Buhari to dissolve cabinet May 22 – Lai Mohammed (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari will dissolve his cabinet few days to the end of the administration, Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed has said. He said that a valedictory session with members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has been scheduled for May 22nd after which the cabinet will be dissolved ahead of his inauguration. Buhari will be sworn-in on 29th May to begin another four-year term in office. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presided over the meeting in the absence of President Buhari, who was in Maiduguri today to commission some developmental project eats. Read more
Osinbajo presides over FEC meeting (Punch)
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is presiding over today’s Federal Executive Council meeting in the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari is on an official visit to Borno State, where he is expected to inaugurate some projects. He will later jet out to the UK today on a “private visit.” The Presidency said he would return back to the country on May 5. Read more
Tinubu is not a fascist, says Reps member (Nation)
A member of the House of Representatives, Yakub Balogun (APC, Lagos) Thursday rose in defense of the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying those that described him in such manner as a fascist could not have had any relationships with him. Balogun, while refuting media report that he has quit politics said Tinubu is rather a builder of men. While he cited himself as an example of Tinubu’s large heart, Balogun noted that the interest of the majority and the downtrodden is always uppermost in his (Tinubu) mind. Read more
2019 polls: Courts are guided by Electoral Act, not by social media videos —Keyamo (Punch)
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Festus Keyamo, has said that some videos circulating on the social media purportedly showing how the February 23, 2019 presidential election was rigged are of no effect when weighed against the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC’s guidelines. INEC had declared candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, winner of the election with 15,191,847 votes, as against PDP’s Atiku Abubakar’s 11,262,978 votes. However, the Peoples Democratic Party and Atiku claimed that some results purportedly obtained from the INEC server showed that Atiku actually scored a total of 18,356,732 votes, and Buhari 16,741,430 votes. Read more
Kidnapping: Senate summons IGP (Nation)
The Senate on Thursday heard that over 3,000 Nigerians are currently held captivity by dare-devil kidnappers in parts of the northern states. The startling revelation forced the upper chamber to summon the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, to appear before it next week. Adamu is required to brief the Senate on the increasing spate of kidnapping and banditry in parts of the country and measures by the police to stem the tide. The invitation of the IGP followed the adoption a prayer by Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on the need for Adamu to brief the Senate on the increasing spate of kidnapping in the country. Read more
NAF neutralises Boko Haram insurgents in Sambisa Forest (Punch)
Nigerian Air Force says its Air Task Force (ATF) of “Operation Lafiya Dole” has destroyed some vehicles and neutralised some Boko Haram Terrorists at a suspected workshop in Sambisa Forest. The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, saying the operation took place on Wednesday. “The operation was conducted yesterday, April 24, after a Nigerian Air Force Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance platform on a routine mission observed significant activities as well as some serviceable vehicles hidden under some trees at a previously abandoned BHT vehicle workshop. Read more
EFCC arrests 32 suspected Yahoo-boys in Ogun (Nation)
Operatives from the Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, arrested no fewer than 32 suspected internet fraudsters (aka ‘Yahoo-Yahoo Boys). During the operation, six exotic cars, laptops, mobile phones, several documents containing false pretenses and fetish objects were recovered from the suspects. Aged between 15 and 39 years, the suspects were arrested at Liberty Estate, Laderin area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital during an early morning sting operation carried out by men of the commission. Read more
Senate lists jailed Dariye as co-sponsor of bill on Kaduna killings (Punch)
The Senate on Thursday listed Senator Joshua Dariye (Plateau Central), who is currently serving 10-year jail term, as a co-sponsor of a motion on insecurity in Kaduna State and the attendant killings. Dariye’s name was number 89 on the Order Paper, alongside those of 108 senators who had supported the motion. At the plenary on Thursday, the upper chamber of the National Assembly considered and adopted the motion entitled, ‘Senseless Killing of a Briton and the Abduction of Three Others in a Holiday Resort in Kaduna State by Armed Bandits.’ Read more
Tribunal grants APC leave to serve Tambuwal through substituted means (Nation)
The Governorship and National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Sokoto has granted Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, the All Progressive Congress (APC) Governorship candidate, leave to serve Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, through substituted means. The tribunal Chairman, Justice Abbas Bawale Abdullahi, Thursday granted the prayers made by Lead Petitioners’ Counsel, Mr. Steve Nwoke, noting that the tribunal had carefully perused the applications and they have merits. Abdullahi granted the petitioners’ leave to physically inspect materials used by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on the conduct of main governorship election and re-run election, photocopy some of them, as well as obtain true certified copies. Read more
