EFCC re-arraigns social media celebrity, Mompha over alleged N32.9bn fraud (DailyTrust)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned Ismaila Mustapha (a.k.a. Mompha), before Justice Mohammed Liman of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, over alleged N32.9billion fraud. This was disclosed in a statement signed on Wednesday by Tony Orilade, Acting Head, Media and Publicity of the anti-graft agency. It could be recalled that Mompha was first arraigned by the Lagos zonal office of the EFCC alongside his company, Ismalob Ventures on November 25, 2019 on a 14-count charge bordering on fraud, money laundering and running a foreign exchange business without the authorisation of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Read more
Coronavirus: Ministers undergo thorough screening ahead of FEC meeting (Punch)
Ministers were screened for coronavirus on Wednesday ahead of the Federal Executive Council meeting by the State House.
Their body temperature was checked as they arrived at the Presidential Villa for the meeting about 10.23 am, The PUNCH reports.
They were also given hand sanitisers to disinfect their hands.
The ministers were screened twice. Read more
Benue abducted catholic priest regains freedom – Police (Guardian)
Benue Police Command on Wednesday confirmed the release of Rev. Fr. David Echioda, a priest of Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, who was abducted on March 1 in Ado Local Government Area of the state.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Catherine Anene told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the telephone in Makurdi that no ramson was paid for his release.
NAN reports that Fr. Echioda was currently attached to Minor Seminary, Otukpo. Read more
Man jailed for stealing recharge card, phone (Punch)
An Ebonyi State Magistrates’ Court, on Tuesday, sentenced a 20-year-old man, Elochukwu Sunday, to three months in jail without an option of fine for stealing a recharge card and a phone.
It was gathered that aside dispossessing the victim, Felicia Ezeaku, of her mobile phone and recharge card, the convict also collected N16,000 from her.
He was said to have committed the offence on Nkwogu Street in the Abakaliki Local Government Area of the state on January 26, 2020.
He was arraigned on one count of stealing. Read more
APC Nat’l Vice Chair hails Oshiomhole’s suspension (DailyTrust)
The National Vice Chairman of the party, (North East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu has said that the suspended National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, almost caused chaos before the court ordered he stepped aside on Wednesday. Salihu, while reacting to the judgement delivered by Justice Danladi Senchi, in an interview with journalists, specifically said Oshiomhole’s order to the Spokesperson of the party, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, during one of their meetings to announce one of the aspirants to fill vacant National Secretary position nearly tore the party apart. Read more
Emir Sanusi II faces another petition at Kano Assembly (Vanguard)
This is not the best of times for Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, as Kano State House of Assembly is now working on two strong petitions brought before it on Wednesday, accusing the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of violating traditional, cultural and religious values.
The petitioners, a Civil Society Organization (CSO), the Kano Society for Promotion of Education and Culture (KSPEC) and Mr Mohammed Muktar Ja’en in their separate petitions called for a thorough investigation of alleged, “abuse of office,” by the First Class Emir.
They attached strong evidence of video clips with the petitions they raised against the Kano monarch. Read more
Suspected Boko Haram members attack military base in Borno, kill 6 soldiers (Vanguard)
Jihadists killed 14 security personnel and civilians in an attack on a military base in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state on Wednesday, security sources told AFP.
Suspected Boko Haram fighters in trucks fitted with machine guns launched a dawn raid on the army base in the town of Damboa, sparking intense fighting.
Sources said six soldiers, four police officers and two members of a government-backed militia were killed along with two civilians. Read more
NDLEA arrests woman on watch list for 10 years in Sokoto (Guardian)
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Sokoto State Command, has arrested a woman who had been on the watch list for 10 years and 18 other drug dealers.
The NDLEA Sokoto Commander, Mr Yakubu Kibo told newsmen on Tuesday in Sokoto that all the suspects were arrested in February.
He said the command made a total seizure of 141.534kg of illicit drugs during the month. Read more
Why Court suspended Adam Oshiomhole as APC Chairman (DailyTrust)
An FCT High Court in Jabi has suspended Adams Oshiomhole as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Justice Danlami Senchi on Wednesday ordered Oshiomhole to stop parading himself as the chairman of the party pending the determination of the substantive suit, which is seeking his perpetual removal as the APC chairman. The court order followed a motion on notice filed on January 16 by Comrade Mustapha Salihu, the APC National Vice Chairman for North East; Anselm Ojezua, the party’s Edo State chairman; and four others. Read more
APC: Party members, staff rejoice over Oshiomhole’s sack (NewTelegraph)
Party members and some staff of the party at the National Headquarters on Wednesday rejoiced over the suspension of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
The staff at the National Headquarters if the party located on Blantyre Street in Abuja were seeing gathering in groups and rejoicing over Oshiomhole’s suspension.
