Sanwo-Olu signs executive order on refuse, traffic mgt (Nation)
Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on his first day in office on Thursday signed the first Executive Order of Refuse Management, Traffic Management and Public Works of the state. He also held a meeting with service chiefs in the state. The events took place in the Governor’s office, Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja. Read more
Sanwo-Olu appoints ex-HoS Folasade Jaji as new SSG (Punch)
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos on Thursday appointed a former Head of Service in the state, Mrs. Folasade Jaji, as the new Secretary to the State Government. The news is contained in a statement issued by the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, on Thursday in Lagos. Jaji, a chemist, had served as the 17th Head of Service of the state’s Public Service. Read more
Appeal Court sets aside judgment against Adeleke (Guardian)
Abuja Division of Court of Appeal, has dismissed the judgment of an FCT High Court sitting in Bwari, which nullified the candidacy of the Peoples Democratic Party in September 22, 2018, Osun State governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke. Justice Emmanuel Agim, who read the judgment, said Bwari FCT High Court lacked territorial jurisdiction. The judge held that the certificate was not forged and the testimony of WAEC official which the FCT High Court, Bwari, ignored was valid. Read more
Don’t honour cheques in Imo Govt’s name again, Ihedioha tells banks (Punch)
Just 24 hours after he was sworn in as the governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha has ordered financial institutions not to honour any withdrawal instruction by cheques or transfers written in the name of the state government. A statement issued in Owerri on Thursday by the special Adviser on Media to the governor, Steve Osuji, said “no financial mandates, ISPOs or any form of financial instruction should be treated.” Read more
Okorocha not under arrest —EFCC (Punch)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has rejected claims that it arrested the former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, following his official handover to his successor, Emeka Ihedioha, on Wednesday. Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party had won the Imo governorship election that held on March 9, defeating 69 others, including Okorocha’s anointed candidate and son-in-law, Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance. Read more
N35m JAMB scam: EFCC files charges against snake-swallowing woman, five others (Nation)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on Friday arraign a controversial official of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Philomina Chishe and five others for trial over alleged N35million fraud. Chieshe was alleged to have told operatives of the anti-graft commission that a snake swallowed the cash in question. The other five officials facing trial are Samuel Umoru, Yakubu Jekada, Daniel Agbo, Priscilla Ogunsola, and Aliyu Yakubu. Read more
Nigeria spends N11trn for subsidy claims in six years – Senate panel (Punch)
Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream, Kabir Marafa, disclosed on Thursday that Nigeria spent over N11 trn as payment for outstanding subsidy claims in the last six years. Also on Thursday, the Senate approved the payment of N129 bn as outstanding subsidy claims to 67 petroleum marketers. The approval followed the adoption of the report of its Committee on Petroleum Downstream on the Promissory Note Programme and a Bond Issuance for Oil Marketers Outstanding Claims. Read more
Imo residents defy IPOB’s sit-at-home order (Nation)
Residents of Owerri, the Imo capital, on Thursday, defied the sit-at-home order from the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) and went about their normal businesses. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that commercial activities went on uninterrupted in Owerri metropolis and its environs. Banks were open to customers, while commercial activities went on normally in all the markets in the city, including the Relief and Timber markets. Read more
Senate moves against FG’s plan to downgrade Enugu Airport (Guardian)
The Nigerian Senate Thursday moved against the federal government plans to downgrade the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu from its international status to a local airport following safety concerns. The Senate during its plenary resolved that the federal government should “not consider downgrading” the airport as a matter of urgency. Read more
Why I didn’t attend Makinde’s inauguration – Ladoja (Punch)
A former Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja, on Thursday gave the reason he was not at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, venue of the swearing-in of the governor of the state, Mr. Seyi Makinde on Wednesday. Ladoja said he was mourning and adequately informed Makinde when he (governor) visited him, 24 hours to his inauguration. Read more
Shittu calls for Oshiomhole’s resignation (Nation)
Immediate past Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu has thrown his weight behind the call for the resignation of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. Shittu who was disqualified by the Oshiomhole led National Working Committee from contesting the party’s governorship primaries in Oyo state has since taken up arms against the former Edo state governor. Read more
Appeal Court returns Nwaoboshi as PDP senatorial candidate (Guardian)
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja which removed Senator Peter Nwaoboshi as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23 election for the senatorial seat Delta North. A three-man panel of the appellate court led by Justice Mohammed Idris, in a unanimous judgment, held that the Federal High Court had no jurisdiction to have heard the case filed by Ned Nwoko. Read more
Wealthy Nigerians buy judgments, says Lawan (Nation)
Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, on Thursday accused wealthy Nigerians of buying court judgments. Lawan made the allegation during the confirmation of Justice Abaze Abubakar Sadiq as the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He said the Judiciary should always be firm and ensure that justice is delivered without fear or favour in the interest of the people. Read more
Boeing admits it ‘fell short’ on safety alert for 737 (BBC)
Boeing has admitted it “fell short” when it failed to implement a safety alert system on the 737 Max. The aircraft was grounded globally in March after two crashes within months. Boeing boss Dennis Muilenburg said a mistake had been made in the software for a cockpit warning light called an “angle-of-attack (AOA) disagree alert”. Read more
Trump defends request to hide ship named John McCain (BBC)
US President Donald Trump has defended a reported White House request to hide a warship named for his late critic, John McCain, during his trip to Japan. At the White House, Mr Trump denied having prior knowledge of the request, but said whoever did it was “well meaning” in their intention. The call to move the USS John S McCain out of view was ultimately torpedoed by senior Navy officials. Read more
