Global Naija Info

Kirsten Nematandani A FIFA investigator has proposed, at least, a six-year ban and 10,000 Swiss francs (10,393 dollars) fine for ex-South Africa football chief Kirsten Nematandani over alleged ethics violations. The investigator, Djimbaraye Bourngar, also recommended life bans for former Zimbabwe Football Association official Jonathan Musavengana and former Togo national team coach Bana Tchanile for alleged bribery and corruption violations. “The investigations into the three individuals were initiated in relation to their specific conduct in the organisation of several international friendly matches played in South Africa in 2010. “Nematandani, head of the South African Football Association (Safa) from 2009 until 2013, had violated articles on general conduct, loyalty and disclosure,” FIFA said in a statement on Wednesday. Tchanile has already been banned from soccer for three years by his country’s federation after taking a team masquerading as the Togo national side to play a

Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman, National Caretaker Committee of Peoples Democratic Party. Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman, National Caretaker Committee of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged politicians in the country to indulge in activities that would protect the nation’s democracy. He made the call in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday while declaring open a “non-elective convention” of the party. Makarfi, whose committee’s tenure was extended by 12 months at the “convention” held at PDP’s Aba Road Secretariat, said politicians would have failed the country if they refused to support institutions that would strengthen its democracy. The “non-elective convention” held at the party secretariat was in place of a full national convention scheduled to hold at the Sharks Stadium but was truncated. The police sealed the venue of the convention and blocked all entrances to the stadium in the early hours of Wednesday, citing compliance with court order stopping the event as reason for the a

Harare Riots Twenty people were injured when police clashed with protesters in Harare on Wednesday, dispersing them with batons and tear gas. The organisers said Zimbabwe had seen about 10 demonstrations this month as citizens protest alleged human rights abuses and the deterioration of the economy under 92-year old president Robert Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since 1980. Promise Mkwanazi, one of the organisers, said this protest is against the upcoming introduction of notes with equivalence of U.S. dollars to exporters to ease a cash shortage in the country. “Until we are all dead, the protests will go ahead.” Critics were of the opinion that the so-called bond notes could spark rampant printing of cash as happened between 2006 and 2008. They said that the spiraling inflation then forced Zimbabwe to swap its currency for the US dollar in 2009.

An Alimosho Customary Court in Lagos on Wednesday dissolved the five-year marriage between Mrs. Fausat Umar and her husband, Abudu Umar, over the respondent’s failure to appear in the court. The President of the court, Alhaja S. O. Mumuni, in her judgment, said that it was obvious from available testimony and the respondent’s refusal to appear in court that the marriage had hit the rock. “Throughout the duration of this case, the respondent refused to honour court processes, therefore, the court has no other choice than to dissolve the marriage. “The marriage between Fausat Umar and her husband Abudu Umar is hereby dissolved from today in accordance with the Lagos State Customary Law, 2013, Cap.19. “Both parties are no longer husband and wife, they are free to marry any partner of their choice, without any hindrances and molestation,” she said. Fausat, 35, businesswoman, had approached the court to end her marriage which did not produce any child, claiming that her husband was “a

Apapa/Tin Can Island road Some road users in Lagos on Wednesday renewed calls on the Federal Government to repair the distressed Apapa/Tin Can Island road, to reduce gridlock and hardships on the users. The road users made the call in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. They complained that the bad road was causing avoidable accidents and loss of man-hours, on a daily basis. Alhaji Kabiru Saleh, a businessman, said that the bad road was affecting economic activities and the health of the road users. “Everyday, you sit for hours trying to get in or out of Apapa and it is causing a lot of stress that can lead to various health challenges. “Apart from the stress and the health of the users, the revenue government is losing due to these unnecessary delays should also be taken into consideration,” he stressed. Mrs Linda Badmus, a Civil Servant, urged government to urgently repair the road. “Everyday, we spend several hours on this road before we get to our o

