By Hauwa Gold
A Sokoto Magistrates Court on Thursday, ordered the remand of two men, Abdulkarim Muhammad and Ibrahim Ibrahim over alleged cruelty to a donkey.

The accused persons are facing a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy, riding and neglecting an animal.

The Chief Magistrate, Nuraddeen Bello, ordered the remand of the accused persons after they pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Bello adjourned the case until April 24, for hearing.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Monday Kennedy, told the court that the accused persons, who reside in Tafawa Balewa area Sokoto metropolis, intentionally conspired and rode on a donkey belonging to one Faruk Koko of Mabera area.

He told the court that the accused persons jointly rode on the donkey to Tamaje area of Sokoto where they handed the exhausted donkey to one Abdulmumin.

The prosecutor further said that Abdulmumin and the donkey were however knocked down by a car and both sustained injuries.

He said that the owner of the donkey reported the incident on April 16, at Unguwan Rogo Police Station, Sokoto.

Kennedy said the offence contravened Sections 97 and 208 of the Penal Code.

Source: NAN

In a lead judgment, the Court of Appeal sitting in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, directed the freezing of the account of the Ekiti state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.

The court allowed the appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against the judgment of Justice Taiwo. O Taiwo of Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti division.

Details later

Source: NAN

The Nigerian police have returned the mace stolen by some hoodlums from the Senate on Wednesday.

The mace which was recovered by the police later on Wednesday after it was abandoned by the hoodlums, was brought back by the DIG operations, Joshak Habila.

He handed it over to the chief security officer of the National Assembly, who then passed it to the Sergeant-at-Arms.

The mace has been taken into the chambers, said Yusuph Olaniyonu, media adviser to the senate president, Bukola Saraki.

Source: NAN

Seven-star Paris Saint-Germain(PSG) secured a fifth Ligue 1 title in six seasons on Sunday with a 7-1 rout of last years champions Monaco.

Unai Emerys team blew Monaco away in a first-half blitz that saw PSG score four times in 14 minutes at the Parc des Princes with with Lo Celso striking either side of goals from Edinson Cavani and Di Maria.

Rony Lopes pulled a goal back for Monaco as he scored for the eighth game in a row, but Di Maria added a fifth before Radamel Falcao turned into his own net and Julian Draxler struck late on as PSG romped to the clubs seventh championship.

With a fifth successive League Cup already won, PSG completed the second leg of a domestic treble they are also through to the French Cup semi-finals and could yet break their record 96-point haul from the 2015-16 campaign.

PSG also became the first team in Europes top leagues this season to reach 100 goals on a night they were without the injured Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, the teenager left on the bench after a bout of illness.

Monaco arrived in Paris unbeaten on their last eight league visits to the capital but any prospect of them prolonging PSGs wait for the title quickly eroded.

Kamil Gliks absence in the heart of the visiting defence was acutely felt as Lo Celso started the move that resulted in the opening goal on 14 minutes, sauntering into the box to tap in a Dani Alves cross.

While Cavanis second half of the campaign has proved less prolific than the blistering spell that yielded 19 goals before Christmas, the Uruguayan bagged his league-best 25th goal with a powerful header from a Yuri Berchiche cross.

Cavani then released Di Maria with a superb hooked pass from inside his own half and the Argentine raced clear before lifting an exquisite chip over the advancing Danijel Subasic.

Sidibe injury concern

Javier Pastore supplied Lo Celso to head in PSGs fourth on 28 minutes and Monaco suffered further misfortune when France international Djibril Sidibe was stretchered off with a leg injury, a worrying sign for both club and country ahead of the World Cup.

Monaco briefly held up the onslaught as Lopes turned home an Almamy Toure cross seven minutes before half-time for the in-form Portugal internationals 13th goal this term.

But PSG continued to attack at will and Pastores assist for Di Maria allowed the winger to grab his second of the game on 59 minutes.

The hosts were gifted another when Falcaos attempt to clear a corner went horribly wrong, summing up Monacos misery as the ball looped beyond Subasic on 77 minutes.

Germany international Draxler rounded out the demolition, firing home via a deflection as PSG clinched the title at home for the first since 1994 while shattering Monacos 17-match unbeaten run.

Source: NAN

Victor Oladipo scored a game-high 32 points to power the Indiana Pacers over LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers 98-80 on Sunday in the opening game of their first-round NBA playoff series.

Stay calm, stay composed, play the game I have all year long, Oladipo said of the key to his overwhelming day. This was a great team win.

James had won 21 first-round playoff games in a row until the rout, having never before lost the opener in a first-round NBA post-season series.

