The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ends

  • Fani-Kayode ends defence in money laundering charge

    Fani-Kayode ends defence in money laundering charge

    Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation Chief Femi Fani-Kayode yesterday closed his defence in his trial for alleged money laundering.

    His lawyers, led by Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), told Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court in Lagos that the defence had no more witnesses to call.

    “My Lord, we have since reviewed the case of the prosecution in relation with the defence, and having been satisfied, we are no longer calling any witness,” Adedipe said.

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer Mr. Festus Keyamo said he would require about two weeks to file his final written address.

    The judge would, at the next proceedings, rule on an application by the defence seeking an order to discharge one of Fani-Kayode’s sureties, Wale Ajisebutu.

    The surety said he was withdrawing because he needed the original title documents of his landed property “to meet certain personal and urgent matters.”

    Ajisebutu had in 2009 deposited the title documents into the court’s custody in fulfillment of the bail conditions granted Fani-kayode by the court.

    The defence, in its application dated March 11, is also praying the court to replace Ajisebutu with one Ogbor Elliot.

    Fani-Kayode was accused of making a transaction exceeding N500,000 on September 20, 2006, which was not done through a financial institution, by accepting N2.1 million in cash. The money was paid into his personal bank account by his aide, Supo Agbaje, while he served as Minister of Culture and Tourism.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the alleged offence, which EFCC said contravenes the Money Laundering Act.

    Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned till May 4 for closing arguments.

  • Ginepri ends ATP drought

    Former world number 15 Robby Ginepri claimed his first ATP World Tour win in over a year to advance into the second round of the BB&T Atlanta Open.

    Ginepri, a semi-finalist at the 2005 US Open, has tumbled to 281 in the men’s singles standings but claimed his first victory of 2014 by edging past Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky 7-6 (7/3), 3-6 6-0.

    It marked the 31-year-old American’s first triumph since he reached the quarter-finals of the US Clay Court Championship in April 2013 and his reward has earned him a clash with top seed John Isner in the second round.

    Seeded pair Denis Istomin and Marinko Matosevic made light work of their opponents on Tuesday.

    Sixth seed Istomin sauntered past American lucky loser Rajeev Ram 6-1 ,6-4, while Matosevic, seeded eighth, crushed Victor Estrella Burgos of the Dominican Republic 6-0, 6-2 in just 43 minutes.

    Tim Smyczek thumped his fellow American Ryan Harrison by the same scoreline and Jack Sock gave the home fans more reason for cheer by breezing past Colombian Alejandro Gonzalez 6-2, 6-4.

    Dutch lucky loser Thiemo de Bakker cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Canadian qualifier Steven Diez – a day after retiring againt the same player in qualifying.

  • Golden Globes Awards 2012 ends with celebration

    Golden Globes Awards 2012 ends with celebration

    DESPITE an underwhelming performance at last Thursday’s Oscar nominations, Argo came roaring back at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, taking home the night’s biggest prize, Best Motion Picture Drama.

    The film also won for its director, Ben Affleck, who failed to earn an Oscar nomination in the same category, much to the surprise of many.

    Also performing well: Django Unchained, which won for Best Original Screenplay (Quentin Tarantino) and Best Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz). The latter sent the Oscar race into a frenzy, as many had expected Tommy Lee Jones to sweep for Lincoln.

    And continuing its long history of awarding musicals, the Hollywood Foreign Press gave Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy honors to Les Miserables. The film walked away with two additional awards for Best Actor (Hugh Jackman) and Best Supporting Actress (Anne Hathaway), respectively making it the top-awarded movie of the night.

    On the television side, two shows dominated the evening: Homeland, which topped the night with three wins, for Best TV Drama, Best Actor in a Drama (Damian Lewis) and Best Actress in a Drama (Claire Danes); and the HBO zeitgeist series Girls, which just had its season 2 premiere tonight.

    That show won for Best TV Series Comedy and for its star, Lena Dunham, who won Best Actress in a Comedy.

  • Glo Soccer Academy ends this weekend as MVP emerges

    Glo Soccer Academy ends this weekend as MVP emerges

    The curtains on Glo Soccer Academy Season 1 will be drawn this weekend as the TV reality show and soccer talent hunt programme, regarded as the biggest in Africa, finally comes to an end.

