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Bayern beat Dortmund 2-1 to win the Champions League May 25, 2013   Arjen Robben Arjen Robben’s late goal fired Bayern Munich to UEFA Champions League glory with a 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in a compelling final at Wembley. According to Skysports report, the former Chelsea man, who missed a penalty against his old club in the final last year, found the net with just 90 seconds remaining to settle an end-to-end contest packed with drama and incident to secure a fifth European crown for the Bundesliga champions.  

Munich parties as Dortmund mourns in divided Germany May 27, 2013   Bayern Munich players celebrating their UEFA Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund in London... on Saturday. | credits: AFP Bayern Munich fans celebrated long into the night after their team’s 2-1 Champions League triumph over Dortmund at Wembley on Saturday ensured two defeats in the previous three finals were quickly forgotten. More than 40,000 Bayern fans erupted in delirious joy when Arjen Robben scored the 89th minute winner as they watched the match on a chilly, wet night at a special public viewing event set up on Munich’s Oktoberfest grounds. Another 50,000 Bayern supporters watching on video screens at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena were finally able to celebrate after the Dutch forward rescued them from the prospect of another heartbreaking defeat on Europe’s biggest stage. Many stormed the vacant pitch to proclaim the famous victory and tear up sods of turf as souvenirs...

We were struggling for the knife until … Arowolow tells court On May 23, 2013 BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH,  ONOZURE DANIA &  SAVIOUR UDOFA LAGOS — Akolade Arowolo, accused of killing his banker wife, Titilayo Arowolo,  yesterday, told an Ikeja High Court how he struggled with his slain wife while he was allegedly attacked with a knife by the deceased. Akolade, who was led in evidence on his defence by his lawyer, told the court that nothing could have made him to kill the deceased, because of the love he had for her. “I am not that kind of person, I loved her so much and I also love my daughter Olamide too,” Akolade said. He gave his testimony before Justice Lateefat Okunnu. Arowolo… the alleged killer Giving his account on what happened on the fateful day, Akolade said he received a call from his father on his birthday around 10 a.m. and several other calls before he left home for the bank to cash some money for the birthday celebration. Arowolo...

Land dispute: Abia Assembly sues for peace On May 23, 2013 BY Nnawunezi Paschal UMUAHIA—ABIA State House of Assembly has directed the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, and one of its host communities, Amaoba Ime, to steer clear of the disputed land between them, pending the resolution of the matter Amaoba had petitioned the House, complaining that the university authorities had encroached on its land and threatened to resist it, irrespective of whether it would breach peace in the area. In the petition, the community claimed that the university illegally appropriated extra eight hectares of its land. “Our community willingly donated to the university 171.14 hectares of land, not 179 hectares it claims now. “However, the university’s master plan will require 179 hectares of contiguous real estate. The extra eight hectares were not in the original agreement. “We are surprised that the university is currently erecting some structures on our land ...

Dickson alleges plot to destabilise Bayelsa On May 23, 2013 BY Samuel  Oyadongha Yenagoa—Bayelsa  State governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, has raised alarm over alleged plot by some persons to destabilise the state. Already, security agencies, it was learnt, have been put on red alert in the coastal hinterland of the state, which are not accessible by road. Citing intelligence report at government disposal, the governor said part of the plan was to threaten the unity of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state over the resolve by the state to work for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan. The governor reiterated the unity of members of PDP in Bayelsa State and the vigilance of his administration to stem the threat of the planned security breach. Accordingly, he said a meeting with the state security council, traditional rulers, chairmen of local government areas and development centres will be convened to brief them on the intelligence report ...

Nigeria’s out-of-school children estimated at 10 million – UBEC On May 23, 2013 Asaba—ACTING Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Prof. Charles Onocha, said in Asaba, Delta State, Wednesday, that specific interventions geared towards broadening access and ensuring functional learning for Nigerian citizens were being initiated to address the issue of the large number of out-of-school children estimated at 10 million. Speaking at the flag-off of the Needs Assessment Survey for the integration of out-of-school children  from South-East and South-South states, Onocha said: “Realising the enormous loss accruing to both its citizens and the country at large as a result of the impact of education on a large proportion of its youthful population, government has redoubled efforts towards reversing the trend. “I am delighted to inform that in the renewed drive for the education of known target groups, which hitherto had little or no access to ...

