2019 Budget: Reps for Second Reading Thursday (The Nation)
The House of Representatives has said it will pass the 2019 budget expeditiously. Speaking at resumption of plenary on Wednesday, after the Chrismas and New Year break, the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara said in a bid to fast track the process, copies of the document has been distributed to members. According to him, the second reading will commence immediately after the valedictory service for the late Ayeola and the former President Shehu Shagari. Dogara said: “I hope copies of the budget have been circulated? If copies of the budget have been circulated, we may have to start the second reading of the budget tomorrow. READ MORE
EFCC invites Fani-Kayode, Odumakin over fake news (Guardian)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Wednesday invited Femi Fani-Kayode and Afenifere chieftain, Yinka Odumakin for questioning over their claims that the commission sought to arrest the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen. The anti-graft’s spokesman Tony Orilade disclosed this at the ongoing conference of Online Publishers Association of Nigeria in Abuja. Orilade said if both men failed to disclose useful information, they may not be released on time. Read more
APC relaunches website after plagiarism controversy (Guardian)
A website owned by the All Progressive Congress (APC) that published a plagiarized manifesto has been relaunched after it was put under maintenance by the party. A section of the website on Saturday contained obviously plagiarized content that included the statement, “Our first priority is keeping America safe and secure,” But party spokesman Lanre Issa-Onilu said the website came under “evil plots” by hackers. The website and a few social media handles were disclaimed by the party in April 2018. Read more
Stop ‘hanging’ on moving vehicles, FRSC tells political campaigners (Punch)
The Federal Road Safety Corps, Nasarawa State command, has called on politicians to stop their supporters from hanging on moving vehicles to minimise the risk of road accidents. The Sector Commander, Mrs Faustina Alegbe, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lafia, on Wednesday that FRSC was worried over the menace, which could also endanger other road users. Alegbe said the FRSC was compelled to file an official complaint to the state assembly to address the issue. She said so many lives were being jeopardised by politicians and their supporters who were hanging on moving vehicles and going about for political campaigns. Read more
Frank Mba replaces Jimoh Moshood as Police PRO (Guardian)
The Acting Inspector General, Adamu Mohammed, has appointed Frank Mba as the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigeria Police, replacing the former spokesman DCP Jimoh Moshood. Mba, who is an Assistant Commissioner of Police served as the PRO of the Police Force between 2012 and 2014 when he served under former IGP Mohammed Adamu. He was relieved of his post after Abubakar’s departure. The University of Lagos law graduate, who hails from Ezimo in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, was called to Nigerian bar in 2002. He was the best graduating cadet inspector in academics at the Police Academy, Kano, in 1993. Read more
Nigerian Ambassador to Cote D’IVoire Ibrahim Isah is dead (Guardian)
The Nigerian Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire, Ibrahim Isah, is dead after a protracted illness. Isah passed on Tuesday in Abidjan. The late Isah, from Niger State, joined the Nigerian Foreign Service in 1983.’ He served at the Nigerian High Commission in Sierra Leone, Consulate-General in New York, Jeddah and at the Embassy in China. He was the Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Ankara, Turkey until his appointment as Ambassador Extraordinary/Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire in 2018. Read more
Barman bags six months imprisonment for stealing employer’s N165,000 (Nation)
An Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun State on Wednesday sentenced a 25-year-old bar attendant, Semiu Alabi, to six months in prison for stealing his employer’s N165,000. The Magistrate, Mrs A. F. Ojelade, sentenced the accused to six months imprisonment without an option of fine. Ojelade said that the sentence would serve as deterrent to others. The convict, of no fixed address, had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing. Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Gbesi Chudu, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on Jan. 2, at about 8.30 p.m. at Rock Hotel and Bar, Atan, Ogun. Read more
CJN Onnoghen: EFCC to go after rumour peddlers (The Nation)
SHOULD the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have its way, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode and Afenifere spokesman Yinka Odumakin will face trial for allegedly spreading the rumour that the agency raided Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen’s home. The duo were spreading “fake news” yesterday, the anti-graft agency said. It said also that it did not arrest the CJN, contrary to rumours.
Drama as Edgal, Egbetokun resume as Lagos CP (The Nation)
It was drama yesterday at the Ikeja Government Reservation Area (GRA) Headquarters of the Lagos Police Command where two officers showed up as Police Commissioners in the state. Commissioner of Police Imohimi Edgal, who was billed to hand over following his earlier redeployment, resumed at works and said he remained in charge. Kayode Egbetokun, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), who was to take over the baton after a joint news conference, arrived at the Command ahead of Edgal.
Buhari, Tinubu, Fayemi, others greet Bisi Akande at 80 (The Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari, All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday joined members of the ruling party to congratulate the first Interim Chairman of the party and former governor of Osun State, Chief Abdukareem Adebisi Akande on his 80th birthday. The President congratulated Pa Akande, his family and friends for his laudable achievements over the years, which threw him into the limelight at an early age, particularly highlighting his sacrifices in public service at the state and national levels.