Some, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the National Chairman should eat humble pie and not apply for a stay of execution. Read more
Kenya accuses Somali army of ‘unwarranted attack’ on border town (Vanguard)
Kenya on Wednesday accused Somalia of an “unwarranted attack” on the frontier town of Mandera, during heavy fighting over the border between government and regional forces.
Already fraught tensions between Nairobi and Mogadishu have soared in recent days, with both sides issuing strongly worded statements accusing each other of encroaching on border territory.
Temperatures rose further after heavy fighting erupted on Monday in the Somali border town of Bulohawo between Somali government troops and forces from the semi-autonomous region of Jubaland. Read more
Russia bans export of masks, hazmat suits to fight virus (Guardian)
Russia has banned the export of masks, respirators and hazmat suits to ensure access to the items for medics treating coronavirus patients and the public, under a decree published Wednesday.
The ban covers 17 types of equipment including face masks, plastic shoe covers, gloves, surgical scrubs, gas masks, hazmat suits and “reusable anti-plague” suits.
The ban aims “to protect the interests of Russian citizens” as the coronavirus outbreak has killed more than 3,000 people and infected around 92,000 globally. Read more
Coronavirus: Italy bans kisses, handshakes (Punch)
Italy was set Wednesday to urge people to stop greeting each other by kissing or shaking hands to limit the spread of the new coronavirus.
Other measures to be approved by the government Wednesday, briefed in advance to the media, including what promises to be an unpopular plan to play all football matches without fans.
Italy has borne brunt in Europe of the new virus now spreading across the world faster than it is in the central Chinese region where is was first detected late last year. Read more
US offers N2.5bn for information on Boko Haram leader, Shekau (Punch)
The United States Department of State is offering a reward of up to $7m (N2.5bn) for information leading to the arrest of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.
The Rewards for Justice Program, which is the counterterrorism rewards program of the US Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, said this in a tweet on its official Twitter handle on Tuesday.
The tweet reads, “The United States Department of State offers a reward up to $7m for information leading to the arrest of the terrorist, Abubakar Shekau, leader of Boko Haram. Read more
FACT CHECK: US offered $7 million for info on Boko Haram leader (Guardian)
Nigerians on Wednesday woke up to news stories in local media that the United States has announced a $7 million offer for anyone with information that will lead to the arrest of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau.
Prominent Nigerian mainstream media houses and a host of news blogs published the story bearing quotes from US Rewards for Justice Program’s French Twitter handle.
Old news
However, the offer was not as new as they all reported. Instead, it was republished by the newly created French Twitter account of United States Rewards for Justice Program on Tuesday. Read more
Biden wins primary in Warren’s home state Massachusetts (Punch)
Joe Biden won the Democratic primary in Massachusetts on Super Tuesday, US media projected, delivering a potential knockout blow to Senator Elizabeth Warren in her home state.
Warren, who along with Senator Bernie Sanders represents the progressive wing of the Democratic party, has seen her candidacy flounder after leading some national polls as recently as October.
The northeastern state she represents sends 91 delegates to the party’s convention in July and was yet another impressive win for Biden on a night that cemented his comeback following a stumbling early campaign. Read more
US launches airstrike against Taliban hours after Trump deal (Punch)
The US launched an airstrike against Taliban fighters to defend Afghan forces Wednesday, an American military spokesman said, as violence spirals after a string of deadly attacks by the insurgents, throwing the country’s nascent peace process into grave doubt.
News of the airstrike in southern Helmand province – the first in 11 days – came hours after US President Donald Trump told reporters he had had a “very good” chat with the Taliban political chief, who on Saturday signed a historic deal with Washington to withdraw foreign forces. Read more
Rare Isaac Newton ‘Laws of Motion’ manuscript discovered in French library (Vanguard)
A first-edition copy of Isaac Newton’s groundbreaking book laying out his three laws of motion, which became the foundation for modern physics, has been found at a library on the French island of Corsica.
