₦airaland Forum

CSTRR:
Erling haaland played for Red bull Salzburg in Austria and was already generating balon d'or hypes before even moving to Dortmund.

Is Austria more highly rated than Belgium?

Or is it the quality of agent?

Erling haaland did not do pass onuachu o.

Haaland was noticed in the ucl

vicot:
Abeg..Zouma and Rudigar..who is faster?

none

CSTRR:
Paul onuachu just won the best player in Belgium.

He scored 33 goals in 38 games.

That is elite. Erling haaland no do pass dis one before he moved to Dortmund with all the hype.

Why is he not getting the hype?

Is his skin color or nationality a factor?

He's not playing in an elite league. The Belgian league is a small league going by uefa coefficients.

Aflix:
Dhoom machale dhoom machale dhoom you've watched that too. Seems you are a big fan of Bollywood.

I just love their film culture

By Ade Adesomoju
The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of
Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu , has engaged a new
American lobbying firm to help the group win the
support of the U.S. government.

The one-year deal is slated to run for 12 months
and is costing Mr Kanu and IPOB $750,000, which
is over N300million at the current official exchange
rate of N410 to one U.S. dollar.

PREMIUM TIMES is in possession of the contract
papers which Mr Kanu signed with the BW Global
Group (BWGG LLC, in February.

The firm, co-owned by Jeffrey Birrel and Alan White,
is registered in Washington D.C, the U.S. capital,
which has a high concentration of top government
officials, lawmakers, policymakers, and opinion
leaders, who IPOB is trying to engage on the
rightfulness and necessity of its cause.

The agreement, which took effect from March 1,
2021, came months after an earlier one struck by
Mr Kanu with another U.S.-based lobbying entity,
Mercury Public Affairs LLC, expired.

Under the old contract, IPOB, through Mr Kanu, paid
$85,000 per month beginning September 23, 2019,
in addition to a $5,000 one-time compliance fee.

That means Mr Kanu paid $1,025,000 for the 12-
month contract, which is approximately
N400million, based on the prevailing official
exchange rate at the time (N380 to a dollar).

In June last year, the Nigerian government fumed at
the deal, which it claimed was aimed at discrediting
the country in the U.S. and Europe.

PREMIUM TIMES got the details of both the old and
new deals from the contractors’ registration
statements and agreements filed at the Foreign
Agents Registration Unit of the U.S Department of
Justice.

The registration, mandatory under the U.S. Foreign
Agents Registration Act of 1938 and for “public
disclosure”, entails filing documents, including
completed predesigned forms marked Exhibits A
and B, and the agreements stipulating the full
details of the contract.

Failure to provide this information “is subject to the
penalty and enforcement provisions established in
Section 8 of the Act,” FARA says in one of the
documents reviewed by this reporter.

The services Nnamdi Kanu wants

The terms of the successive contracts with a strict
focus on the U.S appear to be part of Mr Kanu’s
quiet but broad efforts to win the support of the
U.S. government, Congress, policymakers, and
opinion leaders for IPOB.

The filings by BW Global Group (BWGG) after
negotiations were concluded in February show that
the firm was engaged by Mr Kanu to undertake
“political activities” in the U.S. on behalf of IPOB.
The activities include engaging the U.S.

government, Congress and the Department of State,
(the equivalent of Foreign Affairs Ministries in
Nigeria and other countries) and engaging
policymakers on behalf of IPOB.

“The registrant (BWGG) expects to advocate on
behalf of IPOB within the US Government (including
the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of
State) and otherwise engage policymakers and
opinion leaders,” a part of the registration statement
marked Exhibit B, read.

The agreement, signed on February 24, 2021, by Mr
Kanu, another representative of IPOB, Rita Eze, and
a co-owner of BWGG, Mr White, provides further
details of what the job entails.

“BWGG shall provide the IPOB with services relating
to the promotion of human rights and democracy
and shall otherwise act as an advocate for the
indigenous people of Biafra,” the document reads in
part.

It added that BWGG “may also undertake other
similar services that might be referred to BWGG
from the IPOB from time to time by mutual
agreement.”

The deal has the same scope as the expired
contract executed by Mercury Public Affairs, LLC.
Under that agreement, Mercury provided “strategic
consulting and management services specific to
issues facing the client in the areas of government
relations and issues management.”

The payment mode

BWGG is expected to provide the agreed services
under the new agreement to IPOB for a period of
one year from March 1, 2021, through February 28,
2022.

The firm is to receive its payment for “professional
services” of $750,000 in monthly instalments.

But $100,000 is to be paid at the signing of the
agreement covering the first two months – March
and April 2021 – “leaving a balance of $650,000”.

