Osinbajo says VP’s office under APC govt will not be a ‘spare tyre’

The vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has said the office of the vice president, under the APC government, will not be a spare tyre.

Osinbajo said the party had made adequate plans to ensure that the National Economic Council, which is under the office of the vice president, was made a vibrant body, in line with the provisions of the constitution.

Court to hear suit on Buhari’s eligibility Feb 9

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday slated February 9, to commence hearing in the suit seeking to disqualify the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, from contesting the presidential election.

 

A legal practitioner, Max Ozoaka, had, in a suit filed last week, asked the court to stop Buhari from contesting the presidential election on the ground that the information contained in his INEC Form 001 is false.

When the matter came up on Monday, the trial judge, Justice Ademola Adeniyi, granted Ozoaka’s request for substituted service on the APC presidential candidate before fixing Monday, next week, for hearing of the case.

Lewis Hamilton to pen a new three-year deal with Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton will sign a new three-year deal with Mercedes worth at least £60m in 'weeks rather than months', according to Fleet Street.

The reigning world champion was spotted having rather public negotiations with Silver Arrows' bosses in the Jerez paddock on Sunday as the first pre-season test of 2015 got underway.

Hamilton is out of contract at the end of the season, but revealed it was his decision to put contract talks on hold around the time of the Russian Grand Prix last year, despite knowing of interest from Fernando Alonso.

However, in The Daily Telegraph, Daniel Johnson is not as confident and speculates that Ferrari could still be an option for Hamilton.

Nigeria: Police, politicians to meet for another peace accord —I.G

THE Police, on Monday, said that it would bring together the various political parties and their candidates to sign another peace accord, ahead the February elections.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, said this shortly before he held a closed door meeting with Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Command Commissioners of Police at the Force Headquarters.

Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho agrees new contract of almost £70k a week

Liverpool's most important work in the transfer window has been to secure Philippe Coutinho on a new long term contract.

Brazil international Coutinho has committed his future to the club after agreeing a double-your-money pay rise to almost £70,000 a week in a five-year contract that will keep him at Anfield for what should be the best years of his career.

That is the news Liverpool fans were most hoping to hear after the 22-year-old midfielder’s scintillating form in recent months.

Nigeria President, Goodluck Jonathan escapes a suicide bomber attack close to rally venue

A lone suicide bomber blew herself up near the Gombe Stadium, venue of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign in Gombe State on Monday.

Before the incident which occurred minutes after the rally ended, suspected assailants threw explosives at three high courts in Port Harcourt, Degema and Isiokpo in Rivers State. They also vandalised another court in Omoku.

The Gombe bomber killed two passers-by and injured 18 others while the car used by her was engulfed by fire.

Bird flu detected at British chicken farm

Bird flu has been detected at a British chicken farm as officials act to try to prevent the spread of the disease.

Birds at the unnamed breeding farm in Hampshire are being culled and a 1km poultry restriction zone has been imposed.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said a "low severity" case of avian flu has been confirmed in chickens.

Kardashian Klan 'turns against' Kim after her public declaration about Bruce's 'journey'

Kim Kardashian’s family have reportedly turned against her after she publically discussed Bruce Jenner’s ‘journey’ last week.

But despite her family members being left bemused and upset by her outpouring on his personal issues she is thought to be unconcerned and not willing to say sorry.

A source told RadarOnline: “Kim has not even tried to apologize because she says she was helping him and the ratings of the TV show.”

“She says that she was trying to help the family, but everyone knows that she is only out for herself. It is always the Kim show and they are just guests.”

It’s thought that Kourtney is finding it particularly difficult and her and Scott don’t want to spend time with Kim and her husband Kanye.

Buhari says he'll ban importation of rice, tomato

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj.-Gen. Muhammad Buhari (retd), on Monday said if elected on February 14, he would ban the importation of basic items like rice and tomato in order to enhance local production of the products.

He also said his administration would focus on agriculture, mining, infrastructure and job provision at the top of its economic agenda.

