RAFA BENITEZ TAKES CHARGE AT REAL MADRID FOR THE NEXT THREE SEASONS.

Having made his way through the ranks at the club, he returns to the Whites with ample international experience under his belt as well as a long list of titles that includes Champions League, Club World Cup, European Super Cup and La Liga trophies.

Rafael Benítez Maudes (16/04/1960, Madrid) is the new Real Madrid coach. The White club's latest project will be managed by a man who embodies success, experience and the Real Madrid spirit. 

Joining from Napoli, the 55-year-old has won everything on the international stage. A Champions League, a Club World Cup, a European Super Cup and two Europa League titles stand proudly in his extensive collection of trophies, which also includes 2 La Liga titles. 

BREAKING NEWS - SEPP BLATTER SET TO RESIGN AS FIFA PRESIDENT AMID CORRUPTION SCANDAL.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter will resign from soccer's governing body amid a widening corruption scandal and has promised to call for fresh elections to choose a successor.

The 79-year-old Blatter was re-elected to a fifth term on Friday, two days after a corruption crisis erupted and seven soccer officials were arrested in Zurich ahead of the FIFA congress.

"This mandate does not seem to be supported by everybody in the world of football," Blatter said Tuesday at a hastily arranged news conference. "FIFA needs a profound restructuring."

LEST WE FORGET - SOME CAMPAIGN PROMISES OF PRESIDENT BUHARI & APC.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its flag bearer, Muhammadu Buhari, are finally in charge of the nation’s government.

Desirous of change, Nigerians have voted for the APC, whose mantra was anchored on the promise of “Change” in several aspects of the nation’s life.

During the electioneering campaign,    President Muhammadu Buhari; his vice president, Yemi Osinbajo; and other top members of the party, made lots of promises to Nigerians.

POLICE ARREST 60-YR-OLD MAN IN IBADAN FOR RAPING HIS TWO DAUGHTERS & TWO NIECES. #SAYNOTORAPE.

 

Oyo State Police Command has arrested a man who allegedly defiled his two under-aged biological daughters and two of his nieces, all between 14 and 17 years. The crime was allegedly committed at Moniya in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.

Though the suspect, a herbalist, denied the incest allegation, saying he was being held for a crime he did not commit, the confessions of the four girls took many people at the state police headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan by surprise as they narrated how the father had sex with them at different times.

While parading the suspect, identified as Tajudeen Awoniyi, Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muhammed Katsina, said the accused person had carnal knowledge of his own daughters whenever he was drunk.

WHY BUHARI DID NOT DECLARE HIS ASSETS PUBLICLY.

Aides of President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, explained why the president did not declare his assets publicly. They said he will make his assets known to Nigerians within the first 100 days of his stay in power in line with his assertions before the election.

Meanwhile, there were mixed reactions, yesterday, on the report that the president and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had submitted their assets declaration to the Code of Conduct Bureau without immediately making them public.

A civil rights group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, argued that it was imperative for the duo to make public their assets. It said the action will indicate “their desire and commitment to ending corruption in the country.”

BLAME THE WET BALL FOR MY MISTAKES - FLYING EAGLES GOALKEEPER ENAHOLO SPEAKS.

Flying Eagles goalkeeper, Joshua Enaholo, has blamed the wet ball for the blunder he committed in his team’s 4-2 defeat to Brazil on Monday at the 2015 U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

The Flying Eagles’ first choice conceded four goals against the rampaging Brazilians in their Group E opener in New Plymouth.

Enaholo failed to deal properly with a harmless ball from the Brazilians in the 82nd minute but he allowed the ball to squirm through his legs, thus handing Judivan an easy fourth goal for the five-time champions, which put the game beyond the Flying Eagles.

He told Fifa.com that the ball was wet and hence slipped through his fingers adding that he would work harder to avoid a repeat of such mistake in the team’s subsequent matches.

“My mind was off. The ball was wet and I just couldn’t get my grip properly. I must do better,” he said.

Meanwhile, Brazilian coach, Rogerio Micale, said the team’s wing play enabled them to beat Nigeria on Monday. He told Fifa.com that Nigeria lived up to expectations.

He stated, “We had expected to face a really good side in Nigeria and we weren’t mistaken on that front. We started very well, but then the opposition gradually got on top and prevented us from playing our game.

