Atiku Disowns 120 Groups Defecting To PDP

A former Vice President and chieftain of the All progressives Congress, APC, Atiku Abubakar, has denied knowledge of the groups of politicians who announced their defection to the PDP from the APC.

 

Atiku said in a statement by his media office in Abuja that he remains a committed member of the APC and urged that the purported defections of these groups be discountenanced.

A total of 120 so-called pro-Atiku support groups on Tuesday defected from the APC to the PDP.

Floyd Mayweather goes back to school for Manny Pacquiao

Floyd Mayweather is leaving nothing to chance by reverting to “old school” drills in his preparation for the showdown with Manny Pacquiao, according to former WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson.

 

The eagerly-awaited May 2 megafight in Las Vegas sees Mayweather match his 47-0 and 26 knockouts record against his Filipino rival's mark of 57-5-2, which includes 38 KOs.

APC To Drag President Jonathan To ICC Over Armed Pro-Jonathan Group's Invasion Of Lagos

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organization (APCPCO) announced today it will send a petition against President Goodluck Jonathan to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.

The APCPCO said in a statement signed by Mallam Garba Shehu, its Director of Media and Publicity, that the petition follows the massive terror unleashed on the residents of Lagos by armed pro-Jonathan groups under the dubious cover of a faction of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) on the pretext of demanding the sack of Professor Attahiru Jega, National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Atleti edge Leverkusen on penalties

Atletico Madrid beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 on penalties to progress to the Champions League last eight after winning their last-16 second-leg tie 1-0.

The Spanish champions had trailed 1-0 from the first encounter, only for Mario Suarez’s 27th-minute strike to take the game into extra time at the Vicente Calderon.

Serena Williams into quarter-finals at Indian Wells

Serena Williams recovered from a set down to overcome fellow American Sloane Stephens and reach the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

Williams dropped her first two service games in her fourth career meeting with unseeded Stephens, who beat the world No 1 at the 2013 Australian Open.

Man blasts best pal with shotgun after the pair argue over which brand of beer is best

A man shot his best friend with a shotgun after the pal brought him the wrong brand of beer.

Clarence Sturdivant, 64, blasted his friend and neighbour Walter Merrick, 66, with a shotgun after the two became embroiled in an argument over whether Budweiser or Busch was a better drink.

According to police, the two men, who have been friends for many years, were chatting in the car park of an apartment block in Harvey, New Orleans, when Sturdivant asked for a beer.

Nigerian government slashes electricity tariff by 50%

The Nigerian Federal Government on Tuesday announced a reduction in electricity tariffs by 50 per cent.

It explained that the reduction which came barely two months after it cut the pump price of petrol by N10,   followed a series of complaints by electricity consumers.

The government through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission added that it took the decision after it removed the collection loss component of the Multi Year Tariff Order 2.1 of the affected Discos.

Vin Diesel announces birth of third child

Vin Diesel has announced the birth of his third child in the most adorable way. The Fast and Furious star took to Facebook where he confirmed the news and shared a snap of his newborn.

The 47-year-old announced his partner Paloma Jimenez, with whom he already has Hania, six, and four-year-old son Vincent, had given birth on Monday. 

A picture showed the star leaning over his bundle of joy in what appears to be a hospital bed. 

Wenger not getting down

Arsene Wenger refused to let himself get down at Arsenal's exit from the Champions League after going out on away goals against Monaco at the last 16 stage.

Arsenal won 2-0 on the night at the Stade Louis II, but exited after losing the first leg 3-1 at the Emirates. And Wenger, who insists Arsenal played exactly how they wanted in the second leg, only rued the first-leg performance.

Switzerland to return $380m Abacha loot to Nigeria

The late Sani Abacha(R)

Swiss officials have said the $380m siphoned off by the family of the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, and confiscated by the Geneva authorities, will be returned to Nigeria. The amount is about N75.2bn at N198/dollar interbank rate.

The file on the matter, opened since 1999, would be closed, the officials said in a statement on the website of the Geneva public prosecutor’s office. According to the office, the move comes now that Nigeria and the Abacha family have struck a deal.

AY and brother, Yomi Casual lavish N25m on new whips

The Makun boys have demonstrated what it is like to be able to splash the cash in the last 48 hours. 

First it was the elder brother and comedian, Ayo Makun better known as AY who first acquired a brand new black Jaguar XJL valued at over $74,000 (N14.8m). 

Formula 1: No German Grand Prix this year

There will be no German Grand Prix this year, the boss of the Hockenheim circuit has told a German newspaper. 

The track hosted the 2014 race but is supposed to alternate each year with the Nurburgring. However, the Nurburgring has new owners and no contract for 2015.

Zimbabwe MDC MPs expelled from parliament over split

Twenty-one opposition MPs have been expelled from Zimbabwe's parliament after they broke away to form a new party. 

Speaker Jacob Mudenda ordered the expulsion of the MPs, led by former Finance Minister Tendai Biti.

The group had contested the 2013 election under the banner of Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party. They later split to form MDC Renewal after rejecting his leadership.

