AFRICAN NEWS FLASH

At present, people are stranded outside the court building as only 20 persons were allowed in.  More updates coming soon 

Nigerian governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) have again resisted attempts to start deducting $418 million in Paris Club reimbursements allegedly owed to four contractors from the federation's account  .   The governors, in a letter to the Federal Government through the Secretary of the Federation Government (SGF), Boss Mustapha, argued that an attempt to restart the deduction process, which is being challenged in court and for which  the Supreme Court has ruled, would be unconstitutional.   The letter, signed by NGF Chairman and outgoing Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, describes the new decision as an "attempt by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Minister of Finance (HMF) to circumvent  law and the recent Supreme Court ruling in surreptitiously obtaining FEC approval to effect payment of $418 million to four contractors who allegedly performed contracts regarding Paris Club reimbursements to the ...

The Minister of Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, on Monday gave an update on the reopening of schools. Nwajiuba disclosed that all the 104 Unity Colleges across the country are ready to reopening for the final year classes. He said this during the daily briefing of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 in Abuja. According to Nwajiuba: “All the 104 Unity Colleges are ready to open their gates to exit classes tomorrow, August 4, 2020.”

Chief Whip of the Senate and former Governor of Abia State,  Senator Orji Uzor Kalu on Monday said  the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has not paid any dime to the contractors who built the roads he facilitated.  Kalu was reacting  to the communique written by Senator Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, where he  reportedly mentioned ex governors Emmanuel Uduaghan, James Ibori , Senator Ifeanyi Ararume , Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and others to the several contracts allotted by the NDDC In a statement signed by Barrister Emeka Nwala of office of the Senate Chief Whip and made available to THE NIGERIA DAILY , Kalu  said he believes the issues at stake in  the NDDC has to do with missing funds and not works done , adding that he is becoming worried over his name being used indiscriminately to sell newspapers without verifications . According to the Chief Whip , the road projects mentioned by the Honourable Minister are t...

A BRAWL erupted on a flight from Amsterdam to Ibiza after two "drunk" British passengers refused to wear face masks. Footage appears to show a fight break out after takeoff on Friday - despite the airline specifically asking passengers to wear face coverings from first boarding call until they reach the arrival gate.

Ibom Air has announced that it has delivered additional aircraft, thus increasing its fleet to five aircraft. The Akwa Ibom state-owned airline said the aircraft would have been delivered earlier but was delayed due to the COVID-19. “After delays occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ibom Air is pleased to finally receive its fifth Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft, the second of the two additional aircraft purchased in December 2019. The aircraft, with registration number 5N-BXO, arrived Lagos from Calgary, Canada at 00.05 am local time, Saturday morning, 01 August 2020).

The controversial Onitsha based pastor made the statement when he stormed Camp Neya, Igbere Abia State, the countryhome of the Chief Whip of the Senate and former Governor of Abia state, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. Speaking in Igbo, he said he was in agreement with the President’s nephew, Mamman Daura who insisted that competence should be placed above zoning in choosing the next President of Nigeria but insisted that the most competent people come from the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. According to him it is only Igbo people that have the capacity to change the economy of Nigeria for good. Odumeje, accompanied by his team arrived Kalu’s hometown at exactly 2pm. He expressed happiness for getting access to Kalu after several attempts.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja reacted for the first time to the allegations of corruption levelled against the leaderships of some federal government agencies and commissions.

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG hit twice as Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 in the FA Cup final - and gained a route into Europe next season. The Gunners will now be in the Europa League, bumping Wolves - who are still in the competition - out of a place and sending Spurs out of the initial group stage.

In a list published today, Mrs May's husband was given a knighthood for “political service”, while the Prime Minister handed one to his remainer sibling.

President Muhammadu Buhari Friday celebrated the  Eid-el-Kabir festival  with his family at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The president had earlier announced that he would not be going for the traditional Islamic eid prayer held in large gatherings, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Buhari also said he would not be entertaining visitors during the Islamic celebration. Photos of the celebration the president had with his family were shared by presidential aides on Friday.

The Borno state Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has pointed an accusing finger on the Military in Baga Town where his convoy was attacked, saying that the attack on his convoy by unknown gunmen was complete sabotage in the fight against insurgency in the Northeast.

FORMER Tory MP Charlie Elphicke was today found guilty of three sex attacks after groping the breasts of two younger women - and immediately DUMPED by his wife. Elphicke, 49, bowed his head as he was convicted following a three-week trial at Southwark Crown Court.

Mr. Ouattara on Wednesday asked for more time to consider the nomination, indicating he would announce his decision in a speech to the nation on 6 August.

The World Bank Board of Directors on Wednesday approved a $500m credit from the International Development Association for the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, to improve secondary education opportunities among girls in targeted areas. The World Bank said the project would support access to secondary education and empowerment for adolescent girls in seven states which are Kano, Kebbi, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Plateau and Ekiti. The bank said this in a statement titled, “Nigeria to boost support for keeping adolescent girls in school.”

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, on Tuesday, affirmed Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the validly elected Senator for Kogi West Senatorial District.

The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) rose from a virtual meeting yesterday with a threat to sanction recalcitrant parties in the ongoing political crisis rocking Mali. The organisation, comprising West African leaders, said it would wield the big stick against groups which refuse to abide by recommendations prescribed to restore peace to the troubled country. “The ECOWAS Heads of State and Government request the commission to consider sanctions against all those who act contrary to the normalisation process of the crisis,” they said.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 829 COVID-19 patients were discharged on Monday. The NCDC in a tweet said the number was the highest in one day since the index case was reported on Feb. 27. Nigeria, It said, has successfully treated 18,203 cases of COVID-19. The NCDC data showed that 648 new COVID-19 infections were recorded in 21 states across the country, which brought the total number of confirmed cases to 41,180. It stated that regrettably two deaths were recorded in the country. The health agency said that the new COVID-19 infections were reported in Lagos, 180, Plateau, 148, FCT, 44, Ondo, 42, Kwara, 38, Rivers, 32, Oyo, 29, Kaduna, 21 and Osun, 20. Others were Edo and Ogun, 17 each, Ekiti, 11, Kano, Benue, Delta and Abia, 9 each, Niger, 7, Gombe, 3, Borno, Bauchi and Imo, 1 each. According to it, till date, 41,180 cases have been confirmed, 18,203 cases, discharged and 860 deaths recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Tanzanian opposition heavyweight, Tundu Lissu, who was shot 16 times in a 2017 attack, returned home from exile on Monday to challenge President John Magufuli in elections later this year.