Fans Violence: Nigeria’s league mgt slams fines on Heartland FC

The League Management Company (LMC), has fined Heartland a total of N4,750,000 and ordered that they will play their next three home games behind closed doors after the revenge attack on regional rivals FC IfeanyiUbah, last weekend. 

The LMC also announced they face a suspended points deduction for the crowd incidence that trailed their Week 28 fixture against FC IfeanyiUbah at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri. 

One, Iyke Jacob, identified as the Club’s Supporters CLUB Chairman was also banned from all Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matches for the rest of the 2015/16 season by the League Management Company (LMC). 

An FC Ifeanyi Ubah player attacked by the irate Heartland FC fans The LMC also recommended to the the Imo State Football Association (ISFA) and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to reconsider the role of the ISFA Security Committee Chairman, Mr. Teddy Isiadinso who also serves as a Match Commissioner for the NFF. The recommendation was based on the Match Commissioner’s report which cited Isiadinso as pledging to accept responsibility for any breach of the peace before, during and after the match. 

The Owerri club were slammed six-count violations of the NPFL Framework and Rules by the LMC after reviewing reports and video evidence provided by the match commissioner and delegates to the match. Heartland were fined of N750,000.00 (Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) for failing to ensure restriction of access to restricted areas by unauthorized persons in the course of the match, in breach of Rule B13.52. 

The second count read, “You are in breach of Rule B13.52 of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League, in that on Saturday, 23rd July 2016, after your Match Day 28 fixture: Heartland FC vs. FC Ifeanyiubah, you failed to ensure adequate security and crowd control particularly in the manner in which match officials and members of the visiting team were exposed to aggression and crowd violence perpetrated by your supporters”. 

For this breach, the club were fined another N750, 000. On the third count of the supporters encroachment on to the field of play and throwing objects towards the field of play immediately after the match in breach of Rule B13.18, 

Heartland were fined of N1,000,000.00 On the fourth count, the LMC charged Heartland for breach of Rule B6.23 of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL stating, “that on Saturday, 23rd July 2016, in the course of your Match Day 28 fixture: 

Heartland FC vs. FC Ifeanyiubah, your supporters hindered the complete video-coverage of the match, particularly the post-match scenes”. 

The penalty for this offence read, “a fine of N1,000,000.00 and a two-point deduction for hindering the complete video-coverage of the match, in breach of Rule B6.23, provided that the execution of the two-point deduction shall be suspended subject to a probationary period of the remainder of the season”. Heartland’s fifth charge  read, 

“You are in breach of Rule C1, punishable by virtue of Rule B15.16, of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League, in that on Saturday, 23rd July 2016, immediately after your Match Day 28 fixture: 

Heartland FC vs. FC Ifeanyiubah, some of your supporters assaulted match officials by hitting them and throwing objects (including plastic chairs, tables, stones and cans) at them”. 

Having being found culpable, the sanction by the LMC includes a fine of N1, 250, 000 being compensation to the four match officials and the match commissioner at N250, 000 for each of them. 

Heartland Supporters were also found to have attacked the visiting team players, officials and supporters leading to damage to the visiting team bus whose windows were shattered in breach of Rule C1. Consequently, the club has been ordered to play their next three home matches behind closed doors beginning with the August 7 fixture against Nasarawa United for breach of Rule B13.21. 

A pre-condition for opening the stadium to spectators and supporters again is that, “Heartland must take steps which shall include proper demarcation of restricted areas and workshops for stewards and supporters on code of conduct”. 

The LMC further ruled that “in view of the gravity of the incident and the complicity of the club and their officials, pursuant to Rule C18.6, Heartland FC shall also forfeit the one (1) point it previously earned in the match, provided that the execution of the one-point deduction shall be suspended subject to a probationary period of the remainder of the season; Lastly, the club were notified that “pursuant to Rule B13.23, 

Heartland shall pay for the costs of damages to FCIfeanyiubah bus and for injuries sustained by their players and officials”. Heartland must respond in writing accepting the sanctions or elect to be heard by a Commission not later than Friday, July 29. But should it fail to comply with this requirement within the time limit which constitutes a breach of the League Rules, it will be liable to be dealt with under the provisions of Section C. 

