Manchester City Wins Appeal, To Play In Champions League Next Season

Manchester City has won their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over alleged financial fair play (FFP) violations and is free to play in the Champions League next season, it was announced on Monday. City was originally banned from European competitions for two seasons but won their appeal to CAS, meaning fifth place in the Premier League will no longer qualify for the Champions League. Manchester United occupy fifth in the table as it stands. A statement from CAS read:- “The CAS award emphasized that most of the alleged breaches reported by the Adjudicatory Chamber of the CFCB were either not established or time-barred. “As the charges with respect to any dishonest concealment of equity funding were clearly more significant violations than obstructing the CFCB’s investigations, it was not appropriate to impose a ban on participating in UEFA’s club competitions for MCFC’s failure to cooperate with the CFCB’s investigations alone.” City took their case to CAS on June 8 after they were initially handed a two-year ban from UEFA competition and a €30 million ($33m) fine issued to them by the Adjudicatory Chamber of the Independent Club Financial Control Body (CFCB). Following Monday’s verdict, the fine was reduced to €10m. A Manchester City statement read: “Whilst Manchester City and its legal advisors are yet to review the full ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the Club welcomes the implications of today’s ruling as a validation of the Club’s position and the body of evidence that it was able to present. The Club wishes to thank the panel members for their diligence and the due process that they administered.” The CFCB found that City “committed serious breaches” of FFP regulations — which limit the net losses clubs can accrue over a three-year period — between 2012 and 2016 and failed to cooperate with the subsequent investigation. It was said that the club overstated “its sponsorship revenue in its accounts and in the break-even information submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016.” In response, City claimed the process was “flawed” and said there was “irrefutable evidence” that would lead to them winning an appeal. FFP was introduced by UEFA at the start of the 2011-12 campaign, as a way of stopping clubs falling into financial difficulties by overspending. Ahead of Monday’s verdict, manager Pep Guardiola had also voiced his confidence that City would get the ban overturned. “The intention is every season to play in the Champions League as best as possible, it’s not about Monday,” Guardiola said. “On Monday, I’m so confident because I know and hear the arguments of the club. Next season we will be there and after I will give my opinion and the club will give a statement.” City is also still able to compete in this season’s Champions League. They hold a 2-1 first-leg lead over Real Madrid in the round of 16, and will play either Juventus or Lyon in the quarterfinals if they progress. Manchester City has won their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over alleged financial fair play (FFP) violations and is free to play in the Champions League next season, it was announced on Monday. City was originally banned from European competitions for two seasons but won their appeal to CAS, meaning a fifth place in the Premier League will no longer qualify for the Champions League. Manchester United occupy fifth in the table as it stands. A statement from CAS read: “The CAS award emphasized that most of the alleged breaches reported by the Adjudicatory Chamber of the CFCB were either not established or time-barred. “As the charges with respect to any dishonest concealment of equity funding were clearly more significant violations than obstructing the CFCB’s investigations, it was not appropriate to impose a ban on participating in UEFA’s club competitions for MCFC’s failure to cooperate with the CFCB’s investigations alone.” City took their case to CAS on June 8 after they were initially handed a two-year ban from UEFA competition and a €30 million ($33m) fine issued to them by the Adjudicatory Chamber of the Independent Club Financial Control Body (CFCB). Following Monday’s verdict, the fine was reduced to €10m. A Manchester City statement read: “Whilst Manchester City and its legal advisors are yet to review the full ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the Club welcomes the implications of today’s ruling as a validation of the Club’s position and the body of evidence that it was able to present. The Club wishes to thank the panel members for their diligence and the due process that they administered.” The CFCB found that City “committed serious breaches” of FFP regulations — which limit the net losses clubs can accrue over a three-year period — between 2012 and 2016 and failed to cooperate with the subsequent investigation. It was said that the club overstated “its sponsorship revenue in its accounts and in the break-even information submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016.” In response, City claimed the process was “flawed” and said there was “irrefutable evidence” that would lead to them winning an appeal. FFP was introduced by UEFA at the start of the 2011-12 campaign, as a way of stopping clubs falling into financial difficulties by overspending. Ahead of Monday’s verdict, manager Pep Guardiola had also voiced his confidence that City would get the ban overturned. “The intention is every season to play in the Champions League as best as possible, it’s not about Monday,” Guardiola said. “On Monday, I’m so confident because I know and hear the arguments of the club. Next season we will be there and after I will give my opinion and the club will give a statement.” City is also still able to compete in this season’s Champions League. They hold a 2-1 first-leg lead over Real Madrid in the round of 16 and will play either Juventus or Lyon in the quarterfinals if they progress.

