I am not a tax dodger, says Ronaldo

Real Madrid and Portugal football star, Cristiano Ronaldo, told a Spanish judge Monday that he has “never tried to avoid taxes.”
“I have never hidden anything, and never tried to avoid taxes,” the 32 year-old mega football star said according to a statement released by his public relations firm.

Ronaldo

The Real Madrid forward, who is from Portugal, was questioned to determine whether he committed tax fraud worth almost 15 million euros ($17.5 million). Ronaldo spent more than 90 minutes answering the questions of investigating judge Monica Gomez.
Judge Gomez took Ronaldo’s testimony as part of an investigation to determine if there are grounds to charge him. The session at Pozuelo de Alarcon Court No. 1 on the outskirts of Madrid was closed to the public because it is part of an ongoing investigation.
In June, a state prosecutor accused Ronaldo of four counts of tax fraud from 2011-14 worth 14.7 million euros ($16.5 million). The prosecutor accused the Portugal forward of having used shell companies outside Spain to hide income made from image rights. The accusation does not involve his salary from Real Madrid.
Ronaldo denies any wrongdoing.
“Spain’s Tax Office knows all the details about my sources of income because we have reported them,” Ronaldo told the judge, according to his statement. “I always file my tax returns because I think that we should all file and pay our taxes.
“Those who know me know that I tell my consultants that they must have everything in order and paid up to date because I don’t want trouble.”
Both before and after his court appearance, Ronaldo used an alternative entrance to avoid a large swarm of more than a hundred journalists from Spain and aboard gathered near the main door to the court.
Court officials had said that either Ronaldo or his lawyer would speak to the media after he saw the judge, but instead the player’s spokesman, Inaki Torres, stepped up to the temporary podium in front of the courthouse to announce that Ronaldo “was on his way home.”

UNIPORT expels 6 students, suspends 7 workers over misconduct

The Senate of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), on Tuesday announced the expulsion of six students of the institution for various offences.
An official bulletin of the university made available to Newsmen in Port Harcourt, stated that the offences included examination malpractice and incitement.
According to the bulletin, the decision to expel the students was taken at the 432nd Senate Meeting of the university held on Thursday.
It further disclosed that a male postgraduate student of the Department of Educational Management was rusticated for allegedly damaging the image of the university.
“The student was also rusticated for incitement against a staff for enforcing the no-hawking policy of the institution.
“Senate also approved the expulsion of a female student of the College of Health Sciences, who having previously failed-out from her Bachelor of Medicine (MBBS) programme, inexplicably continued her study.
“Staff suspected to have been complicit in the scam are being questioned by the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee to ascertain their level of culpability,” the bulletin read in part.
It stated that four students in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences were expelled for examination malpractice during the university’s 2015/2016 second semester examination.
Also, seven members of staff of the university were suspended indefinitely over their alleged involvement in pulling down a building under construction in the university campus.
“The suspended officers have already been placed on half pay which shall last throughout the period of their interdiction,” it stated.

PDP’ll win at all levels in 2019- Oduaran

CHAIRMAN of Ughelli South Patriots, Chief Vincent Oduaran, has advised members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, who are planning to join opposition parties, to have a rethink, saying the party has all it takes to win the 2019 general election at all levels.
Oduaran, in a statement by the Secretary, Chief Aghogho Kpokpodu, after a meeting of the group, also commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his achievements despite the economic recession.
His words: “I also thank the immediate past Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, former Minister of State for Education, Chief Kenneth Gbagi, and other notable PDP leaders in Ughelli South, for taking the party to greater heights.”

Man City set for Spain trip after season opener

Manchester City have made the unusual decision to travel to Spain for a training camp less than a day after their opening Premier League fixture, the club have announced.

John Stones #5 of Manchester City is congratulated by teamates Vincent Kompany #4 and Fernandinho #25 after scoring a goal against Tottenham during the first half of the 2017 International Champions Cup Presented by Heineken at Nissan Stadium on July 29, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. Frederick Breedon/Getty Images/AFP
City manager Pep Guardiola and his squad will fly to Girona for a four-day trip just hours after visiting promoted Brighton and Hove Albion on August 12.
The training camp, which will include a fixture against La Liga newcomers Girona, has been arranged to give Guardiola time to work with players who missed City’s pre-season tour of the United States.
“This trip is a great opportunity for Pep to work with his full squad in an intensive training camp,” City director of football Txiki Begiristain told the club website.
“We have had some players away on international duty this summer, which means Pep hasn’t had the chance to work for long with the whole squad.
“The game itself promises to be a fantastic spectacle, as Girona finalise their own preparations for their debut campaign in La Liga.”
City host Everton in their second Premier League fixture on August 21.

Osama Bin Laden’s son, Hamza to take-over Al-Qaeda

Hamza Bin Laden, the son of late Osama Bin Laden, is expected to take-over Al-Qaeda, a terrorist organisation.
Described as the “Crown Prince of Terror” Hamza is the only son of Bin Laden’s “favourite” wife.
Hamza Laden was also regarded as the “poster boy” of al-Qaeda’s re-emergence on the terrorism front.
He was introduced as “a lion from the den of Al-Qaeda” by the group’s leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Hamza Bin Laden, the son of late Osama Bin Laden

He is the son of Bin Laden’s third of six wives, Khairiah Sabar, and the eighth born of around 20 Bin Laden’s siblings.
His mother came from a wealthy family and was known as a “strong-willed” woman.
He was raised as Bin Laden’s designated heir and grew up hating several things about the USA. He is wanted by the US for his alleged role in American embassy bombings in Tanzania, Dar es Salaam and Nairobi, Kenya in 1998.
Now believed to be aged 28, he is a devotee of violent jihad just like his father. Hamza Laden married the daughter of the former head of al-Qaeda’s training camps Abu Mohammed al-Masri.
In May, an audio recording suggested that he was staging al-Qaeda’s comeback. The Washington Post described Hamza’s voice as “vintage Osama bin Laden.”
“Prepare diligently to inflict crippling losses on those who have disbelieved,” the voice intoned.
Another audio message was recorded in 2015, in which he praised terror leaders and denounced former US President Barack Obama as “the black chief of [a] criminal gang.”
He also called on jihadis to “take the battlefield from Kabul, Baghdad and Gaza to Washington, London, Paris and Tel Aviv.”

The National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS), hails Gov. Akeredolu for release of 6 students

The National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS), has commended Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu for his doggedness in facilitating the release of the six kidnapped students of Igbonla Government College, Epe, Lagos.
The association also lauded the state Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, for contributing toward the release of the students.
The President of NAOSS, Mr Emmanuel Akeredolu, gave the commendation in an interview with Newsmen in Akure on Tuesday.
He said that the association was happy with the governor and his deputy for synergising with the police and Lagos State Government to ensure the release of the abducted students.
“We are extremely proud of the Ondo State Government’s determination to ensure that lives are on safe hands across the state.
“Our deep appreciation goes to Gov. Akeredolu who was courageous enough to appoint his deputy to lead the delegation for the release of these great students,” Akeredolu said.
He said the state government gesture was unique, considering the fact that the released students were not from Ondo State.
The president of the association said that, “The Akeredolu led-administration is entirely of selfless service to humanity’’.
The six students of Igbonla Government College, Epe, Lagos, who spent 65 days in the den of kidnappers regained their freedom on July 28 after being abducted from their school premises, gained freedom on July 28.
The students: Peter Jonah, Isiaka Ramon, Adebayo George, Judah Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq Yusuf, were found at about 3.30 p.m at Aboto Creek, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The President Muhammadu Buhari I saw in London – Gov. Ortom

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state, Tuesday, disclosed that the President Muhammadu Buhari he saw in London was fast recuperating and in high spirit and also eager to return to the country to continue with the task of governance.

President Muhammadu Buhari in

a group photo shortly after receiving in courtesy visit delegation of

Nigeria’s Governor’s Forum led by its Chairman Governor Abdulaziz Yari in

Abuja House London on 26th July 2017 in the photo are R-L: Governor Samuel

Ortom of Benue State, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State,

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of

Zamfara State, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, Governor David

Nweze Umahi of Ebonyi state and Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State

Ortom who was among the selected Governors who recently visited the ailing President in London spoke in Makurdi shortly after returning from his annual leave.
The Governor recalled that Benue was among the first states that initiated prayers for the quick recovery of the President adding that the prayers of Nigerians had actually been answered by God.
“Remember the Bible say we should always pray for our leaders, not only when they are sick. Today God has proved skeptics and enemies of our country wrong.
“I feel so sad about some of the things people were saying about the health of our President, May God forgive them.
“The fact is that God brought President Buhari at the time he came and he has been doing well. Whoever thought that anyone could fight corruption in this country like he is doing at the moment because we all know that the problem of Nigeria is nothing but corruption, but who was ready to take the bull by the horn if not him.
He is a man of integrity who fought for the unity of this country. He came in at a time when money itself failed us. He needs our support.
“So we visited him, we interfaced with him, we discussed, cracked jokes and took pictures with him as well. He asked me about the security situation in Benue state and I told him that all is now under control, because he was particular on that and was pleased.
“All that he needs now is to eat well to gain more strength, and I think that as soon as his Doctors give him the nod to come home he will come home because he is eager to return and continue from where he stopped.
“We told him not to be in a hurry because the acting President is doing well and holding forth for him and there is no vacuum. The good thing again is that the President has confidence in the acting President, so there is no cause for alarm at all. Let us all continue to pray for him because God has healed him and we should continue to pray for him to be strong enough to come home and continue leading us.”