Furthermore, the LMC reminded the club that “in accordance with Rule E1, where an appeal or election to be dealt with by a Commission fails or is found to have been frivolous, you may be liable to such additional sanction as may be deemed fit in the circumstances”.

Vanguard

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DSS arrest 10 suspected kidnappers in army camouflage uniforms in Kogi

The Department of State Services (DSS), Kogi Command, says it has arrested 10 suspected kidnappers in the last six weeks where it recovered items which include three pairs of army camouflage uniforms in its bid to eliminate kidnapping in the state. Mr Joseph Okpo, the State Director of the command, disclosed this in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

Okpo said that four of the suspected kidnappers/robbers were arrested at Koton-Karfe along the Abuja-Lokoja highway, dressed in military combat uniforms. He gave the names of the suspects as Haruna Saleh (aka Auta), who is the ring leader, Kabiru Shaibu, Abdulmuminu Adamu and Tukur Shuiabu.

The DSS boss, however, did not disclose the names of the other six suspects who he said were arrested in different locations in the state. He said that an on-the-spot search conducted on the suspects and their vehicle showed that they were in possession of a locally made pistol and long barrel gun. 

Other items recovered include, three pairs of army camouflage uniforms; seven pump action cartridges; a cutlass; 14 cell phones; cash and one green-coloured Gulf3 vehicle with registration number KWL 946 FB. Okpo said that during investigation, the gang availed information to the existence of three unrecovered AK 47 and other weapons kept in a yet-to-be identified location.

“Intelligence further revealed that the group has links with other kidnap syndicates operating in FCT, Kaduna, Katsina and Niger States. “ The gang admitted carrying out six different robbery/kidnap operations along the Minna-Kontagora road, Niger State; Malumfashi, Mararaba-Jos and Jaji-Zaria roads in Kaduna State,’’ he said. 

He said that some of the alleged perpetrators of crime, especially robbery and kidnapping in the state included outsiders who used the state to further their nefarious acts. 

According to him, they do so due to the geographical/topographical peculiarities of the state. 

He said that the command would continue to collaborate with other security agencies and stakeholders to reduce crime and criminality to the barest minimum in the state and its environs. 

He warned all criminal elements to leave the state.The DSS boss stressed that the Service and other security agencies had taken advantage of the renewed zeal of the state government’s support in ensuring law and order in the area.

Vanguard

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Wike explains why he made peace with Amaechi

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State said on Wednesday he attended the peace meeting organised by the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, because of his commitment to peace and development of the state.

The IGP had on Tuesday in Abuja organised a peace meeting between Wike and the former governor of Rivers State, Mr Rotimi Amaechi.

Amaechi is the current Minister of Transportation.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had announced the postponement of the legislative rerun in the state earlier slated for Saturday following the burning of its office in Khana LGA.

Wike told PDP supporters at the Rivers West Senatorial District rally in Degema LGA that his administration would implement the resolutions of the peace meeting.

Wike said the people must be allowed to elect representatives of their choice into the State and National Assemblies.

“I was at the peace meeting because we love peace and want the state to move forward. I signed an undertaking on your behalf that we are prepared for INEC credible, free and fair elections.

“It is not in our position to have crisis because we are the ones losing,” the governor added

He pledged that the state government would partner with security agencies to ensure that peaceful elections were held in the state, adding that anybody who wanted the state to be set ablaze would be disappointed.

Wike expressed regret that some politicians were celebrating that the elections were postponed.

He pointed out that his commitment that Rivers State should have representatives at the National Assembly was because the people of the state had been shut out on the deliberation of the Petroleum Industry Bill and other legislation.

The governor, however, called on the PDP members to remain vigilant while expecting the rerun elections.

According to him, Nigerians know, the world knows that Rivers State is the PDP. So shall it be forever.

