Siasia Explains Peter Odemwingie Omission from Nigeria vs Argentina

Coach of Nigeria's Super Eagles, Samson Siasia has explained why he left out Osaze Odemwingie from the squad for the friendly game against Argentina and the 2012 Africa Nation's Cup qualifier against Ethiopia.

Siasia released a 24 man list for the upcoming matches with Odemwingie the surprise omission. The Super Eagles Coach said Odemwingie stormed out of the team's camp after the 2012 Africa Nation's Cup qualifier against Ethiopia on March 21.

"He (Odemwingie) left the team's camp without my permission and he has not called me since then. The other players threatened to stage a walk out of the national team if he was invited and we did not want a situation where Nigeria will be disgraced.

It is a case of instilling discipline. No one is bigger than the national team," Siasia said.

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Fifa Rankings - South Africa Overtake Nigeria

Nigeria slipped one step down on the FIFA rankings for the month of May released yesterday. South Africa pushed Nigeria down to the 39th position from 38th, Nigeria previously occupied.

Ghana, Cote d' Ivoire and reigning African champions Egypt retained the top three positions while South Africa and Nigeria swopped slots and resurgent Senegal climbed three spots to sixth.

Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Libya complete the top 10 in rankings that are becoming increasingly significant with seedings for national team competitions based on them.

Senegal rose 11 places to 40 in the world -- the first time they have been among the top 50 since January 2009 -- as the team spirit created by coach Amara Traore continues to bear fruit.

The 'Teranga Lions' defeated Cameroon in a crucial Cup of Nations qualifier two months ago and are poised to make the 2012 tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea after missing the last two editions.

Spain stayed top as the 10 top places remained unchanged, while Netherlands are second behind world and European champions Spain with Brazil third, Germany fourth and Argentina fifth.

Africa's top ten (World ranking in brackets):

1. Ghana (15)

2. Ivory Coast (21)

3. Egypt (36)

4. South Africa (38)

5. Nigeria (39)

6. Senegal (40)

7. Algeria (41)

8. Burkina Faso (44)

9. Cameroon (49)

10. Libya (58)

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Apo Six - Judge Grants Last Adjournment

An Abuja High Court judge, Justice Ishaq Bello yesterday granted what he described as last adjournment in the trial of the six policemen accused of killing five traders and their female companion in Abuja in 2005.

Those standing trial for the killings are DCP. Danjuma Ibrahim, ASP Othman Abdulsalami (still at large), Corporals Nicholas Zacharia, Emmanuel Baba, Emmanuel Acheneje and Sadiq Salami.

They were alleged to have killed Ifeanyi Ozo, Chinedu Meniru, Isaac Ekene, Paulinus Ogbonna, Anthony Nwokike and Tina Arebun, while they were returning home from a night-out.

The deceased were between 21 and 25 years of age.

At the resumed hearing, Bello who adjourned the matter to July 6, said it was done at the instance of counsel to Acheneje, Malam Isa Ibrahim, in order for him to get all the records of proceedings to prepare for defence.

Ibrahim had asked for an adjournment to enable him get the record of proceedings and exhibits as he was just coming into the matter today.

He said that he needed time to also meet with his client.

Facing Acheneje in the dock, Bello warned Acheneje against any further stalling of the proceedings by his constant hiring and firing of counsel at will.

The judge, who did not hide his anger, warned the accused to stop the "hiring and firing" of counsel.

"Since this trial started in 2005, you have changed six counsel, the last one was Mr Olu Otitoju sent by the Legal Aid Council, whom you fired in January.

"This cannot continue, you cannot keep holding us back. We have to make progress. We are being watched by the public.

"Once we resume in July, the matter must continue untill it reaches its logical conclusion this year. So all counsel in thismatter take note," he warned.

The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Mamman Usman (SAN), who did not object to the application of Acheneje's counsel, said that he was ready to resume trial. Also counsel to Danjuma, Mr Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, and that of Zacharia, Malam Musa Tola did not object to the adjournment but counsel to Baba and Salami, Mr Anthony Agbolahan and Deborah Akor had prayed the court to take note of the attitude of hiring and firing of lawyers by Acheneje.

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Televangelist rapes 13 year old girl in church

A popular tele-evangelism Pastor of the Celestial Church of God (CCC) Deliverance Parish, Ajangbadi, Ojo Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State, Isaac Adejumobi, is currently telling police detectives at the Lagos State Police Command Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti, Yaba, all he knows about the rape and assault case for which he has been fingered. Police spokesperson in Lagos, Samuel Jinadu, who confirmed the arrest and detention of the "man of God" to LEADERSHIP in Lagos yesterday, added that the behaviour of the Pastor could only be described as animalistic.

He said, "it is pitiable and sympathetic what people who parade themselves as servants of God could do. No wonder therefore, God said judgment shall start from the temple. The action of the Pastor could only be described as animalistic."

It was gathered that the incident happened right inside the Church auditorium at about 7.30pm of penultimate Friday. "The girl's father who reported the incident to the Police, at Ajangbadi Police Station said that Friday is usually for all night prayer vigil. He stated further that, his daughter, (name witheld) was at the Church for the prayer meeting."

LEADERSHIP learnt that, it could not be explained why the girl should be in the Church at that time when the prayer meeting was scheduled to start at 12midnight. Though, the victim had told the Police that, she had earlier been informed by the Pastor that she should come early because there would be some special prayer for her as she is about starting her Junior Secondary School (JSS) examinations, which she obliged.

The Police said, it was between the period the girl arrived the Church for her supposed prayer session with the pastor, "that he pounced on her and deflowered her. I think it was the scream of the girl that alerted passers-by who decided to rush into the Church to find out what has gone wrong. It was a vulcanizer in front of the opposite building that noticed that blood was dripping down the legs of the victim."

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) stated that the randy Pastor would soon appear in court, "because the Police SCID at Panti, Yaba are compiling his case file and as soon as it is ready he would be taken to court for trial. He lamented the high incidence of rape cases in the State, since the beginning of this year and stressed that, the police authority was worried.

According to statistics made available to LEADERSHIP at the Police Headquarters, Ikeja, over 134 reported cases of rape has been recorded in the State since the beginning of this year.

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