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  • Tottenham agree five-year deal with Saracens

    Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a five-year deal with Saracens that will allow the Premiership Rugby team to play their annual ‘Big Game’ fixture at Spurs’ new stadium from 2020, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.

    Tottenham’s White Hart Lane Stadium had been undergoing renovation since 2016.

    The new arena, which seats more than 62,000 fans, will officially open its doors when the north London side host Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

    The club already has a long-term agreement in place with the National Football League (NFL) to host regular season’s games at the stadium.

    The club chairman, Daniel Levy said they had aspirations for the stadium to be a “multi-use venue”.

    “We look forward to welcoming Saracens and their fans to Tottenham and delivering world-class rugby match day experiences, showcasing our new stadium and all the surrounding area has to offer,” Levy said in a statement.

    Saracens, the reigning Premiership champions, have used Wembley Stadium in the past for this game, which usually takes place in March during the international soccer break.

    “For me and Saracens, it’s a really special opportunity for us to partner with our fellow north Londoners,” Saracens chairman Nigel Wray said.

    “Together with Spurs we have the opportunity to create something very special in north London.”

  • Breaking: Man murdered while separating couple’s brawl in Anambra

    A 29-year old man has met his untimely death while separating a brawl between a couple in Umueze village, Isuaniocha, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra state.

    The incident which occurred at the wee hours of the Tuesday, threw the people of the area into mourning.

    The Nation gathered that the deceased, Bonaventure Mkpume, the only son of his parent, had been happily married for about four years, though without children.

    Narrating her ordeal in tears, the deceased wife, Mrs Chinenye Mkpume, demanded for justice on the killers.

    She said they had already gone to bed when she got an invitation by a female friend to assist in settling marital scores.

    She said, “We were at home when one of our family friends called me on phone that the husband was beating her.

    “I had wanted to go alone but my husband insisted on going with me not knowing it would be his last day on earth.”

    According to her, the distressed friend, unknown to her, had also invited some boys to their apartment for reasons best known to her.

    “We were still making peace between the couple when some boys, numbering five, with familiar faces stormed the scene with axe and machetes.

    “They pounced on my husband standing in front of the gate and cut off one of his arms and neck,” she said soberly.

    Mkpume however revealed that the woman that invited her quickly dashed inside the house with her husband and locked the gate, leaving two of them to the mercy of the assailants.

    She said the deceased ran into the bush with one hand and several machete cuts, adding that all alarm raised were futile as nobody came to their rescue.

    The Nation gathered that the deceased later gave up in the hospital where he was taken to.

    Mother to the deceased, Mrs Grace Mkpume who could not hold back her tears, also called for justice to be done to those involved in the only son’s death.

    Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Haruna Mohammed, when contacted, said he was yet to be briefed by the Divisional Police Officer in the area on the development.

  • Kogi judiciary alleges plot by Gov. Bello to sack CJ

    The judicial arm of the Kogi State government has alleged plans by Governor Yahaya Bello to sack Justice Nasir Ajanah from office.

    The judicial service in a statement issued on Tuesday, which was signed by Saqeeb Saeed, Senior Information Officer, Kogi State Judiciary, alleged that the plot being hatched by the governor to remove Ajanah as the state’s chief judge, is to use the speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly to illegally remove the chief law officer in the state.

    The statement read: “Events in the last few days have made it necessary for the Kogi State Judiciary to issue this press statement. The Kogi State Judiciary is aware of clandestine moves by His Excellency, the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to use the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly to illegally remove the Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Nasiru Ajanah, from office over some trumped up allegations.

    “This dangerous and ill-advised move is coming from the executive inspite of the fact that the matter is now before the National Judicial Council (NJC), and there is a subsisting court order restraining the governor from doing so.

    “The governor is advised not to do anything that will plunge the state into an unnecessary constitutional crisis. Rather, he should obey the rule of law and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which he swore to uphold.

    “Meanwhile workers of the judiciary should remain calm, as the rule of law shall prevail at the end.”

    As at the time of filing the report, activities at the state assembly indicate there are moves in the offing to ease Ajanah out from office as the Kogi CJ.

    It would be recalled that judicial staff members in the state had on Monday marched through some major streets of the capital, Lokoja, protesting the alleged plan to sack Ajanah as CJ.

    The speaker, Prince Mathew Kolawole, had however denied knowledge of such plan.

    Kolawole who was at the government house on Monday, responded to reporters’ enquiry on the issue in the negative, saying he was unaware of the name(s) of such person(s) making the allegations.

  • Kogi: Brothers, two other graduates die in well

    Tragedy struck on Monday night in Kabba, headquarters of kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, as four Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates drowned in a well they were engaged to evacuate.

    The quartet whose names were given as David, Sunday, Ayo and Ogbekedo with two of them from the same parents, it was gathered specialize in digging wells.

