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Showing posts from April, 2017

Police Inspector Shot Dead By Armed Men In Anambra

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Two armed men on Saturday shot dead a police inspector in Ogidi, near Onitsha in Anambra, police authorities have confirmed. Hassan Musa, divisional police officer, Ogidi police station, confirmed the incident to NAN. Musa said that the hoodlums, who operated with a motorcycle, collected the AK47 rifle the deceased was carrying. He said that the incident occurred at about 2.45 pm at a police road block near Ugwunwasike Roundabout in Ogidi, where a police team was conducting “stop and search”. An eyewitness had told NAN that the armed men took the policeman unawares as they rode straight and shot him at a close range while he was flagging down a vehicle for a search. “Other policemen who were with him took cover on hearing the gun shots while the armed men escaped,” the source said. NAN gathered that the incident, which happened within minutes, caused people in the vicinity, including motorists and commuters, to abandon their vehicles and scamper for safety. ...

Ibrahimovic to end Man United career

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic has reportedly turned his attention to MLS after accepting that a knee injury has ended his Manchester United career abruptly The former Sweden international had the option to trigger a 12-month extension to his current deal, which expires this summer, but that is unlikely to go ahead due to his injury woes. Ibrahimovic is expected to be on the sidelines for between nine and 12 months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament after landing awkwardly during United’s Europa League quarterfinal win over Anderlecht. According to The Mirror, Ibrahimovic has accepted that he will not play for the Red Devils again, and is now targeting a return to action in the United States. It is believed that a number of MLS clubs have already made offers to the striker, who has previously expressed a desire to end his career in the US. The 36-year-old, who has scored 27 goals in all competitions for United this season, is expected to undergo an operation in America. Me anwh...

As INEC Begins Continuous Voter Registration

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will tomorrow begin a nationwide voter registration exercise. This is coming almost two years before the next general election. According to INEC, the exercise is intended to enable citizens who have turned 18 years of age since the last registration, as well as those who did not register during the last exercise. INEC also said those seeking transfer of their registration from one state to another or from one polling unit to another, within a state, would also be able to do so. In addition, the exercise would enable citizens who have the Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs), but whose names are on the register, to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, had earlier raised the alarm that almost 8 million voters had abandoned their cards with the commission. These cards were supposed to be used in the last general election. This is one of the few imperfections of the former INEC leadership. The ...

Griezmann the type of player Manchester United want’

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Antoine Griezmann would suit Manchester United’s style of play perfectly, according to former United midfielder Ray Wilkins. Griezmann has scored 25 goals for Atletico Madrid this season, and has been linked with a move to a host of clubs in the summer as a result. United appear to be frontrunners to secure the France international’s signature, however, after Griezmann’s advisor admitted United were the first club to make contact over his client’s availability. Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Manchester United future has been thrown into doubt after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in last week’s Europa League tie with Anderlecht but the Swede has since vowed to come back even stronger. And with Wayne Rooney reportedly set to depart the club at the end of the season, Wilkins hopes United can lure Griezmann to Old Trafford to bolster their attacking options, but feels Champions League football could be a necessity in order to land the in-demand striker....

Nigerian terrorists now work in alliance with ISIS – Osinbajo

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Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo has disclosed that terrorists operating within the country are working in alliance with the militant Islamic group, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Osinbajo called on other countries affected by activities of the terrorists to put hands on deck in tackling the evil collaborations. According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, the Vice-President spoke while receiving the Bangladeshi Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Abu Belal Muhammad, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said networking among terrorists groups had increased the need for countries to close ranks to counter the threats posed by their activities. He said, “We are concerned about terrorism not just within our borders, we have also seen the influence of terrorists across borders and how terrorist organisations have cooperated with each other. “We are aware for instance that ...

