Three Nigerians Executed In Indonesia

​Indonesia executed four convicted drug traffickers, including three Nigerians, early on Friday as it pushed ahead with its “war against drugs”, although another 10 scheduled executions were delayed.

As many as 14 people were originally set to face the firing squad together on Friday, but officials decided a “comprehensive review” was needed to “avoid any mistake” in the 10 cases, Attorney General H. Muhammad Prasetyo said.

The date for the next round of executions has not been set, Prasetyo told reporters in Jakarta.

At least two prisoners among that group of 10, a Pakistani national and an Indonesian woman have applied for presidential clemency, their representatives said.

They said legal proceedings could take a long time.

Those executed – three Nigerians and an Indonesian man – were shot during a thunderstorm shortly after midnight on Nusakambangan Island in Central Java.

The government ignored international calls for clemency and pushed ahead with its drive against narcotics.

“Our battle against drug crimes is not over and it will continue. We will maintain our commitment, our firmness and our consistency,” Prasetyo said.

Indonesia has become a “business field” for the production, distribution, import and export of drugs, Prasetyo said.

Indonesia executed 14 prisoners, mostly foreign drugs offenders, just over a year ago, causing diplomatic outrage.

Rights activists and governments have again called on Indonesia to abolish the death penalty.

Those calls have gone unheeded and President Joko Widodo has said drugs pose as serious a threat as terrorism in what is one of Southeast Asia’s biggest markets for narcotics.

The president’s office often cites figures that drugs are killing at least 40 people a day, but several international experts have questioned the methodology used to arrive at those statistics.

The death penalty is widely accepted by the Indonesian public, but police had to break up a protest outside the prison on Thursday by members of a migrant workers group who called for mercy for the Indonesian woman who was scheduled to be executed.

Amnesty International called the latest executions “a deplorable act that violates international and Indonesian law” and pleaded that the other death sentences not be carried out.

Around 152 people remain on death row in Indonesia, including convicted drug traffickers from the Philippines, France and Britain, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

Authorities plan to execute 16 prisoners this year and more than double that number in 2017.

Source: Guardian

LUTH Not Involved In Mayowa’s Referral, Fund-Raising, Says Spokesman

​The management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH),Idi-Araba in Lagos on Friday said that it did not refer Miss Mayowa Ahmed overseas. It also said that the institution was never involved in any fund-raising on behalf of Mayowa Ahmed.

Mr Kenneth Otuneme, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of LUTH, said this in an interview he granted the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.Miss Mayowa Ahmed, 31, is an old patient of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital who has been on treatment for another condition.

Ahmed came into the Private Wing of LUTH on Monday, July 25, with a history and clinical features of an intra-abdominal mass.The patient accompanied by some of her family members brought along some results of laboratory investigations ordered and done outside LUTH.

Three different specialists: a gynaecologist, an oncologist and a haematologist- were invited to review Ahmed’s case.They all arrived at a tentative diagnosis of an abdominal malignancy.

They planned to conduct a series of fresh tests on her to confirm the definitive diagnosis, since the earlier tests were neither requested nor authorised by any doctor from LUTH,’’ he said .

The family, however, requested to fly Ahmed outside the country barely 24 hours after her admission in LUTH, thus stalling all the planned investigations meant to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

We were able to transfuse her with much-needed blood only after lots of persuasion when the family was told point blank that it was risky for her to travel by air, given her low blood count,” Otuneme said.

He also said that Friday was the third day after her admission and a definitive diagnosis had not yet been made while the relations insisted on flying her abroad.LUTH has only dealt with Miss Ahmed and her relations throughout her stay and not with any other third party,’’ he said.

Otuneme said that the hospital management, however, had to invite the police to restore peace within its premises following an altercation between Ahmed’s relatives and persons unknown to the hospital.He urged the general public to patiently await the outcome of the ongoing police investigations.

Jean-Claude Van Damme Storms Out Of TV Interview: “What the F–k Is Going On With Australia?”

​Damn, Jean-Claude Van Damme is not a morning person.

