Boko Haram kills 24 in two separate attacks

 Suspected Boko Haram militants killed 24 people in two separate attacks, eyewitnesses said on Saturday, just as the military vowed to ramp up security over Christmas.

Seven fishermen were ambushed and killed in the first attack in Baga, a fishing community on Lake Chad in Borno state, one of three in the northeast of the country under emergency rule since May this year.

Seventeen people died in a separate attack on Thursday, other eyewitnesses said, when gunmen in pick-up trucks torched more than 100 shops and vehicles in the Sabon Gari area of the Damboa district, 90 kilometres (56 miles) from the state capital, Maiduguri.

There was no immediate confirmation of either attack from the military or local authorities.

Fashola: Oduah’s armoured cars ‘ll buy 51 patrol vehicles

Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has said that the two armoured cars bought at the cost of N255 million for the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, will purchase 51 patrol vehicles for the Nigerian Police.

The governor said this at the 7th annual Town Hall Meeting on Security, themed: ‘Sustaining Local Responding To Rising National Security Challenges,’ held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

“It is sad to know that the Federal Government that allocate three patrol vehicles for one state police command of 370, 000 police men, is unable to resolve how N255 million was used to purchase 2 saloon vehicles for one officer. It is a very grave irony.

“The cost of average vehicle needed to patrol the state is just N5 million. And with such fund, we will have put at least 51 patrol vehicles on the road, patrolling the streets of Lagos.”

Oshiomhole apologises over comments toWidow

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo on Friday apologised for the comments he made to a widow in Benin during an inspection tour on Mission Road, in the state capital, a fortnight ago.

Oshiomhole said that he now regretted the comments which had become the subject of discourse in the social media.

The Governor, however, noted that he made the comments in anger.

Oshiomhole's apology was made when the leadership of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), paid him a courtesy visit in Benin.

He noted that though the challenge of modern times had bestowed on the shoulders of some women and single mothers the status of bread winners of their homes, such should not be used as an excuse to flout the laws.

The Governor urged the Muslim women leaders to use their offices to propagate the essence of healthy living among children and women in the nation and the need to maintain proper sanitary conditions in their neighbourhoods.

Oshiomhole lamented that the challenge of widowhood had also exposed children to different temptations, adding that there was the need for society to be careful, to avoid unwittingly creating more problems for the nation.

Lebanese found guilty of terrorism in Nigeria

Abuja - Tahal Roda, a Lebanese has been found guilty of terrorism by a Federal High Court in Abuja, reports Premium Times

 The Department of State Security Services, SSS charged Roda alongside Mustapha Fawaz and Abdullah Thani to court for terrorist activities bordering on illegal importation of firearms.

The Lebanese were also accused of being members of Hezbollah, the Lebanon based group considered a terrorist organisation by the United States.

The court, however, freed  Fawaz and Thani of the charged.

Fawaz is a co-owner of one of Abuja’s largest supermarkets, Amigo Supermarket, and Wonderland Amusement Park, also in Abuja.

Read more at Premium Times

Why You Shouldn't Be Working Out Every Day

The best athletes in the world are committed to a training program that enhances their physical skills. However, working out every day often doesn't necessarily always lead to better results. It's just as important to give your body time to recover as it is to perform intense training sessions. That's right...taking days off can actually improve your results.

Here are five reasons why you shouldn't necessarily be working out every day.

Replenish Energy Stores

Your body uses adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to power muscle contractions. During weight training, the most readily available source of this energy is muscle glycogen. This source is finite, so it must be replenished before another training session. If you work out on low energy stores, you will notice decreased performance, because your muscles will be used as a source of energy and begin to break down. (Learn how muscles work.)

Repair Muscle Fibers

A proper training program is designed to stress your muscles, which is the only way to stimulate gains. However, this stress causes damage to muscle fibers. The process of repairing this damage and rebuilding muscle tissue after a workout is actually when muscles get bigger and stronger.

