Kenya: 10 Kenyan football fans land trip to Emirates Stadium

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Fans
Nairobi, Oct. 13, 2016 (PANA/NAN) Ten Kenyan football fans have earned a dream trip to the Emirates Stadium in London, home to English Premier League (EPL) side Arsenal, courtesy of a top sports betting firm, SportPesa.

The winners won the trip after a month-long competition on the SportPesa platform which started on Sept. 1.

The winners of the ‘Road to Emirates’ competition will get a chance of touring the Emirates Stadium to watch a live Arsenal match and tour London in the U. K.

The ten winners, including an education officer, businessman, security officer and a teacher, were delighted and enthusiastic about the trip after emerging as the lucky ‘chosen few’.

“We thank SportPesa for availing us this opportunity through the competition as most of us will be travelling outside the country for the first time and even boarding an aircraft,’’ they said.

Sportpesa Chief Executive Officer Ronald Karauri said: “We are happy to reward our fans. This is only the beginning. We are planning to have another promotion very soon.

“As SportPesa continues to expand their presence across the African continent, the partnership with Arsenal will help the company to engage with our huge number of supporters across Africa.

“This is one of the many benefits from the SportPesa partnership with Arsenal which sees the company become the Official African Betting Partner of Arsenal with rights of association across the whole of the African continent.’’

He said the fans will be offered a number of club related benefits such as Arsenal official merchandise, tickets to matches and the chance to experience the world class hospitality at the Emirates Stadium.
(PANA/NAN)
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Controlled by Tony Nezianya

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Tennis
By Franklin Ohaegbu
Lagos, Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) Unseeded Nigerian, Clifford Enosoregbe, created the first upset at the ongoing 16th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis as he defeated Sweden’s Maciej Smola, seeded five in three sets, winning 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-2.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match lasted for about three hours, 45 minutes at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

An elated Enosoregbe, a gold medallist at the 2011 All Africa Games in Maputo, told NAN that he was glad winning and hoped to win his way to the final.

“It was not an easy match for me.  It took me a whole lot to defeat him.

“My opponent is a strong base-line player with a big serve and I had to make a way to curb his moves.

“I trained hard for this victory and I hope to win my next game up to the final, God willing,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Smola, who declined comment left angrily to the men’s dressing room.

NAN reports that the players at the tournament, who came from 39 countries, are fighting for ranking points and 50, 000 dollars prize money each in the men and women’s events.

The finals of the first leg will hold on Saturday. (NAN)
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)

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Car
By Chinyere Omeire
Lagos, Oct.  12, 2016 (NAN) Two men, who allegedly stole a Honda Civic car valued at N6.7 million, were on Wednesday docked at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on Lagos island.

The accused — Olamide Bello, 32, and Adebola David, 28 — whose addresses were not given, are facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

The duo and others at large allegedly committed the offences between Sept. 3 and Sept. 9, at Oniru Market, Lekki, Lagos, according to the Prosecutor Tubi Olajide.

He said the accused stole a Honda Civic saloon car with registration no. FD 304 LSR valued at N6.7 million, property of a woman, Fatimat Oseni.

Olajide alleged that Bello, with the intent to defraud, falsely presented himself as Olamide Bello, against his real name Kehinde Bello Kehinde.

“The duo and others still at large wilfully damaged the ignition of the car.”

The offences contravened Sections 285 (1), 378 (1), 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused pleaded innocence of the offences.

The Magistrate, Mrs O. M. Ajayi, granted the duo bail in the sum of N250,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

She said the sureties must show evidence of means of livelihood, tax payment and that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused.

The case was adjourned to Nov. 27 for mention.  (NAN)
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Controlled by Dele Akinsola  & edited by Edwin Nwachukwu

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Tennis
Lagos, Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) All the Nigerian women in the ongoing Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis tournament are out in the second round as unseeded Aminat Quadri the last female had an injury and could not play.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that she had a work-over match against Isreal’s Deniz Khazaniuk, who is tournament’s number five seed at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club venue of the tennis event.

Russia-born Nigerian, Melissa Ifidzhen, ranked 1033, was the first to crash out in her opening game with India’s Thrombare, who won 7-5, 6-2.

Next in the line is unseeded Christie Agugbom, a four-time winner of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Senior Tennis Competition who lost to Sweden’s Brenda Njuki, winning 6-1, 6-1.

Another top female Nigerian, who also crashed out in her opening match is unseeded, Ronke Akingbade, who lost to Alexandra Riley of U.S., who won 6-3, 6-1.

Meanwhile, in the doubles, the duo of unseeded Osariemem Airhumwunde and Patience Onebamhoin, both on wild cards, lost to France’s Fiona Codino and Harmony Tan, who won 6-2 and 6-1 in the first round.

Unseeded Agugbom and Samuel Blessing also suffered the same fate as Sweden’s duo, Njuki and Fanny Ostlund, defeated them in the first round, winning 6-2, 6-1.

Netherland’s Chayenne Ewijk and Rosalie Van Der Hoek sent off Akingbade and Deborah Gbadamosi, winning 6-0 and 6-0.

NAN reports that the players, who came from 39 countries of the world will be fighting for ranking points and 50, 000 dollars prize money each in the men and women’s events.

The finals of the first leg will hold on Saturday. (NAN)
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)

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Tennis (Re-opend)
By Franklin Ohaegbu
Lagos, Oct. 11, 2016 (NAN) Valetini Grammatikopoulou of Greece, the top female seed at the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis tournament, on Tuesday had a tough encounter with India’s Kyra Shroff which lasted for 3 hours.

She eventually won 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 to qualify to the second round.

Grammatikopoulou, entered the ongoing 16^th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championships at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, ranked 207 in the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after her victory that she was not expecting a tough match in her first game.

“Honestly, I wasn’t expecting this much for a start. I lost the first set and I have to make up for it.

“It is not easy coming back from scratch; I have to fight hard to get back to win, this was what I told myself.

“My opponent’s forehand is very perfect and I had to watch how I placed my balls to her to avoid losing points.

“So, I placed most of my balls so that she would continually hit with her backhand strokes and it worked for me,’’ she said.

Meanwhile, unseeded Shroff, ranked 659, said: “Winning the first set got me over and I actually thought I would do same in the second, but I was wrong’’.

In other women’s singles, first timers in the competition, Harmony Tan from France, seeded seven, defeated Russia’s Margarita Lazareva, winning 6-2, 6-2.

Number three seed, Conny Perrin from Switzerland, defeated unseeded, Fanny Ostlund in a quick match, winning 6-4, 6-2.

Ukraine’s Valeriya Strakhova, seeded four, thrashed unseeded, Akilah James from Granada in two sets, winning 6-4, 6-4.

NAN reports that the players, who came from 39 countries of the world, will be fighting for ranking points and 50, 000 dollars prize money in the men and women’s events.

The finals of the first leg will hold on Oct.15. (NAN)
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)

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Driver
By Chinyere Omeire
Lagos, Oct. 11, 2016 (NAN) A driver, Friday Pius, and a security guard, Samson Andrew,  who allegedly stole their employer’s N3.6 million at his Victoria Island house, were on Tuesday docked at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Both Pius, 27, and Andrew, 22, whose addresses were not given, are standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The duo denied the charge and was granted N500, 000 bail each with two sureties each in like sum.

Magistrate Mrs A. T.  Omeyele, who gave the ruling, also granted them two sureties each in like sum.

She said the sureties must be gainfully employed and that their addresses should verified.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Cyriacus Osuji,  had told the court that the accused committed the offences on May 20 at Prudential Estate, Aremu Adesegun Street, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.

He said  the accused conspired and stole N3.6 million belonging to their employer (names withheld).

Osuji alleged that the accused broke into the bedroom of their employer where the money was kept and stole it.

The offences violated Sections 285 (7) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The duo, however, denied the charges.

The case was adjourned to Oct. 25 for mention. (NAN)
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Dele Akinsola

Brother, sister bag 2 years for hacking into email account to steal woman’s N280, 000

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Siblings
By Chinyere Omeire
Lagos,  Oct.  11, 2016 (NAN) Two siblings — Zememoi and Nakhuagb Momoh — who hacked into an email account and forged a letter to steal N280, 000 from a woman,  are to spend the next one year in a Lagos prison, a court ruled on Tuesday.

An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court which handed down the verdict, said Zememoi (woman) 27, and Nakhuagb, 22, who reside at House 2B, Block 2, Millennium Estate,  Gbagada,  Lagos,were found guilty of the offences.

The one year imprisonment each is without an option of fine.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused were arraigned for conspiracy, forgery and stealing.

The Magistrate,  Mrs A.  T. Omoyele,  said the one year imprisonment on each count given  Zememoi and Nakhuagb  would run concurrently.

Omeyele said the sentence would take effect from the time the judgement was delivered.

“Zememoi will serve her sentence at Kirikiri Prisons, while Nakhuagb will serve out his term at Ikoyi Prisons.”

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Cyriacus Osuji, had told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 1, 2010 at 11.00 a.m. at No. 10, Diamond Bank Road, Ikeja, Lagos.

He said  the duo conspired and stole N280, 000, belonging to Mrs Kehinde Olaniyan.

According to him, the accused hacked into the email account of Olaniyan’s friend  and forged a letter purported to have emanated from her friend.

“They asked Olaniyan to pay N280, 000 into their account and it was paid into the account at Diamond Bank,” Osuji said.

The  offences contravened Sections 390, 471 and 516 of the Criminal Code of Lagos State, 2003.

The brother and sister had at their arraignment on March 5, 2010, pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail. (NAN)
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Controlled by Dele Akinsola & edited by Edwin Nwachukwu

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Development
By Kola Adeyemi
Lokoja, Oct. 11, 2016 ( NAN) The Kogi Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Idris Asiwaju-Asiru, on Tuesday assured Okun Yoruba speaking people of the state of government’s commitment to develop the area after years of neglect.

Asiwaju-Asiru, made the assertion on Tuesday at Isanlu, headquarters of Yagba East Local Government, at a reception organised for him by his kinsmen.