James, seeking his ninth career trip to the NBA Finals and fourth league title, had not dropped a first-round playoff game since the New York Knicks beat Miami in the fourth game of the 2012 opening round, a minor setback on the Heats title run, a career first for James.

James said falling behind in a series just motivates him to step up his game.

Im down 0-1 in the first found. I was down 3-1 in the finals. So Im the last guy to ask about what Im gonna be like the next couple days, James said.

The Pacers jumped ahead 33-14 after the first quarter and led by as much as 23 in holding off the Cavs, who came no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

You cant ease into the playoffs, said Cavs coach Tyronn Lue. I thought (Indiana) came in and they attacked us.

James had a triple double in a losing cause with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. The rest of Clevelands starters only managed 25 points, Kevin Love with 17 rebounds but only nine points.

J.R. Smith had 15 points off the Cavaliers bench while Myles Turner had 16 points and Bojan Bogdanovic added 15 for Indiana.

The Cavaliers had their lowest-scoring first period of the season and only five baskets with six turnovers in the opening quarter, drawing boos as they walked off at half-time trailing 59-38.

The Boston Celtics nearly fell victim to another Eastern Conference opening upset bid before edging visiting Milwaukee 113-107 in overtime.

Al Horford scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Boston while Terry Rozier, starting in place of injured Kyrie Irving, added 23 points. Marcus Morris scored 21 off the bench while Jaylen Brown netted 20 and Jayson Tatum contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics.

Weve been down a lot, a lot of injuries, and weve always found a way, Horford said. Morris made some big shots, Tatum down the stretch, Terry thats what were all about. We just find a way.

Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 35 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists and gave the Celtics headaches until fouling out in overtime.

Hes a great player, Horford said. He knows how to finish around the rim. He has great touch. We tried to contain him as best we could.

Khris Middleton added 31 points, hitting five-of-seven three-pointers, with eight rebounds and six assists in a losing cause.

The Bucks, who have not won a NBA playoff series since 2001, have been losers in seven consecutive first-round playoff series.

Source: NAN

Former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has urged the public to disregard calls on him by All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to defect to the party.

National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Oye, had recently called on Ihedioha to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and join forces with APGA in the South-East to advance his political career.

However a statement in Owerri on Tuesday, quoted Ihedioha as saying that the call was of no consequence as his loyalty to the PDP had never wavered and would never be in contention.

The statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Chibuike Onyeukwu, said the former Deputy Speaker views the statement as unwarranted, mischievous and a misplaced demand, borne out of mere imagination.

The former deputy speaker urges his friends, supporters and allies to disregard Chief Oyes call as it is of no consequence and be assured of his clear focus.

It is known to everybody that his membership and loyalty to PDP has never wavered and will never be in contention.

It said that Ihedioha, who appreciated the recognition by APGA leadership, however, condemned the attempt by the partys chairman to make political gains from a social visit.

The statement reiterated that the former deputy speaker was not power hungry and would realise his dream of becoming Imo governor through the PDP.

It expressed appreciation to Oye for acknowledging that Ihedioha possessed outstanding credentials to wrestle power for the All Progressive Congress (APC) government in the state.

It is noteworthy that Chief Oyes call is not new as there is hardly any serious political party in Nigeria that has not sought the membership of Emeka Ihedioha.

He has, however, without hesitation, rejected such requests, restating that PDP remains the only true national party that can liberate Nigeria from the maladministration inflicted by the APC government at all levels.

We make haste to reiterate that he is not desperate for power and wish to state with humility, that he will, by the grace of God, realize his political dreams through PDP, the statement said.

Source: NAN

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC) has again blamed past civilian administrations, especially the Jonathan government, for the nations economic woes.

Tinubu spoke at the 35th annual Aminu Kano Memorial Symposium, held in Kanoon Tuesday. He was represented by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

Other speakers at the event were Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of Premium Times, and a stalwart of the APC, Dr. Usman Bugaje.

The speakers examined `Democratic governance in Nigeria and the imperatives of party ideology and supremacy.

Tinubu said that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan was the worst culprit in the pillaging of the nations resources.

He attributed the countrys current infrastructural deficit to the billions stolen by the past governments.

The APC national leader said that the present government under President Muhammadu Buhari had in the past three years been labouring hard to clean the rot and give the people a new lease of life.

The APC government may, at times, be imperfect in fulfilling the spirit of Aminu Kano but we are far from the PDP, which has perfected the malign craft of giving selfish ambition primacy over the public good.

Consequently, the Buhari government has spent inordinate time cleaning the rot and plugging the holes in the corrupt system they institutionalised as their strategic policy and national direction.

The APC has been working to steer our national ship from this awful direction in order that we may bring the people and their welfare into safe harbour, he said.

