APC members killed in Lagos campaign crash (Punch)
Tragedy struck on Monday in the FESTAC Town area of Lagos State as some of the campaigners for the All Progressives Congress were killed in a crash. Our correspondent learnt that the incident happened during the campaign for the All Progressives Congress Senatorial Candidate for Lagos West, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, aka Yayi. The victims were said to be in the convoy of the senatorial candidate when the accident happened. Read more
CCT fixes Feb 13 for definite hearing of charges against Onnoghen (Punch)
The Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday adjourned the trial of Justice Walter Onnoghen, the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria until February 13, at the instance of the defendant’s team. Mr. Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) Counsel to Onnoghen, had urged the tribunal to adjourn proceedings to allow the National Judicial Council (NJC) to rule in a similar petition against the defendant. Awomolo had informed the three-man panel of the tribunal, led by its Chairman Umar Danladi, that his client was being served seven days to respond to the petition, which was similar to the charges before the tribunal. Read more
Buhari swears in new ICPC chairman Owasanoye, other board members (Guardian)
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari Monday swore in Professor Bolaji Owasanoye as the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The President also inaugurated eight new members into the commission during the swearing-in ceremony held at the council chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Sworn in along with the chairman are eight members of the ICPC board, which includes Grace Chinda from Delta, Okolo Titus (Enugu), Obiora Igwedebia (Anambra) and Olubukola Balogun (Lagos). Others are Justice Adamu Bello (Katsina), Hannatu Muhammed (Jigawa), Abdullahi Saidu (Niger) and Yahaya Dauda (Nasarawa). Read more
N2.2bn fraud: It’s painful testifying against Fayose, says Obanikoro (Punch)
The N2.2bn fraud trial of the immediate past Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, resumed on Monday with his former ally and former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, testifying against him. However, while being cross-examined by the second defence counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), Obanikoro told the court that he was testifying against Fayose reluctantly, noting that they enjoyed a good relationship while they were both members of the Peoples Democratic Party. Obanikoro has since defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress, while Fayose remains a member of the former ruling party. Read more
Subsidise cost of fish feed, farmers urge FG (Vanguard)
Some farmers in Lagos State on Monday urged the Federal Government to subsidise fish feed to encourage local fish production. The farmers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in interviews that they could not compete favourably with their foreign counterparts due to high cost of feed which, they claimed, gulped about 75 per cent of production cost. According to them, high cost of quality feeds have made them to use low quality ones. Read more
Kano Hisbah arrests 228 beggars in January (Vanguard)
The Kano State Hisbah Board on Monday said it had arrested 228 beggars in January 2019, for allegedly violating the law banning street begging in the state. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Board, Malam Adamu Yahaya, made this known in an interview in Kano. Yahaya said that the number comprised 127 adults and 101 children, saying that the beggars were arrested during raids of different parts of the city. He said that the arrests were carried out at France Road, Lodge Road, State Road, Gwammaja, Yankaba Bus-stop and restaurants. Read more
South Sudan military court tries army general for treason (Guardian)
A military court on Monday began hearing the trial of an army general charged with treason for allegedly plotting a rebellion against President Salva Kiir’s government. Major General Stephen Buoy Rolnyang has been charged with “treason, offenses related to insecurity,” as well as disobeying military orders, according to the army’s deputy spokesman Brigadier General Santo Domic. He is being tried by a seven-member military court panel constituted by army chief General Jok Riak. Read more
European powers recognise Guaidó as leader (BBC)
The UK, France, Germany, Spain and other European countries have officially recognised opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela. It comes after President Nicolás Maduro defiantly rejected a deadline they set for Sunday to call fresh elections. Mr Guaidó declared himself interim leader last month and won US backing. Russia – a backer of Mr Maduro – accused EU countries of meddling in Venezuela’s affairs. Read more
Australian crocs spotted in flooded streets (BBC)
Authorities in Townsville, Australia have warned residents to beware of crocodiles and snakes spotted in floodwaters in residential areas. More than 1,100 people have been evacuated from the town amid a “once in a century” flood. On Sunday, the city authorities released a dam which had swollen to double its capacity following a week of record rainfall. Authorities have said more heavy rain is expected in coming days. Up to 20,000 homes are at risk of being inundated. Read more
Footballer Sala’s missing plane found (Guardian)
The wreckage of a plane carrying Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala and his pilot has been found two weeks after it disappeared in the English Channel, one of the investigators said on Monday. Sala, 28, was flying from France to join his new club, Premier League side Cardiff City when the light aircraft disappeared on January 21 north of the island of Guernsey. Shipwreck hunter David Mearns, who was hired by the striker’s family after the official rescue effort was called off, said the plane was found on Sunday morning. Read more
Liverpool’s Gomez to have leg surgery (Guardian)
Liverpool’s Joe Gomez is to undergo an operation in the hope of aiding his recovery from a lower leg fracture, the Premier League leaders announced Monday. Gomez suffered the injury in a 3-1 victory at Burnley early in December. Liverpool’s inital assessment was that Gomez might be sidelined for six weeks, but have now refused to set a specific timescale for the England international’s recovery, although he is expected to play again this season. “Liverpool can confirm Joe Gomez is to undergo surgery to assist his recovery from a lower leg fracture sustained at Burnley on December 5,” the club said in a statement. Read more
Woman with only three fingers starts her own bra-making company (Metro)
Maya Scarlette, from London, was born with a limb deficiency, ectrodactyly – also known as lobster claw syndrome. Though the condition varies from person to person, for her it’s meant losing digits on both hands and feet, a rarity affecting her balance and grip. Despite the difficulties she’s faced – which includes calling out companies like Apple for not being user-friendly for disabled people – Maya, 26, has started her own business making bras. Inspired by her African heritage and carnival culture, Maya decided to start making her own fun outfits with her friends which received a lot of love, convincing Maya to start her business around three years ago. Read more
Police arrest 10 businessmen suspected of killing 14 children for rituals (Punch)
The Speaker of the Tanzanian National Assembly, Job Ndugai, on Monday said that Tanzanian police have arrested 10 businessmen in connection with the recent killing of 10 children in the country. Ndugai said the men were arrested in Njombe and Makambako towns. The Speaker announced the arrest as four more children were reportedly killed in Njombe region over the weekend, bringing to 14 the number of children killed in the region over superstitious beliefs. Read more
Boy, 7, ‘buried alive by parents for not knowing the Bible’ (Metro)
A young boy died after he was allegedly buried by his legal guardians for not being able to recite passages from the Bible. Ethan Hauschultz was said to have been abused badly in the weeks up to his death, including being made to hold a 44lb log for two hours every day for a week. His legal guardians Timothy and Tina Hauschultz are alleged to have buried him in a ‘little coffin of snow’ because he failed to memorise 13 biblical verses, police said. Their teenage son, 15, is also reported to have been involved in the torture, kicking and punching him 100 times, standing on his head while he was face-down in a puddle and rolling a heavy log over him. Read more
Wife seeks divorce for lack of care (Vanguard)
A wife, Maryam Abubakar (25) on Monday, took her husband, Shamsu Lawal to a Sharia Court in Magajin Gari area of Kaduna, asking for divorce. She said she was demanding for divorce because her husband did not care for her. Maryam told the court that her husband abandoned her for six months, with no food, medical attention and shelter. She also told the court that husband owed her N40,000. “He sent people to pack all my things out of the house we were living at Pambeguwa; I am now living with my mother in Kaduna,” she said. Read more