The action star appeared via satellite on the Australian morning show Sunrise Thursday, but his interview didn’t go as planned. Van Damme—who is doing interviews to promote an upcoming speaking tour—was frustrated with the technical setup for the TV interview. “I just…Guys, you are talking behind the cameras. This is a direct line. It’s good to have them, by the way, so people can understand this,” the Belgin Bloodsport actor complained. “I’m online talking to you and I have people behind that camera talking about…because I’m sweating and everything. So, I’m not looking anymore for…I’m looking to be as natural as possible when I come to Australia.”

Van Damme added, “I just want to talk to the people there.”

In a 2012 interview with The Guardian, Van Damme admitted to having an affair with KylieMinogue on the set of 1994’s Street Fighter. Asked about Minogue again, he got annoyed.

“Yeah, I like Kylie, I like everybody—can I please come to Australia and talk to you? Sorry guys, I cannot do this anymore. You are talking to a guy who’s very rough, you know? Let me talk. It’s good for the people; they can hear that. Let me talk please,” he said. “Those questions, the press, they have been asking me the same questions for the last 25 years. ‘Kylie?’ ‘How’s your training?’ ‘How’s your this?’ ‘How’s your that?’ So, I’m coming to Australia to maybe do something kind of different with the audience.”

“I’m 55 years old. So I’m not anymore 35, 25. I’m 55 years old,” he continued. “So I’ve got a different view of life, and we’ll talk about this in Australia. But those interview you are giving me on TV right now, they are very boring. Because the questions are boring. It’s difficult for me to answer the question, so I start to sweat. I don’t feel good, because then I’m very…they are boring. Next question? You have something interesting to ask me?”

Van Damme then stood up, claiming he had to go to the restroom, and tore off his microphone. “What the f–k is going on with Australia? What the f–k is going on?” the actor said while removing his mic. “I cannot do this. I’m too natural. You can blow this stuff away. What is this?”

The actor, who is on location in Bangkok, will start his speaking tour Down Under next month.

Joe Jonas Plays “Shag, Marry, Kill” With Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato And Gigi Hadid

​Andy Cohen put Joe Jonas in the hot seat Thursday night.

The DNCE singer appeared on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live and played “Plead the Fifth,” a game in which Andy asked him three questions and Joe could only decline to answer one. The first question—posed to Joe’s brother Nick Jonas just weeks earlier—was in regard to their penises. “Which Jonas brother is the most well-endowed?” Andy asked. Joe smirked, saying, “You know—this is Nick’s words, not mine—but he said he was going to say me, so I’ll say me.”

Andy’s next question was about Joe’s music. “In April, you mentioned that you wrote a song that is going to ‘piss someone off.’ Who is the person and have they heard the song yet?” the late-night talk show asked. Joe first explained that the song will not appear on his band’s next album. “I’m going to save it for a side project, possibly—maybe a B-side,” he said. As for who the song was written about? “Plead the fifth,” Joe said. “But I answered half of it, right? So…”

“You may not have wanted to plead the fifth to that,” Andy warned. “Oh, bring it on,” Joe told him. “I don’t care.”

The final question was dubbed “Marry, Shag, Kill: Joe Jonas’ Exes Edition.” Though Andy could have picked from several stars, he narrowed it down toTaylor Swift , Demi Lovato and Gigi Hadid. “You marry one, you kill one and you shag one,” he reminded the “Toothbrush” singer.

“I’ll marry Demi,” Joe said. “She’s a friend.”

Indeed. Earlier this week, Joe and Demi performed “Gotta Find You,” from the 2008 Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock. (Demi is on tour with Nick.) Days before the performance, Joe told E! News‘ Marc Malkin he considers Demi “family” post-split. “We’ve known Demi for so many years. We’ve performed with her, toured with her. She’s just incredible. It’s not always the case. Sometimes you have to know when to fold the cards. I don’t think of her as an ex. We’re really good friends. We’ve gone through so much together and we’re really close now.”

The same can’t be said for some of Joe’s other exes. With the lights dimmed and the pressure on, the singer had to choose between Taylor or Gigi Thursday. “This is a game, right?” he asked.

After being reassured that it was, Joe said, “Um, Shag Taylor, kill Dem—kill Gigi. There you go.” Andy then admitted he had no idea, prior to the episode, that Joe dated Taylor for four months in 2008 until he broke up with her in a 27-second phone call. “We were children,” he told Andy.

