FIFA suspends Sierra Leone FA from football activities over government interference

World's Football governing body, FIFA have suspended Sierra Leone from international football because of government interference in the running of the country's football association.

The suspension comes after FIFA sent a letter to the country's Minister of Sports expressing "grave concern" about the removal of the football association president, Isha Johansen and the association's General Secretary, Christopher Kamara.

The country's anti-corruption commission (ACC) had barred President Isha Johansen and the association's General Secretary, Christopher Kamara from the governing body's offices due to their cases of corruption-related charges.

Last year, Johansen was charged with abuse of office and misuse of public funds by Sierra Leone's Anti-Corruption Commission -- charges which she denies and says are they politically motivated. 

In a statement, FIFA said: "The Bureau of the FIFA Council decided today to suspend the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) with immediate effect due to government interference."

"The suspension will be lifted once the SLFA and its recognised leadership have confirmed to Fifa that the SLFA administration, premises, accounts and communication channels are under their control once again," Fifa said.

If the ban is not lifted before 11 October, Sierra Leone's 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Ghana will be cancelled. 

Following the ban, SLFA has lost all membership rights, FIFA said. This means the SLFA's national and club teams are no longer entitled to take part in international competitions until the suspension is lifted.

Gareth Southgate signs £12m four-years deal to remain as England manager until 2022 World Cup in Qatar

Gareth Southgate, who helped England to the 2018 World Cup semi-final in July, has been rewarded with a new four-year deal estimated to be worth around £3million-a-year contract that will see him remain as England manager until the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

In a statement issued by the FA, Southgate, who is due to unveil his latest England squad this afternoon, said:

'I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead the national team through the next two major tournaments. The job remains an incredible privilege and a true honour.

'Experiencing at first first hand how the national united behind the team this summer was something special and it will e great to see how far this young squad can go in the years to come.

I must acknowledge the hard work and commitment of my staff and the players over the last two years. I have learned a great deal from them and their passion and professionalism in representing England has been an inspiration to my own work.

'In particular, Steve Holland who I'm pleased to be continuing to work alongside through to 2022. I would also like to thank Martin, Dan Ashworth and the FA board for their support since my original appointment.'

His assistant, Steve Holland also signed a new contract until 2022.

Also speaking on the deal, FA chief executive Martin Glenn said: 'Gareth has performed remarkably well and has given everyone the belief that England can compete on a world stage again.

'He is also a tremendous ambassador for the organisation, our development teams and the wider work of the FA, although his focus is rightly solely on helping the elite team.

'We wish him all the best for the rest of the UEFA Nations League and Euro 2020 qualifying next year which of course brings with it the exciting prospect of final round matches at Wembley.' 

Napoli striker Arkadiusz Milik robbed at gunpoint and had £18,000 Rolex stolen on way home after Liverpool game

Polish footballer and Napoli striker, Arkadiusz Milik was robbed at gunpoint as he drove home from Wednesday's Champions League 1-0 group win against Liverpool.

The football star was driving through the Varcaturo district at around 2am when two men on a motorbike blocked the road. When he stopped, he had a gun pointed at his face and was told to hand over his valuables, the Naples-based newspaper Il Mattino reported.

One of the men pointed a gun at Milik and made him hand over a Rolex Daytona watch, which is worth around £18,000. The robbers then fled the scene on the motorbike, with Milik unharmed in the incident.

Milik, who earns around £45,000 a week according to a report in Gazzetta dello Sport, contacted police, who have begun investigating the incident.

'Chimamanda is an extremist, she's misleading girls' - presidential aspirant says

Presidential aspirant under the National Interest Party (NIP), Eunice Atuejide, is of the opinion that Nigerian novelist, Chimamanda Adichie is an extremist.

According to the Businesswoman, Chimamanda is misleading a lot of girls.

