We’ll continue to recognise Sowore as AAC chairman —INEC (Punch)
The Independent National Electoral Commission has recognised Omoyele Sowore as the substantive National Chairman of the African Action Congress. National Executive Committee of the party, on May 13, had written to INEC to suspend Sowore and eight others over alleged anti-party activities. INEC, in a letter by its Secretary, Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony, dated May 14, however, said, after reviewing the request, it had found that the requirements for the commission to recognise the meeting where the AAC NEC took the decision had not been met. Read more
Fani-Kayode hails Tinubu’s alleged presidential ambition (Guardian)
A chieftain of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Femi Fani-Kayode Friday commended the reported ambition of national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu to run for the office of Nigeria president in 2023. “I am not in Bola Tinubu’s party but I commend him for having the courage to aspire to be Pres. in 2023,” Fani-Kayode said in a tweet. Fani-Kayode, a former Nigeria aviation minister during former president Olusegun Obasanjo administration, said Tinubu’s reported ambition stands him out from other southern politicians of the APC and PDP. Read more
Akpabio didn’t defect to APC, he moved because PDP expelled him – Court (Punch)
The Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on Friday that a former Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio’s movement from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress last year was not a case of defection. Justice Okon Abang, in a judgment held that that the senator only “moved to join APC out of frustration of being expelled by the PDP through a letter dated August 2, 2018”. The judge held that having been expelled, Akpabio was at liberty to join another political party of his choice. Read more
EFCC raises alarm as cybercrime assumes frightening dimension in South East (Guardian)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it is worried over the frightening dimension which cybercrime has assumed in the country, especially the South East. The South East Zonal Head of the commission, Mr Usman Imam, expressed the worry on Friday in Enugu while briefing newsmen on the activities of EFCC in the first quarter of 2019.Imam said that cases of cybercrime, popularly called ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ had become alarming in the zone. Read more
I did not sack any worker says, Fayemi (Guardian)
Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, on Friday said that no genuine staff of the state public service was sacked by his government. Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, explained that he was only correcting the fundamental error of his predecessor, Mr Ayo Fayose. “Fayemi never sacked anyone. You cannot sack people who are not duly employed in the first place.“The so called “recruitments” carried out were obviously mischievous because it neither followed due process nor was it ever completed. Read more
Crowds still throng Ajimobi’s office despite APC’s governorship election loss (Nation)
Despite losing in the Oyo South Senatorial election and his party losing in the governorship election, crowds of people are still scrambling to see the outgoing Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi. From morning till evening on any day of the week that the governor is in the office, crowds of people including members of groups, associations, religious leaders, politicians and contractors are still thronging the Governor’s Office, to discuss issues, projects and politics. It is believed that some of them are meeting with the outgoing governor to conclude ongoing projects, issues and other leadership matters which are time-bound. Read more
I worked for PDP, I’m entitled to its victory, Bauchi APC lawmaker says, leaves ruling party (Punch)
A member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly representing Lere/Bula Constituency, Hon. Aminu Tukur, has finally left the All Progressives Congress. Lere/Bula Constituency is in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State. Tukur, who has been an ardent critic of the outgoing Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar since 2015, has joined the Peoples Democratic Party. Read more
Alleged billionaire kidnapper, Evans, engages new lawyer (Guardian)
Suspected billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, on trial for several cases of kidnapping, on Friday complied with the order of an Igbosere High Court, Lagos asking him to get a new counsel. Justice Adedayo Akintoye had on April 10 ordered Evans to get a legal representative before the next court sitting because absence of his legal team had stalled proceedings for three consecutive times. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is the third time Evans had changed his lawyers. Read more
One dead, three injured in Jos-Abuja road crash, says FRSC (Punch)
The Federal Road Safety Corps, Plateau State Command on Friday confirmed the death of one person in a car crash involving nine passengers along Jos-Abuja high way. Three other persons including one male and two females were also injured during the accident which occurred at Makera village, Hawan Kibo area. The Public Education Officer of FRSC in the state, Mr Andrew Bala told our correspondent in Jos on Friday that the accident which involved a Sharon Volkswagen with plate number-XA 62 BLD happened around 5:40 p.m. on Thursday and that it was caused by speed violation. Read more
