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President Buhari approves transfer of NIMC to Communications Ministry

By
Shalom Ekelaka
-
President Buhari approves transfer of NIMC to Communications Ministry

A statement signed by the Minister‘s Spokesperson, Mrs Uwa Suleiman, on Monday in Abuja, said that the approval was based on Buhari’s consideration for the critical role of NIMC towards the realisation of the objectives of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria (NDEPS).

Suleiman explained that it was an effort to ensure synergy and effective ministry supervisory mechanism was put in place to coordinate, monitor and track the progress of Federal Government’s digital transformation initiatives.

She furthermore explained that the directives was an illustration of Mr President’s vote of confidence on the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami based on an unprecedented performance.

The spokesperson noted that within his first year in office, the Minister had resolved the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Sector’s decade-long dilemma of Right of Way charges.

According to her, he was also able to secure the President’s approval for the provision of security as well as designation of Telecommunications Infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure.

“Regularisation of improperly registered SIM cards and deactivation of unregistered ones, the deployment of over 250 digital projects across the country under his policies and supervision as well as built the capacity of over 36,000 Nigerians.

“It may be recalled that NIMC is mandated to create, manage, maintain and operate the National Identity Database established by the NIMC Act, 2007.

“In an effort to realise this, the Commission has so far registered around 41 million eligible enrollees for the National Identity Number (NIN).

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on the other hand has details of over 191 million mobile subscribers.”

She, however, explained that the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) had recorded huge successes in the development and implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), the country’s first codified data protection regulation.

NITDA had also reached an advanced stage on the implementation of the National Public Key Infrastructure (NPKI).

She noted that Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) also provides services to Government Agencies-Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service and Software-as-a-Service.

Hence the need therefore for NIMC, NCC, NITDA and GBB to work closely together under the supervision of one Ministry towards harnessing what has already been achieved cannot be overemphasised.

“The NIN, considered as a social security as well as civil number, was very important for economic planning and social intervention.

“With government’s digitisation initiatives in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, access to services and interventions will require it.

“We therefore urge all eligible individuals to enroll as soon as possible. Furthermore, the Honourable Minister is assuring Nigerians as well as residents that appropriate measures will be put in place to ensure that opportunities for enrolment are provided to all.”

Pulse

Black Panther Star, Chadwick Boseman’s Final Tweet Goes Down As The Most Liked In Twitter History

By
Shalom Ekelaka
-
Black Panther Star, Chadwick Boseman's Final Tweet Goes Down As The Most Liked In Twitter History

Chadwick Boseman‘s final tweet by his family announcing his death has become the most liked post in Twitter history.

The American actor, best known for playing Black Panther in the hit Marvel superhero franchise died on Friday, August 28, after a four-year battle with colon cancer. The 43-year-old died at home in Los Angeles with his wife and family by his side.

In a public statement, Twitter noted how “fans are coming together on Twitter to celebrate the life of Chadwick Boseman, and the tweet sent from his account is now the most-liked tweet of all time on Twitter.”

The social media giant confirmed the accolade on its own account, with the caption: “Most liked Tweet ever. A tribute fit for a King. #WakandaForever.”

Twitter also brought back the “Black Panther” hashtag emoji in honor of the late actor.

Currently, Boseman’s tweet has over seven million likes, surpassing Barack Obama‘s 2017 tweet (four million likes) that quoted Nelson Mandela.Black Panther Star, Chadwick Boseman's Final Tweet Goes Down As The Most Liked In Twitter History

Twitter

Northern elders take stand on planned review of 1999 Constitution

By
Shalom Ekelaka
-
Northern elders take stand on planned review of 1999 Constitution

The Northern Elders’ Forum, NEF, has declared that the recent publication by the Senate ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is of no value.

It described it as a waste of time, resources and energy of the nation.

The NEF suggested that “the exercise should not be supported by any Nigerian genuinely concerned by waste in governance at this difficult time when the economy is facing unprecedented challenges.”

The NEF Director, Publicity and Advocacy, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday said, “Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) has taken note of the published invitation by the Senate ad-Hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to the public to submit Memorandum to assist the further alteration of the provisions of the Constitution(as amended).

