Oshaniwa joins Hearts

Nigeria international Juwon Oshaniwa has signed a three-year contract with Hearts after passing his medicals on Friday.

The Super Eagles defender has been handed jersey No. 78 in Robbie Neilson’s team having completing his move to the Scottish giants

The 24-year-old, capped 17 times by the Super Eagles, left Ironi Ashdod after a disappointing season in the Israeli topflight where they got relegated to the second division.

The Tynecastle club have had to be patient as the dealings became twisted up in administration but Hearts manager Robbie Neilson believes the wait for the Nigerian international will be vindicated when he eventually plays his way into the team.

"It has been difficult because we had hoped to get him for pre-season so we could build through there with him but hopefully it will be worth the wait,” says Robbie Neilson.

"We did it last season with [Adam] Eckersley and [Miguel] Pallardo. They were guys who came in after we had started and it’s just part of football and you just have to deal with it.

"Everyone wants to get their full squad in for the first day of pre-season but it never happens like that.

"We are expecting him to do really well for us and it’s usually worth the wait when guys like this come in.

"It has been the longest transfer saga ever. He needs to come in and he needs to train and get to know the players, with a view of next weekend or possibly the midweek game against Motherwell,” he concluded.

Oshainwa is likely going to make his debut for Dundee in the Scottish Premier League next week.

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Putin: Blatter deserves a Nobel prize

"We all know the situation developing around Mr. Blatter right now. I don't want to go into details but I don't believe a word about him being involved in corruption personally," he said via Swiss broadcaster RTS.

The president of Russia says heads of sporting organisations deserve greater recognition and has criticised the timing of the corruption investigation

Fifa chief Sepp Blatter deserves a Nobel prize for his work, according to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The head of football's governing body met with Putin on Saturday in St. Petersburg to declare the organisation's support for Russia's World Cup in 2018, the qualifying draw for which took place on the same day.
And Putin - who has been outspoken in his condemnation of the corruption investigations targeting Fifa - has launched a staunch defence of Blatter and the heads of similar sporting groups across the globe.
"I think people like Mr. Blatter or the heads of big international sporting federations, or the Olympic Games, deserve special recognition. If there is anyone who deserves the Nobel prize, it's those people."
Blatter announced in June that he will step down as Fifa president following the corruption scandal which has blighted the organisation and seen a number of officials indicted after a US-led investigation.
Putin, who criticised the timing of the initial arrests earlier this summer, has now suggested the continued investigation is intended by some nations as a last-ditched attempt to secure the rights to host the World Cup.
"The way there is this fight against corruption makes me wonder if it isn't a continuation of the bids for 2018 and 2022," he added.

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Alexis Sanchez: We knew we'd win Copa America after the World Cup

The Arsenal star says that having their impressive World Cup campaign cut short last year is what inspired Chile to secure their first title this summer

Alexis Sanchez has claimed Chile 's belief that drove them to Copa America success stems all the way back to last year's World Cup.

The tournament hosts beat Argentina 4-1 in a penalty shootout in Saturday's final to end their 99-year wait for major international honours, with Sanchez securing the win with a chipped effort from 12 yards .

Having racked up 10 goals in an entertaining group stage, Chile showed the other side to their game in the knockout rounds, conceding just once in the last three matches.

Jorge Sampaoli's high-intensity style also turned heads in Brazil last year as Chile eased through the group stage, beating then-holders Spain 2-0 as they finished behind Netherlands to proceed to the knockout rounds.

Despite falling to Brazil on penalties in the second round, Sanchez believes their exploits 12 months ago provided the perfect platform to secure glory in front of their own fans.

"We talked about it in Brazil that we were going to win the Copa America," Sanchez said.

"This is really a great generation, we deserve this."

Chile forward Eduardo Vargas ended the tournament as joint top scorer with Peru's Paolo Guerrero and echoed Sanchez's belief that success was well earned.

He added: "It is a very important achievement for me, now I will enjoy it and hopefully we can continue on the path we are on. 

"It was an extra-special tournament, because we were champions. Not to detract from the other teams, because they also did things right.

"It is very special. To beat our rivals leaves more content, but mostly because we won at home."

