Blog

Manchester United forecast record revenue for 2019
Revenue
Manchester (UK), Sept. 25, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) English football club Manchester United forecast record revenue for 2018-19, in spite of dropping off the early pace in the new Premier League season.
United, whose squad includes World Cup winner Paul Pogba, said revenue is expected to be between 615 million pounds and 630 million pounds in the year to next June.
Its revenue for 2017-18 also came in at a record 590 million pounds ($775.4 million) in spite of a slowdown in the fourth-quarter, due to a dip in commercial and broadcasting revenue.
“Our increased revenue expectation for the year demonstrates our continued strong long-term financial performance which underpins everything we do…,” Executive Vice Chairman Ed Woodward said in a statement.
There have been media reports of behind-the-scenes discord between Woodward and team manager Jose Mourinho, over the club’s recruitment policy.
Revenue for the three months ended June 30 fell 16 per cent to 147.6 million pounds.
United’s failure to progress beyond the round-of-16 in the lucrative UEFA Champions League contrasted with the previous year, when they won the second-tier Europa League.
The club is currently seventh in the English Premier League, eight points behind early leaders Liverpool and six behind cross-town rivals and reigning champions Manchester City.
City, owned by Arab billionaire Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, won the league with a 19-point margin over United last season.
Earlier this month, it posted revenue of 500.5 million pounds and profit of 10.4 million pounds for the year ended June 30.
United’s adjusted Earnings before Interest, tax, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) for the year are expected to be between 175 million pounds and 190 million pounds compared with 177.1 million pounds reported for 2017-18. (Reuters/NAN)
KIA/ERO/ABI
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Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Ali Baba-Inuwa

Strike
By Tukur Muntari
Kano, Sept. 25, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Kano State chapter, has expressed readiness to comply with the planned nationwide strike action on Thursday called by the national body.

The state NLC chairman, Comrade Kabiru Minjibir gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Tuesday.

He said that the state NLC would comply with further directives from the national secretariat over the impending strike on national minimum wage.

“All affiliate unions have been directed to commence sensitisation and mobilisation of their members in the event of any eventuality,” he said.

NAN reports that the chapter had in a statement on Monday directed members to be on the alert over the impending strike.(NAN)
MTM/MZA
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T/Tennis

By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, Sept. 25, 2018 (NAN) Africa’s biggest exports in table tennis, Aruna Quadri of Nigeria and Omar Assar of Egypt will reignite their rivalry as they battle each other in the European Table Tennis Union Champions League.

According to a statement by ATTF on Tuesday, the league will commence on Sept. 27 in the city of Dusseldorf, Germany.

Quadri will represent his Portuguese club, Sporting Lisbon, while Assar will be making his debut in the competition with Borussia Dusseldorf.

The defending Borussia Dusseldorf of Germany and Sporting of Portugal clash in the Group A tie of the prestigious (ETTU) Champions League.

It said Quadri, who is the 2018 African Champion will be leading Sporting against Assar’s star-studded Borussia Dusseldorf.

It added that both players were aiming for each other after Assar missed out from the African Championship in Mauritius following his one-year ban by Egypt Table Tennis Federation (ETTF).

Assar joined Borussia Dusseldorf after spending one season with Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga and having started the season on a good note with the German champion.

Following his exclusion from the Egyptian team to Mauritius, Assar has been busy with Borussia Dusseldorf which has former European Champion — Timo Boll in its fold.

The team is at present topping the Bundesliga table with six points from three matches and they have remained unbeaten this season.

According to the statement, it’s indeed another task as the Portuguese league has yet to kick off, while the Champions League will serve as their first match this season.

It said sporting at their maiden appearance in the Champions League last season made it to the semi-finals stage with the presence of Aruna Quadri and his compatriot Bode Abiodun. (NAN)
KOA/ERO/PDE
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Peter Ejiofor)

Drugs

By Ummul Idris

Abuja, Sept. 25, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has charged the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) to adhere strictly to prescriptions for patients in order to curtail the abuse of drugs, including narcotics and codeine.

The National Publicity Secretary of NMA, Dr Obitade Sunday, gave this advice on Tuesday in a solidarity message issued to newsmen on the World Pharmaceutical Day in Abuja.

Sunday said that strict compliance with prescription would go a long way to check drug abuse, even as he underscored the need for all the stakeholders to join the fight against the phenomenon.

He urged the PSN to use the celebration to reflect on the unwholesome development and evolve measures to address it.

The NMA spokesman restated the commitment of the NMA to the association’s sustenance of the existing cordial relationship and collaboration with PSN.

Sunday further expressed the readiness of the association towards ensuring industrial peace in the health sector.

He felicitated with the PSN and urged it not to relent in its efforts to ensuring professionalism in the pharmaceutical industry. (NAN)

UMD/USO/Yemi Idris-Aduloju

Edited by Sam Oditah/Yemi Idris-Aduloju

Imprisonment

Abuja, Sept. 25, 2018 (NAN) A Zone 2 Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, on Tuesday sentenced six women to four days imprisonment for public nuisance and prostitution.

