Mother accuses school owner of taking kids to police station over fees (Punch)
A beauty consultant, Theresa Anthony, has accused the owner of the Treasure Heritage School, located at No 4 Fatoye Ajikawo Street, in the Alagolo area of Ipaja, Lagos State, Abidemi Davies, of taking her kids, Presley and Zoe, to the police station because of incomplete payment of their tuition fees. PUNCH Metro gathered that the mother of three had an agreement with Abidemi,to pay her three kids’ school fees of about N150,000 on a weekly basis, but when she (Theresa) could not meet up with the schedule, her children were sent home. Read more
INEC clears Sanwo-Olu, Kashamu, Ogah, others (Nation)
Rivers and Zamfara states All Progressives Congress (APC) will not be part of the governorship and House of Assembly elections slated for March 2. The party’s candidates’ names are missing on the list of those who will run in the elections released last night by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Two weeks ago, the commission also omitted names of APC candidates in the National Assembly final list of candidates. Seventy-nine of the candidates are women. Many of them are from Kano and Delta states. Read more
Presidency: Time to change Nigeria is now, says Soyinka (Nation)
Literary giant Prof Wole Soyinka yesterday described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as same side of a coin. He said neither the APC presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, nor his PDP challenger, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, enjoys his backing for the most exalted seat. Soyinka urged Nigerians never to lose hope in charting a new direction that will deliver the nation from the looming anarchy, adding that it is not too early to make a new beginning. Read more
El-Rufai using religion, others against Kaduna people, CAN alleges (Guardian)
Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned Governor Nasir El-Rufai for using religion and other divisive tactics against the people of the state. It insisted that Christians would not vote for the governor for a second term in office.Newly sworn-in state Chairman of CAN, Reverend Joseph Hayab, made the assertion yesterday at the inauguration of the executive council.He reminded El-Rufai that he won the 2015 elections with Christian votes in Southern Kaduna contrary to his recent statement that the people in the area did not vote for him. Read more
Poll: Magu warns bankers on politicians repatriating stolen funds (Nation)
Banks got a stern warning yesterday not to collude with politicians who are repatriating stolen funds for the general elections. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu said the Commission was aware that a top politician who sold a choice property abroad planned to repatriate the proceeds for electoral inducement. Magu gave the warning in Lagos at a session with the Association of Compliance Officers. In the text of his speech which was released to reporters in Abuja, he urged bankers to stop laundering funds for politicians. Read more
US envoy Stephen Biegun reveals North Korea nuclear pledge (BBC)
North Korea has pledged to destroy all its nuclear material enrichment facilities, according to the US special envoy for the country, Stephen Biegun. He said the promise was made to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo when he visited North Korea in October. But Mr Biegun said North Korea must provide a complete list of its nuclear assets before any deal can be reached. President Donald Trump had earlier claimed “tremendous progress” in talks between the countries. Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, the president said he would soon announce the date and location of a planned second summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un. Read more
Apple punishes Google over app rules (BBC)
Apple has revoked Google’s ability to offer its employees internal-only iPhone apps, likely causing significant disruption to the search giant. Apple is punishing its rival for breaking its developers’ policy, and comes a day after it took the same action against Facebook. The move came after both firms used special access for market research. “We’re working with Apple to fix a temporary disruption to some of our corporate iOS app,” Google said. After more than 24 hours of disruption, Facebook had its access restored on Thursday. Read more
No hiding place for Wydad, says Lobi’s Tyavkase (Guardian)
Lobi Stars’ David Tyavkase believes his side must be at their best to overcome Wydad Atletic Club of Morocco in the CAF Champions League group game at the NNamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.It is one of the games of the matchday three and Tyavkase told cafonline.com that no quarter would be asked and none would be given when they entertain Wydad. The experienced Lobi Stars’ midfielder is a veteran of many continental cup battles dating back to his days with Enyimba, where he successively won the CAF Champions League in 2003 and 2004, as well as the Africa Super Cup in 2004 and 2005.“During my stint with Enyimba…Read more
Dalung leads NFF to London for NIKE talks (Guardian)
Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung is at the head of a Nigerian delegation in London for talks with Nigerian national teams’ kit maker, NIKE. The team, which includes Nigeria Football Federation big wigs, including its president, Amaju Pinnick and Second Vice President, Shehu Dikko, among others, are expected to discuss means of optimising the performance of the new, robust contract signed by NFF and NIKE in November 2018. According to thenff.com, “the meetings would also dwell on merchandising, as well as previewing and authorisation of a new kit design for the national teams to be launched in the summer of Year 2020.” Read more
Neymar returns to France on crutches (Punch)
Neymar was spotted on crutches at the Barcelona airport on Thursday as he headed back to Paris after having medical tests on his foot injury. The Brazilian has been ruled out of both of Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League clashes with Manchester United after damaging the fifth metatarsal in his right foot in a cup match against Strasbourg earlier this month. Neymar had initial scans at PSG’s Ooredoo Training Center but flew out to Spain this week for further assessments on his injury. A team of medical experts concluded that he does not require surgery on the problem but is set to be sidelined for the next 10 weeks. Read more
Crystal Palace sign Batshuayi on loan (BBC)
Crystal Palace have signed Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi on loan until the end of the season. The Belgium international, 25, had been on a season-long loan at La Liga side Valencia. Batshuayi – who had been linked with a loan move to Tottenham or Everton – has scored seven goals in 32 Premier League appearances for the Blues. “This is a fantastic signing for Crystal Palace,” said club chairman Steve Parish. “Michy is a player we’ve long admired, and I’m delighted that we’ve finally managed to get him in a red and blue shirt. He will be a magnificent addition to our squad.” Read more
Suspected robbers arrested for killing two in Lagos (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command, on Thursday, announced the arrest of five armed robbers, who allegedly killed two victims while robbing people of their valuables in the Agege area of the state. The command said its operatives, who were mobilised to the scene of the robbery, gave the suspected robbers a chase that resulted in the arrest of one Damilare Adegbayibi. The state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, while briefing journalists, said Adegbayibi and his gang members had killed one Alayiwa and Ibrahim Akinbumi… Read more
Mum arrested for attempting to sell newborn baby in Anambra (Punch)
A 22-year-old single mother, identified as Happiness Mmadu, has been arrested for allegedly trying to sell one of her four-day-old twins in order to pay her hospital bill. The incident occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State. Happiness, it was gathered, allegedly conspired with one Dorothy Sunday in the deal. A source in the hospital, who preferred not to be mentioned, told Southern City News that Dorothy, who hails from Izzi in Ebonyi State, came to the maternity ward on Wednesday, claiming that Happiness was her younger sister. Read more