20 parties to INEC: Withhold Iheodioha’s Certificate of Return (Nation)
Twenty political parties on Wednesday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withhold the Certificate of Return of the Imo state governor-elect Emeka Ihedioha. They strongly contended the declaration Ihedioha, who was the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate as governor-elect, was not in tandem with the provisions of Constitution. At a press conference in Owerri, the state capital, the governorship candidate of Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), Jerry Iheanacho, who spoke on behalf of others, said they had individually decided to challenge the outcome of the governorship election at the election Petitions Tribunal. Read more
Ignore court orders interfering in electoral process, CUPP tells INEC (Punch)
The Coalition of United Political Parties on Wednesday asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to ignore court orders infringing on its constitutional right to conduct elections without restraint or interference. It said any court order that tends to stop INEC from carrying out its legitimate duties are “Idi Amin kind” and are null and void. The coalition’s spokesman, Imo Ugochinyere, said this in a statement in Abuja in its reaction to a court order that asked the electoral body to stop the collation of governorship results in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State. Read more
APC to Atiku, PDP: you are hallucinating on election victory claim (Nation)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Wednesday that claims by the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the recently concluded presidential election, Atiku Abubakar that he won the Presidential election by about 1. Million votes is a clear indication that the former Vice President has started hallucinating and falling into depression. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that the constant reference to INEC server by the former Vice President has raised several question and tends to confirm reports before the election the plan to hack the INEC database. Read more
Stakeholders seek NJC intervention on violence during Rivers elections (Guardian)
Stakeholders in Rivers State on Tuesday has called on the National Judicial Commission (NJC) to ensure justice is meted out to perpetrators of violence during and after the 2019 general elections. “Whilst we cannot and should not stop the Nigerian Army or indeed any professional body from reviewing the conduct of its own personnel, we hereby call for a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to be speedily set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria to secure a broader thorough, professional and unbiased inquiry into the massive loss of lives which occurred before, during and after the elections in Rivers State,” the stakeholders said in a statement. Read more
I prepared Deeds of Assignment for properties in VI, lawyer says in Fayose’s case (Punch)
A Seventh Prosecution Witness, Mr. Kennedy Osunwa, on Wednesday told a Federal High Court in Lagos that he was engaged to prepare a Deed of Assignment with respect to a property lying at 100, Tiamiyu Savage, Victoria Island, Lagos. The witness, who is a legal practitioner, gave the evidence at the resumed trial of immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, who is standing trial on allegations bordering on fraud. Fayose was arraigned on 11 counts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on October 22, 2018 alongside a company, Spotless Investment Ltd. Read more
Barber, student killed in Edo cult war (Nation)
A barber whose identity could not be ascertained has been killed by three gunmen suspected to be cult members. Several persons have been killed in different parts of Bénin City in the on-going cult war. The barber was shot dead in front of his shop at Idumwunowina area along the Benin-Lagos road in Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state Witnesses said he opened his shop at about 8 am on Wednesday when the three gunmen stormed his shop and opened fire on him. Read more
Pregnant woman, children killed in fire —Anambra Police (Punch)
The police command in Anambra State has confirmed the death of a pregnant woman and her two children in a fire at Umuoffor Village, Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state. Mr Haruna Mohammed, the Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to newsmen in Onitsha on Wednesday. Mohammed said that the victims were at their residence when the incident occurred. Narrating the incident, he said, “On March 19, at about 7:30 p.m., there was a fire at Umuoffor Village, Okija, at the residence of one Maxwell Okeke. Read more
I’ll leave zero debt for my successor, says Al-Makura (Nation)
Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura has disclosed his administration, which inherited N40 billion debts in 2011, will bequeath a zero debt profile for the incoming administration of Engr. Abdullahi Sule. The governor stated this on Wednesday at the Lafia Government House while inaugurating transition committee members and boards of some government institutions. He said to leave behind a crippling debt burden was not only unfair to the incoming government but the people of Nasarawa state. Read more
Lawmakers approve salary increment for Zamfara traditional rulers (Punch)