When the game was over, Joe was feeling pretty proud of himself. “I didn’t really plead the fifth, though,” he told Andy and fellow guest Ashley Graham. “I answered half the question.”

“Maybe we’ll give you an extra ‘Plead the Fifth’ the next time you’re here,” Andy suggested.

“Ooh,” Joe said. “I like that.”

Source: Enews

2016 MTV Video Music Awards Nominations: Beyoncé Crushes The Competition With Career-Best Total

Beyoncé just came to slay the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards. 

Breaking her own personal record for awards show nominations, the Lemonade chart-topper just garnered a whopping 11 nods ahead of one of music’s biggest nights. The rest of the nominations were announced today through a Facebook Live broadcast, and it looks like Adele, Ariana Grandeand Drake fall right behind Queen Bey with eight, five and four nominations of their own, respectively. All of your favorite artists will go head to head on Sunday, Aug. 28 at 9 p.m. when the VMAs go live from Madison Square Garden in New York City. 

Kanye West joins a few of the aforementioned stars in the Video of the Year category for the controversial visuals accompanying “Famous,” as well as Best Male Video. In addition to the top spot, Beyoncé stakes her claim in Best Female Video, Best Collaboration, Best Pop Video and even more. Rihanna and Drake’s steamy “Work” video is also acknowledged in the Best Female and Best Collaboration listings.

They’re not the only stars hoping for a Moonman. Justin Bieber, Calvin Harris, Sia and The Weeknd are also up for highly-coveted accolades!

2015 MTV Video Music Awards Red Carpet Arrivals

Video of the Year
Adele, “Hello”
Beyoncé, “Formation”
Drake, “Hotline Bling”
Justin Bieber, “Sorry”
Kanye West, “Famous”

Best Female Video
Adele, “Hello”
Beyoncé, “Hold Up”
Sia, “Cheap Thrills”
Ariana Grande, “Into You”
Rihanna feat. Drake, “Work”

Best Male Video
Drake, “Hotline Bling”
Bryson Tiller, “Don’t”
Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna, “This Is What You Came For”
Kanye West, “Famous”
The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face”

Best Collaboration
Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar, “Freedom”
Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla $ign, “Work From Home”
Ariana Grande feat. Lil Wayne, “Let Me Love You”
Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna, “This Is What You Came For”
Rihanna feat. Drake, “Work”

Best Hip Hop Video
Drake, “Hotline Bling”
Desiigner, “Panda”
Bryson Tiller, “Don’t”
Chance The Rapper feat. Saba, “Angels”
2 Chainz, “Watch Out”

Best Pop Video
Adele, “Hello”
Beyoncé, “Formation”
Justin Bieber, “Sorry”
Alessia Cara, “Wild Things”
Ariana Grande, “Into You”

Best Rock Video
All Time Low, “Missing You”
Coldplay, “Adventure Of A Lifetime”
Fall Out Boy feat. Demi Lovato, “Irresistible”
twenty one pilots, “Heathens”
Panic! At The Disco, “Victorious”

Best Electronic Video
Calvin Harris & Disciples, “How Deep Is Your Love”
99 Souls ft. Destiny’s Child & Brandy, “The Girl Is Mine”
Mike Posner, “I Took A Pill In Ibiza”
Afrojack, “SummerThing!”
The Chainsmokers feat. Daya, “Don’t Let Me Down”

Breakthrough Long Form Video
Florence + The Machine, The Odyssey
Beyoncé, Lemonade
Justin Bieber, PURPOSE: The Movement
Chris Brown, Royalty
Troye Sivan, Blue Neighbourhood Trilogy

Best New Artist
Bryson Tiller 
Desiigner
Zara Larsson
Lukas Graham
DNCE

Best Art Direction
Beyoncé, “Hold Up”
Fergie, “M.I.L.F. $”
Drake, “Hotline Bling”
David Bowie, “Blackstar”
Adele, “Hello”

