Conte blames Chelsea's injury woes on hectic schedule

Chelsea's Italian head coach Antonio Conte give a press conference at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London, on October 17, 2017, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League Group C football match against Roma ./ AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK

Antonio Conte says the injury pR0blems that Thre.aten to derail Chelsea’s season have been caused by his side’s increased workload.

Conte’s team have lost their last two Premier League matches against Manchester City and Crystal Palace as the injury bug bites ahead of Roma’s visit to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on Wednesday.

France midfielder N’Golo Kante is sidelined for several weeks with a hamstring pR0blem, while England midfielder Danny Drinkwater is a long-term absentee due to a calf injury.

Spain striker Alvaro Morata missed the shock 2-1 defeat at Palace with a hamstring strain, while Nigeria wing-back Victor Moses limped off during Saturday’s game after suffering a hamstring pR0blem.

Chelsea’s lengthy injury list is a stark contrast to last season, when Conte was able to field the same starting line-up most weeks.

The Blues were able to focus on the Premier League with little disruption last term after failing to qualify for Europe.

But with the additional demands of the Champions League this season, Conte’s squad is already being stretched to breaking point.

Some reports have claimed the intense Conte is working his players too hard in training, but the Italian is convinced it is the fixture schedule that is playing havoc with his players’ fitness.

“The pR0blem is we are playing always the same players,” Conte told reporters on Tuesday.

“And also we have players in our team who are not used to playing three games in a week. Kante, it’s the first time. For Moses, the first time.

“For Morata, it’s the first time to play regularly for his team. For Alonso it’s the same.

“When you have a lot of games, you need to rotate players. If this is not possible, I have to take risks.

“For example, against Manchester City: Morata was injured after 20 minutes. But if I hadn’t put Morata in the starting XI, you’d have told me I’m crazy. Sometimes the players need to rest.”

– Inquest –
Having expressed his frustration at Chelsea’s failure to land his top transfer targets during the close-season, Conte fears the English champions will struggle to cope with the demands of defending the title and competing in Europe.

Reportedly furious with Chelsea’s limp display at Palace on Saturday, Conte is said to have held a lengthy inquest with his team this week, accusing them of taking it easy and imploring them to raise their work-rate.

Against that troubled backdrop, Chelsea could do with a morale-boosting victory against Roma.

Chelsea top Champions League Group C after thrashing Qarabag and securing an impressive win at Atletico Madrid.

Beating the Italians would keep Chelsea on course to progress to the knockout stages as group winners.

Conte will take heart from the return to fitness of former Real Madrid striker Morata, who had scored seven times in eight appearances before being injured last month.

Michy Batshuayi gave another lacklustre display against Palace and is likely to make way for Morata.

“I could take a risk on Saturday to force Morata to play against Crystal Palace, but I’m not so stupid,” Conte said.

“Tomorrow I’m not taking a risk if I decide for Morata to play.”

Conte is well acquainted with the threat posed by Roma and admitted he tried to sign their Belgium midfielder Radja Nainggolan in the past.

“Yes, we tried to buy him. But it’s not right to speak about him,” he added.

“For me, one of the best midfielders. But he’s an opponent.”

Buhari signs University of Petroleum Resources Bill

Muhammadu Buhari signing into law the bill establishing the University of Petroleum Resources

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday signed University of Petroleum Resources Bill with a pledge to continue to support the socio-economic development of the Niger Delta region.

The President made the pledge while signing the bill to establish University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta into law at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said Federal Government was committed to supporting Niger Delta region to achieve socio-economic development.

Buhari, therefore, appealed to communities in the region to strive for peace through dialogue in resolving all conflicts not only among them but also with business entities and authorities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that with the signing of the bill into law, the path has now been cleared for the establishment of the specialised university in the Niger Delta.

The institution will be charged with training and research in petroleum technologies.

OBOY Check out Jacob Zuma’s statue in South Africa VS the one in Imo state (Photos)

Hehe………..There has been outrage over the erection of a giant Jabob Zuma statue in Imo state by governor Rochas Okorocha. Even South Africans have insulted Nigerians for the act carried out by one man.


A Nigerian Twitter user have now shared this side by side photo of Jacob Zuma’s statue in South Africa, precisely his home town versus the one n Nigeria, Imo State.

SARS officer who sent thugs to beat man for sleeping with his wife, arrested

Hehe……….SARS Officer identified as Mr Nagbama Osakpamwan Eboigbe a.k.a Smally who reportedly sent “thugs” to beat one Ese Idehen and eventually threw him into the boot of a car for allegedly sleeping with his estranged wife in Benin city, Edo state, has been arrested.