He pledged to ensure that development would spread across all local government areas of the state, adding that with the successes achieved in just one year, the remaining three years would witness more development.

Earlier, Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, said the massive turnout at the rally was an indication that the people would always vote the PDP candidates.

The peace meeting was brokered by the Police and the Department of State Services for the peaceful conduct of the rerun elections in Rivers State.

Punch

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APC govs meet Buhari, resolve to seek Ekweremadu’s removal

State governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress have resolved to do all within their powers to ensure that Senator Ike Ekweremadu is removed as the Deputy President of the Senate, The PUNCH has learnt.

Our correspondent learnt that this was the fallout of the two-hour meeting the governors had with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

The Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, had initially told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that the governors had decided to intervene in the crisis in the National Assembly, without giving details of the intervention 

But a source at the meeting told one of our correspondents that the consensus at the meeting was that it was an aberration for Ekweremadu, who is a Senator from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, to continue in office as Deputy President of the Senate. 

The source stated, “The governors sympathised with the President (Buhari) for working with a National Assembly that is largely seen as unfriendly.

“Particularly, they observed that in the absence of the President of the Senate, the next person is his deputy. They therefore agreed that it was an anomalous situation for a PDP person to continue as the Deputy President of the Senate.

“They sought and got the President’s permission to intervene in the matter in their own way.

“They argued that the truth of the matter is that rarely is there any Senator that emerged without the backing of their governors, hence the governors have some levels of influence on the federal lawmakers.”

Okorocha had, on Monday, said Ekweremadu should get ready to vacate his seat as the Deputy Senate President.

Okorocha had added that a candidate of the APC, Benjamin Uwajumogu, who contested in the last Saturday’s rerun senatorial election in Imo State, would displace Ekweremadu as soon as he joined the Senate.

The governor had said, “The position of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President is at the moment under heavy threat because in no distant time, the APC senator-in-waiting from Imo State, Benjamin Uwajumogu, will take over the seat on the grounds that it is an aberration that a PDP senator from the South-East is deputy to an APC Senate President because, before now, APC could not produce a Senator from the South-East zone.”

Our correspondent further learnt that Buhari at the meeting approved the release of N2bn each to all APC states.

Another source, who attended the meeting, said the decision was based on what happened during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The source claimed that Jonathan had, before leaving office, released N2bn each to the PDP states at the time from the Ecological Fund.

He was alleged to have exempted APC states and PDP states, whose governors were at loggerheads with him, from the gesture.

“That issue was brought to the President’s attention and he has ordered the release of N2bn each to the APC states that did not benefit during Jonathan’s administration,” the source said.

To further cushion the effects of the downturn in economy on the states, Buhari was also said to have, during the meeting, approved that 50 per cent of money spent by states on federal roads be released to them.

Okorocha had, while briefing State House correspondents after the governors’ meeting with Buhari, said the state governors from the ruling party were concerned about the incessant happenings in the National Assembly and had resolved to look into the matter.

The two chambers of the National Assembly have continued to witness crisis since inception following the emergence of leaders, who were not the preferred candidates of the ruling party, the APC.

Crisis is currently brewing in the House of Representatives following an allegation by a former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, who accused the leadership of the House of padding the 2016 budget to the tune of N40bn.

Okorocha added, “We have come to reassure Mr. President that the APC governors are solidly behind him in his fight against corruption; his fight against insurgents and all his laudable projects.

“We are concerned about the incessant happenings in the National Assembly and we have taken it upon ourselves to look into the matter; that is the crisis in the National Assembly.

“We are going to look into the matter because we need a strong and vibrant National Assembly to make things move fast in the country.”

Okorocha defended the recent decision of the Nigeria Governors Forum for six state governors to travel to Germany for what they called “vocational training.”

“There is nothing like jamboree trip. We are going to Germany because we cannot do everything here without exchanging ideas. Everything you do in your home and your business, you share ideas.

“So, we want to see how they have done what they have done to succeed. It is the aspiration of Nigeria to be like other countries of the world,” he said.

When asked if the trip would be funded by states, some of who owed workers’ salaries, Okorocha responded, “So, who will fund it, you!?”