States With Outstanding Salary despite Bail Out

This revelation came as Organised Labour accused the Federal Government of owing civil servants a whopping N290 billion promotion arrears, lamenting that all efforts at making the government pay had not yielded any positive result. Giving an overview of the salary situations across the states, Secretary-General of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, Bashir Alade Lawal, told Vanguard that some states were still defaulting in payment, in spite of the huge bailout received from the Federal Government. He said: “Osun State is owing one year, Ekiti is owing six months, Oyo is owing six months, Ondo is owing seven months; Beyelsa is owing seven months; Abia, two months; Benue four months; Kogi 15 months; Nasarawa three months. ‘’Ogun can claim it is not owing but it is not paying deductions from workers’ salaries in some cases, six, seven, eight months. They are only paying net, not gross. So, if you have paid net ...

Davido & Iceprince’s Fight: See Full Details Of What Really Happened In Warri Last Night

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Davido and Iceprince ‘Last night, an event (Delta Alive) organised by Shina Peller (owner of Quilox night club) went down in Warri. The show had Davido, Lil Kesh, Ice Prince, CDQ and others as headliners. According to an inside source, trouble started from the airport when Davido was picked up in a G-Wagon while Ice Prince was picked up with a saloon car. The gesture infuriated Ice Prince and he let the organisers know he wasn’t pleased. Davido got to hear of his complains and was angry too. Then the issue escalated during the concert when Ice Prince was made to perform before Lil Kesh, a move that’s seen as an insult to the bigger artiste. Ice Prince made it an issue back stage and Davido who had been boiling from the car complaint and obviously a close friend of Lil Kesh jumped in defence of Kesh and things got messy. Our source said, ‘when they got back to the hotel, Davido was really pissed so much that he went to Ice Prince’s door and started shouting and banging on the door...

I Once Ate Dog Food At Alibaba’s House To Avoid Starvation – I Go Dye Says Efe Should Shut-up With His Boring Hustle Story!

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Popular Nigerian comedian,  I Go Dye , has advised Big Brother Naija winner, Efe, to stop boring Nigerians with his hustle story because most celebrities had worse stories than his. Comedian I Go Dye While speaking on Easter Sunday, at AY Comedian’s much anticipated comedy/music concert, ‘AY Live’, stand-up comedian, Francis Agoda, popularly known as I Go Dye, advised #BBNaija winner, Efe, to quit boring Nigerians with his hustle story because contrary to what he (Efe) may think, many celebrities had worse stories than his. Recall that since his emergence as winner of the recently concluded Big Brother Naija reality TV show, Efe has seized every means possible to tell anyone interested how much he suffered on the streets of Lagos before his present status. Ever since his triumphant return to Nigeria, Efe has been warming his way into the hearts of even those who didn’t vote for him during his stay in the BBN house with his continuous rhetorical question...

Diezani N23b poll cash: Suspect allegedly got N112.4m to compromise 2015 Presidential poll result

Justice Efreti Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, on Mo nday ordered that Mrs. Fidelia Omoile, a serving Independent National Electoral Commission’s official in Isoko- South Local Government Area of  Delta State, be remanded in prison custody following her arraignment on Monday, on a two- count amended charge, bordering on conspiracy and money laundering, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Omoile was docked for allegedly collecting the sum of N112, 480,000.00 as a bribe during the weeks leading to the 2015 Presidential election. She  was among the 105 INEC officials who allegedly collected part of the $115million (N23bn) disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the countdown to the 2015 presidential election. Omoile was arrested on 11 April, 2016 following intelligence received by the EFCC on the activities of some INEC Staff, who allegedly connived with some Non-Governmental...

STATEMENT: Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on report of expulsion of The Punch Newspapers State House reporter

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Massive Nationwide Jubilation As Osinbajo Makes Final Decision On Jonathan, Over The $43 Million Ikoyi Loot

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The Committee set up to investigate the suspended Director General, DG, of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke, and the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has discarded its plans to invite former President, Goodluck Jonathan, for questioning. The Committee, which is led by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami, and the National Security Adviser, NSA, Babagana Moguno, as members. Recall, that on Friday, the suspended NIA DG had informed Osinbajo and the NSA that the money, which was originally, $289,202,382, was approved by President Goodluck Jonathan. However, an impeccable source within the Federal Government, revealed that Jonathan would not be invited. The source said: “We have carried out several probes, including the $2.1 billion arms scam involving the (former) Service Chiefs and the former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki; we have probed the $1.3 billion Malabu scam, involving th...

