Nigeria To Vigorously Pursue Repatriation Of Artefacts – President Buhari

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April 30, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari says the Nigerian Government will continue to vigorously pursue the repatriation of looted the nation’s artefacts from abroad, including 1,130 Benin Bronzes in Germany’s public museums.

The President gave the assurance on Friday in Abuja while receiving the Traditional Ruler of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, accompanied by members of the Royal Court of Benin and the Board of Trustees of the Benin Royal Museum.

The Monarch was at State House to thank the President for the recent return of two important Benin Bronzes to their original place of abode by the University of Cambridge and the University of Aberdeen, both in the United Kingdom, after 125 years.

Germany Takes Italy To Court Over Nazi Compensation Claims

By

faith Jegede

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April 30, 2022

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Germany is suing fellow NATO ally, Italy at the highest U.N. court, with claims that Rome has continued to allow victims of Nazi war crimes to claim compensation from the German state even after an earlier ruling that such claims violated international law.

Germany’s application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), published on the court website late on Friday, says Italy continues to allow compensation claims to be brought in domestic courts despite the ICJ’s 2012 ruling that this violated Berlin’s right to immunity under international law.

Berlin says that since the 2012 ruling, there have been more than 25 new compensation claims filed in Italy against the German state for damages arising from Nazi crimes during World War Two. In many of these cases, courts have ordered Germany to pay compensation.

To satisfy the claims in two such cases, Italian courts are trying to seize properties in Rome owned by the German state.

Germany says it has filed the case at the ICJ now because an Italian court has said it will decide by May 25 whether to force a sale of the buildings, some of which house German cultural, archeological, historical and educational institutions.

Berlin has asked the court to take so-called provisional measures to ensure Italy does not publicly auction off the property while its wider case over compensation claims is being considered. No date has yet been set for a provisional measures hearing but one is expected within the next few weeks.

It generally takes years for the ICJ, also known as the World Court, to issue a final decision in cases.

The dispute over World War Two compensation claims started in 2008 when Italy’s highest court ruled that Germany should pay around 1 million euros to families of nine people who were among 203 killed by the German army in Civitella, Tuscany in 1944.

A number of similar compensation claims followed.

Germany has argued it has already compensated for World War Two injustices in extensive peace and reparations treaties with affected countries, paying out billions of euros since the war ended with the Nazi regime’s defeat in 1945.

New Course Record Expected At 8th Okpekpe 10km Road Race

By

Emenike Agu

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April 30, 2022

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The Okpekpe International 10km Road Race presently has a Men’s course record of 28:35 minutes run by Ethiopia’s Teshome Mekonnen in 2014.

Barely 30 days to go to the start of the eighth edition of the Okpekpe International 10km road race, organisers of the historic event have predicted a new men’s course record.

Ethiopia’s Teshome Mekonnen ran 28:35 minutes to set the men’s course record at the second edition of the race in 2014.

Race director, Zack Amodu, says the new rules guiding the invitation of athletes and the quality of the elite cast so far confirmed for the race point to only one direction: a new men’s and probably women’s course records come May 28, 2022, in Okpekpe.

‘One of the requirements for World Athletics elite label races is that each race must have at least five athletes per gender, irrespective of their country or territory representation, who have recorded in 2020, 2021, or 2022 at least one World Athletics legal performance within the standard set for the classification,’ said Amodu.

“For a World Athletics elite label 10km race, the standard for men is 28.27 minutes while for women it is 33.07 minutes.

“The standard for men is better than the 28.35 minutes record set in 2014 and to have at least five athletes who have run faster than that within the last three years among the elite cast for the Okpekpe race, your bet is as good as mine.”

Amodu is also confident a new women’s course record also looks achievable judging by the quality of the cast of elite women who will be in Okpekpe on May 28.

“This year’s race promises to be very explosive as far as the actions over hills and tarred roads, starting from Apana Road and ending in Okpekpe town,” added Amodu who says the quality of the organisation is never in doubt.

“For the race to be classified as one of the World Athletics elite label races, it means the organizational ability of the organisers has passed all the required tests.

‘For the avoidance of doubt, a World Athletics label denotes high standards in event organisation, safety and runner experience, application of World Athletics rules and regulations and in particular the competition and technical rules,’ said Amodu.

