BAMY BLOG

A Cairo criminal court sentenced former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and 19 others to three years in prison on Saturday, and fined him 2 million Egyptian pounds ($112,700) on charges of insulting the judiciary. Others tried by the court in the same case including leading Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah and lawmaker and television presenter Tawfik Okasha were instead given fines ranging from 30,000 to 1 million Egyptian pounds. The verdicts can still be appealed. Mursi, democratically elected after Egypt’s 2011 revolution, was overthrown in mid-2013 by then-general Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, now the president, following mass protests against his rule. He was immediately arrested and is now serving a 20-year sentence after being convicted of inciting the killing of protesters during demonstrations in 2012 and a 25-year sentence for spying for Qatar.

The Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick has revealed that the country’s national female team, the Super Falcons will be busy in 2018. The NFF boss has already confirmed that the reigning African Queens will play France in an international friendly on April 4, 2018. Pinnick who refuted claims that the Federation has chosen to neglect the women team also disclosed that efforts are currently been intensified to get the Falcons another credible opponent during the free window when they are playing France. “The France friendly billed for April is already confirmed, we have signed so everything is in place, we are also working to see if we can get another team so they can have something like a double-header.” The NFF boss disclosed. The Super Falcons after their conquest at the last AWCON in 2016 were rendered inactive all through the outgoing 2017 year.

Recruitment exercise for interested members of the public willing to join the service.  The recruitment which is for the 77 Regular Recruit Intake for both Trades and Non Tradesmen and women into the Nigerian Army started on December 29th, 2017, and will end February, 9, 2018.  A statement by the Director, Army Public Relations Brigadier-General Sani Usman, announcing the commencement of the recruitment, said the exercise aimed at selecting able bodied Nigerians will be taking place in all states of the federation and Abuja.  Usman, while noting that the application is free of charge, advised interested applicants to visit the Nigerian Army official website to apply online.  The army spokesman in the statement said “ The Nigerian Army wishes to inform members of the public and all interested qualified applicants that, it will commence its online registration for the 77 Regular Recruit Intake for both Trades and Non Tradesmen and women into the Nigerian Army from 29th Decembe

Some Nigerians have expressed outrage over the inclusion of  no fewer than eight dead Nigerians on the list of appointments into the governing boards of agencies and parastatals describing the gaffe as a reflection of how the APC-led government administers the country. A former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, in a group whatsapp post, queried the rationale behind the error, saying “You just appointed Donald Ugbaja as member of the Consumer Protection Council. You also appointed Chris Utovas a member of the Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research. “What is it about you and the dead? Is it some kind of fetish or is it just a manifestation of your love for and practice of corspocracy?” he queried Another social media user, Agbore Olawale cast aspersion on the APC-led government with a rather comical post.   “The All Progressives Congress, APC Cemetery/Dead People’s branch want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for finding it worthy to appoint their members int

Chelsea demonstrated the yawning chasm in squad depth that exists in the Premier League with a 5-0 canter past Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. While both sides rotated their squads after a hectic series of fixtures, Chelsea maintained their quality on the pitch in a scintillating opening half-hour, racing into a 3-0 lead and effectively winning the match through goals from Antonio Rudiger, Danny Drinkwater and Pedro. A late Willian penalty and a fine individual effort from Davide Zappacosta completed the scoring in a game that had long since ceased to be a contest. By contrast, Stoke's team selection suggested manager Mark Hughes was prioritising Monday's New Year's Day game at home to fellow strugglers Newcastle United. Teenage full-backs Tom Edwards and Josh Tymon both started while influential midfielders Joe Allen and Xherdan Shaqiri were named as substitutes. It took just two minutes and 35 seconds for Stoke's makeshift side to be exposed. W

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has revealed Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be out of action for a month, but he hopes to have Romelu Lukaku back soon following his head injury. Ibrahimovic went off at halftime in United's Boxing Day draw against Burnley, but Mourinho did not divulge the nature of the injury that will keep the former Paris Saint-Germain star sidelined throughout January. "Zlatan one month out," Mourinho told BT Sport following Saturday's 0-0 draw against Southampton. Ibrahimovic had only recently got back into the United team after missing the first half of the season while he recovered from a serious knee injury suffered in April. With Ibrahimovic out for a prolonged period, Mourinho could have done without Belgian forward Lukaku being stretchered off in the first half against Southampton after a clash of heads with Wesley Hoedt. He lay prone on the pitch barely moving while he was treated by medical staff for five minutes. Lukaku rem