Tinubu did not assist me into becoming APC National Chairman – Oyegun

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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, John Oyegun has said a National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu was not responsible for his emergence as the ruling party’s National Chairman. Oyegun made the remark in an interview with Vanguard while responding to a question that some people are alleging that he has not been fair to those who assisted him to emerge National Chairman of the party, especially, Bola Tinubu. The APC Chairman insisted that everybody in the party and not a particular individual aided his emergence. According to Oyegun, “Everybody assisted me to this position and I am grateful to all of them. The only thing is my personality and integrity; I don’t joke with these two things because they are the only currency that I have and I will defend them at any time. “I don’t believe one particular person solely assisted me to this position, everybody assisted me and someday, the story of how I became chairman of APC will be ...

Tribute to Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, By Gov. Rauf Aregbesola

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I received with deep shock but submission to the will of Allah (SWT) the news of the death of Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke early this morning. He was 62 years. Senator Adeleke was the first civilian governor of the State of Osun elected on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in the aborted Third Republic. He was in office between January 1992 and November 1993. At the return of civil democratic rule, he was elected as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to represent Osun West in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 2007 to 2011. Senator Adeleke came from the illustrious Adeleke family of Ede. His father, Senator Ayoola Adeleke, was a progressive politician, an ally of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and a staunch member of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), under which banner he was elected to the Nigerian Senate in the Second Republic. It is not surprising therefore that Senator Adeleke returned to the progressives fold in 2014 when he joined the...

Chelsea’s Kante wins PFA player of the year award for 2016-17

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N’Golo Kante has won the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award for 2016-17. The Chelsea midfielder, 26, beat Eden Hazard, Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexis Sanchez in the vote by his fellow players. Kante was key to Leicester’s surprise Premier League win last year and could become first player to achieve the distinction of winning successive titles with different clubs if Chelsea can stay ahead of Spurs in this season’s race. Since signing Kante in July, Chelsea have gone from a mid-table finish to the top of the pile with six games to play. In his absence, Leicester have largely struggled to replicate their heroics of last season and are still not safe from relegation. France international Kante has played every minute in the league this season apart from the Boxing Day game against Bournemouth, when he was suspended, and the final 11 minutes against Tottenham on Jan. 4. Kante said: “It’s a ...

Dele Odule reveals how fellow actor, Olumide Bakare, died

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In a chat with The Nation, Odule said that he gave up the ghost on his way to the hospital. “He was declared dead on arrival at UCH Ibadan,” he said, quoting a family source. On rumours of a failed surgery as it is being peddled online, Odule said “It is not true that he went through surgery again. He did undergo a surgery, but that was a long time ago and it was successful. “It will be recalled that he was very sick at one time, but he came out of it and he has been in his home,” he added. Bakare had been ill for over three years, battling heart and lung illnesses.

Why we can’t stop being sexual in entertainment – Tiwa Savage

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Multiple award-winning Nigerian singer, Tiwa Savage, has said that the desire for glamour and appeal is the reason entertainers cannot stop being sexual in their performances. She said this while addressing some pressing issues in the Nigerian music industry as a guest on an entertainment show hosted by Arise Television, which was monitored by DAILYPOST. According to her, entertainers cannot be stopped from adapting sexual scenes in their stage-craft but can be regulated through appropriate guidelines provided by a competent body or authority. She, however, disclosed that contemporary musicians were misunderstood in a similar way the late Afrobeat King, Fela’s dancers were misunderstood because of their sexual displays on stage. Savage said: “There is no way a movie and entertainment will not have sexual scenes. You cannot stop an artiste from being sexual in entertainment “The only thing we can do as Africans is to provide guidelines. “When I performed in...

FA Cup: Arsenal to play Chelsea in the final

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Arsenal will take on Chelsea in the final of the FA Cup, after they came from behind to beat Manchester City 2-1 in their semi-final clash on Sunday. Sergio Aguero put Pep Guardiola’s men ahead, with a dink over Petr Cech, after receiving a long pass from Yaya Toure. The Gunners levelled after the break, after Nacho Monreal volleyed in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross from the right. Alexis Sanchez provided the winner in extra time, as he reacted quickest to fire past Claudio Bravo. Arsenal had several chances to extend their lead, but Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil squandered them.