Despite the continued hardship in the states, the governor stated that a lot of improvement had been recorded in some states.

He noted that what the states were getting from the Federation Account was close to what they were collecting when crude oil was selling above $100 per barrel.

Other governors, who attended the meeting, included those of Kaduna, Kwara, Zamfara, Benue, Kano, Sokoto, Plateau, Niger, Ogun, Borno, Osun, Edo, Kogi, Adamawa, Nasarawa and Kebbi.

The meeting was also attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, among others.

Ekeweremadu, however, declined to speak on the plans being hatched by the APC governors to remove him as the Deputy Senate President.

One of his aides, who was contacted by one of our correspondents on Tuesday night, said he had no comments until he was well informed on the matter.

Punch 

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How Suspected Muslim Fanatics Hacked Female Redeemed Church Preacher To Death In Abuja

husband with 7 children of the deceased 

The husband of a female preacher hacked to the death in Abuja has shed more light into the gruesome murder of the 42 year-old mother of seven, Mrs. Eunice Elisha, the wife of a Redeemed Pastor who was murdered in cold blood in the early hour of Saturday July 9th by suspected Muslim fanatics while evangelizing around Gbazango and Pipeline area of Kubwa, a satellite town in Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Eunice, who was a deaconess at the Divine Touch Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Old NEPA Road, Phase 4, Kubwa, was reportedly beheaded and stabbed in the stomach and leg by her killers, but a statement by the police has already debunked that claim.

It was learnt that her killers left her in the pool of her blood and carefully put her "severed head on her Bible, with megaphone and cell phone beside her dead body" but the Commissioner of Police in a statement said her body was intact.

Her dead body was discovered by the residents who alerted the police and evacuated her to the police station where her husband went to identify her. The husband of the deceased, Pastor Olawale Elisha while narrating the blow-by-blow account of the incident to journalists when the wife of Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo paid a condolence visit, said that his wife had gone out to preach in the neighbourhood at about 5 am only for him to hear the report of her murder.

According to him, "She goes out every morning for "Morning Cry" (Evangelism), which means when she wakes up in the morning, she takes her megaphone and preaches around the neighborhood.

"On Saturday she went out the same time, around 6:30 am, two of my children used to go out to play football at a field close to the house, but my children came back and told me that they heard some footballers saying that a woman preaching this morning was killed, and her megaphone was still there, that they cut her head and her legs."

"I told my children that it couldn't be their mother, but they insisted we should go there and check, I put on my clothes and went there when we got there, we didn't see anybody, they had even covered her blood with sand."

"However, a policeman confirmed to me that such incident happened, and the remains of the woman had been taken to Phase 4 Police Station, Kubwa.

"I rushed to my house and drove to the police station with two of my children, and at the entrance of the station I saw a pickup van coming out, inside it I saw the lifeless body of my wife at the back of the pickup Van, at this point, my children and I burst into tears."

Pastor Olawale expressed shock over the death of his wife and what might have been the reason for her murder. He said that his wife had no quarrel with anyone that could have warranted her murder, describing her as a martyr.

He recalled a day his wife told him that there is a mosque at the back of their house where the head of the mosque made a remark that her preaching wasn't saying the truth about God. That he cautioned to be very careful.

He also narrated another incident of a Muslim cleric who came to their house and asked his wife to give him food that he had an Islamic school and needed food, but my wife told him that she does not have any food at home, and the Mallam left.

The story was also corroborated by the second son of the deceased, John James, who said that his mother asked him to tell the strange Mallam that they don't have food.

James revealed further that few days after the Mallam came to their house,  his mother and himself took ill and almost died. He said that her mother kept emphasising that the strange Mallam caused their illness.

The wife of the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Folu Adeboye on Sunday also paid a condolence visit to the family of deceased.

During her visit Pastor Elisha said his wife was so committed to anything that is of God and that she was a "reckless giver to God’s work, she rarely missed any program in the church. We have seven children,” he stated.                          