Pep Guardiola has expressed concern that Manchester City could stumble significantly in the New Year as they chase success in four competitions. The City manager is worried that he does not have the experience to cope with the kind of schedule his side are likely to face over the next couple of months. Guardiola's side have been in extraordinary form over the first half of the season, dropping just two points in 20 Premier League matches. They also finished top of their Champions League group, securing a last-16 tie against Swiss champions Basle in February. But City have faced nine matches during a busy December, and are set to play a minimum of seven during January, with four fixtures in the Premier League, a two-legged League Cup semifinal against Championship side Bristol City and an FA Cup third round home tie against Burnley. Victory over Burnley would ensure another cup game at the end of January, and Guardiola is concerned that the schedule will eventually catc

Former football superstar, George Weah, took to his Facebook page to react to provisional results of Tuesday’s presidential runoff polls in Liberia. “My fellow Liberians, I deeply feel the emotion of all the nation. I measure the importance and the responsibility of the immense task which I embrace today. “Change is on’’, Weah wrote shortly after the results were released by the National Elections Commission (NEC), putting him in a comfortable lead to be the next president of Africa’s oldest republic. The former World Footballer of the Year who ran on the platform of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is way ahead with 720,023 votes or 61.5 per cent. His rival and incumbent Vice President, Joseph Boakai, of the ruling Unity Party (UP) is far behind with 451,088 votes representing 38.5 per cent. The Chairman of NEC, Mr. Jerome Korkoya, who released the results at a news conference in Monrovia on Thursday, said 98.1 per cent of the total votes cast in the polls had

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that the NNPC and not the Federal Government pays for the fuel subsidy that has emerged with the N171 landing cost as against the official retail price of N145. In an interview with newsmen, he said since the NNPC buys the fuel, it bears the cost. “NNPC is trading in fuel; the Federal Government is not, at the moment, paying for any subsidy. NNPC is trading. If you are buying and selling fuel, you would have to be able to pay for it. So, it’s not a question of government provision for subsidy, the Federal Government, at the moment, isn’t paying any subsidy. And don’t forget that the way that the NNPC trades is that, in many cases, NNPC is actually giving fuel; there is 445, 000 barrels of fuel. So really what you are seeing, in many cases, is more or less an exchange for PMS. So at the moment NNPC is paying the cost”.  Osinbajo spoke with journalists after visiting Oando and Total fuel depots in Apapa area, a day after he also visit

Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has assured that his administration would complete all the projects it has embarked upon before the end of his tenure in 2018. Governor Aregbesola said this while presenting the budget proposal of the year 2018 to the state House of Assembly. Rauf Aregbesola   The 2018 budget tagged “Budget of Enduring Legacy” was totaled N173,980,083,007. Aregbesola who listed the achievement of his administration in various sectors of the state also promised to continue to work towards the development of the state in the fast approaching new year. While reviewing the 2017 budget, the governor stated that his administration has done well in Agricultural developments, education, health, industrialization, finance, commerce, transportation, regional planning and environmental development among other sectors of the state. According to him, “The 2018 Budget being presented today is to consolidate all the various achievements we have recorded in the various

Ace Gospel Musician, Tope Alabi, recently dedicated  her multimillion mansion, located at Fagba, Iju Lagos. The house is said to sit on two plots of land. The musician is said to have embarked on the project two years ago. The house warming program held on yesterday, 28th December, 2017. She sure is ending 2017 with a bang. Congratulations to her, and we tap from her blessings..

