Champions of Africa! Nigeria's D'Tigress wins 2017 FIBA Women's AfroBasket Championship in Mali for the third time

Nigeria’s senior women basketball team, D’Tigress, on Sunday, defeated Senegal 65-48 to win the Women Afrobasket Championship in Mali,  for the third time after 12 years.

The Nigerian team had defeated host nation Mali 48-47 points in the semi-final on Saturday in Bamako to secure one of the two FIBA World Cup tickets available to Africa.

They had won the 2003 and 2005 editions. With the victory, the team has qualified for the 2018 Women FIBA Championship in Spain.

Evelyn Akhator, Dallas Wing forward, in the Women National Basketball Association (WNBA) who was selected as one of the top five performers in the competition, scored 13 points and seven rebounds for D’Tigress.

Akhator also made two assists and one steal even as she made no successful block during the final game.

D’Tigers Captain, Aisha Muhammed, Adaora Elonu and Ezinne Kalu contributed seven rebounds, four assists and two steals respectively during the match.

However, Astou Traore, the top performer for Senegal, scored 17 points which was the highest score in the match, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and no block, all in vain to stop D’Tigress.

Meanwhile, the victorious team will arrive the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos on today,  Monday August 28.

The contingent will arrive Lagos aboard Air Cote d’Ivoire after departing Bamako, Mali on the 28th August at 14.00 hours local time.

The team will be without Coach Sam Vincent, Mfon Udoka, Evelyn Akhator and Nyingifa Atonye who have all left from Bamako to their various bases due to club and personal engagements.

Akhator left for Chicago to play for her club Dallas Wings in a WNBA game while Nyingifa will join her club in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Nigerian Beauty Queen, Rita Chinedu calls out pageant organizers on IG over failed promises

Nigerian Beauty Queen, Rita Chinedu, who won the Miss Health Nigeria in September 2016, has called out the pageant organizers for totally failing to fulfill the promises made during the contest.

Taking to her Instagram page on Saturday to set the record straight, she announced that she won't be attending the 2nd edition of Beauty Pageant, adding that all the project she had done during her reign were solely funded by herself. She wrote:

I am Miss Rita Chinedu , The Current Miss Health Nigeria 2016/2017. 

Today marks the End of my Reign as Miss health and I will not be attending the 2nd edition of Miss Health Beauty Pageant, I am therefore writing to Set the Records Straight. 

For the Past one year, I have been Miss Health Nigeria, I passionately embraced the opportunity to make impact holistically. I have done this through out my entire reign without any support or Encouragement from the organisers, I was also denied all the entitlements due to me as the Winner of the pageant and Miss Health Queen for the Entire Period of my Reign. 

This includes Star Prize, which was a Car(I was presented with a key and a car which was later withdrawn because they said the car did not arrive), accommodation, financial rewards amongst others , which was promised to me and showcased on the day of my crowning and published in various Newspapers and also shown on National Television. 

Further more all Project done during my reign as Queen was financed by me except for some others that I was An Ambassador to the project.

I also want to thank Prince Osisioma Foundation for their immense support, wazobia TV, 95.1 Nigerian info, Hot fm 98.3 and AHF.

EFCC freezes N8. 6 billion in three accounts owned by billionaire business woman, Bola Shagaya

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen over N8, 627,458,773.36 billion in three accounts of billionaire businesswoman and an associate and friend of former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, Bola Shagaya, at Unity bank. According to the Nation, the anti-graft agency is currently investigating the link between Hajia Shagaya and about 10 firms/account. 

The billionaire business woman who did not hold any public appointment during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has dragged Unity Bank to the High Court of Lagos State for allowing the EFCC to Post No Debit (PND) on her accounts without a valid court order. According to Hajia Shagaya, the action taken on her accounts violates Section34 (1) of the EFCC Act, 2004.

 According to documents which Shagaya filed and deposed to at the Court by her counsel, Napoleon Emeaso-Nwachukwu, the withdrawal ban placed on one of her accounts has prevented her from defraying N514, 800,000 incurred as cumulative costs in the course of an Aircraft Lease Agreement of a Bombardier Jet

However, Unity Bank says its hands are tied by the law in complying with the EFCC’s directives to freeze Shagaya’s accounts.

The EFCC in a letter to the Unity Bank Managing Director in respect of one of the frozen accounts said: “The commission is investigating a case in which the above-mentioned account featured. In view of the above, you are requested to kindly check the table below and provide us with Certified True Copies (CTC) of the following information, which should include but not limited to the following: (i) The deposit slips/telex copies (front and back) that conveyed the authority of the transactions; (ii) Any investment made with the funds in any of your products which should include fixed/term deposit and their liquidation and the interest incurred, Banks Acceptance, Commercial Papers and any other relevant information in relation to these". 

