poborsky (57) and Dwight Yorke (77). At the other end, a star-studded Barcelona attack featuring Ronaldinho and Rivaldo produced some scintillating football, but the hosts were unable to find the net until Frederic Dehu managed to pull a goal back in the final minute. Raimond van der Gouw was in goal for United in a match which raised money for the Pediatric Cancer Centre Barcelona (PCCB) He produced a decent early save to keep out a Ronaldinho free-kick. Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Patrick Kluivert created plenty of chances for Barca but the hosts could not quite get a breakthrough. Barca, however, pulled one back when Dehu produced a calm finish. The second leg, which will raise money for the M...

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, Saturday alleged that doctors have ruled out President Muhammadu Buhari’s return because he can no longer function.   He made the disclosure while berating the All Progressives Congress, APC, National Chairman, John Oyegun for saying Buhari is fast recovering from his illness in London. The Peoples Democratic Party Chieftain described Oyegun as a “liar” for giving such update on Buhari’s illness. Fani- Kayode, who took to his twitter handle wrote: “Attempt to bring @NGRPresident Buhari to Nigeria from London has flopped again as his doctors rule out his ability to function. O ma se o! “We are glad to inform you that Buhari is recovering in a very robust manner”- John Odigie-Oyegun. Liar, liar pants on fire! STOP LYING!”

The real reason France supported Biafra during the 1967-1970 civil war has been revealed.   According to Daily Post, the revelation was made in a war-time memos compiled by the US Central Investigation Agency, CIA. In the compilation, French Secretary General for African and Malagasy Affairs, Jean Mauricheau-Beaupre was quoted as saying that French’s support to Biafra as it fought to break away from Nigeria was not in defence of its secession cause — even though it had a humanitarian appeal. He said the European country’s support was due to the desire to have access to the region’s oil. He said, “France supported Biafra because of the oil and ERAP, but not the Ibo revolution,” referring to Emergency Response Action Plan, ERAP. Mauricheau-Beaupre was further quoted in the memo as saying French support was merely given to a “handful of Biafra bourgeoisie in return for oil.” As the hope of Biafra breaking away increasingly seemed lost, he ruled out the possibility of a guerilla war in...

A boy whose name was withheld has reportedly sold his father’s two cars, a Lexus and a 4Runner worth N7.5 million for N350,000 in Umuahia, Abia State, due to his involvement in illicit drugs.   The Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Abia State, Mr. Akingbade Bamidele, stated this when he spoke at the inaugural lecture of the symposium on ‘Substance Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking for Senior Secondary School Students’, organised by the National Committee on Narcotics and Substance Abuse under the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in commemoration of the International Day Against Illicit Drug Trafficking. Bamidele, who spoke on the topic: ‘Illicit Drug and the Law’, explained to the students how drug abuse impacts negatively on users. He said: “There is a boy at Umuahia, which his father brought to us for counselling. He sold two Vehicles: a Lexus and a Forerunner worth N7.5 million for N350, 000. “Do you know why? The reason is because he was involved in ...

Nigeria has the highest number of private jet owners in Africa with businessman, Aliko Dangote and Bishop Oyedepo owning the highest number (four each). Out of the 177 Private Jets owners in Nigeria, four of them are owned by women. These are the four women who own private jets in Nigeria: 1. Mrs Folorunsho Alakija One of Nigeria’s first female billionaire is the founder of Famfa Oil, a Nigerian company that owns a substantial participating interest in OML 127, a lucrative oil block on the Agbami deep water oilfield in Nigeria with its partners including Chevron and Petrobas. She is estimated to be worth at least $1.6 billion.Her first company was a fashion label that catered to Nigeria’s elite women, including the wife of former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, who awarded Alakija’s company an oil prospecting license. She is said to own at least $100 million in real estate and a Bombardier Global Express jet worth N7.3b. 2. Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke She has held three signifi...

Chelsea have signed goalkeeper Willy Caballero on a free transfer.   Caballero, who was out of contract after leaving Manchester City, has arrived as the Blues' new number two shot-stopper after Asmir Begovic moved to Bournemouth. The Argentine will deputise for Thibaut Courtois who is in negotiations with Chelsea to renew his contract at the club. Speaking to Chelsea's official club website, he said: “I am very happy to join Chelsea, the champions of England. “I am looking forward to meeting the guys and helping the club achieve more success in the coming season.” Technical director Michael Emenalo added: “We are very happy to have Willy on board. He knows the Premier League and is tried and tested at the top of the game. “We have three experienced goalkeepers and we look forward to welcoming him to the club when the squad returns to pre-season training.” Newcastle United also attempted to sign Caballero, 35, but he instead opted for Chelsea to replace Begovic, who was frustra...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of Tajudeen Yusuf, a former branch manager with Skye Bank. Tajudeen was prosecuted before Justice Ambrose Alagwa of Federal High Court 1, Jos on 3 counts of forgery. Tajudeen's journey to prison started on May 16, 2013, following a petition from Skye Bank Nigeria Plc, Jos branch, alleging that Yusuf fraudulently collected the sum of N200 million from the bank's customer, Alhaji Usman Tetengi and issued him with fake deposit certificate. Tajudeen thereafter diverted the N200m to his personal use while all efforts to recover the funds proved abortive. The convict was arraigned on 19th November, 2014 and he pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him. After over two years of diligent prosecution, Justice Ambrose Alagwa sentenced the convict to six months imprisonment with an option of fine of N100,000:00 ( One Hundred Thousand Naira) on counts two and three. The sentence is to run concurre...

Sahara Reporters has said that efforts to bring ailing Nigeria's president home flogged again. The online medium platform said "President Muhammadu Buhari's doctors have ruled out his ability to function well".   Recall that the APC Chairman, John Oyegun had on Thursday during live interview on Channels Television Sunrise Daily said the reports from the President’s doctors showed he is recovery very fast. President Muhammadu Buhari has spent over one month in London on a medical follow up and had since relinquish presidential power to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo