‘I’ll remain grateful to my sureties in my travails’ – Kanu (Nation)
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has said he will remain eternally grateful to his sureties for standing by him all through his travails, trials and tribulations. He described the bench warrant against him by Justice Binta Nyako as “mere academic exercise,” expressing confidence that it would be ignored by the international and diplomatic community. In a broadcast monitored by The Nation corespondent in Awka, the IPOB leader insisted that Nigerian government could not by its antics incite the world against him. Read more
ADP governorship candidate Gbadamosi will not challenge election result (Guardian)
The candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the last governorship election in Lagos state Babatunde Gbadamosi has said he will not contest the outcome of the election at the tribunal. Gbadamosi said he will be devoting his time and resources towards preparation for the next election in 2023. The ADP candidate lost the election to the candidate of the ruling All Progressive Party (APC), Babajide Sanwo-Olu. “My decision is to wait and contest the next election and hopefully, the votes will count then. However, I do not have any more resources to waste on a process in which I have no confidence,” Gbadamosi said. Read more
Saraki gives committee Thursday deadline to submit budget report (Nation)
Senate President Bukola Saraki on Tuesday gave the Appropriations Committee till Thursday to submit the 2019 budget report. Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Sunny Ogbuoji told the Senate that only 24 out of 61 sub-committees had submitted their reports. Saraki insisted that the budget report must be presented on Thursday, April 11 ahead of the April 16 approval of the money bill. The Senate President noted the Appropriations committee will be forced to use Executive submissions if the sub-committees fail to submit their reports to the Committee by Wednesday. Read more
INEC to resume distribution of 11,228,582 PVCs —Okoye (Punch)
The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it will resume the distribution of 11,228,582 uncollected permanent voter cards this month. The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, in an interview with our correspondent, noted that all the uncollected PVCs were still locked up at the Central Bank of Nigeria as promised by the Commission until after the elections. Okoye, however, noted that a supplementary election in Rivers State had yet to be concluded. Read more
Buhari committed to ending criminality, banditry – IGP (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari has so much concern, commitment and the zeal to put Nigeria to order in the area of security especially to curtail the Zamfara state security challenges, the Inspection general of police, Muhammad Adamu has disclosed. Adamu revealed that it is in view of the escalating situation that the president has moved to conquer criminality and banditry across affected states IGP Adamu, who was in the state to assess security situation explained that he is in the state to have first-hand information by discussing with the people at the grassroot. Read more
Some traditional rulers aid banditry, killings in Zamfara, others —Defence minister (Punch)
The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, has said that some highly placed traditional rulers in restive communities aid bandits to perpetuate criminal activities. He said the Federal Government was working with the military to tackle the banditry and killings in Zamfara State and the entire North-West region. The minister added that the traditional rulers also “compromise military operations,” warning that the armed forces would go after “any person or group of persons who choose to connive or sympathisise with bandits to perpetuate crime against law abiding citizens.” Read more
DPR to shut stations in Bayelsa for selling fuel N160 per liter (Nation)
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has vowed to shut down filling stations in Bayelsa State for selling Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) above N160 per liter. The department was disturbed that independent petroleum marketers in Yenagoa, the state capital, suddenly increased their pump price of fuel from the regulated price of N145 to N160 per liter. Speaking after an emergency meeting with independent marketers in the state, on Tuesday, DPR’s Head of Operations, Ibinabo Jack, derided them for the sudden increase in price. He said it was not justifiable as it was never supported by any regulatory body and warned that the affected stations would be closed down. Read more
21 persons killed, 50 cows rustled in Kajuru attack —Police (Punch)
The Kaduna State Police Command have confirmed the attack on Ungwan Aku village, in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state in which 20 people were reportedly killed on Monday. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, said 21, not 20 people as earlier reported, were killed by suspected bandits in two communities in Kajuru. The spokesman added that during the attack, three persons sustained gunshot injuries, while 10 houses were razed. Sabo said the bandits also rustled 50 cows after unleashing mayhem on the communities. Read more
