Senate urges Nigerian government to secure release of Leah Sharibu (Guardian)
Nigerian Senate on Tuesday urged the Nigerian government to secure the release of Leah Sharibu in captivity of a Boko-Haram splinter loyal to the Islamic State. Leah was amongst about 111 girls abducted in Government Girls Science and Technology College, Dapchi, Yobe State on February 19, 2018. After a month, the girls were released, but five of them died en route Dapchi. Leah Sharibu was denied freedom over her refusal to renounce her Christian faith for Islam. Read more
Why Buhari declined assent to bill seeking professionalisation of social works (Independent)
Amidst criticism trailing President Muhammadu Buhari for declining assent to some critical national bills, including that of the Nigerian Council for Social Works, which seeks to regulate the practice of professional social workers in Nigeria. More facts have emerged regarding the circumstances that led to the Presidency ignoring the bill. Read more
Exam malpractice: Adeleke accuses police of conniving with APC to scuttle petition at tribunal (Punch)
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has accused the police of conniving with the ruling All Progressives Congress to prevent him from going ahead with the petition, he is planning to file against the APC candidate, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola. Read more
Five killed in militia attack on travellers in Adamawa (Independent)
The police on Tuesday confirmed five persons were killed in an attack allegedly by an ethnic militia on travellers in Bali village of Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa State. Four other victims survived the attack with injuries and have been taken to a hospital, the police said. Police spokesperson in the state, Othman Abubakar, said the travellers were on their way to Jalingo but were ambushed by the militia along Numan-Kpasham road late Monday evening. Read more
NSCDC arrests “mad man’’ over alleged kidnapping in Ondo (Vanguard)
The Ondo State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Tuesday said it had arrested a suspected kidnapper who claimed to be insane. The Commandant of NSCDC in the state, Mr Pedro Awili, made this known when he led newsmen to where the suspect and seven others, who allegedly committed other offences were being detained in Akure. Read more
Dozens dead in Niger/Nigeria crackdown on criminal gangs (Vanguard)
At least 30 “bandits” have been killed during a crackdown by the armies of Niger and Nigeria in their troubled frontier where kidnappings and cattle rustling are rife, Niger’s interior minister said Tuesday. Criminal gangs had been operating in a “sanctuary” of dense forest between the Maradi area of southern Niger and the Nigerian border, Bazoum Mohamed said. Read more
Zika virus outbreak affects 72 people in India (Guardian)
Zika virus outbreak in India is turning out to be worse in 2018, with 72 people being diagnosed with the infection, a senior health official said on Tuesday. The official said that 12 fresh cases in the past 24 hours, the number of Zika infected patients have now touched 72. Read more
Pompeo holds crisis talks in Riyadh on missing journalist (Guardian)
US top diplomat Mike Pompeo held talks with Saudi King Salman on Tuesday seeking answers about the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, amid US media reports the kingdom may be mulling an admission he died during a botched interrogation. “Rogue killers” could be to blame for the disappearance of Khashoggi, who has not been seen since he walked into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to sort out marriage paperwork, US President Donald Trump said after telephone talks with the king. Read more
UN rights chief calls to lift Saudi ‘immunity’ over Khashoggi (Guardian)
The UN human rights chief called Tuesday for the lifting of the immunity of officials who might be involved in the disappearance of a Saudi Arabian journalist at the kingdom’s consulate in Turkey. “In view of the seriousness of the situation surrounding the disappearance of Mr. (Jamal) Khashoggi, I believe the inviolability or immunity of the relevant premises and officials bestowed by treaties such as the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations should be waived immediately,” rights chief Michelle Bachelet said in a statement. Read more
Nigeria Amputee football team involved in car crash (Guardian)
The Nigeria Amputee Football team was involved in a car crash on their way to Abuja from Lagos on Monday. The team had a visa appointment at the Mexican Embassy in Abuja for their trip to the Amputee World Cup in Mexico. The Special Eagles have constantly battled against odds in their bid to get to the World Cup in Mexico. After missing the last three editions of the World Cup due to a lack of funds, the team hopes to avoid a repeat which would result to heavy sanctions by the World Amputee Football Federation. Read more
Madagascar reach Africa Cup of Nations for first time (Punch)
Madagascar won a place at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament for the first time when they triumphed 1-0 at home against Equatorial Guinea in Group A Tuesday. Thailand-based midfielder Njiva Rakotoharimalala scored the only goal four minutes before half-time on the huge Indian Ocean island. Victory lifted the ‘Barea’ (prized cattle) to 10 points from four games and beyond the reach of Equatorial Guinea and Sudan in a four team mini-league from which the top two qualify. Read more
Southgate praises ‘courage’ of England (BBC)
England manager Gareth Southgate praised the “courage” of his side after they beat Spain to claim their first Uefa Nations League victory. The 3-2 loss was Spain’s first at home in a competitive match for 15 years. A superb first-half showing from England produced two goals from Raheem Sterling and one from Marcus Rashford, with Spain responding through Paco Alcacer and Sergio Ramos. Read more
Mourinho charged by FA over comments (BBC)
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been charged over comments he made in Portuguese to a television camera after his side’s win over Newcastle. It is claimed Mourinho used “abusive, insulting or improper language” after the 3-2 comeback victory at Old Trafford on 6 October. The Football Association used a lip reader and the 55-year-old’s remarks were interpreted as offensive. Read more
Halep pulls out of Kremlin Cup (Punch)
Romania’s world number one Simona Halep on Tuesday withdrew from the Kremlin Cup, a joint WTA and ATP event, due to concerns over an ongoing back injury. “I tried everything I could to be ready here as I really wanted to play,” Halep said. “But unfortunately the back is still causing me pain and I don’t want to take any unnecessary risks.” Read more
Daughter sues dad for rejecting her suitor (Punch)
A 20-year-old lady, Amina Hassan, on Tuesday dragged her father, Adamu Hassan, before a Sharia Court at Magajin Gari, Kaduna over his refusal to allow her marry the man she loves. The girl, who lives with her grandmother on Bashama Road, Tudun Wada, Kaduna, said through her lawyer, Ado Ali, that she wants the court to order her father to marry her off to her suitor. Read more
My husband attacks me with knife, bottle, woman tells court (Punch)
A housewife, Sylvia Ekejelape, 38, on Tuesday pleaded with a Badagry Customary Court to dissolve her 13-year marriage, alleging that her husband, Stanley, always attacked her with dangerous weapons during their fights. Sylvia, a businesswoman and a mother of three, who now resides at No 1, Oja Tuntun, Akure, Ondo State, told the court that she could no longer tolerate his adulterous behaviour, adding that there was no more love in the marriage. Read more
Man docked over alleged attempt to steal phones (Nation)
A 23-year-old man, Dare Owolabi, has appeared before an Ilupeju-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court, over alleged attempt to steal cell phones from the shop of one Kazeem Jimoh. The prosecutor, Sergeant Adeniyi Famodimu, told the court that the accused of No. 140, Araromi St., Ayede-Ekiti, on Oct. 13, at 8.35 p.m. at Ayede-Ekiti, in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti, unlawfully entered Jimoh’s shop. Famodimu said that the accused attempted to steal cell phones, but ran away when public electricity supply was suddenly restored. Read more