ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS REACTS TO NIGERIA DRAW AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA

Arsenal, Chelsea and Stoke City have reacted to Super Eagles qualification for next African Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon.

The three English clubs reserved special praise for their players in the Nigerian squad after they booked a place in Cameroon.

The club followed Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with South Africa at the FNB Stadium because Kenneth Omeruo, Alex Iwobi and Oghenekaro Etebo were on international duty.

Another Chelsea loanee, Ola Aina was omitted from the match day squad and ex-Arsenal U23 captain, Semi Ajayi earned his third cap off the bench as a late replacement for Iwobi.

Chelses wrote on their official website, ”It was a better Saturday for Kenneth Omeruo and Nigeria who secured their place in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament with a 1-1 draw away to South Africa.

”The defender, who is currently on loan in Spain at Leganes, and his international team-mates went ahead with the aid of an early own-goal. The home side drew level in Johannesburg midway through the first half.

”Nigeria have made it to the finals, which will be held in Cameroon in June and July, with a game to spare”.

Arsenal also lauded Iwobi for his performance against Bafana Bafana, tweeting, “Joy for @AlexIwobi! #BIG17 played 90 minutes as Nigeria claimed a 1-1 draw in South Africa in order to seal qualification for AFCON 2019.

”Congratulations to our #NaijaBoy and the @NGSuperEagles ��.”

Etebo was picked as one of the best players on parade for the Super Eagles by Championship side Stoke City.

The Potters wrote on their official website, “Peter Etebo played the full 90 minutes as Nigeria guaranteed themselves a spot at the Africa Cup of Nations finals on Saturday afternoon.

”The Potters ace impressed in the heart of midfield as the Super Eagles earned the point they needed in South Africa to secure qualification from Group E….”

LEAD REFEREE APOLOGISES TO NIGERIA AFTER COSTLY MISTAKES DURING SOUTH AFRICA MATCH (SEE VAR PHOTOS)

VAR footage

Report has it that the head referee who officiated the AFCON 2019 qualifying match between Bafana Bafana and Nigeria on Saturday in South Africa - has apologised for the costly mistakes made by officials during the game.

The Gambian football referee identified as Bakary Papa Gassama apologised to the Nigerian team after wrongly denying them two goals due to wrong offside calls, according to a report by OwnGoalNigeria.

VAR footage

 Ahmed Musa put through Kelechi Iheanacho who tapped home believing he has given Nigeria the lead but Musa who supplied the pass was judged by the assistant referee as been in an offside position, something which turned out to be wrong after video replays.

In the second half with less than five minutes to go, Musa was once again at the receiving end of another poor referee decision as he was once again flagged offside incorrectly after slotting home what could have given Nigeria all three points.

The game ended 1-1 with Nigeria sealing her passage to next year Africa Cup of Nations but officials of the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) still expressed their unhappiness to Gassama over the poor decision which cost Nigeria a win.

Gassama admitted the error and even went a step further by sending his apologies to Musa over the incident although he admitted that such errors are sometimes unavoidable particularly due to the non-availability of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

However, the unanswered question still remains: why didn't the authorities uphold the VAR decisions and award the goals to Nigeria? 

FRSC TAKES EMBER MONTHS' SAFETY CAMPAIGN TO CHURCHES

 As part of its Ember Months campaign, the Plateau Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has embarked on road safety campaign in churches.

Mrs Pat Emoerdi, FRSC Sector Commander in Plateau, addressed worshipers on Sunday at St. Finbar’s Catholic Church, Rayfield, Jos. 

She said the church service was organised to commemorate the 2018 African Road Safety and World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the week-long event has the theme: “Roads Have Stories’’.
According to Emoerdi, the need for a safer highway for all road users cannot be overemphasised, as safety is everybody’s business.

