Sowore meets bail conditions, Falana at DSS for his release (Punch)
Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, visited the headquarters of the Department of State Service in Abuja on Wednesday to secure the release of convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, from the agency’s custody. Falana visited the DSS office after Sowore has complied with the Tuesday order of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which directed him to deposit his passport at the court registry as condition for his release from the custody of the security agency. Read more
Independence: FG declares Tuesday public holiday (Nation)
The Federal Government has declared Tuesday, Oct.1, as public holiday to mark Nigeria’s 59th Independence Anniversary. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mrs Georgina Ehuriah, announced this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja. She said the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola made the declaration on behalf of the federal government. Read more
2020 Budget: Buhari sends MTEF /FSP to National Assembly (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday forwarded the 2020/2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper to the National Assembly for consideration. The President in his letter read at plenary by Senate President Ahmad Lawan, urged the lawmakers to accord the documents urgent legislative action. The MTEF /FSP contains the benchmark upon which the 2020 budget would be predicated. Read more
Social investment fund not mismanaged —FG (Punch)
The National Social Investment Office on Wednesday said that the social intervention funds being managed by it had not been mismanaged as being speculated in some quarters. It said since 2016 when the scheme commenced, the funding and disbursement had always been done by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning. Read more
Bayelsa poll: PDP will win by landslide, Dickson boasts (Nation)
Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has boasted that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would win the November 16 governorship poll in the state by landslide. The governor alleged that the inability of the APC to produce a validly-nominated candidate boosted the chances of the PDP at the forthcoming election. Read more
Police foil attempt to blackmail Imo federal lawmaker, Kingsley Chima (Punch)
The Police in Imo State have described as “frivolous and unfounded” the allegation of rape levelled against Kingsley Uju Chima, a member of the House of Representatives. SP Orlando Ikeokwu, the spokesman for the Imo Police Command, said at a news conference on Wednesday that the allegation against the lawmaker, representing Ohaji-Egbema/Oguta/ Oru West Federal Constituency was unfounded. Read more
Gunmen kill butchers’ association chairman in Bayelsa (Punch)
Unknown gunmen have killed the Chairman of Butchers Association in Bayelsa, Mr Chibuzor Nwachukwu along Ogilo Street, in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state. Chibuzor, who was the Chairman of the Swali Market branch of the association was said to have returned home on Sunday evening where the assailants laid an ambush in front of his house. Read more
NIN will be compulsory for UTME registration —JAMB (Punch)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has called on all prospective candidates for its 2020 UTME to acquire the National Identification Number. The board’s Spokesman, Dr Fabian Benjamin said on Tuesday that the aim was to ensure the biometric and other necessary details of a candidate were captured, to check examination malpractice. Read more
You are mortgaging Benue future with loans, APC tells Ortom (Punch)
The opposition All Progressives Congress in Benue State on Wednesday called on the Debt Management Office and other relevant agencies to henceforth check loans being obtained by the State Governor, Samuel Ortom. Chairman of Benue APC LikeMinds, Kula Terso who made the call in Makurdi said that the call was necessary following the approval given by the State Assembly to Governor Samuel Ortom to take a new N12b loan. Read more
Pass anti-begging, women appointment bills, UNICEF urges Zamfara Assembly (Punch)
The United Nations Children Fund has called on Zamfara State House of Assembly to pass two bills aimed at increasing access to quality and equitable education in the state. The bills are for Law to Provide 30 per cent Appointment of Women in Education Sector at all Levels and a Law Banning Hawking and Begging During School Hours. Read more
I hope to give out large wealth like Bill Gates – Dangote (Punch)
Business tycoon, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, says he hopes to give out a chunk of his $9.2bn wealth like billionaire philanthropist, Bill Gates. Dangote, who is Africa’s richest man, said this at the 2019 Goalkeepers’ event hosted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in New York on Wednesday. Read more
