PHOTO : COUPLE HAVING S3X IN A CHURCH TOWER

COUPLE picked the balcony of the 105-year-old clock tower of the Grace Brothers building in Sydney, Australia, for their tryst. Situated opposite the Broadway Shopping Center.. End Time Signs…

Nigeria’s Top 5 Richest Pastors and How Much They Are Worth

These days, millions of souls, desperate for financial breakthroughs, miracles and healing, all rush to the church for redemption.

God is good, especially if you’re a Nigerian pastor with some business savvy.

And while the bible expressly states that salvation is free, at times it comes with a cost: offerings, tithes, gifts to spiritual leaders, and a directive to buy literature and other products created by men of God.

Pastors are no longer solely interested in getting people to Heaven; they’ve devised intelligent ways to make good money while reaching out to souls.

Take Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, for example. He is the founder and lead pastor of the Christ Embassy, a thriving congregation with branches in Nigeria, South Africa, London, Canada and the United States.

His publishing company, Loveworld Publications, publishes ‘Rhapsody of Realities,’ a monthly devotional he co-authors with his wife.

It sells over 2 million copies every month at $1 apiece. He also owns television stations, newspapers, magazines, a hotel, a fast-food chain, and more.

Many other Nigerian pastors are similarly building multi-million dollar empires from their churches.

Today, pastors fly around in private jets, drive fancy cars like Daimlers, Porsches and BMWs, don Rolexes and Patek Phillipes, and own breathtaking mansions all over the world.

After the blog post I wrote in May about Nigerian pastors owning private jets, I was bombarded with emails from readers requesting to know the richest pastors in Nigeria.

So I set out to investigate the assets of some of Nigeria’s most prominent pastors, and I came up with conservative estimates of their fortunes.

I contacted representatives for all of the pastors and all except Matthew Ashimolowo’s representative confirmed ownership of the assets I list. Representatives for Pastor Ashimolowo did not respond to my emails.

Bishop David Oyedepo
Affiliation: Living Faith World Outreach Ministry, aka Winners Chapel
Estimated net worth: $190 million

David Oyedepo is Nigeria’s wealthiest preacher. Ever since he founded the Living Faith World Outreach Ministry in 1981, it has grown to become one of Africa’s largest congregations.

The Faith Tabernacle, where he hosts three services every Sunday, is Africa’s largest worship center, with a seating capacity of 50,000.

Oyedepo owns four private jets and homes in London and the United States.

He also owns Dominion Publishing House, a thriving publishing company that publishes all his books (which are often centered on prosperity).

He founded and owns Covenant University, one of Nigeria’s leading tertiary institutions, and Faith Academy, an elite high school.

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
Church: Believers’ Loveworld Ministries, a.k.a Christ Embassy
Estimated net worth: $100 million – $120 million

Last year, the charismatic preacher was at the center of a $35 million money laundering case in which he was accused of siphoning funds from his church to foreign banks.

Pastor Chris pleaded no wrongdoing and the case was eventually dismissed.

His church, Christ Embassy, boasts more than 40,000 members, several of whom are successful business executives and politicians.

Oyakhilome’s diversified interests include newspapers, magazines, a local television station, a record label, satellite TV, hotels and extensive real estate.

His Loveworld TV Network is the first Christian network to broadcast from Africa to the rest of the world on a 24 hour basis.

Prophet Temitope Joshua
Estimated net worth: $60 million – $80 million

Nigeria’s most controversial clergyman is also one of its richest and most philanthropic.

T.B Joshua heads the Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN), a congregation he founded in 1987, which accommodates over 15,000 worshippers on Sundays.

The Pastor has remained controversial for several years for his inexplicable powers to heal all sorts of difficult to cure diseases, including HIV/AIDS, cancer and paralysis.

For miracle-craving worshippers, it’s the perfect seduction. The church currently has branches in Ghana, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Greece.

In the past three years, he has given over $20 million to causes in education, healthcare and rehabilitation programs for former Niger Delta militants.

He owns Emmanuel TV, a Christian television network, and was close friends with late Ghanaian President Atta Mills.

Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo
Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC)
Estimated net worth: $25 million – $50 million

In 1992, Foursquare Gospel Church, a Nigerian church, sent Ashimolowo to open a satellite branch in London. But Pastor Matthew had other ideas and decided to set up his own church instead.

