PDP, Atiku miss chance to present 400 witnesses in 10 days (Guardian)
The chance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar in the Feb.23 presidential election to present 400 witnesses listed in their petition against President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election within the remaining three days continued to tick away. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all parties in the matter had agreed to open and close their cases within specified period. The parties, therefore, agreed to workable modalities in the management of time to ensure the petition was dispensed within the 180 days allowed by the Electoral Act. Read more
It’s sentimental, laughable to call me Executive’s rubber stamp —Lawan (Punch)
President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has described insinuations that he is a rubber stamp to the Executive as “sentimental and laughable.” Lawan made this known in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mohammed Isa, when addressing a group, Women Parliamentarians, led by Senator Joy Emordi in Abuja. He noted that his belief in President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision and that of the All Progressives Congress should not be misconstrued as not independent-minded. Read more
I’ll fire you if…, El-Rufai warns new Commissioners (Nation)
As he swore-in 13 new Commissioners to help him run his second-term administration, Kaduna state Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai warned that any of them who fails to meet up with two quarterly report of the ministry will be fired. Governor El-Rufai, however, disclosed that the ministry of health will in the time being be overseen by his deputy, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe. He said the commissioners are appointed not based on the “local government you come from but because you have been tested and found capable to work for the State. Read more
Gunmen attacked our witnesses going to Presidential Election Petition Tribunal —PDP (Punch)
The proceedings of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja were cut short on Friday after the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate in the February 23, 2019 poll, Atiku Abubakar, said their other witnesses scheduled to testify had been attacked. Atiku and PDP, who are, by their petition, challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress at the poll, spoke through their lawyers who informed the tribunal that the witnesses were waylaid by “gunmen” on their way to Abuja from Zamfara State. Read more
Fayemi pays Fayose’s appointees’ outstanding salaries, allowances (Nation)
Ekiti State Government has paid the outstanding salaries and allowances of members of the State Civil Service Commission and House of Assembly Service Commission who were appointed by the immediate past administration of Mr Ayodele Fayose. Governor Kayode Fayemi while presenting cheques covering their outstanding remunerations thanked the appointees for their meritorious service to the State. Read more
Court validates Sowore, deputy’s suspension by AAC (Punch)
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday validated the suspension of Omoyele Sowore as the National Chairman of the African Action Congress, and Malcom Fabiyi as the Deputy National Chairman. Delivering judgment, Justice Inyang Ekwo, also affirmed the appointment of Dr. Leonard Nzewa as the Acting National Chairman of the party. The judge granted all the prayers contained in the suit which was instituted by Nzewa seeking the validation of the decision of the party’s National Executive Committee to suspend Sowore and Fabiyi for six months at its meeting held on March 27, 2019. Read more
Family of Nigerian killed in Kyrgyzstan seeks justice (Nation)
The family of Aliu Tijani Abubakar, a teacher, who was killed in cold blood at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Government of Kyrgyzstan to bring his killers to justice. The 38-year-old Aliu, who was born in Kaduna State, was reportedly attacked by Kyrgyz citizen on July 2, 2019 at the Bishkek city centre. The deceased studied Economics and established a popular Cambridge English School in the city. Read more
Aisha lauds judiciary’s efforts in handling rape cases (Punch)
First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has expressed satisfaction with the determination of the Judiciary in handling rape cases by ensuring that victims get justice. Aisha also applauded the steadfastness and diligence of the prosecution to ensure that rape perpetrators do not go unpunished. According to her, punishing perpetrators of rape will serve as a deterrent to others. Read more
N-Power stipends hit N279 billion (Nation)
The Federal Government on Friday disclosed N279 billion has been spent on Nigerian youths under the N-Power programme since December 2016. The N-Power programme is one of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) introduced by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration towards creating jobs and ameliorating poverty in the land. Read more
Success not by accident, Sanwo-Olu’s wife tells students (Punch)
The Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has advised students to equip themselves with sufficient information and develop a sense of critical thinking to be able to stand out. Sanwo-Olu gave the advice at the 2019 Speech and Prize-Giving Day of Queen’s College, Lagos. She noted that knowledge was power and drove all aspects of life’s endeavours. Read more
SA court acquits Zuma’s son over car crash death (Nation)
A South African court on Friday found Duduzane, son of former president Jacob Zuma, not guilty of culpable homicide and negligent driving over a fatal car crash that killed a woman in February 2014. The court said that the prosecutors had failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt. Duduzan’s Porsche sports car collided with a minibus taxi on a highway in Johannesburg in February 2014, killing a woman and injuring at least one other. Read more
US Labour Secretary Acosta resigns over Epstein affair (Guardian)
US Labor Secretary Alex Acosta resigned Friday, amid a backlash over a secret plea deal he negotiated a decade ago with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier accused of sexually abusing young girls. Acosta, 50, a former federal prosecutor, had been facing mounting calls to quit over the deal that saw Epstein serve just 13 months in county jail. “I called the president this morning and told him that I thought the right thing was to step aside,” Acosta said in a joint appearance with President Donald Trump at the White House. Read more
