A 24 year-old Egyptian Mohamed Ibn Nufal Nufal, has set off from Cairos Tahrir Square for the World Cup in Russia on a bicycle.

After about 5,000 km (3,000 miles) and 65 days on the road, Nufal hopes to reach Moscow to see Egypt make its first appearance in the World Cup for 28 years.

Nufal plans to get there via Jordan, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine. He will fly over Syria due to the civil war there and will also give Iraq a miss for security reasons.

On his bike, Nufal has packed spare parts, an extra phone, batteries and camping gear. In addition to his tent, Nufal will put up in hostels where he can find them, as well as relying on the kindness of strangers for a bed for the night.

It is about the road more than the arrival, he told Reuters Television. If it were just about the World Cup, I would take a plane. It is a great chance for me to see new things.

A group of cyclists and friends escorted Nufal as he started his trip on Saturday, and he hopes many more will offer him help along the way.

After clinching its World Cup spot in October, Egypt will compete on footballs ultimate stage for the first time since 1990.

Reuters

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja tomorrow for an official visit to Britain, ahead of the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings on 18 April.

Malam Garba Shehu, senior special assistant on media said President Buhari will hold discussions on Nigeria British relations with Prime Minister Mrs Theresa May.

The President will also meet the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Dutch Plc, Mr. Ben van Beurden in connection with Shell and other partners plan to invest $15b in Nigerias oil industry.

These investment ventures will lay the foundation for the next 20 years in production and domestic gas supply, bringing with it all the attendant benefits both to the economy and the wider society.

President Buhari, during the visit, is due to renew discussions with the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby, a good friend of the President on inter-religious harmony in Nigeria and World-wide.

Further meetings have also been scheduled for the President to see some prominent British and Nigerians residing in Britain.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings will begin on 18April and end20thApril, 2018.

President Buhari on Sunday returned from Daura, his home town, after a three-day visit. During the time, he also paid a condolence visit to the family of the Senator Mustapha Bukar, who died last week.

Source: NAN

The police in Lagos said they had commenced investigation into the alleged murder of a Nigerian singer Alizee and her four-year-old daughter by her Danish husband, Peter Nielsen.

The command’s spokesman, Chike Oti, confirmed the development in Lagos on Friday.

Oti said that Nielsen was being detained at the State CID, Panti Lagos, for further investigation.

He said the Commissioner of Police had deployed some crack detectives to the scene, adding that no stone would be left unturned in the case.

“The suspect is not an Italian, but from Denmark. He has been arrested and transferred to the State CID, Panti, for thorough investigation by the Homicide Department.

“The command has also written the embassy on the suspect that the police are investigating one of their national,” he said.

Nigerian artiste, Zainab Ali-Nielsen, popularly known as Alizee, and her four-year-old daughter, Petra, were allegedly murdered by her husband, Peter Nielsen.

Sources alleged they were murdered in the family’s residence at Ocean Parade, Banana Island, in the early hours of Thursday, while some neighbours reported the case to the police.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday in Daura thanked Senators for their support and solidarity with the people of Katsina North senatorial district following the death of Senator Mustapha Bukar, who represented the zone.

Receiving a delegation led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu in his country home, the President commended the legislators for identifying with the government and people of Katsina State, the Daura Emirate Council and the Bukar family, in their period of grief.

The President said it was noteworthy that Senator Bukars colleagues have paid glowing tribute to him as a detribalized leader whose contributions may not beeasily forgotten.

The President prayed that Almighty Allah will grant the soul of the departed late Madaki of Daura eternal rest and continue to comfort all who mourn.

The Senators who paid a condolence visit to the President were Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, Sen. Ali Ndume, Sen. Babajide Omoworare,Sen. Adamu Abubakar, Sen. Yusuf Yusuf, Sen.Hassan Adamu, Sen. Abu Ibrahim and Sen. Umaru Kurfi.

Source: NAN

A Japanese dad who allegedly confined his mentally ill son in a small cage for more than two decades was arrested on Saturday in western Japan, police and news reports said.

Police arrested 73-year-old Yoshitane Yamasaki on suspicion of imprisoning his son, now aged 42, at their house in the city of Sanda in Hyogo prefecture, a local police spokesman told AFP.

Further details of the case were not available as the investigation is still underway, the spokesman said.

According to local media reports, the son was forced to live inside a wooden cage one metre (3.3 feet) high and 1.8 metre wide built in a prefabricated hut next to the main house.

The suspect has reportedly admitted the allegations.

I made my son live in a cage for more than 20 years because he has mental problems and acted up, the father earlier told city officials, according to public broadcaster NHK.

The father said he fed his son and let him bathe every other day.