Patience Jonathan ‘proves’ source of $8.4m, N7.4b with videos (The Nation)
FORMER First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan’s lawyers yesterday played five videos to prove the source of $8.4 million and N7.4 billion, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeks to forfeit to the Federal Government.The videos were projected before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Lagos. The judge had last April 20 ordered temporary forfeiture of the funds, which EFCC said were suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Buhari, Osinbajo, others lay wreaths for heroes (The Nation)
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday led other top government officials and Service chiefs to lay wreaths in honour of soldiers, who died during national service and international assignments. The ceremony was to mark the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day. January 15th, every year, is dedicated to remembering and appreciating surviving military men, who have retired from active service.
Nairobi hotel attack: Kenyans praise siege ‘heroes’ (BBC)
Social media users are commending the bravery of people who helped during the siege at the DusitD2 hotel in Nairobi. A number of hashtags have been created to highlight positive stories which arose from the tragedy, including #WeShallOvercome and #KenyaUnbowed. The two phrases have been used more than 30,000 times on Twitter in the past 24 hours. READ MORE
Witnesses recount rescue from attackers (BBC)
‘I hid under my desk’ Hiram Macharia, a marketing executive at LG Electronics, told the Reuters news agency that after he heard the first explosion he tried to escape. “I grabbed a fire extinguisher and we started going downstairs. Then we saw two of the attackers firing at the elevators and we turned back. We hid under desks in our office,” he told Reuters. READ MORE
Brexit and no-confidence vote: Corbyn targets ‘zombie government’ (BBC)
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called Theresa May’s administration a “zombie government” that “cannot govern” as he called for a general election. Opening a debate on a no-confidence motion, Mr Corbyn said the government “should do the right thing and resign” after Tuesday night’s record-breaking defeat on its Brexit legislation. READ MORE
Kisenosato, Japan’s last sumo remaining champion, retires (BBC)
Japan’s last remaining home-grown sumo champion has announced his retirement after a string of tournament losses. Kisenosato Yutaka said he had been struggling with injuries but had wanted to continue wrestling to repay fans for their support. In 2017, he became the first Japan-born wrestler in almost two decades to reach the rank of grand champion, known in Japanese as “yokozuna”. READ MORE
Massive spinning ice disk forms in US river (BBC)
A rare natural phenomenon taking shape in the US state of Maine is mesmerising people around the world. A giant slow-turning ice disk, measuring approximately 91m (298ft) wide, has formed in the Presumpscot River in the city of Westbrook. The captivating natural oddity has drawn comparison to an alien spacecraft, a carousel and the Moon. READ MORE
Australian Open: Roger Federer battles through against Dan Evans (BBC Sports)
Britain’s Dan Evans succumbed in three sets after pushing defending champion Roger Federer hard in an entertaining Australian Open second-round match. Evans, ranked 189th in the world, lost 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 against the 20-time Grand Slam champion. But he never looked out of his depth, impressing the Rod Laver Arena with his shot-making. READ MORE
Cristiano Ronaldo: Kathryn Mayorga lawyer to meet Jasmine Lennard (BBC Sports)
The lawyer of Kathryn Mayorga, who has accused Cristiano Ronaldo of raping her in 2009, will travel to London to meet a woman who claims to be the Juventus forward’s ex-girlfriend. Leslie Stovall says he has spoken to British model and reality TV star Jasmine Lennard, who says she dated Ronaldo 10 years ago and has offered to assist Mayorga’s case against the Portugal captain. READ MORE
I don’t want to be Fela, I love being me – Femi Kuti (Punch)
Afrobeat singer, Femi Kuti, has come under criticism for his decision not to engage in political activism as much as his legendary father, the late Fela. Femi, on Tuesday night, engaged in a Twitter debate with critics of his music, who accused him of failing to live up to the name his father made with his more politically charged music. One Fela fan, @trybeblogng, said, “@falzthebahdguy is simply the modern day Abami Eda of our generation. It is a pity @Femiakuti could not pull the string this far… #Longlive @felakuti.” READ MORE
Michael Jackson’s daughter checks into mental facility (Punch)
Music legend, Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris 20, is being treated at an undisclosed mental health facility, according to media reports. According to sources close to E! News, the daughter of the late famous music icon is currently living in a facility in the hope of improving her mental health after a busy 2018. “After a busy year of work engagements that took her all over the globe, Paris decided that she needed to take some time off to reboot, realign and prioritise her physical and emotional health. READ MORE
Man, 30, in court over alleged theft of government bicycle (The Nation)
A 32-years-old man, Mr Marcus Ochewebinor, was on Wednesday arraigned before an Asaba Magistrates’ Court for allegedly neglecting police order to assist in arresting a kidnap suspect. The Prosecutor, Mr Dibia Onyemechi, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Oct. 29, 2018 at Sapele. Onyemechi alleged that the accused refused to assist the police in arresting one Mr Lucky Madu, a kidnap suspect.
Man who raped 80-yr-old bags three years imprisonment (The Nation)
An Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun State on Wednesday sentenced a 25-year-old bar attendant, Semiu Alabi, to six months in prison for stealing his employer’s N165,000. The Magistrate, Mrs A. F. Ojelade, sentenced the accused to six months imprisonment without an option of fine. Ojelade said that the sentence would serve as deterrent to others. The convict, of no fixed address, had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing.