I’ve been living in sorrow since my leg got broken –Lagos hairdresser shot by policeman (Punch)
After struggling for a few seconds, she got up from the mattress she had lain on idly for hours. Downcast and pale, she clutched her crutches and limped to the veranda where our correspondent had waited. On each step she took, Hannah Olugbodi would gaze at the bandage wrapped around her leg and shake her head in disbelief. Once bubbling with life and very ambitious, her plans had been left in shreds since a bullet fired by a policeman shattered the lower part of her leg. The 33-year-old mother of two had gone to a shop around Agunbiade Street, Ijesha, Surulere, Lagos State, about 8pm to buy pepper she would use to prepare the food that her children would take to school the following morning. Read more
Buhari extends tenure of acting CJN Tanko Muhammad (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari has extended the tenure of acting Chief Justice of Nigeria Tanko Muhammad by three months. The National Judicial Council approved the appointment of Justice Muhammad following a recommendation sent by President Buhari. Muhammad was sworn in as the acting CJN on January 25 by Buhari after the president suspended Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria following the directive of the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Read more
Why we are taking headcount of victims of Nasarawa attacks – NEMA (Punch)
The National Emergency Management Agency has carried out a headcount of Internally Displaced Persons from the three communities recently attacked by suspected herdsmen in Akwanga, Nasarawa State. Mustafa Maihaja, Director-General of NEMA, stated this on Saturday during the headcount in Akwanga. Maihaja, who was represented by Mr Ladan Ayuba, Director in charge of North-Central, said the agency was in Akwanga to take inventory of the number of people displaced and the level of damage done for the purpose of providing relief materials to victims. Read more
NAFDAC raises alarm over prevalence of drug addicts (Guardian)
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder due to what it described as the high rate and prevalence of drug addicts across the country. The agency said it was shocking that Nigeria was leading even beyond the international coverage of drug abuse globally.The Director, Public Affairs, NAFDAC, Dr Abubakar Jimoh, said this on Saturday while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin. Jimoh said the agency has an average conservative estimate of about 15 million people who are on drugs and 3 million of them could be conveniently called drug addicts. Read more
I won’t be a bench warmer in the Senate, says Niger Senator-elect (Nation)
The Senator-elect for Niger South Senatorial District, Mohammed Bima Enagi has declared that he will ensure that the people feel his representation at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly as he has no intention of being a ‘bench warmer’. He said that for a long time the people in Niger state and Niger South in particular have not felt the impact and proper representation of their elected representatives in the National Assembly and this have placed the Senatorial district at a disadvantaged position. Speaking to newsmen in Minna, Bima said one of his area of interest is to improve the socio-econonic development of Niger South. Read more
Ebola would have been a bigger disaster for Nigeria if Sawyer had reached a church for healing –Chukwu, former health minister (Punch)
How did you receive the news on July 20, 2014 when it was announced that Ebola had found its way into Nigeria? I had actually travelled to Melbourne, Australia, to represent President Goodluck Jonathan at the World AIDS/HIV conference at the time the announcement was made. It was on my way back, at the stop-over in Singapore, that I switched on my phone, which was always roamed and noticed that I had a text message from the then Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Prof Lasidi. The message said, “Honourable Minister, finally, Ebola has landed in Nigeria.” Read more
Ayade donates N1m to inmate who delivered twins in Calabar Prison (Guardian)
Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has donated N1 million and other gift items to the management of the General Hospital Calabar for the upkeep of the prison inmate who gave birth to twins at the hospital on Thursday April 18. Ayade, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong, said on Saturday in Calabar that the gesture was a special Easter gift to the mother of the twins; a boy and girl. Ayade noted that in the spirit of the Easter season, `the beautiful babies deserve love and care’.Ayade said that in line with his welfare policy and love for children, the twins were named after him and his wife, Ben and Linda Ayade. Read more