“The announcement gives all Nigerians two weeks to submit their memoranda on all aspects of the current constitution.

“The Forum is convinced that this initiative of the Senate is of no value and a predictably waste of time, resources and energy of the nation, and should not be supported by any Nigerian genuinely concerned by waste in governance at this difficult time when the economy is facing unprecedented challenges.”

The statement noted that virtually every National Assembly since 1999 had spent huge amounts of Nigerian people’s money on jamborees that gave them false hope that the three arms of government respect genuine desire of Nigerians for a holistic and genuine review and amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

“Nothing fundamental or of any value has come out of these grand schemes to exploit our collective desire to address our political and economic fundamentals.This National Assembly is also following suit, and it should not be encouraged on this path,” the NEF regretted.

It explained that Nigeria’s future rests largely on its willingness to address major constraints to equity and justice, adding that a functional structure, consistent good governance, security for all citizens, growing understanding between and among all groups and an economy that grows and narrows inequalities between and classes and regions.

It said this cannot be achieved by a process that routinizes massive expenditures around false hopes.

The legislature and the executive branches of government, according to the statement, had large quantities of reviews, recommendations and reports from past attempts at amending the Constitutions.

“These represent enough resources for a review if the legislature is serious about this vital national priority. Even this is not likely to produce a genuine effort to address the basic requirements of securing a stable, secure and prosperous Nigeria, because both arms of this administration are unlikely to accept to put through a wide-ranging review of the Constitution,” it explained.

“The Northern Elders Forum recommends the alternative of leaders of thought, elders, groups and professional organizations and representatives of government to freely discuss every element of our co-existence as a country under principles of voluntarism, genuine representation and utmost mutual respect of the process.

“A Nigerian Peoples’ Conference on Review of the Constitution will benefit from past work in this direction and contemporary challenges the country needs to address in a context that allows free expression without pre-determined ends.

“The outcome of this Conference should be submitted to the two arms of government which may arrange and fund a referendum on the recommendations of the Conference for Nigerians to decide on how they want their nation to be structured and function,” the forum advised.

The forum advised the National Assembly to direct its energy towards convincing President Muhammadu Buhari to bring an end to the insurgency in the North East and killings in other parts of the country.

Daily Post

Nigeria Has Also Taken Actions That Affected Us Before – Ghanaian Government Blasts FG

By
Shalom Ekelaka
-
Nigeria Has Also Taken Actions That Affected Us Before - Ghanaian Government Blasts FG

The Ghanaian government says the Federal government of Nigeria has also taken steps in the past that have adversely affected its citizens.

The Ghanaian government stated this days after the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, spoke against the issues affecting Nigerian traders in Ghana. Lai at a press conference last Friday, August 28, said Nigeria will no longer tolerate the harrassment on Nigerians in the country.

Earlier this month, Nigerian traders in Ghana raised the alarm over the closure of their shops. The incident happened two months after a building in the Nigerian mission in Ghana was demolished.

 

In a statement released on Sunday, August 30, the Ghanaian Minister of Information, Kojo Nkrumah, said the issues between both countries can be resolved through diplomacy. He pointed out that it is on record that Nigeria has taken a number of steps “which have gravely affected other countries in the region”.

“These include the closure of Nigeria’s Seme Krake border from August 2019 to date and the issuance of executive orders by Nigeria’s Presidency, preventing foreigners from getting jobs which Nigerians can do, to mention a few,” he said.

“Ghana and other West African countries continue to believe redress to even actions like these can be sought, diplomatically, without resort to media statements and related activities that have the potential to aggravate further the situation.

The aforementioned notwithstanding, the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who values very much his excellent relations with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, will engage President Buhari with a view to develop immediately a framework for validating claims of ill treatment of citizens of either country, and ensure citizens enjoy the full exercise of their rights, while respecting the sovereignty and laws of both countries.

Ghana and Nigeria, as they have been doing, must continue to work together for a successful West Africa.” he said

On the demolition of a part Nigeria’s mission in Ghana, the minister said the federal government failed to complete the documentation process after paying for the land in 2000.

