The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Spain

  • Spain deports 23 Nigerians

    Spain yesterday deported 23 Nigerians for committing various offences.

    They were deported barely five days after 34 Nigerians were sent home from six European countries for committing immigration-related offences.

    The deportees were sent back home from Switzerland, Germany, Iceland, Austria, Belgium and Hungary.

    The new set of deportees, according to a report by News agency of Nigeria (NAN) arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMlA) Lagos, at about 6.40 a.myesterday.

    The new deportees, comprising 21 men and two women, were brought back in a privileged-style aircraft with registration number EC-IZO.

    Lagos Airport Police CommandspokesmanDSP Joseph Alabi the confirmed the development to NAN.

    Alabi said the deportees were received by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Police.

    He said others also on ground to receive them were officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    According to him, nine of the deportees, who were deported for drug-related offences, were handed over to the NDLEA.

    He said two others, who were deported for criminal offences, were handed over to the police.

    Alabi said the remaining 12 deportees, accused of breaching the country’s immigration rules, were profiled and allowed to go to their respective destinations.

     

  • Mourinho in €3.3m (£2.9m; $3.6m) fraud allegation

    Mourinho in €3.3m (£2.9m; $3.6m) fraud allegation

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been accused of tax fraud by Spanish prosecutors investigating his time as Real Madrid’s head coach.

    The Portuguese-born Mourinho is accused of defrauding Spain of €3.3m (£2.9m; $3.6m) in taxes between 2011 and 2012. He has yet to comment on the claim.

    A prosecutor said he did not declare income from the use of his image rights in order to get an “illicit benefit”.

    Other big names in football have been accused of tax fraud in Spain recently.

    Those include Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, who played under Mourinho and shares the same agent as him. The player is accused of defrauding tax authorities of €14.7m, by also hiding his income from image rights.

    RELATED: “I will dump Madrid if convicted on tax allegation”

    He denies the accusations and is threatening to leave Spain. The Portuguese-born star is set to give evidence in his case on 31 July.

    Mourinho, 54, is accused of two counts of tax fraud – €1.6m in 2011 and €1.7m in 2012. The Madrid prosecutor said the case was presented to a local court.

    Other footballers accused of tax fraud in Spain include:

    • Barcelona and Argentina footballer Lionel Messi, who has been handed a 21-month jail term. His father Jorge, who manages his finances, was also convicted
    • Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano – also an Argentine – admitted tax fraud, escaping a jail term with a one-year suspended sentence
    • Barcelona and Brazilian star Neymar is also facing allegations of corruption and fraud over his transfer to the Spanish club in 2013 – a case which also involves his parents. Prosecutors allege the transfer cost much more than publicly declared, and that millions were concealed from authorities
    • Former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, was arrested in May as part of a money-laundering investigation
  • I’ve offers from Spain, England, Germany — Onyekuru

    I’ve offers from Spain, England, Germany — Onyekuru

    Not in demand Nigerian forward Henry Onyekuru who has been linked with a move to a host of English Premier League clubs says he has been contacted by teams from England, Spain and Germany.

    19 year old Onyekuru has taken the Belgium League by storm this season which is his debut season in the top flight league in Belgium with 17 goals and 6 assists despite playing wide on the left side of the attack of his team.

    Bournemouth, Southampton and Liverpool are among the teams linked with a move for him in the summer with Scottish champions Celtic who failed to sign him in January still interested in him, while in Germany Borussia Monchengladbach are reportedly on his trail , same as Spanish La-Liga side Sevilla.

    Responding to the links , the Aspire academy graduate says he has indeed made contact with teams in England, Spain and Germany regarding a possible move from Eupen in the summer.

    ” Clubs in England, Spain, Scotland and Germany have contacted me but I’m focused on my game. We still have games to play before the season ends, as for now my aim is on the games ahead of me” Onyekuru told Owngoalnigeria.com.

  • Nigeria records increase of 6.5 per cent external trade in 2016 – NBS

    Nigeria records increase of 6.5 per cent external trade in 2016 – NBS

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said the value of the total trade at the end of 2016 was N17. 35 billion.

    The NBS said that the figure was 6.5 per cent higher than the value recorded in 2015.

    The bureau announced this in a report on“Merchandise Trade Intensity Index/Re-exports for fourth quarter’’, released in Abuja.

    The report, however, stated that Nigeria’s external trade in the fourth quarter of 2016 was valued at N5.28 billion.

    “The export component stood at N2.98 billion while the import component stood at N2.31 billion leading to a trade surplus of N671 billion.

    “Trade by sector showed that crude oil exports had the largest share of the total trade, accounting for N2.43 billion or 45.9 per cent trade in fourth quarter.

    “The second major contributor to total trade by sector was manufactured goods with N1.17 billion or 22.1 per cent of total trade,’’ it stated.

    The report stated that manufactured goods were followed by the non-crude oil products, which was also a major contributor to total trade in the quarter under review.

    “The non-crude oil products stood at N1.15 billion or 21.8 per cent while Agricultural goods accounted for N212.7 billion or 4 per cent.