Police identify those behind Rivers cult killings (Nation)
The police in Rivers on Tuesday said that cultists and thugs that had lost patronage from politicians were behind the upsurge in killings in the state. DSP Nnamdi Omoni, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt. Omoni said the police were aware of the upsurge in crime in the state, stressing that the command had put in place adequate measures to tackle this. He stated that the killings were not strange to the police as politicians who had armed the cultists and thugs had now turned their backs on them. Read more
Court admits evidence on Olisa Metuh’s N400m alleged fraud case (Punch)
The Federal High Court, Abuja, has admitted into evidence, records of expenditure of the N400m the former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, is alleged to have fraudulently received. The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, admitted the document titled ‘President National Assignment Account’ into evidence and marked it as exhibit D20. Metuh had testified that the N400m was paid to him by former President Goodluck Jonathan for a special national assignment. Read more
Unical campus now has Police station with functional cell, says VC (Punch)
The University of Calabar has been equipped with a Police station that also has a functional cell; while a naval base will also be built on the main campus in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, to curb all forms of crime there. This was disclosed by the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Zana Akpagu, at the 32nd convocation media briefing on Tuesday. “Security is our number one priority. Security on campus is watertight. Times have changed. Secret cults have assumed a very dangerous dimension. They are not the secret cults we used to know. Read more
Man in court for allegedly stabbing neighbour with iron rod (Punch)
A Mararaba Upper Area Court, Nasarawa State, on Tuesday ordered that 41-year-old Ako be remanded in prison, for allegedly stabbing his neighbour with an iron rod. The Judge, Ibrahim Shekarau, ordered that the defendant is remanded in Keffi Prison, pending further order of the court. Ako, who resides at Criss Park, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, is charged with assault and causing grievous hurt. Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sergeant Hamen Donald, told the court that Ako’s neighbour, Mohammed Ibrahim, reported the matter at the “A” Division Police Station, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, on April 7. Read more
Algeria protests: Police use water cannon to disperse demonstrators (BBC)
Algerian police have used water cannon against protesters demonstrating against Abdelkader Bensalah’s appointment as interim president. Mr Bensalah, the speaker of parliament’s upper house, succeeds President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who resigned last week following weeks of peaceful demonstrations. But many want more radical change. Mr Bensalah, who will be in power until a presidential election, pledged to work in the interests of the people. Read more
Vatican to host South Sudan warring rivals to encourage peace process (Guardian)
South Sudan’s warring rivals President Salva Kiir and rebel leader and former vice president Riek Machar will attend a retreat at the Vatican this week “to work for a future of peace”, the Holy See said. The arch-rivals will attend “an occasion for encounter and reconciliation, in a spirit of respect and trust,” the Vatican said in a statement, describing it as “both ecumenical and diplomatic at the same time”. The encounter on Wednesday and Thursday between “those who in this moment have the mission and the responsibility to work for a future of peace and prosperity for the South Sudanese people” had been proposed by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who will also attend. Read more
Trump: Court defeat on asylum policy ‘unfair to US’ (BBC)
US President Donald Trump has lashed out at a judge for blocking his policy of sending asylum seekers to Mexico to await court hearings in their cases. “A 9th Circuit judge just ruled that Mexico is too dangerous for migrants,” he tweeted. “So unfair to the US.” His policy would have returned migrant families back over the border as they seek a legal right to stay in the US. The legal defeat comes as migrant numbers at the US-Mexico border surged to their highest since 2008. Mr Trump was said to be livid after US immigration officials estimated border apprehensions in March had topped 100,000. Read more
Husband seeks child’s custody as wife runs off with lover (Punch)
A Zimbabwean woman, Tevedzerai Ziona, has dumped her husband, Never Mahachi, 43, twice within four months for her lover. According to TellZim, Ziona left her matrimonial home last year December with her daughter and went to live with her lover in Marondera, an eastern part of Zimbabwe. She reportedly refused the entreaties of her husband to come home and only did so on March 16, after the intervention of her sister. A source close to the family, however, stated that Ziona’s boyfriend showed up at her home on March 20 and she left with him, alongside her daughter. Read more
Hackers could be spying through your phone and taking pictures of your intimate moments, researchers warn (Metro)