“The High Commission failed to acquire the Lease and Land Title Certificate, which constitute documentation for the said property, as well as a building permit for construction. In Ghana, land is owned not only by the government, but also by stools and families.” Nkrumah said

On the closure of shops of Nigerian traders, Nkrumah said the claim that the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) has been increased the fee for registration to $1 million is false.

PM

Adele Shared a Photo of Her Wearing Bantu Knots With a Jamaican Flag Bikini Top, and the Internet Lost It

By
Shalom Ekelaka
-
Adele Shared a Photo of Her Wearing Bantu Knots With a Jamaican Flag Bikini Top, and the Internet Lost It

Hardly anything in the year 2020 seems strange anymore. Then something new happens, like a photo that singer Adele posted to Instagram that found its way around the internet on Sunday. The strangeness of it had her followers questioning not just the attire, but the singer herself.

Adele is shown wearing bantu knots in her hair and a Jamaican flag bikini top, and her post read, “Happy what would be Notting Hill Carnival my beloved London.” Her post was followed by emoji flags of both Great Britain and Jamaica.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Happy what would be Notting Hill Carnival my beloved London 🇬🇧🇯🇲

A post shared by Adele (@adele) on

The Notting Hill Carnival is a popular annual event that’s significant in Black British culture, and it takes place during the Sunday and Monday of the country’s August Bank Holiday weekend. The carnival that began in 1966 has taken on a Caribbean flavor since 1976, but it was canceled this year because of COVID-19.

Because of its cancelation, many people have celebrated virtually—or online—in their own ways. This is where the famous British singer made her virtual mark.

First, she wore bantu knots in her hair, but what are they? It’s a traditional African hairstyle that’s been around more than a century, according to NaturallyCurly.com. The term “Bantu” itself is a term that collectively describes hundreds of African tribes that spoke the “Bantu” language, but it doesn’t refer to any one homogenous group of people.

Though the hairstyle that’s sometimes called “twisted mini buns” was popular among African women, it also became popular among Black women all over the world. And recently, non-Black celebrities and models have worn the hairstyle, even drawing criticism for doing so.

The Jamaican flag bikini top worn by Adele was an obvious nod to the Caribbean country and culture.

Her photo had Twitter, Instagram and other outlets on fire Sunday night.Adele Shared a Photo of Her Wearing Bantu Knots With a Jamaican Flag Bikini Top, and the Internet Lost It Adele Shared a Photo of Her Wearing Bantu Knots With a Jamaican Flag Bikini Top, and the Internet Lost It Adele Shared a Photo of Her Wearing Bantu Knots With a Jamaican Flag Bikini Top, and the Internet Lost It Adele Shared a Photo of Her Wearing Bantu Knots With a Jamaican Flag Bikini Top, and the Internet Lost It Adele Shared a Photo of Her Wearing Bantu Knots With a Jamaican Flag Bikini Top, and the Internet Lost It Adele Shared a Photo of Her Wearing Bantu Knots With a Jamaican Flag Bikini Top, and the Internet Lost It Adele Shared a Photo of Her Wearing Bantu Knots With a Jamaican Flag Bikini Top, and the Internet Lost It Adele Shared a Photo of Her Wearing Bantu Knots With a Jamaican Flag Bikini Top, and the Internet Lost It Adele Shared a Photo of Her Wearing Bantu Knots With a Jamaican Flag Bikini Top, and the Internet Lost It Adele Shared a Photo of Her Wearing Bantu Knots With a Jamaican Flag Bikini Top, and the Internet Lost It

 

Newsweek

We Have A Failed Political Class, Nigeria Has No Leadership – APC Member Pat Utomi Laments

By
Shalom Ekelaka
-
We Have A Failed Political Class, Nigeria Has No Leadership - APC Member Pat Utomi Laments

A professor of political economy and management expert, Pat Utomi, has faulted the system of governance in Nigeria.

Despite being a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Utomi believes the present administration is finding it difficult to connect to the solutions to the problems of the country.

“I think that the government is crippled; it is not connecting to the solution,” he said during his appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

The economist added, “If there is anything absent in Nigeria, it is leadership. At every level of our society, there is a failure of leadership.