    “Raw material goods accounted for N309 billion or 5.9 per cent and Solid mineral goods stood at N13.1billion or 0.3 per cent of total trade in the quarter.’’

    The report stated that Nigeria’s export intensity in the months of October, November and December 2016 was the highest for South Africa with export intensities of 8.9, 7.3 and 4.1, respectively.

    It stated that export intensity in the fourth quarter was also intense with India with export intensities of 5.8, 5.8 and 1.7 for the last three months of 2016.

    “ Spain and Netherlands also had high export intensities with export intensities of 4.8, 2.9 and 2.0 for Spain and 2.2, 1.5 and 2.2 for the Netherlands.

    “Although United States was one of Nigeria’s major trading partners, its export intensity was low with 0.6, 0.6 and 0.2 for the last three months of 2016.’’

    Meanwhile, the report stated that Nigeria imported mainly from China with total imports of N404.1billion or 17.5 per cent of total imports.

    It stated that China was followed by Belgium with N356.46 billion or 15 per cent while import trade with Netherlands which was the third highest was valued at N230 billion or 10 per cent.

    “ The remaining trading partners contributed relatively lower proportion of the total import trade.

    “United States accounted for N205.6 billion or 8.9 per cent while India accounted for N113.9 billion or 4.9 per cent,’’ the report stated. (NAN)

  • Rivers United’s Asekunowo amazed by Spain experience

    Rivers United’s Asekunowo amazed by Spain experience

    Rivers United defender, Ayobami Asekunowo has admitted that he has learnt a lot in Spain but noted there aren’t much changes.

    “The training tour of Spain is an amazing experience for the entire squad. The facilities here are top notch and their approach is very professional,” Aseknuowo told Goal.

    “We are doing very fine despite the cold here, our next match is on Monday. There isn’t much difference compared to Nigeria however, the weather here is something else, it’s really cold. The facilities here are amazing.

    “The exposure for the team doesn’t come better than this, it has in a way built our confidence level and also exposed us to new ideas. It’s an interesting tour which we shall forever be grateful for,” Ayobami Asekunowo told Goal.

  • Rivers Utd hit Spain Dec. 4

    Rivers Utd hit Spain Dec. 4

    Rivers United are set to depart for Madrid, Spain, next Sunday on a training tour, officials have disclosed.

    The Port Harcourt club, who will represent Nigeria in next year’s CAF Champions League, expect to be granted their entry visas to Spain this week.

    A contingent of 28 players and 13 officials will spend 10 days in Spain, where the team will play a number of test games.

    The Nigeria league runners-up have been training in Abuja ahead of the new season. They have won all three pre-season games in Abuja.

    They are due in Kaduna on Monday for an invitational Shehu Dikko Tournament and are due back in Abuja on Saturday before their departure to Spain the following day.

  • Ex Barcelona striker Eto’o risks jail over tax fraud

    Ex Barcelona striker Eto’o risks jail over tax fraud

    Former Barcelona star Samuel Eto’o has been accused of tax evasion in Spain and could face a ten-and-a-half year prison sentence if found guilty, according to reports in Spain.
    A Spanish public prosecutor has accused the former African footballer of the year of conspiring to evade 3.5 million euros ($4.4 million) in taxes owed on income from his image rights when he was playing for Barcelona between 2006-2009.
    According to Spanish newspaper El Pais, there are four charges levelled against him, which could amount to 10 and a half years behind bars and a fine of €14m.
    Additionally, his agent at the time, Josep Maria Mesalles, would also stand trial if the reported prosecution effort is accepted.
    And as well as the long prison term, prosecutors are demanding he be fined around £12m.
    The former Cameroon striker is also reported to have operated two companies — Bulte 2002 in Spain and Tradesport in Hungary — and this allowed him to transfer his image rights between the two and avoid having to pay tax.
    However, Eto’o is not the first person associated with Barcelona to come under scrutiny for his tax returns, with Lionel Messi handed a 21-month suspended prison sentence in July after being found guilty of tax evasion. He only avoided time behind bars due to his previously clean criminal record.
    And currently, Neymar is accused of similar charges, and on Wednesday the prosecutor requested that he be sentenced to two years in jail if he is found guilty.

  • Kano seeks pact with Spain on education

    The Kano State Government is seeking collaboration between the state-owned Northwest University and the Regional Government of Cantabria, in Spain, aimed at boosting the status of the university and socio-economic development of the state.

    A seven-member delegation from the state and the university led by its Pro-chancellor, Malam Sule Hamma, paid a working visit to Spain to discuss possible areas of collaboration between various enterprises of Cantabria Region and Kano State.

    Hamma told officials of Cantabria Regional Government that as a young institution, the Northwest University seeks to expand and is, particularly, interested in tapping from the experience of the University of Cantabria in the areas of research, staff/students exchange, and ICT deployment.

