‘No comment,’ Onnoghen tells CCT as he’s banned from public office for 10 years (Punch)
The erstwhile Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, pleaded ‘No comment’ when the Code of Conduct Tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar, asked him if he had anything to say before his conviction. The incident happened on Thursday (today) in Abuja as the CCT ruled in the six counts bordering on breach of Code of Conduct for Public Officers preferred against the embattled ex-CJN. Reading the lead judgment, Umar offered Onnoghen an opportunity to plead for mercy. But he stood up in the dock and bowed as he said, “No comment.” Read more
Minimum wage now N30,000 as Buhari assents to bill (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari has signed into law the Minimum Wage Repeal and Re-Enactment Act, 2019. By this act, the new minimum wage is now N30,000. The President assented to the Act on Thursday in Abuja, mandating all employers of labour across the country to pay workers a minimum of N30,000 monthly wage. The National Assembly had submitted the minimum wage bill to the President since March 27. Read more
Alleged money laundering: Ofili-Ajumogobia re-arraigned, pleads ‘not guilty’ to 18 counts (Punch)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday could not produce a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Godwin Obla, for arraignment in Lagos over alleged money laundering. The Commission had charged Obla alongside former Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, but Obla was absent before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court. EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that efforts to reach the SAN proved abortive, claiming that his phones were switched off. Read more
DPR bans sale of LPG in shops, homes (Nation)
The said it would clamp down on illicit retailers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) popularly known as cooking gas in Rivers. DPR’s Port Harcourt Zone Operations’ Controller, Mr Bassey Nkanga, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) of the planned clampdown on the sideline of LPG stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt on Thursday. He said it was now illegal for retailers to transfer cooking gas from one cylinder bottle to another for sale to customers, an act commonly done by roadside LPG retailers. Read more
Nigerian troops arrests council boss for ‘assisting’ Zamfara bandits (Guardian)
Troops of operation Sharan Daji in Zamfara State have arrested the vice chairman of Anka Local Government Zamfara State Yahuza Ibrahim Wuya for “seamlessly assisting” bandits attack Wuya and Sunke communities of the state. Spokesman of the operation Clement Abiade said “Yahuza Ibrahim was allegedly reported to seamlessly assist in selling rustled/stolen cows and donkeys as well as giving information about troops, other security agencies and vigilantes’ movement to the bandits.” Abiade said Ibrahim was also accused of aiding the release of a notorious gun runner one Sani Yaro from Gusau prison. Read more
Ogun community to Amosun, Police: Don’t install new monarch now (Nation)
The indigenes of Owo Kingdom in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State on Thursday stormed Abeokuta, the state capital, calling on Governor Ibikunle Amosun, to stop the planned installation of a new traditional ruler for the community. The indigenes which took their protest to the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council, in Okelewo, also called on the Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama, not to allow any installation of a new monarch in the community to avert “chaos, bloodshed and anarchy.” Read more
Alleged gang-rape: Court denies Babcock varsity student bail (Nation)
Justice Abiola Soladoye of an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has denied bail to a student of Babcock University, James Aguedo, accused of involvement in gang-rape of a student of the University of Lagos (Unilag). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Soladoye in a ruling on Thursday said Aguedo, 20, did not provide compelling circumstances as to why the court should grant him bail. “The essence of bail is to ensure the defendant’s attendance at trial. In deciding an application for bail, certain factors must be taken into consideration such as the nature of the charge and the evidence adduced. Read more
Bandits attack Jigawa village, kill one, injure nine (Nation)
Armed bandits in the early hours of Thursday attacked Garin Mai-dawa village in Dutse local government area of Jigawa, killing one and injuring nine. One Alhaji Mohammed Jinjiri was killed while children were among those who sustained gunshot wounds. It was gathered the criminals arrived the village around 3am on Thursday, demanding for the residence of a prominent business man, Alhaji Abdulkadir. Wife of one of the injured Malama Rahama Muhammed told our reporter: “The armed bandits demanded for money after they have gained entry into our house they tortured me accusing of the keeping the money. Read more
‘Giant lion’ fossil found in Kenya museum drawer (BBC)
A new species of giant mammal has been identified after researchers investigated bones that had been kept for decades in a Kenyan museum drawer. The species, dubbed “Simbakubwa kutokaafrika” meaning “big African lion” in Swahili, roamed east Africa about 20 million years ago. But the huge creature was part of a now extinct group of mammals called hyaenodonts. The discovery could help explain what happened to the group. Read more
Mueller says he was ‘unable’ to clear Trump of obstruction (Guardian)
Special Counsel Robert Mueller said in his investigation report released Thursday he was unable to declare President Donald Trump not guilty of obstruction of justice based on the evidence. “If we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the president clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state,” Mueller’s long awaited report said. Read more
Indonesia election: Widodo declares victory amid dispute (BBC)