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Is it time to find an ‘Oyinbo’ coach for Nigeria's youth teams?

Sports Verdict    By Prof Patrick Omo-Osagie      Follow on Twitter 

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This is an undisputable football fact; Nigeria has the best youth programme in the world of football. We have won four FIFA U16/17 tournaments and we have placed second (twice) and third in the U20. So why are we finding it difficult to field a competitive Super Eagles team when we have such good competitive teams at the youth levels?

The answer by many football analysts is that these youth players flame out by the time they are ready for the Super Eagles because they were not of the proper age when they played in FIFA youth tournaments.

Another well used reason is that we do not have a continuity programme; many feel that the teams should be ‘shepherded’ along from U17 to U20 to U23 till Super Eagles for us to see results. 

I cannot fault these reasons but I will ask this question; why do many of these same players who play for us at this level never really become good players even when they go play for clubs in Europe? They never become that great player we saw at seventeen; but I do have an interesting reason or in new sports language, I have a take on this issue.

Every time we have won the U17, there are always great expectations that we would win the U20 in the next go around, but this is yet to happen. The three previous U17 wins were followed by U20 teams that did not even finish in the last four. Maybe that is where the continuity argument holds, but not so for me.

I believe the problem is our lack of good coaching at this level; this is the level where all basic football knowledge is acquired. The use of sophisticated methods, drills and management are applied at this level and the results following our U17 success says that the teams are tactically unprepared and therefore out-played. The advantage we gain by using players over 17 in the U17s is nullified at the U20s, because boys of age 19/20 or men of 23/25 are physically the same, they are all in their physical prime.

We won the last U17 in 2013, we are playing in the U20 later this month, we are all very hopeful about this U20 team. Many are dreaming of the cup coming back to Nigeria, and I hope it does come to Nigeria. But if we fail as our records have shown, then I will be advocating for a foreign coach at this level and not at the Super Eagles level. This is where I believe we need help, real modern day football expertise, our players need this. They need it for their own football development and for a better Super Eagles. 

There is a reason the present football federation is seeking Nigerians born and footballers bred outside our shores for the Super Eagles, there is a reason that the federation instituted a committee to find our young players at home and send them to foreign academies, the reason is that we don’t breed our young players the right or modern way. Our coaches are behind in the grooming of young players. We all witnessed the federation’s absurd suggestion to Keshi and his crew to go and get some coaching education and see how quickly it was rejected or ignored. The simple truth is that our coaches need sound and modern education in the field of player development and the U17 and U20 teams will be better served for now with an Oyinbocoach. 

An Oyinbo coach at this level for us should be young, vibrant, full of ideas and cheap. He must come with an academy background from Europe and must have the ability to retain access to his academy so he/we can tap into their complete package of modern day football resources.

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Portugal risk Madrid row over plans to pick Ronaldo for Olympics

The nation's Under-21 side have secured a place in Brazil next summer and the Blancos forward is part of their plans

Portugal are risking a club versus country row with Real Madrid after revealing Cristiano Ronaldo is under consideration to fill one of their three over-23 slots at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Should the 30-year-old still be at the Santiago Bernabeu heading into the 2016-17 campaign, Madrid are likely to heavily object to his participation in Rio de Janeiro, with the event scheduled to run from August 5-21. That would mean it would cut heavily into Madrid's pre-season programme and, potentially, a lucrative overseas tour.

Barring injury, Ronaldo is also certain to be involved in the Euro 2016 finals, assuming the Selecao qualify.

Portugal Football Association (FPF) president Fernando Gomes said planning for Rio 2016 is still in the early stages but admitted Ronaldo could feature at the Games.

"It's a possibility," Gomes told Globo Esporte when asked about Ronaldo being involved in the Olympics.

"We can take three players aged over 23. Ronaldo is one of our current options but we have not thought too much about it yet."

Sixteen teams will compete for the gold medal in the men's football event in Rio, with the three other European entrants confirmed as Germany, Sweden and Denmark.

Ronaldo has enjoyed a glittering career at club level but silverware on the international scene has eluded him, with a runners-up medal at Euro 2004 the closest he's come to winning a trophy with his country.