Man Dies After Attending ‘COVID Party’ In US, Thinking Virus Was A ‘Hoax’

“I think I made a mistake. I thought this was a hoax, but it’s not.” Those were the final words of a 30-year-old patient who died at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio this week after attending a so-called “COVID party,” according to the hospital. Dr. Jane Appleby, chief medical officer for Methodist Hospital and Methodist Children’s Hospital, said in a recorded statement that the unidentified patient told nurses about the party, which she said is hosted by someone diagnosed with coronavirus. “The thought is people get together to see if the virus is real and if anyone gets infected,” Appleby said. Appleby said she shared the story not to scare people, but to make sure they understand that the virus can affect anyone. Bexar County, where San Antonio is located, currently has 18,602 confirmed cases, with an increase of 923 on Friday, according to the Department of Health. The age range with the most cases were in people aged 20 to 29, making up 24%, and 30 to 39, making up 20%, according to the department. Appleby said her hospital is seeing more cases in people in their 20s and 30s. She said while some can be treated and discharged, others become seriously ill. Appleby warned that the virus “doesn’t discriminate” and encouraged the public to wear a mask and stay home as much as possible.

Shocking Details Of Criminal Complaint Against Suspected Fraudster, Mr Woodberry

The criminal complaint against the suspected fraudster, Olalekan Jacob Ponle aka Mr. Woodberry, has revealed more details of the alleged fraud by the Instagram big boy. Mr. Woodberry was arrested last month in the United Arab Emirates, where he was living, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago. He was expelled from the country and into FBI custody and arrived in Chicago where he appeared in court to face a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to an affidavit, prosecutors from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), say the scheme by Woodberry spanned at least the first nine months of 2019 and involved multiple unknown subjects who gained unauthorized access to U.S based companies’ email accounts. The criminal complaint stated that he sent email messages to employees that were nearly identical to prior legitimate emails sent over the company’s accounts. The emails instructed people to wire funds to a bank account set up by “money mules” at Ponle’s direction, prosecutors say. The complaint alleges Ponle directed the mules to convent the proceeds of the fraud into Bitcoin and send them to a virtual wallet that Ponle owned and operated. According to the complaint, an unnamed Chicago company was defrauded into sending wire transfers totaling $15.2 million. Companies based in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, New York, and California also were victims of the fraud, prosecutors say. The affidavit read in part; “One of these BEC schemes involved a Chicago-based company (Victim Company A) that was defrauded out of $2,300,000. A second Chicago-based company (Victim Company K) was defrauded into sending wire transfers totaling $15,268,000.00. Preliminary blockchain analysis indicates that PONLE received at least 1,494.71506296 bitcoin related to these BEC schemes, valued at approximately $6,599,499.98 at the time he received the proceeds.” The complaint also went on to detail how he allegedly defrauded the companies, and also released some of his chats with victims and associates. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. 

“We Have Not Been Paid Tuition For One Year” – NDDC Scholarship Beneficiary Makes Shocking Revelation

A beneficiary of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) international scholarship has made a shocking revelations about corruption in the commission.

The beneficiary who goes by the name, Olukayode Olugbemi, revealed this in a series of Tweets on his handle, @OmoKakafiala.

According to Olukayode Olugbemi, there are 210 scholars under the scheme, as against the over 1,000 students figure which was released.

He also revealed that they have not been paid their tuition for one year now, as he reacted to Mr Jonshson’s claim on ChannelsTv that the funds had been diverted.

See what he wrote below:-

Hi @seunokin, I just saw the Politics Today clip with the NDDC, where Mr. Johnson confirmed that monies for scholars have been diverted. Let me make it clear that Dr Ojougboh or Prof Pondei have never visited us. The figure that we are over 1,000 students is alarming.

2019 scholars are 210 students. The leadership has not paid our tuition for 1 year. While I have been at the forefront of this struggle for our payment, I can confirm to you that we have not been paid and are very available to come up on @channelstv.

If you want, I can provide you with at least 1 Masters's and 1 Ph.D. scholar in different universities. As far as we know, Mr Johnson was correct and we are very much alive to tell our story if need be.