The EFCC listed the transactions in the said account as “N300m(Bola Shagaya RTGS);  N300m (Additional N300FTD at 15% TRAN); N500m (Time Deposit); N2,317,013,698.64 (BNG COLLAOS FOR FTD-CUSTOMER ACCOL); N2.3billion (Opening a Time Deposit Account); N292, 495, 029.82 (Withdrawal from Time Deposit); N292, 495, 029.82 (TAK Asset Mgt Limited); N300m (Term Loan booked for 356 days); and N2,025,455,015.08 (BNG COLLAPS OF FTD Customer Account.”

In a separate letter Cr: 3000/EFCC/LS/STF/ STF3MP/ Vol.11/182 which Shagaya made available to the court, the EFCC asked Unity Bank to Post No Debit(PND) on 10 accounts linked with her.  The account names are (i) First Deep Water Discovery Limited; (ii) Bola Shagaya; (iii) FAPLiNs Nigeria Limited (iv) Lingo Nigeria Limited; (v) Buri Barclays BDC; (vi) Links Global Synergy Ltd; (vii) OKIOIL Nig. Ltd; (vii) JEMARVIZ Nig Ltd; (ix) PJ Oil and Gas Ltd; and (x) AFDIN Ventures Ltd.

The anti-graft commission said: “The commission is investigating a case in which the above mentioned accounts featured. You are requested to kindly place the account on Post No Debit (PND) category pending the conclusion of the investigation. This request is made pursuant to Section 38(1) and (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and Section 21 of Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.”

In the third letter, the EFCC said it was looking into two other accounts including Voyage Oil and Gas and Bola Shagaya from 2008 to date.

It said: “The commission is investigating a case in which the above mentioned accounts featured. In view of the above, you are requested to kindly provide us with Certified True Copies (CTC) of the following information which should include but not limited to the following: (i) The Mandate Card  and statement(s) of all domiciliary and Naira account(s) in the above mentioned accounts from 2008 to date with letter of certification in accordance with Section 84 of the Evidence Act 2011; (ii) any investment made with the funds in any of your products which should include fixed/term deposit and their liquidation and the interest incurred, Bank Acceptance, Commercial Papers and any other relevant information related to these. You are further requested to kindly place the account on Post No Debit (PND) category pending the conclusion of investigation.”

But Shagaya accused Unity Bank of complicity on her travails following  the bank’s alleged failure to exercise the requisite due diligence.

She said the freezing of her accounts did not comply with Section 34(1) of the EFCC Act, 2004. She specifically referred to the bank’s refusal to allow her to make transactions on Account 000326118 including payment of N514, 800,000 to Global Apex Air Limited, through Heavywind Integrated Services, for the lease of a bombardier Jet.

She said the Aircraft Lease Agreement between her and Global Apex Air Limited has been terminated with her forfeiting US$1million.

In an affidavit she deposed to the court, Shagaya said: “The official of the Defendant (Unity Bank) whom my Personal Assistant relayed the development to, informed him that on the 3rd of November, 2016, the Defendant received a letter from the EFCC through their Lagos office informing it that my account with it is under investigation and requested that the account be put on “Post No Debit” pending the outcome of the investigation hence the Defendant’s inability to honour my payment instruction. Initially I laughed off the excuse as a ploy of the Defendant to deter me from taking legal actions against it for dishonouring my payment instructions especially that of the 31st of October 2016 which ultimately led to the termination of the Aircraft Lease with Global Apex Air Ltd. And the loss of the sum of One Million United States Dollars deposited with the Lessor by me. 

On the 27th of January, 2017 the Defendant responded to my Solicitor’s letter. In its response, the defendant stated that: “it observed that long before your client forwarded her cheques and payment instruction to the Bank as indicated in your letter under reference, the EFCC had formally informed the Bank that an investigation relating to your client’s account was ongoing and sought the cooperation on the Bank accordingly.” The Defendant’s letter ended by stating that “Based on our understanding and the fact that the Bank was already aware that the Law Enforcement Agency had taken definite steps to comply with Section 34(1) of the EFCC Act, 2004, behoves the Bank not to allow the dissipation or removal funds in your client’s account without appropriate clearance from the Law Enforcement Agency or a judicial order directing the release of the funds to your client. I will also contend at the hearing of this Suit that the Defendant negligently and wrongfully failed to exercise the requisite due diligence and by extension, the duty of care it owed me as my banker prior to complying with the alleged freezing instruction from the EFCC. The Defendant did not request and ensure it was obliged the Freezing Order from a court of competent jurisdiction prior to complying with the instruction to freeze the Claimant’s account. 

The Defendant failed to honour the Claimant’s payment instructions of the 31st of October 2016 as well as those of the 1st and 2nd November 2016 which preceded the alleged instruction from the EFCC. The Defendant failed to promptly notify the Claimant of the freezing other account. 