Portugal booked their spot in next summer's Olympics due to the Under-21 side reaching the last four of June's European Championship finals and, on Tuesday, they could win the tournament with a victory over Sweden.

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Stephen Keshi fired as Super Eagles coach

Keshi

The Big Boss has been shown the exit door by the Nigeria Football Federation for lack of commitment to achieve the federation’s objectives

Stephen Keshi’s contract as head coach of the Super Eagles has been terminated, the Nigeria Football Federation has announced.

The 53-year-old who was re-appointed as the country’s senior national team coach in April was kicked out on Saturday evening, with assistant Salisu Yusuf and the Technical Directorate of the NFF led by Amodu Shuaibu to take offer till a substantive handler is announced.

“Having thoroughly reviewed the reports/findings of the NFF disciplinary committee and NFF Technical and Development Committee, as well as having reviewed the actions and inactions of Mr. Stephen Keshi, in the performance of his duties as Super Eagles’ head coach, which we found to lack the required commitment to achieve the ederation’s objectives as set out in the coach’s employment contract,” a statement by the NFF Executive Committee read.

“To this end and pursuant to the provisions of clause 4.3 of the employment contract between Mr. Stephen Keshi and the NFF (the contract) and the various clauses therein, the Nigeria Football Federation has decided to exercise its option to summarily terminate the employment contract of Mr. Stephen Keshi with the Federation with immediate effect.”

“It added that the termination was “without prejudice to the settlement of any existing and due financial obligations between the NFF and Mr. Keshi.

“In the interim, the Super Eagles’ team affairs will be jointly managed by assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf and the Technical Directorate of the NFF headed by Coach Shuaibu Amodu, until the Federation names in due course a new head coach, who, along with the NFF will chart a new direction for the Super Eagles to ensure credible participation in international competitions and assist in building a sustainable football culture for the country,” it concluded.

The former Mali and Togo handler job came under intense scrutiny since the 2-0 victory over Chad after he put a non-league player on the bench and his name also appeared on the FIF website as one of more than 50 coaches applying for Cote d’Ivoire national team job.

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Awoniyi, Yahaya top Nigeria U23 list for Congo game

The Flying Eagles players have been picked to face the Congolese U23 squad in next week’s African U23 Championship qualifier

Coach Samson Siasia has picked a strong 25-man team for July 19’s African U23 Championship qualifier against Congo. 

Three players from the Flying Eagles’ squad to the 2015 Fifa U20 World Cup squad made the list (Taiwo Awoniyi, Saviour Godwin and Musa Yahaya) made the squad, while others consist of the names that have been a part of the team since inception.

According to Siasia, he selected players would be joined by Imoh Ezekiel, Aminu Umar, Sodiq Popoola and Gabriel Abalo for the final phase of preparations for the crucial game billed for the Adokiye Amiesiemaka Stadium, Port-Harcourt while urging players who failed to make the cut not to be discouraged as they  could be called up for future  assignments.

 FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Daniel Emmanuel, Yusuf Mohammed, Emmason Daniel

Defenders: Segun Oduduwa, Erhun Obanor, Iroha Ebuka, Amuzie Stanley, Chima Akas, Atanda Sadiq, Ikechukwu Okorie, Nnaemeka Uzoma

Midfielders: Azubuike Okechukwu, Usman Mohammed, Tiongoli Tonbara, Godwin Savior, Emeka Kenneth, Etor Daniel, Olisah Ndah, Eteobong Elisha, Oladapo Augustin, Musa Yahaya

Strikers: Taiwo Awoniyi, Peter Onyekachi, Junior Ajayi, Etebo Oghenekaro

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Ronaldo: People told me I was too skinny to make it

The Portugal international has revealed he used the negativity to motivate him to become the impressive physical specimen he is today

Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed being told he was "too skinny" as a youngster drove him to become the player that he is today.

The Portugal international first came to prominence as a slender, teenage winger at Manchester United but he began putting on more and more muscle before departing for Real Madrid in 2009.

Nowadays, Ronaldo is renowned for his sculptured physique and the 30-year-old explained his success is all down to the extra hours that he puts in at the gym.