Veteran Broadcaster/actor, Sadiq Daba, has returned to Nigeria after weeks of undergoing treatment for prostrate cancer and Leukemia at a UK hospital. He is pictured above with his wife, Mobolaji and humanrights activist, Joe Okei Odumakin. He arrived the country today December 29th. On his arrival, an excited Sadiq Daba said '' It's so good to be back home!! Who else will be there? Who has always been there ? Yes , the indefatigable woman of esteem and high standards, sincerity, honesty ,love, care ,adoration and an Angel......Dr.Joe Odumakin!! I am back stronger, healthier and well....all thanks to the goodwill and kindness of thousands and thousands of Nigerians both home and abroad.... Special mention and lots of love to Soni Irabor, who kick started it all !! I am ever so grateful''

Russia and the Vatican disagree with the decision of President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv, Alexander Avdeyev, the Russian ambassador to the Vatican City has said. Avdeyev recalled that Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, in one of his recent statements said that the status quo of Jerusalem, which is a place of pilgrimage and worship for Jews, Christians and Muslims, should be respected. This is a city of three Abrahamic religions and it should not be politicised by recognition as a capital. “I draw attention to the fact that this statement was made by the Pope, who usually expresses his position very carefully in order not to offend anyone. “So we can see a clear disagreement with the U.S. decision here. We have the similar position,” Avdeyev told Sputnik. On Dec. 6, Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and instructed the State Department to launc

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has moved swiftly to cover up the late night embarrassing burglaries and poaching of aircraft rampart in the taxiways of the Lagos airport. It was revealed how two private jets were attacked while taxiing on the runway had luggage stolen from their cargo holds on the runway of Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos. In a press statement distributed to the press by its Corporate Communications Manager, Henrietta Yakubu, FAAN claims that a committee set up to investigate the December 12th attack on Vistajet could not ascertain the veracity of the recent attack on a Bombardier Challenger 605 jet with registration number T7-A00 on runway 18R. There were news going round the media about the attacks on the jets as corroborated by a Nigerian hip-hop artist, Tiwa Savage, who took to her Instagram page yesterday to vent her frustration about the incident that occurred on December 26th, 2017. Ms. Savage and Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun aka “Wizkid”

Arsene Wenger admits he is no nearer to establishing where Arsenal's Chilean star Alexis Sanchez's future lies. Wenger praised the 29-year-old's two-goal display that helped secure a 3-2 victory at Crystal Palace on an evening where the French manager equalled Manchester United legend Alex Ferguson's Premier League record of 810 matches in charge. Sanchez's commitment has been questioned this season following his failure to reach agreement with the north London club about an extension to his current contract that expires at the end of this season. Wenger believes the player’s performance at Selhurst Park showed there has been no let up in the player's effort, but with the January transfer window about to open, has no idea about the player's next move. Sanchez scored his first goal in the 62nd minute but not all his teammates celebrated the strike with him. "First of all nobody knows what will happen really," said Wenger. "It'

Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry, has criticized members of the current squad, for not celebrating with Alexis Sanchez, when he scored against Crystal Palace on Thursday. Sanchez, who is continuously linked with an exit from the club, netted twice at Selhurst Park, as the Gunners won 3-2. The Chilean put Arsenal back in front against Palace after neat link-up play with Alexandre Lacazette, but was only congratulated by a handful of his teammates. He was then see gesturing to those who didn’t join him in the celebrations. “There is a division in the team,” Henry said on Sky Sports “He is asking them to come. ‘Why are they not coming? Don’t you want to celebrate?’ “You’re not here for Alexis Sanchez, you’re here for Arsenal. Arsenal scored. Go and celebrate. Whoever does it, we don’t care about that, go and celebrate with your team-mate. “Maybe we are reading too much into it but I noticed it. Sanchez made me notice it. It was like he thought he was alone.”

Alexis Sanchez scored twice in four second half minutes to give Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger victory on the night he equalled Alex Ferguson's Premier League record of matches in charge with a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace. Sanchez's brace -- the second a beauty from Jack Wilshere's superb pass -- added to Shkodran Mustafi's first ever away goal for the Gunners was just enough to get them past the Eagles in Wenger's 810th Premier League game as a manager. James Tomkins’s 89th minute header -- Andros Townsend had drawn them level at 1-1 early in the second-half before Sanchez's scoring burst -- ensured a nervy finish, but the Gunners deserved to run out winners and end Palace’s eight-game unbeaten run. Arsenal drew level with fourth-placed north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur but with a worse goal difference whilst Palace remain firmly embroiled in a battle against relegation just a point above the bottom three. Palace were able to apply some pressure d