Pogba might not play in Manchester Derby – Mourinho

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Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, has revealed that Paul Pogba is a doubt for Thursday’s Premier League fixture against rivals Manchester City. The France midfielder who completed 120 minutes in the Europa League quarter-final tie against Anderlecht on Thursday, hobbled off in their 2-0 win over Burnley on Sunday. “I don’t know,” Mourinho told a news conference, saying Pogba was “dead” following his recent exertions. “I don’t know if he’s injured or if it’s just the accumulation of fatigue in the muscles, I don’t know,” Mourinho added. “But if he cannot play Thursday, then he cannot play Thursday. We play another one and we don’t cry.” Mourinho also told the BBC he was “very happy” with his side’s overall performance at Turf Moor. “It’s not easy to win here, and it’s even harder to be in control — and we were in control for 90 minutes,” ...

Late Messi strike downs 10-man Real Madrid, Barcelona go top of La Liga

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Lionel Messi scored with the last kick of the game, as Barcelona defeated arch rivals Real Madrid 3-2 in a fascinating El Clasico fixture on Sunday night. Madrid took the lead through Casemiro, who bundled in Sergio Ramos’ effort. Messi equalized for Barca, with a typically mesmeric run and finish, before Ivan Rakitic gave the Catalans the lead for the first time in the game, with a stunning left-footed drive into the far corner. The hosts levelled again, despite having Sergio Ramos sent off for a two-footed tackle on Messi, with substitute James Rodriguez touching in Marcelo’s cross. With the game ending for a draw, Messi blew the La Liga title race wide open again, with a sublime finish in the second minute of added time.

FA Cup: Kelechi Iheanacho makes history at Wembley

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Kelechi Iheanacho’s introduction in Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final clash against Arsenal, meant that he became the first player to be brought on as a fourth substitute in the competition. New rules for the 2016/2017 season, allow managers to make one more extra change if the game goes into extra time, even if they have already made three previous substitutions. The law came into effect from the quarter-final stage of this season’s competition, but was not put into practice until a last-four encounter at Wembley. Pep Guardiola had already brought on Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph and Fernando into the match. But when his side went behind to an Alexis Sanchez goal, the Spaniard called on Iheanacho, with the hope of finding a late equalizer. The move did not pay off, as City came up short against the Gunners.

Apostle Suleman opens up on new allegations by Stephanie Otobo

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Apostle Johnson Suleman, General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, has vowed not to allow allegations made against him by his alleged lover, Miss Stephanie Otobo, go unchallenged. Apostle Suleman, who spoke to The Sun through his Media Adviser, Phrank Shaibu, dared Otobo to prove all her allegations in court. He said: “It is not for her to probe the wisdom of the mother in going to beg for forgiveness. The mother has done what she felt was right and we have responded to the mother’s appeal for forgiveness. “Can’t you see the contradiction in the claim of being poisoned by Apostle? First, she claimed that the poison was given to her by Apostle in a hotel. Next she said it was in a dream. Perhaps, she would come up with another bizarre tale. Seriously, even my three -year- old daughter can do better”. On Otobo’s claims that if Apostle Suleman presents his international passport, it will reveal that both of them travelled together on a certain day t...

Wale Oladipo, Abiola Ogundokun mourn Isiaka Adeleke; sympathisers besiege Ede

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The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Prof. Wale Oladipo has described the death of the former chieftain of the party, and incumbent Senator representing Osun West Senatorial District, Senator Isiaka Adeleke as a colossal loss to Osun State, and Nigeria at large. Oladipo, in a text message sent to DAILY POST on Sunday, said it was one death too many for Nigeria as a country. According to him, Adeleke’s death had created a “terribly sad moment for entire Yoruba race and Nigerians at large.” “This is terribly sad, Adeleke was a truly reliable leader of men, we lost a political giant, the politics of this state would never be the same again,” “Oladipo opined. In the same vein, a former Publicity Secretary of the PDP, and elder statesman, Chief Abiola Ogundokun has expressed shock over the death of Adeleke, saying it had created a wide vacuum in the political space of Osun State. Ogundokun said Adeleke was a political pundit of ...

