TheNewsGuru

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  • ‘Aubameyang clearly unhappy at Arsenal’

    ‘Aubameyang clearly unhappy at Arsenal’

    Premier League title winner Chris Sutton is convinced Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wants to leave Arsenal.

    With a year to run on his contract, Aubameyang is weighing up his future.

    Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live: “He [Aubameyang] is clearly unhappy, isn’t he?

    “Because he did not have to say what he said. And if he wanted to win things, with the greatest respect, he wouldn’t want to sign for Arsenal again, would he?

    “There will be other suitors who are after him. He’s 31… you can’t afford to hang around at Arsenal with their position at the moment.

    “There’s always turmoil at Arsenal. This whole situation has come out of nowhere – for Aubameyang to come out and speak like that.

    “He could have said nothing, the fact he was strong and talks about a turning point.

    “It’s not about the money for him is it now? At his age, nearly 31, it’s about winning things. There’s gonna be some big-hitters in for him.

    “He doesn’t want to finish eighth in the table for the next couple of seasons and be part of a progressive Arsenal team and then his career finishes.”

  • U.S. actor charged with raping three women

    “That 70s Show” actor Danny Masterson has been charged with raping three women in separate incidents in 2001 and 2003, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office said on Wednesday night.

    The District Attorney’s Office said in a statement that it had declined to file sexual assault charges against Masterson in two other cases because of insufficient evidence and because of the statute of limitations.

    Masterson, 44, got his break-out role in the 1998-2006 television comedy series “That 70s Show,” in which he played a rebel adolescent.

    He could not immediately be reached for comment on the charges.

    In a statement issued to Variety, Tom Mesereau, Masterson’s attorney, vowed to fight the charges.

    “Mr Masterson is innocent, and we’re confident that he will be exonerated when all the evidence finally comes to light and witnesses have the opportunity to testify,” Mesereau said in the statement.

    “The people who know Mr Masterson know his character and know the allegations to be false.”

    The three rape charges together carry a maximum prison sentence of 45 years to life in prison if Masterson is convicted, the District Attorney’s office said.

    All of the alleged rapes took place at Masterson’s Hollywood Hills home, the statement said.

    They involve the alleged rape of a 23-year-old woman between January and December 2001, a 28-year-old woman in April 2003, and a 23-year old woman between October and December 2003. The charges did not name the women.

    Masterson, who has been married to actress Bijou Phillips since 2011, was written out of the Netflix comedy series “The Ranch” in December 2017 when a police investigation on the allegations against him first came to light.

    Dozens of actors, politicians, businessmen and musicians have lost their jobs since 2017 when sexual assault allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein fueled the #MeToo movement.

    Weinstein was convicted of rape and sexual assault in February and sentenced to 23 years behind bars.

  • Atiku’s scaremongering on debt profile hinged on false premise, says FG

    The Federal Government has said former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s comment on the nation’s debt profile is mere scaremongering anchored on a false premise.

    But main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supported Atiku’s stance that the economy is in shambles.

    A statement on Wednesday in Abuja by the party’s spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan accused the government of concealing officially documented data on debts and the alarming state of the nation’s economy.

    Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed, who faulted Atiku’s understanding of the economy, said while the Federal Government welcomed constructive criticism, such must be based on verifiable facts rather than conjectures and innuendos.

    “There is no doubt that former Vice-President Abubakar loves our country and wishes it well; otherwise, he would not have sustained his serial quest for the country’s highest position. One can only hope that his resort to the use of such words as ‘precipice’, ‘foreclosure’ and ‘economic ruin’ does not reflect anything but best wishes for the country at this time,” he said.

    Mohammed said the figure of Nigeria’s debt to revenue ratio of 99 per cent in the first quarter of 2020, quoted by the former Vice-President, is not in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, where he claimed he got it from.

    “We are also not able to ascertain the source of the first quarter figures of N943.12 billion for debt servicing and N950.56 billion for retained revenue, which he also quoted,” the minister said.

