Please don’t leave, FG begs Emirates Airline

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfPj6_cVbeKjYrZAHFbDOO2Zi6NE2tH1z-ALTx2BQBBI9hxm9I62SUH6J5zywx1uA7c695MLWmHefnO3RHCc0ARAXM2ovv4ug6_igfORvLyIKUn-SwebQP-lZCDNf4ks-2dEtgF4TER4/s1600/Emirates1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfPj6_cVbeKjYrZAHFbDOO2Zi6NE2tH1z-ALTx2BQBBI9hxm9I62SUH6J5zywx1uA7c695MLWmHefnO3RHCc0ARAXM2ovv4ug6_igfORvLyIKUn-SwebQP-lZCDNf4ks-2dEtgF4TER4/s400/Emirates1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> The federal government has appealed to Emirates Airline and other foreign airlines operating in the country to reconsider the decision of withdrawing their services.<br /> <br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> According to James Odaudu, deputy director in the ministry of aviation, Hadi Sirika, minister of state for aviation, made the plea in Abuja during a visit by Manoj Gopi Nair, West African regional manager for Emirates.<br /> <br /> Oduadu quoted Sirika as assuring the operators that the challenges confronting the aviation sector would soon be resolved.<br /> <br /> “The minister has appealed to the management of Emirates and other airlines to reconsider their decisions to either suspend their operations or scale them down, considering the adverse effects on their long-standing costumers and the benefits they had reaped in the past,” Oduadu said in a statement.<br /> <br /> “Government is not unaware of the issues that have created operational difficulties for both domestic and foreign airlines, such as Foreign Exchange, Aviation fuel and infrastructural deficiencies and the government has been up and doing to ensure the creation of an environment that is both enabling and profitable for all airlines to operate.”<br /> <br /> But Nair explained that the decision to scale down operation was based on poor access to foreign exchange, high cost of aviation fuel and the state of the Abuja Airport runway.<br /> <br /> On infrastructural deficiencies at Abuja airport, Sirika said the government was already handling the issue, noting that the long-term solution was to concession the major airports.<br /> <br /> He added that the scarcity of aviation fuel, which threatened to cripple the industry in the recent past, had been resolved as government had made it easier for importers to bring in the product.

Latest-News Please don’t leave, FG begs Emirates Airline

The federal government has appealed to Emirates Airline and other foreign airlines operating in the country to reconsider the decision of w...

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PDP asks National Assembly to reject Buhari’s proposal to borrow

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFwFsvDz0T6sIFTh5TlVLYbY5yEUXFCN-WLzoJgPAF7SGoAnPY_n2XQj-4UCfTAZuV5SJfxY0zNUI4ZKuXAh8-e7HeY6ghBN_XwG38iMyhSvnXdTXZzG7uDT2W1lfvHLV5UL5V4Q7-Fs/s1600/Buhari+m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFwFsvDz0T6sIFTh5TlVLYbY5yEUXFCN-WLzoJgPAF7SGoAnPY_n2XQj-4UCfTAZuV5SJfxY0zNUI4ZKuXAh8-e7HeY6ghBN_XwG38iMyhSvnXdTXZzG7uDT2W1lfvHLV5UL5V4Q7-Fs/s400/Buhari+m.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to account for recovered loot over his proposed decision to borrow $29.96bn.<br /> <br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> The president had asked the national assembly for approval to borrow the sum from external sources.<br /> <br /> But the PDP called on the national assembly to reject the proposal “because it will plunge the country into huge debts”.<br /> <br /> “We totally disagree with the APC led federal government on this latest move,  and call on President Muhammed Buhari to first and foremost explain to Nigerians what his administration has done with the so-called  ‘recovered looted funds’ and how far the 2016 budget is fairing,” the party said in a statement by Dayo Adeyeye, its spokesman.<br /> <br /> The PDP said Buhari must itemise what he intends to finance with the proposed borrowing instead of “lumping it up in a coded term, and to plunge the nation into debt.”<br /> <br /> It also said that the approach was not the preferred solution to the economic quagmire “which this government created due to ineptitude.”<br /> <br /> “Nigerians will recall that the minister of information, culture and tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in June 2016 made public through a press statement, an account of recovered looted funds between May 2015 to May 2016 amounting to the sums of N78.3bn, $185.1m, £3.5m and €11,250m in cash; while others were under interim forfeiture. What happened to the recovered funds? Or is it the same funds the EFCC and DSS are planting in houses of opposition figures and justices instead of channeling it into the economy?” the party asked.<br /> <br /> “In addition, the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu recently confirmed our position when he stated that the commission recovered more money in eight months than it recovered in 12 years.<br /> <br /> “Nigerians need to know how much revenue government has been able to generate from crude oil, non-oil and independent revenue sources since assumption of office from May 2015 to September 2016. This clarification will boost confidence of Nigerians on the management of their resources especially in this period of recession before thinking of engaging in external borrowing.<br /> <br /> “It is no gain saying that the APC led federal government has left no stone unturned in castigating the PDP’s 16 years as wasted even with its obvious achievements; one of which was getting reprieve from the Paris Club of Creditors. The APC-led federal government is again taking Nigeria prior to Year 2005 when external debt burden derailed the growth of Nigeria economy and weakened the GDP before the total cancellation of her debt. This proposed action of the APC’s government will be a great injustice to the citizens of this country now and in the future if they are plunged back into debt.<br /> <br /> “Let us state unequivocally, that history will not forgive this APC government and its collaborators if they allow this injustice and maladministration to our economy and citizens to stand. We therefore call on the two chambers of the national assembly to reject this anti-people request by an anti-people government that has no genuine interest for the growth and development of the people of this country.”

