Osun varsity students protest police shooting

Protesting UNIOSUN students on Saturday after the police shot two students playing football.

Students of the Osun State University, Osogbo, on Saturday protested the shooting of two of their colleagues by some policemen.

The protesting students lit bonfires on major streets and impeded human and vehicular traffic within Osogbo metropolis.

The shot students, Kazeem Adesola and Ibrahim Ajao, were playing football on a pitch at Oke-Baale area of the metropolis when the incident occurred.

The policemen, who came in plain clothes, had accused some students on the pitch of being involved in internet fraud.

An eyewitness, who craved anonymity, accused the police of persistently extorting money from students.

The eyewitness, a student of the institution, said the resistance by those on the pitch led to Saturday’s shooting incident.

“We were playing football when the policemen came. They always come like that to arrest students.

“They would say that we are involved in Yahoo-Yahoo(internet fraud) and they would seize our laptops and phones.

“They would collect money on the pretext of granting us bail. But we resisted them on this occasion and within a twinkle of an eye, the policemen started shooting.

“When the policemen started shooting, we ran away but the bullets hit two students who were immediately rushed to the hospital.

“The bullet hit one in the stomach and the second one in his mouth,’’ he said.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Fimihan Adeoye, while visiting the victims at the Ladoke Akintola Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, confirmed the development.

He said that the policemen involved had been arrested and detained, assuring the victims that they would face the full wrath of the law.

The commissioner also said he had ordered full-scale investigation into the matter.

He, however, advised the students of the institution not to take the law into their hands, saying the essence of the investigation was to establish that such an act was committed and to determine those involved.

“The two students injured in the incident are being attended to now at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, and that’s why I am here to ensure that the victims are well treated,’’ he said.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Labode Popoola, who was also at the hospital, said the students were exposed to danger because the institution is non-residential.

He said efforts were being made to build hostels and ensure that students live on the campus where they could be properly monitored and supervised

Just in:Yahya Jammeh leaves Gambia for exile in Conakry.

Alhaji Yahya Jammeh, former president of Gambia has left Banjul, the capital to begin an indefinite term in exile. He left just after 10.00pm for Conakry, along with President Alpha Conde.

To rub his large ego, he was given a full ceremonial honour by the military brass band and a red carpet treatment.

Hordes of journalists and a battery of photographers had camped all day at the Banjul International Airport waiting for his departure, after an agreement was reached Friday night with President Alpha Conde of Guinea and President Abdul Aziz of Mauritania, for him to vacate power voluntarily.

Signs of Jammeh’s exit came at about 9pm Nigerian time, when one of the journalists keeping vigil, tweeted:

“The #Gambia military brass band is here @ the airport. The red carpet has been rolled out. Yahya Jammeh should be on his way.”

The former soldier turned civilian leader held sway in the country for 22 years and had vowed to rule the country for a hyperbolic ‘billion years’ until he was thrashed in the presidential election by a political green horn, Adama Barrow.

It is not clear where Jammeh will end up eventually. He flew out with President Alpha Conde in an aircraft owned by Mauritania.

After landing in Conakry, Jammeh may finally be heading to Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, ruled by another African pseudo democrat,Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo who has been in power since 1979.


Pm News,

Buhari not dead – Presidency

The Presidency last night refuted speculations that President Muhammadu Buhari was in a terrible health condition that could lead to his death, saying the president was well and alive.

Buhari The presidency spoke through the two media aides of the president on media and publicity namely Mr. Femi Adesina who’s the Special Adviser and Mallam Garba Shehu who’s the Senior Special Assistant. In his reaction to the speculations on his Twitter handle, Adesina thanked all those who wished the president well while asking for the Grace of God for repentance on all those who carried the rumors.

He said: “Best wishes to all who wish PMB well. As for those who carry evil rumours, may they receive grace to repent.”

Also reacting to speculations concerning the health of the president, Shehu, in a message he posted on twitter @GarShehu said: “The president cannot be holidaying in the United Kingdom and be in Germany, dead or alive at the same time.

” He added that Buhari “was unlike a past president who was ‎at Ota with Chief Obasanjo and attending the Trump inauguration in Washington DC, being in two places at the same time.”

It will be recalled that president Buhari left Nigeria on Thursday for United Kingdom on a medical vacation. The nature of his sickness was not disclosed but the presidency called it a routine medical checkup.

Adama Barrow pledges truth commission over Yahya Jammeh

Gambia's president Adama Barrow has said he favours launching a "truth and reconciliation commission" to investigate possible crimes committed by the outgoing leader of 22 years.