Olukayode Olugbemi also went on to make a video on the platform where he made more revelations.

Watch the video below:-

No 40 Billion Is Missing At NDDC – Director Says

The management of the Niger Delta Development Commission has been inundated by inquiries from stakeholders following allegations that the expanded Interim Management Committee (IMC) misappropriated N40 billion between February 20 and May 5, 2020.

Although most of our stakeholders are aware of the malevolent intentions of those making these allegations, we believe that we owe them a duty of transparency to present the true financial picture of payments by the commission during the period.

We are therefore taking the unusual step of publishing ALL payments made by the Commission between February 20, when the expanded IMC came into office and May 5 when the allegations were made.

The list covers the beneficiaries of the payments, the projects which they executed, and for which the commission had a contractual obligation to pay, the amount paid and the date and time of payment.

The IMC has only paid out N35.3 billion to vendors and contractors within the period. The debts paid cover historical debts to vendors, some of whom have been owed between N1 million and N3 million, for up to eight years. The payments were intended to save lives and livelihoods as well as alleviate the suffering in the region.

Most of the vendors borrowed money from banks to render services to the Commission. Some became very ill and were in the hospital.

Some of the contractors have died waiting to be paid for jobs they executed for the Commission.

There was nothing the Commission could have done than respond to what had become a humane issue. It is pertinent for the Commission to make a few points.

1. The Niger Delta Development Commission is a going concern. As a result, every management inherits both its assets and liabilities. In the case of this Interim Management Committee, it inherited liabilities of N2 trillion. These are for supplies for the running of the Commission, services provided to the people of the Niger Delta in the discharge of the mandate of the Commission, and projects executed in the nine states.

The Commission has a duty to settle contractual claims. Failure to do this in the past has caused the Commission millions Naira in legal fees, endless time in courts, and garnishee orders on its account. The mandate handed down to this IMC by Mr. President through the Hon Minister of Niger Delta Affairs is that the Commission must change the ways of the past. Acting responsibly in honoring obligations is part of that change ethos.

2. The Commission carried out verification and valuation of the debts it settled. Some of the claims were higher but at the end of verification were reduced. The Commission also refused to pay fraudulent claims even though they were pushed by powerful forces. The case of 132 claims, amounting to N6.4 billion, for skills acquisition programs that were never executed is but one example.

3. From the list we are publishing today, no payment was made to the supervising minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio, (the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs) or any member of the IMC or any person related to them. All the payments were for debts incurred before the IMC came into office or Senator Akpabio became a supervising minister. In other words, these debts cover transactions that predate the Hon Minister and the IMC. This clarification has become necessary because of the antics of chartered character assassins stomach, propagandists, and voices for hire who have accused the Hon Minister and the IMC of phantom, phony and illusory financial infractions at the Commission.

4. The IMC has not awarded any contract, since its inception, apart from the N6.25 billion COVID 19 intervention approved by Mr President.

That approval saved lives in the region. The COVID contract had three components: procurement of medical equipment, the supply of food palliative, and public enlightenment. The Commission procured 27 trilogies, 202 ventilators, 65 ECG Machines, 54 RT PCR Machines, 18 APC smart digital UPS 5KVA, 36 infra-red thermometers, 18 double jar suction machines, 18 Fluid warmers, 18 multi-parameter patient monitors, 94 standard ICU beds, 95 oxygen cylinders, 95 oxygen masks, 95 infusion pumps, 18 mobile X-ray machines, 18 mobile ultrasound machines, 18 mobile dialysis machines, 18 arterial blood gas machines, sanitizers, and syringe pumps.

All the procured equipment has been distributed to the nine Niger Delta states and received by the state governors. Beyond COVID 19, this intervention has boosted the healthcare delivery capacity of the nine states. Food palliatives have been supplied to vulnerable people in all the states in the region. The public enlightenment campaign has been effective in creating the right awareness and changing attitudes. We are grateful to Mr. President for this intervention, which has saved lives in the region.

5. As the IMC has not awarded any other contract, it means it has not paid for any contract for which it initiated.

6. The President has ordered a forensic audit on the Commission operations of the Commission for the past 18 years. That audit will value and verify all claims against the Commission. It will also bring to account those who looted the commonwealth of the people of the Niger Delta to fund their ego and inordinate greed for luxury and power. The task of the IMC is to provide an enabling environment for the exercise to succeed.

