Sanwo-Olu’s campaign aide accused of intellectual property theft, drug trafficking (Guardian)
A Nigerian-German journalist, Ruona Meyer, Friday accused Olufunke Phillips, one of the campaign media aide of Lagos State Governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, of intellectual property theft and drug trafficking. Meyer, an ex- BBC journalist, said she had some business dealings with Phillips dated back to 2015, which she terminated in 2016. Meyer disclosed she had met Philips 2015 when she “needed a face” for a “blog and event portal on the business of drinking.” Read more
Buhari won’t interfere with emergence of NASS leadership, says Presidency (Nation)
The Presidency has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will not interfere with the process of electing the next crop of leadership of the incoming National Assembly. Rather, the President will stick to the rule of law and the operative principle of separation of powers in the affairs of the National Assembly. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Affairs (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, who stated this at a media briefing in Abuja Friday, said the President will give both arms of the federal legislature a free hand to elect their leaders. Read more
Kidnappers release mother-in-law to Katsina governor —police (Guardian)
The Katsina State Police Command has confirmed the release of the mother-in-law to Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State, Hajiya Hauwa Yusuf. Hajiya Hauwa, the mother to one of the governor’s wives, Hajiya Binta, was abducted one week ago at her residence in Katsina metropolis. This was contained in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Gambo Isa on Friday in Katsina. ‘’I am very happy to inform you that the old woman has been released by her abductors in the early hours of the day (Friday). Read more
Rivers guber: Our victory’ll be sweet, says Wike (Nation)
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has called on Rivers people to remain calm as the success of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 9 Governorship Election would be a sweet victory in the end. Wike made the statement when members of the National Assembly elected on the platform of the PDP presented their INEC Certificates of Return to him at a ceremony in the Government House Port Harcourt, the state capital on Friday. He said that the will of the people of the state will prevail at the end, despite the conspiracy against the State. Read more
Anambra community protests govt agents’ intimidation (Punch)
The people of Ozzu- Ndiukwuenu in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State have protested the alleged intimidation by those they described as government agents. They alleged that some agents of government had forcefully taken over their land and unleashed cult gangs on them. While urging the state governor, Willie Obiano, to intervene, they said life had become unbearable for them in the area. Carrying placards of different inscriptions, the community wondered why the state government would authorise such terror and brigandage on them by its agents. Read more
2019: Investigate all electoral infractions now – PANDEF tells FG (Nation)
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) on Friday called on the Federal Government under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, to immediately investigate all electoral infractions that took place during the 2019 general elections held on February 23 and March 9, 2019. While stressing that there should be no sacred cows in the investigation, PANDEF also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to bring to conclusion the process of collation of the Rivers State Governorship Election Results and the winner declared, so as to douse the political tension in the State. Read more
Trump condemns ‘horrible’ New Zealand mosque attacks (Guardian)
US President Donald Trump condemned as a “horrible massacre” twin mosque attacks in New Zealand that killed at least 49 worshipers and wounded dozens more during Friday prayers. The chief suspect, a 28-year-old Australian-born man, allegedly published a racist “manifesto” on social media before the attack, featuring conspiracy theories about Europeans being displaced, and details of two years of preparation and radicalization leading up to the shootings. “My warmest sympathy and best wishes goes out to the people of New Zealand after the horrible massacre in the Mosques. 49 innocent people have so senselessly died, with so many more seriously injured,” Trump wrote on Twitter after the attacks in Christchurch. Read more
North Korea may break off US talks and resume missile tests, official says (BBC)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may break off denuclearisation talks with the US and resume missile and nuclear testing, a senior official says. Vice Foreign Minister Choe Sun-hui told foreign diplomats the US threw away “a golden opportunity” at a recent summit between President Trump and Mr Kim. North Korea had offered to dismantle its main Yongbyon nuclear complex. But talks collapsed after Mr Trump refused to lift sanctions unless North Korea destroyed all its nuclear sites. Read more
‘Mosque forced girl, 14, to marry “sex attacker” more than twice her age’ (Metro)
