Buhari sets new record, fails to deliver inauguration speech (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari has set a new record by being the first democratically elected leader in the history of Nigeria not to deliver an inaugural speech. The President and his deputy, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, both took the oath of office between 10 and 11am on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. The norm since the inauguration of the late Prime Minister, Sir. Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa, has been for democratically elected leaders to address Nigerians and inform the nation of their plans and offer words of assurances to the people. Read more
Obasanjo, 393 passengers escape plane crash (Punch)
Disaster was averted at Murtala Mohammed International Airport on Wednesday as 393 passengers, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, escaped air crash, the News Agency of Nigeria reports. Other prominent Nigerians in the Ethiopian airline passenger aircraft, Boeing 777-300, included the Director General of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Amb. Ayoola Olukanni. Also in the plane was Prof Samson Tunde Adebayo, the Director of Ports Inspection, National Agency For Food And Drug Administration And Control as well as scores of Nigerians and other nationals. Read more
Okorocha’s govt degraded our institutions, Ihedioha cries at inauguration (Punch)
Newly-sworn-in Governor of Imo, Emeka Ihedioha, has alleged that his immediate predecessor Rochas Okorocha’s administration “degraded” most institutions in the state. Ihedioha stated this in his inaugural speech shortly after being sworn-in by Imo Chief Judge, Justice Paschal Nnadi, at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri on Wednesday. The governor, who sympathised with the people of the state over what he described as “debased and desecrated governance,” promised to remedy the damages done by the immediate past administration. Read more
Eligibility: Appeal Court delivers judgment in Adeleke’s appeal May 30 (Nation)
The Court of Appeal in Abuja will on Thursday (May 30, 2019) deliver judgment in the separate appeals by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke. The court announced the date of judgment in hearing notices sent to parties by its Registry. Read more
Ladoja absent as Adebanjo, Falae, Fayose, Oyinlola, others grace Makinde’s swearing-in (Punch)
The former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, was conspicuously absent at the inauguration of the new Governor of the state, Mr. Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday. Ladoja, the leader of the Zenith Labour Party coordinated other opposition parties, African Democratic Congress, Social Democratic Party to adopt Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party as the candidate. Their efforts also contributed to the victory of Makinde against Chief Bayo Adelabu, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress. Read more
New Zamfara govt to reinstate 1,400 workers (Punch)
The new administration of Zamfara State has promised to reinstate the 1,400 workers who were employed by the immediate past Gov. Abdul’aziz Yari. Governor Bello Matawallen-Maradun announced this in Gusau on Wednesday while delivering his inaugural speech as the new governor of the state with his deputy, Mr Mahdi Aliyu Gusau. The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the affected workers were recruited by the state Civil Service Commission in May 2014. Read more
Police reunite stolen child with parents after seven years (Punch)
The Police in Anambra said it recovered and reunited a child identified as Mmerichukwu, who was stolen at the age of seven in 2012 with its parents. In a statement on Wednesday, the Public Relations Officer of the state’s Command, Mr. Haruna Mohammed, said the child was stolen from his biological mother, Mrs. Jennifer Azubuike. “On May 29, at about 06:30a.m., following intelligence report, Police detectives attached to the Command Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) arrested one Ifeyinwa Ezename, 50, and Caroline Mbonu, 75. Read more
Man sets himself on fire and is engulfed with flames on White House lawn (Metro)
Horrifying video footage shows a man engulfed in flames after he set himself on fire yards away from the White House The disturbing clip, shot Wednesday afternoon, shows the unidentified man consumed by fire in the Ellipse park beside the fence of the president’s Washington DC home. He was ablaze for several seconds, and walked around while on fire, before law enforcement officials rushed to put him out. Read more
Merkel dismisses rumours of rift with successor as CDU leader (BBC)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has dismissed a report that she believes her successor as CDU party leader is not up to the job. The claim, which she called nonsense, was made by two unidentified officials in a Bloomberg article on Tuesday. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer will take over as leader of the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) next year. Read more
Robert Mueller to make first statement on Russia probe (Guardian)
Long-silent Special Counsel Robert Mueller will deliver his first public statement on the Russia meddling investigation on Wednesday, as he faces pressure to testify in Congress on his explosive findings. Mueller, whose probe implicated President Donald Trump in acts of obstruction of justice, will make the statement at the Justice Department at 11 am (1500 GMT) but take no questions, the department said. Read more
Brexit: Boris Johnson ordered to appear in court over £350m claim (BBC)
Boris Johnson has been ordered to appear in court over claims he lied by saying the UK gave the EU £350m a week. The Tory leadership candidate has been accused of misconduct in public office after making the claim during the 2016 EU referendum campaign. It is a private prosecution launched by campaigner Marcus Ball, who crowdfunded £200,000 for the case. Read more
Six French IS fighters now on death row in Iraq (Metro)
A Baghdad court has sentenced two more Frenchmen to be sentenced to death for joining Isis. Brahim Nejara and Karam El Harchaoui, both in their 30s, have now raised the number of French jihadists on death row in Iraq to six. They were among 12 French citizens transferred to Iraqi authorities in January by a US-backed force fighting the jihadist group in Syria. Read more
Alexandre Lacazette set for crunch talks over his Arsenal future after Europa League final against Chelsea (Metro)
Alexandre Lacazette will discuss his future with Arsenal after tonight’s Europa League final against Chelsea, amid speculation he is being lined-up as Antoine Griezmann’s replacement at Atletico Madrid. The former Lyon star endured a mixed first season in north London, hampered by injuries and forced to play second fiddle to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang following his arrival from Borussia Dortmund nearly 18 months ago. Under Unai Emery, however, Lacazette has established himself as an integral part of Arsenal’s new-look attack and dovetailed superbly, both on and off the pitch, with Aubameyang. Read more
Ryan Giggs in ‘no doubt’ about Daniel James’ quality amid Manchester United transfer speculation (Metro)
Wales boss Ryan Giggs has ‘no doubts’ about Daniel James ability to play in the Premier League and says the winger is good enough to play ‘anywhere. The 21-year-old is believed to be close to joining Manchester United in a move worth around £15m. However, the winger’s move was delayed by the unexpected death of his father earlier this month and he was expected to withdraw from Euro 2020 qualifiers in June. Read more
‘I want to sue him’: Blatter to target Infantino, FIFA (Guardian)
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is running unopposed in his bid for a second term as the head of world football’s governing body, but that does not mean everyone approves of his job performance. Least of all his predecessor, Sepp Blatter, who led FIFA from 1998 to 2015, when he was forced out in disgrace amid a global corruption scandal. “I want to sue him,” Blatter said of Infantino, the man he blames for a host of offences — both personal and in his stewardship of FIFA, where Blatter worked for 41 years. Read more
Federer into Roland Garros third round for 15th time (Punch)
Roger Federer reached the third round of Roland Garros for the 15th time on Wednesday with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 win over German lucky loser Oscar Otte. Third seed Federer defeated the world number 144 in 95 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier, saving all four break points he faced. Next up for 37-year-old Federer is a clash with Norway’s Casper Ruud who put out Italian 29th seed Matteo Berrettini 6-4, 7-5, 6-3. Read more