    This is coming after an emotion-laden final eviction exercise that resulted in the exit of the last three players to pave way for the emergence of the 16 finalists. The final ceremony will feature highlights of all the activities that happened throughout the academy.

    In the 13th episode of Glo Soccer Academy that will be shown this weekend, the master of ceremony, Gbenga Adeyinka takes the viewers on a memory lane, introducing the highlights of the screening exercise in Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Republic. This led to the emergence of the final 33 boys that entered the academy. His experience as a comedian douses the tension in situations where emotions rise to near breaking point during the closing ceremony.

    The Most Valuable Player (MVP) will emerge from three top participants short-listed based on their performances and contributions to the team. The major topic of discussion among the followers of the football TV show has been who will emerge as the MVP with everyone tipping his or her favourite candidate for the position. The rap group, Terry D will perform its hit song at the event to add colour to the night.

    A statement from Globacom on Wednesday advised television viewers across Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Republic to stay glued to their television sets this weekend to watch the final show.

    The company further stated that fans in Nigeria should tune to NTA Network on Saturday at 1.30pm-2.30pm, with a 30-minute highlight on Wednesday, between 5.30pm and 6.00pm to view the show. It will also be on AIT network on Saturday from 5.00pm-6.00pm, with the highlights on Sunday from 3.30pm-4pm.

    Viewers in Ghana will enjoy the special package on GTV on Sunday from 12.30pm to 1.30pm with the highlight on Wednesday at 4.00pm-4.30pm. The programme is also available on TV3 on Saturday between 10.30am and 11.30am while the highlight comes up on Friday between 5.30pm and 6.00pm.

    For the lovers of youth football in Benin Republic they have the opportunity to watch the Glo Soccer Academy on ORTB on Sunday from 5pm through 6pm with the highlights on Wednesdays at 11am to 11.30am.

    “Viewers are assured of a most entertaining and fun-filled time,” the statement concluded.

  • Saudi ends Hajj row with Nigeria

    Saudi ends Hajj row with Nigeria

    The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ended the week-long diplomatic row with Nigeria over Muharams (male guardians ) for female pilgrims.

    The softening of Saudi’s position led to the airlift of 1, 079 pilgrims yesterday by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria(NAHCON).

    The Federal Government delegation, to be led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives,Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal might still go to Saudi Arabia to smoothen ties between the two nations.

    Head of the Media Unit of NAHCON, Mallam Mana Uba, said yesterday that “Saudi Arabia has been receptive in the last 12 hours.”

    Uba said:”We believe the challenge has been amicably resolved because Saudi authorities have been receptive in the last 12 hours. We can say that the two nations have mutually addressed the challenge.

    “So far, we have been able to airlift on Sunday about 1,079 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia who were allowed normal entry into that country. None of them has been stopped.

    “For instance, Kabo Air( Flight No. 1083) departed to Jeddah at 7.17 hours with 529 pilgrims from Kogi State. These pilgrims have safely landed and allowed into Saudi Arabia.

    “Also, Max Air’s Flight No. NR 105 departed to Jeddah at 16.35 hours with 550 pilgrims from Zamfara.

    Niger State’s 461 and Kaduna’s 496 pilgrims have also been airlifted.

    “In all, we have airlifted 28, 892 pilgrims through 57flights. We are positive that we will be able to meet the October 20 deadline when King Abdulazeez International Airport in Jeddah and Madina Airport will be closed (today).”

    Responding to a question, Uba added: “Pilgrims from Lagos, Adamawa, Niger, and Sokoto will be airlifted on Monday.”

    In spite of the end of the row, the Federal Government delegation, to be led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal, might still go to Saudi Arabia to smoothen ties between the two nations.

    A government source said: “The delegation will still go ahead to meet with Saudi Arabian government for high-level talks on how to avert such a diplomatic row in future.

    “The Saudi Government is finalising modalities for these talks , which is why the delegation is yet to leave.

    “As a matter of fact, the Speaker is in Lagos ahead of green light from Saudi Arabia for the trip.”