sampaul

Thursday, 4 June 2015

Buhari likely to head oil ministry in new cabinet

There are speculations that President Muhammadu Buhari will keep the petroleum minister portfolio for himself in the new cabinet rather than trust anyone else with the ministry, which currently contributes over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue.

No fewer than 78 persons were killed after a gas station they ran to for shelter during heavy downpour went up in flames in Acrra, Ghana yesterday June 3rd. According to Ghana's Fire Service spokesperson, Billy Anagate, the fire started at the Neoplan Bus station at about 5.00pm and then quickly spread to the Goil gas station, causing an explosion which killed all the people taking refuge there. Bodies of the victims are still being evacuated from the scene of the incident.

10 people reportedly lost their lives while many others became very ill after they ate food provided at a wedding in Katsina state recently. According to a Vanguard report, many of those who died complained of stomach ache as they left the wedding. They were rushed to the Federal Medical Center in Katsina where they were certified dead. Some died while on their way to the hospital.

A staff of Federal Medical Centre, said the hospital had received a number of cases relating to the incident. “I think, from the information gathered so far, the case of some of the victims has to do with food poisoning,” the staff said.

Senate approves life imprisonment for rape, 10 years for incest and Child Pornography

The Senate yesterday passed the Sexual Offences Bill which approves life imprisonment for gang rape, 10 years for incest, another 10 years imprisonment for child pornography and a fine of N2 million as well as 14 years jail term for any other form of sexual offences committed in Nigeria.

The tour guide who was driving with the American woman who was mauled to death by a lion suffered serious injuries and a heart attack while trying to fend off the big cat and then desperately tried to save her, according to a dramatic new account by the tour company.

According to reports, newly married Edo state governor, Adams Oshimhole took his new bride, Iara Fortez and some close friends to Seychelles for their honeymoon and also for more wedding celebrations. The couple, who got married on May 15th, postponed their honeymoon to enable them attend the presidential inauguration ceremony.

Monday, 1 June 2015

FIFA SEVEN executives including vice president are held in Zurich over £100m bribes claim

Fifa presidential election to go ahead despite corruption arrests

The Fifa presidential election will take place on Friday as planned despite the arrest of seven Fifa officials on charges they received more than $150m in bribes.

Among those arrested is Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb.

A separate criminal investigation into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were allocated has also begun.

But Fifa has already ruled out a revote, insisting Russia and Qatar will remain the respective hosts.

Sepp Blatter faces Prince Ali bin al-Hussein in Friday’s election as he seeks a fifth term as Fifa president.

Prince Ali described Wednesday’s developments as “a sad day for football” but declined to comment further.

Corruption probe number one

Swiss police made dawn raids at the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich, where Fifa officials are staying ahead of Friday’s presidential election.

The seven Fifa officials were arrested after the US Department of Justice issued a 47-count indictment charging 14 defendants with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies in a 24-year scheme.

“The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic and deep-rooted,” said New York attorney general Loretta Lynch.

“It spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.”

Indictment details:

Bribes linked to commercial deals dating back to the 1990s for football tournaments in the US and Latin America
Nine current or former Fifa officials, including Webb and former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner, charged with corruption
Four individual and two corporate defendants, including former Concacaf general secretary Chuck Blazer and Warner’s sons Daryan and Daryll, plead guilty
Alleged scheme “fostered a culture of corruption and greed that created uneven playing field”
“Undisclosed and illegal payments, kickbacks and bribes became a way of doing business at Fifa”
Majority of scheme involved corruption over media and marketing rights to matches and tournaments

Those arrested are Webb, Eduardo Li, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Eugenio Figueredo, Rafael Esquivel and Jose Maria Marin.

They now face extradition to the United States.

Warner, a former Fifa vice-president from Trinidad and Tobago, insists he is innocent of the charges.

Now 72, he quit world football’s governing body in 2011 after being suspended pending the outcome on an investigation into corruption allegations against him.

In a statement, he said the “actions of Fifa no longer concern me”.

Corruption probe number two

In a separate move, just hours after the earlier arrests, Swiss authorities opened criminal proceedings over the awarding of the hosting rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Electronic data was seized from Fifa’s headquarters in Zurich as part of a investigation into “criminal mismanagement” and “money laundering”.

Swiss police intend to question 10 Fifa executive committee members who took part in the voting process in December 2010.

Three years ago, Fifa hired a former US prosecutor, Michael Garcia, to investigate allegations of bribery over the awarding of the World Cups to Qatar and Russia.

However, it refused to publish his report, releasing only a summary in which it said there were no major irregularities. Garcia quit, saying the summary was “erroneous”.

Fifa’s reaction to developments

World football’s governing body has been dogged by allegations of corruption and wrongdoing in recent years.

The latest events are another major blow, although Fifa’s communications director insisted the organisation was committed to reform.

“This is good for Fifa,” Walter De Gregorio told a news conference. “It hurts, it is not easy, but it confirms we are on the right track.”

De Gregorio said Blatter was “very calm”, adding that the 79-year-old Swiss “is fully co-operating”.

Fifa later issued a statement welcoming “actions that can help contribute to rooting out any wrongdoing in football”.

The rest of the world reacts

Uefa, the body that governs European football, said it was “astonished and saddened by the events”, while Jim Boyce, Britain’s outgoing Fifa vice-president, said it was “another sad day for Fifa”.

England’s Football Association said the developments “are very serious for Fifa and its current leadership”.

FA chairman Greg Dyke added that there “must be a question mark” over whether the presidential election should take place now.

Damian Collins, a British member of parliament who has called for Fifa reform, said it was “a hugely significant development for Fifa” and said Blatter had failed to live up to his promises to stamp out corruption.

“Because he has totally failed to do this, it has been left to an outside law enforcement agency to do the job and take action,"