Embattled Sen. Dino Melaye, who was arraigned in court on Thursday in Lokoja, may have to stay longer with the police as the court has directed he should be remanded in police custody till June 11.

Melaye who is representing Kogi West Senatorial District at the Senate lost his bid to secure bail as the Chief Magistrates Court refused his request.

The Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, ordered that he be remanded in police custody and be brought to court on June 11.

The lawmaker was brought to court in a police ambulance at about 9:17 am and was immensely stretchered into the court by policemen.

Before his arrival, heavily armed policemen taken positions within and outside the court premises to forestall unforeseen circumstances.

The arrival of the senator in court attracted the attention of workers and others who came for transactions.

Other courts within the premises were also not sitting as at the time of this report.

Also, journalists and other persons that had seated in court for hours were all asked to go out for security checks.

At the end, only few were allowed inside.

The senator had before being brought to court was first taken to the SARS headquarters near the NTA office in Lokoja.

Melaye was declared wanted following his refusal to appear before the police to answer to accusations by some arrested suspects, who alleged that the senator supplied them with arms and ammunition.

According to reports, Melaye was conveyed in an ambulance by the police authorities to Lokoja.

Melaye was later brought into the Lokoja Senior Magistrates court, 2, on a stretcher, source said.

He was brought in a Toyota Hiace police ambulance bus with registration number NPF2214D. It was learnt that some journalists who had laid siege to the courtroom were asked to step out for security screening.

In order to face the pending criminal case in Kogi, Dino Melaye was re-arrested on Wednesday after his arraignment in court and perfecting his bail conditions.

The lawmaker representing Kogi West was arraigned by the Police on Wednesday at Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse in Abuja.

He was granted bail in the sum of N90 million by the court, having met the bail condition but was rearrested by the police shortly after his release.

The police in a statement on Wednesday said Melaye was re-arrested for his pending offences of criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms.

The statement which was signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, explained that Melaye will be arraigned without further delay.

The Police investigation team re-arrested Senator Dino Melaye today, 2nd May 2018 after his arraignment at Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse for the pending offences of Criminal Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Firearms already filed in a Court of competent jurisdiction in Lokoja for which he will be arraigned without further delay, he said.

Moshood said that Melaye was arraigned in Abuja today for criminal conspiracy, causing damage to government property, attempted suicide and escape from lawful custody.

Melayes arraignment in court today according to the police was subsequent to his discharge from the National Hospital after he was confirmed fit for trial.

The Senator landed in the National Hospital after jumping out of a moving police vehicle on Tuesday, April 24.

The police vehicle was conveying him to Lokoja, Kogi State where he is expected to be interrogated by the police in connection with the allegation that he armed some thugs and in relation to other criminal activities.

The police subsequently accused him of making an attempt to commit suicide by jumping out of the vehicle conveying him and falling on the ground, with a threat to implicate the police for his supposed death.

He was also said to have resisted a further attempt by the police to re-arrest him with the help of some persons who allegedly threatened to injure the police officers if they tried to arrest him.

Source: NAN

Senator Dino Melaye has been remanded in police custody until 11 June by a Lokoja senior Magistrates court.

The order was made today after he was arraigned at the court.

The senator who represents Kogi West was brought in a police ambulance at about 9:17 a.m. and was immediately stretchered into the court by policemen.

Before his arrival, heavily armed policemen had taken positions within and outside the court premises to forestall unforeseen circumstances.

The arrival of the senator in court attracted the attention of workers and others who came for transactions.

Other courts within the premises were also not sitting as at the time of this report. Also, newsmen and others that had seated in court for hours were all asked to go out for security checks. At the end, only few were allowed inside.

The senator was charged with illegal supply of arms and money to two thugs, who were arrested earlier and were said to have made confessions.

The senator had, before being brought to court, first been taken to the SARS headquarters near the NTA office in Lokoja.

Melaye yesterday was arraigned at a magistrates court in Abuja and was granted bail for N90 million.

The police immediately rearrested him.

Source: NAN

The police on Thursday arraigned two sisters, Favour Ajula and Oluchi Ajula in an Ikeja Magistrates Court accused of assaulting police inspector by tearing his uniform and dragging his gun.

Favour, a 24-year-old hairdresser; and 18-year-old Oluchi, a nurse, appeared before Magistrate F.F. George on a two-count charge of conspiracy and assault.

The duo, who reside at Iju-Ishaga in Agege area of Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N50,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

George said the sureties should be gainfully employed and must show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government and adjourned the matter until May 14 for mention.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Awase, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on April 13 at their residence.

He said the sisters and one Emeka, a teenager, assaulted Insp. Bitrus Zingkur, by tearing his uniform and also dragged his service gun while performing his lawful duty.

Awase said a man went to report to the police that the defendants were after his life.

He added that one Uche Prince, a co-tenant, reported the defendants to police that they wanted to kill him; and the complainant followed him to the house.

When the complainant tried to mediate and settle the disagreement, the two sisters assaulted him.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 174(b) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised).

Section 174 stipulates three years imprisonment for assault, while Section 411 attracts two years jail term for conspiracy.

Source: NAN

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio on Thursday warned against scrapping an international deal on Irans nuclear programme unless there was a good alternative in place.

U.S. President Donald Trump has been threatening to pull out of the agreement, leading to diplomatic tensions with Iran as well as with U.S. allies keen to preserve the agreement.

According to him, if one day there is a better agreement to replace it, it is fine, but we should not scrap it unless we have a good alternative.

I believe the JCPOA the Iran nuclear deal was an important diplomatic victory.

I think it will be important to preserve it but I also believe there are areas in which it will be very important to have a meaningful dialogue because I see the region in a very dangerous position.

I understand the concerns of some countries in relation to the Iranian influence in other countries of the region, so I think we should separate things, Guterres stressed.

Source: NAN

Super Eagles Assistant Coach Salisu Yusuf said on Monday that the Super Eagles would defeat DR Congo in their May 28 friendly, slated for Abuja.

Yusuf, who made the statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the Eagles would use the match to send signal of hope to Nigerians.

He described friendly matches as fundamental in shaping the fitness of teams, adding that friendly matches were not just meant to record victory but to strengthen teams.

We are sure of winning Congo DR in order to keep our hope in the World Cup alive and tell Nigerians that we are very ready for the task ahead.

The coach pleaded with Nigerians to continue to support the team, assuring that the Eagles would not disappoint.

He said that the Eagles were one of the best teams in Africa, noting that the team had demonstrated its ability at different times.

Yusuf noted that Nigeria had done well in both qualifications and preparations for the World Cup.

He said that the Eagles were determined to make not just Nigeria but Africa proud in Russia.

The Nigeria Football Federation recently announced a change in the venue of the Nigeria-DR Congo friendly from Uyo to Abuja.

Source: NAN

Sixteen football clubs in Enugu State will be locking horns in the 2018 edition of states Federation Cup.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that states Federation Cup is a prelude to the National Federation Cup, which comprises of 62 teams.

Francis Ugwu, Secretary of Enugu State Football Association, told NAN on Tuesday in Enugu that the states Federation Cup matches would be a 21-day fiesta.

Ugwu said that it would commence on May 5; while the finals would be played on May 26.

He noted that all the matches would be played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu (The Cathedral).

The Federation Cup by its nature is a knock out tournament.

Where clubs must win each match; or loss and crush out of the tournament entirely.

We are expecting that among the 16 clubs, a winner and a runners-up will emerge and they will represent the state at the National Federation Cup coming up later in the year, he said.

Ugwu said that the clubs participating in the 2018 edition included: Rangers International FC, Crime Busters FC, Purple Krown FC and Vemard Africa FC.

Others are: Ingas International FC, El-Nahog FC, FC International, Flying Angels FC, Samba FC and Disdevt FC.

The rest includes: Enugu Angels FC, Coal City Youths FC, FC Miserere, Lamray FC, FC Star-Plus and Rangers Feeders FC. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Liverpools Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah has been voted Player of the Year by the Football Writers Association (FWA) to complete the double of English soccers major individual awards.

Salah was chosen as player of the year by the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) after an outstanding season in which he has scored 43 goals in all competitions.

The 25-year-old is the first African player to win the FWA award which began in 1948.

Salah narrowly beat Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne in a ballot of over 400 FWA members, with the winning margin less than 20 votes.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane was placed third.

What a race it has been between two players who, in a relatively short time, have reached genuine world class. But Mo Salah is the worthiest of winners.

He is also the first African to receive the award and we congratulate him on a magnificent season, FWA Chairman Patrick Barclay said.

Salah has helped Liverpool, who are third in the English Premier League, into the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 10 years.

