NIS begins issuance of new passport with 10-year validity (Punch)
The Nigeria Immigration Service commenced the issuance of the new passport booklet with 10-year validity at its headquarters, Abuja, on Monday. The new booklet will be available in Ikoyi on June 3; Alausa, Lagos on July 8; and London on July 29, 2019, The PUNCH was told. The enhanced polycarbonate booklet with 64 pages, which was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 15, 2019, was embedded with the National Identity Number and costs N70,000. Read more
States must improve their IGR in next few years, says Osinbajo (Guardian)
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says there is the need for states to explore ways of improving their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the next few years. Osinbajo said this on Monday at the opening of the Induction of New and Returning Governors at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja. The induction was organised by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). According to him, it has always been the tradition for all elected officials in Nigeria to complain about inadequate funds. Read more
Reps panel backs IMF, says fuel subsidy is outdated (Punch)
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Mr Joseph Akinlaja, has expressed his support for the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, as recommended by the International Monetary Fund. Akinlaja, in a chat with journalists in Abuja on Monday, described fuel subsidy as outdated, stating that farm produce should be subsidised instead. He decried that the Federal Government had continued to make the payments without appropriation by the National Assembly. Read more
Road, power projects may suffer setbacks during rainy season – Fashola (Nation)
The Minister of Power Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has said Nigerians will experience some difficulties on power and road projects during the rainy season. He also disclosed that the ministry has ordered contractors, transmission companies and distribution companies to be proactive in order to forestall effects of the rains. The Minister said the procurement law was not compatible with the present infrastructural needs of the country. He said the cumbersome nature of the law was responsible for the slow pace of project execution across the country. Read more
Nigeria army battle ready to deal with remnants of terrorist groups- Buratai (Guardian)
Lt .Gen. Yusuf Buratai, Chief of Army Staff on Monday reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Army to rid the country of remnants of unrepentant terrorists. Buratai spoke at the opening ceremony of the Nigeria Army Doctrine and Combat development leadership workshop for junior commanders taking place in Minna, Niger. He said that the knowledge and professional competence gained from the workshop would be very helpful to the officers. “I charge all observers and empires to bring their wealth of experience to bear in the workshop to ensuring that laudable objectives are achieved,” he said. Read more
Buhari directs AGF to rescue student detained for drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, to immediately intervene in the case of a student, Zainab Aliyu, detained for drug trafficking by the Saudi authorities. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Affairs, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed that the President gave the directive two weeks ago when the matter was brought to his attention. Zainab, a student of Maitama Sule University, Kano, was arrested after a banned drug, tramadol, was found in her bag. She claimed it was planted in her luggage by unknown persons. Read more
Police arrest 264 suspected killers, kidnappers, cultists in Anambra (Guardian)
The Police Command in Anambra says it arrested 264 suspects including kingpins that masterminded two high profile kidnap and murder cases from April 1 to date in the state. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Mustapha Danduara, disclosed this to newsmen during the parade of the suspects at the command’s headquarters, Amawbia near Awka on Monday. According to him, 231 out of the figure are suspected cultists, 16 “one chance” robbery syndicates, four suspected car snatchers, three suspected kidnappers and 10 suspected armed robbers. Read more
To curb extra-judicial killing, policemen need training on democratic policing, emotional intelligence —Retired CP (Punch)
A retired Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lawrence Alobi, has attributed frequent misuse of firearms by policemen, including extra-judicial killings, to frustration and hostile work environment. He advised that, in order to curb extra-judicial killing, policemen need training on democratic policing and emotional intelligence. Alobi told the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja, that most policemen were not appreciated in spite of working in very hostile environment and frustrated. Read more
Bukar-Abba drops ambition for Gbajabiamila, opts for Majority Leader’s seat (Nation)
Member representing Damaturu, Tarmuwa, Gujba Gulani Federal constituency, Khadija Waziri Bukar Abba has opted out of the race for the position of speakership of the House of Representatives following the position of the party to settle for Gbajabiamila as the speaker of the ninth Assembly. She made this known while addressing newsmen in her residence in Kaduna. Abba who is going to the green chamber for the fourth time, said she had shelved her ambition for party supremacy. According to her, “I have what it takes to steer the affairs of the House of Representatives, but been a party loyalist, I have to drop my ambition and obey the party decision. Read more