The freezing of the Claimant’s account did not comply with Section 34(1) of the EFCC Act, 2004. Since the unlawful freezing of my account by the Defendant, I have not been able to transact with that account due to my inability to access same thereby causing business losses and opportunities. By reason the Defendant’s action, I have suffered loss of reputation and damages and my person brought to disrepute, public opprobrium and odium. The actions of the Defendant which consist in unlawfully freezing my account without an Order of a Court of competent jurisdiction and failing to disclose same to me promptly was unreasonable as well as defamatory of me before my business associates who now see me as a criminal and an untrustworthy fellow who is in the habit of issuing due cheques and payment instructions that she knew would not be honoured".

She said she had lost a lot of business goodwill since her accounts were frozen including

-   The loss of $1,000,000 deposited with Global Apex Air Ltd. Due to her in ability to pay accrued costs in line with Aircraft Lease Agreement which was occasioned by the failure of the Defendant to oblige the Claimant’s payment instruction to Heavywind Integrated Services.

-    Loss of business opportunities and goodwill occasioned by her inability to operate her account domiciled with the Defendant due to its freezing.

-    Loss of reputation occasioned by the Defendant’s wrongful dishonouring of her payment instructions to third parties.

“If not compelled by this Court, the Defendant will not on its own volition unfreeze my account even when it is glaring the Defendant had wrongfully breached the duty of care it owes complying with an illegal instruction in freezing my account.”

But in a letter to Shagaya’s counsel, Unity Bank said it has a legal and ethical responsibility to render assistance to law enforcement agencies. The bank explained its constraints in a letter by its Head, Legal Services Department, Mr. Alaba Williams and Mr. Olusegun Olukoya of the same department. Part of the bank's letter reads

“While the Bank respects the contractual nature of the relationship with your client, it is without prejudice to the Bank’s standing as a responsible law abiding Corporate Citizen. In spite of the Bank’s contractual relationship with your client, that relationship is not without a legal and ethical responsibility to render assistance to law enforcement agencies when required of the Bank. Considering the sensitive nature of the investigation touching your client’s account as advised by the EFCC in October 2016, the Bank had to exercise caution in relation to further transactions, especially debits, in the account of your client under investigation. 

The need for the Bank to exercise due caution in the matter of the operation of your client’s account after receipt of notification of the ongoing investigation by the EFCC was informed by our understanding of various existing statutory provisions  relevant to the request of the EFCC received by the Bank. Based on our understanding and the fact that the Bank was already aware that the Law Enforcement Agency had taken definite steps to comply with section 34(1) the EFCC Act, 2004. It behoves the Bank not to allow the dissipation or removal of the funds in your client’s account under investigation, before the Court Order seeking to preserve the funds was obtained. 

The contractual relationship between your client and the Bank does not permit us to pre-empt the investigation by the Law Enforcement Agency and the related Court Proceedings which outcome could lead to forfeiture of the funds in the same account. 

The Bank could be considered an accessory after the fact if it allowed the dissipation of the funds in your client’s account without appropriate clearance from the Law Enforcement Agency or a judicial order directing the release of the funds to your client. Therefore contrary to the allegation in your letter, the Bank had a proper justification for refusing the payment instructions from your client for funds to be removed from her account in issue when there was an ongoing investigation by the EFCC in respect of the said funds. The Bank is therefore not in breach of any contractual obligation to your client. The Bank is also not liable to your client for the sum of N700,000,000.00 (Seven Hundred Million Naira) or any other sum that matter as damages claimed by you. Please, note that Unity Bank Plc. is committed to comply with the extant laws and Regulations of all competent Authorities and Jurisdictions. In addition to adopting best practices; ethical and legal considerations always guide our commercial decisions protecting the good name and the reputation of the bank remains the primary consideration in all actions taken by the Bank. Accordingly, the Bank protects its products and services from being involved in allegation of unlawful activities. Hence we  will cooperate fully with all Regulators and Law enforcement Agencies. 

We are of the humble opinion that your client should kindly resolve any outstanding issues with the Law Enforcement Agency and facilitate the removal of the “Post No Debit” on her account with the Bank. Litigation against the Bank will therefore not be necessary in the circumstance.”

Hearing of the matter is slated for September 28

Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong has been jailed for five years on corruption charges

A court in South Korea has sentenced Samsung's billionaire heir-apparent, Lee Jae-yong to five years in prison for corruption.

Lee was accused of bribery in a scandal that also witnessed the impeachment of South Korea's former president. The case has gripped the public amid growing anger against South Korea's biggest companies, known as chaebols.

Lee, who denied all charges initially faced a jail sentence of up to 12 years.

FCMB restates commitment to tourism, felicitates with Ijebuland on Ojude Oba Festival

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has reiterated its commitment to support activities that promote and add value to Nigeria’s culture and heritage which are alsocapable of boosting tourism and other non-oil sectorsin line with the Federal government’s ongoing drive to diversify the country’s economy. According to the Bank, this is the rationale behind its decade long support for the annual Ojude Oba Festival, a carnival-like celebration of the traditional, cultural, spiritual, economic and other accomplishments of the people of Ijebuland in Ogun state.

