Lionel Messi shows off his 6th Ballon d’Or trophy as he poses with his family (Photo)

Last night, Lionel Messi became the first-ever player to win sixth Ballon d’Or trophy after edging out Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award in Paris.



Taking to his Instagram page hours ago, the Barcelona and Argentine playmaker shared a family photo of himself posing with his new trophy alongside his wife, Antonella Roccuzzo and their sons, Thiago and Mateo.

Basket Mouth releases a statement after he was removed as an ambassador for the European Union in Nigeria’s campaign against Sexual and Gender Based Violence

Basket Mouth has released a statement in reaction to being removed as an ambassador for the European Union in Nigeria’s campaign against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.



The comedian was one of the Nigerian celebrities who were chosen to be advocates for the EU's cause on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).



However there was an outrage on social media after the comedian was revealed as one of the ambassadors. Twitter users brought up a 2014 joke he made about rape and said he was not fit to represent women and the issues they face.



He was removed following the outrage.



Reacting to his removal, Basket Mouth released a statement on Instagram.



He shared a photo collage of a number of women, including his daughter, his wife, Busola Dakolo, and more and wrote:




Almost every morning in the blogs, on the news, there's a picture of a man sitting on the floor pleading, the caption is usually in the line of 'its the devils handwork' and the topic is from underage defilement, rape or brutality against a woman or minor. I live in this same world with my most prized possessions my wife, my two daughters, my sisters and women who have built me into the man I am.

I was recently presented an opportunity to create awareness on the efforts of the EU to bring support to fighting this scourge, it was a no-brainer for me. I refused any compensation for it and volunteered to lend my voice because....its our fight, it's not for the EU...its for my girls' future.

Unfortunately, a few years ago I shared up a Facebook post that I thought was shedding light through humor to the entitled crude and very present behavioral patterns of some African men who equate spending to sexual favors, but I also realized then that women actually have to face this daily and its harrowing and I deeply apologized for it

I sincerely pray that this does not take away from the most important fight of our lives....the fight to secure our future...because the girl child is our future. I strongly appreciate the EU for this amazing platform to improve our lot, as long as the message reaches the ears of those who need it, then it's a win. To every woman - our mothers, sisters, lovers, wives, crowns, supporters, prayer partners, foundation, life.... thank you for being who you are. So many times you sacrifice who you are for a man to become who he wants to be. It's time we all love and and also support you like you do us....cos in your light, we all shine

Bless.

Lionel Messi shows off his 6th Ballon d’Or trophy as he poses with his family (Photo)

Last night, Lionel Messi became the first-ever player to win sixth Ballon d’Or trophy after edging out Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award in Paris.



Taking to his Instagram page hours ago, the Barcelona and Argentine playmaker shared a family photo of himself posing with his new trophy alongside his wife, Antonella Roccuzzo and their sons, Thiago and Mateo.

Photos of Saraki's multimillionaire houses forfeited to the FG

On Monday December 2nd, the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the forefiture of two multimillionaire houses owned by former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to the Federal government.



The EFCC had dragged Saraki before the court with claims that the houses are proceeds from some illicit activities Saraki engaged in while he was governor of Kwara state between 2003 to 2011.



See another photo below,

I will support the Hate Speech Bill if its first victims are Buhari, Tinubu, Lai Mohammed, El-Rufai, Festus Keyamo & Amaechi' - FFK

Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, says he will throw his weight behind the controversial hate speech bill if the first victims to be sanctioned are President Buhari, Bola Tinubu, Nasir El-Rufai, Festus Keyamo and Rotimi Amaechi for the ''hateful words they have spoken over the years.''

Saraki reacts as court orders forfeiture of his houses

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has reacted to an order issued by a Federal High Court in Lagos for the forfeiture of his two houses in Ilorin, Kwara State's capital.



In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Yusuph Olaniyonu, the former Governor of Kwara state averred that EFCC's claim that the two properties designated as Plots No. 10 and No. 11 Abdulkadir Road, GRA, Ilorin, were built with proceeds of fraud is outrightly false as they were partly built by the Kwara State Government pursuant to the Third Schedule of the Governor and Deputy Governor (Payment of Pension) Law 2010.



Saraki also alleged that the anti-graft agency is playing politics and spreading falsehood in its cheap attempt to witch-hunt and intimidate a perceived enemy.




