RELIEF FOR MAN UTD AS BELGIUM OFFER POSITIVE LUKAKU INJURY UPDATE

The in-form striker was unable to take part in training with his country on Monday, but a scan has revealed no serious damage to his troublesome ankle

Manchester United will be relieved to hear that a scan on Romelu Lukaku’s ankle has revealed "no fracture or structural damage".

The in-form striker, who has netted 11 times in 10 games since joining the Red Devils for £75 million over the summer, is away on international duty with Belgium.

He was unable to take part in training with his country on Monday, sparking fears that he could be sidelined through injury.

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Belgium quickly announced that the 24-year-old would be undergoing further tests, and they have offered a positive update following those medical examinations.

A statement released by the national team read: "Romelu Lukaku underwent an MRI scan but no fracture or structural damage has been diagnosed.

"The next days he will follow an individual training program. It is however too early to state that he won't be match fit for the Bosnia and/or Cyprus game."

Belgium are not due to be in action until Saturday, when they take in a World Cup qualifier with Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are then due to face Cyprus on October 10.

Lukaku is not needed by Roberto Martinez’s side in those contests, with their place at next summer’s showpiece in Russia already secured.

They will, however, have been hoping to call on him at some stage and provide him with an opportunity to keep his prolific run going.

United, though, will be eager to ensure that a key man is returned to them ready to slot straight back into their starting XI.

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Jose Mourinho is already having to contend with an untimely injury to Paul Pogba, with the £89m midfielder ruled out "long-term" with a hamstring complaint.

The Red Devils could do without picking up any more knocks as they will return to domestic action on October 14 with a crunch clash against old adversaries Liverpool.

With Belgium refusing to rule Lukaku out of their upcoming fixtures, that would suggest that a period of rest is all that is required to get the powerful frontman back up to speed and ready to lead the line once again.

NJC sacks Zamfara judge over N200, 000 bribe

NJC sacks Zamfara judge over N200, 000 bribe

— 3rd October 2017

•Investigates 15 others

The battle to rid off bad elements in the judiciary received a major boosts, yesterday, as the National Judicial Council (NJC) sacked Justice Musa Ibrahim Anka of the Zamfara State Judiciary for allegedly receiving a bribe of N200,000.

   He reportedly collected the bribe from one Zubairu Abdumalik in order to deliver judgment in his favour.

The judge was fined by the Zamfara State government which approved the recommendation of the National Judicial Council in 2011 for his compulsory removal from office.

The Council has also set  up 15 committees to investigate various allegations contained  in the petitions against 15 judicial officers, including two chief judges.

NJC reached its decision after considering the reports of the two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees on 46 petitions written against judicial officers in the federal and states judiciaries.

Meanwhile, the NJC had at its 83rd meeting under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria,  Justice Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen,  dismissed 31 petitions, 29 of which it found unmeritorious. The remaining two written against Justice J. T. Tsoho of the Federal High Court and  Justice O. O. Akeredolu, acting Chief Judge of Ondo State were withdrawn at the instance of the petitioners.  

Al-Sagr National Insurance Company who wrote against Justice Tsoho withdrew his petition since the judge had delivered the ruling in his case. 

Also, Chief  Raheem A. Badmus who wrote against Justice Akeredolu also voluntarily withdrew his petition for personal reasons.

A statement by Soji Oye, Director (Information) disclosed that “Council treated the two petitions as withdrawn, since it did not find anything in them sufficiently serious for further consideration as stipulated in Regulation 9 (1) of the Judicial Discipline Regulations.

“Council considered and found worthy of further investigation, the petition written by Azi A. Phillip on behalf of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Plateau State chapter, accusing Hon. Justice P. D. Damulak, the immediate past Chief Judge of Plateau State of bias, for failure to make his judgment in Suit No. PLD/J/236/16 delivered on 4th November, 2016 available to him till the time he wrote the petition,” the statement said.

Council, however, decided not to constitute an investigative committee to look into the matter because the Chief Judge had already retired from service and therefore no longer in the employment of the National Judicial Council.

It also considered and dismissed petitions written against two other judicial officers for lack of merit.

The Judges are Justice Mr. L. T. C. Eruba (High Court of Justice, Abia State) and Grand Kadi Abdullahi Waiya ( Sharia’h Court of Appeal, Kano State).

NJC also issued two letters of advice to Justice M. A. Dada of the Lagos State High Court of Justice and Justice Chukwudi Charles Okaa of the Anambra State High Court for violation of extant laws in the course of their judicial duties based on petition written against them by Dayo Adamolekun, Esq. & Ridwanulah Olanite, Esq. and Reverend F. U. Ekavhiare & Associates respectively.