Today, his Kingsway International Christian Center is reportedly the largest Pentecostal church in the United Kingdom.

In 2009, the church posted profits of close to $10 million and assets worth $40 million.

Ashimolowo earns an annual salary of $200,000, but his real wealth comes from varied business interests including his media company, Matthew Ashimolowo media, which churns out Christian literature and documentaries.

Ashimolowo’s representatives did not respond to a request confirming his net worth and ownership of all these assets.

Chris Okotie
Church: Household of God Church
Net worth: $15 million -$25 million

Pastor Okotie made his first success as a popular pop musician in the 80s. He found the light, embraced the bible and set up the Household of God Church, one of Nigeria’s most flamboyant congregations.

His 5,000 member church consists predominantly of Nollywood celebrities, musicians, and society people.

He contested and lost Nigerian presidential elections for the third time this year under the Fresh Party, a political party he founded and funds.

An automobile lover, he owns a Mercedes S600, Hummer and Porsche among several others.

BREAKING NEWS: Gunmen Storm Abuja, Kills Many People (PHOTOS)

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members on Friday morning engaged State Security  Service operatives in a gun battle at Apo Legislative quarters, Abuja. Some people were hurt and 12 suspects were arrested during the encounter.

The SSS operatives had gone to the

Unknown gunmen dressed in military clothes, this morning, Friday September 20 stormed an uncompleted building at Legislator’s Quarters in Apo, Abuja killing over 10 people.

FCT Police spokeswoman, DSP Hyelhira Altine Daniel has confirmed the incidence and said that investigation is on going.

The people killed were said to be living in the uncompleted building.
According to eyewitnesses, the owner of a building close to the uncompleted building had warned people who pass the night in the building to desist from it, but they refused. Then the massacre in the early hours of this morning.

A resident in the area said that at about 12:30am he heard gunshot severally throughout the night, causing panic in the area.

Although the number of lives lost in the massacre has not yet been confirmed but many have been feared dead and injured.

Some identity cards of the alleged "soldiers" (gunmen) were said to be found at the scene.

Photos after the cut: Viewer Discretion Advised

BREAKING NEWS: Gunmen Storm Abuja, Kills Many People (PHOTOS)

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members on Friday morning engaged State Security  Service operatives in a gun battle at Apo Legislative quarters, Abuja. Some people were hurt and 12 suspects were arrested during the encounter.

The SSS operatives had gone to the

Unknown gunmen dressed in military clothes, this morning, Friday September 20 stormed an uncompleted building at Legislator’s Quarters in Apo, Abuja killing over 10 people.

FCT Police spokeswoman, DSP Hyelhira Altine Daniel has confirmed the incidence and said that investigation is on going.

The people killed were said to be living in the uncompleted building.
According to eyewitnesses, the owner of a building close to the uncompleted building had warned people who pass the night in the building to desist from it, but they refused. Then the massacre in the early hours of this morning.

A resident in the area said that at about 12:30am he heard gunshot severally throughout the night, causing panic in the area.

Although the number of lives lost in the massacre has not yet been confirmed but many have been feared dead and injured.

Some identity cards of the alleged "soldiers" (gunmen) were said to be found at the scene.

Photos after the cut: Viewer Discretion Advised

BREAKING NEWS: Gunmen Storm Abuja, Kills Many People (PHOTOS)

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members on Friday morning engaged State Security  Service operatives in a gun battle at Apo Legislative quarters, Abuja. Some people were hurt and 12 suspects were arrested during the encounter.

The SSS operatives had gone to the

Unknown gunmen dressed in military clothes, this morning, Friday September 20 stormed an uncompleted building at Legislator’s Quarters in Apo, Abuja killing over 10 people.

FCT Police spokeswoman, DSP Hyelhira Altine Daniel has confirmed the incidence and said that investigation is on going.

The people killed were said to be living in the uncompleted building.
According to eyewitnesses, the owner of a building close to the uncompleted building had warned people who pass the night in the building to desist from it, but they refused. Then the massacre in the early hours of this morning.

A resident in the area said that at about 12:30am he heard gunshot severally throughout the night, causing panic in the area.

Although the number of lives lost in the massacre has not yet been confirmed but many have been feared dead and injured.

Some identity cards of the alleged "soldiers" (gunmen) were said to be found at the scene.

