Russia thrash Saudi Arabia 5-0 in 2018 world cup opener

The world cup kicked off today with a surprising score in the opening game between Russia and Saudi Arabia. The host nation, Russia comprehensively crushed Saudi Arabia, 5-0 with Yuri Gazinsky scoring on a header 12 minutes in.

Russia’s second, third and fourth goals were all by substitutes: one by Artem Dzyuba and two by Denis Cheryshev. With time running out, Aleksandr Golovin got a fifth goal on a free kick, past a badly tired Saudi defense.







Saudi Arabia, a team whose players are virtually all based in their home league, played averagely but just couldn't get one shot on target.

Even at halftime, the Saudi Arabian players looked tired, and it did not get better as Dzyuba scored on another header, then Cheryshev added his second in the 90th minute.







It was a great start for the host nation, who will still face Egypt and Uruguay in order to qualify for quarter finals.

Federal High Court orders temporary forfeiture of N2.2billion recovered from Air Marshal Adesola Amosu

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the temporary forfeiture of N2.2billion recovered from former Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu.



Justice Mojisola Olatoregun made the order based on an ex-parte application by the EFCC.



The judge ruled: “An interim order is made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the total sum of N2,244,500,000 found and recovered by the commission from the first respondent (Amosu) which sum is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.”



The judge granted an interim order for the temporary forfeiture of N190,828,978.15 recovered from a former Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Director of Finance and Budget Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.



Justice Olatoregun also ordered temporary forfeiture of N101 million recovered from Solomon Enterprises, a company linked to Amosu. EFCC said the sum “is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.”

Court adjourns Ex-Abia governor, Orji Kalu’s N3.2bn fraud trial to June 27th

Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos has adjourned to June 27, 2018 for further hearing in a N3.2bn fraud case involving a former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, and others.



Kalu is being prosecuted alongside his company, Slok Nigeria Limited and his former Commissioner for Finance, Jones James Udeogu, for money laundering to the tune of over N3.2bn.



At the last adjourned sitting, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, through its counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, had sought to further amend the charge against the defendants, after closing its case.



However, at the resumed hearing today, June 13, 2018, the prosecution counsel, Oyedepo, informed the court that he was served with copious applications dated June 6, 2018 and filed on June 7, 2018 by the defence counsel led by Kalu Awa, SAN, in opposition to his application to further amend the charge against their clients.



He further told the court that today’s proceedings was meant for the court to either hear his application to further amend the charge against the defendants or to hear the no-case submission that had previously been filed by the defense counsels on behalf of their clients.



In his response, the lead defence counsel, Awa, told the court that there was an extant application on behalf of his client, Kalu. Also, Udeogu’s lawyer informed the court that he had filed an application dated June 8, 2018 in respect of the further amended charge being sought by the prosecution.



He further told the court that though he had received processes by lawyers to Kalu and the third defendant, Slok Nigeria Limited, the prosecution had not replied to any of them.



The prosecution counsel, Oyedepo, however, told the court that he did not know what the defence team meant that he had not replied to their processes.Oyedepo further told the court that all the processes were served on him in court this morning.

'The conviction of Nyame, Dariye proves that we are not just going after opposition chieftains' - EFCC

EFCC says the conviction of two prominent members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye in quick succession by a Federal Capital Territory High Court has put a lie to the often repeated charge by critics and cynics that the commission is lukewarm in prosecuting chieftains of the ruling party for corruption.










Nyame and Dariye, both former two-term governors of Taraba and Plateau State respectively, were convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison on corruption charges.










Nyame was convicted for criminal misappropriation, diversion of public funds, and breach of public trust; and Dariye, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds. In the course of Nyame’s trial, the prosecution called 14 witnesses and presented documentary evidence, which among other things revealed that the N250 million was shared and never utilised for the purpose for which it was approved. A total of N180 million was diverted to the bank account of Salman Global Ventures Limited, which provided no services for the state.










On his part, Dariye diverted about N1.16 billion Ecological Fund meant for the state, to his personal use, including transferring monies to Ebenezer Retnan Ventures (an unregistered company managed by him) and Pinnacle Communications Limited. In proving its case against Dariye, EFCC called 10 witnesses, including Peter Clark, a detective constable with the UK Metropolitan Police in London, who investigated Dariye in the UK for money laundering offence.










Both trials had been ongoing for 11 years and towards the end of the proceedings, the two convicts changed their political camps, moving from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling APC. Dariye who won election into the senate on the platform of the PDP decamped to the ruling APC, at a critical phase of his trial, when the prosecution had called all its vital witnesses and conviction appeared imminent. Not surprisingly, this fueled speculation that the gambit was a calculated move to stave off imminent conviction.

Photos from the service of songs, held in honour of late Punch chairman, Wale Aboderin

Yesterday, family, friends and well-wishers came together for the service of songs in honour of the late Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Gbadebowale Aboderin which held at his residence in Punch Estate, Ikeja, Lagos.



Pastor Ituah Ighodalo of Trinity House Church presided over the event with a message titled, ‘The Lord will comfort you’.



Esezobor Okonoboh, the immediate past Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Tunde and Wunmi Obe, Eedris Abdulkareem and several others were all in attendance.

See photos below...

Police IG approves request by the National Human Rights Commission to commence an independent audit of detention cells in all police commands

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has approved the request by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to commence an independent audit of detention cells in all police commands and formations in Nigeria including those of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).



These visits will enable the NHRC oversee the human rights situation of detainees as well as undertake general audit of the state of Police detention facilities (cells) in the country. This exercise is part of the NHRC 2018 audit of police detention centers in Nigeria.



The NHRC was established by the Nigeria Human Right Commission (NHRC) ACT, 1995 as amended to deal with all matters relating to promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights in Nigeria.

Buhari supporters are motivated by belief and trust while PDP supporters are motivated by money'' Festus Keyamo

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