This was disclosed by the victim’s lawyer, Jefferson Uwoghiren, who disclosed that the SARS Operative was arrested following a petition filed by him at the Benin police headquarters for Brrazen Abu.se of power, cr!minal abduction, assault and battery.
He further disclosed that other officers, who assisted the suspect to At-tack and imprison his client are in big trouble, as it was gathered that the father of the victim just died today, after developing High Blood Pressure upon seeing the viral video of his son being brutalized. The retired soldier was said to have been rushed to Uniben Teaching Hospital where he died.

Dasuki asks court to stop trial in alleged arms possession charge

Former national security adviser (NSA), retired Col. Sambo Dasuki PHOTO: NAN

Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki, (rtd), on Tuesday, asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to suspend further hearing in the money laundering and illegal arms possession charge the Federal Government filed against him.

Dasuki urged the court to adjourn the case to await the outcome of an appeal he filed to challenge a ruling of the court that permitted FG to shield identities of 14 witnesses billed to testify against him.

The court had in a ruling on June 15, granted leave for all the prosecution witnesses to give their evidence behind a screen.

In that ruling, Justice Ahmed Mohammed anchored the decision on section 232 of the Administration of cr!minal Justice Act(ACJA), 2015, which he said permits the use of a screen in the prosecution of cases involving economic crime.

Dasuki is standing trial on a seven-count cr!minal charge bordering on illegal and unlawful possession of firearms, as well as for money laundering offences brought against him by the federal government.

At the resumed sitting on the case, Dasuki’s counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), told the court that his client has taken the matter before the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal.

Raji prayed the court to adjourn further hearing on the matter to enable the appellate court to decide the appeal marked CA/A/523C/2017.

He predicated the request on section 305(1A), 492(3) of the ACJA and section 36 of the 1999 constitution, as amended.

“This application is not for a stay of proceedings of this court.

“In the cause of proceeding here, major constitutional issues bordering on witness protection and fair trial arose,’’ Raji said.

However, the prosecution, Oladipo Okpeseyi (SAN), opposed the application on the premise that section 306 of the same ACJA forbade granting of a stay of proceeding in a cr!minal trial.

He urged the court to dismiss Dasuki’s application and proceed with hearing the oral evidence of three witnesses he said were present in court.

Okpeseyi told the court that whereas two of the available witnesses came from the South-South, the third one came from the North East.

He further stated that the application is calculated to undermine gains by status law and case law in cr!minal administration on Nigeria.

Okpeseyi said “A decision has been taken in the court and what we have before the court of appeal is an appeal against the decision of the court, not a referral.

He added that the application is a Sm0kescreen to delay the trial and it is aimed to pluck and defeat the will of justice.

After listening to all the parties, Justice Mohammed reserved ruling on Dasuki’s application till November 15.

Monkey Pox: Just like in AnamBrra, confusion in Rivers State as Parents rush to schools to pick their children over news of Soldiers coming to inject them (Photos)

Hehehe…………There’s been a viral social media report about the pandemonium in schools in Rivers State. It was gathered that just like in AnamBrra State, Parents in Abonnema, Akuku-Toru LGA, in Rivers State, rushed out today to pick their children from school, because it was alleged that soldiers are on their way to inject their wards with the monkey pox virus.
A member of Gov. Nyesom Wike’s cabinet, Oraye St, Franklin wrote:

The military should please forget its charity/ humanitarian work in Southern Nigeria. From reports, they are clearly not welcome.
If they wish to win the confidence and support of the publics, they must begin by changing the character of their narrative.
Who wants to frolick with Pythons or Crocodiles, and within the same period that humanity is being dehumanized by them?
Haba! Some things are common sense na?

Buhari decries states' inability to pay salaries

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday expressed concern on the growing complaints and agitations by workers in states over unpaid salaries and allowances, in spite of interventions by the Federal Government.

The President made his feelings known when he received a group of governors led by the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Abdul’Aziz Yari, at the State House, Abuja.

The Federal government had on May 4 released details of the second tranche of Paris Club refund to States totalling N243.795 billion.

A breakdown of the payment, showed that Abia got N5.72 billion; Adamawa, N6.11 billion; Akwa Ibom, N10 billion; AnamBrra, N6.12 billion; Bauchi, N6.88 billion; Bayelsa, N10 billion; Benue, N6.85 billion; and Borno N7.34 billion.

Cross River got N6.08 billion, Delta, N10 billion; Ebonyi, N4.51 billion; Edo, N6.09 billion; Ekiti, N4.77 billion; Enugu, N5.36 billion; Gombe, N4.47 billion; Imo, N7 billion; Jigawa, N7.11 billion; and Kaduna, N7.72 billion.

Kano got N10 billion, Katsina, N8.2 billion; Kebbi, N5.98 billion; Kogi, N6.03 billion; Kwara, N5.12 billion; Lagos, N8.37 billion; Nasarawa, N4.55 billion; Niger, N7.2 billion; and OG.un, N5.7 billion.