    He explained that the nation’s debt service provisions in the annual budgets include principal repayments, interest payments and all other applicable charges.

    “Therefore, the statement that debt servicing does not equate to debt repayment is not only wrong but also ill-informed,” Mohammed said.

    On the former Vice-President’s assertion that revenue needs to go up, the minister said the Muhammadu Buhari administration had introduced several measures to shore up revenues, listing some of them as the passage and implementation of the Finance Act, 2019, current reforms in the Oil and Gas industry, Tax Administration and Collections, as well as the Strategic Revenue Growth initiatives.

    Mohammed also said since Nigeria’s debt service is expressly provided in the annual budgets and the debt service payments are made as and when due, the issue of creditors foreclosing on Nigeria, as “strangely predicted by the former Vice President”, does not arise.

    The minister explained that contrary to the statement credited to Atiku Abubakar that Nigeria had experienced alarming and unprecedented increase in the ratios of debt to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and debt service to revenue, indeed, Nigeria’s ratio of debt to the GDP is one of the lowest in the world.

    He said this was at 19 per cent as at December 31, 2019, while government is currently making concerted efforts to increase revenue in order to bring down the ratio of debt service to revenue.

    “One of the reasons debt service to revenue is high is because revenue generation in Nigeria has been low, with over-dependence on the oil sector. This is corroborated by the fact that the ratio of Nigeria’s tax revenue to GDP is one of the lowest in the world – at about six per cent,” Mohammed said.

    The minister explained that unlike what obtained in the past – when the nation borrowed to service the crass indulgence of a few fat cats – the loans being obtained by the current administration are being primarily used to finance infrastructure, such as roads, railways, bridges and power,.

    He added that the loans are long-term in nature, which would benefit present and future generations.

  • Dubai Police reveals why Hushpuppi was arrested

    Dubai Police reveals why Hushpuppi was arrested

    Popular Nigerian Instagram celebrity, Hushpuppi arrested 10 June in Dubai is being held by Dubai Police and not America’s FBI or Interpol as widely reported.

    UAE’s online newspaper, The National reported Wednesday that he was arrested on multiple fraud charges, along with 12 other accomplices.

    The paper also revealed his real name as Raymond Abbas and his real age as 38 years.

    His case has been referred to the Dubai public prosecution and is currently being questioned by prosecutors at the Bur Dubai section, the paper reported.

    “The prosecutors have charged him for “obtaining money from others through fraudulent means.”

    According to UAE National, security officers in the emirate arrested Mr Abbas and 12 others for online fraud that targets companies and individuals.

    “They would send out letters from email addresses almost identical to those of legitimate companies, targeting customers of these companies, with the purpose of diverting payments to themselves,” said a senior prosecutor, quoted by the paper.

    “Initial information includes that he was part of this gang which fraudulently obtained cash and cars from people.

    “His statement was taken by prosecution but this is just the beginning of prosecution investigations.”

    The paper also reported that Raymond Abbas is wanted for fraud crimes in Europe, the United States and Nigeria.

    Mr Abbas has over two million followers on Instagram. He is known for his display of wealth on social media.

    He often posts pictures with his luxury cars like Ferrari and Rolls Royce and a private jet.

  • Edo PDP Primary: Negotiations at advance stage for Obaseki to pick form

    Edo PDP Primary: Negotiations at advance stage for Obaseki to pick form

    … PDP insists no automatic ticket for Obaseki

    …Wike, Tambuwal, Obaseki, other critical stakeholders meeting in Govt Lodge PH

    …as Ikhine, Ogbeide-Ihama insist they’re still in the race

    Barring any unforeseen development, negotiations are in advance stage for Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy Phillip Shaibu to pick their nomination forms from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP within this week.

    Thenewsguru.com reliably gathered that critical stakeholders and top party chieftains are in agreement that Obaseki should run under the massive PDP umbrella with other aspirants.