“Leadership is about connecting to the soul of the people and giving everything sacrificially to lift it up.”

He decried that the nation’s political class has failed to align itself to the new reality, stressing that Nigeria lacked the type of politics that would enable the government to be responsive to the needs of the people.

A Failed Political Class

Professor Utomi explained that this, among several other reasons, led to the emergence of the National Consultative Forum – a political group that he co-chairs.

He stated that the present situation in the country was not about the performance of a particular government, adding that it has generated to what he described as a national crisis.

“We have an existential crisis. The political class has failed Nigeria (let’s be honest), including all of us.

“I am part of them but I have fought always to make it different but you don’t always win,” said the APC member who lost the bid to be governor of Delta State in the 2019 general elections.

He was worried that the structure of the political system has prevented those who want to make a difference from being successful.

The economist stated that there was no internal democracy with the various political parties, stressing that they have been turned into the “private properties of some people whose word is law”.

He described such individuals as people motivated by personal power, influence, and search for material resources, noting that their actions have prevented the country from running as it ought to.

Hijack Of Executive Functions?

Speaking on the roles of the executive and legislative arms of government, Professor Utomi accused the National Assembly of usurping the duties of the ministries.

He said, “There is a total collapse of separation of powers and the legislature has taken over running the executive and the executive is complicit in allowing that to happen.

“Anytime I have been asked to analyse the budget in this country for the last 20 years, I don’t analyse the budget because the budget process in this county is a joke.”

“Today, the House Committee Chair on appropriation is more important to a national budget than the Minister of Finance because this game that is played in the National Assembly means that what comes out is really the budget of the National Assembly, not of the executive branch and the executive branch has refused to engage the matter.

“What is going on today is a hijack of the executive functions by the legislature and for most of them, it is just a game,” he added

According to the professor, some ministers have complained to him that the lawmakers run their budget and their ministries are being run from the National Assembly.

He, however, proposed a constitutional reform that would essentially reduce the legislative branch to the citizen and part-time legislature.

Portland Protests: Trump and Biden Clash Over Street Violence

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
Portland Protests: Trump and Biden Clash Over Street Violence

United States President, Donald Trump, and his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, have clashed over the violence that has erupted at protests in Portland, Oregon.

Mr Trump blamed the Democrat mayor of Portland, Ted Wheeler, for allowing the “death and destruction of his city”.

But Mr Biden said the president was “recklessly encouraging violence”.

A man was shot dead in Portland on Saturday as elsewhere in the city a pro-Trump rally clashed with Black Lives Matter protesters.

Portland has become a flashpoint for demonstrations against police brutality and racism since the police killing of African-American George Floyd in Minneapolis on 25 May triggered a wave of national and international outrage.

Mayor Wheeler warned against people coming to the city to seek revenge amid a flurry of social media posts.

“For those of you saying on Twitter this morning that you plan to come to Portland to seek retribution, I’m calling on you to stay away,” he said.

He also hit back at Mr Trump’s criticism, saying it was the US president who had “created the hate and the division”.

“I’d appreciate it if the president would support us or stay the hell out of the way,” he said. Some activists have called for the mayor’s resignation, saying he was not capable of resolving the protests.

‘This is Trump’s America’

In a series of tweets on Sunday, Mr Trump said that “Portland will never recover with a fool for a mayor”, and suggested sending federal forces to the city.

He also accused Mr Biden of being “unwilling to lead”.

In a statement, Mr Biden said: “[Trump] may believe tweeting about law and order makes him strong – but his failure to call on his supporters to stop seeking conflict shows just how weak he is.”

Law and order is a major theme of President Trump’s bid for re-election, painting the Democrats and their candidate Joe Biden as soft on crime.

Earlier, acting US Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said Democrats officials in Portland had allowed “lawlessness and chaos” to develop, saying “all options” were on the table to resolve the situation.

Democrats have responded by saying the violence is happening under Mr Trump’s presidency, and accuse the US leader of worsening the situation with his rhetoric.

Victim ‘supported far-right group’

Police are investigating the shooting in the city, which has seen months of demonstrations.

