The U.S. Senate on Saturday voted 50-48 to narrowly confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, ending a bitterly divisive fight over the controversial nominee.

It was the closest such vote in a century, according to AFP.
And it came amid controversy over sexual abuse allegations against him.

Even as the vote was being cast, more than 1,000 protesters rallied in Washington against the judge, with questions raised over his candour, partisan rhetoric and lifestyle as a young man.

The month long battle over the nomination has roiled American passions the vote was disrupted on several occasions by angry protests in the gallery but handed Trump one of the biggest victories of his presidency.

It drew the line under a bruising nomination process defined by harrowing testimony from a woman who says Kavanaugh tried to rape her when they were teenagers and by his fiery rebuttal.

The two-vote margin of victory made it the closest confirmation vote since 1881, when Stanley Matthews, President James Garfields pick, sealed a 24 to 23 win.

The confirmation means Trump has succeeded in having his two picks seated on the court tilting it decidedly to the right in a major coup for the Republican leader less than halfway through his term.

It reflects a high water mark of the Trump presidency: Republican control of the White House, the Senate, the House of Representatives and the judiciarys top court.

But the confirmation hearing inflamed passions as never before.

Just hours before the vote, scores of protesters broke through barricades and staged a raucous sit-in protest on the US Capitol steps, just feet away from the imposing doors to the Rotunda.

As protesters chanted Shame! and November is coming! police took several dozen protesters down the steps and put them in plastic flex-cuffs.

Kavanaughs confirmation process has laid bare the partisan gridlock on Capitol Hill and the political polarization of America just a month before midterm elections.

His promotion to the Supreme Court also stands as a demoralizing defeat for Democrats who had battled hard to block the 53-year-old judge at all costs.

But Senator Ed Markey insisted ahead of the confirmation that it would only galvanize Democrats to deliver a devastating blow to Republicans at the ballot box.

Source: NAN

Senate President Bukola Saraki and some other leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party were at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission Abuja, to demand that INEC declare Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the governorship election in Osun state.

The protesters, who arrived in a vehicle, marked ‘justice’, included the party chairman, Uche Secondus, speaker of the house Yakubu Dogara, governor of Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal and former governor of Jigawa, Sule Lamido.

The protest coincided with the formal presentation by Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the winner, Gboyega Oyetola to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Oyetola, a member of the All Progressives Congress was able to wipe out the 353 vote lead by Adeleke, in the first election on 22 September, by the crutches offered by Senator iyiola Omisore of the SDP.

Oyetola was given the certificate of election by INEC on Thursday, with the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Agbaje, vowing to resign if the Supreme Court eventually upturned Oyetola’s victory.

The Bafarawa Support AllianceGroup (BSAG) hascommenced the feeding of not less than 6000 delegates in Port Harcourt for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Convention.

This is part of efforts to woo delegates to support Bafarawa in the upcoming Presidential Ptimary of the PDP.

National Chairman of theSupport Group, Dr Frank Osagie,told newsmen on Thursday that the group would be visiting delegates in their hotels and other locations to deliver food and drinks to them.

According to Osagie, the welfare of the delegates in Port Harcourt was very paramount and it was in the realization of the importance that the group mandate itself to commence the duty.

He said that the group had commenced the delivery of food and drinks to delegates at some hotels while calling on those yet to benefit to identify with the group.

He added that the groups decision to embark on such important assignment was in realization of the fact that Bafarawa was the best candidate to fly the partys ticket and the most likely to emerge winner of the primary election.

The BASG chairman further commended the PDP for its recentassurance to party faithful that a mechanism had been put in place to ensure a level playing groundfor all the aspirants.

He said Bafarawa had earlier visited all the 36 statesof the federation and the FCT to consult with the party delegates who assured him of their votes.

According to him, Bafarawas integrity and clean political record distinguished him from other aspirants.

Osagie added that the former governor had left more than N12 billion in the states treasury which his predecessor had used toconsolidate on his achievements for eight years.

He appealed to the delegates to make a wise choice by voting Bafarawa whose credentials and integrity had been tested and proven and who was acceptable to every religion, region and tribe.

Osagiesaid wrestling power from the current APC-led administration would be much easier if Bafarawa flew the partys flag in 2019.

Source: NAN

The Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri in Imo is the best polytechnic in Nigeria, according to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr Masaudu Kazaure made this known in Kaduna on Thursday, at the end of the Second Regular Meeting of the NBTE Governing Board. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Modupe Adelabu.

