The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Eze

  • Eze opens  Arsenal’s account  with winner against Palace

    Eze opens  Arsenal’s account  with winner against Palace

     Eberechi Eze scored his first Premier League goal for Arsenal against his former side Crystal Palace to extend the North London club’s lead at the top of the standings.

    Eze, who spent five seasons at Selhurst Park before Arsenal signed him in August, struck in the 39th  minute on Sunday when Gabriel Magalhaes headed Declan Rice’s free kick into his path. The midfielder leapt to steer a first-time finish past Dean Henderson.

    Read Also: Arthur Eze emerges Governing Council Chairman of Isaac Balami University

    The victory extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run to six league matches and 10 games in all competitions, and opened up a four-point cushion over second-placed Bournemouth with 22 points after nine games.

    The second half at the Emirates Stadium had a far different feel as Arsenal pressed for a second goal, with a flurry of chances including a chance at an easy tap-in for Bukayo Saka that Palace defender Marc Guehi scrambled to boot clear.

  • Spurs’ boss unperturbed after Eze opts for Arsenal

    Spurs’ boss unperturbed after Eze opts for Arsenal

    Spurs boss Thomas Frank says he does not want ‘players who don’t want to be here’ after Eberechi Eze opts for Arsenal transfer

    Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank on potential signings after being turned down in favour of Arsenal by Eberechi Eze: “I don’t want any players who don’t want to come to the club. If they don’t want to come here and wear this fantastic badge, we don’t want them here”

    Following the news that Eberechi Eze is set to move to Arsenal, Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank says he does not ‘want any players that don’t want to come to Spurs’

    Thomas Frank said he would not sign “players who don’t want to be here” after Eberechi Eze’s U turn which left him on the verge of joining boyhood club Arsenal instead of Tottenham.

    Read Also: Alleged fraud: Court freezes ex-NNPCL boss Kyari’s N661m in four bank accounts

    Although the Spurs boss refused to name individuals, his telling comments came barely 24 hours after Eze decided against joining the club in favour of moving to their north London rivals Arsenal from Crystal Palace.

    As far back as last weekend, there had been suggestions Eze would not be involved in Palace’s season opener at Chelsea as talks with Spurs progressed, and despite starting and seeing a goal ruled out at Stamford Bridge a deal was agreed between the two clubs earlier this week.

    That alerted Arsenal, who had enquired about the 27-year-old earlier this summer, to reignite their interest and steal an 11th -hour march on their biggest rivals, with the England winger undergoing a medical at London Colney.

    Frank has made a reputation of never mentioning potential targets by name but when pressed on his frustration on missing out on another summer target, having already failed to sign Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, he said: “There’s been a lot of rumours – and a lot of times where there’s nothing in it.”

    There must be someone out there who thinks it’s good fun to put the rumours out there.

  • Offor, Eze dole out millions to support non kinetic approach to end insecurity in S/East

    Offor, Eze dole out millions to support non kinetic approach to end insecurity in S/East

    Prominent Igbo sons and philanthropists, Chiefs Emeka Offor and Arthur Eze, have thrown their weight behind the peace initiative in the south east region with financial commitment.

    The initiative is being championed by an organisation known as Peace in South East Project (PISE-P) with the support of the members of the National Assembly from the zone led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.

    The project is a comprehensive five-year peace-building and development initiative designed to address the complex socioeconomic challenges and security issues facing the South East region of Nigeria.

    It is essentially pushing for a non-kinetic means of resolving the lingering air of violence and security challenges in the region, improving the infrastructural development of the state and ensuring greater political inclusion of the zone in the national equation.

    Receiving a delegation of the organization led by Kalu who paid him a courtesy visit yesterday, Offor lauded the initiative, saying it was a welcome development.

    Read Also: Two arrested for alleged manufacturing of fake drinks in Lagos

    He said that going by the eight cardinal pillars of education, agriculture, commerce/Industry, infrastructural development, culture and tourism, sports/entertainment, governance/leadership and reconciliation/rehabilitation/reintegration encapsulated in the non kinetic measures, PISE-P is well positioned to give a new lease of life in the south east by tackling the security challenges.

    Offor doled out millions to support the project l, calling other prominent Igbo sons and daughters as well as Nigerians from all walks of life to support the project.

    Another prominent Igbo son and billionaire businessman, Chief Arthur Eze, also firmed up his promise of committing some finances to the project.

    Kalu also recently led a delegation of PISE-P to brief him on the project’s mission to which he pledged some huge amount of money.