The statement said Council agreed to report Adesina Ogunlana to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (L.P.D.C.) for misconduct, for the use of uncouth language in a petition written to the NJC against Justice O. O.. Atilade, the immediate past Chief Judge of Lagos State.

IPOB ban saved 12m Igbo outside South East – Umahi

IPOB ban saved 12m Igbo outside South East – Umahi

— 2nd October 2017

•State to enact law against hate speech

From Obinna Odogwu, Abakaliki

Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi, has said proscription of activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) saved 12 million Igbo living outside the South East.
The governor also disclosed that there are plans to get the Ebonyi House of Assembly to enact laws prohibiting hate speech in the state.
He said the move is targeted at stopping incessant usage of inciting comments capable of disintegrating the country. Umahi said these during the 57th independence anniversary celebration and 21 years creation of Ebonyi state, at Abakaliki Township Stadium, yesterday.
“There is no need to continue with hate speeches. There is no need to continue with violent agitations. We have to dialogue and do everything that will make sure we live in peace. We are stronger when we are together. There’s no need to insult the President.
“Very soon, we are going to approach the House of Assembly, for a bill on hate speeches and I am happy some states have done something on hate speeches.
“When we do this, you will prove any hate speech or allegation against anyone, whether you put it on the social media or you write it in a newspaper.
“We are going to make a law; when you are accusing anybody, a department will be created. They will look at it and you must prove your point and we are going to regulate hate speeches in Ebonyi State.
“Already, Kaduna State has done it. I told Governor Nasir el-Rufai, to export what he did in Kaduna to Ebonyi State.
“There is no need insulting other tribes. There’s no need insulting southern governors. The Operation Python Dance II was to ensure security in the zone,” Umahi said.
The governor also assured all residents of their optimum security, and insisted that IPOB proscription was to avert bloodshed and save the lives of about 12 million Igbo people living in other parts of the country.
Earlier, first governor of the state and Senator representing Ebonyi North, Sam Egwu, warned the youths against agitations and violence for the creation of Republic of Biafra.
Commending Umahi for his achievements, including infrastructural development, youths and widows empowerment and agricultural revolution in the state, the former governor called on the Federal Government to be fair in governance and recognition of Ndigbo.

Buhari’s Independence speech: Labour demands concrete plans

 Buhari’s Independence speech: Labour demands concrete plans

— 3rd October 2017

…Says target easy to set, tough to implement

By Bimbola Oyesola

Nigeria’s organised Labour centres have picked holes in the the Federal Government plan to add 10,000 megawatts to the nation’s electricity grid by 2020 in addition to creating 10,000 jobs, describing it as mere wishful thinking. Labour said there are no concrete plans on ground to achieve the targets. 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in a separate interviews with Daily Sun said the target would have been feasible if there was the political will by the present administration to attain the goals.

The General Secretary of the NLC, Peter Ozo-Eson, said targets can be easily set, but the situation on ground, particularly in respect of adding 10,000 megawatts to the electricity grid may be a fluke at the end of the deadline since economic realities on ground can’t make this achievable.

“The situation on ground after bungling of the privatisation programme shows that it is not feasible. Even in terms of generation, the Discos cannot  distribute all the powers generated. Setting targets without addressing the fundamentals will get us no where”, he said.

On the job creation, the labour leaders urged the Federal Government to tell Nigerians where the jobs would come from: “where are the jobs coming from, and what is the quality of the jobs? We want an economy that will create sustainable jobs. Nigerians are more interested in what concrete plans are on ground towards achieving these targets.”

For his part, the President General of TUC, Bobboi Bala Kaigama, expressed confidence that it could be possible if the politicians would use the funds allocated for projects to execute them.

“Politicians have habit of allocating funds, but often end up diverting or mismanaging the resources. More so, the government has to work on the Gen cos and the Discos to ensure they deliver on their mandates.”

Patience Jonathan petitions Buhari over EFCC

Patience Jonathan petitions Buhari over EFCC

— 3rd October 2017

Former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of “relentlessly plotting to destroy her family” and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Acting Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Ibrahim Magu, to order.

Mrs. Jonathan alleged that Magu’s “vindictive disposition towards her family portrays the organisation as an agency for revenge” and called on Buhari to bring him back to the path of sanity and reason to salvage the image of the Presidency, which she said the EFCC boss has “ceaselessly desecrated through his malicious actions.”

In the statement signed by her media aide, Belema Meshack-Hart, the former first lady also accused Magu of bias and intimidation. She said the EFCC boss had been “spreading barefaced falsehood and propaganda” against her in the name of investigations. Mrs Jonathan further claimed that Magu’s actions were tantamount to “unjustified witch-hunt”, stressing that no other first lady had faced such fate of brazen intimidation in the history of the country.