Speaking to the Associated Press on Saturday, Adama Barrow urged caution after an online petition called for Yahya Jammeh to be arrested, and not be granted asylum.

"We aren't talking about prosecution here, we are talking about getting a truth and reconciliation commission," Barrow told the AP.  "Before you can act, you have to get the truth, to get the facts together."

Jammeh, who first seized power in a 1994 coup, has been holed up this week in his official residence in Banjul, increasingly isolated as he was abandoned by his security forces and several cabinet members.

Since losing the election to Barrow in January, Jammeh had for weeks refused to hand over power.

Barrow has been in Senegal for his safety during a political standoff that came to the brink of a regional military intervention.

Under heavy security, Barrow took the presidential oath of office Thursday at Gambia's embassy in Dakar, with the backing of the international community.

Jammeh finally prepared to leave the country after declaring on Friday he would do so.

"I have decided in good conscience to relinquish the mantle of leadership of this great nation," Jammeh said.

Human rights activists demanded that Jammeh be held accountable for alleged abuses, including torture and detention of opponents.

It was those concerns about prosecution that led Jammeh to challenge the December election results.

Humanitarian crisis

At least 46,000 people have fled Gambia for Senegal since the start of the crisis fearing unrest, the UN's refugee agency UNHCR said, citing Senegalese government figures.

The West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, pledged to remove Jammeh by force if he did not step down. The group assembled a multinational military force including tanks that rolled into Gambia on Thursday.

The force moved in after Barrow's inauguration and a unanimous vote by the UN Security Council supporting the regional efforts.

Barrow said he will return to his homeland after the outgoing president leaves.
Writing on Twitter on Saturday from Senegal, Barrow said: "As Yahya Jammeh officially stepped down from office - I will be returning to my homeland, the Republic of The Gambia. #NewGambia."

Jammeh is expected to leave soon for Guinea, reports said.

Barrow said he will enter Gambia once a security sweep has been completed.

"It is not yet confirmed information, but reliable sources say he'll be leaving today," Barrow told AP. "We believe he'll go to Guinea, but we are yet to confirm 100 percent, but that's what we believe."

Guinea prepares

In the Guinean capital, Conakry, the security minister was at the airport with jeeps full of well-armed military personnel, witnesses said.

However, a special plane also landed from Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, with only a crew and no passengers, suggesting that could be Jammeh's final destination. Equatorial Guinea, unlike Guinea, is not a state party to the International Criminal Court.

The new Gambian president said he had not yet been given the communique that should spell out the terms of Jammeh's departure.

"What is fundamental here is he will live in a foreign country as of now," he said.

Gambia: Yahya Jammeh says he’ll step aside

Women come together to protest Trump's agenda. PHOTOS.

Women of all generations streamed on to the National Mall Saturday morning, gathering for the Women's March on Washington to push back on the Republican agenda and offer a sharp rebuke of President Donald Trump's history of derogatory comments about women.

Beautiful daughters of Gov Ortom and their lovely mum at a wedding.

Stunning damsels of the Ortom Adyorogo home Grace and Blessing, were spotted at a wedding with their mum Mrs Hannah Ortom and brother David in Makurdi today.See more pictures here. 

" I can therefore, NO LONGER SIT BACK and allow the fabricated accusations against my person".-Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Minister of Petroleum under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs Deziani Alison-Madueke, has allegedly spoken out after a long silence concerning the accusations against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Deziani Alison-Madueke allegedly denied all the allegations against her by the EFCC

SDK said it exclusively got the former minister’s reaction in which she allegedly said the EFCC lied by saying she had forfeited some money she reportedly stole as a government official.

Her response has not been officially confirmed by NAIJ.com.

Here are the take-aways on the seven issues she spoke about:

1. THE $153.3MILLION ALLEGATION

I am deeply disturbed and bewildered by recent media reports (Premium Times Thursday 12 January, 2017 and other dailies about the same time) claiming that by virtue of an order of the Federal High Court, I have forfeited to the Federal Government, the sum of $153.3m which I purportedly stole from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

First and foremost, whilst the reasons for my being out of the country are public knowledge, the principle of fair hearing demands that I should have been notified of formal charges if truly there was a prima facie evidence or indictment against my person linking me with the said issue, so as to ensure that I had adequate legal representation. This was never done.

I wish to state that I cannot forfeit what was never mine. I do not know the basis on which the EFCC have chosen to say that I am the owner of these funds as no evidence was provided to me before the order was obtained and they have not in fact served me with the order or, any evidence since they obtained it.

