Task force arrests 26 cult suspects in Lagos (Guardian)
The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Task force has arrested 26 persons suspected to be cultists in different parts of the state. The Chairman of the agency, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Sunday by the Head, Public Affairs Unit of the Task Force, Mr Adebayo Taofiq. Egbeyemi said that that the suspects were arrested at their usual base in Agege. No fewer than 100 “Awawa boys’’ had been arrested and charged to court for breach of public peace, possession of arms and unlawful society group in 2017 and 2018, the statement added. Read more
ASUU describes FG verification exercise as a dubious trap (Nation)
The plans of the Federal Government to verify its personnel in select ministries, departments and agencies might suffer a setback as the umbrella body of the lecturers over the weekend did not only reject the idea but also described it as a forceful and dubious trap to enlist the lecturers on the earlier rejected Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). The lecturers under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has also directed all her members not to fill the ‘2019 Personnel Data Verification Form’ being distributed by the Budget Office of the federation for the purpose of the exercise. Read more
Lagos PDP crisis worsens, factional chair allegedly burgles secretariat (Punch)
The leadership crisis rocking the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has taken a new twist as Mr Segun Adewale, who is laying claim to the chairmanship of the party, was accused of breaking into the secretariat on Friday to hold a meeting. The party chairman in the state, Dr Adegbola Dominic, in a petition to the Commissioner of Police, Mu’azu Zubairu, stated that Adewale, popular known as Aeroland, burgled the secretariat on the pretext that he was holding a party meeting. But in a reaction, Adewale said he did not break into the office but simply went to take possession of the office. Read more
Alleged certificate forgery: Osun voters seek Senator Adeleke’s sack (Nation)
Electorate in the Osun West Senatorial District of Osun State, currently being represented by Senator Ademola Adeleke have commenced move to have him sacked following an Abuja Court’s judgment, which held that he has no secondary school certificate. Akinwale Olaniyi and Akinjide Monsuru from Egbedore and Irewole Local Government Areas, in Osun West Senatorial District, said they were misled into voting Adeleke during the last senatorial election in the district on July 8, 2017 because he claimed to have lived his adult life in America. Read more
Elections: Kalu wants South-East APC chieftains probed (Punch)
Former Abia Governor, Chief Orji Kalu, has called for an investigation into alleged anti-party activities of some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress in the South-East before and during the 2019 general elections. Kalu made the call on Saturday in Enugu during the zonal stakeholders’ meeting of the party. The former governor said that he had it on good authority that some party chieftains in the zone sabotaged genuine efforts of the party by aligning with the Peoples Democratic Party. Read more
Bayelsa to hold LGA elections July 27 (Nation)
Bayelsa State at the weekend said it would hold its local government elections on July 27, 2019, about three months to the state’s November 2nd governorship election. Since 2011, the eight local government areas had been under the administration of caretaker committee chairpersons appointed by the state Governor, Seriake Dickson. But the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) Dr. Perekeme Bertola released a timetable for the elections into the councils. Read more
302,735 sacked workers withdraw N103.42bn from pension fund (Punch)
About 302,735 people who lost their jobs and remained jobless after four months have withdrawn N103.42bn from the balance in their Retirement Savings Accounts with their respective Pension Fund Administrators under the Contributory Pension Scheme as at the end of 2018. The fund under the scheme stood at N8.7tn in February 2019, according to the latest data from the National Pension Commission. Figures obtained from the commission revealed that in the last quarter of 2018 financial period, approval was granted for payment of N5.14bn to N13,609bn RSA holders under 50 years who were unable to secure paid employment four months after they lost their jobs. Read more
Buhari tasks varsity administrators on frugality (Nation)
As part of his anti-corruption drive, President Muhammadu Buhari has tasked university administrators across the nation to ensure “frugality” in their use of available resources. President Buhari’s who was visitor at the second convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), Delta state, held weekend, explained that following the frugal policy of his administration will help prevent waste and allow fruitful use of the meagre funds made available for institutions. Read more
CAN warns pastors against man-made miracles (Punch)
The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev Supo Ayokunle on Saturday warned men of God against man-made miracles, saying they would incur the wrath of God if they refused to desist from such acts. The CAN president who spoke at a press conference heralding the convention of the Nigerian Baptist Convention in Ogbomoso, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to put all machinery in motion to address insecurity in Nigeria. Ayokunle said, “On a serious note, if any servant of God is organising man-made miracles, saying God has done what he has not done, that person will go to hell. He is not of church of Christ. These are people whose bellies are their gods. They are not mindful of the things of the scriptures. Read more
Obasanjo, others held for selling Marijuana (Nation)
Thirty-seven-year-old Segun Obasanjo and five others have been arrested by the police in Lagos for alleged trading of Marijuana inside a Lagos market. They were arrested during a raid of Alaba Rago Market by operatives attached to Okoko Division on Saturday afternoon. Arrested with Obasanjo were Job Omesi, 16, Ayomide Samuel, 21, Buhari Oseni, 27, Muda Haruna ,30, and Suraju Ayuba, 28, police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) said in a statement on Sunday. According to Elkana, the suspects were openly selling Marijuana, illegal dried weeds which intoxicates users and cause irrational behaviours. Read more
Governors’ attitude shows Nigeria isn’t ripe for state police – Ex-CP Tsavn (Punch)
How do you think the current insecurity in the country can be effectively tackled? First of all, let us find out the causes of insecurity. I think what is responsible for insecurity in this country is corruption as well as injustice. When somebody is looking for justice and you deny him, he can help himself with whatever means. That is how Boko Haram started. The President is at the national level fighting corruption but not all the people are with him. In the state, the governors are using corruption fight for themselves. You saw what happened in the last general elections. Read more
Four dead in suspected Boko Haram attack in Cameroon (Guardian)
Jihadists from Nigeria’s Boko Haram killed at least four people and badly wounded four others in an attack on Kofia, a Cameroonian island on Lake Chad, an official source told AFP on Sunday. The attackers also destroyed part of a military post and vandalised shops in the attack late Saturday, the source said, adding three civilians and one soldier were killed. Kofia island is in the far north of Cameroon near the border with Chad. “Cameroon and Chadian forces” were pursuing the assailants, the source said. Read more
Benin holds vote with no opposition candidates (BBC)
People in Benin are voting for a new parliament but without a single opposition candidate taking part. The electoral authorities ruled last month that only two parties – both loyal to President Patrice Talon – met the requirements to take part. New electoral laws mean a party had to pay about $424,000 (£328,000) to field a list for the 83-seat parliament. Internet access has been restricted with social media and messaging apps blocked in the West African nation. Five million people are registered to vote in the country, known as one of Africa’s most stable democracies. Read more
Tanzania albinos say they fear for lives after exhumation (Guardian)
Tanzanian albinos said Sunday they were living in fear of their lives after the remains of an albino were exhumed in what they said was a “bestial” and “barbaric” act. The Tanzanian Albino Society called on President John Magufuli to “intervene personally and denounce this bestial act and provide financial support for programmes aimed at eradicating this barbarism against albinos.” In Tanzania and other sub-Saharan African countries, albinos’ body parts are sought after for witchcraft practices because they are believed to enhance luck and wealth. Read more
Sri Lanka attacks: Relatives of key suspect Zahran Hashim killed (BBC)
The father and two brothers of the alleged organiser of the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, Zahran Hashim, were killed in a security forces operation on Friday, police say. Hashim, who blew himself up at a hotel in the capital Colombo, is said to have been the leader of an Islamist group, the NTJ, which has now been banned. Police have raided the group’s HQ in the eastern town of Kattankudy. The attacks targeted churches and hotels, killing at least 250 people. Read more
Ukraine’s president-elect rejects Russian passport plan (BBC)
Ukraine’s president-elect has mocked Russia’s offer to give passports to his countrymen, saying the document would provide “the right to be arrested”. In a Facebook post rejecting the idea, Volodymyr Zelensky pledged to give citizenship to “suffering” Russians. Earlier this week, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin signed a decree offering people in eastern Ukraine’s separatist territories passports. He later said he was mulling extending the scheme to all Ukrainians. Read more
Thousands of lions bred in farms to be shot by hunters and killed for ‘medicine’ (Metro)
Wealthy trophy hunters are paying thousands of pounds to shoot captive lions who are being bred in farms and kept in awful conditions. The cruel and lucrative industry which is common in South Africa has been exposed by a year-long investigation by former Tory peer Lord Ashcroft. He has slammed the Government over its failure to ban imported trophy skins and says it is complicit in the trade. According to Lord Ashcroft’s exposé published in today’s Mail on Sunday, 54 lions were killed in a slaughterhouse at a so-called ‘eco-farm’ in just two days. Read more
Tales Soares: Male model dies at São Paulo Fashion Week (BBC)
A 26-year-old male model has died after collapsing on the catwalk at São Paulo Fashion Week. Tales Soares was taking part in a show for the brand Ocksa when he fell, reportedly after tripping on his shoelaces. The audience initially thought it was part of the show. Models looked on in horror as firefighters rushed to his aid and carried him from the stage. He was taken to a hospital but could not be revived. Footage circulating on social media shows Soares walking to the end of the catwalk and turning back before staggering and falling. Read more
A Surviving R Kelly follow up documentary to be released (Metro)
A two-hour follow up documentary special to Surviving R Kelly is coming out in May on Lifetime. Surviving R Kelly: The Impact will be hosted by award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien and will highlight the impact the documentary had since its release earlier this year and how it elevated the dialogue around sexual violence and being a survivor. R Kelly, 52, has been accused of sexual abuse by several women and January’s docu-series detail the shocking allegations through a number of interviews with survivors. Read more
Vardy double deals fresh blow to Arsenal’s Champions League hopes (Guardian)
Jamie Vardy scored twice as Arsenal’s hopes of Champions League football suffered another serious setback as familiar failings saw the 10-man Gunners lose 3-0 at Leicester on Sunday. It was the third time in seven days that the north London side, once renowned for an impregnable defence, had conceded three goals following 3-2 and 3-1 Premier League league defeats by Crystal Palace and Wolves respectively. Leicester’s Youri Tielemans opened the scoring at the King Power Stadium in the second half and Vardy netted twice for the Foxes after the visitors had defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles dismissed for two bookable offences before half-time. Read more
Unai Emery assesses Arsenal’s top-four chances after Leicester defeat (Metro)
Unai Emery has acknowledged that it will be ‘very difficult’ for Arsenal to finish in the top-four after a 3-0 defeat to Leicester City condemned them to a third straight Premier League defeat. A Youri Tielemans header and two goals from Jamie Vardy in the final five minutes handed Leicester a well-deserved win, while Arsenal also had Ainsley Maitland-Niles sent off in the first half. The result at the King Power Stadium capped what has been a disastrous week for Arsenal following on from losses to Crystal Palace and Wolves – results that leave them fifth in the table. Read more
Barcelona reach their first ever Women’s Champions League final (Nation)
If any of the Barcelona players who debuted in the Champions League on September 26, 2012, had been told that seven years later the side would be in a final then they would have surely thought it a crazy notion. But it has come to pass, and the Catalan club’s women’s team will compete in the Champions League final on May 18 in Budapest, becoming the first Spanish side to appear in European club football’s biggest match. They made it to the final by beating Bayern Munich in a tie that will be remembered for some time to come, especially as there was a record attendance of 12,764 at the Mini Estadi for Sunday’s second leg. Read more
Neymar says he was wrong to hit fan after cup-final defeat (Guardian)
Brazilian superstar Neymar accepted on Sunday that he had made a mistake striking a fans who insulted Paris Saint-Germain players as they filed up to collect their French Cup losers’ medals. Neymar scored to put PSG 2-0 up after 21 minutes at the Stade de France on Saturday, but Rennes fought back to tie the game at 2-2 and win the penalty shootout 6-5 after extra time. As the players climbed the steps to receive their medals, shaking the hands of those nearby, Neymar, one of the last in line, struck one of the fans in the face. Read more
Thorgan Hazard confirms Dortmund agreement (Punch)
Borussia Moenchengladbach forward Thorgan Hazard has confirmed German media reports that he has agreed terms with Gladbach’s Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund. The Belgian international, who is the younger brother of Chelsea star Eden Hazard, told Belgian platform VTM Nieuws that it was now up to the two clubs to complete the transfer. “I have reached a personal agreement with Dortmund,” said Hazard in a video interview published by VTM on Saturday. Read more
Valtteri Bottas beats Lewis Hamilton to Azerbaijan win (BBC)
Mercedes set an all-time record of four consecutive one-twos at the start of a season as Valtteri Bottas beat Lewis Hamilton to win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
For the fourth race in a row, Ferrari were unable to challenge Mercedes – and again there were questions about the strategy chosen by the Italian team. Sebastian Vettel finished third, never very far behind the Mercedes, but team-mate Charles Leclerc finished fifth when it looked for a while as if he might have been able to take fourth ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Read more
London Marathon 2019: Eliud Kipchoge wins, Mo Farah fifth (BBC)
Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge ran the second fastest marathon in history to win the London Marathon for a fourth time as Britain’s Mo Farah finished fifth. Kipchoge, 34, who broke the world record in Berlin last year, triumphed in two hours two minutes 38 seconds. Farah finished three minutes one second behind Kipchoge, while fellow Briton Callum Hawkins was 10th. Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei, 25, became the youngest female London winner, with Britain’s Charlotte Purdue 10th. Read more