The others were Ondo, N7 billion; Osun, N6.3 billion; Oyo, N7.9 billion; Plateau, N5.64 billion; Rivers, N10 billion; Sokoto, N6.44 billion; Taraba, N5.61 billion; Yobe, N5.41 billion; Zamfara, N5.44 billion; and the Federal Capital Territory, N684 million.

The refund is in respect of over-deductions on Paris Club, London Club Loans and Multilateral debts between 1995 and 2002.

However, President Buhari said the plight of workers in the states needed urgent attention as many could barely survive.

“How can anyone go to bed and sleep soundly when workers have not been paid their salaries for months.

“I actually wonder how the workers feed their families, pay their rents and even pay school fees for their children,’’ he said.

The President told the governors that two out of the three-pronged focus of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to secure the country and fight corruption had received some commendable reviews by the people.

He further noted that the challenge in payment of salaries in states had taken a toll on the people.

President Buhari said the Federal Government and state executives would need to work closely together to ameliorate the situation of workers across the country.

He added, “God has been merciful in hearing the prayers of his servants so the rainy season has been good, you can ask the Kebbi State Governor on this, and our enormous food importation bill has gone down.’’

The President said he had instructed all government agencies to comply with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in order to ensure more transparency and prudence in accounting for the revenues of the government and the sharing of entitlements with states.

In his remark, the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum said the various interventions by the Federal Government, which included the bailouts, were judiciously utilized by the states.

He stressed that the governors inherited backlog of unpaid salaries and huge debts portfolios on assumption of office.

“We are concerned with the situation in our states, and we are trying our best to manage the resources,’’ he said.

Yari noted that the bailout funds, and part of the fallout from the London-Paris Club that had been received by the states, were properly expended to alleviate the plight of workers, but more had to be done.

The NGF chairman also commended the efforts of the President in improving the economy.

He assured that the states would continue working with the Federal Government to improve the livelihood of workers and all Nigerians.

Governors of Ondo, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kwara, Akwa Ibom and the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State among those who visited the President.

Boateng mulled quitting Bayern under Ancelotti

Jerome Boateng PHOTO:AFP

World Cup-winner Jerome Boateng has revealed how he considered quitting Bayern Munich before Carlo Ancelotti was sacked last month as head coach.

Boateng missed the first two months of this year with a shoulder injury, then hurt his thigh in May which saw him ruled out until September.

He struggled to win a starting place on his return and Ancelotti completely left him out of the match day squad for Bayern’s 3-0 thrashing at Paris Saint-Germain three weeks ago which led to his dismissal.

The Italian was sacked a day after the Champions League drubbing and Germany star Boateng admits he thought of leaving Bayern in the summer because of Ancelotti.

“It is completely normal to have thoughts like that,” said Boateng in Munich on Tuesday ahead of Bayern’s Champions League match at home to Celtic.

“I wanted to know what my position is and how I was seen by the club and the coach.

“However, I decided to stay here, I have had a great time at Bayern and I didn’t want to just run away after a bad spell.”

The 29-year-old World Cup-winner has won 14 titles with Bayern since joining in 2011, including lifting the 2013 Champions League title.

He told magazine Kicker last week that he quizzed Bayern’s senior figures about his future in the summer as injuries meant he struggled for form under Ancelotti.

Boateng was reportedly one of the senior figures at Bayern who complained to chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge that training sessions under Ancelotti were too easy.

After the Italian was fired, Jupp Heynckes has returned as Bayern’s head coach.

The 72-year-old led Bayern to the 2013 treble of Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League titles with Boateng the cornerstone of his defence as centre-back.

“It’s not part of our job to only be motivated by the coach in order to produce a good performance,” said Boateng when asked about Heynckes.

“But every coach is obviously different.

“You can see from the way we are training now, that the team is having fun again and that the trainer has an intuition for things.”

Heynckes says Boateng felt under valued by Ancelotti.

“He (Boateng) was unlucky to have suffered different injuries – which lasted quite a long time,” said Heynckes.

“If you are out for two or three months, you need a long time to reach your old form.

“Perhaps the pR0blem was in his mentality and he was unhappy because he felt he didn’t feel quite so recognised.

“In my last year here (2012-13), he played very well.

“He has trained really well and although he is certainly behind in terms of fitness, he will catch up.”

Alonso says Chelsea have no margin for error

Marcos Alonso PHOTO:AFP

Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso admitted Tuesday that the Premier League champions cannot afford to lose another match if they want to successfully defend the title.

Antonio Conte’s side are lagging nine points behind leaders Manchester City after losing their last two league matches.

The Blues, who host Roma in the Champions League on Wednesday, crashed to a shock 2-1 defeat at lowly Crystal Palace on Saturday, an embarrassing setback that followed a damaging 1-0 loss to City at Stamford Bridge.