Mali operation: Army arrests saboteur soldiers On May 23, 2013 By KINGSLEY OMONOBI ABUJA—THE Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, said, yesterday, that soldiers who leaked information to terrorists about the movement of troops to Mali for AFISMA operations, thereby leading to the ambush and killing of two soldiers along the Okene-Lokoja road, have been arrested and are to face a military court martial. This was just as he disclosed that the Army will, this week, take delivery of 10, 000 bullet proof vests, as well as 10, 000 bullet proof helmets for use of troops deployed in several operations. Ihejirika who spoke at the 2013 Nigerian Army transformation seminar, noted that contrary to insinuations that the battle to dislodge terrorists from the North had led to shortage of troops for other operations; the Nigerian Army had enough manpower that was battle ready to undertake more challenges and tasks as may be directed by the Federal Government. His ...

Jonathan’s 2015 campaign posters flood P-Harcourt On May 23, 2013 PORT HARCOURT— CAMPAIGN posters and flyers projecting President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 presidential election flooded Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State, yesterday. The posters, indicating a group, Voter 2 Voter, with a bold picture of the President, read “Our Dependable Choice 2015.” The appearance of the campaign posters trailed escalated protests by youths in Rivers State, demanding Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s removal from office. The youths were believed to have pasted the posters. Thousands of anti-Amaechi protesters, under the aegis of Rivers People’s Assembly, RPA, disrupted traffic at the Mile 1 fly over parks as they came from different directions to swarm the Isaac Boro Park, where they first converged. Chief Nduka Emeka, who led one of the RPA protest groups, said they were determined to ensure that the governor provide answers to the ownership of the state’s grounded jet, which ...

Edo Assembly laments abandoned NDDC projects On May 23, 2013 By SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE BENIN—Edo State House of Assembly, yesterday, lamented what it described as the unacceptable number of abandoned Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, projects in the state and urged the Commission to make concerted efforts to complete them. Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Uyi Igbe, when the state representative on the Board of NDDC, Mr Henry Okhuarobo appeared before the House to throw more light on some NDDC projects in the state, said the leadership of the House was prepared to protest to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, headquarters of the Commission, if the situation was not addressed. The House, however, commended NDDC for some laudable projects being handled by the Commission in the state and urged it to do more. It will be recalled that the House had, last week, invited Okhuarobo, to appear before it to answer questions on some seemingly aba...

Lagos earns N29bn IGR, begs FG to pay N13bn debt On May 23, 2013 Lagos State Government,yesterday, said it recorded a monthly revenue increase of N29.0 billion in 2012 as against an average of N18.9 billion in 2008, even as it appealed to the Federal Government to urgently pay N13, 373, 919, 675.55 being verified indebtedness it owed pensioners in the state. Commissioner for Pensions, Establishments and Training, Mrs Florence Oguntuase, at the 2013 ministerial briefing to mark the sixth year anniversary of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration, lamented that the non-payment of the benefits had caused untold hardship to the pensioners and unnecessary burden on the state. The commissioner explained that the unpaid arrears were Federal Government‘s share of the total benefits of the pensioners, noting that the state had consistently settled its own share. According to her, “We are appealing to the Federal Government to settle the verified pension indebtedness to...

Nasarawa massacre: Director arrested, accused of leaking information to cultists On May 23, 2013 By SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, ABUJA Still trying to fish out the masterminds of the massacre of dozens of policemen and security agents in Alakyo in Nasarawa State about two weeks ago, security operatives have arrested a senior director working with the state government in connection with the killings. The officer was alleged to have passed strategic security information to the cultists thereby enabling them to strike with precision on the fateful day. Vanguard learnt from a reliable source that the director, whose name was given as Mohammed and works at the office of the Secretary to the State Government, was privy to most security decisions taken by the state on account of his position in the administration. Findings by Vanguard yesterday revealed that angry security agents, who are still peeved over the killings of their colleagues by the dreaded Ombatse cult gro...

Robbers attack female doctor, snatch LCDA van On May 23, 2013 By Evelyn Usman LAGOS—Robbers, who posed as stranded visitors, Monday, snatched a Toyota Hilux pick-up van belonging to Iba Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Ojo Lagos. The four-man armed gang as gathered, stormed a building located in Shogunle area of Lagos at 7a.m. and reportedly accosted occupant of the vehicle, a woman later identified as Dr. Nkiruka Ubani. While two of them reportedly pointed locally-made cut-to-size guns at her, ordering her to get down from the vehicle, others were said to have kept watch for any intruder. The visibly shaken Dr. Ubani was said to have pleaded with the robbers to take all she had but the vehicle, which she said was an official car. However, her plea fell on deaf ears as one of the bandits was said to have dragged her out; threatening to shoot her if she raised any alarm. The bandits were said to have thereafter, jumped into the van, with number plate BR 16...