"You have to work so hard," the forward stated in a promotional video. "I do this every day. This is why I have been at the top level for many, many years.

"It's not a coincidence. I do so much extra work outside of the pitch.

"When I was younger most people told me: 'Cristiano, you are a very talented player but you are too skinny.'

"So I put it in my mind that my body can improve. With dedication and hard work in the gym I improved a lot on that - at the end of the day it's down to the person's mindset.

"Athleticism also means a huge amount - these small details make a huge difference. So it's very important to do this work and it's going really well for me.

"That's why I'm always in good shape all year round. I do that kind of work because I have to, it's part of me."

Ronaldo scored a personal-best 61 goals in just 54 appearances in all competitions for Madrid last season.

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"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ" proclaims actress

Stella Damasus"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ" proclaims actress

Yesterday, June 28, 2015 she wrote a lengthy caption to her love for God, and not being ashamed of being a born-again Christian.

Nigerian actress Stella Damasus who is currently in the United States of America is letting everyone know she is full born again Christian.

Yesterday, June 28, 2015 she wrote a lengthy caption to her love for God, and not being ashamed of being a born-again Chiristian.

"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am not ashamed to let the whole world know that he is my lord and saviour. I am not ashamed to sing praises to him. I am not ashamed to tell the world of his goodness and mercy" she wrote.

playStella Damasus on Red Nose Day (Instagram )

 Stella Damasus will be ministering at the Dominion Atlanta 2015 convention alongside Hope Davies, and Lady Z.

"I am not ashamed to say that he is the reason why I live. I am not ashamed of the bible, the manual which I am striving to live by. I am not ashamed to say I am an imperfect person loved by a perfect God. I am not ashamed to tell the world how much I love God. I am not ashamed to say that my mission now is to make it to heaven. I am not ashamed to teach my children the word of God. I am not ashamed to say that in spite of my wrongs and sins, Jesus is there to hold my hand through my salvation. I am not ashamed to shout out the name of JESUS. If this offends you, then you are following the wrong person" she further wrote.

playStella Damasus and Daniel Ademinokan (Instagram)

 In May, Stella Damasus responded to her bible challenge criticism.

The actress is currently in a relationship with filmmaker Daniel Ademinokan. They are currently living together in Atlanta, USA.

Ademinokan was formerly married to Nollywood actress Doris Simeon.

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 In May Stella Damasus released a gospel video 'The Man' directed by Daniel Ademinokan.

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Lagos journalist beaten to pulp for reporting criminal activities

A journalist based in Lagos got into the bad books of some smugglers after he wrote about their illicit activities.

A Badagry, Lagos State based journalist and Executive publisher of Prime Magazine, a community magazine serving that area, Yomi Olomofe, tasted the bile of criminal gangs who descended on him and pummeled him to a pulp because of his constant reportage of their illicit activities in the border town.

Olomofe who has been described as fearless pen pusher, narrates that the smugglers sent hoodlums who waylaid him and battered him mercilessly.

Hear him:

“I was with another colleague of mine on a visit to the command, when some smugglers, who claimed that journalists have been writing negative stories about them, pounced on me. While beating me, they threatened to kill me so as to serve as deterrent to journalists writing stories about them.

I was there with the correspondent of Tide Newspaper, thank God a friend from Rotary Club came to take me away, I would have been dead, because I was left there almost lifeless.

These hoodlums are not unknown. They are known to everybody, but they are above the law. They even told me that they have killed many people and nothing happened.”

See another photo here.

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Military plane crash kills at least 30

IndonesiaMilitary plane crash kills at least 30

An Indonesian military transport plane crashed into a hotel and houses in the northern Sumatra city of Medan on Tuesday, killing at least 30 people, an official said.

"The latest information we have is that 30 have died.... The number could go up," Hisar Turnip, a spokesman for Indonesia's search and rescue agency, told Reuters. It was not immediately clear how many of the victims were in the plane or on the ground.

The plane was on its way from an air force base in Medan to the remote Natuna islands and crashed a few minutes after takeoff

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80-yr-old blind man nabbed having sex with chicken

A blind Kenyan man has been convicted after he was caught having sex with a chicken.