My regrets as UK Prime Minister, by Theresa May (Nation)
Outgoing British Prime Minister, Theresa May, said she regrets allowing too much polarisation over Brexit and avoiding televised debates before a disastrous snap election in 2017, in an interview published on Friday. May resigned as leader of the ruling Conservatives in June after she conceded defeat in her two-year battle to persuade parliament to approve the deal she had agreed to with Brussels for Britain to leave the EU. Read more
Monsoon rains kill 17 in Nepal, six in India (Guardian)
At least 17 people have been killed across Nepal after torrential monsoon rains induced floods and landslides, officials said Friday. In neighbouring north-eastern India the death toll from floods rose to six, with 870,000 people affected, officials said. Heavy rains since Thursday have hit several districts in Nepal, especially in the country’s eastern region and the southern plains. Read more
Serial pedophile gets 615 years jail for sexually abusing five girls (Metro)
A serial pedophile was given 615 years in prison for sexually abusing five young girls for years. Raven Smith, 35, was sentenced on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to numerous counts of rape, sodomy, and sexual abuse in Houston County, Alabama. In court, Smith apologized to the families of his victims, but they showed no mercy toward Smith when they took the stand demand he get the maximum sentence. Read more
Duterte blasts ‘idiot’ critics as UN reviews Philippine drug war (Guardian)
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Friday branded as “idiots” the governments behind a UN rights body investigation into his narcotics crackdown that has killed thousands and drawn international censure. Duterte’s three-year drug war has unleashed a surge of bloodshed in the Asian nation, with reports of nightly slayings of suspects by police and masked gunmen. Read more
Blue Ivy narrates Lion King to Donald Glover’s son (Metro)
By the sounds of it, Blue Ivy Carter is a Lion King fan and at a recent premiere for the film’s newest version she couldn’t help narrating the storyline to Donald Glover’s son. The Childish Gambino star took two-year-old Legend – who he has with partner Michelle White – to the premiere of his latest film, in which he voices Simba, and the youngster was very interested in what Beyonce and Jay-Z’s seven-year-old daughter had to say about the film. Read more
Soar above Algeria, Nigerians resident in South Africa tell Super Eagles (Punch)
The Nigeria football supporters club, South Africa chapter, has urged the Super Eagles to remain focused and committed to be able to soar above their high-flying Algerian counterparts in the semi-finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. According to the chairman of the supporters’ club, Osita Okeke, the Eagles have the potential to win their remaining matches because there is improvement in every game after their loss to Madagascar. Read more
FIFA rankings: Super Falcons is Africa’s top placed team, U.S. retain global lead (Punch)
Nigeria have moved two places up the FIFA Women’s rankings, following their first ‘Round of 16’ appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 20 years. The rankings were released on FIFA’s website on Friday. The African champions are now ranked in the 36th position with 1,643 points, but they remain the continent’s top placed team. Read more
Madagascar in danger of becoming one-tournament wonders —Coach (Punch)
Madagascar’s Africa Cup of Nations dream is finally over and coach Nicolas Dupuis said they risk becoming one-tournament wonders unless there are fundamental changes to football in the country. The Indian Ocean Islanders confounded observers by reaching the quarter-finals on their debut at the tournament. But, in the wake of their 3-0 defeat to Tunisia on Thursday, Dupuis, who works at a French fourth-tier club to supplement his income, warned that they still had a long way to go. Read more
FIFA organises conference to analyse 2019 Women’s World Cup (Punch)
The FIFA Women’s World Cup will once again take the centre stage with the hosting of the first-ever FIFA Football Conference aimed at analysing the women’s showpiece. World football governing body FIFA said on its website on Friday that the conference would hold in the Italian city of Milan on September 22. It listed those expected to attend to include technical directors and women’s national team coaches of FIFA’s member-associations (MAs). Read more
Ian Wright issues desperate plea to under-fire Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny (Metro)
Ian Wright has urged Laurent Koscielny to reconsider his decision to sit out Arsenal’s pre-season tour of America and believes the club captain has set an appalling example to the group of youngsters hoping to force their way into Unai Emery’s first team plans. Koscielny informed Emery of his decision to boycott the tour on Thursday, aggrieved at not being granted the opportunity to leave the club he had previously served with such distinction for nine years on a free transfer, 12 months before his contract expires. Read more
Barcelona sign Griezmann for €120 million (Punch)
Barcelona announced the signing of Antoine Griezmann on Friday after the Spanish champions paid La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid the 120 million euro ($135 million) release clause required to sign the World Cup winner. “The player will sign a contract with his new club for the next five seasons, through to 30 June 2024, with a buyout clause of 800 million euros,” Barca said in a statement. Read more
Tottenham hijack Arsenal’s £27m move for William Saliba by outbidding Gunners (Metro)
Arsenal’s move to sign Saint-Etienne defender William Saliba is in leopardy after Tottenham bettered the Gunners’ offer for the defender. The Gunners had been close to finalising a deal for the defender that would see the Frenchman remain with Saint-Etienne for another season before moving to the Emirates in 2020. Arsenal believed they could finalise a move worth around £27m after bonuses this week and only had to complete the final details of a move. Read more