Human Rights Watch is not exactly singing Jennifer Lopez's praises these days.

Some members of the media and human rights groups have scrutinized the singer after reports that she performed "Happy Birthday" to Turkmenistan dictator Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedovon June 29. The most vocally opposed organization has been HRF, which estimates that J.Lo has received in excess of $10 million for what it calls, "serenading crooks and dictators from Eastern Europe and Russia."

"What those covering this story have missed is that J. Lo and her management have misled her fans and the public," said HRF President Thor Halvorssen. "J. Lo has repeatedly mingled with and entertained some of the world's worst thugs and their cronies."

"The 'Jenny-from-the-block-who-doesn't-Google' clarification may be credible in one instance, but it beggars belief in light of a pattern of repeated behavior, Halvorssen continued. "This is not about ignorance, it's about greed."

The non-profit organization also chronicled Lopez's recent highly-paid appearances in Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Russia.

HRF has previously gone after actress Hilary Swank over her 2011 visit to Chechnya, as well as singerJulio Iglesias after he performed in Equatorial Guinea.

Jennifer Lopez apologized Sunday after a barrage of criticism followed her singing “Happy Birthday” to the leader of Turkmenistan, a country described by human rights groups as “among the most repressive in the world.”

The singer and actress performed in the former Soviet bloc country on Saturday night. A statement released Sunday by her publicist to the Associated Press said the event was hosted by the China National Petroleum Corp. and wasn’t a political event.

However, the country's leader, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, attended. Berdimuhamedow has been criticized for his oppressive rule by Human Rights Watch and similar organizations.

Rivers Crisis: Amaechi too small for Jonathan – Dr. Doyin

The  Presidency,Wednesday, described calls by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for the removal of President Goodluck Jonathan over the crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly as a flawed position.

According to the Presidency, President Jonathan was absolutely not connected and also not involved in the Rivers State political quagmire, just as it stressed that Governor Chibuike Amaechi was too small politically for President Jonathan to fight with.

Addressing Journalists  Wednesday in Abuja,  Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, described as unfair attempts to link the President to the crisis in Rivers State.

Rivers Lawmakers pledge loyalty to Amaechi

In the face of the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, the 27 pro-Governor Rotimi Amaechi lawmakers out of 32 in the State House of Assembly have pledged their support to the governor.

The lawmakers pledged their support to Amaechi during a breakfast meeting with him in Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday. Those who were absent from the tea party were Chidi Lloyd (House Leader) and Benibo Anabraba, both hospitalised for injuries sustained when the five anti-Amaechi lawmakers came with thugs and disrupted the Assembly’s sitting on Tuesday, while Golden Chioma was away on official assignment.

Speaker Otelemaba Dan Amachree, in his solidarity remarks, reaffirmed the loyalty and support to the Governor and said the House leadership was intact.

“I want to reaffirm our total loyalty to you your Excellency as a House”, he said: “We also want to let you know that there was no impeachment yesterday (Tuesday). I still remain the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the other principal officers are still there,” he added.

Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker and member representing Khana 2 Constituency, Kwanee Leyii, reassured that they would continue to back Amaechi, also noting that there was no change in the House leadership.

“The leadership of the current 7th Assembly is totally intact and there is no change. We came to further reassure you (Amaechi) that the 7th Assembly is solidly behind you and together we will push on ensuring that our people receive the best in terms of democratic dividends. We are very proud of you in the manner in which you have conducted yourself so far even in the face of all the provocation,” he added.

Former Speaker and member representing Degema constituency, Tonye Harry, in his remarks, restated that the Assembly would not desert Amaechi and disproved the impeachment claim by the dissident lawmakers.

“Rivers State House of Assembly is still one under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amaechree. I want to assure you (Amaechi) that all of us (27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers out of 32) will continue to support you till the end of your second tenure,” he said.

For the female member representing Port Harcourt constituency I, Victoria Nyeche, Amaechi had shown respect for rule of law and maturity in dealing with the crisis in the state.

“I want to join in my colleagues to commend His Excellency for his maturity and for specially showing that he has respect for the rule of law, that’s why he brought that small amendment to the House yesterday (Tuesday) for us to do the viament. As a House, we are together; we have just one Speaker and he is Rt. Hon. Otelema Dan Amachree. As the representative of Port Harcourt constituency I, we say that we are proud of the government of Rivers State led by His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. We will continue to support him in our prayers and in our actions. We will continue to work with him to give Rivers people the dividends of Democracy which they desire and deserve”.

Wanjoku Chikere Azubike of Ikwerre Constituency and his counterpart from Ahoada West, Hon. Chigbo Eligwe expressed the commitment of the Assembly to the Amaechi administration and described the impeachment claim as false.

“We stand solidly behind the Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelema Dan Amachreee. We will stand behind the Amaechi government. We will represent the Rivers people. We will stand for democracy”.

“The leadership of the House is very intact, we are loyal to Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree, by extension we are completely loyal to His Excellency the Governor of Rivers State. I want to remind all of us that this is the first administration where you can see the presence of projects in almost all the nooks and cronies of the state”, Hon. Eligwe said.