“Portland Police officers heard sounds of gunfire from the area of Southeast 3rd Avenue and Southwest Alder Street. They responded and located a victim with a gunshot wound to the chest,” Portland police said in a statement.

Oregon Live reported that “camouflage gear” with “thin blue line patches” was seen next to the body – a common sign of support for the police.

Another image shows police trying to restrain a man who was apparently with the person who was shot.

Police have not identified the dead man or specified whether the shooting was directly linked to the clashes which broke out elsewhere in the city.

The founder of the far-right group Patriot Prayer identified the victim as Aaron “Jay” Danielson, adding that he was “a good friend and a supporter”, the Associated Press news agency reports.

The shooting came amid fights between the Trump supporters and BLM protesters in Portland.

Tension rose after a convoy of some 600 vehicles flying flags and carrying an estimated 1,000 Trump backers gathered at a mall in Clackamas county on the outskirts before entering Portland’s downtown.

Ten people were arrested over the clashes, police said.

Pivotal week for ‘law and order’ Trump

The continuing violence on US streets brings into focus the evolving tone of Donald Trump’s election campaign – criticising cities run by Democrats, where much of the trouble has occurred, and framing himself as the law and order president.

Portland has been the epicentre of Black Lives Matter protests ever since the police killing of George Floyd, but the convergence of pro-Trump supporters, in large numbers, with anti-racism demonstrators marks a volatile escalation.

Tweeting “LAW & ORDER!!!” hours after the latest disturbances, Mr Trump makes it clear that the issue will dominate his appeal to the American people for a second term in office.

This could be a pivotal week. On Tuesday the president will head to Kenosha, in the political swing state of Wisconsin, where violent protests followed the police shooting of Jacob Blake. The stated reason is for Mr Trump to meet local police and “survey damage from recent riots”.

Many Americans will be watching to see if the president also reaches out to Mr Blake and his family and for any expressions of empathy for those who’re angry about police brutality.

Electric Power Fallout: Fire Guts Part Of Lagos Monarch’s Palace

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
Electrical Power Fallout: Fire Guts Part Of Lagos Monarch's Palace

Fire, on Sunday, gutted part of the palace of the monarch of Isheri-Olofin, Oba Wahab Balogun, in the Isheri roundabout area of Idimu, Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the fire, which razed one of the rooms in an eight-bedroom bungalow on the premises of the palace, was reportedly caused by power surge.

It was learnt that the surge occurred when power supply was restored in the community.

When emergency responders, including officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and residents of the area, stormed the palace to quell the fire, a yet-to-be-identified adult male got choked.

The victim was said to have been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The spokesperson for LASEMA, Nosa Okunbor, who confirmed the development, said the fire gutted one of the rooms in the palace, adding that the inferno had been extinguished.

He stated, “Upon arrival at the palace of the Oba of Isheri-Olofin at the Isheri roundabout, Idimu, Lagos, it was observed that a room in an eight-bedroom bungalow inside the palace was gutted by fire.

“Further investigation at the incident scene revealed that the fire was as a result of electrical surge when power was restored. The fire was completely extinguished.

“An adult male, who was choked by the smoke while extinguishing the fire, was reported to have been taken to a private hospital.

“Post-disaster assessment was conducted by the team in the presence of some palace officials; there is no threat of re-ignition as the fire was extinguished with copious volume of water.

“Also, the eight-room bungalow did not show signs of structural defects as a result of the fire. The operation has been concluded.”

In another development, fire gutted some cables that were stored under the Cele Bridge on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway area of the state.

PUNCH Metro gathered that when the cables started burning, the owner reportedly fled the scene of the incident.

The intervention by emergency responders was said to have prevented the fire from spreading beyond the scene.

Okunbor said there were no casualties, adding that the fire had been extinguished and dampening down was ongoing.

He said, “Preliminary report on the fire incident at the Cele under the bridge, inward Okota, had it that the fire started from some cables stored under the bridge inward Oshodi.

“The owner of the cables was said to have fled the scene. The timely intervention of the LRT, the LRU Fire and Lagos Fire Service was enough to prevent the fire from spreading.