Plateau State governor emerges chairman of Northern Governors Forum (Guardian)
Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, on Friday, has emerged chairman of the Northern Governors Forum for another four years. He was elected by his colleagues during the meeting of the forum which held in Kaduna. Lalong was re-elected as the Plateau State governor in the just concluded gubernatorial election on March 23, 2019. Read more
Olowo served humanity in his life time, says Akeredolu (Nation)
Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Friday described the late Olowo of Owo, Oba Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi as a revered monarch and true patriot who contributed immensely to humanity during his reign. He eulogised the late monarch at a special court session held in his honour at the State High Court, Akure, the state capital. The late monarch who was a lawyer before ascending the throne of his forefathers taught at the Nigeria Law School and subsequently rose to become Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Read more
Chinese woman freed after two-year jail for setting Lagos hotel ablaze (Punch)
A 47-year-old Chinese woman, Zhen Zhen, was on Friday set free by an Ikeja High Court four years after setting ablaze a section of a hotel located in Ikeja, Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Zhen was set free following a plea bargain agreement she entered into with the prosecution team of the Lagos State Government. Delivering judgment, Justice Hakeem Oshodi held that Zhen had served more than the two-year sentence recommended in the plea bargain agreement. Read more
EFCC arrests herbalist impersonating NNPC MD (Guardian)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a 31-year-old herbalist, Jamiu Isiaka, for impersonating the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Maikanti Baru. EFCC, in a statement, said Isiaka also impersonated presidential spokesman Femi Adesina and other prominent Nigerians. Read more
4 killed, 10 buildings destroyed in Edo cult clash (Nation)
Four persons were killed and 10 buildings destroyed in a suspected cult clash at Afokeplla in the Etsako-East Local Government Area of Edo last Monday. A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who visited the area on Friday reported that residents of the community are living in fear following the attack and reprisal attack by members of the cult groups. A resident of the community, Mr Ahmed Seidu, told NAN that the killings were as a result of a misunderstanding between members of rival cults groups in the community. Read more
Tanzania floods kill five, leave around 2,500 homeless (Punch)
Flooding in Tanzania has killed five people and forced about 2,500 to flee their homes after a week of torrential rain in the country’s south, an official said Friday. Schools have closed in Kyela, a district on the border of Lake Malawi, and families fled to shelters after losing everything in the rising waters. “The damage from these floods is enormous,” Salome Magambo, the district’s administrative secretary, told AFP. Read more
Germany to return Portuguese Stone Cross to Namibia (BBC)
The German Historical Museum has announced it will return a 15th century monument to Namibia after it was taken during the colonial era. The Stone Cross is a Portuguese navigation landmark placed on the southwest African coastline in 1486. But when the area was under German colonial control in the 1890s, the cross was taken and moved to Europe. Read more
Ex-French President Sarkozy to be tried for hiding true cost of re-election bid (Punch)
France’s Constitutional Council cleared the way on Friday for former President Nicolas Sarkozy to be tried over alleged illegal financing of his failed re-election campaign in 2012. Sarkozy had appealed to the council invoking the “double-jeopardy” principle because he had already been convicted in 2013 and ordered to pay more than 360,000 euros for breaching campaign-finance rules. But in its decision on Friday, the council ruled that the penalty Sarkozy was ordered to pay in 2013 was for different violations and different amounts than the fraud he and 13 co-defendants are now being investigated for. Read more
US F-16 fighter jet crashes into California warehouse (BBC)
An F-16 fighter jet has crashed into a warehouse near a base outside Los Angeles, leaving the pilot and workers on the ground with minor injuries. The pilot ejected before impact, and the small fire that broke out was quickly suppressed by the building’s sprinkler system. The US Air Force says five people on the ground were injured. They have not confirmed if ammunition was onboard. Read more
Pope accepts resignation of Brazilian bishop (Guardian)
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Brazilian bishop Vilson Dias de Oliveira, the Vatican said Friday in a statement. The bishop is under investigation for alleged extortion of priests in his diocese, and the covering-up of sexual abuse cases, according to Brazilian media reports. Dias de Oliveira allegedly protected a priest accused of clerical abuse. Read more
Brazil’s Vale warns another mining dam at risk of collapse (BBC)
