Kogi lawmaker representing Kogi-West senatorial district, Dino Melaye, has denied bribing Justice (Mrs.) Akoh. In a tweet, the lawmaker noted that the voice recording which was published by SaharaReporters is not only fake but a mere voice over. Senator Melaye said Sahara Reporters was fabricating lies against him because he had sued the medium and the case was about to come up for mention in court. His tweet reads: “Sahara Reporters and ‘awada kerikeri’; using voice-over to malign me because my case with them comes up in few days’ time, June 5, 2017.” Melaye had reportedly sued the online publishing…
Author: David Folami
The British High Commission has announced that email enquiries by visa customers applying from outside the UK would attract a fee as from June 1. The high commission made this known in a brief report on changes to UK Visas & Immigration customer care operations made available by the Media Officer, Mr Joseph Abuku, in Abuja on Monday. According to the report, the changes would help the government reduce costs and ensure those who benefit directly from the UK immigration system make an appropriate contribution. “Effective today (June 1), email enquiries by visa customers from overseas will attract a fee.…
This week, online news platform Sahara Reporters, went to town with a very grave allegation against Senator Dino Melaye. According to Sahara Reporters, Melaye who represents Kogi West in the Senate, did bribe the judge who ruled an election case before her, in his favour. Sahara Reporters gave the name of the judge as Justice Akon Ikpeme. In 2015, Ikpeme was the tribunal judge who handled the election case between Melaye and his challenger Smart Adeyemi. Ikpeme ruled in Melaye’s favour in 2016. To back up its story, the news site put up a purported phone conversation between Melaye and…
Governor Godwin Obaseki has reportedly said killer herdsmen, reportedly raping and killing women and farmers in Edo State are fleeing terrorists. In a report by Punch, Obaseki, who spoke on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 after he visited to the families of victims, described the incident as a threat to national security. The governor maintained that the killers were not ordinary herdsmen but Boko Haram fighters who fled from the war in the north-eastern states. “These are not just herdsmen; they are Boko Haram terrorists, but we are working hard to put an end to this,” the governor stated. There had…
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said the reason for President Muhammadu Buhari’s treatment in London is that he deserves the best treatment. Mohammed explained in a radio interview on Thursday, June 1, 2017 that London medical practitioners and hospitals can offer Buhari the best treatment which he deserves as the President of Nigeria. “My answer is very simple. Mr President is our father, he is the leader of the nation and I think he deserves the best in terms of medical treatment,” the minister said while responding to a caller that criticised the President for getting medical…
Monaco’s Colombian international Radamel Falcao has extended his contract with the newly-crowned Ligue 1 champions until 2020, the club announced on Thursday. The 31-year-old club skipper — who scored 30 goals this season with six decisive passes in all competitions — said he was “happy to continue the adventure with Monaco”. “After this incredible season during which I experienced every emotion, I wanted to continue this beautiful story.” According to reports, Falcao, under contract until 2018 with an annual salary of 14 million euros ($15.7m), accepted a considerable salary reduction to stay with the Principality outfit. “I’m very happy with…
Argentina superstar Lionel Messi is to branch out into the leisure industry and launch an amusement park in China in 2019, his partners in the venture said on Thursday. The “Messi Experience Park” will have more than 20 attractions spread out on a site covering more than 80,000m2 in Nankin, south east China. The park will “immerse visitors in Messi’s universe, combining the latest attractions with spaces to take part in the top sport”, said audiovisual group Mediapro, who will run the venture alongside Chinese television group Phoenix Group and the Barcelona forward’s Leo Messi Management. Five-time winner Ballon d’Or…
Manchester City are determined to make history under Pep Guardiola and win an unprecedented Quadruple, chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak has said. Guardiola failed to win a trophy for the first time in his managerial career last season as City failed to maintain a significant Premier League title challenge. But they are determined to put that right, with a squad overhaul already under way following the £43 million arrival of Bernardo Silva from Monaco and Benfica goalkeeper Ederson Moraes set to follow shortly. With other major names set to be added over the summer, Al-Mubarak said there are no limits to what…
Real Madrid are playing in the Champions League final in Cardiff on Saturday – but Gareth Bale looks set to miss out against Juventus in his home city. Wales forward Bale has been out with a calf injury for the past six weeks and, although he has now returned to full training, the former Tottenham player admitted he has not fully recovered from an ankle operation earlier in the season – and he also believes that caused the latest problem. With the team’s other 10 places more or less set in stone, the debate about whether Bale or Isco should…
With Atletico Madrid’s transfer ban upheld, the club will not be able to bring in any reinforcements this summer and must wait until January 2018 before they can sign again. Moreover, they must fight tooth and nail to keep the current squad intact as they head into their new Wanda Metropolitano stadium. 1) Keep hold of Griezmann at any cost Contracts do not mean a great deal in modern football, but the club now need to take an aggressive stance over Antoine Griezmann. No player is more important for them and getting him to put pen to paper would be…
Liverpool, fresh from new CEO Peter Moore saying they will spend wisely this summer, have seen a £28 million bid for Roma’s Mohamed Salah rejected, according to the Mail.
Superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo has played in the Welsh capital of Cardiff before, and not only when Real Madrid beat Sevilla to win the 2014 European Super Cup, with Ronaldo scoring both goals in a 2-0 win at the Cardiff City Stadium. A mile away — and in a much better location in the heart of the city centre, between Cardiff Castle, the River Taff and the Georgian townhouses of Westgate Street — stands the Millennium Stadium. Rebuilt to host the 1999 Rugby World Cup, the capacity has expanded from 58,000 to 74,500, and the new structure dominates the skyline,…
Saturday night’s Champions League final between Real Madrid and Juventus has the makings of a true classic: two league champions, two excellent sides playing a very different brand of football and plenty of fascinating individual battles. Here are four that may have a significant bearing upon the destination of the European Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Andrea Barzagli Even by his standards, Cristiano Ronaldo’s form throughout this season’s Champions League knockout stages has been incredible. Hat tricks against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid have won matches almost single-handedly: when Real aren’t playing well, Ronaldo has been their saviour, and when they…
The Special One took three trophies in his debut season at Old Trafford, while Wenger ended the campaign outside the Champions League spots Arsenal legend David Seaman has backed Arsene Wenger to continue at the Emirates Stadium, but affirmed he could take a leaf out of Jose Mourinho’s book to bring back the good times. Months of speculation over the veteran manager’s future were ended this week as Wenger agreed a new contract with the north London club. The deal comes after arguably Wenger’s toughest season to date, with an increasingly vocal opposition to his tenure among fans. EXCLUSIVE: Real…
Manchester United are wasting no time after sources told us the club were cooling their interest in Antoine Griezmann, with the Independent linking them to Andrea Belotti, Alvaro Morata and Romelu Lukaku. However, the Independent also reports that the deal for Griezmann could be revived later in the summer, and the player is braced for more interest from United. In the meantime, a move for Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale could also materialise as the Old Trafford club look to land a big-name signing. In addition, manager Jose Mourinho wants to strengthen more than one area of his squad ahead of…
Antoine Griezmann has hinted that he now plans to stay at Atletico Madrid following news that Manchester United have cooled their interest. United had made Griezmann, who has a €100 million buyout clause in his current contract, their priority target this summer but sources told ESPN FC on Thursday that the Europa League winners have switched their focus to an out-and-out striker to replace the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Griezmann has given mixed messages over his plans over recent months but expressed his support for Atletico shortly after it was confirmed that they will not be able to make any new…
Manchester United are closing on a deal for Benfica defender Victor Lindelof. A Bola says United are expected to sign the Sweden international inside the next two weeks. United boss Jose Mourinho wants a deal for Lindelof closed as soon as possible after a January transfer fell through. The aim at United’s side of the table is for Lindelof to be signed befoe the June 13 match between Sweden and Norway. The defender appeared to say farewell to Benfica fans on his Instagram account this week, thanking them for their support.
Arsenal have had a €100million euro (£87million) bid for Kylian Mbappe rejected by Monaco. The offer is the third turned down already this summer by the French champions, including a world-record fee of €120million (£105million) made by Real Madrid. A third big club has also been thwarted and although sources would not confirm the identity there has been interest in the precocious teenager from all of Europe’s superpowers. Those include Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. Mbappe is from Paris and the club regard him eventually returning to the city as ‘coming home’. Monaco are determined…
Manchester United have reportedly turned their attention to Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette and could target him in a £50 million deal. The Mirror’s David Maddock reported United have moved on from Antoine Griezmann—as the Frenchman won’t be allowed to leave Atletico Madrid during their transfer ban this summer—but they could get his compatriot, whom Atleti had identified as a replacement for Griezmann. The Red Devils could still face competition from Arsenal and Liverpool, but they have the advantage of UEFA Champions League football ahead of the Gunners and the ability to offer much higher wages than the Reds. United could…
Nigeria have climbed two places in the latest FIFA ranking released by the football governing body on Thursday. The Super Eagles are now ranked 38th in the world as against the 40th position in the last ranking. The team is also rated fourth best in Africa, a testament to the growth of the team since Gernot Rohr took over. Rohr has not lost any game since he took charge and has seen Nigeria climb almost 19 places since his he began his reign. Nigeria are on 730 points, four more than the previous month and can climb higher with a…