Tag: Lulu

  • CIA fires Lulu, a bomb-sniffing dog

    CIA fires Lulu, a bomb-sniffing dog

    The Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) has fired Lulu, an adorable black Labrador, from a training programme after refusing to become a bomb-sniffing dog.

    In a series of tweets, the CIA explained that Lulu, who was being trained for the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia, “began to show signs that she wasn’t interested in detecting explosive odours.”

    In spite of attempts to motivate her with food and toys, Lulu showed zero interest in sniffing for explosives and “was clearly no longer enjoying herself,” CIA said.

    “Sometimes, even after testing, our pups make it clear being an explosive detection K9 isn’t for them.

    “We’re sad to announce that a few weeks into training, Lulu began to show signs that she wasn’t interested in detecting explosive odours.

    “All dogs, like humans, have good and bad days when learning something new. Same for our pups, though it usually lasts just a day or two.

    “There are a million reasons why a dog has a bad day and our trainers must become doggy psychologists to figure out what will help pups,” CIA tweeted.

    According to the  agency, sometimes, a pup is bored and needs extra playtime, sometimes they need a little break, or it is a minor medical condition like a food allergy.

    “For some dogs, after weeks of working with them, it’s clear the issue isn’t temporary and instead, this just isn’t the job they are meant for.

    “Lulu wasn’t interested in searching for explosives. Even when motivated with food and play, she was clearly no longer enjoying herself.

    “Our trainers’ top concern is physical and mental well-being of K9s. They made difficult decision and did what’s best for Lulu: stop her training”.

    CIA said when a dog is removed or retires from its K9 programme, the handler and their family is given the chance to adopt them and many do.

    “Lulu is no longer training, but was adopted by her handler and currently living her best life in retirement.

    “We’ll miss Lulu but it was the right decision for her and we wish her all the best in her new life!” CIA wrote.

    It said Lulu now enjoys her days playing with his kids and a new friend, and sniffing out rabbits and squirrels in the backyard.

    According to the agency, however, Lulu’s handler still needs a K9 partner, and went on to introduce the newest member of the Fall 2017 Puppy Class – Heron, aka Harry.

    “As the K9 class was only in the imprint stage of training when Lulu left, we were able to bring on a new CIAK9 and catch them up on training.

    “At just over a year old, Harry is the youngest pup in class, but has an incredible drive to learn and is super smart,” CIA tweeted.

    NAN

  • NFA corruption matter: You’ve case to answer, court tells Lulu, others

    NFA corruption matter: You’ve case to answer, court tells Lulu, others

    Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has dismissed the no-case-submission filed by Sani Lulu, a fomer President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in the corruption matter brought against him and three others by the EFCC.

    SportingLife reports that Bolaji Ojo-Oba,  former NFF secretary-general, Taiwo Ogunjobi,  former executive board member and  former first vice president of NFF, Amanze Uchegbulem are the other accused persons.

    The accused persons were said to have mismanaged about N1.3 billion while in office between 2006 and 2010 in the eight count charge brought against them by the EFCC.

    The judge, while dismissing the application said the defendants were bound by the Public Procurement Act (PPA) and should defend themselves in the charge levelled against them by the EFCC.

    “Let me on equivocal term say that the NFA or NFF which manages football in Nigeria enjoys the patronage of the Federal Government either collective or through the National Sports Commission (NSC).

    “The NFF status is not an act of the National Assembly but it must be subject to the laws of Nigeria.

    “This is particularly in a case where the money being expended is tax payers’ money and not one of a limited liability company.

    “The provision of section 60 of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) covers NFF and having said that, it followed that all the defendants are bound by the provision of the PPA”, the judge stated.

    On the argument that the third accused person (Ojo-Oba) had no case to answer as he was not a board member of the NFF, the judge said the NFF General Secretary had much to answer.

    Justice Evoh said this was evident where the NFF status bestowed on the General Secretary all the administrative work of the NFF Secretariat.

    “By the provision of the law, the third defendant might be privy to the dealings of the NFF in a normal situation.

    “This is equally brought by the provisions of article 42, 61, 65 and 66 respectively; what is more is that article 62 of the status defined the role of the third accused.

    “It is obvious that the third accused is an active member of the NFF and does not need to be a board member to have been charged with other accused persons”,  he said.

    The judge, however, said that he can only determine the true position of the matter when the accused persons enter for their defense.

    He subsequently dismissed the no-case-submission application and picked March 9, as date for the four accused persons to open their defense.

    Mr Patrick Okolo (SAN), who represented counsels to the four accused persons, said the decision of the court to overrule them was a natural course of justice.

    Okolo said: “We made a case that the accused persons have no case to answer but the judge has overruled us and what he is saying is that they need to react to evidence given by the prosecution.

    “It is a natural course in the legal profession that if you are accused and if there is any element of information you dish out that require explanation, the accused can be called upon to explain and that is what the court has said.

    “The next step is for us to call our witnesses to give evidence or to react to the evidence given by the prosecution.

