One shot dead during Buhari’s victory celebration in Lagos (Punch)
Unknown gunman on Wednesday shot into a crowd celebrating President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election in Sabo, Yaba, killing one person, while a police officer was seriously injured by some protesting youths in Okokomaiko, Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeri gathered that the unidentified gunman opened fire on the celebrating crowd at Iwaya area, killing one person on the spot. Lagos police Spokesman, CSP Chike Oti, who confirmed the incidents, told NAN that the police officer was attacked by some protesting youths on the Lagos–Badagry expressway. Read more
Obasanjo keeps mum over Buhari’s re-election (Punch)
As congratulatory messages continued to pour in from within and outside the country over the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has kept mum over the development. The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in the early hours of Wednesday declared Buhari winner of Saturday, February 23 presidential polls. Prominent and well-meaning Nigerians as well as international leaders have since been commending and congratulating Buhari over his victory in the election. Read more
I am confident of victory, all hope not lost – Atiku (Guardian)
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has said that all hope is not lost, in spite of the declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari as the winner of Saturday’s election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Atiku in an earlier statement on Wednesday had rejected the outcome of the election, saying he was heading to court. Atiku at a world press conference in Abuja, he commended Nigerians for choosing democracy and for voting for him on Saturday, urging them to remain calm. Read more
Zamfara gov candidate ejects IDPs for voting Buhari (Punch)
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in Zamfara State, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, on Wednesday confirmed that he has ejected all displaced persons taking shelter in his houses in Shinkafi for voting for the All Progressives Congress in Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections. Shinkafi confirmed in Gusau at a news conference organized by a coalition of some political parties in the state protesting against the elections. “I have asked all the IDPs residing in my Shinkafi houses to immediately pack out because they are not serious in life. Read more
Trump wanted me to lie, Cohen testifies (BBC)
US President Donald Trump’s ex-lawyer Michael Cohen has claimed Mr Trump wanted him to lie about a property deal in Moscow amid his election campaign. In congressional testimony, Cohen said Mr Trump directed covert plans for the skyscraper, even while he denied having any business in Russia. He also said Mr Trump knew about a leak of hacked Democratic emails, and called him a “racist”, “conman” and “cheat”. Mr Trump hit back: “He is lying in order to reduce his prison time.” Read more
Two days after resigning, Iran’s Zarif returns to work (CNN)
Just two days after announcing his resignation on Instagram, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has returned to work, according to the country’s state news agency Press TV. The nation’s top diplomat resumed his duties after Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani rejected Zarif’s resignation on Tuesday, saying it would be “against the country’s national interests,” the semi-official Mehr news agency reported. Zarif thanked the Iranian nation and government officials on Wednesday for their support in the wake of his announcement. Read more
Trump and Kim set for second day of Vietnam talks (BBC)
US President Donald Trump and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un are due to begin the second and final day of their second summit in Vietnam. They are expected to discuss a roadmap for removing nuclear weapons from the Korean peninsula. Little progress has been made on that and other issues since the first Trump-Kim summit in Singapore last year. Wednesday’s meetings were limited to brief questions from reporters, one-on-one talks and a “social dinner”. “Great meeting and dinner with Kim Jong-un,” Mr Trump tweeted after the meal at the historic Metropole Hotel in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi. Read more
India demands Pakistan release pilot as Kashmir crisis intensifies (BBC)
India has demanded the release of a fighter pilot shot down by Pakistan warplanes in a major escalation between the two nuclear powers over Kashmir. Video showing the pilot – blindfolded and with blood on his face – was shared by Pakistan’s information ministry. India described the images as a “vulgar display of an injured personnel”. Wednesday’s aerial attacks across the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Indian and Pakistani territory in Kashmir are the first since a war in 1971. Read more
Cyprus cup: Austria hammers Super Falcons 4-1 (Nation)
World cup bound Super Falcons began their participation in the shape up Cyprus cup on a losing note after suffering a 4-1 defeat to Austria. Falcons managed to hold their opponents and maintain a goalless first half but conceded the first goal shortly after the resumption of second half. Toochukwu Oluehi had been handed a red as early as the 5th minute of the match which perhaps appeared to have taken the team aback. Nina Burger’s goal in the 48th minute for Austria served as a major ginger for the Austrians as Nicole Bila increased the tally in the 59th minute. Read more
Falcons star Ordega joins Chinese side Shanghai WSC (Nation)
Super Falcons forward Francisca Ordega has joined Chinese women’s league side Shanghai WSC from America’s National Women’s Soccer League side Washington Spirit. Ordega who was impressive in Super Falcons triumph in Ghana where they clinched their 9th African title joined Washington spirit in 2015 scoring 9 goals for the side in 41 appearances with short loan sojourns with Sydney FC and Athletico Madrid respectively. The four time African Women’s Championship winner is heading to china at a time compatriot and national teammate Assisat Oshoala crossed over to Spain to pitch tenth with Barcelona ladies. Although the financial implication of Ordega’s move was not available at the time of this report, it is believed to be mouthwatering. Read more
Chelsea fans report Harry Kane to the Football Association (Metro)
Chelsea fans are demanding the Football Association takes action after Harry Kane was caught attempting to aim a headbutt at Cesar Azpilicueta. A fiery London derby, which evoked memories of the 2016 Battle of Stamford Bridge which saw the Blues end Tottenham’s title hopes following rousing comeback, had already seen Eden Hazard fortunate to escape punishment for a challenge on Erik Lamela. Referee Andre Marriner did his best to let the game flow but the match was regularly interrupted by tactical fouling and petulance from both sets of players. Read more
FA probes alleged banned payment made in Sancho switch (Punch)
The Football Association on Wednesday said it was investigating allegations that Manchester City paid £200,000 ($267,000) to Jadon Sancho’s agent when the player was 14. German magazine Der Spiegel said City made the prohibited payment to agent Emeka Obasi in relation to the deal that took the youngster to the club from Watford in 2015. Under Premier League rules, clubs are not permitted to offer financial inducements to a player under the age 16 or any person connected with that individual. Read more
Kelly Rowland is trolled by Microsoft Excel for saying she has ‘no clue’ what it is (Metro)
Kelly Rowland has denied all knowledge of Excel spreadsheets, like Nelly and Kelly’s Dilemma never even happened. Safe to say, the revelation has hurt Microsoft real bad, 17 years after Kelly clearly tried to use an Excel document to text Nelly in the music video. Tweeting from the official account, Microsoft Excel was crying out for some acknowledgment from the Destiny’s Child singer by tweeting her lyrics to the song in a bid to jog her memory. ‘No matter what you do, we’re crazy over you,’ the data entry gurus tweeted on Wednesday, tagging Kelly in the post. Read more