Dispatch rider, one other killed as hoodlums clash in Fadeyi (Nation)
Two persons were confirmed dead on Wednesday when a fight broke out at Fadeyi, Ikorodu road area of Lagos State among hoodlums popularly called ‘area boys’. The Nation gathered the two persons were a dispatch rider killed by a stray bullet when he rammed into the scene and an unidentified man from the hoodlums. Police officers, stationed at the area to maintain orderliness, confirmed the killing, adding they have deposited the corpses at the morgue. Read more
30 distressed buildings demolished on Lagos Island —LASBCA (Punch)
The Lagos State Building Control Agency has said that it has pulled down 30 out of the 80 distressed buildings marked for demolition on Lagos Island. Mr Olalekan Shodehinde, General Manager, LASBCA, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Lagos that the demolition would come in phases because some of the buildings were subject of litigation. He said the demolished buildings were located at Elegbata Street, Apongbon; Tokunbo Street, by Glover; Inabiri Street, Egatin Street, Ojo Giwa and John Street, among others. Read more
Court gives Evans last chance to get lawyer by May 17 (Nation)
An Igbosere High Court, Lagos on Wednesday gave suspected billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans till May 17 to get a counsel to defend the criminal charges against him. Justice Adedayo Akintoye told Evans, whose case has suffered three adjournments following his failure to secure legal representation he had only three options. He could defend himself, get a new counsel or the court would appoint a legal aid counsel for him, the court said. The judge gave the warning following the third consecutive absence of Evans’ counsel, Chino Obiagwu (SAN). Read more
Okorocha’s certificate of return suit suffers setback as judge hands off case (Punch)
Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday withdrew from the suit filed by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State in respect of his Certificate of Return. Okorocha had gone to court seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue him a Certificate of Return as the Senator-elect for Imo West Senatorial District. When the matter came up for hearing on Wednesday, Justice Taiwo announced his decision to recuse himself from adjudicating on the matter based on allegations of bias against him. Read more
IGP vows to smoke out bandits and kidnappers (Nation)
The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar arrived Katsina state on Wednesday to rally support for his newly launched “Operation Puff Adder” aimed at wiping out banditry and other insecurity challenges in the eight frontline local government areas of the state bordering Zamfara. Speaking during a courtesy call on Governor Aminu Bello Masari who was represented by his Deputy, Manir Yakubu, the IGP reiterated the commitment of the Police to reduce banditry in the state to a barest minimum. He said “the activities of the bandits and kidnappers in the state have become a source of concern to President Muhammadu Buhari who has directed us to clear the bandits through whatever means’’. Read more
2018: Lagos has highest foreign debt profile, Yobe least —NBS (Punch)
The National Bureau of Statistics said Nigeria’s foreign debt stood at 25.27 billion US dollars as at 31st December, 2018. The NBS said this in “Nigerian Domestic and Foreign Debt data” for 2018 fourth quarter posted on its website. The bureau said further disaggregation of Nigeria’s foreign debt showed that 11.01 billion dollars of the debt was multilateral. It said that 34.63 million dollars was bilateral from Agence Francaise de Development and another 2.75 billion dollars bilateral from the Chinese Exim Bank, Japanese International Cooperation Agency, KFW Development Bank and India. Read more
FG inaugurates committee to review National Policy on Albinism (Nation)
The Federal Government has inaugurated the technical committee for the review of the National Policy on Albinism. The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, inaugurated the committee on Wednesday in Abuja. Adamu, who was represented by Mr Sonny Echono, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said the review of the policy was necessary because of the emerging issues and challenges confronting the albinism community in Nigeria. According to him, the issues need to be addressed and the review of the policy will facilitate improved lives of persons with albinism through access to social services such as education, healthcare and employment. Read more
NAF destroys bandit hideouts in Zamfara (Punch)