In the face of the obvious falsification of facts and misinformation, it is only right and proper that the EFCC should publish the details of the $153.3M lodgements, the bank account numbers and the account beneficiaries, showing proof of my link to them. Having also alleged that the said $153.3M was ‘wired’ from NNPC, the EFCC should also publish details of the NNPC accounts from where the said $153.3 million was taken from, with proof that I authorized such a transaction/transactions acting either in my private capacity or, as The Honourable Minister of Petroleum.

Let me state for the record that as Minister of Petroleum, the operation and management of NNPC finances were outside my purview as outlined in both the Petroleum Act and the NNPC Act.

2. MALABU

With regards to the various news reports published in both the online and print media, insidiously inferring that I was indicted by Italian prosecutors for, as they put it, ‘ sharing in the Loot’ of the $1.3bn OPL 245 oil block deal that involved Malabu and the Joint Venture Multinational partners, ENI(AGIP) and Royal Dutch Shell. Let me once again State for the record, that this is another figment of the author’s imagination, which given the persistent bid to ensure my destruction and stick all of the Sins of the Corruption plagued Oil and Gas Sector of over the last 30years upon my head, probably emanated from the EFCC itself!

In 2010, shortly after I was appointed as Minister of Petroleum Resources, the issue of OPL 245 was brought to my attention. I looked into the case and immediately became aware of the inherent and long standing sensitivities around this issue. It became clear from the onset that this case was not within the direct purview of the Minister of Petroleum Resources but in the main was centered around issues of Law. By this time there was already an ICSID(International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes) investigation and claims against the FGN running into billions of dollars. Therefore, we took directives from the Chief Legal Officer of the Nation; the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. In all of these matters due process was followed to the letter at all times.

3. THE ALJAZEERA REPORT - $18MILLION MANSION

On the 13th of June 2016, the EFCC once again took their well-trodden path to the media, this time claiming that they had ‘discovered’ a mansion in Asokoro, Abuja, worth $18million (approx. N9billion) which they purported to belong to me. The EFCC went to the extent of bringing in Aljazeera, an International TV Station, to air a damaging documentary against me in this regard, showing a particular residential building in Asokoro, Abuja, which they told Aljazeera belonged to me.

The EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu, personally took the Aljazeera reporter to the building, alleging that it belonged to me. It has since become apparent that the house belongs to a company owned by Mr Kola Aluko.

Since the EFCC claims that the alleged $18million Asokoro property belongs to me, then they should kindly produce the ‘Authentic’ Certificate of Occupancy and Land Registry information and any other relevant information, as proof of my ownership of the property.

4. FAMILY HOME - YENEGOA, BAYELSA STATE

On the 9th November 2016, the EFCC visited our Family home in Yenegoa (Bayelsa State) as pre-agreed and they were escorted around the premises. I was therefore completely shocked to once again see my name sensationally splashed across the Front Pages of Newspapers and widely circulated on the internet, with blaring Headlines such as “EFCC UNCOVERS DIEZANI’S MULTI-BILLION NAIRA ESTATE” - Nation Newspaper, January 8, 2017 (Annex- 4A). There was absolutely nothing ‘Hidden’ or ‘Concealed’ about the home. I HAD DECLARED IT OPENLY as required by Law, in my Asset declaration forms (Annex-4B). Yet the EFCC have announced that they ‘Just Discovered’ my ‘Hidden Estate’! And labelled it a ‘Multi-Billion Naira Estate’! Even though they had been given the Bill of Quantities, showing actual amount spent.

It is accepted tradition across the length and breadth of Nigeria, for people to own country/hillage homes. Given the size of the land and the location of the compound, the buildings thereon cannot by any stretch of the imagination be a “Multi-Billion Naira” palatial estate, as the news mongers would want to portray.
The EFCC were taken on a tour of the compound which consisted of a main house and two outhouses - An Obi (meeting bungalow) and a staff quarters(BQ) building - above which we built 3 guest rooms and a parlour. The only other 2 structures are the gate and generator houses. Construction began in late 2011 and was handled in phases. During the visit the EFCC was given the bill of quantities, which up until the time construction stopped in early 2015, due to my illness, was at approximately N394 million which was declared in the code of conduct documentation.

5. $700 Million Cash Found In My House

Stories were circulated by unscrupulous agents of calumny that the EFCC found a mind boggling $700million in cash in my home in Abuja. Would the videos of this $700 million cash discovery not have made good viewing? Or should those who recovered this money not tell the public where exactly the money has been kept? Perhaps the Central bank should corroborate that it is in custody of these monies allegedly found in my house? But then, it is now patently apparent that Nigerians are no longer easily led to believe fables and sensational untruths.