“We shored things up in the middle of the park again in the second half and then looked to exploit the wings, which paid dividends.”

The Flying Eagles play North Korea, who lost 5-1 to Hungary in their opening game, on Thursday in New Plymouth.

CBN FIRES OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN N8BN FRAUD!!!!!!!!!!

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Monday said that it had invoked disciplinary measures against its officials that were involved in the N8bn currency fraud in its Ibadan branch.

The CBN, in a statement by its Director, Corporate Communications Department, Ibrahim Mu’azu, stated that some of the affected members of staff, mainly middle-level officers, had been either summarily dismissed or placed on indefinite suspension depending on the level of their involvement in the scam.

The statement issued in Abuja read, “The Central Bank of Nigeria would like to inform the general public of the chronology of events that led the management of the CBN to hand over some unscrupulous staff to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for prosecution.

PRESIDENT BUHARI MEETS WITH NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER & SERVICE CHIEFS.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday held a closed door meeting with the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

It was learnt that the meeting, which held at the Defence House, Abuja, was aimed at assessing the security situation in the country, against the backdrop of renewed attacks by the Boko Haram sect.

It was gathered that the President was concerned about the renewed attacks by the sect and the duo discussed ways of checking the insurgents.

(PICTURES) BRUCE JENNER FINALLY UNVEILED AS A WOMAN - NEW NAME IS CAITLYN JENNER.

Bruce Jenner has been unveiled  as a woman on the cover of Vanity Fair. The 65-year-old former decathlete is wearing a silky white basque, which reveals the results of Jenner's recent breast implant surgery.

It also reveals Jenner's new name for the first time - Caitlyn.

The reality TV star also set up a verified Twitter account under Caitlyn Jenner, where she shared her cover and wrote: 'I'm so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. 

PDP BEGS BUHARI TO INTERVENE AS PLOT TO IMPEACH FAYOSE DEEPENS.

The Peoples Democratic Party has raised the alarm over what it called an illegal plot by some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, to oust Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose.

Mr. Fayose, who has been having a running battle with the members of the State House of Assembly, had obtained a court order restricting the members from proceeding with the impeachment process.

The Acting Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, while addressing a retreat of elected lawmakers under the party holding in Port Harcourt this morning, said the Ekiti lawmakers “are presently camped at a location in Osun in preparation to be moved to Ekiti”.

KIM KARDASHIAN REVEALS SHE IS EXPECTING A SECOND CHILD.

Eonline reports that North West is about to become a big sister! Kim Kardashian revealed that she's expecting her second child with Kanye West in the supertease following tonight's mid-season finale of Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

The clip shows Kim hearing the exciting news during a doctor's appointment shortly before spilling the beans to Khloé Kardashian.

"I just got the blood test back, and I am pregnant!" Kim—who's beaming ear-to-ear—exclaims to her stunned sister.

EFCC ARREST 6 CBN STAFF AND 16 COMMERCIAL BANK WORKERS FOR 8BN FRAUD!!!!!!!!

No fewer than six top officials of Nigeria’s Central Bank and 16 other workers of commercial banks in the country have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, for a mega scam involving the sum of N8 billion.

Vanguard reports that the suspects were picked up by operatives of the anti-graft agency for stealing and putting into circulation defaced and mutilated Nigerian currency notes to the tune of N8 billion meant for destruction.

All the suspects have already been taken into EFCC custody preparatory to their arraignment at the Federal High Court, Ibadan on Tuesday, June 2. The trial will run till June 4 in a bid to speed up the prosecution of the suspects by the court.

TRAGEDY IN ONITSHA AS SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE BURNT TO DEATH IN GHASTLY ACCIDENT.

No fewer than 69 persons burnt to death Sunday evening when a trailer loaded with Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as petrol that was descending from Army barracks side of Onitsha Enugu express way lost control and rammed into the Asaba Motor Park at Upper Iwekas Onitsha and exploded.

Eleven vehicles mostly commuter buses and two motorcycles inside the Asaba Park Onitsha including the 40 foot tanker laden with petrol burnt beyond repairs inside the park.

Governor Willie Obiano and the Anambra State Commissioner wept on seeing the number casualties when they visited the scene of the accident, the Governor told the relations of the victims to take heart and promised that the state will help in ensuring that the living victims are well taken care of in their respective hospitals

Gory picture after the cut.