“We wish to seize this opportunity to sensitise all of us gathered in this church on the need to be very conscious while plying highways during this ember months.
“Christmas is already knocking. This is the season that comes with high vehicular movements with many motorists, particular commercial drivers rushing just to embark on many trips in the name of making more money.
“This is the time when a lot of motorists disobey traffic rules and regulations, hence causes crashes on our highways.
“So, we are here today not just to remember those who died via crashes but to also remind ourselves on the need to always drive to remain alive particularly during the festive season,’’ she said.
The sector commander called on all motorists to support the Corps in its bid to reduce if not end road crashes on the highways.

Emoerdi advised Nigerians to desist from speeding, overloading, wrongful overtaking, use of phone while driving; driving under the influence of alcohol and night driving, among others.

(NAN)

'VOTE OUT ANY GOVERNOR THAT IS AGAINST PAYMENT OF N30,000 AS MINIMUM WAGE' - NLC TELLS WORKERS

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on workers across the country, especially government employees, to vote against any governor unwilling to implement the new national minimum wage of N30,000 monthly.

NLC insisted that there was no way a governor would not be able to pay the new minimum wage.

This position was canvassed over the weekend at the Lagos Airport by the NLC Vice-President, Comrade Amaechi Asugwuni, during the inauguration of the new National Administrative Council (NAC) of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE).

Asugwuni declared that the electorate had the power to vote out such governors in the forthcoming general election in 2019 and urged them to use the power of their votes.

Asugwuni, however, noted that some governors had officially written to the NLC that they would implement the new minimum wage as soon as it went through the required processes.

“I am telling Nigerians that any governor that undermines the payment of minimum wage should be voted out. They are hiding under the governors’ forum not to pay, but they have confirmed to us and written us that they can pay the minimum wage. N30,000 is not even the money that can take anybody home. The President as a matter of urgency should transmit that minimum wage document to the National Assembly," he said.

CHIEF OBASANJO SUES RADIO PRESENTER, AWIKONKO AKANDA ORO, FOR N1BN OVER BOLA IGE, MARSHALL HARRY KILLINGS

Chief Obasanjo

A radio presenter identified as Akanda Oro, popularly known as Awikonko, has been sued by former President Olusegun Obasanjo for saying he had a hand in the assassination of the late Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige (SAN), and the slain National Vice-Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, Marshall Harry.

The radio presenter who spoke during a live radio program, alleged that Obasanjo killed Ige and President Muhammadu Buhari had even claimed at the burial of the late Harry that the Obasanjo-led government sponsored the killing of the ANPP chieftain.

Awikonko was quoted as saying, “Obasanjo’s murder of Bola Ige, if not for the shortage of time, I would have listed the names of those murdered by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo during his regime.
“Bloodshed during Obasanjo Aremu’s regime was too much (foolish old man).

“There are repercussions for every evil deed done… In case you hear of my death, do not be sad. Perhaps this is the only mission I have been sent by God to accomplish.

“The fellow that killed a whole minister of justice and attorney general of the federation went scot-free.

“So, what will it cost him to kill me, a commoner? Let him go and commit suicide or take himself before Ogun shrine to swear that he does not know anything about the murder of Bola Ige and Marshall Harry or that all his children die in his lifetime.”

However reacting to the claim, former President Olusegun Obasanjo through his lawyer Kanu Agabi (SAN), described the allegation as malicious and false. The former President who asked that Awikonko retract the publication, in the suit FCT/HC/CV/2920/18 filed before Justice O.A. Adenyi of Apo Federal Capital Territory High Court, is also demanding one billion naira as general damages for the defamation of the claimant’s hard earned reputation.

MINIMUM WAGE: OSHIOMHOLE BREAKS SILENCE ON GOVERNORS’ FORUM REFUSAL TO PAY N30,000 TO WORKERS

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has taken a stand in the battle between Nigerian governors and labour unions over the N30,000 minimum wage.

Adams Oshiomole

Oshiomhole said the governors have no excuse to deny the workers the agreed minimum wage, adding that a labourer deserves to be paid as at when due.

