AWCON 2016: Falcons subdue Lionesses, win eighth title

 Nigeria on Saturday at the Ahmadou Ahidjou Stadium defeated hosts Cameroon 1-0 in the final of the 2016 African Women’s Cup of Nations to lift the title for a record eighth time.

Avant Guingamp of France striker, Desire Oparanozie, gave the Super Falcons the victory over the Indomitable Lionesses in a tensed match, which could have gone either way. The stadium was filled to capacity as fans of the host country came to cheer their team to victory.

Nigeria have now defeated Cameroon in three finals in the history of the competition. The Super Falcons stopped the Lionesses from lifting the AWCON title in the 2004 edition, when they beat them 5-0, and also the 2014 edition when Cameroon lost 2-0 to Nigeria courtesy of goals from Oparanozie and Arsenal Ladies forward, Asisat Oshoala.

Enroute to Saturday’s final, the Falcons and the Lionesses were undefeated. Nigeria beat Mali 6-0 before playing a 1-1 draw with Ghana and beating Kenya 4-0. The Nigerians edged out South Africa 1-0 in the semifinals while Cameroon beat Egypt 2-0 before beating South Africa and Zimbabwe 1-0 and 2-0 respectively. The hosts beat Ghana 1-0 to book a date against Nigeria.

Saturday’s match at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Omnisports Stadium was a repeat of the 2014 final between the two countries but the Lionesses were playing in front of their fans, who kept cheering them on.

Coach Florence Omagbemi retained the team which defeated BanyanaBanyana in the semifinals as Oparanozie was handed her second start of the tournament.

The two sides began the match on a cautious note as they sized each other up but the hosts gradually took control of the game pegging back the defending champions. The opening chances were all about the Cameroonians who attacked relentlessly.

Nigeria goalkeeper, Alaba Jonathan, who kept clean sheets in four of the Falcons’ five matches at the tournament, was the busier of the two keepers as the Lionesses made several incursions into the Nigerian territory.

Gabrielle Onguene carved out the first chance of the game in the fifth minute when she skipped past three Nigerian players before shooting wide from inside the box but Nigeria’s best chance in the opening minutes fell to Vittsjo GIK midfielder Ngozi Okobi, who fired over after going past her marker.

Onguene’s pace continued to trouble the Nigerian backline but the Lionesses could not make their early attacking play count. With less than 15 minutes to the break, Ngono Mani was left with Alaba to beat. The Nigerian goalkeeper did enough to tip away Mani’s attempt before Onome Ebi cleared.

The African champions began the second half on the back foot as Onguene, current African Women Player of the Year, Gaelle Enganamouit, and Mani kept pressing and forcing Jonathan to make a timely save to keep the game scoreless.

But in the 85th minute, Oparanozie had Nigeria’s only shot on target in the second half as she received a chip from Okobi, dragged the ball past her marker inside the box before firing it low beyond Annette Ndom in Cameroon’s goal.

Spanish authorities to take 'appropriate' steps after Ronaldo tax evasion allegations

 It has been alleged the Real Madrid star avoided paying taxes prior to his arrival at the club, claims which have been denied, although further scrutiny will now take place

The Spanish state secretary of the treasury Jose Enrique Fernandez de Moya says the body will take "inspections we consider appropriate" after allegations of tax evasion were levelled against Cristiano Ronaldo.

Over the next three weeks, a consortium of 12 European newspapers is set to publish the findings of what is described as "the largest leak in the history of sport" under the banner 'Football Leaks'.

As part of that, numerous media outlets have alleged that Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho avoided taxes using tax havens through structures set up by Gestifute, the company founded by their agent Jorge Mendes.

The claims have been strongly refuted by Gestifute, but Fernandez de Moya assured that the Spanish authorities will take the steps they consider necessary.

"I must say that the information that the Spanish Treasury handles is what we know out of the media. And what I can say is that the Spanish Treasury is absolutely professional and we will take the inspections we consider appropriate," he told Cadena COPE.

Asked whether Ronaldo specifically was being investigated, Fernandez de Moya replied: "As we do with the whole of Spanish people.

"The information emerged yesterday [Friday] and therefore, the information that we have is what has come out through the media."

In a release issued on Friday, Gestifute described the accusations against Ronaldo and Mourinho as "unfounded", insisting the pair are "fully compliant" with regard to their tax obligations.

The statement read: "Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho are fully compliant with their tax obligations with the Spanish and British tax authorities.

"Neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Jose Mourinho have ever been involved in legal proceedings regarding the commission of a tax offense.

"Any insinuation or accusation made to Cristiano Ronaldo or Jose Mourinho over the commission of a tax offense will be reported to the legal authorities and prosecuted.

"We always act with the highest level of professionalism in our relationships with our clients and the authorities in all those countries in which we operate.

"We will not hesitate to take legal action to defend ourselves and our clients over any untrue and unlawful allegations published about us."

Ondo PDP leaders blame Mimiko for Jegede’s loss

 Indications emerged on Saturday that the defeat of the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Eyitayo Jegede, by Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress, has caused a crack within the Ondo PDP.

It was learnt that some top members of the PDP in the state were of the view that Governor Olusegun Mimiko did not do much to ensure Jegede’s victory.

A source told one of our correspondents that party members in the state were grumbling that Mimiko, before the November 26 poll, visited President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja to negotiate an “easy landing” for himself.

It was also alleged that Mimiko did not spend money as expected to counter APC’s war chest during the election.

Akeredolu and Mimiko are considered to be close despite the fact that they belong to two opposing parties jostling for the rein of power in Ondo. They are believed to have had years of relationship with each other.

Akeredolu was among the team of lawyers, led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), which helped Mimiko to power at the expense of Olusegun Agagu in 2009.

There are also fears in PDP circles that Mimiko was disposed to backing Akeredolu than Oke, who had the support of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, when Jegede’s chances of contesting the election were unlikely.

Reacting to the allegation that the governor betrayed his protégé, the PDP Director of Media and Publicity, Ayo Fadaka, said the governor had always supported Jegede.

“Mimiko was not a sell-out; in this type of situation, there are insinuations of various dimensions to make someone a scapegoat for losing the governorship election. How many of these members of the party gave their unflinching support to ensure Jegede’s victory? If that question is adequately answered, then we can think of blaming the governor.

“The whole world knows what the APC put into winning the election. The party ensured that the court process to reclaim Jegede’s mandate as PDP flag bearer in the poll dragged on more than necessary. Mimiko is not a sell-out,” he said.

Buhari congratulates Gambian President-elect

 President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday congratulated the President-elect of The Gambia, Mr. Adama Barrow, on his victory in the country’s December 1 presidential election.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President also saluted the spirit of statesmanship displayed by the outgoing President of The Gambia, Alhaji Yahya Jammeh, by conceding defeat.

Buhari noted that such an uncommon gesture was crucial in calming the fears of unrest in the West African nation.

While expressing delight at the gallantry shown by Jammeh, the President enjoined Barrow to be magnanimous in victory.

Buhari commended Gambians for peacefully exercising their democratic right to freely choose their leader and called on all stakeholders to maintain peace.

“President Buhari said he looks forward to a smooth transition of power and working with the incoming President of The Gambia to deepen existing cordial relations between both countries,” the statement added.

NYSC mourns, probes death of three corps members

 The National Youth Service Corps on Saturday expressed its regrets and condolences to the families of three corps members who died during the ongoing 2016 Batch ‘B’ (Stream I) Orientation Course in Bayelsa, Kano and Zamfara states.

The NYSC has also set up “a high-powered committee” to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the death of Chinyerum Nwenenda Elechi, Ifedolapo Oladepo and Monday Asuquo Ukeme, deployed in the three states.

The NYSC in a statement by its Director-General, Brig. General, Suleiman Kazaure, dismissed a report that the deaths were caused by the negligence of its personnel.

He said, “The death of the trio followed brief illnesses and after medical teams in the camps battled to save them in line with established procedures. However, in view of these unfortunate incidents in Bayelsa, Kano, and Zamfara states, the management has set up a high-powered committee to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the deaths.

“The NYSC management appreciates the concerns of stakeholders and wishes to assure the general public, especially serving and prospective corps members as well as parents and guardians “that the scheme will continue to take measures aimed at ensuring the security and general well-being of youths enlisted to serve the nation on its platform.”

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mr. Najeem Salam, said the parliament would conduct an independent investigation into the cause of the death of the female corps member, Miss. Ifedolapo Oladepo, who died last week at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Kano State.

The Speaker said this in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Goke Butika.

He said, “The parliament will wait for the outcome of the investigation of the NYSC headquarters, and will conduct our own investigation with a view to getting to the root of the matter.”

Also, the National Association of Nigerian Students said the alleged negligence of the officials of the NYSC was responsible for the death of one of the corps members.

The Deputy Coordinator of NANS ZONE D (South -West), Saheed Afolabi, who said this in a statement in Osogbo, said Oladepo’s death was a big loss to her family and the entire student body.

He claimed that the negligence of the officials was responsible for the death of the First-Class graduate of Transport Management from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.

