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Messi :Barcelona release statement on tax fraud verdict

FC Barcelona in a statement issued today pledged to support Lionel Messi regarding the tax evasion verdict passed on the striker today. The Argentine and his father were found guilty and bagged 21-month jail terms each and were also asked to pay fine for defrauding Spanish authorities to the tune of  €4million. 
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“FC Barcelona gives all its support to Leo Messi and his father with relation to the sentence for tax evasion handed out by the Provincial Court in Barcelona today,” a club statement read.
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“The club, in agreement with the Government prosecution service, considers that the player, who has corrected his position with the Spanish Tax Office, is in no way criminally responsible with regards to the facts underlined in this case. “FC Barcelona continues to be at the disposal of Leo Messi and his family to support him in whatever action he decides to take in defence of his honesty and his legal interests.”

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Entertainment

Real Madrid officially activate buy-back clause for Alvaro Morata

Juventus has confirmed that Alvaro Morata will rejoin Real Madrid for €30m The Spain international who scored in both legs of the 2014/15 Champions League SF for Juventus, as well as the final netted 27 goals in 93 appearances for the Old Lady after leaving Madrid for Turin in 2014.
A statement on Juventus’ official website read: “All associated with Juventus Football Club would like to wish Alvaro the very best of luck wherever his future may take him and thank him for two truly excellent years of service to the team.”
The Arsenal target has scored two goals in the ongoing Euro 2016 tournament.
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Entertainment

Veteran actress, Bukky Ajayi dies at 82

Respected thespian, Bukky Ajayi has passed on. The UK-trained actress died today at the age of 82. Her last function was at this year’s AMVCA awards where she gave a very moving acceptance speech after she was honoured with a lifetime award.

Wheelchair-bound, she broke down in tears and also expressed shock at the outpouring of love and standing ovation from the guests. “I wish I could stand up. But if I stand I will fall down. You all standing for me? Thank you, I am very grateful to you.” She said.

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Facts about the veteran actress

1. She was born a christian but converted to Islam in the early eighties and chose the name Zainab.

2. She left England and came back to Nigeria after her education in 1965 and started out working in Nigeria Television Authority(NTA) as a presentation assistant in 1966.

3. Afterwards, she became a presenter and then a news reader.

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4. She presented a couple of children’s programmes and ‘Nigerian’s Sketches,’ a programme which was all about Nigerian culture.

5. She was later transferred to Port Harcourt and later back to Lagos, and it was at that time she started her acting career.

6. She started with the ‘Village Headmaster’ in the 70s, and she later got a role in Amaka Igwe’s ‘Checkmate.’

7. She has featured in so many home videos and films some of which include Mother of George, Indecent Girl, Diamond Ring, Witches, Thunderbolt among others.

May her soul find repose. Amen.

Additional information from thenet.ng

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Entertainment

Lionel Messi gets 21-month jail term

Barcelona stand by Messi after tax fraud ruling
Soccer star, Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax evasion and also fined $2.3 million. For more than a year now the world best footballer and his father, Jorge Messi had been enmeshed in a €4.1 million tax fraud allegations levelled against him by Spanish authorities. 
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The 29 year-old was at the Eighth Court of Barcelona last month to testify in the case . He vehemently denied knowledge of fraudulent activities, maintaining that all he did was to sign and entrust documents of deals with his father and lawyers and focus on his career. 
 “I never asked my dad about these things. The truth is that, as I said before, I trusted him and the lawyers. I didn’t know anything about it, I just played football. I didn’t know I was a member and manager of this company, I signed it because he [Jorge Messi] said so and I trusted him and the lawyers. All I knew was that I was signing a deal with sponsors to do adverts, photo shoots and things like that.
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The State Attorney felt unconvinced with his defence in the tax evasion charges levelled against him and his father by Spanish authorities. He said he had zero credibility and was even compared to a ‘capo’  heading a criminal structure. 
‘At one point, Jorge Messi recognizes that he tells his son they will be needing (financial) advice. And then they speak no more about it? That has zero credibility. Messi knew more than he is making out. I don’t want to compare Messi to a Mafioso, but it’s as if he was the boss of a criminal structure.’
However, because he doesn’t have a criminal record and his sentence was less than two years, he won’t serve jail time as long as he doesn’t break the law again.