Italy’s Salvini ally quits government after conviction for embezzlement (Punch)
A new row within Italy’s populist coalition seemed to have been avoided on Thursday as the far-right League accepted that one of its members had to leave the government after a conviction for embezzlement. Deputy Transport Minister Edoardo Rixi was handed a three-year, five-month jail term by a court in Genoa in connection with a public expenses scandal in the regional parliament of Liguria, in which he previously served. Read more
Narendra Modi sworn in for second term after election landslide (BBC)
Narendra Modi has been sworn in for a second term as India’s prime minister after his party won a landslide majority in the recent election. Thousands were invited to the ceremony in Delhi, including regional leaders and Bollywood stars. But notable names were excluded, including Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan, and some opposition leaders stayed away. Read more
Sri Lanka president slams intel chief over Easter attacks (Guardian)
Sri Lanka’s president publicly rebuked his intelligence chief on Thursday after he told a parliamentary panel that the Easter suicide bombings in which 258 people died could have been avoided. The testimony appeared to put President Maithripala Sirisena in a poor light by implying he had not held National Security Council meetings to review threats such as the attacks carried out by Islamic State. Authorities shut down a live broadcast of Chief of National Intelligence Sisira Mendis giving evidence to the parliamentary panel without giving an explanation. Read more
Austria gets first female chancellor (Punch)
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen appointed the head of the country’s constitutional court as Austria’s first female chancellor Thursday to lead an interim government until elections in the autumn. Brigitte Bierlein will now be tasked with forming a cabinet after the previous government collapsed spectacularly over the so-called “Ibiza-gate” corruption scandal. Read more
Five pupils drown in water reservoir trying to rescue classmate (Punch)
Five pupils drowned on Thursday in Central Vietnam after a group of children attempted to rescue a friend who fell into a reservoir, a local official said. The accident occurred when a group of eighth-grade pupils, about 14 years old from a secondary school in Nghe An province, were playing near a dam in Bac Thanh commune. One of the children fell into the water and four others tried to pull her out, but they, too, fell into the reservoir. Read more
Company criticised for paying female staff to wear skirts (BBC)
A Russian company has been heavily criticised for offering female employees cash bonuses to wear skirts or dresses to work. Tatprof, an aluminium manufacturer, is running a “femininity marathon” campaign until 30 June. Female staff who wear a dress or skirt “no longer than five centimetres from the knee” are paid 100 roubles ($1.50, £1.19) on top of their regular wages. Read more
Police dogs awarded ‘animal OBEs’ for their work in London terror attacks (Metro)
Seven police dogs have been honoured for their work in the aftermath of terror attacks in London with an award dubbed the ‘animal OBE’. The PDSA Order of Merit was presented to the dogs and their handlers for their services after the Westminster Bridge, London Bridge and Borough Market attacks of 2017. The seven were chosen from a group of 19 who were honoured by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) at the Honourable Artillery Company in Finsbury, London, on Thursday. Read more
Mane focused, happy at Liverpool despite Real Madrid interest (Punch)
Sadio Mane says he is happy at Liverpool and will not let speculation that he is wanted by Real Madrid distract him ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur. Real Madrid is looking to strengthen their squad after reappointing Zinedine Zidane as manager. Mane, according to reports in Spain, is one of a number of players being linked with a move to Madrid. The Senegal international was the joint top scorer in the English Premier League this season. Read more
Jose Mourinho picks his two key players in Liverpool’s Champions League final against Tottenham (Metro)
Jose Mourinho believes Virgil van Dijk and Christian Eriksen will be the two key players in Liverpool’s Champions League final against Tottenham. The two Premier League clubs will meet at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday evening to determine who will be crowned champions of Europe. And the former Manchester United boss was asked to name a player from each team who he thinks will play a decisive role in the match. Read more
China strips South Korea of football trophy for ‘indecent’ celebrations (Punch)
South Korea’s victorious under-18 team were stripped of the Panda Cup on Thursday after they infuriated hosts China with their celebrations. The Koreans had already apologised to “all the people in China” after a picture emerged of a player with his foot on the trophy. The Koreans were accused of disrespect after they defeated the home side 3-0 on Wednesday to win the annual youth international competition in the city of Chengdu. Read more
Tyson Fury predicts ‘pussy sh*thouse’ Anthony Joshua will never fight him (Metro)
Tyson Fury has predicted he will never fight Anthony Joshua, branding the three-belt champion a coward. Joshua has called out Fury and WBC champion Deontay Wilder in the last week, as he prepares to make his debut in America against Mexican challenger Andy Ruiz Jr. Fury was making the media rounds in Las Vegas ahead of his own fight and was asked if he thought he would ever face his direct rival, Joshua. Read more
Naomi Osaka reacts to battling win against Victoria Azarenka (Metro)
Naomi Osaka produced another stunning French Open fightback as she advanced to the third round at Roland Garros. After a slow start, the world No. 1 recovered to defeat two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka 4-6 7-5 6-3 in two hours and 50 minutes, in the highest level match of the tournament so far. It was another difficult afternoon for the top seed, who is chasing her third consecutive Grand Slam title, as Azarenka pushed her all the way but once again she showed great mental resolve. Read more
Serena crushes Nara to reach French Open third round (Punch)
Serena Williams put her nervy start to the French Open behind her by thrashing Japanese qualifier Kurumi Nara on Thursday to step up her bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title. The 37-year-old cruised into the third round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory on Court Philippe Chatrier. Williams will face Sofia Kenin for a last-16 spot after her fellow American received a walkover following Canadian Bianca Andreescu’s withdrawal through injury. Read more
Teenager in Italy is banned for insulting a female referee (BBC)
A 14-year-old boy has been given a one-year ban for lowering his shorts and making a vulgar gesture at a female referee in Italy. The incident happened on 22 May in an under-14 tournament in Mestre, Venice. A Treporti player made the gesture after his side conceded a corner against Miranese and he was sent off by referee Giulia Nicastro. Read more