Ita-Faji residents want govt to ban high-rise buildings (Punch)
Some residents of Ita-faji have appealed to the Lagos State government to stop developers from constructing houses beyond three storeys. The residents who spoke with our correspondent lament the high number of lives that have been lost to the collapse of such buildings in the past. They also appealed to the government to stop churches and school owners in the area from using high-rise buildings as their base for operations. They also alleged that the collapsed building had been marked for demolition but government officials failed to carry out the demolition because the owner bribed them. Read more
Govt will demolish buildings that fail integrity test —Ambode (Punch)
The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Wednesday, said that buildings within the vicinity of the collapsed building at Ita-Faji, on Lagos Island, would be subjected to integrity tests. Ambode said this as he visited the scene of the collapsed three-storey building, which housed a primary school. He said that if any of the buildings failed the integrity test, it would be demolished. “This area and building here will be undergoing an integrity test. As you can see some of the buildings have been marked for demolition. Read more
INEC lacks power to withhold my Certificate of Return – Okorocha (Nation)
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has described the decision to withhold his Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after being declared winner of the Imo West Senatorial election as unfortunate and unconstitutional. The Imo Governor alleged that INEC is being used by those he said were fighting him ahead the 2023 Presidential election to stop him from going to the Senate, adding that it is only the Courts that have the powers to nullify any election after a winner has been declared and the Electoral umpire does not have the power. Read more
Ekweremadu blames federal government for late passage of budgets (Guardian)
Nigeria’s deputy Senate president Ike Ekweremadu on Wednesday said the executive arm of government was responsible for the late passage of the country’s budgets. “Another issue is that the Executive usually presents the Budget late in the year, giving the National Assembly little time to deliberate on the budget, thereby leaving very little time for implementation,” Ekweremadu said. Ekweremadu, who spoke during plenary, said the Senate is often left with limited time to deliberate on issues of national importance captured in the budget. Read more
Uche Nwosu won Imo gov election, Okorocha insists (Nation)
Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has declared his son-in-law and candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Uche Nwosu won Saturday’s governorship election in the state. “I say so because going by the actual calculation, the person that won this election is Ugwumba Uche Nwosu. “Uche Nwosu won the election landslide, if you remove the manipulation results from Mbaise, Uche Nwosu won with over 50,000 votes, if you cannot declare him a winner because you have someone already, then they should go for a rerun because you cannot change the Constitution if the Federal Republic of Nigeria because you want to favour a candidate,” he insisted. Read more
Buhari rejects bill to amend NOSDRA Act (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari has declined assent to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency Act (Amendment) Bill passed by the National Assembly. Buhari, in a letter, addressed to Senate President Bukola Saraki and read at plenary on Wednesday, the President said his decision was pursuant to Section 58 (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Specifically, the President said the bill undermines the powers of the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the functions of the ministry. Read more
Declare Wike governor elect now, PDP Rivers tells INEC (Nation)
The Rivers state chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to declare governor Nyesom Wike the winner of the March 9, 2019 governorship election in the state. The state chairman of the party, Bro. Felix Obuah made the call at the expanded news briefing of the party executives in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Wednesday. Relying on the results from the unites, wards and Local Governments where the exercise was successfully held Obuah said, “With the available result from the field, I want to assure you that His Excellency (Wike) has won overwhelmingly and INEC should not waste time in declaring Governor Nyesom Wike the winner and governor-elect of Rivers State. Read more
Niger says it killed 33 Boko Haram ‘terrorists’ (Guardian)
Niger said Wednesday it had killed 33 Boko Haram “terrorists” and seized vehicles and weapons in an operation in the Lake Chad region in the country’s southeast. “Offensive actions carried out on Tuesday inflicted heavy losses on the enemy,” a defence ministry statement read on state television said. “Thirty-three terrorists (were) killed” while there were no losses on the army’s side, it said. An “armoured vehicle” was destroyed, while two other vehicles, two motorcycles, a 120-millimetre mortar, 10 AK-47 assault rifles, two 60mm shells and 3,736 rounds of all calibres were seized, it said. Read more
Metuh drops SANs, engages new lawyer to defend him in money laundering case (Punch)