    PISE-P will be officially unveiled on December 29, 2023 in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.

  • We will restore confidence in Enugu, says Eze

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Enugu State, Senator Ayogu Eze, has promised to restore hope and confidence in the people, by embarking on people-oriented programmes and projects, if elected.

    In his New Year message, titled: “It is well with Enugu State”, where he asked the people of Enugu to embrace love and peace in 2019, Eze said Enugu State will experience a new lease of life and development as from May 2019.

    The flag bearer implored the people to be prayerful to ensure that negative forces do not thwart their collective will to install a government that will work for them.

    Promising to create jobs through innovative re-engineering of the agricultural and housing sectors, the former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works urged the people to cast their votes for President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC. He said the party will wipe their tears by putting in place best governance practices in the state.

    He promised to pay Enugu workers a living wage that will be commensurate with their contributions and sacrifices. He assured pensioners that their agony is over as they would be paid their entitlements promptly. The ex-lawmaker vowed to restore within his first six months in office community lands that have been stolen from them.

    He said: “Security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government” and said it was “therefore criminal and unconscionable to dispossess the people of their land”.

    Eze said the time “when governments acted with impunity ended with emperors of the medieval age and may be with the end of military rule in Nigeria”, adding that in a democracy power belongs to the people.

    He added: “We have long dispensed with imperial governors. They have no place in modern democracy. Those who forcibly take community lands and property will face the music when they no longer have immunity,” Eze remarked, urging the people to be patient as his government will “restore their rights and privileges that have been stolen by the outgoing government”.

    He also promised to restructure the education sector by making education compulsory up to the secondary school level, adding: “vocational education will receive a pride of place as a means of empowering the people and restoring our artisanal advantage that has been eroded by neglect over the years.”

    Eze also promised to rebuild “the totally comatose health sector of the State”, adding that he would make healthcare free for women and children.

    He said: “Healthcare is fundamental to the wellbeing of any society. To prosper, the citizens of any society must be healthy and clear-headed. We shall focus on rebuilding our broken down health institutions and introducing innovations that will make Enugu a compulsory stop for health tourism in Africa.”

    The flagbearer described 2019 as a year when true peace will return to Enugu State, lamenting the current state of affairs was an era of peace of the graveyard, where people have been forced into silence by an adept deployment of propaganda and subtle coercion.

    Thanking the people for their support for the APC, he urged them to conduct themselves properly and refuse to be used for violence and rigging during the elections.

    He said the APC government in Enugu State will change the fortunes of the state within its first year in office, adding that Enugu will soon become one of the reference states in Nigeria, in the area of development and good governance.

     

  • Eze eyes Eagles recall

    Super Eagles and Lokomotiv Plovdiv of Bulgaria defender, Stephen Eze has stated he was not disappointed by his exclusion from the national team, AOIFootball.com reports.

    The former Kano Pillars player, who was overlooked for Nigeria’s upcoming games against South Africa and Uganda, told AOIFootball.com exclusively that he was prepared wait for his time again with the national team.

    “Every player wants to play for his national team, but unfortunately, not every player can be in the national team at the same time.

    “This is what some other players need to know. I’m not worried about these because I’m still a young player and still have so many bright days ahead. I just wish the team successful outings in their upcoming matches even though I know I won’t be there with them. I believe when the right time comes for me to be in the team, I will be there,” Eze said.

    The 24-year-old further praised Coach Gernot Rohr for always encouraging him to do well on and off the pitch.

    “I also want to thank Coach Gernot Rohr for his encouragement towards me. I must appreciate him because he is the first coach to invite me to the main team. I believe he knows everything and knows how to handle the situation. I believe my time will come and I will play; so, for now, I will just continue to do my best for my club,” Eze concluded.

  • Ex-NSITF boss in $2.8m poll row with Eze

    •EFCC begins probe

    UNDER what circumstance did former Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSTIF) Chairperson Dr. Ngozi Olojeme obtain $2.8 million and N240 million from a businessman, Prince Arthur Eze?

    This is the puzzle the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is trying to unravel as it probes Olojeme over the matter.

    She was said to have collected the N240million from an account with no Bank Verification Number (BVN).

    She is also in fresh trouble for operating 50 accounts with different names in different banks and links with five companies.

    The companies are Able -Jes Nigeria Ltd; Juliand Nig. Ltd; Majesty Mining and Construction Company Ltd; and Fresh Energy Limited.

    But the most startling revelation was the recovery of multiple passports from Olojeme’s house by EFCC detectives.