“The fire has been successfully and extinguished with no casualties and no property razed. Dampening down is in progress by the combined efforts of the LRU and the LASG fire fighters. The operation is in progress.”

The PUNCH

Group To Buhari: Tell Malami To Release Melaye’s Case File

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
Group To Buhari: Tell Malami To Release Melaye's Case File

The Civil Society Network Against Corruption has written to President Muhammadu Buhari, asking him to immediately order the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to release the corruption file of ex-senator, Dino Melaye.

The group also threatened legal action against Malami if he continues to hold on to the case file of Melaye, an act said to be shielding the former senator, who represented Kogi West, against justice.

SaharaReporters had in December 2015 published how Melaye had since 2010 illegally operated bank accounts in the United States of America.

After the revelation, CSNAC, a coalition of over 150 anti-corruption organisations whose primary aim is to constructively combat corruption vigorously, wrote the Code of Conduct Bureau to investigate Melaye.

Malami, however, went secretly to obtain the case file from the bureau and had since squashed the investigation of Melaye.

After so many inquiries, the CCB finally revealed that Malami had taken over the case file of Melaye.

Following silence by the minister, CSNAC invoked the Freedom of Information Act, urging Buhari to direct Malaimi to release the case file in the next seven days.

“As President of the country, you have the responsibility to ensure equity in the campaign against corruption.

“The fight against corruption can never succeed when the claws of law are deployed in a discriminatory manner or used to score cheap political gains,” the CSNAC stated in the petition signed by the group’s Legal Officer, Rebecca David.

CSNAC also threatened legal action against Malami for obstructing the cause of justice in the matter.

“Series of requests have been submitted to your office to release the file on Senator Melaye. There are serious cases of corruption levelled against him.

“The cases were to be prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

t’s unfortunate that you ordered the transfer of the file leaving Senator Melaye with the prospect of escaping justice in the face of the weighty allegations

against him.

“There are speculations that Senator Melaye is your bossom friend and that the transfer of the file on corruption cases against him was designed to give him a soft landing.

“You have to prove these allegations false by releasing the file without further delay,” CSNAC stated.

SAHARA REPORTERS

FRAUD: Blatter, Platini To Be Interrogated By Swiss Prosecutor

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
FRAUD: Blatter, Platini To Be Interrogated By Swiss Prosecutor

Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter each face interrogation from the Swiss public prosecutor this week as part of the of the proceedings opened in 2015 over a 2011 payment of 2 million Swiss francs.

Platini, the former head of European football’s governing body UEFA, has been summoned to Bern by prosecutor Thomas Hildbrand for a hearing on Monday. Blatter, the former president of word governing body FIFA, is due on Tuesday.

In June, Hildbrand formally added Platini to an investigation into a 1.8 million euro payment he received from FIFA in 2011 for an advisory job completed in 2002 on suspicion of “complicity in unfair management, embezzlement and forgery in securities”.

The 65-year-old Frenchman now has the status of “accused” alongside Blatter.

Platini said at the time that the prosecutor’s office (MPC) had “confirmed in writing in May 2018” that his case was closed.

Two other former FIFA executives, Frenchman Jerome Valcke, the former secretary-general, and German Markus Kattner, the former financial director, are being investigated “for suspicion of unfair management”, the MPC office said.

Kattner will be interrogated on September 4.

Platini said he was being persecuted by FIFA.

“After five years, it is quite possible that FIFA will continue to harass me through complaints with the sole aim of keeping me out of football and smearing my reputation,” he said in June.

Blatter, who is 84, told AFP the payment was above board.

“It was a back pay for work done by Michel Platini. The sum was validated by the finance commission. It cannot be a criminal offence,” Blatter said, adding that he was “serene” ahead of the new hearing.

FIFA deemed the sum a “disloyal payment” and suspended Blatter and Platini from all football-related activities, which prevented the former UEFA president from running for the FIFA presidency in 2016.

Platini appealed his suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which reduced it to four years, then the Swiss Federal Court and finally at the European Court of Human Rights.

Hildbrand questioned Blatter in late July and early August in connection with a separate investigation into television rights contracts issued to the Caribbean Football Union.

AFP

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