This involves providing the auditors with unhindered access to project files, accounting documents and staff; security for the team in the nine states, and media/ communications/community relations support.

7. We believe that the Commission’s debt mountain of N2 trillion Naira will be reduced at the end of the forensic audit exercise. The Commission has made this publication for the sake of transparency.

We believe this will reassure our stakeholders of the high level of probity, integrity, and sense of responsibility being brought into the running of the affairs of the Commission by the IMC. As for those who relish in making wild allegations, in the vain and unrealistic hope that they can distract the IMC to truncate the Forensic Audit exercise, we say that they have failed. Judgment day is nigh!

Signed:
Charles Obi Odili
Director, Corporate Affairs.

See Below:-

Herbs Made Me Sodomize Boys, Male Suspect Reveals

The Nasarawa state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has arrested a 25-year-old man identified as Yusuf Bello, for sodomizing an 11-year-old boy in Lafia, the state’s capital. Bello blamed his action on herbal mixture he ingested, which he claimed gave him an erection he couldn’t control. Confessing to the crime, he said: “Some few days after the Sallah celebration, I had a running stomach and approached a herbalist who sold herbal medicine to me for N150. He told me that the medicine had no side effects, but some hours after I took it, I had an erection and couldn’t control it. I went to the toilet where I saw a boy who I called and I had anal sex with him.” The state NSCDC commandant, Dr. Muhammad Mahmoud Fari who said the suspect was arrested immediately after committing the act, further disclosed he will be arraigned in court after investigation has been concluded.

FG To Review Air Agreements With UK, Others Over ‘Unacceptable Treatments’

The federal government Sunday said it would review its Air agreements with various countries as a result of the unacceptable treatment of Nigerian carriers during the coronavirus pandemic. It specifically lamented that the United Kingdom government withdrew the landing rights of Air Peace close to departure time for the evacuation of stranded Nigerians despite making all necessary payments. The Nigeria High Commission, London, had in a statement said that the evacuation of stranded Nigerians scheduled for Monday was rescheduled for Tuesday after the UK government denied Air Peace Landing permit. But the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, in series of tweets from his verified Twitter handle explained reasons behind the rescheduled evacuation flight from the United Kingdom. He said that having been allowed to carry out one very successful evacuation of Nigerians from London at very low fares, Air Peace in coordination with the Nigerian government and full knowledge of the UK authorities scheduled two additional flights. Onyeama added : “All the arrangements were made including payments, only for the UK authorities to withdraw landing rights close to departure despite strong representations by the Nigerian Government including pointing out the hardship that would be caused to hundreds of Nigerian evacuees. “Air Peace could have just refunded the passengers but exceptionally, patriotically and altruistically agreed to find an alternative carrier acceptable to the UK authorities to carry out “The Nigerian Government will review its Air agreements with various countries as a result of the unacceptable treatment of Nigerian carriers during this pandemic.” Onyeama noted that these higher fares could legitimately have been passed on to the evacuees but Air Peace bore this huge cost itself.” He said the explanation became imperative in order to let the aggrieved evacuees know that the objects of their grievances should neither be Air Peace nor the Nigerian government. The minister said they should rather be eternally grateful to Air Peace.

Please Ignore Fake Recruitment Advert – Army Urges Nigerians

The Nigerian Army has called on members of the public to ignore an advert purportedly seeking to enlist young Nigerians into the army. Maj. Nsima Essien, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Directorate of Army Recruitment, Resettlement and Reserve (DARRR), said this in a statement issued on Sunday in Port Harcourt. Essien, who said that the fake recruitment exercise was the handiwork of fraudsters, warned aspiring applicants against falling prey to the scam. She said: “The attention of the DARRR has been drawn to circulation of fake recruitment form for 2020/2021, obtained through the web link: http://recruitment.army.mil.ng. “The website is purportedly seeking the enlistment of citizens into the Nigerian Army. “The directorate wishes to inform the public that the recruitment form in circulation is fake, and the web link is not the official website of DARRR.” Essien pointed out that DARRR recruitment portal had not been opened to applicants seeking to enlist for 80 regular intake into the army. “So the public is hereby requested to note that all information related to DARRR can be accessed through its official website: https://recruitment.army.mil.ng. “To this end, this disclaimer, therefore, serves as timely notice for the public to beware of the scam,” She said.