From left: Head, Public Relations and Media Management of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Louis Ibe; Chairman, Ojude Oba Festival 2017 Planning Committee, Otunba Wahab Osinusi  and Zonal Head, South-west 2 of the Bank, Mr. Babatunde Onadeko, during the pre-Ojude Oba Festival 2017 World Press Conference held at Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, on August 22, 2017. FCMB is a major sponsor of the Festival. (The Nation, Vanguard)

Consequently, FCMB has assured its stakeholders that its participation in this year’s Festival, which holds in Ijebu-Ode on September 3, 2017 will be grand, exciting and rewarding for the thousands of people within and outside the country that would grace the fiesta. The Group Head, Corporate Affairs of FCMB, Mr. Diran Olojo, gave the assurance at a press conference held on August 22, 2017 at Ijebu Ode, to kick-off activities for the Festival. FCMB has over the years been a major sponsor of the Ojude Oba Festival and has continued to play a significant role in ensuring its success.

The Ojude Oba (which in Ijebu dialect means, the king’s fore-court or frontage) is a major festival in Nigeria that began over 100 years ago. It brings together all sons and daughters of Ijebuland in Nigeria and diaspora. During the Festival, various age groups (popularly known as the Regberegbes), indigenes, their friends and associates from far and near - all in their colourful costumes and riding on horses - throng the palace of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland to pay homage to him amidst prayers, songs, tributes and other fun-filled activities. Apart from serving as a distinctive platform to reconnect with the values that sustain the town’s rich history, heritage and industrious uniqueness, the festival also goes a long way to boost business activities, tourism and the general hospitality sector in the area.

In a goodwill message to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) SikiruAdetona, the Group Chief Executive of FCMB Group Plc, Mr. Ladi Balogun, congratulated the monarch, sons and daughters of Ijebuland for promoting the values of the ancient city through the festival and other socio-economic activities. He stated that FCMB is committed to the longevity of the Ojude Oba Festival and the economic prosperity of Ijebuland, just as he urged the people to see the Festival as a fulcrum to inspire individuals and businesses for heightened creativity and increased productivity.

According to him, ‘’over the years, the Ojude Oba Festival has grown to become the most popular gathering of the people of Ijebuland and a significant tourist attraction. With her large diaspora population, talented artists and rich cultural diversity, Nigeria is well positioned to reap the opportunities that globalisation presents to showcase her artistry and festivals, whilst bringing increased economic activity to communities that host such, such as Ijebu Ode. As we seek to diversify our economy, tourism and culture represent a low hanging fruit that must not go untapped’’.

From left: The Manager, Imepe (in Ijebu Ode) Branch ofFirst City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Oluwatosin Adegbenle; Head, Public Relations and Media Management of the Bank, Mr. Louis Ibe; Chairman, Ojude Oba Festival 2017 Planning Committee, Otunba Wahab Osinusi  and Zonal Head, South-west 2 of FCMB, Mr. Babatunde Onadeko, during the pre-Ojude Oba Festival 2017 World Press Conference held at Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, on August 22, 2017. FCMB is a major sponsor of the Festival. (Punch, Tribune)

In the same vein, the Founder of FCMB Group who is also the the Olori Omo-Oba AkileIjebu, Otunba (Dr.) Michael Olasubomi Balogun, CON, in a goodwill message to the paramount ruler of Ijebuland expressed his gratitude to the Awujale, especially the paramount ruler’s selflessness in attending to the different requests and yearnings of the people of Ijebuland.In a message delivered on his behalf by Mr. Diran Olojo, the Bank’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Otunba Balogun commended Oba Adetona for his distinguished and exemplary leadership over the years.

‘’I for one continue to be proud as your Olori Omo-Oba to lead the way in showing our appreciation by being very close to you and showing unflinching loyalty.  Let me thank you and the good Lord, our Maker that you have been unrelenting in showing that you appreciate my regular homage and tribute to you. I can say without fear of anybody gainsaying it that from year to year, on a daily basis, the appreciation of all Ijebus for the way you extend yourself to their different requests and yearnings, is such that the annual paying of homage, is not just the only occasion we would want to be showing our appreciation because you continuously earn our affection and our adulation’’, Otunba Balogun emphasised.

While congratulating the entire indigenes of Ijebuland, the FCMB Founder also prayed that the monarch’s reign would continue to bring joy and prosperity in abundance to the entire Ijebu race, at home and in the diaspora.

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) is a member of FCMB Group Plc, which is one of the leading financial services institutions in Nigeria with subsidiaries that are market leaders in their respective segments. Having successfully transformed to a retail and commercial banking-led group, FCMB expects to continue to distinguish itself by delivering exceptional services, while enhancing the growth and achievement of the personal and business aspirations of its customers.

