Dimitri Payet is happy at West Ham United and the France midfielder is not expected to leave the Premier League club, his agent Jacques-Olivier Auguste has said. The 29-year-old, who signed a long-term contract in February that will keep him at the east London side until 2021, has been linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid. “He has a great contract with West Ham so I cannot see him leaving. Dimitri is happy in London,” Auguste told the Guardian. “You never know in football but only West Ham know what price they want if they decide to sell…
Author: David Folami
Ibrahimovic will bolster a forward line at Old Trafford that looked desperately short of ideas, depth and talent last season under the now-departed Louis van Gaal. Wayne Rooney could well play deeper next season, in midfield, while French starlet Anthony Martial had to carry the United attack despite his tender years until youngster Marcus Rashford burst onto the scene late on in the campaign. Van Gaal paid out heavily for his fellow Dutchman Memphis Depay, but he failed to deliver and spent the second half of the season on the bench. Ibrahimovic said weeks ago that he knew where he…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic said on Thursday that he is joining Manchester United, ending intense speculation about where the 34-year-old Swedish superstar forward will be playing next season. Ibrahimovic, who was a free agent after ending a hugely successful stay at Paris Saint-Germain, becomes the second signing of new United boss Jose Mourinho after that of highly rated Ivory Coast centre-back Eric Bailly from the Spanish outfit Villarreal. “Time to let the world know. My next destination is Manchester United,” he wrote on Instagram and Facebook, complete with a picture of the United badge, as comments approving of the move – one…
Europe’s titans clash on Saturday when Germany and Italy meet in the plum Euro 2016 quarterfinal with huge stakes for both countries. Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger is poised to make his first start in the Bordeaux match, while Italy’s veteran defender Daniele de Rossi faces a race to be fit. Like two heavyweight boxers eyeing up their opponent before the first bell, both teams have talked up the respect factor and down played the significance of Italy winning the last eight meetings at major tournaments. In the most recent matches, Italy claimed a 2-1 win in the Euro 2012 semifinals…
Cristiano Ronaldo took his dream of an international title another step closer when Portugal beat Poland in a penalty shootout to reach the European Championship semifinals. Robert Lewandowski scored barely 100 seconds into the latest night of Euro 2016 drama before Portugal unleashed the player who many say could lead the country’s post-Ronaldo era. Making his first start at Euro 2016, Renato Sanches, a powerful 18-year-old and already a 35 million euro ($38 million) player, smashed home a 25 metre drive to equalise the match that went into extra time and then penalties. Sanches followed Ronaldo in hitting home his…
Belgium’s improving potency in front of goal at the European Championship will fill them full of confidence ahead of their quarterfinal clash against Wales in Lille later on Friday, injured defender Vincent Kompany has said. After losing their opening game 2-0 against Italy, Belgium scored eight goals in their next three matches, including a 4-0 rout of Hungary in the last 16 in Toulouse. “Our squad is on a cloud right now and the players have every right to be positive about our form going into the quarterfinals, and about our chances of going much further in this tournament,” Kompany…
The recent cult and kidnapping activities taking place in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State is one the government must wake up and act fast. In the history of Cross River State, it has never happened that expatriates were kidnapped. I was perplexed at the sad news. The story was shocking. I was with a friend at the wuse axis of Abuja, who happens to be an Indigene of Enugu, and he drew my attention to his twitter update of the recent kidnappings in Calabar, I was ashamed of myself. Dumbfounded and shocked to hear that. Let it…
National Secretary of the Ali Modu Sheriff-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adewale Oladipo has denied reports that the factional PDP Chairman was unseated by a court on Wednesday, June 29, 2016. Oladipo made the denial via a statement released on Wednesday. It reads: This is completely false and a clear misrepresentation of the ruling of the court as it never gave any ruling ousting the national chairman. Our attention has been drawn to reports circulating in the media that a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has ousted the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff. For the avoidance…
The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State has upheld the victory of former Senate President, Senator David Mark in the Benue South senatorial elections. The tribunal also struck out the petition filed by All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr Daniel Onjeh challenging Mark’s victory. In reaching the decision, the tribunal held that Onjeh did not file his petition within the 21 days stipulated by law. Meanwhile, Onjeh has reacted to the judgment saying that he will appeal the tribunal’s decision.
