Judge threatens to jail Obanikoro if… (Vanguard)
The trial of the former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, was, Thursday, stalled following the failure of the prosecution witness, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, to appear in court today, citing health condition. Not satisfied with Obanikoro’s excuse which was made known to the judge by the counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, however, threatened to jail Sen. Obanikoro if he fails to appear in court in the next sitting. Read more
Only righteousness will elevate Nigeria, says Buhari (Vanguard)
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Churches in Nigeria to continue to stand for righteousness and truth, and preach against all forms of corruption. Buhari, represented by Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, made the appeal on Thursday in Makurdi at the 15th Biennial Conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). He said it was important for the Church to always stand on the side of righteousness and truth, as “it is only righteousness that can elevate our country.” He lamented the recurring crises in Benue since 2011, and called on herders and farmers to sheath their swords and live in peace. Read more
Again, fire razes 70 shops in Kano market (Vanguard)
The Kano State Fire Service said fire has destroyed 70 temporary shops at Yan’Katako Market in Rijayar Lemo area of Kano. The Spokesman of the State Fire Service, Alhaji Saidu Mohammed, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Kano on Thursday. The spokesman said 30 of the shops were completely razed down while 40 were slightly burnt. “We received a distress call in the early hours of Thursday at about 03:45 a.m from one Bashir Suleiman that there was fire outbreak at the market. Read more
Twenty trapped after deadly SA mine blast (BBC)
Six people have been killed by a gas explosion in an abandoned coal mine in South Africa, the national broadcaster is reporting. About 20 others are still trapped at the Gloria coal mine in Middelburg, east of the capital, Pretoria. A police spokesman said some people had gone into the mine to steal copper wires when a gas pipe exploded. Local media said rescue efforts were being hampered by dangerously high levels of toxic gas. Read more
France says ‘unacceptable’ that Italy deputy PM met ‘yellow vests’ (Guardian)
The French foreign ministry on Wednesday denounced as “unacceptable” a meeting between Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio and France’s “yellow vest” anti-government protesters. “This new provocation is unacceptable between neighbouring countries and partners at the heart of the European Union,” a ministry spokesman said in a statement a day after Di Maio met the protesters on French soil. “Mr Di Maio, who has governmental responsibilities, should ensure that he does not impair with its repeated interferences our bilateral relations, in the interest of both France and Italy,” the spokesman said. Read more
Syria war: Families and fighters flee IS’s last village (BBC)
Islamic State group (IS) members and their families have been fleeing the group’s last sliver of territory in eastern Syria, as US-backed militia advance towards them. Men, women and children, some with serious injuries, others describing running out of food, have been leaving the group’s rapidly shrinking enclave, which the US military on Tuesday said amounted to about 50 sq km (20 sq miles). They have been arriving at the village of Baghuz to surrender to the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Read more
Nigeria drop to 46th place on latest FIFA ranking (Punch)
Nigeria has retained her fourth position in Africa but dropped two places from her previous 44th position in FIFA Coca Cola World Rankings released on Thursday. Nigeria also retained her 1,427 points from the previous list in December. The first ranking of the year also saw Asian champions, Qatar, climb to 55th in the world, gaining 38 places and reaching their best position since 1993. According to FIFA statement, the Asian Cup has been responsible for the notable changes in the rankings, with the scarcity of games in other confederations leaving the top 20 unchanged, and Belgium still in pole position. Read more
Barca preparing for life after Messi (BBC)
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says the club’s transfer activity is an indication they are preparing for life after Lionel Messi. Barca last month confirmed the £65m signing of 21-year-old midfielder Frenkie de Jong from Ajax. Messi, 31, has scored 581 goals in 664 games for Barcelona. “I know one day Lionel will say he’s retiring,” Bartomeu told the 5 live Football Daily Podcast’s Guillem Balague. Messi still has another two years left on his current contract and Bartomeu said that Messi’s retirement was “a while away yet”. Read more
New stadium not ready for Spurs-Arsenal (BBC)
Tottenham’s Premier League match against north London rivals Arsenal on 2 March will take place at Wembley because their new stadium is not ready. Spurs were originally scheduled to move into the new ground in September but the project has suffered construction and “safety systems” delays. The club recently said their new stadium would not be ready to host matches until at least March. “Thank you all for bearing with us,” said Spurs chairman Daniel Levy. Read more
Nurse jailed for drawing son’s blood for years (Punch)
A Danish court on Thursday sentenced a mother to four years in jail for aggravated abuse for having unnecessarily drawn a half-litre (one pint) of blood from her son weekly for five years. A trained nurse, the 36-year-old woman began drawing her son’s blood when he was 11 months old, averaging about once a week for the next five years. The mother said she would not appeal the verdict handed down by the district court in the western town of Herning. “It’s not a decision that I took consciously. I don’t know when I started doing what I had no right to do. It came gradually. I threw the blood down the toilet and put the syringes in the garbage,” she told the court. Read more
Tenant docked for allegedly breaking into landlord’s house (Vanguard)
Lagos- The Police yesterday arranged a 36-year-old businessman, Chijioke Nwobi, who allegedly broke into the house of his landlord and stole properties worth 820, 000, before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos. The defendant who resides at 21A, Mercury Close, Raji Rasaki Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, is facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, housebreaking and stealing, preferred against him by the police. The Prosecutor, Seargent Cyriacus Osuji told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences sometime in September 2018, at his residence. Read more