Photos after the cut: Viewer Discretion Advised

BREAKING NEWS: Gunmen Storm Abuja, Kills Many People (PHOTOS)

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members on Friday morning engaged State Security  Service operatives in a gun battle at Apo Legislative quarters, Abuja. Some people were hurt and 12 suspects were arrested during the encounter.

The SSS operatives had gone to the

Unknown gunmen dressed in military clothes, this morning, Friday September 20 stormed an uncompleted building at Legislator’s Quarters in Apo, Abuja killing over 10 people.

FCT Police spokeswoman, DSP Hyelhira Altine Daniel has confirmed the incidence and said that investigation is on going.

The people killed were said to be living in the uncompleted building.
According to eyewitnesses, the owner of a building close to the uncompleted building had warned people who pass the night in the building to desist from it, but they refused. Then the massacre in the early hours of this morning.

A resident in the area said that at about 12:30am he heard gunshot severally throughout the night, causing panic in the area.

Although the number of lives lost in the massacre has not yet been confirmed but many have been feared dead and injured.

Some identity cards of the alleged "soldiers" (gunmen) were said to be found at the scene.

Photos after the cut: Viewer Discretion Advised

BREAKING NEWS: Gunmen Storm Abuja, Kills Many People (PHOTOS)

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members on Friday morning engaged State Security  Service operatives in a gun battle at Apo Legislative quarters, Abuja. Some people were hurt and 12 suspects were arrested during the encounter.

The SSS operatives had gone to the

Unknown gunmen dressed in military clothes, this morning, Friday September 20 stormed an uncompleted building at Legislator’s Quarters in Apo, Abuja killing over 10 people.

FCT Police spokeswoman, DSP Hyelhira Altine Daniel has confirmed the incidence and said that investigation is on going.

The people killed were said to be living in the uncompleted building.
According to eyewitnesses, the owner of a building close to the uncompleted building had warned people who pass the night in the building to desist from it, but they refused. Then the massacre in the early hours of this morning.

A resident in the area said that at about 12:30am he heard gunshot severally throughout the night, causing panic in the area.

Although the number of lives lost in the massacre has not yet been confirmed but many have been feared dead and injured.

Some identity cards of the alleged "soldiers" (gunmen) were said to be found at the scene.

Photos after the cut: Viewer Discretion Advised

EFCC Press Release: Nigerian jailed in U.S. over $11m fraud (Photos)

A Nigerian, Emmanuel Ehkator who was investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for criminal conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in the United States of America has been

sentenced by District Court Judge, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Yvette Kane, to a three-year term. He is also ordered to pay $11,092,028 in restitution to his victims.

The conviction of Ehkator, 42, who was arrested in Nigeria by the EFCC in August 2010 and extradited to the United States in August 2011, followed his plea of guilt.
Justice Kane also ordered Ehkator's forfeiture of properties in Canada and the contents of several bank accounts in Nigeria.

While the trial lasted, the prosecutor informed the court that Ehkator was part of an attorney collection scam. Their modus operandi, he said was for the convict to contact U.S. and Canadian law firms by e-mail claiming to be individuals or businesses outside North America who were owed money by entities in the United States and asked for legal representation to collect the money.
The prosecutor further told the court that, "often, the prospective "clients" said the money owed came from a real estate transaction, tort claim, or divorce settlement. Once the law firm agreed to represent the out-of-country client, the law firm would be contacted by the U.S. entity purportedly owing money with an offer to pay the client by cheque. The client would instruct the law firm to deposit the cheque in the law firm's trust account, retain the law firm's fee, and wire the remaining funds to accounts in Asia".

The cheque that was then mailed to the law firm would be a counterfeit cheque, a fact that would be discovered only after funds from the law firm's trust account had been wired to the Asian bank, the prosecution said.

The counterfeit cheques, which appeared to be drawn on legitimate accounts from well-established financial institutions, often included a telephone number for the financial institution. Lawyers attempting to determine the validity of the cheque would call the number only to reach another conspirator who would falsely verify the cheque. The court was also told that Ehkator's involvement in the scheme makes him responsible for losses of more than $7 million and up to $20 million.

