Ambode finally presents 2019 budget (Guardian)
Lagos State governor Akinwunmi Ambode is at the assembly to present the spending plan for 2019 after a delay that almost culminated in his impeachment. The state lawmakers last week had summoned Governor Ambode over misappropriation charges. They also issued threats of impeachment if the governor failed to clear himself of the charges and set up a committee to look into the reasons for the delay. Read more
I have nothing personal against Ambode – Lagos Speaker (Punch)
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has said the issues surrounding the 2019 budget was nothing personal. Obasa while delivering his speech after the governor had presented the 2019 budget said, “We are diligently playing our role to contribute to the development of the state to ensure transparency. As lawmakers, we had no personal issue with the governor.” Read more
Don’t repeat operation python dance, Ohanaeze warns army (Vanguard)
Igbo parent organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has warned the Nigeria army not to repeat the 2017 operation python experience, where soldiers killed, maimed and caused destructions in Igbo land. President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo who spoke out on Tuesday about the plan by the army, faulted the guise of possible election crisis by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, as insinuated by the army to unleash another round of human rights violation across Igbo land. Nwodo insisted that IPoB was a not a troublesome organisation but a self-determination group whose threats of election boycott had never diminished any election but had rather increased awareness and turn out for such exercises. Read more
National hospital denies negligence, killing of teenage patient (Nation)
The management of National Hospital, Abuja (NHA) on Tuesday denied negligence of a 17 year old patient Paul Akpala, which led to his death. Dr Tayo Haastrup, Deputy Director, Information Communication, NHA, denied the allegation in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja. Akpala was said to have been knocked down by a hit and run driver at Berger roundabout, Abuja, while trying to cross the road, and was immediately rushed to the NHA on Jan. 23. Haastrup said the patient was taken to the hospital’s Trauma Intensive Care Unit (TICU) and put on a life support machine. Read more
We only seek a second term, not third, like some people —Buhari (Punch)
In a veiled attack on former president Olusegun Obasanjo, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, said that he is only seeking a second term in office and not a third term as did “some people.” Speaking with Ondo State Council of Obas in Akure, he said, “We have just finished one term and are seeking a second one. After that, the constitution doesn’t permit anymore.” He added, “There are some who tried looking for more but they did not succeed. We should learn from their mistakes.” His statement was revealed by Tolu Ogunlesi, who oversees digital communications in the presidency. Read more
Election: Okorocha encourages Igbos to vote wisely (Guardian)
Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, has called on Igbos to ensure that they cast their votes wisely in the upcoming presidential elections. Okorocha, who gave the warning at a press briefing in the Government House, Owerri on Tuesday, described the ongoing politics as a “war in a different dimension”. He said that Igbos would fail woefully if they did not vote wisely noting that the choices they made in the past did not favour them. According to him, Igbos will enter into another era of political captivity if they fail to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari. Read more
Middle Belt Forum denies endorsing Atiku (Nation)
A faction of the Middle Belt Forum has denied endorsing the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. In a statement released in Abuja on Tuesday, the Director of Media and Publicity of the Forum, Mr. Gowon Egbunu, said there was no time the Forum came together as a group to endorse Atiku as its preferred presidential candidate in the upcoming elections. The Middle Belt Forum had, on Sunday aligned with other socio-cultural groups of its kind in endorsing the candidature of Atiku in the March 16 presidential election. Read more
INEC reiterates commitment to peaceful election (Vanguard)
Prof. Mammodu Yakubu, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restated his commitment to peaceful election. He gave the assurance on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving Women for Peace group seeking to promote peaceful election. Yakubu said that the commission was following gender policy that allowed women to express their feelings and assured of credible elections. He noted that in developed countries, women were the best pedestal for credible elections and therefore applauded the group for the move to ensuring peaceful polls. “It is interesting to know that women in our society are coming out to support peace and mobilise women to vote. Read more
NUC gives provisional licences to four private universities (Punch)
The National Universities Commission, has given provisional approval to four new private universities to commence academic programmes. Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, Executive Secretary, NUC at the presentation of the licences to the universities in Abuja on Tuesday, said the four universities had been under scrutiny since 2006. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the universities are: Greenfield University, Kaduna State, Dominion University, Ibadan, Trinity University, Laloko, Ogun State, and Westland University, Iwo, Osun State. With the approval, Nigeria now has 79 private universities, and a total of 173 universities, private and public. Read more
