SWITZERLAND TO SUE NIGERIA OVER 2018 OIL TANKER SEIZURE

Authorities in Switzerland have begun planning legal action against the Nigerian government for seizing and detaining a Swiss-flagged oil tanker in January last year.

Reports by various online maritime websites said San Padre Pio and four of its original 16 crewmembers, all of whom are Ukrainian nationals, had since remained under Nigerian government custody in the Bay of Biafra for alleged diesel smuggling and illegal entry into Nigerian territorial waters.

The 12 other crewmembers were released a month and a half following their seizure by Nigerian authorities. However, the four crewmembers who remained in the country had been reportedly enduring “difficult” living conditions, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The decision to file the case with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea came after diplomatic efforts by the Swiss government failed to ensure the release of the vessel and its remaining crew.

The Foreign Ministry decried the seizure and subsequent detention of San Padre Pio and its crew as “a violation of international law” and stated that Switzerland should exhaust all options “to safeguard its interests.”

"SPORT SPLASH" 2019 CALENDER SPORT NEWS ON TV

Sport on TV 2019 calendar: How to watch the Premier League, Rugby World Cup, Anthony Joshua and more

 

Find out when and where every major sporting event in 2019 is on TV with RadioTimes.com’s full guide to the year in sport.

From the 2019 Rugby World Cup to the Premier League, Wimbledon tennis, Ashes cricket, plus athletics, cycling and more, we’ve listed all the major sporting events taking place in 2019.
Anthony Joshua will return to the ring to defend his IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles, England host Australia in the Ashes this summer while Gareth Southgate and his Three Lions will be gunning for glory in the inaugural UEFA Nations League finals.

Premier League 2018/19 full fixture guide

RadioTimes.com will regularly update and add events to our guide to the best sport on BBC, ITV, Sky Sports, BT Sport, Eurosport and more, meaning you’ll never miss a moment.

 

"BREAKING NEWS"NDUME DEFIES BUHARI

A former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, on Tuesday dared the leaders of the All Progressives Congress, including President Muhammadu Buhari, and the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, by unfolding his agenda as a candidate for the Senate presidency in the ninth National Assembly.

The party leadership had last week endorsed the Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, as the Senate president.

But on Tuesday, despite the stand of the party, Ndume went ahead to unveil his nine-point agenda if elected as the next Senate president on June 9.

The Borno South senator in a document, a copy of which was made available to one of our correspondents in Abuja, promised to improve upon the performance of the 8th Senate.

He also pledged to make the office of the Senate President less attractive by reducing the unnecessary privileges attached to it.

The former Senate majority leader pledged to uphold the independence of the legislature and expressed his willingness to “work harmoniously and inter-dependently with the executive without undermining the principle of separation of powers.”

Ndume said he would prioritise and ensure the passage of the Constituency Development Bill to make “constituency projects more transparent, accountable, efficient and effective.”

He said the Senate would agree on timelines for confirmation, passage of bills especially the annual budgets, which he said, would not exceed 90 days from the day of submission.

Ndume added, “We will make laws that will block leakages devise improved means of generating revenue, especially through the amendment and review of our tax laws which will help to reduce reliance on local and foreign loans to finance budget.

“We will run the 9th Senate transparently, through open accountability with full participation of all senators .For example, we will transfer the approving powers of the privileges of the senators like foreign travels, allowances to Senate services committee or a new committee to be known as “ways and means committee.”

BUHARI WAS ASKED TO APOLOGISE TO ONNGHEN

Kindly Share This Story

The African Democratic Congress has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to apologise to the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen.

The ADC also said it would continue to support the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in his quest to reclaim his mandate.

The party’s National Working Committee stated this in a communique issued on Tuesday after its meeting held in Abuja

The ADC faulted the conduct of the 2019 elections.

It claimed that its members, who participated in the exercise, were robbed allegedly through the combined efforts of state institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the National Communications Commission.

The communique, which was read to journalists by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yemi Kolapo, was signed by its Chairman, Ralph Nwosu and the Secretary, Alhaji Said Abdullahi.

The ADC affirmed that democracy in Nigeria could remain relevant through the restoration of the people’s right to vote and elect their political leaders at the executive and legislative organs.

The communique read, “The only way the democratic electoral process can be strengthened to continue to serve as a role model at this stage of Nigeria’s nation building is for the judiciary to continue to play its constitutional role strongly, without fear or favour, in order to stop the excesses of politicians and save the country.

“We, therefore, call on the learned men of the third arm to act to restore power to the people in our democracy. It is in the best interest of every Nigerian that we do not knowingly bring about the obituary of our democracy.

“Finally, we call on President Muhammadu Buhari to tender an unreserved apology to Justice Walter Onnoghen and restore him to his position with immediate effect. Any further progression of the torture of this Supreme Court chief debases Nigeria.”