The student leader asked the Federal Government to order a probe of the deaths to serve as a deterrent to other negligent officials and to prevent a recurrence.

Ribadu used stolen funds for Adamawa poll – Ex-EFCC chair

 A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Farida Waziri, says the pioneer Chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, also benefitted from the stolen funds deployed by the Peoples Democratic Party during the 2015 general elections.

The EFCC had arrested PDP chieftains across the country for allegedly receiving part of the N23bn disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Although Waziri made no reference to Diezani, she said in a statement by her Personal Assistant, Mrs. Omolara Oluremi, that Ribadu, who was the governorship candidate of the PDP in Adamawa State, received part of the slush funds distributed by the party.

Waziri’s scathing remarks against her predecessor were said to be in reaction to Ribadu’s claim that Waziri had a hand in his removal from the EFCC and frustrated the anti-graft war.

She said, “If Nuhu is yet to face the reality that the EFCC is a Federal Government agency and not a personal estate of anybody eight years after, I find it compelling to remind him, otherwise, one day he would wake up to blame me for his defeat in the 2011 presidential election and even his pathetic outing in the 2015 governorship election in Adamawa State despite the slush funds deployed to ensure his victory at the polls.”

Waziri also alleged that under Ribadu’s leadership between 2003 and 2007, billions of recovered funds went missing because of his failure to inaugurate an asset recovery unit.

She added, “There is also the need to remind Nuhu that before he succumbs to another logorrhea, he should avail himself a copy of the investigative report on recovered assets during his tenure as EFCC chairman and use the opportunity of the next ceremony or birthday party he is invited to, to explain to Nigerians what happened to billions of funds and assets recovered from suspects under him, with no records or documentation.

“He should be grateful to me that I cleaned his mess by creating an Assets Forfeiture Unit to put the records straight and do things rightly.”

Waziri, who described Ribadu as a political prostitute for jumping from one party to the other, argued that no blackmail could tarnish her image or erase her performance at the EFCC.

She said, “No matter how hard Nuhu tries to obliterate my tenure with his numerous lies, the record of over 450 convictions secured during my three and a half-year sojourn in the EFCC remains indelible.

“Though I inherited about 10 high-profile cases from him in 2008, we took over 75 of such high-profile cases to courts, with another 1,500 low-profile cases pending in courts as of my exit in November 2011. We initiated and commenced work on the permanent office complex of the EFCC sitting on a 5.5 hectares of land along Airport Road, Abuja, in addition to inaugurating offices in Maiduguri, Borno State and Ibadan, Oyo State to expand the commission’s scope of operations.”

Waziri challenged Ribadu to “explain to Nigerians what happened to billions of funds and assets recovered from suspects under him, with no records or documentation.”

While cautioning him to stop using her name “anytime he needs public attention or sympathy”, she also described as lies, recent comments by Ribadu accusing her of “being part of his imaginary enemies who frustrated the nation’s anti-graft war.”

According to her, the former EFCC chairman has always been obsessed with dropping her name into his script anytime he needs public pity or political relevance.

She said, “My attention has been drawn to a reckless and irresponsible statement credited to Nuhu Ribadu at a function on Wednesday in Abuja, where he, as has been his rhetoric since 2008 when I succeeded him as the EFCC Chairman, attempted to malign me by accusing me of being part of his imaginary enemies, who frustrated the nation’s anti-graft war.”

When contacted on the telephone, Ribadu referred our correspondent to his earlier statement against Waziri.

Ribadu had, in a paper he presented at the 2016 annual lecture organised by the Law Chambers of Chief Joe Gadzama (SAN), on Friday, accused Waziri and a former Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, of promoting corruption.

He had said, “He (Aondoakaa) attempted to take over the prosecutorial powers of the commission, which would have rendered the EFCC to a toothless bulldog. But, of course, we resisted. He later found a partner in Mrs. Farida Waziri, who inflicted serious damage on the EFCC from which the commission is still struggling to recover.

“For the Halliburton scandal, corrupt practices that were unheard of became widespread and outside lawyers were brought in to handle very important cases that sometimes were turned into avenues of making money.”

Presidency replies Sanusi

 The Presidency on Saturday said the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, did not have the facts on the issues over which he criticised President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Sanusi had, on Friday, said the  Buhari administration lacked the right policies to fix Nigeria’s economy, even as he warned of grave consequences of borrowing $30bn from external sources.

He had stated that even if the Senate approved the loan, no foreign nation or financial institution would be willing to accede to the country’s loan request.

But the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said, “With every respect to the Emir, you know he is my ruler, because I come from Kano.

“He doesn’t have his facts as far as those issues are concerned. The issue in CBN, that government has overdrawn its Central Consolidated Account is true, but it is within limits.”

Hoodlums attack Shehu Sani, senator blames el-Rufai

 The lawmaker representing Kaduna-Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, has said the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, should be held responsible for whatever happens to him.

Gunmen had attacked the lawmaker’s constituency office on Saturday.

Sani, who was recently suspended from his party, the All Progressives Congress, had been at loggerheads with the governor.

The senator, in a Facebook post on Saturday shortly after the attack, alleged that the hoodlums had been traced to el-Rufai.

The post read, “Some few minutes ago, I received a report that some armed thugs raided and attacked my constituency office located at Stadium Roundabout by Constitution Road, Kaduna. They unleashed terror on my social media team, who were meeting in the office. They vandalised the office.

“We have information that the thugs were fully recruited and paid by political appointees of Governor Nasiru el-Rufai. We have the names of the political appointees and we have the names of those they are funding. Right now, their details have been given to the Department of State Services and the police for investigation.

“Two days ago, an attempt to burn my family house in Alkalawa Road, Tudun Wada, Kaduna, by sponsored thugs, was thwarted by vigilant residents and neighbours, which led to the brief deployment of policemen in the area.

“I wish to state categorically clear that I hold Governor Nasiru el-Rufai personally responsible for whatever happens to me or any of my family members or supporters. After the use of financial inducement on APC executive in the state to silence Shehu Sani in the name of suspension, which never worked, they have now taken the road of violence. ”

However, el-Rufai, who reacted through his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Uba Sani, on Saturday, warned Sani “to stop his political tantrums and grow up, or at least try to match the dignity, refinement and decorum expected of a senator.”

He also said “the lawmaker has reached the career limit that chicanery and thuggery can facilitate.”

The governor  advised the senator, “who is reeling from the extension of his suspension from the APC, to desist from blaming his woes on the state government.”

He said, “It has become imperative to set the record straight. Everyone knows that it is Shehu Sani that has spent 18 months attacking the governor personally and opposing every government policy. The government has ignored his tantrums, while the party has acted to uphold discipline. Shehu Sani should keep the government out of his woes.”

APC leads in Lagos National Assembly by-election

 There were indications on Saturday that the All Progressives Congress candidate in the Ifako–Ijaiye House of Representatives by-election, Mr. Akinwunmi Olaitan, was leading other contenders in the exercise.

It was gathered that the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Mr. Babatope Akinyele, is trailing behind the APC candidate.

Early results as of  press time showed that in ward A, APC polled 475 votes while PDP polled 166. In Ward B, APC polled 540 and the PDP got 135.

In ward C, APC polled 841 while PDP polled 195.

At of press time, other results were still being collated.

The election recorded a low turn-out as a large number of voters stayed away from the 687 polling units in the constituency.

The election was held to get a replacement for the late House of Representatives member representing the constituency, Dr. Elijah Adewale, who died on July 20, 2016.

In most of the polling units visited, it was gathered that electoral materials arrived early, but the numbers of eligible voters, who came out for the voting, were very low.

At about noon, electoral officers were seen waiting for voters.

Ooni, Olugbo in supremacy battle

 There is an ongoing battle of supremacy between the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, over which throne is the monarchical seat of power in Yorubaland and the origin of Oduduwa, the so-called progenitor of Yoruba people.

Oba Akinruntan also attacked the Ooni of Ife for describing Moremi Ajasoro as a heroine.

The Ugbo monarch disagreed with the Ooni, who described Moremi as a goddess and recently built a 42-foot statue in her honour.

To the Ondo monarch, Moremi was a traitor who betrayed her husband, Osangangan Obamakin.

But in a swift reaction, the Ife monarch said Olugbo did not have deep knowledge of Yoruba history.

The Olugbo, in a statement issued by the Olugbo-in-Council, said, “We, the Olugbo–in–Council, found such (Ooni’s remarks about Moremi) unguarded statements and historical fallacy disturbing, particularly when such emanated from a monarch who is expected to be a custodian of history, customs and traditions of Yorubaland. We hereby state categorically that we are Ugbos, the aboriginal settlers and owners of Ile-Ife.

“Our forefathers descended from heaven, that is why we are called ‘Ugbo Atorunwo.’ We are not Ibos (Igbos), who are from the South-East, and who have their own clearly researched and defined ancestry. To set the record straight, Moremi remains a traitor. She was a slave captured by Ugbo warriors during one of their many raids on Ile-Ife. She later became the wife of Osangangan Obamakin, the son of Oranfe, of who was the paramount ruler of over 13 aboriginal communities of ancient Ugbomokun, which later came to be called Ile Ife.”