The Merseyside club face AS Roma in the second leg in the Italian capital on Wednesday and lead 5-2 from the opening game at Anfield in which Salah scored twice and set up two other goals.

Salah will head to the World Cup in Russia in June to play for Egypt who have been drawn with the hosts, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group A.

The inaugural FWA Womens Footballer of the Year Award was won by Chelsea and England forward Fran Kirby who was also crowned PFA Womens Player of the Year last month.

Source: NAN

Karim Benzema showed he still has fire power as his brace helped Real Madrid to level scores with Bayern Munich in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final and scrape qualification for the final in Kiev on 26 May.

At the final whistle, it was all square at Santiago Bernabau, with both teams tied 2-2. But Madrid escaped with the 2-1 advantage recorded in Munich last week, making aggregate score 4-3.

Joshua Kimmich had opened scoring for the visitors in the third minute. But Benzema neutralised the goal in the 11 minute with a header. And he shot Madrid ahead one minute after the second half started after a dreadful error by Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich .

Former Madrid player James Rodriguez was on song for Bayern in the 63rd minute, in the nervy match, in which Bayern dominated possession 61-39. Bayern also had more shots on target 8-3, with Madrid keeper Keylor Navas, doing the yeomans job of saving many goal moves.

The victory over Bayern Munich will be Madrids third consecutive final. They become the first club in history to reach three straight European Cup finals for the second time.

They will know their opponent tomorrow after the match in Rome between Liverpool and Roma. Liverpool led the first leg 5-2.

Benzemas two goals on Tuesday night were another feather in the cap for coach Zinedine Zidane, who had decided to start the French striker, despite only one goal in his previous 12 games.

It was another brave call from Reals coach, who now stands on the brink of history himself, with Carlo Ancelotti and Bob Paisley the only other managers to have ever won Europes premier competition three times.

Zidane also sprung a surprise by dropping Casemiro to the bench and bringing the more mobile Mateo Kovacic into midfield while Lucas Vazquez played in the unfamiliar role of right back.

It meant no place again in the starting line-up for Gareth Bale, who was named as a substitute for the fifth time in six knock-out matches. He replaced Benzema in the second half.

Bayern came without a host of star players, with Javi Martinez, Arturo Vidal, Arjen Robben, Jerome Boateng, Kingsley Coman and Manuel Neuer all injured. Martinez was fit enough to make the bench.

Kimmich had given Bayern the lead after 28 minutes at the Allianz Arena and here he did it in three, slamming home after Sergio Ramos poked Corentin Tolissos cross straight to his feet.

Real were rattled, their fans tetchy, and if Bayern had held on for longer the pressure might have told. Instead, the home side were level by the 11th minute, Benzema peeling free of David Alaba at the back post and heading in.

Marcelo and Toni Kroos both weaved their way into Bayerns six-yard box, but failed to pick a final pass, while at the other end, Vazquez was enduring a torrid time at right back.

After another ball was threaded inside the wingers left shoulder, Robert Lewandowski unleashed and James should have scored but was unable to adjust his body to the follow-up.

A breathless opening 45 minutes ended with Bayern wanting a penalty as the ball struck Marcelo on the arm but referee Cuneyt Cakir waved away the appeals.

Real were certainly the more relieved to hear the half-time whistle but they were given a gift shortly after the restart.

Tolissos backpass was misjudged and underhit but Ulreich still had the chance to clear. Instead, the keeper got his feet in a tangle and ended up in a heap on the floor, presenting Benzema with an open net.

The game looked finished but Bayern came again and after 10 minutes of desperate Real defending, it was no surprise when they scored. James chased down his own rebound before beating Keylor Navas at the near post. The on-loan Colombian chose not to celebrate against his parent club.

Bayern had 27 minutes to find a third and there were a handful of near misses. Thomas Muller was denied by Navas and Mats Hummels headed agonisingly wide in injury time, but Real held on for their fourth final in five years.

*With AFP report.

Source: NAN

Wimbledon announced a hefty 34 million prize-pot on Tuesday, along with a new sustainability project aimed at ensuring it is not just the grass courts that remain green at the All England Club.

Organizers of the oldest grand slam tournament revealed the prize fund, the equivalent of $46.57 million, for the 2018 championships, up 7.6 percent from last year.

That figure includes awards of 2.25 million each for the mens and womens champions an increase on the 2.2 million Roger Federer and Garbine Muguruza received in 2017.

