PDP decries Nigeria’s rising debt profile, asks National Assembly to intervene (Guardian)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday decried the country’s rising debt profile from N12.12 trillion in 2015 to N24.38 trillion in 2018 under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, it noted that it was saddening and devastating that the present administration relies on heavy borrowings and unbearable tax regimes, which have crippled productivity, caused untold hardship and mortgaged the country’s economic future. “Since President Buhari assumed office in 2015, there have been a culture of unexplained borrowings leading to a steep rise in the debt stock from N17.5 trillion in 2016 to N21.72 trillion in 2017 and N24.387 trillion in 2018. Read more
Court rejects Offa robbery suspects’ request for wound examination (Punch)
A Kwara State High Court trying the five suspects accused of participating in the April 5, 2018 Offa bank robbery on Monday rejected the suggestion of the defence counsel to invite ballistics experts to examine the cause of the wounds on the legs of three of the five accused persons. The court, however, admitted in evidence the medical examination report on the wounds allegedly inflicted on the accused persons during the course of their interrogation by the police. The five accused persons standing trial before the court are Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran. Read more
FG to move two more coaches to Abuja-Kaduna railway (Guardian)
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has disclosed plans to move two additional coaches from the Intake Warrior railway to the corridor to decongest the mounting pressure on the Abuja-Kaduna train service. Amaechi, who spoke with journalists yesterday after the inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan railway in Abuja, said he was aware of the ongoing racketeering at the Idu and Rigasa stations as coaches that usually take 200 passengers now carry 500 persons. He said: “We also discovered that some people will buy tickets and resell to the public. We’re going there. We’ll put policemen there to arrest them. Even if you put policemen there, that won’t solve the problem.” Read more
EFCC arrests train ticket racketeers in Abuja, Kaduna (Guardian)
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja Zonal Office, have arrested five suspected train ticket racketeers.EFCC acting spokesperson, Tony Orilade, stated yesterday in Abuja that the commission swung into action after receiving intelligence that some people at the Idu and Kubwa train stations had been racketeering train tickets, thereby sabotaging government’s efforts towards easy transportation across the country. Racketeering makes it difficult for passengers to have access to tickets, as prices are hiked and the commodity hoarded.The suspects include, Clement Zakka, Samson Udim, Adams Danladi, Otitomoni Omobolanle and Hassan Dauda. Read more
Passengers flee as fire razes section of Imo airport (Guardian)
A section of the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State, was yesterday razed by fire, forcing passengers to flee for safety.The cause of the inferno, which lasted for over 30 minutes, was not immediately ascertained, but The Guardian learnt that the fire started around 2:00 p.m. at the arrival section of the airport, which was under renovation. Though no life was lost, it took spirited efforts by men of the fire service and airport workers to put out the blaze. The General Manager Corporate Affairs of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Henrietta Yakubu, said the fire was “curtailed swiftly” by officers of the Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services Department of FAAN, aiding the restart of normal operations at the airport. Yakubu said the authority had commenced preliminary investigations into the cause of the incident. Read more
Student arrested for allegedly forging local government certificate (Punch)
A 23-year-old student, Olamide Olakunlade, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly forging a Lagos State certificate of origin. The defendant, whose residential address was given as No. 16 Oyedele Street, Liasu Road, Ikotun, Lagos, is facing two counts of conspiracy and forgery. It was gathered that the Ekiti State indigene attempted to change his state of origin in order to apply for an air force recruitment programme. According to the police prosecutor, Sergeant Kenrich Nomayo, the defendant allegedly conspired with others to commit felony by forging the Ikeja Local Government certificate of origin. Read more
Again, Rivers, Ebonyi community clashes claim 20 persons (Guardian)
No fewer than 12 persons have been killed in renewed gang clash in Rumuche and Rumuohia communities, as well as Kaani Babbe Community in Emohua and Khana local government areas of Rivers State.This is coming a few hours after rival gang war claimed eight persons in Mgbuodohia Community, Rumuolumeni in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on Sunday. The Guardian learnt that of the 12 victims, five persons were killed in Rumuohia Community of Emohua council, while seven others were shot dead in Kaani. The developments have sent panic among residents of the areas, as they have been wondering the role of security agencies, state government and community elders, as the mayhem continues. Read more
Bricklayer gets life sentence for defiling seven-year-old niece (Punch)
Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Monday sentenced a bricklayer, Idowu Gbolahan, to life imprisonment for defiling his seven-year-old niece. Gbolahan, who was arraigned on one count of defilement by the Lagos State Government, committed the offence at his residence on Morocco Road, Shomolu on August 11, 2018. The prosecutor, Feyinti Ogbemudia, had told the court that the convict molested the victim when she went to drink water in her grandmother’s room. Read more
Two Nigerians stabbed to death in South Africa (Punch)
The death toll of Nigerians killed in South Africa has continued to rise with another two being the latest victims in ongoing xenophobic attacks on foreigners in that country. The latest victims were stabbed to death during xenophobic attacks in Johannesburg and Cape Town on April 5 and April 6, 2019, respectively. The Assistant Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Union in South Africa, Mr Odefa Ikele, confirmed the killings in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria from Johannesburg on Monday. Read more
Sudan protest: Demonstrators continue sit-in despite crackdown (BBC)