The statement said further, “Oduduwa came to Ugbomokun as a stranger and was welcomed in Ilero, the aboriginal palace of Osangangan Obamakin, which is still in existence in present-day Iremo, in Ile Ife. During the dynastic struggles, Osangangan Obamakin was directed by the oracles (Ifa and Osanyin) to leave Ile Ife. Moremi betrayed her husband’s trust when she exposed the secret of the Ugbo warriors’ gallantry.”

“Popular history states that Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Ooni, migrated from the East/Mecca. In another account by the Oba of Benin, recently, Oduduwa came from Benin. We ask that the Ooni should confirm his ancestral roots. It is also of importance to note that in the ancient custom of Yoruba, an incumbent king must have no living father. Also, no man from a female lineage of a ruling house is qualified to sit on the throne.”

But Oba Ogunwusi, who spoke through the Director of Public Affairs of the Ooni’s Palace, Moses Olafare, said the Ooni would not dignify the Olugbo with an answer because he was more focused on achieving unity among all Yoruba people and would not allow himself to be distracted.

The Ooni insisted that Moremi was a heroine, who deserved accolade because of the role she played in the liberation of Ife people from some “faceless terrorists.”

He said, “This outburst of Olugbo can only be viewed by well-meaning people as a pitiable act of absurdity that doesn’t deserve serious attention by serious people. How on earth could a Yoruba king refer to Moremi as a traitor because she used her power as a woman to liberate her people from incessant invasions by some faceless terrorists?

“Most paramount on the mind of His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, with the unflinching support of the Alaafin, baba; the Awujale; the Alake; the Orangun; the Deji; the Ewi; the Osemawe; the Olubadan; the Oba of Lagos; and other relevant peace-loving monarchs in Yorubaland and in other parts of the country is and remains the much-needed progress of Yoruba nation which can only be achieved through peace and unity.

“It is a pity that at this time when everybody is tired of retrogressive royal discord, the Olugbo, who claims to be the Chairman of Yoruba Obas Committee on Peace and Reconciliation, has suddenly without a deep knowledge of Yoruba history, woken up to see royal controversy as the only tool for cheap publicity.”

Ribadu used stolen funds for Adamawa poll – Ex-EFCC chair

 A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Farida Waziri, says the pioneer Chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, also benefitted from the stolen funds deployed by the Peoples Democratic Party during the 2015 general elections.

The EFCC had arrested PDP chieftains across the country for allegedly receiving part of the N23bn disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Although Waziri made no reference to Diezani, she said in a statement by her Personal Assistant, Mrs. Omolara Oluremi, that Ribadu, who was the governorship candidate of the PDP in Adamawa State, received part of the slush funds distributed by the party.

Waziri’s scathing remarks against her predecessor were said to be in reaction to Ribadu’s claim that Waziri had a hand in his removal from the EFCC and frustrated the anti-graft war.

She said, “If Nuhu is yet to face the reality that the EFCC is a Federal Government agency and not a personal estate of anybody eight years after, I find it compelling to remind him, otherwise, one day he would wake up to blame me for his defeat in the 2011 presidential election and even his pathetic outing in the 2015 governorship election in Adamawa State despite the slush funds deployed to ensure his victory at the polls.”

Waziri also alleged that under Ribadu’s leadership between 2003 and 2007, billions of recovered funds went missing because of his failure to inaugurate an asset recovery unit.

She added, “There is also the need to remind Nuhu that before he succumbs to another logorrhea, he should avail himself a copy of the investigative report on recovered assets during his tenure as EFCC chairman and use the opportunity of the next ceremony or birthday party he is invited to, to explain to Nigerians what happened to billions of funds and assets recovered from suspects under him, with no records or documentation.

“He should be grateful to me that I cleaned his mess by creating an Assets Forfeiture Unit to put the records straight and do things rightly.”

Waziri, who described Ribadu as a political prostitute for jumping from one party to the other, argued that no blackmail could tarnish her image or erase her performance at the EFCC.

She said, “No matter how hard Nuhu tries to obliterate my tenure with his numerous lies, the record of over 450 convictions secured during my three and a half-year sojourn in the EFCC remains indelible.

“Though I inherited about 10 high-profile cases from him in 2008, we took over 75 of such high-profile cases to courts, with another 1,500 low-profile cases pending in courts as of my exit in November 2011. We initiated and commenced work on the permanent office complex of the EFCC sitting on a 5.5 hectares of land along Airport Road, Abuja, in addition to inaugurating offices in Maiduguri, Borno State and Ibadan, Oyo State to expand the commission’s scope of operations.”

Waziri challenged Ribadu to “explain to Nigerians what happened to billions of funds and assets recovered from suspects under him, with no records or documentation.”

While cautioning him to stop using her name “anytime he needs public attention or sympathy”, she also described as lies, recent comments by Ribadu accusing her of “being part of his imaginary enemies who frustrated the nation’s anti-graft war.”

According to her, the former EFCC chairman has always been obsessed with dropping her name into his script anytime he needs public pity or political relevance.

She said, “My attention has been drawn to a reckless and irresponsible statement credited to Nuhu Ribadu at a function on Wednesday in Abuja, where he, as has been his rhetoric since 2008 when I succeeded him as the EFCC Chairman, attempted to malign me by accusing me of being part of his imaginary enemies, who frustrated the nation’s anti-graft war.”

When contacted on the telephone, Ribadu referred our correspondent to his earlier statement against Waziri.

Ribadu had, in a paper he presented at the 2016 annual lecture organised by the Law Chambers of Chief Joe Gadzama (SAN), on Friday, accused Waziri and a former Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, of promoting corruption.

He had said, “He (Aondoakaa) attempted to take over the prosecutorial powers of the commission, which would have rendered the EFCC to a toothless bulldog. But, of course, we resisted. He later found a partner in Mrs. Farida Waziri, who inflicted serious damage on the EFCC from which the commission is still struggling to recover.

“For the Halliburton scandal, corrupt practices that were unheard of became widespread and outside lawyers were brought in to handle very important cases that sometimes were turned into avenues of making money.”

Ibori may face 170-count fraud charges on return

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is set to re-arrest and prosecute a former Governor of Delta State, Mr. James Ibori, who will complete his sentence in a prison in Britain on December 20, 2016.

Barring last minute changes, Ibori will be arraigned on 170 charges bordering on money laundering and corruption.

A Southwark Crown court had on April 17, 2012, sentenced Ibori to 13 years in prison after the ex-governor pleaded guilty to 10 counts of money laundering and stealing $250m from the treasury.

Following his conviction in the UK, there were criticisms of the Nigerian justice system ,especially an Asaba High Court which had struck out 170 charges which the EFCC had brought against Ibori.

However, the EFCC took the matter to the Appeal Court where a three-man panel of justices on May 15, 2014, at the Benin Division of the Court of Appeal ruled that the ex- governor, who is currently serving a 13-year jail term in a London prison, has a case to answer.

The appellate court panel, led by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, ordered that the case be re-assigned to another judge of the Federal High Court for continuation of trial.

The EFCC subsequently said in a statement in 2014 that the ex-governor would be re-arrested upon the completion of his prison sentence.

The EFCC statement read, “With this judgment, the coast is clear for Ibori to face trial in Nigeria upon the completion of his jail term in London.”

Attempts to speak with the EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, on Saturday proved abortive.

However, a source at the EFCC told our correspondent that the legal department of the commission would have to look into the matter again.

He said, “Indeed Ibori still has a case to answer but it will be reviewed and charges might be amended.”

However, legal luminary, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), told our correspondent on the telephone that there was no need prosecuting Ibori again.

Sagay, who spoke in his personal capacity and not as the chairman of President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption committee, told our correspondent that Ibori had already been punished and prosecuting him again could amount to human rights abuse.

He said, “It will be constitute double jeopardy because he was been punished according to the law and any attempt to arrest him and make him go through the process a second time will be unconstitutional.

Some of the possessions confiscated from the ex-governor include: a house in Hampstead, North London, worth £2.2m; a property in Shaftesbury, Dorset, for £311,000; a £3.2m mansion in Sandton, near Johannesburg, South Africa; a fleet of armoured Range Rovers valued at £600,000; a £120,000 Bentley Continental GT; and a Mercedes-Benz Maybach 62 bought for €407,000 cash.

When contacted on Saturday, spokesperso‎n for the AGF, Mr. Salihu Isah, told our correspondent that he needed to hear from the minister before he could react.

“It is the AGF that can take such decision, I need to hear from him first,” Isah said.

Forgery: FG dumps fresh police probe indicting Saraki, deputy

 There were indications on Saturday that the Federal Government is  no longer interested in pursuing the case of forgery of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015, allegedly masterminded by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

Investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH revealed that the Federal Government might have closed the case despite a fresh report of further investigation unearthing new facts about the forgery allegations.

SUNDAY PUNCH had exclusively reported that the police submitted a fresh report of investigation to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice through the National Prosecution Coordination Committee.

