"Efcc Arrest former imo state governor Achike udenwa over N350m"

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) last night arrested, on fraud allegations, a former governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa.

He is accused of receiving N350 million which had been diverted from last year’s presidential campaign of Mr. Goodluck Jonathan.

Mr. Udenwa was last night grilled by EFCC investigators for several hours at their headquarters, following which he was released after signing a bond to repay the funds to the federal government within two weeks. 

Our sources say he admitted collecting the funds from former finance minister Esther Nenadi, who was herself arrested last week and has reportedly paid back massive sums of money. 

It would be recalled that Mrs. Usman confessed that former NSA Sambo Dasuki gave her billions of Naira,from which she paid several party officials.  

They include Femi Fani-Kayode, who received N840m in his private account at Zenith Bank.

Diaster as a six-storey building collapse in kenya.

The death toll in the collapse of a six-storey building in Nairobi rose to 21 on Monday after four more bodies were pulled from the rubble of the residential structure that gave way during weekend storms.

“As of today we have 21 people dead so far after four bodies were retrieved in the night and another died in hospital,” the head of the National Disaster Management Unit, Pius Masai, told reporters, revising a previous count of 16 dead.

Authorities had previously put the number of deaths in Friday’s collapse of the building in the low-income district of Huruma at 16.

But the Kenya Red Cross said 60 people were still missing, meaning the final toll could be much higher, although it was unclear whether those sought were at home when the building buckled.

The building, which was home to more than 150 families, many of them living crammed into a single room, had been earmarked for demolition after being declared structurally unsound.

But an order by building authorities for the evacuation of the bloc, built only two years ago near a river, went ignored.

On Saturday, President Uhuru Kenyatta called for the building’s owner to be arrested,

A day later, the owner turned himself over to police.

Several buildings have collapsed in recent years in Nairobi and other Kenyan cities, where a property boom has seen buildings shoot up at speed, often with scant regard for building regulations.

The deaths in Huruma bring to at least 28 the number of people who died in Nairobi since the weekend in accidents linked to floods caused by torrential rains.

Ex-Oil Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke will face trial over the $115million (N23.29bn) bribe paid the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the 36 states ahead of the 2015 general elections.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has hinted that former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke will face trial over the $115million (N23.29bn) bribe paid the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the 36 states ahead of the 2015 general elections.

After investigation, EFCC operatives believe the $115m doled out by Diezani and her associates through Fidelity Bank came from proceeds of stolen crude oil.

The companies who fronted for Diezani by transferring money into Fidelity Bank account on her behalf are Northern Belt Gas Company Limited; Auctus Integrated; Midwestern Oil and Gas; and Lenoil, owned by Laitan Adesanya.

Out of the N23.29 billion distributed by Fidelity Bank, Gesila Khan, who was the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Rivers States at the time got N185.8million. She is now the REC of Cross River state.

Fidelia Omoile (Electoral Officer in Isoko-South Local Government Area of Delta State) got N112.5 million; Uluochi Obi Brown INEC’s Administrative Secretary in Delta State got N111,500,000.

A former Deputy Director of INEC in Cross River State, Edem Okon Effanga was paid N241,127,000 and the Head of Voter Education in INEC in Akwa Ibom, Immaculata Asuquo also got N214,127,000.

The EFCC is still compiling the list of INEC officials in all the 36 states, who were recipients of Diezani’s N23.29billion.

“Our operatives have discovered that the $115 million came from stolen crude oil. They got it from former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke,” a top EFCC official told TheNation.

“We will uncover how they came about the stolen crude oil and those used to siphon the oil in order to deny the nation of revenue,” the official who does not want to be named revealed.

The EFCC noted that charges might be preferred against Mrs. Alison-Madueke, who investigators believe is central to the coordination of the huge bribe given to poll officials to alter the 2015 presidential election results.