Alleviate Muscle Soreness

Any time you challenge your muscles in a new way or increase your workout intensity, you will encounter sore muscles. Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which occurs between 24 to 72 hours after a workout, can feel anywhere from mildly discomforting to nearly debilitating. DOMS is caused be microscopic tears in the connective tissue surrounding muscles. It will resolve itself, but it is a sign that your muscles need time to rest. (Alleviate muscle soreness with a foam roller.)

Avoid Overtraining

Athletes who train too frequently run the risk of overtraining, causing stress, exhaustion, fatigue, irritability, decreased performance and even injury. Your body transitions from a state of muscle building to muscle break down. In this case, too much of a good thing turns into a bad thing. (Learn more about overtraining.)

What to Do

Maximizing your training program is simple—you need to schedule recovery into your training.

As a general rule, allow a muscle group to rest for 48 hours before reworking it. For example, if you work your legs on a Monday, don't rework them again until Wednesday.

To create an efficient schedule, stick to a split-routine plan. This commonly involves splitting your routines into upper- and lower-body days, but you can get more specific if you want.

One final note: instead of working out every day, you need to actually plan days to allow your body to rest, even if you aren't reworking the same muscle groups. Plan a mid-week rest day, and then one or two days off on the weekend to allow your body to fully recover. Ideally, you should only work out between three and five days per week.

Stack.com

5 Ways to Stay Young and Fit

Unfortunately, staying active is a lifestyle that we as a population have grown out of. But you can regain this commitment by following these five rules.

Break a sweat every day

Challenge yourself every day to participate in a physical activity that causes you to get out of breath or sweat. To change your body, you must train outside of your comfort zone. If you like your body the way it is, then don't stress it. But if you want to build strength, get a six-pack or lose fat, then work hard.

When exercising, you should not be able to carry on a conversation with your buddy. (Don't get me started on people reading a magazine on the treadmill.) Next time you're at the gym:

• Increase your weights
• Hit the incline on your treadmill or run hills
• Add a plyometrics workout
• Combine strength training with various rounds of conditioning; for example, perform a Overhead Shoulder Press, then sprint on a treadmill at nine mph on a six-inch incline for 30 seconds. Rest for 90 seconds and repeat four times.

Go back to grade school

You did it all when you were younger: jumped rope, climbed trees, went bike riding and ran sprints around the playground. You couldn't sit still long enough to stay at a desk or computer like you do now.

Become more active. Go for a walk or jog in the morning before starting your day. Join a group fitness class, recreational league, swim club, ski or bowling team.

Use what you have

Look around and take a quick inventory of what's available to exercise with. Do you have a bike, rope, old tires to flip, chains to pull, balls to throw, boxes to jump on or paint cans to carry? If you have some of this stuff and a creative mind, you can put together a great workout. You don't need a expensive gym membership to look expensive. (Got a rope? Five Reasons to Go Back to Basics With the Jump Rope.)

Eat clean

By eating as clean as you can, you'll automatically avoid foods loaded with sugar, trans fat, and saturated fat. Eat foods that display a variety of colors more frequently, and keep everything in moderation. Plan time to go to the grocery store so you are not rushed. Also, plan your weekly meals ahead of time. (See What's Fake and What's Real? The Ultimate Food Survival Guide and No, Really—Don't Shop When You're Hungry: A Study.)

Rest as hard as you work

There's a fine line between the amount of work you do and the rest that you allow yourself. Rest can take the form of physical rest, or, for most of us, mental rest. Exercising, deep breathing, and vacations will take care of your mental rest. If you feel physically exhausted, try switching up your workout routine or take a week off. You will come back fresh and ready to do more. 

Stack.com

Why I resigned as SURE-P chairman – Dr Christopher Kolade

The Chairman of Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, Dr Christopher Kolade, yesterday, explained why he resigned from the agency, saying it had nothing to do with the allegation of the missing N500 billion SURE-P fund.

Kolade, who made the clarification in an interactive forum with newsmen in Abuja, noted that he threw in the towel on health grounds.

He said: “I am now old and I need to wind down some activities that take some of my energy. By next month, I will be 81, so you don’t blame me for not having youthful energy at the age of 81.”