Ogun community demands justice over murder of monarch (Punch)
Community leaders in Owo, Yewa South Local Government of Ogun State, have demanded justice over the alleged murder of their traditional ruler, Oba Patrick Fasinu, who was burnt to death about two years ago. The slain monarch was waylaid, hacked and burnt to death by suspected assassins while he was returning from a meeting of traditional rulers in the Ilaro area of the state in July 2017. The late monarch was said to have dropped off his driver along the way and was heading home when he was killed. Read more
I’m proud of my father, Anini’s son declares in a video (Nation)
Osayi, second son of Lawrence Anini, the notorious armed robber who was executed alongside his gang members in 1987, has spoken out after three decades of silence. In a viral video, Osayi said he decided to speak because of people’s opinion about him for many years. Osayi said anytime he goes out, people always pointed him out as ‘look at Anini’s son. That is Anini’s son.’ He said he was not hiding his identity and that he is proud of his father. Read more
Sudan crisis: Cash hoard found at al-Bashir’s home (BBC)
A large hoard of cash has been found at the home of Sudan’s ousted president Omar al-Bashir and he is now being investigated for money laundering, prosecutors say. Security services found euros, dollars and Sudanese pounds totalling more than $130m (£100m). The ex-leader was placed under house arrest after months of protests led to his removal. Reports say Mr Bashir is now being held at the Kobar high-security prison. Read more
Bangladeshis protest after sexually assaulted girl burned to death (Punch)
Demonstrations were held across the Bangladesh capital Saturday for the tenth consecutive day after a teenager who accused a head teacher of sexually harassing her was burned to death. The killing of 19-year-old Nusrat Jahan Rafi has sparked outrage across the South Asian nation and put police action in the case under the spotlight. Protesters in Dhaka chanted slogans demanding the death sentence for the killers of the girl, who police say was lured to the rooftop of the Islamic seminary she attended in Feni, south of the capital. Read more
Kabul attack: Seven killed at Afghan ministry of information (BBC)
Seven people were killed in an attack on the Afghan ministry of information in Kabul, officials said. An explosion was heard at 11:40 local time (07:10 GMT) and sporadic gunfire continued for over six hours before officials declared the incident over. A ministry source said one of the attackers got inside the building. The attack comes a day after talks between Afghan officials and the Taliban were suspended, but the Taliban said they were not behind the assault. Read more
Ku Klux Klan killing: Wife admits murder of Missouri leader (BBC)
The wife of a Ku Klux Klan leader in the US state of Missouri has admitted shooting him dead two years ago. Malissa Ancona, 47, was sentenced to life after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and other charges. She had initially said her son, Paul Jinkerson, carried out the killing but in court on Friday said this was not the case. He still faces trial. Frank Ancona, a self-styled “imperial wizard”, was shot dead in a bedroom and his body dumped next to a river. Read more
India chief justice Gogoi accused of sexual harassment (BBC)
India’s Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi has been accused of sexual harassment by a former Supreme Court employee. The 35-year-old woman has filed an affidavit alleging two instances of misconduct in October last year, shortly after Mr Gogoi was appointed. She says her family was victimised after she refused the advances. A statement said Mr Gogoi, 64, “totally denied” the “false and scurrilous” accusations. He has labelled them an attempt to “destabilise the judiciary”. Read more
A dog named Jesus is saved on Good Friday and people are loving the coincidence (Metro)
Some coincidences simply fill you with joy. Like when you run into your ex on a day when you look amazing or find a tenner on the floor of the pub after you’ve finished your drink. Others, like the story of Jesus the dog, are just downright hilarious. On Good Friday, the religious day that commemorates Jesus’ crucifixion and death, a dog was saved by firefighters in Sutton Park, a nature reserve outside Birmingham. The Staffordshire bull terrier mix was pulled from the water by the West Midlands Fire Service. Read more