Police arraign lawyer for threatening to kill Kashamu (Nation)
30-year-old lawyer, Bayo Adedokun, on Wednesday appeared in an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly threatening to kill Sen. Buruji Kashamu and Alhaji Muniru Ogunleyetwo over land disagreement. Adedokun, whose address was not given, is charged with four counts of conspiracy, attempted murder and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace. He, however, pleaded not guilty. Read more
Police arraign Journalist in court for alleged treason (Guardian)
Nigerian Police Wednesday arraigned journalist Agba Jalingo at a Federal High court in Cross River for alleged treason against Cross River State government. Jalingo has been in police detention for 35 days after publishing an article revealing how Governor Ben Ayade allegedly approved and diverted N500m meant for Cross River Microfinance Bank. Read more
Man steals vehicle belonging to Red Cross (Punch)
A Magistrates’ Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja on Wednesday sentenced an applicant, Sani, to six months in prison for stealing a vehicle belonging to the Nigerian Red Cross Society. The police charged Sani along with two other defendants, Ibrahim and Abdullahi with two counts of criminal conspiracy and theft. Read more
Donald Trump offered US’s top lawyer to help foreign government find dirt on rival (Metro)
Donald Trump asked the president of Ukraine to work with the United States Attorney General to try and dig up dirt on potential 2020 rival Joe Biden. A transcript of a telephone call between the President of the United States and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky was released Wednesday after formal efforts to oust Trump from the White House commenced over the controversial communication. Read more
Parliament suspension: Angry Commons exchanges as MPs return to work (BBC)
MPs have engaged in angry exchanges over the government’s unlawful decision to suspend Parliament. They returned to work after the Supreme Court’s historic ruling. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox said he respected the decision, but launched a blistering attack on MPs for being “too cowardly” to hold an election, adding: “This Parliament is dead.” Read more
Terrifying moment girl, 5, is hunted by bloodthirsty wild dog while playing in her garden (Metro)
Nail-biting surveillance camera footage shows the moment a five-year-old girl was hunted by a wild dog while playing in her garden. Christine Przybylski was filmed skipping out to the mailbox of her home in Villa Park, Illinois, to check whether a Halloween costume had arrived last week. A spotted the youngster, who then decided to stay outside and enjoy the warm weather after realizing her costume hadn’t arrived yet. Read more
Sandra Muller, France’s #MeToo creator, found guilty of defamation (BBC)
The woman who started France’s campaign to encourage other women to expose their sexual harassers has been found guilty of defamation by a Paris court. Sandra Muller, who created the “#balancetonporc” (“rat on your pig”) hashtag in 2017, has been ordered to pay damages to ex-TV boss Éric Brion. Read more
Moment woman escapes from abusive ex who tried to drive her into a river (Metro)
This is the horrific moment a young woman ran barefoot for two miles in the freezing cold, after her partner had beaten her and tried to drive them into a river. After Bethany Curtis, 24, finally broke up with abusive Aaron Caines, he bundled her into a car, and beat her for four hours, before driving at speed towards the River Severn. Read more
New Zealand student found dead in university halls after two months (BBC)
The body of a student has been found at a New Zealand university, up to two months after he died. The remains were discovered at the University of Canterbury, in the city of Christchurch, after other residents noticed a smell coming from his room. Read more
Homeless man beaten up as he slept in his sleeping bag (Metro)
This is the moment a young man kicks and stamps on a defenceless homeless in a motiveless attack. The rough sleeper – known only as Jamie – is lying in a doorway in Blackpool town centre when the yob approaches him. Other youngsters can be heard laughing in the background as the assailant drags him down the steps of a Boots. Read more
Danske Bank: Ex-chief caught up in fraud probe found dead (BBC)
The former head of Danske Bank’s arm in Estonia has been found dead days after he went missing. Police had been searching for Aivar Rehe since he left his home in Tallinn on Monday. Mr Rehe was a witness in an ongoing money-laundering investigation, but not a suspect. Read more
Man arrested for ‘burping down phone at 999 staff’ (Metro)
A man is due to appear in court accused of repeatedly calling 999 and burping down the phone. Rhys Pilott, 28, allegedly made 22 hoax calls to emergency call handlers at Cambridgeshire Police in a week. A recording of three of the calls were released by the force, who warned: ‘Regardless of how many fizzy drinks you’ve had, this is not an appropriate use of our 999 line. Read more
