News In Brief Today - 5/4/2016

Morning!

1-Club appeals to Ambode for reversal of ban on public schools fields

The management of Synergy Ultimate  Football Club of Lagos has made an appeal to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State to reconsider his earlier decision to ban the use of public schools’ fields as training ground by clubs.

Coordinator of the Synergy Ultimate FC, Paul Erikewe, said the order has hindered the efforts made by its club and others to unearth gifted players that may be considered for selection in the national age-grade competition in the nearest future.

2-New leaks on overseas deals indict Nigerian, world leaders

A huge leak of confidential documents has revealed how the rich and powerful use tax havens to hide their wealth, as 11 million documents were leaked from one of the world’s most secretive companies, Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.

They show how Mossack Fonseca has helped clients launder money, dodge sanctions and avoid tax.

The company says it has operated beyond reproach for 40 years and has never been charged with criminal wrongdoing.

Some Nigerian politicians were named in the leak, as not less than four assets belonging to the Saraki family — all tucked away in offshore territories — were uncovered in the leak.

3-Rebuilding North East to cost N1tr, say FG, UN, EU, World Bank

At least N1 trillion is needed for immediate and short-term stabilisation and recovery of the North-East, an assessment and validation by multi-lateral institutions has shown.

Though the Nigeria’s North-East region has suffered damage put at about $9billion, a statement from the presidency, through one of its spokesmen, Laolu Akande, stated that “assessment revealed that over $6 billion would be needed for immediate and near-term stabilisation and recovery of the region.”

4-West Ham will not keep Emenike, Victor Moses

West Ham will not keep Emmanuel  Emenike and Victor Moses on permanent deals at the end of the season.

According to Sky Sports, the Hammers do have the option of making the loan deals with the Nigerian pair permanent but “have decided not to do so.”

It appears that the lack of first-team places by the two players is one of the major reasons the London club do not want to keep Emenike and Moses beyond the summer.

5-Cattle breeders allege abduction of five herdsmen in Abia

South East Chairman of Miyetti Allah  Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Gidado Siddiki, yesterday raised the alarm, alleging that five Fulani herdsmen have been abducted by unknown gunmen in Ngodo, Mbaugwu-Uturu community in Isiukwuato Local Council area of Abia State.

Siddiki, who made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Awka, the state capital, said the herdsmen were kidnapped in the bush as they grazed their cattle, adding that two persons had earlier been abducted before the abduction of the other three colleagues who went in search of them.

6-Arrested Boko Haram deputy leader moved to Abuja

The recently arrested deputy leader of Boko Haram Khalid Al-Barnawi has been moved to Abuja under tight security last night and kept in a secret location by operatives.

A source told The Guardian that the suspected kingpin who has been on the international wanted list was preparing to establish a formidable terrorists’ cell in Kogi State before his arrest.

The arrest of Al-Barnawi, the leader of Ansaru terrorist group, was said to have been effected by a joint operation involving the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.

7-Economy still gloomy as job, production crises worsen

For the third consecutive month of 2016  (Q1), production level, employment data and general business activities recorded disappointing outcomes, with raw material inventories and new orders data, among others, which are facilitated with foreign exchange, falling at a faster rate.

This verdict was contained in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s March edition of the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for manufacturing. Although the report noted a marginal shift to 45.9 per cent in the period, compared to 45.5 per cent in February, it only showed that the segment remained in the negative line.

8-Fayose in surprise peace deal with Aluko

Former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Mr. Temitope Aluko, who made far-reaching allegations against Governor Ayodele Fayose over the June 21, 2014 governorship election, was on Sunday night seen with the governor in Lagos.

They were seen with the former factional Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Dele Olugbemi at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos.

The trio were intercepted by journalists at the hotel around 11:30 p.m. Aluko who wore trousers and a sky blue shirt was seen walking shoulder-to-shoulder in animated and obviously amicable conversation with the governor.

9-Military kills 15 terrorists, rescues 275 hostages in Borno

Troops of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJF) and 22 Brigade Garrison of Nigerian Army Headquarters Strike Group (AHQ-SG) have killed 15 suspected terrorists and arrested 12 others during a joint military clearance operations on Sunday in Borno communities. They also destroyed a bomb-making factory in Bula Umara village, before rescuing 275 hostages

held in 10 villages. Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, disclosed this yesterday in a statement

issued to newsmen in Maiduguri.

10-Marketers begin fuel import amid forex challenges

In a swift move to exercise their fuel import allocation quota for the second quarter of 2016, some independent and major marketers have begun to import Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), despite the foreign exchange (forex) challenges.

Some of the marketers, who spoke with The Guardian, yesterday confirmed that the fuel scarcity might linger till the fourth week in April when most of the newly-imported cargoes will be

arriving the shores of this country.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday called on the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to persistent fuel scarcity in the country. The Labour during its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Lagos yesterday urged President Buhari to do all things practically possible to ensure that the scarcity situation is nipped in the bud.

-Guardian

ENTERTAINMENT

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*American soprano Tamara Wilson wins singers' Heisman Trophy - Associated Press

*JJC's Mom can't wait for Funke Akindele to bear her grandkids

*Azizi Gibson Releases "A New Life," Prepares for Seat on the Throne of West Coast Rap - Huffington Post

*Backstreet Boys to try out Vegas residency - CNN

*Bill Cosby's motion in defamation case is partially granted - Associated Press

*Brazzaville protesters mock Akon, Wizkid over concert - New Telegraph

*Caroline Danjuma: Has actress given up on her marriage - Pulse

*Celebrities Speak About Current Situation Of The Economy - Guardian

*Chris Brown: Pop singer debuts new look the iHeartRadio Music Award - Pulse

*Clooney says magazine fabricated interview - CNN

*Cossy Ojiakor squeezes her massive titties in new IG video

*Dancing Queen Ellen DeGeneres Launches Online Dance Series For Kids - Huffington Post

*Daddy Freeze condemns Showy African Pastors

*Jennifer Lopez Announces  New Single ''Ain't Your  Mama''~E

*Ivanka Trump’s Daughter  Continues to Be the Best Big  Sister~E

*Adrienne Bailon Breaks  Silence on Her New Boyfriend Israel Houghton~E