The balance of $650,000 “will be paid in monthly
instalments of $65,000 USD per month commencing
on May 1, 2021, and paid successively on the 1st
of each month until the total fee of $750,000 USD
has been paid to BWGG by the client”.

“Payment to BWG shall be by bank wire or bank
draft,” the document added.

The firm, under the agreement “will provide monthly
status reports as deliverables regarding the
progress and status of the project.”

Nnamdi Kanu and the separatist campaign

Mr Kanu, a British and Nigerian national, has a
relatively strong footing in the U.K.

His engaging lobbyists to win the support of the
U.S. appear to be part of a broader move to win
the buy-in of western powers in the separatist
cause of IPOB.

IPOB, known for its agitation for an independent
Republic of Biafra, has had a series of violent
confrontations with Nigeria’s security agencies.
Weeks of deadly encounters between the group’s
members and soldiers culminated in a military
invasion of Mr Kanu’s home in Afara-Ukwu, near
Umuahia, the Abia State capital, in September 2017.

Mr Kanu, who wants the Igbo-speaking states in
Nigeria’s South-east carved out of Nigeria, fled the
country in the wake of the military invasion.

Following that encounter with IPOB militants, the
Nigerian government obtained a court order on
September 20, 2017, to designate the organisation
a terrorist group and to proscribe it.

But the British government has yet to recognise
IPOB as a terrorist group. There is even suspicion
by some officials of the Nigerian government that
Britain facilitated Mr Kanu’s return to the U.K after
he escaped the military invasion of his home.

PREMIUM TIMES has yet to independently verify
that claim.

With the charges of treasonable felony still pending
against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the
Nigerian government has repeatedly fumed about
the protection he and other IPOB members appear
to be getting from the British government.

Since fleeing Nigeria, Mr Kanu continues to engage
IPOB members through his social media channels,
with the government often attributing escalating
violence in the Southeast region to IPOB.

Many local and international human rights
organisations have also condemned years of
military attacks on the group that started as a
peaceful organisation pursuing the rights of its
members to self-determination.

https://i0.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2017/09/Nnamdi-Kanu.jpg
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB),
Nnamdi Kanu. [Photo credit: Daily Times Nigeria]

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/463466-exclusive-ipob-hires-another-lobbying-firm-in-fresh-n300m-deal.html

Save your tears by the weeknd and Ariana grande is driving me crazy. I can't get enough of it

No Real Madrid player made spain's euro squad list. Shocking

UyaiIncomparabl:
And you got to that conclusion, how?

You joke alot. I've never seen you sober. Always playful and sly. Sometimes i wonder if thats how you behave in real life or you are just fooling around. Aside from that, you are very very saucy. I believe you have a dirty mind.

UyaiIncomparabl:
Thanks, Nairalanders. I don't think I'm deactivating again. The love is too much. Over 100 people sent me a mail begging me not to deactivate my account and that I'm special. I cried profusely last night.

I have changed my mind, thanks.

If i have my way, I would marry you cos you are never serious

Klass99:
Even at the point of your 'supposed exit', you still dey drop savage replies.

I couldn't help LOL , you are an interesting character I swear!

What's going on with you? I really hope you are okay.

Listen to what Sisisioge said or just do you and what's best for your mental health.

Klass klass fiery girl. When are you deactivating cos i know foes have been breathing down your neck like kilode.

Jeon:
Not again..
Gonna miss another friend

You and your friend zzor deceived many guys by posing as females when in reality you are males. God almighty will judge both of you

Ibime:
So Laporte has switched Nationality to Spain?

Na wa oh.

Serves France right sha.

Originally, he's of Basque descent through his great grandparents

OJURONGBE1:
We are in deep soup!

can't wait

donstan18:
Werner, Tammy and Mount won’t be bad against City.

Ruben dias and Jon stones would clip them

popizaino:
Trevor chalobah as Chelsea DM Kwanu


It seems some of us think lowly of our team.

Chaloba! That name rings a bell

By Adejumo Kabir
The United States Department of Justice
has written to the United States
Magistrate Judge in Eastern District of
New York, Ramon Reyes, claiming that
the surety provided by Dapo Abiodun’s
aide, Abidemi Rufai, is a suspected
fraudster.

The Acting U.S. Attorney, Tessa Gorma,
in a letter obtained exclusively by
PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, said the
“surety is suspect in an investigation
into an email impersonation scheme.”

This newspaper reported how Mr Rufai
was arrested while trying to get out of
the U.S. on May 14.

He was accused of allegedly using the
identities of more than 100 Washington
residents to steal more than $350,000 in
unemployment benefits from the
Washington State Employment Security
Department (ESD) during the COVID-19
pandemic last year.

Mr Rufai has since been suspended by
Governor Abiodun.
Last Tuesday, his lawyer, Michael
Barrow, said Mr Rufai denied
“involvement in these transactions.”