Corruption allegation: NJC insists on probing of Justice Gunmi On May 23, 2013 By IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI ABUJA—The National Judicial Council, NJC, yesterday, said it would still go ahead and investigate allegations of corruption levelled against the former Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Lawal Hassan Gunmi, despite his voluntary resignation from office. Consequently, the Council which is presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloma Mariam Muhktar dismissed an objection that was filed before it by the ex-CJ, seeking to stop his probe on the premise that he is no longer a judicial officer, having resigned to become an Emir in Zamfara State. At the resumed hearing of one of the petitions against him, Gunmi, through his consortium of lawyers led by Mr Israel Olorundare, SAN and Sunday Ameh, SAN, challenged the competence of the NJC to continue the probe, saying that he had relinquished his office since May 13, 2013. It was his ...

Rivers crisis: We’ll correct our mistakes, AIG assures Amaechi On May 23, 2013 By JIMITOTA ONOYUME The Police, yesterday, said its officers and men in the Rivers State Command might have committed errors in the discharge of their constitutional duties in the recent events unfolding in the state. The Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone 6, Calabar, Cross River State, Mr. Jonathan Johnson, when he led a delegation of senior police officers in the zone on a courtesy visit to the Rivers State governor, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, at Government House, Port Harcourt, said he would correct the mistakes made by the officers and men in Rivers State Police Command. He added  that he had directed the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Joseph Mbu, to ensure there would be no more security breach in the state. Meanwhile, the state Police Commissioner, Mr Mbu, has banned all forms of street protests in the state. Mbu, at the Police headquarters, yesterday, at...

Kirikiri residents protest neglect by oil firms On May 23, 2013 BY WILLIAM JIMOH LAGOS— FOR second day running, operations of five oil firms in Kirikiri town, Oriade Local Council Development Council Area, LCDA, of Lagos State, were paralysed by residents protesting the deplorable state of roads in the community and lack of employment opportunities for its youths. The community accused the oil firms of not only refusing to offer jobs to the youths but also destroyed the two major roads in the community (Cardoso and Karimu) by their heavy duty trucks. Affected oil companies are Bovas Oil, Techno Oil, Swift Oil, Index Petrolube Africa and Fatgbems Oil. The protesters who displayed several placards with inscriptions such as “repair our roads and provide jobs for our youths”, blamed the sorry state of the major roads in the town on oil companies and vowed to halt their operations by preventing tanker trucks from entering into the community until their demands were me...

Boko Haram detainees ‘ll be released in phases – Presidency On May 23, 2013 By HENRY UMORU ABUJA — THE Presidency, yesterday, disclosed that the order directing the release from Police, DSS and military detention centres of Boko Haram suspects detained in connection with the security challenge, would be carried out in phases. According to the Presidency, the first batch would lay emphasis on women and children who have been in detention on suspicion of involvement and/or connection with insurgency in some parts of the country. In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, the Presidency explained that the first phase would be followed by other phased releases where cases would be treated on their individual merits by the defence authorities and security agencies. Okupe said, “It has become necessary to make further clarifications on the directive for the release of some people held in connection with activit...

Abolish al-majiri system, Mark tells Northern Govs On May 23, 2013 By HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE ABUJA—SENATE President, David Mark, yesterday, blamed leaders and politicians from the North for the growing almajiri in the region, saying they must urgently rise up to ban the system. This is even as he said the Federal Government would no longer condone criminal acts by people in the country on excuse of unemployment. Mark, who spoke during a debate on a bill, “A Bill for an Act to Repeal and Re-enact the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Act 2003”, sponsored by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, PDP, Cross River Central, was reacting to the issue of parental negligence raised by Senator Alkali Abdulkadir Jajere, ANPP, Yobe South. Jajere had sought a stiff legislation compelling parents, particularly in the North, to take adequate care of their wards, saying it was time for the almajiri system in the region to be done away with. He also gave a heart-rending pict...

10,000 megawatts to be generated by Dec – FG On May 23, 2013 By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke ABUJA—THE federal government, yesterday, disclosed that plans had been concluded to move from the present position of power generation of 4,500 to 10,000 megawatts by December. Speaking when she appeared before the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy, led by Senator Phillip Adudua, PDP, FCT, Minister of State for Power, Hajia Zainab Kuchi, told the senators that the federal government had completed the process of privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN. Kuchi, who disclosed that N347 billion was required for increase in transmission of megawatts, said the generating and transmission companies could not be handed over yet as the ministry was poised to ensure that they were in good shape before their hand over to the successor companies. She raised alarm that the handover had been hampered by lack of fund, adding that the min...

Achebe, no father of African literature — Soyinka On May 19, 2013 By Nnawunezi Paschal  As celebrated author, Chinua Achebe’s final burial rites hold this week, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka in this exclusive interview with Sahara Reporters paid tribute to the famous author but says he(Achebe) is not the father of African literature. Soyinka, who won the 1986 Nobel Prize for literature, also spoke on his personal relationship with Achebe and other Nigerian writers; his regrets about Achebe’s last book, There Was A Country: A Personal History of Biafra; and his attempt to talk the late Biafran leader, Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, out of fighting a war Do you recall where or how you first learned about the death of Professor Chinua Achebe? And what was your first reaction? Where I heard the news? I was on the road between Abeokuta and Lagos. Who called first – BBC or a Nigerian journalist? Can’t recall now, since other calls followed fast and furious, while I was still tr...

Jilted lover rapes, stabs girlfriend to death On May 23, 2013 BY EVELYN USMAN LAGOS — Operatives at the Ogun State Criminal Investigation Department, Elewe-Eran, have arrested a 25- year-old man who allegedly raped and stabbed his girlfriend to death in her parents’ apartment in Ogijo area close to Ikorodu. The suspect, Anuoluwapo Akinloye, a bricklayer,  who admitted to have committed the act, told Vanguard that he did it out of jealousy and fear of losing his girlfriend, Rafiat Akinyemi. According to him; “when I met her, I told her I would marry her and she agreed. Along the line, she told me she would only marry me if I convert to Islam which I did. “I started going to the mosque and observing the monthly fast. I even changed my name to Ismail and also applied for a post in the security department of the mosque I was worshiping just to please her. “In the process I was disowned by my parents for converting to Islam. But I never cared because I loved her. ...

Chinua Achebe: 1930 – 2013 On May 23, 2013 THE death of Africa’s foremost writer, critic and cultural pathologist, Chinualumogu Albert Achebe is a great loss to a world where the wisdom of sacred spoken and written words is observed with high reverence. A way to measure the loss could be the quantum of tributes that have continued to pour in from writers, Presidents across the world, the Senate of State of New York, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the National Assembly. They eulogised Achebe as a penetrating writer with acute imagination, as a global citizen with outstanding concerns for the world’s problems. Achebe, like Okonkwo, the hero of his famous novel, Things Fall Apart, at a young age, established his fame with his landscaping, Things Fall Apart, an imaginative narrative, which he wrote at 28. He was admitted to the University of Ibadan to read medicine, but after a year, he opted for English and found his passion in elevating Africa through the Afri...

Ibrahimovic mulls PSG departure On May 22, 2013 · In Sports STOCKHOLM (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic admitted Wednesday that a departure from the Ligue 1 champions could not be ruled out if the club continues to lack stability behind the scenes. The celebrations of PSG’s first French title in 19 years have been overshadowed by uncertainty surrounding the future of Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, who last weekend admitted publicly that he wishes to leave amid speculation that he has been lined up to replace Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid. Ibrahimovic “We hear talk about the coach and of a heap of players who could be coming or going. I am not used to that,” Ibrahimovic told Swedish journalists. Former Ajax, Juventus, Internazionale and Barcelona striker Ibrahimovic, who signed from AC Milan last summer, has scored 29 goals in PSG’s title-winning campaign and was last weekend named Ligue 1′s Player of the Year. “In Barcelona and Milan...