An 80-year-old blind Kenyan man, Samuel Gicheru, caused a stir at a District Court in Narok in the Lake County area of that country when the prosecutor told the judge that he was caughthaving sex with a chicken.

Gicheru was charged and convicted after he pleaded guilty to a charge of animal cruelty.

The prosecutor said that Gicheru went over to his house to investigate when they heard noises, thinking thieves had broken into the blind man's home. But they were shocked on arrival to see Gicheru having sex with the chicken.

He was arrested and handed over to the police who charged him to court.

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Man sets himself alight on bullet train, second passenger dies

Japan

Man sets himself alight on bullet train, second passenger dies

A fire department official confirmed that one man was dead. Kyodo news agency, quoting a witness, identified him as the man who had covered himself with oil and set fire to himself.

Two passengers on a Japanese Shinkansen bullet train died after one doused himself in oil and set himself ablaze on Tuesday, media reports said.

The train, carrying about 1,000 passengers, made an emergency stop on its way from Tokyo to the western city of Osaka after smoke started to fill at least one carriage, fire department officials said.

A fire department official confirmed that one man was dead. Kyodo news agency, quoting a witness, identified him as the man who had covered himself with oil and set fire to himself.

There was no immediate indication of any possible motive for the man's actions.

A female passenger also died, NHK public TV said, while at least one more was in serious condition and several others suffered less serious injuries, fire department officials said.

Most passengers went to other carriages after smoke began to fill the car, reports said.

An official at JR Tokai (Central Japan Railway Company) , which operates the train, said at least one person was found at the entrance of a carriage covered in flammable liquid.

Footage on TBS television showed a train carriage filled with smoke and passengers evacuating with handkerchiefs pressed to their faces. One clutched a baby to their chest.

The JR Tokai official said the train stopped after the emergency button was pushed and the passenger was then discovered. No further details were immediately available.

Japan's superfast Shinkansen trains are known for their speed and safety.

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Governor denies appointing Chibok principal as commissioner

Governor denies appointing Chibok principal as commissioner

Shettima further described the reports of Kwambura’s appointment as a ‘joke’ that did not deserve the media attention it had received.

Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima has denied reports that he has nominated the Principal of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Asabe Kwambura to be the state’s commissioner for education.

Shettima further described the reports of Kwambura’s appointment as a ‘joke’ that did not deserve the media attention it had received.

The governor made the denial via a statement released by his Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy, Isa Gusau.

It reads in part:

“In the last one week, we have noticed a very strange information being circulated by some online media platforms claiming that Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State had nominated Mrs Asabe Kwambura, Principal of Government Secondary School, Chibok for the post of commissioner for education.”

“We completely ignored the story for what it was, a mischievous joke and cheap blackmail that didn’t deserve any response as it was mainly ‘trending’ on the social media.”

“However, we noticed and most unfortunately, that in recent days, some otherwise respected F.M stations reported such a joke without even making the slightest attempt to cross check with officials in Borno State Government or at least, find out from journalists or media houses that have correspondents resident in Borno State who are in position to have accurate information about the activities of Governor Kashim Shettima and general happenings in the State.”

“…To say that Governor Kashim Shettima has nominated Mrs Kwambura as commissioner for education and that she was to undergo screening at the Borno State House of Assembly simply indicates crass ignorance on government procedures and which goes to confirm that the story was indeed, nothing more than a joke that should only be told during comedy shows to entertain audience.”

“For the purpose of those who might have taken that joke seriously, it can be verified that since the dissolution of the Borno State Executive Council on May 27, 2015, Governor Kashim Shettima is yet to nominate anyone for office of Commissioner.”

“It is, therefore, important to raise questions on the source of that information about Kwambura’s nomination and the motive behind it. To my understanding, the aim was merely to create an impression that the Principal of Government Secondary School, Chibok, was being ‘rewarded’ after the abduction of the schoolgirls. Perhaps the aim was also to create doubts about the abduction or link it to the Governor as was earlier attempted by officials that worked with the immediate past PDP led Federal Government.”

Kwambura was in charge of GSS Chibok when over 200 girls were abducted from the school by Boko Haram insurgents on April 14, 2014.