Apostle Suleman opens up on new allegations by Stephanie Otobo

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Apostle Johnson Suleman, General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, has vowed not to allow allegations made against him by his alleged lover, Miss Stephanie Otobo, go unchallenged. Apostle Suleman, who spoke to The Sun through his Media Adviser, Phrank Shaibu, dared Otobo to prove all her allegations in court. He said: “It is not for her to probe the wisdom of the mother in going to beg for forgiveness. The mother has done what she felt was right and we have responded to the mother’s appeal for forgiveness. “Can’t you see the contradiction in the claim of being poisoned by Apostle? First, she claimed that the poison was given to her by Apostle in a hotel. Next she said it was in a dream. Perhaps, she would come up with another bizarre tale. Seriously, even my three -year- old daughter can do better”. On Otobo’s claims that if Apostle Suleman presents his international passport, it will reveal that both of them travelled together on a certain day t...

19 School Children, Driver Roasted In Bus Crash

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 driver and 19 school children were killed in South Africa when the minibus they were travelling in collided with a truck and exploded in a ball of fire in Mpumalanga province, emergency services said on Friday. The vehicle was ferrying children from school when it collided with the truck between the towns of Verena and Bronkhorstpruit, northeast of the capital Pretoria, Russel Meiring, ER24 spokesman said. Several children were injured, he said. The dead children lay trapped inside the burnt out shell of the vehicle that stood on its side, he said. It was not clear what caused the collision, police said. The (minibus) was transporting learners from school and it collided with the truck and caught fire,” Mpumalanga police spokesman Gerald Sedibe said. He said the minibus driver was killed, while the truck driver survived. Even though it is Africa’s most industrialised economy with a modern road network, South Africa has a dire road safety record. Road deaths rose ...

Mourinho's injury update ahead of Burnley

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Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has provided a team news update ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Burnley, admitting the team’s defensive injury problems are mounting. Marcos Rojo was taken off on a stretcher in the first half of Thursday’s Europa League extra-time win over Anderlecht and, while the club are yet to confirm the extent of the problem, there are concerns he could join fellow centre-backs Phil Jones and Chris Smalling on the sidelines. Zlatan Ibrahimovic will also be assessed after landing awkwardly on his knee at the end of normal time and being replaced by Anthony Martial in the eventual 2-1 win. But Mourinho feels he has options in attack, with Wayne Rooney having returned to the matchday squad against the Belgian side and Juan Mata battling to return from groin surgery before the end of the season. The boss also confirmed two players who weren’t involved in the quarter-final, second-leg triumph – Ander Herrera and Ashley Y...

La liga Standing table

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Sunderland set for massive summer with 13 transfers on the cards

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Sunderland fans in the Transfer Tavern are still retaining some small hope their side can unexpectedly fend off relegation this season.  That seems a tall order with the Black Cats currently nine points away from safety and just six games of the season left to go. But regardless of what division they’ll be in next season, The Daily Star claim there’s a huge summer ahead at the Stadium of Light. Indeed, the British tabloid report that a staggering 16 players could leave the club during the coming transfer window, starting with loan signings Jason Denayer, Adnan Januzaj and Javier Manquillo – who will all return to their parent clubs. Aside from those three, however, John O’Shea, Seb Larsson, Victor Anichebe, Steven Pienaar, Joleon Lescott and Jan Kirchhoff could all leave on free transfers with their contracts winding down, whilst Jermain Defoe could also exit for nothing through a relegation release clause. Meanwhile, Lamine Kone, Fabio Borini,...