Wimbledons 2018 prize money eclipses the 55 million Australian dollars ($41.32 million) paid out at Januarys first grand slam of the year in Melbourne, but at current exchange rates is just shy of the 39.2 million Euros ($47.18 million) on offer at the French Open starting later this month.

Organizers also issued a warning that players who compete while knowingly carrying an injury, and quit mid-match, face being docked all their first-round prize money. The move is aimed at preventing a repeat of the rash of retirements in early action last year.

In the wake of first-round withdrawals we pledged to act on it, and we have done so, Wimbledon chief executive Richard Lewis told reporters.

We were very influential in the creation and adoption of the 50-50 rule and hope the introduction of it will play a significant role in mitigating the problems of first-round singles retirements.

Under the new rule, if an injured player withdraws onsite after midday on the Thursday before the Championships they will receive 50 percent of the first-round prize money. The replacement lucky-loser will get the other 50 percent.

With pound signs dominating the headlines at the club in leafy south-west London, tournament organisers also underlined their commitment to combating corruption in the sport and rolling out a sustainability program.

Central to the greening of the championships is a ban on plastic straws some 400,000 were used at last years tournament the introduction of electric vehicles in the courtesy car fleet; additional water-fill points around the grounds and the provision of paper bags at Wimbledons shops.

Sustainability is an important and necessary area of focus, particularly for major events, Lewis said. We have put in place a sustainability vision which is to sustain the running of the club, and the championships in a way that minimizes the impact on our environment.

Organizers also reiterated they would be implementing rules first announced last November.

In addition to stripping players of their first-round prize money if they pull out of a match or perform to what the club deems below professional standards, Wimbledon will strictly enforce warm-up timing to speed up the game, but will also extend the time allowed between points from 20 to 25 seconds.

The U.S. Open, the final grand slam of the tennis calendar starting in August, is yet to announce its prize money.

Wimbledon, the only grand slam event to be played on grass, will take place from July 2-15.

This years championships mark the 150th anniversary of the club, 50 years of Open tennis and 125 years of the womens singles championships.

Source: NAN

Coach Zinedine Zidane said he would not have wanted it any other way after Real Madrid scraped their way into a third consecutive Champions League final on Tuesday.

After their last-gasp win over Juventus in the quarter-finals, Real were left hanging on against Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu as Karim Benzemas double secured a 2-2 draw and 4-3 win on aggregate.

When Joshua Kimmich gave Bayern an early lead and James Rodriguez levelled with 27 minutes remaining, Real looked in danger of surrendering their 2-1 advantage from the first leg.

By the end, Reals fans were begging for the full-time whistle and if it is to be Liverpool in the final in Kiev, Jurgen Klopps men will take heart.

Zidane, however, insists the grit his team have shown to overcome Paris Saint-Germain, Juve, and now Bayern, should not be underestimated.

In football, you have to suffer, Zidane said. You cannot be in the final without suffering, its even better, more beautiful when you win like that.

Madrid never gives up. It is the same in adversity, we believe in what we do and we get things done by believing in ourselves and fighting.

Real, and Zidane, are now on the brink of a third consecutive Champions League triumph, and 13th overall in Europes premier tournament.

Whether it be Liverpool or Roma they face in Kiev, Los Blancos will be strong favourites to lift the title.

We are only in the final, Zidane said. You can be happy, you have to be, it is not normal to be in the final for the third consecutive time.

But now that we are, what we have to do is try to win. We will fight to defend our title.

Spectacular Navas

Benzemas two goals were also credit to Zidane, who had picked the striker despite a poor run of form that had included only one goal in 12 games.

He never gave up and Im happy for him, Zidane said. I defended Karim as I defend all my players, I defend them until the end.

Bayern, meanwhile, are left wondering what might have been after dominating large spells of the two legs but paying a heavy price for individual mistakes.

Benzemas second, which proved decisive, was a gift, with goalkeeper Sven Ulreich making a mess of Corentin Tolissos under-hit back pass and allowing the Frenchman to slot into an open net.

If you look at both games it is quite apparent we were the best team, Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said.

Im very disappointed in the result. We dominated, I believe, and they should thank Keylor Navas for his performance in goal, he was spectacular, particularly towards the end of the match.

On Ulreichs error, Heynckes added: He had a little blackout, he got confused, he didnt realise he couldnt pick it up with his hands.

Its terrible for a player to live through such a moment, but nevertheless we did have a lot of opportunities, and all in all our keeper performed well.

Source: NAN