Marketers yesterday rejected the blame  for the biting petrol shortage. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) claimed that despite getting forex at N305, marketers failed to import products. Besides they get products despite  owing the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) almost N27 billion. But the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) accused the NNPC of being the debtor. In a statement by its Executive Secretary Olufemi Adewole, DAPPMA said: “We again reject any attempt to blame marketers for the shortfall in supply as it is not our making since NNPC has been the sole importer since October 2017. “Marketers have continued to sacrifice to keep the country wet with fuel despite over N600billion debt owed our members and over N800billion owed marketers as a whole by the Federal Government.“ The association however assured Nigerians that no matter NNPC’s stance, it would take all steps to cooperate with it and its subsidiary PPMC to

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo was Thursday named Globe Soccer's Best Player for the second year in a row and the fourth time overall although he wasn't present in person to receive his trophy. The Portuguese international also won the prize, organised by the EFAA (European Association of Football Agents) and ECA (European Clubs Association) in 2011, 2014 and 2016. Ronaldo appeared by video link as he received the award from Italy's Alessandro del Piero. Despite his numerous awards, Ronaldo joked that he still has plenty of room to expand his personal trophy cabinet. "Don't worry my friend, I have a lot of space," Ronaldo, who inspired Real to the Champions League last season, told the show's host. "For me it's a special moment and I feel very happy to receive this award. I have to say thank you to my teammates, to my coach, to Real Madrid. "It was an amazing year, we won a lot of trophies collective and myself individual,

Antonio Conte has urged Chelsea to take a significant step towards a top four finish in the Premier League by beating Stoke on Saturday. Conte's side know their chances of retaining the Premier League title are slim given Manchester City's record-breaking run has left Chelsea 16 points adrift of the leaders. But they have won their last six Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge and are currently just a single point behind Manchester United in second place. Chelsea also boast a four-point advantage over Liverpool, the club directly below them, and Blues boss Conte is looking to maintain that advantage heading into 2018. "In this league there is great motivation for all to try to stay there and fight until the end," Conte said. "I don't know if we can do this for the title because it depends on Manchester City, who are doing something extraordinary. "To win every game and draw one means you are having a fantastic run. "But there i

Sevilla on Thursday said they had reached an agreement in principle with experienced Italian coach Vincenzo Montella to replace Eduardo Berizzo who was sacked just a month after it was announced he was suffering from prostate cancer. Montella was sacked by AC Milan in November after just 17 months in charge with the Italian giants marooned in mid-table. "Sevilla and Italian coach Vincenzo Montella have reached an agreement in principle so that he will become coach of the Sevilla first team until June 2019," the La Liga club announced on its website. "The deal will be completed once Montella's lawyers have reached an agreement with AC Milan for the terms of departure of the coach from the Rossoneri. "Once his departure is finalised, Montella will travel to Seville on Friday night to sign his contract with the club. He will lead the team in training on Saturday morning before being formally presented." The 43-year-old former Italian international

President Muhammadu Buhari’s son, Yusuf, was involved in a ghastly accident, the presidency has confirmed. It was learnt that the accident occurred on Tuesday night. “Yusuf Buhari had a bike accident last night around Gwarimpa in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” Mr. Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said in a statement on Wednesday. “He broke a limb and had an injury to the head as a result. He has undergone surgery at a clinic in Abuja. He is in a stable condition. “The President and his wife, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, are thankful to Nigerians for the good wishes and prayers for their son.”

Rihanna has called for an end to gun violence after her cousin was killed in Barbados on Boxing Day. She's been paying tribute to her 21-year-old relative - they had just spent Christmas together. Rihanna added the hashtag #endgunviolence to an emotional post on Instagram. "RIP cousin... can't believe it was just last night that I held you in my arms!" she wrote. The message was put up with a photo gallery dedicated to her cousin. Rihanna didn't name him, but according to Barbadian news station Nation News, the victim of a shooting is 21-year-old Tavon Kaiseen Alleyne. She went on to write: "Never thought that would be the last time I felt the warmth in your body!!! "Love you always man." She also tagged his profile in the series of photos. In February he posted a heartfelt message under a photo of the two of them together celebrating Rihanna's 29th birthday. "Your presence in my life is a source of joy and happine

