We have no fraud information on Buhari’s wife – US

The United States government says it has no information on the alleged crimes committed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, Aisha.

The acting Public Affairs Officer, US Consulate General, Lagos, Frank Sellin, said this in an email sent to our correspondent on Tuesday.

Sellin said this in response to an enquiry made by our correspondent regarding allegations that the President’s wife was wanted in the US and was avoiding travelling to the country.

In a message, Sellin said, “Thank you for the inquiry.  We have no information to provide on this matter.”

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, had, last month, alleged that Mrs. Buhari was involved in the $185m Halliburton scandal.

While reacting to the freezing of his Zenith Bank accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Fayose claimed that the wife of the President was a wanted person in the US.

He had said, “Even the President cannot claim to be an angel. The estate he built in Abuja is known to us. His wife was indicted in the Halliburton scandal.

“When that American, Jefferson, was being sentenced, the President’s wife was mentioned as having wired $170,000 to Jefferson. Her name was on page 25 of the sentencing of Jefferson. We can serialise the judgment for people to see and read.”

Fayose repeated the claim in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi. He said Aisha refused to travel with the President to the US because of her involvement in the scandal.

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United make top 10 on Forbes List

Real Madrid have slipped to second behind NFL team the Dallas Cowboys as a soccer team does not top the Forbes World’s Most Valuable Sports Team List for the first time since 2011.

The Cowboys move up one place with an estimated value of $4bn (£3.02bn), up from $3.2bn (£2.4bn) last year, with Real - top of the list for the last three years - in second position, despite their value rising by almost 12.5 per cent to $3.65bn (£2.75bn).

Barcelona are up one spot to third at $3.55bn (£2.68bn), Manchester United - ranked first in 2011 and 2012 -  stay fifth at $3.32bn (£2.5bn), and NFL team the San Francisco 49ers at $2.7bn (£2.04bn) rise 22 places to take 10th spot.

Team Current value ($bn) Sport 2015 rank
Dallas Cowboys         4.0        NFL        2
Real Madrid                   3.65 Soccer         1
Barcelona                   3.55 Soccer      4
New York Yankees     3.4 MLB          2
Manchester United     3.32 Soccer          5
New England Patriots 3.2 NFL               6
New York Knicks            3.0 NBA               8
Washington Redskins 2.85 NFL               9
New York Giants            2.8   NFL         12
Los Angeles Lakers       2.7   NBA         6
San Francisco 49ers 2.7   NFL         22
The average current value of the top 50 most valuable teams is $2.2 billion (£1.66bn), which is the highest to date and a 25 per cent increase from last year. Cost of admission to the 2016 list is also the highest ever at $1.48bn (£1.12bn), up from $1.15bn a year ago.

Major League Baseball team the New York Yankees at $3.4bn (£2.56bn) and basketball franchise the New York Knicks at $3bn (£2.26bn) are the only non-soccer and non-NFL teams in the top 10.

Forbes value the Dallas Cowboys at $4bn
NFL teams represent half of the top ten most valuable sports teams in the world, driven by lucrative broadcasting contracts. There are also a total of 27 NFL teams in the top 50, with eight soccer teams and the same number of NBA franchises. No ice hockey, Formula 1 or Nascar teams made the cut.

EXPOSED: #Panamapapers: The Nigerian lawyers who acted as intermediaries for Mossack Fonseca

Some  Nigerian lawyers worked extensively with the infamous Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonseca, helping the company to incorporate shell entities and sell secrecy in Nigeria, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report today.
The lawyers this newspaper has so far identified from the huge #PanamaPapers database were those from the law firms of Olaniwun Ajayi Law Practitioners (OALP) and Adepetun Caxton-Martins Agbor & Segun.
The companies are however making spirited efforts to deny links with the Panamanian law firm. But PREMIUM TIMES has established firmly that they indeed bought services from the law firm.
Olaniwun Ajayi Law Practitioners
PREMIUM TIMES had on April 5, 2016, published a comprehensive list of 110 Nigerians, including a Lagos-based law firm, Olaniwun Ajayi Law Practitioners, OALP, as well as a former employee of the company, Yemi Oke, who had at one time or the other engaged the services of Mossack Fonseca, a law firm that attained global infamy for helping clients create and operate offshore shell companies in tax havens like Seychelles, British Virgin Island and Panama amongst others.
Although the use of shell companies is not illegal and there are individuals and firms who incorporate them for purely legitimate purposes; yet, many who operate shell companies do so to evade tax, hide Ponzi schemes, run predatory lending scams and myriad illicit finance.
After the report, Mr. Oke, who is now Head of the Department of Jurisprudence and International Law at the University of Lagos, contacted this newspaper denying dealings with Mossack Fonseca and threatening “real legal and other battles”.
In an email to PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Oke denied transactions over any ocean vessel just as he denied contacts with any law firm in Panama.

Even when he was informed that some professional and family details found in the leaked #PanamaPapers database matched his, he insisted that he had never dealt with the Panamanian law firm.
“I wish to again confirm that I left Olaniwun Ajayi (OALP) in 2007, and while at Olaniwun Ajayi, I never heard of, or had any dealings with a Vessel called AMS TITAN on August 01, 2007 or with Mossack Fonseca,” Mr. Oke said in the mail.
“I’ve also copied this to my former employers (OALP) prior to the real legal and other battles. My former employers have denied any dealings with the firm (Mossack Fonseca),” the embittered lawyer added.
In an email reply to Mr. Oke, forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES, the Nigerian law firm, OALP, also denied any relationship with Mossack Fonseca.
“It’s truly a terrible thing to have OALP mentioned. Certainly also you. We have no client in Panama and do no business there. We have never dealt with the firm you mentioned. No one here did or could have while you were here or any time after you left used your email.
“That would have been unprofessional and criminal. As a matter of standard procedure email accounts of those who resign are deleted and deactivated. Please sue or deal with the publishers as you deem fit. I agree it’s no trifling matter,” Konyinsola Ajayi of OALP said.
But information contained in the leaked Mossack Fonseca file shows that Mr. Oke, as client on record, requested Mossack Fonseca to register a Vessel, AMS TITAN, on August 01, 2007.
He even indicated that his family was based in Canada and that he was a legal practitioner educated up to the PhD level.
Among other fact-checks, PREMIUM TIMES verified the Nigerian phone number supplied to Mossack Fonseca and found it was still assigned to Mr. Oke.
This newspaper has access to the full database, containing millions of documents now referred to as Panama Papers, and has pored through it for months, carrying out due diligence before the publication of every related story, including the one that mentioned Yemi Oke and OALP.
Between 2007 and 2008, OALP, and particularly Mr. Oke,, acted as intermediary – “professional client” – between Mossack Fonsecca and Christopher Akhigbe-Mide, President of Project Masters International Ltd., to procure “provisional patent” and registration from Panama Maritime Authority for a vessel AMS Titan.
On Wednesday, July 25, 2007, precisely at 1.58 PM, an email was sent to Mossack Fonseca from a company email account (yoke@olniwunajayi.net) assigned to Yemi Oke. The subject of the email, which at the time was officially copied to seven people, five of which appeared to be staff members of OALP with @olniwunajayi.net email address, was “Request for Quotes for Legal Services.”
The email sent from Mr. Oke’s account appeared to be the very first correspondence to Mossack Fonseca.
It reads: “We are a law firm based in Lagos, Nigeria. Our client desires to advance funding facilities for the purchase of certain vessel. The intended vessel will to be registered in, and to fly the flag of, the Republic of Panama.