The historic Okpekpe International 10km Road Race is organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing, a leader in sports marketing, sponsorship, hospitality, and rights acquisition business with operations in Nigeria.

It is the first road race in West Africa to be granted a label rating (bronze) and the first in West Africa to be upgraded to a silver label race.

Food Lovers Celebrate As GTCO Food And Drinks Festival Kicks Off

By

Olasunbo Okoromi

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April 30, 2022

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Food lovers around Lagos are certainly in for a mouth-watering weekend as Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc returns with its annual Food and Drink Festival after a two-year break due to Pandemic.

The festival kicks off Saturday April 30 and runs till Monday, May 2 2022.

Speaking at a media announcement in Lagos, the Group’s Corporate Communications Team lead, Charles Eremi, revealed that over 150 vendors from all over the country are expected at the festival. GTCO Food & Drink Festival is an annual food exhibition and sales event aimed at projecting the diverse angles of the food industry.

This year’s edition is taking place at the GTCentre, Plot 1, Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos with the theme Authentic Nigerian Cuisine.

According to Eremi, the group is glad to continue the fair aimed at driving the viability of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Nigerian food sector.

“This is the fifth edition of the GTCO Food and Drink Fair after a two-year break and ready to accommodate more vendors than in previous editions,” he said.

Eremi said that the free to attend three-day festival would feature cooking masterclasses of cuisines chosen from all around the world and over 150 free retail stalls showcasing Nigeria’s street food.

“We hope to promote Nigerian cuisine and deliver a great experience for participants this year,” Eremi said.

The team lead reiterated the group’s aim to boost the retail and SMEs food sector by making the exhibition free for all participating vendors.

“The selection of the vendors was done following a two-week application period on the GTCO Food and Drink fair online platform.

“We want to maximise the potential of our local food and drink industry.

“We will have an array of Nigerian cuisine at the fair. We are ready to handle the number of persons expected at the fair, we have the right measures in place in terms of security and health care.

“The fair is not profit-driven as the vendors are not paying for their stands, most of the food will be discounted, it is part of GTCO’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.

“We will have marshals go around to ensure vendors sell within the agreed range,” he said.

CAF President launches CAF African schools football programme

By

Emenike Agu

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April 30, 2022

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Programme will also serve as the provision of education, coaching, football and skills development courses.

In a bid to strengthen collegiate football in Africa, the Confederation of African Football CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, has launched the CAF African Schools football programme situated in Maputo, Mozambique.

The commencement of the School program is part of the goals Motsepe elaborated on during a visit to Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire in April 2021 where he focused on youth football development in Africa.

Earlier, the CAF president paid a courtesy visit to the Mozambique president, Filipe Nyusi, who’s also a fan and preacher of football development in the country.

Motsepe, who led top dignitaries in the football class both within the country and beyond, witnessed the CAF African Schools Football Championship kick-off event at the Costa do Sol Stadium.

The guests present included: Vice-Minister of Education, Manuel Basso, the Sports State Secretary, Carlos Gilberto Mendes, CAF 5th Vice President, Kanizat Ibrahim, CAF General Secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba and football Presidents from Mozambique, Angola, Comoros, Malawi, Mauritius, South Africa, representatives of other African nations and the co-founder of the Motsepe Foundation, Precious Moloi-Motsepe.

The CAF President also donated $500,000 to displaced communities in the country and emphasised the need for continual development of school football in Africa.

“Schools football is at the heart of the long-term development and growth of African football. One of the best investments that we can make to ensure that African football is amongst the best world is to invest in schools football and football infrastructure for boys and girls at school, amateur and professional level,”

Meanwhile, the CAF African Schools Football Programme is in partnership with CAF, African Government and Football Associations from all 41 participating countries.

The programme will also serve as the provision of education, coaching, football and skills development courses.

The CAF African Schools Football Programme also received a donation of USD 10 million from “The Motsepe Foundation” which will be used as prize money.

The winning schools will use the prize money to provide football infrastructure, education and other skills development facilities at these schools.

According to CAF, “Football Associations from 41 countries will participate in the inaugural event.

The winning schools will use the prize money to provide football infrastructure, equipment and educational development courses at these schools.