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His father also got a 21-month jail sentence and a $1.7 million for tax fraud, though like his son he won’t serve time as he also hasn’t committed an offence before. 
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Entertainment

The Nigerian Student Fashion And Design Week seals new sponsorship deal

The organizers of the Nigerian Student Fashion And Design Week  (NSFDW) are pleased to announce Wema Bank Nigeria as one of its leading sponsors at the 2016 edition. The sponsorship deal was eventually sealed on the 28th of July at the Wema Bank headquarters in Lagos.
In a chat with Mrs Odili Onome; Head of Brand, Marketing Communications, Wema bank she said the bank is passionate about empowering the creative youths in the country and the Nigerian Student Fashion And Design Week provides the right platform for the bank to support young entrepreneurs in the Nigerian fashion industry, a sector that is evolving quite rapidly.
The Bank will also be rewarding the most creative Designer of the  Nigerian Student Fashion And Design Week with startup funds and SME packages for the other participants.
The event is scheduled to hold on the 12th and 13th of August at the Indoor Sports Hall of the University of Lagos, Akoka by 4pm each day with Red carpet by 3pm and it is expected to showcase 30 designers to an audience of over 2000 people.
 Tickets are sold for N500 for students, N1000 for Regulars and N5000 for VIPs, they will be available for sale at the venue.
To request for press passes, email: press@nsfdw.com
For general enquiries: email: [email protected] or call +2347031607412,+2347053934970, 
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Entertainment

Nani signs for Valencia on a 3- year deal

Valencia football club have reached an agreement with Portuguese international, Nani for him to join the club for the next three seasons. Nani will be officially presented as a Valencia CF player in the coming days.

The former Manchester United player is currently in France with the Portuguese national team, who will play in the Euro 2016 semifinals against Wales this Wednesday. He has represented his country on 101 occasions, scoring 20 goals –two of which have come in the ongoing tournament.
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Entertainment

Mourinho aims a fresh dig at Wenger during his first Manchester United press conference.

The simmering feud that won’t go away! Mourinho has launched a fresh attack at his old nemesis, Arsene Wenger during his first press conference as Manchester United.

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Asked if he can bounce back after his Chelsea exit last December. Rather than give a direct answer, the Portuguese poked fun at the frenchman’s EPL trophyless run. “There are some managers, the last time they won a title was 10 years ago. For me, it was one year.” He said. 

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Entertainment

Lidudumalingani wins the 2016 Caine Prize for African Writing

South African writer, filmmaker and photographer, Lidudumalingani has won the 2016 Caine Prize for African Writing for his short story titled ‘Memories We Lost’ published in Incredible Journey: Stories That Move You (Burnet Media, South Africa, 2015). The announcement was made at a dinner held this evening at the Bodleian Library in Oxford. 
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His victory comes with a £10,000 prize, an opportunity to take up a month’s residence at Georgetown University, as a Writer-in-Residence at the Lannan Center for Poetics and Social Practice, invitations to speak at the Library of Congress, to take part in the Open Book Festival in Cape Town, Storymoja in Nairobi and Ake Festival in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
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‘Memories We Lost’ tells the emotionally charged story of a girl who acts as protector of her sister, whose serious mental-health problems cause consternation in a South African village. Her situation deteriorates as her care is entrusted to Nkunzi, a local man who employs traditional techniques to rid people of their demons.
Delia Jarrett-Macauley – member of the Caine Prize Council the story, said, “The winning story explores a difficult subject – how traditional beliefs in a rural community are used to tackle schizophrenia. this is a troubling piece, depicting the great love between two young siblings in a beautifully drawn Eastern Cape. Multi-layered, and gracefully narrated, this short story leaves the reader full of sympathy and wonder at the plight of its protagonists”.  
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Born in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, in a village called Zikhovane. Lidudumalingani has published short stories, non-fiction and criticism in various publications. His films have been screened at a number of film festivals.

He edged out finalists, Lesley Nneka Arimah (Nigeria) for ‘What it Means When a Man Falls From the Sky’ published in Catapult (Catapult, USA, 2015), Tope Folarin (Nigeria) for ‘Genesis’ published in Callaloo (Johns Hopkins University Press, USA, 2014),  Bongani Kona (Zimbabwe) for ‘At Your Requiem’ published in Incredible Journey: Stories That Move You (Burnet Media, South Africa, 2015), Abdul Adan (Somalia/Kenya) for ‘The Lifebloom Gift’ published in The Gonjon Pin and Other Stories: The Caine Prize for African Writing 2014 (New Internationalist, United Kingdom, 2014)

Credit : Caine Prize
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Entertainment

Barcelona sign Denis Suarez

Barcelona have activated the €3.25M buy-back clause of Spanish attacking midfielder, Denis Suarez with Villarreal. 
The 22 year-old has signed a four-year deal, he will have a medical on Tuesday and will be presented officially on Wednesday
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Entertainment

Kanu Nwankwo And Wife Celebrate 12th Wedding Anniversary

African football legend, Kanu Nwankwo and his wife, Amarachi are celebrating their 12th wedding anniversary. The couple who exchanged vows in July 2004 have three beautiful kids together. 

“Happy Anniversary mr and Mrs Kanu. May God give us what we ask of and Bless and Guide and Protect and Provide for our Family.. i thank God for my angel and my love and mother of my kids. #family #one love #blessings #positive vibe #good health #happiness” Kanu wrote.
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