Godliness, good leadership, solution to Nigeria’s woes – CAN (Punch)
The Christian Association of Nigeria has said that godliness, impeccable leadership, patriotism, and responsible followership were the panacea to the nation’s woes. It stated that citizens should unite to address the myriad of challenges facing the country. The CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, who said this in a message on Monday, in commemoration of Nigeria’s 59th independence anniversary, called for a change of heart and attitude. Read more
Biafra was not defeated, Igbo groups disagree with Nwodo (Nation)
Two pan Igbo groups have disagreed with the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chief Nnia Nwodo that the stillborn Republic of Biafra was defeated. Nwodo was said to have stated at the just concluded Dr Michael Okpara leadership and Good Governance lecture at Umuahia in Abia state that Biafra was defeated at the civil war. Read more
Bayelsa speaker impeached (Punch)
The Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Tonye Isenah, has been impeached. The Bayelsa State House of Assembly was on Monday invaded by hoodlums who started shooting indiscriminately. The violence follows an alleged attempt by a faction of the house to impeach Isenah who is expected to resign today following pressure mounted on him by some Peoples Democratic Party leaders to quit his position ahead of the November 16th governorship election. Read more
Independence Day: Gov Fintiri pardons 18 prisoners (Punch)
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has approved the release of 18 prisoners serving various jail terms in the state in commemoration of Nigeria’s 59th Independent Anniversary. The governor said this in a statement on Monday. He said that the action was in line with the constitution which granted him the power to pardon prisoners under the prerogative of mercy. Read more
Insecurity: Two dead as armed robbers raid Niger community (Nation)
Two people have reportedly died in a three-hour robbery attack in Gwaraka community in Tafa Local government area of Niger state. A number of people were also said to have been injured in the attack. The Robbers were said to have stormed the community in the early hours of Monday at about 3 am. Read more
Whistle-blower gets two years in prison for giving false information (Punch)
Justice Angela Otaluka of an FCT High Court Apo on Monday sentenced a 29-year old whistle-blower, James, to two years in prison for giving false information with the intention of misleading the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission The judge, however, noted that the convict had spent two years in custody and as such, has been deemed to have served his sentence. Read more
Metuh: Court hears application of alleged misrepresentation by EFCC Oct. 7 (Nation)
The Federal High Court Abuja has fixed Oct. 7 to hear an application by former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh alleging misrepresentation of facts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC). At the resumed hearing on Monday, counsel to Metuh, Mr Abel Oziokor, informed the court that the EFCC, which is trying Metuh, had published a contemptuous publication against his client. Read more
Police foil attempt to cart away property in Okorocha’s warehouse sealed by EFCC (Nation)
The police in Imo State on Monday foiled an attempt by some people to cart away the property stocked in one of the warehouses seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Owerri, the state capital. The police also impounded two trailers allegedly deployed to evacuate the property stocked in the warehouse and arrested 12 suspects in connection with the crime. Read more
Delta policeman shoots dead female colleague (Punch)
A policeman serving with B’ Division, Asaba, has reportedly shot dead a female colleague in Asaba, the Delta State capital. The PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred on Saturday during the demolition of illegal structures by the Ministry of Environment officials, alongside some Police personnel at the Bonsaac area of the city. Read more
Cameroon opens dialogue to end anglophone separatist crisis (Guardian)
Cameroon launched a national dialogue on Monday in a bid to end separatist conflict in the country’s anglophone provinces, though key rebel leaders have already refused to participate. Nearly 3,000 people have died and half a million fled their homes since fighting broke out in 2017 between the army and insurgents who want independence for Cameroon’s two English-speaking provinces. Read more
Boris Johnson ‘touching’ row continues at Tory conference (BBC)
Boris Johnson has insisted allegations about his personal conduct are not overshadowing the Tory conference. Journalist Charlotte Edwardes has accused the PM of touching her thigh, and that of another woman, at a lunch in 1999, which he denies. Rumours were circulating at conference that Mary Wakefield – who is married to the PM’s chief adviser – was the second woman, but she has rejected that. Read more
Somalia: Jihadists attack US training base at Baledogle (BBC)
Jihadists have attacked a military base where US soldiers train commandos in Somalia. Local residents reported heavy blasts and gunfire at Baledogle airport in the southern Lower Shabelle region. The al-Shabab militant group said it had carried out the attack, using a car bomb to blast through the gates before sending its fighters inside. Read more
Turkey to push for truth on who murdered Khashoggi, says Erdogan (Punch)
Turkey is to continue to press for answers on who killed Jamal Khashoggi, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrote on Monday, ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Saudi journalist’s murder. In an opinion piece in the Washington Post, for which U.S. resident Khashoggi was a columnist, Erdogan called his murder “arguably the most influential and controversial incident of the 21st century, barring the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.” Read more
Afghanistan presidential election: Rivals declare victory after record low turnout (BBC)