With title contenders Manchester United and Tottenham also in good form, Alonso knows Chelsea are in danger of losing touch with the early pace-setters.

Recalling Chelsea’s 13-match winning streak which followed losses to Liverpool and Arsenal early last season, Alonso said he believes the Blues need to be even more consistent if they are to catch City.

“We’ve lost a lot of points already. We cannot lose any more games,” Alonso told reporters on Tuesday.

“It’ll obviously be very hard. There are teams playing very good football and there are so many games still to come.

“So we have to think game by game. We will focus now on the Champions League, an important game, and then have time to get ready for Watford and the Premier League on Saturday.”

Leicester sack manager Craig Shakespeare

Leicester City sacked Craig Shakespeare on Tuesday, just four months after handing him a permanent contract to manage the former Premier League champions, British media reported.

Shakespeare, 53, was promoted from his role as assistant coach on an interim basis following the shock dismissal of Claudio Ranieri in February and in June he was handed a three-year contract.

But the 2015-16 champions have struggled this season and are third from bottom of the table with a single league win.

Monday night’s 1-1 home draw with West Brom saw Leicester’s winless Premier League run reach six matches — the same as when Ranieri was sacked.

Shakespeare’s appointment earlier this year sparked a striking upturn in form that saw Leicester secure their Premier League status and reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Reacting to Tuesday’s development, former Leicester and England player Gary Lineker tweeted: “Was always a miracle, but it’s even more remarkable really that Leicester won the league given the ineptitude of those that run the club.”

Shakespeare had no previous managerial experience when he stepped into the hotseat following Ranieri’s dismissal, which came with Leicester a point above the relegation zone.

But he inspired the team to five straight league wins and they finished the season in a respectable 12th place.

Shakespeare was given around £60 million ($79 million, 67 million euros) to spend on players in the summer transfer window and splashed out on striker Kelechi Iheanacho, Harry Maguire and Vicente Iborra, but Leicester’s only Premier League win came against newly promoted Brighton in August.

Their only other points have been picked up in draws against Huddersfield, Bournemouth and West Brom while Shakespeare oversaw wins against Sheffield United and Liverpool in the League Cup.

He is the second managerial casualty of the Premier League season following the dismissal of Frank de Boer from the Crystal Palace job.

KRACK At-tack Fix Released For Windows And Linux

The internet yesterday was filled with news and reports of WPA2 vulnerabilities, known as KRACK, and as a result of this, there was panic among WiFi owners and internet users. It was gathered that Windows, Apple, Android, Linux, and pretty much every device that uses WPA2 security is vulnerable to Krack. Though the exploit isn’t an easy one to carry out, neither is it easy to fix, but the vulnerability itself puts a large number of devices at jeopardy. However, the good news is that Microsoft has already issued a patch to her Windows users.

“Customers who have The Windows Update enabled and have applied the latest security updates are protected automatically. The Security Update Guide was updated on October 16, 2017, to provide full disclosure on this vulnerability in accordance with a multi-vendor coordinated disclosure.” – Microsoft

On the other hand, OpenBSD released a security patch way back in July. Also, as seen on Charged, a security patch is now available for Linux. Debian systems can be updated with the same. Also, security patches for Ubuntu 14.04 and above are out now. The same for Gentoo are also available.

Android OS, being the most open source OS on the planet won’t be left out in this At-tack. As a matter of fact, it’ll be safe to assume that Krack will hit Android OS the most. So in line with this developments, Google will be pushing a security update in the coming weeks and It’s very likely that it will debut on Pixel and Nexus phones. Phone manufacturers and OEMs are advised to follow and push out these security patch soonest.

The fact that iOS is the most secure OS isn’t of any concern to Krack, and Apple isn’t taking any chances. They are already testing security updates for their macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS in their beta versions. And to make our Wi-FI more secure, WiFi Alliance, (which certifies WiFi devices), has released a vulnerability detection tool for its members and said it requires testing for this vulnerability within their global certification lab network.

Heynckes back as Bayern regroup for Celtic

Bayern Munich's players poses during the UEFA Champions League football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich on September 27, 2017 at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE

Bayern Munich are looking to regroup in the Champions League at home to Celtic on Wednesday as Jupp Heynckes coaches his first European game since winning the 2013 final.

The 72-year-old steered Bayern to the Champions League title four years ago by beating Borussia Dortmund at Wembley to complete the treble of European, Bundesliga and German Cup titles in the 2012/13 season.

However, after Carlo Ancelotti was sacked in the wake of Bayern’s 3-0 hammering at Paris Saint-Germain three weeks ago, Heynckes came out of retirement to return as head coach until the end of the season.