Buhari did not lie about the meeting he had with my father - Ojukwu's Son speaks

Late Chukwuemeka Ojukwu’s first son, Emeka Ojukwu Jr. in a statement issued on Wednesday said that his late father actually held the said meeting with President Buhari before his death, adding that all that Buhari said in his nationwide broadcast were true.

The statement partly reads, “It has been brought to my attention that there is an article making the rounds on social media attributed to me refuting the remarks of Mr. President concerning his relationship and discussions with my late father. Let me lend my voice to those of the rest of my fellow countrymen and welcome Mr. President back home".

“Let me state the following categorically; firstly, that I am aware that His Excellency’s comments were indeed factual. I have noticed a disturbing trend recently of fake news being attributed to me on social media. I don’t know who is behind it or what their motivation might be, but let me assure you that any time I feel the need to comment publicly on any matter, I will not do so via some anonymous email or anything of the like, rather be rest assured that there will be no ambiguity whatsoever as to whether the comments came from me".

Police officer shoots his superior dead following an argument over N150k bribe in Ondo, commits suicide afterwards

An inspector in the Ondo state police command, Wednesday shot dead his superior and afterwards committed suicide, following an argument over a N150,000 bribe. According to Premium Times, the incident happened at the Kajola police station in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Abraham Arowogun, an Inspector in the state command, had a heated argument with his superior, the Division Crime Officer DCO, Timothy Arueli, after the latter found out that he had collected N150, 000 as a bribe while conducting an investigation into a case that was brought to the station. Arueli had instructed Arowogun to refund the money. This infuriated Arowogun who started an argument with the DCO. In the process, he picked up his gun and fired at Arueli who died instantly. Discovering he had committed a crime, Arowogun ran out and jumped into a deep well, killing himself. A police source said 

“There was an issue that happened between the two officers. Arowogun was investigating a case and the DCO, Arueli discovered that a sum of N150,000 was involved in the case Arowogun was investigating, that Arowogun had actually converted the money to his private purse. The DCO called him and questioned him over the money and an argument ensued between the two officers. The inspector left the DCO office angrily only to come back with a gun and shot Arueli dead.”

The police source added that other police officers at the station ran for their lives immediately the incident happened, but the inspector headed straight to a deep well within the station and jumped into it, killing himself in the process.

“He came back to his senses after killing his superior officer. Realising that what he did was unprofessional and unpardonable in the police force, he just left the scene jumped into a well at the back of the station.”

The remains of the deceased officers have been evacuated and deposited at the morgue in the Ondo State General Hospital, Ore.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Femi Joseph said.

“It is an unfortunate incident but we have begun investigation on it. The command is sad over the incident and our hearts are very heavy. We are doing everything possible to further dig into the matter and also to talk to our officers and men on the need to avert similar occurrence.”

Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos to step down after 38 years in power

After 38 years in power in which he led Angola through civil war and an oil-fuelled boom, President José Eduardo dos Santos will step down at the general elections this week.

 74 year old Santos has been president of Angola since September 1979 making him Africa’s third-longest serving leader.

Getting a replacement marks a great occasion for a country where most people have known no other president. But critics however say with his children in prominent positions in Angola, and the incoming president's powers weakened, Dos Santos is unlikely to be out of the picture.

The outgoing president willl be leaving his daughter, Isabel, thought to be Africa’s richest woman, in charge of Sonangol, the state oil company that has dominated the economy for decades, and a son, Jose Filomeno, chairing the country’s $5bn sovereign wealth fund.

Just a month before the election, Angola's parliament passed a law that prohibits the new president from sacking the heads of the army, police and intelligence services for eight years. Lawmakers also granted Dos Santos a seat on the Council of the Republic which gives him immunity from prosecution.

England coach made racist jibe about ebola and my family in Nigeria - England women's football star, Eniola Aluko

England women’s football star, Eniola Aluko, who is the elder sister of Nigeria striker Sone Aluko, has accused England women’s head coach Mark Sampson of subjecting herself and her Nigerian family to a ‘racist’ jibe about the ebola virus.

The 30-year-old striker who plays for Chelsea Ladies told the BBC sports editor Dan Roan  that she was ‘intimidated and shocked’ by the comments from Mark Sampson about her family in Nigeria contracting the killer disease.

The shocking claims follows her allegations in May 2016 that she was bullied by Sampson and that he made a remark with ‘racial connotations’ to another mixed-race player. But Mr Sampson and the Football Association have since denied Miss Aluko’s accusations.

Ever since she made the allegations against Sampson, she has been dropped from the England sqaud. But questions arose last week about why she was given £80,000 settlement by the FA after making the claims.

In the interview with BBC Yesterday, Miss Aluko further alleged she had been subjected to a ‘racist comment’ by the England coach before a match against Germany in 2014.