Kolade explained that in his resignation letter to President Goodluck Jonathan dated September 25, there was never any allegation on ground to warrant his forceful withdrawal as the chairman of the committee.

Dr Christopher Kolade

The resignation letter dated September 25 and entitled “Withdrawal from Chairmanship of the SURE-P Committee” read: “I wish to inform you, respectfully, of my decision to resign from the position of Chairman of the SURE-P Committee.

“My desire is that the resignation should take effect as soon as Mr. President names a new chairman, but not later than the end of November 2013.

“Mr. President, it has been a worthwhile experience for me to serve as chairman since the inauguration of the committee in February 2012.

“However, as I approach my 81st birthday, I wish to retire from the more time and energy consuming parts of my responsibilities and activities, one of which is the SURE-P Committee chairmanship.

“Mr. President, please accept my sincere thanks and appreciation for the opportunity to serve in the position of chairman as well as my prayers for good progress and success for Nigeria in the years ahead.”

Kolade further explained that the subsidy money was shared among the three tiers of government, with the Federal Government taking 41 per cent, 54 per cent went to state and local governments, while the remaining five per cent is to be used for ecological project.

He said the 41 per cent of the money that belonged to the Federal Government is N300 billion, and that the committee had accounted for it before the Senate committee.

According to him, the alleged missing N500 billion was shared by the state and local governments, and that, those that were spreading the rumour were aware of it.

Vangaurd

Ryan Giggs keen to play on after 40

The Welshman has spent his whole career at Old Trafford, making 953 club appearances since making his debut against Everton in 1991.
"I'm lucky that I have been at one club, where I am surrounded by good players and a good manager," he said.

"It can be hard sometimes but I am still enjoying it. As long as that is the case I will carry on."

He added: "I still want to do well in every game, want to win trophies and my focus needs to be on that."

Giggs, who has won as many league titles as Arsenal (13), is out of contract at the end of the season and although he has also taken on coaching duties he wants to continue to play for as long as possible.

Should Giggs be offered, and sign, a new one-year contract it would take his stay at United to 24 years and could see him reach the landmark of 1,000 appearances for the Red Devils.

"If I'd moved from club to club I'd be finished by now," he added, as is the case with fellow'Class of 92'  members David Beckham, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt.

He has also outlasted Gary Neville and Paul Scholes who both retired after spending their entire careers at Old Trafford.

"I look after myself and try to train every day in order to make myself available for selection," added Giggs.

BBC

ASUU strike: Students seek divine intervention

 Students of Ekiti State origin in tertiary institutions embarked on marathon prayers to seek divine intervention in the five- month old strike by the members of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities, ASUU.

The students, who were drawn from the various institutions of higher learning converged at Lady Jibowu Hall, Ekiti Government House where they held the prayer session

The session had in attendance, the state’s Deputy Governor, Professor Modupe Adelabu and some clerics. Adelabu in  her remarks cautioned the students against taking to the streets and engaging in illegal acts that could lead to violence and  disruption of peace in the state.

She noted that they did the right thing by taking their petition to God. She said it was unfortunate that both parties to the dispute – ASUU and the Federal Government  – had remained adamant despite interventions from well-meaning Nigerians.

The number two citizen of the state urged the students not to relent in their regular prayer for divine intervention, saying that the death of Prof Festus Iyayi, a frontline ASUU member in an auto-crash along the Abuja-Lokoja Road introduced another twist to the lingering dispute.

Mrs Adelabu, who expressed the hope that the prayers of the students would yield the desired result in a matter of days, counseled the undergraduates against engaging in activities that could jeopardize their future.

Mrs Adelabu regretted that  the situation which keeps them at home in the past few months was not their own making and that their teachers did not deliberately embark on the strike to put the students’ future at stake.

According to her, the lecturers were only pressing for their rights and other logistics that will improve the facilities in the nation’s citadel of leaning and to make them world standard.

Advising the students to engage themselves in profitable ventures, she also urged them not to completely abandon their studies but constantly review their lecture notes in preparation for the re-opening of the varsities.

Pastor John Aladete in his sermon at the prayer session urged the students not to be daunted by their present predicament as a result of the protracted ASUU strike.