The Nigerian Air Force says its Air Task Force on Operation DIRAN MIKIYA has recorded successes in a renewed air offensive against bandits in Zamfara State and its environs. NAF Spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said the operation was carried out on Monday. “The air strikes, which were intensified on April 8, with the deployment of additional aircraft, are aimed at flushing out the bandits from their hideouts in Sububu, Rugu and Kagara Forests, amongst others, whilst ensuring the protection of the lives and properties of citizens in the North West of the Country. Read more
48 houses destroyed, 285 persons homeless in Plateau rainstorms (Nation)
No fewer than 285 persons have been rendered homeless by rainstorm that destroyed at least 48 houses in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening, has become a source of concern to both the State and Local Governments. The residents of Toghomwol-Bungha community in Mangu were most hit. Most of the houses affected were either totally destroyed to the foundation level or had their roofs completely blown off, leaving no chance for the victims. Read more
Iran orders 60,000 to evacuate flood-hit oil city (Guardian)
Iran ordered tens of thousands of residents of the southwestern city of Ahvaz to evacuate immediately on Wednesday as floodwaters entered the capital of oil-rich Khuzestan province, state television reported. The province’s governor, Gholamreza Shariati, said he ordered the evacuation of five districts as a “precautionary and preventive move to avert any danger”, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported. The districts have an estimated population of between 60,000 and 70,000. Read more
Carlos Ghosn appeals detention to Japan’s Supreme Court (Guardian)
Lawyers for former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn on Wednesday appealed his ongoing detention to Japan’s Supreme Court, after the auto tycoon was re-arrested last week while out on bail. Ghosn’s lead lawyer Junichiro Hironaka had already signalled plans to file the appeal a day earlier, at a press conference where he played a video recorded by the former Nissan head before his re-arrest. In the video, Ghosn said he was the victim of a “conspiracy” by “backstabbing” executives at Nissan who had engineered his arrest to prevent a merger between the Japanese automaker and its alliance partner Renault. Read more
New Zealand lawmakers give final okay to tougher gun laws (Guardian)
New Zealand lawmakers have almost unanimously passed sweeping gun reforms, paving the way for a ban on military-style semi-automatic weapons to enter into force as soon as Friday. Lawmakers passed the legislation on final reading, less than a month after a gunman entered two mosques in Christchurch killing 50 people. During the debate Wednesday Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told parliamentarians she “vividly” recalled the moment after the massacre when she, without consulting widely, decided the government had to act. Read more
CentralWorld: Deadly blaze at Bangkok shopping complex (BBC)
At least two people have died after a fire broke out at a major Bangkok shopping centre complex on Wednesday. The fire, which has now been brought under control, reportedly started on the building’s eighth floor at about 17:40 local time (10:40 GMT). At least one of those who died had fallen from the building, local reports and witnesses say. Videos on social media showed hundreds of Thais evacuating from the large shopping complex. Other clips showed emergency services struggling to get through gridlocked rush-hour traffic to get to the scene. Read more
Khashoggi family denies settlement with Saudis (Punch)
The family of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi denied being in talks to reach a settlement out of court with Saudi authorities Wednesday, following reports that his sons had taken payouts. “Currently, the trial is taking place and no settlement discussion had been or is discussed,” read an English statement posted to Salah Khashoggi’s verified Twitter account. The Washington Post on April 1 reported Khashoggi’s children, including Salah, had received multimillion-dollar homes and were being paid thousands of dollars per month by authorities. Read more
Albania manhunt after gang target plane in ‘€10m heist’ (BBC)
A suspected gang leader was shot dead after a dramatic raid on an Austrian airlines plane on the runway at Tirana airport in Albania. Passengers waiting for the Airbus plane to leave Mother Teresa airport near the capital saw the gang approach security police wielding AK-47 rifles. They are then thought to have entered the plane to steal as much as €10m (£8.5m; $11m) in cash. The gang fled but then ran into a police patrol and opened fire. Read more
First ever black hole image released (BBC)
Astronomers have taken the first ever image of a black hole, which is located in a distant galaxy. It measures 40 billion km across – three million times the size of the Earth – and has been described by scientists as “a monster”. The black hole is 500 million trillion km away and was photographed by a network of eight telescopes across the world. Details have been published today in Astrophysical Journal Letters. Read more
