Barcelona coach Luis Enrique believes the Spanish champions took a giant step towards winning the la liga title back to back as they overcame 10-man Betis 2-0 on Saturday. Enrique’s men still need to win their two remaining games against local rivals Espanyol and Granada to be assured of winning the league after Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid were also victorious on Saturday. Only Barca’s superior head-to-head record separates them from Atletico with Real Madrid just a point behind in third. “I have the sensation that it is closer all the time,” said Enrique. “The next game we have is…
Author: David Folami
Leicester City’s Robert Huth and Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini were charged with violent conduct on Tuesday after clashing in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, the Football Association announced. Belgian midfielder Fellaini appeared to swing his elbow into Huth’s jaw after the German centre-back seemed to pull his hair in an incident missed by match referee Michael Oliver but picked up by television cameras. After referring the matter to a panel of three former elite referees, the FA elected to charge both players. “Marouane Fellaini and Robert Huth have both been charged for alleged acts of violent conduct which were…
Leicester City have the opportunity of making anything between £150 million and £250 million from their dazzling Premier League triumph, according to sports marketing experts. Even if they will gain this substantial windfall, they still have a long way to go to join the true big-money elite of world football. The club that had never won the top-flight crown in its history will cash in through the £90 million in prize money from the Premier League, and money from competing in Europe’s Champions League next season, as well as increased TV and match day revenue. With Leicester’s increasing attraction to…
Bale is the man fit and in form as Real looked to seal their place in a 14th European Cup final on Wednesday when Manchester City visit the Bernabeu with their semifinal delicately poised a 0-0 after the first leg. Bale has stood up to be counted in the absence of injured three-time World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo in recent weeks to keep Madrid’s hopes of a La Liga and Champions League double alive. For the first time in his three years in Madrid, the Welshman has stamped his authority on the side to demonstrate he could prove…
Claudio Ranieri warned Leicester City fans, who were still in awe on Tuesday following their team’s “unbelievable” Premier League triumph, that a repeat of this feat next season could not happen. The Foxes’ Italian manager, talking for the first time since Leicester’s victory was sealed on Monday evening when nearest rivals Tottenham Hotspur failed to beat Chelsea, said their target now as champions would be a top-10 position. Ranieri, back at the Leicester training ground and meeting up with his players for the first time since they were crowned champions, described their success as “unbelievable”. He said it was the…
Atletico Madrid got to the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons on Tuesday, progressing on away goals after a 2-1 defeat at Bayern Munich, in which both sides missed a penalty, with the tie finishing 2-2 on aggregate. Atletico, who will face either city rivals Real Madrid, who beat them in the 2014 final, or Manchester City, who meet in the second semifinal on Wednesday, also ruined Bayern’s treble chances after the Spaniards won the first leg 1-0 last week. Bayern took the lead with a Xabi Alonso goal in the 31st minute but Atletico levelled…
Yemi Osinbajo has said that N4.8tr was lost to fraud connected with the purchase of security equipment, during the administration of ex President Goodluck Jonathan. Osinbajo in a statement issued by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, said “When you look at the sheer amount of money that has been embezzled, the sheer amount of money lost from any of these various cases of corruption, you will find that far too much has been lost. “It was discovered a few days ago that the total amount of money lost just to corruption in the provision of…
The current Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has condemned the killing of the traditional ruler of Fadan Karshi, Bala Madaki and his nephew, Emmanuel Tanko, on Sunday, May 1, 2016, by suspected Fulani herdsmen. Tanko, was reportedly sitting for his West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations. The residents of the area say that the killing was carried out by Fulani herdsmen. They claim they have been under siege by the herdsmen since the 2011 elections in the state. According to Governor El-Rufai, security agencies in the state are investigating the killings. He said “It is a sad development. But we…
The Federal Government has confirmed it would pay subsidy on Petrol; with funds already gotten from the recoveries of the first quarter of this year. This information is contained in the latest Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency, (PPPRA) template released yesterday in Abuja. The PPPRA said between January and March, the Federal Government was able to save about N10 billion as a result of selling the product above the expected open market price. According to the new template, the expected open market price of the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, has risen to N99.38 per litre for independent and major oil…
The UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Fatma Samoura, has assured the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) by the Boko Haram insurgency that their sufferings would soon become a thing of the past. Samoura told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that the UN was doing everything possible to ensure that the IDPs resumed their normal lives. Samoura, who is also the UN Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Representative of UN Development Programme, urged the Boko Haram insurgency victims not to give up on their current condition. “For the IDPs, I just want to encourage them that their sufferings will…