The cleric charged them to be hopeful with an assurance that God will be with them irrespective of the present development. He said God has designed their generation to bring the desired change needed by the country.

The students were later led into series of prayer sessions by some clerics including the Government House Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Anthony Famuagun, Pastor Tunde Akinola of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youths, Pastor Mike Awopetu and Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Mr
Adeoye Aribasoye.

Vangaurd

Man sells left TESTICLE for $35,000 to buy his dream sports car

This man is selling his left testicle for $35,000 (£21,400) to scientific research so he can afford his dream sports car.

MARK PARISI

Mark Parisi revealed the shocking decision on US TV show The Doctors and said it was so he could finally own a Nissan 370.

And while most men would cringe at the very thought, Mr Parisi seemed completely at ease with his decision.

Women in the audience looked disgusted when he admitted his plans, with most of them holding their hands up to their mouth in shock.

One of the show's hosts asked if he argued for a higher fee, but Mr Parisi confirmed it was a straight out offer which he accepted.

Another host joked at the end: "It’s a Nissan for your left one."

MIRROR

FOOTBALL LOVERS; THE FIFA RANKINGS PROCEDURE

I've heard arguments back and forth about the fairness or otherwise of the FIFA rankings, so i did some research and came up with this;  

The basic logic of these calculations is simple: any team that does well in world football wins points which enable it to climb the world ranking.

A team’s total number of points over a four-year period is determined by adding:

·   the average number of points gained from matches during the past 12 months;
and

·   the average number of points gained from matches older than 12 months (depreciates yearly).

Calculation of points for a single match

The number of points that can be won in a match depends on the following factors:

•      Was the match won or drawn? (M)

•      How important was the match (ranging from a friendly match to a FIFA World Cup™ match)? (I)

•      How strong was the opposing team in terms of ranking position and the confederation to which they belong? (T and C)

These factors are brought together in the following formula to ascertain the total number of points (P).

P = M x I x T x C

The following criteria apply to the calculation of points:

M:        Points for match result

Teams gain 3 points for a victory, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a defeat. In a penalty shoot-out, the winning team gains 2 points and the losing team gains 1 point.

I:           Importance of match

      Friendly match (including small competitions):                                                    I = 1.0

      FIFA World Cup™ qualifier or confederation-level qualifier:                             I = 2.5

      Confederation-level final competition or FIFA Confederations Cup:                I = 3.0

      FIFA World Cup™ final competition:                                                                    I = 4.0

T:         Strength of opposing team

      The strength of the opponents is based on the formula: 200 – the ranking position of the opponents
As an exception to this formula, the team at the top of the ranking is always assigned the value 200 and the teams ranked 150^th and below are assigned a minimum value of 50. The ranking position is taken from the opponents’ ranking in the most recently published FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

C:            Strength of confederation

When calculating matches between teams from different confederations, the mean value of the confederations to which the two competing teams belong is used. The strength of a confederation is calculated on the basis of the number of victories by that confederation at the last three FIFA World Cup™ competitions (see following page). Their values are as follows:

UEFA/CONMEBOL             1.00                             CONCACAF     0.88
AFC/CAF                             0.86                             OFC                   0.85

FIFA.COM

NASU plans strike

Non academic employees in the universities are warming up for industrial action as a fall out of the resolution of the ASUU strike.
They took the decision during the delegates conference in Owerri under the banner of the Non Academic Staff Union ((NASU). The communique was signed by Deputy President/Chairman of the Universities Trade Group, Comrade Sunday Adeyemi and the Deputy General Secretary, Comrade F.J Ajayi.
The union said it would go on strike the moment a negative action is directed at its members outside the original agreement reached in the 2009 Federal Government NASU agreement.
NASU also expressed worry that its 2009 agreement with the Federal Government was due for review since June, 2012, noting that the non-implementation of the full content of the FG/University based Union 2009 agreement is a political strategy aimed at mitigating early review of the agreement.
The Union urged President Goodluck Jonathan to put necessary machinery in motion to commence the upward review of the agreement within the next three months.

