Sunderland win appeal over Wes Brown red card

Sunderland have won their appeal over Wes Brown's red card against Manchester United. Referee Roger East was roundly criticised on Saturday when he sent off the former Red Devils defender when his team-mate, John O'Shea, should have been punished instead. It is understood that O'Shea attempted to correct the official but Brown was given his marching orders regardless for a foul on Radamel Falcao, with Wayne Rooney converting the resulting penalty in a 2-0 win. A statement from the Football Association on Monday read: "An Independent Regulatory Commission has today upheld a claim of wrongful dismissal in relation to Wes Brown. "The Sunderland defender was dismissed in the game against Manchester United on Saturday, February 28, for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity. "Therefore, his one-match suspension has been withdrawn with immediate effect." Professional Game Match Officials Limited had issued a statement following the game, claiming that East believed Brown had also made contact with Falcao and that there was no case of mistaken identity, leading former Premier League referee Mark Halsey to label the organisation "a laughing stock"

APC faults Fayose’s defence on human rights abuse

The All Progressive Congress in Ekiti State has told the National Human Rights Commission to ignore the defence of Governor Ayodele Fayose to the allegation of human rights violation leveled against him. In a February 16 petition by the State Secretary of the APC, Omotosho Ayodele, the party had urged the Commission to investigate Fayose over alleged state sponsored pre-election violence in Ekiti State. It also called on the Commission to declare the Governor a person of interest in its investigation of election violence in Nigeria. But the state Attorney General, Owoseni Ajayi, in a letter to the NHRC, stated that the allegations were misrepresentations of facts, deliberately orchestrated by the APC on a smear campaign for political gains. However, the APC in a statement by its state Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, on Monday stated that Ajayi was not known in law as the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of the state and should stop parading himself as such because his appointment did not follow due process. The party said doing so amounted to impersonation and flagrant impunity to trample on the sanctity of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Dismissing Fayose’s defence of his alleged right abuse as an after thought, Olatunbosun said the Governor would have made his complaints at NHRC against Fayemi if he was convinced that abuses were committed by his administration. “At best, Owoseni is a busy-body and overzealous supporter of Governor Fayose who, as a legal practitioner, allows himself to be part of reckless politicians that are gang-raping the‎ Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to deny Ekiti people their legimitate rights to have a Speaker elected by the legitimate number of their representatives in the House of Assembly. “He is therefore an impostor and part of the illegitimate products of human rights violations in Ekiti State,” Olatubosun added

Boko Haram attacks Niger

Boko Haram gunmen attacked an island on the Niger side of Lake Chad, with locals reporting heavy casualties among those who fled but no official confirmation of the death toll. A private radio station in Niger said that two people died in a fire in the remote village on Sunday evening but one survivor spoken to by AFP said the death toll was higher. “A lot of people jumped into the lake to escape the attack. I think that a lot of people drowned, in particular women and children,” said one man, who escaped with his family in a boat. Abubakar Gamandi, the head of the fishermen’s union in Borno state, northeast Nigeria, said he received phone calls from members telling him about the attack, which happened on Sunday. “No one knows how many people died in the attack but many residents fell in the lake and are believed to have drowned,” he said. The attack began at about 7:00 pm (1800 GMT) on Sunday the survivor and Gamandi said, both blaming the Islamist group, which has been waging an insurgency in northeast Nigeria since 2009. “We had just finished evening prayers when the attackers arrived in a speed boat. They started to fire on the village and throw explosives at our houses,” said the man, who asked not to be named. Two humanitarian workers in the area confirmed the attack but did not have more details, while a local lawmaker said that the Niger army was not present in the area. Gamandi said many of the people on the island came from Baga and nearby Doron-Baga on the Nigerian side of Lake Chad, in the far north of Borno state. Boko Haram attacked the towns on January 3 and is feared to have killed hundreds, if not more, in what could be the worst massacre of the six-year conflict. Thousands of residents fled as the rebels torched large parts of the town. Last week, the Nigerian Army said they had recaptured Baga and President Goodluck Jonathan visited to meet troops. Lake Chad is a strategic area where the borders of Cameroon, Nigeria, Niger and Chad meet. All four countries are involved in a regional fight-back against the militants, which has seen the group strike out of its northeast Nigerian stronghold to attack Chad and Niger.