6. REALITY VERSUS FICTION

I would like to state for the record that I performed my duty as Minister of Petroleum Resources with the utmost sincerity and sense of responsibility, ensuring that all Nigerians irrespective of creed, gender or tribe enjoyed their rightful benefits from the Oil and Gas Sector.

$5.6 Billion LNG Dividend Fund

It is pertinent to note that at the end of my tenure, I left behind in the LNG dividend fund, for the incoming Administration, the sum of $5.6billion(five billion six hundred million US Dollars)(Annex-6A). I did this to ensure continuity in the crucial gas sector development which underpins the entire Power and Energy Sector and which was and still is, absolutely imperative for the Country’s current and future economic development.

Fuel Scarcity

It is on record, that I immediately took the issue of incessant fuel queues head-on and in my time as petroleum minister, Nigerians rarely experienced fuel shortages. These queues had long dominated our landscape, causing untold hardship to millions of ordinary Nigerians stuck in fuel queues for hours; like the bus driver who was unable to earn enough to go to the market, and the market woman who, therefore, earned less and so could not afford school fees. This example, though at the most basic level, caused a chain reaction which was replicated in various facets throughout the economy. So, on the macro economic level, the main benefit of ending the fuel queues was an immediate increase in GDP, reduction in inflation and easier facilitation and movement of people, goods and services, across the country.

The continuing effect of all these measures were that even in the most remote locations, Nigerians could buy and sell petroleum products.

THE MISSING $20 BILLION

In late 2013, NNPC was accused by the then CBN governor, of misappropriating first $49.8billion, then it changed to $12billion and finally it was said to be $20billion. And in the twinkling of an eye that accusation was turned around and directed at me, personally. I was accused of stealing/misappropriating the unfathomable amount of $20 billion.

In a CNN TV Interview in March 2015, the former CBN governor stated that “there was this gap of $20 billion after reconciliation between what NNPC exported and what it repatriated to the federation account and I raised a number of issues that I think have not yet been discussed and addressed sufficiently. One of them is billions of dollars being paid in kerosine subsidy without appropriation by the National Assembly and against a presidential order and we don’t know who authorised these payments yet. Nobody has owned up to say I authorised these payments, I made a mistake, it will stop…”. He, went on to say that…. “…It could be $20 billion at the end of the day, after reconciliation they could account for 10 or 12…”. So, as he pointed out, there was indeed a reconciliation that at first stage had begun to close the purported gap.

I made several attempts when we came into office in April 2010, to get to the real truth of the matter. Even before we came in the GMD who served under Rilwanu Lukman, Alhaji Barkindo, who is today the Secretary General of OPEC, had written to the then minister of Finance, Alhaji Muhktar, to enquire for clarity on the matter, to no avail(Annex-2B). Finally, I had to write to President Jonathan to get to the truth of the matter. President Jonathan pointed out that although he and President Yar’adua had wanted to cancel the entire issue of subsidies, the unions had objected and therefore the payment of subsidy had never been stopped. He directed that in the meantime we continue the payments but with the proviso that we prepare for complete deregulation as soon as possible(Annex-2C), which I of course moved to implement on Jan 1st, 2012.

Today, we all know that the PWC report that was published cleared me of any wrong doing and no one up till now has been able to controvert the PWC report, nor has anyone been able to show that the $20 billion is actually, or was ever, missing. In addition, the Makarfi-led committee in the Senate of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, in a series of publicly-held hearings, also vindicated me on the matter of the purportedly missing funds.

At end December 2011, I directed PPPRA to move for complete deregulation, to rid the Oil & Gas sector of the speculators, the bloated middlemen and the parasitic influence of Godfatherism. This was in an attempt to create a far less corruptible system as it was quite clear that the intended benefits of the Subsidy system were not reaching the masses but were being hijacked by unscrupulous middlemen cabals. And finally, to allow the true market factors of supply and demand to come into play….. And as you all know, the country pushed back against it. Even after that, in early January 2012, I sought the permission and received the approval, of President Jonathan to write to EFCC asking that they please come in and investigate the entire Subsidy program and the fraudulence embedded in it(Annex-2D). And yet, I was called the corrupt one.

It is pertinent to note here, that the incumbent government themselves maintained the full subsidy regime for over one year until they realised (as I had pointed out in 2011 and had championed continuously), that it was unsustainable.

