Group asks Lagos Assembly to account for N28.8b running cost (Guardian)
The Legislative Probity and Accountability (LPA) has asked the Lagos State House of Assembly to account for the N28.8 billion it collected as running cost under Speaker Mudashiru Obasa’s leadership. The civil society organisation (CSO) maintained that if the House fails to account for the fund, it would mobilise Nigerians and compel the Assembly to do the needful. In a statement issued by its Chairman, Olu Fajana yesterday, the group noted that it had watched with keen interest latest moves by the Assembly to impeach Governor Akinwunmi Ambode over alleged misconduct and infractions in the state’s 2018 budget and the proposed 2019 appropriation bill. Read more
Ambode launches $250m modern satellite city (Guardian)
Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday launched the $250 million Alaro Satellite City, situated at the northwestern part of Lekki Free Trade Zone (FTZ). The project, a partnership involving the North West Quadrant Development Company (NWQDC), Rendeavour (Africa’s acclaimed largest urban land developer) and Lagos State, is projected to create over 200,000 jobs as well as housing schemes for all the major projects within the zone. Alaro Satellite City is a mixed-income, city-scale development and a premium industrial, logistics, housing and leisure location, complemented by high quality commercial office complexes, homes, schools, healthcare facilities, hotels, entertainment centre and 150 hectares of parks and open spaces. Read more
NJC may sack Onnoghen, Mohammed to end crisis (Guardian)
The National Judicial Council (NJC) yesterday gave the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen and the one acting, Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed, a-week ultimatum to respond to the allegations of corruption and professional misconduct levelled against them. Due to the gravity of the allegations, the NJC abridged the time and gave the accused persons one week instead of the usual 14 working days to respond to the allegations, an indication that they may be sacrificed to restore sanctity in the highly revered arm of government. Read more
Reps okay N30,000 as minimum wage for workers (Guardian)
The House of Representatives yesterday endorsed the N30,000 as national minimum wage per month to every worker in the country. Adopting the report of the Sulaimon Yussuff Lasun-led adhoc committee that considered the draft bill proposed by the executive arm, the House turned down the proposed N27,000 recommended by the National Council of State for workers in the states and private sector as against N30,000 for Federal Government workers. The House also prescribed a fine not exceeding N75,000 for any employer who fails to comply with the provisions of the bill as against the proposed fine not exceeding N5000 and an additional penalty not exceeding N10,000 for each day the offence continues. Read more
One killed as groups clash over campaign largesse in Bayelsa (Punch)
A final year student in Fine and Applied Art at the Bayelsa State-owned Niger Delta University, James Eze, was on Monday shot dead by a suspected rival group over the sharing of money given to them by political party’s campaign team. Eze, in his early 20s, was reportedly gunned down few minutes after the People’s Democratic Party campaign train left the Famgbe community in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state. A source, who did not want his name in print, said the young man had engaged members of the other group in a heated argument over the largesse when he was shot at close range by the rival group. Read more
Buhari promises improved infrastructure, says electricity has no political colour (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to provide additional infrastructure in the Southeast zone to give further impetus to industry, hard work and competitiveness for which the Igbo are known.“They deserve more and more infrastructure to further excel,” the President said in Aba, Abia State. Buhari, who started his two-day state campaign tour of Abia and Imo states yesterday, received endorsement for his second term bid from Chairman of Aba Traditional Council, Dr. Isaac Ikonne, who urged the people to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate.He said the Igbo would remain loyal and committed to President Buhari for the payment of pensions to ex-Biafran soldiers and his administration’s policy on ease of doing business, which he said, had benefited the Igbo more than any other ethnic group. Read more
Sudan orders mass release of protesters (BBC)
Authorities in Sudan have ordered the release of all detainees held during weeks of anti-government protests. The release was ordered by Sudan’s intelligence and security chief, Salah Ghosh, the information ministry said in a statement. No reason was given. More than 1,000 people are reported to have been detained in the protests, which began in December. President Omar al-Bashir has blamed the unrest on “foreign agents” and rebel groups in the Darfur region. Meanwhile, riot police in the capital Khartoum used tear gas to disperse dozens of demonstrators in the Burri district on Tuesday, witnesses said. Read more
Travel ban for Venezuela opposition head (BBC)
Venezuela’s Supreme Court has banned opposition leader Juan Guaidó from leaving the country and frozen his bank accounts. The move comes amid an escalating power struggle, after Mr Guaidó declared himself interim president last week. He has been backed by the US and other countries. President Nicolás Maduro has major allies too, including Russia. The opposition has asked supporters to take part in a two-hour peaceful protest on Wednesday. It is as yet unclear if Mr Guaidó will attend. Read more
Newcastle United shock Manchester City (BBC)
Manchester City’s title hopes suffered a huge blow as Newcastle came from a goal down to record a remarkable victory over the defending champions at St James’ Park. Two defensive lapses cost Pep Guardiola’s side the chance to cut Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to one point. The Reds face Leicester at home on Wednesday. City could not have got off to a better start when Sergio Aguero’s hooked home after only 24 seconds. The Argentine also had a goal disallowed soon after when referee Paul Tierney adjudged Kevin De Bruyne had delivered a free-kick before he gave him the signal. The Belgian was booked as a consequence. Read more
Man Utd rescue point against Burnley (BBC)
Manchester United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said the side’s fans were treated to a “typical Old Trafford finish” as they came from 2-0 down to rescue a dramatic point against Burnley. United were facing their first defeat under Solskjaer until Paul Pogba scored from the penalty spot in the 87th minute and Victor Lindelof scrambled in a 92nd-minute equaliser. The hosts had previously won all eight matches since the Norwegian took charge. Burnley had defended resolutely until conceding twice late on and were in front thanks to second-half goals from Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood. Read more
Second-half goals give Arsenal victory (BBC)
Arsenal secured a hard-fought win over Cardiff on an emotional night at Emirates Stadium as the Bluebirds played for the first time since the disappearance of striker Emiliano Sala. Despite the defeat, Cardiff boss Neil Warnock praised his side’s performance as their “best of the season”. “We talked about Emiliano before the game and I thought it was appropriate that we gave a good account of ourselves against a good side – we could’ve quite easily won the game,” said Warnock. “What a performance. If Arsenal had our chances they would’ve beaten us by four. We had some great chances and with the effort we put in we should’ve got at least a point.” Read more
Delta family kicks over release of suspects who allegedly strangled woman (Punch)
The family of Ehianu Ugbom of the Umu-Osi Quarters, Ekwuoma in the Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, has petitioned the state police command over the release of the suspects, who allegedly strangled the mother of a six-month-old baby, Helen Ehianu. The father of the deceased, Mr Augustine Ehianu, has urged the police to re-arrest the suspects and make them face prosecution. Twenty-eight-year-old Helen was reportedly strangled and her corpse dumped in a pit in the Obior community, Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state, after she had been declared missing on March 22, 2018. The corpse was found in the pit on March 24, 2018, by police operatives. Read more
Salesman allegedly steals human hair worth N2.3m (Punch)
The police in Lagos, on Monday, arraigned a salesman, Joseph Ogang, before an Ogba Magistrates’Court for allegedly stealing 34 packs of human hair worth N2.3m. According to the police prosecutor, Benson Emuerhi, the 45-year-old Ogang, who was a salesman at Kechi Hair Beauty Salon, conspired with others, who are still at large, to steal the product from his employer. Emuerhi, who told the court that Ogang sold the human hair and converted the proceeds to his personal use, also alleged that the suspect stole the sum of N150,000. He added that Ogang committed the offences on September 9, 2018, at No. 25 Oba Akinjobi Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, around 10.30am. Read more