13 injured in China explosion

Thirteen people were injured after an explosion happened in a community Saturday afternoon in Zhangjiajie city of central China’s Hunan Province, local authorities said. The blast happened around 5 p.m. at Dayongqiao community of Yongding District. One residential building collapsed, and four others were damaged. The injured people have been hospitalized, and three of them are in critical conditions. Local residents have been settled properly. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Ghana: 40 Perish As Another Gold Mining Pit Caves In

 According to a local Ghanaian radio station seven [7] of the unlicensed local miners were pulled out of the pit but died shortly afterwards. Another 33 are believed to be still trapped underground.

The bodies of the those pulled out of the pit have been deposited at the district hospital for autopsy.

“They went to operate at their site but unfortunately the pit caved in on them. Rescuers are doing their best to dig out the dead bodies but at the moment the whole township is mourning,” the reporter for the radio station said.

Tiagbani is in the Talensi-Nabdam district of the Upper East Region, far from the traditionally-known gold mining sites in Ghana.

Erokoro wins BMW golf tourney, to represent Nigeria in Malaysia

 Winner of this year’s BMW Amateur Golf Tournament put organised by Coscharis Motors at the IBB Golf and Country Club Abuja, Barrister Paul Erokoro has said he would put in extra efforts to fly high Nigeria’s flag at next year’s BMW World championship in Malaysia. Erokoro said he was pleasantly surprised to know that he will be representing Nigeria because when he registered for the tournament, he took it like any other club tournament.

Babatunde: Eagles ‘ll destroy Bafana Bafana

Injured Super Eagles ace Babatunde Michael has said that Nigeria are fired-up to thrash Bafana Bafana tomorrow to advance to AFCON 2015.

The Volyn of Ukraine player said the Eagles have done the more difficult job in Congo and he is sure Nigeria will thrash South Africa today with the likes of Emmanuel Emenike, Ahmed Musa and Mikel Obi on top form.

“It is going to be a tough game no doubt, because even though South Africa are through to the Nations Cup, they will want to prove a point against Nigeria and they will be relaxed while doing so,” said Babatunde, who is ruled out of this match after he underwent a knee surgery.

“My colleagues are aware of that but no matter what, Eagles will fly past South Africa in flying colours.

“With the likes of Emenike, Mikel, Musa and others in top shape, we have all the weapons to destroy the Bafana Bafana in Uyo on Wednesday.”

Both teams played out a goalless draw when they first clashed in the qualifiers in September.

Udinese Striker Muriel Set for the Sidelines Through Injury

Udinese have confirmed that Colombian striker Luis Muriel is set for a spell on the sidelines with a thigh injury.

Muriel sustained what the Italian Serie A club described as a “first to second degree” lesion to his thigh during a friendly against Crvena Zvezda at the weekend. It says the 23-year-old will be re-examined in 8-10 days to ascertain the duration of his absence.

“The player has already started physiotherapy as appropriate,” a statement on the club’s official website said.

Luis Muriel Will Face a Spell Out With Injury. Image: Getty.

“In eight-ten days will be repeated examinations which will better enable us to define a more precise prognosis once the swelling goes down.”

Muriel will, in the meantime, carry on receiving physiotherapy treatment on the injury.

Your votes count!!!!!!!! thanks as you vote for me

Hello everyone!!! i got into a contest ooo and i was shortlisted on two categories namely "Technology" and "Information/Communication" here's the thing i need your votes.. so please start voting now for "Olagbende Ayo Joseph"  by clicking these two categories then click my name and vote.... vote for me on the two categories