Chelsea have to make £100m offer to sign incredible No.10

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According to the Metro, Everton have reportedly slapped a sensational £100m price tag on the head of Chelsea and Manchester United top transfer target Romelu Lukaku ahead of the summer transfer window. The 23-year-old powerful striker has enjoyed a stunning season in the Premier League this term and is currently leading the scoring charts with 24 goals in 32 games. The Belgian international has been heavily linked with a return to the Stamford Bridge, while there were also claims last week that Man United could be stepping up their interest in him. Still, the Toffees are desperate not to let their leading star go easily, despite Ronald Koeman suggesting this week that Lukaku would not be signing a new contract at Goodison Park. The current contract deal of the Belgian international expires in 2019, but the Liverpool Echo insist that will not stop Everton demanding a world-record £100m fee from clubs if they sell him this summer. If Antonio Conte’s sid...

United discover semi-final opponents

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Manchester United have been paired with Celta Vigo in the Europa League semi-finals following the draw ceremony in Nyon , Switzerland. Jose Mourinho's men are currently England's sole representatives in European competition and are bidding to lift the trophy for the first time in the club's illustrious history. The Reds' reward for beating Anderlecht in extra-time at Old Trafford, 3-2 on aggregate, is a clash against the team from La Liga, who saw off Genk in the previous round and have been prioritising this competition of late.  The ties will be played on Thursday 4 and 11 May, with the first leg at the Balaidos Stadium and the second game at Old Trafford, and a 20:05 BST kick-off on both occasions. The clubs have no previous meetings. Celta are coached by Eduardo Berizzo and currently lie in 10th place in Spain's top flight. Former Red Giuseppe Rossi is on loan with the club but is out due to injury, while ex-Manchester City man John Guidetti, Liverpool old...

Barcelona lose appeal to play Neymar in El Clasico

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Barcelona have had their appeal of Neymar’s three-match ban thrown out, by the committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Thursday. The Catalan club were hoping to have the Brazilian forward available for Sunday’s El Clasico against Real Madrid. Neymar was handed the punishment, after getting sent off during Barcelona’s 2-0 defeat at Malaga earlier this month. The red card was his first in his four seasons with the club. His first booking was for obstructing the taking of a free-kick by tying his laces, while the second yellow card was for a late challenge on Roberto Rosales. Although that automatically carries a one-match ban, referee Jesus Gil Manzano wrote in his match report, that Neymar “sarcastically applauded” the fourth official as he left the pitch. The RFEF competition committee then slammed an additional two-game ban, meaning Neymar will miss league games against Real Sociedad, Madrid and Osasuna.

El-Rufai orders arrest of another journalist

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Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El’Rufai has ordered the arrest of Mr. Midat Joseph, a Kaduna based correspondent of Leadership newspapers. He was arrested by security operatives in his house at the early hours of Thursday. According to sources, the journalist who is now in detention in Kaduna was said to have published a report considered critical of the state government. This development has brought to six, the number of journalists arrested on the orders of the state governor since his assumption of office on May 2015.l However, calls put across to El’Rufai’s Chief Press Secretary for confirmation did not yield results as his line was switched off.

Ensuring Successful Voter Registration

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will, on April 27, 2017, commence a nationwide continuous Voter Registration exercise in the country. The exercise, according to the Chairman of the nation’s electoral umpire, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, is in preparation for the 2019 general elections. Affirming the resolve of the commission to commence the exercise, Prof. Yakubu assured that arrangements were on to ensure a smooth take-off of the exercise throughout the 774 local government areas of the country. While The Tide commends the INEC for making early preparations towards successful conduct of the 2019 general elections, we urge eligible voters who are yet to register with the electoral body to make good use of the opportunity offered by the exercise. It is also on this premise we welcome the early mobilisation initiative of the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike who, at a meeting with Ikwerre traditional rulers led by Eze Blessing Wajor, charged monarchs to be...

Taraba PDP distances self from Sherrif, Makarfi crisis

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TARABA State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Victor Kona has said the state chapter of the party remained neutral in the current leadership tussle at the national level, but chose to concentrate in consolidating the party’s position in the state. Kona disclosed this to newsmen yesterday during an interactive session at the party’s secretariat in Jalingo. According to him, the party has chosen to stay neutral in the face of the crisis because taking sides with either of the factions will simply mean inviting the crisis to the state, thereby dividing the party in the state and giving the opposition a chance to operate. “In Taraba, I can assure you that there is no crisis in the PDP. Our concern is to continue to consolidate the party’s position in the state and that is what we are doing. In the face of the crisis we won rerun elections for House of representative and Assembly seats and clear all the chairmanship seats in the just concluded local go...