The frontrunners in Afghanistan’s presidential race have both declared victory following the lowest election turnout since the Taliban were ousted. Chief executive Abdullah Abdullah told reporters he had won outright, a day after incumbent Ashraf Ghani’s running mate said they were the winners. Neither offered evidence in support. Read more
Yemen war: Houthi rebels release hundreds of detainees (BBC)
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have unilaterally released 290 detainees as part of a UN peace initiative, the International Committee of the Red Cross says. Those freed include 42 survivors of an air strike on a prison this month that killed more than 100 people. The attack was carried out by a Saudi-led coalition backing the Yemeni government in the country’s civil war. Read more
Man ‘kills driver for “looking at him funny at traffic light” (Metro)
A truck driver murdered another motorist just for looking at him the wrong way while they were stopped at a traffic light, police say. Nicolas Elliot, 30, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly shooting Alex Mixon, 26, dead in Phoenix, Arizona on March 1. The Phoenix Police Department said Elliot killed Mixon ‘for merely looking at him while stopped at a red traffic light.’ Read more
Russian actor Ustinov has jail sentence reduced on appeal (BBC)
Pavel Ustinov, an actor jailed for more than three years after he was controversially convicted of injuring a police officer, has been given a one-year suspended sentence on appeal. The decision comes a day after more than 20,000 people took part in a rally in Moscow to demand the release of Russians detained in protests. Read more
School secretary, 25, ‘sent video of herself masturbating to boy, 14’ (Metro)
A school secretary sent a video of herself masturbating to a 14 year-old student, police say. Heather Matheison, 25, reportedly sent the video to the youngster, who studied at Chasco Middle School in Port Richey, Florida, where Matheison worked. Matheison was arrested on September 27 after her alleged victim’s shocked mother discovered the x-rated material on the youngster’s phone. Read more
Seven Sri Lanka elephants dead from suspected poisoning (BBC)
Sri Lankan authorities have begun an investigation after seven elephants were found dead last week from suspected poisoning. Four bodies were discovered on Friday and another three on Saturday in Habarana Forest Reserve. Authorities said all of those found were females from the same herd, and one had been pregnant at the time. Read more
Girls, 14 and 16, arrested on suspicion of murder after man found dead (Metro)
Two girls aged 14 and 16 have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man in his 80s was found dead. Police were called to a property on Edinburgh Drive, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, at around 5pm on September 28, following reports of a man in cardiac arrest. Paramedics also attended the incident but the man later died at the scene. Read more
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse rings the changes for Brazil friendly (BBC)
Aliou Cisse has brought six players into the Senegal squad for next month’s friendly against Brazil in Singapore. The coach has recalled Europe-based sextet of Pape Djibril Diaw, Racine Coly, Sidy Sarr, Mamadou Loum Ndiaye, Famara Diédhiou and Habib Diallo for the first ever clash between both nations on 10 October. Read more
It’s too early for Liverpool title talk, says Van Dijk (Punch)
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has dismissed the five-point lead they hold over title rivals Manchester City as irrelevant so early in the season. Jurgen Klopp’s side briefly extended their advantage to eight points after beating Sheffield United 1-0 in the early kick-off on Saturday but City beat Everton to reduce the gap. Read more
Man City fans must be ‘seduced’ by Champions League – Pep Guardiola (BBC)
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City’s fans need to be “seduced” after club polls showed supporters would prefer to win the Premier League than the Champions League. City open their ninth successive home campaign in the competition on Tuesday when they host Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb. Read more
Jurgen Klopp ‘horrified’ at prospect of Liverpool replaying Carabao Cup tie against MK Dons (Metro)
Jurgen Klopp is far from pleased at the prospect of Liverpool having to replay their Carabao Cup match against MK Dons after fielding an illegible player in their original victory. The Merseysiders named a second string XI for the third-round clash, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from veteran James Milner and young defender Ki-Jana Hoever. Read more
Messi, Dembele back for Barcelona head of Inter Milan tie (Punch)
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembele were back in partial training Monday ahead of this week’s Champions League clash against Inter Milan. Both were out of action Saturday with thigh injuries for the club’s La Liga victory against Getafe but were able to participate in some of Monday’s session. Read more
Eden Hazard admits he is yet to earn ‘Galactico’ status at Real Madrid after summer move from Chelsea (Metro)
Eden Hazard has admitted that he is yet to prove he is a ‘Galactico’ at Real Madrid following a subdued start to his career in the Spanish capital. The 28-year-old was the marquee purchase of Zinedine Zidane’s €300m summer rebuild but the former Chelsea man is yet to score a goal or provide an assist in four games for his new club. Read more
Juventus need to ‘lighten up’ in Champions League quest, says Sarri (Punch)
Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri believes his side need to enjoy themselves more if they are going to have any chance of ending their 24-year wait for the Champions League trophy. The 60-year-old Sarri will oversee his first Champions League match at home in the Allianz Stadium on Tuesday. Read more
Emiliano Sala: Fifa rules Cardiff must pay first instalment of £5.3m to Nantes (BBC)
Cardiff City have been told to pay the first instalment of 6m euros (£5.3m) to Nantes for £15m striker Emiliano Sala. Fifa ruled Cardiff must pay the sum “corresponding to the first instalment due” in the transfer agreement. The Argentine, who was 28, died in a plane crash in January while travelling from France to join his new club. Read more