Ehkator's co-defendant, Yvette Mathurin, has also been charged for conspiracy and is awaiting extradition from Canada while another co-conspirator, Kingsley Osagie, was arrested as he arrived in the Atlanta area from Nigeria and is currently awaiting trial in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Other co-conspirators are pending extradition from several foreign countries as investigation continues against other members of the large, multi-national conspiracy.
Aside from the EFCC, other agencies that investigated the crime were the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, the Toronto Police Services and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy H. Fawcett.
Wilson Uwujaren
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
11th September, 2013

BBM To Become Available To Non-Blackberry Users

Users will no longer need to own a Blackberry device to access its BBM messaging service as from this Weekend reports reveals. Blackberry has confirmed BBM will be available as a free download for

Apple and Android devices but not for Windows phones.

The move comes as the Wall Street Journal reports that Blackberry will lay off 40% of its staff before 2014.
Widening the appeal of BBM could be a clever way for the company to reinvent itself, said experts.
"Blackberry is having a tough time, sales are down, it is losing market to Windows phones and it needs to do something to stop the rot. This is as good a move as any," said Chris Green, principal technology analyst at Davies Murphy Group Europe.
"Offering it across other platforms broadens the appeal of BBM," he added.
The messanging will be available for Android devices running Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean while iPhones running iOS 6 or iOS 7 can also download it.
"With more than a billion Android, iOS and Blackberry smartphones in the market, and no dominant mobile messaging platform this is absolutely the right time to bring BBM to Android and iPhone customers," Andrew Bocking, vice-president for BBM, was quoted as saying.

Fashola kick-starts biometric registration of Lagos residents

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos state has flagged off the state-wide registration of residents, estimated at 21 million. With the flagging off of the exercise and the inauguration of the Lagos

State Residents Registration Agency, LASRRA, the data and biometric details of all residents in Lagos State will be taken.

While inaugurating the registration on Thursday at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Secretariat, Alausa, in Ikeja, Fashola said, no nation could survive without the means of planning for the populace, saying that with the exercise, government would be able to formulate policies that would cater for the residents of the state.
"Any government that seeks the kind of efficiency that we seek, any Government that understands its primary purpose as we do, that we exist for the people and not otherwise; such a Government will pursue data collection and management as a critical infrastructure.

"This is why today is a watershed day. The day when we formally launch the Lagos Residents Registration Programme that will enable us register and collate the data of all persons who are residents of Lagos. This has nothing to do with indigenes of Lagos State or ethnicity. If you are an indigene of Lagos State and you live in Jos, you are not eligible for this exercise. It is the people living here that we have direct responsibility to," he stated.

Fashola added that government came up with the idea of registering residents of Lagos because it discovered many gaps as government did not know the actual number of residents it had to plan for, stressing that the residents registration exercise would be use to fill those gaps.
"For instance, we have data on the number of vehicle owners in the state but not all the residents of Lagos own cars. And we also know the number of the pupils in the public schools but not all of them attend school; all these showed that there is a gap required to be filled.

He said every individual must have a means of identification that showed that he or she resided in the state, adding that data collection and gathering had become the pole standard of any community that took planning seriously, stressing that government was determined to achieve result.

The governor emphasized that while the traditional methods might be useful in gathering such information, it was unarguable that accuracy was questionable as speed would become an issue, saying that "as we have seen in our attempt to try to enumerate people entitled to compensation within our State.
"In an information technology driven age, data collection, processing and management has become the gold standard and the most important currency that any community can seek to acquire.

General Manager, LASRRA, Ms. Olayinka Fashola, stated that the aim of the exercise was to assist government to provide adequate social amenities that would serve the people better, adding that "the exercise will assist government in roads rehabilitation, provision of more schools, power and other social amenities for the use of people.

This would also enable the government to serve the people better."She said that the agency had put together a mobile team that would move round to register the aged people and the handicaps, as it was compulsory for everybody to participate in the exercise.

N25bn spent on generators annually - GGI

Add caption

The Good Governance Initiative (GGI) has determined that Nigerians spend N25 billion on generators annually.

Vanguard reports that this makes Nigeria the country that spends the most on generators. According to the report, GGI's president, Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, has urged Nigerians to put pressure on the Power Holding Company of Nigeria to improve the current supply of power in the country.

“The epileptic power supply has remained a cog in the wheel of the nation's progress and is eating deep into the profits of businesses, particularly of companies that incur huge expenses in powering their businesses.

