19 arrested for attempting to burn down Lagos police station (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 19 persons, who allegedly attempted to burn down the Ejigbo Police Station around 11.15pm on Saturday. A resident of the area, identified simply as Tunde, told our correspondent that he was lounging outside his apartment when he suddenly saw hundreds of commercial motorcyclists armed with dangerous weapons racing towards the police station. According to him, he did not understand what they were saying until one of his friends told him that a police vehicle allegedly knocked down two of their colleagues. Read more
Why it’s taking so long to reposition Nigeria, by Buhari (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday night, explained it had taken so long to reposition Nigeria because of alleged 16 years’waste of the former Peoples Democratic Party-led administration. This was contained in a statement by Suleiman Haruna, director of Information to wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari. The President spoke at a dinner organised by the Youth and Women Campaign Organisation at the Presidential Villa’s Old Banquet Hall in Abuja. Buhari, who vowed not to betray the confidence of Nigerians, said his victory was a sign that Nigerians were satisfied with his government’s change. Read more
PDP national caucus holds emergency meeting over presidential poll today (Punch)
The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has called an emergency national caucus meeting of the party. Named the ‘Expanded Caucus Meeting’, the party is expected to use the occasion to get the support of its members to seek redress in court over the outcome of the presidential election. The meeting, which will at the party secretariat in Abuja on Monday (today), will be presided over by the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus. Secondus, though confirmed the meeting in an interview with one of our correspondents, refused to give details of its agenda. Read more
Hate speech: Police launch probe into murder threats (Nation)
The police in Lagos have launched an investigation into “a vile and dogmatic” You-Tube video by a yet-to-be identified Igbo man threatening to kill “Adeyinka Grandson”. A trending video of a man seated beside a Biafran flag and threatening to murder the said Grandson has further heightened tension, following the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state. But police spokesman Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), said his boss, Zubairu Muazu, had already directed the intelligence arm of the command to probe the video with a view to obtain credible intelligence that will lead to the arrest and prosecution of the character. In a telephone chat with The Nation yesterday, Oti said that the command was yet to establish if the man in the video was based within or outside the country. Read more
Cultists murder lady in Imo for refusing to surrender phone (Punch)
Gunmen suspected to be cultists have shot dead a lady, who reportedly refused to hand over her phone to them. Our correspondent gathered that the lady, who was identified as Janet Okoro, was shot dead on Saturday on Edede Street, Owerri, the Imo State capital. She was reportedly going home when some cult boys, who were said to be operating in the area, accosted her and demanded her phone. The victim, who hailed from Ebonyi State, refused to surrender her phone to her killers. Read more
EFCC secures forfeiture of Amnesty’s N732.85m cash (Nation)
Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the forfeiture of N732.85 to the Federal Government by 17 former officials of the Presidential Amnesty Programme Office. Forfeited is a plot of land situated at Katsina Road by Ogbomoso Road, Kaduna North Local Government, worth N190million. It is all believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities. Out of the cash, a former Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Gen. Paul Boroh, forfeited about N124million to the government. According to a statement by the Acting Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade, Justice James Tsoho granted the application for the forfeiture on Friday. The EFCC sought the final forfeiture of N732.85million to the Federal Government. Read more
Car owner claims Uber driver jumped into lagoon, family kicks (Punch)
The family of Adekunle Tade has called on the Lagos State Police Command to conduct an in-depth investigation into the events that led to his death and apprehend those responsible. The family, while demanding justice for the deceased, accused one Audery Nwokeji of alleged involvement in the death of Tade, who was a driver operating a cab hailing service, Uber. PUNCH Metro gathered that Tade had taken the car he was using for Uber service on hire purchase from Nwokeji, but few days after he began using it, while on his way home around 10pm, armed robbers reportedly waylaid him along the Airport Road, Ikeja, Lagos State, and snatched the car and other valuables from him. Read more
Court sentences man to death by hanging for killing mum (Nation)
A High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State, has sentenced a 20-year-old man, Agugu Adau, to death by hanging for killing his mother. The judge, Justice Nafisa Musa, handed down the sentence after he found the defendant guilty of murdering his mother. “Based on the evidence before this court, the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that you, Adau, mercilessly took the life of your own mother. “The judgement of this court upon you is that you will be hanged by the neck until you die. May God have mercy on your soul,” Musa said. The convict committed the crime on December 30, 2016 when he killed his mother for refusing to give him an “invisibility” charm he claimed was his inheritance from his late herbalist father. Read more
Victim identifies robbers at Ogun motor park (Punch)
A three-man ‘one-chance’ robbery gang has been arrested by men of the Ogun State Police Command after being identified by one of their victims, Mrs Taye Olotu, at a motor park in the Atan-Ota area of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government area of the state. The suspects were reported to have posed as drivers and passengers in the park, when the victim, who had earlier been robbed in February by the gang saw them and reported to the police, who subsequently arrested the suspects. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Sunday. Read more
Algeria’s leader to run for ‘last time’ (BBC)