Buhari, who gave a summary of how he intended to revive the economy in a meeting with the Organised Private Sector in Lagos, said his government would place emphasis on three key issues of security, tackling corruption and reviving the ailing economy.

A quick pick on six footballers who look older than their ages

The burly Nigeria striker seems to have been around for ages, and many Twitter users had a hard time believing he was two years younger than Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard. Could it really be true? Is Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Reading's new signing, really just 32 years old? 

Below is a screen grab of what a twitter user tweeted...

But Yakubu is not the only footballer whose age has raised eyebrows. We look at five other footballers who look older than they really are, comparing them with their fellow sports men of the same age.

Suge Knight Charged with Murder

Suge Knight has just been charged with murder in the death of his friend, and sources say a videotape will be a key piece of evidence.

The L.A. County D.A. just filed the charges in connection with the death of Terry Carter, who was killed on Thursday after Suge ran him over in Compton.

In addition to murder, Suge was charged with attempted premeditated murder, hit and run resulting in death, and hit and run resulting in injury, all felonies.

Chelsea's Andre Schurrle seals move to Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg have completed the signing of Chelsea and Germany forward Andre Schurrle.

The 24-year-old has struggled for regular first-team football this season and has signed a four-and-a-half year deal with the Bundesliga side.

Threats: Ohanaeze, MASSOB, OPC back Niger Delta militants

Despite widespread condemnation of the war threat by some Niger Delta militants if President Goodluck Jonathan loses the February 14 presidential election, some socio-political and cultural groups in the South-East and the South-West have backed the militants.

The groups made their positions known in separate interviews with SUNDAY PUNCH.

At a meeting with the Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, on January 24, which had a former Commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Victor-Ben Ebikabowei, aka Boyloaf; leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari; and Government Ekpudomenowei, aka Tompolo, the militants had threatened unrest if the President loses his second term bid.

World No.1, Novak Djokovic wins Australian Open title against Andy Murray

World No 1 Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray in four sets to win a fifth Australian Open title in Melbourne on Sunday.

Djokovic's 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-0 victory means Murray has now lost six of his eight Grand Slam finals, and he has been defeated on all four of his appearances in the Melbourne title decider, three of those losses coming at the hands of Djokovic.

 

"I am so privileged and honoured and grateful to be standing here as a champion for the fifth time and to be in the elite group of players with Sir Roy Emerson and Rod Laver and all the legends of our sport," said the Serb.

Arsenal hammer poor Villa

Arsenal compounded more misery on goal-shy Aston Villa as they registered a 5-0 win at Emirates Stadium to move back up to fifth in the Premier League.

Olivier Giroud fired home as he latched on to Mesut Ozil’s superb flick, before Ozil doubled the lead early in the second half with a cool finish.

YABATECH declares 22-day vacation for elections

The Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH, Lagos, has directed its full-time and part-time students to proceed on a 22-day vacation to enable them exercise their civic rights during next month’s general elections.

This is contained in a bulletin signed by the Head, Public Relations Unit of the college, Charles Oni.

According to the bulletin, the holidays would start from February 11 and end on March 4.

It also stated that hostels and lecture theatres would be under lock and key throughout the period.

Floyd Mayweather Drops $370k On Rare Supercar

Floyd Mayweather's gonna need some more garage space, because the boxer just dropped nearly $400k on an ultra-rare McLaren that was HAND-BUILT in England. 

It's a 2015 McLaren 650S Spider with a retractable hardtop. Top speed of 204 mph and goes from 0-60 in 2.9 seconds.

Sources close to the boxer tell TMZ that Floyd ordered the car through his regular exotic car guy Obi Okeke at Fusion Luxury Motors in Van Nuys, Ca and had the car delivered to his Vegas home last week. 

More pictures of the insane ride...

FG commissions N60bn steel mill in Sagamu

The Federal Government yesterday commissioned a N60billion integrated steel mill in Shagamu, Ogun State as part of productive activities thrown up by the sectorial implementation of the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, who commissioned the mill, built by the Standard Metallurgical Company, said Government was committed to repositioning the steel sector to access a substantial share of the global wealth, estimated at $10tn.

He said with the implementation of the right sectorial policies under the NIRP, the number of functioning steel rolling mills in Nigeria had increased to over 21 currently, from less than five a few years ago.

Why Buhari cancelled US trip

IT emerged on Saturday that the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari jettisoned his advertised trip to the United States of America because of the fear of being questioned over his involvement in the post 2011 election violence and his certificate saga.

The APC Campaign Organization had confirmed two weeks ago that the General would visit the United States to address some Diasporal Nigerians, but it emerged last week that Buhari had jettisoned the trip on fears his compatriots would batter him with questions over his involvement in the 2011 election saga which led to the death of 800 Nigerians, including ten Youth Corps members.

Huge crowds as Buhari campaigns in Ilorin, Kwara

CREDITS: OSUNDEFENDER

Security personnel battled for several hours yesterday in Ilorin to control the huge crowd of supporters who trooped out to receive the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s presidential campaign train in the Kwara State capital.

 

At the Ilorin International Airport, the streets and the Metropolitan Square, venue of the campaign, the crowd sang, danced and waved their broom as the party’s flagbearer, General Muhammadu Buhari, his running mate Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the APC national Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governors Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers) and former governor of Kwara, Senator Bukola Saraki drove past.

AFCON 2015: DR Congo fought back from two goals down to beat neighbours 4-2

CREDITS: BBCSPORT

DR Congo fought back from two goals down to beat neighbours Congo and reach the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals. 

Ferebory Dore volleyed Congo in front and Thievy Bifouma drove in from a rebound to make it 2-0.

In a 16-minute spell DR Congo's Dieumerci Mbokani slotted in their fist goal to give them hope, Jeremy Bokila equalised and Joel Kimuaki headed a third.

Chelsea's Diego Costa vows not to change agrgressive style of play

Chelsea striker Diego Costa insists he will not alter his aggressive style of play after serving his three-match suspension.

The 26-year-old was retrospectively given the ban this week for violent conduct after an independent regulatory commission on Friday ruled he deliberately stamped on the ankle of the Liverpool midfielder Emre Can during Tuesday's Capital One Cup semi-final second leg.

Although Costa claims there was no malicious intent behind the stamp, he will take the decision in his stride but not let it affect the way he approaches the game.

"As far as what happened on Tuesday, the main thing is when I get home I can go home and I can go to sleep knowing that I've not done anything wrong, because I never meant to do that and it was not on purpose," the Spain international told the Daily Telegraph.

AFCON 2015: Equatorial Guinea beat Tunisia in controversial circumstances to reach semi-finals

 

Ahmed Akaichi looked to have put Tunisia into the last four when he turned in Hamza Mathlouthi's cross. 

The hosts, ranked 96 places below their opponents, sent it to extra time when Javier Balboa netted an injury-time penalty after Ali Maaloul was harshly ruled to have fouled Ivan Bolado.

And Balboa scored the winner with a fantastic free-kick from 25 yards. 

Equatorial Guinea will face Ghana or Guinea in their first Cup of Nations semi-final on Thursday.

Attacks on Jonathan rattle PDP

The increasing spate of attacks on President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign train in some parts of the North is rattling the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

Investigations in Abuja, on Friday, showed that the grave situation were made worse by allegations that the attacks had been carried out by aggrieved members of the party.

It was learnt that the situation had prompted the President’s security team to take extra measures to protect him as he prepared to visit Gombe, Yobe and Niger states this week.

It was also gathered that the PDP had been further unsettled by the hot exchange of words between the Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Bala Mohammed, over the stoning of the President’s convoy in Katsina State.

Bauchi stands still for Buhari

 

BAUCHI, the Bauchi State capital, yesterday, stood still as the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential standard-bearer, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), visited the ancient city to solicit the people’s vote.

As early as 10 a.m, immediately after the end of the state’s monthly environmental sanitation; people- both old and young, trooped out in their numbers waving brooms; the symbol of the party, while some were symbolically sweeping the floor in what they called the ‘sweeping out’ of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.