The january transfer window will open on Monday to Liverpool’s extraordinary world-record £75 million signing of Holland centre-back Virgil van Dijk from Southampton. As exclusively revealed by Telegraph Sport, a fee was agreed on Wednesday for Van Dijk that shatters Liverpool’s previous club record transfer and is also easily the biggest in football history for a defender. The two clubs were in secret negotiations over Christmas following the acrimonious breakdown of a potential deal last summer and Van Dijk completed a medical on Friday, agreeing personal terms on a contract worth £180,000-a-week. Liverpool and Southampton brought forward their announcement of what is a massive coup for manager Jurgen Klopp after news of the deal was broken by Telegraph Sport. A photograph of Van Dijk posing with a replica Liverpool kit in front of his Christmas tree was then posted on the Liverpool website alongside confirmation he will wear the number four shirt. With Liverpool unable to

Retired footballer George Weah has won the elections in Liberia to become that country's 25th president. The senator of Montserrado County - once named Fifa World Player and winner of the much-coveted Ballon d'Or - defeated his 73-year-old opponent Vice President Joseph Boakai in a landslide victory in results announced in Liberia on Wednesday morning. "I am deeply grateful to my family, my friends, and my loyal supporters who contributed to our campaign during this extremely long election season," Weah said on Twitter before the results were announced. Weah is set to replace Africa’s first female head of state, economist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and see the West African nation, founded by freed American slaves, hand over power from one democratically elected government to another.

Harry Kane scored a hat trick on Tuesday to set a Premier League record of 39 goals in a calendar year – 2017. Dele Alli scored one while Heung Min-Son scored the last as Tottenham defeated their visitors, Southampton 5-2. The England forward thus toppled a 22-year-old record held by former England striker, Alan Shearer. The 24-year-old Kane headed in Christian Eriksen’s free kick in the 22nd minute to overtake Shearer’s 36 goals in 1995 with Blackburn Rovers. He had equalled the 36-goal tally while scoring a hat-trick in Spurs’ 3-0 win at Burnley on Saturday.

Christmas is supposed to be a time of merriment but on Christmas Eve it was revealed that former Arsenal full-back was having suicidal thoughts and struggling financially after problems in his personal life. Now Galatasaray have offered him a job. In a frank interview with the Mirror former Arsenal full-back Emmanuel Eboue revealed that despite making plenty of money in his time as a footballer he was near penniless, running from bailiffs and sleeping on a friend's couch. It all came from his messy divorce where is wife got all of his assets but to add to his woes the Ivorian has not seen his kids since June. Speaking about his financial problems the defender said, "I can't afford the money to continue to have any lawyer or barrister. I am in the house but I am scared. Because I don't know what time the police will come." However Christmas is all about goodwill to all men and Eboue's former club Galatasaray have offered a hand to the 34 year old. A

The Kaduna State Police Command yesterday confirmed the interception of fake drugs worth over N15 million in Zaria. The command’s spokesperson, Muktar Aliyu, an Assistant Superintendent (ASP) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview. He said the Police Area Command in Zaria had intercepted the fake drugs after a tip-off by some residents. “On getting the information, our men swung into action and eventually intercepted the adulterated drugs which would have destroyed the lives of innocent citizens. “The said fake drugs were intercepted at Sabon gari market in  Zaria  where the owner had already offloaded the consignment for distribution. “This is a serious calamity and of course harmful to human existence. “I want to plead with people not to be discouraged in providing useful information to  security personnel  for prompt action,” he said. According to him, investigation into the matter is ongoing in order to ascertain  the origin of the drugs as w

An oil and gas merchant, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, has attributed the persistent scarcity of petrol to monopoly of the product by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Iheanacho, also the Chairman, Integrated Oil and Gas Ltd., told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday that the inability of NNPC to create a window for private importers to import petrol also contributed to the scarcity. According to him, the current shortage in fuel importation gap was caused by the landing cost margin of N171 per litre and the selling cost pegged at N 145 per litre. Iheanacho said that this was not realistic for marketers to import and sell at that rate. “The selling of the product at N145 per litre is no longer feasible with the current exchange rate. “Shortage of foreign exchange and increase in crude prices have made it unprofitable to import petrol and sell same at N145 per litre. “The problem is that importation of petrol is being handled, almost 100 per