The convicts are Aisha Abubakar, 27; Zainab Mohammed, 28; Precious John, 25; Joy Musa, 25; Sandra Linus, 22; and Chisom Chukwuolu, 21; all of no fixed address.

They pleaded guilty to the two-count charge against them and begged the court for mercy, promising to change their ways.

The Magistrate, Aishatu Ibrahim, however, gave the convict an option to pay N500 fine each.

She advised the convict to shun crime, be of good behavior adding that the punishment was to serve as deterrent to other would be offenders.

The prosecutor, Adeyemi Oreyemi, had told the court that a surveillance squad led by a Superintendent of Police, Akappo Akinwale, attached to Wuse Zone 3 Police Station, arrested the convicts and took them to the station on Sept. 21.

He said that the police were on crime prevention patrol at Zone 3 on that same date, adding that about 10.00 p.m., the convicts where behaving in a disorderly manner soliciting persons for the purpose of prostitution.

Oyeyemi said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 185 and 405 of the Penal Code. (NAN)

NHM/FLP/MNA
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Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Maureen Atuonwu

2019: APC cautions PDP national chairman on political language, conduct

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Caution

Abuja, Sept. 25, 2018 (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cautioned leaders of political parties, especially the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, against unguided statements and conduct that could heat up the polity.

Mr Yekini Nabena, the APC National Publicity Secretary, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, particularly cautioned Secondus on his political language and conduct

“The national chairman of a political party is expected to exhibit the highest sense of patriotism, decency and decorum in public conduct and discourse.

“Regrettably, the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has not lived up to these basic expectations,“ Nabena said.

He noted that the PDP national chairman weeks ago, took the internal matters of the country’s politics to the international scene by writing letters to various international organisations.

Nabena further noted that soon after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared last Saturday`s Osun governorship election inconclusive, the PDP national chairman accused it of conspiring with the APC to declare the election inconclusive.

This, the APC spokesman said , the PDP national chairman did without basis.

He maintained that the APC would as a rule, ignore irresponsible and baseless utterances and actions as exhibited by opposition political parties, especially the PDP national chairman.

He, however, said that as the nation prepared for the forthcoming 2019 general elections, it was necessary to give word of caution on expected behaviour required of all political sides.

Nabena said Secondus’ “unfounded allegation on the inconclusive Osun governorship election is not expected from such highly placed party official. Accusing the APC of conspiring with INEC, without proof, is taking mudslinging too far”.

“We advise Secondus not to descend to the level unexpected of his office, less he enters the boxing ring with its attendant mud and dirt,“ Nabena said.

The APC spokesman stressed that Secondus` action would only bring him personal attacks and ridicule, adding that a word was enough for the wise.(NAN)

EEM/GOM/AMY
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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam and Abdullahi Yusuf

Rejuvenated Woods out to improve poor Ryder Cup record

Gary (North Carolina), Sept. 25, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Tiger Woods has embraced the Ryder Cup unequivocally if perhaps belatedly as he enters the twilight of his career a changed man, whose previous tunnel vision has given way to a more expansive view of his role in the sport.

A future captain for sure, Woods will make his eighth appearance as a player in the biennial event as part of the American team to defend the Cup against Europe in Paris next week.

He has been on the winning side only once — at Brookline in 1999.

Woods’s Ryder Cup record of 13 wins, 17 losses and three halves is poor for a man who has won 14 major championships — six more than the entire European team combined.

He is 4-1-2 in singles, the format where his superior ability and single-minded focus come to the fore.

His only loss came in his 1997 debut against Costantino Rocca and the two halves easily could have been wins.

He missed a six-footer at the final hole that would have beaten Jesper Parnevik in 2002, and generously conceded a four-foot putt to Francesco Molinari in 2012.

It is in the team formats that Woods has really struggled — 5-8-0 in fourball (best ball) and 4-8-1 in foursomes, the quirky alternate shot format.

U.S. captains have mixed and matched Woods with 12 different partners.

He has a winning record with only two — Davis Love and Chris Riley.

Justin Leonard paired with Woods for a fourball match in 1997, which they halved, and he offers a plausible explanation for Woods’s poor record in the team format.

“Tiger’s not easy to pair with people, because of the attention that he brings,” Leonard said in a conference call to promote the NBC and Golf Channel coverage of the Ryder Cup.

“You’re expected to win (but) anybody can beat anybody in 18 holes. Over the course of 72 holes, Tiger has a chance to separate himself.”

Woods, 42, returns for the first time since 2010, having missed the past two Cups due to injury.

He has been on the losing side all four times he has played in Europe, which Leonard thinks helps explain the widespread perception that Woods was not really fussed about the event in his younger days.

“I never saw really a lack of passion for the Ryder Cup,” said the 1997 British Open champion.