The Nation

Threat is empty basket - ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday described the Federal Government’s threat to sack lecturers as an “empty basket” that could not hold water.

The union said it was vindicated that the government was not committed to implementing any resolutions it reached with the union.

The union said the threat would fail, adding that Nigerian public universities needed 60,000 lecturers owing to the government’s failure to employ.

ASUU said the government was wasting the time of Nigerians and youths by failing to perfect the resolutions and get the strike suspended.

The union said it had reasons to be wary, following the government’s failure to honour its promises to the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), resident doctors and health workers who have suspended their strikes.

To ASUU, the threat is an insult to the sense and sensibilities of Nigerians who were waiting on the government for positive reaction.

ASUU National Treasurer Dr Ademola Aremu said that the threat confirmed the fears that the government cannot be trusted.

Click source for more details: The Nation

The Real Difference Between PDP and APC

Following the news that several governors of Nigerian states defected from the ruling PDP to the main opposition APC party.
The governors, which include: Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano State, Murtala Nyako) of Adamawa State,  Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State and Babangida Aliyu Of Niger State, hinged their decision to join APC on their bid to rescue the country.The merger has 17 governors (11 APC and 6 New PDP).

However, the function of the opposition is to give a different choices of ideologies to the electorate, but in the Nigerian system and most especially with this recent merger it seems this function has been destroyed. The Nigerian system which "it seems" allows  for effortless meandering of politician between political parties is not good for good democracy. 

It seems in the Nigerian system, those in the opposition are perhaps the ones that were not allowed to enjoy a "fair share" of the "National Cake" hence join forces against those enjoying their share castigating them as "evil" whilst they were once a part of the "enjoyment". 

I wish to state i have no sympathy either for the ruling party as they have "in my opinion" not performed up to expectations and have failed the nation judging from the promises to the nation before they were voted into power, however that is the topic for discussion.

I believe democracy in its most "dire" forms especially in Africa is a process that enables voters choose between to evils, that is if they are given a fair freedom of choice. In Nigeria, it seems there are basically two evils and no lesser one and no greater one. As they say, birds of a feather flock together, one can only wonder with its so called "difference in ideology" the Opposition party can happily accept the very bad eggs they condemn and promise to the electorate that they will be different from.

I don't see any difference between the party's, all i see is the same individuals bearing different political flags.

by- Awolope Kolawole
about the author: Awolope is a student in his final year at home on ASUU strike. 

Mr & Mrs Smith Producer: I was a Spy

A Hollywood producer behind films like "Mr & Mrs Smith “Fight Club,” “Pretty Woman,” “12 Years a Slave” and the upcoming “Noah” has just revealed another interesting line on his resume: Israeli intelligence operative.

Arnon Milchan

In an interview with Israeli TV show “Uvda,” broadcast Monday, Arnon Milchan confirmed he once worked for the now-defunct spy unit Bureau of Scientific Relations, assisting in the development of Israel’s secret nuclear weapons project. His 2011 unauthorized biography, “ Confidential: The Life of Secret Agent Turned Hollywood Tycoon Arnon Milchan,” details his former life, but this is his first public acknowledgment.

“Do you know what it’s like to be a 20-something-year-old kid [and] his country lets him be James Bond? Wow! The action! That was exciting,” Milchan said on-air.

ASUU STRIKE: We didn’t give fresh conditions to end strike – ASUU denies

ASUU President – Nasir Fage

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has denied making any fresh demands from the Federal Government before calling off its five-month strike, explaining that it is only seeking a written guarantee from President Goodluck Jonathan on their renegotiated agreement of November 4.

ASUU National Treasurer, Dr. Ademola Aremu, made this clarification while speaking with newsmen yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

“We are not making fresh demands, in fact the NEC of the union would have suspended the strike, but the concerns of our congresses were that many of the things agreed to with Mr. President during the November 4th meeting with him were not included in the letter signed by a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mark John Nwobiala,” Aremu said.

He assured that the strike could end within 24 hours once the observed omissions were corrected and reflected in the new resolution.

ASUU described the statement credited to Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, that the union was making new outrageous demands as “untrue and absolute lie.”