Marcus Rashford Sends Manchester United Into Europa League Semi-Finals

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Marcus Rashford’s extra-time goal sent Manchester United into the Europa League semi-final at the expense of Anderlecht on a night of tension at Old Trafford. The Red Devils needed extra time to win the tie 3-2 on aggregate after the Belgians pushed them all the way at Old Trafford. United got themselves in front early.

Mourinho impressed by mentality from Shaw and Rashford

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Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho lauded Luke Shaw for playing through pain in his team's win over Anderlecht. Shaw, often criticised this season, played 120 minutes as United edged into the Europa League semi-finals with a 2-1 extra-time win at Old Trafford on Thursday. Marcus Rashford was the hero with his 107th-minute goal, but the win came at a price for the hosts, who lost Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo to injuries. Mourinho was full of praise for Rashford – who now has 10 goals in all competitions this season – and Shaw. "I always trust the players with special mentality. Always trust them. Luke Shaw did something new today, it means a lot for me," he told a news conference. "After 90 minutes, before I know that I have to change Zlatan, he had cramp, I had Ashley Young ready to come on, and he told me I'm going to play for 30 minutes with cramps, no problem. "He said if you need to make a change in another position I am ready for it. ...

Arsenal's Arsene Wenger: Back-three formation is 'an option' vs. Man City

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Arsene Wenger has not ruled out using a back-three formation in Sunday's FA Cup semifinal against Manchester City, although he refused to give anything away about his tactical plans. Wenger switched to three at the back for the first time in 20 years for Monday's  2-1 win  at Middlesbrough to stop Arsenal's defence from leaking goals after four straight Premier League away defeats. The 67-year-old could repeat the experiment at Wembley this weekend, although he remains without injured centre-back Shkodran Mustafi for the key clash. "It's an option, yes. But what will I do? You will understand, I won't tell you now," Wenger told a news conference on Thursday. It is no surprise that Wenger is keeping things close to his chest as City manager Pep Guardiola now has to prepare for two different tactical possibilities against an Arsenal side that is often criticised for being too predictable. But Wenger said that was not the reason for his sudden tactical s...

Chelsea and Tottenham Players Dominate PFA Team Of The Year

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The Professional Football Association (PFA) has announced its Team of the Year with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur players occupying eight of the 11 spots. The team, voted for by players from all 92 clubs in the English Football League and eight from the Women's Super League, has a familiar feel to it with five of the same players as 2015-16. Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante -- a Premier League title winner with Leicester City last season -- and Tottenham trio Danny Rose, Dele Alli and Harry Kane all make the final XI for the second season in a row. Another Spurs player, Kyle Walker, is also in the side at right-back. In addition, Chelsea, who struggled in defence of their title last season but now look odds-on to win this year's trophy, have defensive duo David Luiz and Gary Cahill involved, while Eden Hazard -- the PFA Players' Player of the Year in 2014-15 -- is back in the selection. Completing the list are two players fr...

Afouda Hunger Initiative AFO-HI

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Fullgist247 supports AFO-HI. Someone is hungry, feed and help a hand today.

Buhari is a noisemaker; he’s as corrupt as Abacha – Lamido

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A former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido has described the President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war as a ‘noise.’ Lamido, a former minister of Foreign Affairs, while speaking with the BBC Hausa Service yesterday, claimed that President Buhari could not be passed as a saint because he was “equally corrupt when he served under the late Head of State Sani Abacha.” Buhari had served as chairman of the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) which was established by Abacha in 1994 to provide critical infrastructure across the country. “He (Buhari) worked under Abacha; in fact he was the closest to the late military ruler and when it comes to corruption, everybody knows where Abacha’s government stands,” Lamido said. “Buhari is just making noise; there’s no iota of truth in the so-called commitment to the improvement of security and halting graft in the country”, he added. Lamido, who was reacting to the recent di...