Prince Harry to work with Oprah Winfrey on TV project (BBC)
The Duke of Sussex is to partner with US media mogul Oprah Winfrey on a new TV series addressing mental health. The as-yet-unnamed series for Apple TV will focus on “mental illness and mental wellness, inspiring viewers to have an honest conversation about the challenges each of us faces”. Prince Harry and Winfrey have been “developing the series for several months,” a statement read. The royal added he has “a huge responsibility to get this right”. Read more
Nipsey Hussle’s memorial service will be ‘heavily guarded’ (Metro)
Nipsey Hussle’s family and friends are doing all they can to make sure his memorial service will be a safe space for all those wanting to celebrate his legacy on Thursday (11 April. According to TMZ, Nipsey’s Celebration of Life at the Staples Center will have an ‘abundance’ of security from multiple agencies and organizations including the Los Angeles Police Department, Staples Center personnel and members of the Nation of Islam. Read more
Kane vows to come back ‘stronger’ after latest ankle injury (Punch)
Tottenham striker Harry Kane vowed Wednesday to come back “stronger than ever” after his latest ankle injury cast a cloud over his side’s Champions League victory against Manchester City. Kane limped off the pitch after a challenge with England teammate Fabian Delph during Tuesday’s 1-0 quarter-final first-leg win at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It immediately looked serious as Kane was unable to put any weight on his left foot and was helped down the tunnel, later leaving the ground on crutches and with the joint in a brace. Read more
Liverpool can win double, says Van Dijk (Punch)
Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool can win a Premier League and Champions League double after they took charge of their European quarter-final against Porto. Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino struck inside the first 26 minutes at Anfield on Tuesday to give Jurgen Klopp’s men a 2-0 victory. Unlike their last-16 clash just over a year ago, when Liverpool won the first leg in Portugal 5-0 to render the return fixture a formality, Tuesday’s victory at Anfield still leaves some work to do. Read more
Arsenal must make home advantage count against Napoli, says Lacazette (Punch)
Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette has stressed the importance of securing a positive result in the home leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Napoli on Thursday because of the club’s poor away form. The Gunners have won just five Premier League games on their travels all season, losing 1-0 at Everton last weekend to damage their chances of securing a top-four finish. Emery’s side have been defeated in their past two trips abroad in Europa League knockout games, having to turn around ties against BATE Borisov and Rennes to set up the last-eight meeting with Carlo Ancelotti’s Italian side. Read more
AC Milan risk European ban as UEFA order another Financial Fair Pay probe (Punch)
AC Milan risk being excluded from European competition next season after UEFA on Thursday ordered another probe be carried out into the Italian club for breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations. European football’s governing body said in a statement that UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body investigatory chamber had decided “to refer the case of AC Milan to the CFCB adjudicatory chamber as the club has failed to comply with the break-even requirement.” The period relates to the 2018/19 season and covering 2016, 2017 and 2018, the statement continued. Read more
Tiger Woods convinced he can end 11-year wait for 15th major at the Masters (Metro)
Tiger Woods is adamant he is ‘ready to win again’ after overcoming problems on and off the course in the last 12 months. The 43-year-old is searching for his fifth green jacket at this week’s Masters Tournament but his 12th placed ranking in the world makes him an outsider at Augusta. Woods won the last of his 14 majors at the US Open in 2008 and has gone under the knife four times in the last decade to treat persistent back problems. Read more
Wladimir Klitschko wants £76million to come out of retirement (Metro)
Wladimir Klitschko will agree to return to boxing if DAZN up their offer to £76million. The retired former unified world champion was approached twice by DAZN to resume his fighting career, with the last offer a £69m three-fight deal. Signing with DAZN would almost certainly mean Klitschko would rematch Anthony Joshua, who is already signed up with the American streaming service. Klitschko rejected DAZN’s offers and his brother, Vitali, revealed how much it would take for the Ukrainian to jump back in the ring. Read more