The son, whose name has been withheld, is in a stable condition but is suffering from a bent back, NHK said, adding that he was sent to a welfare facility.

Source: NAN

Participants in the worlds most popular ponzi scheme Mavrodi Mundial Moneybox (MMM), are counting their losses as administrators of the programme have officially shut down operations worldwide following the death of its founder, Sergey Mavrodi.

It would be recalled that Mavrodi died on March 26, after a heart attack.

The administrators of the site had in a statement issued on April 6, 2018 reminded participants of an earlier warning on the risk associated with the scheme.

The statement reads: Dear participants, after much deliberation, we have made the conclusion that continuing the System operation, without our leader and ideological inspirer, is impossible and makes no sense.

We all carried out the tasks he assigned to us, since we had no doubt in his genius and rightness of the path he had chosen.

We are firmly aware of the fact that none of us has a full view of his conceptions profoundness and sequence of all the actions to achieve a final goal, declared in the MMMs Ideology.

Sergey Mavrodis broadmindedness scale is unprecedented. Therefore any attempts to continue the System operation without him are bound to fail.

We respect him immeasurably and cannot afford to allow that our unskilled actions may cause profanation of his concepts.

In view of the above, with deep sadness, we have to announce the ultimate and irreversible MMM closure.

We also remind (as a matter of form) that all initially were fully aware of the risks and read theWARNINGand confirmed that by checking the relevant box when registering.

Hoping for your understanding, Administration, the statement reads.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the scheme had survived several pause mode and closure but could not escape the latest turn of event due to the death of Mavrodi in Russia.

Source: NAN

Bishop Matthew Kukah, the fiery Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, has supported the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to grant amnesty to repentant members of the Boko Haram.

Bishop Kukah revealed his position while appearing as a guest on Televisions Hard Copy in Abuja, the nations capital.

I think I was one of the first people to raise the issue of amnesty about five years ago, I know how much we were vilified, he said.

But I was pretty convinced about what I was saying that for me if you mention the word amnesty, Nigerians think it simply means shaking hands and telling everybody to go home.

On March 23, President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled that government was willing to offer amnesty to members of the outlawed group.

He had noted that while further efforts were ongoing to secure the release of every citizen abducted by the insurgents, government was ready to accept the unconditional laying down of arms by any member of the group who showed strong commitment in that regard.

Kukah, on his part, lauded the decision, saying amnesty was the way to go as no war has ended with victory being declared.

If Boko Haram has been perceived to be as so weakened as it is, we would not be talking about negotiation. So clearly, those with superior information and superior knowledge which is what government is all about know something that the rest of us dont.

Evaluating the war against corruption, the clergyman said: Corruption is not something that government fights, government might offer a lead, but it will get you to nowhere unless you have the buy-in of the people, Kukah told

The Nigerian Army had also asked Boko Haram insurgentsto lay down their arms and embrace the federal governments amnestyoffer.

A statement signed by Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, Director, Army Public Relations, said: we wish to remind repentant Boko Haram fighters that the window of opportunity to embrace the Federal Government Amnesty programme is still open for them to surrender and lay down their weapons.

It is also gratifying to report that the troops morale remains high as they dominate the general area with a robust fighting patrol in continuation with the clearance operations, he said.

Chukwu disclosed that the troops of 23 Brigade under the Operation LAFIYA DOLE had arrested three suspected Boko Haram terrorists at Ngurore on March 28.

The army spokesman explained that one of the suspects, who was wounded as a result of gunshots, confessed to have participated in various attacks coordinated by the insurgents.

According to him, the army is conducting preliminary investigations with the 23 Brigade Provost Company.

The army commended members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) for patriotism, resilience and cooperation with troops.

Chukwu also called on members of the public to emulate the vigilance of the CJTF, and report any suspicious persons or objects to the nearest military location.

NAN reports thatPresident Muhammadu Buhari on March 23, said the Federal Government is ready to offer amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sect that are willing to drop their arms.

President Buhari said this at a meeting with the schoolgirls who recently regained freedom after they were abducted from their school in Dapchi, Yobe State by Boko Haram terrorists.

Federal Government is ready to rehabilitate Boko Haram militants who are ready to lay down their arms.

While further efforts are being made to secure the release of every abducted citizen in Nigeria, Government is ever ready to accept the unconditional laying down of arms by any member of the Boko Haram group, who show strong commitment in that regard.

We are ready to rehabilitate and integrate such repentant members into the larger society, he said.

Source: NAN

Former Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, said God is punishing the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) for its sins and urged members to intensify prayers to seek forgiveness from God.

It is the sins that the PDP members committed that God is punishing them with it, Bafarawa bluntly told members at thePDP Northwest zonal rally on Saturday in Katsina.