Original Jurassic Park cast to return in next movie (BBC)
The original stars of Jurassic Park are to reunite for the next instalment of the dinosaur film franchise. Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum will reprise their roles in the upcoming Jurassic World 3. The actors led the cast of the 1993 hit, directed by Steven Spielberg, and have appeared separately in subsequent instalments. Read more
Chuba Akpom chooses Nigeria over England (Guardian)
Former Arsenal forward Chuba Akpom has pledged his allegiance to the national team of Nigeria, the country of his parents after playing in the past for England youth teams. Akpom, who has 41 appearances for England youth teams, hopes to team up with his childhood friend Alex Iwobi who also dumped England for Nigeria. Akpom’s switch to the Super Eagles has had a hint of inevitability after he trained with Nigeria’s senior team in March 2017 alongside Ola Aina. Read more
Mohamed Salah: Egyptian FA moves to defuse Liverpool striker row (BBC)
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has written to Fifa for an explanation of its missing votes for the Best Fifa Men’s Player award. The EFA says that Pharaohs’ acting coach Shawky Gharib and captain Ahmed Elmohamady placed votes for Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah that were not counted. Neither are included on the voting breakdown on Fifa’s website. Read more
One dead, five injured as Morocco football fans clash (Punch)
One person was killed and five injured in clashes between rival football fans after a cup tie near the Moroccan city of Casablanca, local authorities said Wednesday. “A group of supporters of Wydad Casablanca (club) stopped a vehicle carrying fans of AS FAR Rabat, throwing stones and the situation degenerated,” they said in a statement. Read more
FIFA agrees limits to player loans and agent commissions (Guardian)
FIFA has agreed steps that will limit the number of players clubs can send out on loan from next season and will also limit the amount of money paid to agents in commissions, world football’s governing body announced on Wednesday. In a statement, FIFA said it had taken “a series of key steps to protect the integrity of the system and prevent abuses” following a meeting of its Stakeholders Committee. Read more
Chelsea handed a boost as Ruben Loftus-Cheek provides positive update on injury comeback (Metro)
Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s recovery from a serious Achilles injury appears to be going well after the Chelsea midfielder posted a video of himself pedalling on a bike on Twitter. The 23-year-old ruptured his Achilles while playing for Chelsea against New England Revolution in a charity game in May on the eve of last season’s Europa League final. Read more
Liverpool: Anfield chief executive Peter Moore says Reds ‘back on our perch’ (BBC)
Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore says the Reds are “back on our perch” – a phrase famously used by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson about the Anfield club. After arriving at Old Trafford in 1986, Ferguson said his first job was to “knock Liverpool right off their perch”. Read more
Gabriel Martinelli admits he was starstruck after meeting Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the first time (Metro)
Gabriel Martinelli admitted the magnitude of signing for Arsenal only really began to sink in after he met Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the club’s training ground for the firs time. The teenager was plucked from relative obscurity by compatriot Edu, Arsenal’s new technical director, earlier this summer having begun to forge a reputation as one of Brazil’s brightest prospects with Ituano in Sao Pauo. Read more
Eddie Hearn claims Anthony Joshua could retire after Andy Ruiz Jr. fight (Metro)
Eddie Hearn expects the winner of Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr. II to push for a unification fight with Deontay Wilder, though curiously hinted that AJ could opt to retire if he wins back his belts. The two heavyweights will face off once again in December, this time in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, though their two great rivals – Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury – have yet to officially announce the date of their own rematch. Read more
Tokyo 2020: Robotic ‘power assist suits’ to be used at Paralympics (BBC)
Robotic ‘power assist suits’ will be used for the first time at the Paralympics at Tokyo 2020. With some athletes lifting more than three times their body weight, staff will wear the suits to help them attach and remove weights from barbells. The suits will also be used to transport heavy objects at the Olympics and Paralympics, and to load athletes’ luggage on to buses at airports. Read more