Latest-News PDP asks National Assembly to reject Buhari’s proposal to borrow

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to account for recovered loot over his proposed decision to borrow ...

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$2.2 Billion arms cash: Military rejects Jonathan’s claim

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsL1AGN4yhpCddblSUm48mvEsm9pT0RgfobA8T0QkNfHKGw3xTb4yidGFHIN8Y1K8QDUz6lLnBiOgklUvXt1A6m4HezrC8ouCQY8aVA5r07pJBlMecX2nwW0UJPJc7Ddkhxapt_Y1KTYf4/s1600/Goodluck+Jonathan+d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsL1AGN4yhpCddblSUm48mvEsm9pT0RgfobA8T0QkNfHKGw3xTb4yidGFHIN8Y1K8QDUz6lLnBiOgklUvXt1A6m4HezrC8ouCQY8aVA5r07pJBlMecX2nwW0UJPJc7Ddkhxapt_Y1KTYf4/s400/Goodluck+Jonathan+d.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> Military sources yesterday rejected former President Goodluck Jonathan’s claim that his administration bought warships and aircraft.<br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> The former president, who spoke at a lecture he delivered on “Youth Entrepreneurship” at the Oxford Union in the United Kingdom (UK), tried to exonerate former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki of corruption allegations involving $2.2 billion voted for arms procurement.<br /> <br /> Jonathan said he did not believe the former NSA stole the money because weapons were bought for the military to fight Boko Haram.<br /> <br /> Jonathan said: “I don’t believe somebody can just steal $2.2 billion; we bought warships, we bought aircraft, we bought lots of weapons for the army and so on and so forth and you are still saying 2.2billion, so where did we get the money to buy all those things?”<br /> <br /> Investigations however revealed that the former President might have been deceived by his officials on the type of weapons that were bought for the military.<br /> <br /> According to several military sources who asked to remain anonymous because of the “sensitivity” of the matter, many of the weapons bought under the former president were “unserviceable and useless”.<br /> <br /> One said the Jonathan administration bought at least three fairly used (Tokunbo) Alpha Jets for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and two helicopters. But the jets were , the sources claimed, “not worth anything because they were not weaponised and the helicopters were cannibalised.”<br /> <br /> NAF recently reconfigured two demilitarised Alpha jets in its inventory. According to the NAF website, the jets were bought from the United States in 2015 to help in the fight against Boko Haram.<br /> <br /> “The two aircraft are among the four Alpha Jets bought from the United States in 2015 by the immediate past administration to enhance the operational capability of the NAF to combat Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.<br /> <br /> “The aircraft, however, before now, could not be deployed in the theatre of operation due to the inherent weapon delivery deficiency, hence its limited use for training purposes. The urgent need in recent times to commit all NAF available platforms to OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE to enhance the success of the counter insurgency operation necessitated the Service to look inward to seek ways of achieving its drive for self reliance through research and development.<br /> <br /> “ A number of vendors invited to Nigeria to assess the platforms had concluded that it would be difûcult or almost impossible to undertake the project since the Original Equipment Manufacturer had long closed down the production line. A few others who agreed to the possibility of having the aircraft reconfigured to carry munitions have also submitted proposals for initial assessment fee ranging from $20,000 – $30,000 before they could come up with the actual cost for the project. Convinced that the project would work, the NAF consequently assembled a team of technicians to develop a feasible model for the project. The model worked on ground, and has since been mounted on the Alpha Jets, and test fown successfully. This feat is a major research and development breakthrough for the NAF and the nation as a huge foreign exchange saver, given that the project only cost about N4,000,000.00 compared to what would be required to have it done abroad,” NAF said.<br /> <br /> However, the former President may have been referring to the purchase of six decommissioned Norwegian battleships, bought purportedly on behalf of the Navy by former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.