Oshiomhole, who was the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, told New Telegraph that delaying or refusing to pay workers hinders the economic development of any state.

The Nigerian Governors Forum, comprising the 36 states governors and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, had after their meeting in Abuja last week, said they cannot pay the agreed N30000 minimum wage.

Oshiomhole said, “My views are clear that payment of wages is not an act of kindness for an employer to pay the employees’ wages at the end of the month.

“There are provisions in our Labour Act that says that you cannot delay the payment of salaries in excess of 30 days interval, which means salaries ought not to accumulate beyond 30 days.

“Government decides the size of its employment, but when it makes the decision to employ, it has the obligation to pay. Even the Holy Bible says that the labourer is entitled to his wages.

“I think again, this is where President Buhari stands out clearly. He has publicly asked public sector employers; how do you sleep when you have not paid your employees for one year.

“But he did not stop at lamenting, he went on to provide the much talked about bailout fund and said ‘please use this money to pay your workers and pay pension arrears.’

“And even the deductions from states that were done under the PDP in the name of settling our foreign debts, under President Buhari, despite the huge financial challenges that he faces, he decided to assist the states to meet up with their social obligations by paying what is now referred to as Paris Club refund.

“So, I am very proud that the President has conscience, he recognizes that the Nigerian worker deserves his wages and that is why he has publicly lamented that there are governors who have not paid salaries as and when due, whether they are PDP or APC is immaterial.

“And in seeking to deal with this, he has also provided support across party divide and I think that is statesmanship at its best.

“As for my views on the minimum wage, I tried to deal with it as a governor. I told my colleagues then that wage is not a burden.

“In Economics, when people work and get paid, purchasing power is enhanced and because purchasing power is enhanced, producers will respond to that by seeking to produce more goods and services. In the process, they will recruit more hands.

“But when you don’t pay wages, you create a vicious circle, nonpayment of wages leads to low purchasing power, nonpayment of rents, which compounds the problem of those who have invested in real estate thereby depressing the commercial life of the country.

“I tried to settle this question by increasing minimum wage in Edo State to N25,000 from N18,000. I remember some people calling me to ask how I will pay it. I am on record of having paid it and as we speak, my successor in office is paying it. I do not agree with those who say Nigeria cannot afford a more realistic minimum wage.

“My being in government or now chairman of a party cannot change what I believe in. I believe that no nation has enough to meet the greed of leaders, but nations have enough to meet the basic needs of their people.

“The real problem in the public sector is money being stolen in the name of salaries. I found it embarrassing when we talk about ghost workers. And I ask the question who counts ghosts? It is only in Nigeria that ghosts are known.

“The labourer deserves his wage, and the primary purpose of government is the welfare of its people. So, we must pay wages as and when due. “

FED GOVT DECLARES TUESDAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Abdulrahman Dambazau

The federal government has declared Tuesday as Public Holiday to mark the Eid-el Maulud.

The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, a retired lieutenant general, made the declaration on Friday in Abuja in a statement by Mohammed Umar, Permanent Secretary of the ministry.

Mr Dambazau called on Muslim faithful to align themselves with the prophet’s teachings which border on piety, charity, tolerance and peaceful co-existence, among others.

He equally called on all Nigerians to uphold these virtues with a view to overcoming the current national challenges facing the country.

Mr Dambazau assured that the federal government remained committed to the unity of the country, and as such, would put adequate structures on ground towards ensuring that forthcoming general elections were credible, free and fair.

He wishes all Nigerians a joyous and peaceful Eid-El Maulud.

(NAN)

COURT ORDERS FORFEITURE OF UNCLAIMED N157BN RECOVERED BY EFCC TO FG

Justice Obiozor had ordered the EFCC to publish the interim order in the newspapers for anyone interested in the money to show up in court to prove why it should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government. On Tuesday, Iheanacho told the judge that the publication order had been complied with, adding that no one had shown up to lay claim to the money.