Best Choreography
Beyoncé, “Formation” (Chris Grant, JaQuel Knight, and Dana Foglia)
Missy Elliott feat. Pharrell, “WTF (Where They From)” (Hi-Hat)
Beyoncé, “Sorry” (Chris Grant, JaQuel Knight, Dana Foglia, Anthony Burrell, and Beyoncé Knowles Carter)
FKA Twigs, “M3LL155X” (FKA Twigs)
Florence + The Machine, “Delilah” (Holly Blakey)

Best Direction
Beyoncé, “Formation” (Melina Matsoukas)
Coldplay, “Up&Up” (Vania Heymann and Gal Muggia)
Adele, “Hello” (Xavier Dolan)
David Bowie, “Lazarus” (Johan Renck)
Tame Impala, “The Less I Know The Better” (Canada)

Best Cinematography
Beyoncé, “Formation” (Malik Sayeed)
Adele, “Hello” (André Turpin)
David Bowie, “Lazarus” (Crille Forsberg)
Alesso, “I Wanna Know” (Corey Jennings)
Ariana Grande, “Into You” (Paul Laufer)

Best Editing
Beyoncé, “Formation” (Jeff Selis)
Adele, “Hello” (Xavier Dolan)
Fergie, “M.I.L.F. $” (Vinnie Hobbs)
David Bowie, “Lazarus” (Johan Söderberg)
Ariana Grande, “Into You” (Hannah Lux Davis)

Best Visual Effects
Coldplay, “Up&Up” (Vania Heymann, Gloria FX and VFX House)
FKA Twigs, “M3LL155X” (Lewis Saunders and Jihoon Yoo)
Adele, “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” (Sam Sneade)
The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face” (Brewster Parsons and Bryan Smaller)
Zayn, “PILLOWTALK” (Studio Private, David Smith)

Clinton Chooses Kaine As Vice Presidency Candidate

Hillary Clinton announced, yesterday during her campaign in Florida, that her choice for Vice President running-mate will be Tim Kaine. The presidential candidate for the U.S Democratic Party revealed her choice in a message to supporters late on Friday in a bid to regain prominence after the Republican convention in Cleveland. The week’s political events in the U.S had previously focused on Donald Trump’s antics during the last days of the Republican Convention, including his hesitant pick of Mike Pence as the vice presidential candidate. Mrs. Clinton is, however, now set to take centre-stage as her announcement had been long anticipated.

Kaine, along with Tom Vilsack, was one of the two candidates reported to be remaining on Clinton’s shortlist for a running-mate. 

The announcement of Kaine gaining the coveted position over Vilsack has come as a shock to those that expected Vilsack’s close personal relationship with the Clinton’s to steal him the spot. Yet, factors such as his strong support for a Trans-Pacific partnership, which Clinton has recently opposed, would have contributed to his loss. Also, Kaine’s reputation as a loyal figure could be what ultimately convinced Clinton that he was a safe and steady bet for the job. Clinton had explained that her top considerations for a pick were a good governing partner and someone who could step into the role of president if needed.

Clearly, she believes that Kaine best meets these requirements. Other candidates included Labour Secretary, Tom Perez; who would have been the first Hispanic candidate for the party, Cory Booker; who, as an African-American would have represented a key piece of the Democrats’ demographic coalition, Sherrod Brown and Elizabeth Warren.

Tim Kaine, a junior Senator from Virginia, was elected to the senate in 2012. He is an attorney and received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1983, after a B.A Degree in Economics from the University of Missouri in 1979. He was born in Minnesota but grew up in Kansas City. Elected to the Richmond City Council in 1994, Kaine later served as Mayor (from 1998-2001). Kaine is fluent in Spanish, having worked with Jesuit missionaries in Honduras for nine months between 1980 and 1981. 

This could help Clinton’s campaign reach out to Hispanic voters in places such as Florida, where she is currently campaigning.

In 2013, he endorsed immigration reform in a 13-minute speech completely in Spanish. The first time a senator delivered a full speech on the floor of the Senate in a language other than English. Kaine also being a representative of Virginia, a “must-win” swing state, where he is fairly popular, may work in the Democrats’ favour. Kaine is also viewed as being very loyal to the party, voting as a senator with the Democrats on more than 90percent of issues.
Kaine will, however, be quite a controversial choice in the eyes of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. He recently announced, during a Senate campaign, a $5billion cut of budget and the elimination of the Virginia estate tax. Also, he has previously been vocal about his opposition to abortion, a stance that will make pro-choice Democrats uncomfortable about his position as vice presidential candidate. Although he now takes a more moderate stance, he was noted, previously, for saying, “I think life is sacred, whether its abortion or the death penalty”.