<br /> <br /> The purchase had caused a huge row in Norway forcing that country’s military leadership to apologize to the lawmakers. The battleships were said to be used for anti-piracy operations on Nigerian waters. The Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Christian Ezekobe, did not respond to our correspondent’s questions on the whereabouts of the battleships.<br /> <br /> However a search on the Navy website revealed that the service has 24 battle ships purchased over several years while it still awaits one battleship built in China, NNS Unity.<br /> <br /> The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is seeking to add an additional C295W military aircraft to its fleet as the battle against Boko Haram reaches an advance stage. NAF has been crucial to the recent victories recorded by the military in the Northeast, through series of sustained aerial bombardment of camps and locations of Boko Haram militants.<br /> <br /> The aircraft is to be purchased from Airbus Defence and Space Company (Spain), which had earlier in the year made proposals to the NAF.<br /> <br /> The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, had played host to Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Alfonso Barnuevo Sebastian De Erice, who led two executives of Airbus Defence and Space Company to the NAF Headquarters and held discussions on the company’s proposal to sell the C295W military aircraft to the NAF.<br /> <br /> According to NAF, based on its operational capabilities, the aircraft was considered suitable to meet some of its operational needs, including Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and airlift operations.<br /> <br /> The air force has also recommended the aircraft for acquisition and provisions have been made for this in the 2017 budget proposal.<br /> <br /> The CAS urged the visiting team to start looking into training areas for NAF pilots and technicians on the aircraft.<br /> <br /> This, he said, is with a view to ensuring a smooth take-off for the operation of the aircraft in the event of its approval by the Federal Government.

Latest-News $2.2 Billion arms cash: Military rejects Jonathan’s claim

Military sources yesterday rejected former President Goodluck Jonathan’s claim that his administration bought warships and aircraft. T...

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Stop lamenting, find solution to recession – Oshiomhole

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMaU4ZUblVUxjgfqgbvEEmZKeZG-8RaV-BkDmAjuotg7LNYCdsT5TDmkJSINclMP79dQ5aMUIbz9d8KExvzqYHAZ4WG9LcXYDB7JpMVGvS4oeUk0WyjXYykFBQjNijlSzgTG6SE61ujMY/s1600/oshiomole+adams+s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMaU4ZUblVUxjgfqgbvEEmZKeZG-8RaV-BkDmAjuotg7LNYCdsT5TDmkJSINclMP79dQ5aMUIbz9d8KExvzqYHAZ4WG9LcXYDB7JpMVGvS4oeUk0WyjXYykFBQjNijlSzgTG6SE61ujMY/s1600/oshiomole+adams+s.jpg" /></a></div> The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, says political leaders must stop lamenting the economic recession and find a way to get Nigeria out of the doldrums.<br /> <br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> Oshiomhole spoke on Wednesday at the closing ceremony of the 2016 National Women Conference, organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials in Lagos.<br /> <br /> He said, “Lamentation will not bail the country out of its economic downturn; taking the right step in the right direction will do that.”<br /> <br /> The governor, at the event attended by the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, and his Kebbi State counterpart, Atiku Bagudu, also urged women to be resilient and demonstrate their potential as great economists.<br /> <br /> Oshiomhole lauded Ambode’s efforts at boosting the state’s economy, adding that improved traffic management had reduced travel time and stress for residents.<br /> <br /> He said, “You have shown that our task as leaders is not to lament what does not work, but to think through on how to make it work and that is what you are doing; what you have done and I know it is what you will continue to do.”<br /> <br /> Oshiomhole said as the governor of Edo State, he had had cause to borrow ideas from Lagos State, expressing optimism that his successor and Governor-elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, would also be willing to use good ideas from anywhere.<br /> <br /> COWLSO Chairman, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, said the three-day conference had opened the minds of participants to new ideas, information and statistics, saying that the women were better empowered to become change agents.

