FIFA officials, including 2 VPs, arrested on corruption charges

No one at FIFA, including Sepp Blatter, knew that Swiss investigators would raid the soccer body's headquarters on Wednesday morning, FIFA Director of Communications and Public Affairs Walter De Gregorio said Wednesday.

5:30 a.m. ET: The 2018 World Cup will be played in Russia and 2022 in Qatar, De Gregorio said. in response to a question about whether a Swiss corruption probe will affect the global sports contests.

5:26 a.m. ET: : "Of course" the FIFA Congress scheduled for Friday will take place as planned, De Gregorio said.

5:13 a.m. ET: Swiss authorities have opened a separate criminal investigation into FIFA's operations, this one pertaining to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids. FIFA awarded Russia and Qatar the World Cup in 2018 and 2022, respectively - decisions that have come under heavy criticism and scrutiny.

5:07 a.m. ET: A search warrant was being executed at the CONCACAF headquarters in Miami on Wednesday morning, U.S. officials said.

Source: CNN

illegal warehouses stocked with N319.9b fabrics unconvered in Kano

Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde declared in Kano, northwest Nigeria on Tuesday that Customs has identified about 75 warehouses where contraband textile materials worth about N319.9 billion were stored.

He also vowed to prosecute four Chinese nationals linked with the smuggling of the textile materials.

“We are investigating the suspects and in only one warehouse, the duty value of the goods in the warehouse we have checked is N4.2. You can imagine that this only one warehouse and we are talking about 75 warehouses. You can imagine such a huge amount and we said we are looking for money to run the affairs of government,” he said.

According to him, the operation was carried out by his office based on information from patriotic Nigerians who showed concern over the extent of damage done to the nation’s economy by those who smuggle textile materials into the country.

He, however, stated that while inspecting the seizures, “we have seen those that can be allowed to enter the market. For those that are allowed, I am going to give amnesty; but for those that are not allowed, I will never go against the law. We will block all the leakages.”

He noted that the Customs service has continued to devise means to curtail smuggling, adding that just recently, Comptrollers-General of Customs in West Africa met in Abuja to discuss ways through which Customs can effectively fight smuggling.

He also hinted that the Customs service has concluded plans to organise a forum whereby traders, local producers and the Customs meet from time to time in order to foster cordial relationship and stem smuggling of contraband goods into the country.

Also speaking Comptroller-General of Immigration, David Paradang, said the Immigration is collaborating with the Customs service to regulate illegal migration into the country, just as he tasked the public to divulge relevant information to the two agencies.

Source: PM News

Kenyan Offers Cows To Wed Obama's Daughter

A Kenyan lawyer has reportedly offered an assortment of livestock to Barack Obama in exchange for his 16-year-old daughter Malia's hand in marriage.

Felix Kiprono told The Nairobian newspaper he was willing to present the US President with 50 cows, 70 sheep and 30 goats.

Mr Kiprono, whose age was not revealed in the report, said it has long been his dream to wed the President's oldest of two daughters.

"I got interested in her in 2008," he told the newspaper.

"As a matter of fact, I haven't dated anyone since and promise to be faithful to her."

Mr Kiprono planned to put his offer to Mr Obama when the President visits Kenya, the country where his father was born, in July.

"I am currently drafting a letter to Obama asking him to please have Malia accompany him for this trip," he said.

Mr Kiprono insisted that his love for Malia "is real" and that he is not after the family's money.

He told the newspaper he and Malia would lead a "simple life" as man and wife.

"I will teach Malia how to milk a cow, cook ugali (maize porridge) and prepare mursik (a traditional sour milk) like any other Kalenjin woman," he said.

Source: Sky News