2019 presidential, NASS campaigns begin Sunday –INEC (Punch)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will on Sunday lift ban on campaign for 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections slated for February 16, 2019. A statement by Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, INEC Director Of Voter Education and Publicity, on Saturday in Abuja said that political parties who fielded candidates for both elections would commence campaigns across the country. Osaze-Uzzi said that the commencement of campaigns was in line with the Timetable and Schedule of Activities issued by the INEC. Read more
CAN meets Buhari, seeks Dasuki, El-Zakzaky’s release (Guardian)
N5.8bn Scandal: Make refunds, seek restitution now, PDP tells Osinbajo (Vanguard)
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has tasked Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, to search his soul, seek forgiveness and make restitution for entangling himself in alleged corruption and sharp practices in the concealment of N5.8 billion Northeast Intervention Fund. In a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said “it is heart-rending that Osinbajo, despite his sanctimonious posturing, is being fingered in the frittering of the N5.8 billion meant for the purchase of food and general welfare of suffering Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the Northeast.” Read more
I did not collect salary for eight years as governor — Aregbesola (Nation)
The outgoing governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola has said that he did not earn salaries throughout the eight years of his administration. Aregbesola disclosed this during an interactive programme tagged ‘Ogbeni Till Day Break’ on Saturday in Osogbo. The governor said since it was the state that was feeding him,fueling his cars and provided him with accommodation, there was no need for him to be paid. Aregbesola also said that he did not have bank accounts where money was kept in any part of the world. Read more
Soldiers caught on camera shooting, beating up traders in Lagos (Guardian)
Officials of the Nigerian Army on Saturday were caught on camera shooting sporadically and assaulting traders at CMS area of Lagos Island. Eyewitnesses alleged some persons in the area had earlier ganged up to beat up a military officer which spurred a retaliation from the soldiers. “Soldiers stormed CMS shooting sporadically and beating both traders and passersby. It was alleged that some guys beat up a soldier there and the latter called for reinforcement,” an eyewitness said. Read more
France fuel protest: One dead in ‘yellow vest’ blockades (BBC)
A protester has died and there are reports of several injuries as demonstrators angry at rising fuel prices disrupt traffic across France. The female protester was struck after a driver panicked and drove towards demonstrators, reports said. Some 120,000 “yellow vests”, so-called after the high-visibility jackets they are required to carry in their cars, have gathered in 2,000 locations. They accuse President Emmanuel Macron of abandoning “the little people”. Read more
Lawyers challenge Matthew Whitaker’s appointment as acting Attorney General at the Supreme Court (BuzzFeed)
Lawyers on Friday brought a challenge to the validity of President Donald Trump’s appointment of acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker to the Supreme Court. Questions have surrounded the legality of Whitaker’s appointment since the day after the midterm elections when Trump forced out the former attorney general, Jeff Sessions, and announced on Twitter that Whitaker was his choice to be the acting attorney general. The Justice Department, however, has defended the appointment’s legality. Read more
British Airways sued by tourist ‘wedged next to obese passenger'(CNN)
A tourist is suing British Airways, claiming he suffered injury and loss of earnings from having to sit next to an obese passenger on a 12-hour flight. Stephen Prosser, 51, from Penygraig, South Wales, told Pontypridd County Court on Friday that British Airways cabin crew ignored his warnings he would be injured if he was forced to sit next to the man, the Press Association reported. Prosser, a freelance civil engineer, described the individual as being “extremely large,” 6 feet 4 and more than 300 pounds. Read more
‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ heading to $75 million opening (Variety)
“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is ready to cast a powerful spell on the box office. Warner Bros.’ tentpole is heading for a domestic opening weekend in the $75 million range, early estimates showed Friday. The North American figure could wind up matching the $74.4 million opening for 2016’s “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”Read more
William Goldman, Oscar-Winning writer of ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,’ dies at 87 (Variety)
William Goldman who won Oscars for his original screenplay for “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and his adaptation of “All the President’s Men,” died on Friday morning in his Manhattan home, Variety has confirmed. He was 87. According to the Washington Post, his daughter Jenny Goldman cited complications from colon cancer and pneumonia as the cause of his death. “Butch Cassidy,” a revisionist Western that helped popularize the buddy movie, announced Goldman as a screenwriter able to balance big laughs with a sense of adventure, while “All the President’s Men” cemented his status as a deft writer of suspense. The two are considered to be among the finest screenplays ever written and exemplify Goldman’s range and versatility. Read more
Netflix confirms tests of cheaper, mobile-only streaming plans in multiple markets (Variety)
Netflix has launched trials of a lower-cost streaming plan, priced at around $4 per month — which will let you watch only on mobile devices. The mobile-only tests are running in select countries, including Malaysia, Netflix said, and may not become widely available. The trials are aimed at appealing to smartphone-centric users in Asia and priced to be competitive with other streaming-video options. Read more
Sri Lanka v England: Tourists close in on series win before rain ends day four early (BBC)
England put themselves on the brink of victory in the second Test and the series against Sri Lanka before rain brought an early end to day four. Set 301 to win in Pallekele, the hosts recovered from 26-3 to reach 221-5 thanks to Angelo Mathews. But the tourists struck twice in quick succession after tea to remove Mathews for 88 and Dilruwan Perera for two, leaving Sri Lanka 226-7 and needing a further 75 for victory.Read more
Nigeria seal Nations Cup berth with South Africa draw (KweseESPN)
Mayweather, kickboxer will aim to ‘knock out’ in exhibition, says promoter (Punch)
Boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr and a Japanese kickboxer half his age will be aiming to knock each other out next month, despite the match-up being an exhibition, the fight’s Japanese promoter said Saturday. The bout between Mayweather and Tenshin Nasukawa, first announced earlier this month, was abruptly scrapped by the American boxer over a “misunderstanding”, according to the CEO of mixed martial arts promotor RIZIN. Read more
Dolphin discovered washed up on beach was shot dead (Metro)
A dead dolphin found on a beach in California was shot in a ‘vicious act of brutality’. The animal rescue organisation that found the dolphin has now launched a manhunt to find the killer. Marine Animal Rescue is offering a $5,000 (£3,900) reward for information that leads to their arrest and conviction. Read more
Teen sings her way through brain surgery so doctors can preserve her talent (HuffPost)
A Seattle teen is singing the praises of doctors who let her sing during brain surgery. Musician Kira Iaconetti, 19, has been performing musical theater since she was a child and has ambitions of making it a career. She feared that might not happen after doctors diagnosed her with a form of epilepsy that triggered seizures when she listened to or performed music. “It just [felt] like a light switch switches in my brain and suddenly I’m tone deaf. I can’t sing. I can’t process the words in time with the music,” Iaconetti told “Inside Edition.” Read more
Florida woman made 13-year-old girl walk naked in public: Police (HuffPost)
A Florida woman is facing a child abuse charge after she allegedly punished a 13-year-old girl by forcing her to walk naked down a road. Rosalie Contreras, 34, was arrested Thursday evening on one count of child abuse related to the incident, which happened around 4 p.m. that day in Dade City. The victim’s relationship with Contreras has not been disclosed, but the girl told deputies Contreras wanted to punish her for misbehaving, according to BayNews9.com. Read more
NAFDAC, customs seize tramadol worth N193bn in one year (Punch)