A former spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, has disengaged two Senior Advocates of Nigeria leading his defence in his N400m money laundering case before the Federal High Court in Abuja. He immediately replaced the two senior lawyers with another lawyer, Mr. Abel Ozioko, who appeared in the case for the first time on Wednesday. Metuh’s decision to disengage the two SANs – Dr. Onyechi Ikpezu and Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN) – came barely 24 hours after the senior lawyers filed an application for withdrawal as the defendant’s counsel. Read more
Alleged N3.5b fraud: Saraki’s aides re-arraigned (Nation)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday re-arraigned Senate President Bukola Saraki’s Deputy Chief of Staff Gbenga Makanjuola and two others before Justice Maureen Onyetenu of the Federal High Court in Lagos. It accused the defendants of allegedly converting N3.5billion of N19billion London-Paris Club refund to states. The defendants were accused of conspiring to disguise the unlawful origin of N3.5billion paid into the account of Melrose General Services Limited. Read more
Wakili is still in charge of Kano police, says spokesman (Guardian)
Kano state Police Command has refuted rumour trending on the purported transfer of Commissioner of Police Wakili Mohammad from the state. Unsubstantiated news of the CP removal broke out on social media a few hours after the gubernatorial poll was declared inconclusive, a development which generated anxiety and shock in the ancient city. Reacting to the development, PPRO, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa told The Guardian that the Police boss in still fully in control of Kano. Read more
EFCC, Patience Jonathan get new date in forfeiture case (Nation)
Hearing was stalled Wednesday in a forfeiture case by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan at the Federal High Court in Lagos. Justice Mojisola Olatoregun had adjourned for parties to give oral evidence on the source of $8.4 million and N7.4 billion allegedly belonging to Mrs. Jonathan, which EFCC is praying the court to order its final forfeiture. But, EFCC’s lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo was said to have written the court for an adjournment as he was to appear before the National Judicial Council (NJC) in another matter. Read more
Floods kill 66 in Mozambique, 45 in Malawi (Guardian)
At least 66 people have been killed and 141,000 affected after heavy rains deluged central and northern Mozambique, the government has said as it appealed for funds to manage the crisis. “The government has decreed a red alert due to the continuing rains and the approach of the tropical cyclone Idai, expected to reach the country between Thursday to Friday,” said cabinet spokeswoman Ana Comoana. She spoke to reporters late Tuesday after a cabinet meeting in Maputo to discuss the emergency. Read more
Paul Manafort: Ex-Trump chief gets 43 more months in jail (BBC)
Donald Trump’s ex-campaign chief Paul Manafort has been jailed for 43 more months on charges stemming from the Russia investigation. It comes a week after the 69-year-old was given a 47-month prison sentence for fraud in a separate case. The latest sentencing arises from two conspiracy charges Manafort pleaded guilty to last year. He told the federal court in Washington DC that he wanted to apologise for his actions. “I am sorry for what I have done and for all the activities that have gotten us here today,” he said, speaking from a wheelchair. Read more
Brazil school shooting: Deadly attack in São Paulo (BBC)
Two gunmen have opened fire at a school in south-eastern Brazil, killing at least six students and two employees, officials say. The shooting happened at about 09:30 local time (12:30 GMT) when the students were on a break at the state school in Suzano, near São Paulo. The gunmen, who were wearing masks, killed themselves after the attack, police say. While gun crime is common in Brazil, shootings of this nature are not. Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who took office in January, has signed a decree making it easier for law-abiding citizens to own a gun, a key campaign promise, even though many restrictions remain in place. Read more
Declan Rice: England call-up for West Ham midfielder for Euro 2020 qualifiers (BBC)
West Ham midfielder Declan Rice has been named in England’s squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Montenegro in March. The 20-year-old switched international allegiance from the Republic of Ireland to England in a move recently ratified by world governing body Fifa. London-born Rice played three times for the Republic but qualified for England as they were all friendly appearances. England host the Czechs on 22 March and are away in Montenegro on 25 March. Read more
Unai Emery responds to Hatem Ben Arfa mocking him after Rennes beat Arsenal
Unai Emery insists he respects Hatem Ben Arfa despite the former PSG winger mocking his one-time manager after Arsenal’s defeat against Rennes last week. The pair rarely saw eye-to-eye during their time together in the French capital, with Emery exiling the mercurial winger and forcing him to train with the reserves. Ben Arfa played a pivotal role as Rennes secured a potentially decisive 3-1 lead ahead of Thursday’s second leg at the Emirates and could not resist taking a dig at Emery. Read more
Tedesco’s future in the balance after Schalke’s mauling at City (Punch)
Schalke coach Domenico Tedesco has ruled out resigning despite his side’s 7-0 mauling at Manchester City in the Champions League, but the club’s bosses are now deciding his future. “I haven’t given a second thought to changing anything on my side,” said Tedesco after the biggest European defeat in his club’s history on Tuesday. “I am proud, even now, to be coach of Schalke 04. “Even in these difficult times, I like being here and giving my all.” Read more