“The insufficient public power supply has led to the relocation of most multinational companies to other African countries, those who decided to stay back rely on generators, while those that can’t afford such have closed shop," he told Vanguard.

Nigeria @ 53 Indenpendence After Party by Rita Collins Entertainment - THE INSTITUTE NIGHT CLUB

 

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Frank Edoho’s Ex Says She’s after Money, Has No Time for R/ships

Katherine Obiang

It is now three years since Katherine Obiang separated from her ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’s host, Frank Edoho.
Katherine obiang has now opened up why she is still not ready to remarry.
She recently said that she is having a lot of suitors. That would have been on normal circumstances a piece of great news.

However, Katherine says any man coming into her life should be ready to suffer because right now she is after money. She said she has no time for relationships right now.
“I am taking a breather. Right now, I have young children. After you have been in a relationship for so long.
“I think it is healthy to open your mind to other things. Let’s chase money first, it will come along.

“When you look at your children, you want to give them so many things, so let me focus on that.”
Katherine further said, “My parents do ask me, especially my mum. I am busy doing so many things, which include Lekki Wives Season II.

“Anyone who comes into my life now is just coming to suffer. I can’t focus on that person. It is not that I don’t get attention, I do. I get all sorts of attention, but I am not ready.
“I think in our society, people don’t understand when you say you are not ready. They look at me, like I must be mad; but that is the truth.

“For me, I don’t want to bargain, because there are so many things to consider. I am on the radio from 10am to 3pm.
“From that time to wherever, I am running against time and, of course, I must also pay attention.”

Governor Slaps Female Rep in Kenya

Just recently that Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan concluded an official trip to Kenya which was described as very successful as President Jonathan signed several bilateral agreements with Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, and became the first foreign head of state to address the country’s parliament and ugly incidence took place where the governor of Nairobi allegedly slapped a female representative of a workers union.

Evans Kidero, the Governor of Nairobi, had just finished meeting with Nigeria’s president when he reportedly assaulted the woman in question.

According to reports, the woman, Rachael Shebesh was at the forefront of a protest by Nairobi City County workers who were demanding for better pay. They met the governor and it was while making their demands that Gov. Kidero slapped Shebesh.

Cossy Orjiakor got engaged to her beau Emeka

According to our olofofos, Cossy is engaged to her beau Emeka…Emeka pictured with her in the pictures reportedly popped the question on his knees and holding a stunning ring and Cossy accepted whilst screaming…….
Excited Cossy even went on to tweet her excitement.

The proposal took place at Vertigo lounge where Emeka is co-owner and the shocked onlookers stared on with mouth agape.

We hope Cossy will close her mammary glands from now on.....

 Congrats to you both..

Superman fan has 16 years of surgery to look like the Man of Steel

Amazing transformation... Herbert Chavez now, and before surgery (Credit: Facebook/Rex Features)

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a Filipino guy who sort-of looks like Superman!

Although Clark Kent famously used a phone booth to change into Superman, it seems that there's another way to transform into the iconic DC superhero... nineteen bouts of cosmetic surgery.
Herbert Chavez, a mild-mannered dressmaker from the Philippines, has done just that - spending over 300,000 pesos and 16 years to turn himself into a real-life Clark Kent… complete with cleft chin and a hastily-gelled quiff.
[Josh Brolin was considered for Batman vs. Superman]
"I feel like a Superhero whenever I pull on the costume," he explained. "But my mission is not to save the world but to help in my own small way and bring a smile to the faces of local children."

Taking to streets in a full Superman costume, he considers it his mission to bring good morals to the kids of Calamba City… while looking (almost) like a real-life Clark Kent.

Master of disguise... Hugo in his bedroom (Credit: Rex Features)

"If you talk about super heroes, the expectation of people is that they are flawless, they do not get hurt, they do not die. But as human beings, we can only copy their looks."
The 35-year-old Superman fan from Calamba City, Philippines has had all manner of cosmetic surgery in his attempt to look like the classic comic book icon. Nose jobs, skin whitening, lip liposuction, jaw realignment, pectoral implants and even abdominal implants are just a small price to pay in order to become a real-life superhero.

"I have very Asian features," he explained. "And did not look like the caucasian Superman. So when I was able to save enough money to alter my features, I chose to copy those of Superman."
"It is hard living up to people's expectations as a living superhero. That is the reason I have had so many surgeries because I undergo maintenance procedures that need performing.