“Your firm has been suggested as one of the leading firms in Panama with suitable competence and standing in transactions of this nature. We hereby, acting for and on behalf of our clients, request for billing quotes for the following legal services and/or documentation,” the introductory paragraphs of the email said.
The legal services sought from Mossack Fonseca by the Nigerians included the “Registration and/or collection of all necessary approvals for the registration of a Vessel in Panama; Documentation and/or creation of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to hold the vessel in trust for the Nigerian lender-bank; (and) Requirements and documentation for the appointment of a foreign trusteeship to hold in trust for 3 years the vessel on behalf on the Nigerian lender-bank.
Other special services sought by the email’s author were the “Preparation and Registration of mortgage charge over vessels flying the flag of the Republic of Panama (and) such other documentation as may be required to protect the interest of the Nigerian lender-bank in respect of a vessel charged for its interest.”
The email ended thus: “Please advise us on your financial quotes on the above items. Please revert as soon as possible with your quotes to enable us advise our clients accordingly.” The email had the signature “Yemi Oke (PhD.)” with land address “Olaniwun Ajayi, UBA House (Floor 4), 57 Marina, Lagos, Nigeria.”
On July 30, 2007 Mr. Oke received a mail from Egbert Wetherborne of Mossack Fonseca.
“Thank you very much for your interest in our services. My name is Egbert Wetherborne, and I am the lawyer in charge of your case.
“I have noticed that you are interested in two main things: Registering a vessel in Panama and Creating a Trust that protects the vessel and the interest of the Bank.”
Via his official email account, yoke@olaniwunajayi.net, Mr. Oke replied on August 1, 2007:
“Further to my email in response to yours, please be informed that I will be the client on record for the purposes of dealing with you on this instruction. My nationality in Nigeria/Canada. I’m married and my
family is based in Toronto, Ontario Canada. I’m a legal practitioner and educated up to the PhD level.”
Mr. Wetherborne then requested Mr. Oke to send across some documents as part of Mossac Fonseca’s KYC (Know Your Clients) requirements.