Almighty Allah does not make mistakes and that was the reason why when the PDP offended him, He snatched the power and handed it to APC, he said .

Also, Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, charged Nigerians to shun all forms of corrupt practices, rise and challenge the evil of corruption in the country.

Corruption is an evil deed that retards the progress of any nation, he said.

On his part, former Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema backed calls for the restructuring of the country, saying it would result in rapid development of the nation.

He particularly said that the banking and political sectors must be restructured to encourage all citizens to be part of the Nigeria project.

Shema stressed that Nigerians need not to panic over the agitations by some well meaning Nigerians over the restructuring project.

In his remarks, former governor of Niger State, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, advised PDP members to close ranks and work towards the success of the party in 2019.

Aliyu said that without unity, the PDP would not clinch back the power that they held for 16 years.

NAN reports that PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose, ex-governors Sule Lamido, Ahmed Makarfi, Ramalan Yero and Ibrahim Shekarau, as well as Muntari Shagari and Amb. Aminu Wali, were among dignitaries at the event.

Source: NAN

A heavy downpour on Saturday destroyed a part of the Tedder Hall of Nigerias premier University of Ibadan.

The residential hall, located west of the university court was opened on 17 November 1952, along with Mellanby Hall.

It was named after Lord Tedder (1890 1976), Marshal of (1950-1967) who formally opened the present site of the University of Ibadan.

A section of the hall was also gutted by fire in 2013.

Photo credit: Timothy Adeogodiran/NAN

Source: NAN

Former South African president Jacob Zuma told thousands ofsupporters outside court in Durban on Friday that his opponents were telling lies and he would be proveninnocent in a corruption case against him.

Speaking in Zulu in his home province, Zuma said that the judiciary and politicians believed that he did not have
rights.

The truth will come out. What have I done? Zuma told the cheering crowd.

I am innocent until proven guilty.

The Durban High Court adjourned until June 8 the case of corruption in a 2.5 billion arms deal dollars, filed
against Zuma.

Zumas legal team and lawyers for the state agreed to the postponement to give both sides time to prepare their submissions relating to charges against Zuma including fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

The 75-year-old, whose scandal-plagued nine years in office were marked by economic stagnation and credit downgrades,
faces 16 charges including fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

Zuma denies any wrongdoing and is challenging the decision to prosecute the case, a dramatic development on a
continent where political leaders are rarely held to account for their actions before the law.

Wearing a dark suit, a smiling Zuma waved to crowds of supporters and reporters as he mounted the steps of the
High Court in Durban shortly before 0700 GMT.

The speed with which prosecutors have booked his day in court is a sign of the loss of control Zuma has suffered
since his successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, became head of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in December.

However, Zuma still retains some popular support, especially in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, where the case
is being heard.

Heavily armed police in riot gear lined the square outside the court, as thousands of Zuma supporters gathered to
express solidarity with a leader they say is the victim of a politically motivated witchhunt.

Marchers, many clad in the distinctive yellow, green and black of the ANC, carried placards reading Hands off Zuma
and performed the high-stepping toyi-toyi protest dance made popular in South Africas decades-long struggle
against apartheid.

Businessman Siya Khoza said he admired Zumas determination to bring in economic policies that he said were designedto spread the wealth in what remains one of the worlds most unequal societies.

Whatever happens we will still support Zuma because we believe he brought us radical economic transformation and
we still believe that him being in the ANC he will push for it, said Khoza, wearing a waistcoat emblazoned in
ANC colors.

Zuma son Edward told supporters at nearby park where several thousand people held an overnight vigil that his
father was not worried.

I would want to believe that as an innocent man, he is definitely not worried, the domestic News24 agency quoted
Edward Zuma as saying.

Zuma, who was forced to resign by the ANC last month, was at the center of a 1990s deal to buy billions of dollars
of European military hardware to upgrade South Africas post-apartheid armed forces.

The deal was mired in scandal and controversy from the start, with many inside and outside the ANC questioning
the spending given the massive social issues, from health to education, Nelson Mandelas party had to address
after coming to power in 1994.

Fallout has cast a shadow over South African politics ever since.

Zuma was deputy president at the time. Schabir Shaikh, his former financial adviser, was found guilty and jailed
in 2005 for trying to solicit bribes for Zuma from a subsidiary of French arms company Thales.

The company is facing charges in the same case.

Charges against Zuma were filed but then set aside by the National Prosecuting Authority shortly before he
successfully ran for president in 2009.

The charges were re-instated in 2016.

Since his election nine years ago, his opponents have fought a lengthy legal battle to have the charges reinstated.

Zuma countered with his own legal challenges.

Source: NAN