    Unconfirmed source had it that they fell into the well and died, after the finish of work.

    An eyewitness said that the tragedy occurred at Zango quarters in Kabba, where a primary schoolmistress, whose name was given as Mrs Agnes Baiyere, had contracted them to dig the well in the front of her newly constructed four-bedroom apartment.

    The woman, a teacher in St. Mary’s Primary School, Kabba was said to have contracted one of them, David, who invited the others to join him in digging the well.

    Work was said to have been completed, when two of them returned Monday evening, to evacuate some broken blocks that fell into the well.

    However, when one of them entered into the well, he was said to have complained of dizziness, following which another came to his aid.

    The two were said to have been trapped in the well and could not come out.

    As the news filtered round, the two other workers who were said to have made for the site to rescue their colleagues, were also trapped and could not come out.

    Personnel of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Kabba, office, who were said to have been contacted, raced to the scene with their ladder, with which the remains of the four were evacuated.

    It was gathered that one of the deceased, David, just got married, after completing his mandatory one-year NYSC national assignment, last year.

    The remains of the deceased whose ages ranged from between 30 and 35 years, have been deposited at the morgue of the General Hospital Kabba, for possible autopsy.

  • Police arrest 142 suspected criminals in Kano

    The Kano state police Command has arrested 142 suspected criminals involved in various crimes ranging from robbery, drug peddling and other nefarious activities.

    Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, while parading the suspects, the spokesperson of the Command, DSP Abdullahi Haruna said that the criminals were apprehended at various flashpoints within the municipality.

    According to him, the suspects were said to have been terrorizing inhabitants of the city before they were rounded up during an intensive raid carried out by the police.

    He stated that “in continuation of the Command’s earlier pledge to rid the state of all forms of crimes, raids of criminal hideouts and blackspots were carried out between 29 March to April 1, 2019 across the state.

    “This was meant to arrest the remnants of criminals moving about in the communities posing security challenges and threats among the good members of the public.

    “During the raids, about 142 suspected criminals were arrested, while some quantity of Indian Hemp, Suck-and-die, intoxicating drugs, knives and cutlasses were also recovered.

    “All the suspects are found to be wanton either for dealing in hard drugs or possession of dangerous weapons in which they have all confessed to the offence.

    “Raids of such hideouts will continue throughout the state until all criminally minded persons either repent or are arrested and brought before the law.

    “This suspects will all be charged to various courts of law for prosecution. Members of the public are enjoined to continue cooperating with the Command and report any person suspected to be member of any criminal gang for arrest, investigation and prosecution.”

  • PDP ‘ll bounce back In Ekiti, says Olujimi

    Senate Minority leader, Biodun Olujimi has expressed optimism that the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Ekiti State will re-establish its dominance in the State’s political horizon.

    Olujimi said the party has put behind the defeat it suffered in the just concluded general election and determined to take over Ekiti State through democratic means in 2022.

    According to INEC results, the All Progressives Congress won all the three Senate, six House of Representatives and 26 Assembly seats in the 2019 general election.

    She stated that the present APC-led administration in the State has failed to meet the expectation of the people, saying the quick resurgence of the party was a child of necessity in order to take over.

    Olujimi who spoke with journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday explained that Fayemi lost some years back and relaunch itself into saddle, saying PDP is cocksure of springing itself back to the corridor of power.

    “Whether you like it or not, PDP will bounce back. When a new government came in they swept everything and the next thing you find is that other comes and sweeps everything. And We are going to sweep everything next time around.

    “I believe PDP also will bounce back if swords are sheathed and we reconsolidate our party.

    “What was required of the party is to put its house in order and we have begun moves to reconcile aggrieved individuals within the party.

    “And those that have left the party for greener pastures will soon return home because they were disenchanted.

    “And the Internal crisis will soon be resolved very soon and efforts will be geared towards liberating Ekiti people from shackles of penury, unemployment among others”.

    She, however, urged party members not be dismayed by the outcome of the polls but remain steadfast and committed, saying PDP will be back to its formidable political base.

    Speaking on the poor performance of the PDP in Ekiti during the general election, Olujimi said the party’s lingering internal crisis contributed partially to the woeful performance coupled with electoral malpractices.

    She added that the election was fraught with electoral irregularities, saying “the exercise was not free, fair, credible but characterised with electoral fraud.

    “It was a daylight robbery as the electorate were driven away from Polling booths. If it has been free, fair and devoid of rancour, I would have garnered more than the 54,000 votes”, she said.

    The minority Leader, however, stressed the need for electoral reform, saying Nigerian electoral process does not encourage democratic consolidation but rather cast a pall on the country’s democratic status.

    “We need to look at the electoral process and make sure it is improved better because West Africa and Africa are looking on us”, Olujimi said.

