Buhari not an orator but interested in getting things done, says Osinbajo (Punch)
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that President Muhammadu Buhari has never claimed to be an orator as he prefers to get things done. Osinbajo said this while representing the President at the 11th Bola Tinubu Colloquium at the International Conference Centre on Thursday in Abuja. “The president never claimed to be an orator. We all know he is not an orator. He is interested in getting things done,” he said. Osinbajo described Tinubu as an astute politician whose political achievements only very few Nigerians can boast of. Read more
High tension cable kills food vendor in Abia (Nation)
An unidentified female food vendor was killed by high tension cable on Thursday, along Okpara Square in Umuahia, Abia State the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. The woman, an assistant food vendor, had her life cut short while trying to rescue her co-worker from an electric shock. According to an eyewitness, the deceased had rushed to save her colleague, who the high tension cable from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) pole had shocked. “Both women were assisting a woman to sell her food beside the high tension pole. When one of the cables fell off, one of them touched it and got shocked. Read more
Appeal Court affirms Fayemi’s election, dismisses Eleka, PDP’s appeal (Punch)
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Thursday affirmed the victory of Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State at the July 14, 2018 governorship election in the state. The three-man panel, led by Justice Stephen Adah, in a unanimous judgment, dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate in the election, Mr. Olusola Eleka. Describing the appeal as “unmeritorious,” Justice Adah affirmed the July 28, 2019 judgment of the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which had upheld Fayemi’s victory at the poll. Read more
Police arrest suspected fraudster posing as MFM General Overseer (Nation)
The police in Lagos said they have arrested a computer science graduate who allegedly defrauded Nigerians by operating a fake facebook account of the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries. Spokesman for Lagos State Police Command, DSP Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Thursday that the suspect also used names of other popular clergymen to defraud innocent Nigerians. According to Elkana, the suspect, one Atanda Yusuf, 27, a graduate of Computer Science from the Ekiti State University, was traced by detectives of the Area D command Mushin, led by the Area Commander, Mr Akinbayo Olasoji, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP). Read more
FG committed to resolving pension issues, says Buhari as he inaugurates Micro Pension Plan (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday inaugurated Micro Pension Plan with a pledge to restore the dignity of public servants, who worked tirelessly and sacrificed for the greatness of Nigeria. Speaking at the launch of Micro Pension Plan, organized by National Pension Commission at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, the president revealed that the Federal Government would rev up the process of sanitizing the pensions system. According to him, retired public servants deserve better treatment and effective service that meets their needs to carry on after retirement, promising to remove the “rot within the pension system’’. Read more
State pilgrims’ boards yet to announce 2019 hajj fares —NAHCON (Punch)
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria says it has not authorised any state Muslim pilgrims’ board to announce hajj fare for 2019. The Head, Public Affairs Division of NAHCON, Mrs. Fatima Usara, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. Usara explained that the indices that determines final fare for hajj are yet to be determined by the commission, state pilgrims’ bureaux and other stakeholders. “NAHCON wishes to draw attention of the 2019 intending pilgrims in particular and the general public that it has not authourised any state Muslim pilgrims’ board to announce hajj fare for 2019.” Read more
Abuja Orphanage: FCTA promises to accommodate stranded children (Punch)
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has said it will provide temporary accommodation for over 150 children, who were left homeless following an earlier demolition exercise in Kubwa, a satellite town in Abuja on Tuesday. The Director, FCTA Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, stated this during a joint press briefing with the owner of the affected property on Thursday in Abuja. He said that the administration was more concerned about the welfare of the children, hence the need to provide the accommodation. Read more
Venezuela crisis: Guaidó banned from office for 15 years (BBC)