Olaniwun Ajayi sent the requested documents, and on November 29, 2007, Sandra Cornego of Mossack Fonseca wrote Mr. Oke confirming “safe receipt of your bank reference letter issued by Guaranty Trust Bank and your professional reference issued by A.A. Eromosele & Co., certified copy of Mr. Oluseye Opasanya passport and a copy of Nigerian Telecommunications Limited statement.”
Assuring OALP that Mossack Fonseca was the right firm for the job, the Panama lawyers wrote in one of the correspondences:
“In regard to the creation of a Trust to protect the bank’s interests, there are many options that we have. I am more inclined to the option were we incorporate a company from the British Virgin Island (BVI), that will own the vessel, and thereafter, we create a Vista Trust (A type of BVI Trust, specially for shares of BVI companies). Mossack Fonseca would provide the Trustee Services, plus the registered agent services for the BVI Company.”
In the course of correspondence between OALP and Mossack Fonseca, a telephone appointment was fixed. On Wednesday August 1, 2007, Oluwadamilola Osonubi, a staff member of OALP, emailed Egbert Wetherborne saying: “I am working with Yemi Oke on the captioned transaction.
“Further to his mail below, please be informed that we experienced some difficulty getting through to you by telephone. We are also unsure of the time zone in Panama. Kindly communicate your telephone numbers to
us, while also informing us about the current time in Panama and a good time to call you. Please note that it is presently 8p.m. here in Nigeria. Best regards.”
Mr. Wetherbone reverted, copying among others, Kemi Oladipo, another staff member of OALP on koladipo@olaniwunajayi.net. The mail reads:
“Dear Oluwadamilola: It is currently 2p.m. in Panama. So this means we are 6 hours behind. A good time to call me is10a.m. Panama time, (4p.m. Nigerian Time). My telephone numbers are: + (507) 2055888 or + (507) 2642322
The relationship between OALP and Mossack Fonseca culminated, in December 2008, in Mr. Akhigbe-Mide granting Mossack Fonseca “a full and sufficient power of attorney to apply to the proper National Bureau
and Authorities for the obtainment of the enrollment of any licenses that may be needed and any other administrative proceedings pertaining to the vessel AMS TITAN…”
Interestingly the power of attorney was notarized by Konyinsola Ajayi on December 11, 2008, and by Babington Hooke, a London-based notary public, on December 29, 2008. The same Koyinsola Ajayi denied ever dealing with Mossac Fonseca.
Alarmed by the listing of his name in our earlier report, Mr. Oke had sent a mail to his former boss, Konyinsola Ajayi, saying:
“I was informed that my OA (OALP) email was used long after my resignation, to send several emails in respect of the transactions. My my personal details such as residence of my family (then in Canada)
and the fact of my dual status, my (hot) telephone line among others are also reflected …
“…Before taking any step against the publishers and others I need to be sure there is no mixed-up somewhere as I’m listed against ‘Olaniun Ajayi’,” the email from Yemi Oke reads.
The former OALP employee continued: “I just wanted to be sure and clarify things from OA’s end before taking appropriate action. I immediately alerted Wolemi of this but he seemed unmindful of the gravity of the damage done to my person and the social and security risks to me and my family to be linked with certain powerful moneybags. I’m just reaching out to clarify a few things and to avoid creating any wrong notion as to my respect for AO as an institution.”
On Sunday, May 8, 2016, Mr. Ajayi sent a reply to Mr. Oke, once again standing by his earlier claim that his firm had had no dealings with Mossack Fonseca and that Mr. Oke’s email account was never used by anyone after his resignation.
“No need to worry. Do what you need to do to fully protect yourself. Best Regards, Konyin Ajayi,” the former boss wrote.
However, when PREMIUM TIMES contacted Konyinsola Ajayi, who himself notarized the power of attorney sent to Mossack Fonseca, his position on the matter became somewhat ambiguous.
Through SMS and electronic mail, PREMIUM TIMES told Mr. Ajayi it had records contradicting his claims of having never dealt with Mossack Fonseca. To that Konyinsola Ajayi said:
“As a Journalist, I’m sure you will do all required of you,” he replied. “If you have records there is nothing to be done to change facts.”
In the face of serial denials by Konyinsola Ajayi, another smoking gun was found in documents in the possession of PREMIUM TIMES.
On March 16, 2009, Damilola Akinwunmi, another OALP employee, via email account, DAkinwumi@olaniwunajayi.net, wrote to Isabel Vecchio, a Mossack Fonseca lawyer, “Further to your mail below, we have searched our records and can confirm that our Client (Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc) has already
made payment for the registration of the Mortgage Deed over Vessel AMS Titan as well as the opinion required to be issued by your firm …
“Kindly confirm the status of payment from your files and from Egbert Wetherborne, as he was handling this transaction on behalf of your firm at this time … we hope the required opinion can be issued as soon