After four years out, Celtic’s visit to Allianz Arena is Heynckes’ first real test as Bayern look to show reaction from their thrashing in Paris.

Polish striker R0bert Lewandowski, who has scored six goals in five matches at the Allianz Arena this season, said Heynckes has already made an impact after just a week back.

“He wants us to focus on the details. In training sessions, every pass and every shot is important,” said Lewandowski.

“We have to remain focused. We need to go forward together as a team and have fun.”

Lewandowski is Bayern’s most successful foreign goalscorer, with a total of 24 goals, and has scored 10 times in his last twelve Champions League matches.

The striker has made no secret of his desire to win the Champions League title this season.

With three points from their first two games, Bayern need a home win to get them back on track in Group B.

“It’s a very important game for us,” admitted Lewandowski, who scored in Saturday’s 5-0 thrashing of Freiburg in the Bundesliga.

“Three (Champions League) points after two games is not enough for us.

“Now, we have to go from one win to the next.”

Bayern’s defensive midfielder Javi Martinez has been ruled out for the Celtic match after suffering a shoulder injury in the Freiburg win.

The victory was Heynckes’ first match back in charge and left Bayern second in Germany’s top competition.

However Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic could throw a spanner in Bayern’s works with the Bhoys also on three points having won 3-0 at Anderlecht in their last European match.

Former Liverpool coach Rodgers, 44, has turned around Celtic’s away form in Europe since taking charge last year.

They are unbeaten in their last three Champions League games away from Celtic Park with draws last season at Borussia Monchengladbach and Manchester City followed by the 3-0 win in Belgium.

Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal says Bayern are obliged to beat Celtic at home.

“I always respect our rivals but Bayern is obliged to be in the next round. That’s normal for us,” said Vidal.

“The challenge for us is to actually get to the final and win it.

“PSG are a main rival and the leader of this group.”

The return fixture against Celtic at Parkhead in Glasgow on October 31 is already reportedly popular with German fans.

Some 34,000 Bayern supporters have applied for some of the 3,200 away tickets at the 60,000-capacity stadium for the return leg in a fortnight.

Produce Nnamdi Kanu or lose N300m bail bond, court tells Abaribe

Nnamdi Kanu

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed Nov.20 for Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe and two other sureties to produce Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu for trial.

The judge gave the order on Tuesday when Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, counsel to Kanu, told the court he could not explain the where-about of his client.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the other sureties are Immanuel Madu and Torchokwu Uchendu.

NAN reports that Kanu, whose bail was perfected by the voluntary endorsement of the three sureties failed to appear in court to stand his trial.

Nyako said the sureties’ failure to produce Kanu would compel the court to invoke the forfeiture of their N100 million bail bond each.

“The trial of Kanu and his co-defendants was fixed for Oct.17, but reports from both the prosecuting and defendant’s counsel show that Kanu is absent.

“The sureties that helped to perfect his bail conditions are solely accountable for his presence for trial. These sureties are therefore, given time to produce him for trial.

“In the event that they are unable to produce him, the court shall go on to invoke the remaining options left to it,’’ she said.
Earlier, Mr Mohammed Labaran, the prosecuting counsel had moved an application praying the court to grant a bench warrant for Kanu’s arrest.

He said the defendant had flouted all the bail conditions spelt out for him by the court.

The counsel to Kanu, Ejiofor objected to such application, adding that he had filed a suit against the Chief of Army Staff on the where about of Kanu.

Ejiofor had claimed that the military’s invasion of his client’s home on July 11 led to his disappearance, adding that the military was in the best position to tell the where about of Kanu.

Similarly, Mr Ogechi Ogbonna, counsel to Abaribe moved a motion seeking court’s approval for the withdrawal of his client’s consent as Kanu’s surety.

Ogbonna said his client was not in a position to tell the where about of the defendant at the moment.

He further said Abaribe was no longer interested in offering his consent to serve as Kanu’s surety in view of recent happenings.

The judge, therefore, gave Ogbonna options ranging from automatic forfeiture of his client’s N100 million bail bond, to time within which to still search for Kanu.

Ogbonna, having received the hint of the court, selected the latter option.

Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi are standing trial along with Kanu on a five-count charge of conspiracy to commit treasonable felony and publication of defamatory materials.

Court grants ex-lawmaker's application for transfer of alleged bribery case

Farouk Lawan

Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court, Jabi on Tuesday granted the application of Farouk Lawan seeking transfer of his case from Justice Angela Otaluka of FCT Lugbe High Court.

The judge will now hear the case in his court from 24 October.

Lawan is facing prosecution for receiving $600,000 bribe, from oil mogul, Femi Otedola during a pR0be by the House of Representatives of the Scan.dalous oil subsidy regime during the Jonathan era.

Mr. Otedola’s companies, Zenon and Synopsis, allegedly paid Mr Lawan bribes to get their names off the indictment roll of the House.