Senate passes Federal Cooperative Colleges Bill, 2019 (Punch)
The Senate has passed the Federal Cooperative Colleges Bill, 2019. The Bill, titled Senate Bill 418, was read for the third time on Thursday during the plenary and then passed. Earlier, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC -Kano North) had presented the report of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND on the National Commission for Colleges of Education Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2019 (SB. 561). The Seantor representing Kaduna Central at the Senate, Shehu Sani, seconded it and urged the Senate to consider it. Read more
DG DSS calls for inter-agency synergy against kidnapping, banditry (Punch)
The Director-General, Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, has said that only synergy and collaboration by security agencies could address the challenges of banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism confronting the nation. Bichi pointed out that inter-agency synergy was necessary to combat the contemporary threats facing the country, stressing that this was the new paradigm of law enforcement and security management across the world. Addressing a meeting of the Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies at the DSS headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, the DG said each agency must bring its wealth of experience and comparative advantage to complement the effort of the others. Read more
Eight Perm Secs quit Ekiti public service (Punch)
Ekiti State Government on Thursday announced the retirement of eight Permanent Secretaries from the state public service. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, in Ado-Ekiti, however, did not state the basis for the retirement and was also silent on the names of the affected Permanent Secretaries. The statement, however, said that Gov. Kayode Fayemi had accepted the retirement of the eight Permanent Secretaries with effect from Tuesday, April 23, 2019. According to the statement, Fayemi thanked the Permanent Secretaries for their contributions to the development of the state and in upholding the ethics of the civil service. Read more
I was given police pistol to protect ballot box, says suspect (Nation)
A 26-year old man, Sylvester Arikhan, who was arrested with a police service pistol, has said that he was given the gun to protect ballot boxes during the House of Assembly election in Esan Central local government area of Edo state. Sylvester claimed that he was given the gun by one Ehis who promised to pay him N130, 000. He spoke to newsmen when he was paraded by the State Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Abubakar. Sylvester said he undertook the job because he needed the money to travel out of the country as he just got out of prison for cult related offences. Read more
We’ve contributed $495m towards ending malaria in Nigeria – US (Punch)
The United States has contributed $495m for malaria control in Nigeria since 2011, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, has said. Symingyon disclosed this in a piece, titled ‘US salutes health champions in Nigeria leading efforts to end malaria, to commemorate the World Malaria Day. He said, “On World Malaria Day, the United States is proud to recognise our partnership with Nigeria and support your fight to beat this deadly disease. “We salute all Nigeria’s health champions — from health workers to mothers, pharmacists to drivers, journalists to researchers, teachers to warehouse managers — and all those working to end malaria.” Read more
Sudan crisis: Three top generals agree to quit as protests continue (BBC)
Three of the most controversial figures of Sudan’s ruling Transitional Military Council have offered their resignations – one of the key demands of the protest movement. The three generals were seen as staunch Islamists and allies of deposed President Omar al-Bashir. It follows talks between the military council and protest leaders. A “million-strong march for civilian rule” has been called later to maintain the pressure for democratic reform. Read more
India warned Sri Lanka after detaining IS suspects (Guardian)
India warned Sri Lanka of possible suicide bombings weeks before the Easter attacks, based on “threatening” Islamic State-influenced material seized from suspects in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, a source with knowledge of the investigation told AFP Thursday. A major dispute has erupted in Sri Lanka over why security services did not act over the warnings. The Sri Lankan police chief issued an alert on April 11 but it did not reach a top minister. Several warnings were made to Sri Lanka, all at least two weeks before the Easter Sunday attacks on three churches and three hotels in which 359 people died, the source said. Read more
Strikes on Raqqa ‘killed 1,600 civilians’ (BBC)
More than 1,600 civilians were killed in US-led coalition air and artillery strikes during the offensive to oust the Islamic State group from the Syrian city of Raqqa in 2017, activists say. Amnesty International and monitoring group Airwars said they had carried out investigations at 200 strike locations and identified 1,000 of the victims. They urged the coalition to “end almost two years of denial” about such deaths. It has acknowledged killing 318 civilians unintentionally in Raqqa. Read more
Japan court grants $4.5 mn bail to Carlos Ghosn (Guardian)