In the fresh report, the police indicted Saraki and Ekweremadu.

The Federal Government had, on October 7, 2016, withdrawn the charges of criminal conspiracy before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Jabi, Abuja.

Our correspondent gathered on Saturday that the AGF office received fresh police investigation some days after the charges were withdrawn.

Secretary of the NPCC and a Special Adviser to the AGF, Sylvester Imhanobe, confirmed to our correspondent that the AGF office received the report but that it would not change the earlier decision to withdraw the charges.

But a  source in the Federal Ministry of Justice told our correspondent that the Federal Government also, partly resolved to stop pursuing the case in order to “bolster the rapport” with the Senate, which President Muhammadu Buhari “desperately needs to push through a number of its policies”.

Saraki and Ekweremadu were earlier charged alongside a former Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and a former deputy clerk, Mr. Ben Efeturi,for allegedly forging the Senate Standing Orders, which were used for the inauguration of the Eight Senate.

All of them pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail .

A  police operative told SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday, that the SIP had addressed the loopholes the AGF identified in the former report.

He said, “The police have concluded investigations into the case and submitted the report to the NPCC. This was done about a month ago.”

Giving an insight into the report, a source at the Force Headquarters said, “Conspiracy is a very wide offence and Maikasuwa couldn’t have done what he did without the connivance of Saraki and Ekweremadu.”

When asked if the panel made any recommendation for the prosecution of the beneficiaries of the forgery, he stated, “There is no need to make any recommendation to prosecute them because the investigation did not exonerate them.”

Another source, who was familiar with the police probe, stated that the SIP was able to gather necessary evidences on how the alleged forgery was carried out.

The source said it was up to the AGF and the NPCC to decide whether to re-arraign Saraki, Ekweremadu and others.

It was gathered that the detectives were able to verify the extent of amendment to the Senate Standing Orders 2011, the individuals who authorised it, and the official who ordered the printing of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015.

Our correspondents gathered that the SIP had to bypass the Clerk, National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, to get the necessary evidence and documents relating to the case.

Mega party: Atiku, Tinubu, Makarfi’s PDP target March 2017 date

Barring any last-minute change of plans, the proposed mega opposition party in the country will be formed before the end of March, 2017, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt.

It was gathered that the Ahmed Makarfi faction of the Peoples Democratic Party and aggrieved chieftains of the All Progressives Congress had intensified efforts aimed at forming the party since the result of the Ondo State election was released.

Findings showed that besides the plan to form a new mega party, those involved in the talks were also considering adopting any of the existing political parties as their platform.

It was gathered that those who were participating in the talks included former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and a national leader of the APC,  Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

A PDP chieftain, who confided in Sunday PUNCH on Saturday, said with what happened in Ondo,  it had become obvious that the Muhammadu Buhari administration was ready to relinquish power despite the fact that it had no solution to the economic recession in  the country.

The source said, “The mega party is still at a formative stage but I can tell you we are making steady progress.

“With what happened in Ondo, you will agree with me that the cabal around the President, including a governor from the North-Central, and some ministers, has hijacked the party structure.

“They have shown more than once that they want to frustrate Tinubu and Atiku out of the APC.  These are tested politicians, who have no plans of retiring any time soon.

“The picture will become clearer before the end of the first quarter of next year (March 2017) because some of our people believe that if we come out now, the cabal will use executive powers to frustrate us.  Others feel it is better to let Nigerians know but our leaders are meeting at home and abroad. We are waiting for them.”

Investigations showed that those involved in the talks were aware of the Federal Government’s plot to thwart the groups’ plan to form a new mega party, informing the plan of the groups to adopt any of the existing parties and uplift it to a mega status.

A PDP chieftain, who confided in Saturday PUNCH, said, “We are working on the plan to form a mega party, but we may adopt any of the existing parties, if the government thwarts our efforts.”

It was also gathered that the Makarfi faction planned to strengthen its electoral strength in the South-East by entrenching rotational presidency in the constitution of the new party.

A top member of the party, who spoke to SUNDAY PUNCH on condition of anonymity, said the group was aware of the plans by the  Buhari administration to make an inroad into the South-East in 2019.

The PDP chieftain added, “The South-East and South-South are areas of our strength. We have noticed that the Presidency has been receiving Igbo leaders at the Aso Rock. This is part of the bid to win the zone in 2019.

“We may have to make some concessions to the South-East to truly show that we care for the zone. These will include rotational presidency.”

For Tinubu, it was also gathered that the group was seriously considering the offer of the Makarfi faction to form a mega party.

It was learnt that the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, had been reaching out to the Tinubu group on behalf of the faction.

A member of the Tinubu group, who confided in SUNDAY PUNCH, stated, “We do not want to make the mistake we made with Buhari by rushing to support him. We are considering the offer from the PDP faction.”

Besides Tinubu and Atiku, other prominent politicians being targeted by the Makarfi faction include a former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankanso; the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and an ex-governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Wamakko.

It was gathered that the Makarfi faction was aware of the desperate move of the President to woo Saraki.

This, it was learnt, was one of the reasons for the Senate President’s recent frequent visits to the President.

“We have not given up on Saraki. He is one of us and we believe he is going to be part of the mega party we will form,” a PDP chieftain stated.

One of our correspondents learnt that the Federal Government had dropped the Senate Order forgery suit against Saraki in order to ensure his loyalty to Buhari.

It was also believed that the Senate President was instrumental to the emergence of former sports minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, as the National Publicity Secretary of the ruling party.

“Even the trial of the Senate President at the Code of Conduct Tribunal may crumble or never be concluded. It’s all part of the plan to ensure that Saraki does not join the new party to be formed,” a source told one of our correspondents on Saturday.

For Kwankanso, it was gathered that the former governor had almost been pushed out of the APC by his successor, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje.

“Kwankanso is going to be part of the new arrangement because for now, he is only a fringe member of the APC,” the PDP source added.

Efforts made to get the reaction of the Makarfi faction were unsuccessful as calls made to the telephone of the National Publicity Secretary of the Caretaker Committee of the PDP, Mr. Dayo Adeyeye, were not connected.

Adeyeye, a former minister of state for works, had, however, once denied that the inter-party committee, set up by Makarfi, was given a mandate to change the name of the PDP.

When one of our correspondents contacted the Special Adviser to Tinubu, Mr. Tunde Rahman, he said he was not aware of the plan to form a mega party.

He said, “I am not aware of that development. I am not aware at all.”

On his part, the media aide to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, dismissed insinuations that his principal was considering dumping the APC.

He accused those he referred to as political jobbers and mischief makers of trying to drag the former Vice-President into their baseless conspiracy theory.

“The statement we issued as far back as 2015 on this vexatious speculation is as valid then as it is valid today.

“The same sets of mischief makers are at it again. The Turakin Adamawa has shown in his words and deeds that he is a committed member of the All Progressives Congress nothing has changed,” Ibe stated.

The statement, which was issued by the Atiku Media Office, described media reports linking Atiku to a new party, as “lies concocted by some mischief makers who were trying to cause disaffection between the former Vice-President and his party.

Political realignment are ongoing, says Timi Frank

But the suspended Deputy Publicity Secretary of the APC, Timi Frank, said, “I can tell you clearly; political re-alignments are going on and people will make their stand known very, very soon. That is all I can tell you for now.”

PDP crisis may delay party formation

It was, however, learnt on Saturday that the factionalisation of the PDP might  delay the formation of the mega party.

It was gathered that the two factions of the party, especially the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee, were waiting for the outcome of the ongoing factions legal battle to determine the authentic leadership of the former ruling party.

Already, the intra-party committee set up by the Makarfi’s PDP, was said to have met with some aggrieved members of the ruling party..

A member of the committee, who spoke with one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, said some of the APC leaders the committee met had agreed to leave the ruling party.

He, however, said those who had agreed to defect from the APC, especially those who left the PDP, said they would not return to the former ruling party, but would be desirous of forming a new party with the PDP.

He said, “We have been meeting with politicians, our former members in the APC and those who were never members of the PDP.

“For strategic reasons, I don’t want to mention their names in order not to jeopardise our ongoing plan.

“Let me however say that majority of them are not willing to join our party. They are suggesting that we form a new party to accommodate all other interest groups. That’s where we are now.”

Asked if that condition would be considered, he said that would be determined after the ongoing case involving the Makarfi and the Ali Modu Sheriff factions was determined.

Impeccable sources said the leadership of the Makarfi faction of the PDP would determine whether to merge with another party if it wins the cases at the courts.

The Sheriff faction, however, accused the Makarfi-led group of working with the APC to destabilise the PDP.

It cited the defection of Senator Yele Omogunwa from the PDP to the APC, which it said was as a result of the ongoing talks between the Sheriff faction and those who defected from the PDP to the APC.

Sheriff’s deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh, told one of our correspondents that Nigerians should hold the other faction responsible if the party died.

He said, “I saw what Makarfi said in The PUNCH and I must say that the defection could be as a result of the talks they said they are having with those that defected from the PDP to the APC.

