Saraki speaks on dumping APC

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Tuesday said he will reveal to Nigerians when he is ready to dump the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Saraki said this at the Ilorin International airport, in Kwara State.

When asked by journalists what he will do over pressure by some of his followers to lead them out of the APC, Saraki said they should not ‘worry’ or ‘push’ him over the matter.

He said, “As I said, don’t worry, don’t push me, I will call at a time and I will tell Nigerians”.

Commenting on his trial for alleged false assets declaration, Saraki said, “It’s been a long journey for all my own people in the state, and today we thank the Almighty God for this.

“I want to thank all of them who did not at any time waver. They believe in my innocence and supported me throughout those three very tough years and it was a great feeling for all of us.

“It is my first homecoming to thank them for all the support they have given me and the victory and for the fact that the truth prevailed and justice was done.

“Today is a day for me to visit and more importantly thank the people for the support they have given for years.

”As I always say time will come for everything, a time will come I will tell people where I am, what I’m doing. For now it is just to thank the people of the state because the last three years have been tough and they are still committed and remain and i have to appreciate that. I appreciate that.”

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Transfer news & rumours LIVE: Pogba wants to leave Man Utd for Juventus return

Paul Pogba wants to return to Juventus after becoming frustrated with life at Manchester United, according to Tuttosport.

The France international left Juve to rejoin United two years ago, but he is now ready to head back to the Serie A champions following their stunning capture of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Pogba recently joked with France team-mate, and Juve midfielder, Blaise Matuidi about a potential return to Italy. 

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Insurance coy dragged to court over alleged failure to pay N3m claims

The Standard Alliance Insurance Company

has been dragged to the Abia High Court in Aba over the company’s alleged refusal to pay N3 million to a client on maturity of his life insurance.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the suit filed by Mr Okorie Mark, a businessman hinged his claim on alleged non-payment of “Income Protection Plan’’ with code number IPP/11/000638/ABA, which commenced in 2011.

The applicant in his statement of claims said that following the terms of the policy, the company was to pay him the money in July 2016 when the policy matured.

Mr.  Benjamin Emeri, counsel to Mark said his client neither defaulted nor breached any terms of the policy with the company within its lifespan.

Emeri said it was established that his client in the process of purchasing the policy overpaid the company by N100, 000, thereby bringing the total contribution to N3, 100, 000.

Counsel to the applicant had averred that the controversy arose when the applicant approached Mr Uche Ochemba, the Aba Branch Manager of the company for his claims.

Emeri said Mark had written a letter to the headquarters of the company on Dec. 21, 2017 through the Aba Branch Manager to further press for the payment, but got no response.

The counsel said the applicant also sent a reminder on the subject matter on March 15, 2018, and was replied with a stinker which necessitated the suit.

Emeri said the Standard Alliance Insurance, in its letter to the applicant, signed by the Head of its Legal Department and his deputy, Mr Kasoki Olekanma and Mrs Nkiruka Uzoechi, respectively disowned the policy.

The company in the letter said it could not accede to Mark’s request to be paid the assured sum of N3million when no policy existed.

The claimant’s counsel, however, said the company later asked for the receipts of the instrument, to ascertain the veracity of the claims.

He said the applicant had done as directed by the respondents, by sending all the evidence of payment directly to the company.

According to him, the respondent is yet to respond to his last letter.

The applicant is seeking an order of court to compel the respondents to pay him the assured sum of N3 million with 10 per cent interest amounting to N3, 600, 000 until payment is completed.

He also prays the court to order the company to pay him N10 million as damages.

NAN reports that the other respondents in the suit are listed as Johnson Chukwu, Chairman, Bode Akimboye, CEO, Bolaji Oladipo, Executive Director and Uche Ochemba, Aba Branch Manager.

Justice Uche Enwereji directed that the processes be served on the respondents before the next hearing date.

No date was fixed for the next hearing.

Source

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Henry quits Sky Sports to pursue career

Thierry Henry has confirmed that he is stepping down from his punditry position with Sky Sports to pursue his ambition of becoming a football manager.

The Frenchman has worked with the broadcaster for four seasons and had previously committed to the £4 million-a-year position even when it came at the expense of a coaching role at Arsenal. You’ll remember that Arsene Wenger felt his former captain couldn’t have his cake and eat it while on the books at London Colney.