The embattled Governor of Abia state, Okezie Ikpeazu has insisted that he is still in charge of the state. This is following reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued a certificate of return to Uche Ogah as the new Governor of the state. Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High court sitting in Abuja gave an order on June 27, 2016, sacking Ikpeazu as Governor. The Governor was alleged to have given false information to his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the governorship primaries in December 2014. Ikpeazu, in a swift reaction, told Abia residents that…
Senator Hope Uzodinma has accused Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors of causing problem in the party. Uzodinma said the Governors were the ones that called the embattled chairman of the PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff to come and lead the party. The lawmaker said “Remember it was the PDP governors that brought Ali Modu Sheriff in the first place to make him chairman.” Adding that “Sheriff now came on board and sold himself to the stakeholders and we saw that he has capacity, so when the chairmanship was zoned to the North-East, they unanimously endorsed him as their candidate for ratification…
Some notorious and warring youths in Rivers State have surrendered their arms to embrace Gov Nyesom Wike’s amnesty programme. According to a report by Daily Post, a peace move was initiated in the infamous Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government area and this has resulted in notorious cultists embracing the Governor’s amnesty. The report further revealed that militant group known as ONELGA Militant Group dropped their arms, to tow the line of peace initiated by the Rivers State Governor. Earlier, the Rivers state Governor had reiterated his offer of amnesty to cultists and kidnappers, who would submit their arms to the state security…
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged traditional rulers to mobilise and educate their people on the need to engage in massive agricultural activities, to boost food production in the country. The president, who made the call in Abuja on Wednesday at the breaking of Ramadan fast with traditional rulers from across the country, said the call had become imperative in view of the dwindling oil revenue. According to him, the current economic challenges facing the country could only be addressed through the diversification of the economy. Nigerians have no option than to go back to farming to achieve food security, the…
Former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has denied reports that he collected money from the office of former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki. Omisore made the remark via a statement released on Wednesday, June 29, in reaction to reports that his accounts had been frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The statement reads: EFCC is known for spreading rumours. Freezing my account shall amount to the tyranny and illegality acts. I won’t be surprised if the EFCC can be dodging court summons declaring me wanted and evading service. I shall ask the court to compel…
The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit which called President Muhammadu Buhari’s academic qualifications into question. The case was dismissed by presiding judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola on Thursday, June 30, 2016. Justice Ademola took the decision after the applicant, Nnamdi Nwokocha- Ahaaiwe filed a motion for discontinuance. Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe had taken Buhari to court after alleging that the president wasn’t qualified to be president. The certificate saga began during the 2015 presidential campaigns after the Nigerian military denied being in possession of Buhari’s credentials.
Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman, Olisa Metuh has said that he’ll return N400 million to the Federal Government in order to show his support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war. Metuh is facing charges of money laundering in connection with the mentioned sum. He made the comment via a statement released by his lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) on Thursday, June 30, 2016. The statement reads: In the light of the circumstances regarding the case of our client, Chief Olisa Metuh with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), we want to explain the reasons for our client’s proposal to…
President Buhari held a closed door meeting with heads of security parastatals in the country, today, Thursday, June 30, 2016. Punch reports that the meeting’s deliberations were mostly on the activities in the troubled Niger Delta region and insurgency in the North-East. After the meeting, none of the security chiefs spoke to the newsmen on the outcome of the discussions. The Federal Government also did not issue any official statement. The security chiefs who attended the meeting were: Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; Chief of…
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman, Olisa Metuh, has declared his support for President Buhari’s anti-corruption war. Metuh recently said he is willing to refund the N400m which he allegedly received from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki. According to the PDP chieftain’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), his client did not know the source of the funds. The lawyer also issued a statement on Metuh’s behalf, saying “We want to restate that at the time the money was released to him after his presentation to the ex-President, our client had no knowledge of the source, a fact…
President Buhari has condemned the recent bomb attacks at Ataturk Airport, Turkey. Buhari also called on the Turkish government not to let this sad event derail them from the path of development. He also described Turkey as a fast growing country, adding that his government will unite with nations across the globe, to curb terrorism. The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu revealed that Buhari wrote a letter to the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, saying “On behalf of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wish to convey my heartfelt sympathy to…
Seems like Tyga can’t get enough of the Kardashians! After just getting back with on and off girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, the rapper has leased a property in the street next to Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s Bel-Air home. TMZ reports Tyga has reportedly become the West’s new neighbour. The 26-year-old is reported to be spending a total of $46,500 a month on the new house. The new property features a pool, gourmet kitchen, fire pit and elevator. Kylie Jenner and Tyga’s reunion comes shortly after Jenner made an appearance on PartyNextDoor’s new music video, “Come and See Me” which was…