Kazaure explained that the polytechnic emerged the best after scoring 85.08 per cent in the assessment of 112 federal, state and private polytechnics in the country, in the pilot ranking of Nigerian polytechnics.

He said that the exercise covered 2015/2016 and 206/2017 academic sessions.

He said that the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun came second with 73.08 per cent, while Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna State came third with 72.31 per cent.

Other polytechnics in the top 10 included The Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State, ranked fourth with 67.69 per cent; Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger, fifth, 65.38 per cent; and Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo, sixth, with 63.85 per cent.

Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, Enugu State, seventh, with 62.31 per cent. Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Ondo State and Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos State were ranked eighth with 60.77 per cent.

Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra was ranked 11th with 60.00 per cent and Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi, occupied the 12th position with 59.23 per cent.

The NBTE boss also said that when disaggregated by ownership, the Federal Polytechnic Nekede also emerged the best Federal Polytechnic in the country followed by Federal Polytechnic Ilaro and Kaduna Polytechnic.

The Polytechnic Ibadan, IMT and Rufus Giwa polytechnics were the highest ranked among state polytechnics, while Lagos City Polytechnic is the highest ranked private polytechnic and the 16th in the country.

Dorben Polytechnic and Heritage Polytechnic were the second and third best private polytechnic in the country.

Kazaure explained that the polytechnics were ranked based on total number of programmes with full accreditation in the last two years and percentage of programmes with full accreditation.

Other criteria include proportion of academic staff showing the right mix, that is, chief lecturer and principal lecturer down to assistant lecturer; and ability of institution to introduce programme in new and emerging fields.

They were equally assessed based on capacity building of staff both within and outside Nigeria, teaching quality, including staff /student ratio and ratio of full-time to part-time staff.

Other areas are availability of current Campus Master Plan, Strategic Plan, and Academic Brief; percentage of academic staff with relevant higher qualification and professional registration; and 70:30
technology-non-technology enrolment ratio.

Another consideration was the incorporation of entrepreneurship education into the institutes curriculum and fully established Entrepreneurship Development Centre, he said.

He said other issues discussed by the board borders on quality assurance, accreditation, resource inspection visits and proliferation of illegal technical and health institutions in the country.

He said that 191 out of the 239 programmes in 41 polytechnics visited for accreditation between June and September 2018 were granted full accreditation while 48 got interim accreditation.

He also said that 117 programmes were scrutinised for resource inspection within the same period and 94 programmes were granted interim accreditation to commence operation, while 23 were denied.

Four proposed private polytechnics were also visited for approval and licensing within the period under review and only one was recommended while three were asked to remedy some identified deficiencies.

The governing board also approved a memorandum of understanding with Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria to reduce the burden of duplication of quality assurance visitation and accreditation activities.

The board also agreed to hold meetings with relevant stakeholders to put an end to proliferation of illegal technical institutions and unapproved private health institutions operating in the county.

The board particularly commended the effort of the Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Dr Paul Dogo for expressing concern to the board on illegal health institutions operating in the state, he said.

Kazaure added that the board equally frowned at the conversion of colleges of agriculture to polytechnics by some state governments and agreed to take necessary actions to put a stop to the development. (NAN)

Source: NAN

German second seed Alexander Zverev suffered an early exit at the China Open as he went down 7-6(4) 2-6 6-4 to Tunisias Malek Jaziri on Thursday.

The world number five appeared to have righted the ship after losing the opener in a tiebreak but paid the price for failing to convert his opportunities.

Jaziri, 34, executed an audacious tweener to win a point at 2-5 down in the second set and although Zverev still levelled he went onto claim his third victory over a top five opponent this season.

Up next for the world number 61 is a first Tour meeting with Nikoloz Basilashvili. The Georgian, ranked 34 in the world, overcame Spains Fernando Verdasco 7-6(3) 6-4.

Italys Fabio Fognini thumped Andrey Rublev 6-4 6-3 and will take on world number 45 Marton Fucsovics for the first time.

Hungarian Fucsovics beat surprise French Open semi-finalist Marco Cecchinato of Italy 6-4 6-2.

Its going to be a tough match because he (Fucsovics) is great, he played really well today, Fognini, currently ranked 11th in the race for the ATP World Tour Finals, said.

Top seed Juan Martin del Potro, who has already clinched his place in next months season-ending tournament in London, will meet Serbias Filip Krajinovic on Friday.

Briton Kyle Edmund takes on Dusan Lajovic in another last-eight clash.

