Nigeria to grow by 2.5% in 2018, says World Bank

The World Bank forecasts that economic growth in Nigeria would edge up to at least 2.5 per cent in 2018, as the country benefits from improved commodity prices, investments and trade.

According to the World Bank’s January 2018 Global Economic Prospect report launched on Tuesday in Washington DC, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow by 2.8 per cent in 2019 and 2020.

Ex-Students Tackle Director Of St. Stephen’s School, Allege Rape, Death Of Six Colleagues

About six years after leaving St. Stephen’s Centre International School and Children Home, Abeokuta, Ogun State, 13 of the ex – inmates returned to Abeokuta on Tuesday to narrate an alleged life of harassment, exploitation, child  labour and sexual abuse at the facility.

INEC gives parties Oct 7 deadline to pick presidential candidates

Political parties have been given an October 7 deadline to produce their presidential candidates for the February 16, 2019 presidential election.

Governorship, National/State Assemblies candidates are also to have been picked on the same date.

Wife Poisons Husband Two Weeks After Wedding

The Kano State Police Command on Tuesday confirmed the arrest of a teenage wife, Sadiya Umar, who allegedly poisoned her husband, Sani Umar, killing him two weeks after their wedding.

Punch correspondent learnt that the incident occurred at Yakasai quarters in the Kano metropolis.

Nigeria’s oil production hits 2.5mb/d

Nigeria’s  crude production now stands 1.8 million barrel per day without condensate, and 2.5million per day with condensate, the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) , Dr. Maikanti Baru, has said.

He spoke yesterday after chairing the opening ceremony of the 2018-2019 crude oil term contract in Abuja. 254 bids from indigenous and international companies jostling to lift the Nigerian’s crude in the 2018/2019 term contracts, were opened.

I won't forget Mourinho's attack on me - Conte

Antonio Conte says he will “not forget” Jose Mourinho’s personal slight about match-fixing, but the Chelsea manager added Tuesday he wants to call a halt to the increasingly bitter dispute with his Manchester United counterpart.

The 48-year-old Italian — who served a four-month ban in Italy in 2012 in relation to a match-fixing scandal but has always denied wrongdoing relating to his time as coach of Siena — said he did not want the League Managers’ Association (LMA) to intervene.

FG monetises N280m cars for Obasanjo, Gowon, Jonathan, others

The Federal Government approved N280.1m cash payments to former Presidents and Heads of State in 2017 to buy cars.

Out of the money, N40m had already been released, but final releases would tally at “100 per cent.”

Obasanjo Excludes Buhari From Names Of African Presidents Offering Transformational Leadership

Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has excluded President Muhammadu Buhari from names of African leaders he said are taking progressive economic measures and recording giant strides in line with the demands of the 21st century.

Ex-Perm Sec Forfeits N664m, $137,680 To FG

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered a former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Clement Onubuogo, to forfeit to the Federal Government the sums of N664,475,246.6 and $137,680.11 found in his bank accounts.

Justice Saliu Saidu gave the forfeiture order in response to an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

I like Oprah but doubt she will run for President - Trump

Donald Trump weighed in on fevered speculation about Oprah Winfrey’s potential 2020 White House bid Tuesday, saying he liked the chat show host, but she probably would not run against him.

“I like Oprah,” Trump said, adding that he had appeared on her long-running afternoon program.

Contractors owe govt N100bn in tax liabilities - Adeosun

 The Federal Government on Tuesday said about N100bn has been discovered as tax revenue shortfall by contractors between 2012 and 2017.

The figure was given by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, in a statement issued by her Special Adviser, Media and Communications Mr. Oluyinka Akintunde.

The minister, in the statement, said she had ordered vendors of Ministries, Departments and Agencies to display their Tax Identification Numbers on their invoices before they make payments.


Bricklayer Kills Graduate Wife Over Overseas Plan

The Lagos State Police Command has declared a 34-year-old bricklayer, Akinyemi Edgar, wanted for allegedly killing his wife, Ajoke, in the Mowo, Badagry area of Lagos State.

Punch Metro learnt that the suspect beat the 28-year-old to death during a disagreement at their home and dragged her corpse on the ground to a place near the community well, where he buried her.

Mansion Belonging To Cult Leader, Don Waney Demolished In Rivers State

The Rivers state Government, today, embarked on the demolition and levelling of the mansion of cult leader, Don Waney in Omoku, Rivers State.

The kidnap kingpin and mass murderer was shot dead by security operatives recently in Enugu state.