‘I found myself next to Mark Sampson and he asked me which family members were coming,’ she told the BBC. ‘I said, “I’ve got family coming in from Nigeria.” And he said, “Make sure they don’t come over with ebola.” I laughed because I was in shock. I didn’t know what to say.

‘I’m used to industrial language, used to a bit of banter, a bit of a joke – but that was about my family. I believe it was said to me because I am of African descent and my family is coming over from Nigeria at the time.

‘I believe it was an unfavourable comment made to me that made me feel completely shocked and intimidated that was said to me because I’m of African descent.’

According to her, she did not include the allegation in her formal complaint because she could not prove it. However, she insists the FA was subsequently made aware of the claim. But her coach also denied saying this, the BBC reported.

The England veteran striker said she has been ‘victimised’ for speaking out against discrimination.

‘If anybody, God forbid, was going through something difficult in the team right now, would they speak out? Judging by what’s happened to me over the last few weeks, I don’t think they would.’

It was also reported that The FA and women's team head coach Mark Sampson have both denied the new claims of discriminatory behaviour against former striker Eniola Aluko,

Miss Aluko who was the first women’s player to appear as a pundit on Match of the Day, won 102 caps and scored 33 goals for her country, England. She was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but moved with her family to Birmingham in the West Midlands of England when she was a year old.

Anthony Joshua pays tribute to his mother in sweet Instagram post

British-Nigerian heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, who's currently on Holiday with his mother Yeta Odusanya and other family relatives took to Instagram to offer a touching tribute her.

Sharing a group photo, He added the caption: 'Let's make a toast... To the struggle, they went through to raise us to be men.'
 

Jealous schoolboy, 17, kills his 16-year-old love rival by stabbing him in the heart in front of the ex-girlfriend he wanted back

A British schoolboy has been convicted of manslaughter for stabbing his love rival pictured above in the heart in front of his ex-girlfriend they both loved.

The 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons was found guilty of killing Irfan Wahid, 16, by a jury at the Leeds Crown Court today.

Leeds Crown Court heard that Irfan, who was described by friends as 'humble and very fearless', was killed following a single wound to the chest in a broad daylight street fight over the affections of a schoolgirl they both had feelings for.

The jury at Leeds Crown Court heard that on the afternoon of the attack the defendant went to meet the girl at a bus stop in an attempt to discuss their relationship.

According to reports, shortly after Irfan Wahid got off a bus, intending to meet the same young woman. He discovered her talking to the 17-year-old.

Eyewitnesses described how Irfan lashed out, hitting the 17-year-old a number of times before he pulled out a knife and stabbed Irfan between the ribs. He died later in hospital. 

The jury of six men and six women found the defendant not guilty of murder after more than two days of deliberations. 

The 17-year-old inflicted the fatal stab wound at a bus stop on Harehills Lane on February 10 this year, and was found guilty of an alternative charge of manslaughter by a majority of 10-2.

He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon following Irfan's death in February of this year.

The jury also heard that the defendant, who was 16 at the time of the killing and was still mourning their break up which had happened in November 2016.

Addressing the defendant, Judge Marson, QC, said: 'The sentence will have to wait so that you can be seen by the youth offending team and they can prepare a report for the court.

'In the meantime, you will have to be remanded in custody.'

The teenage murderer will be sentenced on September 15.

Al-Shabaab militants behead three Kenyans, burn houses in fresh attacks

Somali Islamist militant group, Al-Shabaab reportedly beheaded three people and burnt several houses in fresh overnight attacks in Kenya’s coastal region of Lamu.

The Kenyan Coast Regional Police Commander Larry Kieng confirmed the attack today saying security officers are pursuing the attackers saying 'we have launched investigation into the attack at Maleli village by suspected Al-Shabaab militants, who also torched several houses'.

Just last month, suspected al-shabaab fighters beheaded nine men in an overnight assault on a village in the Kenyan coastal district of Lamu, days after the armed group killed three police officers in an attack on a nearby village. Kenya’s Interior Ministry announced that curfew was imposed in three districts following the attack. The ministry said in a tweet that the 12-hour curfew, from 6:30pm affects parts of Lamu, Garissa and Tana River and is to be in place for the next three months.  

Two months after he was arrested, Dammy Krane's grand theft auto and forgery case has been dismissed

Nigerian singer, Dammy Krane is a happy and free man once again and he has been vindicated of the crimes he was arrested for back in June 2017.

According to the Miami-Dade County Criminal Justice Online System, he appeared for trial at 9:15am today at the Justice Building, Room 4-3 with Courtney Erik as his defense attorney and Migiel De La O as the judge and after the hearing, he was dischared and the case was officially closed.

Dammy Krane was arrested and booked on June 2, 2017 for theft, credit card and identity fraud in Miami. He was released a few days after he pleaded not guilty to the charges and met his bail condition that was set at $7,500.