On the owners of the oil firms allegedly involved in the scandal, a top EFCC source said: “We have quizzed Leno Adesanya but it is apparent that we have to arrest others this week because they have refused to show up for interrogation.

“Certainly, we are closing in on more suspects whom we will pick up before the week runs out.”

On Sunday night, the EFCC was putting some finishing touches to plans on those to be arraigned for bribery.

The anti-graft agency pencilled the following for trial.

Diezani (in absentia), Okonkwo and Fidelity Bank’s Head of Operations, Martin Izuogbe.

INEC officials to be arraigned are Mrs Khan (for collecting N185, 842,000 out of a N681million bribe); Fidelia Omoile( Electoral Officer in Isoko-South Local Government Area of Delta State)—N112,480,000 ; Uluochi Obi Brown( INEC’s Administrative Secretary in Delta State)—N111,500,000; a former Deputy Director of INEC in Cross River State, Edem Okon Effanga—N241,127,000 and the Head of Voter Education in INEC in Akwa Ibom, Immaculata Asuquo—N214,127,000.

The source added: “Very soon, we will arraign them in court. Some of them have admitted that they shared out of the bribe sum. Having recovered more than N408.7million from some of the beneficiaries of the slush funds, we are set for trial.

“As for the bank, it even refunded N49.7m profit made from the deal. With this, the culpability of the bank is not doubtful at all.

“Since we have blocked or frozen some accounts, we can recover these ill-gotten cash through court process.”

Herdsmen Unleashed violence attack on Fadan Karshi community Sanga local council kaduna state

The Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday condemned the killing of a traditional ruler in Fadan Karshi, Sanga local government area of the state.

• Fleeing residents accuse cattle rearers of murdering 1,500
• El-Rufai urges calm, police command awaits briefing by DPO

Suspected Fulani herdsmen have allegedly unleashed violence on the residents of Southern Kaduna, killing the traditional ruler of the Fadan Karshi district in Sanga Local Council, Bala Madaki and his nephew, Emmanuel Tanko, in a night attack.

The state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has condemned the killings and appealed for calm . Residents of the Fadan Karshi community who accused the Fulani herdsmen of perpetrating the heinous crime, said the group had launched attacks on them since the 2011election crises, killing about 1,500 people in the southern part of the state.

SUSPECTED Fulani herdsmen have allegedly unleashed violence on the residents of Southern Kaduna, killing the traditional ruler of the Fadan Karshi district in Sanga Local Council, Bala Madaki and his nephew, Emmanuel Tanko, in a night attack.

The state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has condemned the killings and appealed for calm . Residents of the Fadan Karshi community who accused the Fulani herdsmen of perpetrating the heinous crime, said the group had launched attacks on them since the 2011election crises, killing about 1,500 people in the southern part of the state.

“Prior to the latest attack, the district head had applied an insecticide in his room and was sleeping outside his big compound when the Fulani unleashed the attack.

“We heard a gunshot and everyone woke up and ran into their various rooms around 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. The gunmen followed the district head right inside his room and killed him,” a resident told journalists.

A traditional title holder in the area who pleaded anonymity said that another person that was killed ‘‘was a close relation of the district head. We don’t know what is happening. We hardly sleep here with our eyes closed since 2013 when gunmen invaded our communities. These gunmen speak Fulani. Many people are being killed frequently, including women, youth, children and traditional rulers.
Something must be done urgently.”

According to another community leader from the area, the violence took place around 10:30p.m. last Sunday night.

His words: “It was very hot inside and people were sleeping outside. Around 10:00 p.m., the chief moved into his house with his family. Then some gunmen, who our people said were Fulani, stormed his compound and started shooting. They went into his room and shot him pointblank. They also shot a small boy, Emmanuel Tanko, who was writing his final year secondary school exams. The boy was a nephew of the late chief.

“Right now, Fadan Karshi is deserted. Shops and service centres are shut. People are either staying in-doors or are leaving the town. No one knows what is coming next. Police are patrolling the streets, but I am not sure if they have any clue about the murderers.