His first appearance in court was
Wednesday and he was denied bail
because his brother, Alaba Rufai, who
is listed in court records, could not post
the $300,000 surety bond for his bail.

However, a surety was presented on
Friday with the court ruling that a New
York state resident and family friend of
Mr Rufai could post the bond.

The surety, Nekpen Soyemi, a
registered nurse, whose family comes
from Nigeria, told the court that she
would guarantee the $300,000 bond and
allow Mr Rufai to stay at her and her
husband’s home.

However, the Magistrate Judge, Mr
Reyes, delayed the release of Mr Rufai
until May 25 to give enough time to
federal prosecutors to appeal the order.

Mr Rufai and a suspected
fraudster as surety

The Acting U.S. Attorney, Ms Gorma,
said in her letter to the court that Ms
Soyemi is a suspected fraudster and
should not be allowed to stand surety
for Mr Rufai.

“First, the FBI has conducted research
into the Surety and has learned
information indicating that the Surety is
not an appropriate person to perform
that role,” the letter partly read.

“In 2015, the Surety’s bank (Bank of
America) issued a report naming the
Surety as a suspect in an investigation
into an email impersonation scheme.

“According to the bank’s report, a
person purporting to be a donor
deposited $134,000 into the bank
account of a legitimate nonprofit. The
“donor” (who was never identified)
then contacted the non-profit and
stated that some of the deposited funds
were intended for a different recipient.

“The donor asked the non-profit to wire
the excess funds to three different
accounts, one of which was a Bank of
America account in the Surety’s name.

The report indicates that the Surety
then made cash withdrawals of the
proceeds at two different B of A
locations. The Surety did not respond to
inquiries from Bank of America.

“Second, FBI’s research was unable to
confirm that the Surety owns the listed
real property. Mortgage and deed
records for the property indicate that it
was last purchased by an individual
with the initials L.S.G. on November 7,
2014.”

She further said that the FBI could not
locate records showing that the Surety
has an interest in the property.

“The Surety has also submitted records
showing that she has $335 in
Robinhood investment account and
$1,838 in a checking account. Neither
submission suggests the Surety is in a
position to secure a $300,000 bond.”

The U.S. government
earlier told the court
that it is dangerous to
release Mr Rufai on bail, claiming the
suspect presents an extreme risk of
flight and “if he does escape to Nigeria,
extradition will be extraordinarily
difficult or impossible because of his
ties to the Nigerian government.”

https://i2.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2021/05/Abidemi-Rufai.jpg
Abidemi Rufai
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/463347-rufai-u-s-says-surety-provided-by-dapo-abioduns-aide-is-suspected-fraudster.html

By Agency Report
The Acting Director, University of Ilorin (Unilorin)
Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Olatunde Akanbi, has
created an application on Google play store named
“Poultry Diseases Navigator App”.

According to the Unilorin Bulletin issued on Monday,
the App was created in conjunction with some
Google software developers.

“It is a guide on husbandry practices, vaccination
requirements, diseases outbreaks prevention and
profitability plans for poultry farm owners, farm
supervisors and managers.

“This brings valuable lessons from research carried
out on about 5000 poultry farmers across the length
and breadth of Nigeria and the interventions made
on their flocks over the last 15 years.

“The result of the research revealed needless and
avoidable chick and chicken losses on poultry
farms,’’ it said.

The publication explained that the App covers
diseases such as Aspergillosis, Coccidiosis,
Newcastle diseases, Marek’s disease, Avian
influenza and helminthiasis.

Others, it said, include nutritional induced disease
conditions, several bacterial diseases and air, water,
feed and litter contaminants with excellent pictures
that illustrate the disease conditions.

It described Mr Akanbi, the major designer of the
App, as an Associate Professor/Reader in Veterinary
Pathology.

“Former Ag. Head of the Department of Veterinary
Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Ag.
Director Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of
Ilorin.

“Akanbi, who has been a poultry farmer since 1997,
was a Visiting Research Scholar at Humboldt
University, Berlin Germany, University of Veterinary
Medicine, Hannover, Germany, and the famous
Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Insel-
Riems, Germany, between 2009 and 2019.

“He was elected member of the European Society
of Veterinary Pathology in 2007 and became a
Fellow of the College of Veterinary Surgeons of
Nigeria in 2018,’’ it said.
(NAN)
https://i1.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2017/05/unilorin.jpg
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/463460-unilorin-don-develops-app-for-livestock-management.html

I would miss aguero. I just pray we find a good replacement for him

cocolacec:
Opportunity capital to Europeans and Americans.Nigeria is a fertile ground for Europeans for massive opportunities and profits.

thats true. Mynd44

FergieRaww:
Some people ehn.. lol

with this kind yeye logic, EPL is definitely a farmers league infact a poultry farm cause the league title is between Man city and Liverpool

Villarreal is in the Europa league final with one of the big boys of England... oya when last Leicester city, Everton, westham reach any European final? ... but we have Sevilla, Atleti, Villarreal and Valencia all making an European final at one point abi

The EPL was never a two horse race until recent times. Chelsea has been there, arsenal has been there, leicester has been there, man u has been there. Meanwhile, barca and real have been dragging the title while the rest settle for third and fourth best.