Hackers have invented a scary new form of ‘surveillanceware’ with truly terrifying capabilities. The sinister software is similar to another piece of spyware called Exodus and is now believed to be capable of striking both Android and iOS. It was first spotted lurking in a dark corner of the Google Play Store but has allegedly been modified to hit Apple phones too. One version of the surveillanceware can take photos through a victim’s camera and record audio using their handset’s microphone. Read more
Florida man accused of shoplifting after buying $8m island (BBC)
A Florida man has been arrested for shoplifting at a supermarket, shortly after he bought a multi-million-dollar private island. Andrew Lippi is accused of stealing about $300 (£230) worth of goods from a Kmart department store, the Key West Police Department reported. Mr Lippi had made headlines days earlier by purchasing Thompson Island off Key West for $8m (£6.13m). He denied the allegations and blamed it on a “commercial dispute”. Mr Lippi allegedly stole items, including LED light bulbs and a $55 Hamilton Beach coffee maker, which he then “replaced with a much older coffee maker” and returned for a full refund. Read more
Teacher, 33, ‘who had sex with schoolboy, 13, brands him “the real predator” (Metro)
A teacher who had sex with a schoolboy aged as young as 13 has branded him ‘the real predator’ in a dramatic courtroom broadside. Justine Nelson’s defense attorney Roger Nuttall made the stinging attack on the teen in court Monday after highlighting testimony from a psychologist who claims Nelson is not a sexual predator. Nuttall said that meant the unidentified boy, who says he was 13 when Nelson began targeting him at Tenaya Middle School in Merced, California, during 2016. Read more
Game Of Thrones soundtrack announced with Travis Scott, James Arthur and Ellie Goulding (Metro)
Game Of Thrones may be coming to a bitter end soon but at least we’ll always have the music, as a soundtrack has been announced featuring the likes of Travis Scott, James Arthur and Ellie Goulding. For The Throne will feature a host of brand new songs inspired by the hit HBO series, and it’s the first time the TV network has partnered with major record labels Columbia and RCA Records. Also featuring on the soundtrack are Chloe X Halle, Mumford & Sons, Matthew Bellamy, Sza, The Lumineers, The Weeknd and Ty Dolla $ign, plus many more. Read more
Sodje Lampoons NFF over influx of foreign coaches and assistants (Nation)
Former international Sam Sodje has taken a swipe at Nigeria Football federation over what he dubbed complete takeover of the national football team by foreign coaches. The takeover according to him does not only limit the chances of local coaches to call the shots but also encourages stagnation in the system. He recalled that Dutch man Clemence Westerhof had just one foreign assistant when he led the super Eagles noting that the current scenario looks like relegation of local coaches. He accused the NFF of deceiving the public claiming it does not have money but spending a fortune on foreign coaches. As if putting the achievement made by Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr since his arrival on the scale, the former Reading defender concluded that not much impact has been made. Read more
Argentina boss Scaloni hospitalised after bike accident in Spain (Guardian)
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was briefly hospitalised on Tuesday on the Spanish holiday island of Mallorca after being hit by a car while riding a bike, local officials said. The 40-year-old was knocked to the ground by a vehicle that was reversing near a school in the port of Puerto Portals, a spokesman for the municipality of Calvia told AFP. The driver called the emergency services, who then transported Scaloni to the Son Espases hospital in Palma de Mallorca, the capital of Spain’s Balearic Islands. Read more
Chelsea fans flag off operation keep Hazard at all cost (Nation)
Eden Hazard debate to leave or not to leave appears to have finally taken a new twist following his breathtaking brace against Watford on Monday night. Eden Hazard demonstrated his class once again on Monday night as he single-handedly inspired Chelsea to victory over West Ham. The Belgian playmaker scored both goals as Chelsea recorded a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge to move into third in the Premier League. Hazard’s first goal on 24 minutes was a thing of beauty as he waltzed through West Ham’s midfield and defence before firing past goalkeeper Lukasz Fabiansk. Read more
Barcelona on different level to Man United, says Deulofeu (Punch)
Watford’s former Barcelona forward Gerard Deulofeu is convinced the Catalans will win their Champions League quarter-final tie against Manchester United, saying the runaway La Liga leaders are on a different level to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side. United host the first leg on Wednesday, the teams’ first official meeting since Barca brushed United aside to win 3-1 in the 2011 Champions League final. The return leg at the Nou Camp is on April 16. The Premier League side have shown a marked improvement in form since Solskjaer succeeded Jose Mourinho as coach in December, although they have struggled of late, losing three of their last four outings in all competitions. Read more