    “This will give us the opportunity to state our own side of the story and we have our four witnesses ready.”

  • LULU DRUMS UP SUPPORT FOR FCT PRINCIPALS’ CUP

    LULU DRUMS UP SUPPORT FOR FCT PRINCIPALS’ CUP

    Former NigeriaFootball Federation (NFF) President Sani Lulu Abdullahi has thrown his weight behind the organisers of the 2015 FCT Principals’ Cup Football Competition.

    The former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Director of Sports, who spoke at the Area 3 Garki ,Abuja, Football Field at the weekend, where he watched his academy boys, FOSLA Academy, play a friendly match against Supreme Court FC Fedeers’ team, said the best thing to happen to grassroots development of football in the FCT is the intiative of the FCT Football Assocaition to organise the Principals’ Cup in the capital city.

    Hear him: “This is a welcome development which every sports-loving Nigerian should embrace to the fullest. I am more impressed because the organisers have decided to de-emphasise the involvement of government in the competition, and have decided to seek the involvement of corporate bodies in the competition. This is a laudable one, which is a strong foundation for future sustainability. The corporate world should embrace the idea, as this would provide them the opportunity to invest in the future of the young players that would emerge from that competition”.

    Lulu said that the gains of such investment supercedes every other thing. “I want to make it very clear that no country in the world can develop effectively in the game, if adequate attention is not paid on the development of the game at the grassroots. It is at the schools that the real raw talents would be identified, and nutured to stardom,” he said.

    The Omachi Atah Igala, who is the Proprietor of FOSLA Academy, said his boys will surely take part in the competition, and that that would be another opportunity for the boys to exhibit their talents to all Nigerians. In the friendly match, FOSLA Academy defeated Supreme Court Feeders by three goals to one.

  • Lulu demands probe into match-fixing claims

    Lulu demands probe into match-fixing claims

    Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Sani Lulu has demanded a full-scale investigation into claims by a convicted Singaporean match-fixer that he qualified Nigeria to the 2010 World Cup.

    Lulu also said this was a deliberate attempt by some persons to undermine his achievements in office.

    Wilson Raj Perumal from Singapore, who recently confessed to match-fixing charges, had said in his book that he helped the NFF in 2010 to fix a qualifying match that ensured the Eagles qualified for the World Cup.

    The NFF immediately dismissed the match-fixing allegations, but the former NFF boss is not impressed as he has insisted that someone somewhere is up to mischief.

    Speaking to AfricanFootball.com, Lulu alleged that those who are behind the match-fixing report are out to rubbish Super Eagles qualification for the 2010 World Cup under his leadership.

    He said, “I was directly in charge of everything that had to do with Super Eagles qualification for the 2010 World Cup. I have never met that man and I don’t know anything about match-fixing.

    “I want the NFF to immediately commence investigations into the allegations.

    “This is not good for the image of the country and the football federation. Everything we did to qualify Eagles for the 2010 World Cup is recorded.

    “I want NFF to try to find out if anybody under the cover of the Presidential Task Force engaged in such a criminal act without my knowledge.”

    Lulu also queried why the match-fixing allegations are coming so close to the NFF elections in August.

    “It is also curious that this is coming at a time that elections into the board of the NFF are around the corner,” he said.

    “I feel this is an attempt to undermine the credibility and integrity of some people who are seen as potential threats in the forthcoming elections.”

  • Oneya, Lulu urge Nigeria focus

    Oneya, Lulu urge Nigeria focus

    Two former chairmen of the Nigeria Football Association, Brig Gen. Dominic Oneya (rtd) and Sanni Lulu Abdulahi, have urged the Super Eagles’ CHAN team to remain focused ahead of the start of the championship on Saturday in South Africa.

    The duo were on the same flight with the Eagles from Lagos to Johannesburg and are presently in Cape Town as members of various committees organising the CHAN tourney.

    Oneya, who spoke first after exchanging greetings with players and officials of the team, said he has been impressed with what the NFF has been doing to prepare the team but added that focus and concentration is what will bring results.

    “Coach Keshi knows this and I can only wish the team the best of luck”, he said.

    Lulu, on his part said with what he has been reading in the media about the team, he is not in doubt about their abilities to excel but cautioned against over-confidence.

    “I wish you guys the best of luck as you strive once again to bring honour to our dear fatherland,” he said.

  • Lulu seeks support for Keshi’s rebuilding programme

    Lulu seeks support for Keshi’s rebuilding programme

    Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Sani Abdullahi Lulu, has advised Nigerians to lend their support to Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi, as he strives to rebuild the senior national team.

    Lulu, who spoke to sports writers in Abuja, said what the Eagles gaffer deserves at this point is advice on how to move the team forward and not negative criticisms which could distract him.

    The former NFF president said those who have continued to blame Keshi for failing to stop the players’ protest in Namibia over the $10,000 match bonus were unfair to him because even as coach of the team, he has his limitations when it comes to such matters.

    He advised the football federation to always embrace a more transparency way of handling such issues and be ready at all times to tell the players the true position of things in order to avoid similar situation in future.