Floyd Mayweather has made Manny Pacquiao mad

Floyd Mayweather's demands have made Manny Pacquiao angry ahead of their May 2 megafight, according to Freddie Roach.

The biggest fight in boxing might have happened years ago but for disagreements over drug testing and purse splits, arguments settled late last year before the showdown was finally confirmed last month.

Pacquiao has agreed to abide by Olympic-style testing in the run-up to the fight and underwent the first of his random tests in front of a Filipino television crew on Saturday. But Mayweather's insistence on controlling every pre-fight detail has left a lasting impression on Pacquiao, according to his trainer, who says he has never seen his eight-weight world champion more motivated.

Dick Advocaat appointed Sunderland boss

Sunderland have appointed Dick Advocaat as their new manager until the end of the season.

The former Netherlands coach takes over a day after the sacking of Gus Poyet with the Black Cats one point above the Premier League relegation zone.

Patrick Schwarzenegger DENIES cheating on Miley Cyrus

PHOTO CREDIT: PEREZHILTON

Patrick Schwarzenegger has DENIED cheating on girlfriend Miley Cyrus after being spotted getting cosy with his pal.

The 21-year-old hunk, who has been dating the Wrecking Ball singer for about five months, was photographed in a clinch with the bikini clad girl in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico during spring break.

Israel election: Netanyahu battles for fourth term

Yitzhak Herzog (l), Benjamin Netanyahu (r)

Millions in Israel are voting in what is expected to be a close race between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party and a centre-left alliance.

The centre-left Zionist Union promises to repair relations with Palestinians and the international community.

Juan Mata lined up for £20million Valencia summer move

Spanish giants Valencia are eyeing a £20m summer move for Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata.

Valencia owner Peter Lim and president Amadeo Salvo were on a trip to Manchester last weekend and have made it their mission to try and sign Mata.

Bearded lady reveals she now loves her unshaven look after years of bullying

A bearded woman who endured years of bullying and almost attempted suicide has spoken about her new-found body confidence.

Harnaam Kaur, 24, of Berkshire suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome and first started growing a thick facial hair at the age of just 11. She tried to wax, bleach and shave the hair which had also started coming through on her chest and arms but finally decided to stop after being baptised as a Sikh, a religion which forbids the cutting of body hair.

Harnaam said: "At the end of the day, I love myself and the way that I'm formed. Going through primary and secondary school with the facial hair, kids can be nasty. It led me to self harm and wanting to take my own life."

PSG's Zlatan Ibrahimovic told to leave France

 

A leading French politician has called on Zlatan Ibrahimovic to leave France following his foul-mouthed rant after Paris Saint-Germain’s defeat at Bordeaux.

Marine le Pen, the leader of France's far-right Front National, reacted angrily in a radio interview following the incident at the Stade Chaban Delmas and has called on the Swede to leave the country if he hates it so much.

Ibrahimovic was quoted saying he had never experienced a good refereeing performance in France and that the country did not deserve PSG.

ICC to probe Patience Jonathan

The International Criminal Court on Monday said Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, is liable to prosecution.

The global criminal court added that it had begun conducting preliminary examinations relating to the situations in Nigeria.

Chris Smalling says Man Utd can finish second above Man City

Chris Smalling insists Manchester United are capable of overtaking Manchester City and finishing second in the Premier League.

United eased to a 3-0 win over Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday to move two points behind City, who lost to Burnley on Saturday. Louis van Gaal's side are also one point behind third-placed Arsenal, who visit Old Trafford on the penultimate weekend of the season.

Paddy Power 'stumps up £50,000 charity prize' for Wayne Rooney to have 'rematch' with Phil Bardsley

Bookies Paddy Power have reportedly stumped up a £50,000 prize for a charity rematch between Premier League pugilists Wayne Rooney and Phil Bardsley.

The firm even wants to televise the blockbuster boxing bout at Manchester United's Theatre of Dreams, Old Trafford.

The offer comes after a video emerged of Stoke City's Phil, 25, apparently knocking out Wayne, 29, with a swift left jab in a jokey kitchen punch-up, reports the Daily Star.

Nigeria 2015 Polls: Jega says resigning’ll amount to disservice to Nigerians

The Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has denied allegations that he is under pressure to resign.

“I have a job to do and it would be a disservice to Nigerians for me to resign,” Jega told a town hall meeting in Abuja on Monday.

He also gave assurance that voters whose fingerprints might not be recognised by card readers would be allowed to vote after they must have filled incident forms.

Manuel Pellegrini confident his job as Manchester City manager is safe

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says he will not face the same fate as Roberto Mancini and says he will not be axed from the top job. Pellegrini is under growing scrutiny as City's season threatens to unravel and hopes of finishing top of the league start to disappear.

City have fallen six points behind Chelsea, who have a game in hand, after a run of just three wins in nine games.

Their hopes of salvaging some silverware from the campaign now seem to come down to the unlikely prospect of overturning a 2-1 deficit at Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday.