Offa bank robbery: Police invitation mere political game – Saraki reacts to IG’s order

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has stated that the invitation to him by the Police to report to a station in Guzape over the Offa robbery investigation is a mere afterthought, which is designed to achieve political purpose.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that he had it on good authority that the Police had already decided on the suspects to arraign in court in Ilorin, Kwara State on Wednesday based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mohammed U.E. and that the turn around to invite him was a ploy aimed at scoring cheap political points.

“I have been reliably informed that the police invitation was planned by IG as a ploy to stop an alleged plan by some Senators and House of Representatives members from defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC). It was also said that if I was detained between Tuesday and Wednesday, that will abort the so-called defection plan.

“While I continue to maintain that the issue of my position on the 2019 elections is not a personal decision for me alone to make, it should be noted that all these concoctions and evil plot cannot deter me. Those behind this fresh assault will fail as I have nothing to do with the robbery incident or any criminal matter for that matter.

“I am aware that following a request made by the Police on June 13, 2018 to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Fedeeation had written a legal advice dated June 22, 2018, in which he stated on page 5, paragraph (f) that “For the Senate President and the Kwara State Governor, this office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged office and the suspects”.

“The Police have obviously corrupted and politicized their investigations into the Offa robbery incident. They have turned it into an instrument for the party in power to suppress perceived opponents, witchunt issue for blackmailing people from freely choosing which platform on which they want to pursue their ambition and a matter for harassing the people whose exit from APC would harm the chances of the party in the forthcoming elections.

“I want to make it apparent that I have no hand in either the robbery incident or any criminal acitivity. The Police in their haste to embarrass me sent the invitation to me at 8pm and requested that I report to the station by 8am tomorrow morning. This obviously demonstrated their desperation as I do not see why they are now in a hurry.

“They also stated in today’s letter that because in my response of June 7, 2018 to their own letter written on June 4, 2018, I stated that I was responding simply to the contents of the letter and that the full text of the statement made by the arrested suspects which they claimed indicted me was not made available to me, they were now including the suspects statements in the current letter. Yet, instead of including the suspects’ statements, they only attached two copies of my own letter to the invitation. No suspects statement was made available.

“This plot aimed at compelling me and my associates to stay in a party where members are criminalised without just cause, where injustice is perpetrated at the highest level and where there is no respect for constitutionalism is an exercise in futility and it will fail.

“Once again, my confidence in God and our judicial system remains intact and unshaken. The truth shall also prevail in this case”, he stated.

Source

Read More

Report Suggests That Chelsea Star, Eden Hazard Has Made His Real Madrid Decision

Chelsea forward, Eden Hazard has reportedly decided to leave the club this summer.

According to Bleacher Report, the player took the decision because this could be his only chance to join Real Madrid.

Hazard is on the La Liga giants’ list of targets following Cristiano Ronaldo’s mega-money move to Juventus.

And he is said to be keen to swap Stamford Bridge for the Bernabeu following six years in West London.

The newspaper reports that the Belgium international has come to the conclusion he needs to move now because he may not get the opportunity again.

Hazard’s representatives have apparently been in touch with Real to let them know the 27-year-old is eager to link up with them

After helping Belgium finish third in the just concluded FIFA World Cup in Russia, Hazard had told beIN SPORTS:

“Does Real make me dream less without Zidane? Zidane is someone special, it’s true, but I think Real is everyone’s dream.

“Zidane or no Zidane, the white jersey is special but the blue jersey [of Chelsea] suits me well so it does not bother me if I stay.

“For now, it’s the World Cup. As I have said at least 100 times, I am at Chelsea and for the moment nobody has made me an offer.”

Source

Read More

Klopp speaks on paying huge transfer fees after criticizing Pogba’s price

Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, says he has changed his mind regarding past comments about record transfer fees paid by his rivals for players.

Klopp has paid record fees for two players since the start of 2018 despite criticizing the £89million Manchester United paid for Paul Pogba two years ago.

