I won’t step down my campaign, delay in take-off won’t affect my victory – Donald Duke (Guardian)
Mr Donald Duke, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Presidential Candidate, says he is going ahead with his campaigns in spite of delays caused by litigation over his candidature. Duke, a former Governor of Cross River, told newsmen in Lagos on Saturday that his campaign would officially commence next week as he had been pronounced the bona-fide candidate of SDP by the Court of Appeal. The court in Abuja on Thursday declared Duke the presidential candidate of SDP for the Feb. 16 Presidential Election. Read more
Onnoghen: Nigeria now a full-blown dictatorship – Dogara (Nation)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara has flayed the Buhari regime for what he called the unconstitutional suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onneghen. According to Dogara, President Muhammadu Buhari has served the world with notice that Nigeria is now a full-blown dictatorship. The Speaker, in a statement he signed himself further stated: “This did not come as a rude shock except to those that have been blind to the gradual but progressive erosion of democratic values in the polity as President Buhari’s Government has never hidden its disdain for the rule of law. Read more
Ohaneze’s adoption of Atiku baseless – Okorocha (Nation)
Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha has described the endorsement of the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar by the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo as null and void and of no effect. The Imo governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, insisted that “Ohaneze is a Socio-Cultural Organization and not a registered political party and there is no voting unit or polling booth called Ohaneze. So, its adoption of the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP should be seen as a folklore and should not give anybody concern”. Read more
Army confirms loss of personnel, equipment in Yobe Attacks (Nation)
The Nigerian Army on Saturday confirmed that it lost vehicles, personnel and equipment to the recent Boko Haram terrorists’ attacks in Geidam, Yobe State. It however asserted that troops of 159 Battalion responded to the attacks with a show of gallantry leading to the routing of the insurgents in the area. The insurgents, according to a statement by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations in charge of Sector Two, Lt. Njoka Irabor, took advantage of the market day in Geidam to loot foodstuffs. Lt Irabor said the troops handled the situation with professional acumen to prevent civilian casualties for which they were commended by the Acting Commander of the sector, Brig General Mohammed Dala. Read more
Court order leading to Onnoghen’s suspension is suspect, says Falana (Punch)
A Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has said the Code of Conduct Tribunal’s order relied on by President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, is suspect. Justice Tanko Muhammad has been sworn in by the president as the Ag. CJN following charges of false assets declaration filed against Onnoghen. According to Falana, the exparte application relied on was filed on January 9 while the motion on notice of the substantive suit filed on January 11 with the name of the lawyer that argued the exparte motion not stated in the order. Read more
NDLEA raid illicit drug producing factory in Aba (Nation)
Personnel of Abia State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has raided an illicit drug producing factory in Aba, Abia State. The NDLEA personnel also arrested four men in connection with the production of unlicensed Diazepam; a sleep-inducing anti-depressant drug. The Nation gathered that the illicit drug factory uses big lister generator, two packing and sealing machines, two tablet-making machines, one mixing machine, one big dryer and other appliances to carry out their unauthorized activities. There were also unsealed tablets with waste products from packaging littering the floor of the production rooms forming the laboratory when the newsmen visited the warehouse- turned- laboratory. Read more
Removal of CJN may affect credibility of election – US (Punch)
The United States Government has expressed worry over the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen. The US Embassy in Nigeria said in a statement that the decision of the executive arm of government to suspend the head of another arm of government without recourse to the National Assembly was questionable. The US which had last week threatened to place a visa ban on all persons who manipulate the electoral process, questioned the timing of the suspension of the CJN. Read more
Zimbabwe pledges to probe abuse, rape claims against security forces (Guardian)
Zimbabwe’s government has pledged to “thoroughly” investigate allegations of abuse and rape levelled against its security forces during a brutal crackdown to crush last week’s anti-government protests. Nationwide demonstrations erupted last week after President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced on January 12 that fuel prices were being more than doubled in a country suffering from spiralling inflation and regular shortages of necessities. Angry demonstrators took to the streets in several cities and towns with widespread rioting and looting before soldiers and police brutally put down the protests at the cost of at least 12 lives, according to NGOs. Read more
Flooding kills five in snow-hit Algeria (Guardian)
Algeria’s civil protection unit said Saturday five people died after being swept away by flood waters as a cold snap in the Maghreb brought snow to several of the country’s regions. “All the victims have been retrieved over the last 48 hours after being swept away by waters in Annaba, El Tarf, Tizi Ouzou and Tipaza,” the civil protection body said. Salvage operations took place in more than 17 areas and around 100 people have been rescued in the last 24 hours. A total of 33 roads remain blocked in over 10 regions because of snow, the civil protection unit said, adding “snow clearing operations are progressing”. Read more
‘Shocked’ Osaka wins Australian Open to become world number one (Guardian)
Japan’s Naomi Osaka said she was “in a state of shock” Saturday after holding her nerve to battle past Petra Kvitova to win the Australian Open in a three-set thriller that also delivered her the world number one ranking. The fourth seed and US Open champion triumphed 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-4 in a 2hr 27min epic over the Czech eighth seed to claim back-to-back Grand Slams and become the first Asian, male or female, to hold the top spot. The Japanese youngster fell to one knee in celebration, head bowed, as Melbourne Park erupted in thunderous cheers. Read more
Tricycle operator remanded for allegedly defiling 10-year-old girl (Punch)
A 28-year-old man, Edet Edem, was on Friday arraigned before the Chief Magistrates’ Court in Uyo for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl. Edem, a tricycle operator, who lives in Use Offot village in the Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, is standing trial on a two-count charge of defilement. The suspect hails from Oku Iboku community, Itu Local Government Area of the state. The police prosecutor, Inspector Samuel Akpan, told the court that the accused committed the offence on January 13, 2019 at Use Offot village. Read more
Man loses eye over bid to win lottery in Delta (Punch)
A 27-year-old man has lost his left eye while seeking spiritual powers that could enable him to win a lottery in Delta State. The victim, identified as Emmanuel, was said to have asked a herbalist in Ishiagu, a community in the Aniocha South Local Government of the state, to help him acquire spiritual powers to identify lucky numbers. A friend of the victim, Osita Uzoka, said Emmanuel had been playing the lottery, popularly known as Baba Ijebu, without having any success. “Emmanuel played this game every day and he had not been winning. So, he went to see a juju man in a neighbouring village to help him acquire ‘spiritual sight’ so that he can win the ‘Baba Ijebu lotto games’. Read more