The statement said: “We wish to bring to the attention of Nigerians, the unjustified witch-hunt and media propaganda against the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and her family, by the agents of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, and his media hirelings.

“For almost three years, this agency of government has beamed its searchlight on her and her family members, including siblings and parents, as well as her Foundation and Non-Governmental Organisation; A. Aruera Reach Out Foundation, and Women for Change and Development Initiative, in the name of investigating their activities. However, we have since discovered that the real intention is to disgrace, intimidate, dehumanise and ridicule her and her family, through sheer cheap propaganda, sensational investigation and media trial that have been going on for too long.

“We wish to place it on record that in the history of this country, no wife of any president had been so far investigated in such flagrant vindictive and disgraceful manner, as has been the fate of Mrs. Jonathan.

“As a tradition, every first lady in this country has had one pet project or the other, with which they sought to intervene in the lives of less privileged. Mrs. Jonathan started her NGO in Bayelsa State 11 years ago, when her husband was the governor of the state. With it, she has, over the years, touched the lives of many Nigerians. It is then surprising that while other first ladies and their pet projects were left alone, it is only her activities and that of her NGOs that are being subjected to indefinite probe by the Buhari administration.”

The former first lady accused the anti-graft agency of adopting the method of giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it by “maliciously linking her to all kinds of fake possessions and properties around the country, including the Local Content Office in Yenagoa, which she said is an arm of NNPC, Shoprite Complex, Nigerian Customs Guest House and Park View Hotel, both in Port Harcourt, as well as the residence of her neighbor who is a serving Senator.

“It has now come to a point where all the magnificent edifices in Abuja, Yenagoa or Port Harcourt are presented to the media as belonging to Mrs. Patience Jonathan. Not done, they also accuse her of owning several plots of land in many cities across the country, including places she had never visited. The most astonishing of all is that her close relatives are viciously being victimised, as their personal properties are also being investigated.

“It is either the EFCC is now led by people who cannot conduct proper investigations, or they are deliberately feeding the public with false information, in line with their sinister script to embarrass and brow beat the former first family.

“We wish to remind President Muhammadu Buhari that what Magu and other agents of his government are doing is tantamount to desecrating the hallowed and dignified office of the president, and exposing it to public ridicule before the rest of the world.”

Army begins Operation Crocodile Smile II in South South Saturday

Army begins Operation Crocodile Smile II in South South Saturday

— 3rd October 2017

By Emma Njoku

Troops of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, in Rivers, Port Harcourt, including affiliated formations and units located within its entire Area of Responsibility (AOR), covering core Niger Delta states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers, will begin training for this year’s Operation Crocodile Smile II on  Saturday, October 7, 2017.

The exercise will end on October 28.

A statement signed by the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Col Aminu Iliyasu, said the exercise is intended to train troops on administration, operations, logistics as well as civil-military cooperation, such as the provision of free medical care to host communities, Quick Impact Projects (QIP) and the conduct of sanitation exercises for the benefit of their host communities.

He added that the exercise will include the distribution of educational materials to schools as part of the army’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

“It will also avail troops the opportunity to sharpen their combat skills in the conduct of land based as well as joint riverine operations.

The exercise will also aim at imparting to the troops the importance of equipment maintenance, reconnaissance, inter-service and inter-agency cooperation, effective application of the Nigerian Army Code of Conduct as well as strict adherence to Rules of Engagement (ROE), proffer handling of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), captured or surrendered hostile elements in line with international best practices.

“In light of the foregoing, the authorities of 6 Division Nigerian Army wishes to inform the general public as well as solicit their usual understanding and cooperation during the period of the exercise and beyond,” the statement read.

Iliyasu said dates and locations for the  sanitation and free medical interventions will be announced in due course.

“The command also wishes to allay the fears of the general public as they will witness increased movements of troops and equipment during the period,” he said.

Kanu’s whereabouts: IPOB lawyer hits Kalu

Kanu’s whereabouts: IPOB lawyer hits Kalu

— 3rd October 2017

Eminent businessmen and former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has been flayed by Ifeanyi Ejiofor, head of the legal team of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), over his statement on the whereabouts of the embattled separatist agitator, Nnamdi Kanu.

     Ejiofor accused Kalu of capitalising on the travail of the embattled IPOB leader to curry favour from the Federal Government.     

   The whereabouts of the IPOB leader had been shrouded in mystery and steeped in controversy since the alleged invasion of his family home near Umuahia by troops of the Nigerian Army, last month.

He was last seen on September 14 when clashes occurred between members of his group and soldiers on an army exercise “Operation Python Dance” in Abia State.

While IPOB members have consistently claimed that their leader was being held by the military, the army have denied holding him.

But Kalu, in an interview with a national daily and published on Sunday was emphatic that Kanu was not arrested by the military.

“Kanu was not taken away by the military. Kanu went to Malaysia from where he travelled to the United Kingdom. Nnamdi Kanu is in London right now as we speak. He was not arrested by anybody. He left the country on his own.

“One of his relations has spoken to me and explained everything because I wanted to see him and talk to him wherever he was and see how I could meet some Federal Government officials on his issue.

“I also wanted to see ways of talking to the President about him, and find common ground but his family told me that he has left the country, unless they are lying to me.

“I believe, whether he had left the country or not, he is not with the military because I asked the Commander of the 14 Brigade, Brig. Gen. A. K. Ibrahim, who is a very fine and good soldier, well educated and dedicated, and he told me that they don’t know his whereabouts and I am sure, the Department of State Services has the same information.”

But in a swift reaction, Ejiofor, said in a statement released on Sunday that the former governor had turned himself to the spokesperson for the Federal Government and the military as part of his strategies to get freed from his ongoing trial on corruption charges.

“Orji Uzor Kalu is a drowning man, looking for where to perch. He has since outlived his usefulness in Igboland. What do you expect from a man who is enjoying a temporary freedom and struggling to get his head out of grievous corruption charges hanging on his neck?

“He saw Nnamdi Kanu’s travail as an opportunity to seek relevance from the prosecuting authorities.

“At some time, he attempted deceiving the state into believing that he had the magic wand to Nnamdi Kanu’s peaceful agitation.”

In the wake of controversies over Kanu’s whereabouts, the Defence Headquarters last week said it had no knowledge of his whereabouts.

The army had kept a dignified silence over the location of the IPOB boss despite allegations by his lawyer that the army knew his whereabouts or may have been killed.

But Defence spokesperson, John Enenche, told journalists in Abuja last month that neither the military nor any security agency could be held responsible for the missing IPOB leader.

Mr. Enenche, a major general, also denied allegations that the military raided the home of Mr. Kanu in Abia State. 

“I watched the operations live. I also got first-hand information from our men on the ground. For the records, Nnamdi Kanu was never taken away by the military.

“The military is doing their routine exercise operation I saw everything, nobody raided Kanu house. I stand to justify it not from the information I got, I was watching it live. I was monitoring it live.”

“Nobody raided his house, nobody went to ‘carry’ him, that must be very clear I saw the militancy, nobody told me,” he said.

Mr. Kanu, who is currently facing trial for alleged treason is due to appear in court on October 17 for the continuation of his trail.

Ejiofor, in an application filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, has asked the court to compel the army to produce Mr. Kanu in court.

The group is fighting for an independent nation of Biafra and has pitched battles with the Nigerian security operatives in recent months. The government recently tagged them a terrorist outfit after securing a court order.

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Don’t insult Buhari, Umahi advises PDP members

Don’t insult Buhari, Umahi advises PDP members

— 2nd October 2017

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has advised politicians in the opposition not to insult those in government but to criticise them constructively to enhance development.

Umahi spoke at a gala-night to celebrate 21 years of the creation of Ebonyi and the 57th Independence anniversary of Nigeria in Abakaliki on Sunday.

He advised members of his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to refrain from insulting the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government.

The governor also urged members of APC in Ebonyi to refrain from insulting him and his PDP-led state government.

.“I always tell my people (PDP) that opposition at the centre is not about insults; I also advise the opposition in our state to tow the same line.

“Opposition is about constructive criticism, putting the leader in check and reminding him that he has not fulfilled the promises he made.

“It should not involve lying to the people, deceiving them and practising politics with bitterness and anger.

“I will ask our grandfathers who are tackling us to do so with wisdom and love because it is a shame that a grandfather would tackle his children,” he said.

Umahi said that the opposition would not succeed in the state because the state was neat and did not need to be ‘swept.

“We have been holding the umbrella for an old man who was under the umbrella for eight years and we will take him to the boundaries of Ebonyi to sweep.

“We are standing on God’s mandate and not shaking because over 10,000 people are praying for us day and night to succeed and take the state to another level, “ he said.

Umahi commended the president for agreeing that the country needed to be restructured and noted that such stance had established a platform for Nigerians to discuss their agitations.

“We will now talk, disagree, agree and arrive at decisions that will take the nation to greater heights and achieve the desired unity and development,” he said.

Mr Augustine Nwankwagu, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, said the party was to celebrate God’s mercies since the state’s creation and the successes of the governor.

The governor has been heavily criticised for his actions by the opposition, with his predecessor, Chief Martin Elechi, who decamped from PDP to APC, leading the critics.

Elechi during a recent interview told newsmen that he did not support Umahi’s emergence as governor and would not support his re-election for a second term in office. (NAN)