Lionel Messi beats Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho to win his 7th Ballon d'Or award

 

Lionel Messi has won the men's Ballon d'Or for a record seventh time.

 

The Argentine superstar, who left Barcelona as a free agent to sign for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, was presented with the award for best men's footballer in the world on Monday night in Paris.

 

Back in July, the 34-year-old ended his long wait for a major international trophy by winning the Copa America with Argentina as they beat hosts Brazil in the final.

 

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, who was the favourite to win the 2020 edition of the Ballon d'Or, came second in the vote.

 

Lewandowski has scored 73 goals in just 60 games for Bayern Munich since the start of last season, and won FIFA's and UEFA's men's player of the year awards in 2020.

 

Chelsea midfielder, Jorginho finished third in the 2021 Ballon d'Or rankings.  The 29-year-old had a phenomenal 2021, after winning the Champions League and European Championships for club and country in the space of two months. 

 

Jorginho went on to win the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award following Chelsea's glory in Europe and in Porto back in May.

OBOY ....EFCC arrests 60 at yahoo boys’ awards night

 

Operatives of the Lagos Command of the EFCC have arrested 60 suspected internet fraudsters during an awards ceremony at the Conference Hotel in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

 

Investigations by the EFCC revealed that the event tagged “Peer Youths Awards”, was organized to reward high-level internet fraudsters.

 

Items recovered from the suspects at the point of arrest include exotic cars, electronic devices, laptop computers, and mobile phones.

 

The suspects will soon be charged to court.

New Twitter CEO called out as his inflammatory 2010 tweet resurfaces

 

Parag Agrawal, the new Twitter CEO, has been hit with racism claims after a 2010 tweet resurfaced in which he appears to call all white people racist.

 

In the tweet shared on October 26, 2010, Parag Agrawal, an Indian-American, wrote: "If they are not gonna make a distinction between Muslims and extremists, then why should I distinguish between white people and racists?"

 

 

The tweet was apparently quoting comedian Aasif Mandvi, who had appeared in an episode of The Daily Show in a segment pitting black people against Muslim people.

 

The tweet resurfaced on Monday November 29, after Agrawal, 45, was named the new CEO of Twitter as Dorsey officially announced he is stepping down from the company. 

 

Reacting to Parag's old tweet, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, a Republican from Tennessee, wrote: "This is Parag Agrawal, Twitter’s new CEO and the person who’s going to be deciding what kind of speech is allowed on Twitter."

 

Mia Cathell, a news editor for the Post Millenial, commented that Parag apparently does not know how to scrub his tweets after the tweet resurfaced.

 

 

 

OKOOO.......''I met him in good health''- Senator Orji Uzor Kalu speaks after visiting IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, in DSS custody

 

The chief whip of the Nigerian Senate, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, paid a visit to the detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, in DSS custody in Abuja today November 29.

In a Facebook post on his verified page, the former Abia governor said he met Nnamdi Kanu in good health. He pointed that they discussed as brothers during the meeting and that he encouraged him to consider certain comments and actions for sake of the people.

He wrote;

''This afternoon, I visited my brother, Maazi Nnamdi Kanu in DSS custody , Abuja . I met him in good health and care and we discussed as 'Umunne'. In 2001 when I was Governor, I made his father Eze Israel Okwu Kanu

traditional ruler of Afara Ukwu and since then the family has been very close to me .

I understand that Nnamdi has an insane amount of people rooting for his back home and I encouraged him to consider the consequences of certain actions and utterances for the sake of the same people.

Even though, my ideology and his ideology are totally different , God has made us brothers and we can't run away from each other. I owe him and Nigerians good counseling ...Whether he and his family listens to me or not, I will continue counseling him as I have always done in the past. What we need most is a peaceful and secured society.''

 

REALLY ? #EndSARS panel was illegal. States can’t probe military and police – Festus Keyamo (video)

 

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Festus Keyamo, has faulted the judicial panel of inquiry set up to investigate cases of police brutality and SARS-related abuses across the country, saying it is illegal.

 

While responding to a question about the position of the government specifically regarding a leaked report by the Lagos judicial panel, the human rights lawyer in an interview with Channels TV, said the state government can't investigate the conduct of policemen and military. 