Latest-News Stop lamenting, find solution to recession – Oshiomhole

The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, says political leaders must stop lamenting the economic recession and find a way to get Nigeria o...

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Major, captain, arrested for leaking information to Boko Haram

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXlUp5TCEkPTJILLz6GXNWUJT8TdYYZ64g7p3UBn7cAsvCG3ZSatqNqI5pnqRBv2gthb8XJJv8iO5caXs9gjp9SoGMHjiN9FYctulH7r2Gw8X-DAMXWKKGjHbuivLeb-vbCx3Qn3SxTgZ/s640/Boko-haram.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> <br /> The Nigerian Army is holding two officers – a major and a captain – in connection with alleged sabotage of the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the North-East.<br /> <br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> A military source said on Wednesday that the Army authorities were intensifying efforts to rid the service of saboteurs in the ongoing counter-terrorism operations.<br /> <br /> It was gathered that the Army commenced a painstaking but discreet investigations into the activities of some of its personnel following the Boko Haram attack on troops’ location in Gashigar, on October 22, 2016.<br /> <br /> The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, had said in a statement on Saturday that 13 soldiers were wounded during a surprise Boko Haram attack on troops at Gashigar in the north of Borno State.<br /> <br /> Usman had stated that some soldiers were missing after the attack.<br /> <br /> The statement did not give the exact number of those missing during the Gashigar attack.<br /> <br /> It was learnt that both President Mohammadu Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, were alarmed by the Gashigar attack, which involved an entire unit.<br /> <br /> It was gathered that the Army authorities decided to conduct a discreet investigation into the telephone conversation of some of the security personnel and their civilian counterparts and uncovered some suspicious activities through the screening.<br /> <br /> A military source said on Wednesday that the Army was intensifying investigation to unravel two established cases against the arrested suspects, which were the leakage of information on troops’ movement to the insurgents and the raising of funds to finance Boko Haram operations through cattle rustling.<br /> <br /> The source added, “The President was furious and discussed the matter with the COAS when some of the heads of that units were ambushed by the Boko Haram.<br /> <br /> “The Army leadership took out time to screen the communications lines of the officers for several days without making it known.<br /> <br /> “The suspicion was that they have links with some civilians and the links were traced. They are giving them vital information concerning the movement of soldiers.<br /> <br /> “How come that the Borno State Governor and other officials have not been attacked, yet they ambushed the Chief of Army Staff. They have not attacked civilians but they attacked the COAS.”<br /> <br /> When our correspondent contacted the Acting Army spokesman, he said investigation into the matter was ongoing.<br /> <br /> He added that the Army would not release information on the matter in view of the fact that there was an ongoing planned rescue operation in the area.<br /> <br /> He said, “Investigation is ongoing and once we conclude, the suspects would be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.”<br /> <br /> Usman, who denied reports that 83 soldiers were missing in action, said the military did not lose any soldier to the Gashigar attack.<br /> <br /> He, however, stated that the military suspects would be subject to military laws in accordance with the law.<br /> <br /> Usman had said in a statement on Tuesday that a total of 32 persons, comprising two military officers, two soldiers, two policemen and 26 civilians were in custody for allegedly sabotaging the ongoing operations.

Latest-News Major, captain, arrested for leaking information to Boko Haram

The Nigerian Army is holding two officers – a major and a captain – in connection with alleged sabotage of the ongoing counter-terrorism ...