7. MY POSITION

It is saddening that after eight years of serving my country, my experience as a public servant has been fraught with continuos malicious castigation and character assassination, all in the name of ‘personal vendettas’ or political horse trading. It has become apparent to many that these untruths told were at best well-crafted fables. The most dramatic and damning accusation was the infamous missing $49.8 Billion Dollars, that went from to $12 Billion and then up to $20 Billion and which was alleged missing from NNPC. Today, we all know that the PWC report that was published cleared me of any wrong doing and no one up till now has been able to controvert the PWC report nor has anyone found the “missing” 20 billion, or who took it. In addition, the Makarfi-led committee in the Senate of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, in a series of publicly-held hearings, also vindicated me on the matter of the purportedly missing funds. Yet, we are all silent as if these events never occurred! SEE ATTACHMENT-1 THAT EXPLAINS MY POSITION ON THE ‘MISSING’ $20 BILLION.

The allegations that I have addressed above are no different, the character assassination continues, this time with a new set of hirelings.

I remain very proud of the fact that all the policies, tenets and plans that I initiated in the Oil & Gas sector are still underpinning the entire structure. This is because they were put in place with the good of the entire nation and its people in mind. They were not factional, or tribal, neither were they based on religious bias.

I can therefore, NO LONGER SIT BACK and allow the fabricated accusations against my person designed by unscrupulous persons with a vengeful agenda go unchallenged.

Introducing "TWINKAS" the new ponzi scheme that has taken over from MMM

There is a new ponzi scheme in town just like MMM, iCharity to mention a few which has started trending with memberships in different categories and it is known as Twinkas.

This new money doubling scheme claims a promise of better returns on invested money than MMM and other ponzi schemes.

Unlike MMM which offered 30% returns on investment, Twinkas promises to pay 200% return to its investors.

According to the scheme, it was created “to promote the greatest good, with a particular emphasis on helping man and the environment.

The company was founded by a team of enthusiastic humanitarian specialists who wanted to overcome the routine and create a platform that would act in the market not only for business success but for the sake of humanitarian and financial empowerment services.

Like every other Ponzi scheme, Twinkas has rolled out some conditions, including warning that prospective investors must keep their mobile phones open most of the time and be online in order to succeed.


This is how it works:

When you join, you will need to donate the sum of either N5,000, N10,000, N20,000 or N50,000 to a fellow member assigned by the system or your direct link, and the member will then confirm your donation and then the system will automatically assign 2 other registered people under you from spillovers who will also pay you the joining amount each, into your bank account, making 200% (i.e. 200% of N5,000 is N10,000, 200% of N10,000 is N20,000 200% of N20,000 is N40,000 and 200% of N50,000 is N100,000).

TwinKAS will assign referrals to pay you. After you have received payment from 2 people under you, the system will automatically EXIT you and allows unlimited registration (Your account still remains with Twinkas)

All donations are made directly to member bank account.

It warned investors against pestering any of the numbers for trivial Issues.

According to the website, Twinkas’ Classic now has 198,985; Professional with 117,290; Twinkas Premium has 117,147 members; the Ultimate with 170,322 members; has zero members under the Veteran category.

Any amount invested in each of the categories would attract double the amount after one month maturity.

Under Classic, members are expected to invest N5,000 with N10,000 return Investment and subscribers on the Professional platform would invest N10,000 and with N20,000 Return.

Under the Premium level of N20,000 investment, investors would get N40,000;

Ultimate with contribution of N50,000 attracts N100,000 return.

The Veteran scheme is N100,000 investment with a return of N200,000 but no one has yet to invest on the platform.

Obasanjo Urges Nigerian Leaders To Emulate Him, Jonathan

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday called on Nigerian leaders to emulate him and Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Obasanjo stated this after a closed door meeting with former president Jonathan at his Ibogun Olaogun country home in Ifo Local government area of Ogun State.

Jonathan arrived at Obasanjo’s village in company of former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki and other close aides shortly before noon.

The private meeting lasted for about one hour and a half. The visit came amid reports of reconciliation moves between the two former presidents ahead of 2019 polls.

Obasanjo in a brief remark after the meeting, tasked leaders across the world to learn from the exemplary leadership style of himself and that of Jonathan.

The former President urged Nigerians, especially the leaders to continue working together for the success of the country, saying “Nigeria is a good country and we must never be tired of lifting the country up to the height that God has created it to be.

“God has created it to be and God did not make a mistake when he put all of us together and if He doesn’t want us to be together no power in the world would have made us come together”, he added.

He charged Jonathan to contribute his own quota to the development of the country and the African continent at large.

“I believe that not only Nigeria, West Africa and Africa and indeed the world will continue to tap into our experiences, our wisdom and I hope and pray that when the call is made to you will be more than

ready to put your experience, the lessons you have learnt into the service of this country, for African and indeed for humanity in general.

