Nasarawa Guber: Akwanga women go topless to protest alleged rigging (Vanguard)
Women in Akwanga Local government Area of Nasarawa State, Friday, stripped themselves half-naked to protest the outcome of the governorship election in the state.
The women, who were in black attires had placards emblazoned with different inscriptions. They claimed their mandate was stolen, noting that their votes must count.
They equally insisted that INEC must revert the result of the governorship in Nasarawa in the interest of peace. Read more
CBN releases cash, orders banks to operate on weekend (DailyTrust)
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has confirmed the evacuation of banknotes from its vaults to commercial banks across the country as part of a coordinated effort to ease the circulation of banknotes of various denominations.
The CBN has also directed all commercial banks to open for operation on Saturdays and Sundays.
The Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department of the CBN, Dr. Isa AbdulMumin, disclosed this in Abuja on Friday, stating that a substantial amount of money, in various denominations, had been received by the commercial banks for onward circulation to their respective customers. Read more
Angry voters brutalise Lagos corper over BVAS machine failure (Punch)
A National Youth Corps member, Jamiu Aremu, who was part of the ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Lagos State, has lamented over the brutality he suffered at the hands of voters protesting against the failure of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System to upload results during the governorship and state House of Assembly elections in the state.
Aremu, while narrating his ordeal to PUNCH Metro, said the encounter left him with swollen and bruised lips and bloodied eyes, among others.
It was learnt that Aremu, alongside other INEC ad hoc staff, were attending to votes at Polling Unit 082 in the Okota area of the state when they experienced difficulties in using the BVAS machine to upload the results. Read more
Appeal Court upholds Adeleke as winner of Osun governorship election (Guardian)
But the Osun tribunal annulled the election of Adeleke and declared Oyetola the winner.
Justice Tetsea Kume, while delivering a majority decision, declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not comply substantially with the Constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act.
He subsequently deducted the over-voting observed from the votes scored by the candidates and declared that Oyetola won the election, having polled 314, 921, while Adeleke’s score came down to 290, 266. Read more
House urges FG to fix escalators, other facilities in airports (ThisDay)
The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to as a matter of urgency fix the escalator and lift in the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and provide more airside buses and conveying belt at the airport, and other federal airports across the country.
This resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance calling on the federal government to ‘Repair Dysfunctional Facilities and Provide New Infrastructure at the Federal Airports for Efficient Service Delivery to Air Travellers’, moved by Hon. Onofiok Akpan Luke during yesterday’s plenary.
He noted that the breakdown of facilities or lack or paucity of certain infrastructures in some federal airports in the country has caused inconveniences, difficulty and delay to air travellers. Read more
INEC under pressure to review Kano, Kaduna, Ogun polls (Leadership)
Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is under pressure to review the just concluded 2023 general elections where evidence of malpractices has been established.
Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the country have asked the commission to ensure that there is evidence of electoral malpractices and that the commission should review allegations of voter suppression and vote buying based on provisions of the law.
The CSOs are Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Transparency International (TI) and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC). Read more
Convicted Nigerian fugitive extradited to US over offer, payment of Illegal remuneration (Sun)
A convicted Nigerian fugitive, Florence Enwerim Onyegbu, was on Thursday, March 23, 2023, extradited to the United States of America, USA, where she is wanted to answer to criminal charges bordering on violation of the U.S. Law involving the offer and payment of illegal remuneration in a health care matter.
Her extradition was coordinated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following a request by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, seeking assistance for her apprehension.
Investigations by the EFCC revealed that she had changed her name from Florence E. Onyegbu to Janet Boi in an attempt to remain hidden. Read more
Atiku, Obi, APM get court’s nod to serve petitions on Tinubu by substituted means (Tribune)
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, that of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) on Friday, secured the leave of the Presidential Election Petition Court to serve the President elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu with their processes challenging his (Tinubu’s) declaration as the winner of the February 25, 2023 presidential election by substituted means.
The ruling, TRIBUNE ONLINE gathered, comes after separate ex-parte applications that were brought before the court by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar and his counterpart in the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
The duo accused Tinubu of deliberately avoiding the service of their petitions on him. Read more
Keanu Reeves accidentally cut someone’s head open while filming John Wick flick (Metro)
Keanu Reeves revealed that he accidentally ‘cut a gentleman’s head open’ while filming a John Wick movie.
The 58-year-old stars as the titular character in the blockbuster franchise, with the Chapter 4 sequel arriving in cinemas today.
The action icon has been everywhere in the lead up to the release, including a very awkward interview with Roman Kemp.
However, it turns out that wasn’t the most agonizing part of his experience so far, as a new chat saw the actor reveal some truly painful moments from set. Read more
Mark Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan welcome their third baby girl (PageSix)
From Facebook to family of five!
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan announced on Friday that their third baby girl arrived.
“Welcome to the world, Aurelia Chan Zuckerberg!” the couple wrote via Instagram. “You’re such a little blessing.”
Zuckerberg and his former Harvard University classmate previously welcomed daughters Max, 7, and August, 5, in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Read more
King Charles’s France visit postponed after pension protests (BBC)
King Charles III’s state visit to France has been postponed after a request by President Emmanuel Macron, Downing Street says.
The president said “we would not be sensible and would lack common sense” to go ahead after unions called a day of pension protests during the visit.
The trip to Paris and Bordeaux had been due to begin on Sunday.
But both cities were caught up in violence on Thursday, some of the worst since demonstrations began in January. Read more
Cameroon, Gabon reinforce travel restrictions after Equatorial Guinea confirms Marburg cases (VOA)
Cameroon and Gabon have stepped up border security after neighboring Equatorial Guinea confirmed a spreading Marburg virus has killed at least nine people. Despite the controls, people are still traveling across the porous borders, raising fears the virus that causes hemorrhagic fever could spread.
At the government primary school in Kye-Ossi, a town on Cameroon’s southern border with Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, children sing that regular hand washing protects people from diseases.
Mireille Evan, head teacher of the school, said more than 15 children from Equatorial Guinea attended classes in Kye-Ossi on Friday. She said those children were separated from their Cameroonian peers and obliged to wash their hands before attending classes. Read more
Rights groups accuse French police of brutality in pension protests (France24)
Criticism from human rights groups mounted on Friday over the alleged brutality of French police in handling protests opposed to President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform.
French authorities arrested more than 450 people on Thursday in the most violent day of demonstrations since the start of the year against the bill to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
In the days leading up to Thursday’s protests, rights watchdogs had expressed worries over what they termed “arbitrary” detentions and the police’s excessive use of force. Read more
Russia finally admits ones of its ships was destroyed by Ukraine – a year later (Metro)
A Russian admiral has finally admitted that Ukraine sank one of its ships in a missile strike- a year after the attack first took place.
Exactly one year ago, Ukraine launched an attack on a captured Russian seaport in the occupied city of Berdyansk, in Zaporizhzhia.
The attack destroyed the Russian landing ship Saratov and caused damage to two more ships, the Novocherkassk and Caesar Kunikov.
Around a dozen sailors were killed in the attack across all three landing ships, along with an unknown number of elite marines. Read more
Hotel Rwanda hero set to be freed (BBC)
Paul Rusesabagina, a former hotel manager portrayed as a hero in the Hollywood film Hotel Rwanda, is to be released from prison in Kigali.
Two years ago, he was sentenced to 25 years for terrorism by a Rwandan court in what supporters called a sham trial.
A government spokesperson said Mr Rusesabagina’s sentence had been “commuted by presidential order”.
Mr Rusesabagina, 68, is credited with saving some 1,200 people during the 1994 genocide. Read more
Ukraine’s Kostyuk refuses handshake with Potapova (BBC)
Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk refused to shake hands with Anastasia Potapova after she was beaten by the Russian at the Miami Open.
Their two countries are at war after Russia invaded Ukraine last year.
Potapova, who was recently warned after wearing a Spartak Moscow football shirt at a match, won the second-round encounter 6-1 6-3.
Kostyuk has previously refused to shake hands with Russia’s Varvara Gracheva and Belarusian Victoria Azarenka. Read more
Ahmed Musa says Super Eagles know importance of Guinea-Bissau clash (Guardian)
Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has stressed that he and his team-mates are aware of the significance of Friday’s 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifier (AFCON) against Guinea-Bissau at the MKO Abiola stadium in Abuja.
Nigeria have the opportunity to make it three wins in three qualification matches when they take on the Djurtus and a victory will guarantee them a step closer to securing qualification for the continental football showpiece next year after Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe played out a 2-2 draw in their Group A contest on Wednesday.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Thursday, the Sivasspor forward promised that the outcome would not be like the 2022 World Cup play-off against Ghana in Abuja. Read more
NGR vs G’Bissau: Djurtus coach talks tough ahead of Eagles cracker (Punch)
The head coach of Guinea-Bissau, Baciro Cande, has been talking tough ahead of their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Moshood Abiola Stadium today in Abuja, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Nigeria are top in Group A with six points and a win will move the Super Eagles to nine points.
The Djurtus got a 5-1 victory against Sao Tome and Principe, played a 2-2 draw with Sierra Leone and sit second on Group A with four points, a win in today’s encounter will see them overtake Nigeria and brighten their chances of playing in Ivory Coast next year. Read more
Messi reaches 800 career goals with Panama free-kick (Vanguard)
Lionel Messi has reached a new milestone, scoring his 800th career goal off a free kick against Panama.
The World Champions, Argentina, were in action for the first time since their triumph in Qatar 2022 in the early hours of Friday against Panama.
Coach Lionel Scaloni put out the same line-up that started against France in the FIFA World Cup final, and captain Lionel Messi was on target again to reach a new career landmark.
After a drab first half, the Argentine broke the deadlock in the 78th minute when Leandro Paredes found Thiago Almeida who tucked in the ball neatly. Read more
Erling Haaland an injury doubt for Manchester City vs Liverpool (Metro)
Erling Haaland is currently struggling with a groin injury (AMA/Getty)
Erling Haaland’s father has revealed that the striker is a doubt for Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Liverpool on April 1.
The 22-year-old was forced to withdraw from Norway’s squad this week and is currently in Spain receiving treatment on a groin injury.
Haaland has been in sublime form for City this season with 42 goals in 37 appearances so far.
But Pep Guardiola’s side now face an anxious wait to see if their leading striker will be fit for when the Premier League resumes at the end of next week. Read more
Goldberg, Life Continental and ZAGG Energy Drink pick Super Eagles/Guinea Bissau match awards (Sun)
The Super Eagles will be turbo-charged for Friday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Guinea Bissau’s Djurtus at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
Three brands from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc Goldberg, Life Continental and ZAGG Energy Drink are offering extra motivation for the Eagles as they seek early qualification for next year’s AFCON tournament billed to take place in Cote D’Ivoire.
As part of this new sponsorship drive, each of these three brands will present awards and monetary rewards to distinguishing Super Eagles players on Friday in Abuja. Read more