The statement read in part “The EFCC’s claim that the Ilorin property was built by any proceed of fraud is outrightly false. The fact is that the Ilorin property was built partly by the Kwara State Government pursuant to the Third Schedule of the Governor and Deputy Governor (Payment of Pension) Law 2010 while Dr. Saraki personally funded the remaining cost of the building.

“There are existing letters from the Office of the Head of Service of Kwara State notifying the former Governor (Saraki) of the State Government’s compliance with the State Pension for Governor’s law and the one indicating his intention to bear the cost of the additional expenditure that will arise from building the property to his desired taste dated 25th January 2012 and 8th February 2012 respectively.

“The construction of the building did not commence until the last few weeks of Dr. Saraki’s tenure as Governor and the bulk of his contribution to the funding were made with cheques. Where cash was involved, this was mainly in 2012 and 2013, more than a year after he had left office as Governor.

“It should also be noted that the land on which the house is built is not a government allocated land.

“One can only see that EFCC is playing politics and spreading falsehood in its cheap attempt to witch-hunt and intimidate a perceived enemy.”

He expressed surprise that the EFCC “could not even hide its penchant for abusing the nation’s judicial institution as it engaged in forum shopping when it filed a suit in Lagos on a property situated in Ilorin.

“We will like to restate our earlier position that Dr. Saraki will contest this matter in court at least to further attest to his belief in the rule of law, the sanctity of the courts and their enduring readiness to do justice in all matters and to all persons.

“Let it be known that the usual claim by the EFCC that its actions were directed against corrupt elements does not apply to Dr. Saraki because he is a man who at every point in his public service has sought to institute transparency and accountability in governance.”



Recall that the EFCC claimed that it uncovered monumental fraud perpetrated in the treasury of the Kwara State Government between 2003 and 2011 when Saraki was the governor of the state, as it sought the forfeiture of the properties.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister calls out Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk over his joke about the Juventus striker at Ballon d’Or awards

Katia Aveiro, the sister of Cristiano Ronaldo has put Liverpool's defender Virgil van Dijk on blast over his joke about the Juventus striker at the Ballon d’Or awards on Monday night..



Ronaldo failed to show up for the ceremony in Paris and instead attended the 2019 Gran Gala del Calcio gala in Milan to collect his ‘Best Player in Serie A’ award.



When Van Dijk was being interviewed by Dutch television station RTL7 before the Ballon d’Or gala, the interviewer pointed out to Van Dijk that Ronaldo’s absence meant that he had one less rival to contend with for the Ballon d’Or award and the Liverpool defender replied: ‘Was he a rival then?’


Well, this didn't go down well for Ronaldo's sister Katia, who has now slammed Van Dijk in a lengthy rant on Instagram.




‘I think there are people living completely frustrated !!! And unrealistic… such humility!’ Katia wrote.



‘It is well known that Ronaldo will not win tonight’s prize. Although I have won important collective titles … but this is another conversation and that up ahead we will see where the truth about football will come !!!



‘Now, dear Virgil, where you are going, Cristiano Ronaldo has gone and has come a thousand times.


‘You see, my dear Virgil, that Cristiano Ronaldo was a tri-champion in the country where you have been playing for years and you still haven’t got your hand in the can.



‘Cristiano Ronaldo was even the best player and best scorer in the country where you play Virgil. By the way, I was even younger than you.



Then, dear Virgil, Cristiano Ronaldo went to other places and became the greatest player in the history of a clubezito.



‘Real Madrid, tell you something Virgil? Maybe so, because this club, with this Cristiano guy, even beat you in the Champions League final. Of these, Ronaldo already has five, Virgil.



And that fellow Ronaldo and team-mates, with the corners on his chest, crushed your “orange” in a final. Was it hard, Virgil? We have pity. And, dear Virgil, In one of the least successful times of his career, Cristiano Ronaldo has won even more titles than you. Awesome, isn’t it?



‘Now Virgil will win titles from those who really count and then we’ll talk. When you have a handful of them, the really important ones, you might be able to sit at the table with Cristiano. Or as they say in our land, it grows and appears!

‘It’s for me Cristiano you are and you will always be the best player in the world !!! And who does not like to put it on the wheel of the plate !!! (as they say in our land, small for many) but where came the best ever.’



Van Dijk finished second behind Lionel Messi as the Barcelona forward won the sixth Ballon d’Or trophy of his career to break ties with Ronaldo, who finished third in the rankings.