Heavy gunfire has been heard outside the army headquarters in the Sudanese capital Khartoum where thousands of protesters have been holding a sit-in for the third night in a row. They are calling for the resignation of President Omar al-Bashir. Witnesses reported seeing people running for cover after the shooting began. Earlier, tear-gas was fired. It appears to be the latest attempt by government security agents to break up the protests. One of the protesters, Ahmed Mahmoud, told the BBC that “tear-gas and live bullets were used” by National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) agents against protesters. Read more
Israel election: PM Netanyahu seeks record fifth term (BBC)
Israelis have begun voting in the country’s most closely-fought general election in years. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the right-wing Likud Party, is seeking a fifth term in office. But he is facing corruption allegations and a strong challenge from retired general Benny Gantz. Mr Gantz, head of the centrist Blue and White alliance, is challenging Mr Netanyahu on the key issue of security and is promising cleaner politics. No party has won a majority in Israel’s 120-seat parliament, the Knesset, so as soon as the results start coming in at 22:00 (19:00 GMT) on Tuesday negotiations start on the formation of a governing coalition. Read more
Carlos Ghosn ‘held hostage’ by Japan legal system, says lawyer (BBC)
Carlos Ghosn’s family lawyer has said the former Nissan boss is being “held hostage” by the Japanese legal system. Jessica Finelle told the BBC Mr Ghosn’s “arbitrary detention” violated his right to a fair trial and says a complaint has been filed with the UN. She said the standard of his treatment did not meet international norms. His wife, Carole Ghosn, was also a victim of the “brutal” manner in which his re-arrest was conducted, she added. Read more
Backpacker raped and murdered hours after arriving in Thailand (Metro)
A backpacker was found dead yesterday night after being brutally raped and murdered hours after arriving on a Thai island. Miriam Beelte, 26, from Hildesheim, Germany, was discovered dumped behind rocks with severe head wounds on idyllic Koh Si Chang. Killer Ronnakorn Romruen, 24, later confessed to the murder – and was filmed showing police how he ‘repeatedly smashed her face with a rock’. The local confessed he had pestered Miriam for sex but when she refused, he followed her into the woodland and pinned her to the ground before raping her. Read more
Game Of Thrones author George RR Martin doesn’t think it should be the final season yet (Metro)
The Game Of Thrones cast might be ready to say goodbye to the show, but George R.R. Martin doesn’t think it’s the right time. Martin, who wrote the book series A Song Of Ice And Fire – on which Game Of Thrones is based – says he will be ‘hanging around Westeros’ for a long time after the stars move on. Speaking at the final season’s premiere in New York, he was asked how he was feeling about it coming to an end. ‘I don’t think it should be the final season. But here we are,’ he said. Read more
Nipsey Hussle’s family confirm Staples Centre memorial and offer free tickets to fans (Metro)
Nipsey Hussle’s family have confirmed that a memorial will take place to honour the late rapper at the Staples Centre. The Los Angeles venue is the same place where Michael Jackson’s tribute show was held back in 2009 and will play host to a two-hour service in Nipsey’s memory on 11 April. Those close to the artist confirmed details for the memorial service on Nipsey’s Instagram page, sharing an image of him wearing a white suit and angel wings. They encouraged fans to join them for the memorial and revealed that free tickets will be available to the event. Read more
Christian Chukwu in steady condition after treatment, says Owumi (Guardian)
The management of Enugu Rangers Football Club has described as untrue the stories making the rounds that the club and the Enugu State government abandoned its former player and coach, Christian Chukwu, who is recuperating from a life threatening health challenge. General Manager of the ‘Flying Antelopes’, Prince Davidson Owumi described the stories as “completely baseless,” saying the club and Enugu State government had done all that was needed to help the coach back to his feat. He said: “Rangers Management and the state government under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has been up and doing since Coach Christian Chukwu was met with this health challenge. Read more
Adesanya’s family storms Atlanta for UFC’s fight against America’s Gastelum (Guardian)
Africa’s fast-rising MMA athlete, Nigerian-born Israel Adesanya will not be alone at the State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia in the United States on Saturday when he steps up against America’s Kelvin Gastelum for the UFC’s interim middleweight belt title fight.His father, Femi Tai Adesanya, mother and other members of the family have promised to be on the ringside to give the junior Adesanya the support he needs to overcome his American opponent. Two belts are on the line on Saturday, as a pair of interim title fights headline the UFC 236 battle of Atlanta. In the main event, featherweight champion, Max Holloway faces Dustin Poirier, while the Israel Adesanya versus Kelvin Gastelum fight is the co-main event. Read more
Hazard earns Chelsea win over West Ham (BBC)
Eden Hazard scored one of the goals of the Premier League season as Chelsea beat West Ham to climb above Tottenham and Arsenal into third spot in the race for a Champions League place. Hazard, who has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer, evaded five players during a stunning run, before the Belgium forward calmly beat keeper Lukasz Fabianski. He added a late second goal to cap a magnificent individual performance in an entertaining game at Stamford Bridge. Read more
Eden Hazard: Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea must respect decision if forward wants to leave (BBC)
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri said he must “respect Eden Hazard’s decision” if the forward wants to leave Stamford Bridge this summer. Reports on Monday suggested Real Madrid are eager to secure a £100m deal for the 28-year-old Belgium international. Hazard later scored twice, including one of the goals of the Premier League season, in a 2-0 win over West Ham. “If Eden wants another experience it’s very difficult to keep him,” Sarri told Sky Sports. “Eden played a wonderful match. When he is able to play like this we are lucky because it is easy to win. Read more