    The party leadership of the party held an emergency on Tuesday and Wednesday in Abuja which continued into late night meeting in Rivers State Government Lodge with Governor Nyesom Wike, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Obaseki and other critical stakeholders in attendance.

    A source privy to the negotiations told TNG that”Obaseki and his deputy have been given the nod to go ahead to contest alongside other aspirants originally in the party.

    Asked whether some aspirants will be asked to step down for Obaseki, he said”Nobody will be persuaded to step down but on their own volition they can negotiate with whoever they so choose to.

    “The party will not in anyway intervene but one thing is certain there’s no automatic ticket for him.

    “If they all decide to go to battle on Saturday a winner must emerge to fly our flag,” he stated.

    Meanwhile, Engr Gideon Ikhine, one of the Frontline contestants in PDP in a national television interview on Wednesday denied stepping down for any aspirant as he is very much in the race.

    Also, Hon Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, an Engineer, said he is very much in the race and battle-ready to face any contestant in the PDP guber race.

  • Napoli beat Juventus on penalties to win Coppa Italia

    Napoli beat Juventus on penalties to win Coppa Italia

    Napoli stunned Juventus when they won 4-2 on penalties to claim the Coppa Italia on Wednesday after the two sides played to a 0-0 draw behind closed doors.

    Paulo Dybala and Danilo missed Juve’s first two efforts in the shootout while Napoli converted all of their attempts to give Coach Gennaro Gattuso, the first major trophy of his coaching career.

    It was the first title to be settled in the Italian season, which has just restarted after a three-month hiatus because of the coronavirus crisis.

    Napoli nearly won it in stoppage time but were foiled by a superb double save by Juventus’s 42-year-old goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon.

    There was no extra-time.

  • EPL: Why Ozil was left out of City clash – Arteta

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has explained briefly why Mesut Ozil was left out of Wednesday’s squad to face Manchester City.

    The Gunners were blown away by Pep Guardiola’s side, eventually losing 3-0 at the Etihad.

    One notable absentee was the club’s highest paid player in Ozil, who didn’t even make the match-day squad.

    Asked after the match about the decision, Arteta said: “It was a tactical reason.”

    This will only fuel speculation that Ozil will be sold this summer, with Fenerbahce reportedly hopeful of securing his signature.

  • Uncle Ben’s: Racism forces popular rice brand to change identity

    Uncle Ben’s: Racism forces popular rice brand to change identity

    Mars, owners of Uncle Ben’s has revealed intentions to phase out the identity of the popular rice brand over harmful racial stereotypes.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mars made this known in a statement published on its website on Wednesday.

    Uncle Ben’s, a brand name for parboiled rice, and other related food products, was first introduced by Converted Rice Inc.

    Converted Rice Inc. was later bought over by Mars, Inc., retaining the brand identity of Uncle Ben’s.

    “The brand name Uncle Ben’s was first used in 1946. But who is Uncle Ben? Actually, he was two people!

    “The name comes from a black Texan farmer, known as Uncle Ben, who grew rice so well, people compared Converted Brand Rice to his standard of excellence.

    “The proud and dignified gentleman on the boxes of Uncle Ben’s rice, who has come to personify the brand, was a beloved Chicago chef and waiter named Frank Brown,” Mars wrote on its website.

    However, Mars has been faced with a backlash over renewed fight against racism, following the death of George Floyd.

    The reason for the backlash is because “Uncle” was a common appellation used in the Southern United States to refer to older male black slaves or servants.

    Mars stated that it would be evolving the Uncle Ben’s brand, including its visual brand identity, but that the exact changes or timing are not known yet.

    According to Mars, the evolution is coming after listening to the voices of consumers, especially those in the Black community.

    “As a global brand, we know we have a responsibility to take a stand in helping to put an end to racial bias and injustices. As we listen to the voices of consumers, especially in the Black community, and to the voices of our Associates worldwide, we recognize that now is the right time to evolve the Uncle Ben’s brand, including its visual brand identity, which we will do.