Aremu said ASUU has requested President Jonathan to facilitate the endorsement of resolutions reached with him and signed by high ranking government official preferably the Attorney-General of the Federation but not a permanent secretary. He said a representative of the body including the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Abdulwahid Omar, would stand as witnesses.

Aremu also disclosed that ASUU wants the N200 billion agreed upon as 2013 revitalisation fund for public universities to be warehoused with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and disbursed to the benefiting universities.

He accused Wike of being economical with the truth by not telling Nigerians that apart from the N30 billion earned allowances released for university staff, the government was yet to release the N100 billion claimed to have been released.

News Express reports that the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities had on Tuesday declared that there was no more basis for the ASUU strike and consequently ordered the immediate re-opening of all shut universities across the country since July 1.

The strike has started to weaken of late, with the Ebonyi State University (EBSU) yesterday joining a growing list of universities that had announced their resumption in defiance of ASUU’s directives.

At the Niger State-owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), some academic staff have already resumed teaching while the Adamawa State University and Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko in Ondo State have also reportedly pulled out of the strike, with Enugu State University (ESUT) at the verge of following suit.

At the same time, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Lagos State University (LASU) are reportedly set to conduct degree and matriculation examinations outside their campuses, even as UNILAG, LASU and the University of Jos (UNIJOS) have all scheduled to conduct the post-UTME examinations. The Abia State University (ABSU) had earlier conducted its post-UTME examinations.

REPORT CULLED FROM NEWS EXPRESS

SHOCKING: Nursing Mother Stabbed Her Husband To Death In Lagos

33-year-old Biola Gbadamosi, has bee arrested by the police for allegedly murdering her husband, Jamiu, in Ikorodu , Lagos state.

According to the police, the suspect, who is a nursing mother, stabbed her husband with a knife during an argument over rice.

It was gathered that the suspect and her husband, a Vehicle Inspection Officer have a history of domestic violence.

Biola, who claimed to be an Ordinary National Diploma degree holder from Ibadan Polytechnic was in tears while speaking stated she had no intention of killing her husband, saying she only stabbed him once on the thigh.

She said, “Jamiu and I dated for four years, but when I got pregnant this year, we did introduction and I started living with him in Idi Iroko, Ikorodu. However, when I was three months pregnant, he started beating me.

“Most times, he takes alcoholic drink and he comes back home drunk and starts beating me for flimsy reasons. He even had a kidney ailment.

“One day, he came home drunk, accused me of infidelity and started beating me. He said he had been told that I was going to poison his food, but I continued to endure. I, however, reported the beatings to his mother and siblings.”

The suspect said after being delivered of a baby in August, she usually went to her family’s house in Somolu from where she would take her baby for post-natal.

She said on September 7, 2013, she returned home with her baby only to have a fight with her husband hours later.

She said, “While I was about leaving my parents’ home, my husband called to say that he was broke and I should make money available for the weekend. When I got home, I started cooking fried rice but my husband, who was drunk, said he did not like it. I jokingly called him a bush man and an argument ensued.

“While we were arguing, a neighbour, who sells drinks, came into our flat to collect money that we owed her. I was grating carrots with a knife when my husband slapped me and said I must leave his house that night.

“I used the knife I was holding to strike him on the thigh and he started bleeding profusely. The neigbours and I took him to a hospital. At the hospital, I was told that my husband’s injury was not deep, so neighbours said I should take my baby home.”

The suspect told PUNCH Metro that the next morning; the landlord informed her that her husband died at midnight.

“The matter was reported at the Owutu Police Division and I was arrested,” she said.

She pleaded with the police to show her mercy, saying, “My little baby, Oluwaseyifunmi, is with my husband’s family and I fear that my child will never get to know me if I am sent to prison. My breasts are still filled with milk and no baby to suckle them.”

When our correspondent visited the scene of the incident, the landlord, Theophilus Kalejaiye, said the couple had a history of violence.

Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone, said the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba for further investigation.