CHINA EXECUTES TEACHER WHO RAPED 26 STUDENTS SOME AS YOUNG AS 4 YRS OLD. #SAYNOTORAPE.

A former Chinese elementary school teacher has been executed for molesting or raping 26 students, some as young as 4, in a case underscoring the vulnerability of rural children left behind by parents seeking jobs in cities.

The intermediate People's Court in the impoverished western province of Gansu said it carried out the sentence against Li Jishun on Thursday after it was upheld by the nation's Supreme People's Court. Li committed his assaults in the classroom, dormitories and surrounding forest areas in 2011-2012.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court said all of Li's victims were girls younger than 12 who attended his village boarding school and "were his responsibility to educate and protect."

READ PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI'S INAUGURAL SPEECH.

I am immensely grateful to God Who Has preserved us to witness this day and this occasion. Today marks a triumph for Nigeria and an occasion to celebrate her freedom and cherish her democracy. Nigerians have shown their commitment to democracy and are determined to entrench its culture. Our journey has not been easy but thanks to the determination of our people and strong support from friends abroad we have today a truly democratically elected government in place.

SEPP BLATTER WON THE FIFA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FOR THE FIFTH TIME.

Sepp Blatter won FIFA presidential re-election for an unprecedented fifth term as challenger, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, conceded after failing to win by a two-third majority in the first round of voting on Friday.

At FIFA’s 65th Congress in Zurich, the 209 member nations cast their votes and the 79-year-old Blatter garnered 133 votes to Prince Ali’s 73 of the 206 valid votes cast, but failed to win the two-third majority on the initial vote (more than 139 out of 209).

At that point, Prince Ali addressed the voting members and conceded.

THE CHANGE GAME BEGINS!!!!!! #DemocracyDay

Since the telephone call you made, you have changed the course of Nigeria’s political history and for that you have earned yourself a place in our history, for stabilising multi-party democratic system and you have earned the respect of not only Nigerians but world leaders”.

These words from the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari to out-going President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, summed up the mood at the council chambers of the Presidential Villa as President Jonathan presented hand-over notes to his successor, Buhari, who will be sworn in today.Buhari-tasks

Speaking at the Presidential Villa after receiving the hand-over notes as well as the report of the National Conference from President Jonathan, Buhari said by the singular phone call that Jonathan made to him conceding defeat, he has changed the course of the nation’s political history.

THE FARMER'S SON WHO BECAME AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK CHIEF - AKINWUMI ADESHINA.

Nigeria’s outgoing agriculture minister Akinwumi Adesina has risen from humble origins to become the head of the African Development Bank at a time of economic transformation on the continent.

The son of a poor farmer earning 10 US cents per day in Ogun state, southwest Nigeria, 55-year-old Adesina gradually climbed the social ladder, according to friends.

He earned a first-class honours degree in agricultural economics from the southwestern University of Ife and a doctorate in the same subject at Purdue in the US midwest in 1988.

ISSUES THAT WILL MAKE OR MAR BUHARI'S ADMINISTRATION.

With his largely poor score, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is retiring to his village, Otuoke, in Bayelsa State. Now is time for President Muhammadu Buhari to do what his predecessors, especially Jonathan could not do to re-engineer the country. CHARLES ABAH looks at the key areas that will shape the tenure of the soldier-turned politician

Fuel subsidy

After the recent strike by oil marketers that almost crippled economic activities in many parts of the country, it is clear that the incoming government must do something urgent to prevent a recurrence of the event in the future. Investigations show that many Nigerians, still smarting from the effects of the strike, are willing to back any move by the new government to remove the contentious fuel subsidy once. Yet, outright removal of the subsidy will amount to robbing Nigerians of what looks like the only thing they now enjoy from the government. Besides, millions of Nigerians are already burdened by poverty.

HOW BUHARI CAN REVAMP NIGERIA'S ECONOMY.

President Muhammadu Buhari took the oath of office as the fourth democratically elected President of Nigeria after the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999.  Finance analysts, who spoke to IFEANYI ONUBA, were of the view that he must within 90 days come up with pragmatic policies to reposition the nation’s economy

To say that Muhammadu Buhari will be taking over the realms of affairs of the country at a time when both the global and domestic economies are in dire need of help is stating the obvious.

The world is currently experiencing weaker-than-expected growth in major economies.