       Technology

         Information/Communication  

thanks as you vote....Your votes count alot

Boko Haram frees abducted women, girls rumoured married off to insurgents

The Boko Haram insurgents, who reportedly abducted about 50 women and girls from two border villages between Adamawa and Borno states have freed the women among their captives. This was disclosed in an interview by villagers, who spoke on the issue with newsmen on the telephone from their hide-outs. They however, said that the exact number of those released could not be ascertained, but that no fewer than 45 girls were still being detained. According to the villagers, the women and girls were abducted from Waga Mangoro which was between Gwoza in Borno and Madagali in Adamawa states. Relatives of some of the abducted women who were later released by the insurgents also, told newsmen in Yola that some of the girls have been turned to cooks while others were married off immediately to some of the insurgents. A relative to one of the women who spoke on the condition of anonymity said; ”Initially, the insurgents captured 80 girls and women whom they later loaded into their vans and zoomed off into the bushes. Later in the night, the insurgents separated the elderly women from the girls and released the women, who are now languishing in the forest because they could not relocate the towns because they were razed down by the insurgents. “We are confused that hours after the so called cease fire agreement between the Federal Government and Boko Haram insurgents, our girls are still being abducted by the insurgents. “We are at a loss about government’s insincerity on the whole issue and we urge them to rescue our daughters without further delay as we are ready to die searching for our missing ones.

Laide Bakare welcomes her third child

Popular Yoruba actress, movie producer and record label owner, Laide Bakare has delivered baby number three, her second son to new hubby, Alhaji Oriowo. Laide made the announcement early hours of Wednesday in a Blackberry broadcast. Yes! Yes!, it’s a boy, it’s a boy. My boy arrives exactly 4;30 pm American time in New York nice weather on Tuesday. I am the happiest person in the world. Laide has been in the States for months now for the sole purpose of having her child. Laide, popularly reffered to as Alhaja Tio Common, had her first child, a girl, for her first husband, Mr Okunfulire.

Oscar Pistorius Sentence update

Judge Masipa sentences Oscar Pistorius to 5 years in prison. Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has been sentenced to five years in jail for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The double-amputee sprinter, 27, admitted killing the model and TV presenter at his home in Pretoria in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year. He said it was a tragic accident when he mistook Reeva for an intruder and opened fire on his bathroom door. But Pistorius was arrested and charged with murder. Following a two-month trial, he was acquitted but found guilty of culpable homicide. Today, Judge Thokozile Masipa sentenced him to five years in jail. He was also given a three-year suspended jail sentence for a separate firearms charge. More updates later..

UN contacts Nigeria on Ebola containment

The UN, on Monday, said it was in touch with Nigerian authorities, through the World Health Organisation on how it contained the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease. The spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane DuJarric, said this while briefing UN correspondents in New York. The briefing followed the WHO official declaration of Nigeria as Ebola-free after 42 days with no new cases. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the WHO representative, Rui Vaz, who spoke in Abuja, said it was a “spectacular success story.” He said, “Nigeria won the praise for its swift response after a Liberian brought the disease to Lagos in July.’’ NAN reports that the WHO also officially declared Senegal Ebola-free on Friday. At the Monday briefing, Dujarric said Nigeria’s success story could be copied to successfully contain the disease in West Africa. He added, “Nigeria’s success story means that Ebola can be stopped with functional health service and commitment.’’ NAN recalls that in September, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, had commended President Goodluck Jonathan for Nigeria’s efforts at containing the spread of the virus in the country. Ban Ki-Moon gave the commendation at a meeting he held with Jonathan on the sideline of the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly. In a related development, Ban’s spokesman, DuJarric, said the trust fund set up by the Secretary-General now had $8.8m in deposits and $5m in commitments. He said in total, $43.5m was pledged. He added that the UN secretary would continue to urge countries to redeem their pledges as soon as possible. Meanwhile, DuJarric said a UN female staff in Sierra Leone had passed away at the weekend from EVD.

Pastore thrilled as Thiago Silva closes in on PSG return

Javier Pastore believes the return of Thiago Silva after two months on the sidelines is a big boost for Paris Saint-Germain. The Brazil international has been out of action this term after suffering a thigh injury in pre-season action against Napoli in August, but has been named in the squad to face APOEL in the Champions League this week.