as possible, to enable our Client close this transaction,” Akinwunmi, of OALP, wrote.
Indeed, another evidence shows that OALP actually used the services of Mossack Fonseca more than once. On 29 September 2009, Kemi Oladipo via email account KOladipo@olaniwunajayi.net addressed a mail to the two
Mossack Fonseca’s lawyers, Mr. Wetherbourne and Isabel Vecchio, saying:
“We thank you for your kind and professional legal assistance in the Project Masters transaction.
“Please be informed that we require your legal assistance once again in connection with another vessel carrying a Panamanian flag.
“One of our clients desires to enter into a lease with an option to purchase an accommodation barge with an American Company. To this end, it is imperative that our client obtains evidence of the nature of
title the American Company has over the barge. Also our client needs to ensure that good title can also be passed on to them (free from any future or present encumbrance) upon the purchase of the barge.
“Lastly, as our client also seeks to register the barge in Nigeria, we may need your assistance to deregister the barge at the Panamanian Registry. Please let us know also what this would entail,” the email from the Nigerian law firm reads.
Like Olaniwun Ajayi, like Adepetun Caxton-Martins Agbor & Segun (ACAS-Law)
Afolabi Caxton-Martins, Managing Partner of ACAS-Law, also contacted PREMIUM TIMES protesting his inclusion in the list of the Nigerian clients of Mossack Fonseca.
“We refute, categorically, that I or any of my partners or ACAS-Law owns a bank account or any type of asset, directly or indirectly in Panama,” Mr. Caxton-Martins wrote in an email to this newspaper. “Given the sensitive nature of our work, (our clients expect to be served by persons of the highest ethical standards and integrity), being falsely linked with the Panama scandal is bound to raise red flags and serious questions about our partners and firm. We have already received numerous calls from concerned friends and associates.
“I urge you to urgently look into this matter as soon as possible.”
PREMIUM TIMES Managing Editor, Musikilu Mojeed, responded, “Thank you very much for contacting us over the inclusion of your name among clients of Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonseca.
“According to information contained in the leaked file, your law firm, Adepetun Caxton-Martins Agbor & Segun, became a professional client/intermediary of Mossack Fonseca on June 5, 2008. Your client number is 25019.
“You (Mr. Caxton-Martins) are named as the main contact person for your firm.
Please note that the #PanamaPapers search platform you referred to is not comprehensive. PREMIUM TIMES has access to the full database, containing millions of documents, and has pored through it for months. I hope my explanation addresses your concerns.”
But Mr. Caxton-Martins wrote back saying, “Thank you for your email which helped to clarify a few issues. We now understand that according to Premium Times, ACAS-Law became a client and/or an intermediary of Mossak Fonseeca (“MF”) on June 5 2008 and that I am cited as the primary contact. This is a very different position from the one taken by your original publication which classified our firm as one of those persons that hold assets in Panama.
“Following your email in which you highlighted the date on which our firm allegedly became a client of MF, we conducted a search of our email database which shed some light on your allegations. We assume that your information was obtained from the database containing “..millions of documents..” referenced in your email. Please see below an email I received from the Intellectual Property (“IP”) department of MF following an IP conference that I attended in Germany.
“The date of the email is the same date you quoted as the date our firm became a “client” of MF. If that email was the source for your story, and there is a strong inference that is the case, do you still believe our inclusion in your list was justified? Please see the said email below.
“I repeat, categorically, neither ACAS-Law nor I have now, nor have we ever owned assets in Panama. Therefore, if the said email is the basis for our inclusion in the Premium Times list, we expect that you will be good enough to apologize for the error and make an immediate retraction. We look forward to hearing from you.”
Mr. Caxton-Martins indeed heard back from PREMIUM TIMES. Managing Editor Mojeed wrote back to him saying, “I apologise for the delay in responding to your email. I have been travelling extensively in the past days, with limited access to email.
“I like to assure you that we did not list your firm based on the email you forwarded.
“You are clearly identified in documents among customers created in 2005.
Besides, your firm, ACAS-Law, is the legal representative for offshore firm, Koggi Shipping. And you indeed dealt with Mossack Fonseca on behalf of the company in case number 1607374.
“I suggest you check through your records again.”
This newspaper is yet to hear back from Mr. Caxton-Martins and his law firm.