Zimbabwe pastor Walter Magaya convicted over ‘HIV cure’ (BBC)
A court in Zimbabwe has convicted a popular self-styled prophet of fraud and fined him $700 (£540) for falsely claiming he had a herbal cure for HIV and Aids. Walter Magaya earlier pleaded guilty to contravening the Medicines Control Act by selling an unapproved drug. Police arrested him in November, and seized a herbal drug which he said could cure people who had HIV and Aids. Zimbabwe has the sixth highest HIV prevalence rate in sub-Saharan Africa. About 1.3 million people were living with HIV, according to UN data compiled in 2016. Read more
Russia plans new missile systems (BBC)
Russia says it is planning to develop new missile systems after both Russia and the US suspended their involvement in an arms control pact. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) banned the pair from using short- and medium-range missiles. The US has long accused Russia of violating the pact, and last week US President Donald Trump announced he would exit it. Russia followed suit. The moves have raised concerns about a new arms race. The INF was signed during the Cold War to ease a crisis in which US and Soviet missiles were placed within range of European capitals. Read more
Instagram’s most-liked egg revealed as mental health advert (BBC)
It’s been revealed that the picture of an egg – which is Instagram’s most liked photo ever – is part of a mental health awareness campaign. The egg, known as Eugene, has now cracked after “feeling the pressure” of all the attention it’s received. A message posted alongside the broken egg advises people to seek help if they feel the same way. More than 52 million people have now liked the original picture, which was posted in January. When the first image of the egg appeared online, it looked like it only had one aim – to stop Kylie Jenner being the “Queen of Instagram”. Read more
Like MMM, cryptocurrency firm founder dies with passwords to clients’ $190m (Punch)
In a case reminiscent of the MMM saga, Canada’s leading cryptocurrency exchange company has said it cannot immediately repay customers’ $190m because its founder died with their passwords. According to the Sky News, founder of QuadrigaCX, 30-year-old Gerald Cotten, died of alleged complications with Crohn’s disease during a trip to India where he had been billed to inaugurate an orphanage last December. According to Mayo Clinic, Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhoea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. Read more
Pep Guardiola: Man City boss says Liverpool, Spurs, Man Utd & Chelsea are title contenders (BBC)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says more than two clubs can contest the Premier League title with 13 matches of the season to go. Guardiola’s side are three points behind leaders Liverpool but can go top if they win at Everton on Wednesday. Tottenham are five points off top spot, with Chelsea 12 off the pace and Manchester United 14 behind in fifth. “There are 39 points to play and it is not too much if you are nine or 10 behind,” said Guardiola. “I never said Tottenham are not there. United making this run every single week and they will be there. Read more
Next week critical for Man City title hopes – Silva (Guardian)
Manchester City’s hopes of remaining in the Premier League title race will hinge on how the defending champions negotiate the next five days with matches against Everton and Chelsea, midfielder Bernardo Silva has said. City have 59 points from 25 games to sit three points behind league leaders Liverpool who were held to a 1-1 draw at West Ham United on Monday, and Silva stressed the need for his team to capitalise when they meet Everton on Wednesday. Pep Guardiola’s side, who could go top of the table for the first time since early December with a victory at Goodison Park, then host fourth-placed Chelsea on Sunday. Read more
Three men caught with women’s sanitary pads (Punch)
Three men, Hamzat Ademola (30), Kayode Kazeem (28) and Obasanmi Sola (30) on Tuesday appeared before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged illegal possession of ladies’ sanitary pads. The defendants, whose addresses were unknown, are facing a count of unlawful possession of ladies’ sanitary pads. The Prosecutor, Insp. Johnson Okunade, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on January 31 in Ado-Ekiti. Okunade alleged that the sanitary pads were found in the possession of the defendants with the intention to use them for ritual. Read more
Court okays dismissal of driver who fought his boss (Vanguard)
The National Industrial Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, declared as lawful, the dismissal of one Andy Geoffrey, who was sacked for fighting his manager. Geoffrey, a driver with Setraco Nig. Ltd., a construction company, was dismissed on grounds of gross insubordination. Justice Rakiya Haastrup, in her judgment, said the claimant challenged his summary dismissal, as unlawful on the ground that he was assaulted by his manager and served with suspension letter, while unconscious in the hospital. Haastrup said the claimant also averred that he was later dismissed without appearing before any panel, adding that he was also denied fair hearing. The judge said that the evidence before the court, however, proved that due process was followed by the defendant in the dismissal of the claimant. Read more