Reps set for showdown with IGP over detention of lawmaker (Guardian)
The House of Representatives, on Wednesday threatened to summon the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, if Rep. Abubakar Lado (APC-Niger) arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was not released within 12 hours. Lado currently represents Gurara/Suleja/Tafa Federal Constituency of Niger State. The development was sequel to a motion moved under the matters of urgent public importance by Rep. Toby Okechukwu (PDP-Enugu) at the first plenary presided over by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara. Read more
Ogunbiyi accuses Adeleke of violating senatorial ticket agreement (Punch)
A former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, has accused the governorship candidate of the party, Senator Ademola Adeleke, of backing the Director General of the Adeleke Campaign Organisation, Chief Lere Oyewumi, to violate the peace deal brokered to resolve the crisis between the duo after the party’s primary. Ogunbiyi, who made the allegation in an interview with our correspondent in Osogbo on Tuesday, spoke through his media aide, Mr Ismail Afolabi. Read more
Ganduje urges France to commence Kano water project (Punch)
Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, has appealed to the government of France to commence work on the Greater Kano Water supply project. France, through its overseas development agency, Agence Francaise de Development, pledged earlier in the year to extend a credit facility of $75m towards improving water supply in the Kano metropolis and the financial viability of the state water board. Read more
Dokubo: I won’t bow to pressure to share Amnesty cash (Nation)
The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator, Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo, has said he would not bow to pressure to share funds meant for ex-militants. He advised Niger Deltans to shun unnecessary criticism and fully support Presidential Amnesty Programme. He spoke at a meeting with the Niger Delta Amnesty Vendors Association in Abuja yesterday. Read more
Abducted oil workers regain freedom (Nation)
Four abducted members of a Joint Investigation Team probing the cause of an oil spill at Agip’s facility in Azuzuama, Southern Ijaw Local Government of Bayelsa State, have regained freedom. Spokesman for the Joint Task Force in Niger Delta Major Ibrahim Abdullah said yesterday in Yenagoa that they were freed following pressure from the troops in search of the kidnappers. Read more
Kenya bus crash kills at least 50 (Guardian)
At least 50 people were killed when the bus they were travelling in overturned and its entire roof was ripped off in an accident in western Kenya early Wednesday, police said. The bus was travelling from Nairobi to the western town of Kakamega, police said, and footage from the scene showed the vehicle lying on its side with the seats and mangled bits of metal exposed to the air. Read more
Former Liberia leader’s ex-wife denies torture (BBC)
The ex-wife of former Liberian president Charles Taylor has pleaded not guilty to a string of torture charges – some involving children. Agnes Taylor, 53, was charged last year after a Metropolitan Police inquiry. She is accused of committing the offences between 1989 and 1991 during the West African country’s civil war. Read more
Mozambique peace process under scrutiny in local polls (Guardian)
Mozambique held local elections on Wednesday that could expose cracks in the country’s peace process after the ruling Frelimo party was accused of violence and intimidation during the run-up to the vote. The 13-day election campaign, which ended at the weekend, was marked by several clashes between rival party supporters. Read more
Fitness level will determine Eagles result in qualifiers, says Rohr (Guardian)
Nigeria’s Super Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr, has said the level of fitness of the players would determine the team’s results in their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. The Nigerian team had a dream start after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Argentina in the just concluded Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Seychelles in their second AFCON qualifier match in September. Read more
Giggs plays down fears over Bale injury ahead of Wales v Spain clash (Guardian)
Ryan Giggs has played down fears over the fitness of Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale despite ruling the Wales forward out of Thursday’s friendly with Spain. Bale has been troubled by a groin injury in recent weeks and was forced off in the closing stages of Real’s defeat at Alaves on Saturday. Read more
Cristiano Ronaldo: ‘Allegations of rape based on completely fabricated documents’ (BBC)
Documents concerning rape allegations made against Cristiano Ronaldo have been “completely fabricated”, according to the player’s lawyer. Ronaldo, 33, denies assaulting Kathryn Mayorga at a Las Vegas hotel in 2009. Mayorga says she was attacked by the Portuguese footballer in a hotel room in the US city that year. Read more
11-year-old pupil disappears after downpour in Calabar (Punch)
An 11-year-old pupil of Junior Science Secondary School in Calabar, Cross River State, Victor Charles, has been feared dead after being swept away by flood. It was gathered that Charles was washed into a deep water channel along the Mayne Avenue by Atakpa Street in the metropolis. Read more
Guard remanded for ‘defiling’ girl, 10 (Nation)
A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Minna, Niger State has remanded a 55-year-old security guard, Michael Itang, for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl. The accused is standing trial on a one-count charge of unlawful sex with a minor. Prosecutor Daniel Ikwoche said Grace Tanko, who lives behind General Hospital, Suleja reported the matter at ‘A’ Police Division, Suleja on October 3. Read more
Murder: Defendant sends text message to friend after husband’s death (Punch)
A friend to a lawyer who allegedly murdered her husband, Maureen Offor, on Wednesday told a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere about a text message that the lawyer, Udeme Otike-Odibi, sent to her on May 3 around 12.04am, which stated that she had done something terrible. Forty-eight-year-old Udeme is standing trial for allegedly stabbing her husband, Symphorosa Otike-Odibi, to death at their residence on Diamond Estate, Sangotedo, Lagos State. Read more
Police arrest kidnapper, rescue five-month-old baby (Punch)
Twenty-two-year old Suliyat Badmus has been arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly kidnapping a five-month-old baby in Lagos. The state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, on Wednesday said the mother of the child, Shukurat Opeoluwadu, had gone to hawk local herbs on September 26, 2018, when the suspect allegedly took advantage of her absence and fled with the baby. Read more
I made N1.2m posing as fake policeman – Welder (Punch)
A welder, Adebisi Kayode, has said he made about N1.2m from impersonating a police inspector. Kayode, who was paraded by the Oyo State Police Command in Eleyele, Ibadan, was said to have defrauded his victims by telling them that that he would help them to purchase auction vehicles. Read more