Mueller doesn’t mind Messi magic

Bayern Munich great Gerd Mueller does not mind that Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi may surpass his goals record in a European season.

The former West Germany striker scored 67 goals during the 1972-73 campaign with Bayern, and it looks as if his record will be eclipsed by Messi, who has 65 goals so far this season.

However, Mueller insisted he will bear no grudge towards the Argentine and heaped praise on the diminutive dynamo.

“Technically, Messi is superb. His goals are brilliant. And despite being a genius, he’s not a selfish player,” Mueller told Mundo Deportivo.

“There have been many great goalscorers. It means a lot that my record has stood for 40 years.

“Records are there to be beaten. I’d be the first to congratulate Messi if he scores 68 goals this season, it’d be an honour.”

Subsidy probe: EFCC may disregard Reps’ report

Indications have emerged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission may disregard the report of the House of Representatives’ ad hoc committee on the administration of fuel subsidy.

Investigations by our correspondents on Wednesday also showed that the commission would soon round off its investigations into the management of fuel subsidy without considering the report of the ad hoc committee on the same.

A reliable source at the commission told one of our correspondents that some of those indicted were waiting for EFCC’s independent investigation into the management of the subsidy before taking any action.

He said, “The commission will soon finish its investigation. What the House has done is part of its oversight functions. The report will not be useful in prosecuting the culprits and EFCC has not received the report.”

The ad hoc committee, had in its report submitted on April 18, stated the subsidy administration was compromised.

It recommended that a total of N1.7bn be refunded.

It asked government agencies, namely the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency; the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and 72 firms, to refund N1.7trn.

The report also criticised the Chairman of the Board of the PPPRA from 2009 to 2011, and other members of the board during the period for allegedly opening “the floodgate of the (subsidy) bazaar.”

The House, at the debate on the report on Tuesday had demanded that a former PDP National Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Alli, who was the chairman of the PPPRA be prosecuted.

Ali had described the report as a pure misrepresentation of facts.

Source 

Strike: Senior doctors drafted into Lagos antenatal clinics

Senior doctors on Level 14 and above working for the Lagos State government now attend to pregnant women booked for Caesarean sections at the state’s general hospitals, THE PUNCH’s investigation has revealed.

Activities at the state public hospitals have been disrupted following the strike action embarked upon by members of the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association.

The doctors commenced an indefinite strike last month following government’s attempt to punish some of their members that earlier participated in a three-day warning strike.

Checks by our correspondent showed that since the strike began on April 25, patients had been turned back from the state public hospitals in spite of government’s assurance that patients would get adequate attention in its hospitals. All the Accident and Emergency Units in the state hospitals have also been shut down. Pregnant women using public hospitals were mostly hit as some of them had either attained their Expected Delivery Dates or were booked for surgery due to one reason or the other.

Tears in his eyes: Miracle man Muamba given hero's welcome on emotional pitch appearance

Midfielder who cheated death thanks supporters at Reebok, just six weeks after collapsing as same teams met

Mr Incredible: Fabrice Muamba takes to the pitch before the English Premier League football match

Getty

Miracle man Fabrice Muamba wiped tears away tonight as he made an emotional first return to Bolton.
The Bolton midfielder entered the field to a standing ovation as he was introduced ahead of Wanderers' Barclays Premier League game against Tottenham.
The 24-year-old has made a remarkable recovery since collapsing during the FA Cup tie between the same two teams at White Hart Lane on March 17.
Muamba said: "I still have six or seven boxes of cards to go through and I am grateful for that. It stays in my mind every single day."
The former England Under-21 international was followed by a TV camera as he acknowledged the applause of fans while his fiancee Shauna Magunda took photographs.
Muamba arrived at the ground about an hour before kick-off and stopped to speak to TV reporters.
He told Sky Sports: "I wish I was playing today, obviously my circumstances are not helping at the moment but I'm sure the boys will go out and give their best today."

Crowd pleaser: Fabrice Muamba waves to the Reebok

Michael Regan

Touched: Tearful Muamba reacts to the crowd's chants of support

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Muamba then went to take a seat to watch what was a vital match for Bolton in their battle against relegation.

2Face honours Annie Macaulay at album concert

2Face Idibia on Tuesday night reassured his fiancee, Annie Macaulay of his undying love for her    when he brought the actress on stage at his ‘Buckwyld and Breathless‘ concert which took place at the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotels and Suites.
The pop icon was in the middle of performing his evergreen love ballad ‘African queen’ when Annie appeared on stage, sitting on a chair, backing the audience.

2Face then approached her, handed her a bouquet of flowers and an Uvie crown, made of beads, similar to the crowns queens in the Benin kingdom adorn.
He then brought her towards the stage, as the audience applauded while Annie beamed a wide smile.
It is not the first time Macaulay, who featured in the original ‘African queen’ video, will join Idibia on stage to perform the song.
On February 14, 2012, 2face made a surprise wedding proposal to Annie at Jay Jay Okocha‘s Club 10.
The pair have been inseparable since, even briefly holidaying in the US in March. None of Idibia’s other baby mamas  or any other woman for that matter  has been seen around the bestselling singer, since he proposed to Annie. There are indications that their wedding will happen in a matter of months.