    “We don’t yet know what the exact changes or timing will be, but we are evaluating all possibilities.

    “Racism has no place in society. We stand in solidarity with the Black community, our Associates and our partners in the fight for social justice.

    “We know to make the systemic change needed, it’s going to take a collective effort from all of us – individuals, communities and organizations of all sizes around the world,” Mars stated.

  • Alleged Money laundering: EFCC re-arraigns ex-AGF Adoke

    Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke, SAN, on Tuesday, re-arraigned before a Federal High Court, Abuja on money laundering related charges.
    Adoke was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside an Abuja businessman, Aliyu Abubakar, on a seven-count charge.
    In a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/39/2017, the EFCC is charging Adoke on six counts while Abubakar is arraigned on one-count charge.
    Both defendants were alleged to have committed the alleged offences, involving about N400 million, in Abuja in Sept. 2013.
    Adoke was accused of receiving the United States (U.S.) dollar equivalent of N300 million from Abubakar, and paying the dollar equivalent of N367,318,800 to one Usman Mohammed Bello, among other charges.
    He was also accused of using N300 million which was alleged to be part of the proceeds of unlawful activities, acts classified as offences under the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.
    The ex-AGF who served during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, was equally accused of making “structured cash payments in 22 tranches” amounting to N80 million, and another of such structured payments in 13 tranches, estimated at N50 million, into his Unity Bank account.”
    On his part, Abubakar was accused of making a payment of US dollar equivalent of N300 million into Adoke’s account, in violation of the money laundering law.
    However, both defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them by an official of the court.
    Lead prosecution lawyer, Bala Sanga, said he would have applied for the remand of the defendants in prison, but for the reality of the coronavirus pandemic.
    Sanga, who noted that the prosecution was not served any bail application on behalf of any of the defendants, said he would not object should lawyers to the defendants apply for bail orally.
    Former AGF, Kanu Agabi, SAN, who appeared for Adoke, commended Sanga for his disposition.
    Also, ex-AGF, Akin Olujinmi, SAN, who appeared for Abubakar, also spoke n the same vein.
    Agabi and Olujinmi noted that the case was transferred from Justice Binta Nyako’s court, where the defendants were arraigned in February and granted bail.
    They prayed the court to allow the defendants to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted them, a request the new judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo acceded to.
    Sanga later prayed the court for a short adjournment for the commencement of trial to enable the prosecution prove its case.
    “We hope to open and close this case on time.
    “Our witnesses are within jurisdiction, and we do not intend to call more than five witnesses,” he said.
    Justice Ekwo then adjourned until Aug. 3 for trial.

  • Alleged indictment: Court fixes date to hear Oshiomhole’s suit

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, has adjourned untill June 29, hearing in a preliminary objection filed by Mr Adams Oshiomhole challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the fundamental rights enforcement suit he instituted against the Edo government.
    Justice Ahmed Mohammed on Wednesday, adjourned the matter after taking arguments from parties in the suit.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a judicial committee of inquiry set up by Gov.Godwin Obaseki of Edo, to investigate ithe construction of the Edo Specialist Hospital, indicted Oshiomhole for alleged breach of the public procurement act.
    The Justice James Oyomire-led committee recommended the arrest and prosecution of Oshiomhole.
    The former governor, who was also recently suspended as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), thereafter, sought an ex-parte order from the court to stop his arrest and prosecution on account of the indictment by the investigative panel.
    Justice Mohammed had, on June 1, ruled that the state government stayed action pending the determination of the matter.
    Oshiomhole named the Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Justice Oyomire, Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services as respondents in the suit.
    At the resumed sitting on Wednesday, counsel to the defendants told the court that since they had just been served the court’s processes by the applicant, they pleaded for time to study the documents and respond and sought for adjournment .
    The judge then adjourned hearing until till June 29.(