El-Zakzaky allegedly discharges himself, returns to Nigeria (Punch)
Barely 96 hours after landing in New Delhi for medical treatment, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem el-Zakzaky, has reportedly discharged himself from the Medenta Hospital and is now on his way back to Nigeria. The President, Media Forum of IMN, Ibrahim Musa, said that El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, who were airborne as of the time of speaking with our Correspondent on Thursday evening, left New Delhi around 5:00 p.m. Nigerian time, heading back to the country. Musa, in a statement, blamed the Federal Government for scuttling the IMN leader’s planned treatment. Read more
Sanwo-Olu urges FG to open up Badagry for commerce, business, tourism (Nation)
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday said the reason the State Government has been appealing to the Federal Government to open up Badagry was to boost commerce, businesses and tourism potentials of the axis. Sanwo-Olu disclosed this when the Chairman, Nigerian Diaspora Commission, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, led members of the organizing committee for the annual ‘Door of Return’ to pay the governor a courtesy visit at the State House, Marina. He stressed that ‘Badagry’ has become a brand that has been recognized globally over the years as a tourism destination in Nigeria. Read more
Atiku, PDP insist Buhari not qualified to contest 2019 election (Nation)
The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the last presidential election and his party have insisted that they proved their claim the President Muhammadu Buhari was not qualified to contest the election. They also insisted that the results of the election were transmitted electronically to a central server allegedly owned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Atiku and the PDP, who are petitioners before Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) said they were able to establish allegation of malpractices and non-compliance with Electoral Act in the 11 focal states in which they contest the outcome of the last presidential election. Read more
Reps summon Emefiele, NNPC, DSS boss over absence (Punch)
The House of Representatives has summoned the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari; and Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.); and the Director-General, Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi. The Federal Government officials were summoned for failing to attend an investigative hearing organised by the House on the moribund state of ports in the country, leading to the congestion and perennial gridlock at the Apapa Port, Lagos State. Read more
Thanks for taking good care of Katsina people, Buhari tells Masari (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the progress so far made by Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State in the last four years shows “he is taking good care of people of the state.” A statement by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said Buhari thanked the governor for taking care of the people of his (President’s) constituency. Read more
FG committed to delivering effective power supply to Nigerians – Osinbajo (Guardian)
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday reassured Nigerians that Federal Government was committed to ensuring effective and cost reflective power supply in the country. Osinbanjo gave the assurance during the official inauguration of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) new 2×60MVA, 132/33KV substation and associated 132KV transmission lines in Abeokuta, Ogun. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the vice president inaugurated the 2×60MVA, 132/33KV relief substation for Abeokuta; line bay extension works at Otta, Papalantoro and old Abeokuta 132/33KV substation. Read more
Listen to Nigerians, Oba of Benin urges Buhari (Punch)
The Omo N’Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II on Thursday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to listen to the cries of Nigerians. Oba Ewuare, who stated this while receiving the General Officer Commander, GOC, 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Anthony Omozoje in his palace in Benin said that Buhari must not ignore the constructive criticism of the people. Read more
Police appeal to victims of alleged rape to speak out (Guardian)
The Police Public Relation Officer of the FCT Command, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, has appealed to victims of rape to speak out and cooperate with police prosecutors to get justice. Manzah who made the called in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday said such would help to weed the society of perpetrators of such crime. He was speaking on the sideline of the Forum for the Adoption of Framework on Police Media-Relationship and safety of Journalists in Abuja. Read more
I’ll ensure quality, affordable education in Osun – Oyetola (Nation)
Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State on Thursday said his administration would continue to ensure that every child in the state had access to good, quality, qualitative and affordable education. Oyetola spoke while inaugurating Telemu Comprehensive Middle High School and Morinu Community Elementary School in Ola-Oluwa and Iwo Local Government Areas of the state respectively. Read more
Ekiti government shuts 5 illegal hospitals (Guardian)
No fewer than five illegal hospitals were on Thursday shut by the Ekiti Government for operating illegally. The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, announced the closure during an unscheduled visit of the Medical Anti Quackery Committee set up by the state government to the hospitals. He warned residents of the state against patronising quack doctors who operate in unauthorised hospitals in the state. Read more
Ondo okays selection of new Olowo (Nation)
The Ondo State Executive Council has approved the selection and final ratification of Prince Gbadegesin Ogunoye as the new Olowo of Owo, in Owo Local Government Area of the state. Briefing reporters after the state executive meeting, which lasted for over seven hours, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, said the state government appreciates the Owo Local Government and the Senior Omolowos for the peaceful process and procedures leading to the emergence of the new monarch. Read more
Teenagers allegedly stages own kidnap, demands N500k ransom (Punch)
A 15-year-old boy has allegedly staged his own kidnap and demanded the sum of N500,000 as ransom. The minor, who was paraded in Jos on Thursday, told newsmen that he initiated the plan with his friends in order to enable him to buy clothes and celebrate his graduation. “I was the one who initiated the plan and not my friends. I wanted my father to give me money for clothes and to also celebrate my graduation,” he said. Read more
Ethiopia considers banning prostitutes, beggars in Addis Ababa (Punch)
Officials in Ethiopia’s capital are weighing bans on sex work and street begging, the latest in a series of measures intended to clean up the country’s image, the mayor’s office said Thursday. Draft legislation detailing the terms of the bans is still being finalised. But Feven Teshome, press secretary for the Addis Ababa mayor’s office, told AFP that it was necessary to combat worsening “social problems” in the city of more than three million people. Read more
Angola ex-transport minister jailed 14 years for graft (Punch)
An Angolan ex-transport minister was on Thursday jailed for 14 years for corruption, making him the first high profile official to be convicted since President Joao Lourenco took office two years ago. The Supreme Court found Augusto da Silva Tomas, who was minister under former leader Jose Eduardo dos Santos, guilty of six counts including corruption, embezzlement, money laundering and abuse of power. Read more
Italy’s Salvini in row with PM over Open Arms migrant ship (BBC)
A row between Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Salvini and fellow ministers has intensified over a Spanish charity ship anchored off southern Italy with 147 migrants on board. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte called Mr Salvini “disloyal” and “obsessed” with keeping migrants out of Italian ports. Two ministers refused to sign off Mr Salvini’s orders banning the Open Arms ship from docking in Lampedusa. Read more
66-year-old arms trafficker arrested in Portugal (Punch)
A Belgian arms trafficker has been arrested in Portugal, police in Belgium announced Thursday, after almost a year on the run. Jacques Monsieur, 66, was held at a large farmhouse near the Portuguese town of Evora on Wednesday evening, Belgian federal police said in a statement. The Brussels appeals court sentenced him to four years in jail and a fine of 1.2 million euros ($1.33 million) in October 2018 for illegal arms trafficking and participation in a criminal organisation. Read more
‘Hollywood Ripper’ Michael Gargiulo found guilty of double murders (BBC)
Michael Gargiulo, nicknamed the “Hollywood Ripper”, has been found guilty of murdering two women. Prosecutors in Los Angeles painted Gargiulo, 43, as a “stone-cold serial killer” who preyed on women in planned attacks. He was also found guilty of attempting to kill a 26-year-old in 2008, who survived and testified against him. Actor Ashton Kutcher also testified, having arranged a date with one of the victims on the night she was killed. Read more
Barber stabbed customer with scissors ‘after bad haircut review’ (Metro)
A barber who stabbed a customer in the ribs after he left a bad haircut review has claimed he was acting in self-defence. Jared Sebastian Byrom, 27, of Runcorn, Cheshire, is accused of stabbing Casey Michael Dorgan with a pair of scissors in the gym changing rooms, heard a court. The incident occurred at Pure Gym on Bridge Retail Park around six months after Mr Dorgan had complained that Byrom had ‘butchered’ his hair in June, 2018. Read more
