BREAKING: Judge withdraws from Saraki’s case over online reports

Justice Abdukadir Abdu-Kafarati of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday withdrew from the case filed by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, seeking an order to stop his trial for false assets declaration before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

‎The development which followed reports on Sahara Reporters and online media accusing the judge of having been compromised by Saraki stalled the judgment that was to be delivered in the case on Tuesday.

At last senate receives report on 2016 Appropriation Bill

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje, on Tuesday presented the report of the 2016 budget on the floor of the upper chamber, after weeks of bulk passing between the executive and the legislature over errors discovered in the document.

Troops kill B’Haram commander, 18 others in Borno

The troops of the Nigerian Army have killed one of the top of commanders of the Boko Haram sect during an operation on Sunday.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Monday that the commander, referred to as the Ameer of Dalore, was killed alongside 18 others during a clearing operation carried out by elements of 22 Brigade Garrison.

Senate, House of Rep to begin debate on PIB next week- Saraki

The Senate and the House of Representatives will commence debate of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as from next week. Senate President, Bukola Saraki said this in Abuja at a Business Environment Roundtable on the economy hosted by the National Assembly yesterday March 21st. Saraki said this has become necessarily to gain speed in the consideration and passage of the PIB and to prevent dissipation of time, energy and scarce resources that was prevalent in the past.

PHOTOS: Super Eagles train ahead of AFCON qualifiers against Egypt

Over 20 foreign based players have arrived the Abuja camp of the Super Eagles to prepare for Nigeria's must win African Cup of Nations clash with Egypt this weekend. The players are currently training inside the mainbowl of the National Stadium, Abuja with head coach Samson Siasia. They engaged in some light workouts this morning and did some passing drills and ball work. More pictures below

PHOTOS: Explosions rocks Brussels Airport, 1 killed

At least one person has been confirmed dead after multiple explosions rocked the departure hall of the Zaventem airport in Brussels, Belgium this morning. According to Reuters, the explosions occurred close to the American Airlines Check-in desk. Gunshots were fired while some Islamic words were heard before the explosions took place. No planes are landing at Brussels Airport which is currently on lockdown, and planes due for landing are being diverted.

Breaking: ‎ Alleged N676m scam: Abba Moro secures bail

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted the former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, who is facing trial over his alleged complicity in a N676million job recruitment scam that led to the death of no fewer than 20 persons across the country, bail on self recognition.

Air Force Chief’s wife, Amosu, returns stolen N381m to FG

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has recovered N381m from Mrs. Omolara Amosu, the wife of the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu.

Sources within the EFCC said on Saturday that the money was recovered in three tranches: N180m, N101m and N100m.

Man attacks Scanfrost workers over actress, Omotola

A man, identified only as David, caused a stir at the retail outlet of Scanfrost, at the Ketu end of the Ikorodu Road, Lagos State.

He brought out a knife and threatened to kill workers in the place if he did not see Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde, whom he claimed to be his ‘wife’.

Omotola is a Nollywood actress who is also a model for Scanfrost, an electronics home appliances manufacturing firm.

Manslaughter: A’Court affirms five years imprisonment for Fiberesima

The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal has upheld the judgment of a Lagos State High Court sentencing an ex-beauty queen, Ibinabo Fiberesima, to five years imprisonment for manslaughter.

The lower court presided over by Justice Deborah Oluwayemi had convicted Fiberesima of manslaughter, ruling that the actress’ reckless driving was responsible for the death of one Dr. Giwa Suraj on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

Candidates, parents protest, demand cancellation of 2016 UTME

Hundreds of admission seekers to the nation’s tertiary institutions and their parents on Tuesday stormed the Lagos State Governor’s Office in Alausa, Ikeja, and the state Assembly complex to protest against alleged manipulation of the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

Power distribution firms reject supply from generating plants

The rejection of load allocations from power generating plants by some electricity distribution companies is one of the factors preventing the country from fully benefitting from the 6,500 megawatts generation capacity of the existing power plants.

Our correspondent gathered that some power plant units were being shut due to high frequency occasioned by the inability of the distribution companies to pick their load allocations.

Medical students to spend 11 years in varsity − NUC

The National Universities Commission has declared that any student who wants to study medicine will henceforth spend a minimum of 10 years in the university.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie made the declaration in a lecture delivered at the maiden matriculation and inauguration of the University of Medical Science, Ondo, Ondo State.

Suicide attack kills 22 in Borno mosque

A suicide bomber attack killed 22 persons and injured 11 others at mosque in Borno State this morning.

A member of the youth vigilance group told our correspondent that the suicide bomber attacked a mosque in Molai-Umarari village, behind the Molai Hospital, on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the state capital.

I’ll be merciless in pursuing looters, says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday vowed that his administration would not show mercy to any person in its ongoing anti-corruption war.

He said his administration would pursue the anti-graft war relentlessly until Nigerians began to see how the nation’s elite conspired to run the country down.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke during an interactive session he had in Malabo with Nigerians resident in Equatorial Guinea.

Photos from Joseph Yobo's World Press conference ahead of testimonial match

Retired Nigerian Footballer Joseph Yobo is currently holding a World Press Conference ahead of his testimonial game to be held at Amasiamaka International Stadium in Portharcourt, River State under the host of Gov. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on 25 May 2016.  Kanu Nwankwo, Jay Jay Okocha and Shuaibu Amodu are among the football personalities present at the press conference.

Photos from the building collapse in Lekki, Lagos this morning

4 people have been confirmed dead after a 5-storey building collapsed at Chisco bus stop, opposite Oando Gas Station in the Lekki area of Lagos this morning. Several others are still trapped in the building. Continue to see more photos from the scene 

IG demands update on abducted Bauchi, Zamfara girls

The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has demanded the progress reports on investigations into the abduction of four teenage girls, who were forcefully converted to Islam in Bauchi and Zamfara States.

The IG directed the Bauchi and Zamfara Police commands to furnish his office with the report on the abductions.

Sunday PUNCH had reported the abduction of three girls in Bauchi, namely Progress Jacob, 13; Blessing Gopep, 13; and Linda Christopher, 16.

EFCC searches Badeh’s house, recovers $1m cash

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has recovered $1m cash from one of the houses belonging to the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh(retd.), The PUNCH has learnt.

Our correspondent learnt the money was recovered after detectives searched a mansion located at 6, Ogun River Street, Maitama, Abuja.

Tears as minister, Ocholi, wife, son die in auto crash

It was learnt that the Sport Utility Vehicle in which the family travelled in, had a burst tyre on the highway, leading to the crash.

Ocholi, who hailed from Ogbabede-Abocho in the Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, and his third child were said to have died on the spot after the Prado-Jeep had a burst tyre in the rear and somersaulted several times.