Joe Igbokwe: Igbo ethnic bigotry and hate campaigns worry me

Ever since President Buhari won the 2015 Presidential elections he was destined to win having labored in 2003, 2007, 2011 and then 2015 a very vast preponderance of South South and South East indigenes have descended on the President, pouring invective, calling him names, abusing his person and his exalted office, preaching hate, and ethnic divisions.

I have followed this dangerous trend over a year now, and it is not abetting. It is growing like wild fire everyday. In recent times the South-South people whose son lost the election have moved on except the criminal avengers who are fighting for their pockets only and destroying their environment.

I have seen spirited and genuine efforts being made by the leaders of South-South to bring peace to the Niger Delta, and I heartily commend them for this. It is in their own interest.

But in the South East, our people have refused to move on. In the diaspora, in Nigeria, in schools, in the markets, on the streets, in Churches, in Town Meetings etc Igbo have refused to move on.

Every move the President makes to rebuild and re-position the country is abused, castigated and ethnic meaning read into it. The dangerous trend has become so embarrassing that one is compelled to speak out.

While leaders of South-South have made interventions to make way for harmony and peaceful co-existence, Igbo leaders have maintained a deafening silence but this silence is no longer golden.

Ethnic bigotry and hate speeches our people both at home and abroad dish out everyday endanger our people living in all parts of Nigeria. President Buhari belongs to a section of Nigeria and must not run away with the thinking that his people will be happy and clap for us when we malign and abuse one of their own.

No ethnic group in Nigeria moves and settles in any part of the country like the Igbo. They settle and do business in almost every part of the country, and when we throw stones to other Nigerians, we endanger their lives and their businesses.

The worst sets of Igbo guilty of this dangerous trend are those living outside the country. While some of them are engaged in meaningful employment, many of them are unemployed. They have become economic refugees and cultural savages. They have formed an association of hate preachers and wailing bigots. They have through actions and deeds created millions of enemies for Ndigbo in Nigeria while they waste their precious gift of time abroad doing nothing.

Last week, the Vice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo was in Afe Babalola University Ekiti State as Guest Speaker during the University’s Convocation ceremony. In the cause of his speech, he told his capacity audience the Niger Delta Avengers are not freedom fighters but those fighting for their pockets only.

I saw the story on Facebook and other sites on the internet. The one on Facebook caught my attention because of nearly 400 reactions as at the time I read it. I took mental note of the reactions and the names attached to it. 95% are Igbo names and they abused and called the Vice President unprintable names for speaking the truth.

This is a shame. Ignorance should not be a virtue. Ignorance is a disease. Foolishness is a tragedy. This is ignorance stupid. This is mental darkness. A roaring lion kills no game. It is only a river that wants to get dried up that forgets its source. A Chinese proverb tells me that “He who blames others has a long way to go on his journey. He who blames himself is half way there. He who blames no one has arrived.”

Now, it is time for the Igbo to move on and join other Nigerians to begin the process of rebuilding Nigeria. I want Igbo Governors, elected Senators, elder statesmen, House of Reps Members, House of Assembly members, political leaders, traditional rulers, Igbo intellectuals, professionals, market leaders, town union leaders, village heads, etc. to rise up to defend the integrity and honor of Igbo race.

Are these ignorant ones who preach hate speaking for us? Are they representing us? Are they our brightest and bests? Are those asking for Biafra and using it as business venture speaking for all of us? Have we taken a look at the situation in South Sudan today? Shall we continue to sleep pretending that all is well? Can we be honest enough to see the real danger ahead? For how long will our leaders continue to be silent on these weighty issues? Can elders continue to sleep while the kids wear snakes as necklaces? Can the young teach tradition to the old? Who will bell the cat in Igboland? Who will call the ignorant kids to order?

Did the Yoruba go to war when June 12 1993 Presidential Election won by their illustrious son Chief MKO Abiola was annulled on June 23rd 1993 on a sheet of paper by IBB? Did Yoruba go to war when Abiola’s wife Alhaja Kudirat Abiola was murdered in Lagos in the morning of Jun 4 1996? Did Yoruba go to war when the winner of that historic election was poisoned on July 7 1998? Did Yoruba go to war when those who killed Abiola imposed Obasanjo on them as President in 1999? Did Yoruba accept Chief Ernest Shonekan when IBB made him to head the interim government in 1993? Yoruba rejected OBJ and Shonekan because this unique race has never been slaves to public office and yet they have remained number one in Nigeria in almost everything. This is wisdom and strategic thinking at work.

Those of us who have lived in Yoruba land for years should not only learn how to wear Aso Ebi, eat Ewedu soup or dance Owambe, music.

