Buhari, Atiku clash over N30,000 minimum wage (Nation)
Rather than subside, the row over the minimum wage keeps growing. President Muhammadu Buhari explained yesterday his position on what the least paid worker should earn. The Ms Ama Pepple committee set up to resolve the matter recommended N30,000. The President said he was “fully committed to having a new National minimum Wage Act in the very near future” when the committee’s report was presented to him on Tuesday. Read more
Ekweremadu: Senate dismisses police burglary claim, alleges cover-up (Punch)
The Senate has condemned the Nigeria Police for dismissing as burglary, the alleged assassination attempt on the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu. Members of the Senate at the plenary on Wednesday accuse the police of hurriedly making conclusions on the invasion of Ekweremadu’s residence in the Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja by armed men on Tuesday without proper investigation. Read more
Minimum wage: Labour reacts as FG denies approving N30,000 (Punch)
The Federal Government said on Wednesday the N30,000 minimum wage proposal contained in the report of the tripartite committee set up by the Federal Government was still a recommendation and had not been approved. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who spoke with State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council, said President Muhammadu Buhari would still study the report presented to him on Tuesday by the Chairman of the committee, Amal Pepple, before taking a decision on it. Read more
Man slumps, dies at Lagos airport (Vanguard)
A passenger with Etihad Airways, Mr. Ademola Adekele, slumped, yesterday, and died at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos. The dead passenger was to board flight EY674 (AUH) billed for departure at 09:55a.m. But it was gathered that the passenger, who arrived the airport early, suddenly slumped, gasping for breath. Read more
Police confirm abduction of four Catholic priests in Delta (Nation)
Four Catholic priests, including one from the Warri Archdiocese, were on Tuesday night kidnapped by unknown gunmen around the Urhonigbe axis in Edo State. The Nation gathered that the victims, including one identified as Rev. Father Emmanuel Obadjere of the Saint Williams Catholic Church, Ororokpe, Delta State, under the Warri Archdiocese, were on their way to Ekpoma in Edo State when they were waylaid and abducted by suspected armed hoodlums. Read more
120 lawyers to defend suspected killers of Alkali (Punch)
Over 120 lawyers, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria, have expressed their interest in defending the 19 persons arrested in connection with the murder of a former Nigerian Army Chief of Administration, Gen. Mohammed Alkali. The revelation came as the accused filed their bail application on Wednesday before Justice Daniel Longji of a Plateau State High Court in Jos. Read more
Transmission line collapse causes power outage in Sokoto, others (Punch)
The collapse of the 132kV power transmission tower between Funtua and Gusau has led to a blackout in some states in northern Nigeria. According to the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the collapse of the line led to power supply limitation in parts of Sokoto and Zamfara states. TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, however, stated on Wednesday that the transmission company had commenced work on the tower in order to restore electricity in the affected areas. Read more
Pakistan frees Christian woman Asia Bibi (BBC)
A Pakistani Christian woman acquitted of blasphemy after spending eight years on death row has been freed from prison, her lawyer says. Some reports say Asia Bibi has boarded a plane but its destination was not known. The Supreme Court ruling sparked protests from Islamists and the government had said it would bar her from leaving Pakistan. Read more
Trump fires Attorney General Jeff Sessions (BBC)
US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been fired by President Donald Trump. “We thank Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well!” Mr Trump tweeted on Wednesday. The president had repeatedly criticised his top law enforcement official after he recused himself from the Russia investigation dogging the White House. Mr Trump said Mr Sessions will be temporarily replaced by his chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker, who has criticised the Russia inquiry. Read more
Man Utd stun Juventus with late comeback (BBC)
Manchester United stunned Juventus with two goals in the final five minutes to beat the Italian champions in Turin and give themselves a good chance of qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages. Juan Mata curled in a free-kick with five minutes to go, before Ashley Young’s set-piece was bundled into his own net by Juventus defender Alex Sandro. Read more
Holders Real Madrid ease past Plzen (BBC)
Real Madrid scored four first-half goals to cruise past Viktoria Plzen and go top of Champions League Group G. Karim Benzema opened the scoring with his 200th club goal before Casemiro doubled the visitors’ advantage. Benzema then headed a second from close range before Gareth Bale rounded off the half with a left-footed strike. Read more
Police and Ajax fans clash during Benfica match (BBC)
Ajax came from behind to rescue a Champions League point at Benfica, during a Group E match marred by violence in the stands. Police and supporters clashed in the away end at the Estadio da Luz, where former Southampton striker Dusan Tadic cancelled out Goncalves Oliveira’s opener. Ajax could have progressed to the knockout stages had they won. Read more
Police sack inspector for drinking on duty (Guardian)
The Lagos State police command has dismissed an Inspector, Kadima Useni, who got drunk while on duty in Lagos. An online video had shown the Inspector, who was armed, in a drunken state at Akowonjo area of Lagos. After the video caught the attention of police authorities, Inspector Useni was arrested, tried and found guilty. He was subsequently dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force. Read more
Dismissed banker raids ATM gallery, steals N14m (Punch)
A dismissed banker, Emmanuel Onuma, has been arrested by the police for breaking into the Automated Teller Machine gallery of his erstwhile employer and stealing N14m. The 34-year-old was said to have carried out the heist at the Garki, Abuja branch of the new generation bank on October 19, 2018. Parading Onuma alongside other suspects in Abuja on Wednesday, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Valentine Olumese, said the ex-banker was dismissed in August for fraudulent activities. Read more