Late Eunice was born on July 23, 1974; her husband stated they got married in July 2000.

The Divisional Police Officer, as well as the Divisional Crime Officer at Phase 4 Police Station, declined comment on the matter the duo referred journalists to the FCT command for any information as they claimed the case had been transferred to homicide department of the FCT Command.

According to a press release by the Commissioner of Police FCT Command, Alkali Baba Usman the police has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID)to lead an investigation into the murder case.    

Six (6) suspects arrested in connection with the gruesome murder of Mrs. Elisha are in Police custody and currently undergoing interrogation. He assured that the outcome of the investigation would be made public.

The CP commiserated with the family members of the deceased over the unfortunate incident and assured them and other residents of the area of the commitment and determination of the police command to fish out perpetrators of the heinous crime and bring them to justice.

He also seized the opportunity to enjoin residents and members of the general public to remain calm and cooperate with Police in the ongoing investigation.

The CP's statement dispelled the report in some sections of the media that the deceased’s head and leg was chopped off. 

"The Command wants to state that apart from marks of injury inflicted on some parts of her body, all parts of the deceased body are intact. The Police has taken custody of her remains for preservation and examination", the statement concluded.

As at the time of filing this story those scavengers living in shanties near the scene of the incident have fled as many of them were seeing carrying their belongings for fear of arrest by the police or reprisal attacks.

Saharareporters

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Funeral committee to document Keshi’s history

The Minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalung has charged the National Committee for the State Funeral of the fallen Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi to document the life history of the football legend, who died on June 8, as a reference for the younger generation.

The minister gave the charge when he inaugurated the committee on Friday in Abuja.

“This event is significant because apart from formally starting  the burial ceremonies, it also signals government’s commitment under President Muhammadu Buhari to honour its sporting heroes both living and dead,” Dalung stated.

“No sacrifice for this country will go unrewarded. When someone dies in this country, his history is forgotten. I don’t want this committee to allow this to happen. In writing the history of Keshi, it should be well-documented. The essence of this committee is to try to bring the complete life record of Keshi for people to study. It is not for us to change it. We want it written the way he was.

“We want the young ones to know Keshi as he was and study his life and times. There are people who will be inspired reading about what he did. His contributions as a player, captain and coach should be well-documented because they all have different contributions to help in the development of young people.”

Keshi’s elder brother and member of the committee Ambassador Joe Keshi thanked the Federal Government for constituting the committee for the burial of the late coach.

PUNCH

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Niger Delta Avengers blows up another Chevron pipeline, rebuffs FG’s dialogue move.

Delta Avengers today, said it would not negotiate with the Federal Government. 

The militant group, which blew up a crude oil pipeline belonging to Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, in the early hours today, tweeted: “This is to inform the general public that we are not negotiating with any Committee. 

If Federal Government is discussing with any group they’re doing that on their own” It said on its twitter handle: “At 1:00am today, the @NDAvengers blow up Well RMP 20 belonging to Chevron located 20 meters away from Dibi flow Station in Warri North local government area. 

” A source told Vanguard that the affected crude oil pipeline is between Opia and Dagbolo villages in Warri North. 

The attack is in spite of the declaration of a two-week ceasefire 48 hours earlier by the Federal Government to create a window for dialogue with militants. 

Confirming the attack, a security source said: “Yes, there was an attack this morning by militants on a Chevron facility.” “The pipeline had earlier been attacked by militants using the same modus operandi which is with the use of dynamite. 

“The attack was carried out at about 3am this morning,” he added. According to the staff of Chevron Nig. Ltd. who spoke on condition of anonymity, the company would draft a team of technicians to the spot to assess the extent of damage. 

Acting President, Prof Professor Yemi Osinbajo; governors of oil producing states; service chiefs; Minister of Defence, Dan Ali; Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty Programme,

Gen. Paul Boroh, among others, met, Tuesday in Abuja and resolved on a stand-down of military action in the zone. Governors in attendance at the meeting included Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Adams Oshiomhole (Edo); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).

The Service chiefs were Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, and Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.

Vanguard

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