“They have told the world that those people would return the PDP. Is this a sign that they are coming?

“These people are killing the PDP and this is why we are in court, to retrieve the party from the grips of its enemies.”

Meanwhile, Senator Buruji Kashamu warned that the crisis rocking the party would linger for a long time.

He said the issue might become what he described as a circus show.

The Senator, representing Ogun East Senatorial District, said the final outcome of the leadership tussle would be determined by the apex court.

He said, “Let us not lose sight of the fact that the appellate court is yet to finally determine the issue of the national leadership crisis. Irrespective of what the High courts say, for or against Senator Ali Modu Sheriff or Senator Ahmed Makarfi, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court are still there to adjudicate on the issues, and it could become a circus show.

“Besides, anyone, who is unjustly punished, will not fold his hands and allow his rights to be trampled upon.

“He will do everything legally possible to fight for his rights. And this could result in a series of litigation and create more problems than they are meant to resolve.

$30bn loan: Sanusi hits Buhari’s govt, says FG lacks right policies

 The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on Friday in Abuja described President Muhammadu Buhari‘s administration as lacking the right policies to fix Nigeria’s economy, even as he warned of grave consequences of borrowing $30bn from external sources.

He also said even if the Senate approved the loan, no foreign nation or financial institution would be willing to grant the country such a loan.

Sanusi said this in his paper titled: “A plan to restore confidence, direction and growth,” during a policy dialogue organised by an economic think tank, the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development.

The former Central Bank of Nigeria’s governor — who also said the CBN is “illegally” lending to Federal Government — further stated “the problem of the current government is not having the right policies to fix the current economic woes.”

The ex-CBN governor argued that for a country that has five exchange rates, it would be difficult for a $30bn loan request to sail through.

He said since the country’s foreign exchange lacked credibility, the Federal Government should embrace private sector investments as a means of pushing the economy out of recession.

Sanusi also said oil alone could not help Nigeria out of the current economic situation because it would “never make Nigeria rich.”

He said, “I can tell you for free, if the Senate today approves that we can borrow $30bn, honestly, no one will lend to us. It should be approved and I will like to see how you will go to the international market with an economy that has five exchange rates.

“There is one rate for petroleum marketers, there is inter-bank rate, there is another for money market operators such as Western Union, MoneyGram, there is bureau de change rate and there is a special rate that you get when you call the CBN for a transaction.

“So who will lend you money when they don’t know your exact reserve and exchange rate? I want to see who will lend you money when the Niger Delta bombing of oil facilities is there, when the main source of the loan repayment is oil.”

Sanusi further said the country’s population had increased by over 40 million people since 2015, saying that unfortunately, the government had found it hard to increase capital expenditure.

He also warned on the continuous dependence on the Chinese government, saying that imports from China had scrapped the nation’s local industry.

“We trust China too much. We need to be very careful. They are killing our textile and other industries and yet they are selling to us,” he said.

He urged the government to reduce its debt service through greater loan concessionary.

He said the country had in the past 15 years been borrowing money to pay salaries and fuel subsidy, adding that there was a possibility that the country would keep borrowing in the next 15 years, as previous loans were not channelled into health, power or other infrastructural development.

Sanusi also said the June 2016 forex reform should be implemented to unite the market through a single transparent rate rather than creating four new rates.

“The Senate should support tax incentives and other benefits to encourage the private sector,” he added.

Sanusi, who further noted that the CBN’s lending to the government since Buhari came into power had spiked from about N1.5tn to over N4.5tn, added, “The CBN-FGN relationship is no longer independent. In fact, one could argue that their relationship has become unhealthy.

“CBN’s claims on the FGN now top N4.7tn — equal to almost 50 per cent of the FGN’s total domestic debt. This is a clear violation of the Central Bank Act of 2007 (Section 38.2) which caps advances to the FGN at five per cent of last year’s revenues. Has CBN become the government’s lender of last or first resort?”

“Nigeria produces one barrel of oil for 80 Nigerians; Saudi Arabia produces one for three Saudis,” he said, noting that growth in any economy should be driven by “consumption, investment and net export.”

Stating that he would not be afraid to criticise the government, Sanusi said, “I can’t apologise for being who I am. In the government I served, I did not keep quiet. When I am not serving the government, I cannot keep quiet.”

Presidential spokesmen, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, could not be reached as of the time of filing this report on Friday.

They were attending a dinner organised in honour of the visiting King Mohammed VI of Morocco at the time.

Real Madrid Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Barcelona

 Everything you need to know about Los Blancos' preparations for the Clasico clash at Camp Nou on Saturday

Real Madrid remain unbeaten this season. Zinedine Zidane's side sit on top of La Liga and warmed up for the trip to Barcelona at the weekend with a 6-1 win at home to Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night.

Madrid lead Barca by six points in the Primera Division ahead of the Clasico at Camp Nou on Saturday and have not lost a game since their 2-0 defeat away to Wolfsburg in the Champions League last April.

That came just four days after their 2-1 win in the last Clasico and here, Goal takes a look at how they are shaping up for the next edition of the famous fixture...

REAL MADRID INJURIES

Real Madrid will be without Gareth Bale after the Welsh winger picked up an ankle injury in the 2-1 win away to Sporting CP in the Champions League last week and underwent an operation in London on Tuesday.

Toni Kroos is still sidelined as well, while Fabio Coentrao also looks set to miss out and Danilo is doubtful for the Camp Nou clash.

Better news for Zidane saw Casemiro return from a long spell out as he featured as a starter in the 6-1 win over Cultural Leonesa on Wednesday and the Brazilian now looks set to play some part in the Clasico on Saturday.


REAL MADRID SUSPENSIONS

While they have had their injury problems lately, Real Madrid have no players suspended for the Clasico clash at Camp Nou this weekend.

Captain Sergio Ramos, sent off in the last Clasico in April, was walking a suspension tightrope, though. The Spain defender is just one booking away from a ban, but came through unscathed in the 2-1 win over Sporting Gijon in La Liga last Saturday and should start in the Clasico.


REAL MADRID POTENTIAL STARTING LINE-UP

With Gareth Bale out injured, Zinedine Zidane is likely to call upon Lucas Vazquez to fill in on the right of Real Madrid's attack, with the winger likely to drop back into midfield in more of a 4-4-2 formation when Barcelona have the ball.

With Pepe having only recently returned from injury, Raphael Varane looks likely to get the nod at centre-back alongside captain Sergio Ramos, while Dani Carvajal will be preferred to Danilo (who is a doubt anyway) on the right side of defence.

In midfield, Casemiro is available again and made his return from injury in the 6-1 win over Cultural Leonesa on Wednesday night. However, following a long spell on the sidelines, the Brazilian looks set to start on the bench as Zidane seems likely to keep faith in Mateo Kovacic alongside Luka Modric and Isco, who was so impressive in the recent derby win at the Vicente Calderon.

BARCELONA DOSSIER

Barcelona trail Real Madrid by six points after 13 rounds of La Liga and the Catalans have been inconsistent this season, drawing three of their six matches at Camp Nou so far in the Primera Division.

The last of those was a goalless game at home to Malaga and Luis Enrique's side were also unable to win away at Real Sociedad in a 1-1 draw on Sunday. The Catalans then tied 1-1 in Alicante against Hercules in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday - albeit with their second string in that match.

The return of Andres Iniesta will represent a big boost for Barca, with the midfielder missing since he injured his knee away to Valencia in La Liga on October 22. However, form has not been good and Luis Enrique admitted after the game at Anoeta that his side will need to do much better against Real Madrid in the Clasico.

While Madrid will be top whatever happens on Saturday, Barcelona simply cannot afford to lose and fall nine points behind their fierce rivals - even at this early stage of La Liga.

BEST MATCH FACTS

Real Madrid have won five of their last nine games aganst Barça in all competitions (L4), including their last trip to Camp Nou (1-2).

Only Alfredo Di Stefano (18) has scored more goals for Real Madrid than Cristiano Ronaldo (16) in Clasicos in all competitions.

Karim Benzema has scored five goals in his last seven Liga Clasicos, but just one of them came at Camp Nou.

Real Madrid have picked up 11 red cards in their last 26 Clasicos, with four of them coming for Sergio Ramos (all competitions).


CLASICO TV COVERAGE & KICK-OFF TIME

The Clasico kicks off at 16:15 CET at Camp Nou, which means television viewers in the UK will be unable to watch the fixture live due to FA rules which state that no games can be broadcast between 14:45 and 17:15.

The match will be shown later, from 17:15 UK time, on Sky Sports.

APC leaders divided over Tinubu’s role

A week after the Ondo State governorship election, there are indications that the All Progressives Congress leaders, particularly the National Working Committee members, are still divided over a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Saturday PUNCH reliably learnt in Abuja on Friday that the party leaders had not agreed on how to handle the former governor on his alleged role in the Ondo State poll.

While some members believe that Tinubu and the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, worked against the interest of the party in the election, others are of the view that the duo did no wrong.

It was gathered that the hardliners in the APC, who are mostly against Tinubu, are calling for the sanctioning of the former governor and his loyalists.