The judge said that the administration of cr!minal justice must be followed in the interest of justice, adding that the transfer of cases from one court to the other remains the administrative powers of the Chief Judge.

Lawan’s lawyer had petitioned the Chief Judge of FCT, Ishaq Bello, alleging bias and lack of confidence in Otaluka’s court.

He argued that the Chief Judge of the FCT has the prerogative to reassign cases, based on Section 168 of the Administration of cr!minal Justice.

Justice Halilu, however, said that the Chief Judge did not need to consult anyone to take any action. He thus dismissed the counter-application by the prosecutor, for lack of merit and authority.

He said that the administration of cr!minal justice system has to do with the liberty of the citizens.

“This matter has been transferred back and forth and this is not good for the image of the bar and the bench, though the prosecutor has the right to appeal against the judgment.

“The court has no interest in this case other than to ensure that justice must not only be done but it must be seen to have been done,” he said.

Mr Jude Odi, the prosecuting counsel, said that he would require time and a specific instruction from the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to go ahead with the matter based on the court ruling.

He asked for time to brief the office of the AGF. He said the ruling has made it necessary to consult his principal.

He said he could not proceed with the case because he was not prepared to do so.

Mr Sekup Zumka, Counsel to the defendant said that there was no legal basis for the court to defer an arraignment to a later day, adding that the court could proceed after its ruling.

According to him, taking the plea of the defendant does not signify a miscarriage of justice; there must be significant ground for adjournment.

“I hereby urge the court to dismiss the application of the prosecuting counsel and proceed on arraignment.

Justice Halilu, however, granted the prayer of the prosecuting counsel and adjourned arraignment till Oct 24.

Anthony Joshua’s title defence Thre.atened by KuBrrat Pulev’s injury

Britain's Anthony Joshua (L) and Bulgaria's KuBrrat Pulev (R) and boxing promoter Eddie Hearn (C) pose during a press conference at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Geoff CADDICK / AFP

Anthony Joshua’s fight with KuBrrat Pulev is in doubt less than a fortnight before they are due in the ring after the Bulgarian suffered an injury in training.

The 36-year-old is believed to have damaged his right shoulder in sparring and it is far from guaranteed that he will make it to the ring at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on October 28.

Sources close to Joshua refused to comment yesterday night, heightening the uncertainty around the fight, which is due to pit Britain’s WBA and IBF heavyweight world champion against his IBF mandatory challenger.

More than 70,000 tickets have already been sold for Joshua’s first bout since his extraordinary win over Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley earlier this year.

Zidane wary of 'complete' Kane

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane highlighted the threat posed by Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane as the English side travel to the European champions on Tuesday battling for top spot in Champions League Group H.

Kane has scored as many goals (43) this year for club and country as Cristiano Ronaldo but in fewer games, sparking rumours Real could try to poach another rising star from Spurs after taking Luka Modric and Gareth Bale to the Bernabeu in recent years.

“I don’t know what will be of Kane’s future, but I can talk about the here and now,” Zidane said on Monday.

“He’s a fundamental player for Spurs. He’s very good at everything, but what he does is score goals.

“He’s not a static player, he always finds space and is quick. He’s a complete player.”

Both sides are well placed to reach the last 16 having beaten Borussia Dortmund and APOEL Nicosia in their opening two group games.

And Zidane expects the two meetings on Tuesday and in two weeks’ time at Wembley between the sides to decide who progresses as group winners.

“We have two games versus Spurs. The first final of the group is tomorrow.

“We want to play well and I think anyone who enjoys football will see a good game.”

Bale is Madrid’s most notable absentee as a calf injury means he will miss a reunion with his former club, whilst Dani Carvajal and Mateo Kovacic are also still absent.

However, goalkeeper Keylor Navas returned to training on Monday and Zidane looks set to recall Casemiro, Modric and Isco, who were rested for Saturday’s 2-1 win at Getafe.

Nigerian coach warns players against pay strike

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has warned his players that their performances at next year’s World Cup will be affected if there is any repeat of protests over pay and bonuses.

At the last finals in Brrazil three years ago, the Super Eagles deliberately missed a training session in protest at the non-payment of a bonus for qualifying.

That forced the country’s then sports minister to charter a private jet and fly to South America with nearly $4 million in cash.

Rohr said he is convinced that Nigeria can go beyond the last 16 for the first time by preparing well in advance.

But he told reporters: “The issue of bonuses and allowances, which are the usual African pR0blem we see during the World Cup, must be avoided.

“Such issue will be bad for our preparation. I have told my officials and the federation president that all (such issues) be cleared before the start of the competition.”

Nigeria were not the only team to be hit by money troubles in 2014: Ghana’s players demanded that more than $3 million in bonuses was flown to Brrazil.

The revelation was a major embarrassment for the government at the time, which was battling spiralling inflation and the decrease in value of the country’s currency.

Nigeria’s women’s team, the Super Falcons, last December staged a protest march to parliament to demand payment of bonuses for winning the African Women Cup of Nations.

That followed a two-week sit-in at their Abuja hotel. The government later agreed to release more than $1 million.

The Nigerian men’s team is in line for a $12.5 million bonus from football’s world governing body FIFA for qualifying for the finals in Russia.

All 37 players used in qualifying are entitled to a share.

Squad members at the finals stand to earn more if they match or better the national side’s performances in 1994 and 2014 by reaching the knock-out stages.

Nigerian Army officially ends Operation Python Dance II

Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai./ AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has officially ended operation Egwu Eke II, which took place at 82 Division of the Nigerian Army Area of Responsibility and Cross River.

Col. Sagir Musa, Deputy Director Public Relations of 82 Division Nigerian Army, Enugu, said this in a statement issued in Enugu on Monday.

Musa said that Buratai, who was represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Abubakar, declared the end of exercise at a ceremony in Sector 1 Tactical Headquarters at Umuahia, Abia at about 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct 14.

He said that the exercise was ended with the traditional activation of camp fire to formally signify the successful completion of the operation.

“The COAS, through Gen. Abubakar, commended all the officers, soldiers and personnel of para-military organisations that collaborated and synergised, worked tirelessly and commendably throughout the one month period for the exercise.

“He remarked further that the achievements recorded during the exercise in the areas of attainment of the mission specific training objectives, improvement in peace and security, curtailing the menace of violent irredentist groups in the theatre of the exercise (South Eastern part of Nigeria) is remarkable.

“On the part of the government and good people of Abia State, the representative of the Governor of Abia State, Eng. Emmanuel Nwabuko, expressed appreciation of the government and people of the state for the numerous achievements of exercise Egwu Eke II in terms of improvement of peace, security and stability of the state.”

He said that the government gave assurance that it will always leverage on the existing relationship between its people and the Nigerian Army whenever the need arises.

Musa said that top commanders of formations and units within the division and representatives of Army Headquarters and Defence Headquarters attended the closing ceremony.

Man City's Sterling never considered Arsenal move

Manchester City's English midfielder Raheem Sterling speaks at a press conference in Manchester, north west England on October 16, 2017, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League Group F match against Napoli. / AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLIS

Raheem Sterling said on Monday he sees his long-term future at Premier League leaders Manchester City and has no interest in a move to Arsenal.

Sterling was linked with a cash-plus-player move to the Emirates Stadium at the end of August as City tried to secure a deal for Alexis Sanchez.

Pep Guardiola’s City always indicated that they wanted a cash-only deal for Sanchez, who ended up staying in north London after a £60 million ($80 million, 68 million euros) attempt to sign him fell through.

Arsenal were willing to sell at that price, but were forced to withdraw from the deal after failing in their bid to sign Thomas Lemar from Monaco as a replacement.

Sterling said he never considered the possibility of leaving City, where he has two-and-a-half years to run on the contract he signed after joining from Liverpool for an initial £44 million fee in July 2015.

And he says he wants to stay at the Etihad Stadium and continue his impressive form under manager Guardiola.

“I signed for five years here. I’ve got two-and-a-half years left and I see myself here and playing my football here under a great manager with a great team,” said Sterling.

“I didn’t need to speak with Pep because I had already spoken to him during the summer about pre-season. I didn’t have any negative thoughts or anything bad about it.

“I just woke up one day with England and saw it, and I decided I wouldn’t believe a word of it until I heard something from the manager, then I would believe it.

“It wasn’t something I was worried about because Pep is an honest guy and he would have spoken to me about it before that.”

– Sterling goals –
Sterling has scored seven goals in all competitions this season and is well on course to beat his best-ever total of 11 in one campaign.

He will get the chance to add to that total against Napoli in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

Kevin De Bruyne will be the focus of attention after his outstanding display in Saturday’s 7-2 win over Stoke.

But manager Guardiola said the Belgium international has to win major titles if he wants to be considered in the same Brracket as Lionel Messi.

“The best is just one (Messi),” said the City manager. “If you want to be considered one of the best, you have to win titles and we are here to help him achieve that. The best is just one but he (De Bruyne) is one of the best.

“It would be a dream for me. I would love not only Kevin but all the players I have in the past to get to the level of Messi.”

Sergio Aguero could make his comeback against Italian league leaders Napoli, having recovered from the broken rib he suffered in a taxi crash in Amsterdam on September 28.

Aguero was an unused substitute against Stoke but has made good progress in the past few days.

Guardiola said: “Day by day, he is much better. Yesterday he had an amazing training session. The day before, for the game against Stoke, he was good but not perfect. Yesterday was really good.”