Tinubu said the billions of dollars and trillions of Naira stolen by past governments if used for the people, would have transformed the nation.acc

According to him, the stolen money would have acquired the infrastructure and implement the programmes that bring greater development and economic justice to all.

Instead, the select few ate more than their bellies could contain. Distorting the cause of justice and hijacking the means of national welfare.

They wildly enriched themselves and left the average Nigerian to dine on the passing wind.

He stated that the ruling government had less resources at his disposal than its predecessors due to the drop in oil prices, but have done more with the less it has.

The APC national leader said the theme of the symposium was apt and timely, commendingthe Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Research and Training and Bayero University for the initiative.

Tinubu described Aminu Kano as a great man that could have lived an easy life by exploiting, for selfish objectives all the opportunities opened to him.

Instead, he devoted himself to the welfare of the people. He took the harder path because it was the true and correct one.As Aminu Kano did, we must do!

The spirit of this great man must guide more than our deliberations here today. That spirit must direct our political intercourse and actions, he said.

In his paper, Bugaje raised a few posers such as the difference between power and authority, legality and legitimacy, as well as eligibility and sustainability.

He argued that it was possible to have power without having authority, adding that it was also possible to be eligible, but not suitable for a given position or office.

In order to succeed, he said a leader must be knowledgeable, courageous and selfless. A leader must be like a shepherd who leads his cattle to a place of pasture and a good place where they can graze, Bugaje said.

In his own presentation, Olorunyomi stressed the need for the country to be in accord and be united in purpose.

He said that Rwanda, in spite of challenges it recently went through was able to bounce back into a unified entity where law and order reigned, adding such was achieved through unity of purpose.

Source: NAN

The Senate has resumed sitting after the incidence of Mace snatching by some men led by suspended Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

Omo-Agege had led some unidentified men to Senate Chamber and forcibly took away the Mace which is the symbol of authority of the upper chamber.

Reports from the Senate say that session is ongoing as being presided over by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

Earlier News: Nigerian Senate invaded by thugs

Source: NAN

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who led hoodlums to the National Assembly on Wednesday, to , has been arrested.

The mace is the symbol of authority of the Senate.

Omo-Agege was arrested at about 2:00 PM outside the National Assembly building. A source in the National Assembly told our correspondent that the suspended senator has been led away by the Police.

However at the time of this report, it is still unclear if the mace that was snatched had been recovered, but the lawmakers had resumed plenary with a spare mace.

Omo-Agege was suspended last week for taking the Senate to court. He had dragged the senate to court to stop the committee on Ethics from inviting him to answer questions over comments attributed to him.

https://youtu.be/OStFIHPD42w

The senator shortly after the first consideration of the bill to amend the electoral act and change the election sequence, told newsmen that the action of the Senate was targetted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement by the spokesperson of the Senate, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi said the Senate resumed plenary after coming out of an executive session where the earlier incident of forceful removal of the mace was deliberated upon.

The session is holding with the mace, the official symbol of authority firmly in place, and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, presiding.

The Senate also decided that it will get to the roots of this sad assault on democracy and an obvious act of treason which the seizure of the mace by some armed hoodlums represents. The hoodlums severely attacked some members of staff of the National Assembly, particularly the Sergeant-at-Arms on Chamber duties.

The Senate has mandated the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Idris Kpotum Ibrahim and Director General of the State Security Services (SSS), Malam Lawan Daura, to retrieve the mace stolen by the hoodlums within 24 hours.

At the moment, some House of Representatives members led by Deputy Speaker. Hon. Yusuf Lasun, are in the Senate chambers in solidarity visits. The session is presently live on NTA Channel 10.

We are determined to conclude all matters slated on the Order Paper for today, even if it means us sitting until 6pm, said Ekweremadu.

Source: NAN

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned in totality, Wednesdays attack on the Senate and the snatching on the Mace of the senate.

This is even as it has called on all security agencies totake all necessary actions to recover the stolen mace and ensure that the perpetrators and their sponsors are brought to justice.

In a statemnet issued by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the APC, the party said that the attack ammounted to an attack on the nations democracy.

The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to the invasion of the Nigerian Senate by suspected thugs who disrupted Wednesdays plenary and made away with the mace.

The APC hereby condemns this action and views it as an attack on our democracy and a desecration of the hallowed institution of the National Assembly.

We therefore call on security agencies to take all necessary actions to recover the stolen mace and ensure that the perpetrators and their sponsors are brought to justice.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police has arrested Senator Ovie Omo Agege for leading the hoodlums into the Senate chamber during plenary to snatch the Mace which is the symbol of authority of the upper legislative chamber.

Source: NAN