Girls' education activist Malala Yousafzai gets into Oxford University

Girls' education activist and Nobel prize winner, Malala Yousafzai who narrowly avoided death after being shot by the Taliban for defending the right of girls to attend school, has gained a place to study at the University of Oxford.

Malala, 20, revealed that she has been accepted to study philosophy, politics and economics (PPE)  at the prestigious institution after receiving her A-level results.

She tweeted a screenshot of the confirmation and wrote; "So excited to go to Oxford!! Well done to all A-level students - the hardest year. Best wishes for life ahead!"

Lagos police arrest Baale, three others for killing, hiding body of policeman for nine months

The Lagos state police command has arrested the Baale of Oshoroko Village in Ibeju-Lekki area of the state, Olusegun Oyeri, and three others identified as Aroki Badiru, Nasiru Isiaka and Akeem Balogun. for allegedly masterminding the death of a police inspector, Musa Sunday, and hiding his body for nine months.

According to reports, the deceased had gone to the area to answer to a distress call on November 29th last year. He never returned to the police station, prompting his colleagues to go in search of him. After many months of fruitless search and investigation, a member of the community confessed to the police that the inspector was killed and that they were made to swear an oath of secrecy by the Baale never to reveal what happened to him.

The community resident then took the police to the Ibeju-Lekki water-front where the deceased was buried. Police officers dug the grave and exhumed the remains of the deceased and his AK47 rifle. The community leader was arrested and when interrogated, denied any wrong doing. He claimed the crime was perpetrated by one of the chiefs. 
 

The Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, who confirmed the arrests, said

“Inspector Musa Sunday disappeared from a crime scene in Ibeju-Lekki when he was, alongside other officers, deployed to that axis from Ibeju-Lekki Free Trade Zone. In the course of patrol, they were alerted by the community of a communal fight between two families over land issues. Dutifully, they joined the informant but on getting there, one of the community callously turned against the patrol team and at the end of the fight, the team returned without Sunday. The next day, I went there and met the traditional rulers and elders of the community to appeal to them to release the inspector if they have him in their custody. They denied seeing him. We put together a team of policemen with technical support from the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) led by DSP Philips and they sustained investigations. Based on intelligence, nine months later, his decomposed body was found buried along the waterway with his service AK47. We swung into action and arrested the Baale of the community and three others. The law does not respect anyone and we use this to send a message to criminals pretending to be custodians of our culture. During investigation, we gathered that the Baale led the community in swearing an oath of secrecy to cover the crime and also refused to produce his two sons that were responsible for the killing.”

The Baale and the others would be arraigned in court soon. 

Memphis Depay shows off his giant tattoo as he enjoys boat cruise with his fiancee Lori Harvey

Dutch footballer and former Manchester United star, Memphis Depay flaunted his giant tattoo when he stepped out with his fiancee Lori Harvey, who happens to be the youngest stepdaughter of talk show host, Steve Harvey.

The duo got engaged in California back in June made a romantic trip to the luxurious Italian Riviera and cruise down on a speedboat to Portofino.

See more photos after the cut..

'Chelsea have treated me like a criminal, if he wants to fine me, let him go ahead!'- Exiled striker, Diego Costa blasts Conte

Estranged Chelsea striker Diego Costa has accused the London club of treating him like a criminal after his falling out with manager Antonio Conte leading to him being frozen out of the club. Costa scored 20 Premier League goals as Chelsea won the EPL title last season but was told via a text message by Conte that he would no longer be needed at the club this season.

Conte ordered Costa to train with the reserves after he rejected a mega money move to China, rather opting for a transfer to his forner club Atletico Madrid- who can't sign him until January due to their transfer ban by FIFA.

And now Costa, who has been holidaying in his native Brazil, has revealed that he doesn't mind receivin fines from the club for refusing to train with the reserves, accusing Conte of treating him badly.

"I wouldn't be allowed access to the first-team dressing room and I would have no contact at all with the guys," he explained to SportsMail. "I'm not a criminal! I don’t think it is fair after all I have done to be treated like that.

"They gave me a week extra off [at the start of pre-season training] but since then it's fines all the way.

"They want me training with the reserves. I am not going to do that. I am not a criminal and I am not in the wrong here. So, if they need to fine me, let them fine me."

"I am open to being a year in Brazil without playing, even if Chelsea fine me for a year and don't pay me," he said.

"I'll come back stronger. If I was in the wrong, I'd go back now and do as they say.

"My desire is to go to Atletico. I’ve spoken to Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia. I said, 'If the manager doesn't want me, I want to go to Atletico Madrid'.

"I have rejected other offers. They want to sell me to China or other teams. If I'm off, I'm going to the club I want to go to - not the club that's paying the most."

"His ideas are very fixed and clear," Costa said of Conte. "I have seen the sort of person he is. He has his own opinion and that will not change.