The Zamfara State House of Assembly on Wednesday approved salary increment for traditional rulers in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the approval was given during a plenary session following the state government request on the increment. The Speaker, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, said Governor Abdula’ziz Yari, had through the office of the Secretary to the State Government forwarded a letter to the House requesting for approval for adjustment of the salary of traditional rulers in the state. Read more
Senate passes Nigerian Council for Psychologists (Establishment) Bill, others (Punch)
The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill seeking the establishment of the Nigerian Council for Psychologists for proper regulation of the psychology profession in the country. The Nigerian Council for Psychologists (Establishment) Bill, 2018, also aims at ridding the profession of quacks to guarantee qualitative service delivery to Nigerians. The passage of the bill followed the consideration of the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters presented by its Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central). Read more
Nigerians should make themselves happy, says UN (Nation)
The UN Information Centre (UNIC), Lagos on Wednesday enjoined Nigerians to imbibe the culture of always making themselves and others around them happy, no matter the situation. UNIC’s National Information Officer, Dr Oluseyi Soremekun, gave the advice in Lagos at an event to celebrate this year’s UN International Day of Happiness in Nigeria. The theme of the day, jointly organised by UNIC, the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board and the Woman Child Wellness Foundation, was “Happier Together’’. “The UN underscores the importance of happiness hence it set March 20, every year, for the celebration of the International Day of Happiness. Read more
Deji Adeyanju accuses Charly Boy of collecting money to campaign against Atiku (Guardian)
Nigerian activist Deji Adeyanju on Tuesday said the founder of ‘Our Mumu Don Do’ movement, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy is a fraud. “Charly Boy is the number one Mumu in Nigeria. He compromised by collecting money from the government while I was locked up in prison by the oppressors,” Adeyanju said in a tweet. Adeyanju, a former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) social media strategist, resigned his membership of Our Mumu Don Do movement on Wednesday, March 13, because he was no longer confident in the leadership of the organisation. Read more
Gay Nigerian reverend to be ordained by Church of England (Punch)
Popular gay Nigerian cleric, Jide Macaulay, will, in June, be ordained an Anglican priest by the Church of England. Macaulay revealed this on his Instagram page on Wednesday where he also posted a copy of his invitation letter. He wrote, ‘It is a delight to share this news. I am to be ordained Anglican Priest in the Church of England in June 2019. “Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord,” Psalm 27:14.” Read more
Alaa Al Aswany: Egypt ‘sues novelist for insulting state’ (BBC)
The bestselling author Alaa Al Aswany has said he is being sued by military prosecutors in Egypt for insulting the president, armed forces and judiciary. Aswany, who lives in the US, said the lawsuit was connected to his last novel – The Republic, As If – and columns he had written for Deutsche Welle Arabic. He condemned the case as a “clear violation” of Egypt’s constitution. Aswany’s acclaimed 2002 novel, The Yacoubian Building, has sold more than a million copies in 35 languages. Read more
Brexit delay request sends pound reeling (Guardian)
The pound fell sharply on Wednesday after British Prime Minister Theresa announced it was seeking a delay to its exit from the European Union until June 30, while investors awaited the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate call. “The pound’s Wednesday only got worse after the confirmation that Theresa May is seeking a short delay from the EU, one that arguably does not give the government enough time to get through a sterling-positive Brexit deal,” Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell told AFP. “It appears that, despite the various votes highlighting MPs unwilling to leave the EU without a deal, that kind of disastrous exit is still very much on the table.” Read more
Brazil gunmen shoot at convoy carrying nuclear fuel in Angra dos Reis (BBC)
Gunmen have attacked a convoy of trucks carrying uranium fuel to a nuclear power plant near the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, police say. The convoy came under attack as it drove past a community controlled by drug traffickers in Angra dos Reis, a tourist city 145km (90 miles) from Rio. Police escorting the convoy responded and a shootout followed. No-one was injured or detained. The convoy reached the Angra 2 plant safely 20 minutes after the attack. The attack in the Rio-Santos highway is the latest in a series of violent incidents in an area popular with visitors. Read more
Building collapses in India, four killed, dozens trapped —Police (Punch)
The death toll in a building collapse in a southern Indian town has risen to four, with more people still feared trapped, police said on Wednesday. The three-storey building in the town of Dharwad in southern India’s Karnataka state collapsed while under construction on Tuesday, burying dozens of people, most of them workers at the site. “Rescue operations are continuing as we have to remove the rubble very carefully to find people who may still be trapped,’’ an offical at the police control room in Dharwad said. Four bodies have been found and 46 injured people are being treated in hospitals. Read more
