You’re wrong on Northeast emergency intervention, Osinbajo replies Reps (Nation)
The Presidency yesterday responded to claims by the House of Representatives that the emergency food supply intervention in the Northeast was misplaced. It said that the then Acting President, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, acted within his constitutional mandate, adding that the food purchased were delivered to the affected areas, contrary to the belief of the lawmakers. Read more
Rescue women, children in Boko Haram captivity, Buratai orders troops (Punch)
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, has ordered troops fighting the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East to rescue women and children held in captivity by the terrorists. The army chief warned that any soldier who turned away in the face of attacks or incursions by the Boko Haram fighters would “be appropriately sanctioned and made to face Field Court Martial in accordance with our extant laws.” Read more
I am committed to public good, says Ekweremadu (Guardian)
Unruffled by his encounter with the alleged assassins that invaded his house last Tuesday, in Abuja, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu said yesterday that he was committed to public good and would continue to serve the country to the best of his abilities. He said Nigeria would be better going forward and the people would enjoy the dividends of democracy, as part of the commitment they have shown towards sustaining the unity, peace and development of the country. Read more
Court okays trial of Fani-Kayode, Abaribe, others’ over Kanu’s escape (Punch)
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday cleared for commencement a suit seeking an order of mandamus to compel the police and the Department of State Services to prosecute certain individuals for allegedly aiding the escape of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, from Nigeria and putting pressure on the military to produce him. Read more
Igbo allege plan to shut down their businesses in Adamawa (Guardian)
The businesses of Igbo traders in Adamawa State are under threat, following an alleged plan by the state government to shut them down, following their refusal to pay tax that was not approved by the Adamawa House of Assembly. The Guardian investigation reveals that the purported tax introduced by the Ministry of Transport, asking motor parts dealers to pay N90,000 annually was not backed by state law. Read more
Police arraign DSP who killed Nenadi Usman’s daughter (Guardian)
The Commissioner of Police yesterday arraigned a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Inagozie Igochukwu Godwin, who allegedly shot and killed Miss Anita Akapson, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Zuba. He was thereafter granted bail in the sum of N50million. Meanwhile, the human rights activist and constitutional lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, kicked against the bail granted the defendant. He accused the prosecutor for “displaying inherent conspiracy and a clear attempt to shield one of their own.” Read more
Nine killed as California wildfires spread (BBC)
At least nine people have been killed and more than 150,000 evacuated as two big wildfires rage in California, officials say. Five people of the dead were found in cars in a town that was destroyed by the Camp Fire in the state’s north. West of Los Angeles, the Woolsey Fire jumped a major highway and headed into coastal areas, including the town of Malibu where some homes are ablaze. Read more
UK minister quits government over Brexit (BBC)
Jo Johnson has quit as transport minister and called for the public to have a fresh say on Brexit. The MP, who is Boris Johnson’s brother but voted Remain in the referendum, said the deal being negotiated with the EU “will be a terrible mistake”. Arguing Britain was “on the brink of the greatest crisis” since World War Two, he said what was on offer wasn’t “anything like what was promised”. Read more
Champions League Final: CAF appoints Shehu Dikko Match Commissioner (Nation)
Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC) and 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Shehu Dikko, has been appointed the Match Commissioner for the 2nd leg CAF Champions League clash between Al Ahly and Esperance Tunisia on Friday, AOIFootball.com reports. Dikko, who was recently appointed into the Ad-hoc Committee of the lnter-clubs competition, will be at the helm of affairs when the two North African neighbours go head to head in battle, with Al Ahly holding a 3-1 advantage from the first leg. Read more
Sterling signs new Man City contract (BBC)
Raheem Sterling has signed a three-year contract extension at Manchester City, committing him to the club until 2023 in a deal worth up to £300,000 a week. The 23-year-old England forward’s previous deal at Etihad Stadium was due to expire at the end of next season. It is understood the new contract will make Sterling one of the best-paid English players in the Premier League. Read more
Man City fans furious at appointment of ‘Man Utd fan’ (Nation)
Manchester City fans have hit out at the decision to appoint Anthony Taylor as the referee for tomorrow’s clash against rivals Manchester United. Taylor is one of the most experienced officials in England but this weekend’s match will be his first Manchester Derby. And City fans are not happy, as the 40-year-old is from Wythenshawe, a suburb of Manchester just six miles away from Old Trafford with strong ties to the red half of the city. Read more
Leicester to honour chairman with statue (BBC)
Leicester City will erect a statue of late chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha at King Power Stadium following his death in a helicopter crash last month. Srivaddhanaprabha and four others were killed in the crash on 27 October. His son Aiyawatt made the announcement in a souvenir programme for Saturday’s Premier League game with Burnley. Read more
Liverpool owners dismiss rumour of plan to sell club (Guardian)
Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group have categorically ruled out selling the Anfield outfit. Reports in their native US claimed principal owner John W Henry has begun a “quiet process” to cash in on Liverpool eight years after buying them for £300million. But Liverpool have dismissed the speculation and insist the club is not for sale. Read more
Man jailed five months for stealing phones (Nation)
A Magistrate Court in Minna on Friday sentenced a 28-year-old man, Mohammed Yakubu, to five months imprisonment for stealing two phones. Yakubu, who was arraigned on two charges of criminal trespass and theft, had pleaded guilty but appealed for mercy. In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs Sa’adatu Gambo, sentenced the accused to five months in prison. Read more
Cult members kill 16-year-old girl over mobile phone in Bayelsa (Punch)
Unidentified gunmen, suspected to be cult members, killed a teenage girl on Thursday at Amarata area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. It was learnt that the suspected cult members killed the teenager, identified simply as Seiyefa Fred, aged 16, for allegedly refusing to hand over her mobile phone to them. The Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident. Read more
Police in Edo arrest eight suspects over alleged illicit sale of Naira (Nation)
The Police Command in Edo has arrested seven suspects in connection with illicit sale of Nigerian currency. The state Commissioner of Police (CP), Johnson Kokumo, disclosed this on Friday in Benin while briefing newsmen on the command’s enforcement of the presidential order prohibiting illicit sale of the Nigerian legal tender. Kokumo said the suspects including two females were arrested in various parts of the state capital with more than N12 million Nigerian currency notes which were allegedly for sale. Read more