FG supplies more relief items to Chibok

The Federal Government on Monday gave additional relief items to Internally Displaced Persons in Chibok, Borno, to further cushion the hardship in the area. Alhaji Muhammed Kanar, the North-East Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, said in Yola, Adamawa, that the items were given in compliance with the directive from the presidency. He said the agency was currently taking care of registered 10,376 IDPs in Chibok and its environs. He also said experts from the Safe School Initiative (SSI) also accompanied NEMA team to conduct needs assessment on schools destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents in the area. The coordinator assured that the agency would provide boreholes to ease the perennial shortage of drinking water in the affected communities. “President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the agency to supply additional intervention items to Chibok community. “Items supplied include 1,200 bags of 10 kgs rice, 1,000 blankets, 500 mosquito nets and 500 mats, cooking oils and 500 bags of maize. Receiving the items on behalf of the community, the District Head of Chibok, Mr Modu Zanna, who was represented by Alhaji Lawan Yerima-Amdan, thanked the presidency for the gesture. He, however, appealed to the government to expedite action on the release of their abducted girls. “We thank President Goodluck Jonathan for identifying with us; we hope that he will intervene on the issue of our girls,” Zanna said.

WHO declares Nigeria Ebola-free

Nigeria has been declared officially free of Ebola after six weeks with no new cases, the World Health Organisation says. Africa’s most populous country won praise for its swift response after an infected Liberian diplomat brought the disease there in July. The WHO officially declared Senegal Ebola-free on Friday. The outbreak has killed more than 4,500 people in West Africa, mostly in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. An estimated 70 per cent of those infected have died in those countries. Meanwhile, European Union foreign ministers are meeting in Luxembourg to discuss how to strengthen their response to the threat posed by Ebola. European countries have committed more than 500m euros (£400m; $600m) but the UK is pressing to double that amount. The money is being sought to help reinforce over-stretched healthcare systems in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea and to mitigate the damage Ebola is doing to their economies. Ahead of the talks, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier suggested the EU could send a civilian EU mission to West Africa that would serve as a platform for sending medical staff. Another diplomat said there were plans for three countries to spearhead aid to the region – the UK for Sierra Leone, France for Guinea and the US for Liberia. Earlier, the Spanish government said a nurse who became the first person to contract Ebola outside West Africa had tested negative for the virus.

Algeria denies border guards firing at Moroccans

Algeria on Sunday denied the shooting on a group of Moroccans on the border with Algeria near the city of Oujda. “Moroccan civilians threw stones at the Algerian border guards, who responded with two warning shots in the air without targeting anybody, and I confirm there were no injuries,” Algerian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abdelaziz Benali Cherif was quoted as saying by local TSA news web. “These kind of incidents are common,” he added. The Moroccan government said on Saturday that Algerian forces fired on a group of Moroccans on the border, seriously injuring one citizen in the face. Morocco has summoned the Algerian ambassador in Rabat for explanations over the incident. “The Moroccan authorities fabricated this incident,” the spokesman said. The two countries have tense relations and the borders have been closed since 1994. The lasting diplomatic coldness between Algiers and Rabat is mostly provoked by the disagreement between the two countries over the issue of the Western Sahara. Algiers supports self-determination for the Sahrawi people, while Rabat insists that the Western Sahara is part of Moroccan territories.

Neuer: Bremen thrashing the perfect warm-up for Roma

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer believes this weekend's 6-0 Bundesliga win over Werder Bremen was the perfect warm-up for Tuesday's Champions League game away against Roma. Two goals apiece from Philipp Lahm, Mario Gotze and one each from Thomas Muller and Xabi Alonso helped the Bavarians to a comfortable win on Saturday and Neuer is confident they will be ready for the Serie A outfit. "We were first class and it was a perfect warm-up for Roma," Neuer was quoted as saying on the official Bayern website. Nevertheless, the Germany international has warned his team-mates that the Stadio Olimpico outfit will not be pushovers and has stressed they cannot afford to lose focus in defence. "Winning at their place will be tough. "We'll need another strong defensive display in order to bag the full three points." Bayern currently sit atop of Group E with six points from two games, while Roma follow in second place on four points. Both sides last met in 2010-11, when the German champions recorded a 2-0 home-win, but were beaten 3-2 at the Olimpico.