Court sentences banker to 6 months in prison for breach of trust On May 22, 2013 Bello Jimoh, a 52-year-old banker, was on Tuesday sentenced to six months imprisonment, by a Karu Senior Magistrates’ Court for misappropriating  N621,387 in his custody. The Senior Magistrate, Sharon Ishaya, passed the judgment after the convict pleaded guilty to the two-count-charge of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation filed against him. The prosecutor, Sgt. Mohammed Garba, told the court that the case was reported at the Garki Police Station by one Hamidu Musa, an employee of M and M Micro finance Bank, Garki, Abuja. Garba said Jimoh was employed by the bank as a marketing officer and assigned the task of securing depositors’ funds. The prosecutor stated that the management of the bank on May 9 discovered that the sum of N621,387 was missing from the depositors’ funds. He said investigation into the matter showed that the convict converted the amount ...

Zimbabwe limits presidential tenures to two five-year terms On May 22, 2013 HARARE  (AFP) – President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday signed Zimbabwe’s new constitution into law, clearing the path to crucial elections later this year. The longtime ruler inked the document two months after it was overwhelmingly approved in a referendum. “This day is an historic day, it’s about the future,” Constitutional Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga said at the signing ceremony, held in a marquee erected on the lush green lawns of the State House. “I can assure you that this document which is before us is a good document.” A new constitution is one of the pre-conditions for elections to pick a successor to the shaky compromise government Mugabe formed four years ago with his nemesis Morgan Tsvangirai. The new constitution curtails the president’s powers, limits presidential tenures to two five-year terms and does away with the post of prime minister. Mugabe, 89, has rule...

Anamabra stands still for Achebe On May 22, 2013 in News Obi leads mourners in Awka By McPhilips Nwachukwu & Vincent Ujumadu AWKA – AWKA, the capital of Anambra State stood still, Wednesday as the body of the literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe arrived the state for its final journey to Ogidi, his home town,  in Idemili North local government area where it will be interred tomorrow. What happened at the Alexander Ekwueme Arcade, Awka, was simply mind blowing. The remains of the famous writer of Things Fall Apart, who died in Boston, United States of America, USA, was  flown into Enugu from Abuja and was finally brought to  Awka, the Anambra  State capital at exactly 1.07pm Wednesday. The remains of late Achebe was brought in motorcade to the expansive Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, into the waiting hands of his kinsmen, friends, colleagues, business  and high profile delegates from governments from across the world. Governor Peter Obi and...

Igbo will miss Achebe for a long time – Ohanaeze On May 22, 2013 · In Achebe: Exit of a literary giant *Urges Igbos youths to emulate his resourcefulness By Tony Edike ENUGU—THE apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said, Wednesday, that the departed literary giant, Professor Chinua Achebe whose remains would be finally laid to rest at his Ogidi countryhome in Anambra State tomorrow, would be missed for a very long time. The umbrella Igbo organization said Achebe’s departure has left a yawning gap in the horizon of the Igbo nation. Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, who spoke with Vanguard on the demise of the renowned author, said that the organization viewed Achebe’s exit as “very tragic” and would not be forgotten easily. He said: “Achebe’s departure is a traumatic blow to Ndigbo and indeed Africans even though 82 is a ripe age, we would have wanted him to live forever.  His demise has left a yawning gap in our horizon. ...

PDP ‘ll win Imo in 2015 – Ex-minister On May 22, 2013 OWERRI—Former Minister of Interior, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, has said the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would bounce back and reclaim Imo State as the citizenry did not vote against the party but an individual. Iheanacho, who stated this at a briefing, also declared his intention to run for the gubernatorial election in 2015 on the PDP platform. Describing the 2011 general elections in Imo State as “a watershed”, Iheanacho  predicted that in 2015 general elections, primodial sentiments would be set aside. He pleaded with fellow politicians to refine their politicking and base it on issues and ideas.  

Source: Man killed by FBI agent 'directly involved' in murders, knew Tsarnaevs May 22, 2013 By Nnawunezi Paschal   Ibragim Todashev, shot dead early Wednesday by the FBI in Florida, was "directly involved" in a 2011 triple homicide in Waltham, Massachusetts, a law enforcement official told CNN Wednesday. Todashev was fatally shot by an FBI agent during questioning about those homicides and whether he played a role in last month's Boston Marathon bombings. "During questioning, it became clear that he was involved in the murders," said the official on condition of anonymity. There was a confrontation between him and police during the questioning, according to a second law enforcement official, which led to the shooting and Todashev's death. The unsolved triple murder received renewed interest after it was learned that Tamerlan Tsarnaev, a deceased suspect in the Boston Marathon attacks, had been a good friend of one of the vic...