A mosque forced a 14 year-old girl to marry a man more than twice her age who then began abusing her 10 year-old sister, it is claimed. Police are investigating the Masjid Uthman Dan Fodiyo place of worship in Philadelphia after the girl, who is now 17, shared a Facebook video detailing her alleged ordeal at the hands of Rajmann Sanders. She said: ‘At the time I was a virgin. It was going to be my first marriage of course.’ Read more
EU to slap Google with fresh fine (Punch)
The EU’s anti-trust regulator is to slap tech giant Google with a new fine over unfair competition practices, sources told AFP on Friday. Brussels has targeted the Silicon Valley firm’s AdSense advertising service, saying it restricts some client websites from displaying ads from third parties. The decision in the long-running case, first reported by the Financial Times, is the latest anti-trust salvo against Google, which has already received nearly seven billion euros in EU fines. Two sources close to the matter said the verdict would land next week, most likely on Wednesday. Read more
Michael Jackson’s brother Tito calls Leaving Neverland documentary ‘ludicrous and unfair’ (Metro)
Former Jackson 5 singer Tito Jackson has called the documentary Leaving Neverland ‘crazy’, ‘ludicrous’ and ‘unfair’ as the Michael Jackson estate sues the creators of the show. The documentary – broadcasted on HBO and Channel 4 – explores claims made against Michael by Wade Robson and James Safechuck, accusing him of sexually abusing them when they were children. Some viewers were left ‘disturbed’ by the graphic detail included in the divisive documentary and turned against Michael after it aired. Read more
T-Pain headbutted Taylor Swift in the boob the first time he met her (Metro)
We’ve all made some mortifying first impressions – whether that’s swearing in front of your new significant other’s parents, or choking on your own saliva in a job interview. No? Just us? But T-Pain’s first meeting with Taylor Swift was a whole new level of embarrassing. The rapper has revealed that he headbutted T-Swizzle in the boob upon their first meeting, which is pretty darn cringey. Read more
Injured Kalu to miss Nigeria’s next two matches (Guardian)
Bordeaux winger Samuel Kalu will miss Nigeria’s next two games due to injury, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Friday. The Super Eagles play the Seychelles in their last Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on March 22 then take on Egypt in a friendly four days later. Nigeria are top of Group E on 10 points ahead of South Africa on 9, Libya on 7 and Seychelles on 1pt, with this weekend’s match concluding the preliminary group round. Read more
Klopp warns Liverpool to respect Porto (Guardian)
Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool won’t underestimate Porto after being handed a Champions League quarter-final clash with the Portuguese underdogs in Friday’s draw. Klopp’s side will go into the Porto tie as heavy favourites to advance to a semi-final showdown against Barcelona or Manchester United. Liverpool crushed Porto 5-0 on aggregate in the Champions League last 16 just last season, scoring all five goals in the away leg before a goalless draw in the return at Anfield. Read more
Italian World Cup winner, Fabio Cannavaro, named coach of China (Punch)
Italian legend Fabio Cannavaro was named coach of China on Friday, succeeding his mentor Marcello Lippi, who will be a consultant under the new set-up. Here is all you need to know about the former defender Cannavaro as he embarks on the next stage of his illustrious career: Full name: Fabio Cannavaro Date of birth: September 13, 1973 (45) Read more
Luis Enrique rings the changes for Spain (Guardian)
Luis Enrique named a much-changed Spain squad on Friday as Isco, Saul Niguez and Koke were all left out while the 33-year-old Jesus Navas earned a surprise recall. Eight players were recalled to the squad with Navas, Sergi Gomez, Juan Bernat, Fabian Ruiz, Dani Parejo, Sergio Canales, Iker Muniain and Jaime Mata all coming in. Among those to miss out were Isco, who will be hoping for more games under new Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, as well as Atletico Madrid pair Saul and Koke. Read more
European teams may boycott FIFA’s Club World Cup (Punch)
Europe’s top clubs say they will boycott FIFA’s proposed new Club World Cup, leaving FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s latest plans in serious doubt and risking a major split. Infantino had hoped to get backing this week for creating two new, potentially money-spinning, tournaments. This will be a new worldwide Nations League for national teams and a fresh 24-team Club World Cup to start with a “pilot’’ edition in 2021. Read more
Deontay Wilder rejects DAZN’s incredible $100m deal to fight Anthony Joshua (Metro)
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has reportedly turned down DAZN’s $100million, three-fight offer to take on Dominic Breazeale and Anthony Joshua. Reports emerged over the past few days claiming the streaming service were prepared to pay astronomical figures to secure Wilder, having met with the Bronze Bomber and his co-managers, Shelly Finkel and Al Haymon, in New York on Tuesday. DAZN offered Wilder $20m (£15m) to fight mandatory challenger Breazeale, and $80m (£60m) for two fights against Joshua later in the year and at the start of 2020. Read more