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has declared victory in Wednesday’s election, even as his challenger continues to contest the result. Former general Prabowo Subianto claimed he had won and that his camp had evidence of “widespread cheating”. Official results will not be out until May but “quick counts” by polling companies have given Mr Widodo a lead of about 10 percentage points. Authorities have appealed for calm and vowed to tackle any unrest. Read more
NZ ex-official guilty of hiding camera in embassy toilet (BBC)
New Zealand’s former top military official in the US has been found guilty of planting a secret camera in a unisex bathroom at the country’s embassy in Washington DC. Alfred Keating faces up to 18 months in prison for attempting to make an intimate visual recording. Keating’s DNA matched traces found on the SD card in the camera, which appeared to have been in place for many months. He will be sentenced on 25 June. Read more
Facebook bans UK far right groups and leaders (BBC)
Facebook has imposed a ban on a dozen far-right individuals and organisations that it says “spread hate”. The ban includes the British National Party and Nick Griffin, the English Defence League and the National Front. The list also includes Britain First, which was already banned, but this latest action will prohibit support for it on any of the US firm’s services. It said it had taken the action because those involved had proclaimed a “violent or hateful mission”. Read more
Kim Kardashian offered law job with OJ Simpson attorney – but she has to pass the bar first (Metro)
Kim Kardashian has hit the ground running with her legal career. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star has already been offered her first job at a law firm – she just needs to pass the bar first. Earlier this month, the 38-year-old shocked the world when she announced that she’s studying to become a lawyer. While she’s received some criticism, Kim seems to have one important man in her corner. Read more
Marc-Andre ter Stegen reveals what he told David De Gea after howler in Manchester United defeat (Metro)
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen tried his best to console David De Gea after his opposite number made a costly error in Manchester United’s Champions League quarter-final defeat at the Nou Camp. De Gea could have done little to stop Lionel Messi’s stunning opener in Tuesday’s second leg but was largely at fault for the Argentinian’s second goal which gave Barca a 3-0 aggregate lead. Messi’s long-range effort squirmed through De Gea’s grasp and the Spaniard was ‘inconsolable’ while apologising to his team-mates following United’s elimination. Read more
Champions League: I cannot stop Messi alone, admits Van Dijk (Punch)
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk insists he will not face a personal duel against Lionel Messi in his side’s Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. Van Dijk is in contention for player of the year awards in England thanks to his transformative effect on Liverpool since becoming the world’s most expensive defender when moving from Southampton for £75 million ($98 million) last January. However, the Dutchman believes a collective effort is required to halt Messi, who has scored 45 goals this season, two of which helped Barca beat Manchester United 4-0 on aggregate to progress to the last four. Read more
Mauricio Pochettino speaks out on whether Harry Kane could play for Spurs again this season (Metro)
Mauricio Pochettino is ‘not optimistic’ that Harry Kane could feature for Spurs before the end of the season but he has refused to rule out his star striker from doing so. The 25-year-old sustained ‘significant ligament damage’ to his ankle in the second half of Spurs’ 1-0 win over Manchester City last Tuesday and no timescale has been placed on his recovery. Worryingly for Kane and Spurs, it is the fifth ankle injury he has sustained since the start of the 2016-17 season and the second already this year after he missed eight games during January and February. Read more
Scotland: Alex McLeish exits after poor start to Euro 2020 qualifying (BBC)
Alex McLeish says he was “grateful for the opportunity” after his second spell as Scotland head coach ended after 14 months in charge. McLeish, 60, took charge for a second time in February 2018 but came under increasing pressure after a poor start to the Euro 2020 qualifiers. The decision was “agreed collectively in consultation with Alex” at a Scottish FA board meeting at Hampden. “I leave knowing that I gave my all,” said McLeish in a statement. Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell said the former Rangers, Birmingham City and Aston Villa manager had “accepted the decision” with “good grace”. Read more
‘I am not the new Ribery’, says Coman (Punch)
Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman has said that he hopes to step out of Franck Ribery’s shadow when his veteran compatriot leaves Bayern. Coman, 22, has long been touted as the natural successor to Ribery, who is expected to end a glistening 12-year spell at Bayern this summer. Yet in an interview with Kicker magazine on Thursday, Coman insisted that he is not a carbon copy of his fellow French winger. Read more
Russell Wilson: Seattle Seahawks quarterback signs NFL’s most lucrative deal (BBC)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson says he wants to play until 2031 after signing the most lucrative deal in NFL history. Wilson, 30, signed a four-year, $140m (£107m) contract extension with a $65m (£50m) signing bonus. The deal means Wilson, who won the Super Bowl with the Seahawks in 2014, is under contract in Seattle until the end of the 2023 season. “I want to be a Seahawk for life,” he said. “My goal is to play for 20 years, so I would be 43 around then.” Read more
Dillian Whyte slams Jarrell Miller and Anthony Joshua after American’s failed drug test (Metro)
Dillian Whyte insists there was always a chance Jarrell Miller was going to fail a drug test for his fight with Anthony Joshua. Miller is facing a one-year ban from boxing after testing positive for a banned substance in a March test taken by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. Whyte has offered to step in to replace Miller, but the British heavyweight is unlikely to be drafted in ahead of other options. Miller has protested his innocence, but Whyte claims it was obvious the American was a drugs cheat. Read more