    She has a Ghana International Passport No. H2619481 in the name of Amartey Doris and one Ghana International Driving Licence permit with number IDP 0008462 in the name of Amartey Doris with all carrying her pictures.

    Following these findings, the EFCC re-arrested and released Olojeme on bail on Monday.

    There were indications that apart from the fraud case, she might be arraigned for using fake names to secure a Ghanaian passport.

    A fact-sheet obtained from the EFCC indicated that  Olojeme, who was the Deputy Chairman, Finance Committee of 2015 PDP/ Jonathan Campaign Committee, borrowed the $2.8million and N240million to contest for the party’s governorship ticket in 2014.

    But shortly after getting the cash from Eze, she stopped picking his calls.

    A petition from Eze, who is the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Oranto Petroleum Limited accounted for the ongoing investigations.

    “When they (detectives) initially arrested her, they confiscated her Nigerian passport. They later searched her house at 25, Kainji Crescent in Maitama and in the course of the search found a Ghanaian driver’s licence and multiple passports, including those of ECOWAS, Ghana and diplomatic passport under different names.

    “EFCC is investigating her for allegedly obtaining money by false pretence which was reported to the commission by Prince Arthur Eze, MD/CEO of Oranto Petroleum Limited. The case was referred to the Advance Fee Fraud Unit.”

    The document gave the details of the case against Olojeme.

    It added: “In April 2014, Mrs. Olojeme approached Prince Eze that she intended to contest for the governorship election in Delta State and she had put up her properties for sale to raise money. She sought for assistance from the complainant.

    “He further stated that he demanded to see the properties she intended to sell but she refused to show him. She however pleaded with him to trust her claiming she will never disappoint him.

    “He added that at the initial stage he refused but after persistent pressure from her, he decided (Based on Trust) and paid the total sum of $2.8million into her Fidelity Bank domiciliary account and also the total sum of N240million into her Fidelity Bank account on the condition that she will return the money before the end of 2015.

    “That between 2nd April, 2014 and 25th March, 2015 the total sum of USD $2.8million was paid to Ngozi Olojeme from the account of Oranto Petroleum Ltd by the complainant.

    “ That between 25 July, 2014 and 6th November, 2014, the total sum of 240million Naira was also transferred from the account of Oranto Petroleum Ltd by the complainant.

    “ That the said Olojeme’s Fidelity Bank account number 4021090292 where this money was paid into was not registered or linked to the BVN.

    “That immediately she collected the money from him, she stopped picking his calls.”

    EFCC also released insights into some fresh findings on Olojeme which necessitated her re-arrest.

    The fact-sheet said: “That the BVN search conducted on Olojeme’s account shows that she operates over 50 bank accounts using different names with different banks.

    “That Ngozi Olojeme is the director and sole signatory of the account of Able -Jes Nigeria Ltd and Juliand Nig. Ltd.

    “That in the course of the search carried out in her house, one Ghana international passport Number: H2619481 in the name of Amartey Doris and one Ghana International Driving Licence permit with number IDP 0008462 in the name of

    Amartey Doris all carrying the pictures of Ngozi Olojeme were recovered.

    “That one ECOWAS Travel Certificate with No. 232/270052 in the name of Osakwe Justina Otito carrying the picture of Olojeme was recovered.

    “That one Nigerian diplomatic passport with No. F50000049 in the name of Olojeme Juliet Ngozi was also recovered.

    “Further recoveries made during the search include:

    • A list titled “ Properties and their locations” with a total of 37 properties at different locations in Delta, Bayelsa and Abuja;
    • One ECOWAS Certificate with No. 232/254586; A document titled “ Report and Action Plan as at 21st March, 2018” with names of companies and some properties in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt;
    • A single pay statement of account from Stanbic IBTC South Africa addressed to. Mrs. J.N Olojeme;
    • A copy of Certificate of incorporation for Majesty Mining and Construction Company Ltd;
    • Company seal of Fresh Energy Limited;
    • One plain letterhead of Office of the President of Nigeria Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce.

    “Investigation is still ongoing, further development will be communicated in due course,” the document added.

    This is the second time the ex-NSITF boss will be in EFCC net.

    The EFCC is probing about N62.3billion fraud in NSITF with $48,485,127 credited to Olojeme.

    Olojeme, who was grilled by the EFCC in January, is still on administrative bail with a responsibility to report fortnightly for interaction.

    She insists that she is innocent of the allegations against her, but her Account Officer, Chuka Eze, has spilled the bean.

    The anti-graft agency has arraigned former NSITF Managing Director, Umar Munir Abubakar and four others for alleged diversion of N18billion.