EFCC receives 81 petitions in Northeast zone between January, March (Guardian)
The North East zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Gombe said it received 81 petitions in the first quarter of 2019 (January to March). Head of Operations in the zone, Mr Michael Wetkas, disclosed this on Monday while briefing newsmen on activities of the commission in 2019 so far. Wetkas said that out of the 81 petitions which had been charged to court, 37 convictions were secured. He added that more than 70 per cent of the petitions come from Gombe state alone. Read more
Alleged gang-rape: Court denies two varsity dropouts bail (Nation)
An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has denied two dropouts of Babcock University, Don-Chima George, 25, and Olusegun Rasak, 28, bail for allegedly drugging and gang-raping a 24-year-old woman in a hotel in Lekki, Lagos. Justice Abiola Soladoye, while ruling on their bail application, said the applicants had not provided any compelling circumstances which would warrant them being granted bail. “It is without doubt that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty as provided for in Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. Read more
FG inspects 64 coaches in China for rail projects (Guardian)
The Federal Government has inspected 64 coaches under construction in China for the various rail projects in Nigeria with 10 coaches to be delivered in June for Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor. The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, led a delegation to China to inspect the level of work at the Chinese Railway Rolling-stock Corporation (CRRC) Tangshan Co., Ltd in China. Mr Mohammed Idris, Director, Press of the Ministry of Transportation disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja. Read more
Appointment: Look beyond your states, Awosika tells elected govs (Punch)
The Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria, Mrs Bunmi Awosika, has told the newly-elected governors and returning ones to look beyond their states in the appointment of their aides. Awosika also regretted that there is no politics of ideology in Nigeria today. She spoke at the ongoing induction for governors which is organised by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, holding at the State House, Abuja. She said, “Some states are richer than others, but it is how well you use the wealth for the people that matters. Read more
Court remands three men for allegedly kidnapping two farmers in Ibadan (Punch)
An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ court sitting in Ibadan, on Monday, ordered that three men be remanded in Agodi Prison for allegedly kidnapping two farmers. The police charged Mohammed Isah, 27; Ishaka Mohammad, 27, and Adamu Ibrahim, 20, whose addresses were not given with four counts of conspiracy, kidnapping, murder and unlawful collection of ransom. The Chief Magistrate, Mr Emmanuel Idowu, did not take the pleas of the defendants, because the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter. Read more
ECOWAS Court upholds sack of three Supreme Court justices (Nation)
The Community Court of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) has upheld the sack of three Justices of the Supreme Court of Ghana. The Justices – Paul Uuter Dery, Mustapha Habib Logoh and Gilbert Ayisi Addo –were among over 30 judges secretly filmed while allegedly accepting bribes in an undercover investigation carried in 2015 by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, In a judgment on Monday, a three-man panel of the ECOWAS Court dismissed the suit, marked: ECW/CCJ/APP/42/16 filed by the Justices and held that it was unmeritorious. Read more
Uganda Police arrest pop star, Bobi Wine (Punch)
Ugandan popstar-turned-politician, Bobi Wine, was arrested on his way to give a police statement, Police Officials said on Monday. Wine has been charged with holding an illegal public assembly and detained at Naggalama police station, about 30 kilometres East of the capital Kampala, according to a police statement. Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has been under house arrest since Easter Monday after police prevented him from staging a music concert. Read more
Sudan protest leaders, army rulers resume talks on civil rule (Guardian)
A committee of Sudanese protest leaders and army rulers Monday resumed talks on forming a joint civilian-military council that would replace the existing ruling military body, an AFP correspondent reported. The negotiations were being held in the presidential palace in Khartoum and a joint statement was expected later on Monday, the correspondent reported from the palace. The latest round of talks comes after the two sides on Saturday agreed to form a joint civilian-military council to rule the northeast African country. Read more
We won’t ban artificial nails, eyelashes, Tanzania Govt assures citizens (Punch)
Tanzanian authorities on Monday said they would not impose a ban on the use of artificial nails and eyelashes after the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority’s assessment revealed that they caused no human health problems. Hussein Mwinyi, Minister of Defence and National Service, told parliament in the capital Dodoma that the government would not ban artificial nails and eyelashes after an assessment had found out that the fake nails were safe and suitable for human use. Mwinyi, also a professional medical doctor said: “An assessment done by TFDA has shown that fake nails and eyelashes have no side effects to mankind.” Read more
Suspected UAE spy ‘kills himself in Turkish prison’ (BBC)