“I want you to recall that this was the district head that received former governor, Mukhtar Yero, on September 22, 2014 when our women protested half- naked because of the scale of killings by the Fulani going on at that time.

“Today, the type of killings going on is murdering of isolated people. Cattle are also grazing freely on people’s farms in these areas of Sanga and people are afraid to do anything about it. Now, they are targeting people and eliminating them. What people are saying about the killings of our district head is that he might have been killed by the Fulani who have a grudge with this community and the ruler.”

According to the source, “in May 2014, some Fulani armed men invaded the police station here and seven people were killed. As they were escaping, two were killed in an exchange of gunfire between them and the police.

“The Fulani Association later petitioned the then National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and copied the then governor. They said that our late district head should be arrested, dethroned and prosecuted for the death of the two Fulani. We still have a copy of the petition. We suspect that his death may be connected to that incident.”

The Kaduna State Police Command spokesman, Zubairu Abubakar, in his reaction, said that he was aware of the incident, but that he was waiting for the divisional police officer from Karshi to furnish him with details.

While commiserating with the family of the victims, El-Rufai urged the people of Sanga Local Council to be calm and support the security agencies to investigate the attack and apprehend the perpetrators.

In a statement, his media aide, Malam Samuel Aruwan, said the governor spoke at a meeting with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the eight local councils of Kaduna South Senatorial District. He said the security agencies were investigating the attack, and were working to apprehend the culprits.

The governor assured the party leaders of his commitment to peace and security in every part of the state.

“It is a sad development. But we will not relent in our duty of protecting our people. We shall continue to strengthen the security agencies to do a better job, as well as encourage harmonious coexistence across our communities.

“The gains made in recent months to eliminate violent communal clashes in the area must be upheld. We must all be vigilant and do our best to maintain the peace in our communities,” the governor said.

“We heard a gunshot and everyone woke up and ran into their various rooms around 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. The gunmen followed the district head right inside his room and killed him,” a resident told journalists.

A traditional title holder in the area who pleaded anonymity said that another person that was killed ‘‘was a close relation of the district head. We don’t know what is happening. We hardly sleep here with our eyes closed since 2013 when gunmen invaded our communities. These gunmen speak Fulani. Many people are being killed frequently, including women, youth, children and traditional rulers.
Something must be done urgently

Leicester City are premier league Champions.

Leicester City are on course for a windfall of more than $220 million for winning the English Premier League, a new study said.

The money would come from the Premier League’s huge television revenues, playing in the Champions League, new sponsorship and higher gate receipts, the Repucom sports data firm said.

Leicester became England’s most unlikely champions after Tottenham Hotspur failed to get the win at Chelsea on Monday that would have extended the Premier League race for another weekend.

According to the study, Leicester are set to make over 150m pounds ($220 million/191 million euros) from claiming the Premier League title.

The cash would come from:

— Potentially more than 90 million pounds from winning the Premier League against 72 million pounds when they came 14th last season.

— They would get 33m pounds just for appearing in the group stages of next season’s Champions League, with another 3m pounds waiting in performance bonuses.

— A third place finish in their group would guarantee a place in the Europa League and another 20m pounds.

— Higher match day and commercial revenues could bring another 10m pounds-15m pounds.

Repucom said: “Leicester City FC’s real commercial potential will become clearer in the season break as brands vie to associate themselves to the club and in turn, the league winners aim to maximise the returns their status could command.”

The spectactular rise by Claudio Ranieri’s side has seen their TV audiences increase by more than 23% around the globe, which increases their value with potential sponsors, the study said.

British television audiences have risen 29% from 785,000 to more than one million a game. In Italy, Ranieri’s home country, television viewing of the team has doubled.

Repucom said increasing its worldwide fan base “remains central to realising the club’s full potential”. It said Leicester’s social media growth highighted how much the club could increase earnings.