Capaldi:
He should stay in his Farmers league please.

Borrussia dortmund, Borrusia mon'glabach, RB Leipzig, Bayern leverkuseen, hertha berlin, these are strong sides. The real farmer's league is the french ligue un and maybe spanish laliga thank God for atletico madrid.

ShadowCracker:
I have high hopes for Guehi mehn forget him being the best defender at Swansea he is by far the best defender in the championship this season, this guy can be our next John terry he is a rock.
Sarr has had a decent loan spell in my opinion , I hope Tuchel gives them a chance considering the fact we lack a left-footed defender especially Guehi next season.

Still I expect Tuchel to sign a world-class defender this summer, Marquinhos or Varane being my top priorities.

Because as far as I am concerned we won't win an Epl title with players like Zouma, and Christensen.

Its baffling Zouma can score goals but can't defend.

donstan18:
Carry two black players put for your midfield, Na gidigba gidigba you go dey see, not just that...Dm requires experienced players too.

Essien and Makelele: The duo alongside Lampard were pivotal in Mourinho's Chelsea side that won back2back PL titles in the 05/06 and 06/07 seasons.

Capaldi:
Lewandowski is 34 and the Premier league is not a farmers league.

Lewandowski is 32. He's not that old.

Long live FRN

donstan18:
Be honest, which club did you first support?

I was neither here nor there

donstan18:
When Roman bought Chelsea, it didn’t take upto 2 years for Chelsea to gain a lot of African fans, especially Nigeria.

Why City has failed to do the same is what I don’t understand. It’s almost 10 years now, yet their fanbase no dey increase.

Most of the few fans they have are plastic fans that left Arsenal.

Imagine winning League and everybody just dey move on like nothing happened.

What you said is not true. I'm a proud mancity fan and I celebrated like never we won the worldcup. I don't know about fan base increase but i know city got fans. I ve met a couple of them offline and online. Mayorkun is a city fan so am i. little by little our fanbase keep growing. Rome wasn't built in a day.

ShadowCracker:
Last 5 game of Milan scored 14 goals conceded 0 goals, Tomori played all minutes .

It is funny how under Lampard we thought players like Rudiger, and Tomori were finished.
Now both are key players for their respective teams.

Milan are going to sign him for just 28m, blood .

I'm happy for Milan. Finally, after 8 yrs

The commissioner said the government
was also in partnership with foreign
business owners
By Agency Report

The Lagos State Government says it
received a total of 74 applications for
naturalisation on behalf of the Federal
Ministry of Home Affairs within two
years.

The Commissioner for Home Affairs,
Anofiu Elegushi, said this in Ikeja on
Sunday during the 2021 Ministerial
Press Briefing to Commemorate the
Second Year in Office of Gov. Babajide
Sanwo-Olu.

Mr Elegushi said that 35 out of the 74
applications received for naturalisation
received by the ministry had been
screened and recommended to the
Federal Ministry of Interior for approval.

He said the ministry received
naturalisation applications from the
Lebanese, Americans, Europeans,
among others.

The commissioner said the government
was also in partnership with foreign
business owners who intended to
acquire the citizenship of being a
Nigerian via naturalisation.

According to him, with the partnership of
naturalisation and special immigrant
status, Nigeria, especially Lagos State,
stands to benefit from the foreign direct
investment.

”The immigrant business owners also
benefit by growing their businesses in
one of the biggest markets in the world.

”Application for Naturalisation and
Special Immigrant Status is a major
mandate of the Ministry of Home
Affairs. As a national matter, it is mainly
regulated by the domestic laws of
sovereign nations.

”The objective of the exercise is to grant
right of citizenship to foreigners who
have lived in the country continuously
for a period of 15 years and above with
investment interests.

”Special Immigrant Status is also a
means of granting Permanent Residency
to foreign national who marry a Nigerian
citizen,” he said. (NAN)

https://i0.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2021/04/Nigerian-Passport-1.png
Nigerian Passport

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/463337-americans-europeans-apply-for-nigerian-citizenship-official.html

Aflix:
and the main song is superb. Had to even download it.

Bollywood songs are sweet. Reminds me of Dhoom Dhoom

At last, Juve qualifies for the UCL displacing fourth placed napoli to clinch the final spot. The question now is would ronaldo stay or move to another club.