 

Crippled man walks after exposition of late Fr Tansi's remains Aguleri,Anambra state.

This crippled man rose to his feet after an  exposition of the remains of Blessed Iwene Tansi in Aguleri, Anambra state.

Facebook user Tobe Ozoemenam shared the photos and said:

It was a first class miracle yesterday as CRIPPLED MAN rose to his feets and started walking at the exposition of the the remains of Blessed Iwene Tansi at AMA TANSI (St Joseph Catholic Church Aguleri)!!!!
Blessed Iwene Tansi
Continue to intercede for us !








Source Laila's blog

Mario Balotelli racially abused at football match

Balotelli, born to Ghanian immigrants to Italy, has played for OGC Nice since August 2016 [Reuters]

Football fans at a match in Corsica made monkey noises as Italian striker Mario Balotelli played on the field, according to the footballer, who is black.

Balotelli on Saturday posted to Instagram the account of the racist taunting, as he decried the lack of direct action from official bodies.

Born to Ghanian immigrants to Italy, OGC Nice player Balotelli said: "Is it normal that Bastia [football team] supporters make monkey noise [and]  'uh' 'uh' for the whole game and no one of the  'commissions discipline' say nothing?"

Addressing Bastia fans, he said: "So is racism legal in France? Or only in Bastia? Football is an amazing sport. Those people like Bastia supporters make it horrible!"  

The post, which received more than 35,000 likes, ended with Balotelli describing in French the incident as a total disgrace.

OGC Nice retweeted Balotelli's account on its Twitter page in a post that was shared more than 7,500 times.

"Nice, which already had stones thrown at its bus before the game, is outraged by what happened to its players on Friday night, and in particular to Mario Balotelli," the club said in a statement.

Disciplinary committee to investigate

Later on Saturday, a French football association said it would investigate the incident.

Ligue 1 said in a statement that it "deplored all of the incidents" that took place during Friday's match, where both teams drew 1-1.

The association said that its disciplinary committee, mentioned in Balotelli's post, will start the investigation after it gathers information from both football clubs on the matter.

The disciplinary committee is scheduled to convene on Thursday.

The incident reportedly took place at the Armand Cesari stadium in Corsica.

Commentators from local broadcasters who were covering the match made no reference of the racial abuse.

Bastia has not yet responded to Balotelli's claim. 

The incident was not Balotelli's first experience battling against racist fans. The player was subject to racial abuse by Roma fans when he was contracted to play with AC Milan in 2013.

Ligue 1 had deducted two points from Bastia in the 2007-2008 season following a similar incident where fans reportedly racially abused Boubacar Kebe, a player from the West African country of Burkina Faso.

Balotelli, 26, joined OGC Nice from Liverpool in August, and has helped the club improve overall league results after scoring eight league goals in 10 matches.

OGC Nice is currently top of the Ligue 1 standings, with 46 points from a total of 21 games, while Corsica's Bastia are in 15th place, with 21 points in comparison.

Source: News agencies via Ajazeera.

"I'm returning to my country"- Adams Barrow.

President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, on Saturday said he was returning to his country following Yahya Jammeh’s announcement to step down as president.

“As Yahya Jammeh officially stepped down from office — I will be returning to my homeland, the Republic of The Gambia. #NewGambia,” Mr. Barrow tweeted.

Mr. Barrow also told the Associated Press in an interview on Saturday that he would enter Gambia once a security sweep had been completed.

The new president also said that Jammeh would be leaving within hours on Saturday and told Gambians who had fled the country that they now had “the liberty to return home”.

Mr. Barrow on Thursday took the oath of office as Gambia’s new president.

He was sworn-in about 5p.m. Senegalese time at the Gambian High Commission in Dakar, Senegal.

Mr. Barrow succeeded Yahya Jammeh, who lost in the Dec. 1 presidential election and refused to vacate office when his 22-year rule expired midnight on Thursday.

West African mediators spent several hours in talks with him on Friday after military forces of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stopped actions to remove Mr. Jammeh by force to allow last-minute negotiations.

Mr. Jammeh on state TV on Saturday, announced that he would step down in the interest of the Gambian people adding that it was his duty to “preserve at every instant” their lives.

He was also reported to have left the State House to join President Alpha Conda of Guinea to the airport, to begin a new life in exile. (NAN)

"We need an Ecowas in southern Africa!"Zimbabweans look to the Gambia with envy.

That was the tweeted wail from prominent Zimbabwe lawyer Fadzayi Mahere this week as she and many Zimbabweans watched events up in the Gambia with envy.

Much as President Robert Mugabe is widely thought to have done in March 2008, Gambia's ex-president Yahya Jammeh lost polls in his west African nation last month and then insisted on staying put.