Algeria’s veteran President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has defied protesters by confirming he will run again – but says he will not serve a full term. In a letter he said if he won April’s vote he would oversee a national dialogue leading to fresh elections that he would not contest. His decision to seek a fifth term in office sparked nationwide protests. Mr Bouteflika, 82, has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013. Sunday saw new protests as a midnight deadline loomed for candidates to register. By nightfall young people were again marching in the capital Algiers despite the president’s offer. Read more
Venezuela crisis: Juan Guaidó to return after tour (BBC)
Venezuela’s self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaidó has called for mass protests as he announced his return to the crisis-stricken country. “I call on Venezuelans to gather across the country tomorrow at 11am,” he tweeted on Sunday. Mr Guaidó, who has been recognised by over 50 countries, has called on President Nicolás Maduro to resign. But Mr Maduro insists he is the legitimate president, and is backed by China, Russia and Cuba. Read more
Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou sues Canada authorities over arrest (BBC)
The chief financial officer of China’s tech giant Huawei is suing Canada over her arrest at Vancouver airport last year at the request of the US. Meng Wanzhou was detained in December on suspicion of fraud and breaching US sanctions on Iran. US authorities are seeking to extradite the Chinese national. But Ms Meng has now filed a civil claim against Canada’s government, border agency and police for “serious breaches” of her civil rights. China has attacked her arrest and the extradition process as a “political incident”. Read more
Tornadoes kill at least 14 in Lee County, Alabama (BBC)
At least 14 people, some children, have been killed after tornadoes struck Lee County, Alabama, authorities said. Sheriff Jay Jones told local news outlets they were still pulling people from the rubble, and some had been hospitalised with serious injuries. “The challenge is the sheer volume of the debris where all the homes were located,” he told CNN. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey posted on Twitter to warn residents there could be more extreme weather to come. “Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives in the storms that hit Lee County today,” she wrote. Read more
Ogunjobi: Nigeria has lost a rare gem, says Chukwuma (Punch)
Former Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association, Gabriel Chukwuma, has lamented the death of Taiwo Ogunjobi, describing the ex-NFF general secretary as a football administrator of inestimable quality. Chukwuma, President of Nnewi United, a Bet9ja Nigeria National League side, said it was unfortunate that Ogunjobi died at a time Nigerian football needed him to get the game back on a sound footing. “When I needed a general manager for my club, Gabros International, I travelled to Ibadan to hire him knowing his administrative quality, being himself a former player of both Shooting Stars and Super Eagles,” Chukwuma said. Read more
Confed Cup: Etoile beat Rangers 2-0 in Enugu (Punch)
Enugu Rangers’ hope of reaching the CAF Confederation Cup knockout stage has been hampered after a 2-0 defeat to Etoile Sportive du Sahel in Enugu. The two goals, one in each half, was all that the Tunisians needed to up their position in the group. Maher Hannachi scored for the visitors in the 19th minute to give Etoile the lead over Rangers in the Sunday encounter in the Coal City. After the interval, Mohamed Msakni extended the lead in the 69th minute from the penalty spot as Isaac Laoute fouled Alaya Brigui inside the 18-yard box. Read more
Aina doubtful for Eagles, Seychelles clash (Punch)
Torino defender Ola Aina is doubtful for Nigeria’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Seychelles later this month due to injury. Aina, who was initially named in Torino’s starting line-up for Sunday’s win against Chievo at the Stadio Olimpico, was replaced by Cristain Ansaldi after picking up the injury during the pre-match warm-up exercise. Torino are yet to make a statement concerning his fitness level and the defender may have to undergo a scan on Monday (today) to determine the severity of the injury. Read more
Kepa Arrizabalaga: Chelsea goalkeeper ‘understands his mistake’, says manager Sarri (BBC)
Kepa Arrizabalaga “understands his mistake”, said Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri after the goalkeeper marked his return following a club fine with an excellent display in victory at Fulham. Arrizabalaga was dropped for the midweek win over Tottenham after refusing to be substituted in the Carabao Cup final with Manchester City. He was recalled on Sunday and made important saves as Chelsea won 2-1. “Kepa is a man. He understood the mistake,” Sarri told BBC Sport. Read more
Klopp ‘completely fine chasing Man City’ (BBC)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he was “completely fine with chasing” Manchester City after his side drew at Everton and missed the chance to return to the top of the Premier League. The goalless draw means that for the first time since 7 December the Reds are behind their title rivals having played the same number of matches. “Who wants to be top of the table at the beginning of March?” Klopp said. “It is nice but there are lots of games to play.” Read more
Juventus win Napoli (BBC)
Champions Juventus took a huge step towards retaining the Serie A title by beating second-placed Napoli, with both sides reduced to 10 men. Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret was given a straight red card for tripping Cristiano Ronaldo and Miralem Pjanic curled in the resulting free-kick. Emre Can headed a second, before Pjanic was dismissed for deliberate handball. Jose Callejon pulled a goal back and Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne missed a late penalty. The spot-kick was awarded by the VAR six minutes from time after Fabian Ruiz’s cutback hit Alex Sandro on the arm, although the Juventus defender knew little about it. Read more
Fespaco: Banned lesbian love story Rafiki wins award (BBC)
Africa’s largest film festival has awarded a Kenyan actress for her depiction of a lesbian character in a film that is banned in her own country. Fespaco film festival in Burkina Faso gave Samantha Mugatsia the best actress award for her lead role in the film Rafiki. The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) banned the film last year for “promoting lesbianism”. Homosexuality is illegal in Kenya – a legacy of British colonial-era rule. Gay sex is punishable by 14 years in Kenya but the country’s High Court is due to rule on whether to strike down the ban in May. Read more