Five outstanding Nigerian players over the weekend

It was a weekend of Brraces (not that one) for some Nigerian players from different leagues around the world. In our weekly series, we detail the five players who stood out this weekend especially with two goals to boot.

Ikechukwu Uche
The former Super Eagles striker scored a Brrace in Gimanastic de Tarragona’s 5-1 win over Cordoba just four days after he had scored a Brrace against Granada in the SeG.unda division of the Spanish Liga. His first displayed his predatory movement and unerring finishing that saw him score 19 goals for the Super Eagles. Uche peeled off into the space behind the defenders to receive a pass, he took a touch to set up the shot before he angled a strike into the corner of the net with his left foot, all in the first minute of the game.

His second goal highlighted his striking instincts, in line with the opposition defence line, the striker awaited a pass in behind to latch onto, but his teammate elected to shoot 30 yards from goal, Uche still ran ahead towards goal assured that there was the possibility of the goalkeeper spilling the shot, the keeper did spill the shot and Uche was on hand with a beautiful left-footed chip over the goalkeeper bearing down on the striker. It was the fifth goal in eight games for the former Villareal striker.

Odion Ighalo

Odion Ighalo. PHOTO: YOUTUBE

While his performance over Zambia wasn’t exactly A-grade, Ighalo proved a handful for the Guizhou Zhicheng defenders. The Super Eagles striker outmuscled a defender to power a header that the goalkeeper saved but found tricky. His first goal eventually came via a header, the Changchun Yatai forward headed in via a teammate’s headed flick from a corner in the 50th minute.

He got his Brrace of goals in the 91st minute where he bamboozled two defenders who wrongly judged the flight of a ball over the top, Ighalo raced clear on goal rounded the goalkeeper before placing the ball past a back-tracking defender trying to guard the post. Ighalo has done a good job shouldering the goalscoring burden of the team, he has 14 goals from 25 games this season.

Henry Onyekuru

Onyekuru

Six goals in his last six league matches, Onyekuru is becoming a verified goal-getter for Anderlecht. The forward timed his run excellently got to Sofiane Hanni’s threaded pass ahead of his teammate Łucaszk Teodorczyk, took a good look at the goalkeeper, he seemed to freeze the moment in his mind, figuring the perfect way to place the ball past the goalkeeper, unfrozen he found the perfect spot to place his shot, goalkeeper’s near post before he slid off on his knees in celeBrration.

A Thierry Henry styled goal and a celeBrration for the man who wears ‘Henry’ at the back of his jersey. The second was from a switch of play to the left wing where Onyekuru occupied, he brought the diagonal down with his left foot, took on the defender, dropped a shoulder, cut in a second time leaving two defenders in his wake before he r!fled into the top corner. The 20-year-old will certainly hope to replicate such a performance against PSG this midweek.

Chidera Ejike
Ejike is the least known player on the list, playing in the Scandinavia in the Norwegian League with eighth-placed Valerenga. The winger was unplayable in Valerenga’s 5-1 victory over Aaelsund on Sunday. Ejike got on the Brrace act to earn a place on the list.

The winger’s first goal was an intelligent piece of artwork, casually leaving a defender on the floor as he shifted the ball inwards from the left before he delivered an exquisite finish, unorthodoxly shooting into the near post to the left instead of hitting a curler into the right post. The winger was a menace for the Aalesund defence with his pace, close control and dynamism on the ball. He later showed scoring a curler wasn’t beyond him, beautifully curling in a shot that went off the inside of the post. He received the pass in space at the left and conjured the peach with no back lift.

The 19-year-old who is referred to as the Nigerian Iniesta has three goals this season from 11 matches. Ejike has played for the Nigerian U17 and U20 youth teams and he had trials with Liverpool a year before he moved to Valerenga, he did feature for Gombe United in the Nigerian League before his trials.

Samuel Kalu
It took a mere three minutes for the substitute Samuel Kalu to open the scoring in Gent’s game against Waasland-Beveren. Kalu came off the bench in the 66th minute to break the deadlock before he added another five minutes before time.

Kalu who has come off the bench four times this season showed quick instincts to get his first goal in the match after a brilliant work by compatriot Moses Simon. Simon, mesmeric with the ball cut in past two defenders from the left and fired a shot from the edge of the box. The shot hit the upright, ricocheted off the goalkeeper before Kalu reacted quickest to help the ball past the line.

Kalu’s second goal also had a very Nigerian feel to it with Simon at the heart of it again. Simon earned free kick after a shirt pull on him while he was busy frustrating defenders with the nigh impudence of his tricks. Simon took the freekick, planting the ball on the head of Kalu who stooped slightly to loop a header into the back post. Kalu without a Nigerian call-up has three goals from three starts this season for Gent.