"I respect him as a great coach. He has done a good job and I can see that, but as a person, no. He is not a coach who is very close with his players. He is very distant. He doesn't possess charisma."

As for the infamous text message sent y Conte to Costa informing him of his plans, Costa says he won't delete the message.

"There are ways of going about it. You don't do it by text message. You should be honest and direct to someone's face," he added.

‘Deadpool 2’ Stuntwoman dies on Set attempting Motorcycle Stunt

The Deadpool 2 set has been hit by tragedy after a stuntwoman died while performing a stunt.
According to CTV News Vancouver, the stunt driver whose name has been withheld was said to have been performing a motorcycle stunt sequence when the fatal accident occurred. The woman lost control of the motorcycle and wasn’t moving after crashing through the glass window.

The victim is believed to be the stunt double for Deadpool 2 actress Zazie Beetz, who plays Domino in the 2018 sequel.
The Deadpool sequel is currently being shot in Vancouver, Canada, and the news of the stunt woman’s death was confirmed by the city’s police via their website.
The Vancouver Police have issued the following statement, regarding the tragic event:

Vancouver Police can confirm that a female stunt driver has died on the set of Deadpool during a stunt on a motorcycle. VPD officers are at the scene, along with officers from WorkSafeBC. More information will be released when it is available.

Children pictured preparing food as school doesn't have a cook

Primary Four pupils of Namulaba Church of Uganda Primary School are seen cooking porridge.

According to New Vision, the pupils cook in interval as the school doesn't have a cook.

'Kim Jong-Un will not get away with what he's doing, he'll regret it fast' - Donald Trump

U.S President Donald Trump has issued a 'new red line' concerning the ongoing war rhetoric between the White House and Pyongyang, saying North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-Un will not get away with his threats towards the United States and that if he makes one more threat towards the United States, Guam or allies of the United States, he'll regret it fast.

The warning came a few hours after an early morning tweet from the U.S president saying US military options were “locked and loaded” for use if Pyongyang “acted unwisely”- further creating more tensions among citizens within the Korean peninsula.

 North Korean warned it will launch four missiles at the waters around US Pacific territory of Guam if Trump continues to threaten the safety of the North Korean government to which Trump responded by saying the U.S will respond with 'fear and fury'.

Trump stood by his words when asked about them at his golf resort in New Jersey on Friday evening.

“I hope they are going to fully understand the gravity of what I said, and what I said is what I mean,” Trump said. “Those words are very, very easy to understand.”

“If somebody else uttered the exact same words that I uttered, they’d say: ‘What a great statement, what a wonderful statement,’” Trump said. “But I will tell you, we have tens of millions of people in this country that are so happy with what I am saying, because they say, ‘Finally, we have a president that’s sticking up for our nation and frankly, sticking up for our friends and our allies.’”

He then issued an ultimatum to Kim Jong-un himself. “This man will not get away with what he’s doing,” he said. “If he utters one threat in form of overt threat – which, by the way, he’s been uttering for years – or if he does anything in respect to Guam or anyplace else that’s an American territory or an American ally, he will truly regret it.”

“We want to talk about a country that has misbehaved for many many years – decades, actually – through numerous administrations, and they didn’t want to take on the issue and I had no choice but to take it on, and I’m taking it on. And we’ll either be very, very successful quickly or we’re going to be very, very successful in a different way, quickly.”

Raven Symone says body shaming she suffered as a kid led to so many mental issues

Raven Symone was body shamed as a Disney Channel kid in the early 2000s and it affected her so much so that she believes her mental issues are a result of that.

The actress has spoken several times about being body shamed and she recently opened up to People magazine about her mental health in relation to her body image. She disclosed that she wishes she grew up in today’s more body positive era.

"I wish I was living now as a younger person. I probably wouldn’t have so many mental issues," she said.

The former That’s So Raven actress says that people would fat shame her to her face.

"(They said) I was too big to be doing an hour and a half concert. 'I don’t know how she can dance being that big.' And I was like, 'I still did it!'"

She recalls. "I was on tour forever because it’s not about your size, it’s about what you have to say, if you can sing or dance, and performing. It’s not about your size."

In 2015, Raven granted an interview where she revealed she was told not to eat food on the set of The Cosby Show at age 7 because of her weight.

Raven says people are more accepting today than they were when she was younger.

She tells People: "I love embracing your body. In this day and age you have all kinds, and it’s funny, it’s serious, it’s every color, it’s every head shape, it’s every hair. And there’s androgyny, and there’s LGBT coming in, and it feels good. We didn’t have it enough last time and I guess that’s what the past is for — to make sure the present is what it needs to be."

She adds that it’s important to have individuality.

"The world is too big to have one sort of view to show beauty, because then you are literally destroying society. You are literally destroying it. And then you want to talk about how we are judgmental to each other and this and this. But it’s being created in the industry that we’re in. So why not break the mold?" She said.