Spending around £4,400 on his Superman look, it's an absolute fortune compared to the Philippines'' 90p an hour average wage… but apparently, it's entirely worth it.
"I don't have any regrets at all," he added. "People come up to me in the street all the time and want their picture taken with me. They are all really excited to see a real-life Superman in the Philippines."

Michael Essien Career Profile

• Name: Michael Essien
• Nationality: Ghanaian
• Date of Birth: 03/12/1982
• Height: 177 cm
• Weight: 85.2 kg
• Previous Clubs: Real Madrid, Lyon, Bastia
• Position: Midfielder

Born on 3 December 1982 in Ghana, Jose Mourinho used the word 'multifunctional' when Michael signed for Chelsea from Lyon in August 2005, and the reported £24.4 million price tag reflected this versatility.

Comfortable in central midfield, over the years he has also played at right-back, in the centre of defence and as a right winger.

After a low-key start to his Chelsea career, which saw a period of adaptation to what referees would accept as legitimate tackles, Essien was voted 2007 Player of the Year by supporters, recognising not just steam-train performances in midfield but also his ability to provide solutions to a multitude of problems elsewhere.

He followed up an outstanding performance in central defence during a clean sheet 2007 FA Cup Final display with his selection at right-back in the Champions League Final a year later, picked ahead of two specialists in the position.

Memorable goals are part of the Essien repertoire. His equaliser against Arsenal in December 2006 was voted that campaign's Chelsea Goal of the Season and was nearly matched by a charge forward and angled drive in Valencia that sent the Blues into the 2007 Champions League semi-final. Then came the 25-yard left-footed volley that almost eliminated Barcelona from Europe in 2009.

That sensational strike came just two months after he had returned from a damaged cruciate ligament sustained on international duty which had kept him sidelined for six months.

Within days he had scored both in Europe and the league, and Michael's short season continued as he put in a trademark dominating performance against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, and the season would end there on a high with Everton beaten 2-1 in the Final.

Major injury struck again in 2009/10, and again on national service.

New manager Carlo Ancelotti was able to rotate his midfield regularly, meaning Essien was in and out a little in the opening couple of months.

He fired home from distance against Blackburn in late October as we won 5-0, then dominated Bolton twice in four days and finally providing the effective barrier that prevented Man United from scoring at the Bridge.

Michael hit another two, the first time he had done so for Chelsea, against Wolves in November, his first a header and his second another from outside the area that wriggled under the goalkeeper.

He was imperious alongside Mikel against Arsenal at the Emirates, and scored against APOEL in the Champions League before succumbing to a torn hamstring.

The damage kept him out until January, by which time he had joined up with Ghana at the African Cup of Nations, but after playing 45 minutes against Ivory Coast, he broke down in training with a fresh knee problem.

Michael underwent surgery at the end of January, but complications meant he would not return before the end of the campaign, forced to spend the Double-winning celebrations, and the World Cup, on the sidelines.

He returned fully fit for 2010/11 and started excellently, scoring three in two games against West Ham and Zilina, and amply plugging the gap left by the departures of Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and Deco. A needless injury-time red card after heading the only goal of the game against Fulham brought an impressive run to an end, and following his return from suspension the midfielder struggled to dominate games in the same way.
Despite that Essien still clocked up 33 league appearances, taking him past the 200-game mark for the club, but disaster struck once more on the first day of pre-season training under new manager Andre Villas-Boas, when further knee damage was sustained, expected to keep him out for a further six months.
Ahead of schedule, the Ghanaian returned in a reserve game against West Brom in early January, before a 17-minute appearance against Sunderland at the Bridge a few days later.
A string of substitute cameo roles followed as he sought to regain full fitness, before his first start of the season, and 90 minutes, against Manchester United in early February.
In the second half of the campaign, Essien struggled to regain the level of consistency in his play which had been his trademark for so long, and had to be content featuring mainly from the substitutes bench.
He was an unused substitute in both the FA Cup and Champions League Finals. On August transfer deadline day 2012 he rejoined Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, moving to Spain on a loan lasting one season.
Michael played his first full 90 minutes for Real Madrid in a 2-0 away win at Rayo Vallecano, while also featuring in the games against both Manchester City and Barcelona.
Essien scored his first goal for the Spanish side in their 4-0 win against Real Zaragoza in November 2012 at the Bernabeu, finishing smartly after being put clean through on goal.
Over the course of the season he featured regularly, playing at both right-back and in his more familiar midfield role. He played in the Champions League semi-final defeat against Borussia Dortmund and was full-back in the Copa del Rey final defeat against local rivals Atletico. His total of appearances for Real Madrid in all competitions was 30 with two goals scored including one against Osasuna in his and Mourinho's final game there.
Pre-Chelsea
Michael grew up near Accra, capital of his homeland, and the city that also gave the world Marcel Desailly.