  • Breaking: Court dismisses AAC’s suit against Rivers election

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit by the African Action Congress (AAC) and one other, querying the propriety of handling of the last governorship and State Assembly elections in Rivers State, particularly as it relates to its announcement of the results, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment on Tuesday said the since the case was election-related, it was appropriate for the plaintiffs to take their case before an election tribunal.

    The Justice Ekwo declined jurisdiction and dismissed the case.

    The suit, marked FHC/ ABJ/CS/303/2019,has AAC, Engr Biokpomabo Festus Awara and Pastor (Dr.) Ben-Gurion John Peter as plaintiffs, with INEC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Read Also: Supreme Court to hear appeals on Rivers’ APC’s dispute April 4

    The plaintiffs noted INEC had earlier admitted that the election in Rivers State was marred with substantial violence that compromised the credibility of the entire process, and thereby suspended the election.

    They added that without calling for a fresh election, INEC announced, via a press release, that it was now set to continue with the election from Wednesday, 20th March 20 19.

    Details shortly‎.

  • Nurse ‘overdosed’ baby on doctor’s instruction, panel told

    HJ CLAIROOWEN medical centre’s Head Nurse, Bayo Badmus, who was referred to Dr. Dayo by a pediatrician with Igando General Hospital identified as Dr. Joy gave late 15-month-old Taye Adetunji three 20 doses of analgesic injections, a panel heard on Monday.

    Badmus, it was gathered, told the Hospital Services Commission (HSC) investigating allegations of professional misconduct and negligence against the doctor that he acted on her instruction.

    The child’s parents, as well as the doctor in the heat of the controversy, were brought before the panel, which sat on Lagos Island for each to state their case.

    It was gathered that Dr. Joy had initially denied knowing the injections Badmus administered on the toddler.

    But when the latter was called on hands-free telephone, he maintained that all actions he took were based on the doctor’s instruction.

    Badmus, our correspondent gathered, told the panel that Dr. Joy, the owner of the unregistered private clinic, gave him instructions to administer 20 doses of analgesics three times on the kid, adding he also gave her another injection on her instruction.

    Dr. Joy, who had told the child’s mother, Taiwo, that her baby needed blood and oxygen but there was no space to admit her at the General Hospital Igando where she was taken to, denied referring the patient to her clinic.

    But she changed her position when the note she scribbled on a discarded duplicate teller was availed the panel.

    Giving details of what transpired at the panel, a source said: “When the meeting started the mother of the victim explained what happened and Dr. Joy was asked to react. She started by denying that she didn’t refer the woman anywhere.

    “The panel was told the family has evidence and the board requested for the evidence.

    “She was asked if that was her handwriting and she said yes. Then, she was warned about telling lies.

    “She then admitted that she referred them to her clinic and they asked her the relationship between her and Dayo Badmus she said she employed him to work for her

    “They asked her series of questions about what happened that day she explained and the board told her that from the beginning to the death of the child all what she did was wrong.

    “They asked her that if the case was an emergency as she stated, was she trying to her an auxiliary nurse was a better person to handle it than herself, a doctor?

    “She could not answer. She was asked many questions but she could not answer them.

    “Initially, she claimed she did not know the injections Dayo Badmus administered on the baby.

    “Badmus was called immediately and the phone put on speaker. Badmus said to everyone’s hearing that he carried out Dr Joy’s instructions from beginning to end.

    “After Badmus told them the drug he administered, they interpreted the drug as 20 doses that he gave three times.

    “The board was very angry with her and assured the family that justice will be served.

    “They assured the mother that they will do everything within their power to ensure such a thing does not happen again,” said the source.

    The Nation gathered that the nurses on duty at Igando General Hospital that Sunday were also invited and they confirmed they had seen the woman and her child.

    The nurses, it was gathered, told the panel they had asked the doctor where the woman went to and Dr. Joy told them she (Taiwo) said she would not stay there anymore.

    Meanwhile, the Public Advice Centre (PAC) and the Child Protection Network (CPN) have written petitions to relevant agencies, demanding justice.

    Contacted for update on the issue, Health Commissioner Dr. Jide Idris told our correspondent he was expecting the report of the panel on Tuesday.

    “The panel sat at the HSC board. I gave them till Tuesday to submit their recommendation to me,” he said.

  • Algerian President Bouteflika resigns amid mass protest

    Algerian President Bouteflika has resigned, bowing to mass protest, Algeria’s state news agency APS reported on Monday.

    He will give up his office before his designated end-of-term date on April 28.

    The decision came after hundreds of people demonstrated in Algiers against Bouteflika’s new government.

    Protesters carried slogans describing the new cabinet as “a blow to the people’s demands.”

    Bouteflika, who has faced mass protest against his rule for over a month, had maintained his position as defence minister in the caretaker government that was revealed on Sunday.