One of two men detained two weeks ago by Turkey on suspicion of spying for the United Arab Emirates has killed himself in prison, prosecutors say. The suspect, identified as Zaki Hasan, was found hanged in his cell in Silivri prison, west of Istanbul, on Sunday. He allegedly confessed during interrogation that he and the other suspect had spied on Arab dissidents. Turkish officials said they were also probing possible links to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Read more
Donald Trump has made 10,000 false statements since becoming president (Metro)
Donald Trump has made 10,000 false or misleading statements since becoming President of the United States, a fact checking database says. The Fact Checker’s database service claims President Trump hit the dubious milestone on April 26. On Monday afternoon, the total had climbed to 10,111 false claims. Trump is said to have made 5,000 false claims on the 601st day of his presidency in September 2018. Read more
Don’t indulge in gossip while plaiting hair or painting fingernails, Pope warns hairdressers (Punch)
Pope Francis on Monday welcomed hairdressers, hairstylists and beauticians to the Vatican but warned them not to indulge in gossip while feathering locks or painting fingernails. “Practise your profession in a Christian style, treating customers with kindness and courtesy, and always offering them a good word and encouragement,” he said. Snip split ends and wax limbs while “avoiding giving in to the temptation of chatter that easily creeps into your work environment,” he urged them during an audience in the Vatican. Read more
Dad ‘murdered his five kids then drove around with their bodies in maggot-filled car’ (Metro)
A father murdered his five young children then drove their bodies around for more than a week in a maggot-filled car, police say. Timothy Jones Jr, 37, reportedly strangled four of his children, Merah, eight, Elias, seven, Nahtahn, six, Gabriel, two and Elaine, one, and beat his fifth young victim to death. Jones, whose trial is due to start Monday, stuffed the youngster’s corpses in plastic bags after the August 2014 killings, it is alleged. Read more
Sports court to rule Wednesday on landmark Semenya testosterone case (Guardian)
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will rule Wednesday on South African athlete Caster Semenya’s challenge against new IAAF rules designed to regulate testosterone levels in female athletes. CAS said Monday its decision on the controversial case will be released on the court’s website at noon (1000 GMT). World champion Semenya is challenging an International Association of Athletics Federations ruling seeking to force so-called “hyperandrogenic” athletes or those with “differences of sexual development” (DSD) to seek treatment to lower their testosterone levels below a prescribed amount if they wish to continue competing as women. Read more
Manchester United defender Eric Bailly suffers knee injury to rule him out of Afcon (BBC)
Manchester United defender Eric Bailly will miss the final two games of the season and this summer’s African Cup of Nations after sustaining a knee injury in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea. The Ivory Coast international, 25, injured his medial ligament in a collision with Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic during the second half. Bailly was starting his first Premier League game since 3 February. The African Cup of Nation is from 21 June to 19 July in Egypt. Read more
Pogba’s World Cup-winning boots sell for €30,000 (Punch)
The football boots with which Paul Pogba effectively won the World Cup for France last year were sold for 30,000 euros ($33,470) at a Paris auction on Monday. The Manchester United midfielder, who scored France’s third goal in the 4-2 victory over Croatia, had donated them to a French charity which helps high school students from tough areas. Christie’s auction house had hoped that the boots would go for between 35,000 and 50,000 euros. Read more
Gary Neville claims Anthony Martial, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez can’t follow Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tactics at Manchester United (Metro)
Gary Neville believes Anthony Martial, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez are not suited to the system Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to play at Manchester United. Solskjaer and United are in danger of missing out on a top-four finish in the Premier League after their 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday. Solskjaer has already claimed that he is not happy with the fitness of his players and is keen to implement a quicker playing style at United. Read more
Ajax fear no-one as they hunt unlikely European glory — Onana (Guardian)
Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana says that the flamboyant European dreamers aren’t afraid of anyone as they prepare to continue their wild ride in the Champions League with the first leg of their semi-final at Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday. Four times European champions Ajax are hunting their first major continental triumph since Patrick Kluivert downed AC Milan in the 1995 final and have warmed hearts with a thrilling run to the last four that has recalled the glory days of Johan Cruyff and Total Football. Read more
Denis Suarez confirms his season is over in message to Arsenal fans (Metro)
Denis Suarez has confirmed that he’s played his last match for Arsenal this season due to a persistent groin injury. The 25-year-old midfielder has failed to start a single competitive match since completing a loan move from Barcelona to Arsenal in January has been restricted to just six substitute appearances in all competitions. Unai Emery brought Suarez off the bench in the second half of Arsenal’s clash Manchester United last month but a groin injury has sidelined the Spaniard since the 2-0 victory. Read more