AWCON 2022: Super Falcons To Face Vastly-Improved South Africa, Burundi In Morocco

By

Emenike Agu

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April 30, 2022

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The Super Falcons are in Group C alongside South Africa, Botswana and Burundi for the group stage of the 2022 AWCON in Morocco

Nigeria’s Super Falcons have been grouped alongside the trio of South Africa, Botswana and Burundi in the group stage of the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON), billed for Morocco between July 2 and 23.

The Super Falcons’ group opponents were revealed during the glamorous draw ceremony held at the Mohamed VI Complex in the North African kingdom.

The Super Falcons will start their campaign against the Bayana Bayana before going on to face the other two countries in the group.

The South African Women’s team passes as one of the continent’s most improved sides in recent times and their victory over the Falcons at the Aisha Buhari Cup in Lagos is still fresh in the minds of many

That said, Nigeria women’s team is the most successful as far as the AWCON tournament; winning all but two of the previously held editions.

They won the Women AFCON titles in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2018.

The 2020 competition was hampered by the covid19 pandemic.

Equatorial Guinea won the competition in 2008 and 2012, but have lost their mojo in the past few years; and failed to qualify for this year’s finals in Morocco.

Aside from battling to retain their title, the Super Falcons have to set the modest target of making it to the semi-final in Morocco.

This is because all four semi-finalists in Morocco will fly Africa’s flag at the 32-team FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year.

Full groups

*Group A*

Morocco

Burkina Faso

Senegal

Uganda

*Group B*

Cameroonⓘ

Zambia

Tunisia

Togo

*Group C*

Nigeria

South Africa

Burundi

Botswana

Four Football Matches To Watch This Weekend

By

Emenike Agu

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April 30, 2022

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Chelsea travel to Goodison Park with Chelsea legend, Frank Lampard needing a great favour.

Kwara United v Rivers United @Kwara Sports Complex @4pm on May 1

The question still is-who will stop Rivers United’s charge to the NPFL title this season? Kwara United will try. The Kwara side boasts an excellent home form that has brought nine victories out of 12 outings, with no loss.

Kwara United’s form has been below average in their last five matches, in which they have picked up just three points, which includes two consecutive draws in Ilorin. Though they have scored 17 goals in Ilorin, conceding just five.

Stanley Eguma has reiterated that though his team is four points clear at the top of the table that there cannot be any complacency. “Like I will always say, it is not yet over. The league is a marathon,” Eguma told the official NPFL website. Another win on the road will move Rivers United closer to becoming champions.
Current Form: Everton [L-D-D-D-L]; Chelsea [W-L-W-W-W]

Head-to-head
16/01/22 NPF Rivers United 3 – 0 Kwara United
26/05/21 NPF Kwara United 1 – 1 Rivers United
10/01/21 NPF Rivers United 3 – 0 Kwara United
16/02/20 NPF Kwara United 1 – 1 Rivers United
09/02/20 NPF Rivers United 1 – 0 Kwara United
Prediction: Kwara United 1-1 Rivers United

Everton v Chelsea @Goodison Park @2pm on May 1

Third from bottom Everton under a Chelsea legend, Frank Lampard faces Chelsea, third from the top with serious ramifications for the result.

The Toffees have six games to save themselves and home form will be key to that survival.

Lampard’s men coped well away at Anfield in their last match while Chelsea were profligate against Manchester United on Thursday.

Lampard will be without Ben Godfrey but Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be back in the squad despite fitness doubts. Lampard needs a result no matter what because 17th-placed Burnley, who are away at doomed Watford.
Current Form: Everton [L-D-W-L-L]; Chelsea [D-W-L-W-W]

Head-to-head
16/12/21 PRL Chelsea 1 – 1 Everton
08/03/21 PRL Chelsea 2 – 0 Everton
12/12/20 PRL Everton 1 – 0 Chelsea
08/03/20 PRL Chelsea 4 – 0 Everton
07/12/19 PRL Everton 3 – 1 Chelsea
Prediction: Everton 1-2 Chelsea

AC Milan v Fiorentina @San Siro @2pm on May 1

Fiorentina are just one of four teams to have defeated AC Milan in Serie A this season. In the first installment last November, it took a brace from the now-departed Dusan Vlahovic to hand Stefano Pioli’s team their first defeat of the season.