Investigations showed that other APC leaders had called for caution, arguing that any tough measure against Tinubu would destroy the party.

It was learnt that those, who are sympathetic to the former governor, said the party should reconcile with him.

A chieftain of the party, who confided in Saturday PUNCH, said, “We have told those who are against the man to remember his contributions to the formation of the APC and the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari. We should not take any action that will destroy the party.”

But those calling for sanctions insisted that there should be consequences for party members who engaged in anti-party activities, irrespective of their status.

They argued that such sanctions would send a strong message to would-be rebels.

A former lawmaker, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on the condition of anonymity, said, “We should not treat Tinubu like a god. The laws of the party should apply to all members.”

Those opposed to punitive actions against Tinubu argued that the outcome of the Ondo governorship election offered a new opportunity to unite rather than further divide the party.

But the APC leaders calling for sanctions are accusing the two party leaders of allegedly supporting candidates of rival political parties against APC’s standard bearer during the polls.

Specifically, they are accused of supporting the candidature of Chief Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy with funds and other logistics.

Oke had defected to the AD to contest the Ondo governorship election after losing to Akeredolu in the party’s primary held on September 3, 2016.

A source, who confided in one of our correspondents, also said another South-West APC governor was also among those believed to have funded Oke’s campaigns.

The source was silent on whether the governor would also face sanction or not.

One of the party leaders, who appealed for caution, said, “The outcome of the Ondo election is enough humiliation for these people. Why would anybody want to add salt to injury by sanctioning them?

 “Besides, we cannot afford at this stage of our development to begin to behave like the former ruling party. Did anyone see Asiwaju or Aregbesola anywhere near Oke’s campaign? You know it is normal for politicians to drop names if such names will give them an edge over opponents.”

A member of the APC National Working Committee loyal to Tinubu, said calls for sanctions against Tinubu were misplaced.

He said, “Who are those making such calls? I am sure they are people who did not know how the APC was formed. When did showing preference for a particular party member over another constitute an anti-party activity?

“Anyone who can provide proof of any anti-party activity against Tinubu should come out in the open instead of chasing shadows.”

Tinubu contributed to the success of APC in Ondo –Aide

When contacted, Special Adviser (Media), to Tinubu, Mr. Tunde Rahman, said, “I’m not aware of any such call (to sanction Tinubu). If there is any, it has no basis. As a leader of the party, Asiwaju Tinubu contributed his quota to the success of the APC in Ondo, notwithstanding his initial misgivings about the party’s primaries. And immediately Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu emerged the winner of the election, Asiwaju Tinubu was one of the first to congratulate him and to urge all and sundry to rally round the governor-elect. Only on Monday, President Buhari acknowledged Asiwaju Tinubu’s role and contribution to the success of APC in that election.”

 We will do a postmortem later – APC National Vice-Chairman

The APC National Vice Chairman (South-South), Hilliard Eta, said the party’s leadership was too preoccupied with preparations for another successful outing in Rivers State to give in to distractions.

Eta, who is also a member of the party’s National Working Committee, said, “We are going to do a post-mortem of the whole process later. For now, we have the elections in Rivers State coming up on December 10. This is our focus as we speak.”

Speaking on the issue, the Director-General, Voice of Nigeria, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, dismissed reports of the planned sanction of Tinubu and Aregbesola as a “baseless rumour” being spread by enemies of the APC.

He said “Nothing could be further from the truth. The Governance Support Group met with Mr. President on Friday.

“When our people spoke on the affairs of the party, Mr. President said his business as the leader of the party was to see everybody as equal before him.

“He also said he would make sure that everybody got a sense of belonging. I don’t see Mr. President who spoke in this nationalistic manner trying to sanction anybody. It could be one of those rumours which lacks basis in fact.”

The newly elected National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Bolaji Abdulahi, did not pick the calls to his mobile telephone line on Friday.

Also Abdulahi had not responded to a text message on the issue as of the time of filing the story by 5pm.

However, the embattled Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Timi Frank, said that the party had directed everybody including the aggrieved persons to work together as there was still much work to be done.

He said that it was the duty of the governor-elect to unite everybody and not to go into who was involved in anti-party activities or not.

He said, “Well, for us, we have won Ondo State. This is not the time to talk who did something anti-party or who did not.

“We have accepted the victory and we have directed everybody to go and work together as there is still much to be done including those that are aggrieved.

“The duty of the newly elected governor is to unite Ondo State, not to go into who did anti-party or not.”

President Buhari had in a statement on Monday dismissed insinuations that there is a rift between him and the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.

In the statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant (Media), Garba Shehu, he had said he was embarrassed by such suggestions.

The Ondo State governor-elect, had in an interview with state House correspondents on Wednesday, said Buhari was the national leader of the APC.

Explaining why he did not mention Tinubu in his victory speech, he had said, “On the names that were mentioned in my speech when expressing gratitude and that I didn’t specifically thank Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I thanked the President and the leader of our party profusely for the leadership which he showed leading to this election.”

We’re unsure of end to militancy in N’Delta – FG

 The Federal Government is not sure of when the militancy in the Niger Delta will come to an end, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has said.

He also stated that Nigeria would be comfortable with the price of crude oil at mid-$50 per barrel considering the fluctuations in the pricing of the commodity in the international market.

Kachikwu disclosed this during an interview on Bloomberg TV ahead of the meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries in Vienna, Austria, which was monitored by our correspondent on Wednesday morning in Abuja.

The minister stated that the Federal Government had made considerable progress in addressing the militancy in the region, but noted that he could not tell when the activities of militants in the Niger Delta would end.

Kachikwu said the issue in the region could be a potential challenge to the success of the government’s recently inaugurated ‘7-Big Wins’ policy direction for the oil and gas sector.

He noted that other potential challenges were fairly within the control of the government but not the Niger Delta matter.

 He said, “I think the Niger Delta issue is a major problem because you simply can’t get a final handle on it until it is resolved and you will never know when it is resolved.”

On the country’s crude oil production, the minister said, “We have made a lot of progress on that, productions are up – 1.9 million barrel, 1.95mb from the lows of 1.4mb. Militancy attacks are less, an average of one every month as opposed to five to six every week when it first started early in the year.”

How we escaped plane crash – Lawmaker, journalist

 Four people who were due to board the plane that crashed, killing 71 people in Colombia, have revealed how last-minute changes stopped them from getting on the flight, CNN reports.

The Lamia 2933 flight, carrying Brazilian football team Chapecoense, crashed late Monday near Medellin. Six of the 77 people on board survived.

Gelson Merisio, a state legislator for Santa Catarina and an ardent fan of the Brazilian club, planned to travel with the players to watch them take on Atletico Nacional in the first leg of their Copa Sudamericana final.

Merisio, 50, had been looking forward to the game only to switch his plans late on because of work commitments.

“I want to be clear, that while I was scheduled to fly on the plane with the team, I opted not to do it due to work obligations this week,” he wrote in a statement on Facebook.

Later, after the severity of the crash became evident, he paid tribute to those who lost their lives.

Just three players, Jackson Ragnar Follmann, Alan Ruschel and Helio Hermito Zampier Neto, survived the crash. Three others, two crew members and a reporter also survived.

Doctors in Medellin amputated Follmann’s right leg and he is currently in the hospital’s intensive care unit, according to Juan David Arteaga, the Undersecretary of Social Protection for the state of Antioquia.

Arteaga says Neto is under observation following multiple surgeries and Alan Ruschel is in the ICU.

Another of those who was originally supposed to be on the plane was journalist Ivan  Agnoletto.  He said he gave up his seat for colleague Gelson Galliotto, who had always dreamed of covering such a huge game.

“The pain is still too much for me to think about if God would’ve saved me,” Agnoletto told Globo.

“I was scheduled to cover the game, but my colleague had a huge dream to cover an international final.

“When I told Gelson Galiotto the news that he could go in my place, he could not believe it: ‘Really? I’m really going?’ It was his dream.”

Agnoletto said he did not hear about the crash until his wife began to receive a barrage of calls with people offering their condolences.

“It was as if I was dead,” he added. “I went to the TV and saw the plane had crashed.”

The mayor of Chapeco, Luciano Buligon, and the president of the club’s board, Plinio David de Nes Filho, were also on the passenger list but missed the flight to attend a meeting in Sao Paulo.

“Only God can explain these things, and how I stayed behind,” Buligon told Globo.

“It is the biggest tragedy Chapeco could go through. We lived a moment of ecstasy with our football club.”

Meanwhile, supporters of  Chapecoense  have held an emotional vigil for the victims of the  crash in which almost all the team’s players and officials died.

Thousands of fans gathered at the Arena Conda Stadium in Chapeco and held lights up in the darkness in tribute to the 71 victims.

Why I omitted Tinubu from my victory speech – Akeredolu

 The Ondo State governor-elect, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, on Wednesday, said he did not acknowledge a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in his victory speech on Sunday because it was not expedient to do so.

He said having acknowledged President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the recognised national leader of the party, and the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, it was safe to infer that he had acknowledged all the party’s leaders.