CULLED FROM PUNCH

Nigeria Drop In FIFA Rankings

Despite booking their place at the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, the Super Eagles of Nigeria dropped three places on the FIFA/COCA World Rankings released early today.

Surprisingly, the reigning African champions dropped three spots from last month’s 33rd ranking despite forcing Italy to a 2-2 draw in an international friendly played at the Craven Cottage, home-ground of Fulham Football Club of England.

The Eagles are today ranked 36th in the world and fourth in Africa behind Côte d’Ivoire Ghana and Algeria, who are placed first, second and third respectively. These teams will be flying the continent’s flag at next year’s World Cup in Brazil having secured tickets in the recently concluded World Cup Playoffs.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles during a training session: Drops in FIFA ranking.

However, the Ethiopian national team that lost to the Stephen Keshi-led Nigerian Eagles on both legs of the World Cup qualifying playoffs moved two places up the ladder from 95 to 93.

Egypt’s national team climbed 13 places to 38th in FIFA’s world rankings for November.  The Pharaohs beat Ghana 2-1 at home this month in the World Cup playoffs but lost on aggregate after their first-leg 6-1 away defeat in Kumasi. American manager Bob Bradley has been sacked after failing to see the Pharoahs to qualify for the World Cup. Former assistant coach Shawky Gharib has been hired in his place.

Ghana’s defeat to Egypt in the World Cup playoff return leg has affected the Black Stars in this month’s FIFA World ranking by slipping down one place. The Black Stars dropped to 24th position.

South Africa could not gain from their 1-0 friendly win over Spain last week after FIFA ruled the match out of its ranking profile following the world champions’ use of a seventh substitution in the game. Bafana remain in 61st spot.

Spain, Germany and Argentina hold the first, second and third spots in the world respectively as FIFA Confederations Cup champions Brazil moved to the tenth position in the world.

The next ranking will be released on 19 December.

PM NEWS

Footballers arrested over English match-fixing

Police investigating match-fixing in English football have made six arrests in a probe centered on a suspected international betting syndicate, authorities said today.

The arrests follow an undercover investigation by Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper, which reported that at least three of the men held this week are footballers.

The Telegraph published a covertly recorded video in which it alleges a fixer said lower league matches in England could be fixed for 50,000 pounds ($81,380). Premier League matches are not reported to be the target of the fixers.

"Six men have been arrested across the country as part of an NCA investigation into alleged football match fixing," Britain's National Crime Agency said in a statement. "The focus of the operation is a suspected international illegal betting syndicate."

The recently-launched NCA said during the "active investigation" it is working with the Gambling Commission and the English Football Association.

At meetings in Manchester this month, the Telegraph said one of the alleged fixers - a Singaporean man - correctly predicted how many goals would be scored during a match the next day, and offered to manipulate two British matches this month.

The man told the paper's investigator in a video that he would say to a footballer: "You tell me how many goals you can give."

"Either 3-2, 4-1 or zero," he added in broken English. "I say I don't need five. For me four is enough ... if more than that up to you. But my deal is four ... I don't want less than four."

The alleged fixer is heard claiming he has a betting website, stressing: "We can bet (on) those goals."

He also claims he can pay a player about 5,000 pounds ($8,140) to ensure he is booked in the first ten minutes of a match, an indication that the game is being fixed.

The Telegraph said it was approached by an "undercover investigator with links to FIFA, who had been gathering evidence against suspected Asian match fixers offering to operate in Britain."

The integrity of football has moved up the agenda since Europol, the European Union police liaison agency, said it reviewed 680 suspicious recent cases of match-fixing, including some World Cup games.

The fight against match-fixing appeared to have been boosted by the arrest in September of 14 people in Singapore, including Dan Tan, who has been accused of coordinating a global crime syndicate that made millions of dollars betting on rigged Italian matches and other games across the world.

AP

Update: Govt gives ASUU one week ultimatum to resume work or face sack

The federal government has given the striking members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) one week ultimatum to resume work or face sack.

Supervising minister of education, Nyesom Wike, who addressed the press today in the federal ministry of education, Abuja, directed all Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities to open the universities for academic activities and provide enabling environment for staff that resume for work.

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