June 2016 | BEATZLOADED

June 2016

June 28, 2016 , ,

By Soni Daniel Abuja – 

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state has said that he ‘remain resolute in making his opinions known on national issues and will not be intimidated.” Fayose made this known yesterday in an angry reaction to the arrest of some men, who allegedly aided and abetted the governor in laundering part of the cash taken from the office of the former National Security Officer. The men were said to have been arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday in Lagos. One of them, whose name was given as Abiodun Agbele, was reportedly picked up at a location in Lagos while trying to doctor vital documents relating to some property he had bought for the embattled governor. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the arrest but did not give further details. “It is true that we arrested some men who were fronting for governor. They are in our Lagos Office. That is all I can say for now,” Uwujaren said last night. But it was learnt that some officials of a bank, which the governor said had helped him with funds to run his election, were also picked up and moved to Abuja by the operatives of the commission. Agbele, according to EFCC sources had been on the watchlist of the commission in the past week following discovery he was the arrowhead in the receipt and laundering of huge sums of money from a former Defence Minister, Musiliu Obanikor, who has since denied doling out any money to the Ekiti governor. Fayose reacts angrily to arrests

But the arrest of Agbele and others has not gone down well with Governor Fayose, who reacted angrily to the development last night. In a statement by his spokesman, Lere Olayinka, the governor chided EFCC for arresting his aides without first inviting them for questioning. “Our attention has been drawn to the arrest of Mr Abiodun Agbele by the EFCC and we wish to say that we encourage the EFCC to carry out its investigations without politics as it is being done now. “It must be pointed out that at no time was Mr Abiodun Agbele invited by the EFCC, and if he had been invited, he would have honoured the invitation. Therefore, there is nothing to celebrate in his arrest if it is not political. “As already pointed out, Governor Ayodele Fayose does not have anything to do with any fund from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). “Also, the person said to have been arrested is an adult and will defend himself when the time comes. Subjecting him to media trial as EFCC has been doing since the inception of this government will only give our adversaries momentary sense of joy. “We await reports of EFCC investigations and we hope that the anti-corruption agency will be civil enough to allow an open and transparent trial in competent court of law and not media trial justto get at Governor Fayose because of his uncompromising stance against the misrule of the APC/Buhari led federal government. “Finally, like we have maintained, Governor Fayose will remain resolute in making his opinions known on national issues and will not be intimidated.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/n4-7-b-fraud-reamin-resolute-unintimidated-says-fayose/
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June 27, 2016 , ,

Amaju Pinnick, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Sunday in Ibadan said the Super Eagles would have a substantive Head Coach within the next two weeks. Pinnick told newsmen that the football body was working assiduously to ensure they got a new head coach for the Super Eagles, urging Nigerians to hope for the best. The NFF President was in Ibadan to watch a 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match. The NPFL Match Day 24 fixture between hosts Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and FC IfeanyiUbah Football Club ended in a 2-2 draw. Pinnick also spoke on the Russia 2018 World Cup Qualifier draws, pointing out that football has come of age and was getting tougher by the day. “Football has come of age. Peru beat Brazil in Copa America. But I think we have assets that can make the country proud and I believe we will qualify,’’ he said. The African 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers have the Super Eagles placed in Group B with Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia. The NFF President said Super Eagles players were excited about facing Algeria and not Egypt, adding that the Federation would do everything possible to support them to qualify. “We will ensure that we make the difference in all,’’ he said. Also speaking on the allegation that he was in Ibadan as a guest of FC IfeanyiUbah, Pinnick said he was there to visit his aunt. “I grew up here and I am a fan of 3SC. I have only come to greet my aunty in Ibadan,’’ he stated. Pinnick said he was very glad to see football fans come out in their thousands to support 3SC. “It is a sign of the people’s love for the team and the game,’’ he said.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/super-eagles-will-substantive-head-coach-2-weeks-time-pinnick/


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June 27, 2016 , , ,


Sergio Aguero scored twice as Manchester City ended a run of three successive Premier League defeats with a 4-0 demolition of bottom club Aston Villa at Eastlands on Saturday.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side made heavy weather of the opening 45 minutes, but struck twice early in the second half to maintain their place in the top four and keep alive their slender hopes of winning the title. Yaya Toure side-footed in the opener before Aguero added a second as an attempted clearance by former City defender Micah Richards rebounded in off him. Aguero made it three with a sublime finish, but then hit the post with a penalty after Raheem Sterling tapped in a fourth. Villa are now nine points from safety after a fourth successive defeat and appear certain to play in the second tier next season for the first time since 1988. Pellegrini switched from 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-2 line-up in an attempt to put early pressure on Villa, with Wilfried Bony making his first start since Boxing Day as he joined Aguero up front. Pellegrini’s side, though, lacked urgency against visitors who defended deeply, often pulling all 11 players back into their own third of the field. Both of City’s strikers had chances in the opening quarter-of-an-hour, with Aguero showing a sublime first touch to control Fernandinho’s angled chip, before cutting inside Aly Cissokho and lifting a shot goalwards from close range, with keeper Brad Guzan nudging it over the bar. Bony had a clear opening as he raced between defenders towards Gael Clichy’s low cross, but could not quite stretch enough and saw the ball skim wide off his boot. – Satisfying – Guzan was sharp to push aside a snapshot from Aguero, who then drove across goal and wide after collecting Bony’s angled return pass. Villa, though, were not without threat, and Joe Hart had to get down quickly to turn Jordan Ayew’s 20-yard shot around his near post after Ciaran Clark’s persistence had created an opening. City’s frustrating first half was summed up when Bony found space to meet David Silva’s corner, and planted his header around 10 yards wide. The second half proved more satisfying for the home side, who were in front less than three minutes after the restart. Aguero darted to the byline and cut a pass back to Silva, who played the ball square for Toure to stroke it into the corner of the net. A second goal quickly arrived, with the struggling Bony able to claim an assist. The Ivory Coast international’s through pass undid Villa’s defence, with Richards slicing his attempted clearance off the shins of the chasing Aguero and into the net. If that goal had an element of fortune about it, the Argentina international followed it up with a beautifully-constructed third, chesting down Silva’s chipped return pass and drilling a shot past Guzan. At that point, with the game won, Pellegrini brought off Bony and sent on Sterling, who was seeking to atone for a poor performance against his former club Liverpool on Wednesday. Sterling made a fast impact with a rising shot that Guzan had to flip aside, and there was a sense that City were fully capable of adding further goals. And so they did. Jesus Navas’s low ball across the penalty area somehow eluded every single Villa defender, and Sterling tapped in. Aguero should have completed his hat-trick after that, as Clark tripped substitute Kelechi Iheanacho, but his penalty struck the base of the post.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/aguero-double-fires-slick-city-to-victory/


