Why I forgave, endorsed Atiku for president – Obasanjo (Guardian)
Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo said his faith as a Christian does not allow him to keep grudges against Atiku Abubakar, especially when he himself asks God for forgiveness daily. Obasanjo whom Abubakar served as vice-president under his administration from 1999 till 2007 had not been in good terms with his former vice while in office. Read more
Joke with Nigeria’s unity, have problem with me –Buhari (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari has said as long as he is alive, anybody who jokes with the unity of Nigeria will have a problem with him. He said the Federal Government was ready to contend with people who would work against the peace and unity of the country. According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, the President spoke while receiving the Offor of Umuofor Kingdom, Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, Eze Abdulfatah Emetumah III, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday. Read more
Ita-Giwa advocates parity in political positions (Guardian)
On the occasion of International Day of the Girl Child, a coalition of women groups has come up to demand gender parity in elective and appointive positions in public service. The women declared their resolve to advocate for the provision of enabling environment for women to participate in decision making in the country, particularly in policy formulation and execution. Read more
Minister agrees with IMF on Nigeria’s debt weakness (Punch)
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, on Thursday agreed with the International Monetary Fund on Nigeria’s debt vulnerabilities and stated that it was an issue that should be adequately monitored. Udoma, who spoke at the presentation of the IMF Regional Economic Outlook Report for Sub-Sahara Africa at the ongoing IMF/World Bank annual meetings in Bali, Indonesia, stated that Nigeria had realised that it had to improve its revenues in order to bring down the debt service to revenue ratio. Read more
ICPC discovers FG’s N9.8bn hidden in bank, grills MD (Punch)
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission says it has discovered N9.8bn belonging to the Federal Government which was hidden in Aso Savings and Loans Plc. The ICPC said in a statement by its spokesperson, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, that the money which was realised from the sale of government assets was deposited in Aso Savings and Loans Plc instead of the federal treasury. Read more
WAEC to publish names, cancel results of examination cheats (Punch)
The Nigeria Examinations Committee of the West African Examinations Council has recommended that the names of candidates, schools, candidates, invigilators and supervisors caught aiding and abetting examination malpractice should be published to serve as a deterrent for others. The committee, which is the highest decision-making organ of WAEC on examination-related matters in Nigeria, made the recommendation to WAEC, ANCOPSS and all the ministries of education in the 36 states of the federation, in a statement issued at the end of its 66th meeting in Lagos. Read more
Egypt condemns 17 to death for IS church attacks (Guardian)
An Egyptian military court on Thursday sentenced 17 people to death over a series of suicide bombings of churches claimed by the Islamic State group that left dozens dead. Another 19 people were handed life prison terms and 10 were sentenced to between 10 and 15 years, judicial and security officials said. Read more
India hit with its biggest outbreak of Zika (CNN)
India has recorded its biggest outbreak of Zika virus to date, with 32 cases confirmed in Jaipur, capital of the western state of Rajasthan. The first case was confirmed on September 23 in the city’s Shastri Nagar area, located close to some of the city’s main tourist attractions. The country’s health minister, JP Nadda, has deployed a seven-member team to Jaipur to continually monitor the situation and assist with control and containment operations. Read more
Kanye: ‘Trump hat made me feel like Superman’ (BBC)
Kanye West launched into an expletive-filled rant as he lavished praise on US President Donald Trump at an event in the Oval Office. Wearing a Make America Great Again hat “made me feel like Superman”, he said. West had been invited to the White House for lunch to discuss prison reform and other issues. Read more
M4 crash: Minibus victims from Prior’s Court, Thatcham (BBC)
Two people who died in a crash involving a lorry and a minibus on the M4 motorway were from a school for people with autism, it has emerged. The victims were staff members at Prior’s Court School, and were travelling in the minibus. The eastbound carriageway of the M4 was closed for more than nine hours after the crash, in Berkshire, on Thursday. Read more
Alli, Fadairo to represent Nigeria at International Pairs world finals (Guardian)
Julius Akinwumi Fadairo of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja and Adebayo Abdul-Semiu Alli of the Golf Section of Ikoyi Club 1938 will fly Nigeria’s flag at the International Pars world finals scheduled for Portugal next month. The pair at the weekend beat a packed field of stars at the Ibom Golf Resort to win the national finals of the 2018 International Pairs competition, which prize is the coveted ticket to the world finals.They grossed a total of 115-stableford points, beating their closest rivals, the team of Uwem Udoh and Usenobong Akpabio by four points. Read more
Federer, Djokovic through to Shanghai Open’s quarterfinals, Del Potro retires (Guardian)
Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic moved a step closer to a possible face off in the final of the on-going Shanghai Open tennis tournament when the top seeded Federer outlasted Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 6/2; 2/6; 6/4 and Djokovic defeated Italy’s Marco Cecchinatto, 6/4; 6/0. Also through to the quarterfinals are Kei Nishikori, Alexander Zverev, Borna Coric, Kyle Edmund, Kevin Anderson and Matthew Ebden Federer had a repeat of his previous match in which he had a narrow three-set victory over Daniil Medvedev. Read more
Family laments torture of pupil by soldiers, demands justice (Punch)
The family members of Gideon Oguguo, a Senior Secondary School 2 pupil of Command Day Secondary School, Enugu, has lamented the torture of their son by soldiers at the school. PUNCH Metro gathered that when the 15-year-old got to school on Tuesday, October 9, 2018, he and some pupils were allegedly singled out by the soldiers for not keeping to the school’s dress code. Read more
14-yr-old raped twice, impregnated (Nation)
A 45-year-old man has been arrested by the police for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl. The Nation learnt that the victim was also defiled about two years ago by another man, who impregnated her. The latest rape was said to have occurred on Wednesday at a hotel in Ekeki, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. The victim said the man lured her with an employment offer at the Ministry of Women Affairs. Read more
Ex-convict impersonates customer, steals make-up artistes’ phones (Punch)
An alleged phone thief, Silas Chinedu, has been arrested for allegedly stealing the mobile phones of some make-up artistes. PUNCH Metro gathered that the modus operandi of the suspect was to approach make-up artists who were looking for customers with the proposal that they do make up for some young female models. Read more
FCT vulcaniser electrocuted while vandalising electric cables (Punch)
A suspected vandal, identified as Isah Yusuf, has been electrocuted in Karu, a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The deceased who was said to be a Vulcaniser was found dangling on the power lines by Total Academy near CBN quarters, Karu, on Wednesday morning by residents of the area. Read more