We must have also learned other unique things from them like sharing property to both male and female children, religious tolerance, ethnic tolerance, transferring legacies from generation to generation. Do you know that APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s wife is a Christian? Do you know that former Governor Fashola’s wife is a Christian? We can learn a lot from Yoruba. Yoruba too can learn from Igbo in areas of thinking home, business enterprise, self-help, apprenticeship, etc.

A Yoruba woman, a Pastor Mrs. Eunice Olawale Elisha of the Redeemed Christian Church of God old NEPA Road Phase 4 Kubwa, Abuja was killed by unknown persons on Saturday morning of July 9, 2016, while preaching the gospel around 5.30am. I have followed the reactions on the internet and Yoruba do not behave like the Igbo.

They have been speaking but not preaching hate. They have called for the culprits to be fished out, prosecuted and punished. If Mrs. Eunice Elisha had been an Igbo hell would have been let loose. There would have been abuses and abuses. But Yoruba are not Igbo. This is civilization. This is strategic thinking. I hope our people can learn from this. Civility is not a sign of weakness. He who fights and run away lives to fight another day.

To have ears is not to listen, to listen is not to hear, to hear is not to understand, to understand is not to put to practice. I know that writing this may not get me many friends among the Igbo, but it always gets me the right ones.

Case Rested!

Joe Igbokwe, is the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Lagos State.

Alleged Forgery Case: We will invoke the Constitution, if…, Saraki tells Malami

SENATE President Bukola Saraki Tuesday threatened that the upper chambers would have no options than to invoke a section of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami if he fails to honour the invitation of the senate to appear and explain why he dragged the Senate President, his Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and two others to court over alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Order.

Speaking shortly after the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator David Umaru, All Progressives Congress, APC, Niger East laid the report of his Committee on Imminent threat to Nigerian Democracy, Senate President Saraki said that since the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senate, Senator Ita Enang had already taken permission on behalf of the Minister, it has become imperative to allow him this week.

Meanwhile, the Senate which resumed from two weeks break yesterday, went into a closed door executive session where they were said to have discussed how the Senate would be run effectively.

Speaking further, Senator Saraki said, “We all heard the explanation of the chairman Judiciary. And what he is trying to get across to us here is to tell us the status of the situation because what we have been reading in the papers was of great concern where the number one judicial officer of the country will be the one that will be flouting the Constitution. Because 89 (c) is very clear.

Super Eagles: Le Guen okayed, Yusuf loses assistant position

The PUNCH can confirm that the Nigeria Football Federation officials have settled for Frenchman Paul Le Guen as the next Super Eagles coach. The football house had made a shortlist of three coaches on Friday: Le Guen, Salisu Yusuf and Tom Saintfiet but few days after have now chosen the Frenchman who will be introduced to the public on July 18.

But while the Eagles manager is being confirmed according to expectations, the position of assistant coach has taken a new turn as the federation could seek an alternative person to work in place of Yusuf who had worked as one of the assistants to Sunday Oliseh.

Our correspondent learnt on Monday that the NFF members were already in search of a coach to work as the Nigerian assistant to Le Guen.

The official said, “As it is now the position of the deputy has been thrown open because Yusuf is still insisting that he would not work as an assistant to Le Guen. Those who worked on their entries picked the Frenchman and with the hope that Yusuf could learn a lot from him for the immediate future but he (Yusuf) appears to have some other ideas so the federation will now have to consider a new person altogether to replace Yusuf.

The former Kano Pillars coach believes he now has enough managerial wisdom to lead the Eagles.

In the Federation Cup, the Round of 16 matches of the men’s competition and the quarter-final matches of the women’s event will take place Tuesday (today) and Wednesday.

Sunshine Stars of Akure go up against Akwa United in Makurdi on Tuesday, as Crown of Ogbomosho and Enugu Rangers play in Kaduna on the same day according to the fixtures released by the FA on Monday.

Rivers United and Shooting Stars of Ibadan are at each other’s jugular at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Wednesday, while Wikki Tourists of Bauchi and Plateau United will do battle in Akure in all-NPFL clashes.