Lady mistakenly sends ‘shower photo’ to her dad instead of her boyfriend

A young college graduate from Inglewood, California named Nyjah Cousar who goes by the handle @dearfashionn on Twitter, took a nude photo of herself in the shower and mistakenly sent it to her father instead of her boyfriend Dasquan.

Court Nullifies Kashamu's Suspension From PDP

According to Punch Metro, an Abuja High Court has nullified the suspension of Senator Buruji Kashamu from the Peoples Democratic Party.

The court also restrained the party from taking any further disciplinary actions against the senator.

Wenger Gives Serious Warning to Alex Iwobi

Arsene Wenger says midfielder Alex Iwobi will be given a fine if rumours that he was partying the night before Arsenal's FA Cup loss to Nottingham Forest.

British newspaper The Sun reported that Iwobi was pictured and filmed dancing at a houseparty after 2.30am on Saturday before the Gunners were upset by the Championship side.

Zimbabwe probes Grace Mugabe’s doctorate degree

Grace Mugabe’s suspicious doctorate degree, which she earned in a record few months, is now the subject of a probe by Zimbabwe’s anti-corruption agency.

The agency said on Tuesday it is investigating whether the former first lady was wrongly awarded a university doctorate more than three years ago.

My Wife Cooks for Her Concubine in Our Home, Separate Us - Estranged Man

An Idi-Ogungun Customary Court in Ibadan on Tuesday dissolved a 16-year-old marriage between Kazeem Adesina, a fashion designer, and his wife, Adijat over irreconcilable differences.

 

Delivering judgment, President of the court, Chief Mukaila Balogun said that evidence adduced before the court by both parties had proven that there was no love between them.

I Was Paid N8.5m Ransom - Notorious Ogun Kidnapper Confesses

A leader of an alleged kidnap gang in Ogun State, Oyewunmi Musa, says its gang got N8.5m as ransom from four of their victims’ relatives, Punch has reported.

While being paraded at the command’s headquarters at Eleweran, Abeokuta on Tuesday, the state Police Commissioner, Ahmed Iliyasu, said about 55 suspected were arrested for various offences ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery murder, cultism to illegal possession of firearms.

Tax evasion: Real Madrid’s Luka Modric pays €1 million to Spanish authorities

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, accused of tax fraud, has paid Spanish fiscal authorities close to one million euros, a judicial source said Tuesday.

Prosecutors believe the Croatian evaded 870,728 euros ($1.04 million) on revenue from his image rights in 2013 and 2014 via a shell company set up in Luxembourg.

“Prophet” Shepherd Bushiri's Church Closed Down In Botswana Over Miracle Money

The Botswanan government has closed down a church owned by flamboyant pastor, Prophet Shepherd Bushiri, Zambian Observer reports.

Botswana’s Minister Batshu says the ECG church has been closed for its continued violating of the law in terms of fake money. It is alleged that Bushiri’s church is involved in miracle money that the Botswana government considers illegal.

Cristiano Ronaldo now 49th most valuable player

Cristiano Ronaldo’s market value has plunged and the Real Madrid star is now just the 49th most valuable player in the world, according to research from the CIES Football Observatory.

Only last month Ronaldo won a fifth career Ballon d’Or award, while he also took the FIFA Best Player prize and UEFA player of the year award during a year in which he was easily the most decisive player as Madrid won five trophies including the Champions League and La Liga.

Prophet Caught With Decomposing Head in Akwa Ibom State

An alleged man of God, Prophet Israel Effiong Okon has been arrested by men of the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) in Akwa Ibom after he was found in possession of a decomposing human head in Mbak Itam, Itu Local Government Area of the state. 

 

This was disclosed by the Sector Commander of the Corps, Mr Sunday Oghenekaro to newsmen in Uyo on Tuesday. Oghenekaro said that a Toyota fore-runner jeep ( black ) with Registration number DX 147 LSD was initially apprehended for failure of its driver to use seat belt. 

Controversy as Popular U.S Pastor, Paula White Demands January Salaries of Church Members

Donald Trump’s spiritual adviser has suggested that people send her money in order to transform their lives, or face divine consequences.

Paula White, who heads up the president’s evangelical advisory committee, suggested making a donation to her ministries to honor the religious principle of “first fruit,” which she said is the idea that all firsts belong to God, including the first harvest and, apparently, the first month of your salary.

FG Bans Open Grazing To Curb Herdsmen-Farmers Clashes

Open grazing of cattle was banned yesterday by the Federal Government – to stem the growing anger sparked by the killings in Benue and other states.

All herdsmen must henceforth ranch their cattle. The decision was taken at the end of a six-hour meeting of a Federal Government delegation, security agencies and five governors.