Source: NAN

Former rap mogul Marion Suge Knight was sentenced in a Los Angeles courtroom on Thursday to 28 years in prison for manslaughter in the death of a man he ran over with his pickup truck outside a hamburger stand in 2015.

The sentence appeared to forestall any chance of a future recording business comeback for Knight, 53, known as much for repeated run-ins with the law as for his career as a hip-hop executive promoting the likes of Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Tupac Shakur during the 1990s.

He admitted then to using a deadly and dangerous weapon on Jan. 29, 2015, when he ran down two men with his pickup truck in an altercation outside Tams Burgers that spilled over from a quarrel on the nearby set of a TV commercial for the film Straight Outta Compton.

Carter later died of his injuries. The second man, Cle Bone Sloan, was left with a badly mangled left foot and head injuries. Knight, who was out on bail in a robbery case at the time, fled the scene but was later arrested.

Knight had previously contended that he accidentally struck the two men with his vehicle while trying to flee what he thought was an ambush attempt.

Had Knight been convicted of murder and attempted murder as originally charged, he faced a life sentence with no eligibility for parole for 25 years.

As part of his agreement with prosecutors to plead no contest the legal equivalent of guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter, all other charges in the case were dropped. Two separate criminal cases in which he was charged with robbery and making criminal threats were also dismissed.

Judge Ronald Coen said Knight had earned the equivalent of 4.2 years credit for time served in pretrial detention. He also is eligible to shave another 15 percent, or 4.2 years, off his term for good behaviour while in prison, meaning he could end up serving nearly 20 years before release.

Seated beside his lawyer and wearing an orange jail uniform and horned-rimmed glasses, the burly, bald ex-college football player showed no visible emotion as sentence was pronounced. He did not address the court.

Knight previously served more than half of a nine-year term for violating the probation he received in 1995 for an assault on two aspiring rappers at a Hollywood recording studio.

The probation violation stemmed from a scuffle involving Knight at a Las Vegas hotel in September 1996, hours before Shakur was shot to death while riding in a car with Knight on the Las Vegas Strip. Knight was slightly wounded in the attack.

Knight was later named by police as a suspect in the shooting death of rival rap artist Christopher Wallace, known as Notorious B.I.G., but was never charged. Both rap murders remain unsolved.

In 2002, the year after his release from prison, a federal racketeering probe of Knight and his record label was closed with the company pleading guilty to misdemeanour tax charges. The onetime college football star and gangsta rap pioneer eventually lost control of his label in bankruptcy proceedings.

Source: NAN

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has moved a step further as its governors met with President Muhmmadu Buhari and later with the leadership of the party to assess the fallout of the primaries conducted across the country,

The meetings were conducted as a family to boost the morale of stakeholders and find a way of getting out stronger from such quagmire.

They are of the conviction that the party would come out stronger after primaries across the states of the federation.

They spoke in Abuja after a closed door meeting with Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the partys National Chairman, of the party.

They noted that the challenges that followed the partys primaries in some states were normal in a big and vibrant party like the APC.

Gov. Abudull azi Yari of Zamfara said they were in Abuja to meet with the partys national chairman to find a way forward following matters arising from the partys primaries in some states.

He expressed optimism that the party would come out stronger as one family from whatever challenge it may be facing, saying that it was sure of electoral victory in 2019.

He added that resolutions had been made and that steps were being taken to address the situations and ensure better understanding.

We are working hard and faster to ensure that we got these things done so that we can go for the Presidential National Convention on Saturday, Oct. 6.

He, however, said that the governors were particularly concerned about INECs deadline for the conclusion of party primaries which is Oct. 7.

We are concerned because if we are not having candidates anywhere by Oct. 7, that automatically means we are not fielding candidates for the positions, he said.

Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi said that the meeting was convened by the partys national chairman, adding that the governors collectively exchanged ideas and made suggestions on the way forward.

We have had the Presidential Direct Primary and it went well. There were about thousands of party members across the state, who turned out in 225 wards, and they all voted in support of President Muhammadu Buhari as the partys candidate in the 2019 general election, he said.

He noted that while the primaries went well in some states, there were challenges in others, because according to him, it is a human process.

It is a human process, and there are bound to be issues and challenges in one or two places because it is a dynamic process, everything will be resolved.

I am quite pleased with what is happening. We are ready and tomorrow we will be on our way to participate in the last legal act of making President Muhammadu Buhari the 2019 presidential flag bearer of the APC, he said.