FC IfeanyiUbah will take on Katsina United at the Kwara Sports Complex, Ilorin on Wednesday, while Nasarawa United will test might with Dynamite of Benin City at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja on the same day as Warri Wolves are up against Prime of Oshogbo at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi.

The postponed Round of 32 clash between Enyimba and El-Kanemi Warriors will come up in Abuja also on Wednesday. The winner of the clash will go up against J. Atete FC of Delta State at a later date.

In the women’s competition, Abia Angels will take to the field in Lokoja against Nasarawa Amazons, as Delta Queens and Katsina Queens do battle in Abuja on Tuesday, 12th July.

Murray And Federer In Semis

Roger Federer and Andy Murray showed their never-say-die spirit as the Wimbledon title rivals battled into the semi-finals in a pair of Centre Court classics on Wednesday.

Federer saved three match points in a 6-7 (4/7), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (11/9), 6-3 victory over Croatian ninth seed Marin Cilic as the world number three reached a record-equalling 11th semi-final at the All England Club.

The 34-year-old also claimed a new record for Grand Slam match wins of 307 as he made a 40th semi-final at the majors.

Federer, a 10-time Wimbledon finalist, will play Canadian sixth seed Milos Raonic as he continues his pursuit of an 18th Grand Slam title and a record eighth All England Club crown.

"Marin is such a wonderful player and I knew I was in so much trouble in the third set and in the fourth," said Federer.

"But my legs and back were there and serving was key. Mentally this will give me a hell of a boost."

Murray followed Federer onto Wimbledon's famous showcourt and treated the crowd to another thriller as he squandered a two-set lead before storming to a 7-6 (12/10), 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 6-1 win against French 12th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

On the brink of a shock exit, Murray rallied impressively in the deciding set, screaming out to his box 'there's no way I'm losing this match' before making good on his rallying call.

Murray's 100th career grass-court win booked his seventh Wimbledon semi-final appearance and Czech 10th seed Tomas Berdych stands between the 29-year-old Scot and his second All England Club final.

World number two Murray, beaten in the Australian and French Open finals this year, is looking to earn his third major title and first since becoming the first British man to win Wimbledon for 77 years.

"It was a tough match. Tsonga is one of the best grass-court players in the world and he came up with some great shots at big moments," Murray said.

"I just tried to use all my energy at the start of the fifth set to get myself pumped up and thankfully I got the early break and managed to hang onto it."

- Rollercoaster -

Even Murray's rollercoaster victory couldn't overshadow Federer's latest Wimbledon heroics as he came from two sets down to win for the 10th time in his glittering career.

Federer, who saved the three match points in the fourth set, fired 27 aces and 67 winners to avenge his semi-final loss to ninth seed Cilic in the semi-finals of the 2014 US Open.

Federer's dramatic triumph was his 84th win at Wimbledon -- taking him level with Jimmy Connors and making him the oldest All England Club semi-finalist since 39-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1974.

Raonic enjoyed far more serene progress to his second Wimbledon semi-final as he ended Sam Querrey's surprise run to the last eight with a 6-4, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 victory on Court One.

The 25-year-old was too strong for Querrey, who had eliminated defending champion Novak Djokovic, and will hope it is third time lucky after losing his previous two Grand Slam semi-finals.

"There were some momentum shifts there. I'm glad I was able to get back on the right path after he won the third," Raonic said.

"I was able to get things back on my terms. It's a well deserved chance to be in the semi-finals. "

Berdych was on cruise control as the Czech 10th seed crushed France's Lucas Pouille 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-2.

Berdych is one win away from reaching his second Grand Slam final six years after losing to Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon title match.

The 30-year-old, who blasted Pouille off Court One with 35 winners and 10 aces, is the third Czech man to reach multiple Wimbledon semi-finals after Ivan Lendl and Jan Kodes.

"It's a great feeling. I had to find my rhythm in the first set tie-break. After that it was more straightforward," Berdych said.