What happened next was very different.

While Jammeh has been ostracised by regional body Ecowas (its forces and troops from Senegal and other Western nations are poised for action), SADC did no such thing nine years ago.

When it became clear that the Zimbabwean president was about to lose, he was allowed to stop announcing results and the country waited for five weeks for the outcome.

By then the clearly-doctored results gave opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai a margin that wasn't enough for him to claim outright victory. 

A second round of polling was called. Ahead of that round, Mugabe's militia unleashed violence in the rural areas, killing up to 200 opposition supporters. 

Tsvangirai pulled out. Mugabe claimed victory. SADC remonstrated - feebly - by elbowing Mugabe into a coalition with Tsvangirai in which the ageing president retained maximum control.

Here are some of the reasons Mugabe got away with what Jammeh hasn't:

The Gambia's opposition was united

This is quite likely the biggest factor. For the first time, Gambian opponents of Jammeh managed to rally behind a single candidate, Adama Barrow, in a coalition. "It emboldened the Gambian people because they knew that the opposition was serious about making a change," says Jeffrey Smith, founding director of @VanguardAfrica.

Zimbabwe's opposition was horribly fractured in 2008. The main Movement for Democratic Change party split acrimoniously in 2005 into the MDC-T, led by Tsvangirai and the MDC, led by Welshman Ncube. That inevitably meant a split opposition vote and a margin that was easier to massage. 

The splitting isn't over yet. In recent years, former vice president Joice Mujuru has also set up a party. In fact there are an unbelievable 48-plus opposition parties registered in Zimbabwe. Analysts predict that Mugabe will almost certainly win the next polls in 2018 unless the opposition unites.

Says Zimbabwean @Webster_IM:  "The Ecowas & SADCs of this world help those who help themselves. Zimbabweans & their [opposition] are doing very little to help themselves."

SADC is not the same as ECOWAS

Ecowas is standing firm against Jammeh in a way SADC certainly did not against Mugabe. There are several suggestions as to why this might be. One is that SADC has traditionally been led by loyal liberation-era leaders who are unwilling to see "one of their own" ousted. Zimbabwe's @sure_kamhunga said: "SADC must use ECOWAS's solution on leaders refusing the will of the people. No more massaging despotic egos in the name of brotherhood."

Zimbabwe had the support of its powerful neighbour

Thabo Mbeki maintained that what he called loud diplomacy was "no diplomacy at all". As Todd Moss of the Centre for Global Development told News24: "South Africa didn't want to be seen as bullying a neighbour."

Contrast South Africa's treatment of Mugabe to Gambia's neighbour-on-three-sides Senegal, which has already sent in troops. Football fans were quick to see the irony when Senegal also thrashed Zimbabwe's Warriors team 2-0 at an AFCON Group B match at the Stade de Franceville in Gabon on Thursday evening. Echoing the tweets of many, @Kajeey_ tweeted from Kenya: "#Senegal really hates dictators. Stabilizing the #Gambia at the same time teaching #Zimbabwe a lesson at the ongoing #AFCON2017."

And South Africa is still shoring up Mugabe, if you agree with this Human Rights Watch report from a week ago. 

Kept in the public eye

Foreign media attention on the Gambia was not confined to election day and a few days before, says @VanguardAfrica's Smith. He told News24: "Over the past two years we've collectively been able to get unprecedented international attention on the Gambia. Tyrants like Jammeh... are able to get away with the crimes they do because the outside world just isn't paying attention. [But] we were able to have that much-needed international lens on the country."

Sure, Zimbabwe was frequently on the foreign pages well before 2008. But all too often, foreign editors wanted the white farmer story rather than the mounting rights abuses. That kind of blinkered coverage may have allowed the Mugabe government to get away with violence, rigging and a peaceful election day, at least in the eyes of some regional leaders.

So, is there any hope for Zimbabwe's opposition ahead of 2018? Mugabe and his men are certainly watching events in the Gambia with interest: Higher Education Minister Jonathan Moyo has tweeted that the swearing-in of Barrow on foreign soil sets an "awfully terrible precedent".

Will Zanu-PF draw lessons from what's happening in the Gambia to make sure Jammeh's humiliation can't happen in Zimbabwe? 

Or will Zimbabwe's opposition and civic activists FINALLY unite?

We have likely less than 18 months to find out.

Man nabbed on his first attempt at transporting drugs

Drug Dealer

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has intercepted a textile merchant with 4.4kgs of methamphetamine worth $1.4million at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on his way to Cambodia.