Goalkeeper Alisson joined earlier this week in a deal worth up to £65million, after the German brought in Virgil van Dijk (£75m), Naby Keita (£52.75m), Fabinho (£44m) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£40m).

Speaking at a news conference at the Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, Klopp stressed that these latest moves were done simply with the aim of delivering success.

“That is the problem these days,” he said.

“Whatever bulls— you say, nobody will forget it.

“On the other side, it is still kind of true. I couldn’t imagine the world would change like that two and a half years ago. £100m was a crazy number.

“Since then the world has changed completely. I am sure at this moment we have signed the most-expensive goalkeeper. It is early in the transfer window. There will be some nice transfers to follow.

“My responsibility is for this club to be as successful as possible. It is not for me to push through my thoughts and say we don’t want to buy players or pay big money and in the end Liverpool is not successful. That doesn’t work.

“We have a really good squad. To improve it is expensive. Better players than we already have are not waiting around the corner.

“You need to respect contracts but if you are interested in a player you have to try and bring them in. When we are convinced about it our owners, thank God, believe that much in the project, then they say let’s do it.”

Read More

Arsenal Drags Super Eagles' Midfielder, Alex Iwobi To Transfer Market

Arsenal are willing to sell Nigeria international Alex Iwobi for £22.3 million, according to Il Messaggero .

The 22-year-old who still has two years on his contract, has attracted interest from Lazio, who are hunting a replacement for West Ham's record signing Felipe Anderson.

Iwobi provided just three goals and five assists in 26 league appearances last term.

Chuba Akpom is set to leave Arsenal this summer and join Belgian top-flight club Sint-Truiden permanently in a deal worth £2 million, Mirror reports.

Akpom is one of the five players dropped by Unai Emery for the Gunners' pre-season trip to Singapore.

The 22-year-old is in the final year of his Arsenal contract and has struggled to establish himself in the Gunners’ first-team since his competitive debut against Sunderland back in September 2013.

Newly-promoted Turkish Super Lig outfit Ankaragucu have held talks with Nigeria international Emmanuel Emenike over a potential transfer, according to Fanatik .

The Yellow-Navy are set to bolster their ranks for the challenge in the Turkish top-flight with the former Fenerbahce goal poacher who endured a difficult spell at Olympiacos and Las Palmas last season.

Source

Read More

Transfer: Real Madrid set deadline to sign Chelsea’s Courtois

Champions League holders, Real Madrid

​are​ reportedly ​eager​ to conclude ​the​ deal for Chelsea goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois before they fly out for their pre-season tour of America at the end of this week.

Chelsea are reluctant to sell Courtois but with a year left on his contract, they face losing him for free next season.

Courtois is Real Madrid’s top transfer target this summer after missing out on Alisson to Liverpool and failing to convince Manchester United to sell their first-choice goalkeeper, David de Gea.

According to Spanish

​ news​ outlet, Marca, the Los Blancos are increasingly confident of signing Courtois and hope they can complete the transfer before the squad leaves for America later this week.

The report claimed Real’s pursuit

​for​ the 26-year-old is due to his age, talent and potential development.

It also claimed that Chelsea needs to sign a successor for Courtois before he can leave.

However, allowing Courtois to leave Stamford Bridge would be a huge blow to Chelsea and their new manager, Maurizio Sarri.

At his unveiling last week, Sarri said he wanted to talk face to face with Courtois and Eden Hazard about their future.

“Clearly the players you are referring to are very high-level players and I would like to keep them,” Sarri said.

“But a telephone call without looking them in the eye will not give me any certainty.

“I would like to meet these players face to face and talk to them and understand what the best thing is for everyone to do. Before that I would also like a player to come on the pitch for four or five days with me to have a clear idea of what the plan is.”

Source

Read More

Transfer: Pogba’s agent informs Manchester United France star wants to leave

Paul Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola has told Manchester United that the midfielder wants to leave the club this summer.