EFCC Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu Opens Up On ‘N550B Missing Interest’

Ibrahim Magu, the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has denied the claim that he failed to account for the interest in the N550 billion recovered fund kept in the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, custody.

Recall that the Final Report of Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets, PCARA, surfaced at the weekend showing how interest rates accruing from N550 billion recovered by the anti-graft agency in the period from May, 2015, to May 2020.

The report said the EFCC,

“Failure to report on the interest on actual lodgments clearly establishes that interest element of over N550 billion has been re-looted relating to the period under review.”

But in a statement by his lawyer Wahab Shittu on Sunday, Magu said such recovered fund kept with the CBN do not generate interest.

The statement added,

“It is falsehood that Magu placed N550 billion recovered loot into a deposit account.

“The alleged transaction never featured in the proceedings before the Salami panel. Magu was never confronted with any such allegation by the panel and the news is blatant falsehood.

“To the best of Magu’s knowledge, no such amount is in any such account and he remains aghast at such outrageous figures. No one has confronted Magu with such allegations.

“All recovered funds are lodged in the Treasury Single Account (TSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Such recovered funds do not generate interest. This is elementary and can be verified from the CBN and the federal ministry of finance.

“This can also be confirmed from other government revenue generating agencies. Funds kept in TSA account do not generate interest.”

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had on Friday suspended Magu as the acting chairman of the EFCC.

The agency’s Director of Operations, Mohammed Umar, has taken charge and now oversees the activities of the Commission pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation into Magu’s case.

Magu, on Friday wrote the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, asking to be released on bail.

In a letter dated July 10, 2020, Magu’s legal representative, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, asked Adamu to grant bail to his client on “self recognizance.”

The acting EFCC Chairman was arrested on Monday and taken to the presidential Villa in Abuja, where he is being interrogated by a panel headed by Ayo Salami, a retired president of the Appeal Court.

APC Chieftain Dares Buhari, NEC In Court, Wants Oshiomhole Back

Another All Progressives Congress (APC) court battle has commenced.

This time, a chieftain, Barrister Kalu Agu, is challenging the dissolution of the Adams Oshiomhole led National Working Committee (NWC) by the National Executive Council (NEC).

The NEC, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, had appointed ex-National Secretary and Yobe Governor, Mai Mala Buni, as the Caretaker Chairman.

But Agu, a Youth Leader of the party in Abia State, insists that the council lacks the powers to sack the national leaders barely two years out of their constitutionally guaranteed four-year term of office.

The plaintiff, in suit no FHC/ABJ/ CS/736/2020, is praying for an order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, setting aside the dissolution of the NWC.

Agu is also praying the court for an order restraining the Buni-led committee from parading themselves as national officers of the APC.

Additionally, he is praying the court for an order restraining the committee from putting into effect the resolution of the APC NEC meeting passed on June 25, 2020.

Agu wants an order barring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing, dealing with or relating with the caretaker committee in whatever guise to usurp the functions of the NWC.

The party member is equally seeking an order of mandatory injunction compelling INEC to continue to recognise the Oshiomhole led members of the NWC as the authentic national officers of the party.

The APC chieftain through his counsel, Ukpai Ukairo, is asking the court to strike down Article 17 of the APC constitution which provided for the appointment of officers into the organs of the party for being inconsistent with section 223 of the 1999 Constitution and section 85 of the Electoral Act of 2010.

In a 44- paragraph affidavit in support of the originating summons, Agu claimed to be one of the foundation members of the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) under which he ran for the House of Representatives in Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency of Abia State in 2011.

After the 2011 general elections, the CPC and others merged in 2013 to form the present APC.

Agu averred that he is an accredited APC member and that he was elected as the Abia State Youth Leader in April 2014 during the state’s congress held at Umuahia.

Insisting that the 1999 Constitution guaranteed four-year tenure for party officials, Agu declared that in breach of the same constitution, the NEC meeting passed an illegal resolution dissolving the NWC and also setting up an illegal caretaker committee.

Agu is praying the court to declare the dissolution of the NWC as unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and another declaration that the recognition accorded the caretaker committee is unconstitutional and illegal.

Respondents are the caretaker committee members.

They are Buni, Isiaka Oyebola, Ken Nnamani, Stella Okorete, Governor Sank Bello, Dr. James Lalu, Senator Abubakar Yusuf, Hon Akinyemi Olaide, David Leon, Professor Their Mamman, Isiaka Ahmed and Senator Akpan Udoedehe.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.