Lagos launches *6820# to report domestic abuse, others (Nation)
Pupils in Lagos State have been told not to hesitate to report sexual or domestic abuse happening to them or others. Speaking at the 2019 Commonwealth Day celebration on Monday at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Olubunmi Adekanye, said the pupils should dial *6820# to report sexual violence against them or others. Adekanye said: “Finally, let me remind you that you owe this nation and humanity responsibility to report violence against you or your friends and colleagues so that the government can help to rescue you from abusers. Building a connected commonwealth to my mind starts with ensuring that everyone young and old enjoys peace of the mind devoid of any form of torture.” Read more
I want to live legacy of free, fair elections in Nigeria, says Buhari (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that he would want to be remembered as a leader who kept his word that elections in Nigeria must be free, fair and credible. Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesperson in a statement in Abuja, said President Buhari made this known he received Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State at his private residence in Daura, Katsina State, on Monday. Masari was in Daura to formally inform the president of his election victory in March 9 Governorship poll. Read more
INEC declares Kano guber election inconclusive (Nation)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the gubernatorial election in Kano as inconclusive. The Collation Officer for the Governorship election in the state, Prof. Bibi Shehu announced this shortly after the compilation of the election results from the 44 Local Government Areas in the state. According to him, the declaration of the election as inconclusive was according to the section 26 of the INEC act that said if the number of cancelation of votes cast is beyond the margin between the winner and the looser. Read more
I am not perturbed by `inconclusive’ governorship poll in Benue — Ortom (Guardian)
Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue says he is not perturbed by INEC’s declaration of Saturday’s governorship election in the state as inconclusive. Ortom made his feelings known on Monday in Makurdi while interacting with newsmen. He said that he was not bothered by the declaration because he believed he would still lead during the supplementary election. “I am comfortable because my party has the majority in the State. I am not contemplating of winning because I know I will surely win. Read more
NAF destroys insurgents’ logistics in Borno (Guardian)
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, has destroyed Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists’ vehicle at Tumbun Sale and Tumbun Allura in Borno. NAF’s spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja. He said that the ATF equally destroyed some logistics infrastructure of the ISWAP at Tumbun Sale and Tumbun Allura on the fringes of Lake Chad in the state. Read more
16 people killed by gunmen in Kaduna, Police say (Punch)
The Kaduna State Police Command on Monday said no fewer than 16 persons were killed by gunmen at Barde Village under Maro in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna. Sabo said at about 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, some unknown armed men entered Barde Village under Maro in Kajuru Local Government Area and started shooting continuously, which resulted to the death of 16 persons. He said on receipt of the information, the Command mobilised teams of Police operatives led by Kajuru Divisional Police Officer, alongside military personnel with a view to apprehend the perpetrators and restore normalcy to the area. Read more
If you are humble, you can overcome any mountain, says Ogun governor-elect, Dapo Abiodun (Punch)
The governor-elect of Ogun State, Adedapo Abiodun, has said his victory at the polls shows that God is greater than man. He spoke in apparent reference to the opposition of the incumbent state Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, who openly supported and campaigned for the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, Adekunle Akinlade. The Independent National Electoral Commission Returning Officer, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, had on Monday declared Abiodun winner of the governorship polls in Ogun State, saying the APC candidate polled 241,670 votes to defeat the candidate of the APM, Adekunle Akinlade, who scored 222,153 votes, leaving a margin of 19,517 votes. Read more
Nigerian passenger dies on Delta Airlines’ Atlanta-Lagos flight (Punch)
A Nigerian passenger on Delta Air Lines Flight DL54 travelling from Atlanta, United States to Lagos was, on Monday afternoon, found unresponsive before landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The 54-year-old passenger (name withheld), who was allegedly ill before boarding the flight, died three minutes before the aircraft touched down at the airport. The spokesperson for the MMIA Police Command, Lagos, DSP Joseph Alabi, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos. Alabi said the command was notified of the development after the aircraft landed at the airport by the airline officials. Read more
Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika drops bid for fifth term (BBC)
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has postponed the 18 April presidential elections and said he will not seek a fifth term in office. President Bouteflika’s candidacy had provoked mass protests across Algeria over the past few weeks. He has led Algeria for 20 years but has been rarely seen in public since he suffered a stroke in 2013. No new date for the election was set. A cabinet reshuffle will happen soon, a statement in Mr Bouteflika’s name said. Read more
Individuals responsible for Rohingya atrocities will face justice (Guardian)
The people responsible for the atrocities that forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee from Myanmar’s Rakhine state will be held to account, an International Criminal Court official said on Monday. Following a visit to Bangladesh refugee camps, the ICC’s Phakiso Mochochoko said the fact that Myanmar is not a signatory to the Hague-based international court “will not in any way be a hindrance” to an investigation. “It may present a little bit of challenge for us in terms of investigation, but we have faced a situation like this in the past and we’ve been able to deal with them,” the court’s director of jurisdiction told reporters in the capital Dhaka. Read more
Brexit: May arrives in Strasbourg for last-ditch talks with EU (Punch)
Theresa May has arrived in Strasbourg for last-ditch talks with senior EU officials aimed at winning MPs’ backing for her Brexit deal. She is meeting European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on the eve of the second vote on her deal. The BBC’s Adam Fleming said EU member states have been told about a “package” the PM and Mr Juncker are considering. It includes a joint statement on the backstop being “temporary” and “ambitions for a free trade agreement”. The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg said UK ministers are in the Cabinet Office being briefed on the discussions in Strasbourg. Read more
Rape case collapses as judges say victim looks ‘masculine’ (Punch)
Women’s rights defenders protested outside an Italian court Monday after it emerged that two men accused of rape were cleared by female judges because the alleged victim looked “masculine”. “For shame!” shouted about 200 demonstrators gathered at the court of Ancona in central Italy, accusing the justice system of misogyny and a “witch hunt”, according to video footage posted by Italian media. The reasons behind the 2017 acquittal were only made public on Friday when the country’s highest court of appeal ordered a retrial, according to the Cronoche Ancona daily. Read more
Jaguar attacks woman trying to take selfie at zoo (Punch)
A jaguar that attacked a woman at a US zoo after she jumped a barrier to take a selfie with the animal will not be put down, officials said. “We can promise you nothing will happen to our jaguar,” the Wildlife World Zoo in Arizona tweeted on Saturday. “She’s a wild animal and there were proper barriers in place to keep our guests safe – not a wild animals fault when barriers are crossed.” According to witness accounts, the woman, who has not been identified, on Saturday evening crossed a barrier at the zoo located near Phoenix to take a photo. Read more
Zinedine Zidane returns to Real Madrid (Punch)
Zinedine Zidane has made a sensational return as coach of Real Madrid after Santiago Solari’s sacking was finally confirmed on Monday. Zidane has been given a contract until June 2022, just nine months after he resigned at the end of last season, having led Madrid to an historic third consecutive Champions League triumph. Solari’s dismissal was expected after three consecutive home defeats – to Barcelona, twice, and Ajax – deemed Madrid’s season all but over before the middle of March. But Zidane coming back, with only 11 games left in La Liga and almost nothing to play for, is a surprise, particularly after he left on the incredible high of yet another European triumph. Read more
Everton boss Silva charged with improper conduct (Guardian)
Everton manager Marco Silva was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association on Monday following his rant at referee Lee Mason and his assistants. Silva stormed onto the pitch to confront Mason and his fellow officials after Everton blew a two-goal lead in their 3-2 defeat at Newcastle on Saturday. He was strongly critical of the officials when he spoke to the media after the match, insisting that two of Newcastle’s goals were clearly offside. Silva reserved particular criticism for one of Mason’s assistants, saying: “He is always seeing different things than what is normal.” Read more
Ranieri wins first game back at Roma (BBC)
Claudio Ranieri made a winning return as Roma boss as his side beat Empoli at home in their Serie A fixture. Ranieri, sacked as Fulham manager on 28 February, was appointed Roma’s head coach on Friday after the club sacked Eusebio di Francesco following their Champions League exit last week. Stephan El Shaarawy’s curling 25-yard strike put Roma ahead, but Juan Jesus’ headed own goal quickly made it 1-1. However, Patrik Schick’s powerful header restored the hosts’ lead. Roma played the final 10 minutes with 10 men as midfielder Alessandro Florenzi was sent off for two bookable offences. Read more
Morata finding his feet after Atletico offer fresh start (Guardian)
Alvaro Morata has made a habit of looking lost and aggrieved during five years wandering Europe’s biggest clubs but in Atletico Madrid he may finally have found one to call home. Three goals in two games and another couple ruled out by VAR mean Morata looks a player revived since his January loan move from Chelsea. He started well there too, before confidence shrivelled to the point where faith from fans and coaches turned to frustration, and a belief he was contributing to his own decline. Read more
Alba signs new FC Barcelona deal, urges Messi to follow suit (Punch)
Jordi Alba signed his new contract at FC Barcelona on Monday keeping him at the club until 2024. The 29-year-old Spain left back joined FC Barcelona from Valencia in 2012 and has won four league and one UEFA Champions League titles since he has been at the club. At a press conference on Monday, Alba spoke of his relationship with Lionel Messi who could also be about to renew his contract. Messi’s current deal expires in 2021. Read more