MANCHESTER MIGHT LOOSE ANDER HERRERA TO PSG WHILE JUAN MATA TO BARCELONA

The club have been in talks over new deals with both players for a number of months and, as far as United are concerned, discussions remain ongoing with nothing yet decided.
But during the recent international break, Herrera, who was a target for Athletic Bilbao in January, admitted he "knew something would come out" about PSG and described initial reports of discussions as "logical when you have three months left on your contract".
"I'm focusing on playing football in the remaining month and a half of the season," he said. "The rest I leave to my agent, both a possible contract renewal with United and talks with another club about my departure."
Mata, who had a year-long extension clause activated by United last season, pondered a return to Spain in January in an interview with a Spanish newspaper, albeit when he was one of a number of players unsettled under previous boss Jose Mourinho.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/04/breaking-amaechi-loses-lga-to-wike/

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/04/breaking-amaechi-loses-lga-to-wike/

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/04/breaking-amaechi-loses-lga-to-wike/

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/04/breaking-amaechi-loses-lga-to-wike/

ARSENAL CLIMB TO THIRD IN VICTORY OVER NEW CASTLE

LONDON (REUTERS) - Goals from Aaron Ramsey and Alexandre Lacazette gave Arsenal a 2-0 win over Newcastle United on Monday (April 1) and lifted them to third place in the Premier League above rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
Ramsey found his way through a packed defence on the half hour to score with a low shot before Frenchman Lacazette put the game to bed in the 83rd minute with a chip over the keeper.The result put Arsenal on 63 points with seven games left, two above Spurs and Manchester United, with Chelsea a further point behind, as Unai Emery's side boosted their hopes of a top-four finish and Champions League football next season.The coach said we had to be patient and efficient in the box, and we did that. It's always like this against Newcastle. We are happy," Lacazette told Sky Sports.
"I can feel the difference in the atmosphere from last season. Now we can maybe go to the Champions League." The visitors had not beaten Arsenal since November 2010 and not won away since December and they appeared to set themselves up for a draw at best in North London, with five men in the back line and another four in front of them for most of the game.
The tactics worked until a sweeping Arsenal move in which Welsh midfielder Ramsey found Lacazette and then raced forward into the area to meet the return pass with a sweetly timed left-foot shot that went into the net off the far post.

Arsenal pushed forward repeatedly as the opening period came to a close but failed to finish off any of their moves, with Sead Kolasinac particularly guilty of some wayward passing.
Their best chance came just before halftime when Lacazette latched onto a pass from Mesut Ozil, spun round and lashed the ball goalwards only for Matt Richie to head it off the line.
Lacazette wrapped up the points, however, when Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles failed to clear a header into the area from Arsenal substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Frenchman nipped in behind Lascelles and chipped an inch-perfect ball over Martin Dubravka to seal the win.
Newcastle remain in 14th place on 35 points, seven points above the relegation places, and have six games left.
"We have to try to get three points against (Crystal) Palace," manager Rafael Benitez said ahead of their home fixture on Saturday. "The next match is the most important."

"FOOT BALL BREAKING NEWS"SOLSKJAER DEAL AT MANCHESTER UNITED

United boss unfazed by Real's links to French star, happy to work with director of football

LONDON • Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has played down rumours of Paul Pogba leaving for Real Madrid and reiterated that the France midfielder remains "a big, big part" of his plans.
Pogba, who last week described Real as a "dream" club while speaking to the media on international duty, was praised by the Spanish LaLiga team's coach Zinedine Zidane during the weekend.
Zidane said that he liked Pogba "a lot", further fuelling speculation that the 26-year-old may one day leave Manchester for Madrid.
Speaking at a pre-match conference ahead of today's Premier League trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Solskjaer said: "I don't like to talk about other teams' players (like Zidane did with Pogba) but this is another challenge with international breaks. Players are available all the time.
"It's a different environment, it's more of a general talk and Paul is a very nice and polite man who answered a general question.
"Zidane is an icon in France, Zidane is a fantastic manager, he used to be a fantastic player - I played against him myself - and Paul has just politely answered that question (about playing for Zidane).

"Paul's happy here and he's going to be a big, big part. I've always said that you'd like to build your team around him and that hasn't changed at all."
Following his appointment last week on a three-year deal, the Norwegian - who expects his assistant Mike Phelan to also be given a permanent deal soon - has admitted that there have been plans to bring in a director of football at Old Trafford.
"Football has changed and the structure at football clubs has changed. That's just the way football goes," he said.
"Me and Ed (Woodward, executive vice-chairman) and Joel (Glazer, co-chairman), we are looking at how can this club be ran as smoothly and as well as possible.
"We'll see what the club will end up with and I'm happy talking and discussing football with knowledgeable people in the right positions.
"I'm feeling older and older, 46 is a good number. I think the demands of football nowadays means you've got to split responsibilities."
Solskjaer, who was roped in as caretaker manager in December, won his first match as permanent boss with a scrappy 2-1 league victory over Watford last Saturday.
Today's clash with Wolves presents yet another difficult task in United's top-four bid, having lost to the same opponents in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
When asked if there were lessons learnt following that defeat last month, Solskjaer said: "Quite a few and of course we have to (learn).
"Last time we didn't play well enough... If we turn up and don't perform to our level against a good team, we will not get the result we deserve."