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Patience Jonathan seeks N200 million damages

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ptMETnZngUK5GfJ5V6UmtInGIbuQDx8UMpw9hHDsIDzKCqgnwNHu1monFPar0ckhMBlJWnZLeCsmW2uREDjuT1yGB83zwdO5dCjTUXy5OLQ3UiCcuC-cVzHgH5hhhNqLxjNbZRM4MdFU/s1600/Dame+Patience+Jonathan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ptMETnZngUK5GfJ5V6UmtInGIbuQDx8UMpw9hHDsIDzKCqgnwNHu1monFPar0ckhMBlJWnZLeCsmW2uREDjuT1yGB83zwdO5dCjTUXy5OLQ3UiCcuC-cVzHgH5hhhNqLxjNbZRM4MdFU/s1600/Dame+Patience+Jonathan.jpg" /></a></div> <br /> A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed December 7, 2016 to hear the N200m fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by wife of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Skye Bank Plc to challenge the freezing of four bank accounts containing $15m.<br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> The EFCC placed a ‘No Debit Order’ on the four accounts opened in the name of four companies which were linked to a former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa.<br /> <br /> The EFCC froze the four bank accounts on July 7, 2016 in the course of investigating Dudafa for money laundering.<br /> <br /> But Patience had sued the EFCC and Skye Bank claiming the ownership of the $15m found in the four bank accounts.<br /> <br /> The matter came up for the first time before Justice Babs Kuewumi on Wednesday.<br /> <br /> At the hearing, Patience’s lawyer, Mr. Granville Abibo (SAN), applied to discontinue the earlier motion filed by his client for the purpose of amending it.<br /> <br /> Justice Kuewumi granted the application and struck out the motion.<br /> <br /> Abibo then informed the court that he had filed and served a new motion on the defendants.<br /> <br /> But the EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, said the suit was not ripe for hearing.<br /> <br /> Abibo then urged the court to restrain the EFCC from tampering with the $15m in the frozen accounts pending the determination of the suit.<br /> <br /> He said despite being served with court processes, the EFCC was still making moves that could overreach the court.<br /> <br /> But Oyedepo urged the court to discountenance Abibo’s submission, saying that the accounts had long been frozen before Patience filed the suit and so the issue of interference with the accounts did not arise.<br /> <br /> After listening to the parties, Justice Kuewumi adjourned till December 7, 2016 for the hearing of the case.<br /> <br /> Patience is urging the court to compel the EFCC to immediately remove the ‘No Debit Order’ placed on the four bank accounts in question.<br /> <br /> She also wants the court to order Skye Bank to pay her damages in the sum of N200m for what she termed a violation of her right to own personal property under Section 44 of the 1999 Constitution.<br /> <br /> Filed in support of the suit was an affidavit deposed to by one Sammie Somiari.<br /> <br /> Somiari said it was Dudafa who helped Patience to open the four bank accounts which the EFCC froze.<br /> <br /> According to him, Dudafa had on March 22, 2010 brought two Skye Bank officers, Demola Bolodeoku and Dipo Oshodi, to meet Patience at home to open five accounts.<br /> <br /> He, however, claimed that after the five accounts were opened, Patience later discovered that Dudafa opened only one of the accounts in her name while the other four were opened in the names of companies belonging to Dudafa.<br /> <br /> The four companies, whose accounts have now been frozen and which have also been charged with money laundering along with Dudafa, are Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Seagate Property Development & Investment Co. Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited; and Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited.

Latest-News Patience Jonathan seeks N200 million damages

A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed December 7, 2016 to hear the N200m fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by wife of ex-Preside...

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Manchester United 1-0 Manchester City: Mata strikes to down Pep's men in derby

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Manchester United 1-0 Manchester City: Mata strikes to down Pep's men in derby" height="443" src="http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/GOAL_INTERNATIONAL/29/63/hd-juan-mata-manchester-united-manchester-city-26102016_o49pk7z3q1lp1xuwd7n36ei2v.jpg?t=45701422&w=620&h=430" width="640" /></div> <br /> Juan Mata's second-half strike proved the difference in a tense League Cup derby as Manchester United marched into the quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Manchester City at Old Trafford.<br /> <br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> More to Follow... </div>

Latest-News Manchester United 1-0 Manchester City: Mata strikes to down Pep's men in derby

Juan Mata's second-half strike proved the difference in a tense League Cup derby as Manchester United marched into the quarter-finals...

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