Henry secured his UEFA A-Licence back in 2016 with the Welsh FA and secured his Pro Licence in May during his recent stint as assistant coach to Roberto Martinez’s Belgium national team. 

Having helped guide the Belgians to a bronze-medal finish at the World Cup, the 40-year-old says he’s eager to pursue a career in the dugout.

In a series of tweets, Henry wrote: “Over the last four years I have had some extremely rewarding coaching experiences in football.

“These experiences have only made me more determined to fulfil my long term ambition to become a football manager.

“It is with sadness, therefore, that I have decided that I must leave Sky Sports to enable me to spend more time on the pitch and concentrate on my journey to achieving that goal.

“I would like to thank everyone at Sky for making me feel so welcome and at ease throughout my time with them and I wish them all the best for the future. Great memories.”

Thierry Henry

✔@ThierryHenry

1/3 Over the last 4 years I have had some extremely rewarding coaching experiences in football. These experiences have only made me more determined to fulfil my long term ambition to become a football manager.

4:55 PM - Jul 16, 2018

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• 2,405 people are talking about this

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Thierry Henry

✔@ThierryHenry

2/3 It is with sadness, therefore, that I have decided that I must leave @SkySports to enable me to spend more time on the pitch and concentrate on my journey to achieving that goal.

4:55 PM - Jul 16, 2018

• 6,979
• 2,139 people are talking about this

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Thierry Henry

✔@ThierryHenry

3/3 I would like to thank everyone at Sky for making me feel so welcome and at ease throughout my time with them and I wish them all the best for the future. Great memories.

4:56 PM - Jul 16, 2018

• 8,614
• 1,985 people are talking about this

There’s no suggestion just yet that Henry will leave his position with Belgium, however, he’s bound to be on the lookout for a more senior position having cut his teeth at international level.

The bookies had Henry as an outsider for the Arsenal head coach role when Arsene Wenger left, but he was way down the pecking order behind Mikel Arteta, Patrick Vieira – now at Nice – and Unai Emery, who was ultimately appointed.

It’ll certainly be interesting to see where Titi ends up. Good luck to him.

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Super Eagles supporters, others spend $1.9b at Russia 2018

Football fans, who visited Moscow during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, spent  $1.5 billion (about N542.1b)  in the Russian capital, a slide-show presentation used during Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin’s speech at the Moscow Urban Forum revealed Tuesday. 

“A total of 3.8 million fans visited the World Cup, $1.5 billion were spent in Moscow,” the presentation read. Sobyanin said that the money that was invested in creating sport infrastructure for the tournament was yielding a return. “As for the expenses on sport infrastructure, we didn’t make any special preparations for the World Cup in the city except for the Luzhniki Stadium, which was renovated to meet FIFA standards,” the mayor said. Russia hosted its first World Cup from June 14 to July 15 with the games played in 11 cities across the country.

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Raphael Varane Sets a Record

Raphael Varane joined an exclusive club on Sunday, becoming just the ninth player to win the Champions League and the World Cup in the same year. He joins esteemed company such as Roberto Carlos and Christian Karembeu.
Defensive players rarely get the credit they deserve in the Ballon d'Or stakes so don't expect this feat to launch him into genuine contention for the award—if it did it would be great, but history suggests it's unlikely—but it's enough to put him in the conversation at least.
Varane's World Cup quarter-final and semi-final performances were sensational, scoring in the former and defending like a demon in the latter, and he was France's best defender in a strong unit.
It helps you forget about some slightly indifferent form for Real Madrid this year, where Sergio Ramos probably did more in the run to the Champions League than the 25-year-old.

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TV Presenter, Pilar Rubio Finally Said Yes! To Real Madrid Star, Sergio Ramos (Photos)

Spain and Real Madrid captain, Sergio Ramos, has finally gotten engaged to his Spanish TV presenter lover, Pilar Rubio, after dating for six years.

Sergio and Pilar

Spain captain, Sergio Ramos, who recently let his national team to the World Cup, has engaged to his long-term girlfriend and mother of his three children, Pilar Rubio.

The 32-year-old Real Madrid captain, took to his Twitter page to share the good news to millions of his followers after his girlfriend of six years who he has been dating since 2012, accepted his proposal at a romantic dinner on Monday evening.

Ramos shared two lovely pictures of himself accompanied by his bride-to-be and her new huge ring and wrote:'She said yes. I love you... forever.'

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