“I think when you’re getting beat a lot, it’s kind of hard to look forward to it and talk about it a whole lot. You want to downplay it a little bit.”

Woods is likely to join up with a 13th partner in debutant Bryson DeChambeau in Paris, at least on the first day.

But do not expect to see him with Phil Mickelson.

They played two matches together at the 2004 event and it was an unmitigated disaster as they stumbled to consecutive quick defeats, ending an ill-fated experiment that no captain has been courageous, or foolhardy enough, to try since.

Even though the relationship between Woods and Mickelson has thawed over the years, some things are a bridge too far. (Reuters/NAN)

ERO/SA

Edited by Salif Atojoko

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Court rejects police statements on alleged robbery
Ruling
By Edith Nwapi
Abuja, Sept. 25, 2018 (NAN ) The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama on Tuesday rejected statements allegedly made by two defendants as tendered by the Police in a case of alleged robbery for lack of proof.

Three defendants, Joel Anthony, Mohammed Ibrahim, and William Nnam, all residents of Gwagwalada, Abuja, were arraigned in 2013 on two-count charge of armed robbery and conspiracy.

Mr Abdulkarim Audu, counsel to Joel Anthony, and Mr Uche Udoku, representing William Nnam, had objected to the admissibility of the statements purported to have been made by the defendants to the police being tendered by the prosecuting counsel Mr Sani Moyi.

Justice Peter Affen ordered for trial-within-trial to ascertain the voluntariness of their statements after the defendants alleged that they were forced by the police to make their statements.

He held that the prosecution had not demonstrated that the statements were made voluntarily by the two defendants.
“The statements are hereby marked tendered, but rejected,” he said.

Affen then adjourned until Oct. 23 for commencement of defence.

The Police had earlier alleged that the defendants, armed with dangerous weapons, robbed one Mr Awogbemu Ade of Kwali of his car and other valuables.

The Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Sani Moyi, said that the incident took place on July 1, 2013 at about 9.00 a.m.

The offences contravened the provisions of Sections 97(1) and 298(c) of the Penal Code.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them. (NAN)
NEO/KTO/TA
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Tajudeen Atitebi

Birth Certificate: NPC targets 223,660 children in Jigawa

Certificate

Abdullahi Shugaba

Dutse, Sept. 25, 2018 (NAN) Alhaji Ibrahim Iro, the Director of National Population Commission (NPC) in Jigawa on Tuesday says the commission is targeting 223,660 children for issuance of birth certificates in the state.

Iro told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse that 99, 561 certificates would be issued to children under one year while 124,099 would also be issued to children under five.

“The exercise is like litmus test to how the commission will cope with issuance of birth and death certificates to people in the state.

“It is through this exercise that we will be able to asses our ability and challenges and how to overcome the challenges.

“We are going to start with seven selected local governments across the state,” he said.

Iro appealed to parents to present their children for the birth certificate in view its importance.

“For instance the birth certificate is used for the children identity, admission into primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, employment among others’’. (NAN)
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Edited by Vivian Emoni/Maharazu Ahmed

Grazing
By Nabilu Balarabe
Kirikasamma (Jigawa), Sept. 25, 2018 (NAN) Alhaji Salisu Garba-Kubayo, Chairman, Kirikasamma Local Government Area (LGA) in Jigawa, said on Tuesday that the ban on night grazing in the area was still in force.

Garba-Kubayo made the disclosure when the leadership of the Kirikasamma Chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) paid him a courtesy visit.

According to him, the ban was aimed at preventing farmlands encroachment, which could cause clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

He, however, warned the farmers against farming on cattle routes and grazing reserves.

The chairman called on both herdsmen and farmers to always conduct their activities in a manner that would promote peace and development in the area.

“Herdsmen are expected to graze in approved areas during the day and not at night, while farmers are supposed to harvest crops due for harvest and take same to their respective homes.

“If everyone will play his or her part responsibly, we will not be having these problems.

“I want to assure you that the state and council will not make any decision that will jeopardise peace because we have sworn to protect the lives and property of our people, ‘’ Garba-Kubayo said.

Earlier, the chapter’s chairman, Alhaji Yanbiyu Mattara, rejected an alleged plan by the state and local governments to demarcate cattle routes in Zagari forest in the area.

He said the plan would only escalate the conflict between farmers and herdsmen because his members’ farmlands were located in the same forest.

“We have it on good authority that plans have been concluded to acquire farmlands in Zagari and convert same to cattle routes.

“I want to inform you we are totally against such plans because it will not resolve the conflict; rather it will worsen it, ‘’ the chairman said.

Mattara suggested that, as usual, the forest be restricted for farming activities and be made accessible to grazers only after crops harvest.

“Nothing short of this usual practice will guarantee peace. I foresee a backlash against any move to change the status quo, ‘’ he said. (NAN)
NB/ERO/AJA
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Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Adeleye Ajayi