 

In his words

 

“I will not answer this question as a sitting minister. I will answer this question as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and so, I am entitled to my own opinion. This is not the Federal Government’s position. For me, that panel was an illegal panel.

All lawyers who are listening to me should go back and the Tribunal Act of Lagos state. It says that the governor would have power to inquire into the conduct of any person, chieftaincy matters and so on that would promote the good of the public.

However, any person there was defined in section 21 to mean public officers of the state. This means somebody within the public service of Lagos state. or of the local government as the case may be. The phrase was used at the end of section one which says ''any matter'', that is they can inquire into any matter.

So people now think that to inqure into any matter, it means that you can just be at large, you can inquire into any matter.

However, if you look at section 21 again of the Tribunal of Inquiry law, it says that it has to be within the legislative competence of Lagos state. The person or the matter must be within the legislative competence of Lagos state. In other words, it is only people over whom the Lagos state has control that they can inquire into their conduct. If do not have control over me, you can inquire into my conduct. 

The police men, armed forces and military are not under the control, they are not officers of Lagos state. They are officers of the Federal government. By virtue of the constitution, it is only the Federal government that can control the conduct of the policemen and the military. Lagos state is not and cannot be in control. You cannot legislate too regarding police and military matters. 

You cannot say you now hide under that phrase of any matter to defeat the original purpose of the law that says do not go beyond the persons over whom you have control. 

So when you now say any matter and in the course of delving into any matter you now call people and begin to inquire into the conduct of people not under your control. It is illegal. Completely illegal. And no paper or recommendation can come out of an illegal panel. Nothing1 ''he said

On November 15, the panel of inquiry into the October 20, 2020 shooting at the Lekki tollgate submitted its findings to the Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The panel in its report accused the Nigerian Army and Police of carrying out a massacre on the protesters at the Lekki tollgate.

IN AGBOR..........58-year-old businessman brutally murdered in Delta

 

A 58-year-old electronics dealer, Mr Anthony Mkpado has been brutally murdered by unknown gunmen in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta state. 

 

According to the report published by Ika Weekly Newspaper on Sunday, November 28, the deceased said to be a former bookseller of the famous Mkpado Bookshop, was butchered to death in the early hours of Wednesday, November 24.

 

It was gathered that Mkpado’s killers stormed his residence along old Lagos Asaba Road Agbor at about 2am on that fateful day.

 

One of his tenants was said to have noticed some strange movement in the compound and made effort to accost one of the intruders, but unknown to him, the group of men were armed with dangerous weapons. 

 

"It was in the process of manhandling the tenant that Mkpado opened his door to know what the matter was and he was immediately attacked by the hoodlums with machete, axe and was finally gunned down," the report said. 

 

Late Mkpado was rushed to St. John’s Catholic Hospital, Boji-Boji Owa where he passed away.

 

Meanwhile, controversy surrounds his death as many suspect it to be a case of assassination as the hoodlums made away with only phones and laptop to make it look like a robbery attack. 

 

The news of his death shocked many who knew him and left them wondering why late Mkpado who they described as a peace-loving man should be killed in such a gruesome manner.

 

Late Mkpado who hailed from Isikpo in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State was a well-known committed member of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria of His Glory Prayer Group of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Agbor, where he was said to have ministered the evening of the day before he was murdered.

 

Meanwhile friends have taken to Facebook to mourn his death. See posts below...

 

 

MONEY IS GOOD JOOR.........Aminu Tambuwal, Nyesom Wike, Godwin Obaseki, Pete Edochie, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, others at the wedding of Abia state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu's son (photos)

 

Jachimike Victor Ikpeazu, son of Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu and his lover, Thelma Chidinma Onwueyi, were joined in holy matrimony, at a ceremony which took place at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia on Sunday, November 28.

 

Speaking at the event, President Buhari congratulated the couple on their marriage. The President who was represented by the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uche Ogah, said that successful marriages hinge on strong family values and character, adding that when family values are properly enshrined, there would be stability in other activities in the society including peaceful coexistence. He encouraged the newlywed to pray, and do things together. He also wished them the best in their union.

 

Also speaking, the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, represented by the wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs Rachael Umahi congratulated them on their union and assured them that marriage is blissful and an avenue to express love.

 

Earlier in his speech, the father of the groom, and Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu said he was overwhelmed by the presence of dignitaries and thanked them for coming. He reminded the new couple that the presence of numerous witnesses should inspire them to make a success of their marriage.

 

The wedding ceremony attracted the presence of many dignitaries including Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel and his wife, Dr. Mrs Martha Udom, , Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. Dave Umahi and his wife, Rachel Umahi, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Duoye Diri, Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and wife, Betsy Obaseki as well as wife of the Delta State Governor, Dame Edith Okowa.

 

Others include, Former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, Immediate past Governor of Abia State and Senator representing Abia Central, Senator T. A Orji and wife, Mrs Odochi Orji, Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, National Assembly members, Members of the Abia State Executive Council, Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Engr. Chinedum Orji and his wife, and members of the state House of Assembly, The Chief Judge, Honorable Justice Onuoha Ogwe and members of the judiciary, Top Government officials, Captains of industry, , Members of the Peoples Democratic Party,(PDP), Traditional rulers, members of the clergy and people from other walks of life.

 

See more photos below...

 

Cristiano Ronaldo slams Ballon d'Or organiser for "lying" that his "only ambition is to finish his career with more Ballon d'Or trophies than rival Lionel Messi"

 

Manchester United striker, Cristiano Ronaldo has slammed Ballon d'Or organiser and editor-in-chief of France Football Pascal Ferre, alleging that he lied about his rivalry with Lionel Messi and using his name to "promote his publication."

 

Ferre told the New York Times last week that Ronaldo's only career ambition was to win more awards than Messi.

 

Ronaldo is a five-time Ballon d'Or winner and has been nominated the most with a record 17 times but remains two behind Messi, who has won seven times. 

 

The Argentine won this year's award, which took his tally to seven, but Ferre revealed Ronaldo is desperate to top his arch-rival, Messi.  

 

'Ronaldo has only one ambition and that is to retire with more Ballon d'Or than Messi and I know because he told me,' Ferre said, via Marca.

 

But the Portuguese superstar slammed Ferre’s claims and alleged that he had “lied”.

 

Ronaldo wrote: “Today's outcome explains why Pascal Ferre made statements last week, when he stated that I confided in him that my only ambition was to finish my career with more Ballons d’Or than Lionel Messi.

 

“Pascal Ferre lied, he used my name to promote himself and to promote the publication he works for. It is unacceptable that the person responsible for awarding such a prestigious prize could lie in this way, in absolute disrespect for someone who has always respected France Football and the Ballon d'Or.

 

“And he lied again today, justifying my absence from the Gala with an alleged quarantine that has no reason to exist.

 

“I always want to congratulate those who win, with the sportsmanship and fair play that have guided my career since its beginning, and I do so because I'm never against anyone.

 

“I always win for myself and for the clubs I represent, I win for myself and for those who love me. I don't win against anyone.

 

“The biggest ambition of my career is to win national and international titles for the clubs I represent and for the national team of my country.

 

“The biggest ambition of my career is to set a good example for all those who are or who want to be professional footballers. The biggest ambition of my career is to leave my name written in golden letters in the history of world football.

 

“I will end by saying that my focus is already on Manchester United's next game and on everything that, together with my team-mates and our fans, we can still achieve this season. The rest? The rest is just the rest…”

 

SAD...........Residents cry out as houses in Festac Phase 2 are demolished by the government (photos/video)

 

Some homeowners in Festac Phase 2 woke up to their houses being demolished on Sunday morning, Nov. 28.

 

This comes one day after an article announced that the Federal Housing Authority will soon begin mass demolition of buildings without approval in Festac Town.

 

Facebook user, Angel Nkiru took to her page to share photos of houses that have been brought down.

 

She wrote: "Got a bad news this morning.

 

"I am there and I'm crying because I have friends who have houses there.

 

"Festac phase 2 abulado estate under Amuwo odofin local government under demolition by the FHA.

 

"They started since 5 am.. See beautiful igbo people's houses.. FHA said the land is not approved. I am watching people's houses being destroyed and it's painful.

 

"Ego umu igbo agwugo.. This first yellow building belongs to my oga at aspamda. Make i no mention name because he's popular."