A Japanese court granted Carlos Ghosn bail Thursday, meaning the former Nissan boss could soon walk out of his Tokyo detention centre to prepare his defence against multiple charges of financial misconduct. The Tokyo District Court set bail at 500 million yen ($4.5 million) as the 65-year-old auto sector titan faces four charges ranging from concealing part of his salary from shareholders to syphoning off Nissan funds for his personal use. Prosecutors quickly appealed the court’s decision, delaying his immediate release but public broadcaster NHK said he could walk out of his detention centre “as early as Thursday”. Read more
Wife who murdered husband for watching porn jailed until she’s 85 (Metro)
A woman will be in jail until she is 85-years-old for killing her husband over a pornography purchase he made. Patricia Hill, 69, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Tuesday after she was found guilty of murdering her 65-year-old husband Frank Hill on July 28, 2018 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. In court, Hill claimed that she flew into a rage and shot her husband to death after she discovered a $30 charge on their DISH Network bill for a pornographic channel. Read more
Rami Malek to play James Bond villain (BBC)
Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek is to play a villain in the 25th official James Bond film – but the movie still does not have a title. The cast and creative team have been unveiled at a launch event in Jamaica, with Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge confirmed as one of the writers. The unnamed film, which will be released next April, will be Daniel Craig’s fifth and final outing as 007. Malek won an Oscar for playing singer Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. Read more
CAF hands Nigeria N94 million for 2019 AFCON preparation (Guardian)
The Confederation of African Football has paid $260,000 (N94 million) to each of the 24 teams that qualified for the 2019 African Cup of Nation scheduled to begin in June 2018. The money is an advance payment from the premium that each country will receive for participating in the tournament. The payment was given to help federations or associations with smaller budgets meet the expenses of their preliminary preparations. According to Collins Okinyo, a CAF media officer and CAF media expert, the amounts will be deducted from the premiums to be received by each country at the end of the tournament. Read more
Man Utd can still qualify for Champions League, says Solskjaer (Punch)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United can still qualify for the Champions League despite a collapse in form extended by their derby defeat against Manchester City. United have now lost seven of their past nine games in all competitions, leaving them three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League with three matches to go. But they have been helped by the stumbles of others, with Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat to Wolves on Wednesday keeping the door open. Read more
Man City need to stay calm – Guardiola (BBC)
Manchester City’s players must remain calm after their derby victory if they are to retain the Premier League title, says manager Pep Guardiola. Goals from Bernardo Silva and Leroy Sane gave City a 2-0 win at Manchester United to move above Liverpool at the top of the table. City will retain the title if they win their last three league matches. “We’re still not champions with three games left,” said Guardiola, whose side have one point more than Liverpool. Read more
Sane says derby win gives Man City confidence boost (Guardian)
Leroy Sane says Manchester City’s derby victory against Manchester United will give them a huge confidence boost as they seek to fend off Liverpool and wrap up the Premier League title. City are now clear favourites to win the top flight after moving back to the summit with their 2-0 victory at Old Trafford on Wednesday. The champions, who have won their past 11 league games, are a point ahead of Liverpool with three matches remaining for both clubs. Read more
Five players that deserved a spot in the PFA team of the year (Guardian)
Besides those that produced the Professional Footballers’ Association’s team of the year, most pundits and fans struggled with Paul Pogba’s inclusion on the team. Well, Pogba enjoyed a bit of a purple patch when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over from Jose Mourinho as the manager of the Manchester United. But the patch doesn’t immediately make Pogba TOTY material. His form has tailed off and definitely, there are more players deserving of a spot in the team. Read more
Lee Sharpe explains why Manchester United should have appointed Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino (Metro)
Former Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe believes that the club made a mistake in appointing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on a permanent basis and feels they should have gone for Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino instead. United handed Solskjaer a three-year contract in March after the Norwegian had enjoyed an outstanding spell in caretaker charge, however, results have nosedived in recent weeks following a run of seven defeats in nine games. Read more
PFA to collate racist abuse of players (BBC)
Players have been asked to send evidence of racist online abuse to the Professional Footballers’ Association to demonstrate to governing bodies the severity of the issue. The players’ union will show the posts to the sports minister and a number of football bodies at a meeting in May. Meetings with Twitter and Facebook have also been requested after a number of recent high-profile incidents. Players were previously encouraged to boycott social media for 24 hours. Read more