How Lagos prophet hypnotised, defrauded me of N59.7m –Victim (Punch)
A fraud victim, Obinna Ezenwaka, has explained to the Lagos State Special Offences Court how a Lagos-based prophet, Cletus Ilongwo, hypnotised and defrauded him. Ilongwo, the Presiding Pastor of the Power of the Holy Ghost Evangelical Ministry, is facing 11 counts bordering on fraud. He was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before the court for allegedly defrauding Ezenwaka, a former member of his congregation, of the sum of N59.7m. The anti-graft agency had alleged that the prophet received the said amount from Ezenwaka on different occasions in 2016 on the pretext of helping him to purchase a property located at 165c Diamond Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos. Read more
Onnoghen to challenge suspension in court (Punch)
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, will on Monday (today) challenge his suspension by President Muhammadu Buhari in court. This is just as the National Judicial Council’s 88th meeting in Abuja has been delayed following fears of a possible clash between supporters of Onnoghen and the acting CJN, Justice Tanko Mohammed. A senior advocate, who is a member of Onnoghen’s legal team, told one of our correspondents that it had become necessary to do so as the suspension of a CJN by a President was unprecedented. He said, “We will be going to court to challenge the suspension of the CJN. The President relied on a CCT order despite the fact that the Court of Appeal had restrained all parties from removing the chief justice. Read more
Onnoghen: NJC members in move to save Judiciary (Nation)
An “emergency” move to save the Judiciary has begun. The National Judicial Council (NJC) has summoned an emergency meeting of its members for tomorrow to discuss “developments in the Judiciary”. Members are expected to arrive in Abuja for the meeting scheduled for 10am. It was also gathered that the main agenda of the meeting is the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), the inauguration of Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad as acting CJN and the allegation of the code of conduct violation against Justice Onnoghen. A source said Justice Onnoghen and Justice Muhammad may be excluded from the meeting, because of their involvement in the issues to be discussed. Read more
APC removes Okorocha as Imo campaign coordinator (Punch)
The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress has removed the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, as the state coordinator of the party’s campaign council. The decision followed the recommendation of the disciplinary committee set up by the Imo APC over allegations of anti-party activities levelled against the governor and others. The committee chaired by Mathew Omegara had earlier summoned the governor and six others to appear before it. The National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, had said the National Working Committee of the party would meet to consider the Imo APC recommendation that Okorocha should be suspended. Read more
INEC excludes Zakari, other RECs from Collation (Nation)
As part of its commitment to transparency during next month’s poll, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has excluded all its National Commissioners from the collation of presidential poll results and other strands of elections. The commission has also decided to throw open its Situation Room to accredited observers, civil society organisations and the media. About one million (1m) Nigerians have applied for poll jobs as ad hoc staff. But INEC is still grappling with 639 court cases, arising from party primaries, barely 20 days to the general elections. It, however, said it is impossible for anyone, no matter how smart, to compromise Card Readers. Read more
Police place embargo on issuance of new arms licences (Guardian)
The Acting Inspector- General of Police (I-G), Mr Mohammed Adamu has placed with immediate effect, embargo on the issuance of new licences for designated arms throughout the country. ACP Frank Mba, the spokesman of the force disclosed this in statement on Sunday in Abuja. Mba who did not list the categories of the arms, called on Nigerians in unlawful possession of such weapons to return them to Police Stations or Public Armoury nearest to them. Mba said the decision followed the proliferation of illicit weapons and the desire by some citizens to acquire more arms. Read more
IG retires seven DIGs (Nation)
Acting Inspector-General of Police Muhammed Adamu has retired all the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs). The retired DIGs, who were Adamu’s senior, served with former IG Ibrahim Idris. They are: DIGs in charge of Finance & Administration, (Maigari Dikko); Operations (Habila Joshak); Information & Communications Technology (Emmanuel Inyang); Logistics & Supply (Agboola Oshodi-Glover); Research & Planning (Mohammed Katsina); Training & Development (Sani Mohammed) and Federal Criminal Investigation & Intelligence (Peace Ibekwe-Abdallah). One of the affected DIGs confirmed the retirement to The Nation last night. Read more