 

 

EYAAAA....SEE TWO VIRGINS.........29-year-old groom and his 28-year-old bride who were both virgins get married in Lagos (photo)

 

A 29-year-old man, Pastor Oghale Ighele, and his bride, Dr. Clementina Agbate, 28, got married recently as virgins.

 

The couple exchanged vows at the Holy Spirit Mission at Marcillina’s Place, GRA Ikeja where the officiating Minister and Presiding Bishop, Charles Ighele, revealed to the guests that both the bride and groom were virgins at their ages till they got married.

 

Confirming his statement, the groom said one thing that made it possible for him to remain a virgin until his wedding night, was the Christian upbringing he had. He disclosed that there were temptations from many areas but counseling helped him to win the battle against sex before marriage.

 

“While I was growing up, my parents kept hammering on the need for me to keep myself and never mess up and I heeded their advice. I tried to make friends who would not deceive me into having sex before marriage. I was also fully involved in church activities and I thank God for guiding me.”he told The Sun

 

On her part, the bride said fulfilling the vow to keep herself until marriage was one of the best things that would happen to her.

“I am happy and fulfilled marrying as a virgin, though it was not an easy thing to do. I took the decision of remaining a virgin till I get married when I was a teenager. Meanwhile, I grew up in a Christian home. So, I had to keep myself.

It was not easy for me. I was severally tempted by my lecturers while in the university. Friends also tried to lure me into fornication and men asked me out. In fact, I went through so many challenges. But what guided me was God and my principle.” he said

 

Bishop Ighele, who is the father of the groom, said the groom was not the only one among his children that married as a  virgin. 

 

“That is who my children are . The one that wedded last year in United States of America at 25 was a virgin. I make them my friends. As I speak, there is a girl we adopted as our child, she never had sex before. She is now in her final year at the university. When she was in secondary school, she met my wife and said, mummy, I have feelings towards one boy. You know that it is not easy for a child to meet her mother and say such a thing. The reason is that we created an atmosphere of friendship with our children, that is why they were able to tell us what they are passing through. The warning I used to give to my daughters was that, if they mess up sexually, I would not like them to mess up sexually. But, in case they misbehave and get pregnant, I will take care of that child.  In fact, they saw the love more than the stick. So, with that, when they are tempted, they say no because they do not disappoint me.”he said

Twitter has agreed to all FG’s conditions – Festus Keyamo

 

Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, said that Twitter, the social media platform banned by the Federal Government of Nigerian in June 2021, has agreed to conditions laid out by the government to lift the ban.

 

Speaking during an interview with Channels Television on Sunday, Nov. 28, Keyamo said the committee set up by the Federal Government to review the operations of Twitter has made significant progress.

 

Keyamo, who is also a member of the committee, said: "The reason the president took that step is to recalibrate our relationship with Twitter and not to drive them away from our country.

 

"That recalibration, we have started it and the President graciously added me to the committee.

 

"We also set up a technical committee to interface with Twitter and come up with a lot of conditions for them to fulfill for us to lift the suspension.

 

"It was Twitter that reached out to the Federal Government to say they want to know what and what they can do to straighten up the relationship with the Federal Government and so, we have gone far but I may not, at this forum, let out a lot but we gave them a lot of conditions and they have agreed to all the conditions."

"Had coronavirus originated in Africa, the world would have locked us away" AVDA Co-Chair, Dr Ayoade Alakija condemns travel ban placed on African countries over Omicron variant detected in South Africa

 

Dr Ayoade Alakija, Co-Chair of the African Union Vaccine Delivery Alliance for Covid-19 (AVDA), has reacted to the travel ban placed on many African countries after the Omicron variant of Coronavirus was detected in South Africa.

 

Speaking on BBC, Dr Ayoade Alakija questioned why the world is locking away Africa and not doing the same to other continents where the heavily mutated variant has been detected.

 

"Why are we locking away Africa when this virus is already on three continents?" She asked.

 

She added that the reaction to the Omicron Coronavirus variant detected in South Africa earlier this month shows that if Coronavirus had originated from Africa, not Wuhan, China, the world would have locked Africa out and there would have been no urgency to develop a vaccine because Africans are considered expendable.

 

She said: "Had the first coronavirus originated in Africa, it is now clear the world would have locked us away."