Also speaking, Gov.Rochas Okorocha of Imo, said party primaries normally comes with challenges, especially in a democratic structure.

The APC do have some challenges in some states and we have come to soften the rough edges so we can rebuild unity in the party and ensure that aggrieved persons are settled.

We are here to look at what to do, and of course you know our party believe in free, fair, justice and equity.

We are making sure we keep to that by giving everybody a chance to vote and be voted for, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the APC national leadership had suspended the Imo governorship primaries indefinitely.

Okorocha said the direct primary mode of election being adopted in the state would enable everyone exercise their franchise.

Whichever it is in Imo, we are fine, and we on ground.

We shall make sure everybody is in one place because we do not want to give the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) edge whatsoever, because I know they are coming up with their crisis.

We will be able to resolve our own crisis as quickly as possible before the main elections, he said.

Okorocha added that despite individual differences, members of the party in the state still believe in the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun said because it was a political season and everybody was trying to get the partys ticket, such challenges were expected.

I think that is just what has happened, as a party you will expect that everybody wants to win, We are only disagreeing to agree, he said.

He added that the meeting was to resolve lingering problems that was confronting the party.

The governors had earlier in the day, met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The bookies odds for the Nobel Peace Prize winner point towards the Koreans, or Donald Trump. The experts are betting on the fight against sexual violence or defenders of the press.

But all speculation ends Friday when the prize is unveiled in Oslo.

At 0900 GMT, the annual Nobel prize-giving week reaches its peak as the five-member Norwegian committee ends the guessing game by announcing this years winner.

And anticipation is likely to be heightened after the postponement of this years Literature Prize for the first time in 70 years over a rape scandal that came to light as part of the #MeToo movement which took off exactly a year ago.

This year, a total of 331 individuals and organisations were nominated for the prestigious peace award, almost a record number. But with the list a closely guarded secret, guessing who might be a contender is largely a game of chance.

Among the bookmakers, the choice was largely unanimous with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in frontrunners for the prize for their efforts at rapprochement between the two nations.

But choosing Kim may be a step too far for the Norwegian committee, given the UNs damning verdict on North Koreas long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights.

Another unexpected favourite is Donald Trump, who at 7-1 is one of three frontrunners flagged by online bookies Betsson, with the odds suggesting the bombastic American president is 10 times more likely to win than figures like Frances Emmanuel Macron or Russias Vladimir Putin.

Taking a step back from the international spotlight, several Nobel experts see the prize honouring those involved in the fight against sexual violence at a time when the aftershocks of the #MeToo movement are still making waves around the globe.

A top contender would likely be Congolese gynaecologist Denis Mukwege, better known as Doctor Miracle, who has spent two decades helping women recover from the violence and trauma of rape in war-torn eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Another possible laureate is Nadia Murad, a 25-year-old Yazidi woman who was kidnapped by Islamic State militants in 2014 and endured three months as a sex slave before managing to escape.

One area yet to be honoured by the Nobel committee is the campaign to protect press freedom, which has been spearheaded by organisations like the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Such an award would be a nod to the role of a free press as a pillar of democracy at a time when the profession is increasingly under threat from repression, violence and the proliferation of fake news.

Other potential laureates include the World Food Programme, the UN refugee agency UNHCR, jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi and Russian human rights champions like the NGO Memorial and opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta.

Last year, the prize was won by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).

The 2018 Nobel season opened on Monday with two immunologists, James Allison of the US and Tasuku Honjo of Japan, winning the Medicine Prize for research into how the bodys natural defences can fight cancer.

Tuesdays Physics Prize was won by three scientists, Arthur Ashkin of the United States, Gerard Mourou of France and Donna Strickland of Canada, for inventing optical lasers that paved the way for advanced precision instruments used in corrective eye surgery.

And on Wednesday, US scientists Frances Arnold and George Smith and British researcher Gregory Winter won the Chemistry Prize for applying the principles of evolution to develop proteins used to make everything from biofuels to medicine.

This years award season will end on Monday with the economics prize.

Up to three nominees can share the prize, which consists of a gold medal, a diploma and a cheque for nine million Swedish kronor (around $1 million or 867,000 euros).

The award will be presented at a ceremony in Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of the 1896 death of prize creator Alfred Nobel, a Swedish philanthropist and scientist.

Source: NAN

A Seoul court on Friday jailed former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak for 15 years, making him the latest in a string of high-profile political and business leaders ensnared by corruption charges.