Akeredolu said this while answering State House correspondents’ questions shortly after he and his deputy, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, met Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

They were led to the meeting, which was their first after their victory, by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Campaign Council in Ondo State, Governor Simon Lalong.

The governor-elect, who said the relationship between him and Tinubu was cordial, explained that mentioning the name of the former Lagos State governor specifically would have amounted to him mentioning the names of about 37 other leaders of the party.

He said, “On the names that were mentioned in my speech when expressing gratitude and that I didn’t specifically thank Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I thanked the President and the leader of our party profusely for the leadership which he showed leading to this election.

“I also thanked our indefatigable chairman for standing by the truth and for his position on this matter that led to this election. I have no reason to do otherwise.

“Party structure, to the best of my knowledge, is very clear. You have the leadership of the party and that is represented by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

“After an election, a chief executive emerges, he becomes a leader of the party, you don’t have to personalise and be looking for leaders all over the place.

“If we have to do that, then I will have to mention 36 or 37 leaders. So, I believe the leadership as represented by the President covers all leaders and that tells me it would include Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it would include even Baba Akande, (Ogbonnaya) Onu, and so many leaders.

“But President Buhari is the leader of the party. So, that is my position there.”

Akeredolu, however, added that Tinubu remained one of the leaders of the party, noting that he (Tinubu) had since sent congratulatory message to him after he won the election.

“For me, as a person, I believe he is one of the leaders of the party and I don’t see any strained relationship between us. And you would observe that he has sent in his congratulatory message after the election, so what else do you expect?

“I mean all of us see this as a victory for the APC, not for Akeredolu, not for us an individual but for the party as a whole. I believe he is a member of the party. Mr. Femi Adesina had issued a release but you journalists just want to put words into our mouths,” he said.

Akeredolu also said despite his decision not to probe the administration of the outgoing governor, Olusegun Mimiko, he would not close his eyes if he stumbled upon established cases of wrongdoing in the course of carrying out his responsibilities as governor.

He explained that what he said on the matter was that he would not deliberately go out to probe Mimiko’s administration.

He said, “At the centre, the government of President Buhari said we must look back in order to move forward, he has been there for over a year now, has he instituted a probe?

“Looking back is not a probe and I maintain that I will not probe any administration. This is responsible leadership and I am elected to lead the people.

“The task ahead of us is enormous than for us to start instituting probes. My own is not to institute any probe against the last administration and that is what President Buhari has done.

“But if we find out that wrongs were committed, we have enough laws of the land to take care of people who have committed wrongs.

“As we start our work, as we go ahead, if there is any semblance of ‘Dasukigate’ in the state, the law will take its course. That is different from probing. We will follow what Mr. President is doing at the centre.”

The governor-elect also promised to implement his manifesto in line with the reality on the ground.

That, he said, did not mean that he would not deliver on all the five cardinal programmes he promised the people.

On Senator Yele Omogunwa who left the PDP for the APC, Akeredolu said the lawmaker had joined his campaign trail and that he only formalised his defection on the Senate floor on Wednesday.

He said it would have been wrong for the lawmaker to remain in a factionalised party like the PDP.

Lalong had earlier said that he was in the Presidential Villa to present the governor-elect and his deputy to the President.

He said he would also be visiting the national headquarters of the APC to do the same thing to party leaders.

The governor-elect again said the APC was not responsible for the confusion over the candidacy of the PDP ahead of the election.

He said, “It was not the APC that went to court neither was it the APC that gave the judgment, all we saw was friction or conflict between the PDP and the PDP.

“If that judgment was going to help the APC, so be it. But we were not parties to the case for somebody to even assume that the APC was responsible for denying somebody.

“The APC is not the court; the court is a separate arm. I am saying that as far as we are concerned, the APC was not responsible for denying anybody the right to contest that election.”

Meanwhile, Akeredolu on Wednesday pledged his loyalty to Odigie-Oyegun, whom he said he owed a debt of gratitude.

Akeredolu said this at the APC national headquarters, Abuja, where he presented his certificate of return to the leadership of the party.

Akeredolu also promised to work towards ensuring that the party repeats the same feat during the next governorship election in neighbouring Ekiti State.

He said, “I owe you, my national chairman, a lot. You have done well, I will be loyal. I remember during my campaigns; I said that immediately we win Ondo, we will move en mass to win Ekiti.”

Responding, Odigie-Oyegun urged the governor-elect to ensure prompt payment of outstanding workers’ salaries as soon as he resumes duty.

Odigie-Oyegun said, “People who work deserve their pay and I hope that would be your first priority.”

Female corps member dies in Bayelsa camp

 Fear has gripped corps members at the Bayelsa State Orientation Camp at Kaiama, Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area of the state following the death of a female member of the National Youth Service Corps, who reportedly died in a mysterious circumstance.

The female corps member, whose name was given as Miss Elechi Chiyerom, aged 27, was confirmed dead on Tuesday. She reportedly bled and vomitted  on arrival at the camp.

Elechi, a graduate of the Ignatius Azuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was confirmed dead about 9pm on Tuesday five days after arriving at the camp.

Some corps members claimed the deceased on arrival at the camp last Thursday looked “terribly sick” and could not participate in some opening sessions at the camp.

Some officials of the NYSC claimed that the development was a case of “non-disclosure” of state of health by the corps member.

It was learnt that a search on her hostel section showed signs of excessive bleeding with her clothing and sanitary pads soaked in blood.

It was also learnt that the deceased corps member reportedly relapsed into ill-health and was rushed to the sick bay of the camp at about 8pm on Tuesday.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “The doctor at the NYSC camp’s clinic immediately referred her to the state-owned Diette-Koki Memorial Hospital in the Opolo area of Yenagoa, the state capital, where she was confirmed dead.”

Oshiomhole and his Agbalowomeri gang

 I cannot tell whether the word, Agbalowomeri, existed in the Yoruba lexicon before the late J.F. Odunjo gave meaning to it with his definitive book, Agbalomeri Baale Jontolo

Written in 1958, the play is about the head of a village who, in spite of his position and wealth, forcefully sought patronage from his subjects, even the evidently poor ones.  Those who could not feed the greedy ruler’s appetite incurred his wrath, until his own day of reckoning came upon him.

Odunjo’s play probably inspired the character of James Ade Agbalowomeri, a corrupt top civil servant in D. Olu Olagoke’s The Incorruptible Judge, another play published in 1962.

As in the previous example, this top civil servant extorted money from young school leavers seeking employment with government. He thrived in this ungodly act until he demanded a sum of £5 from indigent Ajala who desperately needed a job as a Third Class Clerk in a government department.

The young man reported to the police, which planned a sting operation in which the covetous fellow was caught by the wrist and taken before an incorruptible judge.

The appellation, Agbaolowomeri, has therefore become an aphorism for anyone who, in spite of his high position in life, insists on snatching a portion from the crumbs that his cohort’s inept supervision of the resources brought on the people.

Our most recent example is the immediate past governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole who recently got the state House of Assembly to amend the “2007 Pension Rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor Law.”

While the existence of the 2007 law itself may not have drawn national attention, the recent amendment, which involved the construction of residences for the former governor and his deputy. raised more than a few eyebrows!

Here is the thing: Nigerians are going through what will pass as the most traumatic economic hardship for decades. Governors, including Oshiomhole are owing workers and retirees salaries and pensions months on end. And then, a governor who has fed fat on his state for eight years is getting a mansion constructed for him, anywhere he chooses in the country! By the time the state gets done with this misadventure, it would have lost a monstrous N300m that could have gone into some real productive venture.

Meanwhile, we heard all sorts of heart-breaking stories about the poor state of education and health infrastructure in the state while the former labour leader superintended.

As government flew kites about the sparkling state of education and how much it was doing to rebuild the dilapidation that it inherited, we heard accusations of renovations that stopped at mere whitewashing of exteriors without interior furniture requirements for the pupils. Such that pupils sit on the floor to receive lessons like we were in the primeval era. One or two of the schools bearing such eyesores were alleged to be at the backyard of the governor at the capital city, Benin!

Beyond the pedestrian milestones of road construction, building drainage and renovating hospital facilities without the complement of modern day equipment, it is difficult to identify any landmark visionary project that democracy has benefitted Edo State with in the last 16 years Yet, the Debt Management Office recently identified Edo as one of the most indebted states holding 4.91 per cent of the country’s subnational foreign debts with a total of $179.52m as of June 30.

It is this same state that plans to spend N300m on building mansions for the two men who allocated the resources of the state, according to their whims, over the past eight years. Sadly, again the state House of Assembly that has abandoned its role as the representative of the people allowed itself to be used for that.

Questions may be asked about whether the former Edo State governor is the only one receiving this benefit. The answer would of course be in the negative. However, Oshiomhole’s pedigree behoves on him a sense of consideration for the people. This is more so as he would most likely be wormed into another public office by the Federal Government with which he is cosy.

And such transition is one of the most profound evidences of the self-serving nature of public office in Nigeria. Unlike other countries in the world where people go into politics to serve, making sacrifices for the people, Nigerian leaders are motivated by the promotion and service of self at the expense of the people.