The Frenchman has struggled to convince United manager since rejoining the club from Juventus for £89million in 2016.

But the midfielder showed his class in the just concluded World Cup in Russia, helping France to lift the trophy.

Spanish newspaper, Marca reports that Pogba’s representative, Raiola told senior figures at Old Trafford that his client wants to leave.

According to the newspaper, Raiola has been looking for a new club for Pogba for over a month, but his potential price tag is complicating matters.

Pogba reportedly believes Juventus now have the “most attractive project” in Europe as evidenced by their purchase of Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid

Marca reports that the 25-year-old feels leaving Old Trafford is “the best thing for his future.”

Juventus are currently unlikely to be able to afford Pogba and will have to offload some of their star players to fund a deal for the midfielder.

News of Pogba’s desire to leave will add further disruption to United and manager Mourinho’s preparations for the new season.

Source

Read More

Join Buhari to fight insecurity – VON DG, Okechukwu urges Atiku, others

p

The Director General, Voice of Nigeria (VON) and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Osita Okechukwu, on Sunday urged former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and indeed all Nigerians to join President Muhammadu Buhari to fight insecurity instead of comparing the dead with those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Okechukwu reacted when he was confronted by journalists in Enugu over the successful presidential declaration of His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar for the 2019 presidential election, where the former vice president made the lamentation over the killings.

The VON DG, who is an ardent supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, dismissed the statistics of the former vice president, saying they were unnecessary and inaccurate. What is important is how to stop the killings, we need cooperation, prayers, information and assistance to the government.

Otherwise, Wikipedia reported from credible sources Iraqi death toll of over 500,000 persons since US led invasion of 2003, about 5,000 of who are US Service men.
He thanked him for acknowledging the massive infrastructural development going on in the land under Buhari, but expressed doubts over Turaki’s promise to tackle insecurity with his questionable immigration status in the United States of America.

“I am outraged like most Nigerians over the spate of killings by herdsmen/farmers clash, bandits, militias Boko Haram and sundry. President Muhammadu Buhari I must confess is very sad over the killings. His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, Turaki of Adamawa statistics are unnecessary and inaccurate, for one death is painful.

“At any rate his statistics and can be best dubbed campaign hype if not fake news, when the real statistics are assembled. Iraqi casualty is over 500,000. The cardinal question in all honesty is can Turaki stop the insecurity without the cooperation of international security agencies, especially that of the United States?” He queried.

On the public perception that Buhari is not doing enough to stop the large scale killings, Okechukwu said: “I am on good note that President Muhammadu Buhari is quietly deploying all means necessary to stop the insecurity in the land, among which is deployment of Mission Critical Communications System by Motorola Solutions of Illinois, United of America, an equipment which will put critical information at the fingertips of all the security agencies in Nigeria.”

“In fact the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno and Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, one understands, are leading the pack. I don’t want to say more than this, for this is security issue,” Okechukwu said.

He appealed to all Nigerians, especially politicians to cooperate with Mr. President instead of making insecurity a campaign issue.
Reminded that insecurity will remain on the top burner unless curbed, and that Atiku who is one of those most likely to fly the PDP’s flag will definitely return this issue to the front burner, Okechukwu responded:
“My relief is that His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar graciously recognised the unprecedented massive infrastructural development going on in the past three years under President Buhari. The targeted 5,000 kilometers of federal roads, 5,000 kilometers of rail lines, 5,000 additional megawatts of electricity and bid for self sufficiency in food are anchored on prudent management of public fund. Can Turaki guarantee Nigerians to curb corruption to this level?”
He challenged Atiku to authorise the United States Border Authority to make public his Immigration Status, querying if as a president, the former vice president will not go to United States of America.
He recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari few weeks after inauguration was honoured with a red carpet reception at the White House.
Accordingly, Okechukwu enjoined all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliations, to join hands and fight insecurity.
He, however, added that since presidential contest was like a beauty contest, Buhari remained the best among those parading themselves to be President in 2019.

Source

Read More