Unlike the former Chelsea captain, Michael remained in Africa into adulthood, beginning his club football at Liberty Professionals.

His profile was raised by a third-placed finish for Ghana in the Under 17 World Cup which led to a trial at Manchester United, but he eventually signed for French side Bastia.

At first he was used to fill a variety of positions across the defence but could not hold down a regular place. Then injury left a vacancy in midfield and Michael never looked back.

Bastia reached the French Cup Final in 2002 and the following summer he made the move to league champions Lyon for 7.8 million euro.

He was voted Player of the Year in France while at the club and shone as Lyon became one the Champions League's most feared teams, but he made no secret of his desire to move to the Premier League.

International Michael arrived at Chelsea a full international, and has taken his international appearances to over 50 during his time at Stamford Bridge.

He represented his country at the 2006 World Cup, their first appearance at the tournament, and was immensely proud to play in the 2008 African Nations as part of the host team, though Ghana eventually finished third.

In late 2008 he sustained his cruciate ligament injury while playing for Ghana, and his most recent long-term knee problem also came on international duty at the 2010 African Nations, where he broke down in training and did not recover in time to take part in Africa's first World Cup in the summer. He spent over a year away from the international stage to ensure a full receovery but with a Chelsea season under his belt, he announced in May 2010 that he was once more available to play for Ghana.

NIGERIA LADY ENIOLA ALUKO EARNS ENGLAND CALL-UP

Chelsea Ladies' Eniola Aluko has been called into the England squad for the forthcoming World Cup 2015 qualifiers against Belarus and Turkey. Brent Hills will take charge for the matches as England attempt to secure a place at the tournament, which takes place in Canada.

They take on Belarus at Bournemouth's Goldsands Stadium on Saturday 21 September before entertaining Turkey at Fratton Park five days later.

Squad in full:
Karen Bardsley (Lincoln Ladies), Rachel Brown-Finnis (Everton), Siobhan Chamberlain (Bristol Academy), Gemma Bonner (Liverpool), Sophie Bradley (Lincoln Ladies), Lucy Bronze (Liverpool), Steph Houghton (Arsenal), Alex Scott (Arsenal), Casey Stoney (Lincoln Ladies), Anita Asante (Gothenburg), Jade Moore (Birmingham City), Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal), Jill Scott (Everton), Fara Williams (Liverpool), Eniola Aluko (Chelsea), Karen Carney (Birmingham City), Danielle Carter (Arsenal), Jess Clarke (Lincoln Ladies), Rachel Yankey (Arsenal), Natasha Dowie (Liverpool), Toni Duggan (Everton), Ellen White (Arsenal).

ASUU foresees increase in school fees

The Ebonyi State University Chapter of ASUU on Tuesday warned of likely increase in school fees if the demands of ASUU were not fully met eventually by the Federal Government.

The Chairman of the chapter, Prof. Ndubuisi Idenyi, gave the warning in Abakiliki at a news conference on the current ASUU strike.
Idenyi said the fee hike would come when universities attempted to source money for their Earned Academic Allowances as directed by the Federal Government.
"We demanded for N500 billion but the government has only released N100 billion to university councils for infrastructure development in selected universities and another N30 billion for part-payment of Earned Academic Allowances.
"The government has asked various universities councils to source the balance.
"But the question is from where will the funds come if not through increase in school fees."
According to him, the directive has distorted the technical sub-committee's report on the needs of Nigerian Universities.
"Government's partial implementation of our demand would generate series of problems in our universities, including differentials in school fees structure in public schools.
"The action would also cause migration of students and over-population of students in a particular school."
He said that the directive might deny many people access to quality education.

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