The commissioner said that roads rehabilitation, provision of water and health facilities were some of government’s plans for Okunland.

He said that Gov. Yahaya Bello was aware of the difficulty faced by the people in accessing social facilities and had decided to intervene by revitalising some old facilities and providing new ones.

Asiwaju-Asiru described the emergence of Bello as governor of the state as an answer to the sincere prayers of patriotic people.

According to him, Bello is a visionary leader that will make Kogi fulfill her potential and make Okunland to witness rapid infrastructure development.

“Gov. Yahaya Bello is God-send to wipe our tears in Kogi. Our years of neglect in Okunland are over,’’ he said.

Asiwaju-Asiru commended the governor for making the state a safe place to live in and work, saying that armed robbery and kidnapping had reduced greatly in the past eight months.

He said the hydra-headed problem of ghost workers which had kept the state in bondage for years had been solved with the political will exhibited by Bello and the members of his cabinet.

The commissioner thanked the governor for finding him and other Okun indigenes worthy of appointment as commissioners, special advisers and senior special advisers.

He added that they would reciprocate the gesture by putting in their best in the service of the people.

He appealed to aggrieved politicians in the area to bury their differences and join hands with the administration to move the state forward. (NAN)
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(Edited and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)

Lagos businessman docked for unredeemed N4m bank facility

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Bank
By Chinyere Omeire

Lagos, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) A 33-year-old businessman, Babatunde Olagun, who allegedly obtained N4 million from a microfinance bank in Lagos under the guise of using the money to improve his business, was on Monday docked at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court.

Olagun, who resides at No. 2, Fasuba link Road, Gateway Zone in highbrow Magodo Phase 1, Lagos,  was, however, granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum after he pleaded not guilty.

He is standing trial on a five-count charge of conspiracy, fraud, forgery, issuing dud cheque and stealing.

According to Prosecutor Olajide Tubi,  the accused committed the offences on July 14 at 11:00 a.m. at Addosser Microfinance Bank located at No. 32, Lewis St., on Lagos island.
He said the accused obtained N4 million from the bank on the pretext of growing his business and entered into an agreement or bond to repay the money within two months.
“The accused ran away with the money, but when he was apprehended, the accused issued two different bank cheques which were dishonoured on presentation due to insufficient funds.”
Tubi told the court that the accused also forged a Local Purchase Order of one Hyundai Heavy Industrial Ltd for a vehicle which he presented to the microfinance bank as collateral for the loan.
He said the accused’s failure to repay the loan amounted to stealing the money property of Addosser Microfinance Bank Plc.
The offences contravened Sections 78 (b), 285, 319, 363 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The Magistrate, Mrs O. M. Ajayi,  said the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to the state government and credible means of livelihood.

She adjourned the case to Oct. 25 for mention.  (NAN)
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Controlled by Dele Akinsola & edited by Edwin Nwachukwu

Western-backed coalition under pressure over Yemen raids

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Coalition
New York, Oct. 9, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) An air strike on a funeral wake, widely blamed on Saudi-led warplanes, poses more trouble for a Western-backed Arab campaign against Yemen’s Houthis that has long been criticised for civilian losses.

The White House announced an immediate review of Washington’s support for the 18-month-old military push after planes hit mourners at a community hall in the capital Sanaa on Saturday, killing 140 people according to one U.N. estimate and 82 according to the Houthis.

The statement from Riyadh’s main ally, noting for the second time in as many months that U.S. support was not “a blank check”, sets up an awkward test of a Saudi-U.S. partnership already strained by differences over wars in other Arab lands.

The reproach also indirectly hands a propaganda win to Riyadh’s arch rival Tehran, a Houthi ally that has long seen the Sunni kingdom as a corrupt and domineering influence on its impoverished southern neighbour, diplomats say.

Sources in the Saudi-led coalition denied any role in the attack, but Riyadh later promised an investigation of the “regrettable and painful” incident, with U.S. expert advice. The move was apparently aimed at heading off further criticism of a military campaign already under fire for causing hundreds of civilian deaths in apparently indiscriminate attacks.

“There will be pressure on the campaign,” said Mustafa Alani, a security analyst close to Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry. While the coalition followed very careful rules and understood human rights concerns, “there will now be pressure to end the whole operation or to restrict the operation”.

An estimated 10,000 people have been killed in the war and the United Nations blames coalition strikes for 60 percent of some 3,800 civilian deaths since they began in March 2015.

The outcry over civilian casualties has led some lawmakers in the U.S. and Britain as well as rights activists to push for curbs on arms sales to Riyadh, so far without success.

The coalition denies deliberately targeting civilians and says it goes to great lengths to ensure its raids are precisely targeted, with explosive loads calibrated to limit the risk of causing damage beyond the immediate target area.

The coalition accuses the Houthis, who seized much of the north in a series of military advances since 2014, of placing military targets in civilian areas. The Houthis deny this.

Fury in Sanaa at Saturday’s raid was echoed internationally.

A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said any deliberate attack against civilians was utterly unacceptable.

(Edited and controlled by Julius Enehikhuere)