In his remarks, Chief G. U. Ake commended Governor Amaechi for his distinct leadership style and unparalleled achievements and commended the legislators for faithfully supporting Governor Amaechi despite alleged plans by the opposition to buy over their loyalty for the governor.

Responding, Governor Amaechi stressed the need for good working relationship between the executive and the legislature.  On the crisis rocking the state, he said there was no need for placing the state under the current siege.

“I thank you for joining me to have this breakfast. It is becoming slightly difficult for members to legislate for the state because of the fact that the police is not able to protect you and because of the fact that the police appears to be on one side and if I did not come with my security yesterday, only God knows what would have happened.

“But please it’s important that as a House and as a state that we work together and ensure that we don’t allow anybody distract us because at the end of the day the assessment will not be based on who fought us and what was the reason for fighting us, it’s what did we deliver to our people. I say to you that there’s the need for you to continue to remain together.

I’ve advised the commissioner for Health to ensure that all those who are hospitalized are taken care of even it there is a need to fly them out of the country we would fly them out of the country but we hope that the Federal Government would know that there is no need for the siege on the Rivers people because of political interest.

Heads Must Roll Over 146-Goals Scandal– Umeh

Heavy penalty awaits the dramatis personae in the show of shame involving four clubs in the Nigeria Amateur League. Matches involving the clubs namely Plateau United Feeders and Akurba FC on the one hand, and Police Machine versus Babayaro FC on the other produced a combined record 146 goals.

The match between Plateau Feeders and Akurba FC ended 79-0 in favour of Plateau while the other match between Police Machine and Babayaro FC recorded a 67-0 scoreline in favour of Police Machine.

“This is a national disgrace of the highest proportion. We are number one in Africa and we are held highly all over the soccer world. Why should we stoop so low? Were they playing basketball or football?” Chief Mike Umeh, First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation and a member of NFF Disciplinary and  Organising Committee asked, in a chat with Sports Vanguard.

Chief Umeh said the  D and O Committee was still expecting the match commissioner’s report. “We are yet to get the report but I can assure you that every individual involved in those matches; the referees, match commissioners, club officials, players, even the state FA officials and everybody that had a role to play in the two games have some explaining to do,” Umeh said.

He wondered why whether match officials were sleeping when one of the matches recorded over 50 goals in the first half alone. “In a game of 45 minutes? Is that possible? That means they were scoring more than a goal in one minute,” Umeh questioned.

He explained why the football house can’t take any arbitrary decision on the issue. “Although the four clubs  and  the results have been suspended, we are yet to take the final action as regards this case. The Amateur League has a board and not until they submit their report to the Disciplinary and Organising Committee, there is not much we can do.

As if echoing what chief Umeh said, NFF Director of competitions, Mohammed Sanusi said.

“The teams involved, their players and officials, match officials, (tournament) coordinator and anyone found to have played some role in this despicable matter (will) be severely dealt with.”

Oliseh trades words with Keshi

Sunday Oliseh has lashed out at Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi for responding harshly to his criticism of home-based players.

Oliseh had criticized Keshi for taking as much as eight home-based players to the FIFA Confederations Cup, and accused him of being too reliant on the Glo Premier League stars.

But Keshi in responding to Oliseh’s criticism described the former Borrusia Dortmund maestro’s claims as shameful since he was once a home-based player.

”It is a shame that Sunday Oliseh could say a thing like that. He was a nobody when he came to the national team.

He started from home too, when he came to the national team, I took him as a younger brother. I later (as an assistant coach to Amodu Shuabu) made him captain and he became a super star. Who knows what these boys could become in future?”

Oliseh has however responded to Keshi by debunking claims that he started out as a home-based player, while accusing the Super Eagles coach of seeing enemies everywhere and urged him to get used to constructive criticism.

“Nigeria is bigger than anyone and for the records sake in answer to Keshi’s erroneous declaration, I was 3 years as a pro in Belgium and a regular player in liege by 1993 when I got my first call-up to the super Eagles and in those days our national league was on ‘fire’, well organised, competitive, balanced and one of the best in Africa. That’s how Clemence Westerhoff and Bonfrere Jo succeeded!” Oliseh declared on his website.

“It is unfortunate that Keshi sees enemies everywhere and maybe it is understandable but the interest of Nigeria’s progress is what we all should be seeking now and I believe making attacks like he is doing is not the right way to go about it, we are way too matured for that, at least I know I am!”

“If he can accept our support and praise, he should accept our constructive criticism in the interest of the country and making enemies left and right is not the way to go, obviously some of us do not learn from the past! The interest of Nigeria comes first than that of Sunday Oliseh or Stephen Keshi” he said.

Oliseh went further to dispel insinuations in some quarters that he had an eye on Keshi’s job.

“I can understand that Keshi feels threatened by the possibility of a sack and back stabbing, but my comments should not be seen as coming from a possible successor unless one is desperate, which I thank God I am not!”