Nigerian football still growing – Kanu (Nation)
Ex-International, Kanu Nwankwo, says Nigerian football is still growing and would improve. He told newsmen in Ibadan on Thursday during a courtesy call on Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State that there was room for improvement. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nwankwo was in Ibadan to solicit support for 200 patients awaiting surgical operations through the Kanu Heart Foundation. Read more
Halilhodzic named as new coach of Morocco (Punch)
Former Japan boss Vahid Halilhodzic was named as the new coach of Morocco on Thursday, his third job with an African nation. The 67-year-old succeeds Herve Renard, who quit after the Africa Cup of Nations and has since taken over at Saudi Arabia. “To reach the World Cup finals in 2022 is my main objective,” said Halilodzic, who was recently the coach of French club Nantes. Read more
Wolves reach Europa League play-off round (BBC)
Diogo Jota scored a stunning acrobatic volley as Wolves beat Armenians Pyunik 4-0 at Molineux and 8-0 on aggregate to set up a Europa League play-off tie with Italian side Torino. Jota came off the bench late on to power home a sublime finish from Raul Jimenez’s excellent lob. Pedro Neto opened the scoring with a debut goal before academy graduate Morgan Gibbs-White turned in a cross. Read more
Marcus Rashford sends message to Tammy Abraham after Chelsea striker received racist abuse (Metro)
Marcus Rashford has sent a message of support to Tammy Abraham after the Chelsea striker was targeted with racist abuse following his penalty miss against Liverpool in the Super Cup. Chelsea and Liverpool were forced to settle the Super Cup with a shootout after it ended 2-2 after 120 minutes in Istanbul on Wednesday evening. Liverpool scored all five of their penalties before Abraham had his effort saved by Adrian. Read more
Barcelona will not risk Messi for La Liga opener against Bilbao (Guardian)
Lionel Messi will not be risked for Barcelona’s opening La Liga game against Athletic Bilbao on Friday, according to his coach Ernesto Valverde. Messi sustained a calf injury in training last week and missed Barca’s last two pre-season friendlies against Napoli. They begin their title defence at San Mames this weekend and Valverde has said Messi is yet to train ahead of the match. Read more
Legia next after Rangers beat Midtjylland (BBC)
Alfredo Morelos scored twice as Rangers swept aside Midtjylland to set up a Europa League play-off round tie with Legia Warsaw. Steven Gerrard’s Scottish Premiership side were in a strong position after winning 4-2 in Denmark last week, but first-half goals by Morelos and Sheyi Ojo put the tie beyond doubt. Morelos added his ninth of the term after the break, and although Evander pulled one back, Rangers will travel to Poland next week knowing they are 180 minutes from the group stages. Read more
Abject Aberdeen knocked out by Rijeka (BBC)
Aberdeen failed to get past the Europa League third qualifying round for the sixth consecutive season after an abject defeat at the hands of Rijeka. The Scottish Premiership side – who trailed 2-0 from the first leg in Croatia – were two goals and a man down with just over half an hour played. Stjepan Loncar had already scored for Rijeka before Funso Ojo received the second of two yellow cards. Antonio Colak then added a second for the visitors to effectively end the tie with an hour remaining. Read more
Frank Lampard won’t regret David Luiz decision, says Emmanuel Petit (Metro)
Former Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit has backed Frank Lampard’s decision to offload David Luiz to Arsenal and says the Blues will not regret the decision. Luiz completed a shock move to the Emirates on deadline day after Arsenal agreed an £8m deal with Chelsea for the 32-year-old. Lampard made it clear to Luiz that he was no longer in his plans but the decision to allow him to join a direct rival remained a surprising one. Read more
Federer stunned by world number 70 Rublev in Cincinnati (Punch)
Seven-time champion and third seed Roger Federer was knocked out of the Cincinnati Masters by world number 70 Andrey Rublev in the third round on Thursday. Rublev won 6-3, 6-4 and will face fellow Russian Daniil Medvedev, the ninth seed, for a place in the semi-finals. Federer, 38, will now head into the US Open later this month with just two matches on hard courts under his belt. Read more
Kyrgios fined $113,000 for Cincinnati meltdown (Punch)
Controversial Australian star Nick Kyrgios was Thursday fined $113,000 after his explosive Cincinnati Masters meltdown which saw him smash two racquets, launch an abusive tirade at the chair umpire before appearing to spit at the official. The ATP said the massive sanction included individual fines for ball abuse, leaving the court without permission, an audible obscenity and unsportsmanlike conduct during his second round loss to Russia’s Karen Khachanov. Read mores