Vannina Schirinsky-Schikhmatoff, director of conservation at the Fesch public heritage library in Ajaccio, said she discovered the copy of the 17th-century work while studying an index from the library’s founder Lucien Bonaparte — one of Napoleon’s brothers.
“I found the Holy Grail in the main room, hidden in the upper shelves,” she told AFP this week.
“The cover has a little damage but inside it’s in excellent condition — this is the cornerstone of modern mathematics,” she said. Read more
World Cup Qualifier: Nigeria pick 18 Flamingos for Guinea (DailyTrust)
Stand-in Coach of Nigeria’s U17 women’s football team (Flamingos), Bankole Olowookere, has selected 18 players who will tackle their Guinean counterparts in a 2020 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup second round qualifying fixture later this month. Olowookere’s charges will fly to Conakry on Thursday for Saturday’s first leg encounter, which was postponed by a week as a result of the Guinean legislative election that held last Saturday. The return leg will take place at the Agege Stadium, Lagos on Saturday, 14th March. There are two goalkeepers, five defenders, six midfielders and five forwards on the roster. Read more
I’m nothing without boxing, says Mike Tyson (Guardian)
Mike Tyson broke down in tears as he opened up on how retiring from boxing has left him feeling like a shell of the man who once ruled the heavyweight division.
The former undisputed world champion hung up his gloves back in 2005 after a 20-year career, in which he won the WBA, WBC and IBF belts, and 50 of his 58 fights.
But 15 years on, Tyson is still battling his mental demons as he struggles to come to terms with the fact he will never compete in the ring again. Read more
Full list: Rohr invites 24 players for Super Eagles, Sierra Leone clash (Punch)
Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has listed team captain Ahmed Musa, vice-captain William Ekong and veteran defender Kenneth Omeruo in his 24-man Super Eagles’ roster for the quick-double 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone this month.
There are also goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, defenders Leon Balogun and Olaoluwa Aina, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and forwards Alex Iwobi and Victor Osimhen in the list of three goalkeepers, eight defenders, five midfielders and eight forwards.
Germany–based defender Kingsley Ehizibue, on the books of FC Koln, and Holland-based forward Cyril Dessers have been called up for the first time, while England–based former U-17 World Cup winner Kelechi Iheanacho returns to the fold. Read more
Schmeichel defends De Gea as Manchester United’s first-choice goalkeeper (Guardian)
Manchester United have a way to go before they need to think about replacing David De Gea as the first-choice goalkeeper, club great and former captain Peter Schmeichel said on Tuesday.
Spaniard De Gea faced criticism after gifting Everton a third-minute lead in a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park on Sunday when he dawdled on the ball.
His attempt to clear was charged down by Dominic Calvert-Lewin and went in off the striker. Read more
I’ll knock Pulev out in 11th round – Joshua (Punch)
British world champion Anthony Joshua says he is confident of knocking out Kubrat Pulev in the 11th round when the two take each other on later this year.
The fight was yesterday confirmed for June 20 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Pulev the mandatory IBF challenger to take on Joshua.
Pulev has only been defeated once in his professional career, losing to Wladimir Klitschko in 2014, but speaking to William Hill Joshua seemed excited by the prospect of taking on the Bulgarian.
“He’s been in the game for a while, he went to the top level and then he got defeated,” Joshua said. Read more
Lampard names two players who helped Chelsea to defeat Liverpool (DailyTrust)
A delighted Frank Lampard said he couldn’t have asked for any more from his team in last night’s FA Cup win over Liverpool, and the boss reserved special praise for a pair of players at different ends of their careers, Billy Gilmour and Pedro. The Blues beat the runaway league leaders to book a place in the last eight of the Cup Lampard won four times as a Chelsea player. A significant step was taken on the path to more glory in the competition courtesy of goals in each half from Willian and Ross Barkley, and a first clean sheet in almost two months. Read more
On-Loan Man United goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara charged by FA for biting (Vanguard)
On-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara has been charged by the FA for biting his opponent during a League One clash between Burton Albion and Peterborough on Saturday afternoon.
The 23-year-old will have been hoping to make an impression on his parent club during his spell at League One side Burton this season, and he may well have done so – but for all the wrong reasons.
O’Hara was between the sticks for the Brewers on Saturday when they faced Peterborough United, where he was involved in a distasteful incident with Peterborough player Sam Szmodics. Read more