     

  • Eze in for Obaroakpo

    Eze in for Obaroakpo

    •As Oliseh picks winning Eagles

    In the absence of suspended Austin Obaroakpo, Sunshine Stars defender Stephen Eze will play alongside Jamiu Alimi in the heart of the Super Eagles back four  the CHAN clash against Niger today.

    Obaroakpo, who coach Sunday Oliseh has likened to ‘Gentle Giant’ Uche Okechukwu, will miss the Niger game after he was booked in both legs of the qualifier against Burkina Faso.

    Eze has played in all the test matches leading up to this tournament and the delayed arrival of Lobi Stars defender Samson Gbadebo has further enhanced his chances of starting for the Eagles.

    Skipper Chima Akas and Orji Kalu will keep their places at left and right fullbacks respectively with Sunshine goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa in goal.

    The midfield will most likely have Paul Onobi, Bartholomew ‘Mosquito’ Ibenegbu, Ifeanyi Matthew with either Bature Yaro or Osas Okoro.

    Nigeria U-23 star Usman Mohammed has lost his place to the more experienced ‘Mosquito’.

    Sunshine Stars striker Tunde Adeniji will lead the attack and he will most likely be partnered by Ezekiel Bassey from Enyimba.

  • Call Eze to order, Mimiko told

    Call Eze to order, Mimiko told

    the Akure National Union (ANU), Ibadan chapter, has asked Governor Olusegun Mimiko to take disciplinary actions against the Eze Ndigbo, Sir Gregory Ilehohika.

    The group in a statement by its President, Prof Abiodun Ayodele, said: “It is unbecoming for Iloehika to ridicule the Deji.

    “We call on Governor Mimiko to order Iloehika to apologise to the monarch for his insolence and disrespect for our traditional institution.

    “We do not query the need of our people to live in peace with other ethnic groups in Akureland, we frown at Iloehika’s act which, in our estimation, amounts to spitting on the face of all Akure sons and daughters on account of his wealth.

    “We love and respect our Igbo brothers and sisters, as well as their rights to do businesses and live well in our land. Of a truth, the Igbo have lived in Akureland for decades and one almost cannot distinguish between them and us as we inter-marry and jointly promote the land.

    “We, however, will not condone any act of insubordination to our traditional ruler or what we stand for as a people,” the union said.

     

  • Sevilla has no interest in Eze

    Sevilla has no interest in Eze

    Charismatic Sevilla sporting director, Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo (Monchi), has dismissed reports in the media linking the Europa League winners with a move for Mladost Lucani striker Friday Eze in the summer transfer market.

    Friday Eze’s name did not ring a bell before the start of last season but his situation has changed, having emerged top scorer of the Serbian championship with modest Mladost Lucani.

    The 22-year-old might be attracting interest from the likes of Hapoel Beer Sheva and Nantes but Sevilla is definitely not among his suitors.

    Sevilla sporting director, Monchi is a man of few words and he went straight to the point telling allnigeriasoccer.com: “We don’t have any interest (in Friday Eze).”

    Eze scored 8 goals in the last 10 matches in the Serbian Superliga, and ended the season with 15 goals.

  • Yahaya’s, Eze’s arrival boosts Flying Eagles

    Yahaya’s, Eze’s arrival boosts Flying Eagles

    Musa Yahaya and Chidera Eze  were expected to join up with the rest of the Flying Eagles squad in training camp in Kaduna before the end of yesterday, just as several other players have confirmed their own arrivals.

    According to Flying Eagles secretary, Aliyu Auwal Ibrahim, Musa Yahaya from Tottenham Hotspur youth academy and Chidera Eze of FC Porto confirmed they would be with the Nigeria U-20 team on Sunday.

    Defender Wilfred Ndidi, who last week signed a professional deal with Belgian club Genk, as well as skipper Musa Muhammed and Ifeanyi Matthew, who are away in Europe, informed the team they will join up not later than Tuesday.

    “We will soon have a full house in camp. Alhassan Ibrahim ‘Muazam’ has already rejoined the team, so too Sulaiman Abdullahi. Both players have been away in Europe on trials,” disclosed Aliyu Auwal.

    “And Kingsley Sokari has also promised to join up this week after he featured for the Eagles in friendly matches in the United Arab Emirates.”

    The Flying Eagles will feature in a Super 4, which will also have Nigeria league champions Kano Pillars, Enyimba, Warri Wolves and Dolphins. The tournament will begin on Saturday in Abuja.