The Federal Government failed today to produce former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja for trial in corruption charges brought against him by the government. Although the witnesses in the case were assembled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in court, the trial was scuttled by the failure of the Department of State Security Services (DSS) to release Dasuki to EFCC for the trial. At the resumed of the case, counsel to the EFCC Mr Oluwaleke Atolagbe informed Justice Baba Yusuf that he had made serious efforts through the…
The president was speaking on Monday night at a meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) held in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. A statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said that President Buhari confirmed that heads of national security agencies had been ordered to take all necessary action to apprehend and expose those behind the heinous attacks. “We are determined to secure all Nigerians and I have told the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies, in very strong terms, to deal decisively with the attackers,’’…
When the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration took over on the leadership of Nigeria on May 29th last year, it ignited a lot of hope and great expectations in view of his change mantra to tear down the walls of corruption and bring back good values for all Nigerians. Sebastine Obasi writes that for the petroleum industry, which lays the golden egg that feeds the economy; expectations are even higher, as current reforms indicate that there could be a change for the better, even as Nigeria braces up for the power challenges. Is the present leadership of Nigeria’s energy sector taking…
The Edo state government has declared 5-day public holiday with effect from Tuesday May 3, 2016, as a mark of honour and respect for the Oba of Benin who recently transited to immortality. This will afford the people of the kingdom and the entire people of the state the opportunity to mourn the revered Royal Father. In a Government Special Announcement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afegbua, only those on essential services in hospitals, health centres, the Fire Service and others are exempted from observing the public holiday. The Nigerian National Flag is expected…
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, and the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has identified procurement as the weakest link in the Nigerian oil and gas industry value chain. Kachikwu, said this at the opening of the 2016 edition of the Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, which kicked off Monday, at the Reliant Park in Houston, Texas, United States of America. Represented by Mr. Saidu Mohammed, Group Executive Director, GED, Gas and Power, NNPC, Kachikwu said that there is a need for Nigeria to domesticate its oil and gas industry so as to achieve…
Property investors in the Nigerian city of Maiduguri are benefiting from a rise in property prices following the retreat of Boko Haram fighters. Maiduguri is the largest city in Borno state, once a stronghold of the fighters and a frequent target for its suicide bombers. The group claims to be fighting against Western influence and is thought to have killed about 15,000 people and driven more than two million from their homes during its six-year insurgency. Since the Nigerian military began a wide-ranging military operation against Boko Haram, many of Maiduguri’s residents that had fled are on their way back…
About $15bn (£10bn) was stolen from the fight against militant Islamists in Nigeria under the previous government, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said. The money was diverted through fraudulent arms contracts, he added. Several allies of ex-President Goodluck have been put on trial after being accused of awarding fake arms contracts worth $2bn. They deny any wrongdoing. President Muhammadu Buhari, who came to office last year, has vowed to fight corruption and recover “stolen funds”. Those facing charges included former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, ex-military chiefs and several contractors. They have all pleaded not guilty. Speaking at a university in…
ThisDay reporter, Azuka Ogujuiba, who interviewed Tiwa Savage concerning her marital crisis has opened up on her take concerning the singer. In an interview with Genevieve Magazine, Ogujuiba responded to a question concerning if Savage’s video interview comments was a personal vendetta towards her husband, Tee Billz. Ogujuiba, who is a friend to the couple, revealed that she does not think her comments was an act of revenge. According to her, Tiwa Savage is a big brand, so her comments was possibly her way of preserving her brand prestige. “I dont believe she did it to revenge. Tiwa is a…
Sunil Sawhney, the CEO and Managing Director of Seven Up Bottling Co Plc, has made some convincing comments concerning Tiwa Savage being dropped as an ambassador for Pepsi. Sawhney made the positive clarification on his Twitter, making sure to affirm the company’s interest in continuing its relationship with Savage. “I will like to clarify, that our relationship with @TiwaSavage remains as strong as ever #pepsi+Tiwa” Savage landed her multi-millionaire endorsement with Pepsi as far back as 2012, making her one of the top celebrities to be associated with the brand. Her current marital crisis with husband, Tee Billz, has given…
Beyonce was surprisingly alone at this year’s Met Gala. Where was her boo? The rapper could not be seen anywhere around the diva when she showed up on the red carpet to the big fashion event alone. Her solo appearance only fueled speculation about their alleged marriage issues. A source tells Hollywood Life HOV stayed back home and there’s no problem. “Jay Z opted to let Beyonce attend the Met Gala on her own. He wanted her to have a night that was solely dedicated to her, fashion and what the ball is all about. He felt like he could…