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Chibok girls forced to slit men’s throats,’ Ex-Boko Haram captive says

BringBackOurGirls‘Chibok girls forced to slit men’s throats,’ Ex-Boko Haram captive says

Other witnesses also told BBC that the girls have been brainwashed and are now being used to terrorize other captives.

Some of the abducted Chibok girls have reportedly been forced to kill for Boko Haram, a former captive of the sect has said.

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 Other witnesses also told BBC that the girls have been brainwashed and are now being used to terrorize other captives.

Three women told BBC Panorama that the girls, whose 2014 abduction was much publicized, are now acting on the orders of the terrorists.

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 17-year-old Miriam, who was raped and is pregnant with a terrorist’s child, explained that the Chibok girls were kept in a separate house by the sect members and that she had seen them killing several men.

“They were Christian men. They [the Boko Haram fighters] forced the Christians to lie down. Then the girls cut their throats,”she said

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'We'll show Boko Haram no mercy' - President reacts to recent Borno, Yobe bombings

Buhari'We'll show Boko Haram no mercy' - President reacts to recent Borno, Yobe bombings

The President said he is deeply touched by these mindless incidents of violence on innocent people during the month of Ramadan.

The President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the latest Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe states, describing the terrorists as “cowards who lack any moral inhibition and any iota of humanity to reason compassionately.

He said they will not be spared in Nigeria.

”They will not find Nigeria a safe haven, because “they would be hunted down without mercy and compromise,” he assured.

This is contained in a statement issued by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.

The President said he is deeply touched by these mindless incidents of violence on innocent people during the month of Ramadan.

According to the President, the terrorists are enemies of everybody, and enemies of humanity everywhere.

He said, "no sane people who believe in any God would be destroying the lives of innocent people in cold blood, terrorists don’t represent any religion.’’

The President said the pattern of the terrorists' indiscriminate violence against innocent people has shown that they represent nothing else but anarchy and devilry.

"In what appears to be one of his toughest expressions of outrage, President Buhari reminded the terrorists of his uncompromising resolve to tackle them with all the resources at the disposal of his government.

“Make no mistake about it: this government is ever determined to discharge its fundamental duty of protecting the lives of its citizens from physical threats from any groups bent on creating chaos, confusion, and on destroying social and economic life of the people,’’ the statement said

Buhari, who extended his sympathy to the families of the victims, reassured all Nigerians that his government would never succumb to terrorist's blackmail, and that the security forces would confront the Boko Haram bandits to the last man.

He reassured Nigerians that security would be tackled by his administration with vigorous determination.

The President, however, advised Nigerians to show more vigilance and be alert to the presence of suspicious people around them, adding that “the terrorists are enemies of religion and humanity.”

He explained that “no true believers in any God would target worshipers, holy places, or people who are fasting and other innocent Nigerians.”

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Senate President accused of non-citizenship, theft

SarakiSenate President accused of non-citizenship, theft

The allegations were made on Sunday, June 28, 2015 via Facebook and are backed with supposed photo evidence.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki has been accused of petty theft and is also alleged not to be a citizen of Nigeria.

The allegations were made on Sunday, June 28, 2015, by controversial online news platform, Sahara Reporters via Facebook and are backed with supposed photo evidence.

“Bukola Saraki: The President of the Nigerian Senate Is not Even A Nigerian Citizen,” the first post on SR’s Facebook page read.

In accusing Saraki of theft, SR said:

“Some police officers found out that Bukola Saraki, who is Nigeria's Senate President, was a petty thief as of 1990, he was actually charged with theft of N510,000 at Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria. The officers warned in a report that Saraki was about to liquidate the bank by looting it, but no one listened until his siblings, cronies and relatives eventually did.”

Since the accusations were made, many have criticized the platform and editor Omoyele Sowore as it’s believed that Saraki is being attacked due to his falling out with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Saraki has been at loggerheads with the party since his emergence as Senate President on June 9.

The situation was further aggravated after he defied the party again in choosing principal leaders of the Senate on June 25.

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BVN palaver (photos)

BVN palaver (photos)

The queue at First Bank aroun Ijegun road this morning. Hope CBN will extend the deadline? More pics after the cut...

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