It is the first seizure of the year at the airport and the first consignment going to Cambodia. The 40 parcels of drugs, concealed inside foodstuff, were detected during the outward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight.

The 47 years old suspect, Ifeka Charles Obi, from Oba Idemili South LGA of Anambra State, said he had been promised N1m payment by his “sponsors”. According to him, as textile dealer, he lost everything due to family problems and that it is first attempt at smuggling drugs.

" My baby daddy is a shameless pretender-Amanda Ebeye (Nollywood actress).

Nollywood actress Amanda Ebeye has delivered a baby boy in Canada.

The BIU graduate of International Studies has said the father of her child is not her husband as he is a shameless pretender and that she cannot marry him.

In an interview with Saturday Beats, the 30 year old explains why she did not get married to her baby daddy.

“I did not marry the father of my child because he is not my husband and he is not meant to be. I could have been in the most useless relationship right now if I wanted but I told
myself instead of giving my son this shameless pretender and liar of a man as a father, I would take care of him and he will be fine.
I tell you that since I took that stance, I’ve not looked back for one day and God keeps giving me the strength to move on. If it is God’s, one day a good man will come and you’ll be invited to my wedding but for now, I’m single and all that matters to me is my son,” said the actress.
She was also quick to respond to the backlash she received after welcoming her baby to the world. While reacting to the various rumours and online tongue lash she received from Nigerians, the actress simply said that everyone is entitled to their opinion.

“I didn’t feel bad because we are all entitled to our opinions. Most people don’t know what other people go through but they are fast to bury them. We all hide behind our beautiful makeup and clothes that people forget that we all cry sometimes.
And the most painful part is that it is mostly women that do these criticisms. Some are even going through worse situations but they come on social media, wearing make-up and fine clothes and start commenting but when they go home, their husbands would slap them for not cooking their food early, and they receive it with smiles, walk away and say I’m fighting for my man. Hypocrites!”
The Clinic Matters actress said that she cannot describe the joy that comes with motherhood and contrary to popular belief; it is not a tough job being a single mother.

“Being a mother is the best feeling in the world and it’s unexplainable. If you’re a woman and you haven’t experienced it, you have to look forward to it and pray it happens.

I remember when I used to hear our mothers say a woman is not complete without childbirth. I never believed them but sincerely now I do. I’m glad I’ve had this chance to go through this experience and feeling. I would not trade it for a billion dollars.
“It’s been amazing.

People think it’s very hard and difficult but I’ll tell you this today and I’ll use this medium to speak to women going through bad relationships. You can do it alone, do not let some man think he’s your Alpha and Omega. That’s for the Lord.

Honour your husband. Be diligent as a wife. Do your job as a wife. Be his mother, cook his meals and cater to your family. Have a job so you can support your family too. He pays the fees, you can choose to pay for a vacation for the family to France.
Do all you can as a good wife and a virtuous woman but if you do all that and he disrespects you, cheats on you and gives you bull please know you stand right with God and don’t be scared to walk out the door with your kids,” she said.

Eko Disco announces 9-hour power outage

The Management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) on Saturday said there would be a nine-hour power outage in Lagos Island, Victoria Island and Ikoyi on Monday Jan. 23.

The company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Godwin Idemudia, said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos.

“We which to inform our consumers that on Monday Jan.23, between 08:00-17:00 hrs, there will be an outage on the 132kv busbars (outdoor) at Alagbon S/T.

“This is to enable our maintenance crew to connect the new and old sections of the 132kV busbars together.

“With this outage, Lagos Island, Victoria Island and Ikoyi environs will be affected.

“EKEDC highly regrets any inconvenience caused by this nine-hour outage, ‘’ Idemudia said.

Fashola under fire over 3rd Mainland Bridge repair

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN

Motorists plying the 3rd Mainland Bridge in Lagos have been attacking the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola over the ongoing repair works on the bridge.

Many of them have taken to the social media to vent their anger at Fashola over the long hours they spent on the bridge before getting to their destinations.

Some of them accused the minister of insensitivity by not informing them earlier of government’s intention to commence repair works on the bridge.

Following the ongoing repair works on the bridge, a twitter user, @Miz hazy complained that she spent nine hours on the bridge on Friday.

Another twitted: ”Na wao, this Fashola man no send us o. which kind suffering be dis.”

Majority of them called on the minister and his team to complete the repairs quickly so that they could carry on their activities without delay.

Trump resumes work as President at the US Oval Office. PHOTOS.

Newly sworn in U.S President Donald Trump on Friday night, headed straight to the U.S Oval Office where he reportedly signed his first executive orders since arriving at the White House..