The number of followers of Leicester’s Facebook page has risen 540% over the season to more than three million “representing one of the fastest growing accounts of any sports team globally.”

The 500,000 followers in Algeria — the home country of star player Riyad Mahrez — represents Leicester’s largest fan base, having risen from 23,000 at the start of the season.

The 221,000 followers in Thailand — home country of Leicester owner Vichai has grown 117% over the season.

The 155,000 in Italy has risen from 6,000 when the campaign began.

Bayern Munich are up against it as they prepare to welcome Atletico Madrid to the Allianz Arena for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on 3 May

Bayern Munich's wait for a fourth successive league title continued as Borussia Monchengladbach fought back from a goal down to claim a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena on 30 April. The Bavarian giants need to win by two clear goals to progress to the Champions League final after Saul Niguez's wonder goal in the first leg gave Atletico Madrid the edge in the tie.

Atletico Madrid v Bayern Munich,
Tuesday 03rd May

Atletico Madrid to win: (9/2) 

Bayern Munich to win: (13/20) 

Draw: (11/4) 

Odds correct as of 10:10, 2/05/2016

View all Betfair odds

Holger Badstuber (ankle) and Arjen Robben (groin) both remain sidelined, while Franck Ribery missed the Gladbach match with a back problem and is a doubt.

Antoine Griezmann scored the only goal of the game as Atletico Madrid beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 at the weekend to stay in the La Liga title race. The Spanish club have lost eight of their 16 competitive encounters with German clubs on German soil.

Centre-back Diego Godin (thigh) and winger Yannick Carrasco (ankle) both return from injury for the visitors.

What managers say

Pep Guardiola: "Everyone has killed me, but I'm still alive. We have another game left [in the tie], and if we lose it then you can kill me, but we still have a chance. Maybe it would've been better to play [Thomas Muller from the start], but I had to make a decision and it was nothing against him, just tactics. I didn't want the same to happen to me as last season against Barcelona. Ultimately, I have to make decisions, but the tie isn't over yet. We're still in it."

Diego Simeone: "In general we went for fresh players, and as time went on put in those we thought were necessary. The game [against Rayo] went as we had imagined, and we have taken an important victory at a time when the points count for much more than at any other stage of the season. When the games are coming all in a row, when it is not easy to keep your focus, it is very important to win. We did that, and we are very happy."

Form guide

• Bayern Munich (all competitions): DLWWW
• Last result: Bayern Munich 1-1 Borussia Monchengladbach

• Atletico Madrid (all competitions): WWWWW
• Last result: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano

Betting odds (Betfair)

• Bayern Munich win: 6/10
• Draw: 29/10
• Atletico Madrid win: 9/2

Team news

Bayern Munich possible XI: Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Martinez, Alaba; Muller, Vidal, Thiago; Costa, Lewandowski, Ribery

Atletico Madrid possible XI: Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, Gimenez, Luis; Saul, Gabi, Fernandez, Koke; F Torres, Griezmann

I.G of police releases 2 helicopters for the search of abducted iyabo Anisulowo

A statement issued by the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, says the choppers have been patrolling suspected kidnappers’ hideouts within the state with search parties.

The state police command is assuring everyone that the kidnapped former senator will soon be rescued unhurt and the culprits apprehended.

The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun and the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone II, Bala Hazzan, had earlier assured Nigerians and residents of Ogun State of the safe rescue of Senator Iyabo Anisulowo.

Governor Amosun asked residents to remain calm and go about their businesses without any fear as the perpetrators would be made to face the consequence of their action

Senator Anisulowo was abducted on Sawonjo/Imasayi road, in Yewa North Local Government Area while returning from her farm in igbogila.

Senator Anisulowo, who represented Ogun West Senatorial district between 2003-2007 at the Senate, was kidnapped alongside her security aide in Igbogila area of the state.