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June 27, 2016 , ,


ABUJA – Despite stiff opposition from the Federal Government, an Abuja High Court at Jabi, on Monday, released the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, former Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa and his deputy, Mr. Benedict Efeturi, on bail. The quartet were docked before the court on a two-count forgery charge the federal government entered against them.
The defendants were alleged to have masterminded the usage of a bogus Senate Standing Rules for the July 9, 2015, election, through which both Saraki and Ekweremadu took over the leadership of the Senate. FG maintained that the defendants had by their conduct, committed an offence punishable under Section 97 (1) and 364 of the Penal Code Act. However, though FG which was represented by the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri, did not oppose Saraki’s bail request, it however urged the court to deny the other defendants bail. The DPP told the court that Ekweremadu and the other defendants previously evaded service of the charge on them. “We urge this court to be cautious in handling the bail of the 1st, 2nd and 4th defendants. This is also considering the fact that the charge against them is very serious”, the DPP insisted. He noted that the three defendants evaded service until the court granted an order for substituted service of the charge on them by pasting it at the National Assembly notice board. “My lord, what this means is that if granted bail, the defendants may not be seen again for trial”, Diri added. He said FG’s decision not to oppose Saraki’s bail application was to ensure that legislative business in the Senate was not hampered. Meanwhile, delivering a bench ruling on the matter, trial Justice Yusuf Halilu stressed that the essence of bail was to ensure the liberty of an accused person who under section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, is presumed innocent until proven guilty. “The law is trite that considering whether or not to grant bail is within the discretion of the court and exercise of such discretion must be done judiciously and judicially”, the Judge held. He observed that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, equally “lends supports that an accused person standing trial shall be granted bail to enable him prepare defence”. He said the concept of “presumption of innocence” under the Constitution entails that an accused person should be afforded the facility and time to prepare to defend the charge before the court. “Consequently, and having considered the applications for bail and submissions by counsel to the defendants, Mr. Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, SAN, Mahmud Magaji, SAN, Paul Erokoro, SAN, and J.B. Daudu, SAN. “Also having considered the counter-affidavit from the DPP, I shall allow the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants to go home today. “However, the 1st, 2nd and 4th defendants shall provide two reasonable sureties each”, Justice Halilu ruled. He maintained that the sureties must be owners of landed properties in the highbrow areas of Asokoro, Maitama, Wuse II or Garki in Abuja. The court subsequently fixed July 11 to commence full-blown trial of the defendants. Meantime, there was heavy security presence within perimeters of the court which shares boundary with the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, where Saraki is also answering to another 16-count charge bordering on his alleged false/anticipatory declaration of assets. Supporters of the embattled lawmakers thronged the court premises in their numbers to observe the proceeding. Whereas Saraki who appeared calm all through the proceeding, wore his usual white Caftan with matching cap, Ekweremadu on the other hand, wore traditional Igbo attire. Earlier, armed security operatives barred photo-journalists from gaining entrance into the court premises, a development that led to protest by the journalists. It took the intervention of lawyers to persuade the mobile police men to grant the camera men entry into the premises. The two-count charge which the defendant took turns to plead to on Monday read: “That you, Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa, Benedict Efeturi, Dr. Olubukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu, on or about, the 9th of June, 2015, at the National Assembly complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, conspired amongst yourselves to forge the Senate Standing Order, 2011 (as amended) and you thereby committed the offence of conspiracy, punishable under Section 97 (1) of the Penal Code Law. “That you, Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa, Benedict Efeturi, Dr. Olubukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu, on or about the 9th of June, 2015, at the National Assembly complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, with fraudulent intent, forged the Senate Standing Order 2011 (as amended), causing it to be believed as the genuine Standing Order, 2015 and circulated same for use during the inauguration of the 8th Senate of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when you knew that the said Order was not made in compliance with the procedure for amendment of the Senate Order. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Law.” The charge marked CR/219/16, and dated June 10, was okayed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/why-court-granted/





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