Blind Japanese sailor completes non-stop Pacific voyage (BBC)
A blind Japanese sailor has completed a non-stop Pacific crossing, reportedly making him the first visually impaired person to do so. Mitsuhiro Iwamoto, 52, sailed the 8,700-mile (14,000 km) crossing with the help of a sighted navigator. His 12m (40 ft) yacht made port in Fukushima on Saturday morning, ending his two-month trip. He left California on 24 February with Doug Smith, an American navigator who assisted him. Read more
Pharrell Williams and his son join volunteers handing out food to the homeless (Metro)
Pharrell Williams found a way to do a very good deed on Good Friday as he took his ten-year-old son, Rocket, on a charitable outing in California. The N.E.R.D frontman and his eldest son were among the many volunteers who spent some of their time giving out food to the homeless in L.A.’s Skid Row. Roughly 4,000 people were fed pork with an apple glaze, Hawaiian rolls, a side of mac and cheese for their meal, with peach crisp for dessert. Read more
Eaglets play out 1-1 draw against Uganda, to face Guinea in semis (Nation)
World cup bound Eaglets Saturday played out a 1-1 draw with their Ugandan counterparts in the last group match of the ongoing Under 17 Nations cup in Tanzania. The Ugandan who desperately needed a win to hazard a chance of progressing shot into the lead in the 68th minute of the match through substitute John Alou. The Eaglets however came from behind to level up in the 74th minute thanks to Ibraheem Jabaar who got a timely assist from Olakunle Olusegun. Read more
Foden fires Man City back top, Brighton boost survival bid (Punch)
Phil Foden fired Manchester City back to the top of the Premier League as the young midfielder sealed a vital 1-0 win over Tottenham, while Brighton improved their survival prospects with a goalless draw at Wolves on Saturday. Pep Guardiola’s side are one point clear of second-placed Liverpool after Foden’s fifth-minute header exacted a measure of revenge for City’s Champions League quarter-final exit against Tottenham on Wednesday. Read more
Pep Guardiola gives worrying prognosis after Kevin De Bruyne’s latest injury (Metro)
Kevin De Bruyne could be out for the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury against Tottenham, according to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola. The Belgian midfielder went down in the first half against Spurs and looked in serious discomfort before being replaced by Fernandinho and going straight down the tunnel. Guardiola is not certain of the extent of the injury De Bruyne has suffered, but believes it could keep him out of the FA Cup final on 18 May. Read more
Bundesliga: Bayern grind out Bremen win to stay ahead of Dortmund (Punch)
Niklas Suele’s late goal saw Bayern Munich break a brave resistance from ten-man Werder Bremen to snatch a crucial 1-0 win and stay ahead of Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga title race. Bayern toiled in the searing Bavarian sun against Bremen, eventually grinding out the victory to go four points clear at the top of the table overnight. The win puts pressure on title rivals Dortmund, who need to win a tough away game in Freiburg on Sunday if they are to remain within a point of Bayern. Read more
Zidane already clear on Real Madrid transfer targets (Guardian)
Zinedine Zidane said on Saturday he knows exactly what kind of players he wants to sign this summer as he looks to revamp Real Madrid’s squad for next season. Madrid are expected to be busy after a miserable campaign that has left them lying 13 points behind Barcelona in La Liga, after already crashing out of the Champions League in the last 16. Several players could depart, with Gareth Bale’s future particularly uncertain, while among those likely to arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu is Chelsea forward Eden Hazard. Read more
Rafael Nadal reacts to shock Monte Carlo loss to Fabio Fognini (Metro)
Rafael Nadal was understandably frutstrated in the aftermath of his surprise defeat to Fabio Fognini in the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters and blasted the loss as ‘one of the worst matches’ he’d played on clay in 14 years. The Spaniard was well beaten by Fognini, who recovered from 3-1 down in the first set to win 6-4 6-2 against the defending champion. Fognini will go on to face Dusan Lajovic in the final – a surprising line-up given the strength of the field at the Monte Carlo Country Club – but, in truth, few would have predicted 17-time Grand Slam winner Nadal would fail to reach the final. Read more