More notably, last year, he voted in support of giving the president “fast track” authority thought to be vital for approving the same controversial 12-nation pacific trade pact, called the Trans-Pacific Partnership, that Vilsack is a strong supporter of.

On the other hand, Kaine endorses a more moderate position than that of Vilsack, in that he emphasises that such deals will be favourable but they must also ensure the protection of workers’ rights in the process of securing them. 

Moreover, he has recently been criticised for his support of loosening bank regulations. In a statement on Thursday, Charles Chamberlaine, Executive Director of Democracy for America, said “Let’s be really clear: It should be disqualifying for any potential Democratic vice presidential candidate to be part of a lobbyist-driven effort to help banks dodge consumer protection standards and regulations designed to prevent banks from destroying our economy. Our presidential ticket cannot beat the billionaire bigot by simply being Not-Donald Trump. 

To win in November, our ticket needs to have an unquestionably strong record in the fight against income inequality, one of the defining issues of the 2016 election.”

This backing of regulatory changes that profits large banks is a strongly opposing view to that of Elizabeth Warren, who was seen as the liberals’ favourite. Despite this, though, Kaine’s past of championing fair housing laws and representing clients on the basis of race and disability discrimination in his career as an attorney, could still allow him to win the liberals within the Democratic Party.
In the wake of Theresa May becoming the U.K’s second female Prime Minister, Hillary Clinton winning the election in November would mean that three of the world’s most powerful states; the U.S, the U.K and Germany, would be headed by women.

Whether or not this will take place remains to be seen, though. In a political climate of extremes, given the current security issues caused mainly by an increase in terror attacks, this presidential campaign will be a challenge for the Democrats, going in with a female candidate. Especially as Trump supporters, at the recent Republican convention, applauded his remarks on stamping out criminality, and restoring law and order.

Elizabeth Warren, initially being a strong candidate, would have made the Democrats’ campaign an all-female team if she had won the position; a move that could possibly have shocked a nation that has never had a female president. Choosing Tim Kaine, however, a white man who grew up in the mid-west, would settle fears that Clinton might have had of voters rejecting a campaign with two women, or a woman and a person of colour.

It might also win more Republican leaning swing-voters in the mid-west who might have voted for Trump.

Donald Trump’s Nomination Speech Interrupted By Code Pink Protester At Republican National Convention

​For nearly a week, Donald Trump’s loved ones took the podium to speak highly of the presidential candidate during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

But tonight, it was Donald’s turn to take the stage and not only accept his nomination, but talk about what he plans to do if he becomes the next president of the United States of America. 

However, in the middle of his delivery, the speech was halted by a Code Pink protester who stole attention away from Trump when she was seen holding up a sign and heard yelling, “Build bridges, not walls.”

NBC commentators told viewers, “Protester holding up a sign ‘build bridges not walls.’ There were people there that tried to take the sign away from her. We’re seeing police move in there…It’s code pink again, Lester. We saw this same group and in particular this woman is someone who I believe lives in Washington. I’ve seen her at a lot of hearings over the years. She’s a code pink protester.”

Police escorted the woman, identified as Code Pink founder Medea Benjamin, off the premises, to which Trump responded, “How great are the police? How great is Cleveland?”

A press release on Code Pink’s website included a statement from Benjamin, which read: “Scapegoating immigrants and refugees—some of the most marginalized and powerless members of our society—for the problems we face as a nation is deeply racist.

“I rose to disrupt Trump’s ‘victory speech’ tonight to make sure that no one, whether in the arena or watching in their living room, could overlook the horrifying racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and misogyny that is at the root of Donald Trump’s ideology. We want to build bridges not walls, and we want peace and love, not hate and war.”