    “We hope our visit would open a door that will trigger a partnership with the University of Cantabria in the areas for capacity building for Staff of Northwest University, deployment of ICT, library resource management and short-term Staff/Students exchange programme,” he said.

    The team also initiated discussions with the University’s Faculty of Medicine to aid the take-off of a Public Health and Diagnostic Institute, as well as the establishment of a faculty of Clinical sciences and a teaching hospital at the Northwest University.

    Similarly, both teams discussed potential partnership with the Hydraulic Institute at Santander, on technical assistance aimed at establishing a Faculty of Engineering with specialisation in Water resources engineering at the university.

    The delegation also sought potential ties between Cabarceno Wild Life Park and Kano State Government in wild life management and tourism.

    In her remarks, the Vice President and Minister for Universities, Research, Environment and Social Policy, Eva Diaz Tezanos, said public and private sectors her region were ready to establish possible relationships in the areas of education, commercial, industrial and tourism exchange with Kano State Government and its business community.

    Mrs.Tezanos explained that Northwest University stands to benefit from partnership with the University of Cantabria, which has a track record of 40 years of teaching, research and academic excellence.

    Other members of the Kano team were Dr. Bakari Ado Hussain, Special Adviser to the Governor on Education; Prof Mustapha Isa, Vice Chancellor, Northwest University; Alhaji DanAsabe Yahaya, Director Special Duties, Deputy Governor’s Office; UbaTanko Mijinyawa, Senior Special Assistant to Governor, and Esteban Ortiz Abascal, CEO B&B Leather Ltd.

  • Falconets down but not out – Dedevbo

    Falconets down but not out – Dedevbo

    Falconets Coach, Peter Dedevbo, has remained bullish despite the 6-0 walloping by Japan in Nigeria’s first match at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea on Sunday.

    Dedevbo, who acknowledged the superiority of the Japanese side, insisted that the Sunday’s result will not mark the end of the road for Nigeria in the tournament.

    He is optimistic that his girls will bounce back to pick maximum points from the remaining two matches in the group stage, and charged the players to put behind them the horror of the first game and focus on the Canada and Spain challenge.

    “We are down but not out, and this is the time for us to fight till the end of the competition. It would be fool –hardy for us to start feeling sorry for ourselves because it will affect our focus for the remaining games in the tournament.

    “I must acknowledge the fact that the Japanese side was good, even though I didn’t envisage the goal margin. The outcome means that we will return to the trenches and re-strategize.”

    Japan powered to victory through strikes from Mami Ueno and Yuka Momiki, who netted a hat -trick and brace respectively. The duo’s attacking force resulted in an own goal by Nigerian defender Mary Ologbosere. Yuka Momiki was named the Live Your Goal player of the match.

  • PRE-SEASON: Ifeanyi Ubah to tour five foreign countries

    PRE-SEASON: Ifeanyi Ubah to tour five foreign countries

    The Management of FC Ifeanyi Ubah have concluded plans to embark on a two-week European tour of five countries – United Kingdom, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Turkey.

    The planned tour is a move to prepare the team for next season’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Federation Cup and CAF Confederation Cup campaigns.

    The Anambra Warriors won the 2016 Federation Cup final after beating Nasarawa United 5-4 on penalties.
    However, management has approved and released cash reward (winning bonuses) for the players, management and the supporters club to appreciate them for their commitment and determination throughout the season and the eventual Federation Cup triumph as follows:
    a) N10, 000, 0000 for the footballers.
    b) $10,000 for the Head Coach/Technical Director, Mitko Dobrev and Assistant Coach, Rafael Everton.
    c) N3, 000,000 for the management and coaching staff.
    d) N2, 000,000 for the supporters club.
    The management has also approved a minor reorganization in the top level of the coaching staff aimed at repositioning the team.
    In this regard, management announced the appointment of Kenichi Yatsuhashi, a Japanese-American and former Head Coach of Accra Hearts of Oak as the new Head Coach of FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

    He holds a USSFA and National Youth Coaching licence, a CONCACAF Internatonal Coaching licence, an NSCAA Goalkeeping Diploma and a KNBV Advanced Diploma, IFA GK Certificate and FIFA and FIFA/AFC Grassroots Certificate.
    The board also appointed Mr Yaw Preko as the new Assistant Coach/Physical trainer of the Club. Yaw Preko joins Fc Ifeanyi Ubah from Accra Hearts of Oak where he was acting Head Coach. Yaw Preko is also currently the Acting Head Coach of Ghana’s national Team (Black Stars of Ghana) and a former top striker in Turkish football club, Fenerbahce S.K.
    Similarly, management promoted its Bulgarian Head Coach, Mitko Dobrev to the position of the Technical Director of the Club.
    On another note, following the successful utilization of the N100,000,000 war chest handed down to the team by the Management during the mid season, the management is pleased to announce the approval and release of the sum of N150,000,000 to the club for the enhancement of the club, signing of additional players and vigorous preparation for next seasons.
    The road show, presentation of the cup to the people of Anambra State and official unveiling of newly appointed technical officials will take place on the 16th of November, 2016.