2019 Election: 'We will not endorse any presidential candidate' - CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) will not endorse any presidential candidate in the forthcoming election, president of the group, Rev. Samson Ayokunle said.  

Ayokunle urged Nigerians to vote according to the leading of the Holy Spirit and their consciences, adding that credibility and integrity should guide their choice. The Presidential election, along with National Assembly election will hold on 16 February. CAN made its position known in a statement signed by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, the Special Assistant, Media and Communications to the CAN president.  

Ayokunle said CAN is for God and His people and is apolitical, non-partisan and impartial. “Our members cut across all political divides and some of them are even contesting for one post or the other including the Presidential. So, the idea of endorsing any candidate as favourite does not arise. We have not and will not endorse any candidate for any elective office in the country,” he said.  

Arsenal try their luck with ambitious Manchester United transfer raid

Arsenal have reportedly asked about a somewhat ambitious move to take Eric Bailly on loan from Manchester United in this January’s transfer window.

The Gunners are short of options in defence after an injury to Rob Holding earlier this season and it makes sense that manager Unai Emery would be keen on some cover.

However, it is little surprise that United are not keen on strengthening a top four rival and have knocked back Arsenal’s approach for Bailly, according to the Mail.

he Ivory Coast international is also said in the report to be keen on continuing to fight for his place at Old Trafford, despite enduring a difficult season.

Still, there seems a chance for most Red Devils players to make a fresh start now following the sacking of Jose Mourinho last month.

Many players have improved under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Bailly has the natural ability to be a big success at United.

He could also have been ideal for Arsenal, however, who can’t be blamed for thinking he might have been a realistic target given his struggles this season.

To celebrate her birthday, Lola Rae shares lovely photos of her baby with Tekno

The singer and mother of one is a year older today and shared these cute photos with her daughter, Skye.

Lola Rae and Tekno welcomed their daughter back in May 2018.

Update: Chris Brown is released with no charges after being detained in Paris on rape allegations

U.S. singer Chris Brown and two others have been released from police custody and won't face any charges at this time, but an investigation continues as he has been accused of aggravated rape and drug offenses by a lady in Paris.

The Associated Press, citing two anonymous police officials, said the 29-year-old singer was detained Monday along with his bodyguard and one other person after a woman accused Brown of raping her in a hotel room last week.

No charges have been filed against any of them, the prosecutor's office said, but the investigation is ongoing.

The singer issued a statement on his Instagram account on Tuesday denying the accusations.

"I wanna make it perfectly clear ..... This is false and a whole lot of CAP!," he wrote in the all-caps message. "... For my daughter and my family this is so disrespectful and is against my character and morals!!!!" he wrote

 

Raphael Chiche, the singer's attorney, said his client "vigorously protests his innocence" and has directed him to file a complaint due to the "slander of which he has unfairly been the subject."

 

The singer has had several run-ins with the law, including physical assault charges after an incident with his then-girlfriend, Rihanna, in 2009. He was charged with felony assault and making criminal threats in that incident, and received five years probation and community service.

'This plane seems like it is falling to pieces, send someone to find me' - Emiliano Sala's last WhatsApp audio note to friends before his plane went missing

A WhatsApp voice note which Premier League footballer Emiliano Sala sent to friends before his plane vanished has emerged. In it, the 28-year-old seemed scared for his life.

In a voice note sent from the light aircraft which disappeared on Monday night in the Piper Mailibu near Alderney in the Channel Islands, Sala told them to send someone to come find him if they don't hear from him. He sounded calm but exhausted.

He said in Spanish in the audio recording:

Hey guys, how is it going? Brother, I am really tired now. I was over in Nantes sorting things out, doing this, doing that. 

I am now aboard a plan that seems like it is falling to pieces. I'm going to Cardiff now, crazy, and tomorrow we get going. I will train with my new team tomorrow.

The striker, who was recently signed to Cardiff for a whooping sum of £15 million, said in a separate voice note that came later:

Festus Keyamo issues official statement on Atiku's visit to the US

Festus Keyamo, the Director, Strategic Communications for the APC Presidential Campaign Council has issued an official statement on opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar's trip to the United States which he describes as 'clandestine'.

Read the full statement below....

In our press release issued on Sunday, December 30, 2018, titled “WHEN THE THIEF IS SHOUTING THIEF”: THE CASE OF ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR”, we correctly predicted as follows: “By running for President of Nigeria, Atiku intends to get some immunity from prosecution. Already he is hoping to obtain a visa to visit the US, as a guest of the State department, a concession that the US will grant to a Presidential candidate of Africa’s biggest Nation”.

Therefore, we were not surprised by his visit to the U.S. For us, this visit is really a non-event considering the issues involved in the forthcoming election. However, we have bad news for those who think this is a momentous event for Atiku Abubakar: the visit was nothing but a downright catastrophe because rather than dispel the fact of indictments hanging over his head, it further confirms and reinforces those facts for the following reasons:

(1) The visit had all the trappings of a fugitive sneaking into America under a “special diplomatic waiver”. For the candidate of the major opposition party in Nigeria, it is an absolute disaster that the visit was not announced ahead of time in Nigeria, with his programmes and itinerary clearly spelt out, the decent and customary minimum standard of such visits. This culminated in his close aides issuing conflicting statements about the visit when he was already on his way there. In fact, one of them called Paul Ibe actually spoke to the Press that his principal was nowhere near America! Such was the secrecy of the planning and execution of that visit.

Photos: Sisters arrested for attempting to smuggle drugs into Kuje prison

Two sisters have been arrested by officers of the Kuje Medium Security Prison in the Federal Capital Territory for attempting to smuggle substances suspected to be cannabis and Tramadol into the prison premises for an inmate identified as John Ifeanyichukwu.

A statement from the FCT prisons service command spokesperson, Humphrey Chukwuedo, says the prime suspect identified as Blessing Chinwuba, allegedly concealed the prohibited items in a carton of neatly packed noodles, which she wanted to take into the prison.

Blessing reportedly feigned ignorance of the contents of her illegal cargo after she was caught. During interrogation, she claimed that the consignment was given to her by her younger sister, Victoria who denied knowledge of the banned substance.

They have both been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, FCT command, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi closes in on shock move to Middlesbrough

Super Eagles of Nigeria captain and Tianjin TEDA star, Mikel Obi is reportedly closing in on a shock move to Championship side Middlesbrough in the coming days.

According to The Sun, the former Chelsea midfielder was desperate to seal a move back to England from China as his wife and two young children remained in the United Kingdom following his move to Tianjin TEDA.

The publication also reported that Middlesbrough have come to Mikel's rescue with the Nigerian midfielder ready to sign for the Championship side.

The 31-year-old who won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the League Cup including the Champions League and Europa League during his 11-year spell at Chelsea, is said to be undergoing a medical ahead of signing for Tony Pulis' side as they push for promotion.