US lifts sanctions on Putin ally’s firms (BBC)
The Trump administration has lifted sanctions on three firms linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, an ally of President Vladimir Putin. Curbs on aluminium giant US Rusal, En+ Group and JSC EuroSibEnergo were lifted after Mr Deripaska ceded control. The oligarch has been linked to the probe into alleged Russian interference in US elections, and Democrats wanted the sanctions to continue. But the Treasury Department said curbs on oligarch himself remained in force. The companies were blacklisted last April when the Trump administration targeted people and businesses it said had profited from a Russian state engaged in “malign activities” around the world. Read more
Brazil’s Bolsonaro admitted to hospital for surgery (Guardian)
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro was in hospital in Sao Paulo on Sunday for surgery to remove a colostomy bag put in after he was attacked by a man with a knife during his election campaign. His spokesman, General Otavio Santana do Rego Barros, said Saturday that Bolsonaro would be operated on Monday, after which he would be on strict bed rest for two days. Vice President Hamilton Mourao will assume the president’s duties during that time, he said. The 63-year-old president entered the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein on Sunday morning for tests before the surgery. Read more
Messi strikes as Barca reopen lead at top (BBC)
Lionel Messi scored his 26th goal of the season as Barcelona re-established their five-point lead at the top of La Liga with victory over 10-man Girona. Barca saw their lead cut by Atletico Madrid’s win over Levante on Saturday, but eased past neighbours Girona. Nelson Semedo swept home the opener on 10 minutes, while Messi dinked in a lovely finish the second half. Girona defender Bernardo was dismissed for two yellow cards in a match which could have been played in Miami, USA. Read more
Ronaldo penalty puts Juve 11 points clear (BBC)
Cristiano Ronaldo scored an 88th-minute penalty as champions Juventus came from behind to beat Lazio and go 11 points clear at the top of Serie A. Ronaldo, signed for £99.2m in the summer, netted his 17th goal of the season with a thumping spot-kick. Juve looked to be heading for their first defeat since last April when Emre Can miscued into his own goal. But substitute Joao Cancelo struck from close range to level the contest before Ronaldo kept his cool for victory. Massimiliano Allegri’s side capitalised on Napoli’s goalless draw against AC Milan on Saturday and are now firm favourites to claim the title for the eighth straight season. Read more
Spurs suffer second cup exit in a week (BBC)
Tottenham went out of their second knockout competition in four days after defeat by Crystal Palace in the FA Cup fourth round at Selhurst Park. Having lost a Carabao Cup semi-final to Chelsea on penalties on Thursday, Spurs were 2-0 down inside 35 minutes. Connor Wickham marked his first start since November 2016 with a goal before a penalty by ex-Spurs midfielder Andros Townsend doubled the lead. Spurs missed a penalty before half-time when Kieran Trippier blazed wide. It was their third miss from the spot in two games after Lucas Moura and Eric Dier failed in Thursday’s shootout at Stamford Bridge as Spurs went out of the EFL Cup. Read more
Command arrests suspect who snatched Uber driver’s car (Punch)
Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested one Olalekan Ogundoju for conniving with a fleeing suspect to snatch a Toyota Corolla car from its owner, Ogadinma Ikeagu. Ikeagu, who used the car with number plate KJA 69 FE, for a ride-hailing service under Uber, was said to have picked the suspects, who posed as passengers, around 11.50pm in the Afrikan Shrine area of Alausa, Ikeja. The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, said in a statement on Sunday that operatives of the command, who were on crime prevention patrol, came across Ikeagu crying for help because of his stolen car, adding that a chase in the direction of the fleeing suspects led to the arrest of Ogundoju around the Victoria Island area of the state. Read more
Suspected fraudster nabbed with eight ATM cards in Katsina (Punch)
A 32-year old man, Mohammed Kabir, of Sabon Titin Kwado, Katsina, has been arrested by the police in Katsina State after eight Automated Teller Machine cards belonging to separate banks were found in his possession. He was alleged to be using the ATM cards to defraud unsuspecting bank customers. Kabir, who was caught on Wednesday within the premises of a first generation bank along the IBB Way, Katsina, told Northern City News that someone introduced him to the “business” about six months ago. He said he hung around ATM points and scooped out numbers printed on the ATM cards of unwary customers. Read more