 

Eunice said this in an interview with leader of the Free nation, Daddy Freeze, on Cool FM, when she was asked what she thinks about Chimamanda, she said;
 

"I think she is an extremist, sometimes I do think she's misleading a lot of our girls.There are sometimes, very few times when I agree with her, but most of the times I'm like 'Oh my God', I hope our women do not necessarily take home too much of the things she say, because some of them could turn around and bite them in the bum"

3 senior lawyers withdraw from Maryam Sanda’s trial

The trial of Maryam Sanda, accused of killing her husband Bilyaminu Bello, has suffered another setback as three senior lawyers who were her defense counsel, have withdrawn from the case. Maryam was arrested in November last year after she allegedly stabbed her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, son of former PDP chairman Haliru Bello, to death at their Abuja home.

She was arraigned in court alongside her mother, Maimuna Aliyu, her brother, Aliyu Sanda and one Sadiya,for the murder of Bilyaminu. The three other co-defendants, were accused of assisting her to conceal the evidence by cleaning the blood of the deceased from the scene of the crime.

Daily Trust reports that Joseph B. Daudu (SAN); Rotimi Ogunesan (SAN); A. T. Kehinde (SAN) had been representing Maryam, Aliyu and Maimuna in the trial while Olusegun O. Jolaawo from the chambers of Messrs Ricky Tarfa & co represents Sadiya.

In a notice of withdrawal of counsel filed before the court said to be in “pursuant to Section 492(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015”, Maryam’s counsel asked the court to “Take notice that Mr. J.B. Daudu SAN hereby withdraws appearance as counsel to Maryam Sanda charged as 1st defendant in this case.” The notice was dated September 18 and signed by Daudu.

In a similar notice, signed by counsel to the second defendant, Rotimi Ogunesan (SAN) dated September 20, the court was informed of the counsel’s withdrawal from the trial.

Although no reasons were stated in the notices for the withdrawal, there are speculations however on issues surrounding legal fees not being paid promptly.

Our reporter further gathered from court papers that the trial scheduled to resume on Thursday may not proceed as planned as the remaining legal team for the defendants (from the Chambers of Ricky Tarfa & co) has written to the Registrar of the trial court to apply for “a vacation of the scheduled date of 4th October, 2018 and for an adjournment.”

The letter, signed by the chambers’ deputy head, Olusegun O. Jolaawo, reads

“The matter stands adjourned to the 4th of October, 2018 for continuation of hearing. However, the 1st defendant, Maryam Sanda was delivered of a baby boy on the 7th of August, 2018 at the Nizamiye Hospital Ltd. Abuja and is still recuperating. She is not yet strong enough to withstand the rigors of trial. We are in receipt of notices of withdrawal of representation recently filed by the counsels to the 1st and 2nddefendants herein and pursuant to which there has been indication from the said defendants that we are to take over the representation of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants in addition to that of the 4th defendant”, the letter added.

Based on these developments, the court was asked to consider November 7, 8, 13 or 14 as new dates for the continuation of trial.

Ebola health workers attacked in Congo by angry residents who believe the virus is not real

Health workers tackling the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been severely injured after being attacked by angry residents who believe the virus is not real.  

Four local health workers from the Red Cross were attacked in the city of Butembo as they were transporting dead bodies for burial. Residents started throwing rocks at their car and two of the health workers were severely injured.

More than 100 people have died since the start of the outbreak in the east of the country two months ago. The bodies of people who die from Ebola are believed to be extremely contagious and so burying them in a safe way is one of the most important steps to limit the spread of the virus.

This is often difficult for families and communities to accept, especially when they are used to traditional burial rites where touching dead bodies is common. Butembo is the second biggest cluster of new suspected Ebola cases after Beni, another large city in the region.  New cases have also been reported in Tchoima, a busy fishing market town very close to the Ugandan border.

Google changes its doodle to honor Nigeria's Independence Day

Google Search honors Nigeria as she celebrates her 58th birthday today by changing its doodle.

 

Nigeria's Independence Day is an official national holiday in Nigeria, celebrated on the first of October. It marks Nigeria's proclamation of independence from British rule on the 1st October 1960.