On attaining office, Nigerian leaders appropriate power and resources, strangulate structures put in place for checks and balances and become lords over everything and everyone. This is the reason why state governors turn their Houses of Assembly into adjuncts of Government Houses and render the judiciary totally subservient. It is the same reason they never want to leave politics, since it is the only industry where return on “investment” is guaranteed.

While it is within the rights of politicians to strive to remain in public office forever if they so choose, what is unacceptable is drawing remuneration from dual government positions at the same time

At the moment, not less than 21 former governors or deputy governors are senators. They benefit from the criminal financial opacity at the National Assembly while they still draw humongous sums in the name of pensions from their states.

Aside from those in the Senate, you have another set of ex-governors who serve at the pleasure of the President as ministers, four of those are Mr Babatunde Fashola, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, Dr Kayode Fayemi and Dr Chris Ngige. All of them, senators and ministers lived on their respective states when they held executive positions. They have refused to let that go in spite of their new offices.

In addition to homes that pension laws of some states compel the successors to build for former governors, many states grant the payment of monthly pension equivalent to the salaries of the incumbent. The states also provide official and utility cars to be changed at four year intervals. There is the provision of the hiring of an officer not above salary grade level 12 as Special Assistant, a personal secretary not below grade level 10, two cooks, two armed policemen, drivers as well as free medical treatment for the governor and his immediate family.

Of course, the idea of pension plans for public office holders is integral to the democratic culture which is the United State has the Former President’s Act which as of  2015, allows a former President a pension of $203,700 per year. Such insurance should discourage the misappropriation of public finance but not in Nigeria where leaders abuse privileges to the detriment of the masses.

In spite of the huge pension burden that the state bears at the end of their tenures, these executives still go ahead to pilfer as much resources as possible while in office. When the stealing is not blatant, contracts are allocated to cronies who would always bring proceeds back to their mentors in government.

Another irregular thing about our situation is that people remain in public service drawing remuneration in addition to their pensions. All of these on the same federal allocation that is dwindling daily. The implication of these is that while our leaders continue to feed us with stories about the austere periods, they only expect already poor and cheated Nigerians to make more sacrifices for their own comfort.

Nigerians need to then stand up and put an end to this executive larceny which is, apparently one of the reasons why state governments fail to fulfil their obligations to the people.

It is one of the reasons why public primary and secondary education are in tatters, why public health care is a joke and why in spite of all propaganda, basic infrastructure in most of our states is a shame.

What the craze among outgoing state governors to measure up to each other’s insatiability suggests to me is that Nigerians do not have people looking after their interests. State Houses of Assembly connive with the executive in the confiscation of what belongs to all and the people are left in penury and hopelessness.  So, who will save the people? No one but the people must rise up in protest against their enslavement by politicians who do not mind stealing from already impoverished people. We must demand to know what these people earn and ask that anyone taking a new office must relinquish their pension especially as most of them would rather die than leave politics.

I may dump PDP in 2018 – Fayose

 The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said that he may seek another political platform to prosecute his succession battle in the 2018 governorship poll

The governor said this on Wednesday during a meeting with the members of the Suppliers’ Association of Nigeria, Ikere Ekiti chapter.

He also argued that the victory of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State did not in any way threaten the supremacy of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti.

Fayose said, “I don’t know the platform I will use for the 2018 election yet and at the appropriate time, I will tell you. We are still studying the situation. We have to play the game left, right and centre and whoever we are going to use and the platform, you will all be part of the process because party politics is about the people.

“You all saw how people sold their votes in Ondo State, I am confident that that will not happen in Ekiti. I am close to the people; you are the source of my strength. Even if it requires just 48 hours to any election, if I tell you where to go, you will surely follow me there.”

At a separate meeting with the junior members of staff in the state civil service, Fayose boasted that he would repeat the victory he got in all the 16 Local Government Areas when he defeated former governor Kayode Fayemi in 2014.

“The APC will be fooling itself if it thinks it will conquer Ekiti like it did in Ondo. Ekiti is a peculiar place and I am the man on the ground here. I want to assure my supporters and Nigerians that the APC won’t win a local government here in 2018, even if President Muhammadu Buhari moves down all the money in the Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account.

“Governor Olusegun Mimiko and Eyitayo Jegede must have lost in Ondo State, but that does not mean the people had voted rightly. In 2015, people clamoured for change and what have we got now? Nigerians are becoming poorer than ever.

“Today, I am the only one among the APC governors in the South-West. I am now like the nation of Israel surrounded by enemies, but I shall defeat and triumph over them.

“The APC has never defeated me in any battle, either political or legal. Whether they like it or not, I will win in Ekiti no matter the animosity, because I have the people behind me,” Fayose declared.

He promised that he would continue to do his best in the payment of salaries by opening the account of the state to them.

Pro-Jonathan protest rocks Enugu

Igbo youths took to the streets of Enugu on Wednesday in protest against the alleged “persecution” of Patience Jonathan by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Some bank accounts, reportedly belonging to the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan had been frozen by the anti-graft agency.

The protesters, under the aegis of Concerned Igbo Youths, said Patience’s travail was an attempt to humiliate the former President  Goodluck Jonathan.

Brandishing placards and chanting solidarity songs, the group, led by its coordinator, Victor Ezenagu, marched to the Enugu office of the EFCC, where they submitted a petition to the South-East zonal head of the commission, Mr. Johnson Babalola.

Some youths also protested in front of the Enugu State Government House.

In the petition entitled, ‘Unjust persecution and desperate plan to humiliate former President Goodluck Jonathan,’ the youths demanded an immediate unfreezing of Patience Jonathan’s accounts.

The petition read in part, “While we salute the commitment of the present administration towards fighting corruption in the country, we express our disaffection to the manner the war is being prosecuted by the commission under your watch.

“Some of the actions of the commission in recent time leave no one in doubt that certain persons have clearly been singled out to be humiliated.

“A case in point is that of a former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who is currently being prosecuted by the EFCC. We see the freezing of her personal accounts and ongoing prosecution as an attempt to discredit former President Goodluck Jonathan.”

The youths said they were miffed that Jonathan was being victimised by the EFCC, even after sacrificing his ambition “for the sake of the country’s future.”

The petition also read, “It is quite condemnable that having sacrificed his ambition for the sake of Nigeria’s future, Jonathan’s family is being visited with such cruelty from the commission.

“We say this because Mrs. Jonathan is not the first person to have occupied the office of First Lady in Nigeria. Yet, none of the other former occupants of that office is under probe, let alone trial.

“Following from the above, it is also not out of place to state that the current administration is indirectly prosecuting and persecuting Jonathan.

“We are sending a clear message that this unjust persecution, under whatever guise, will not be tolerated against a family that sacrificed so much for this country.”

The protesters further alleged that the former First Lady was being persecuted for being Igbo.

“The Igbo youths are, therefore, demanding that every action against her should be suspended as we are ready to take this mass action higher if our demands are not met.”

But responding after receiving a copy of the petition, the EFCC South-East zonal head, Babalola, said the matter was already before the court.

He urged the youths to redirect their protest to the appropriate quarters.

Babalola equally appealed to the youths to partner the EFCC to rid the country of corruption.

“The EFCC is not embarking on a witch-hunt of the former first family or anybody else as you said in your petition. The commission is only trying to rescue the nation; what we are doing is in the interest of the nation,” Babalola told the youths.

Buhari hails Super Falcons

 Defending champions Nigeria will take on hosts Cameroon in the final match of the 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday, after beating South Africa’s Banyana Banyana 1-0.

Cameroon got the better of Ghana 1-0 in the first semi-final match at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde on Tuesday, with a second half strike.

Nigeria, some moments later, did same against the Banyana Banyana of South Africa at the Stade Omnisports in Limbe on Tuesday.

Top scorer at the last edition of the competition in Namibia, Desire Oparanozie scored her second goal of the tournament.

It was a bullet shot from a free-kick at the edge of the penalty box, but it was enough to send the Super Falcons into the final for the eighth time.

Two shots by midfielder Ngozi Okobi in the first half failed to trouble the Banyana goalkeeper Andile Dlamini.

In the 33rd minute, Oparanozie blasted over from a free-kick in a good position, when it appeared easier to open the scoring.

She however made up for that eight minutes into the second half.

From a similar position, she opted for a rocket, which took a deflection before flying past Dlamini.

Right back Ugo Njoku bagged a yellow card for time wasting with 11 minutes to go, and nearly scored an own goal four minutes later.

This was when she headed a Banyana free-kick backwards and goalkeeper Alaba Jonathan had to be alert.

As it was against the Ghanaians in the group phase, Nigeria forward Asisat Oshoala was denied what appeared a clear penalty kick with the clock winding down.

But the Falcons held on and will travel to Yaounde for Saturday’s championship match.

For the second successive tournament, it would be Nigeria against Cameroon in the final.

At the last edition, the Super Falcons defeated the neighbours to the east 2-0 in Windhoek to emerge champions.