Trump continued with his speech, touching on the recent violence that’s been plaguing our nation, the unemployment rates and the debt of our country. Trump promised the crowd that should he take office, he’ll make sure “American people come first again.”
He continues, “The first task for our new Administration will be to liberate our citizens from the crime and terrorism and lawlessness that threatens their communities. America was shocked to its core when our police officers in Dallas were brutally executed.”

Trump talked about the law enforcement officials who have been killed in various cities across America, and said, “An attack on law enforcement is an attack on all Americans. I have a message to every last person threatening the peace on our streets and the safety of our police: when I take the oath of office next year, I will restore law and order to our country.”

And when it comes to immigration, Trump plans to suspend any entries to those who have been compromised with terrorism.

 “I only want to admit individuals into our country who will support our values and love our people. Anyonewho endorses violence, hatred or oppression is not welcome in our country and never will be.”Trump concluded, “I have loved my life in business. But now, my sole and exclusive mission is to go to work for our country—to go to work for all of you. It’s time to deliver a victory for the American people. But to do that, we must break free from the petty politics of the past. America is a nation of believers, dreamers, and strivers that is being led by a group of censors, critics, and cynics.”

He then challenges Hillary Clinton ‘s slogan “I’m With Her” with his own version: “I choose to recite a different pledge.

My pledge reads, ‘I’m with you, the American people.’“

Saraki Denies Defecting To PDP

​For the second time in less than a week, the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, has restated his commitment and loyalty to his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Media reports were rife that Saraki had defected to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) after he attended the party’s senate caucus meeting on Wednesday.

But Saraki’s media aide, Bamikole Omishore, in a statement said the reports were “entirely untrue as the Senate President stands committed to the APC; a party that he helped midwife and worked for its victory in the 2015 elections.”

He said Saraki’s presence at the PDP caucus meeting was in his official capacity as the Senate President and chairman, National Assembly.

“He attended the end of session event of the PDP caucus yesterday evening and spent only 30 minutes before leaving the members to continue with the event.

“The Senate President would like to assure every Nigerian that he is committed to the APC-led government and appreciates the confidence reposed in him and the APC during the 2015 General Elections.”

Omishore, on Monday, July 18, had defended his boss’s loyalty to APC, noting that the Senate President was committed to championing the ideals of the party.

APC Accuses Fayose Of Misleading Public On Alleged N1.3b Poultry Fraud

​The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has debunked the claim by Governor Ayodele Fayose that he has been discharged and acquitted by the Federal High Court in the alleged N1.3b poultry project fraud case instituted against him in 2005 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said in a statement on Wednesday that the governor had been misleading the public for long about the status of the case still pending in the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti.

Fayose had umpteenth time in the media and public speeches claimed that the court had acquitted him over the matter that was first before the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, before he contested the jurisdiction of the court, arguing that the alleged crime was committed in Ekiti State.

He won the argument and the case was subsequently transferred to the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, which resumed the hearing of the case without delivering judgment against the claim by the governor on several occasions that the court had cleared him.
But Olatunbosun said the party’s reaction to the governor’s claim became necessary to draw public attention to the true position of the matter.

He said contrary to Fayose’s claim, the matter is still alive and will be revisited immediately after the governor loses his immunity after the completion of his term.

Berating the governor for elevating falsehood to the state policy of his administration, Olatunbosun said: “It is regrettable that Fayose has made lies and falsehood a major plank of the state policy of his government.

“There is no iota of truth in Fayose’s claim of acquittal as no court has delivered judgment on the matter, which is still pending before the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti.

“The case was last heard by Mr. Justice Adamu Hobon of the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, where EFCC gave a blow-by-blow incontrovertible evidence of how Fayose used Biological Concepts Limited owned by his friend, Gbenga James, to defraud the Ekiti State of N1.3b to build houses and purchase car for his mother.

“After that sitting, what Fayose did was to approach the Supreme Court for an interlocutory injunction to frustrate the trial.

This is not the same thing as being discharged and acquitted over a matter that judgment is yet to be given,” he explained.

While urging Fayose to stop misleading the public over the status of the matter, Olatunbosun explained that the matter had reached the stage of exchange of addresses to be followed by judgment shortly before Fayose emerged as the governor-elect in June 2014.