Oliseh further made a case for the foreign-based players stating that they ate the best Nigeria has. He further accused Keshi of trying to wage a war against them.

“If you are a Foreign based pro it is not because these foreign clubs want to do you a favour, it is because you are one of the best from your country, simple. By gradually trying to wage a war against these players who ply their trade week in week out at the highest level leagues in the world we are turning our back to our best and waging a war against ourselves, they are Nigerians too I must remind.”

He however moved to clarify his position on the home-based players, insisting that he is not against their inclusion in the national team, but feels they will fare better when surrounded by more experienced foreign-based players.

“My belief is not that we should not use home-based players, far from it, if Sunday Mba was not at the Nations Cup in 2013 for Nigeria I do not think we might have won it, at least like we did. He however was well surrounded by Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emeneke etc. and made his contributions productive and easier.

“We saw how this poor boy struggled at the Confed Cup just 4 months after doing us proud in South Africa! Oboabona is one of my favourites and with some more polishing would go places internationally,” he added.

Messi Accused of Tax Fraud

Barcelona’s Argentina forward Lionel Messi and his father have been accused by Spanish tax authorities of defrauding the state of more than 4 million euros ($5.3 million).

Lionel Messi is not the first celebrity accused of tax fraud, but that doesn't make the terrible news from Barcelona easier to digest. It's like telling the kids-and I'm among the millions around the globe wearing the FC Barcelona jersey with his name and number-that Christmas has been cancelled because Santa is a drunk. Actually it's worse, because if a judge determines that the prosecutor's accusations that Messi and his father Jorge have defrauded the Spanish Hacienda of more than $5 million by failing to report income of more than $10 million on commercial contracts for the rights to his image from 2007 to 2009, well that judge could send the world's greatest football player to jail from two to six years (along with forcing him to pay back taxes and a hefty penalty). Sounds absurd, but it's possible, if not probable.

The tragedy here is that Messi's image, which has nothing to do with his nonpareil skills but is part of the marketing package that has made him the biggest global name in sports, has carefully been crafted and promoted as that of a simple, humble kid, a family man, a honest citizen. How do you then explain the kids, if the allegations are true, that the best and most beloved football player in the world (yes, Kenneth) is a tax cheat? You can't explain. You're speechless, dumfounded, you need an explanation yourself.

You can only hope that he didn't know, that he did not actively participate in his father's alleged shenanigans which, we're told, were initiated in 2005, when Leo was still a minor. Whe n Messi made Barça's first team after going through its youth academy (La Masia) Jorge hired Rodolfo Schinocca, a former Boca Juniors player, now handling the affairs of Uruguayan star Diego Forlan, as his son's agent. Together they set up the alleged scheme, creating shell companies in tax havens like Uruguay and Belize, from where the money paid by commercial partners (Adidas, Barcelona FC, Pepsi-Cola, etc.) were forwarded to Jorge and Schinocca through companies in Great Britain and Switzerland. 

 Messi Sr. fired Schinocca in 2006 accusing him of embezzling money. The agent took them to court, but the Messis won. It is unclear if findings in the court battles against the former agent helped the Spanish prosecutor file the 13-page complaint, or if a revengeful ex-rep "contributed" in any way in building the case against Messi and his father. Fact is, according to prosecutor Raquel Amado , that Jorge maintained the shell companies structure set in place by Schinocca through 2009, just changing the names: Sports Consultants Ltd, Sports Enterprises Ltd and Lazario Gmbh became Jenbril, SA, Sidefloor Ltd and Tubal Soccer Management Ltd, respectively. 

 Undoubtedly Lionel Messi  knew money was coming in. Now a major, undoubtedly he signed papers, contracts, agreements. But did he really know how much money he was making in a year, when and how much was coming in and how much was reported on tax forms, was he ever involved in filing a tax return? Very unlikely. 

 The case reminds of a similar situation involving another famous athlete, former German tennis starSteffi Graf, now Mrs. Andre Agassi. In 1997 her father (and manager) Peter was sentenced to almost four years in prison for tax evasion on some of his daughter's tennis earnings. Steffi was exonerated because it was determined she was not actively involved in perpetrating the fraud. 

 The allegations against Messi, who denies any wrongdoing, have yet to be proven in court, but the details in the complaint offer enough reasons for serious concern. You have to ask yourself why would a prosecutor in Barcelona fabricate a case against Messi when FC Barcelona is one of Catalonia's main economic engines? On the other hand, if there's smoke, there's usually a fire. Unfortunately, one cannot fire his dad. 

First Ever Female Nude European Football Championships

Female players show off their ball skills at the first-ever naked European Championships.

There were more curves than a Beckham free-kick and more boobs than England's U-21 flops as teams from across the Continent gathered and got their kit off at the tournament in Germany.

There were no British representatives at the contest as teams from Italy, France, Sweden and Germany tussled in the buff on the astroturf at Berlin's Palais am Funkturm.

 Female players show off their ball skills at the first-ever naked European Championships. There were more curves than a Beckham free-kick and more boobs than England's ...

Source: Nigeria News