Argentina rescue: Huge search finds boy lost for day in desert (BBC)
A five-year-old boy who was rescued after almost 24 hours lost in the desert in western Argentina has been released from hospital. Benjamín Sánchez went missing during a family trip on Sunday and was found by a team of volunteers 21km (13 miles) from where he was last seen. “I was cold, I slept badly, leaning on a rock,” said the boy, who was wearing only a T-shirt and light trousers. He said he had survived by eating grass and drinking water from a stream. After being rescued on Monday afternoon, the child was taken by helicopter to a hospital in San Juan suffering slight dehydration and was released on Tuesday. Read more
YouTube star mother ‘pepper-sprayed kids’ privates if they forgot their lines’ (Metro)
A YouTube mommy blogger pepper-sprayed her children’s privates and made them take ice baths if they forgot their lines for her videos, police say. Machelle Hackney, 48, reportedly blasted her children with the irritant from head to toe if they failed to follow commands for while filming for her Fantastic Adventures channel. One of Hackney’s sons says she inflicted severe pain on him by grabbing and pinching his genitals as punishment for what she claimed was his misbehavior. Read more
Klopp urges Salah to use Liverpool teammate Mane as inspiration (Guardian)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says Mohamed Salah should use Sadio Mane as inspiration as the Egypt star looks to hit peak form after an inconsistent season. Salah scored 44 times in his debut season with Liverpool, but his second campaign has not been so smooth. Although Salah has 20 goals in the current campaign, his goalless run of seven matches is the longest he has experienced since a 10-game streak for Roma in 2015-16. Read more
Pogba wants ‘happy coach’ Solskjaer to stay at Man Utd (Guardian)
Paul Pogba hopes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is given the Manchester United manager’s job on a permanent basis after the Norwegian turned the club’s fortunes around. The former United striker has transformed the mood and results at Old Trafford, leading the club into the Champions League quarter-finals and lifting them into contention for a top-four finish in the Premier League. When Solskjaer was given the role following the departure of Jose Mourinho in December it was widely assumed he was merely keeping the seat warm for a bigger managerial name but his success has led to a clamour for the appointment to be made full-time and midfielder Pogba has now added his voice. Read more
Alvaro Morata sends message to Antoine Griezmann amid Manchester United transfer speculation (Metro)
Alvaro Morata has urged Antoine Griezmann to stay on at Atletico Madrid amid speculation the forward is in talks to leave the club. Atletico’s elimination from the Champions League following their dramatic 3-2 aggregate defeat to Juventus intensified rumours of Griezmann’s possible departure in the summer transfer window. Manchester United have long been linked with Griezmann and the 27-year-old forward was on the verge of a move to Old Trafford in 2017 before Atleti’s transfer ban convinced him to commit to a new deal in the Spanish capital. Read more
Rabiot ‘held hostage’ by PSG, claims mother (Guardian)
Adrien Rabiot’s agent has accused Paris Saint-Germain of holding the midfielder “hostage” after he was suspended for going to a nightclub following their Champions League defeat by Manchester United. The French international has been in conflict with PSG as he wants to leave the club at the end of the season when his contract runs out. Agent Veronique Rabiot, who is also the player’s mother, insisted her son had “done nothing wrong”. Read more
Reus ‘will end his career at Dortmund’ (Guardian)
Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has said that talisman Marco Reus will stay at the club until the end of his career. “Marco is someone who identifies with the club and has strong roots in Dortmund,” Zorc told Sport Bild on Wednesday. “I can’t imagine that he will ever play for another club.” Reus, 29, scored a late winner against Hertha Berlin last Saturday to keep Dortmund level on points with Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. One of the more experienced players in Dortmund’s young squad, the Germany international is set to play a key role as the title race enters the decisive phase. Read more
Sophie Jones: Sheffield United Women forward banned for racial abuse (BBC)
Sheffield United Women forward Sophie Jones has been banned for five games after being found guilty of racially abusing Tottenham player Renee Hector. Hector claimed she “received some monkey noises” from an opponent during a Championship match on 6 January. Jones has had her contract terminated by Sheffield United, who said that the forward “maintains her innocence and is disappointed with the FA’s decision”. She has also been fined £200 and must attend an educational course. Read more
‘More time for our wives’: Mueller on life after Loew (Guardian)
Former Germany star Thomas Mueller has said that he is looking to the future after his exclusion from the national team under coach Joachim Loew. Mueller and his Bayern Munich team-mates Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels were all ruled out of Loew’s future plans in a shock announcement earlier this month. The coach’s decision to get rid of the three World Cup winners has attracted widespread criticism, but Mueller says he is putting the disappointment behind him as he prepares for life after Loew. Read more