Lee is the fourth former South Korean president to be jailed, with his successor Park Geun-hye imprisoned over a separate graft scandal that toppled her from power in early 2017 and fed concern over cozy ties between government and business.

Lee faced charges of having accepted around $10 million in illegal funds from companies such as conglomerate Samsung and his own intelligence service, but he denied any wrongdoing, saying the investigation was politically motivated.

Source: NAN

Two judges, Rita N. Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court and James T. Agbadu-Fishim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria have been recommended for dismissal by the National Judicial Council.

They were found guilty of misconduct.

THE recommendation, the first of its type has been sent to President Muhammadu Buhari. Past recommendations had always been for compulsory retirement.

Rising from its 87th meeting held on Wednesday, the NJC also directed Justice Joshua E. Ikede of the Delta State High Court to refund what he earned as salary and other entitlements since October 2016.

The NJC said it found that Justice Ikede altered his age. It rejected the retirement letter the judge sent to it on October 1.

NJCs Director of Information Soji Oye said in a statement that the investigation of Justices Ofili-Ajumogobia and Agbadu-Fishim was based on petitions written against them by the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

The NJC said the petitioner alleged that Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia is a Director/Chief Executive Officer and sole signatory to Nigel and Colive Company contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.

It said there was also allegation that several personalities, individuals, government officials and business partners lodged funds into various accounts belonging to the judge.

The NJC said it was also alleged that there was an ex-parte communication between the judge and Mr. Godwin Oblah, SAN, during the pendency of his matter before the judge.

The council said it could not consider other allegations in the petition because they are already before a court where the judge is standing trial. It left those matters for the trial to take its legal course.

Oye said Justice Agbadu-Fishim was also recommended for removal by dismissal from office sequel to the findings of the council on the allegations contained in another petition by the Acting Chairman of EFCC alleging that the judge received various sums of money from litigants and lawyers that had cases before him, and some influential Nigerians, under the false pretence that he was bereaved or that there was delay in the payment of his salary.

This is contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In the interim, the council, in exercise of its disciplinary powers under paragraph 21 (d) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, has suspended Justices R. N. Ofili-Ajumogobia and James T. Agbadu-Fishim with immediate effect pending their removal from office by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

On Justice Ikede, Oye said: Council rejected the letter of voluntary retirement, purported to be with effect from October 1, 2018, submitted to it by Hon. Mr. Justice Joshua E. Ikede of the Delta State High Court.

This followed the findings on an allegation of falsification of age contained in a petition written by Zik Gbemre, National Co-ordinator of Niger Delta Peace Coalition. Council found that the Hon. Judge ought to have retired since October, 2016.

Consequently, it backdated his retirement to 2016 and recommended to the Government of Delta State to deduct from the retirement benefits of the judge, all salaries received by him from October, 2016 till date and remit it to NJC, which pays salaries of all judicial officers in the federation.

Council also decided to issue a letter of advice to Hon. Mr. Justice K. C. Nwakpa of High Court of Abia State to guard against unwarranted utterances in matters before him.

This was as a result of a complaint to the council by one Princewill Ukegbu.

It added: Council considered the reports of various investigation committees and dismissed the petitions written against Hon. Mr. Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory; Hon. Mr. Justice E. O. Osinuga of the High Court of Ogun State, and Hon. Mr. Justice E. O. Ononeze-Madu of the High Court of Imo State.

The petition by Wema Bank against Hon. Mr. Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court was dismissed because the allegation of misconduct was not established.

The judges handling of the related matter did not amount to the alleged misconduct.

On the petition on allegation of inducement, bias and alteration of ruling written by David Olawepo Efunwape against Justice E. O. Osinuga of High Court, Ogun State, the NJC said it was found to be false.

The statement said: Council, therefore, decided to report David Olawepo Efunwape, Esq., to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for appropriate sanctions for making false allegations against a judge.

The petition written by Eugene Okechukwu Dibiagwu against Justice E. O. Ononeze Madu was dismissed by the council for lack of merit. The council warned the petitioner and asked him to apologise to the judge for the false allegation of inducement.

New petitions written against 26 judicial officers from the Federal and state high courts were considered by council, after which it resolved to empanel four committees to investigate.

The statement said: The remaining petitions were summarily dismissed for obvious and manifest lack of merit, being subjudice, concerning administrative matters, or that such petitions were matters for appeal.

*Published by The Nation

Source: NAN