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of the sums of N1,250,000,000; $327,132.35, £167.85 and €157.91 recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the Federal Government.

Justice Chuka Obiozor gave the order on Tuesday, following a suit filed by the EFCC against Heritage Bank Plc and Secure Electronics Technology Limited.

The anti-graft agency said the funds were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

Iheanacho Ekene, Counsel for the EFCC, told Justice Obiozor that “The persons in whose possession the funds were found are not laying claim to them and surrendered them for forfeiture.”

In August, Justice Obiozor had made a temporary forfeiture order in respect of the funds. He ordered the EFCC to publish the interim order in the newspapers for anyone interested in the money to show up in court to prove why it should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

On Tuesday, Iheanacho told the judge that the publication order had been complied with, adding that no one had shown up to lay claim to the money. He urged the judge to order that the funds be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

As there was no opposing application, Justice Obiozor ordered the sums of N1.2bn, $327,132.35, £167.85 and €157.90 permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

In a supporting affidavit to the forfeiture application, a female investigator with the EFCC, Oghare Ogbole, had averred that the funds were discovered following an intelligence report received by the anti-graft agency.

She added that, “Heritage Bank did not provide any legitimate explanation for the above transactions (involving the sums) and consequently returned the said money through 16 separate bank drafts issued in favour of the EFCC Recovered Funds Account.

“Attached and marked as exhibits EFCC 7A to 7F are the bank drafts representing the refund of the sums of N157,000,000,000 by Heritage Bank Plc, on the sums of $327,132.35, £167.85 and €157.90," she said.

I WILL SELL 90% OF NNPC IF ELECTED, ATIKU VOWS

Atiku

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, says he will sell the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and retain just 10 per cent of the company for the Federal Government.

Atiku said this in an interview with The African Report, a monthly publication.

Atiku, who presided over the National Council on Privatisation during his tenure as vice-president, said the NNPC was supposed to have become more profitable by now.

On whether he would sell NNPC and keep 10 per cent shares for the government, he said, “Yes, I would want to go ahead. There is no doubt about that. The government should have a very minor shareholding. Nigeria is in dire need of funds to develop its infrastructure and other sectors of the economy.”

The PDP presidential candidate said Nigeria ought to have been producing far more than two million barrels of oil per day.

Speaking further on the privatisation of the nation’s oil company, he said, “Without a stable regulatory framework, the oil and gas companies will find it difficult to invest more in Nigeria.

“At the time, we pushed for the passage of the new law. We expected that Nigeria would be able to export up to four million barrels per day, but here we are, still at less than two million barrels per day.”

JUSTICE NYAKO ORDERS SENATOR ABARIBE TO PAY N100M OVER KANU'S ABSENCE IN COURT

Kanu

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the three persons, including Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, who stood sureties for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, to within two months, pay the sum of N100m each into the court’s account for their inability to produce the missing Biafran activist in court.

Justice Binta Nyako gave the order on Wednesday in a ruling in which she amended the conditions of the bail she had in April 2017 granted Kanu.

Kanu is being prosecuted before the court on charges of treasonable felony.

His trial had been earlier separated from that of his co-accused following his disappearance after a military invasion of his home in Afara-Ukwu, Umuahia, in Abia State, on September 14, 2017.

The three sureties who guaranteed his bail had been made to sign a bail bond of N100m each which was backed by their landed assets whose documents were deposited in court.

But with the amendment ordered by the court on Wednesday, they are now required to deposit cash of N100m in the bank account of the court.

Justice Nyako ruled that the three sureties had two months to pay the sum of N100m each into the court’s account.

The judge reiterated that the order directing the sureties to pay the money was an order of interim forfeiture.

She fixed March 28 for the hearing of the motions filed by the sureties to challenging the duties imposed on them to produce the IPOB leader.