    The government, headed by Noureddine Bedoui, composed of 27 ministers, including six members of the former cabinet.

    Bouteflika kept as military chief of staff the powerful Gen. Gaid Saleh, who earlier this week called for the president to be declared unfit for office on health grounds.

    Media report says Bouteflika’s resignation means there will now be a transitional phase.

    The opposition Labour Party had described the new cabinet as a new face for an old government.

    “It is unclear on what basis these figures were chosen,” the party said in a statement.

    The party said “the so-called new government” aims to ensure “the continuity of the regime and the repressive presidential system rejected by the overwhelming majority.”

    Former prime minister and opposition politician Ali Benflis had also criticised the move, saying “it is authoritarian practice that provokes the people.”

    In March, Bouteflika appointed Bedoui, a former interior minister, as prime minister after the ailing president renounced a bid to run for a fifth term in office after mass street protests.

    In recent weeks, thousands of Algerians have taken to the streets, with protests centering on the departure of Bouteflika and radical change to the political system in the energy-rich country.

  • Independence of legislature non-negotiable, says Saraki

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Monday advised Senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect to ensure that the independence of the legislature is non-negotiable.

    A statement by the Officer of Senate President, said the Senate President made this declaration at a dinner to welcome new members of the 9th National Assembly in Abuja.

    He also said that members of the National Assembly should lead the way in asserting the principle of separation powers to ensure accountability in governance.

    He noted that in its constitutional role, the National Assembly carries out oversight, makes laws and ensures constituency representation.

    He said, “In carrying out constitutional functions, lawmakers must always recognise that the independence of the legislature is non-negotiable. It is an independent and co-equal arm of government. Therefore, it behooves members of the National Assembly to lead the way in asserting the principle of Separation of Powers, thus ensuring accountability in governance.

    “To achieve that, it is expected that members will carry out their duties in a manner that commands that respect from other arms of government as well as the people you represent.

    “That done, you will have a real chance as lawmakers to overcome any negative perception of the legislature in the public out there. The Nigerian National Assembly is far from unique when we talk about this problem of perception. All over the world, studies have shown that the legislature is often the most misunderstood arm of government.

    “In Nigeria, the misapprehension as to the role of the legislature is compounded by its being the youngest arm of government in our developing democracy, in a country that is not long out of military rule. The legislature also often appears to be the weakest arm of government. It is therefore necessary to focus on strengthening this important institution. The legislative arm of government must be strong, because when the legislative arm is strong, democracy will be strong.

    “Therefore, we need a continuation of our determined efforts to engage the public, in order to make the lawmaking function a more participatory process, so that Nigerians can better understand the National Assembly, and see their aspirations reflected in its activities.

    “One pervasive misconception has people looking to lawmakers for the provision of infrastructure – for example -whereas this is not at all the function of the legislature. I am confident, however, that if we continue to take the needed steps to build the institution, Nigerians will gradually start to grasp the true significance of the legislature as a bulwark of the democratic system of governance.

    “When this greater appreciation begins to manifest, I have no doubt that the people will support the institution and accept that lawmakers are doing necessary work for the good of all. Of course, this also means that you must be seen to be working assiduously to address issues affecting Nigerians, chief among which are: poverty, inequality, insecurity, corruption as well as empowerment of citizens.

    “For my part, I am proud to say that in the 8th Senate is going out on a high. We have passed 274 Bills in 46 months; and cleared 192 Petitions in the same period. There were major milestones in the area of the economy, with the passing of landmark legislation such as the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), which is undoubtedly the most comprehensive review of business laws in this country in 30 years. Other game changer laws include: Bankruptcy and Insolvency (Repeal and Reenactment) Act, and the Credit Reporting Act.

    “To support the anti-corruption drive, we passed the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit Bill (NFIU), as a direct result of which Nigeria was readmitted into the Egmont Group. We successfully amended the Constitution, and this made progressive changes possible, such as the Not Too Young To Run law.

    “Additionally, we saw to the implementation of the 1% budgetary provision for primary healthcare, to make for a stronger Nigeria. These are just a few examples. I am sure our legislators will be able to build on the solid foundation and achievements, and record even greater success.

    “Let me add that, since the interest of the people is paramount, legislators must have the courage to follow their own mind, guided by what is right. The 8th National Assembly made a lot of interventions on everyday human issues affecting Nigerians, be it unfair price hikes, examination malpractices, sexual harassment in our educational institutions or the drug problem ravaging our communities. I encourage you also to take a keen interest in the welfare of Nigerians, and to be a voice for those in need of similar interventions.

    “It is my hope that you will enjoy this opportunity to make positive impact on our national life. I trust you will find the work interesting and engaging; and that the experience will be an enriching one in your own lives and for your families. I encourage you to take the opportunity of this Orientation Programme to learn up on the work involved with Bills, Oversight and so on.”