How my boss attempted to rape me, by human trafficking victim (Nation)
A human trafficking victim, Oyinlola Solanke, who was rescued by the Erelu Eyinade Foundation, has narrated how her boss attempted to rape her while working as a maid in Oman. The victim narrated her experience during a walk against girls trafficking and child labour organised by Erelu Eyinade Foundation on Thursday in Abuja. During the walk which took off from Millennium Park, Maitama, and terminated at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, the foundation members led by its founder, Ms Toyin Mark, shared flyers to passers-by and motorists. Read more
Godfather prevented Fashola from fighting corruption in Lagos councils, says Aka-Basorun (Punch)
A former Vice-Chairman of Kosofe Local Government Area in Lagos State, Segun Aka-Bashorun, says former Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) had put in place mechanisms to promote transparency in local governments in the state but was prevented by “the godfather.” Aka-Bashorun, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, said Fashola had set up independent audit mechanisms to ensure that the books of local governments were looked into periodically. He, however, said when Fashola began to “block all conduit pipes through which funds were being diverted,” the local government chairmen quickly ran to the godfather who, in turn, allegedly asked Fashola to face state government affairs and leave the local governments alone. Read more
PDP rejects appeal judgement, to challenge Oyetola victory in Supreme Court (Guardian)
Opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the court of appeal judgement which upheld Gboyega Oyetola of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of Osun State governorship election. “Most certainly, we shall approach the Supreme Court for final adjudication on this matter. We appeal to PDP members and supporters in Osun State to be law abiding and shun all provocations,” PDP national vice chairman, South West, Eddy Olafeso said in a statement. “We are certainly thinking, and importantly, in conjunction with our candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke to exploit the only available option to us, by appealing against this decision to the Supreme Court.” Read more
Nigerian police free 27 hostages, including five Chinese (Guardian)
Nigerian police have freed 27 hostages kidnapped in recent weeks, police officials said Thursday, including five Chinese citizens. Kidnapping for ransom is common in Nigeria. For many years, kidnappings were concentrated on workers in the oil-rich south, but attacks are now common across large parts of the country. Many of those rescued were freed from northwestern Zamfara state, but also from other parts of the country, police said in a statement. Read more
No one can influence Supreme Court’s judgment, acting CJN Muhammad vows (Punch)
The Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, said on Thursday that no human being — living or dead — could influence the judgments of the Supreme Court. The Director, Press and Information of the Supreme Court, Dr. Festus Akande, quoted the acting CJN as saying this in a statement on Thursday. Akande had, on April 29, 2019, made similar assertion in a statement debunking a news report which attributed the exit of the former CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, to the influence of President Muhammadu Buhari on the administrative decision of the Supreme Court and its management. Read more
Jamb may release results before weekend (Guardian)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said it may start releasing results of the recently held Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) from Friday. The board’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in a chat with The Guardian. The examination, held between April 11 and April 18, 2019, was widely marred with malpractices. Hence the delay in releasing the results. Read more
Senate confirms Abike Dabiri-Erewa as Chairman/CEO of Nigerian Diaspora Commission (Punch)
The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Abike Dabiri-Erewa for appointment as Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission. The Senate made the confirmation and subsequent announcement on Thursday via its verified Twitter handle @NGRSenate. The Senate had considered the report of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations led by Senator Rose Oko. Read more
Senate approves new NYSC DG’s appointment (Guardian)
The Nigeria Senate Thursday approved the appointment of new director-general of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Shaibu Ibrahim. The Senate investigated the appointment of Ibrahim after Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West, raised a point of order that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai contradicted the law by appointing the new DG instead of the president. The Senator argued that a Director-General is to be appointed by the President, according to Section 5 of the NYSC act. Read more
IG inaugurates new counter-kidnapping operational strategies (Punch)
The Acting Inspector -General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has rolled out what has been described as ‘new counter-kidnapping operational strategies.’ Police spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, said the new strategies involve the deployment of undercover operatives, decoy operations and high-level tactical missions with active participation of operatives drawn variously from the conventional Police unit, the Force Intelligence unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squads, the Special Anti-kidnapping Squads and the Police Tactical Units comprising the Police Mobile Force, the Counter Terrorism Unit and the Special Forces. Read more
Buhari extends CBN governor’s tenure (Guardian)
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria Godwin Emefiele for another term. Emefiele’s reappointment nomination letter was read by Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, during Thursday plenary. Buhari, in the letter, urged the Senate to consider Emefiele’s reappointment having completed his first term in office. The President’s request would be referred in the next legislative day to the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions for legislative processing. Read more
EFCC arrests lawmaker over land scam (Guardian)
Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a member of the Kwara State House of Assembly Adebayo Muhammed for obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of about N4million. Muhammed, who is representing Malete/Ipuru Constituency in the state’s house of assembly, is alleged to have sold some plots of land which did not belong to him to a group of teachers in 2015, EFCC said in a statement. The lawmaker issued receipts to the buyers in the name of a non-existent company. It was further alleged that he has so far resisted all attempts by his victims to recover their money. Read more
Angola sacks Sonangol chief over fuel shortages (Guardian)
Angolan President Joao Lourenco sacked the chief executive of the state oil giant Sonangol following several days of dire fuel shortages which have paralysed Africa’s second largest producer of crude. In a decree made public late Wednesday, Lourenco said Carlos Saturnino would be replaced by Gaspar Martins, another Sonangol board member. The statement, which also announced the sacking of other executives, did not give a reason for the dismissals but referred to the continuing fuel crisis. Read more
Togo changes law to let president stand for two more terms (Guardian)
Togo’s parliament has voted a constitutional change allowing President Faure Gnassingbe, whose family has ruled the small West African country since 1967, to run two more times and potentially remain in power until 2030. In 2005, Gnassingbe succeeded his father, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, who seized power in a coup more than 50 years ago and ruled with an iron fist till his death. All 90 lawmakers present voted late Wednesday to approve the change. One other lawmaker was absent. Read more
North Korea fires two short-range missiles, South says (BBC)
North Korea has fired two short-range missiles in its second weapons test in less than a week, the South Korean military says. The missiles fired from the north-western city of Kusong travelled 420km (260 miles) and 270km towards the east. It came hours after the top US envoy arrived in South Korea for talks on how to revive nuclear negotiations. Analysts say the North is trying to increase pressure on the US over its failure to make concessions. Read more
Babysitter murdered toddler ‘because she was sick of looking after her’ (Metro)
A babysitter has been convicted of murdering a three-year-old girl after claiming she was sick of caring for the youngster. Lindsay Partin, 37, battered Hannah Wesche to death at her home in Cincinnati, Ohio, in March 2018 after looking after the little girl for up to 12 hours a day. She was convicted of murder Wednesday, after a court was told how Partin would feed and bathe Lindsay, take her to class, and wash her clothes. Read more
Twitter suspends 166,153 accounts for terrorism content (Punch)
Twitter is making headway in tackling online terrorism content on its platform as it suspended more than 166,000 accounts in the second half of 2018, the social media company said on Thursday. This is about a fifth less than in the previous period. Together with Facebook and Google, Twitter is under pressure from regulators and governments worldwide to remove extremist content more rapidly or face more heavy-handed legislation. Read more
‘He’s a super-hero’: Tearful Pochettino salutes hat-trick hero Lucas (Guardian)
Mauricio Pochettino wept tears of joy as the emotional Tottenham manager hailed “super-hero” Lucas Moura for the incredible hat-trick that fired Tottenham into their first Champions League final. Tottenham enjoyed arguably the greatest night in their history as Lucas’s second-half treble clinched a 3-2 semi-final second-leg win that sent Pochettino’s side through on away goals. With just seconds left at the Johan Cruyff Arena, Tottenham was heading out of the tournament, but Brazilian forward Lucas came to the rescue with a superb strike from the edge of the area. Read more
Mauricio Pochettino says he could leave Tottenham even if they lose Champions League final to Liverpool (Metro)
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino suggested earlier this week that he could leave the club if they win the Champions League this season, and now he has gone one step further. After their stunning win over Ajax in the semi-final on Wednesday night, the Spurs boss appeared to confirm his intention to look for pastures new if they lift the trophy, and may even move on if they don’t. Pochettino’s side pulled off a remarkable comeback to oust Ajax from the competition in Amsterdam on an unforgettable night for the club. Read more
Ajax coach proud of players after agonising defeat (Guardian)
Ajax coach Erik ten Hag expressed pride in his team after seeing their rousing Champions League run come to an end in cruel fashion in their semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday. “I’m very proud of this team and that they made it this far. We have had a great run,” Ten Hag said after the Dutch club were beaten on away goals on a dramatic night at the Johan Cruyff Arena. Lucas Moura’s 96th-minute strike to complete his second-half hat-trick made it 3-2 to Spurs on the night and 3-3 on aggregate as the Premier League club progressed to the final against Liverpool. Read more
Steven Gerrard admits he left Liverpool’s stunning comeback win over Barcelona before full-time (Metro)
Steven Gerrard has revealed that he was so overcome with emotion during Liverpool’s incredible victory over Barcelona that he had to leave Anfield before full-time. Trailing 3-0 from the first leg, Liverpool completed one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history as a pair of braces from Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum sent Jurgen Klopp’s side through with a 4-3 aggregate victory. Tottenham fought back in similarly spectacular fashion against Ajax on Wednesday night to set up an all-English final in Madrid and Liverpool legend Gerrard has nothing but praise for both Premier League clubs. Read more
Ronaldo rubbishes Super League idea, defends Barcelona season (Punch)
Former Brazil striker Ronaldo de Lima has rubbished the idea of a European Super League replacing the Champions League. He suggested that Europe’s top clubs are using it as a means of extracting more money for themselves. European soccer’s governing body UEFA this week met with representatives from some of the continent’s major clubs to discuss the proposal of replacing the elite competition with a league featuring promotion and relegation. Read more
David Beckham banned from driving (Punch)
Former England footballer David Beckham was on Thursday disqualified from driving for six months after using his phone while behind the wheel. The 44-year-old admitted the offence after being spotted by a member of the public as he drove his Bentley in London on November 21. The ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid player attended the hearing at Bromley Magistrates Court, south of London. Read more