Father rapes his 2 daughters, remanded (Vanguard)
An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ibadan on Thursday remanded a father, Phillip Iyiola, 43, who allegedly raped his two daughters. Iyiola has been remanded pending legal advice from the Oyo State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP). The police charged Iyiola with rape. Chief Magistrate E.A Idowu, ordered the remand of Iyiola at Agodi Federal Prison pending the outcome of the case file with the DPP. Read more
12 presidential candidates dump ambition, endorse Buhari for Saturday election (Guardian)
Ahead of Saturday’s rescheduled elections, 12 presidential candidates under the auspices of the Forum of Presidential Candidates of Political Parties for Good Governance on Thursday dumped their bid and endorsed President Mohammadu Buhari. Briefing State House Correspondent after their closed-door meeting with President Buhari in Aso Rock, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said the 12 candidates decided without prompting to subordinate their own ambitions to that of the President, instead of running for the presidency on Saturday. Read more
Five killed, several kidnapped in Boko Haram attacks in Chad (Punch)
Boko Haram jihadists killed five people, wounded five others, and kidnapped nine — including six women — in attacks on two villages in western Chad, an official source told AFP Thursday. The attacks took place Tuesday night, according to Dimouya Soiapebe, general secretary of Lake Chad province. “Five people were killed and five wounded” in the first assault, on the village of Bouboura, while the kidnappings took place in a second attack on the village of Ngasia, Soiapebe said. Chadian troops were searching for the attackers and their hostages, he added. Read more
PDP Yobe Chairman joins APC (Guardian)
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in Yobe State, Alhaji Sani Inuwa Nguru, on Thursday dumped the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Nguru was led to the Presidential Villa by Mohammed Yahuza a chieftain of APC in Yobe State and received by President Muhammadu Buhari. The PDP Chieftain who spoke in Hausa language said his visit to the presidential villa was to demonstrate his loyalty and desire to return home. He was the first chairman of the APC after the merger in the state, adding that anyone who has been a member of ANPP and CPC is one of Buhari’s loyalist. Read more
Oshiomhole, Obaseki meet APC leaders in Edo (Vanguard)
Less than 48 hours to the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections slated for February 23, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Thursday, met with leaders of the APC from the 18 local government councils in the state. Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting at Government House in Benin City, Governor Obaseki said that his administration has recorded huge successes within a short time owing to support from President Buhari, adding, “Edo is an APC state and there is no doubt about it. President Buhari led-administration has been supportive to us. He has granted all our requests. He has also assured to do more for us.” Read more
Attempted rape: Woman arraigned for allegedly stabbing cleric to death (Vanguard)
A 25-year-old woman, Gift Daniel, appeared in an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Thursday for allegedly stabbing a man to death. The deceased, identified as Taofeek Olumoro, 52, a cleric was alleged to have met his fate while trying to rape the lady. Daniel, who resides at No. 1, Alhaji Aleke St., Bariga, Lagos is facing a charge of murder to which she pleaded not guilty. Read more
Conduct seamless, free elections, Gowon urges INEC (Punch)
Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to be fully prepared to conduct the rescheduled elections, in a manner, that would be adjudged as seamless and efficient. Gowon made the call on Thursday in Abuja at a news conference on the state of the nation with the theme: “The Burden of the Elders at the Dawn of 2019 General Election’’. “Our first counsel to the nation as it approaches this new frontier is that INEC must be fully prepared to conduct the rescheduled elections seamlessly and efficiently. Read more
EFCC alerts public of fake dollars in circulation (Guardian)
Nigeria anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alerted members of the public of the reported circulation of fake Dollar notes ahead of the general elections. In a statement, EFCC acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, stated that the warning follows intelligence gathered in the build-up to the elections. Magu said the intelligence reports he received indicates that the Dollar notes have features of genuineness, but forensic analysis by the EFCC reveals otherwise. Read more
Heckler & Koch fined for illegal gun sales to Mexico (BBC)
A German court has handed suspended jail terms to two ex-employees of gun maker Heckler & Koch and fined the firm €3.7m (£3.2m) for illegal arms deliveries to Mexico. The Stuttgart court acquitted three other H&K ex-employees. H&K was found to have breached German arms export rules by shipping nearly 5,000 G36 assault rifles and smaller firearms to strife-torn regions. Mexico is plagued by warfare involving drug gangs and paramilitaries. Germany’s arms export restrictions include Mexican states such as Chiapas, Chihuahua and Guerrero, which are blighted by murders and kidnappings. Read more
Pope opens child sex abuse conference, promising ‘concrete’ remedies (Guardian)
Pope Francis on Thursday promised concrete actions against child sexual abuse by priests would result from a conference he opened, countering scepticism from some survivors who said the meeting looked like a public relations exercise. Francis convened Catholic leaders from around the world for the four-day meeting to address the scandal that has ravaged the Church’s credibility in the U.S. The church has paid billions of dollars in settlements in Ireland, Chile, Australia, and elsewhere over the last three decades. Read more
Gwyneth Paltrow counter-sues over 2016 skiing accident (BBC)
Gwyneth Paltrow has counter-sued a retired optometrist who has taken legal action against her over a 2016 skiing accident. Last month 72-year-old Terry Sanderson sued Paltrow claiming $3.1m [£2.36m] in damages. He said the actress knocked him down on a ski slope in Utah, leaving him with a brain injury and broken ribs. Paltrow’s case says that he was at fault and his lawsuit is an “attempt to exploit her celebrity and wealth” She is seeking a symbolic $1 in damages. Read more
LGBT-row teacher up for $1m global prize (BBC)
A Birmingham assistant head at the centre of a row over lessons on LGBT rights and homophobia has been named in the top 10 shortlist for a global teaching prize. Parkfield Community School assistant head teacher Andrew Moffat is in the running for the $1m (£770,000) prize. He has faced protests from some Muslim parents at the primary school. The shortlist was announced by X-Men actor Hugh Jackman, who said teachers were the “real superheroes”. Mr Moffat has run a “No outsiders” project promoting equality and diversity in the school, including lessons about sexual identity and LGBT rights. Read more
Man City fan in critical condition after alleged assault (BBC)
A Manchester City fan is in a critical condition in hospital after he was assaulted following their Champions League win over Schalke in Germany. German police said the 32-year-old man suffered a serious head injury in a violent confrontation with two Schalke supporters inside the Veltins Arena. “In the skirmish, he received a blow from a fist which knocked him to the floor,” police said. “In falling, he suffered a massive trauma to his skull and brain.” The police statement said the man was treated at the stadium before being taken to a local hospital. Read more
Dortmund desperate for Reus return (Guardian)
Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund are hoping captain Marco Reus will be fit for Sunday’s match against in-form Bayer Leverkusen as they look to reignite their stalled title run. The Ruhr valley club has seen a seven-point lead over champions Bayern Munich cut to three after three consecutive draws. They have also been eliminated from the German Cup and lost 3-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie, making it five games in all competitions without a win. Read more