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó will be barred from holding further public office for 15 years, the maximum allowed by law, the state financial controller has announced. Comptroller Elvis Amoroso said Mr Guaidó’s personal financial statements contained inconsistencies. Mr Guaidó, head of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself interim president in January. He has the support of more than 50 countries, including the US. The BBC’s Will Grant in the Venezuelan capital Caracas says the decision to stop Mr Guaidó from holding office would come into force if he decided to put himself up for re-election at the end of his current term in the National Assembly. Read more
Donald Trump calls Jussie Smollett case a ‘national embarrassment’ (Metro)
President Donald Trump has waded in to the Jussie Smollett case. All charges against the Empire actor were dropped after he was accused of falsifying a police report and orchestrating the racially motivated attack himself. Jussie said in a statement outside court this week that he wanted to focus on his career, but he might not get his wish if the president has anything to with it. Trump tweeted this thoughts on the latest development in the actor’s case, saying: ‘FBI & DOJ to review the outrageous Jussie Smollett case in Chicago. It is an embarrassment to our Nation!’ Read more
Wow Air failure: ‘They gave us pizza – then cancelled our flight’ (BBC)
Dubliner Barrai Omuireagain is one of an estimated 10,000 people stranded by Thursday’s collapse of Iceland’s Wow Air. He was due to board his flight from Detroit to Dublin at 7pm local time last night. “Then it was delayed, then it was delayed every hour, and finally at 11pm on Wednesday I asked what happens if the company goes bust? “She said it wouldn’t happen and gave us a pizza, saying we’re expecting a flight plan in the next 15 minutes. “Next thing the PA said the flight was cancelled.” Read more
‘Britain’s smallest prisoner’ says he’s ‘glad prison made him famous’ (Metro)
A convicted burglar has said he wants to ‘do something good’ after becoming an online celebrity following his release from prison. Aiden Henry, 24, was jailed for 32 months in 2017 for burglary but shot to fame on the inside thanks to videos filmed on a banned mobile phone going viral. Since being released on 22 March, more than 160,000 people have followed him on Instagram, and he now counts famous rappers like Lethal Bizzle and Stormzy among his fans. Read more
Man Utd: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer warns against complacency after permanent appointment (BBC)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has challenged his Manchester United players to “work harder” – and warned them against complacency because they will “never last at this club”. The former United striker was named the club’s permanent manager on Thursday, having arrived on an interim basis in December to replace Jose Mourinho. Under the Norwegian, 46, United have lost only once in 13 league games. “We are looking forward, we have got to work harder,” Solskjaer said. “I want a Man Utd team to be one of the hardest working, fittest teams and that will bring results. Read more
Van Dijk goes house-hunting after landlord Solskjaer lands Man Utd job (Punch)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment as the permanent manager of Manchester United is set to leave Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk looking for a new home. Solskjaer has revealed he and his family plan to live in the house he started building 12 years ago after signing a three-year contract as Old Trafford boss. The Norwegian, according to reports, has been renting out the house to Dutch defender Van Dijk, a cornerstone of United’s great rivals, who are battling Manchester City for the Premier League title. Read more
Manchester City plan to keep Phil Foden after rejecting over 12 loan offers (Metro)
Phil Foden is set to stay at Manchester City next season after the club rejected over a dozen loan offers for the midfielder. The 18-year-old has failed to make a Premier League start this season and Pep Guardiola’s decision to bench him for games against Swansea in the FA Cup and Burton Albion in the Carabao Cup earlier this season raised eyebrows. Only seven of Foden’s 22 appearances this season have been starts and the rise of Jadon Sancho in Germany has attracted Bundesliga clubs to the England U21 midfielder. Read more
Italy defender Rugani extends Juventus contract (Punch)
Italian international defender Daniele Rugani has extended his contract with Juventus until 2023, the Serie A champions announced on Thursday. Rugani — who joined Juventus in 2013 from Empoli — has played 14 times for the Turin side this season, in backline alongside Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci. The 24-year-old has already made 81 appearances for the Turin giants, and scored seven goals, including two this season. After spending two seasons on loan back at Empoli between 2013 and 2015 he returned to Juventus and had attracted the interest of Premier League club Chelsea last summer. Read more