•Jimi Agbaje Mr Jimi Agbaje, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos for the 2015 election, said on Wednesday that the party would remain alive in spite of internal problems. Agbaje, a candidate for the party`s national chairman position, in Port Harcourt, said that members would keep the party alive, being the main platform for the opposition in the country. He said the decision of delegates to extend the tenure of the Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee was a good option aimed at keeping the party stronger. “It is obvious that from the situation we found ourselves, we must keep the PDP alive. It is the still the veritable platform for the opposition. “So, the best option is what we have taken, which is to extend the life of the caretaker committee, to expand it as we have decided and to give room for whatever litigation,” he said. According to him, members believe that at the end of the day, the truth will prevail because the majority will h

AbdulLateef AbdulHakeem Kazeem Ugbodaga The Lagos State Government has warned the 2,192 pilgrims from the state embarking on this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia not to take kolanut and magical items to the holy land to avoid being arrested. Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. AbdulLateef AbdulHakeem who issued the warning on Tuesday at the Muritala International Airport during the inaugural flight of the State’s intending pilgrims, also implored them to obey the laws of Nigeria and particularly that of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by keeping away from banned drugs, liquid products and fake currency. He cautioned them to avoid any attitude or act that was capable of causing stampede as it occurred last year, saying: “I pray that this year’s hajj will be hitch-free, there will be no casualty and accident during the exercise”. AbdulHakeem furher enjoined the intending pilgrims to support the anti-corruption crusade of the Federal, State and Local Governments which needed men

Hajj The Nasarawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board said it stopped nine pregnant women from performing this year’s hajj to Saudi Arabia. The leader of the board’s medical team, Dr. Usman Saleh, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Lafia. “After thorough medical examination, we discovered that nine women, who, though, have fully paid their hajj fare, are pregnant. “We had to drop them from the list since they cannot perform this year’s pilgrimage as it is against Saudi Arabia’s law”. He said screening of the pregnant women was also in consonance with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria’s directives. Saleh said the board would conduct final screening before the transportation of the intending pilgrims to ensure compliance with the prescribed medical requirement by the Saudi authority. He assured the state intending pilgrims of full medical coverage while in Holy land and commended the state government for consenting to their needs. Meanwhile, the board’s Public Relations Officer

The gavel of justice Two University of Lagos students, Kunle Shakiru (26) and Moses Olowe (23), were on Wednesday brought before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court over an alleged robbery and belonging to an unlawful society. The duo faced a two-count charge of belonging to an unlawful group and stealing, while armed with dangerous weapons. The Prosecutor, Insp. Gbemileke Agoi, explained that the offences were committed on Aug. 5, at the University of Lagos. He said that the accused who were armed with a short gun robbed some people of their various valuables valued at N35, 700. The offences, Agoi noted, contravened Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011. It also contravenes Section (2) (a) (b) of the Robbery and Fire arms (Special Provisions Act), Cap 398, Vol. XXII, Laws of the Federation, 2003 as amended. The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them. The Magistrate, Mrs. A.O. Ajibade, granted them bail in the sum of

Niger Delta militants The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has collectively and willingly agreed to dialogue with the Federal Government to resolve the lingering crisis in the Niger Delta region. The spokesman for the Dialogue Group, Mr. Ballantyne Agiri, said this in a signed statement in Abuja on Wednesday. Agiri said that the NDA had constituted contact and dialogue group to engage the Federal Government in meaningful dialogue as part of the initiatives to resolve the crisis. He added that the group was determined to come out with results that would yield lasting peace, equity, justice and harmony among all ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. “The body has collectively and willingly agreed to heed the clarion call of eminent Nigerians and the international community to dialogue with the Federal Government,” he said. He urged Nigerians and the international community to follow the event and watch out which side would default in terms of abiding by the rules and spirit of the dialogue.

The gavel of justice The Enugu State Butchers Association on Wednesday dragged one Peter Okoye before an Enugu North Magistrates’ Court for stealing N5.4 million belonging to the association. The accused person was arraigned on a one-count charge of stealing the money kept under his custody. The prosecutor, Mr C.E. Nwobodo, told the court that the accused had in March 2014 stolen N5.4 million belonging to the association. Nwobodo said that the offence contravened the Criminal Code Law of Enugu State, 2004. The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charge while Magistrate F. E. Chukwu adjourned the matter till Aug. 31 for hearing. In another matter, the Akwa Ibom State Government has dragged one Effiong Imegwu, a driver of Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC), before the court for allegedly harbouring the intention to steal a bus. Imegwu admitted to bail previously. was said to have returned from a trip and took the bus to an unknown destination without the instruction of the

Godwin Obaseki, APC governorship candidate for Edo State The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Sept. 10 governorship election in Edo, says he will build mini-stadia in the 18 local government areas of the state if elected. The candidate, Godwin Obaseki, made the promise on Wednesday during an interactive session with members of Civil Society Organisations in Benin. The interactive session was tagged “The Need for Governorship Candidates to Effectively Promote Their Programmes to Edo People”. The candidate decried the existence of only one stadium in the state, saying the development would not help sports development. He said that for there to be sports development, the people needed an avenue to showcase their skills. Obaseki noted that sports had become a big business and as such, needed to be taken seriously by the government, organisations and individuals. He said the only way government could attract investment to the sector was to first be involved in its d

The Northern Nigerian Christian Group (NNCG) has called for an end to the “dirty politics” unfolding in the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The group also called for justice and sincerity in the dealings of the association. The group’s spokesman, Mr Luke Shehu, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja. Shehu explained that the group was not speaking on behalf of the Northern Nigeria CAN or any state CAN, but seeking to promote justice. He described the “politics of CAN as dirty and insincere”, following the last presidential election of the association where Rev. Samson Ayokunle emerged as the new president. “If CAN is truly standing on its aim and objectives that all may be one, the same leaders at that top level will not play dirty politics in CAN,” he added. The spokesman said that there were intended plans in the association to rig out a contestant from the ECWA/TECAN block, which turned out to be the ECWA President,

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), with Chairman, Indices & Disbursement Committee, Federal Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed (3rd left) and other delegate members during the visit. The Federal Government on Wednesday says four of the five oil wells discovered in Lagos truly belongs to the state but disproves the state’s ownership of one other oil well. The FG said the disproved oil well fell beyond 200 metres isobaths and did not legitimately belong to Lagos State. A delegation of the Indices and Disbursement Committee, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, led by its Chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed visited Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria for the purpose of verifying crude oil and gas production from Aje Oil wells for the purpose of disbursement of 13% derivation fund to the state in line with the constitution of Nigeria. According to Mohamm

Hajj The Kano State Government says it has transported 1,466 out of its 5,808 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2016 Hajj. Alhaji Nuhu Badamasi, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the state Pilgrims Welfare Board, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Wednesday. He said that the intending pilgrims were airlifted to the Holy land in three flights by Max Airline. The spokesman said the third flight left the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport 10 a.m on Tuesday with preachers, medical personnel and some officials of the board. Badamasi said that accredited journalists for the coverage of the exercise in the Holy land were among the third flight. According to him, the board has also commenced preparations for the screening of the fourth flight which is expected to take off on Wednesday or Thursday. He expressed happiness that the airlift, which commenced on Aug. 12, had been hitch-free. He urged the intending pilgrims to co

Donald Trump, official Republican Presidential nominee U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump moved to overhaul his troubled campaign on Wednesday, hiring the head of conservative website Breitbart News as chief executive officer and promoting a seasoned political operative to a senior role. Breitbart News Executive Chairman Stephen Bannon has become CEO, the Trump campaign said in a statement. It also said Kellyanne Conway, who has been advising it, will take on the role of campaign manager. The leadership changes come as opinion polls show Trump, a wealthy New York businessman who has never held elected office, falling behind Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the race for the Nov. 8 election. Trump has been facing a barrage of criticism from Republicans over his freewheeling campaign style and his refusal to stick to a policy message. He came under fire for his prolonged feud with the Muslim family of a U.S. soldier who was killed in the line of duty in Iraq

Dolapo Badmos, Lagos State Police Command spokesperson The Police in Lagos said on Wednesday that it had arrested two suspected members of a dreaded cult gang (Aiye) operating in the Ebute Meta area of the state capital. A dependable source, who sought anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the gang had been robbing, attacking and killing people and raping ladies in Ebute Meta, Oyingbo, Costain, Iponri and Ijora areas of Lagos for some time. Those arrested, according to the source, included one of their leaders, simply identified as Francis (a.k.a. Champion Boy), and one other, yet to be fully identified. The two suspects were arrested on Saturday, Aug. 13 by a police team from the Iponri Division at about 9.30 p.m. at a car wash, near the Costain round-about. “They were arrested while molesting law-abiding members of the public. The police has been on their trail for some time. “A few weeks ago, their gang killed two persons at the Railway Crossing between Iponr

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai The Imo Police Command said it had arrested a soldier attached to the 33 Artillery Brigade, Bauchi State, for leading an armed robbery gang of four. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, who presented the suspect to newsmen on Wednesday in Owerri, said the culprit (name witheld),was the leader of an armed robbery gang known to operate along Oha-Asa in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area. Lakanu said that the soldier and his gang were intercepted by operatives of the police command in the area as they flagged down vehicles and robbed people of their belongings. He also presented about 30 other suspects arrested for different crimes, ranging from kidnapping, child trafficking, armed robbery and cult activities. “We are ever ready for criminals and I assure the people of the state that the police will fish out all of them from their den,” he said. The commissioner said with the community policing strategy and the introduct

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano State Governor Kano State governor, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje has approved the appointment of Mrs Aisha Bello as the new Accountant-General of the state with immediate effect. The Commissioner of Information, Youths and Sports, Malam Muhammad Garba, made this known in a statement issued to newsmen in Kano on Wednesday. Garba said before her appointment, Mrs. Bello was the Commissioner of Planning and Budget in the state. A graduate of Financial Management and Accounting, Mrs Bello held several managerial positions in the defunct Habib Nigeria Bank and First Bank of Nigeria. Mrs. Bello was born in 1965 and is married with children. According to the statement, the erstwhile Acting Accountant-General, Malam Ibrahim Kura, retains his position as Director Treasury.

Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has released a statement and a video to debunk the claim by Boko Haram that its air strikes against targets in the Sambisa forest led to the death of dozens of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. The Boko Haram had in a fresh video released on Monday claimed that air strikes by the Nigerian military led to the killing of many of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. But in a statement the Nigerian Air Force stated: “It is pertinent to state that the video is not only a ruse but another mischievous effort by the dying sect to draw public attention to itself. Whereas the video showed a cross section of the abducted girls and an airborne aircraft, it provided no evidence that the supposed casualties were as a result of any air to ground attack. More so, there is sufficient evidence to believe that the casualties were arranged as the positioning of the bodies clearly defies any natural setting of a location th

The Managing Director, Elgusto Classic International, Mr. Roland Ogbonna, has been arraigned over alleged illegal importation of furniture, breaking of Customs seal and evasion of duty payment. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Ikeja, stated this in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jerry Attah. According to the statement, Ogbonna appeared before Justice Abdulazeez Anka of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. It said that based on information, the suspect, and his company were alleged to have imported 511 sets of furniture from China in July 2016. “This is contrary to the provision of Section 47 (i) and (ii) of the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap C45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. “After a preliminary investigation, inspection and discovery at the warehouse in Lekki, Officers and Men of the Service swung into action by sealing the warehouse pending a thoroug