 

"We cannot allow the world to do this to us," she added as she called on African leaders to rise up and take actions that benefit the continent.

 

She said it is "inevitable" that the heavily mutated variant was discovered in Africa and she blamed this on the "world's failure to vaccinate in an equitable, urgent and speedy manner."

 

She continued: "It is as a result of hoarding (vaccines) by high-income countries of the world."

 

The UK, US, and EU have imposed travel bans on African countries after the heavily mutated Coronavirus variant, Omicron, was detected in South Africa.

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against countries hastily imposing travel bans, saying they should look to a "risk-based and scientific approach". However, numerous bans have been introduced in recent days amid concerns over the variant.

 

WHO's Africa director Matshidiso Moeti said on Sunday, Nov. 28: "With the Omicron variant now detected in several regions of the world, putting in place travel bans that target Africa attacks global solidarity."

 

Meanwhile, South Africa's president has condemned the travel bans placed on its country and neighbouring countries over the new Coronavirus variant, Omicron.

 

Cyril Ramaphosa said he was "deeply disappointed" by the ban, which he described as "unjustified" and called for the bans to be lifted.

 

In his speech on Sunday, Mr Ramaphosa said there was no scientific basis for the travel bans and that southern Africa was the victim of unfair discrimination.

 

He also argued that the bans would not be effective in preventing the spread of the variant.

 

Omicron has now been detected in a number of countries around the world, including the UK, Germany, Australia and Israel.

Football club Belenenses is hit by 13 cases of Omicron after player returns from South Africa

 

Portuguese football club, Belenenses has been hit with 13 cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus after a player recently returned from South Africa.

 

The new variant was found after Belenenses played a Primeira Liga match against Benfica on Saturday.

 

The game started with just nine Belenenses players on the pitch because the rest of their squad were isolating and only seven returned to the field after half-time. The match was abandoned two minutes into the second half with Benfica leading 7-0.

“We’re all in isolation except for the youth team that didn’t play on Saturday, 44 people are in isolation at home,” a club spokesman said on Monday.

 

“Two or three players and two or three staff have symptoms, but nothing too serious, the rest are asymptomatic. Everyone is waiting to repeat the tests, as soon as the health authority authorises it,” he added.

 

Belenenses defender Cafu Phete tested positive for Covid-19 after returning to Portugal last week from international duty in South Africa.

 

The presidents of Benfica and Belenenses told a news conference on Saturday they had no choice but to play the match or risk being punished for an “unjustified absence”.

 

They blamed the league and health authority DGS for not allowing the game to be postponed.

After leaving the club, she tripped, fell, and lost consciousness - Obi Cubana's club, Hustle & Bustle, narrates how woman died at the club as video evidence to dispute claims she was electocuted is released

 

A video showing how a woman died at Obi Cuban's Hustle & Bustle club has been released.

 

In the video, the lady, in a red dress, is seen leaving the club with two male friends.

 

They appear to be in good spirits and are seen playing around before the lady runs forward, trips, falls, then loses consciousness.

 

One of her male friends walks up to her and tries to help her up but notices she's unconscious. 

 

He then raises alarm and people gather.

 

A hefty hotel bouncer is also seen running towards the woman to save her.

 

Unfortunately, the woman, identified as Susan Oleghe, didn't survive.

 

Hustle & Bustle has also released a statement to clear the air and dispute the false reports making the rounds that she was electrocuted inside the club.

 

Daddy Freeze responds to Biodun Fatoyinbo on behalf of the "community of nonentities" after the COZA pastor called those who condemn tithing "nonentities"

 

Daddy Freeze has responded to COZA pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo, after he slammed those who criticize payment of tithes.

 

Fatoyinbo, while preaching to his members to keep paying tithe, said that most critics of tithe payment use Elon Musk, an atheist, as an example that you can still succeed despite not paying tithe.

 

Fatoyinbo told his members that Elon Musk has "a covenant with some other person" and added that Christians who have a covenant with God should keep paying tithes.

 

He then said that those who condemn tithe payment are "nonentities".

 

Responding on behalf of "the community of nonentities", media personality Daddy Freeze, who speaks against the payment of tithe, invited Fatoyinbo to a debate on tithe payment.

 

See below.