Germany Takes Italy To UN Court Over Compensation Claims

By

Zoe Maven

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April 30, 2022

0

Germany has filed a case against Italy at the highest U.N. court because Rome continues to allow victims of Nazi war crimes to claim compensation from the German state even after an earlier ruling that such claims violated international law.

Germany’s application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), published on the court website late on Friday, says Italy continues to allow compensation claims to be brought in domestic courts despite the ICJ’s 2012 ruling that this violated Berlin’s right to immunity under international law.

Berlin says that since the 2012 ruling, there have been more than 25 new compensation claims filed in Italy against the German state for damages arising from Nazi crimes during World War Two. In many of these cases, courts have ordered Germany to pay compensation.

To satisfy the claims in two such cases, Italian courts are trying to seize properties in Rome owned by the German state.

Germany says it has filed the case at the ICJ now because an Italian court has said it will decide by May 25 whether to force a sale of the buildings, some of which house German cultural, archeological, historical and educational institutions.

Berlin has asked the court to take so-called provisional measures to ensure Italy does not publicly auction off the property while its wider case over compensation claims is being considered. No date has yet been set for a provisional measures hearing but one is expected within the next few weeks.

It generally takes years for the ICJ, also known as the World Court, to issue a final decision in cases.

EU Border Agency Chief Fabrice Leggeri Offers Resignation

By

Zoe Maven

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April 30, 2022

0

The head of the European Union’s Frontex border agency, Fabrice Leggeri, has offered his resignation, according to French and German sources.

French official Leggeri had resigned “following an investigation into his management of the agency by Olaf,” the European Anti-Fraud Office, the French source added, confirming press reports he was stepping down.

The agency’s board has yet to accept his resignation but a German government spokesman said at a regular press conference that he can confirm that Leggeri has offered his resignation” which “opens the possibility of a new start” for Frontex,

Olaf’s report into Leggeri, who has led Frontex since 2015, found he “did not follow procedures, was dishonest with the EU and managed staff badly,” according to French magazine Le Point.

Frontex has repeatedly been accused by aid groups of practising illegal “pushbacks” of migrants after they make it across EU borders — or of turning a blind eye when national authorities have done the same.

Greece’s land and sea borders with Turkey have been a major focus of such allegations.

On Wednesday, an investigation by French daily Le Monde and Lighthouse Reports found that Frontex recorded pushbacks in Greek waters between March 2020 and September 2021 as “operations to prevent departures (towards Europe), carried out in Turkish waters”.

Marked by repeated political scares over migrant arrivals in Europe, Leggeri’s seven years as Frontex chief have coincided with a major increase in resources for the agency.

It is set to be reinforced to 10,000 staff watching the EU’s external borders by 2027.

Former Tennis Star Boris Becker Sentenced To Jail

By

Zoe Maven

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April 30, 2022

0

Former tennis star Boris Becker has been jailed for two and a half years after being found guilty by a British court of charges relating to his 2017 bankruptcy.

The six-time Grand Slam champion, will serve half of the term having been convicted at Southwark Crown Court in London over his transfer of huge amounts of money from his business account.

He also failed to declare a property in Germany and concealed 825,000 euros of debt and shares in a tech firm.

He was acquitted earlier this month of a further 20 charges, including nine counts of failing to hand over trophies and medals he won during his glittering tennis career.

Becker told jurors he did not know the whereabouts of the memorabilia, including two of his three Wimbledon men’s singles trophies.

Judge Deborah Taylor had released Becker – who won Wimbledon as an unseeded teenager – on conditional bail ahead of her sentencing decision on Friday.

The former world number one told the jury how his $50 million career earnings were swallowed up by a costly divorce from his first wife Barbara Becker, child maintenance payments and “expensive lifestyle commitments”.

Becker said he was “shocked” and “embarrassed” when he was declared bankrupt in June 2017 over an unpaid loan of more than £3 million on his estate in Mallorca, Spain.

The German, who has lived in Britain since 2012, said he had cooperated with trustees trying to secure his assets, even offering his wedding ring, and relied on the advisers who managed his life away from tennis.