Brazil’s mining firm Vale has warned that another dam is at risk of bursting months after the collapse of a similar structure killed more than 230 people. The dam in the south-eastern city of Barão de Cocais could burst next week if the current pace of movement in the embankment of the mine pit nearby continues, Vale told prosecutors. The dam contains waste from the Gongo Soco mine, inactive since 2016. Read more
Baby elephant forced to dance for tourists dies after becoming so weak his legs snapped (Metro)
A ‘skeletal’ baby elephant who was forced to ‘rave’ for tourists in Thailand has died. The three-year-old, who spent his entire life at the infamous Phuket Zoo, was named ‘Dumbo’ by animal rights campaigners who filmed him being forced to dance and do tricks. Vets said he died from an untreated infection in his digestive tract, which caused him to have ‘constant diarrhoea’. Read more
UK schools ‘discriminating against pupils with Afro hair’ (Metro)
One in six children with Afro-textured hair are having a bad experience at school, according to a new study. The report, led by De Montfort University Leicester, showed a 66% rise in negative hair policies towards Afro hair Additionally, 95% of adults surveyed said they would like to see the introduction of hair protection laws – similar to those introduced recently in New York – brought to the UK. Read more
Big Bang Theory finally bows out from TV (BBC)
Fans of the hugely popular sitcom have said their final farewell to the show after it aired in the US. Since first hitting screens in 2007, The Big Bang Theory has become one of the most successful comedies in TV history – winning seven Emmy Awards. It initially centred around a group of awkward male scientists and their interactions with their new female neighbour. The cast paid tribute to the show, with Johnny Galecki posting on Instagram. Read more
Pep Guardiola reaffirms commitment to Manchester City after Max Allegri is sacked by Juventus (Metro)
Pep Guardiola insists he will not be the man to replace Max Allegri at Juventus and has reaffirmed his commitment to Manchester City. Allegri has masterminded Juve’s continued domination of Serie A, winning five consecutive Scudetto’s and reaching two Champions League finals. The 51-year-old, who has been linked with Premier League clubs Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United in the past, will stand down in the summer and a host of big-name managers have been linked with the impending vacancy. Read more
EasyJet chief defends Champions League final flight costs (BBC)
EasyJet’s chief executive, Johan Lundgren, has defended his airline’s high ticket prices to fly to Madrid for the Champions League final between Tottenham and Liverpool on 1 June. Football fans complained to BBC Radio 5 live that flights around that date cost £1,000 instead of £250 normally. But Mr Lundgren said the price was higher than average because there had been an “enormous” surge in demand. Read more
Bayern Munich deny reports that Kovac to be sacked (Punch)
Bayern Munich denied reports on Friday that coach Niko Kovac is to be sacked regardless of whether he wins the Bundesliga title, and that Mark van Bommel is being lined up as his successor. Despite being on course to win a league and cup double in the next week, Kovac has been under growing pressure amid widespread speculation that he will not be in charge next season. Read more
Manchester United’s new ‘snakeskin’ Adidas away shirt leaked – and fans are not happy (Metro)
Manchester United appear to have gone very bold with their new away shirt for the next Premier League season. After releasing their new home kit earlier this week, United’s away jersey for the 2019-20 campaign has now been leaked by one fan Noida, India. And the snakeskin-inspired design will certainly raise eyebrows when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s players kick off their new season with a potential Europa League qualifier. Read more
Europa League final: UEFA defends choice of Baku after Arsenal letter (Punch)
UEFA have defended their decision to stage the 2018/2019 Europa League final match in Azerbaijan’s capital city of Baku following a letter from finalists Arsenal. The English club had sought an explanation from European football’s governing body because of the inconvenience caused to their travelling fans. Arsenal faces Chelsea at Baku’s Olympic Stadium on May 29. Read more
Nadal sweeps into Rome semi-finals (Punch)
Defending champion Rafael Nadal swept past fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco to book his place in the semi-finals of the Italian Open on Friday. The eight-time Rome champion came through 6-4, 6-0 in 1hr 38min to set up a clash with Greek eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas for a place in the final. Roger Federer’s withdrawal with a right leg injury earlier in the day had handed Tsitsipas a ticket to the last four. Read more
‘Sad and disappointed’ Osaka pulls out of Rome in French Open scare (Guardian)
World number one Naomi Osaka said she was “between sad and disappointed” after pulling out of the Italian Open before Thursday’s quarter-finals with injury just a week before the start of the French Open. “I woke up this morning and I couldn’t really move my thumb,” the 21-year-old told a press conference. “I can’t move my hand. I can’t move my thumb and I’m not sure I can play my match. Read more