Accusing Fayose of allegedly employing crooked ways to achieve his aim and later start running from pillar to post to cover up his tracks, Olatunbosun said no amount of lies, intrigues, and blackmail would save him from facing justice for his alleged crimes against the state.

Asking the governor to provide the court’s enrolment order discharging him on poultry project case to convince the public, he said it is regrettable that a governor who is supposed to be a role model for the youths lied “shamelessly to score cheap political points”.

He added that a judgment discharging Fayose in such celebrated N1.3 billion poultry scam case must have been delivered secretly; otherwise, it would have been reported in the media.

But the Chief Press Secretary to the governor Mr. Idowu Adelusi said he could not continue to react to all the allegations and propaganda of the APC.

According to him, ” I am too busy and more responsible to react to every propaganda of the Ekiti APC.

You don’t fight a pig, less it draws you into the dirty water”.

Eagles Failure To Qualify For Gabon 2017 AFCON Will Cost Nigeria N50b, Says Awogu

​The General Manager of SuperSport West Africa, Felix Awogu, has disclosed that Nigeria may lose up to N50 billion in revenue following Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2017 African Nations Cup to be held in Gabon.

Awogu, who spoke with journalists in Lagos yesterday, also hinted that SuperSport was preparing a team of experts for quality coverage of the fast approaching Rio Olympics Games.

The Super Eagles, led by coach Samson Siasia, failed to book a ticket for the 2017 AFCON, thereby denying Nigerians the opportunity of watching their team in the championship. It was Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the competition for a second time in a row. 

The Eagles, under the late coach Stephen Keshi had also lost out in the race to Equatorial Guinea 2015.

Awogu said that Eagles’ failure to appear in Gabon 2017 would not only take the glamour off the championship, but will also take a toll on so many businesses back home in Nigeria.

“In the first place, the championship will not be exciting to many Nigerian viewers because of the absence of the Super Eagles. A lot of people will lose out in the economic aspect of it. 

The bars will be empty and I can say roughly N50 billion will be lost due to Eagles’ non-participation. That is why every Nigerian must rally round the NFF and the Super Eagles so that the team picks the ticket to 2018 World Cup in Russia,” Awogu stated.

On coverage of the Rio Olympics Games, Awogu said Supersport has prepared a team of experts to deliver the best coverage of events to Nigerians, adding that his company was mindful of the zika virus in Brazil.

“The economic situation is rough, but we will be sending a full team to cover the Rio Olympics. A lot of people will be wondering how we will cope with the zika virus. We will take precautionary measures and I am confident going by the assurance from the government and people of Brazil regarding the zika virus.” 

On Team Nigeria’s chances in Rio, Awogu said: “A lot of people have said Nigeria failed at London 2012 Olympics and nothing good will come out from our athletes in Rio. I don’t see it from that angle. To me, we did not fail in London. Some of our athletes actually made it to the semifinals in their respective events in London. 

The missing link is how they will progress from the semis to the final, and I am sure the athletes will get it right in Rio. We can bank on our wrestlers for medals and also on athletes like Blessing Okagbare in the long jump and also the relay teams.”

Awogu also spoke on DSTV sponsorship of Nigerian basketball league, partnership with the League Management Company (LMC) on the local league and the revival of Nigerian boxing by GOtv.

 “We have been sponsoring the basketball league for five years now and we are happy because it has opened the doors for some Nigerian players to feature in the NBA in the United States.

“The revival of boxing by GOtv has also brought a turn around into the game and some of our boxers are already being invited to USA for fights. Look at what we are doing in the NPFL league. Now that four major roads have been opened to Maiduguri, we will look at possible ways of bringing to Nigerians live matches involving El-Kanemi FC. But we will take our Let’s Play team to Maiduguri first for the people to be part of the programme,” Awogu stated.

On French coach, Paul Le Guen, who just rejected the Super Eagles’ coaching job, Awogu said the situation does not call for shifting of blames.

 “We are partners with the NFF and I will be in Abuja tomorrow (today) to discuss a possible way of getting a good coach for the team. We can’t afford to miss out of Russia 2018 World Cup.

“What does it take to get a sound coach?Ikorodu United, FC Ifeanyi Ubah and Warri Wolves all have foreign coaches and they did not require rocket science to get the coaches of their choice.”